North Star Homes Team

04/01/2026

Just stumbled on a newer Forest Lake hidden gem that deserves a shoutout because it’s just that good!

If you find yourself in the area, do yourself a favor and check out Soha's Cafe. I swung in the other day and the owner’s daughter ended up serving me. Sharkey (I hope I spelt that right!) was incredibly friendly and made the experience a 10/10.

Of course though, because it’s a restaurant, the food has to be good too if I’m ever going to go back. And it was!

I had the beef shawarma bowl with a raspberry milk boba and saved room for dessert: baklava (homemade by her mum!) and homemade Dubai chocolate. All of it was 10/10, honestly.

I know I’ll be back, so if you ever see me here, please say hi.

For anyone that has been here, let us know your experience in the comments below!

- Travis

03/17/2026

My new signs finally came in. What do you guys think?

So many people are THINKING of selling right now, I figured I'd make a sign just for them.

Every house is for sale for the right price. 😉

- Travis
(612) 258-3770

02/26/2026

Already Under Contract!
Completely renovated & move-in ready!
- Brand new kitchen
- Double exterior walls for impressive insulation
- New roof, new sheathing & siding
- New HVAC system & ductwork
- Updated electrical & plumbing
- 3 Bedrooms
- And much more

📍602 Prairie Dr N, Hudson

- Travis

P.S. If you have any questions about this listing (or other homes for sale here in the Forest Lake area), feel free to call or text (612) 258-3770.

02/20/2026

1,020,740

This is how many times people saw my social media in the last 6 months. As far as I know, I am the only agent on the north side of the Twin Cities who does this kind of marketing.

Many of the ads I run on social media aren’t even about me—they promote my listings, or help me find homes for my buyers.

The truth is, I get my sellers more exposure on their listings than any other agent, and frankly, unless I promoted their house on I-35, a billboard would not even get that kind of reach around here.

So, I tell you that my ads were seen 1,000,000+ times last year, not to brag, but to be real with you that using an agent with an exclusive marketing strategy will help get more exposure to your property than any other agent in White Bear Lake and any of the suburbs up here. And it’s important to me that you know that.

- Travis
(612) 258-3770

02/17/2026

This gorgeous listing is back on the market! A completely remodeled lake front property conveniently located in Maple Grove! Reach out for a private tour!

OPEN HOUSE: Friday, February 20, 2026 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM. For Sale - 10947 69th Ave N, Maple Grove, MN - $824,900. View details, map and photos of this single family property with 4 bedrooms and 3 total baths. MLS # 7022653.

02/14/2026

14 Reasons I Adore My Valentine ❤️
1. I love her stunning blue eyes.

2. She’s incredibly creative (I could never do what she does with her Cricut).

3. Spending cozy winter nights snuggled on the couch, binge-watching our favorite shows together is something I never take for granted.

4. Even though I do most of the cooking, her biscuits and gravy are unbeatable.

5. I love her drive and dedication. She motivates me to be better.

6. I love the funny reels and memes she sends me during the day - she knows my humor all too well.

7. She is an AMAZING mom and would do anything for our son.

8. She is always doing countless little things for me and everyone else, quite often without recognition.

9. I appreciate her unwavering support.

10. My sweet tooth is forever thankful for her baking talents - from her irresistible tres leches cake to her rich to decadent brownies.

11. I love her compassion for animals and the love she has for our three cats, bearded dragon, and turtle.

12. I can always be myself around her.

13. I respect her courage to stand up for her beliefs.

14. Most of all, I love that she said “I do,” and that we get to share this beautiful life together.

02/11/2026

My son’s birthday was saved by Cakes by Megan!

After a Wal-Mart fiasco that involved them throwing out his original cake (long story that I’ll skip here 🙄), I went onto FB marketplace 18 hours before the party and frantically started searching for local bakeries.

That’s when I came across Megan’s FB page and decided to reach out. Honestly, I didn’t have high hopes considering his party was less than a day away…. but I was wrong!

Megan is amazing and instantly got back to me. She made an exception and delivered his cake in under a day, not to mention knocked the design out of the park.

There’s not enough good things my wife and I could say about her other than if you need a cake designed, she’s exactly who you should call!

Thanks again, Megan! Phoenix loved his cake, and we appreciated you saving the day!

- Travis

02/06/2026

What do you think? Do people even read these signs?

- Travis
(612) 258-3770

01/20/2026

We’ve found the BEST car wash in the Twin Cities. And lemme tell you why: they have INDOOR bays for cleaning the inside of your car.

That’s right – they have bays inside so you don’t have to freeze your face off while you stand outside and wipe out your car, like most car washes around town!

Even Phoenix enjoyed helping out, so I know I’ll be bringing him with me next time the car needs a good cleaning (half the mess is his anyway 😆).

If you are in White Bear Lake, check them out because they are the best car wash ever – not sure anyone can change my mind. 😏

BTW - it’s Silverstar Car Wash.

- Travis

01/20/2026

Here's a list of 10 small businesses we can personally recommend.
As a real estate agent, here's who we recommend to our clients:

🔌 Electrician
Greenside Electric LLC
(651) 587-8452
Ryan does amazing work, is super friendly and priced very competitively!

🏠Roofing
Experienced Builders LLC
(651) 285-6702
Scott and his team were able to help replace my roof after a massive storm the other year! They do amazing work and use great products that last!

🧽Remediation/Restoration Services
Bauer Property Services
(651) 212-5395
Steve and his crew are timely, professional and who we would call for any restoration and mold remediation needs!

🛠️General Contractor/Remodeling
River Valley Renovations
(651) 468-9047
Jeff does some amazing work! From single items such as tile, painting or LVP to full remodels! We would highly recommend him to anyone looking to add a new splash of life to their homes!

🫧Carpet Cleaning
A Wise Solution
(715) 888-2011
We've seen Tony turn dirty carpet that looked ready for a tear out into carpet that looked brand new! Would highly recommend them!

🧹Flooring
Monson & Company LLC
(651)-366-9502
Matt and his crew do a bang up job on everything from hardwoods, LVP, to carpet!

🧰Handyman
White Pine Home Services
(763)- 688-2410
Alex is a great contact for anyone looking for general handyman services!

🐁Pest Control
Abra Kadabra Environmental Services
(763) 328-0156
Abra Kadabra does a great job of getting rid of pests from mice to insects!

🔨Decks/General Contracting
Fry Construction & Remodeling
(651) 208-0932
Jason is amazing and has put together some gorgeous decks for our clients.

🖌️Painting
Independent Painter - Patrick Richter
(715) 222-0384
Patrick does amazing things with a brush. Whether a room or a full house, we would recommend him for all of your painting needs!

Let us know which local companies you’ve used with great success!

- Travis & Steve
(612) 258-3770
(651) 356-0116

01/09/2026

Step back in time with this beautifully crafted late-1800s home here in Minneapolis! 🏡
- 4 beds, 2 baths
- Soaring ceilings & timeless architectural details
- Room on the 3rd floor can be a guest suite, studio, or office
- Large, level front porch
- Oversized 2-car garage & convenient off-street parking
- And much more!

This home is priced at $299,900.

📍 3202 N 6th Street, Minneapolis

- Travis

P.S. If you have any questions about this listing (or other homes for sale here in the Forest Lake area), feel free to call or text (612) 258-3770‬.

12/24/2025

We lost a listing the other day…because we were honest. Yep, you read that right. As Realtors, it's our job to be honest about what your home could sell for...but sometimes, that causes us to lose a listing.

In these cases, the homeowners went with agents who gave them a much higher list price than we suggested. An enticing, pie-in-the-sky kind of price. It sounded too good to be true and sure enough, it was.

Even though it meant we would probably lose the listing, we just couldn't agree to list a home for significantly more than what we think the market demands. It may be a bad business decision to not tack on an extra $30K, $40K, or more, just to get the listing, but we sleep a lot better at night knowing we were completely honest & realistic with the homeowner.

This is why we are honest, from the start, about what your home will likely sell for. We don't want your home to sit extra days on market or go through price reductions to get attention.

And we never want homeowners working with us because they're "locked into a seller's agreement." That’s where an agent holds the seller to a listing contract even when they are not happy with their performance.

We want folks to work with us because they TRUST us.

So, we give every market analysis our best, realistic assessment. We work to make sure what we’re suggesting reflects what's actually happening in the market right now.

The outdated adage of “you can always come down, but you can’t go up” is not always a good idea and can cost a seller money and valuable time on the market.

Call us old fashioned, but we’re in it for the long run. And we think in the long run, honesty & being straightforward with folks is the best policy.

Even if we lose listings.

- Travis & Steve