Independent neighborhood guide, not affiliated with any homeowners association, property manager, city or official board.
Updated October 23, 2026
In 1946, Albert and Dorothy Teller bought an 80-acre Minnesota farm, where they raised Al, David, Dale and Marilyn, worked the land and built their American dream. Gas cost 21 cents a gallon, and a new John Deere tractor cost $650.
Over six and a half decades, the farm became the place where grandkids and great-grandkids gathered for holidays, animals and stories about the good old days.
This is the story of how the family sold it, in their own words.
A legacy, and a hard decision
After Albert and Dorothy passed away in 1996 and 2006, the four siblings inherited the farm together. To them it was more than land; it stood for their family’s faith, hard work, commitment and integrity.
They rented out the farmland and maintained the property themselves for a while. But with siblings living in White Bear Lake, Apple Valley, Norwood Young America and New Jersey, keeping the house and outbuildings going through Minnesota winters got harder. Al, David, Dale and Marilyn decided it was time to sell.
For five years they tried to sell it on their own, with a website and online ads. Then they interviewed four agents and chose David Olson of Twin Cities Property Finder. Not long after it was listed, an offer came in, and through creative negotiation the family reached a price they could agree on. The farm sold in August 2011.
What the family said
“I would like to thank you for the fine job you had done in representing our family in the sale of the farm. You have the ability and desire to MAKE things happen instead of letting things happen… You were not afraid to be truthful with us and never tried to tell us what we wanted to hear versus what was reality and needed to hear. In short I feel the best decision that the family made was to select you as our representative.” — Dale
“David was superior to other realtors we had interviewed prior to selecting him… I really liked that he had excellent use of websites, photography and mass media to advertise… I would highly recommend David as he is trustworthy and knows the market — a pleasure to work with.” — Al
“After trying to sell our family farm for over 5 years ourselves, David sold it in a short time in August of 2011… He’s well educated and an excellent negotiator which was critical in our situation… Most important of all, he earned our trust. David Olson is a choice we’ll never regret.” — Marilyn
“The decision to sell the farm, which was in our family for nearly 65 years, was not an easy one… David was very open in our discussions and we always felt that the decision to sell was ours. David never rushed us to sell or pressured us to go in a direction we were not comfortable with… We would strongly recommend anyone interested in selling their property to contact David.” — David
Selling a farm or inherited property?
Farms and family properties carry history, and often several owners with different feelings and timelines. I help families sort through the options, price it honestly and sell it with care. For farm transition planning, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture has helpful resources. Start with a home value estimate or the seller questionnaire, and read Refinancing to Remove a Borrower if one owner wants to keep it.
A simple plan for your selling a family farm move
I’ve been helping people sell and buy homes across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Florida for about two decades, and I build and remodel luxury homes too. I’ll help you see both what a property is and what it could be.
Getting the house ready, or making it yours
If you’re selling and want repairs handled before buyers see them, Super Crew Contractors can give you an estimate. If you’re ready for something custom, Ivy Lane Homes does luxury home building and remodeling. And a quick coverage check with Intrinsic Insurance before closing can save you a surprise. For the local picture, read my Chaska homes guide.
Super Crew Contractors, Ivy Lane Homes and Intrinsic Insurance are owned by David Olson; you are free to use any contractor, builder or insurer.
Your next step in selling a family farm
Every family property has a story. When you’re ready to talk about yours, I’m a call or text away.
Please note: I don’t handle rentals or property management. I work with sellers and buyers, and that’s where I can help you most in selling a family farm.
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