Nikki Foley: What’s really happening in the Twin Cities housing market right now—not the headlines, not the forecasts, but what people are actually seeing on the ground? Today, we’re getting a true boots-on-the-ground perspective. Welcome to Paladin Financial Talk. I’m your host Nikki Foley, and I’m joined today by featured guest and real estate agent with Edina Realty, Justin Brama. Welcome, Justin.

Justin Brama: Hi Nikki. Glad to be here with you.

Nikki Foley: Justin is a local real estate agent with Edina Realty, a long-established and trusted name in the Twin Cities housing market. What really sets Justin apart is how he shows up. Real estate is ultimately about relationships and trust. It’s about feeling comfortable with the person helping guide you through one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll ever make. Justin grew up around real estate in a large Italian family where housing, relationships, and community were always central. Justin, let’s start there. Tell us a little about your background and how you got into real estate.

Justin Brama: Thanks for having me, Nikki. It’s an honor to be here. I grew up around real estate. My dad flipped houses and invested in multifamily properties throughout the Twin Cities. My grandpa was involved in development as well. I originally thought I’d become a teacher forever. I taught history at Anoka High School and Andover High School, but eventually real estate pulled me in. My wife and I bought our first investment property in Florida in 2022, right as Hurricane Ian was happening. We later bought another property and eventually purchased a fourplex in Northeast Minneapolis. At this point, I definitely caught the real estate bug.

Nikki Foley: And that experience gives you a unique perspective because you’ve experienced both the wins and challenges personally. One thing I appreciate is your focus on relationships and helping people feel comfortable through the process. Let’s shift into today’s market. This is a financial planning and retirement planning podcast, and one of the biggest points we’ve been making throughout this series is that housing is often one of the most overlooked parts of a financial plan. So Justin, give us the boots-on-the-ground perspective. What’s happening in the Twin Cities housing market right now?

Justin Brama: This is definitely not the 2021 or 2022 market anymore. When interest rates jumped, it really slowed housing activity overall. We didn’t necessarily see a housing price crash in Minnesota, but we did see a housing sales slowdown. Inventory has slowly been climbing, but we’re still below what would historically be considered normal inventory levels. Homes that are priced correctly and show well are still moving quickly, often with multiple offers. But homes that need a lot of work or are overpriced are sitting much longer. Pricing strategy matters more today than it did during the frenzy years.

Nikki Foley: That’s helpful perspective because many people still feel uncertain. I’m one of those people constantly looking at the Edina Realty app, and I know many of my friends are too. If someone is a buyer right now, what should they actually be doing?

Justin Brama: First, talk with a lender and a realtor earlier than you think you need to. Many buyers wait until they find the perfect house before preparing financially, and that can create problems. Even if you’re casually looking, you want to understand your budget, debt-to-income ratio, credit score, and financing options ahead of time. There’s also hidden inventory out there. At Edina Realty, we have access to off-market and pre-market opportunities that buyers won’t always see on Zillow or public listing apps. That can create opportunities to avoid some competition.

Nikki Foley: That was actually one of my biggest takeaways from this conversation—the importance of preparation. Looking online is one thing, but there’s so much more strategy and financial planning involved behind the scenes.

Justin Brama: Absolutely. One of the biggest mistakes buyers make right now is getting emotionally caught up in headlines or cosmetic updates. Sometimes buyers focus too much on paint colors or new flooring while ignoring expensive repairs like windows, roofing, or major mechanical systems. Another mistake is assuming interest rates will automatically drop and refinancing will always be easy. People need to prepare for multiple scenarios and think long term.

Nikki Foley: You also talked about the importance of knowing yourself. Some people are comfortable with sweat equity and renovations. Others are not. That matters when buying a house.

Justin Brama: Exactly. If you’re buying a home you plan to stay in for only a few years, you need to think carefully about what kind of property makes sense financially. A first-time homebuyer may benefit from buying something with upside potential instead of a fully updated home that’s already maxed out in value.

Nikki Foley: We also talked quite a bit about sellers. What are the biggest things sellers should focus on right now?

Justin Brama: Pricing strategy is huge. If a home is overpriced, buyers know almost immediately. We often talk about “excitement pricing,” where you price a home competitively enough to drive traffic and interest instead of chasing the market downward later. Presentation matters too. Fresh paint, updated fixtures, landscaping, and small cosmetic improvements can make a major difference without requiring massive renovations.

Nikki Foley: You also mentioned technology and AI playing a bigger role in real estate.

Justin Brama: Definitely. The best agents today understand both relationships and technology. Tools like Zillow Showcase, targeted social media marketing, AI-driven advertising, and 3D tours help listings reach more buyers. Buyers today are consuming information differently, especially younger generations.

Nikki Foley: As we wrap up, one of the themes that really stood out to me is the idea of controlling what you can control. That came from both The Educated Homebuyer podcast and Mel Robbins’ Let Them Theory. There’s a lot happening in the world we cannot control—interest rates, global events, headlines—but there are still important things we can control.  We can control our preparation, our budget, our mindset, and our decision-making process.

Justin Brama:  Exactly. Focus on reliable information sources and avoid doom scrolling negative headlines. Prepare yourself financially and think long term. If you do that, you put yourself in a much stronger position regardless of what the market does.

Nikki Foley: Justin, thank you so much for joining us today.

Justin Brama: Thank you for having me.

Nikki Foley: If today’s conversation sounded familiar and you’d like clarity around your own housing or financial decisions, both Justin and the Paladin Financial team offer a complimentary 15-minute conversation to help you take the next step. You can reach Justin Brama directly at 612-703-4696, follow him on Instagram @justinbramarealty, or visit JustinBrama.com. You can also connect with the Paladin Financial team at PaladinFinancial.com. Thanks for listening, and we’ll see you on the next episode of Paladin Financial Talk.