People

When people and place come together magic happens. Meet a few of my clients, and people I cross paths with every day

Charlie with Greg and Sam

A Modern Miricle

Fate, luck, magic, call it what you will. The right person at the right time, it’s often how these things happen. When I first met Greg and Sam, it only took a moment for Sam to connect the dots. She looked at me and said, you’re the guy my friend always talks about. It was happenstance that I paid them a visit to discuss a move from the house they had built in south Minneapolis. Something new had to be modern and one level, and have a strong connection to nature, likely a new build.  As the search started, we met with a builder I was familiar with. As we left the meeting, I asked him if he would ever sell his house? Today Charlie their brittany spaniel, Greg and Sam have made that house a home.  It is an honor and pleasure to work with people to make a dream come full circle, it is even better to call your clients, your friends.

Gina and Lynn

Heart & Soul

They say that hindsight is 20/20. I guess it is what makes things so clear as I think about the gifts I have received in my life. This is Todd writing.  So many people, so many lives have crossed my path, I am grateful for all of them. My family, my clients, the people that have I met along the way that have made my life so rich, the people that have made me the person I am today. I cant forget the love of my life or my friends. A handful of people have really shaped my adult life, one of them is Gina. Well, I should say Gina and Lynn. Without reservation or second thought they have been like sister and brother to me, to us. Open hearts, supportive, understanding, no judgement, and have shared their lives with me (us) in so many ways. So much fun, pure love and joy, like family. No one could match Gina’s love of sharing a fantastic meal, planning time together. Lynn, teaching us to sail, building a better foundation together or sharing your wisdom. Thank you for supporting me, for helping me build a business and lives worth living.

Mark and Sarah

Smokin Hot!

Fire is an element that runs through Sarah and Mark’s story. In a rom-com worthy first encounter, Sarah’s car started to smoke in front of the fire station. Fire chief Mark was there to douse it and offer her a lift home. Sarah was struck by their “beautiful conversation” during that ride.“He didn’t ask me out, so I went back to the fire department, threw down my business card, and said ‘There’s no reason you shouldn’t take me out for coffee or a beer.’” Then she left. “Everybody in the fire house went ‘Whoa!” Mark says. “I called her that evening. We’ve been inseparable ever since.”

They are each other’s biggest fans and supporters, sharing their love of travel, food, and cooking in their home of three years. “When we married,” Sarah says, “I sold my bungalow and moved into Mark’s little house. But we always wanted space to embrace family and friends. I’d been looking at real estate listings for years before I found a place I thought we’d like.” Their home has the warm, welcoming feel they wanted, with room to host what Mark calls “a tidal wave” of parents, siblings, nieces and nephews. “We have fifteen nephews and nieces between us, and we’ve told them our home is their safe place to land, if they ever need one.” The place they live, the love they have gathered and the life they have built is worth every drop of sweat, every tear and every penny. Enjoy your retirement!

 

Sarah’s passion for jewelry-making was sparked by learning to work with fiery hot metal as a blacksmith. Her transition from blacksmith to jeweler blossomed with showings at galleries and art fairs; and she began using her Northeast studio to share her skills, teaching others and growing a “beautiful community.” Sarah’s love of teaching mirrors Mark’s passion for community service, which he says “fills my cup.” Mark recently retired from 25 years of service to the community as a firefighter and fire chief. He has touched the lives of the people in his community and made a difference. To witness the love and respect of his family, friends and the community at his retirement party was a testament to a life well lived.

Joey and Sheila

Joey and Sheila

Moving back to Minnesota

“Growing up, I considered the people across the street my second set of grandparents and next door was my best friend,” says Sheila McNelis. “You could go to a neighbor to borrow an egg, or if you got locked out of your house, you had somewhere to go until the locksmith came. We’d both grown up in places with that feeling; that’s what we were looking for.”

Sheila and Joey began married life in the Seattle area, home to Joey’s parents and job at Alaska Airlines. When they decided to start the next phase of their lives, they wanted to return to the Midwest, where Sheila’s extended family lives.

For first-time buyers, finding a Minnesota home from Seattle was daunting, until Sheila’s brother connected them with Todd. “He offered to walk us through houses via FaceTime or have my family come to showings. He had all these great ideas,” says Sheila. “Coming up with a competitive offer was challenging too, but Todd knew what we needed to hear and wasn’t afraid to be honest in the best way. He always brought it back to our goal: finding a home, not just a house.”

Now that baby James has arrived, Sheila is thrilled to be a short drive from her parents, and Joey has an easy commute to the airport. “As a third-generation pilot, he loves to share his passion for flying and connecting with people. And I love being a speech language pathologist. I can give kids a voice and help others understand there’s more than one way to communicate.”

Which points to another reason the McNelises enjoyed working with Todd. “He listens so well, and brought in the factual and the emotional sides of the process. His experience and ability to connect made all the difference.”

 

 

 

Kathy

Kathy

Leaving 41 years of memories

I met Todd twenty-five years ago when he moved in across the street,” Kathy says, sitting near the picture window in her apartment, surrounded by photos of children and grandchildren. “We hit it off right away and have been friends ever since. I just loved his mom and would go to visit her in the nursing home.” So it was only natural when Kathy started to think about downsizing and moving into assisted living, Todd would be there to help her sell the family home. “Kathy is just about our oldest friend in the Twin Cities,” says Todd. “It’s great when I’m able to help someone I’ve known and loved for a long time, like Kathy. It’s not about the sale, it’s about friendship.

Jake and Grady

Jake & Grady

Living our best life in Linden Hills

For Jake and Grady, the road to their new home began in San Francisco, and was intertwined with the long-anticipated arrival of their daughter, and a new job in St Paul. “When we got married in 2015, we asked for contributions to our baby fund, since we knew we wanted to have a family.” When Jake was offered a position as vice principal of a private school, Grady’s sister, a real estate agent in Phoenix, thought of Todd, who served on the National Association of Realtors Sustainability Advisory Group with a colleague of hers.

“Todd wasn’t trying to sell us on anything in particular. He really wanted to know what our priorities were, not get us to somewhere else. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of the Twin Cities. He could match our priorities with specific neighborhoods, almost  to the exact block. We love Linden Hills, so that’s where we looked. We wanted a fireplace, lots of bookshelves, space for the piano, and room to cook and entertain guests.”

“We wanted to raise our child in a lovely environment, someplace walkable that feels like a real neighborhood. We were amazed that with Todd’s help, we were able to find something in our first-choice neighborhood. We looked at fewer than ten houses and only made an offer on this one. It had the layout we were looking for; the size was right. We could see how we could make it ours.”

“It’s been really lovely to see our journey culminate and have a home here with Harriet. We appreciate the intentionality that Todd had in mind when he helped us find a place for the three of us."

Graham and Sarah

Graham & Sarah

Moving up from St. Paul to Edina

“This is the second house we bought with Todd,” says Graham as Sarah swoops their youngest off a nearby tabletop. Sarah and Graham are both busy specialists in the same medical field, and with three young children, they describe their family as “joyful, chaotic, adventurous, loud, and loving.”

 

“Eight years ago we started going to open houses, looking for our first home. Todd was the showing agent at one. He made an immediate impression. We were talking about the house and neighborhood and after listening to us, Todd said, ‘This isn’t your home.’ That’s the kind of incredible honesty and openness we need in a realtor; someone who is going to be on our side,”

Sarah continues, “Fast-forward eight years. We have three kids and have grown out of our home in Highland Park, so we got in touch with Todd. Since our daughter was starting kindergarten soon, we wanted a neighborhood where we could be excited about the school system. Also, we wanted to be close to the city but with access to nature. Todd learned about a house he thought would be a good fit that wasn’t on the market yet. We were able to buy it before it was listed, during a really active market.”

 

“What struck us about this house was the big beautiful window in the great room, being able to see nature immediately. There’s even a pond outside. It was the first time we walked through a house and felt like there wasn’t some sort of compromise we’d have to make. We never would have ended up here without Todd.”

People That Make a Difference

  • BAM! When the stars align magic happens! Meet Eric and Anne! This is what this business is about - Team Work! 18 months of planning and looking for the right house. You earned this one! Will be waiting for the pool party invite! Congratulations!!

  • Meet Matt Cohen.You may not realize, but if you operate in the real estate industry, this guy has probably shaped your success. Meet my close friend and client Matt Cohen. I saw him in Scottsdale last week at the Core Logic Clareity Conference. He is responsible for much of the data security and the functionality of Core Logic products. If you use Matrix, Realist, One Home - Matt has touched your life. Thank you Matt, Thank you Greg Larson and team for keeping the lights on!

  • Meet Danny Kahler. You can’t say enough nice things about this guy. Jack of all trades, he has been my life line in this crazy real estate world. He is a fine craftsman and one fine human being! Thank you Danny for your friendship and always being willing to rescue me and my clients.

  • Meet Casey Thrash! Casey is the Managing Director at Lakes Sothebys International Realty. She is magic! Always greets you with that beautiful smile and can solve any problem in a single bounce. Thank you for all you do Casey to make this a better place to live and work.

  • Meet Maria. Proud new owner of her first piece of the American dream! Orginally from Mongolia, she arrived in St. Paul to go to under grad and attended law school here. She is a practicing Attorney and excited to make her new home hers.

  • Meet Ben at Twin Cities Metal Seal. Wow over the top customer service and a joy to work with. He is part of a family run business that has been serving Minneapolis since 1957. If you need anything painted or power coated please look him up!

  • My niece has two amazing children. Harper is 10, not only beautiful but smart and wise. I cherish any opportunity to spend time with her. Time flies, embrace those you love!

  • Meet Cindy! She and her husband crafted an cabin retreat on an 11 acre island just 20 min from the Twin Cities. I had the honor to work with her to find a new buyer for it. She is a smart and a hard working real estate investor. Thank you Cindy for the opportunity to work together.

  • Meet Ryan and Megan, clients and dear friends. Ryan’s grandfather left him his 1964 Corvair convertible when he passed. Cool blue with a white interior, a perfect summer set of wheels for these two! Wave at them when you see them on summer evenings around Lake Harriet!

  • Meet Donnie Brown the new Director of DEI and Sustainability at Minnesota Realtors. Many of you already know her from her work with Minneapolis Realtors and Housing First. Welcome Donnie! Excited about the future for Minnesota Realtors.

  • Sometimes life just happens right there in front of you. A moment of joy shared by everyone. Everything just seems right! These three settled in on the seats across from me on “The L Train” in Chicago.

  • Meet Helen Baumhoefener. I met Helen in 1976, I was 15 she was 68. She hired me to work at Baumhoefener Nursery, I was a kid and knew practically nothing. She became what I consider my mentor and one of the greatest influences on my life. She taught me everything she knew about plants, landscape, design, business and people. She gave me a ton of self confidence and always supported me. She treated me like family! Thank you to her husband Carl and the rest of the family and crew that were a joy to work with. Helen died in 2000 but she left a left a legacy worth celebrating! She also left me the Italian statue that was in the center of her rose garden. Rest in peace Helen. Thank you!

  • Meet Jesse at the Minneapolis Farmers Market. You will find him at The Trout Monger stall. He raises trout and sells them fresh or smoked along with fresh eggs and mushrooms. Love the market!!

  • Meet Robin.Ten years is a long time. Robin searched me out to help her market her 140 acre farm and lodge pole lodge in Ely MN in 2013. After the sale we worked to find the perfect place for her to call home. It took the construction of ELEVEN On The River to create a space that would meet her sense of space, design and quality. Proud and happy moment with her. Happy to call her a friend and client!

  • New List Meet Gina! So very grateful for having she and her partner in all things, Lynn in my life. Life long friends, like a brother and sister. Thank you for helping me to build a business and a life worth living! Look forward to celebrating more meaningful moments together. More at toddshipman.com.

  • Meet Charlie. He lives with Sam and Greg in a very special mid-century modern house in south Minneapolis. Call it fate,luck, or magic, but bringing the right people together at the right moment results in pure joy and happiness.

  • Meet Anna! Congratulations on the purchase of your new home in the heart of Tyrol Hills. She has built a successful consulting company, turns up on the list of powerful women leaders, raises three amazing children and has a wicked sense of humor. After a three year search she has landed in the perfect spot! Thank you for all the fun and laughter along the way.

  • Meet John, Marietta, and Mark. That moment when your 92 yr old Mother is excited for you and your new home. Magic! After a long search and years of planning Mark scored the perfect place. Blocks from Mom and filled with charm! Congratulations Mark! So happy for you.

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