Megan Kenny - Realtor

05/22/2026

🥹 These are the moments that remind me exactly why I do what I do.

A few weeks ago, I handed keys to a young couple who had been searching in the Stillwater area for almost eight months. They'd lost two offers before we worked together. They were exhausted, second-guessing themselves, and honestly — starting to wonder if homeownership was even realistic right now.

We sat down, recalibrated their search, talked through what was and wasn't flexible for them, and put together a smarter offer strategy. A few weeks later? They're homeowners.

Here's what I want you to know if you're in that same frustrated place right now:

👉 Losing offers is not failure. It's information.
👉 The right home at the right time is still out there.
👉 Working with someone who knows this market — truly knows it — changes the experience from stressful to strategic.

The Stillwater and St. Croix Valley market is still competitive, but it's not the same frantic pace it was a few years ago. There is more room today to breathe, to be smart, and to win without giving up everything.

Whether you're in your first month of searching or your eighth — I'd love to be in your corner.

🏡 If you or someone you know is searching for a home in Stillwater, the east metro, or western Wisconsin — send them my way. I promise to take great care of them.

📲 651-278-9035 | Let's talk.

05/22/2026

💡 The #1 mistake I see sellers make in today's market? Overpricing on day one.

I know that might sting a little — especially when you've put so much love (and money) into your home. But here's the honest truth about how buyers are shopping right now in Stillwater and across the St. Croix Valley:

They are informed. They have Zillow, Redfin, and every other app loaded on their phones. They know what sold on your street, at what price, and how long it sat on the market.

Here's what the current data is telling us about the Minnesota market heading into late spring 2026:

📊 Homes are selling for 99.1% of list price on average — meaning buyers aren't coming in dramatically low, but they ARE comparison shopping.
📊 Homes that are overpriced are sitting longer. In a market where motivated buyers can go under contract in 11–12 days on a well-priced home, an extra 30–45 days on market raises red flags.
📊 About 23.5% of Minnesota homes are experiencing price drops — the highest we've seen in a couple of years. Don't let yours become a statistic.

The strategy that works in 2026:
✅ Price based on real, recent comparable sales — not what your neighbor "heard" someone got.
✅ Invest in presentation: declutter, deep clean, professional photography.
✅ Launch with energy — the first 7–10 days on market are your most powerful window.

If you're thinking about listing this summer, I offer a complimentary seller's consultation — no obligation, no pressure. Just a honest conversation about your home's value and what a smart strategy looks like for YOUR timeline.

📲 Ready to talk strategy? Call or text me at 651-278-9035.

05/20/2026

✨ Can we just talk about how magical Stillwater gets in the summer? Because honestly, it never gets old.

If you're considering planting roots here in the St. Croix Valley — or if you're a longtime local who sometimes forgets how special this place is — here's your reminder.

🌊 The St. Croix River — kayaking, paddleboarding, river cruises, sunset views from the Lift Bridge. There's a reason people drive from all over the metro just to spend a Saturday here.

🍦 Downtown Stillwater — wine bars, boutique shops, historic brick architecture, and some of the best weekend brunch spots in the entire Twin Cities area. The Lowell Inn and Savories on Main? Yes, please.

🎉 Lumberjack Days is coming this summer — one of Minnesota's most beloved community festivals, right in the heart of downtown.

🌳 The trail system and Boom Site area offer some of the most underrated hiking and biking in the metro — right outside your front door.

🏡 And the neighborhoods — from the charming historic homes on the North Hill to newer construction in Croixwood and beyond — there's truly something for every kind of buyer here.

Living in Stillwater isn't just buying a house. It's buying into a lifestyle that most people have to drive a long way to experience on weekends.

Thinking about making Stillwater home? I'd love to show you around — literally.

💬 Comment "STILLWATER" below and I'll send you a list of my favorite neighborhoods, current listings, and hidden gem spots that locals actually love.

05/19/2026

🙋 Raise your hand if you thought you needed 20% down to buy a home in Minnesota. 👋

You're definitely not alone — this is one of the biggest myths I hear from first-time buyers in Stillwater and the Twin Cities area, and it's genuinely keeping people from even starting the conversation.

Here's the truth: Minnesota has some incredible down payment assistance programs that most buyers don't even know exist.

A few options worth knowing about:

💙 Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA) — offers down payment and closing cost loans for qualifying buyers, some at 0% interest with deferred payments.

💙 Deferred Payment Loan Plus — borrow up to $18,000 at 0% APR. No monthly payments until you sell, move, or refinance.

💙 Conventional loans with as little as 3% down — and with the conventional loan limit now at $832,750, more buyers qualify than ever before.

💙 FHA loans — great for buyers with credit scores below the conventional threshold, with lower down payment requirements.

Here's what I tell every first-time buyer I work with: the goal isn't to find the biggest house. The goal is to find your first house — the one that gets you into the market, starts building your equity, and gives you a home that's truly yours.

If you're in Stillwater, Oak Park Heights, Bayport, Hudson, or anywhere in the St. Croix Valley area and you've been thinking "maybe someday" — let's turn that into a real plan.

📲 Send me a DM or call/text 651-278-9035. First conversation is always free, always pressure-free.

05/18/2026

319 Lake St S sits on over 80 feet of level, sandy shoreline on First Lake in Forest Lake — one of the Twin Cities' most sought-after lake communities, just 30 minutes from downtown.
This isn't a fixer. Turnkey 4-bedroom, 3-bath home with 2,545 sq ft of thoughtfully old charm designed living space, a private dock, and a sandy beach that feels like your own private resort.
NOW AVAILABLE

The numbers speak for themselves:
✅ 9.8/10 VRBO rating with $541 average nightly rate
✅ Proven rental income — pays for itself while you're not there
✅ New roof 2024 · New windows · New appliances throughout
✅ Front-row seat to Forest Lake's famous 4th of July Parade 🎆
✅ Walkable to shops, dining, coffee & ice cream
✅ 2 minutes to I-35
Opportunities like this on First Lake don't come around often — and when they do, they don't last.
Offered at $929,900
📍 319 Lake St S, Forest Lake, MN 55025
MLS #7068308
📞 651-278-9035
📧 [email protected]

ML # 7068308 – Over 80 feet of level, sandy beach frontage on First Lake and all the lake lifestyle that comes with it. This 4-bedroom, 3-bath home offers 2,545 finished square feet of thoughtfully...

05/18/2026

🏡 If you've been waiting for the "right time" to make a move in Stillwater — here's what the market is actually telling us right now.

Spring 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most interesting markets we've seen in years here in the St. Croix Valley, and I want to break it down for you honestly — no hype, just real numbers.

Here's what's happening on the ground in Stillwater right now:

✅ The median home price in Stillwater is sitting around $475K — up about 2.4% from this time last year.
✅ Homes are going under contract in roughly 22 days on average. Well-priced homes? Even faster — sometimes 11–12 days.
✅ Minnesota's 30-year fixed mortgage rate is hovering around 6.40% as of mid-May — still above where many homeowners locked in years ago, but the trend is slowly easing.
✅ Inventory is ticking up slightly compared to last year, which means buyers have a tiny bit more breathing room than they did in 2022–2023.

What does this mean if you're thinking about SELLING?
A well-prepared, well-priced home in Stillwater and the surrounding St. Croix Valley area is still selling — and selling well. The buyers who are active right now are serious. They've been watching the market, they're pre-approved, and they're ready to move.

05/17/2026

Sunday feels like a good day to share something a little more personal. 🌿

I've been a Realtor in the Minnesota and Wisconsin market for years now, and I'll tell you — the thing that still gets me every single time is handing over keys.

Not because of the transaction. But because of what those keys mean. A new chapter. A fresh start. A place where someone's going to build a life, raise a family, host the holidays, watch their kids grow up.

That's why I got into this business. And it's why I care so deeply about doing this right for every single person I work with.

I specialize in the North East Metro — communities like White Bear Lake, Forest Lake, Hugo, Stillwater, Lino Lakes, and Vadnais Heights — and I also serve buyers and sellers on the Wisconsin side of the border. I know these neighborhoods. I know the schools, the commutes, the quirks of the market in every season.

What I want you to know about working with me:

✅ I'll always tell you the truth, even when it's not what you want to hear
✅ I return calls and texts — quickly, because you deserve that
✅ I'm your advocate from the first conversation to well past closing

If you've been thinking about making a move — or you just have questions you're not sure who to ask — my number is always open.

No obligation. No pressure. Just a real conversation.

📞 651-278-9035 | Megan Kenny, RE/MAX Synergy — MN & WI

💙 Tag someone who might need a trustworthy Realtor in the North East Metro!

05/16/2026

Happy Saturday, North East Metro! ☀️🌿

Quick question for you — and I genuinely want to know:

If you could add ONE outdoor feature to your home this summer, what would it be?

A) A screened porch (Minnesota's gift to humanity 🙌)
B) A lake-access dock or lakeside fire pit area
C) A fully finished deck with outdoor kitchen
D) A cozy pergola or garden patio space

Drop your letter in the comments! I'll tally the results and share what's actually adding the most resale value to homes in our market right now — because the answer might surprise you.

(Spoiler: Screened porches and outdoor living spaces are commanding serious attention from buyers right now in the North East Metro — especially as families look for that "staycation at home" feel.)

If you've been thinking about making improvements before listing — or you're a buyer who wants to know what's worth paying a premium for — let's chat.

I'm always around this weekend. Call or text: 651-278-9035

Hope your Saturday is everything a Minnesota spring day should be. 🌳☕

05/15/2026

Friday Market Pulse 📊 — North East Metro Edition

Here's what's happening in YOUR backyard right now (May 2026):

🏡 Minnesota's median home price: $355,300 — up 1.2% year over year
📅 Average days on market statewide: 43 days (up from last year, which means more breathing room)
📦 Months of supply: ~3 months — still tight, but improving
📈 Home values forecasted to appreciate 2–4% through the rest of 2026

What does this mean if you're a BUYER in our area?
You have slightly more time to make thoughtful decisions than you did in 2022 or 2023. But well-priced homes — especially in communities like Lino Lakes, White Bear Lake, and Vadnais Heights — are still moving quickly. Pre-approval is your best first step.

What does this mean if you're a SELLER?
Pricing with precision matters more right now than it has in years. Overpricing will cost you time and money. Homes that are priced correctly and marketed well are still attracting strong interest from serious buyers who are done waiting.

The market has shifted — but opportunity is absolutely still here. You just need the right strategy.

📬 Want my full North East Metro local market report? Comment "MARKET" below or send me a message and I'll get it out to you.

📞 651-278-9035 | Megan Kenny, RE/MAX Synergy

05/14/2026

Last fall, I got a call from a couple who had been trying to buy in the North East Metro for almost a year. 😔

They were exhausted. They'd lost multiple offers in White Bear Lake and Stillwater — gone $20,000–$40,000 over asking each time. They were starting to wonder if homeownership was even possible for them.

We sat down, adjusted the game plan, and got strategic — not just about price, but about timing, neighborhoods, and how we structured our offers to stand out beyond just dollars.

Sixty days later? They closed on a beautiful home in Hugo. Under asking price. With a 45-day close.

They texted me a photo from their new backyard on the first morning — coffee in hand, snow on the ground, giant smiles.

That's what this job is about for me. Not transactions. Outcomes. Moments.

If you're feeling stuck in this market — whether you've lost offers, can't figure out where to start, or just don't know if now is the right time — please reach out. I work with a limited number of buyers at a time so I can give each family the attention they deserve.

💬 Have you ever lost a bidding war? Drop a comment — you're not alone, and there's almost always a strategy that gets you there.

📞 Let's talk: 651-278-9035