Two more days until our official ribbon cutting and grand opening. We’re working on the last minute details and putting the finishing touches on everything. We hope you can make it – Thursday, February 15th from 4pm to 7pm. If not, be sure to check out Thursday’s episode of #GrillTheGeeks on our Facebook page where we’ll do a little tour of the space for those of you who can’t attend.
We’re looking forward to seeing you!
Yes, we’re having a party… and you’re all invited!
We’re getting excited for our Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting next week! We’ve actually been in our new office for months but between renovations and road construction, we haven’t had a chance to property welcome you all to check out our new space. We’ll be celebrating geek style which means plenty of food and lots of fun!
Everything’s happening on Thursday, February 15th. The official ribbon cutting will take place at 4pm then we’ll host an open house until 7pm. We hope you’ll be able to stop by.
We have so much to be thankful for this year! So we decided the whole team needed to share what they are grateful for as we wrap up 2017 and race toward a new year…
Hannah: “I’m thankful for my tiny but fierce Anora, the crockpot, and all of the supportive people in my life rooting for my success.”
Sarah: “I am so very thankful for my husband. We’ve been together since we were teenagers, which means we have done a lot of growing together. He supports me when I try new things, makes me laugh when I need it most, and goes along with most of my crazy ideas. Oh yeah – I am super thankful for his handyman skills too!! New carpet on the stairs, paint, trim, and railing! (Just one of my crazy ideas…) He gives to others whenever they are in need, stays very calm through tough times, and is an amazing dad to our kids. I’m also thankful for my steering wheel heater – something I never knew I needed but couldn’t live without. ”
Theresa: “As I ponder and reflect on the many things I am thankful for, one of the most recent changes for our family comes to mind. In early spring we moved to Lakeville! We were immediately warmly welcomed to the neighborhood by many amazing families bringing treats and cards. I am thankful each and every day for the opportunities our children have by being a part of such a wonderful school district, and community. My hope is for our family to give as much love and acceptance back to the community as we have received.” #lakevillelove
Karla: “I am thankful for my 3 happy, healthy, capable children. They are grateful for all they have, and show it by sharing their time and gifts with others. I am thankful that after hanging out with the same guy for 29 years, we continue to have a lot of fun together. He continues to surprise me, support my crazy ideas, and makes me laugh every day. I am thankful for crossing paths with Sarah this past spring. She lead me to The Property Geeks, undoubtedly the BEST real estate team! I am thankful for their friendship, patience and willingness to share their knowledge with me. I am thankful that Blake Shelton was named the Sexiest Man Alive. Oh, and for coffee.”
Nekeya: “I am thankful for so many things! I love being able to travel with my family and friends. And I’m grateful for my incredible network that has helped me grow into the person I am today! Plus internet, hot water, friendship, family, having a chance to experience different cultures, getting to work in real estate and last, but not least, Thai iced coffee. ”
Julian: “I am thankful for my family, friends and coworkers who believe in me. I am thankful for the Vikings and Timberwolves being amazing this season as well! I am thankful for my clients who trust me with their real estate needs. I’m also very thankful for my girlfriend. She listens to all of my crazy ideas and is very supportive of me!”
Kim: “I’m thankful for so much this year… my family (especially my ever-patient husband), my supportive network of friends, the opportunities I’ve had this past year to further my dreams while I still try to figure out what I want to be when I grow up. I’m especially thankful for my morning cup of coffee, the creation of flavored creamers and my discovery of mashed potato bars. Who knew that was a thing?”
And since no one wanted to go after Caarin, we saved hers for last!
Caarin: “I am eternally thankful to my amazing parents. You see… I am one of the lucky ones. I truly have two of the most amazing parents a girl could ever ask for. They were extra strict in all of the “right ways” that made me angry with them as a teenager, and love and understand them as an adult and mother myself. They have worried more hours, dried more of my tears, and continue to be more supportive than I could ever imagine. Not only did they fulfill their job duties as parents, but they are even more amazing as grandparents. For that I am eternally and forever grateful. So today I am thankful for being so lucky to have been blessed with Dan and Carla Hagen as parents.”
So what are YOU thankful for this year? We’d love to know!
Property Geek Sarah recently spoiled us with one of her family’s traditional fall treats — Mulled Apple Cider. The perfect combination of sweet and tart, it combines two of our favorite fall highlights… sipping warm beverages and being able to use some of the apples we picked from our local orchards.
For as long as she can remember, her mom has made this mulled apple cider one time each year – on Thanksgiving. When she got old enough, it became her job to put the recipe together before all of their extended family descended on the house for a traditional Thanksgiving. About 10 years ago, Sarah and her cousins started taking over hosting the holidays from their parents. Since her mom had always been in charge of Thanksgiving, the responsibility for that holiday fell to her. Obviously she had to keep doing the cider, so her mom’s old percolator and the secret recipe was passed down to her. Rumor has it the percolator is the original one her grandma has always used so it’s doubly sentimental making the recipe in her vintage container. Now that her own children have gotten older, they love to help make the cider as people are arriving, just like she did.
Sarah took it a step further and added her own special tweak to the recipe — for adults only! She’s found that adding a dash of caramel vodka into the cup makes for some delicious warm caramel apple cider. A drizzle of caramel in would also be a great touch!
We decided to call it Double Duty Mulled Cider because not only does it taste fabulous but it will also make your house smell delicious.
If you don’t have a percolator, you can add all of the ingredients to a large stockpot or your slow cooker and simmer gently.
In the percolator basket, add:
½ large orange, sliced
8-10 whole cloves
3-4 cinnamon sticks
A few handfuls of brown sugar
One gallon of plain apple cider.
Let us know what you think if you decide to try it. And if you’re a seller who’s having a Fall Open House, having a batch of this brewing for when potential buyers come through wouldn’t hurt!
If there’s one thing the Geeks like to do it’s talk. So it was no surprise that we went out to lunch at one of our favorite local pizza places (huge shout out to Ole Piper pizza!) and got to chatting about houses and neighborhoods. Pretty soon the conversation turned to garage sales.
Property Geek Theresa Gage mentioned she’d bought a pretty pricey item she’d found at a garage sale one time so we made her dish up the whole story…
In 2008 she stopped by a garage sale at a house down the street. She started looking at a filing cabinet–not even a very attractive filing cabinet–and the gentleman holding the sale started to make small talk. He asked why she’d need such a big cabinet and Theresa responded that she and her husband owned some rental properties and needed to keep their paperwork organized.
Turns out the neighbor owned some rental properties he was about to lose in foreclosure, including the home where he was holding the garage sale. He wondered if she and her husband might be interested in talking about them. Theresa ended up leaving the filing cabinet but buying a refrigerator for one of their rental homes. She said she’d send her husband down later to pick it up and chat.
One chat led to another and another until Theresa and John found themselves negotiating multiple short sales with separate banks. It took several months, hours of phone calls, and many inches of paperwork but they were able to secure financing and buy out most of the properties, including the original home where the garage sale had been held.
Theresa remembers it being a win-win-win situation. She and John had been looking for some additional properties to add to their portfolio and were thrilled to acquire some investment units so close to home. The gentleman was ecstatic to be able to walk away without tarnishing his credit, and since the properties were under lease contracts, all of the renters were able to stay in their homes. To this day, Theresa still can’t believe the way the transaction happened.
But The Property Geeks aren’t surprised. We know savvy investors have to keep their eyes and ears open if they’re in the market for real estate deals. Opportunities are sometimes as close as just down the street!
Property Geek Amy knows a thing or two about spoiling the ones she loves – especially if they’re the four-legged variety. With the summer real estate market being so crazy busy, Finn and Taz have been feeling a little neglected. To get back in their good graces Amy whipped up a batch of homemade doggy treats and she’s sharing the recipe!
Puppy Pleasing PB & Pumpkin Bites
1 Cup Whole Wheat Flour
½ Cup Peanut Butter
¼ Cup Pureed Pumpkin
1 tsp Cinnamon
¼ Cup Chicken Stock
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Stir together flour, peanut butter, pumpkin and cinnamon. Mix in chicken stock until well-combined. Transfer dough to a flat surface and roll to about ¼” thickness. Use a cookie cutter to cut out desired shape and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 18 minutes until browned and firm. Let cool completely before storing in an air tight container.
Do you spoil your canine companions with homemade baked goods? If you’re not in the mood to bake, check out some of our favorite local places to treat your pooch…
Chuck & Don’s – Minnesota-based Chuck and Don’s has several locations throughout the Twin Cities, including a store in Lakeville. They sell food, supplies, treats and are dedicated to supporting the local community.
Wag n Wash – With self-serve dog wash tubs and a gourmet bakery, this is a one stop shop for everything your pup might need.
Just Dogs Gourmet – If you’re in need of a birthday cake or some of the cutest themed cookies we’ve seen, stop by one of their locations including the Mall of America.
Bone Adventure – A staple on the Twin Cities pet scene, this local pet store/bakery/grooming salon has been serving pets and their people since 1977.
Finn looks happy for now!
Where are some of your favorite places to take your pooch for a treat?
If you click on the Investment Geeks button you can sign up for our intimate networking groups for veteran or newbie investors. We’ve also got investment classes in the works so be sure to check back.
We’ve added a robust Search feature you can access from the Search page. Options include a basic or advanced search, the ability to search by map, address, city or listing ID. You can also opt in to be notified of new properties that meet your custom search criteria as soon as they come on the market. Our home page also features some fun searches we geek out about.
For up-to-date information on The Property Geeks, all things real estate related, and life in the great state of Minnesota, check out our blog. You can also connect with us on social media or sneak a peek at what we post on our social networks on the Social Media tab.
It’s been a long time coming and we’re thrilled to have a new site that better reflects who we are and what we do. Please visit us often – you never know what kind of fun stuff we’ll be posting!
Word is on the street, the cat’s out of the bag and we’re shouting it from the rooftops: The Property Geeks are moving to Downtown Lakeville! We’re so excited to join the other awesome businesses that call Holyoke Avenue home. We also want to tell you a little bit about our team and what makes us a different breed of geek from the other real estate agents you might have worked with in the past.
Our commitment to our clients goes way beyond just the sale. We’re passionate about finding solutions to their needs, whether it’s buying or selling a new home, an investment property or a family cabin that can also be used as a rental. We bring a combination of expertise, enthusiasm and compassion into every aspect of our business. We get excited about bonus rooms and fresh paint. Walking through a home with a prospective buyer thrills us to our core. You won’t find anyone else in town who gets more enthusiastic about a well-done addition or a newly renovated master bath.
Sure, we’ve won awards. And it’s lovely to be recognized by our colleagues and peers. But it means more to us to receive a heartfelt thank you from a family who’s moving into their first home or an investor who’s finally realized their dream of building a real estate portfolio. We’ll work with our clients within their parameters to find the right combination of property and value.
Our team members are licensed in Minnesota and Wisconsin and have worked all over the Twin Cities, throughout the greater state of Minnesota and even into western Wisconsin. We’re investors ourselves. We own multi-family rental properties, vacation rental properties and have been flipping houses before it was even a thing. We walk the walk and talk the talk. We don’t just want to sell you a house, we want to welcome you to The Property Geeks family, where we want to forge a relationship before, during and after the sale.
“Be different. Be kind. Be humble.” – Caarin Pannkuk – Chief Geek, Branch President
Whether you’re in the market for a new home or not, feel free to call us with questions, stop by to check out our new office, or tune in to our live, weekly episodes of “Grill The Geeks” on our Facebook page. We’ll be here when you’re ready to geek out with us. We promise!
We’ve been busy, busy, busy—up to our rose-colored glasses with secret projects—and it’s time to share the news. The Property Geeks are moving on up to downtown Lakeville!
We’ve been searching for new digs for months. We’re experienced in helping our friends and clients find the perfect home, cabin or investment property. But, securing a space for our team to call home seemed like a never-ending quest.
We considered many of the south metro suburbs. There are so many attractive options in the Twin Cities. But then we thought about it. We’re licensed in Minnesota and Wisconsin and have listed and sold homes all over the Twin Cities metro area and beyond… Lakeville holds a special place in our hearts. Everyone on our team lives within a few miles. Our kids attend Lakeville public schools. Many of us grew up around the area and love it so much we’ve never left.
Finally, after weeks of searching, the stars aligned and we signed a lease on a gorgeous space. Now, the flooring has been installed, the paint has dried on the walls, the furniture is being delivered, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to be moving into Downtown Lakeville.
Lakeville is a thriving community and the businesses in the downtown area have big plans to make it even more of a destination location. From tasty treats to custom brews to a wide variety of professional services, the downtown area is a one-stop shop for just about anything a resident might need. With all of the year-round events, the farmer’s market, and the sensational summer plans, we’re excited to join the fantastic group of businesses that call Holyoke Avenue home.
Be on the lookout for news of The Property Geeks official Grand Opening sometime soon. And watch for us while you’re cruising through downtown.
You never know what we’ll be geeking out about next!
