Wade's Blog

Twin Cities Housing Market Statistics

Wade Hanson (RE/MAX Results) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 10:11:56 -0700

Although the weather isn’t heating up in the Twin Cities, the housing market certainly is! So what's fueling the ongoing market recovery? First, tightened inventory levels combined with strong demand are fueling price gains in many areas. Second, consumer demand is shifting from distressed properties to conventional homes. Third, record-low mortgage rates and rising rents are supporting housing recovery. Locally, new Listings in the Twin Cities region decreased 5%, pending sales were up 6.6% and inventory levels shrank 31%. Prices also moved higher. The Median Sales Price increased 17.4% to $176,000. Days on market was down 24% to 109 days. Absorption rates improved as the months supply of Inventory was down 40% to 3 months.

This is all good news for the Spring selling season but how long will this last? In my opinion, as long as interest rates stay low, distressed housing inventory stays low and consumer confidence remains strong then we should see this strong market continue for another 12 to 18 months.

Woodbury Luxury Home Sales Are Improving!

Wade Hanson (RE/MAX Results) — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 10:52:35 -0800

Minnesota's Certified Luxury Homes Marketing Specialist

Wade Hanson (RE/MAX Results) — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 09:39:30 -0800

Wade is a member of the prestigious Institute for Luxury Home Marketing and has 14 years of experience in the top 10% of the market.

Recognized as the mark of accomplishment in luxury markets around the world and the official luxury designation of many national and international brands, the Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist® (CLHMS) designation assures affluent buyers and sellers that the agents who have earned it have the knowledge, experience, competence, and confidence they require.

Agents who hold the CLHMS designation are Members of The Institute who have completed required training and have successfully demonstrated their expertise in the luxury home and estate market.

In order to earn and hold the CLHMS designation an agent must:

Be a licensed real estate professional
Fulfill educational requirements
Meet sales requirements and document their performance in the upper-tier of their local markets
Maintain membership in good standing with The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing

The Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist® designation is a mark of individual accomplishment. It is not awarded at the team or company level.

As a Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist® (CLHMS) who successfully works in the million-dollar-plus market, Wade also is a member of the prestigious Million Dollar Guild®.

How Do Home Sellers Compete With New Construction?

Wade Hanson (RE/MAX Results) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 09:02:24 -0800

The Woodbury new construction market is HOT right now. Sellers are losing buyers to the “shiny new product” on the market. So how do you compete?

First, you can compete with the price. New construction typically is much higher in price per square foot. Price your home at fair market value and don’t think you need to allow room to negotiate. A home priced right in today’s market should sell for about 98% of list price or better and should have an accepted offer within 60 days.

Second, make sure your light fixtures and bathroom fixtures are up to date. Brass light fixtures and chrome faucets will stand out in photos and make it look as though your home needs to be updated.

Next, make sure you either replace the carpet or have it cleaned. New carpet, fresh paint, new window treatments and a professional staging consultation can make all the difference. Buyers will find your home online so the photos need to be professional and not taken with your agents IPhone.

Often times buyers do not want to wait 6 months to get into their new home so if your home is priced well, staged with some basic updates, clean, well photographed and marketed by a good Realtor you will have some success.

It’s unfortunate to see homes hit the market with a Realtor that hasn’t taken the time to help a seller overcome these objections. It can often cost a seller thousands of dollars. A home that is staged right will sell for about 5% more than a home that has not been staged.

I take the time (sometimes several months) prior to putting a home on the market to make sure my sellers homes are looking top-notch and ready for the most discerning buyers. I also, offer a no cost staging consultation with a professional interior designer. This often involves everything from assisting with de-cluttering to selecting paint colors and sometimes even redesigning an entire kitchen.

Stonemill Farms in Woodbury, MN

Wade Hanson (RE/MAX Results) — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 12:09:32 -0800

The Stonemill Farms community in Woodbury has everything you could look for in a home and a family friendly neighborhood.

Not just homes, but a real hometown with award-winning schools, pools, parks, trails and shopping, all making it the perfect place to raise a family. Stonemill Farms is built on 700 acres with an abundance of trails to connecting neighborhoods, open spaces and the community center area. With it’s custom home styles, award winning builders, sate of the art community center; Stonemill Farms has everything your family could imagine in a top-notch neighborhood to call home.

The Community Center at Stonemill Farms has an abundance of activities for the entire family to enjoy. It features a pool area for kids and adults (with a splash pad for younger kids), playground, hockey rink, picnic areas, softball diamonds, basketball courts, movie theater, library and much more. Stonemill Farms is truly a community where families have bonded for years, forming connections with each other and with the beauty that surrounds them.

The average single family home sale price in Stonemill Farms in 2012 was approximately $385,000 with 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths and approximately 3,100 square feet of living space.

To search homes for sale in Stonemill Farms CLICK HERE

Woodbury, MN Housing Statistics 2012

Wade Hanson (RE/MAX Results) — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 12:55:28 -0800

According to the media, the housing market is back right? Not so fast, while 2012 was a tremendous improvement from previous years we have a long way to go before we can call the housing market “stable” again. Maybe the best news is inventory is currently down 30% and the current months supply of inventory is less than four months compared to nearly six months a year ago.

Here are some positive signs and my thoughts:

Median Sales Price 2012 = $240,000

Median Sales Price in 2011 = $219,700

Up 10%

Does this mean my house is worth 10% more than last year?

Absolutely not! While the “median sales price” may be up 10% this doesn’t mean home values have increased the same amount. The spike in median home prices is due to an increase in upper bracket home sales and the lower end of the market seeing less homes for sale. All good news, but not the thousands of dollars in equity everyone hoped to gain in 2012.

Closed Sales in 2012 = 1,110

Closed Sales in 2011 = 999

Up 11%

Record low interest rates have pushed buyers off the fence this year. We will continue to see a slight increase in 2013 if interest rates remain low.

Don't Wait To Sell!

Wade Hanson (RE/MAX Results) — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 07:55:29 -0700

Many people assume that most housing sales occur during the spring and summer months, but that’s not the case.

In fact, according data from the National Association of Realtors, dating back to 2000, the winter and fall months are the months with the most home sales.

Spring and summer may seem like the best time of year to catch buyers as this is when we typically see the most buyer activity. However, I think there is something to be said about being on the market when there is less competition. Inventory is down right now due to the recent spike in home sales because of low interest rates and with the traditional thinking of “waiting until spring to sell” inventory should remain low. Now may be a perfect opportunity to get a good price for your home. There is a good chance we will see a spike in relocation business after the election and many buyers that are in a “wait and see who gets elected” mode are likely to make a purchase immediately after the election.

Marketing Luxury Properties

Wade Hanson (RE/MAX Results) — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 07:54:56 -0700

Marketing luxury properties is all about identifying the key characteristics that make a home unique, finding the home's story, and telling that story to the right prospects. Most agents take the cookie-cutter mass marketing approach with a luxury property. This is very ineffective and a waste of time and money. Targeted lifestyle marketing helps to sell the home more quickly and at a higher price.

The fact is, not all agents are equipped to handle a luxury property. Buyers and sellers in the upper-bracket demand more skill, knowledge and effort than the average agent is willing to provide a client.

Minnesota Luxury Home Market Q and A

Wade Hanson (RE/MAX Results) — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 12:34:10 -0700

What is the starting price for a luxury home in your market?

WH – Compared to the West Metro, I think the East Metro is a bit more affordable when it comes to “luxury”. I would consider a home priced over $500,000 to be high-end in this area.

How would you describe the pulse of the luxury market?

WH – Days on market is trending better and we’re seeing prices stabilize – not increasing like some markets, but stabilizing. Activity is also steadily increasing; the private showings the last 90 days have really picked up on luxury homes. Many sellers still need to face the reality of the market when it comes to pricing. With that being said, this is also an election year so there are a lot of variables.

High-end homes are moving if presented well and priced accurately. The inventory of these homes is somewhat low.

How different is the luxury market this year compared to last year?

WH – It’s amazingly different. There’s much more activity, energy and optimism. Last year we weren’t seeing as many sales and the days on market time was much longer. Buyers were much more aggressive last year and some sellers therefore decided to wait to list. There are a lot of buyers out there right now as evidenced by seeing 10 or more groups of serious buyers during an open house. Right now, properties that are presented well and priced right are moving – typically in less than 30 days.

What do you see ahead short and long term for your market?

WH – I see things continuing to improve in the short term. We have come through the most difficult times. However, I do anticipate a dip in activity through the election and the holiday’s. Interest rates will start to increase slowly over the next 18 months and that may slow things down in some markets.

3 Key Factors When Selling Your Home

Wade Hanson (RE/MAX Results) — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 07:18:24 -0700

1. Price Accurately pricing your home is more important now than ever before. Gone are the days of “let’s try it at this price and see what happens”. If your home is not accurately priced when it first hits the market it will be overlooked by agents and buyers. With the large inventory of new listings, buyers and agents simply will not waste their time looking at a home with an unrealistic seller. If you think you can just drop the price in 60 days if it doesn’t sell and still get top-dollar for your home, your wrong. Your home will be “labeled” and buyers will wonder what is wrong with it.

2.Condition Buyers are more demanding today than ever before. This is due to the amount of homes they have to choose from. Often times you will be competing with new construction and if your home is dated or in poor condition you will need to either make the necessary updates or drop the price to meet the condition. Kitchens, bathrooms and the main living areas should be the focus when making updates. Simple updates like paint, carpet and light fixtures can separate your home from the competition. And don’t forget the exterior, green grass, no weeds and a fresh pot of flowers sound simple but are often overlooked by the seller.

3.Agent No – not all agents are created equal! Selecting an agent that not only specializes in your area but is also a full time, professional agent with several years of experience marketing homes such as yours will make a huge difference to your bottom line. They can properly guide you on the appropriate price and the improvements you should make prior to putting your home on the market. Simply putting a sign in the yard, snapping a couple of photos with their phone and placing your home on the MLS will not get the job done. You need an agent that will get your home to stand out from the crowd with an aggressive marketing plan. There are dozens of new listings that come on the market every day similar to your home and a good agent will know how to separate your home from the others.

Woodbury Realtor

Wade Hanson (RE/MAX Results) — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 12:14:54 -0700

Woodbury Luxury Home Sales

Wade Hanson (RE/MAX Results) — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 11:35:36 -0700

The media has reported that the housing market is rebounding, right? Activity is up, sales are up, inventory is shrinking and prices are on the rise. Not so fast! As a Broker that focuses on the luxury home market I can tell you we have a ways to go. While closed sales overall are up about 10% over last year in Woodbury, home sales with a sales price of $369,000 or higher are only up 1.2% and the inventory of these higher priced homes is only down about 18% compared to the market average inventory that is down a total of 31%. An even closer look at what I consider to be the upper-bracket housing market in Woodbury shows that home sales of homes priced $500,000 and above have actually declined 14% compared to 2011 at this time and luxury home sales in Woodbury are down 20% this year compared to the same 9 months of 2010.

The good news is interest rates remain low and pending home sales are up 20% in the luxury market so I feel the 4th quarter will be a strong finish to 2012.

Purchasing a Fixer-upper Home in Minnesota

Wade Hanson (RE/MAX Results) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 10:30:23 -0800

For some reason consumers like to think that because a home is considered “distressed” or has the words short sale and foreclosure in the description it is a great “deal”. I would encourage you to really think it through when considering a traditional sale versus a distressed home. When you buy a fixer-upper home, you can save a ton of money, or get yourself in a financial fix.

Here are a few things to consider:

1. Decide what you can do yourself

TV remodeling shows make home improvement work look like a snap. In the real world, attempting a difficult remodeling job that you don’t know how to do will take longer than you think and can lead to less-than-professional results that won’t increase the value of your fixer-upper house.

Do you really have the skills to do it? Some tasks, like stripping wallpaper and painting, are relatively easy. Others, like electrical work, can be dangerous when done by amateurs.

Do you really have the time and desire to do it? Can you take time off work to renovate your fixer-upper house? If not, will you be stressed out by living in a work zone for months while you complete projects on the weekends?

2. Price the cost of repairs and remodeling before you make an offer

Get your contractor into the house to do a walk-through, so he can give you a written cost estimate on the tasks he’s going to do.

If you’re doing the work yourself, price the supplies.

Either way, tack on 10% to 20% to cover unforeseen problems that often arise with a fixer-upper house.

3. Check permit costs

Ask local officials if the work you’re going to do requires a permit and how much that permit costs. Doing work without a permit may save money, but it'll cause problems when you resell your home.

Decide if you want to get the permits yourself or have the contractor arrange for them. Getting permits can be time-consuming and frustrating. Inspectors may force you to do additional work, or change the way you want to do a project, before they give you the permit.

Factor the time and aggravation of permits into your plans.

4. Double-check pricing on structural work

If your fixer-upper home needs major structural work, be confident you’ve uncovered and conservatively budgeted for the full extent of the problems.

Get written estimates for repairs before you commit to buying a home with structural issues.

Don't purchase a home that needs major structural work unless:

You’re getting it at a steep discount

You’re sure you’ve uncovered the extent of the problem

You know the problem can be fixed

You have a binding written estimate for the repairs

5. Check the cost of financing

Be sure you have enough money for a downpayment, closing costs, and repairs without draining your savings.

If you’re planning to fund the repairs with a home equity or home improvement loan:

Get yourself pre-approved for both loans before you make an offer.

Make the deal contingent on getting both the purchase money loan and the renovation money loan, so you’re not forced to close the sale when you have no loan to fix the house.

Consider the Federal Housing Administration’s Section 203(k) program, which is designed to help home owners who are purchasing or refinancing a home that needs rehabilitation. The program wraps the purchase/refinance and rehabilitation costs into a single mortgage. To qualify for the loan, the total value of the property must fall within the FHA mortgage limit for your area, as with other FHA loans. A streamlined 203(k) program provides an additional amount for rehabilitation, up to $35,000, on top of an existing mortgage. It’s a simpler process than obtaining the standard 203(k).

6. Calculate your fair purchase offer

Take the fair market value of the property (what it would be worth if it were in good condition and remodeled to current tastes) and subtract the upgrade and repair costs.

For example: Your target fixer-upper house has a 1960s kitchen, metallic wallpaper, shag carpet, and moisture problems in the basement.

Your comparison house, in the same subdivision, sold last month for $200,000. That house had a newer kitchen, no wallpaper, was recently recarpeted, and has a dry basement.

The cost to remodel the kitchen, remove the wallpaper, carpet the house, and remedy the basement is $40,000. Your bid for the house should be no more than $160,000.

Ask your real estate agent if it’s a good idea to share your cost estimates with the sellers, to prove your offer is fair.

7. Include inspection contingencies in your offer

Don’t rely on your friends or your contractor to eyeball your fixer-upper house. Hire pros to do common inspections like:

Home inspection. This is key in a fixer-upper assessment. The home inspector will uncover hidden issues in need of replacement or repair. You may know you want to replace those 1970s kitchen cabinets, but the home inspector has a meter that will detect the water leak behind them.

Radon, mold, lead-based paint

Septic and well

Pest

Most home inspection contingencies let you go back to the sellers and ask them to do the repairs, or give you cash at closing to pay for the repairs. The seller can also opt to simply back out of the deal, as can you, if the inspection turns up something you don’t want to deal with.

If that happens, this isn’t the right fixer-upper house for you. Go back to the top of this list and start again.

Most important; hire a good Realtor to help you through the process of buying a home. Too many Realtors simply want to “do the deal” to earn a commission.

Happy house hunting!

Wade Hanson, Broker MN and WI

651-274-8584

Woodbury, MN Home Sales

Wade Hanson (RE/MAX Results) — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 12:04:06 -0700

Every time you turn on the television or open a newspaper it's doom and gloom in the national real estate market. But it's what's happening in your local market that really matters. A year ago we were flooded with false expectations of a recovery due to the $8,000 first time home buyer tax credit. Now with close to 12 months of activity without any incentives, here's what the numbers look like in Woodbury:

The median sales price in Woodbury over the last 12 months is actually up 1.5% from $231,488 to $235,000. Of course, the number of closed sales is down 22.7% due to the lack of the tax credit but the number of new listings is also down 10.2%. This means while there are fewer buyers there are also fewer sellers to compete for the buyers. This may be why the number of days a home is actively on the market is down just over 5%. Currently in Woodbury there are 485 homes actively for sale in the Multiple Listing Service (266 single family homes and 219 condos and townhomes).

So what does all of this mean to you? Nothing, if you are not looking to buy or sell. If you are a buyer, it looks like homes are selling faster and for more money than a year ago so if you are sitting "on the fence" it may be wise to get off. With interest rates at an all time low and homes "on sale" (selling for nearly 30% less than what they sold for in December of 2007), you may never see a better time to buy. Nobody can tell you when we have hit the so called "bottom of the market" until it has passed. Sellers, the selling season is upon us and now is the best opportunity to get "top dollar" for your home. Know your numbers and price your home appropriately. While it may be a lot less than what you would like, you will make up for it on the purchase of you next home.

Woodbury continues to be a strong community to purchase a home and raise a family. The median price of a home in the Twin Cities market is $161,000 compared to Woodbury's $235,000.

Lessons Learned From The Donald

Wade Hanson (RE/MAX Results) — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 13:21:31 -0700

For most people, hearing the words, "You're fired," can be discouraging. For me, it actually felt good-especially coming from an icon like Donald Trump. I had fought my way through hundreds of thousands "Apprentice wannabes," competed against some of the best and brightest business professionals in America, and made it to the final 11! While I set out to win, I think I might have learned more from my defeat than I would have from a victory.

I learned so much from spending time with the Trump Organization for more than a month. Being with someone like Donald Trump in a recession was truly inspiring and presented opportunities I never could have imagined. Trump demands a lot from everyone in his company, and you'd better bring your "A" game every minute of every day. While the experience allowed me to reflect on my successes, it really re-ignited my passion for being the best. And that pretty much sums up Donald Trump, being the best.

I learned to accept where you are today, forget about what you don't have and embrace the challenge ahead. When we were given a task, we didn't have time to complain; we would simply do the best with what we had to work with, embrace it, have fun and execute-no excuses!

My real estate career has certainly been positively affected by this experience, and I am much more selective with the clients I work with. Trump didn't get rich saying "yes" to every deal, and sometimes "no" can be the best financial decision. Too many in this business play the numbers game: List 100 homes and hope to satisfy 50. Not me. Now I work with a very select group of clients, delivering Trump-like service.

Wade Hanson's Podcast on Success, Business and The Apprentice

Wade Hanson (RE/MAX Results) — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 14:21:06 -0800

I recently sat down with life coach and author Ian Scott to discuss my experience on The Apprentice. We talked about the task I was fired on, my journey getting selected as one of the contestants and I was able to share my principals for success. It was a great interview!

Click here to listen to the interview.

Minnesota Luxury Broker Fired by "The Donald"

Wade Hanson (RE/MAX Results) — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 20:07:59 -0800

Fired 'Apprentice' Wins as Real Estate AgentBy

Sheree R Curry (AOL MarketWatch.com)

Dec 2nd 2010

When the first of the two-part finale of "The Apprentice" airs tonight, fired contestant Wade Hanson, a Twin Cities-area real estate agent, will be rooting for Brandy over Clint.

"I think Brandy has been the strongest through-and-through," real estate agent Hanson told HousingWatch of this season's "The Apprentice." "I respect how she carries herself and how she leads and how she follows, and her directness to the questions she is asked in the board room."

Although Hanson was fired from "The Apprentice" after a fashion show competition of the men's team against the women, he says that he has used lessons he learned from the show to reinvent his real estate business, which was already rather successful before the recession.

By the age of 27, and before appearing on "The Apprentice," the now-33-year-old married father of two daughters had built a $60-million-dollar, multi-office real estate firm and in 2004 was named one of Realtor magazine's "Top 30 Under 30.

"I had some real success in the real estate industry at a young age," he told HousingWatch. "I saw the recession take away some of the investments I had made." Wanting to find a way to turn things around is what inspired him to drop an email to apply for "The Apprentice" after seeing a promo in February.

"What 'The Apprentice' taught me: Thinking quickly on your feet while working with a limited amount of resources and a limited amount of time is about being more selective," says Hanson, who specializes in the luxury market, particularly lakefront homes. "Now in my real estate practice I am more selective. I am not one of those agents who is going to list 100 properties and hope to sell 50. I think there is space in this marketplace to not have to say yes to every deal."

"Working with a handful of homes and not 100 homes helps me create a marketing plan individualized for each home. I don't see each home the same and they aren't. Each has a different approach to the market."

Hanson, a Re/Max Results agent, says that there are still realistic buyers and sellers who know that now is a good time to buy, that the market needs to get more of them who understand that and less of them with a "2005 mindset."

"We are in a different real estate market and consumers have to simply accept it and move on," he says. "Many homeowners are finally starting to view their home as a bad investment and are willing to put their pride aside and walk away and rent. They are tired of throwing good money after bad just to 'hang on.' After all, you wouldn't keep putting your money into a stock that continues to decline in value. Those that have purchased in the last two to three years will be just fine."

The housing market is going to slowly bottom out over the next two years, he predicts, and then will go back into a stabilization phase. "I think 2011 is going to be a tough year for a lot of homeowners as homes continue to decline in value. To a buyer, I say, buy now. I have been doing this 12 years and I don't think we are going to see a better time to buy with interest rates where they are now."

Hanson is the chairperson for the National Association of Realtor's Young Professionals Network, and is involved on several national real estate platforms and is a frequent speaker at national and regional conventions.

Luxury Lake Home Buyers and Sellers 2011 Forecast

Wade Hanson (RE/MAX Results) — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 14:22:13 -0800

Is the worst behind us?

Fortunately the luxury market has sustained the recession better than any other segment of the real estate economy. However, I feel that the worst is yet to come - specifically in the second home market. My theory is that many second homeowners never should have been in the market. Most Americans that purchased a second home did so with money stripped from the equity in their primary residences. The sales peak of the second home market was in 2005 or 2006 when many homeowners had a tremendous amount of equity in their primary residences they had purchased in 2000 or 2001. Five years later they stripped the equity out of these homes for a down payment on their lake home.

Most second home owners never had the cash needed for a down payment on a vacation home but thought their primary residence would continue to appreciate at ten percent per year so they would be fine, right? Wrong. Now here we are five years later and their 5 year balloon payment is due and they don't have the money. They have done everything they can to fight the battles the last 3 years to hang on to both homes hoping the market would eventually come back and now the consumer is tired of throwing good money after bad as their lake home continues to decline in value so many of them are throwing in the towel. A second home is not a necessity and we all know how the recession has forced us to focus on our needs and not our wants.

So what's next? Well, I think the second home market will continue to tank the next two years as more and more homeowners walk away from their cabins in Minnesota and Wisconsin. For buyers this means there will continue to be some incredible deals in the lakeshore market and for sellers, if you are thinking of selling don't wait! Your property will be worth less next year.

The Most Well-Known Realtor in Minnesota and Wisconsin

Wade Hanson (RE/MAX Results) — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 12:45:20 -0800

The boss belittled him on national television, calling his work "a total mess." And then he fired him.

Wade Hanson frowned and lumbered out of the boardroom and into a taxi, yet another in a long line of "Apprentice" wannabes who had taken a figurative kick in the behind from Donald Trump.

Was he dejected? Regretful?

Nah.

"I'm the most well-known real estate agent in Minnesota now," he said in an epilogue to the end of the Oct. 16 episode, in which his team went down to an inglorious defeat.

He very well may be that. "I get stopped at the Starbucks now," said Hanson, 33, an agent with Re/Max Results in Woodbury, in the Twin Cities area. "(The show) increased my name recognition and my brand tenfold."

And his participation in "The Apprentice" television program has led directly to new business in the form of property listings, he said.

"One of the things I get (from clients) is, 'If you're good enough for Donald Trump, you're good enough for me.' "

He was, apparently, not quite good enough to emerge at the top of the "Apprentice" heap; the current season of the reality series is still mowing down competitors each week, with about half a dozen remaining from the original 16 who began alternately collaborating with and backstabbing each other in September.

Though in recent years "The Apprentice" has featured celebrities, this 10th season of the show is a return to its original format of "ordinary people" taking on concocted business tasks and vying to please Trump with their performance; those who fail are "fired" and ride off into the night in a cab, second-guessing where they went wrong.

This year, the show picked its cast from thousands of applicants who claimed to have been adversely affected by the recession, and the 16 include an unemployed publicist, entrepreneur, banker, attorney and others who are complaining of rough economic times.

And then there was Hanson, who wasn't out of a job, though real estate was very slow when he applied for the show earlier this year. He said he had been told more than 100,000 originally sought a spot in the series, which screened applicants rigorously.

"Getting there was harder than being there," he said. "We submitted an application and resume and references and went through all kinds of background checks and interviews."

The process culminated in an interview with Trump and producer Mark Burnett.

"It was grueling," he said. "(Trump) takes pride in hand-selecting the people."

The gist of what Hanson told "The Donald," he said, was that he has a positive attitude.

"When I sat in front of Trump, I told him I have no excuses in life," Hanson said. "I told him I was doing well when everything was good, and now it isn't. But I still suit up and try to make a buck. I think he liked that."

With the economy as the show's theme this season, being in real estate probably helped him get selected, he said.

"Obviously, the real estate economy has been affected most, other than maybe the auto industry," he said. "I'm working twice as hard and getting half the results. My real estate investments and my portfolio have been cut in half and my day-to-day sales have been cut in thirds or less."

Once selected, the 16 competitors spent the month of June in New York, divided into teams of men vs. women through most of the taping schedule. The teams were charged with such chores as making a promotional video for a popcorn company or managing a doggie daycare business.

Hanson's stint on "The Apprentice" hit the fan when he volunteered to be project manager for the assignment of staging a fashion show to promote Rockport shoes in front of Trump and assorted other business types.

How badly did it go?

"It was like watching a horse die," one of his teammates said later.

Hanson seemed to pick the right teammates to shop for clothing for the models, but things went completely off the tracks in his choice of emcee. The master of ceremonies never quite cobbled a script together for the fashion show and stumbled through what little narration he was able to devise.

"It couldn't have been worse," Trump pronounced later in the post-mortem for the men's team. He fired them both.

Hanson said he knows who ultimately won the top spot in the series, but is contractually prohibited from revealing it until the end of the season.

The show definitely has affected his business approach, he said. He's focusing on higher-end properties now, and he has a new attitude, he said.

"I'm more selective in the market now," he said. "If (the show) taught me anything, it's that when you think of Trump, you think of luxury, white-glove service. I'm focusing on quality over quantity."

"The Apprentice" isn't his first brush with business notoriety. In 2004, he was recognized by Realtor magazine in its annual "30 under 30" list of young professionals to watch.

He shared space on the magazine cover with Katrina Campins, a Florida agent who had participated in the first season of "The Apprentice."

Hanson began in real estate at 21 at his family's brokerage in upstate Walker, Minn. Eventually he took over the brokerage and then sold it in 2006, he said. "The stars aligned," he said. "The money was on the table and I saw the market had started to tip."

Although he still sells properties occasionally in that lake resort area, Hanson relocated with his family to the Twin Cities in search of good schools, he said. He became an investor in Lakeplace.com, a website that specializes in vacation properties in Minnesota and Wisconsin, later selling his share of the business to his partners, he said.

He then worked for Weichert Realtors for several years as a business-development director, in addition to doing real estate coaching, he said. He joined Re/Max in January.

While Hanson said he has no regrets about his television experience, he'd rather not be in charge of any more fashion shows. The experience was transformative, he said.

"It definitely affected my way of thinking about real estate," Hanson said. "I think a lot of us have gotten into a rut, with the same old habits. 'The Apprentice' challenged you to think outside the box and do things you weren't used to doing.

"In the long run, it was a success for me," he said. "I've come back bigger and stronger."

Mary Umberger is a freelance writer in Chicago.

This article was originally posted on Inman.com 11-15-10

Luxury Home Broker

Wade Hanson (RE/MAX Results) — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 17:26:56 -0800

Are you frustrated with the lack of effort from your agent? Tired of hearing it's the market - not me? So am I!

If you are having a hard time selling your luxury home it may be time for a change. Too many agents' "marketing plans" involve simply putting your valuable property on the MLS where it sits while they wait for buyers to just show up. In today's market, waiting for your property to be discovered is not an option. My strategy is to go where qualified buyers are naturally found -and my customized marketing program and large network of connections does just that. Unlike other agents, I'm not afraid to invest money to make money. Your home deserves no less.

For more than 12 years, I've been providing professional real estate services in the luxury home market. I understand how frustrating it can be to find the quality of service you expect from a business professional in today's challenging real estate market.

Luxury property transactions require specialized knowledge in home values and lifestyle preferences - as well as in depth understanding of the affluent and discerning buyer and where to find them. I am one of only 7 real estate professionals in Minnesota and Western Wisconsin that hold the Million Dollar Guild with The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing. This recognition is awarded to those in the luxury home market who meet stringent performance standards and have specific upper-tier market knowledge.

I learned a lot about business from spending time with Donald Trump including - do what others are not doing, continue to challenge yourself and learn to work harder than your competition. This is exactly what Mr. Trump saw in me and how I continue to operate my real estate business today. While others are complacent and spending less time, effort and money marketing your home I am doing exactly the opposite.

Call me today to learn the 3 reasons why your home isn't selling!

Hanson Hears Dreaded Words on "The Apprentice"

Wade Hanson (RE/MAX Results) — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 13:56:12 -0700

Hanson Hears Dreaded Words on 'The Apprentice'

Brainerd Daily Dispatch

Bz Buzz

Wade Hanson, the real estate professional with a background in the lakes area, heard that dreaded phrase in the boardroom.

Hanson, 33, was fired at the end of episode five on the unscripted NBC Television series with Donald Trump along with fellow competitor, Gene Folkes.

The task for the episode was setting up a runway show for a Rockport shoes collection. Hanson was the project manager for the men's team and Folkes, who stumbled as emcee for the runway show, were both fired.

Hanson said his goal in his attempt to become Trump's apprentice was to spend time with the organization and learn from the real estate entrepreneur. He wanted to challenge himself and needed a change. That goal was met, but Hanson was disappointed to leave the show early.

"Just getting there was quite an accomplishment," Hanson said. "I wish I would have lasted longer."

This season's "The Apprentice" focuses on giving a second chance to people to rebuild careers after taking hard hits by the recession. The show's episodes were completed in June. Hanson will be back with the show's 16 candidates for the Dec. 16 live finale.

Hanson, who has an office in Woodbury and in Walker, said he gained from the experience, learned things about himself and has a few things he wishes he would have done differently.

"This recession has us all into a rut," Hanson said, adding he was doing the same things he always did and expecting different results. "(Donald Trump) demanded a lot of us and he challenges your creativity," Hanson said.

The experience challenged him to come back to Minnesota and work harder and look for the opportunities, because they are out there, Hanson said.

Asked what he would have done differently on the show, Hanson said he wishes he hadn't drawn the fashion challenge for his stint as project manager. And, he said, standing out more in the first weeks may have been a better strategy than keeping his head down and trying to be the candidate who executed the work. Hanson said at times he had ideas, but held back.

Hanson was criticized in the board room for not have more of a practice before the runway show. Hanson said there was a practice that didn't appear on TV but it was just as bad as the actual show. He said the time between the 20-minute rehearsal and the runway show was about 10 minutes, which didn't leave much room to maneuver.

"It was like watching the Titanic sink," Hanson said. "You knew it was leaking ... and just watched it slip into the ocean.

"I knew we had lost. I didn't know I'd be cornered by The Donald and his agenda was to get rid of Gene and I. We didn't have a chance to defend ourselves."

Hanson said the person from the show he's stayed most in contact with is Folkes. After the two were fired, they were escorted out and met with Trump for a conversation off camera before taping their exit interviews inside the cab as they are leaving.

Hanson said he isn't able to judge yet how the show may have changed his life. It provided greater exposure, certainly.

"It definitely is going to open the doors to opportunities," Hanson said, and one of the biggest to date was participating in the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Hanson lost his sister to suicide and has worked to raise funds for the foundation. Now Hanson said he will be on the board of directors.

As for the show, Hanson said he believes one of the women will win, perhaps Brandy, Liza or Stephanie.

"I think the women are stronger than the men," Hanson said. "The women have a lot more to offer this year."

As for regrets, Hanson said maybe he should have fought harder to be the project manager for the task the week earlier after telling Trump in the boardroom he was taking on the position, but another candidate had announced his intent to be the project manager for week four earlier.

In remarks he wrote after the firing, Hanson said he was re-energized after returning from New York and sees opportunities even in this challenged real estate market. Hanson stated this was the first time he was fired and not too many people can say Donald Trump was the one who said those words to them.

His advice for others, do what you love even if it scares you or others say it's a bad idea and trust your instincts.

Now Hanson spends time between the Twin Cities and the Walker and lakes area working on luxury lake home sales. But he thinks the market will get worse before it gets better.

There is "so much uncertainty right now until we can create more jobs and our unemployment goes down, it's not going to get any better in my opinion."

My Experience on The Apprentice

Wade Hanson (RE/MAX Results) — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 19:41:06 -0700

When I set out on the journey to become The Donald's next Apprentice I did it for a number of reasons. I felt I needed to challenge myself, I wanted to work and learn from the most successful real estate entrepreneur in the world and I needed a change. What I didn't realize was how this experience would teach me so much about myself and my talents. I learned that to be successful you need to be doing what you love to do. For me, that's taking risks and working for myself. I found that although I take direction well and will do what I am asked to do I am more successful coming up with the ideas and asking others to help me implement them. During tasks I often found myself asking "why I am doing this when I could be helping out in ways that will benefit me and the team more". I know now that we are all given instincts for a reason and when your "gut" tells you to do something, you do it.

While I was at first frustrated with the outcome (because I always want to win), I realized sometimes you learn more from a loss than you do from a win.

I just need to put fear aside and forget about all of the negativity happening in this world right now and make the decision. I may make the wrong decision from time to time but so what! Either way it will be an experience.

Since returning from New York, I have become re-energized and surrounded myself with some very talented individuals. I have discovered some opportunities in this challenging real estate market and I am going to take advantage of them.

Bottom line, I realized I have the talent, the skills, the work ethic and most important the instincts to be successful. After all, Donald Trump selected me as one of 16 finalists to work for him. Not too many people can put that on their resume'!

So take some advice from me: Do what you love to do, even if you are scared or others tell you it's a bad idea, trust your gut and make the decision. You won't regret it!

Experienced Lakeshore Specialist

Wade Hanson (RE/MAX Results) — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 19:38:03 -0700

Are you having a hard time selling your lake property? Too many agents' "marketing plans" involve simply putting your valuable property on the MLS and advertizing it in the local papers-where it sits while they wait for buyers to just show up. In today's market, waiting for your property to be discovered is not an option. My strategy is to go where qualified buyers are naturally found -and my customized marketing program and large network of connections does just that. Unlike other agents, I'm not afraid to invest money to make money. Your home deserves no less.

For more than 12 years, I've been providing professional real estate services in the luxury lake home market. As a second lake home owner myself, I know what it means to have that special place to relax, unwind and spend time with loved ones. I understand how frustrating it can be, though, to find the quality of service you expect from a business professional in areas where agents are, quite frankly, often local folks who view real estate as a side job.

Lake property transactions require specialized knowledge in land values, ordinances, zoning and lifestyle preferences - as well as in depth understanding of the affluent and discerning buyer. I expect no less in my own personal transactions and give no less to my clients.

If Banks and Sellers Only Knew How Bad Some Realtors Really Are!

Wade Hanson (RE/MAX Results) — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 19:20:04 -0700

Today I am reminded of how bad some agents are. I am working with a buyer that was interested in making an offer on a $750,000 short sale. The property had an offer on it from another buyer but nothing had been agreed upon by the bank and the buyer. When talking to the agent to schedule the showing she said that several other buyers were also interested in making an offer but we would have to wait a few days to see the property (no explanation why). I was to finally show the home today and found out that she had successfully negotiated the sale with the bank. Come to find out the seller owed about $800,000 on the property and my buyer would have paid that and the seller could have avoided a short sale. Unfortunately, the agent that had the home listed wanted both sides of the commission so she held it off the market.

In this case the agent cost the bank about $100,000 and the seller now has a short sale on his credit! This could have all been avoided if we didn't have people like this in the industry. What a joke! This agent has been in real estate for 20+ years and she is struggling financially so she needed to "make a deal".

When my buyer called her directly to file a complaint she had the guts to say "My house is near this house and it's for sale, you should make an offer on my home"!

60 Homes in 60 Days for $60,000

Wade Hanson (RE/MAX Results) — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 15:11:06 -0700

Inspired by my role this season as a contestant on The Apprentice, I have created my own unique business challenge designed to raise funds and awareness for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) by selling 60 homes in 60 days. As many of you know I lost my sister to suicide 10 years ago and since appearing on the show I have set up a memorial fund in her name. Begining September 17th I am personally donating $1,000 of my commissions from every transaction over the next 60 days to AFSP in her name. I hope you will support me by referring friends and family members in need of a real estate professional to me.

It isn't necessary to buy or sell a home to contribute people can also donate to the AFSP Susie Hanson Fund anonymously.

Click here to make a donation.