Erica Carlson - Realtor

Most homeowners who want to upsize assume they have to sell their current home before they can buy the next one. Sometimes that's the right move. Sometimes it's not. There are multiple ways to structure this, and the right one depends on your finances, your timeline, and what you're trying to protect. The problem isn't the strategy. It's choosing one without knowing what else is available.

If you want to understand all of your options before you decide, I'm teaching a free class on June 24th. Link in bio to reserve your spot.

Most sellers expect a first appointment with an agent to go like this: agent comes in, shakes your hand, shows you a few comps, tells you what your home is worth, and asks you to sign.

That is not how I do it.

Before I ever talk price, I want to know what is keeping you up at night. What does this move mean for your family? What has to happen for this to feel like a win?

Then we tour the home together. I take notes. I give you honest staging feedback,and if you hire me I’ll bring a staging consultant as complimentary service.

And when we do get to price, we arrive there together. I show you the comps with real adjustments.

I walk you through three different pricing models so you understand the difference between a price that attracts buyers, a price that's fair, and a price that could leave $$ on the table.

You do not sign anything until the number makes sense to you.

If you are thinking about selling in Buffalo, Delano, Rockford, or St. Michael and you are tired of the idea of an agent just telling you what you want to hear, comment PRICE below.

I will reach out and we can have a real conversation about what your home is worth and how we get there.

Comment PRICE below and I will reach out directly. We will talk through what the market is actually doing in your neighborhood, how the three pricing models work, and whether now is the right time for you to sell.

Most sellers don't realize they can negotiate time to stay in their home after closing and it can make the entire sell/buy process a lot less chaotic.
That's exactly what we dig into in my Sell/Buy 101 class coming up in a few weeks. If you're not sure where to start or want to understand all your options before you list, this is for you. Virtual, open to anyone, anywhere. Send me a DM for the link to sign up.

One of the simplest pieces of homebuying advice I give is this:

Don't buy a home unless you can realistically see yourself staying there for at least five years.

Why?

Because building equity takes time.

Every purchase comes with costs. Every sale comes with costs. If you buy and then move again a year or two later, there's a good chance those expenses will eat into any equity you've built.

That's why I encourage buyers to think beyond what works today.

Ask yourself:

• Will this home still work if your job changes?
• If your family grows?
• If your lifestyle shifts?
• If interest rates stay higher for longer?

The goal isn't to find the perfect house.

The goal is to find a house that can serve you well for the next chapter of your life.

Of course, life happens. Plans change. Sometimes people need to move sooner than expected.

But if you're shopping with a five-to-ten-year horizon in mind, you're much more likely to make a decision that strengthens your financial position instead of creating unnecessary costs.

Thinking about buying in Minnesota? follow for more Twin Cities real estate info!

If you are thinking about selling in the next few months, this is worth understanding before you list.

Homes are still selling. But some sell quickly while others sit for weeks. The difference is usually not the house. It is the pricing strategy going in.

Most sellers price based on what sold a few months ago. The problem is the market moves faster than that. By the time you list, those sales are already old news.

Here is what the market will tell you almost immediately once you go live, and what to watch for so you are not caught off guard.

If homes similar to yours typically sell in about 30 days, you should see steady showing activity in the first two weeks. Low showings early is almost always a pricing signal, not a marketing problem.

If you are getting online views and saves on Zillow but no one is scheduling showings, buyers like the home but do not feel the price matches what they expect to see.

If buyers are walking through but no offers come in, they are comparing your home to everything else they have seen and the price is not landing.

The first two weeks on the market are more honest than any opinion from a neighbor, a friend, or an online estimate.
Pricing is one piece.

Preparation, presentation, competition, and timing all matter too. Getting those right before you list is where the difference is usually made.

When buyers tell me they want a great neighborhood, this is the kind of street they're usually describing.

Quiet cul-de-sac.Mature trees.Private backyard.Neighbors who know each other.

📍New Hope4 bed | 2 bath | $400,000

LIsting courtesy of Erica Carlson / BRIX Real Estate

Using a realtor to buy or sell is the most logical reason to reach out to an agent, but there are a few other times it makes sense to call one. And none of these cost you anything.

My info is in the link in bio. No pressure, no strings attached. When you’re ready, I’m here.

Putting a sign in the ground and hoping buyers show up is not a strategy. It is just optimism.

When a home I have listed in the Twin Cities area goes quiet, here is what I am actually doing:

I look at the first five photos. Buyers decide in seconds whether to keep scrolling, and if the photos are not telling the right story, that is the first thing we fix.

I check what is happening with comparable homes. Is the whole price range slow or just this one? That answer changes everything about the next move.

I am in contact with my seller every week with real information, not reassurance. What is the feedback from showings? What is the market doing? What are we adjusting and why?

And I am looking beyond the MLS. Depending on the home, that might mean targeted outreach, local community groups, or going directly after the buyer who is most likely to want this specific property.

Price might still come into the conversation. Sometimes it has to. But I am not going to that conversation first without ruling out everything else.

If you are thinking about selling in Wright or Hennepin County and you want to know what a real plan looks like before you ever go live, let’s talk.