Aftermath of 2″ Rain Friday Night If you didn’t get water in your basement after early Saturday morning’s 2 inch deluge in much of the Twin Cities — you’re probably immune. Unfortunately, I ‘m getting lots of reports that many homeowners weren’t so lucky. That includes the home I showed in Edina yesterday, where yours truly...Read More
Pop Quiz Quick, test your knowledge of residential real estate law by answering the following question: What accounts for something like 90% of all litigation involving residential real estate today? A. Actions for “specific performance” — that is, a lawsuit where either the Buyer or Seller asks the court to compel the other party to consummate...Read More
When Ignorance Isn’t Bliss On the list of awkward first questions that Buyers’ Agents ask Listing Agents — “Are those abandoned oil tanks buried in the front yard?” — has to rank pretty high. And responding, “the Seller doesn’t have any idea, they were there when they bought the house” doesn’t exactly help matters. Even...Read More
Disabled Veteran’s Property Tax Exemption Sellers don’t usually have to discuss their property taxes in the Seller’s Disclosure required by Minnesota law. For one thing, the current amount is plainly stated right on the MLS listing (and links to the county record). For another, how are sellers supposed to know what the future taxes will be? Going ...Read More
“I Remember When . . . “ Once upon a time, when I was new in the business, I found Realtor war stories entertaining and instructive (and more than a little horrifying). Now, as an experienced agent, I mostly just find them . . . tiresome (if not annoying). Especially when I’m paying to hear them at...Read More
“You Know One When You See One” [Editor’s note: this post is a companion to “Unserious Buyers: Top 10 Signs” and “Is the Buyer Serious? Here’s One Clue“] “The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong — but that’s the way to bet.” –Ecclesiastes (with an assist from Damon Runyon)....Read More
