Robert Guthridge's Blog

I have been in the real estate business for many years. I have flipped houses, wholesale properties, been an agent, own my own brokerage, and I have bought single-family rentals, multifamily rentals, college rentals, and even commercial rentals. After almost 20 years in the real estate business, I can tell you that rentals have been ... Read more from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 https://ift.tt/3e33Vrz via IFTTT

Man Bites Dog — Real Estate Edition One of the odder Halloween anecdotes I’ve heard about was the hapless home seller who got sued not because their house was haunted — but because it wasn’t. Apparently, the Seller had disclosed in their Minnesota Seller’s Disclosure that the home had experienced “paranormal activity.” The Buyer bought relying on that. When the promised ghosts (ghouls? goblins? witches?) didn’t, umm . . . materialize , post-closing, they sued. I’ve got to believe the Buyer and Seller either settled — and for a (very) small amount — or the suit was tossed by the judge (see analysis, below). Too bad. Just imagine the TV audience — let alone the competition for gallery seats — for THAT one (“as its next witness, the plaintiff calls to the stand . . . “). “In Re Haunted House” — the Lawsuit I suppose the Buyer’s argument would be that they bought the house intending to use it as a (commercial) haunted house. Presumably, their damages would then be lost revenue. ...

Life is Inspections are like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” –Forest Gump (paraphrased). [ Note to Readers : The views expressed here are solely those of Ross Kaplan, and do not represent Edina Realty, Berkshire Hathaway, or any other entity referenced. If you need legal advice, please consult an attorney.] Why should a Buyer waste $300 or $400 inspecting a condo that doesn’t have a foundation, roof, or other structural elements? Why not just apply roughly the same amount towards a home warranty, that will protect the Buyer in the event that something breaks? Two reasons: 1) home warranties exclude preexisting conditions; and 2) to mangle  paraphrase Forest Gump, you never know what an inspection is going to turn up, even in a condo that is updated and appears to be in pristine condition. Limits of Seller Disclosure So, I’ve seen condo inspections uncover stealth issues relating to windows, plumbing, or other condo features that no one suspec...

Getting (and Wanting) What You Pay For You’d certainly think that $300 a month for Association dues is a better deal than $500, assuming two near-identical units. But, the truth is, the higher fee could be a (much) better value. How so? If it covers a long list of services and building amenities that the cheaper monthly fee doesn’t. How Many Amenities Things like an in-door pool; state-of-the art exercise room; on-site building management and staff; multiple party rooms; rental guest rooms; monthly cable TV, etc. That’s in addition to “the basics”: lawn care and snow removal (at least, in the ‘burbs), and any common area and exterior maintenance. When it comes to Buyers scrutinizing monthly association fees, then, the trick is: 1) making sure the monthly fee is within their budget; 2) determining what the fee includes, and making sure that it reflects good value**; and 3) honestly assessing whether they want and will use all the things they’re paying for. **I’ve had more than...

RPR and Realty Executives have teamed up to provide their agents with a new learning experience titled the “Realty Executives Property Expert” training series. from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 https://ift.tt/3mbTmFn via IFTTT

Other Candidates: Nevada, Wyoming, New Hampshire, Maine, Alaska, South Dakota Reader #1 : “Montana is beautiful. But it’s too red-state for me.” Reader #2 : “Travel out to Missoula and other populated parts of Montana and you’ll see they are generally educated and liberal leaning like anywhere else in the country.” Reader #3 : “Missoula is a blue dot in a red state. And, not totally blue.” Reader #2 : “Nothing is totally blue. All I’m saying is that 100,000 people, or 50,000 households of two persons each can flip the entire state blue given the low population of the state.” –“New homes on the range: Weary city dwellers escape to Montana, creating a property gold rush”; The Washington Post (10/20/2020). The surprise about the conversation above — in the “Comments” section following the Post article — is that Reader #2’s demographic insight doesn’t just apply to to sparsely-populated states like Montana. Adding 100,000 “blue” voters could easily tip a slew of U.S. state...

October 20, 2020: Twin Cities Forecast to Get Up to 7″ Snow Usually in Minnesota in October, an exterior photo showing a home covered in snow would be a sure giveaway of a (very) stale listing (most likely from last Winter). Not today. The Twin Cities is expecting up to 7″(!) of snow, with several inches on the ground already (at least, temporarily). While that’s quite early and very unlikely to last, it’s hardly unprecedented: locals will recall the 1991 Halloween Blizzard, which dumped an astounding 28″ over 3 days. I certainly remember: I was living in Minneapolis’ Bryn Mawr neighborhood (just west of downtown) at the time. No sooner (if that’s the word) than my block finally got plowed out almost a week later, another 16″ snow buried us anew — and was the last we saw of our lawns until the following April . . . See also , “ Out-of-Season Photos on MLS” ; “ Unseasonal Photos on MLS” ; “Realtor Buying & Selling Tricks “; “ Broken Clocks and Stale MLS Photos “; and “ Sudd...

When I first started my rental property journey I thought it would be amazing when I hit $10,000 a month in income from them. I passed that up a while ago and have kept going. Let me tell you, it was pretty amazing to hit that milestone and know that no matter what else happens ... Read more from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 https://ift.tt/3m1rbZD via IFTTT

Forecasted Low Temp in Twin Cities Tonight: 24 Degrees At least from my perspective as a Realtor, less important than who takes responsibility for blowing out (winterizing) the sprinkler system in the Fall, is that someone does it. If not, the system can rupture due to freezing, causing both extensive flooding and expensive pipe repair. Common Sense > Contract Although there’s no formal rule, and I’ve never seen the issue addressed in a Purchase Agreement, the timing of closing usually governs. Namely, if it’s early in the Fall, especially if the Seller gardens, it’s reasonable to leave the system on so the Seller can continue to use it. However, if the closing is later in the Fall,** especially after overnight temps have regularly fallen below freezing, the Seller should tackle it before closing. Fortunately, a quick email or phone call between the Realtors — including contact info for the current irrigation contractor, if scenario #1 applies — usually resolves it. See , ...

Is the Listing Agent Phil Dunphy? Not Exactly [ Note to Readers : The views expressed here are solely those of Ross Kaplan, and do not represent Edina Realty, Berkshire Hathaway (“Berkshire”), or any other entity referenced. Edina Realty is a subsidiary of Berkshire.] At least to this Upper Midwest Realtor, three things stand out about the just-listed Malibu home of Modern Family creator Steve Levitan (that is, besides the home’s stunning ocean views and whopping list price, $16 million). Here’s what (else) caught my eye: One . Lot Dimensions. According to The Los Angeles Times , the home sits on a quarter acre lot. Does that include the vacant lot to the right (photo, top)? Nope. While Levitan’s lot is very narrow (about 50′) with almost no setbacks, it’s reportedly 250′ deep. Voila! Fifty multiplied by 250 equals 12,500 square feet — or .287 acre (an acre is 43,560 square feet). Two . Home features. Per the top photo, there are  two, separate structures on the lot;...

Animal Groupings: Oddest Names Inspired by the political season, I have a proposed addition to the list of animal names (below): Crows: a murder Turkeys: a gang Rhinos: a crash Lemurs: a conspiracy Chicks: a clutch Squirrels: a scurry Seals: a harem My proposal: a “glut” of lobbyists. See also , “ Watching the Oscars . . . But Skipping the Commercials .” from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 https://ift.tt/37f4jBV via IFTTT

When?  How Much? If an otherwise well-staged, well-marketed home isn’t selling after a reasonable interval on the market**, a price reduction is invariably indicated. How big? It all depends on how overpriced the home appears to be. Toss Out the CMA Once a home is actually on the market, interest from prospective Buyers — or lack thereof, if there are few or no showings — trumps pre-market research. So, even if the listing agent’s Comparative Market Analysis (“CMA”) suggests that a given home is a good value, if there are dozens of showings and no offers (or even second showings!) . . . cold, hard empirical reality would strongly suggest otherwise. How much to cut is very much a subjective call, and based on experience. Practically, it also depends on the Seller, who may not be willing to reduce the price at all . However, in my experience, just like every deal negotiation has its own rhythm and feel, so does every listing. How Strong a “Pulse?” At one end of the continu...

The pandemic has made it harder for younger families to purchase homes in a few ways. Inventory has been severely depressed for a few years and that continues to be the case today. The pandemic has also disproportionately hit younger Americans hard while homeowners are doing well thanks to record low interest rates, tight inventory, […] from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 https://ift.tt/33OybCN via IFTTT

Five Oscars. Eight Emmy’s. Nine Golden Globes. Seven Tony awards. That’s the collective haul by the cast and writer of Netflix’s just released, “The Trial of The Chicago Seven.” Besides the stellar acting, the dialogue — especially the courtroom scenes — is riveting. In other words, just what you’d expect from Writer and Director Aaron Sorkin. The scene I liked best: former Attorney General Ramsey Clark (Michael Keaton), testifying on the witness stand: Kunstler (Defense Attorney): “Will you state what President Johnson said to you and what was said to him?” Prosecutor : “Your Honor, at this point, we will object. A cabinet officer does not have to, and should not have to relate the contents of a private call he had with the President.” Judge : “I’ll sustain the objection.” Kunstler : “I thought objections were reserved.” Judge : “There’s a question of attorney-client privilege to consider.” Ramsay Clark : “The President isn’t a client of the Attorney General.” Judge : “Ex...

Twin Cities Real Estate Trivia Today’s Star Tribune has a terrific story explaining how Southdale, Rosedale, etc. came by their (locally) famous suffixes. See , “ Why Do So Many Twin Cities Mall Names End in ‘Dale’? Meanwhile, yours truly  knows the answer to an even more obscure question: “How did Roseville’s HarMar Mall get its name?” Answer: it’s a truncated mash-up of the first names of the couple who originally built and owned it, Harold and Marie Slawik (“HARold and MARie”). Legal Lesson And how exactly do I know that ?? (you ask). Because, once upon a time — 30 years ago, to be exact — one of my first assignments as a Summer law clerk was to update the shopping center’s  very dated lease (the mall was a client of my then-employer, law firm Hart, Bruner & O’Brien). I diligently labored over the new-and-improved document for a full week, and ultimately came up with a state-of-the-art, 44 page retail lease with every conceivable legal bell & whistle...

2020 Election Multiple Choice It is difficult for people who are denied voting rights to protect their voting rights.” –Nicolas Kristof, “Will We Choose the Right Side of History?”; The New York Times (Oct. 14, 2020). [ Note to Readers : The views expressed here are solely those of Ross Kaplan, and do not represent Edina Realty, Berkshire Hathaway (“Berkshire”), or any other entity referenced. Edina Realty is a subsidiary of Berkshire.] People in Georgia reportedly waited — in a pandemic(!) — in lines up to 10 hours long this week to cast their vote (photo, above). Donald Trump’s response was to: A. Demand that Georgia’s Governor and Secretary of State account for the debacle. B. Implore Congress to approve emergency aid to states struggling to provide safe, accessible voting options. C. Send in the national guard to assist states, and — where necessary — protect the integrity and physical safety of voting stations. D. Use his platform as President of the United States to...

The pandemic has made it harder for younger families to purchase homes in a few ways. Inventory has been severely depressed for a few years and that continues to be the case today. The pandemic has also disproportionately hit younger Americans hard while homeowners are doing well thanks to record low interest rates, tight inventory, […] from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 https://ift.tt/33OybCN via IFTTT

The pandemic has made it harder for younger families to purchase homes in a few ways. Inventory has been severely depressed for a few years and that continues to be the case today. The pandemic has also disproportionately hit younger Americans hard while homeowners are doing well thanks to record low interest rates, tight inventory, […] from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 https://ift.tt/33OybCN via IFTTT

Doesn’t “FD” Stand for “Fire Department??” Things should be made as simple as possible — but not simpler.” –Albert Einstein I’m all for making things simpler when it comes to real estate terminology. But, there comes a point where it . . . becomes kind of silly. Exhibit A: showing instructions that refer to the front door — as in, the location of the lockbox — as “FD.” No , Realtors don’t commonly abbreviate “Front Door” with “FD.” Here’s a key to the other, genuine real estate abbreviations: “FSF”: finished square feet. “FSZ”: foundation size. “FR”: family room. “FP”: fireplace. P.S.: Why did the names of some Presidents (FDR, LBJ, JFK) get abbreviated, but not others (Harry Truman, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton)? It was based purely on length — specifically, newspaper editors’ need to fit the President’s name in a headline. In real estate, the limiting factor is the length of each field on MLS. from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 https://ift.tt/2FxV701 via IFTTT

The pandemic has made it harder for younger families to purchase homes in a few ways. Inventory has been severely depressed for a few years and that continues to be the case today. The pandemic has also disproportionately hit younger Americans hard while homeowners are doing well thanks to record low interest rates, tight inventory, […] from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 https://ift.tt/33OybCN via IFTTT

Explaining That Déjà Vu Feeling Reading the Star Tribune At Just 425 Square Feet, Tiny House Near Cedar Lake Hits Market for $400K.” –Star Tribune (Oct. 12, 2020). “Tiny House” Multiple Choice: How Much for This 1922 Minneapolis Home with 1 Bedroom/1 Bath, 400 FSF?” –City Lakes Blog (Oct. 3, 2020). Great minds think alike, right? On the other hand, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. So, is it simply a coincidence that the Star Tribune profiled the same home I did on this blog, just 9 days later? Search me. But, the odds do seem rather long, given that there are about 12,300 Twin Cities homes for sale at the moment. Which prompts one last quote (promise): “Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine . . .” (in case you didn’t know, that famous movie line is uttered by Humphrey Bogart in “Casablanca”). See also , “ Scooping the Star Tribune on Calhoun Towers Redevelopment “; “ Star Tribune Copies(?) City Lakes Blog “; and “ Scoop...

Many of us dream of getting rich quick! We dream of hitting a big deal or an amazing opportunity falling into our lap that makes us a ton of money. Or maybe, we do nothing at all and a rich uncle we never knew leaves us his fortune! Wouldn’t that be amazing? However, the reality ... Read more from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 https://ift.tt/36XjEa3 via IFTTT

The pandemic has made it harder for younger families to purchase homes in a few ways. Inventory has been severely depressed for a few years and that continues to be the case today. The pandemic has also disproportionately hit younger Americans hard while homeowners are doing well thanks to record low interest rates, tight inventory, […] from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 https://ift.tt/33OybCN via IFTTT

Spoiler Alert  * * * Spoiler Alert  * * * Spoiler Alert  * * *  I have a dark theory about why Amazon Prime’s super hero send-up, “ The Boys, ” is such a smash hit: its indelible imagery is so shocking — either violent, carnal . . . or simultaneously both(! ) — that it supplants,** if only briefly, the shock and recoil everyone is seemingly experiencing every day now. Make that , “every minute of every hour of every day.” Thanks primarily to a certain increasingly unpopular, incumbent President. No more political posts, at least this weekend (promise). Instead, I dare you to consider the following unforgettable scenes, then try to think of anything else for awhile. Go ahead! I dare you! (MAJOR spoiler alert: Do NOT continue until you’ve completed episode #8 of Season 2). Scene #10 . Exploding Head #1 (“#%$&?!?”) Scene #9 . Exploding Head #4 (“ OK . . . I guess this officially is a thing “). Scene #8 . Exploding Whale ( detect a theme?? ). Scene #7 . ...

Realtors’ Investment: Skill, Time, & Marketing $$$ How long should a listing contract be? The short answer: “long enough to sell the property being listed.” How long that is — assuming that the home is well-priced, staged, and marketed — is typically a function of price. Under $250k in the Twin Cities today, you’d estimate 20-40 days of market time. For a move-up home ($250k – $500k), 2-3 months. As homes cross mid-six figures ($500k-plus), average market time locally can easily be several months; for truly upper bracket homes (over $2 million or so in the Twin Cities), the relevant metric can be a year (or more!). Of course, for each of the above categories, add extra time for properties that are especially unique, or appeal to a narrow slice of the market (automatically the case for upper bracket). Step #2: Lead Time to Close Step #2 of calculating a contract term is to allow additional time for the home to close, once it’s under contract. From the time the Purchase Ag...

“I’m Not Being Rude . . . I’m Just Being a Realtor” It’s purely anecdotal, but my guess is that nobody can (and does!) end a conversation faster than a veteran Realtor. They/we aren’t being short or abrupt. Rather, we’re just juggling lots of balls, and know that, when a hard-to-reach client pops up on your caller ID — perhaps with a time-sensitive response to an offer — you may have 3-4 seconds to finish the call you’re on, and take theirs. “Thanks, But I Already Know How You Are” Other agents know that, and aren’t offended. But, I find myself periodically slowing down transitions with non -Realtors, just to avoid the perception that I’m rude. And of course, calling back when appropriate . . . P.S.: My hunch is that  family members of Realtors can attest to the above as well. And no , if I just talked to someone 10 minutes ago, I’m not going to begin my next call to them by asking “How are you?” (again). See also ...

[ Note to Readers : The views expressed here are solely those of Ross Kaplan, and do not represent Edina Realty, Berkshire Hathaway (“Berkshire”), or any other entity referenced. Edina Realty is a subsidiary of Berkshire.] Consider this all-too-common scenario: the listing agent and their excited client, the Seller, have just carefully reviewed the Buyer’s offer together, and the Seller has formulated a thoughtful Counter-Offer with their agent’s assistance. Before sending it, however, the Seller makes what sounds like an innocuous request: “Please just run it by my attorney first.” Unh-unh. “Monkey(?) in the Middle” Veteran agents know — and newbies will find out — that that chain of command is fraught with risk. Namely, what do you suppose happens when the lawyer’s bill arrives 30 (or 90) days later, and the client is: a) shocked by the amount; and b) doesn’t remember authorizing their Realtor to involve their attorney? That’s especially true if the deal the lawyer reviewed n...

Property Tax Assessed Value vs. Fair Market Value Hard as it might be to imagine, there’s actually one scenario where a home’s property tax value can be too low: when it’s about to go on the market. While the assessed value isn’t something that Realtors and Appraisers take into account to determine market value — we/they rely solely on what are called Comp’s, or property taxes“Comparable Sold Properties” — prospective Buyers sometimes take a peek at it. And, so do their agents. Explanation(s) The most common (and benign) explanation for a too-low valuation is that the homeowner bought decades ago, and the annual, incremental increases in the tax assessed value simply lagged market appreciation. Decades later, that gap has grown to $50k — or $250k. The not-so-benign explanation for the above: the owner has done a major addition or made other substantive changes that the tax authorities don’t know about. Market 180° Ironically, in the aftermath of The 2008 Crash, many would-be ...

Not new — but “meticulously maintained.” Real Estate Synonyms — and Antonyms True or false: “Meticulously maintained” means the same thing as “updated.” Give up? The correct answer is “False.” In fact, “meticulously maintained” is almost always Realtor code for not updated. Ditto for synonyms such as “well-loved,” “quaint,” “vintage,” “long-time owner,” etc. (all very nice things, by the way — just not the same as “updated”). See also , “ Real Estate Marketing 101: When to Acknowledge a Home Needs Updating — & When Not To “; “ Real Estate Euphemisms “; and “ Real Estate Clichés and How to Avoid Them .” from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 https://ift.tt/2I20bKN via IFTTT

Cost-Benefit Analysis [ Editor’s Note : The views expressed here are solely those of Ross Kaplan, and do not represent Edina Realty, Berkshire Hathaway, or any other entity referenced. If you need legal advice, please consult an attorney.] Homeowner’s title insurance really isn’t like any other insurance consumers buy. Unlike health or life insurance, it doesn’t protect against something bad (illness, death) happening in the future. Rather, it protects the homeowner from something that’s likely already happened (encroachment, contractor’s liens, defective title), that simply hasn’t been discovered yet (note:  lenders and title companies do a cursory review prior to closing that should catch anything egregious). Second, the premium is a one-time event, typically paid at closing, that protects the homeowner for the length of their ownership. Latent Risks So is it worth it? To do a cost-benefit analysis, you first have to start with costs. On a typical, $300k Twin Cities h...

Your caption here . . . Then: “Let Them Eat Cake” Now: “Let THEM Wear Masks” [ Note to Readers : The views expressed here are solely those of Ross Kaplan, and do not represent Edina Realty, Berkshire Hathaway (“Berkshire”), or any other entity referenced. Edina Realty is a subsidiary of Berkshire.] Seven months into a worsening Pandemic, and scarcely one week after the Cleveland Presidential debate, President Trump, the First Lady, the White House Press Secretary, several Republican senators, Notre Dame University’s President, and a long list of others have been sickened with Covid-19 (there’s really no way to know how many, because the White House apparently is not even trying to do contact-tracing). Anyone perplexed by that sad news, however, need look no further than the first row of the debate audience (photo, above). In truth, the photo of President Trump’s mask-less, rule-defying family needs no explaining. But, don’t let that stop you from picking your favorite caption ...

Rental properties are my favorite way to invest money! Over the years, I have bought more than 30 residential, commercial, and single-family rentals, which may not seem like that much but some of my properties have more than 60,000 square feet. I have been in real estate for almost 20 years now and I have ... Read more from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 https://ift.tt/33xQHzu via IFTTT

[Note to Readers : in the wake of the jarring news that President Trump and a growing number of his inner circle have been stricken with Covid-19, the phrase “in an abundance of caution” is once again making the rounds (example: “Trump Tests COVID Positive, Hospitalized At Walter Reed ‘Out Of An Abundance Of Caution’”). The post below originally appeared January 1, 2018, in the aftermath of another national health crisis — one that now seems positively quaint by comparison. As always, the views expressed here are solely those of Ross Kaplan, and do not represent Edina Realty, Berkshire Hathaway (“Berkshire”), or any other entity referenced. Edina Realty is a subsidiary of Berkshire.] The Buried Mea Culpa Once upon a time, the likes of William Safire and George Carlin could be counted on to call out linguistic curiosities. In that spirit, I offer up the very confused expression, “Out of an abundance of caution.” Overcompensating Practically dripping with CYA (“Cover-Your-A**”...

Upstair laundry: if there’s a window (right) . . . you know it’s not in the basement. Calculating Premiums & Discounts in a Comparative Market Analysis (“CMA”) How much value do Realtors and Appraisers assign to an upstairs Laundry when estimating a home’s fair market value? The honest answer is, I’ve never seen it broken out as a specific adjustment, with a corresponding price tag (or even range) assigned to it. That’s true even though MLS has a “Special Search” field for “2nd Floor Laundry” (photo, below left). My gut says there are two reasons for that: 1) an upstairs Laundry is too small an item — perhaps $10k**, vs. $50k – $100k for an updated Kitchen (or not); and 2) it’s captured in a broader category. Subsumed For example, new $1.5 million homes with over 4,000 square feet in Edina typically have four (or more) Bedrooms up, including a large Owner’s Suite; en suite Bathrooms for the other Bedrooms; AND an upstairs Laundry. “Special Search” field on MLS. It’s s...

The Gold Standard for Staging Advice “Nice listing . . . congrats!” –Uttered by exiting Buyers’ agents at a broker open; when the listing agent knows the price is right and the home is likely to sell quickly. See, “Realtor Compliments.“ The equivalent for a staging job well done is when the client appreciatively remarks at the end, “My house looks so good, now I don’t want to move!” When the listing agent hears that, they know two things: 1) the stager did a (very) nice job; and 2) the client “gets” it. Emotional Tug Especially for older, long-in-place Sellers, it can be emotional to allow a stranger to come into their home and rearrange things — sometimes, dramatically. So, it’s always a relief to hear, after the fact, that they’re receptive and appreciative of the stager’s efforts — which in turn indicates that the owner is actually ready to sell. Even if they say otherwise . . . P.S.: Thanks to ace stager Mary Amlaw, who consistently elicits such comments from my selling...

Before  . . . and After(!) Staging a home’s interior is usually more about subtraction than addition. Key steps include reducing clutter; showcasing desirable features like windows and any fireplaces (rule #1: don’t block them); and generally making the home as clean and light as possible. Improving a home’s exterior — and specifically, its curb appeal — is no different. The most common task? Cutting back overgrown landscaping that obscures the home’s curb appeal. A close second, at least for this Fern Hill duplex, was removing the dated window awnings (top photo). Not only did that punch up the property’s curb appeal, it also made the interior lighter. Click here to see what the duplex looked liked virtually staged. P.S.: there can be a hitch removing awnings from older stucco homes, which is why some owners hesitate to do it: the stucco may require patching afterwards. See also , “ Quick!  Who Does the Selling Agent Represent? “ from RSSMix.com Mix ...

“Location” x 3 Test your knowledge of today’s Twin Cities housing market, and guess how much this Spartan-looking, 400 square foot cottage in South Minneapolis is listed for: A. $89k B. $149k C. $249k D. $400k Before I give the answer, here are a couple clues: –-The property is located just west of Cedar Lake, in a neighborhood where homes fetch $600k to more than triple(!) that. –-According to Hennepin County, the home sits on a 50′ x 127′ lot (the standard lot size in Minneapolis is 40′ x 120′). –The interior (such as it is) was completely updated last year. –-There are at least a dozen new homes and major remodels in progress within 3 blocks. Just in case there’s any doubt . . . the correct answer is “D. $400k.” See also , “ The $10,000 Cedar Lake Cabin (But, Good Luck Buying it For That) “; and “ Guess How Much? .” from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 https://ift.tt/33iCfep via IFTTT