1. How do I know if an offer on my home is a good one?

    Reader Question: Monty, my home in Rochester, MN is up for sale by owner with a listing price of $178,900. It is an all brick, 3 bedroom, 2bath, 1600 square foot home with a full basement and a 2.5 car attached garage. Lot size is 120×188. We paid $144,000 in 2006 and have invested approximately $16,000 since then. We have […]

  2. How do closing costs work?

    Reader Question: Monty, is there a difference in an offer that reads: Sellers is to pay 3% closing costs for buyer’s allowable non allowable closing costs. And one that reads: Seller is to pay up to 3% of the purchase price for buyer’s allowable and non-allowable closing costs. Also, if a seller agree to pay up […]

  3. How do I terminate a listing agreement?

    Reader Question: To terminate a listing agreement may not be easy. We just listed our home with a company 3 weeks ago and we have some concerns on the Realtors marketing of our home. I emailed him ( so as to document it) and voiced my concerns in the method being used, MLS only. There are […]

  4. Can a house be too clean?

    Reader Question: Monty. 20 showings and no offers…5 interested people, two second showings. Comments have been very clean, but a lot of people do not like the lay out. We have 2300 square feet with a large kitchen, dining room, large family room, 3 full baths, 4 bedroom and an unfinished 5th room over the garage. […]