Why Are There More Homes for Sale Right Now? What We're Seeing in the Twin Cities If you've been watching the housing market lately, you may have noticed more homes available for sale. Interestingly, the reason isn't simply that more homeowners are listing their properties. Homes are also taking lon

How Can I Lower My Home Buying Costs? With mortgage rates moving higher recently, buyers may be looking at the numbers and wondering if buying a home still makes sense. The good news is there may be more ways to lower the cost of buying than you realize. At the Sandy Erickson Real Estate Team, we en

Do Data Centers Affect Real Estate? Data centers probably aren’t the first thing that comes to mind when buying or selling a home. However, as more of these large facilities are being built closer to residential areas, homeowners and buyers are starting to ask an important question: Can a nearby dat

Frequently Asked Questions About The Appraisal If you’re buying or selling a home, you’ll likely hear the word “appraisal” once you’re under contract. It’s an important part of many real estate transactions, especially when the buyer is using a mortgage. So, what exactly is an appraisal, and why doe

Is Fall a Bad Time to Sell Your Home? What the Data Actually Shows Short answer: No. Fall isn't a bad time to sell a home — it's a different market than spring, not a worse one. Listings face less competition, the buyers who are still shopping tend to be more serious, and homes often sell just as ef

Why the First Two Weeks on the Market Matter Most A phrase we sometimes hear from sellers is: "We're not in a hurry to sell." And that's perfectly okay. Not every move comes with a strict deadline. What many sellers don't realize, though, is that more days on the market doesn't necessarily lead to a

If you’re a buyer still watching the market and wondering if now is the wrong time to make a move, this 4th of July pocket may actually be worth paying attention to. Historically, summer can bring strong activity in real estate, but there are also pockets where things slow down. The weeks around the

What Does an HOA Actually Cover? If you’re looking to buy a townhome, condo, or even some single-family homes, chances are you’ll run into a homeowners association (HOA). One of the most common questions buyers ask is: What does an HOA actually cover? The short answer? It depends. Not all HOAs are t

How to Compete in Multiple Offers Without Overpaying If you’re shopping for a home right now, you may be wondering: How do I compete in multiple offers without overpaying? It’s one of the most common concerns we hear from buyers, and for good reason. No one wants to miss out on a home they love. At

Is Now the Wrong Time to Make a Move? With the cost of just about everything going up lately and news headlines constantly talking about inflation, it's understandable to feel concerned. Groceries cost more. Gas costs more. Insurance costs more. Mortgage rates remain higher than many people would li

What Should You Really Look for in a REALTOR®? Whether you're buying your first home, selling a home you've lived in for 30 years, or trying to coordinate both at the same time, choosing the right REALTOR® can make all the difference. Many people think a REALTOR® is simply there to unlock doors, put

Why Should I Use a Buyer’s Agent? It’s a common question—and a good one. With so much information online, it’s easy to wonder if you really need a buyer’s agent when purchasing a home. The short answer? Having the right representation can make a meaningful difference in your experience, your outcome

Stay or Sell? How To Make the Right Call as You Get Older At some point, this question tends to come up—sometimes quietly: “Can I stay here long-term… or would it make more sense to move?” It’s usually not urgent. It shows up in everyday moments—walking up the stairs, keeping up with yardwork, or ju

Spring Home Maintenance Checklist: What to Do Inside and Outside Your Home This Season What should you include in a spring home maintenance checklist?A complete spring home maintenance checklist should cover both exterior and interior tasks—focusing on routine upkeep, system checks, and small repair

What Should You Know About Downsizing? If downsizing has been on your mind lately, you’re not alone. For many homeowners—especially after being in the same home for years—it’s not really about “going smaller.” It’s about making life easier, simplifying things, and setting up the next chapter in a wa

Are Online Home Estimates Actually Accurate? A Twin Cities perspective on Zillow, Redfin, and your real home value If you’ve ever looked up your home on Zillow or another site, you’ve probably had the same thought: “Is that really what my home is worth?” It’s one of the most common questions we hear

Are Investors Really Taking Over the Housing Market? We’ve had quite a few conversations lately where people are concerned about investors buying up all the homes. And we get it. The headlines make it sound like big companies are out there scooping up everything… which can feel frustrating if you’re

When Should You NOT Refinance Your Mortgage? Refinancing gets talked about a lot when rates move—but it’s not always the right move for everyone. Last week we covered when refinancing can make sense. Today, let’s look at the other side—because sometimes the better decision is to stay right where you

The Best Time To List Your Home This Spring Is Almost Here If selling has been on your mind this year, timing matters—and there’s a window coming up that tends to give sellers a bit of an edge. Based on historical data, the week of April 12–18 stands out as one of the strongest weeks to list. Now, t

When Does It Make Sense to Refinance Your Mortgage? Refinancing is something most homeowners think about at some point. And if you’ve owned a home for a while, chances are you’ve at least wondered if it could benefit you. It’s Not Just About the Interest Rate A lot of people think they should only r