Paula Quinn Homes - Exp Realty

09/02/2026

A quick mortgage rate reality check…

The latest Freddie Mac average has the 30-year fixed mortgage at **6.66%** and the 15-year at **5.98%**.

Basically? Rates have been pretty steady lately.

And while everybody would LOVE to see those 3% rates again, waiting for them to magically return isn't really a housing strategy. 😉

What matters more is the math on YOUR situation.

I’m especially seeing this with people considering downsizing.

If you have significant equity in your current home, the interest rate on the next house may be only one piece of the equation. You may be borrowing substantially less — or possibly not borrowing at all.

For buyers who DO need financing, there are also more things to negotiate than just the purchase price. Depending on the property and situation, seller-paid closing costs or an interest-rate buydown may be worth discussing.

So don't automatically assume, “Rates are too high, so I can't move.”

Run the numbers first.

Sometimes the answer will absolutely be, “Stay where you are.”

And sometimes the numbers are a whole lot better than you expected.

That’s the kind of conversation I’m always happy to have. No pressure — just figuring out what actually makes sense.

Current rate information from Freddie Mac:
[Freddie Mac link]

09/01/2026

🍂 SEPTEMBER IS HERE… and the real estate market doesn’t suddenly stop when summer ends.

In fact, fall can be a really interesting window for both buyers and sellers in Central Minnesota.

We’re heading into September with more choices for buyers than we’ve had in some recent markets — but homes that are priced well, prepared well and marketed well are still selling.

And this is where I think the conversation gets more important than simply asking:

“Is it a buyer’s market or a seller’s market?”

If you’re SELLING, especially a lake home that has been sitting through the summer, September is a good time to take a fresh look at price, photos, condition and marketing strategy.

If you’re BUYING, this can be the time when patience starts paying off. Sellers who have been on the market awhile may be more willing to negotiate on price, closing dates, inspections or other terms.

And if you’re thinking about DOWNSIZING?

Don’t try to time the “perfect” market. Let’s look at the whole move — what you can sell for, what you want to buy, your timeline and what makes financial sense for YOU.

There’s rarely one answer that fits everybody.

That’s why I’d much rather help someone make a good plan than simply tell them, “Now is the time to sell.” 💜

08/13/2026

08/13/2026

****OPEN HOUSE****
THURSDAY, AUGUST 13th
4:30PM - 6:30PM
𝑳𝙤𝒄𝙖𝒕𝙞𝒐𝙣: 📍62 7th Ave SE, Little Falls
𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰: 👇👇👇
🛌: 6 Bᴇᴅʀᴏᴏᴍs 🛁2 Bᴀᴛʜ (3 Beds Main and 3 Beds Lower Level)
🖥️: Office or Bedroom available on Main Level
🔆:3-Season Screened Porch with a Large Patio
🚗: Attached and Detached Garages
🪵: Hardwood Floors in Great Condition on the Main Floor
🌲: Mature Trees Create Character in this Large Yard
🚧:Located in a quiet neighborhood close to downtown
📐: Lots of Storage and Built Ins
Paula Quinn Homes - brokered by eXp Realty
Reach out to me for more info and a private showing:
💻 [email protected]
📲 (612) 810-3907
For more Pictures and Info: https://www.thepaulaquinn.com/.../6-bed-2-bath-home-for.../

08/11/2026

****OPEN HOUSE****
THURSDAY, AUGUST 13th
4:30PM - 6:30PM
𝑳𝙤𝒄𝙖𝒕𝙞𝒐𝙣: 📍62 7th Ave SE, Little Falls
𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰: 👇👇👇
🛌: 6 Bᴇᴅʀᴏᴏᴍs 🛁2 Bᴀᴛʜ (3 Beds Main and 3 Beds Lower Level)
🖥️: Office or Bedroom available on Main Level
🔆:3-Season Screened Porch with a Large Patio
🚗: Attached and Detached Garages
🪵: Hardwood Floors in Great Condition on the Main Floor
🌲: Mature Trees Create Character in this Large Yard
🚧:Located in a quiet neighborhood close to downtown
📐: Lots of Storage and Built Ins
Paula Quinn Homes - brokered by eXp Realty
Reach out to me for more info and a private showing:
💻 [email protected]
📲 (612) 810-3907
For more Pictures and Info: https://www.thepaulaquinn.com/.../6-bed-2-bath-home-for.../

08/05/2026

🏡🏡COMING SOON - ONLY $249,000🏡🏡
𝑳𝙤𝒄𝙖𝒕𝙞𝒐𝙣: 📍62 7th Ave SE, Little Falls
𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰: 👇👇👇
🛌: 6 Bᴇᴅʀᴏᴏᴍs 🛁2 Bᴀᴛʜ (3 Beds Main and 3 Beds Lower Level)
🖥️: Office or Bedroom available on Main Level
🔆:3-Season Screened Porch with a Large Patio
🚗: Attached and Detached Garages
🪵: Hardwood Floors in Great Condition on the Main Floor
🌲: Mature Trees Create Character in this Large Yard
🚧:Located in a quiet neighborhood close to downtown
📐: Lots of Storage and Built Ins

Paula Quinn Homes - brokered by eXp Realty
Reach out to me for more info and a private showing:
💻 [email protected]
📲 (612) 810-3907
For more Pictures and Info: https://www.thepaulaquinn.com/property/6-bed-2-bath-home-for-sale-in-little-falls/

07/01/2026

🌸 These two little petunias have me smiling every time I unlock my office door.

Last summer I had a big overflowing pot of petunias sitting outside.

This year? The pot is long gone.

But somehow… these two little flowers decided they weren’t done.

No one planted them.
No one watered them.
No fertilizer.
No fancy container.
No other petunia “friends” to lean on.

Just a little crack in the ground beside my office… and they bloomed anyway.

I just can’t bring myself to pull them.

It made me think about so many of the people I meet in real estate.

Some are navigating the loss of a spouse.
Some are caring for aging parents.
Some are starting over after divorce.
Some are overwhelmed by too much house.
Some are buying their very first home with more determination than certainty.

Life doesn’t always give us perfect conditions.

But I’ve learned that people are remarkably resilient.

Sometimes they just need someone to notice them… believe in them… and help them find the next place where they can truly flourish.

That’s one of the things I love most about this job.

It’s rarely just about houses.

It’s about helping people through seasons of change and watching them bloom again.

(And yes… these two tough little petunias have earned the right to stay exactly where they are. 💜)

— Paula Quinn Homes
Helping Central Minnesota families through life’s biggest moves.

06/26/2026

Some closings just hit differently. ❤️🏡

Today, Gabe and Taylor became homeowners.

In December, they’ll become husband and wife.

What an incredible season of life. 💕

This one was especially meaningful for me because it reminds me why relationships matter so much in this business.

I’ve known Gabe since he was a toddler. His family and ours spent years together at hockey rinks, and his older brother played hockey and baseball with my son. Over the years, I also had the privilege of helping his sister and her husband sell their first home and purchase the next chapter for their family.

Then there’s Missy…

Not only have we shared years as hockey parents, but she also cared for two of my granddaughters in her daycare since they were babies. When it came time for Gabe and Taylor to buy their first home, she trusted me enough to say, “Take care of my kids.”

And you can bet I took that seriously.

Through every showing, every inspection, every question, both sets of parents were there—supportive, encouraging, and always respectful. It truly became a family journey.

To make it even more special, their lender was their aunt, Katie Jackson. How often do you get to celebrate a first home surrounded by people who genuinely love you?

There may… or may not… have been a few happy tears at the closing table today. ❤️

Moments like this remind me that real estate isn’t about houses.

It’s about trust.

It’s about relationships built over decades.

It’s about watching little kids grow into adults, cheering them on as they begin their own families, and being invited to play a small part in one of the biggest milestones of their lives.

Gabe and Taylor, thank you for trusting me. I couldn’t be happier for you both. Wishing you a lifetime of memories in your first home and a beautiful wedding celebration this December.

Congratulations! 🏡❤️




Katie Kapus Jackson Taylor Jordan Alexis Johnson Tim Hirsch Melinda Fietek Larson Abstract Company Pine Country Bank