News & insights · David Olson Real Estate
Home Buyer Resources
Home Buyer Resources: guides, local insight and market context from Realtor David Olson, a broker licensed in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Florida and a builder who knows these areas inside and out.
Home Buyer Resources
54 articles · All articles
Home Buyer ResourcesOutbid on a House? How to Compete and Win the Next One
Losing a bidding war hurts. Here is how to get stronger, faster and smarter before the next home comes up.
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Home Buyer ResourcesHome Inspection Red Flags in Minnesota and How to Size Up the Repair
Not every inspection finding is a deal-breaker. Here are the red flags that deserve a second look in Minnesota homes, and how to get real repair numbers.
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Home Buyer ResourcesHow Earnest Money Works in Minnesota
Earnest money shows a seller you are serious. Here is who holds it in Minnesota, when it must be deposited, and what happens if the deal falls apart.
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Home Buyer ResourcesFrom Accepted Offer to Closing Day: What Happens Next in Minnesota
Your offer was accepted. Here is the step-by-step path to closing, from earnest money to the Closing Disclosure to the final walk-through.
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Home Buyer ResourcesWhy Good Offers Get Rejected (and What to Do Next)
Most rejected offers lose on terms, not just price. Here is what sellers weigh and how to make your next offer stronger.
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Home Buyer ResourcesHow to Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage Without Hurting Your Credit
Shop several lenders within a 45-day window and the credit checks count as one inquiry. Here is how to get a pre-approval that sellers take seriously.
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Home Buyer ResourcesDetails, Details, DETAILS! They make All the Difference When Building a Home!
Building a home is exciting. It can also be overwhelming: which builder, which floor plan, and thousands of design and construction decisions that all have…
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Home Buyer ResourcesHome Buying
Buying a home in Minnesota has a lot of moving parts: lenders, inspectors, appraisers, title companies and more.
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Home Buyer ResourcesBuying A Lakehome?
Here's a video I made a couple years ago called 'Lakehomes! What You MUST Consider Before Buying One!' I admit that I look like I'm around 16 in this…
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Home Buyer ResourcesAll the Bays in Lake Minnetonka
Lake Minnetonka is a massive lake that stretches across numerous communities. While it’s residents refer to it as a singular body of water, Lake…
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Home Buyer ResourcesProven Experience! Review of Realtor David Olson
I started in the trades. Then I spent years as a pastor. For about two decades since, I’ve been a real estate broker and home builder here in Minnesota, where I’ve…
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Home Buyer ResourcesYour Neighbor in the Twin Cities, Not Just Your Agent
As a local real estate expert I don't just work in the Twin Cities, I live here!! Throughout the year I love to reconnect and stay in touch with past…
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Home Buyer ResourcesCustom Flyers That Make Your Home Stand Out
In today's digital world, print advertising still has value. The reality is that some people respond differently when reading print media verses…
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Home Buyer ResourcesTwinCitiesPropertyFinder.com Home Seller & Buyer Reports
How do I avoid unnecessary hassles and headaches When you sell or buy your next home should you be concerned about Radon? Here’s what to know, whether…
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Home Buyer ResourcesGetting Your Offer Accepted
In a tight market, multiple offers are common. Sellers get to pick, and buyers can feel like they’re auditioning.
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Home Buyer ResourcesBUYING a Home in 10 Steps
Buying a home can involve thousands of details with many changing variables that can be confusing and overwhelming. Here’s what to know, whether you’re…
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Home Buyer ResourcesSupport That Continues After Your Closing
We devote ourselves to serving the needs of our clients before, during and after each sale. Here’s what to know, whether you’re selling, buying or just…
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Home Buyer ResourcesWhy I Work By Referrals
Maybe you've noticed that many real estate agents take a 'transactional' approach to sales—identifying clients, closing the deal, and then moving on to…
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Home Buyer ResourcesMeet the Mayor of Chaska Minnesota: Mark Windschitl
If you want to understand a town, sit down with someone who has spent a lifetime there. A while back, I did just that with Chaska’s mayor, Mark Windschitl.
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Home Buyer ResourcesMoving Checklist
A printable moving checklist from two months out to your first week in your new home: packing tips, timelines, utilities, insurance and more from Twin Cities…
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Home Buyer ResourcesTips On Moving House Plants
If you are moving to another state you may wish to call the appropriate agricultural agency in that state since there are some states that prohibit…
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Home Buyer ResourcesTips On Moving Pets
Before moving your pet, be sure that it is in good health. Schedule a physical exam with your veterinarian to determine if anything is needed before…
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Home Buyer ResourcesTips On Packing
Packing goes a lot smoother when you start early and get rid of what you don’t need before the first box is taped. Here are my tips for sorting,…
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Home Buyer ResourcesTips On Relocation
If you are planning a move across town, across the state, or across the country we may be able to help! Here’s what to know, whether you’re buying,…
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Home Buyer ResourcesTips For A Successful Garage Sale
Visit other garage sales to gain ideas on how to set up and display merchandise. Note items that are on display, ask questions about their sales,…
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Home Buyer ResourcesWho’s Paying Your Mortgage?
As a homeowner, you obviously pay for your mortgage but as an investor, your tenant does. Equity build-up is a significant benefit of mortgaged rental…
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Home Buyer ResourcesWaiting Might Cost MORE!
The housing market has been in a downward trend for four years. There is some speculation that inventories will not reduce any time soon which will be…
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Home Buyer ResourcesNot All Realtors Are Created Equal
Joe standing in front of the home he lived in for 40 years Here’s what to know, whether you’re selling, buying or just curious. Here’s an honest look,…
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Home Buyer ResourcesEver Thought About Being A LandLord?
Meet John & Andrea Nelson, clients of mine who recently saved for a downpayment to buy a new home for their growing family. Here’s what to know,…
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Home Buyer ResourcesOne Size Doesn’t Fit All
No advice fits everyone. But if you have steady income, good credit and some savings, buying a home can be one of the strongest financial moves you make.
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Home Buyer ResourcesFamily & Friends’ Mortgages
It all seems perfectly reasonable: one person is not satisfied with what he can earn currently in the market and another wants to find the most…
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Home Buyer ResourcesYours or Theirs
It takes money to buy a home: yours or a lender’s. If you’re not paying cash, find out what you can borrow and what it will cost before you start touring.
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Home Buyer ResourcesDo you know someone struggling with their mortgage?
I'm writing because our area had an alarming up-tick in foreclosures in the last 30 days. We all know someone who is struggling to make their mortgage…
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Home Buyer Resources“I Do” Want a Home….Explaining the FHA Gift Registry
Getting married and already have a kitchen full of gear? Some couples skip the traditional registry and ask for help with a down payment instead.
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Home Buyer ResourcesIRS Rules Regarding a Sale by Surviving Spouse
I don't care how expected it is, the death of a spouse leaves the surviving spouse reeling and with a thousand questions. Here’s what to know, whether…
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Home Buyer ResourcesYou Must Be This Tall to Ride
Remember the sign at the State Fair rides? “You must be this tall to ride.” Standing in line only to be turned away was a letdown.
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Home Buyer ResourcesKeep Track of Improvements
People are staying longer in their homes according to the National Association of Realtors and the U.S. Here’s what to know, whether you’re buying,…
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Home Buyer Resources7 Reasons for FHA Assumptions
If you have an FHA loan with a rate below today’s, it may be one of your home’s best features.
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Home Buyer ResourcesHome Energy Audit
With the exception of a mortgage payment, the largest homeowner expense is utilities; and energy is the major component. Here’s what to know, whether…
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Home Buyer ResourcesConverting a Home to a Rental
What's keeping you from taking advantage of the low prices and mortgage rates available today? Here’s what to know, whether you’re selling, buying or…
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Home Buyer ResourcesCompeting with Cash?
It can feel unfair. You’ve searched for months, found the right home and written an offer, and then a cash buyer shows up.
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Home Buyer ResourcesSignificant Problems
"The significant problems you face today cannot be solved at the same level of thinking you were at when you created them." Albert Einstein Here’s what…
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Home Buyer ResourcesA Silent Killer… Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is colorless, odorless and toxic. It’s called the silent killer because people often don’t know it’s there.
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Home Buyer ResourcesMore To Sell with FHA Assumption
If you had a 3.5% mortgage on your current home and were buying another home, transferring your low interest rate mortgage would be ideal. Here’s what…
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Home Buyer ResourcesThe Investment Alternative
To say the investment market is unsettling is an obvious understatement. The market is down 8% in the last ten days and the news doesn't give much hope…
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Home Buyer ResourcesBuy Now or Wait
Uncertainty as to whether prices will continue to fall has to be one of the most common causes of buyer procrastination. Here’s what to know, whether…
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Home Buyer ResourcesI Want a Bigger/Nicer Home but…
There are homeowners that would like to have a larger/nicer home but are patiently waiting for the market to improve. Here’s what to know, whether…
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Home Buyer ResourcesHow to Choose a Mortgage
The right mortgage isn’t just the one with the lowest rate. It’s the one that fits your budget, your plans and how long you’ll stay.
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Home Buyer ResourcesHow to Find the Right Real Estate Agent for You!
The agent you choose shapes how your whole move goes, from pricing and negotiating to the last day before closing. Here’s what I’d look for, plus a…
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Home Buyer Resources7 Reasons Why NOW is a Great Time to Buy a Home
At a glance: Why NOW is the Prime Time to Buy! Here’s what to know, whether you’re selling, buying or just curious. Here’s an honest look, whether…
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Home Buyer ResourcesFollow These Steps to Find Your Perfect Home
Every week, I hear from people who’ve found homes online and want to see them right away. They haven’t talked to a lender yet, and they need to sell their…
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Home Buyer ResourcesDon’t Write That Offer Without Realtor Representation!
In today’s struggling real estate market, buyers (especially first time home buyers) would be foolish to write an offer on a home and potentially…
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Home Buyer ResourcesShould You Listen to the Media?
This question comes up constantly – “Is the media correct when predicting the real estate market?” I believe the answer is NO. Here’s what to know,…
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Home Buyer ResourcesBest Time to Buy..EVER!
This is the Best time to buy a home. Wow, it just does not get better than this to buy a home. Here’s what to know, whether you’re selling, buying or…
Read more →Thinking about selling or buying?
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