Falling Trees . . . & Home Prices “If a tree falls in the forest, and there’s no one around to hear it . . . does it make a sound?” –anonymous Twin Cities homeowners know the drill: each Fall, they need to turn off their outside water spigots; remove window screens; winterize (blow out)...Read More
Property Taxes, Too (At Least in Minnesota) In addition to the more recognizable hallmarks of Fall, Minnesotans — at least ones who have cars parked outside — will doubtless recognize that last sign (literally) as well. The explanation: the cool overnight temps cause the air in the tires to contract, tripping the warning light. Higher...Read More
When Subjectivity Isn’t Just Superficial “If the Comp’s aren’t convincing enough, Realtor “Jane Doe” will take Sellers on tours of comparable properties. “They can see this other house is in much better condition, and it’s priced $20,000 less than theirs. It’s eye-opening.” –Spokane agent, sharing her strategy for working with unrealistic Sellers in “Setting Them Straight”; Realtor Magazine...Read More
Price as a Function of Market Time Assuming a “For Sale” home is well-prepped, priced and marketed, is there a way to know how much it sold for prior to closing, when the number will become public? That is, without finding out from the Buyer, the Seller, or their agents (who shouldn’t be sharing that...Read More
“Death By a Thousand Cuts” (Or Raises) No home Seller, quite understandably, wants to leave money on the table. No Buyer wants to overpay. Which is why it can be so tempting to initially list for too much (Sellers) or offer too little (Buyers). Big mistake. That’s because what often happens next — and by “next,” I mean, “several...Read More
Contingent vs. Non-Contingent Offers “We may be small — but we’re slow.” –Cal Tech football team slogan To be sure, carrying one mortgage today — let alone two — can be a big financial challenge, however temporarily. And it’s certainly less risky to sell your current home, before buying your next one. However . . ....Read More
