Issuu

ISSUE 28

Featured Home

Holmes on Homes

Current Listings

Page 6

Page 8

Page 18

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

The Chaos Continues ... and we’re still smiling!! We appreciate your patience with the time it’s taken us to get this new edition into your mailbox! It’s been an eventful year so far and we need to get you caught up on all-things real estate for our team. In the last 12 calendar months, we were able to flip 10 different properties as well as keep up with our normal client needs of listings and buyer sales. That was a big scale upwards in time and intensity on the home flips and no doubt we broke our systems a few times managing the change. On the bright side, braking systems means improving them and pushing our capacity means finding better vendors and contractors to work with. The result is the ability to scale large volume home renovations and be able to offer you those vendors, services and home improvements when you choose to sell or buy. This also allows us to pair our listing & buyer services to simply include some of the basics like debris removal, donation set ups, cleaning services and more. In short – we continue to expand the type of support we offer our sellers & buyers and pick up more momentum on home flips and cash offers. “What’s the next adventure?” – glad you asked! We’re taking on a short-term rental on the North Shore and excited to learn that business model. We’ll be able to fill you in more on that in the next edition and can’t wait to show you around! Hope you enjoy this edition and cheers to magazine #28!

Joe

Heather Missed our last issue? Scan the QR code to take a look!

Meet Team the

Joe Holmes

Realtor Buyer, Seller & Client Experience Specialist

651-491-2151

hlpederson@kw.com

Garrett Adamson

Heather Pederson

Team Lead Listing Specialist & Associate Broker Realtor MN & WI

Realtor Renovation & Buyer Specialist ®

612-964-2524

651-208-2587 gradamson@kw.com

joeholmes@kw.com holmesgroup

heatherpedersonrealtor

holmesgroupmn

heatherpederson

Kirstin Showell

Bethany Briggs

Marketing

Dan Flaherty

Stager

Professional Photographer

612-968-9637

www.brightspacesphoto.com

TwinCitiesStaging.com

651-253-6380 dan@brightspacesphotography.com

Visit us online to get to know us! holmesgroupmn.com

facebook.com/holmesgroup

@holmesgroupmn

THOMAS JUSSILA Regional Manager NMLS 194821

GROWTH MODE

Programs Every Expanding Branch Should Know

Fast Track

How Thomas Jussila is Building a Powerhouse Team

Network

Partnerships that get results

www.thomasjussila.com

612-750-8665

ELEVATE YOUR MORTGAGE JOURNEY

Guaranteed Rate Inc, dba Citywide Home Mortgage, NMLS 2611. For licensing information, go to (www.nm|sconsumeraccess.org). Applicant subject to credit and underwriting approval. Equal Housing Lender.

IN THIS

ISSUE 02 Editor’s Note

before

06 Featured Home 08 Holmes on Homes 12

after Pumpkin Chocolate

Chip Muffins

Renovation Review

Current Listings

20 Q&A 22 Crossword & Sudoku

12 5

FEATURED HOME

53 Irvine Park

For sale

$1,045,000

Saint Paul, MN 55102

1860

2,560

Bedrooms

Baths Total

Garage Stalls

Year Built

Total Finished Square feet

Welcome to 53 Irvine Park — one of St. Paul’s most iconic blocks, rich in history and remarkable architecture. This home has been renovated top to bottom, with selections true to the era in which it was built, thoughtfully combined with modern-day amenities. There are two primary suites — one situated on the top floor with over 550 sq ft featuring a sitting room, walk-in closet, and private bath. The second primary suite encompasses the entire lower level, offering nearly 800 sq ft, a private bath, abundant storage, and flexibility to be divided into multiple bedrooms to fit your needs. The renovations are timeless, highlighted by wide-plank virgin red pine floors and original millwork that has been meticulously refinished to showcase its historic character. The kitchen was redesigned to open the floor plan and maximize space, complete with a butler’s pantry featuring a sink, additional storage, and generous prep space. The kitchen is truly a chef’s dream, anchored by a custom Château Series range from La Cornue imported from France, fully integrated Sub-Zero refrigerator and freezer with custom cabinet panels, an Italian black marble island, and so much more. The rear addition expands the home with a mainfloor laundry, half bath, private office, and an attached two-car garage. The garage is a standout feature, offering 9-foot doors, full heating, a professionally finished epoxy floor, and exceptional storage space. There is so much detail in this home — it truly must be seen to be appreciated. With beautiful exterior living spaces, stunning city views, and walking distance to restaurants and shops, this home is a must-see. To schedule your private tour - call us today at 651-491-2151.

Scan the QR code for a virtual tour 7

HOLMES ON HOMES

Is This What a Normal Real Estate Market Looks Like?

ell folks, here we are again. Another year, another real estate market that needs some explaining! For the better part of the last six years we’ve gone from one extreme to another. COVID. Historically low interest rates. Multiple offers. No inventory. Homes selling before the sign was even in the yard. Then came inflation, rapidly rising interest rates, affordability 8

challenges and sellers sitting on 3% mortgages wondering why on earth they would ever move. Normal stuff, right? Not exactly! What we’re seeing in the Twin Cities right now may actually be something we haven’t experienced in quite a while — a real estate market working its way back toward normal. (whatever normal means)

MORE HOMES. FINALLY. Let’s start with inventory because this is probably the biggest change happening in our market. For years we’ve talked about the shortage of homes available for sale. Buyers would open their favorite real estate app, punch in their criteria and... congratulations! Here are your seven choices. That’s changing.

Office: 651-379-1581 joeholmes@kw.com www.holmesgroupmn.com

Joseph Holmes

Twin Cities inventory reached 10,897 homes in June, up 5.1% from a year earlier, and months supply increased to 2.8 months. New listings were also up 10.5%. And newer July listing count shows that trend continuing. That’s good news. Especially if you’re a buyer. (Graph 1)

GRAPH 1

Keller Williams Premier Realty

Homes for Sale 16K

Now take the house down the street that needs work and the seller decided to “leave a little room for negotiation” by pricing it $30,000 too high? Different markets. Buyers have choices again.

14K

12K

10K

But before the sellers reading this start sweating and wondering if they missed their opportunity...

6K 1-2016

1-2017

1-2018

1-2019

1-2020

1-2021

1-2022

1-2023

1-2024

1-2025

1-2026 Twin Cities Region

Office: 651-379-1581 joeholmes@kw.com www.holmesgroupmn.com

Joseph Holmes

Prices haven’t exactly fallen apart.

closed sales reportedly involved multiple offers.

Twin Cities Region

GRAPH 2

Keller Williams Premier Realty

Median Sales Price

WAIT... MORE INVENTORY AND PRICES ARE STILL UP? Yes indeed! The Twin Cities median sales price reached $410,000 in June — up 2.1% f ro m t h e ye a r b e fo re. (Graph 2) This is the part of the housing market that continues to confuse people. More homes for sale does not automatically mean declining home values. Think of housing supply more like a pressure valve. For years that valve was practically welded shut. We had such little inventory that buyers were competing over nearly everything that came available. Now we’re finally loosening the valve. At 2.8 months of supply, we’re still below what would traditionally be considered a balanced market. So yes, buyers have more choices. Yes, sellers have more competition. But we haven’t suddenly created an oversupply of housing. And that’s where things get interesting.

Twin Cities Region

$400K

And when buyers have choices, they compare. Condition matters. Presentation matters. Updates matter. Price really matters – but so does timing!

$350K

$300K

$250K

$200K 1-2016

1-2017

1-2018

1-2019

1-2020

1-2021

1-2022

1-2023

1-2024

1-2025

Not only are there different markets based on area & condition, but for timing as well. The homes noted just a paragraph ago – 20% of June sales reportedly involved multiple offers. June sales = May negotiations. And this spring was a HOT market – more so than we expected. Interest rates this spring were the lowest going into a spring market in 3 years! 1-2026 Twin Cities Region

TWO MARKETS AT THE SAME TIME This is probably the most important thing I can tell you about today’s market: There isn’t one Twin Cities real estate market. There are several happening at the same time. Take a well-maintained home, price it correctly, put it in a desirable area and make sure it shows well. That home can still move quickly and may very well receive multiple offers. In June, nearly 20% of Twin Cities

But we’re past the spring market and have been relatively flat since the beginning of June. By the time this hits your mailbox, we’ll be trending down the MN seasonality path of real estate in the fall and waiting for the winter downturn. BUYERS... YOU HAVE SOME LEVERAGE AGAIN I know, I know. Mortgage rates. 9

Office: 651-379-1581 joeholmes@kw.com www.holmesgroupmn.com

Joseph Holmes

It’s impossible to talk about buying a home right now without somebody bringing up interest rates. And they’re right — rates have had an enormous impact on affordability and monthly payments. But there’s another side to that conversation. The buyer paying today’s interest rate may have something the 2021 buyer didn’t have: Negotiating power. Homes in the Twin Cities spent an average of 42 days on market in June, and sellers received an average of 99.6% of their asking price. July data also showed price reductions on about 18% of active listings. That creates opportunity. Closing costs. Inspection negotiations. Repairs. Price reductions. Maybe even the crazy idea of sleeping on a decision before writing an offer. Imagine that. Does this mean you can beat up every seller and submit ridiculous offers? No. Remember that whole “two markets at the same time” thing? Good houses priced correctly are still good houses priced correctly. But buyers finally have some room to breathe. (Graph 3) SELLERS... WE NEED TO TALK This is where today’s market gets less forgiving. A few years ago, the market covered up a lot of sins. Need paint? Fine. Old carpet? Whatever. Dated kitchen? Some-

body will love it. Overpriced by $20,000? Give it some time. That’s n ot t h e m a r ket we’re operating in today! When buyers have 15 homes to consider instead of five, your home needs to compete.

GRAPH 3

Keller Williams Premier Realty

Months Supply of Homes for Sale 2.8

Twin Cities Region

2.6

2.4

2.2

2.0

1.8

1.6 1-2023

1-2024

1-2025

1-2026

Twin Cities Region

That doesn’t mean you need to remodel the kitchen or do updates. In fact, sometimes that’s exactly what you shouldn’t do. You know our goal when we list – keep it simple and take things OFF your plate. Cleaning, staging and general presentation are always the number one ROI when selling! The next level of simple improvements are paint, flooring, landscaping and lighting, but STAGING ALWAYS MATTERS! The answer depends on the house, the competition, the price point and what the seller wants to do – or pass on to us. SO... BUYER’S MARKET OR SELLER’S MARKET? And unfortunately my answer is... Yes. Helpful, right?! Certain price points, neighborhoods and property types remain very competitive. Others have clearly shifted toward buyers. Overall,

though, I’d call this a healthier market. More inventory gives buyers choices. Sellers are still seeing strong values. Pending sales increased 9.7% in June, which tells us buyers haven’t disappeared. They’re just being more selective. And frankly, I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Real estate probably shouldn’t involve 30 people fighting over a house two hours after it hits the market. Buyers should be able to inspect homes. Sellers should have time to prepare properly. People should be able to make decisions involving hundreds of thousands of dollars without feeling like they’re competing on a game show. Maybe boring isn’t so bad after all. We l c o m e b a c k , n o r m a l . . . . whatever that means.

For more information on your home, neighborhood or city email us at JoeHolmes@kw.com 10

MARKETPASS · ANOTHER OPTION FOR OUR CLIENTS

Thinking about selling?

YOU HAVE OPTIONS. Marketpass is a locally built direct-sale program designed to give homeowners more choices. Created by professionals with decades of experience buying, renovating, and selling homes, Marketpass offers a straightforward cash sale option while allowing you to maintain Convenience, Control, and Certainty throughout the process. Because when it comes to selling your home, you deserve more than ONE option.

24-48 HOUR CASH OFFER

100%

REPAIRS OR SHOWINGS REQUIRED

TRANSPARENT... WE SHOW OUR WORK

HOW IT WORKS

SHARE YOUR DETAILS

GET A REAL OFFER

CLOSE ON YOUR TERMS

Send us basic property info through photos and video. We evaluate it quickly and come back with a real number... no runaround.

A genuine cash offer... no financing contingencies, no surprises. We show you exactly how we got there.

You choose the timeline. No cleaning, no showings, no repairs. Leave unwanted items behind.

WHAT YOU GET

✓ No repairs needed ... sell as-is

✓ No showings ... skip the prep work

✓ Close on your timeline ... you decide

✓ Leave items behind ... we mean it

✓ Completely transparent fees ... no surprises

✓ Stess-Free experience ...no back & forth negotiations

REAL CASH. REAL CLOSINGS.

JOE HOLMES 651-491-2151 joeholmes@kw.com

IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT

REAL ESTATE

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins with Tanner and Parker

Makes: About 24 mini muffins | Bake: 11–13 minutes at 350°F Ingredients 1 cup pumpkin puree

1 teaspoon vanilla

½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

2 eggs

1½ cups flour

¼ teaspoon salt

½ cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

¾ cup mini chocolate chips

¼ cup melted coconut oil

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions 1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a muffin pan or add liners. 2. In a big bowl, whisk together pumpkin, eggs, brown sugar, oil and vanilla. 3. Add flour, baking soda, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice and salt. 4. Stir just until everything comes together. 5. Fold in the chocolate chips — and definitely sneak a few. 6. Spoon the batter into the muffin cups, filling each about ¾ full. 7. Sprinkle a few extra chocolate chips on top. 8. Bake for 11–13 minutes, until the tops spring back when lightly touched. 9. Cool and enjoy!

RENOVATION REVIEW Welcome back to the renovation review. We started this section in the last edition and appreciate the feedback and questions from all of you!! We’ll keep this section going and describe a few of the renovations we’ve done in the last year. You get to see the good, the bad and the ugly! Ok...here goes! If you’re interested in learning more about renovating homes or need guidance on your own project, give us a call anytime.

635 Iona Lane, Roseville The Story: This one came to us from a Realtor in our office for a seller that was looking for the convenience of a cash offer. This purchase and the seller were very typical of how we see the cash offer / off-market sales being used. The convenience for this seller in simply walking away from the home and not managing the usual sales process was what made it work. The home: This is a one-story home built in 1965 with approximately 2200 sq ft overall with a walk out basement. 3 beds / 1 bath on the main with hardwood floors, sliding glass door walking out to rear deck, 2 car attached garage and a walk-out lower level with an open family room, laundry room, 2nd bath and mechanicals.

b ef or e

after

Scope of Work: The plan was mostly cosmetic, with a few larger repairs and updates: scrape/paint the exterior, improve landscaping, add new deck railing and refinish the deck, pour a new concrete driveway apron, replace the front and storm doors, refinish the main-floor hardwoods, paint throughout, replace kitchen/bath flooring and stair carpet, add a new lower-level stair railing, update door hardware and bathroom vanity, replace nearly all lighting, install a new electrical panel, and finish the lower-level ceiling.

be fo re

after

be fo re

after

The Numbers: Our estimates going into the project: Safe Resale Value

Renovation Budget

Costs to buy/hold time/resale

Profit / Error margin

$415,000

$47,800

$27,663

$35,000

The Reality: Ah yes.. again the fun part is when reality smacks you in the head with what you’ve gotten yourself into. We actually did pretty good on this one (in the beginning) but there were some extra repairs we had to take on. We needed a new electrical panel and a new front apron on the driveway (near garage entrance). Oddly enough we were able to make that fit and weren’t concerned about the extra dollars. We felt the resale value after getting into it would be above $415,000. The kick in teeth were the bedroom windows. As it turns out, several bedroom windows needed to be replaced. The issues with the windows weren’t disclosed and we didn’t figure it out until after we bought and spring thaw came. How the hell did we miss that? You’d think our inspection process and contractors coming through would have caught this but let’s face it -if you’re renovating homes, be ready for change. The winter months and not being able to open them (long explanation) was all it took for this to slip past. Add into the fun that replacement windows were 6–7 weeks out. By the time they arrived, we expected the home to already be listed and potentially under contract. So... what do you do?! 1. We noted the issue in our seller disclosures. 2. Let buyers know that we intend on crediting them for windows by paying closing costs 3. Put a sign on the window that stated “ask seller about window credit”. All in all, what we felt was a good plan. However, didn’t work as intended. We should have allowed that info to come through the disclosure forms and conversations only. Getting ahead of that with a sign on the window “ask seller about window credit” may have highlighted the issue instead of resolving it. Lesson learned! The Final Numbers: Final resale price - $417,000 but included 3% or $12,510 in seller paid costs for the window credit. Final Sales Price

Renovation Cost

Profit

$404,490

$61,025

$19,015 15

3927 Van Dyke St White Bear Lake The Story: This home was inherited by someone who lived out of the area, and the home itself was in major disrepair. It had been vacant for quite some time before we purchased it, but it had a ton of potential. At this point, we hadn’t executed a renovation of this size and scope and, as it turns out, you don’t know what you don’t know. We’ve since dubbed this one our college education in home flipping. The home: One-story home with 3 beds / 1 bath on the main, a large mudroom off the garage, a very small and closed-off kitchen, brick-surround fireplace and hardwood floors. The basement was full of debris and needed to be completely gutted and refinished. We’re talking a TON of updates needed on this home. Take a look at the before pics here:

Scope of Work: You know how I mentioned this has been dubbed our college education… getting this scope of work dialed and as accurate as possible is challenging. This was the list: Exterior: Patch siding, scrape/paint entire exterior, new roof, new gutters & downspouts, remove landscaping/ install new, remove trees, cut in egress window for LL bedroom, water proof the foundation, rebuild exterior shed, remove some windows and close them with siding due to main floor reconfiguration Interior: Removed kitchen walls to open the main floor (added engineered header), gutted the kitchen and lower level and filled 4+ dumpsters. New kitchen with cabinets, quartz tops, appliances, lighting, flooring, sink and fixtures. Refinished hardwood floors and added new flooring throughout. Nearly all new lighting, can lights and electrical panel. Completely rebuilt the mudroom with cabinets, beverage fridge, open lockers and charging station. Fully remodeled bathrooms. New door hardware, furnace, AC, water heater and exterior doors. Lower level was completely gutted and refinished, including adding another bedroom. Literally the only thing untouched were the interior doors & the windows. 16

The Numbers: Our estimates going into the project: Safe Resale Value

Renovation Budget

Cost to buy/hold/resale

Profit & Error Margin

$425,000

$125,000 - $135,000

$29,250

$40,000 - $50,000

The Reality: The scope of work really became apparent once we started opening up the main floor and gutting the basement. The clichéd phrase “you don’t know what you don’t know” fits pretty well here! There were so many odds and ends you don’t see until you get there—cutting in soffit vents, flooring-height issues that led us to sheet vinyl, designing a functional kitchen from scratch, and opening walls that required engineering reports and a structural header. We even had to design the island around the support beam. We learned that the box stores have limitations and sometimes you need to find niche suppliers. We found some great partnerships with skilled labor, lost others and certainly tested the rest! In the end, the renovation budget & scope of work kept growing. We let it go and completely dove in trusting the vision of the finished look and increasing the expected resale value. I guess you could say we underestimated not only the scope of work – but what we could turn the home into. We went for it on this one and it really turned out well.

The Final Numbers: The renovation ballooned on this up to $183,000 – nearly $50,000 over budget! But the end result yielded an equally increased sales price. Final Sales Price

Renovation Cost

Profit

$485,000

$183,000

$54,963

Scan the QR code to see the final look 17

CURRENT LISTINGS 132 Wedgewood Court, Mahtomedi, MN 55115 $529,900 Holmes Group Listing Keller Williams Premier Realty

Enjoy effortless one-level living in one of the best locations in the neighborhood! With more than 1,600 finished square feet on the main level, this home offers an open, inviting layout with seamless flow from the kitchen and dining spaces to the living room, sunroom and deck. The main level features a spacious primary suite with walk-in closet and private bath, dedicated office, main-floor laundry, formal dining and an eat-in kitchen. A rare 3-car garage sets this home apart, while the finished walkout lower level offers even more flexibility with a second bedroom, full bath, family room with gas fireplace, workshop and abundant storage. Enjoy the deck, lower-level patio and exceptional setting. Comfortable, spacious and thoughtfully designed, this is true main-level living without sacrificing the extra space you want.

149 W Emerald Lake, Lake City, MN 55041 $49,900

Holmes Group Listing Keller Williams Premier Realty

Discover the perfect opportunity to build in one of Minnesota’s most scenic communities—The Jewel in Lake City. Nestled in the breathtaking bluffs of the Mississippi River Valley, this lot offers stunning surroundings and a vibrant community. Enjoy breathtaking sunrises and sunsets, all while being just minutes from Lake Pepin and the charming river town of Lake City. The Jewel Golf Club, meticulously maintained and ranked among the Midwest’s best, is at your doorstep, offering an exceptional experience without a mandatory membership. Residents enjoy a welcoming atmosphere, abundant outdoor recreation, and access to the Bluffside Grill. Whether you’re an avid golfer, nature lover, or someone seeking a peaceful retreat, this lot is your gateway to a remarkable lifestyle. Don’t miss this chance to bring your vision to life—schedule a visit today!

13425 Europa Court N #4 Hugo, MN 55038 $249,900 Holmes Group Listing Keller Williams Premier Realty

Enjoy the ease of maintenance-free living in this beautifully maintained townhome. The open main level features a spacious living room, dining area, and a well-appointed kitchen with a breakfast bar that’s perfect for casual dining or entertaining. Upstairs, you’ll find a versatile loft that’s ideal for a home office, reading nook, or additional living space, along with two generously sized bedrooms, including a primary suite with an oversized walk-in closet. A full bathroom and upper-level laundry make everyday living even easier. Ideally located near lakes, parks, walking trails, shopping, dining, and major commuting routes, this move-inready townhome offers the perfect blend of low-maintenance living, comfort, and an exceptional location.

CURRENT LISTINGS 1568 27th Avenue NW New Brighton, MN 55112 $369,900 Holmes Group Listing Keller Williams Premier Realty

Inviting, well-maintained and tucked into a fantastic cul-de-sac setting! This home offers a private setting and plenty of room to enjoy inside and out. Inside, you’ll love the open floor plan, LVP flooring, neutral décor and fresh updates throughout. The well-appointed kitchen features stainless steel appliances, updated fixtures and a peninsula perfect for casual dining and entertaining. Step right outside to the large deck overlooking the backyard and pond—a great spot to relax, entertain or enjoy ice skating, hockey and winter fun! The primary suite features a walk-in closet and spacious walk-through bath. Downstairs, the large family room offers plenty of space to spread out, along with a gas fireplace with brick surround and a walkout to the rear patio and backyard. Thoughtfully maintained, move-in ready and easy to enjoy, this is a wonderful home in a setting that’s hard to beat!

303 Elan Ct Woodbury, MN 55125 $225,000

Holmes Group Listing Keller Williams Premier Realty

Cute, open and inviting end-unit townhome with nearly 2,000 finished square feet and a great location within the neighborhood! The open main level features a comfortable living room with fireplace, informal dining, kitchen and two bedrooms, plus a walkout to your private deck and yard space. The finished lower level adds a ton of additional living space and plenty of opportunity to make it your own. Enjoy an attached garage and a well-positioned end-unit setting with more space than many neighboring homes. The association adds even more with a community recreation room featuring pool, foosball and gaming, plus a heated indoor pool. Well cared for, nicely presented and ready to show — don't miss this one!

8792 154th Street W Prior Lake, MN 55372 $699,000

Holmes Group Listing Keller Williams Premier Realty

Amazing one-story home on Cates Lake offering nearly an acre, over 100 feet of lake frontage, two incredible outdoor decks and more than 3,400 finished square feet! Enjoy a MASSIVE 24x20 composite deck overlooking the backyard and lake, plus a separate lakefront deck right at the water’s edge. This home has so much to offer with an open floor plan, expansive living spaces, sun-filled rooms and incredible lake views. The main level features gorgeous hardwood floors, a spacious family room with stone-surround fireplace, kitchen with granite countertops and stainless appliances, and an oversized primary suite with sitting area and beautiful backyard views. Outside, enjoy tiered landscaping, gardens and an incredible backyard with plenty of room for entertaining, recreation or quiet enjoyment. The lower level offers even more space with a large family room and brick-surround gas fireplace, laundry/ craft room, workshop, spa/hot tub room and 3-season porch. Add in tons of storage, multiple storage sheds and a 2-car garage, and this is a property with space to spread out, inside and out. Your opportunity for lakefront living starts here!

Q A

10 home flips is a lot of work in a year. How’d you scale from 2-3 per year to 10. What worked well and what didn’t?

Joe answers questions he received from clients. Feel free to submit your own question.

Email us: joeholmes@kw.com

That is one loaded question and will try to break it into a few parts. 10 home flips was not what we expected in the last 12 months. It’s hard to predict how many offers we’ll get approved at any given time. On average, we write 7 offers for every 1 that gets approved. As much as we like averages, life doesn’t work that way. At times we have a run of 3 out of 5 getting approved. Some sit dormant for a while and then it’s “go-time”. So that wasn’t intentional but what was intentional is our efforts to grow and roll with what comes at us. We think that scale was part marketing effort, part built-up momentum and a few coming together at once. What worked well? Marketing! We primarily market to our realtor community to support cash offer needs for sellers. We created Department of Commerce approved CE classes to be able to teach Realtors the models behind home flips, go over P&L’s, how to put a renovation budget together, etc. What didn’t work well? Personal time and boundaries. We put in 6-7 day work weeks and sometimes going until 8pm or later. The golden rule of leverage – if you can’t find somebody to outsource a task to, you will be doing it! Sometimes you learn the hard way!

Do you offer classes or opportunities to learn for somebody that’s not licensed? Yes, indeed.. we not only teach the CE classes, but we write them from start to finish, get them approved with the Department of Commerce and all the fun things in between to make it happen. We’re adding to the educational component of MarketPass (the home flipping company) with live tours during renovations. And Yes! – you can join and it’s not specific to being a realtor. We’ll open the home during renovations so you can see the process. Anything is on the table to go over from how we sourced the purchase, the costs to buy, renovation budget, expected returns, design choices and more. This is open to anyone! If you’re not on our email list for these notifications – email Joe or Heather and we’ll make sure you’re added.

If I’m not a licensed Realtor, can I still attend a CE class? Yes, absolutely and would encourage that if you’re looking to learn more on this tangent and possibly buy and sell a

home yourself. You wouldn’t be earning CE credits for real estate licensing purposes but happy to see people join in anytime! There’s a ton to learn from how to find funding, to ROI models, how to source purchases and all kinds of learning opportunities.

What’s trending these days with home renovations? Heather is the interior designer for all-things MarketPass and will make final choices on finishing touches. This can range from paint types & color, lighting, flooring, cabinets, countertops, appliances and more. More times than not, the house itself pushes us in a particular direction with colors, styles, etc. We try to compliment what’s there and work with the home. An example of this was 14205 Julliard St NE in Forest Lake – we celebrated the oak cabs and wood tones instead of painting over or replacing them. The kitchen had oak throughout and wasn’t in the budget to change it so we celebrated it. We worked to change components around it to modernize it like removed backsplash, replaced draw knobs and pulls, removed pendant lighting and ceiling fans and replaced with can lighting, used paint tones to match the wood. If we have a blank canvas, we really do like the combination of the classic white/black/wood tones with pops of color and texture. The color trend we see most often are shades of green.

What are the main areas to focus on when you’re renovating? The main rooms to focus on when renovating are kitchens and bathrooms. You’d be hard-pressed to get attention on other updates if the kitchen and bathrooms aren’t up to speed. If those areas are looking good, the focus is the overall feel and what work you can fit into your budget. Little things can go a long way – paint, flooring, light fixtures, door knobs/pulls/ hinges, staging, staging and yes, staging. Sometimes the work needed equals zero cosmetic updates and is behind the scenes. Many times we need to repair or replace windows, water heaters, furnace, AC, electrical panel. Although not cosmetic, peace of mind and removing buyer objections is certainly one of our goals! The short version – what to focus on will largely be determined by your budget.

Have you found any tricks, secrets or methods along the way to pass on?

created CE classes and we want to share what we’ve learned along the way. There are so many small details and nuances you pick up – from places to shop, products to use or stay away from, preferred vendors for certain things and so on. Take for example flooring – if you’re hitting big box stores (Menards, Lowes, Home Depot) – Menards is your ticket for flooring. They have a better selection and priced well. We’ve found a line of cabinets that are our go-to from Lowe’s as well as vanities. Back to Menards for sinks & faucets.. back to Lowe’s for appliances. Sorry Home Depot.. you just don’t do it for us. Of course, there are specialty outlets for ANYTHING you could imagine – The Tile Shop (many area locations) is a really cool place if you want to look at products for bathrooms, backsplash, flooring, etc. We found that luxury sheet vinyl is a great product when redoing floors and has little room for height. Wait.. what do you mean height? One of the many things to figure out is the height of your flooring product. It will be limited by the space you’re renovating! This will be measured in millimeters (mm) and thin LVP (luxury vinyl plank) for example is about 4mm. More often we see 6-8mm and as much as 10+mm… which is crazy thick. You may not have that much room for height and not like the look of the thin LVP, so what do you do? Sheet vinyl.. yeah, I said it. Sheet vinyl! Super thin, durable and really interesting designs and patterns. It’s not cheap but we do keep it limited to bathrooms, kitchens, mud & laundry rooms. There are literally tons of tips and tricks to share. Make sure to reach out for our mailing list for our property tours.

How does this translate to your normal real estate activity working with sellers and buyers? It’s been a great addition, quite frankly. We’ve included some of the basics into our normal listing services and process. For most of our sellers, we’re able to include debris removal, donation services and cleaning services with no extra cost. We do it so often it becomes second hand. Our sellers get to enjoy the process of moving with the idea of “leave it behind and we’ll take care of it”. No need to move it all out and no need to clean – it’s been embraced and we’re working on more! For all of our buyers and sellers, our vendors, contractors and renovation experience is yours to take advantage of!

Yes.. hours worth of conversations on this. This is why we 21

OnlineCrosswords.net This is the Daily Crossword Puzzle #4 for Sep 12, 2026

Find the solution at https://onlinecrosswords.net/65807

CROSSWORD SUDOKU

Across 1. Difficult 5. Musical symbol 9. Less hazardous 14. Sleeping 15. Cavity 16. Peruvian animal 17. Endurable 19. Garret 20. Genesis woman 21. Road curves 22. Dapper 23. Discover 25. Bogeyman 26. Conductor's title 30. Cut 33. Postage mark 36. Quick look 37. Rage 38. Very small 39. Coastal birds 40. Catch 41. Single 42. Sunrise location 43. Autographs 44. Treaty 46. Bureau 48. Aykroyd and Rather 50. Guiding principles 54. Smell 56. Informed 59. Currently 60. Carved pole 61. Deep respect 63. Chubby 64. Steamy appliance 65. Enjoy a book 66. Irritating ones 67. Bears' lairs 68. Wheel shaft

Puzzle A - Easy

3 1 2 7

9 6

6 7 9

Puzzle B - Medium

1 3 2 9 6

6 5

5 1

3 2

8 2 9

3 2

8 9 9 2 4

6 5

5 8 3

Issue 26 Sudoku Solutions Puzzle A

1 8 7 3 4 2 6 5 9 22

5 2 4 7 6 9 3 8 1

9 3 6 5 8 1 4 7 2

Puzzle B

7 5 9 6 2 4 1 3 8

8 4 1 9 3 5 2 6 7

3 6 2 1 7 8 9 4 5

2 9 8 4 5 3 7 1 6

6 1 3 8 9 7 5 2 4

4 7 5 2 1 6 8 9 3

3 8 4 5 6 1 7 2 9

5 6 9 2 8 7 4 3 1

1 7 2 4 9 3 8 6 5

4 1 3 7 2 8 9 5 6

7 9 6 3 5 4 1 8 2

8 2 5 6 1 9 3 4 7

2 4 7 9 3 5 6 1 8

6 3 8 1 7 2 5 9 4

9 5 1 8 4 6 2 7 3

Across Down 1. Difficult 1. Despised 5. Musical symbol 2. Over 9. Less hazardous 14. Sleeping 3. Lease again 15. Cavitymonogram 4. Ike's 16. Peruvianpure animal 5. Morally 17. Endurable 6. Tennis shots 19. Garret 7. Fashion magazine 20. Genesis woman 8. Fixed charges 21. Road curves 9. Informal 22. Dapper speech 23. 10.Discover Communion tables 25. 11.Bogeyman Full of calories 26. 12.Conductor's Dischargetitle 30. Cut 13. Bawdy 33. Postage mark 18.Quick Summarize 36. look 37. Rage 38. Very small 39. Coastal birds 40. Catch 41. Single 42. Sunrise location 43. Autographs 44. Treaty 46. Bureau 48 Aykroyd and Rather 50. Guiding principles 54. Smell 56. Informed 59. Currently 60. Carved pole 61. Deep respect 63. Chubby 64. Steamy appliance 65. Enjoy a book 66. Irritating ones 67. Bears' lairs 68. Wheel shaft

Down 1. Despised 47. Fire truck alarms 24. Television award 2. Over 25. Klutz's 3.exclamation Lease again 49. Appoints 4. Ike's monogram51. Building addition 27. Asparagus unit Morally pure 52. In the area 28. To the 5. point 29. Sublets6. Tennis shots 53. Stockholm native 7. Fashion magazine 54. Over 31. Modern Persia 8. Fixed charges 55. Graduation garb 32. Wooden pins 9. Informal speech 56. Moistureless 33. Quit 10. Communion tables 34. Songstress ____ 11. Full of calories 57. "The Way We ____" 12. Discharge Turner 58. English river 13. stories Bawdy 35. Amusing 62. Pitcher's stat Summarize 39. Koppel18. and Kennedy 24. Television award 40. Royal title 25. Klutz's exclamation 43. Passover 27. meal Asparagus unit 45. Least wild 28. To the point 29. Sublets 31. Modern Persia 32. Wooden pins 33. Quit 34. Songstress Turner 35. Amusing stories 39. Koppel and Kennedy 40. Royal title 43. Passover meal 45. Least wild 47. Fire truck alarms 49. Appoints 51. Building addition 52. In the area 53. Stockholm native 54. Over 55. Graduation garb 56. Moistureless 57. "The Way We " 58. English river 62. Pitcher's stat

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