Big Weekend for Country Club Open Houses

Country Club Extravaganza

Country Club is one of the premiere neighborhoods in Edina -- indeed, in the entire Twin Cities.

Mostly built in the '20's and '30's, Country Club homes are historically registered, and include some of the most impressive Tudors and Colonials around.

There are currently 44 Country Club homes on the market ranging in price from around $600k (smaller homes needing lots of work) to more than $4 million; more than half will be open this Sunday (that's quite unusual for upper bracket homes).

One example: 4620 Drexel Avenue South (pictured above).

Built in 1928, this Tudor has been completely renovated, and has five Bedrooms and Baths, and 5,600 FSF. List price is $1.75M.

If you are looking for a great home in a fabulous neighborhood, but didn't think you could afford Country Club, come take a look.

You might just be surprised!

1st Open Sunday!

South Tyrol Hills Sleeper!

Where: 1340 Fairlawn Way, in Golden Valley's South Tyrol Hills neighborhood
What: Sprawling 4 BR/3 Bath Mid-Century Split-Entry with almost 3,600 finished square feet -- including a 600 (!) sq. ft. Great Room.
How much: $444,900
When: market time -- 3 days
Who: listed by Ross Kaplan, Edina Realty - City Lakes

If you're looking for a dynamite, well-built family home in a close-in location, please come by my open house this Sunday from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

The highlight of the home?

The huge Great Room, featuring vaulted ceilings, an (Italian) granite Fireplace, and skylights.

A great family home -- and a great value!

(If you don't know the area, South Tyrol Hills is south of 394 and east of 100).

1 for 298!

Housing "Ahab" Finally Finds Her Moby Dick

Bay Area real estate has always demanded patience on the part of buyers. Many spend months scouring listings in hopes of finding "the one." Then there is Lidia Pringle. Over two-and-a-half years, Ms. Pringle personally inspected 298 homes in Marin County.

--"A Picky Home Buyer Pursues An Epic Hunt for 'the One'"; The Wall Street Journal (12/29/09)

My Realtor's take on Ms. Pringle's quest isn't surprise that she actually went through 298 homes.

The surprise is that she actually bought one.

In my experience, viewing that many homes -- in fact, a fraction of that number -- invariably takes one out of the "serious Buyer" category and into an altogether different one: "open house hobbyist," perhaps, or maybe "too-much-time-on-your-hands architecture buff."

Given that the upper bracket properties Ms. Pringle was checking out typically don't open their homes to the public, the likelihood is that she viewed most of those homes through Realtor-arranged private showings.

Poor Realtor(s).

Apparently, Ms. Pringle ditched the Realtor who'd arranged most of those showings and bought through one who showed her exactly one home, the one she bought.

Ahh . . . the agony (and the ecstasy) of working on commission!

P.S.: one of the things Realtors quickly realize is that sometimes, the harder you work for a client, the less they appreciate it. Realization #2: so-called tire kickers never kick the tires on the housing equivalent of Chevettes and Pinto's (remember those?); it's always Porches and BMW's.

$10k Property Tax Bill? "That's Nothing!"

It's All Relative

One of the things you have to remember doing open houses around the City Lakes is how much the housing costs, relatively speaking -- not to mention the property taxes that come with.

Normally, a $10,000 annual property tax bill isn't a selling point.

However, I had three parties come through my $600k Sunset Gables open house yesterday who were contemplating downsizing from significantly more expensive, nearby homes.

I literally heard variations of the following multiple times: '$10,000 a year? That's nothing. I pay double (or triple) that now!"

P.S.: I remember getting gas a few years ago, and the man one pump over couldn't seem to take his eyes off my two sleeping kids (pure angels when they're asleep!).

The look in his eyes could only be described as wistful. I gently said to him, "You must not have kids." "Oh, God, no," he answered. "I have nine."

Home Focus: 110 Kentucky No. (Lion's Park in Golden Valley)

"No Surface Left Untouched"

Where: Lion's Park neighborhood in Golden Valley (west of 100, between 394 and 55)
What: almost 2,500 totally remodeled square feet, 3 Bedrooms, 3 all new baths; great floor plan and flow
When: Broker open -- 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (6/16); public open -- this Sun., 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. (6/21). Days on market: 3
How much: $439.9k
Who: listing agent - Ross Kaplan (desk: 612-925-7701)

This updated, Golden Valley two-story is perfect for the family looking for Hopkins schools, in a terrific suburban setting, or, for professionals who want to be close to the city, but need a little more elbow room (the lot is .29 acre, with a deck, fenced backyard, and old-growth trees).

Please feel free to stop by either tomorrow or Sunday!

Home Showcase: 2600 Inglewood (Fern Hill)

[As they say on TV after a long interruption: 'now, back to our regularly scheduled [real estate] programming . . .']

You're Invited!

Where: 2600 Inglewood Ave. South (St. Louis Park's Fern Hill neighborhood)
What: All-brick Georgian Colonial with 3 BR/2A, gorgeous hardwood floors (newly refinished), and just under 2,000 FSF How much: $374,900
When: first open house this Sunday (5/10) from 2-4 p.m.
Who: listed by yours truly

What the exterior photo above won't tell you is the wonderful location: just two blocks from Minneapolis' Cedar Lake, and less than 10 minutes to downtown (less to Uptown).

Click here for the full MLS listing info:

http://matrix.northstarmls.com/de.asp?k=411903X1JL0&p=DE-44135317-194