Discover The Home That Loves You Back

Why aren’t buyers buying right now? The real estate market in 2026 is a little above a flat line. They are waiting. #1. For interest rates to come down. #2. For prices to decrease. #3. To save for a down payment. #4. For a sign from God. What I’ve learned about real estate is that human behavior often goes against what is an opportunity for them. During the Recession economists were telling people that it was a terrible time to buy, the market could crash. In fact, it already had. Home prices in 2008 rolled back to 2003 levels, about a 25% drop. Buyers were afraid that prices would continue to slide, “I’ll just wait.” Those who defied economists reaped the benefits of risk. An extreme example is that I sold a solid brick 1950s triplex for $126,000 in a short sale. The buyer installed a new boiler, windows, painted everything and made money for 10 years until we sold it for $590,000 in 2023. After that came the pandemic when again, economists predicted again that the market would collapse. For anyone who remembers buying at that time, there was a line outside of homes for showings, and up to 47 offers. Sellers were giddy, offers came in $50,000 over price, waived inspections and even appraisals. Not only didn’t the market collapse, it boomed as did prices about 25%. It wasn’t about ‘days on market,’ it was about minutes and interest rates were 4.5%. That lasted until the Fed was rattled and interest rates zoomed from 4.5% to 7% over night. Sales came to a screeching halt. Everyone in America who owned a home had refinanced, and they weren’t selling. They’re still not selling. What we do have is that existing new construction often has real incentives, and are lowering prices M/I Homes: A 4.875% fixed rate with a 5.243% APR, plus as much as $5,000 toward closing costs on qualifying homes financed through M/I Financial. https://www.mihomes.com/new-homes/minnesota/twin-cities/incentives?utm_source=chatgpt.com Robert Thomas Homes: A builder-funded step-down program on select quick-move-in homes: 3.99% in year one, 4.99% in year two and 5.99% fixed for years three through 30. Purchase agreement and rate lock are required by September 30, 2026, closing by November 30. This one has tighter qualifications, including 20% down and a 780 minimum FICO score. https://robertthomashomes.com/finance-your-home David Weekley Homes: Buyers purchasing a to-be-built home may receive 4% off the base price—up to $35,000—to use toward financing or Design Center selections. Buyers of select quick-move-in homes may qualify for a starting rate of 4.99% on a 7/6 ARM. https://www.davidweekleyhomes.com/promo/50th-anniversary-minnapolis-st-paul Contract deadline is September 30, 2026. View the offer While resale sellers rarely offer $35,000 incentives or below-market financing, builders can—and some are doing exactly that. The best value isn’t the house with the lowest price. It may be the one with the lowest total cost of ownership. Sustainability and maintenance in a new home save over time. One important line to include: Incentives vary by home, loan, credit profile and deadline. Compare the payment, APR, cash required and long-term rate—not just the headline. Do you still think it’s a good time to wait? The Parade of Homes e is starting on September 11, let’s go see some homes.

Designed for the Life You’re Building Next Not every one-level home is designed for aging in place. Some are simply built without stairs. This 3-bedroom, 2-bath single-level home by Castle Gate Construction at Pete’s Hill Trail, Elko New Market is designed with the details that make daily living easier, safer, and more comfortable for years to come. Zero-threshold transitions mean no awkward steps. Wide hallways allow better movement for guests, walkers, wheelchairs, or simply carrying laundry without doing a sideways shuffle. Lever handles replace knobs, because good design should not require a strong grip. LED lighting keeps the home bright, efficient, and easy to navigate. The open-concept floor plan feels spacious without wasting space. The owner’s suite offers privacy, comfort, and a spa-like bath that feels like a retreat. A 97% efficient furnace that helps keep comfort high and utility bills low. It's rightsizing into a home that respects how you live now and how you live later. The best time to plan for aging in place is before you need it. Pete’s Hill Trail Built by Castle Gate Construction Single-level living, upgraded. #aginginplace #SingleLevelLiving #ZeroThreshold #castlegateconstruction #97percentefficentfurnace

They pour the foundation, frame the walls, run the wiring, install the plumbing and set every window square. They work through Minnesota heat, bitter cold, mud, wind and timelines that rarely cooperate. On the factory floor, skilled crews build under one roof with precision and repetition. On the job site, another team prepares the land, completes the foundation and coordinates the final set. Crane operators, truck drivers, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, HVAC technicians, inspectors and finish crews all have to get their part right. Construction is not simply “labor.” It is knowledge passed from one generation to the next. It is craftsmanship, problem-solving and physical work that leaves something valuable standing long after the crew has moved on. We talk often about solving the housing shortage. That solution will require better processes, smarter technology and more factory-built construction. But none of it happens without trained people who know how to build. This Labor Day, I’m honoring the men and women whose work becomes our homes, neighborhoods and communities. You don’t just build houses. You build the places where life happens. #laborday

Designed for the Life You’re Building Next 🏡 Not every one-level home is designed for aging in place. Some are simply built without stairs. This 3-bedroom, 2-bath single-level home by Castle Gate Construction at Pete’s Hill Trail, Elko New Market is designed with the details that make daily living easier, safer, and more comfortable for years to come. Zero-threshold transitions mean no awkward steps. Wide hallways allow better movement for guests, walkers, wheelchairs, or simply carrying laundry without doing a sideways shuffle. Lever handles replace knobs, because good design should not require a strong grip. LED lighting keeps the home bright, efficient, and easy to navigate. The open-concept floor plan feels spacious without wasting space. The owner’s suite offers privacy, comfort, and a spa-like bath that feels like a retreat. A 97% efficient furnace that helps keep comfort high and utility bills low. It's rightsizing into a home that respects how you live now and how you live later. The best time to plan for aging in place is before you need it. Pete’s Hill Trail Built by Castle Gate Construction Single-level living, upgraded. #Aginginplace #singlelevelliving #zerothreshold #97%efficentfurnace #CastleGateConstruction

The Most Impressive Feature in This Home Is Invisible The Willow Model by McDonald Builders knows how to make an entrance. A dramatic two-story foyer. A sculptural staircase. Five bedrooms, five baths, a three-car garage—and 5,179 square feet of beautifully finished living space. The kitchen is built for serious cooking and real-life chaos, with a generous island, walk-in pantry and separate prep kitchen. The vaulted sunroom floods the great room with natural light. Then there’s the walkout lower level: 10-foot ceilings, a golf simulator, exercise room, bar, media space and game area. It’s easy to see why the Willow earned a Reggie Award for architectural distinction. But the smartest part of this home is hidden behind those gorgeous walls. The Willow has a HERS score of 47. A standard new home is benchmarked at 100, so this home is designed to perform roughly 53% more efficiently than that reference home. That means the insulation, air sealing, windows, HVAC and construction details are working together as a system—not simply checking boxes. Because true luxury isn’t just what photographs well. It’s fewer drafts. More consistent temperatures. Better comfort from room to room. Lower energy demand. And a home engineered to perform through a Minnesota winter without wasting energy—or your money. McDonald Builders understands something the industry too often misses: A beautiful home should do more than impress your guests. It should take care of the people who live there. The Willow delivers the drama. The HERS 47 delivers the substance. That’s what I call a home that loves you back. @mcdonald_construction #mcdonaldbuilders #newconstruction #sustainablehome

Happy 4th of July! 🇺🇸 Today we celebrate independence, big ideas, and the freedom to build a life that fits. That includes homes built smarter: lower energy bills, healthier air, resilient materials, and spaces designed for the way people actually live. Because the American Dream isn’t just owning a home. It’s owning a home that doesn’t own you. Wishing you a safe, joyful Independence Day—from my home to yours. 🎆 #FourthOfJuly #IndependenceDay #HomesThatLoveYouBack #HighPerformanceHomes #ModularConstruction #MinnesotaRealEstate

🏡 More House. Improved House. Audobon Neighborhood. Sunday, July 26 ⏰ 2:00–4:00 PM 📍 2748 Ulysses St NE, Minneapolis 💲 Now offered at $529,900 More space. Better price. Northeast location. This beautifully maintained home in the popular Audubon Neighborhood gives you the room buyers keep asking for — 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2 fireplaces, a finished basement, 2-car garage, and over 2,500 finished square feet. The layout works hard: ✨ 2 bedrooms on the main level ✨ 2 bedrooms upstairs ✨ Finished lower level for movie nights, guests, hobbies, or game day ✨ Updated kitchen, new appliances ✨ Hardwood floors ✨ Two fireplaces ✨ 2-car garage Need space to work from home? Room for guests? A little separation without buying a mansion? This one has flexibility written all over it. Northeast Minneapolis charm, real square footage, and a fresh new price. Stop by Sunday and see why 2748 Ulysses St NE deserves a look.

Some custom homes whisper. This one makes an entrance. The Spring Artisan Tour is in full swing, and 305 North Shore Drive in Minnetrista is exactly why we go. It is not every day you see a custom home with this level of scale, restraint, engineering, and swagger. Built by Omni Custom Builders, a young builder couple with a very clear vision of what custom should feel like, this home delivers over 6,000 square feet, 6 bedrooms, 6 baths, and yes — a 7-car garage for the buyer who has toys, taste, and no interest in compromise. The architecture is bold with Minimalist lines, board-and-batten siding, massive Pella windows, Trex decking, custom metal railings, and architectural landscape lighting create a home that feels modern, grounded, and quietly powerful. The great room steals the show with 18-foot ceilings, a floor-to-ceiling fireplace, and walls of glass that pull the outdoors in. Solid white oak floors, Cambria quartz, custom cabinetry, designer lighting by Visual Comfort, and a whole-home Lutron lighting system bring sophistication into every detail. The kitchen is built for real entertaining, Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances, a generous pantry, and a scullery keep the mess behind the magic. Upstairs, the vaulted primary suite feels like a private retreat with a sitting room, dual-sided fireplace, private deck, spa bath, and heated floors. Three additional ensuite bedrooms with custom closets give everyone their own space. The walkout lower level brings the fun: home theater, golf simulator with stadium seating, wet bar, wine nook, rec room, bedroom, and exercise room. Add heated garage space, EV charging capability, two detached stalls, and a location right next to Burl Oaks Golf Club, and you have a home built for the buyer who wants luxury, lifestyle, and performance under one roof. There is one more Artisan Tour weekend: June 19–21. After that, you’ll have to call me for a private showing. #Artisantour #Omnicustomhomebuilders #newhomesMinnetresta #Minimalistdesign #7garagestalls