OUR BLOG

Welcome to our Twin Cities real estate blog—your go-to hub for honest, practical guidance on buying and selling homes in our local market. Here you’ll find easy-to-digest articles, checklists, and real-life insights drawn from decades of hands-on experience helping Minnesota buyers and sellers navigate every step of a move.

 

Our team lives and works here, studies this market daily, and has successfully guided hundreds of families through changing prices, shifting interest rates, and competitive offers. We combine local expertise, proven systems, and a coaching mindset to break down complex decisions into clear next steps, so you can feel confident, prepared, and supported from first thought to final closing.

  • Why Spring Sellers Have an Edge in the Twin Cities Housing Market

    Why Spring Sellers Have an Edge in the Twin Cities Housing Market,Sandy Erickson Real Estate Team

    Spring Sellers Have an Edge. Here’s Why. Homeowners looking to sell in the Twin Cities real estate market usually want three things: plenty of interested buyers, strong offers, and a short timeline. Historically, spring is the season that most often delivers all three. So, if a move has been on your

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  • When Is the Best Time to Sell a House?

    When Is the Best Time to Sell a House?,Sandy Erickson Real Estate Team

    When Is the Best Time to Sell a House? Timing can make all the difference when it comes to selling your home. Whether you’re looking to upgrade, downsize, or relocate, knowing the best time to put your house on the market can help you get the best price and a quicker sale. But is there really a “per

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  • Top Mistakes Homeowners Are Making in 2026 (And How To Avoid Them)

    Top Mistakes Homeowners Are Making in 2026 (And How To Avoid Them),Sandy Erickson Real Estate Team

    Top Mistakes Homeowners Are Making in 2026 (And How To Avoid Them) Let me start with this: homes are absolutely still selling. In fact, thousands sell every single day across the country. But the sellers who are successful right now have one thing in common — they’ve adjusted to today’s market inste

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  • How Long Does It Take to Sell a Home?

    How Long Does It Take to Sell a Home?,Sandy Erickson Real Estate Team

    How Long Does It Take to Sell a Home? If you’re thinking about selling, one of the first questions you probably have is: How long is this going to take? The honest answer? It depends. But I can give you a realistic framework so you know what to expect. The Average Timeline From the day you go live o

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  • Twin Cities Winter Restaurant Week Is Back!

    Twin Cities Winter Restaurant Week Is Back!,Sandy Erickson

    Winter Restaurant Week Is Back: February 23 – March 1 Mark your calendars — Winter Restaurant Week returns to the Twin Cities February 23 through March 1, and it’s the perfect excuse to get out and enjoy some of the amazing local dining our metro has to offer. Produced by Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, this

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  • What NOT to Do When Getting Your Home Ready for Sale

    What NOT to Do When Getting Your Home Ready for Sale,Sandy Erickson Real Estate Team

    What NOT to Do When Getting Your Home Ready for Sale Getting your home ready to sell doesn’t have to mean spending a fortune. In fact, some of the most expensive updates homeowners consider rarely pay off when it’s time to list. Last week we shared what to do before putting your home on the market.

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  • Why 2026 Finally Favors Twin Cities Homebuyers

    Why 2026 Finally Favors Twin Cities Homebuyers,Sandy Erickson Real Estate Team

    It’s Getting More Affordable To Buy a Home in the Twin Cities There’s finally a little good news for anyone who’s been priced out or sitting on the sidelines. Buying a home is getting more affordable—nationally and here in the Twin Cities Metro. Monthly payments have started to come down, and the sq

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  • What Should You Do to Prepare Your Home for Sale?

    What Should You Do to Prepare Your Home for Sale?,Sandy Erickson Real Estate Team

    What Should You Do to Prepare Your Home for Sale? How to prepare your home for sale so it attracts buyers, sells faster, and earns top dollar. Getting your home market-ready before listing in the Twin Cities metro isn’t just smart — it’s strategic. With buyers scrolling listings online first and mak

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  • Your Guide to Minnesota First-Time Homebuyer Programs (2026)

    Your Guide to Minnesota First-Time Homebuyer Programs (2026),Sandy Erickson Real Estate Team

    Your Guide to Minnesota First-Time Homebuyer Programs (2026) Thinking about buying your first home in the Twin Cities northern suburbs? You might qualify for up to $18,000 in down payment assistance through Minnesota Housing programs that many buyers don't even know exist. As a real estate team serv

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  • Selling (and Buying) a Home During Divorce: What to Know

    Selling (and Buying) a Home During Divorce: What to Know,Sandy Erickson

    I'm Getting a Divorce: How and When Do I Sell My Home? Divorce is never easy, and when a shared home is involved, emotions can run even higher. If you’re facing the difficult question of how and when to sell your home during a divorce, you’re not alone. Many couples find themselves overwhelmed by bo

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  • Why So Many Homeowners Are Downsizing Right Now

    Why So Many Homeowners Are Downsizing Right Now,Sandy Erickson Real Estate Team

    Why So Many Homeowners Are Rethinking Their Home Right NowFor many homeowners, retirement isn’t some far-off idea anymore. It’s starting to feel very real.According to recent data, nearly 12,000 people will turn 65 every day for the next couple of years.   A meaningful portion of those homeowners ar

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  • The A, B, C’s of Real Estate: An A–Z Guide for Buyers and Sellers

    The A, B, C’s of Real Estate: An A–Z Guide for Buyers and Sellers,Sandy Erickson Real Estate Team

    The A, B, C’s of Real Estate: An A–Z Guide for Buyers and Sellers What do all the terms used during a real estate transaction actually mean? Whether you’re buying or selling a home, understanding the language of real estate can make the process feel far more manageable. This A–Z guide offers real es

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  • The Ultimate Moving Checklist

    The Ultimate Moving Checklist,Sandy Erickson

    The Ultimate Moving Checklist   Let’s face it, moving is stressful. That’s why we’ve created an epic moving checklist to help you stay on track. With some direction and this 8-week printable moving checklist for your upcoming move, you’ll be sure to have everything done between now and the big day,

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  • Twin Cities Housing Market 2026: Should You Buy, Sell, or Wait?

    Twin Cities Housing Market 2026: Should You Buy, Sell, or Wait?,Sandy Erickson Real Estate Team

    Twin Cities Housing Market 2026: Should You Buy, Sell, or Wait? Wondering whether you should buy, sell, or wait in the Twin Cities housing market as we head into 2026?You’re not alone — and the right answer depends on both the market and your personal situation. The Twin Cities housing market contin

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  • How to Find Your "Right" Home - A Quick Guide to Making that BIG Decision

    How to Find Your "Right" Home - A Quick Guide to Making that BIG Decision,Sandy Erickson Real Estate Team

    How to find your "right" home - A Quick Guide to Making that BIG Decision   For home buyers, acquiring your dream home may not be as simple as saying that you want a “two-story house witha garage in a quiet neighborhood.” Clearly, there’s so much more to a home than that. You should not be restricte

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  • What's in a Mortgage? Breaking Down Your Monthly Payment

    What's in a Mortgage? Breaking Down Your Monthly Payment,Sandy Erickson

    What’s in a Mortgage? Breaking Down Your Monthly Payment In simple terms, a mortgage is a long-term loan that helps buyers purchase a home without needing to pay the full price upfront. For many, it’s the path to homeownership—and a key part of achieving the American Dream. Once you own a home, your

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  • Foreclosures and Short Sales Explained: A Twin Cities Buyer Guide

    Foreclosures and Short Sales Explained: A Twin Cities Buyer Guide,Sandy Erickson Real Estate Team

    Foreclosures and Short Sales Explained: A Twin Cities Buyer Guide Foreclosures and short sales can create opportunity for buyers—but they also come with added complexity, especially here in the Twin Cities market. If you’ve heard these terms and aren’t quite sure what they really mean, you’re not al

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  • Mortgage Rates Hit a 2025 Low: What It Means for Home Buyers and Sellers in 2026

    Mortgage Rates Hit a 2025 Low: What It Means for Home Buyers and Sellers in 2026,Sandy Erickson Real Estate Team

    Mortgage Rates Just Hit Their Lowest Point of 2025—Here’s What That Means If You’re Buying (or Selling) in 2026 If you’ve been waiting for a little good news on mortgage rates, we just got some. According to Freddie Mac’s weekly survey, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate dropped to 6.15% at the

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  • Should You Consider Buying a Home in the Winter?

    Should You Consider Buying a Home in the Winter?,Sandy Erickson Real Estate Team

    Should You Consider Buying a Home in the Winter? Here’s What the Data Says Should I consider buying a home in the winter? Yes. For many buyers, winter (especially post-holidays) can be one of the most strategic times to buy because you often face less competition—and as spring demand ramps up, price

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  • How To Find the Best Deal Possible on a Home Right Now

    How To Find the Best Deal Possible on a Home Right Now,Sandy Erickson Real Estate Team

    How To Find the Best Deal Possible on a Home Right Now Want to know how to find the best deal possible in today’s housing market? Here’s the secret. Focus on homes that have been sitting on the market for a while. Because when a listing lingers, sellers tend to get more realistic – and, more willing

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YOUR HOME MOVE STARTS HERE

Contact the Sandy Erickson Real Estate Team to get started on your real estate journey today.

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