Is Buying a Home Still Affordable? Discover New Opportunities in Today's Twin Cities Housing Market Join Our FREE Home Buyer Webinar on November 19, 2026 If you've been thinking about buying a home but feel discouraged by today's home prices and mortgage rates, you're certainly not alone. Affordabil

10 Halloween Events Happening in the Twin Cities This Week! Halloween is almost here, and with it falling on a Saturday this year, there's plenty of time to get out and enjoy the festivities! Whether you're looking for a fun family outing, a spooky adventure, or something different to do with friend

Is a Townhome a Smart Buy? For many first-time buyers, purchasing a single-family home can feel out of reach right now. A townhome may not be where you imagined starting, but it can be a practical way to get your foot in the door and begin building equity through homeownership. Townhomes can also ap

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

  There’s been plenty of talk about whether home prices are going to fall. Some buyers are worried about buying before a housing crash, while others are waiting and hoping prices come down enough to make buying more affordable. So, what are housing experts actually predicting? Experts Aren’t Forecas

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

Why Fall Could Be a Great Time To Buy a Home If you’ve been waiting for the housing market to become a little more buyer-friendly, fall may bring some opportunities worth paying attention to. Mortgage rates tend to get most of the attention, but they’re only one part of the equation. The time of yea

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

What Does the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act Mean for Home Buyers & Sellers? You may have seen headlines about the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, a major new federal housing law, and wondered what it could mean for you as a home buyer or seller. The law covers a lot of ground, but one provision

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

Condo Financing Rules Are Changing: What Buyers & Sellers Need to Know If you're planning to buy or sell a condo or certain townhomes, there are some important financing changes happening that could affect your next move. Beginning August 3, 2026, lenders are required to take a much closer look at t

How to Avoid Capital Gains Tax When You Sell Your Home A question we're getting more often lately is: "How do I avoid capital gains tax when I sell?" It's coming up more as empty nesters downsize into smaller homes or rentals — often walking away with significant proceeds. Here's the short answer, w

What Is a Bridge Loan? How It Can Help You Buy Before You Sell One strategy the Sandy Erickson Real Estate Team has recommended to many homeowners over the past several years is using a bridge loan. While it's not the right solution for everyone, it can make buying and selling at the same time much

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

How Do I Downsize Without Feeling Overwhelmed? If you’ve lived in your home for 10, 20, or even 30+ years, the thought of downsizing can feel overwhelming. You’re not just moving furniture or boxes. You’re sorting through decades of memories, belongings, and major life decisions. For many homeowners

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