Twin Cities Property Finder · David Olson, Broker · License #BK3603584Independent neighborhood guide, not affiliated with any homeowners association, property manager, city or official board.Updated October 23, 2026 Practical notes for Twin Cities buyers, sellers and owners For many sellers, the most nerve-racking part of a sale is waiting for the buyer’s inspection report. You’ve […]

Man’s best friend enjoys many of the benefits of his master’s home besides food and shelter and a comfortable place to live and play. In return, dog owners expect companionship and possibly, protection; after all, even a small dog can bark to signal intruders. Few people doubt that most dog owners love their pets and […]

Twin Cities Property Finder · David Olson, Broker · License #BK3603584Independent neighborhood guide, not affiliated with any homeowners association, property manager, city or official board.Updated October 23, 2026 Practical notes for Twin Cities buyers, sellers and owners There are plenty of lists of what buyers should do. Knowing what not to do matters just as […]

Equity is the difference in what your home is worth and what you owe. Ideally, as the value goes up and the unpaid balance goes down with each amortized payment made, the equity grows from two directions. This dynamic leads to increasing a person’s net worth much faster than many other investments. A homeowner has […]

Twin Cities Property Finder · David Olson, Broker · License #BK3603584Independent neighborhood guide, not affiliated with any homeowners association, property manager, city or official board.Updated October 23, 2026 Practical notes for Twin Cities buyers, sellers and owners People often call the person who sold them insurance “my agent.” It sounds right, but legally, an insurance […]

The profit potential in single family homes for investment has been a consistently good long-term investment. They offer investors the opportunity of high loan-to-value mortgages at fixed interest rates for 30 years on appreciating assets, tax advantages and reasonable control that other investments don’t offer. Last year, Warren Buffett said that if he had a […]

Twin Cities Property Finder · David Olson, Broker · License #BK3603584Independent neighborhood guide, not affiliated with any homeowners association, property manager, city or official board.Updated October 23, 2026 Practical notes for Twin Cities buyers, sellers and owners Most buyers start with a list of what they want in a home. Maybe the first list should […]

A home is a place to call your own, raise your family, share with your friends and feel safe and secure. It is also one of the largest investments most people have. Leverage is the ability to control a larger asset with a smaller amount of cash through the use of borrowed funds. It has […]

Twin Cities Property Finder · David Olson, Broker · License #BK3603584Independent neighborhood guide, not affiliated with any homeowners association, property manager, city or official board.Updated October 23, 2026 Practical notes for Twin Cities buyers, sellers and owners You get annual check-ups for your health and your car. Your home, likely your biggest investment, deserves one […]

You’ve saved for a rainy day or retirement. Congratulations but don’t get too comfortable yet; where is it invested? It’s estimated that over 25% of Americans have their long-term savings in cash instead of investments like stocks, bonds or real estate. The memories of the financial crisis of 2008 are recent enough to understand why […]

Twin Cities Property Finder · David Olson, Broker · License #BK3603584Independent neighborhood guide, not affiliated with any homeowners association, property manager, city or official board.Updated October 23, 2026 Practical notes for Twin Cities buyers, sellers and owners Can waiting cost you? Sometimes. The cost of a home moves with two things at once: price and […]

Twin Cities Property Finder · David Olson, Broker · License #BK3603584Independent neighborhood guide, not affiliated with any homeowners association, property manager, city or official board.Updated October 23, 2026 Practical notes for Twin Cities buyers, sellers and owners We’ve all said it: “If I’d known then what I know now…” In real estate, it often comes […]

Twin Cities Property Finder · David Olson, Broker · License #BK3603584Independent neighborhood guide, not affiliated with any homeowners association, property manager, city or official board.Updated October 23, 2026 Practical notes for Twin Cities buyers, sellers and owners When today’s rates are higher than the rate on a seller’s existing loan, an assumable mortgage can be […]

Twin Cities Property Finder · David Olson, Broker · License #BK3603584Independent neighborhood guide, not affiliated with any homeowners association, property manager, city or official board.Updated October 23, 2026 Practical notes for Twin Cities buyers, sellers and owners When a lender forgives part of a mortgage, through a short sale, foreclosure or loan modification, it can […]

Twin Cities Property Finder · David Olson, Broker · License #BK3603584Independent neighborhood guide, not affiliated with any homeowners association, property manager, city or official board.Updated October 23, 2026 Practical notes for Twin Cities buyers, sellers and owners Most renters, especially younger ones, say they hope to own a home someday. Many see renting as a […]

How much is a one carat diamond worth? Anyone who has shopped for one knows that the price could have a significantly wide range of value. It’s been said that purchasers should consider the color, cut, clarity and carat size to compare stones but when it gets down to decision time, buyers still want to […]

The Life of Riley was a TV show from the 50’s starring William Bendix but the title’s origin came from an expression meaning that a person was living the “good life.” Most people envision themselves living the good life by retirement but don’t really have a plan to get there. There’s a rough rule of […]

The benefits of regularly changing the heating and air-conditioning filters are obvious to homeowners; the real challenge is creating a system to make sure it gets done. A reasonable schedule would be to replace it with a new one-inch pleated filter every 60-90 days. Households with shedding pets should consider replacing them every month. Some […]

One of the most common reasons buyers want to deal directly with the seller is because they feel they can save the commission. It’s a valid consideration but interestingly, it’s the same reason the seller isn’t employing an agent. Both parties cannot save the commission. The buyer feels they have earned it because they’ve had […]

Twin Cities Property Finder · David Olson, Broker · License #BK3603584Independent neighborhood guide, not affiliated with any homeowners association, property manager, city or official board.Updated October 23, 2026 Practical notes for Twin Cities buyers, sellers and owners Markets can shift quickly. Buyers who expected to negotiate sometimes find themselves in multiple offers, losing homes even […]

Twin Cities Property Finder · David Olson, Broker · License #BK3603584Independent neighborhood guide, not affiliated with any homeowners association, property manager, city or official board.Updated October 23, 2026 Practical notes for Twin Cities buyers, sellers and owners A lower rate is exciting. But when closing costs get rolled into the new loan, it’s easy to […]

The Mortgage Interest Deduction is available to homeowners for up to $1,000,000 of acquisition debt on the combination of their first and second home. They can also deduct interest on up to an additional $100,000 of Home Equity debt. While Acquisition Debt is used to buy, build or improve a principal residence, the Home Equity […]