BRIX Report vol. VI

THE BRIX REPORT Volume VI “I N S P I R E D ” Life & Real Estate in the Twin Cities

THE BRIX REPORT Volume VI “I N S P I R E D ” Life & Real Estate in the Twin Cities

Cover Photo by Adewale Agboola thegoodhomies_

BRIX Real Estate is a boutique brokerage operating in the Twin Cities that puts clients first in every respect. By celebrating and refining the craft of real estate, participating in the betterment of our local community and taking great pride in the relationships we build, we work tirelessly to provide exceptional service and an elegant, streamlined approach to every aspect of our service.

BRIX St. Paul 1390 7th Street West St. Paul, MN 55102

BRIX Minneapolis 748 North 3rd Street, Suite 100 Minneapolis, MN 55401

BRIX Maple Grove 6885 Sycamore Lane North Maple Grove, MN 55369

BRIX Burnsville 101 Burnsville Parkway Burnsville, MN 55337

BRIX Stillwater 124 2nd Street, Suite 110 Stillwater, MN 55082

BRIXTWINCITIES.COM · 612-927-2749

Contributors Kristy Hanson

Luke Finsaas

Adewale Agboola

Tracy Mumford

Editor, Writer Kristy Hanson is a freelance writer and designer based in Amsterdam, formerly of the Twin Cities. She’s the author of Karma, A Love Story; visit kristyleehanson.com to view her other projects and see what she’s been up to.

Photographer Adewale Agboola is a photographer and storyteller, now based out of Portland. His work explores simplicity, color, and movement. Recently, his editorial work on the Minneapolis Uprising was acquired by the Smithsonian.

Find more of his work at goodhomiesstudio.com.

Designer, Writer Luke Finsaas is a writer, designer, and developer from the Twin Cities. His work at Revolver was recognized as “Best of MN 2015” by City Pages and Star Tribune. Find more of his work at lfinsaas.com.

Writer Tracy Mumford is a podcast producer and writer based in Minneapolis. She has made/is making Don’t Ask Tig, Julie’s Library, The Slowdown, Decomposed, Spectacular Failures and the Peabody Award-winning 74 Seconds. She works at The New York Times. Follow her on Twitter at @mumfordmumford.

Myra Jensen

Writer Myra Jensen is a real estate agent at BRIX Real Estate and writer in Minneapolis. Find more of her work and tips at nwmetrolife.com.

Note on Market Report Data

Market Report Data represents 2020 compared to 2021 and represents all property types, including Single-Family homes, townhouses and condos. Source of all data is the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors, Multiple Listing Service.

Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. © 2 0 2 2 B R I X R E A L E S TAT E

INSIDE BRIX R E PORT VI

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L E T T E R F R O M B R I X R E A L E S TAT E

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P L A N T S , PA N T S , & P I C K L E B A L L A few tips to rejuvenate your routine.

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BURGERS BURGERS BURGERS The Classics and the Challengers — all delicious.

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PA R K S , N E A R & FA R We profile parks near and far to help you make the most of your time out.

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H O W T O S T A R T A B O O K C L U B by Tracy Mumford Because we all need help.

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F I V E A N N U A L P A S S E S F O R F A M I L I E S by Myra Jensen My favorite annual savings to maximize savings and family fun.

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S O M E S I M P L E R E A L E S TAT E A D V I C E Life is complicated — real estate doesn’t have to be.

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PEOPLE WHO INSPIRE We profile inspiring local leaders standing up for their community and doing their very best to represent the Twin Cities community at home and beyond.

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BRIX DIFFERENCE MAKERS Local organizations doing good work for our neighbors.

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E V E N T H I G H L I G H T: B R I X T O B E R F E S T The annual tradition continues with its latest incarnation.

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BRIX MARKET REPORT + OUR PREDICTIONS We explain numbers and trends from around the Twin Cities Metro. Where will the market go in 2022? We take our best guess.

Letter from BRIX Real Estate T

his year’s cover photo comes from our long-time collaborator and photographer Adewale Agboola, whose work graces three other BRIX Report covers.

2021 was a year of incredible challenges, and a year of profound resilience. While multiple waves of COVID-19 and two new COVID variants strained the fabric of our society, people refused to take it lying down. They came back to work, they picked up the pieces, started new businesses, retooled for their new environment, and kept moving forward.

Every community, every school, every business, every church, every synagogue, every mosque, every group of friends has leaders. They’re not always the obvious ones, but we know who they are. They are the people we turn to when we don’t know what to do. Sometimes we ask and sometimes we just watch to see what they will do next. These are the people that inspire us, and they come in all forms.

We crave inspiration. We constantly seek it in literature, media, entertainment, from our athletes, our coworkers, and from our friends and family. We desperately need to see people

stand up, in the face of fear, unlikely odds, and to show us what they, and what we, are capable of. We need that person to let us know that it is okay to try, to win, to lose, to fall on our face and to get up again, and ultimately, to find and embrace the greatest version of ourselves. They remind us of what we all know lies at our core.

They remind us that we each come from an unbroken lineage of survivors that goes back to the very beginning of life itself. We were born to stand, to survive; nothing could be more natural and more human.

The cover photo of this year’s BRIX Report is of Sunisa “Suni” Lee, 2020 Olympic Gymnastics Gold medalist and all-around champion, and the first Hmong-American olympian. The photo was taken at the MSP airport on August 5th upon Suni’s return home to Minnesota from the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021. Sunisa Lee is a true leader and the embodiment of inspiration.

This year’s BRIX Report is titled “Inspired”. We hope you enjoy reading about some of the leaders in our communities who have inspired us.

— BRIX Real Estate

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PLANTS, PA N T S , & PICKLEBALL Here are a few ways to support your rejuvenation, locally: Some of us have forgotten what real privacy and solitude feel like; some of us know them all too well. We’ve nested into our couches and beds and spare rooms and bath tubs; we’ve worn holes into our favorite cozy socks and pajamas or are feeling real burnt-out from work-stress.

We pulled together a few easy ideas to rejuvenate your routine.

Plants: Always a Good Idea Having plants in the home is a hot trend, and for good reason. The flash of green, the routine of caring for a plant, the air-purifying beauty of a pothos stretching its vines. Go nuts at these nurseries or start slow with a plant or two.

When we think of Mother Co., Plants, a warm room full of sharp-edged and spiny cacti comes to mind. It doesn’t sound like a cozy, welcoming place, but the terra cotta pots, long-limbed ferns, smell of dirt, and even the arms of a tall cactus draw you in. It almost feels like walking into another world, but here you are encouraged to take a piece home with you.

Highland Nurseries is another classic nursery with greenhouse vibes, helpful staff, and an assortment of garden accessories.

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Pants: Also a Good Idea Whether the idea of of participating in social events again has you cowering under the covers or ripping through your closet for your snazziest outfit, everyone needs style and comfort.

Jaxon Grey feels like walking into a beautiful Instagram ad. They describe themselves as a community of brands, always on the search for partnership with innovative high-quality clothing and lifestyle brands. While the store is geared towards men’s clothing, they sell women’s clothing as well.

DUER No Sweat Jogger, available at Jaxon Grey

After you’ve finished shopping at JG, walk across the street to Minneapolis mainstay Martin Patrick 3. MP3 sells apparel, furnishings, jewelry and more.

They also offer personal shopping, suit tailoring, interior design services, and have an in-house barber shop. Needless to say, this place is classy.

And Don’t Forget To Play Remember when Plato said you can learn more about a person in a hour of play than a year of conversation? We agree. Beyond the bonding and having a blast, play is an excellent way to exercise and reduce stress. The score is always fun to fun.

To start we have one word for you, followed by many: PICKLEBALL. Think ping pong meets tennis meets badminton. You get a solid paddle and hit a wiffle ball back and forth across a net in groups of two or four. Sound fun? Check out Lucky Shots Pickleball Club in NE Minneapolis to rent a court, join a league, or take lessons in this new fab sport.

Looking for a different sort of thrill? Grab your best buds and head over to Bad Axe Throwing to... well, you know — throw axes.

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BURGERS BURGERS BURGERS This issue of the BRIX Report is ostensibly about inspiration, but when it comes to food all we can think about is comfort.

The burger is one of the steadfast bulwarks of classic American comfort cuisine. Thankfully, the Twin Cities has no shortage of foodies — or of innovative chefs to feed them. This is by no means an exhaustive list of best burgers in the Twin Cities metro, but it’s a good starting point for outstanding classics.

Parlour

Parlour

North Loop Minneapolis & West 7th in St. Paul · $$$

The Parlour Burger is like if Jucy Lucy’s chic Parisian cousin came to stay, but then fell in love with our epic winters and dairy cows and just couldn’t stay away. Parlour is an elevated cocktail bar, the original location located in the North Loop, but their burger is simple. Decadent, but simple: double-patty, white American cheese, butteriest bun. Get yourself a Parlour Old-Fashioned to wash it down.

Matt’s Bar South Minneapolis · $

Can a burger list exist in the Twin Cities without featuring the Icon? There are plenty of Juicy Lucy’s in town, but the OG lives at Matt’s. Jucy Lucy is the ooziest, savoriest delight. Presidents have eaten here. Your neighbor has eaten here. Each bite is an opportunity to bask in the meaty glow of all who came before you.

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Matt’s Bar Image by The Hunger Diaries

Red Cow

50th & France, Uptown, North Loop & St. Paul · $$

Not a dive bar, not an elevated eatery, think of Red Cow as your local tavern: delicious food in a comfortable ‘sitdown-and-settle-in’ environment. It’s hard to recommend just one burger here: you got your beef, your veggie, your turkey, your vegan options. Really, your best bet is to go with a group of friends who are cool with sharing. Make sure to get coleslaw, truffle fries, and tots on the side — just to cover all your bases.

Red Cow

Burger Dive

St. Paul & Roseville (Potluck) · $$

Burger Dive hopes to emulate all the atmosphere of a dive bar without being truly dive-y. The outcome is simple dive-bar worthy burgers and snacks, without the grunginess or worry about the state of the kitchen. This burger celebrates the best of dive: no frills, all excellence, totally delicious.

Burger Dive

J. Selby’s

Cathedral Hill in St. Paul · $$

Now this vegan restaurant doesn’t serve a traditional burger, per se — but what is a burger, really, beyond the patties? Nostalgia, comfort, warm, filling, and oh-so-indulgent.

J. Selby’s Dirty Secret ticks all the boxes.

This double-decker vegan take on the Big Mac features delicious two ‘beaf’ patties and American ‘cheeze.’ Do yourself a favor and try the Buffalo (Cauliflower) Wings.

J. Selby’s

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PA R K S , N E A FA R

Interstate

Parks and urban green spaces are integral to overall public health, climate resilience, and community cohesiveness.

While parks can feel like a luxury, these past couple of years have demonstrated how necessary communal outdoor space is to our collective well-being. Sometimes, living in an urban environment can feel like living in a concrete jungle; trying to find a nearby park can get you feeling lost in the weeds.

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While parks can often be a quick walk away, sometimes it’s necessary to make a day of it.

Really feel like you’re getting out of town.

BRIX is here to tell you all about state parks near and far. Be sure to check the park’s website (i.e., the QR codes) for updated hours and entrance fees.

R & William O’Brien This park boasts one of the best canoeing rivers in Minnesota: the St. Croix.

Located about an hour out of the Twin Cities, this place is popular with anglers and hikers alike. We definitely recommend a canoe paddle through this park so you can view the rolling woods, jutting sandstone cliffs, and flowered meadows — all while enjoying the water.

William O’Brien

Interstate Nestled between Minnesota and Wisconsin, the St. Croix also ambles through this park system. (In fact, there’s a shuttle system for paddlers between William O’Brien and Interstate Parks.) While this park is known for its excellent kayaking, beautiful sandstone and broad-leafed forested vistas, it’s the geology of the park that draws international attention. There are no less than ten lava flows visible in this park, two glacial deposits, and rocks/sediments from three different geologic eras. This park is living visible history.

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Lake Maria

Lake Maria Wonder what southeast Minnesota used to look like way back in the day? Really into cross-country skiing? Head on over to Lake Maria State Park, a land of sweet rolling hills and one of the last stands of what’s known as the “Big Woods” (a stand of trees that used to cover over 3,000 miles of SE MN and, in some areas, was so thick sunlight couldn’t penetrate the forest floor). It’s also home to an endangered species in Minnesota: the Blandings turtle, identifiable by the yellow bespeckling its shell.

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CAN’T GET OUT OF TOWN? Did you know that 99% of St. Paul residents and 98% of Minneapolis residents live within a ten-minute walk of a park?

Find which parks are closest to you on The Trust for Public Land:

Fort Snelling Want to get a taste of the grand outdoors without leaving city limits? Fort Snelling, located in St. Paul, is snuggled into the crux of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers. Meaning you’ll be able to hike or bike through trails, glide through the glorious waters on a canoe, step foot on Pike Island, or — for the city-minded folks — play a quick game of golf.

Crosby Farm The name gives it away — this area used to be a farmstead owned by Thomas Crosby. After his death, it was farmed by others until the city acquired the property in the 1960s. This park is beautiful and runs along the OG river road: the Mississippi. It’s perfect for a leisurely stroll, run, or bike ride. You can travel through wetlands on wooden slats, cruise beneath the green glow of a tall floodplain forest or walk on the beach and admire the cliffs on the other side of the river.

Clifton E. French The Mississippi is great and all, but sometimes you just want to relax alongside the gentle lapping of lake water. At Clifton E. French Regional Park, you can paddle, fish and swim in Medicine Lake. Fancy a water-free adventure? Bring your kids and check out the epic playground in the park, play your hand at geocaching, or hike through the woods surrounding the lake.

Fort Snelling

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HOW TO S TA R T A BOOKCLUB

by Tracy Mumford

Do you have Oprah’s phone number?

Oh, you do? Seriously? Like, her personal line?

Dang. OK. Kudos, then. This advice is not for you. Please give her my best.

you might have otherwise missed. So ask your neighbor, the co-worker you’ve been meaning to get coffee with, or that friend of a friend who just moved to town.

For the rest of you who are not able to personally hit up the biggest name in book clubs, there’s still hope for you. You, too, can have a book club, even if publishers aren’t going to stamp your name on the cover of every book you pick. Here’s how to build a book club — and keep it going.

Go Outside Your Immediate Friend Circle Your friends are a great place to start, but you’re already in a group chat. You know their thoughts on current events, the newest Netflix trash, and what that girl from college just posted on Instagram.

The fun of a book club is meeting up with people who will pick books that surprise you — and who will point out things in those books

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Check out Louise Erdrich’s prolific and stunning backlist

You can also check out book club postings at your local bookstore, and maybe even talk to strangers! Highly recommended.

Consider Going Small

Enjoy light terror and a creeping sense of doom with Benjamin Percy

Look, Oprah has her book club, we’ve established that. Mark Zuckerberg tried to have a book club. One of the Bush twins has a book club. We know this because the book covers tell us this: They have stickers shouting that they are the chosen ones! Congratulations to them, I’m sure they’re good.

But this is your book club. What deserves your sticker? Consider finding a book from a small press. You’ll be praised for surfacing a hidden gem, and your book club will marvel at your discerning taste. (If you’re not sure where to start in finding books from small presses, your local bookstore will hook you up.)

Actually Read The Book I know, this is controversial. A book club that talks about the book? Try it! Kevin can talk about his dog’s new booties in another forum.

Kao Kalia Yang’s memoirs are unforgettable and filled with grace

Embrace the Paperback Some people have a taste for the newest, juiciest books, and they rush to get every hardcover.

(I have this problem, too, my bookshelves will tell you.) But picking the newest books doesn’t always make it easy for book clubs.

I recommend picking books that came out a year or more ago. If it still seems promising, that means it wasn’t just an overhyped blip. And it will have gone into paperback, which makes it more budget-friendly, and more likely that people can grab a copy from the library in time to read it.

Reading Minnesota It’s an old joke that Minnesota’s writing scene is fueled by the long winters, with people stuck inside with nothing to do but pour it all out on the page. But, is it wrong?

If you want to go local with your book club, try this: Add some light terror and a creeping sense of doom with a pick from Benjamin Percy. Enjoy anything from the prolific and stunning backlist of Louise Erdrich. If you have a taste for memoir, try Kao Kalia Yang. David Treuer’s “Prudence” is a great historical trip; Peter Geye truly captures the cold in his novels. And anything from Coffee House Press or Graywolf Press counts as local, right? Your list runneth over.

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FIVE ANNUA PA S S E S F O R F A M I LY F U N The cost of admissions to museums or amusement parks can start adding up — especially if you have a family.

by Myra Jensen My boys have always loved science; we got into the habit of buying a household or family membership to the Science Museum of Minnesota after realizing the cost of four admissions to the museum and Omnitheater almost added up to the price of the yearly pass.

This realization opened the door for us to explore other fun museums and park memberships.

Now we like to plan our weekends around the locations and activities that are available to us through our passes!

Membership passes support a great cause, keeps these locations affordable for everybody, and are often tax deductible. The ones we’ve listed here are a great value, and there are many additional discounts available for military families (often free), teachers, people with disabilities and others.

Check the specific websites to find out more.

Purchasing all of these passes would give a family of four access to almost 3,000 sites in the U.S. for a little over $600!

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Science Musuem of Minnesota

Science Museum of Minnesota Located in downtown St. Paul on the banks of the Mississippi River, the Science Museum of Minnesota has over 70,000 feet of exhibition space and an Omnitheater. Exhibits are tailored to adults and children, and there are a lot of handson interactive displays. Cost ranges from $89.00 for a dual membership to $139 for a household membership and includes admission to the

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Minnesota Historical Society An annual pass from the Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) gets you free general admission to the History center in downtown St. Paul and so much more. The History Center has all kinds of great exhibits (check out the Fridley Tornado exhibit!) and events, including outdoor concerts. This is also where the Gale Family Library is located, where you can research your Minnesotan family history. Basic annual MNHS membership runs from $50 (Basic Single) to $99 (Household Plus).

In addition, membership to the MNHS gives you admission to all 26 historic sites in Minnesota, including the Oliver Kelley Farm, Fort Snelling, the Mill City Museum, and the Split Rock Lighthouse. You also have membership to Time Travelers which gives you free or reduced admission to historical sites around the country.

Image from the Minnesota Historical Society’s Exhibition ‘Our Home: Native Minnesota’ · Winter 2019

museum and Omnitheater, discounts on special exhibitions, gift shop and parking.

The Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) Travel Passport program is included with the membership. This provides you with free or discounted admission to participating science centers and museums all over the country.

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Minnesota Zoo and Como Zoo The Minnesota Zoo offers annual memberships ranging from $65 (Individual) to $155 (Household). Membership includes free admission and parking, store discounts, and half-price admission to more than 100 zoos across the country.

Como Zoo in St. Paul is one of the treasures of the Twin Cities. While admission is free, purchasing a membership helps Como Zoo

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stay free and accessible. A membership also gives you free or reduced admission to over 400 zoos and botanical gardens nationwide. A basic membership ranges from $55.00 (Individual) to $100.00 (Household).

Both zoos are open year round, and have a nice mix of indoor and outdoor exhibits which is perfect for a winter or summer visit.

Minnesota Zoofrom Minnesota Zoo Image

Minnehaha Regional Park

Minnesota State Parks

National Park Service

The Minnesota State Parks annual permit gives you access to 75 state parks and recreation areas across Minnesota. For an annual cost of only $35 per vehicle, this is one of the most inexpensive ways to enjoy the outdoors. There is so much to do at these parks! Camping, fishing, geocaching and much more! The parks closest to the Twin Cities are Fort Snelling State Park, Afton State Park, Minnesota Valley State Trail, Lake Maria State Park, William O’Brien State Park and Interstate Park.

There is one national park in Minnesota: Voyageur National Park. There are also five national monuments or scenic areas.

The America the Beautiful Annual Pass gives you access to those in addition to over 2,000 sites across the country, including Yellowstone National Park, Glacier National Park, Devils Tower National Monument and many more!

See ‘Parks, Near and Far’ on Page 14 for more!

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SOME SIMPL R E A L E S TAT ADVICE How do you make sure that you’re getting the most for your home?

Simple. Talk to your real estate agent.

We expect that 2022 will be another recordsetting year for sellers. The inventory of homes for sale is down by almost 15% from available inventory at the beginning of 2021 — an already historically tight market. As inventory decreases, the importance of getting to market earlier has increased. If you are considering selling and you wait until it’s green outside, you may miss out on some green in your wallet.

to your agent and put together a plan. One might point out that we are a real estate brokerage so of course we’d say this. Fair point.

But how do you get the most money for the largest asset you own? Simple. The best way to maximize your sale price in 2022 is to reach out

Sellers that do not use a full-time, quality agent ­— or want to ‘give it a go’ on their own — will net 6 to 14% less on average, depending on time of year and market conditions. On a $300,000 home, that means between $18,000-$42,000 less compared to their neighbors who’ve hired a professional real estate agent.

But the numbers don’t lie. Whether you’re working with BRIX Real Estate or another brokerage, the chances are you’ll get significantly more for your home by working with an agent.

How does an agent create that much additional value? It’s both simpler and more complicated than you might think. Real estate agents spend a lot of

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LE E

time watching trends: in the market, in the technology that sell homes, in how buyers want a home to look, feel, and smell. We can also spot red flags, in your home or the other party’s.

We know how to do this because we do it year after year, season after season.

We know this: regardless of whether you’re selling or buying, timing is important. Understanding when the market is on the rise, falling, or peaking each season may put thousands more in your pocket. By the time most media sources are reporting the Twin Cities market trends, the market is already moving in the other direction.

This is why it is so important to stay in good communication with your agent if you are looking to get into the market.

Although buying in the late winter and spring markets can be much more competitive, there still are deals to be found. Look for homes that are vacant/unstaged, have a limited number of photos in the listing, don’t have professional real estate photos, or were initially overpriced.

These homes can be prime for negotiation. A home that has these marketing issues may sell for between 5-14% under other comparable listings in the area. These also tend to be the homes with a longer than average market time.

But give your agent a call. Sooner is better. The more lead time an agent has, the better chance they’ll be able to get you the best deal on the largest asset you’ll likely ever own.

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PEOPLE WHO INSPIRE When times are hard or confusing or *gestures broadly to current state of affairs,* we look for a leader.

But what makes a leader? Is it charisma? The ability to inspire confidence and trust? 400 million followers on Instagram? When we at BRIX asked ourselves these questions, one word kept coming up. The leaders we were drawn to were this: inspiring.

They were members of our community we found ourselves looking to time and time again.

Those who had a dedication to excellence, a commitment to craft, a compassionate and empathetic heart.

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But there was something else we couldn’t put our finger on at first. We initially thought it had something to do with overcoming adversity. And to be frank — everyone on our list has had to overcome significant challenges. However, we soon realized these leaders celebrated and cared for their community, all the people around them whether they were family, friends, a cabal of fans, or complete strangers. These people didn’t only want to be the best; they wanted to set a strong example for others, to be a voice for the silenced, and — though it sounds corny to say — make the world a better place.

SARAH SUPER

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fter surviving a brutal sexual assault, Sarah Super fought back in every way she could.

She spoke out about the attack, started a nonprofit called ‘Break the Silence,’ organized and developed a memorial (the nation’s first for sexual assualt survivors), and became a fierce advocate for survivors.

One in five women have been assaulted; yet so many people don’t think they know someone who has experienced this sort of harm.

This surprised Sarah. It also motivated her to organize. She believes that the way our society understands sexual violence and their proximity to it and survivors will only change if we offer more support and safe spaces for women to speak about their experiences and name their assailants.

The Survivor’s Memorial is located on Boom Island in Hennepin Park. Note the

mosaic — proof that what’s been broken can be put back together, and the ripples — a symbol for the power of speaking out, using your voice to amplify your story and how that can inspire others to share theirs as well.

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KEONA COOK

W

hen Keona Cook learned that the Home Economics class had been taken off of her old high school’s curriculum, she realized someone had to step in. Not only to teach a class about cooking or sewing, but to create a diverse environment where kids could practice leadership, build self-confidence, and learn important life skills.

She established Lovely Sewing & Arts Collective in 2009 as a way to share a life skill — sewing — with her community. The Collective’s mission is to shift and heal the mindsets of our youth through community and relationship building, one sewing stitch at a time. Over the past decade, the organization has grown to include classes like yoga, dance, public speaking, entrepreneurship, poetry, and more. Keona’s ultimate goal is to bind communities together through love, art, and an equitable investment into all the youth of the Twin Cities Metro.

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Outside of the Collective, Keona is also the owner and head designer of Qe’Bella Couture, a boutique creating timeless and gorgeous garments.

LISA CLEMONS

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isa Clemons is a retired Minneapolis police officer, Minneapolis community member, and mother of five — all of which gives her a unique understanding of her community’s needs. She has seen all sides of how families and individuals are affected by gun violence and lack of resources. Lisa realized that a lot of what the community needs already exists, but something was missing — a leader.

Someone to equitably allocate resources and encourage Minneapolites to work together as a team. Someone who listened to community members and invested in relationships.

Lisa founded A Mother’s Love Initiative in 2014, a community outreach and education organization. The organization focused on single mothers at first, offering classes that taught life skills and brought families together. From the

beginning, Lisa ran into difficulties. She felt like it was hard to be heard and seen — like nobody wanted to look at or acknowledge the struggles of black mothers and families. Still, she and the members of her organization went door-to-door, reached out with resources, and tried to meet their community’s needs and build relationships.

Currently, A Mother’s Love Initiative offers a support system to families and communities in need, especially those affected from violence with guns.

Members use their own life experiences to meet families where they’re at, provide mentoring and coaching services, life skills classes, and so much more. One of their core beliefs is that a strong family makes for a strong future.

Lisa has been and will continue to be a prominent voice in Minneapolis, advocating for families and those who aren’t heard.

Years ago, she got a phone call from the Minneapolis Chief of Police. He needed her help.

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CHILDREN ARE THE FUTURE Yes, yes, we know, a cliché.

But when we were preteens, we were reading Animorphs in the closet to avoid chores or fighting over the Atari controller. Some of us (who will remain nameless) were catching bees with our bare hands and putting them in an aquarium to create a ‘Bee Circus.’ (This Circus did not perform well.)

These kids inspire us, not only with their industriousness, but with their ability to engage in their community.

SADI HUSTED Sadie Husted started Wiggly Butt, a dog apparel and treat store, when she was 12 years old. The inspiration? “One of my biggest passions in life is baking and the other is my puppies,” she writes. Sadie wanted to develop the perfect dog treat for maximum cute dog butt wiggles.

Wiggly Butt is now a family-owned and operated business, offering a range of dog treats like ‘Pumpkin Perfection’ (a cake, for dogs) and their classic ‘Peanut Butter Perfection Dog Treats.’ You can also pick up a cute hat, t-shirt, or bandana and sport your Wiggly Butt love.

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Photo by Elaine De Franco Olson

THE EWING SOUTH POST The Ewing South Post is as local as it gets. Started by three Minneapolis siblings, Cris and Gabriella Olson, 11-years-old, and Lucia Olson, 9-yearsold, The Ewing South Post is a print newspaper covering stories in the girls’ neighborhood.

Neighbors can also submit original artwork, poetry, or recipes.

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SUNISA LEE M

innesota grips their local celebrities like a dog grips its favorite tennis ball. Did you know Josh Hartnett’s from Minnesota? My cousin’s boyfriend’s sister’s best friend went to high school with him. Prince? Totally Minnesotan. Paisley Park is just around the corner from me. You know Bob Dylan’s from here? We painted his face on a wall. Don’t listen to Michigan — Paul Bunyan is Minnesotan, through and through.

The Coen Brothers, Jessicas’ Lange and Biel, Marlon James, Lindsey Vonn, Vince Vaughn, and now... Sunisa Lee. Sunisa “Suni” Lee, a Minnesotan from St. Paul. Olympic Gold Medalist. Outstanding Gymnast. First Hmong-American Olympian. A young woman whose dreams just came true. The daughter of two very proud parents, a sister to three siblings, and a current college student.

Prior to stepping on the sprung floor in Tokyo, Suni wasn’t sure she’d be able to compete in the Olympics. Like any great hero, she faced trials and tribulations: her father — just days before the Nationals competition — fell off of a ladder and landed in the hospital with severe injuries; Sunisa’s aunt and uncle were lost to COVID and the Lee family was deep in grief; she herself was recovering from series of injuries including a twisted ankle and a tibial hairline

fracture; and then, of course, the obstacle of COVID-19 as it advanced and retreated like some nightmare wave. Suni figured the Olympics would be canceled or that she’d never be able to go.

But the Olympics weren’t canceled. They were rescheduled and Suni’s body recovered. Her impressive showing at the Olympic Trials secured her a spot on the US team. Soon, it was official.

Suni was off to the Olympics.

Winning a gold medal for all-around gymnast is an impressive feat. Post-Olympics, Suni is one of America’s most decorated female gymnasts. However, it isn’t her medals alone that inspire us. It’s everything before and during and after. Suni has been training as a gymnast for years, for hours a day. She’s always been committed to excellence in her craft. She’s dedicated to being a role model for young women, especially in the Hmong community.

Suni didn’t train endlessly to win the gold medal just for herself. She did it for her community, for all first-generation Hmong Americans, and, as she told the The New York Times, for her father — her biggest champion.

Suni’s love for her family, her perseverance in training, and her triumphant return to Minnesota, as seen on our cover this year, inspires us.

But the Olympics weren’t canceled. They were rescheduled and Suni’s body recovered.

33

BRIX DIFFERENCE MAKERS BRIX is in the business of helping our clients buy and sell homes, but we recognize that no home is an island.

Rather, each home is part of a neighborhood, a city, of an intricate ecosystem that relies on certain infrastructures. These organizations and neighborhood leaders hold up our communities and ensure that more of our neighbors can thrive.

MN Prison Writing Workshop Since 2001, MN Prison Writing Workshop (MPWW) grew from a single creative writing class taught to 10 Lino Lake inmates to an organization boasting 25 instructors, a variety of classes across prison systems, and published anthologies. Inmates are people, too, with creative vision, a need for rehabilitation, and restorative practices. MPWW works to challenge stereotypes about people who are incarcerated while bringing together different spheres of the literary community in Minnesota.

34

Urban Roots Urban Roots is committed to empowering youth and increasing access to nature, healthy foods, and hands-on experience.

From seed-to-table cooking classes, paid internships, and community gardens, Urban Roots focuses on improving health and the environment through service to the community.

Bridging

Crisis Nursery

Founded in 1987, Bridging’s motto is to ‘furnish homes with hope.’ For families and individuals challenged by homelessness and poverty, this organization provides quality furniture and appliances. They serve over 4,000 clients annually — over half of which are under the age of 17. Bridging’s core values are to support the dignity of their clients and provide them with excellent service.

We talk about the Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery in almost every issue of the BRIX Report we put out — and for good reason. In order to maintain strong communities, we need to support children and families. The Crisis Nursery knows that no matter what a family looks like, parents and children sometimes need a little help. Their mission is to provide services to those who need it and they always strive towards the goal of ending child abuse.

35

In 2021, we held our annual party in the fall for the first time and wow — BRIXtoberfest was a blast. Friends enjoyed delicious food and tasty drinks from Centro, per usual, facepainting, axe throwing, live metal casting with WOW Metal Lab & Show, music from Bluewater Kings Band, and a fire show from Celestial Circus Productions.

Want to come next year? Talk to your BRIX agent — they’ll have your invite ready!

36

37

BRIX MARK

W

hen we analyze a market, we want to understand why home prices are going up or down, how fast a home will likely sell, and what homebuyers are snapping up or skipping over.

Consumers today are awash in data on the housing market, and that data is often inexplicable and even contradictory. We’re in the business of giving advice to our clients and we want that advice to be based on all the facts in our arsenal.

The Market Snapshots in the BRIX Report compare the data from 2020 to 2021 and uses four key market indicators to give you a sense of trends.

38

ET REPORT

39

THE BRIXIES

T W I N C I T I E S R E A L E S TAT E A W A R D S Like the Golden Globes, but instead of movies and TV, it’s real estate.

We love data ­(see the following pages) — we also love giving out awards. That’s why we’re pleased to introduce the inaugural version of The BRIXies, Twin Cities real estate awards. With a bit of humor, we surface trends hiding in the data.

H E R E T O D A Y, GONE TOMO—

THE RACE FOR DOS COMMAS

WINNER: LAKE ELMO

WINNER: WAYZATA

In 2021, Lake Elmo saw an -81.3% decrease in days on market, the most precipitous fall in town. Homes in Lake Elmo last only 6 days on market, fastest in the metro.

Wayzata is on the verge of adding a second comma to their median sales price. Currently $917,987, we expect that the median home sale in Wayzata will exceed a million bucks in 2022.

Runners-up: Savage & St. Michael

Runners-up: Medina & Shorewood

RABBITS

BIGGEST GAINZ

WINNER: ROBBINSDALE

WINNER: SHOREWOOD

Robbinsdale saw 60% more homes sold in 2021 — the most significant increase in total sales — with a total of 318 sales.

Shorewood saw an +32.2% increase in their median sales price, bringing the number to a whooping $739,995. They’re still third behind Medina and Wayzata, but watch out!

Runners-up: St. Anthony & St. Paul Condos

40

Runners-up: Medina, Lake Elmo, & Wayzata

11

average days on market

TH E B E A R HU G WINNER: LAKE MINNETONKA Beating out six other communities that saw their inventory sliced in half, the Lake Minnetonka Area saw their inventory reduced by 56.7% to 1.4 months.

Runners-up: Medina, Lake Elmo, & Wayzata

T H E S TAT E O F T H E M E T R O — T O TA L S

-42.1%

1.2

months of inventory

-33.3%

$336,000 median sales price

+11.3%

THE PYTHON WINNER: WHITE BEAR LAKE White Bear Lake’s inventory didn’t get sliced in half — they were already in a tight situation.

This community only has 0.7 months of inventory, an 11.1% decrease from last year.

Runners-up: Medina, Lake Elmo, & Wayzata

66,464 total sales

+4.4% 41

What Do The Numbers Mean?

42

D AY S O N M A R K E T This is the median number of days from the listing date to the day that the listing broker reports in the MLS that the seller has accepted a contract for purchase. We show Median Days on Market, which represents the point at which half the homes went under contract in fewer days and half went under contract in more days. When the total number of Days on Market decreases from one year to the next, this indicates that it is a “seller’s market,” because buyers are quickly going under contract on homes. Homes at the upper end of the price range in nearly all communities have longer Days on Market, simply because there are fewer buyers of more expensive homes.

MONTH’S INVENTORY We show this as the active inventory of homes for sale versus the previous twelve months of homes reported as Under Contract. Think of it this way: if the Month’s Inventory is two, this means that the available number of houses would be sold out in two months. This is based on the rate of sales in the past year. A low Month’s Inventory shows that houses are selling quickly.

There are fewer buyers for higher-priced homes, so the higher-end market usually has a greater Month’s Inventory.

MEDIAN SALES PRICE Median represents the point at which half of the homes that sold in a given year were priced higher and half were priced lower. Calculations are based on Sold data and the prices do not account for seller concessions (e.g. a closing cost credit). We don’t use Average Sales Price because even just a small number of very high or very low priced transactions can distort our understanding of the market. A year-to-year decrease or increase in Median Sales Price needs to be carefully analyzed. In a market with a relatively small number of sales, it may mean that a number of much lower or much higher-priced homes were sold in this year compared to the previous year.

T O TA L S A L E S This is a count of the actual sales that have closed in a given year. Calculations are based on Sold data from the Northstar Multiple Listing Service and do not include off-market transactions. A decrease in Total Sales doesn’t necessarily mean that the market is declining, because if the Inventory is low there may simply not be enough houses to meet buyer demand. An increase in Total Sales from one year to the next may reflect a variety of conditions, such as the opening of a major new subdivision or condo building, or a dramatic change in interest rates.

Arden Hills

Bloomington

Brooklyn Center

Brooklyn Park

Burnsville

Champlin

Columbia Heights

E

L O S #

L A S

IN

V

E

E

S

N

D

T

P

O

R

R

IC

Y

T E K R A M N O

Apple Valley

9 days

0.8 months

$325,000

1,008

-40%

-27.3%

+13.2%

+2.5%

7

1

$382,500

112

-41.7%

-37.5%

8.1%

+15.5%

10

1.2

$325,000

1,408

-28.6%

-14.3%

10.2%

+15.1%

11

1.1

$262,000

547

-26.7%

-8.3%

+11.5%

+18.1%

10

1.2

$314,950

1,348

-37.5%

-20%

+11.3%

-0.2%

10

1

$330,500

1,086

-44.4%

-23.1%

+12%

+2.8%

7

1.3

$330,900

406

-53.3%

-27.8%

+16.1%

-12.3%

10

1.1

$265,000

416

-28.6%

-21.4%

+11.3%

+29.6%

43

Cottage Grove

Crystal

Eagan

Eden Prairie

Edina

Fridley

Golden Valley

44

E

L O S #

L A S

IN

V

E

E

S

N

D

T

P

O

R

R

IC

Y

T E K R A M N O

Coon Rapids

8 days

0.8 months

$285,050

1,173

-38.5%

-20%

+11.8%

-1.3%

10

1.2

$354,500

838

-33.3%

-25%

+13.5%

+5%

9

0.8

$280,000

503

-18.2%

-20%

+10.9%

+20.3%

9

0.8

$350,000

1,097

+35.7%

-33.3%

+10.4%

+11.8%

11

1.1

$425,500

1,240

-45%

-38.9%

+12%

+18.1%

19

1.9

$585,000

1,133

-38.7%

-42.4%

+12.5%

+12.4%

8

0.7

$290,000

486

-42.9%

-36.4%

+11.5%

+12%

11

1.1

$385,000

433

-26.7%

-38.9%

+3.8%

+4.3%

Hudson, WI

Inver Grove Heights

Lake Elmo

Lake Minnetonka Area Lakeville

Little Canada

Maple Grove

E

L O S #

L A S

IN

V

E

E

S

N

D

T

P

O

R

R

IC

Y

T E K R A M N O

Hopkins

13 days

1.1 months

$286,000

238

-7.1%

-8.3%

+2.5%

+19%

31

2

$395,000

543

-27.9%

-47.4%

+10.4%

+1.9%

11

1

$303,000

539

-26.7%

-28.6%

+12.2%

+9.3%

6

1.7

$547,165

332

-81.3%

-55.3%

+10.7%

-1.2%

12

1.4

$610,000

1,169

-64.7%

-57.6%

+21%

-3.1%

8

1.1

$434,950

1,699

-52.9%

-45%

+10.1%

+8.8%

10

0.9

$327,500

128

-47.4%

-35.7%

+26.2%

+5.8%

9

0.9

$370,000

1,553

-50%

-30.8%

+10.4%

-1.7%

45

Medina

Mendota Heights

Minneapolis Single-Family Minneapolis Townhomes/Condos Minnetonka

Mounds View

New Brighton

46

E

L O S #

L A S

IN

V

E

E

S

N

D

T

P

O

R

R

IC

Y

T E K R A M N O

Maplewood

10 days

0.9 months

$296,500

671

-41.2%

-30.8%

+11.4%

+12%

13

1.7

$784,950

151

-71.7%

-57.5%

+20.8%

-6.2%

11

1.6

$507,500

194

-63.3%

-30.4%

+27.7%

+18.3%

12

1.2

$325,000

5,033

-14.3%

-29.4%

+6.2%

+12.5%

47

4

$265,000

1,626

+38.2%

0%

-1.9%

+22.1%

14

1.3

$425,000

1,079

-33.3%

-40.9%

+6.5%

+11.2%

8

0.9

$293,477

144

-42.9%

+12.5%

+9.2%

+14.3%

12

0.8

$330,235

335

-14.3%

-38.5%

+8.6%

+25.9%

Oakdale

Otsego

Plymouth

Prior Lake

Richfield

Robbinsdale

Rogers

E

L O S #

L A S

IN

V

E

E

S

N

D

T

P

O

R

R

IC

Y

T E K R A M N O

New Hope

8 days

0.9 months

$320,000

362

-38.5%

-25%

+10.3%

+12.8%

9

0.8

$295,000

511

-40%

-20%

+13.5%

+3.2%

9

1.2

$384,950

676

-55%

-52%

+12.4%

+4%

11

0.9

$440,000

1,544

-42.1%

-40%

+12.8%

-2.6%

10

1.2

$445,000

680

-50%

-45.5%

+14.1%

-7.9%

9

0.9

$321,000

617

-25%

-18.2%

+10.7%

+14.5%

10

1.1

$276,750

318

-23.1%

0%

+5.6%

-60%

9

1

$425,000

286

-40%

-33.3%

+19%

+15.8%

47

Savage

Shakopee

Shoreview

Shorewood

South St. Paul

St. Michael

St. Anthony

48

E

L O S #

L A S

IN

V

E

E

S

N

D

T

P

O

R

R

IC

Y

T E K R A M N O

Roseville

11 days

1 months

$330,000

580

-21.4%

-16.7%

+14%

+12%

7

0.9

$390,000

636

-53.3%

-40%

+13%

-11%

9

0.9

$336,500

804

-52.6%

-43.8%

+10.3%

-4.3%

12

0.8

$345,000

486

-14.3%

-33.3%

+13.1%

+9%

14

1.3

$739,995

153

-58.8%

-51.9%

+32.2%

-10%

11

0.8

$267,500

351

-26.7%

-27.3%

+11.5%

+5.4%

8

1.2

$400,000

491

-63.6%

-47.8%

+15.9%

+19.5%

13

1.1

$365,000

134

0%

-26.7%

+12.3%

+32.7%

St. Paul Single-Family St. Paul Townhomes/Condos Stillwater

Vadnais Heights

Wayzata

West St. Paul

White Bear Lake

Woodbury

E

L O S #

L A S

IN

V

E

E

S

N

D

T

P

O

R

R

IC

Y

T E K R A M N O

St. Louis Park

12 days

1.1 months

$340,000

1,099

-20%

-26.7%

+4.3%

+8.2%

11

1.1

$269,000

3,591

-26.7%

-26.7%

+11.4%

+3.8%

38

2.9

$219,900

699

+35.7%

-9.4%

+2.3%

+30.9%

11

1.4

$460,000

492

-47.6%

-48.1%

+23.8%

+1%

9

1.1

$310,750

210

-43.8%

-8.3%

+8.2%

-2.8%

43

2.3

$917,987

93

-38.6%

-54.9%

+16.7%

-17%

11

0.9

$271,500

308

-26.7%

-18.2%

+8.6%

+11.2%

8

0.7

$311,000

497

-38.5%

-41.7%

+11.1%

+1%

11

1.1

$407,150

1,672

-42.1%

-38.9%

+8.3%

-1%

W H AT W E P R E D I C T W I L L H A P P E N I N 2 0 2 2

The Twin Cities Real Estate Mark Thinks About Life, Love, & The 2

021 broke records in terms of home appreciation, both nationally and locally. In the Twin Cities market, we saw a 11.3% increase in the median sales price, according to data provided by NorthstarMLS. That was up from an 8.2% increase in 2020.

You guessed it: COVID-19.

At BRIX, we expect that 2022 will see 6-8% home price appreciation in our Twin Cities market. Nationally, Zillow predicts an 11% increase (down from 19.5% appreciation in 2021).

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac predict 2022 increases of 7-8% nationally.

Although these predictions vary and represent a significant decrease from 2021 appreciation, note that even at the low end estimates, they are roughly double the average rate of appreciation of 3.5-3.8%.

The pandemic triggered a plethora of new and abnormal behaviors in the market, driven by changing routines and blurred lines between home and work environments.

Overnight, many people had to reconsider their work, their lives, their homes, their priorities.

In many cases, people perceived that a change of venue was essential to happiness, if not survival.

Even before the pandemic began, we had low inventory, low interest rates, and buyer demographics which had been fueling an aggressive seller’s market.

Why is the real estate market cooling down?

First, we must consider why the market was so hot in 2020-2021.

So, why is the real estate market cooling down?

First, we must consider why the market was so hot in 2020-2021. The answer?

50

Is it any surprise that people would stop at nothing to win in a real estate bidding war?

When the stakes are that high, skipping an inspection contingency and bidding significantly over value might seem like very reasonable

ket Takes A Deep Breath & Meaning of It All concessions when placed on the scale with your family’s stability and safety.

But as time has passed and people have begun to accept their new reality, we have started to retreat from our extended fight-or-flight mode in favor of a return to emotional and behavioral normalcy.

In the second half of 2021, we got a glimpse of normal real estate market behavior: inspection contingencies, along with negotiation, and seller price reductions returned. Although there will be a return to a high level of competition and chaos in the 2022 Spring Market, we expect normalcy to prevail with time and each passing market will look less like a pandemic anomaly.

nail indefinitely to buy real estate. If prices go too high, too quickly and there is not enough inventory to support demand, people will either stay in their existing homes or turn to rentals until the inventory catches up. As life returns to normal, so do priorities, and when the pandemic fear dissipates and the carrots are taken away, there will be no chase.

In short, the market will likely not be as hot as last year.

However, this necessary cooling should not be mistaken for a transition to a buyer’s market. Consider where we were before the pandemic began.

2019 was a hot seller’s market, too. As we eventually relax the pressures that the pandemic put on the real estate market, we’ll first head back to where we last stood before the pandemic: high demand, low inventory, and low interest rates. We are still neck deep in a seller’s market and we will be for quite some time.

In the second half of 2021, we got a glimpse of normal real estate market behavior: inspection contingencies, along with negotiation and seller price reductions returned.

The level of appreciation we observed in the past two years is absolutely unsustainable.

People cannot and will not fight tooth-and-

51

BRIX St. Paul 1390 7th Street West St. Paul, MN 55102

BRIX Minneapolis 748 North 3rd Street, Suite 100 Minneapolis, MN 55401

BRIX Maple Grove 6885 Sycamore Lane North Maple Grove, MN 55369

BRIX Burnsville 101 Burnsville Parkway Burnsville, MN 55337

BRIX Stillwater 124 2nd Street, Suite 110 Stillwater, MN 55082

BRIXTWINCITIES.COM · 612-927-2749

A big thank you to our friends and partners:

Shaun Higgins Chad Priebe & Eric Bloomstrand NMLS 1462493 · NMLS 274211

Ben Coulter

James Thovson

W H AT R E A L LY M AT T E R S ?

Some realtors boast about how many homes they’ve sold. Others talk about how fast they can sell a house or how low their commission is. But are you getting top dollar?

Our Sellers get 5.8% above market average.* Whether you’re selling a home in the city or a home in the country, BRIX Real Estate will get you the most.

Buy & Sell with BRIX BRIXTWINCITIES.COM · 612-927-2749

* based on price per square foot, as of December 2021.

All data pulled from MLS 1/1/2020 to 1/1/2021 in 13 county metro.