BUYING A HOUSE WITH A POOL IN MINNESOTA? WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU BUY

Buying a House With a Pool in Minnesota? What to Know Before You Buy

A swimming pool can be one of the most enjoyable features a home can have — especially during a Minnesota summer.

It can also be one of the more specialized systems on a property.

When I am working with buyers considering a home with a pool, I want them to think about the pool the same way we would think about a roof, furnace, sewer line, or other major component of the property. It should be evaluated carefully, maintained properly, and understood before closing.

This becomes especially important in Minnesota because many homes are bought and sold while the pool is completely shut down for winter.

Buying a Home With a Pool in Winter

Winter is the hardest time to…

12 Views, 0 Comments

SHOULD I BUY A VACATION HOME? SECOND HOMES, CABINS, AIRBNB, VRBO AND 1031 EXCHANGES

Should I Buy a Vacation Home? Second Homes, Cabins, Airbnb, VRBO and 1031 Exchanges

Owning a second property is one of those real estate decisions that can be equal parts financial and personal.

For some Minnesotans, the goal is a cabin within a few hours of the Twin Cities — a place to spend weekends, get out of the city, be near the water, ski, fish, hike, or simply have a place that feels completely different from home.

For others, the second property is farther away: Scottsdale, Florida, Palm Springs, or another warm-weather destination that becomes part of a winter routine.

And increasingly, I talk with people who want a property to do more than one thing. They want to use it themselves part of the year but also rent it through Airbnb…

28 Views, 0 Comments

BUYING AN OLDER HOME IN MINNEAPOLIS? 12 THINGS I LOOK FOR BEFORE THE INSPECTION

Buying an Older Home in Minneapolis? 12 Things I Look For Before the Inspection

One of the things I enjoy most about Minneapolis real estate is the housing stock.

Depending on the neighborhood, you can walk through a 1920s Tudor, a Craftsman bungalow, a 1940s Cape Cod, a 1950s rambler, a mid-century split-level, or a home that has been remodeled and expanded several times over the last 100 years.

Older homes can have tremendous character, but they also require a different kind of evaluation than newer construction.

After more than 20 years selling homes throughout Minneapolis and the Twin Cities, there are certain things I automatically start looking at during a showing — often before we ever get to the inspection.

I am not replacing the…

30 Views, 0 Comments

BUYING A MINNEAPOLIS CONDO? WHAT TO REVIEW BEYOND THE UNIT

Buying a Minneapolis Condo? What to Review Beyond the Unit

One of the biggest mistakes I see condo buyers make is focusing almost entirely on the individual unit.

The kitchen looks great. The view works. The parking space is good. The monthly payment fits.

But when you buy a condominium, you are also buying into the building and the association behind it. After more than 20 years working with condos throughout Minneapolis, I have found that the building itself can matter every bit as much as the residence you are purchasing.

This is especially true in Minneapolis, where condo options range from century-old warehouse conversions and boutique buildings to large downtown high-rises, newer Mill District developments and mixed-use properties.

…

50 Views, 0 Comments

10 REASONS I LOVE LIVING IN SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST MINNEAPOLIS

10 Reasons I Love Living in South and Southwest Minneapolis

I sell real estate all over the Twin Cities, but South and Southwest Minneapolis are areas I know especially well because this is also the kind of place I genuinely enjoy living in.

When people ask me why I like this part of Minneapolis so much, it is hard to give them one answer. It is not simply the houses, the lakes, the restaurants or being close to downtown. It is how all of those things overlap.

I can leave my house and walk around a lake, jump on a bike and ride for hours, take my kids to hockey, grab dinner at a neighborhood restaurant, go downtown for a concert and still be home without feeling like I spent the entire day in the car.

So rather than writing another generic…

60 Views, 0 Comments

TWIN CITIES REAL ESTATE MARKET UPDATE 2026: HAS THE MARKET SLOWED DOWN OR IS THIS JUST SUMMER?

Twin Cities Real Estate Market Update 2026: Has the Market Slowed Down or Is This Just Summer?

If the Twin Cities real estate market feels like it has taken a small step back from the urgency we saw this spring, you are probably not imagining it.

There is more inventory in parts of the market, showing activity has softened slightly, and buyers appear to be taking a little more time before making decisions. At the same time, this is absolutely not a broad slowdown where every property is behaving the same way.

We are still seeing houses come on the market that attract immediate attention and multiple offers. Others are sitting longer and making price adjustments. That distinction is becoming increasingly important as we move through the second…

132 Views, 0 Comments

BUYING A FIXER-UPPER IN MINNEAPOLIS & ST. PAUL: FINANCING, RENOVATION STRATEGY & WHAT BUYERS NEED TO KNOW

Buying a Fixer-Upper in Minneapolis & St. Paul: Financing, Renovation Strategy & What Buyers Need to Know

Fixer-uppers continue to attract buyers throughout Minneapolis, St. Paul, and older first-ring suburbs because they can offer something increasingly difficult to find in today’s market: opportunity. Whether you are a first-time buyer trying to get into a competitive neighborhood, a move-up buyer searching for a better long-term layout, or an investor exploring renovation projects, buying a home that needs work can create significant upside when approached strategically.

However, fixer-uppers are not always easy opportunities. Financing restrictions, renovation costs, permit requirements, contractor management, and tax implications can all…

202 Views, 0 Comments

MINNETONKA VS PLYMOUTH: SCHOOLS, LIFESTYLE, AND WHERE BUYERS ARE MOVING IN THE WEST METRO

Minnetonka vs Plymouth: Schools, Lifestyle, and Where Buyers Are Moving in the West Metro

If you're searching in the western suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnetonka and Plymouth are two of the most sought-after areas—and for good reason.

Both offer highly coveted school systems, strong home values, and access to parks, trails, and lakes. But once you get into the details, they provide very different living experiences.

Schedule a Consultation if you want help dialing in which one fits your lifestyle best.

Location and Overall Feel

One of the biggest differences between these two areas is how they developed.

• Minnetonka: Closer to the city with more established neighborhoods and mature trees
• Plymouth: A slightly newer expansion outward…

221 Views, 0 Comments

CONDO RESERVE REQUIREMENTS IN MINNEAPOLIS: WHAT BUYERS NEED TO KNOW IN 2026

Condo Reserve Requirements in Minneapolis: What Buyers Need to Know in 2026

If you’re shopping for a condo in Minneapolis—whether it’s in the North Loop, Downtown East, or Southwest neighborhoods—you’ve probably started hearing more about “reserves,” “HOA budgets,” and financing challenges. These aren’t just buzzwords anymore—they are becoming one of the most important factors in whether a condo is a smart purchase.

As someone who has worked in the Minneapolis condo market for nearly two decades, I can tell you this shift is very real. It’s not a new law that’s changing everything—it’s how lenders, insurance companies, and buyers are evaluating condo associations.

What Are Condo Reserves (And Why Do They Matter)?

Every condo association…

320 Views, 0 Comments

HOW TO WIN IN MULTIPLE OFFERS IN MINNEAPOLIS (2026 PEAK MARKET GUIDE)

How to Win in Multiple Offers in Minneapolis (2026 Peak Market Guide)

How to Win in Multiple Offers in Minneapolis (2026 Peak Market Guide)

If you're buying a home in Minneapolis right now, you're in the middle of the most competitive time of the year.

Spring and early summer represent peak market conditions in the Twin Cities. Inventory is rising, but buyer demand is at its highest—and when the right property hits the market, multiple offers are the norm.

Whether you're looking in the North Loop, SW Minneapolis, or suburbs like Edina and Minnetonka, you need a strategy before you write the offer.

Schedule a Consultation to map out your approach before competing.

Why Peak Season Creates Multiple Offers

During peak season, we typically…

323 Views, 0 Comments