Moot Unless Something’s Happened to the Home It’s not what I recommend to my Buyer clients, but there are plenty of Buyers who put off doing their walk-thru inspection until just before closing. Like, on the way. At least in theory, the Owner has an ongoing duty to update their Seller’s Disclosure up to and...Read More
28th & France Ave. by Cedar Lake This Morning It’s hardly unusual — especially in the Summer near the Lakes — to see a line of parked cars in front of a home, with a crowd of people in front (or waiting to get in). But, it IS unusual to see that . . ....Read More
Stuck in the Middle: the Plight of the “Near Tear-Down” While Twin Cites developers — and their clients — are once again on the prowl for tear-downs, unfortunately for would-be Sellers of such homes, not everything qualifies. In particular, a great many homes fall into a broad gray area, where they’re too expensive for many...Read More
Listing Math, Cont. I viewed a non-MLS listing last week in Minnetonka that is quietly being marketed at $1.7 million. The owner bought the 5,000-plus square foot home a year ago for $1.050 million; did $500k of (very smart) updating; and is leaving another $200k of likely updating for the next owner (the upper level hasn’t been remodeled...Read More
The Case of the Downgraded Updated Windows What’s the difference between an “update” and an “upgrade?” Put it this way: it’s subtle enough that even lots of Realtors who should know better get it wrong. So, here are my definitions: An upgrade is a home feature that builders and remodelers charge extra for. Things like...Read More
Skin Deep Beauty — Real Estate Version I’m working with a prospective Buyer currently who’s (politely) asked me not to show him any more “flips” — that is, homes that have been purchased within the last six months by rehabbers, cleaned up and (selectively) updated, and then put back on the market at a much...Read More
