Loss Leader Cooperating Broker Compensation Buyer Broker Comp: $ 100 Sub-Agent Comp: 0 % Facilitator Comp: 0 % Variable Rate: N List Type: Exclusive Right In Foreclosure?: No Lender Owned?: No Owner is an Agent?: No –Excerpt, MLS Rental Listing I know a (very) few Twin Cities agents who handle rentals — but I’m not...Read More
Twin Cities For Sale, Rental Markets It’s widely known that the annual Twin Cities housing market generally peaks March-April (the exception being 2005, when the peak was November(!)). At least anecdotally, however, it sure seems like that’s when the local rental market peaks, too. That’s based on what I’m seeing with my own clients, as...Read More
What’s in Store? In keeping with my patented formula for predicting future housing prices — extrapolate current trends — herewith is my forecast for the second half of 2011: –Continued, record-low mortgage and interest rates; –Brisk demand for affordable, updated homes in high-demand Twin Cities neighborhoods (think, Linden Hills, Morningside, Fern Hill, Tyrol Hills, etc.); –Anemic...Read More
So Which Is It? One side effect of a market flooded with both sales and rentals is that renters are gaining clout when it comes to negotiating, just as buyers have. –“As Sales Slump, Rental Stock Rises“; The New York Times (9/25/2010) To the chagrin of many renters . . . the balance of power...Read More
How to Predict (House) Rental Rates Want to know the best predictor of what a given home rents for? Figure out when the owner bought. If they bought between 2004 and 2008 — especially if they didn’t put much down — they want an arm and a leg. Or more accurately, they need an arm...Read More
Calculating the “Rent Ratio” Sometimes, the decision whether to buy a home or not seems to require an economics Ph.d. Are interest rates headed higher? How strong is the economy? Are home prices now recovering, or will there be a “double-dip?” It’s enough to make your head spin — or hurt. If the foregoing (unanswerable,...Read More
