Blog

Notes on the local market, page 7

Family neighborhood streetscape comparison showing Lakeville Minnesota southern suburb and Woodbury Minnesota eastern suburb Twin Cities community character

2026-07-17 · 12 min read

What Is It Like Living in Lakeville vs Woodbury, Minnesota?

A buyer I worked with in the fall called me from her rental apartment in downtown Minneapolis after she and her husband had spent three consecutive weekends touring homes across the southern and eastern metro. They had a clear picture...

Side by side comparison of Eden Prairie Minnesota natural park landscape and Maple Grove Minnesota Town Center showing the distinctive character of each Twin Cities suburb

2026-07-17 · 12 min read

What Is It Like Living in Eden Prairie vs Maple Grove, Minnesota?

A couple relocating from Chicago called me last winter with a question that I hear in some version from almost every family moving to the Twin Cities from a larger market. They had narrowed their search to two communities. Eden Prairie...

Lebanon Hills Regional Park trail and lake in Eagan Minnesota showing the natural park amenities that are one of the community's most significant advantages for residents

2026-07-17 · 12 min read

Pros and Cons of Living in Eagan, Minnesota

A couple from Phoenix called me last spring with a spreadsheet. They had been researching Minnesota communities for two months before the call, and they had built a detailed comparison grid covering twelve different suburbs across the...

Residential neighborhood and park landscape in Eagan Minnesota showing the established suburban character and natural amenities of the Twin Cities southern suburb

2026-07-17 · 10 min read

What Is It Like Living in Eagan, Minnesota?

A woman from Atlanta called me last February after accepting a position with a healthcare company headquartered in the southern Twin Cities metro. She had three weeks before she needed to be on-site for her first day. She had a budget...

Minnesota home seller reviewing a pre-listing appraisal report with their Realtor to inform pricing strategy before listing in the Twin Cities market

2026-07-17 · 13 min read

Should I Get an Appraisal Before Listing My Home in Minnesota?

A seller called me from his study in White Bear Lake on a Saturday morning with a question that I hear a few times a year and that deserves a genuinely complete answer rather than a quick yes or no. He had been thinking about listing...

Minnesota home seller comparing online automated valuation estimates with a professional comparative market analysis from their Realtor in the Twin Cities

2026-07-17 · 12 min read

How Do Online Home Value Estimates Compare to a CMA in Minnesota?

A seller called me from her home in Inver Grove Heights on a Thursday evening with a number already in her head. She had spent two evenings on Zillow, Redfin, and a few other platforms, collecting the automated value estimates for her...

Minnesota home seller reviewing underpricing risks and multiple offer strategy outcomes with their Realtor in the Twin Cities market

2026-07-17 · 13 min read

What Happens If I Underprice My Home in Minnesota?

A seller called me on a Sunday afternoon from her kitchen in Roseville with a concern that I do not hear as often as its opposite but that deserves just as complete and honest an answer. She had been doing research on pricing strategies...

Minnesota home seller reviewing pricing strategy with their Realtor to understand whether pricing above market value leaves room for negotiation in the Twin Cities

2026-07-17 · 12 min read

Can I Price Above Market to Leave Room for Negotiation in Minnesota?

A seller I was working with in Blaine sat across from me during our listing appointment and said something I have heard in various forms from sellers at every price point and in every market condition. “I want to list a little high so...

Minnesota home seller reviewing interest rate impact on home pricing with their Realtor during a listing consultation in the Twin Cities

2026-07-17 · 13 min read

How Do Interest Rates Affect My Home’s Listing Price in Minnesota?

A seller called me from her dining room table in Andover on a Tuesday evening last fall, and she opened the conversation with a statement rather than a question. “My neighbor sold for three hundred ninety thousand two years ago and I...

Minnesota home seller reviewing shifting market data with their Realtor to develop an updated pricing strategy in the Twin Cities real estate market

2026-07-17 · 13 min read

What Is a Pricing Strategy in a Shifting Market in Minnesota?

A seller called me in the fall of last year from her home in Cottage Grove with a problem that I had been hearing variations of from sellers across the metro for several months. She had listed her home in the spring at a price her...

Minnesota home seller and Realtor reviewing listing price performance data together during a scheduled price review meeting in the Twin Cities

2026-07-17 · 12 min read

How Often Should I Review My Listing Price in Minnesota?

A seller I was working with in Maple Grove asked me a question during our listing appointment that I had not been asked quite that directly before. “Lesley, if we list and it is not working, how do we know when to change the price?...

Minnesota home seller reviewing showing activity data and feedback with their Realtor to evaluate whether a price adjustment is needed in the Twin Cities market

2026-07-17 · 13 min read

Should I Adjust My Price If My Home Is Not Getting Showings in Minnesota?

A seller called me on a Friday morning, eleven days after her home had listed in Shakopee. She was not panicking yet. But there was a tightness in her voice that told me the question she was about to ask had been building for several...

Minnesota home seller reviewing pricing data with their Realtor to avoid common pricing mistakes before listing their Twin Cities home

2026-07-17 · 13 min read

What Pricing Mistakes Should Sellers Avoid in Minnesota?

A seller called me seven weeks into his listing in Bloomington with a question that contained its own answer. “Lesley, why isn’t anyone making offers? We’ve had some showings but nothing serious. Do you think we just have bad luck?” It...

Minnesota home seller reviewing a comparative market analysis with their Realtor to develop a pricing strategy that attracts multiple offers in the Twin Cities

2026-07-17 · 4 min read

How Do I Price My Home to Attract Multiple Offers in Minnesota?

Pricing at or slightly below what recent comparable sales support, paired with strong presentation, gives a Minnesota home its best chance at more than one offer. Here is how that works.

Minnesota homebuyer reviewing a home inspection report with their Realtor after a Twin Cities home inspection revealed findings requiring evaluation

2026-07-17 · 15 min read

What Happens If the Home Inspection Finds Problems in Minnesota?

A buyer I was working with in Woodbury called me the evening after his home inspection with a tone in his voice that I have heard many times before and that I always want to address quickly. He was panicking. The inspection on the home...

Minnesota homebuyer and home inspector evaluating a property together during a pre-offer inspection in the Twin Cities competitive market

2026-07-17 · 4 min read

Can I Waive an Inspection in Minnesota?

Yes, you can legally waive an inspection in Minnesota, but for most buyers skipping it is a risk we do not recommend. Here are the options that keep the information an inspection provides.

Minnesota homebuyer reviewing a home appraisal report with their Realtor after receiving results during a Twin Cities home purchase

2026-07-17 · 4 min read

What Is a Home Appraisal and Why Does It Matter in Minnesota?

A home appraisal is an independent opinion of a property's value, ordered by your lender. Here is how it works in Minnesota and what your options are if it comes in low.

Minnesota homebuyer reviewing a counteroffer document with their Realtor during the negotiation process in the Twin Cities

2026-07-17 · 4 min read

How Do Counteroffers Work When Buying a Home in Minnesota?

A counteroffer is the seller's written response that changes one or more terms of your offer. Here is what it means, what can be countered, how deadlines work and how to respond.

Minnesota homebuyer discussing options with their Realtor after receiving an offer rejection on a Twin Cities home

2026-07-17 · 4 min read

What Happens If a Seller Rejects My Offer in Minnesota?

When a seller rejects your offer in Minnesota, the offer is void and neither side is committed. You can revise it, learn more through your agent, move on, or wait and watch.

Minnesota homebuyer reviewing a purchase agreement document with their Realtor before signing in the Twin Cities

2026-07-13 · 12 min read

What Is a Purchase Agreement in Minnesota?

A buyer I worked with in Minnetonka called me the evening after we submitted her offer and it was accepted. She was excited. Genuinely, deservedly excited. She had searched for four months, toured more homes than either of us could...

Minnesota homebuyer reviewing offer contingencies with their Realtor before submitting an offer on a Twin Cities home

2026-07-13 · 4 min read

What Contingencies Should I Include in My Offer in Minnesota?

Most Minnesota buyers using a mortgage should include financing and inspection contingencies, then add others that fit the home. Here is what each contingency does and how to choose.

Minnesota homebuyer sitting with a Realtor reviewing purchase agreement contingencies and options for exiting a home purchase in the Twin Cities

2026-07-13 · 12 min read

Can I Back Out of a Home Purchase in Minnesota?

A buyer called me on a Tuesday afternoon, eleven days after her offer had been accepted on a townhome in Burnsville. She had gone through the inspection. The inspection had come back with a few items, nothing catastrophic, and she had...

Minnesota homebuyer learning about earnest money deposit from their Realtor during the offer process in the Twin Cities

2026-07-13 · 4 min read

What Is Earnest Money and How Does It Work in Minnesota?

Earnest money is a good faith deposit that goes with your offer. In Minnesota it is held in escrow, then applied to your down payment or closing costs. Here is when it is refundable.

Minnesota homebuyer doing a final walkthrough with their Realtor before closing on a home in the Twin Cities checking appliances and systems

2026-07-13 · 4 min read

What Happens During the Final Walkthrough Before Closing?

The final walkthrough is your last look at the home before closing. You confirm repairs were done, systems work, included items are there and nothing has changed since the inspection.