Tag

red flag

Pros and Cons of a Small Homeowners Association

Safety in Numbers vs. Tyranny of the Majority Who wouldn’t prefer a smaller condo or co-op building, where the scale is manageable, and it’s possible to actually know one’s neighbors? As desirable as that may be, would-be Buyers (and their agents) should be aware of three issues that can be more challenging for a small...
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Housing Market “Insider Activity”: Is Realtor Buying Still a Bearish Indicator?

Looking for Signs of a Market Top Once upon a time, a sure-fire yellow (or red!) flag for frothy home prices was Realtors buying homes for themselves, either as investments, or to fix up and flip. See, “Insider Buying & the Housing Market: Why Realtors are a CONTRARIAN Indicator.” The logic: agents were most bullish...
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Pleasures & Potential Pitfalls of a Small Homeowners Association

Safety in Numbers vs. Tyranny of the Majority Who wouldn’t prefer a smaller condo or co-op building, where the scale in manageable and it’s possible to actually know one’s neighbors? As desirable as that may be, would-be Buyers (and their agents) should be aware of three issues that can be more challenging for a small...
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The Case of the Unmatched Floor Tiles: Red Flag or Innocent Explanation?

Going through a 1940’s Lake Nokomis home this week, my Buyer spotted something upstairs that raised her (and then my) eyebrows:  the floor tiles didn’t match in a couple of places. Especially if the home has an older roof, that can be a sign of previous leaking directly above the affected areas. In this case,...
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Caveat Emptor — Builders

“Two Strikes and You’re Out” I just heard through the grapevine that a certain Twin Cities builder is now working with their third Realtor in four years (note:  builders sometimes engage Realtors — occasionally on an exclusive basis — to rep their new homes). I’ve worked with both previous Realtors on past deals, and found...
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