Homebuying 101

While house hunting, you will be extra aware of all sorts of real estate things. It is as if the real estate market will come alive for you. This phenomenon of “what you focus on expands” means that when you are actively engaged in something like buying a house your world will suddenly be full of things that were invisible to you previously.

Download the e-Book version of my Buyer Guide in PDF format. Discover my playbook to helping buyers purchase a home with confidence and no regrets.

Seasoned landlords know the ins and outs of working with renters and city officials when it comes to getting the most out of their investment. Before a new investor gets in the game there are a few key things to consider.

It has been said in various ways that insurance is “the only product that both the seller and buyer hope is never actually used.” This comment usually refers to homeowners’ insurance – which, incidentally, many in Northfield have recently used to replace their roofs and siding following the tornadoes of September 2018 – but this also applies to title insurance.

Found a house to buy - check. Purchase agreement signed - check. Earnest money delivered - check, literally. Inspection results - deferred maintenance, safety hazards, broken appliances. What options does a buyer have at this point to negotiate repairs?

When you buy real estate you may negotiate a contingency for inspections. Sometimes called the Due Diligence period or Period of Discovery, this gives a buyer a chance to act on the legal notion of Caveat Emptor by becoming aware of the property being purchased. Let's look at some common things to consider during inspections.

Radon has been in the news the last couple of months with some changes to Minnesota law, and the EPA designated January as Radon Action Month, so this week I’m taking a few minutes to give a quick overview of radon, the risks it poses, regulations and recommendations, and what you can do to protect yourself and your family.

This weekend, after wheeling my snow-clogged blower back into my garage and engaging in a brief tussle with my wife over who would wield the lighter snow shovel, I began thinking about ways to avoid ever having to clear my own driveway again. If this sounds familiar to you, it may be worth taking some time to learn about housing options that let you enjoy home ownership minus some of the burdens of home maintenance.

Government, housing policy, and homeowners. Life just can't be simple when you throw politics into the mix. The first official action of the new president was to restore some mortgage fees that Barack Obama cut from FHA housing loans before he left office.  The fee reduction was slated to take effect January 27; Trump restored them before any change could occur.  So, what's this all about?  Was this really unfair to middle class

Were you born between 1946 and 1964? Then, according to generation researchers, you are a baby boomer and quickly approaching retirement age. Is your home "an empty nest?" Are you spending months away in warmer climates? Perhaps, like many baby boomers, change in your family household has caused you to take another look at how you use your house.