Holiday Traditions & Celebrations

The holidays are a time of tradition - both cherishing the old and creating the new. 

Timeless Traditions

One of Barry Berg’s big holiday traditions is his annual “Soup Night” the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. 

“This year was our 23rd annual such evening,” says Barry. “We typically host 45-55 people that evening. Each year, we provide the soups (3 ‘made from scratch’) and wines, while inviting guests to bring hors d’oeuvres, salads and desserts. It’s always a terrific start to the holiday season.”

As the season progresses, Barry looks forward to typically celebrating Christmas with Walter’s family in New York City. There, they always include at least one “family-friendly” Broadway musical as a family and often attend one or two  other shows…

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Decking the Halls

One of the best parts of the holiday season is seeing how people decorate their homes. While some people gravitate towards the traditional look, others choose a more modern feel or perhaps even a creative theme. At the Berg Larsen Group, various styles are represented - from Charlie Brown trees to ornaments from around the world.  

More Decor!

When it comes to holiday decor, everyone has their own little twist. For Deb Shafer, traditional decor is the way to go. 

“I have very sentimental ornaments and a nativity set from my mom and dad, who are no longer with me,” says Deb. “My niece started my collection of nutcrackers about 15 years ago, and it continues to grow each year.” 

Krista Eull, on the other hand, chooses a less traditional…

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Enjoying Festive Foods and Memorable Gifts

It wouldn’t be the holiday season without memories of family food traditions, a handful of memorable gifts received, and the gifts we’ve shared with others. 

Our Favorite Festive Foods

For Deb Shafer, having a casual Christmas Eve dinner of grilled cheese and tomato soup is a favorite holiday tradition. 

Deb explains, “When my daughters were little, I decided it was too much to prepare a big Christmas Eve dinner, get them to bed, then create Christmas magic. So, we started having grilled cheese and tomato soup for dinner. My husband and I still look forward to having it every year and my daughters now do the same with their families.”

Chad Larsen, on the other hand, saves his appetite for something a little sweeter. Each year, Chad looks…

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Introducing Our Holiday Series

In our everyday work, we have the opportunity to know you and your lifestyle. Our ability to guide you through your home buying or selling process hinges on understanding who you are, how you live, and what’s important to you. But, oftentimes our clients don’t have the opportunity to know us in that way. That’s why this year, we want to extend the same to you by sharing what’s important to us during the holiday season. 

Through the end of the year, you’ll see a handful of blogs highlighting some of our holiday favorites - foods, traditions, decorations, movies, and more. Stay tuned and be sure to check out our Instagram and Facebook for some fun holiday photos. 

Happy Holidays from the Berg Larsen Group!

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Go Time Show Time!

Jon Ness - Licensed Realtor and Business Partner 

As houses go on the market and buyers start their search, Jon Ness, licensed realtor and partner at the Berg Larsen Group, shares his best tips on surviving showings. For buyers and sellers alike, showings season is an exciting and busy time. We are here to help you stay prepared and organized amid this active spring season. By following Jon’s advice to put extra work in ahead of time, you can do more than just survive showings - you might even enjoy them.

It’s the Little Things

Before putting your house on the market, we recommend hiring professionals to do the first round of deep cleaning. Hiring a team to do the initial sweep makes your upkeep between showings easier to maintain. When…

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The Condo Market is Back

Chad Larsen - Business Partner and Licensed Realtor

After selling three condos within two weeks, colleagues started asking Berg Larsen Group Partner Chad Larsen, “Is the condo market back?” To which he emphatically says yes, and it prompted this blog post to ask and answer a few more questions.

Timing is Everything

For condo owners who have decided to sell, their decision didn’t happen overnight. Many people started thinking about moving last year and in the meantime, invested in updating their space. After some new flooring, painting, and light renovations, their units were ready to hit the market. Instead of rushing to list their condos, people waited until after the Superbowl to put things into motion, anticipating the surge of buyers this…

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Guidance and Advice = Peace of Mind

Sometimes coming home really is as easy as it seems - as long as you have the right help.

Katherine and Joe Chaves learned that truth while moving halfway across the country with the help of the Berg Larsen Group. Joe, a Minnesota native, and his wife Katherine met while studying at the University of Michigan six years ago. After graduating, the couple moved to the east coast, living and working in New York until 2021 when they became pragmatic about their lifestyle goals as they welcomed their first child. They decided to return to Joe’s roots, and start their family in Minnesota.

Outlining Criteria

To prepare for the move, Katherine and Joe started looking at homes online, pinpointing neighborhoods in Southwest Minneapolis and first-ring…

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Setting the Standard with Digital Marketing

Digital marketing continues to transform every business, including real estate. People don’t think twice about using a QR code or watching a YouTube video on the go, via their phone. We’ve come to expect these, but like you, we’re discerning and endeavor to set the standard with digital storytelling that captures the essence of the homes we list for sale.

Chad Larsen - Business Partner and Realtor

Chad Larsen shares his thoughts on why our team continues to invest in technology and digital marketing that help our clients buy and sell their homes.

Data + Digital

Various sources like Zillow, Realtor.Com, ColdwellBankerHomes.com, and Redfin help people see a multitude of homes for sale. In Minnesota, Realtors participate in NorthstarMLS, one of…

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Holiday Memories and Recipes - Nanci Anderson

Nanci Anderson’s Chicken Tetrazzini recipe adds an Italian spin on our holiday recipes. As a real estate agent at Berg Larsen Group, we knew that she would bring that special something to the table!

Years ago, the Anderson tradition on Christmas Eve was to have an Italian family dinner at Café Di Napoli in downtown Mpls.  As the children got older and the family grew, we started having the large group for Christmas Eve at Grandma Lolly’s home.

However, Italian was still on the menu.  To this day, Christmas Eve is not the same unless my sister-in-law, Julie, makes her infamous Chicken Tetrazzini. Even if she is unable to make Christmas Eve dinner, she still makes and delivers it to the hosting family. I have tried to make this delicious dish…

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Holiday Memories and Recipes - Barry Berg

Today, Barry Berg invites us to try his recipe for Pumpkin Lentil soup. Not only is Barry the founding partner of the Berg Larsen Group, but he’s also an exceptional party host. Here, he shares not only his recipe but also his secret to entertaining friends and family.

When I first lived downtown at Stone Arch, recognizing that I was likely to be someone’s guest for Thanksgiving dinner in future years, I decided to invite friends the “night before Thanksgiving”. This night, a soup and wine dinner is a tradition I’ve now done for 22 consecutive years. In 2020, due to the pandemic, I made soup and delivered it to guests, rather than hosting the event during the heart of COVID. 

 What began as an evening with perhaps 14-15 guests has grown to…

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