Adding to the pressure, Gloria’s Eden Prairie home sold quickly, and the new owner wanted to close within 30 days. “We needed to find a home we liked—and we needed to find it fast,” she said. Convinced that a townhome was their best option, the couple spent a frantic weekend hopping from showing to showing in Bloomington, Eden Prairie, and Minnetonka. None of them were good fits. Gloria and Gene were discouraged.
“Then Deb asked if we would consider a twin home that was newly on the market in Minnetonka,” Gloria said. “We had nothing to lose so off we went to look at it.” As it turned out, the place was perfect. “We liked the neighborhood, the home layout fit our needs plus it was vacant and available right now. The owner had done a wonderful job painting and carpeting. It was really nice. Deb opened our eyes to the concept of a twin home which had never been on our radar.”
In short order, Greene helped them navigate the complexities of a VA loan for Gene, who is a veteran, organizing all the paperwork into a manageable stack. Closing was swift, and soon they were settling into a suburban lifestyle of lawnmowing and flower gardening—two vocations they never knew could be so enjoyable.
Three decades later, Gloria and Gene still loved their home, but their lives had changed. Both recently retired, they became more deeply involved in their church community in Burnsville.
“This is the church where we first met. We were married there. It was always an important part of our lives, and now we were commuting there at least three times a week. So, we asked ourselves, ‘why are we doing this?’ That’s when we decided to move closer to our church community.”
When it came time to contract a Realtor®, Gloria said there was no doubt in her mind about who she would call.
“We’ve maintained our friendship with Deb over all those years. She knows us. It made no sense to start over with a new Realtor®.”
Of course, 30 years later, the real estate industry had radically transformed. From online listings and text messaging to virtual home tours—and even virtual closings—it was a business shaped by technology and defined by new market realities. Greene, who earned her real estate license in 1986, continued to learn, adapt and thrive through it all. Now, more than ever, Gloria and Gene relied on their friend’s outsized knowledge and experience.
“Deb came to our home and reviewed the selling and buying process in today’s world. It really helped us understand what to expect because things have changed so much. She provided a folder of helpful handouts and allowed us time to review and ask additional questions.”
Although their home came on the market in late November 2023—a tough time of year for sales—Greene managed two well attended open houses and more than 20 showings. The home sold in about six weeks, closing with the new owner on December 18. Simultaneously, Greene lined up showings for the Mickelsons in a string of communities, from Shakopee to Burnsville and Apple Valley. Ultimately, they settled on a 2,000 square-foot townhome in Apple Valley that was 10 minutes from their church. They loved the layout and the welcoming neighborhood, and quickly felt at home. And once again, Greene proved a priceless asset in the transaction.
“Deb’s help with all the paperwork and documents was invaluable. She introduced us to a wonderful company for financing. She also reviewed the homeowner’s association and learned that all the townhomes in the complex needed new roofs because of hail damage. In the purchase process, she negotiated for the former owners to put money in an escrow account that paid for replacing the roof. We never would have thought of that,” Gloria said. Overall, she reflected, Greene exceeded expectations and proved that a good Realtor® is irreplaceable. Anyone looking for a Realtor®, she added, should be mindful of these criteria when considering their choices.
“The Realtor® needs to be a good listener who takes the time to understand the client’s needs, interests, and financial situation. This is a huge purchase that requires open and honest communication. For us, it was important to know that our Realtor® really cared about finding the right home for us. We worked consistently with her so there were never any communication gaps.”
Although the couple is confident that they’ll be in their new townhome for years to come, they have no doubt that should the time come to sell and buy again, Deb Greene will be the first person they call.