Downtown Minneapolis, Where do you grocery shop?

As the downtown Minneapolis condo market continues to shift and change, so do the plans for downtown grocery stores. In 2004, Lunds was looking in to plans for a downtown location at 12th and Hennepin. Apparently, they ran in to some snags with regard to having enough room to contain all of the offerings we’ve come to know and love. On August 5th, 2008, it was announced that Lunds will be going in to a location on Hennepin Ave., between 10th and 11th, filling up approximately 30,000 square feet. Here’s an article from the Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal that explains it all.

Not to be forgotten is the current Lunds location at Central and University which has been open since 2006. For now, downtown residents have to drive over the bridge to get there, but we all know it’s worth it!

Another grocery venture on the other end of downtown is the Whole Foods at 1 Washington Ave., the former location of a Jaguar dealership. The snags all along have involved financing as well as getting approved plans with regard to commercial, residential and rental property combined in one building. Look at info from the Star-Tribune article.

As these projects progress, I predict we will see the recovery of downtown condo sales move in tandem. Along with these ventures that make downtown living more do-able, the new Twins Stadium is almost finished and the conversations about new modes of transit in and out of downtown from each direction, with a hub at Twins Stadium, keep downtown Minneapolis in the forefront urban growth and vitality.

I’m looking forward to updates about North Loop project and anything about The Nicollet.
Submitted by Susan Hofflander

BREG in the News

Buyers Real Estate Group agent Susan Hofflander was recently quoted in an article in the Minneapolis Examiner. The article (Home sales, prices drop in Midwest) took a look at the housing marketing in the Midwest, including the Twin Cities.

The reporter wanted to speak to Susan Hofflander as an exclusive buyer agent about her opinion on the housing market and what would be needed to boost home sales and home prices.

Buying Foreclosed Property

For better or for worse, there’s a lot of foreclosed property out there. Buying now can make sense if you have the ready cash and the personality to weather the storm – but few people do. To see if you have what it takes, check out the quiz for folks thinking about buying foreclosed property. It a great, entertaining way to get a glimpse of what buying foreclosed property can be like.

BUYERS AND SELLERS GET THE WHOLE PACKAGE OR CHOOSE A LA CARTE

Home buyers and sellers are under a good deal of stress these days. Understandable. And, REALTORS are being burned by the steam when buyers and sellers are ready to vent. For some folks, no matter what, the real estate professional is always wrong. Perhaps a revamp of our industry is in order to make sure buyers and sellers are getting exactly what they ask for.

I don't object to revisions if it will help us better serve our clients. This post, that gives suggestions about how our industry might look in the future, goes from the sublime to the ridiculous. Take a look and see what I mean. Some of it makes sense.

What are your additions, subtractions or opinions?

Submitted by Susan Hofflander

Can’t sell? Rent!

The Minneapolis Star Tribune recently ran an article on “accidental landlords.” You might know one, or you might be one. If so, this article is for you. It gives advice to others who have found themselves in a position of needing to rent out one property, often because they suddenly and unexpectedly own two residences.

Renting out your place can be a great way to stretch a budget but it works best to go into with your eyes open!