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The Appraiser Isn't Your Enemy — The Enemy Might Be You
The Appraiser Isn't Your Enemy — The Enemy Might Be You
I spent seven hours with the Northstar Appraisal Institute last month in continuing education. It changed how I talk to every seller I work with. Appraisers don't wave a pricing wand. They follow a strict, evidence-based process governed by data, market reaction, and condition. They are not guessi
MOREHow Big Is Big Enough?
How Big Is Big Enough?
Everyone loves a tiny home story. And yes, ADUs are having their moment. But not everyone wants to live in 540 square feet with a Murphy bed, a toaster oven, and one closet pretending to be a lifestyle. What many women really want is something smarter. A home that is smaller, not skimpy. Beautif
MOREWhat Do Future Buyers Want? By Future, I Mean Tomorrow.
What Do Future Buyers Want? By Future, I Mean Tomorrow.
Buyers are not shopping for a house they can tolerate for five years. They are looking for a home they can make their own, pay off, and trust. That changes everything. For years, real estate was built around the idea that people would move every 5 to 10 years. Trade up. Cash out. Repeat. But tod
MOREWHY DOES MODULAR BUILDING APPRAISE LIKE A HOUSE?
WHY DOES MODULAR BUILDING APPRAISE LIKE A HOUSE?
Because it is one. There’s still a lot of confusion around modular homes, manufactured homes, and trailers. So let’s clear the fog before someone calls your future house “a mobile home” and gets politely escorted out. A trailer is not a modular home. Trailers are typically built for mobility, li
MOREThe Hidden Cost of Cheap Windows
The Hidden Cost of Cheap Windows
During the recession, I worked with a lot of investors who bought old duplexes.Many were early 1900s buildings with original trim, and drafty windows that had seen more Minnesota winters than any of us care to count. The investor would inevitably choose the cheapest replacement windows available
MOREHow to Add an ADU
How to Add an ADU
A tiny house with a big personality — and a bigger purpose. Who is an ADU for? Honestly? More people than you think. If you’re a landlord with a backyard big enough for a third unit, an ADU may be the smartest financial moves you can make. More housing. More income. More long-term value. Less dr
MOREHousing Missed the Industrial Revolution. Modular Is the Catch-Up Plan.
Housing Missed the Industrial Revolution. Modular Is the Catch-Up Plan.
The Industrial Revolution was over 100 years ago. We stopped building cars by hand. We stopped making clocks one tiny part at a time. We stopped sewing most of our own clothes because factories could make them faster, cleaner, and more consistently. But housing? In 2026, we are still mostly buil
MOREFinding a Home That Loves You Back in 10 Years
Finding a Home That Loves You Back in 10 Years
Walking into a brand-new home is intoxicating. Everything sparkles. The kitchen is flawless. The lighting is perfect. The model smells like fresh paint, possibility, and maybe a little staged furniture magic. But here’s what buyers don’t hear enough: New does not mean forever-perfect. Every home
MOREWhat Is—and Isn’t—Modular Construction
What Is—and Isn’t—Modular Construction
Let’s clear up the word modular, it gets thrown around like a couch in the back of a pickup. Those little trailers you see hitched behind a truck? Not modular. That’s a trailer. Lightweight, mobile, often on wheels, and built to be moved. It functions like a vehicle more than a house, which is w
MOREThere Is No Kelley Blue Book for New Homes
There Is No Kelley Blue Book for New Homes
When buyers walk into a model home, they see the kitchen. Cabinets. Countertops. Shiny appliances. Big island. Cue the swoon. “I love this kitchen. Let’s buy this house.” Hold on. A model home is designed to make you fall in love. But love at first sight isn’t always marriage material. And here’
MOREWhat does it take to make a new home your forever home?
What does it take to make a new home your forever home?
“Forever home” gets tossed around like granite countertops and “open concept.” But a real forever home is not just the house you love on closing day. It is the house that still works for you years later. Most buyers do not move as often as the industry once assumed. Moving is expensive, disrupti
MOREWhen Rightsizing Is the Smart Move
When Rightsizing Is the Smart Move
Nobody wakes up and says, “Today feels like a great day to move.” Moving is emotional, practical, and a lot of work. But for many, there comes a point when the question is no longer Should we stay? It becomes: Does this house still fit how we want to live? That’s rightsizing. Maybe the stairs ar
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New Construction Isn’t Automatically Better Built
New Construction Isn’t Automatically Better Built
Reality TV has done buyers no favors. On TV, a couple stands on an empty lot, shrugs, and suddenly there’s a dream home. In real life? That’s fiction with good lighting. Before a foundation is ever poured, there should be plans, pricing, approvals, selections, contracts, timelines, and signed-off
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Forget the Fantasy: The Smart Buyer’s Real Best Bet for 2026
Forget the Fantasy: The Smart Buyer’s Real Best Bet for 2026
What’s a buyer’s best bet in 2026? Not the $45 million mansion. Not the real estate fantasy. Not the property that looks good on Instagram but wrecks your monthly budget. In 2026, smart buyers don’t need hype. They need options. And they need the truth about what those options really cost. I’ve ha
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Not Sure What You Want in a Home? Start Here.
Not Sure What You Want in a Home? Start Here.
Buying a home is rarely just about the house. Before anyone buys, they go through a string of questions: What fits my life right now? Do I want a starter home, a forever home, or a fixer-upper? Should I move, remodel, or stay put? First-time buyers and current homeowners ask different questions, b
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AI Just Exposed What Your Listing Is Missing
AI Just Exposed What Your Listing Is Missing
AI is changing how to search for homes, and what buyers care about. Homes.com is rolling out an AI experience, which means we’re done playing checkbox bingo and start asking real questions: Tell me about this house in Japanese. Can this kitchen actually work for me? Will my bed fit? What are the
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The "Convenience Trap": Why Selling "As-Is" Might Be Your Most Expensive Mistake
The "Convenience Trap": Why Selling "As-Is" Might Be Your Most Expensive Mistake
Home is their biggest financial asset for most homeowners. Once sellers reach about age 70, they get lower sale prices for their houses compared with younger owners (ref: Center for Retirement Research at Boston College). A typical home price of $405,400 might get a 5% lower price = $20,270. Onc
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Builder Incentives Decoded
Builder Incentives Decoded
You’re hearing “builder incentives” everywhere—rate specials, closing cost help, and “free” upgrades. Naturally, you’re wondering two things: Is it real? And what’s the catch? Incentives can be fantastic... if you understand exactly what you’re getting (and what you’re quietly paying for). 1. Th
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Are Your Energy Bills a Silent Mortgage?
Are Your Energy Bills a Silent Mortgage?
Everybody’s talking affordability—price, taxes, insurance. Meanwhile, your utility bills are quietly trying to move into the guest room and start charging rent. Good news: you don’t need a full renovation to stop the bleed. A few smart upgrades + better habits can keep your energy bills from bec
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A HERS Score in Plain English
A HERS Score in Plain English
If you’ve toured a home and thought, “It’s cute… but what’s it cost me every month?” — meet the HERS score. HERS stands for Home Energy Rating System. Think of it like a home’s MPG sticker, but for energy use. It tells you how efficiently a house runs—how much it wastes, and how much it keeps you wa
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Pretty sells. Performance wins.
Pretty sells. Performance wins.
What builders don’t show you on the tour. Unless you’ve been studying Building Science in your spare time (no judgment if you are), most homebuyers have no idea what they’re really looking at when they walk into a newly built home. Every builder starts with the same baseline: Minnesota’s building co
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Should you have an inspection on a new home?
Should you have an inspection on a new home?
Absolutely. Every single time. I know what you're thinking: "It's brand new—isn't it be perfect?" Reality check: builders are like ring masters orchestrating a three-ring circus. They coordinate high-flying roofers, precision electricians, HVAC techs, and specialized crews- working under tight deadl
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If Your House Didn’t Sell in 2025, Let’s Hit Reset (Not Panic)
If Your House Didn’t Sell in 2025, Let’s Hit Reset (Not Panic)
If your listing expired or didn’t sell last year, you’re not alone. Thousands of homeowners pulled the plug in 2025—because it wasn’t a stellar year for real estate.The problem? Market stats only tell us what sold—average price, days on market, list-to-sale. They never say what didn’t sell… or why
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How to Write an Offer That Wins Without Overpaying
How to Write an Offer That Wins Without Overpaying
In 2022, writing an offer felt like running a marathon at sprint speed. I’d call the listing agent and ask the obvious question: “Do you have any other offers?”The response was predictable: “Yes—11 offers. Highest and best by 3 PM.” That spring, I wrote six offers for one buyer. We offered $30,000
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Do Your Energy Bills Make You Cry???
Do Your Energy Bills Make You Cry???
When you get an email from Counterpoint or Excel Energy, does your heart skip a beat? Especially in winter when the temps plummet below zero? Is there anything you can do to make a difference? We know that the cost of everything is going up, with or without tariffs, but there are a few things that
MOREThe dream isn’t dead. It just needs a plan.
The dream isn’t dead. It just needs a plan.
No down payment yet? No idea where to start? You’re not behind. You’re just early. When you buy (or sell) a home, closing feels like the finish line. In real life, it’s the first page of the next chapter. I’ve seen both sides of that table. The hard chapter no one posts about During the Recession, I
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Before You Sign That Contract.......
Before You Sign That Contract.......
Before you sign that contract…7 Questions You Need to Ask the Builder Buyers are always excited when they walk into a brand-new home.They swoon over the kitchen, fall in love with the décor, imagine hosting holidays around that 10-foot island. But here’s the thing: you’re buying so much more than qu
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