Selling a Minnesota Home With Solar Panels You Still Owe On: Challenges and Benefits Solar panels can make a home more appealing, but when you still owe money on them, the sale has an extra step. What you owe, and to whom, determines how smoothly closing goes. First, Know…

Should You Remodel Your Kitchen Before Selling in Minnesota? What the Return on Investment (ROI) Numbers SayThe kitchen is the room buyers care about most, so it’s natural to wonder whether a remodel before listing will pay off. The data says it can, but only if you spend…

If you lived through the last housing downturn, you remember the term "short sale." Now it's coming back into conversations with homeowners who owe more on their mortgage than their home is worth, and with buyers who wonder whether a short sale is worth the wait.I worked on…

Every Minnesota purchase agreement runs on a clock, and not every deadline ticks the same way. Some count only business days. Others count every day on the calendar. Mixing them up can put a buyer's earnest money at risk or leave a seller waiting a week longer than…

When interest rates are higher, you will hear a lot about "buydowns." A buydown is a way to pay money up front to get a lower interest rate, either for the first few years of a loan or for its whole life. Here is how it works, in plain English. Two kinds of buydowns…

Minnesota has a property tax program that many eligible veterans never use. It is called the Market Value Exclusion for Veterans with a Disability, and it can lower the taxable value of a veteran's home, and with it the property tax bill. What the program does This is not…

How the Home Appraisal Process Works (and What You Can Do to Prepare) If you’re buying, selling, or refinancing a home, there’s a good chance an appraisal is part of the deal. It’s one of the most important steps in a real estate transaction, and one of the least…

When increasing your home’s value, it’s important to remember that the market you’re selling in plays a big role in the price of your home. Talk to a Fresh Start Realty market expert on the matter prior to listing!

You don’t need a full remodel to sell for more. Small, targeted updates often deliver the best return, because they improve first impressions, photos, and appraisal notes without a big bill. Here are ten worth considering. 1. Give It a Deep Clean A spotless home looks…

You’ve found the house, the offer is accepted, and then a list of fees shows up. Closing costs surprise a lot of people, but they’re predictable once you know what’s on the list. Here’s what they are, who pays, and how to keep them down. What Are Closing Costs?…

The Minnesota Seller's Property Disclosure Statement: Why Honesty and Full Disclosure Matter When Selling Your HomeSelling your home involves much more than finding the right buyer and negotiating the best price. One of the most important responsibilities you have as a…