Sell Your Downtown Minneapolis Condo Off-Market, On Your Terms

You love your downtown condo and aren’t actively looking to sell, but if someone came along and offered that magic number to make you consider moving,  would you take it? 

Many Minneapolis condo, and loft owners have a “make me move” price in the back of their minds. Maybe you’re an empty nester daydreaming about a warmer climate, or a young professional who might upgrade if the stars (and dollars) align. The good news is you don’t have to list your condo publicly or deal with showings to test the market. 

The Make Me Move Program, offered only twice a year, lets you sell off-market on your own terms. Our goal was to give Downtown Minneapolis condo owners an easy, no-pressure way to see if the right buyer and right price is out there.

1.  What Is the Make Me Move Program?

2.  How Does the Make Me Move Program Work?

3.  What are Benefits of Selling Off-Market?

4.  Who Is This Program For?

5.  Why Off-Market Selling Works and Why Now is a Good Time?

6.  What Happens When I Am Ready to Sell Formally? 

What Is the Make Me Move Program?

Think of DRG’s Make Me Move Program as a soft launch for selling your home: you enroll your property in DRG’s private network of downtown buyers without formally listing it on the market. It’s completely free to join, and there’s zero pressure to sell. You only move if a buyer meets your price, timing, and terms.

Make Me Move lets you offer your home “off-market” to serious condo buyers that DRG works with, only if it “makes perfect sense” for your goals. No yard signs, no listings, no public marketing. Your condo stays under the radar, and only pre-qualified buyers get a peek. If none of them meet your desired price or timeline, you simply stay put. It’s a "have-your-cake-and-eat-it-too" approach to selling: you get to gauge buyer interest and maybe snag a great offer, without committing to move unless you’re thrilled with the deal.

How the Make Me Move Program Works 

How does this off-market program actually work? It’s designed to be simple and seller-friendly. Here’s the step-by-step breakdown:

1. Enroll and Share Your Condo Details

To start, you provide us with some basic info about your property. This includes your condo’s address, unit specifics (beds, baths, square footage, parking spots), any ideal price you have in mind, your hoped-for timeline to move, and a few good photos. (DRG can guide you on pricing with a free home valuation if you’re unsure.) You can easily submit these details via a quick form. There’s no commitment. You’re just saying, “Here’s my place, let’s see if there’s a match.”

2. Quiet Matching to Serious Buyers

Once you’re enrolled, we  “quietly” shop your condo to the right people. There’s no public announcement, but we privately reach out to qualified buyers in our network who are actively looking for a place like yours. These might be folks searching in your building, or buyers who’ve told us, for example, “I want a two-bedroom in the North Loop with a skyline view.” 

Your condo stays off any listing sites. Instead, it’s shown selectively and confidentially to a handful of matches. You won’t have random strangers traipsing through; only serious buyers get invited for a private showing and they’re often already familiar with downtown living. Think of us as a matchmaker between your home and motivated downtown buyers.

3. You Decide on Your Terms and Only Move If It’s Right

If a buyer in the program meets your target price, timeline, and terms, now it’s decision time. We will bring you the offer and details. There is absolutely no obligation to say yes. You remain in control. If the offer is one you’re excited about, you can choose to move forward and sell. If not, you can decline and stay put, no hard feelings. 

The beauty of Make Me Move is you only “make a move” if everything lines up perfectly for you. No pressure.  No urgency.  You hold all the cards. And if no buyer comes along with the right deal during the enrollment period, you simply continue living your life as usual. You haven’t spent a dime, and your condo was never officially on the market, so there’s no “failed listing” stigma or wasted time.

Key Benefits of Selling Off-Market with Make Me Move

Why do sellers love this program? Because it flips the script on the usual selling experience. Here are some key benefits of Make Me Move:

No Listing Hassles

You don’t have to stage your condo. No “For Sale” sign, and no public listing to worry about. Your neighbors won’t even know you’re thinking of selling. You skip straight to qualified buyers without prepping for endless showings or stressing about curb appeal for listing photos. 

Selective, Qualified Showings 

Only serious buyers will view your home. There’s no parade of open houses every Sunday. We vet interested buyers and arrange private showings by appointment. You might only have to tidy up for a couple of visits rather than keeping your home in museum condition for weeks. 

Zero Pressure to Sell 

This program is totally pressure-free. You can turn down any offer that doesn’t meet your expectations. You remain in control the entire time. There’s no obligation to accept anything, and no deadline ticking down. If you don’t get an offer you love, simply stay put and try again later.

Exclusive Buyer Exposure 

When you enroll, your condo gets exclusive exposure to DRG’s network of active downtown buyers. We specialize in downtown Minneapolis condos, so we have a large pool of buyers constantly looking for units in the area. These buyers might never see your home otherwise. Make Me Move taps into that insider network. It’s like getting access to a built-in pool of eager buyers without going on the open market.

Flexible Timeline, Move When You Want 

You set the timeline. Not ready to move for 6 months? Only want to sell after the holidays? No problem. You can specify your ideal moving timeframe. Buyers coming in know up front that everything is on your terms, including closing date. You move when (and if) it’s right for you. There’s none of the typical rush to move out just because you listed. 

Who Is This Program For?

The Make Me Move Program isn’t for everyone. It’s designed for a certain kind of seller. Here are the types of downtown Minneapolis homeowners who might benefit most from this off-market approach:

The “Maybe Someday” Empty Nester

Perhaps you’re in your 50s or 60s, your kids are grown, and you’re enjoying your downtown loft, but you’d consider selling if the right opportunity came along. Maybe you’ve thought about downsizing further, moving closer to grandkids, or spending winters in a warmer state. You’re in no rush, but you have a number in mind that would make it worth it. Make Me Move lets you quietly test if that number is achievable. 

Empty nesters love that they can explore selling without committing, maintaining their lifestyle until an ideal offer appears. It’s a great way to transition on your own terms, whether that’s next month or 6 months from now.

The Urban Upgrader 

You bought a condo in your late 20s or 30s and still love downtown, but now you’re itching for an upgrade: maybe a larger unit, a newer building, or a better view. You intend to buy another place in Minneapolis, not leave the city. For you, selling your current condo is a stepping stone to your next dream home. The tricky part is coordinating the sale and purchase. 

You can float your condo off-market to see if a buyer bites at a great price, while you casually hunt for your upgrade. If the right buyer and the right new home align, you make your move. It gives you a low-pressure way to unlock equity for a future purchase, without timing both transactions to a tee. It’s essentially a safety net for “sell then buy” situations.

The Life-Stage Mover 

Big life changes often drive moves. Maybe you’re relocating for a job in a year, or you’re expecting a baby and will eventually need more space (perhaps outside downtown). You know a move is on the horizon, but you have some flexibility on when. Life-stage movers often feel torn: should you list now or wait? 

Make Me Move offers a sweet spot: your condo becomes available to select buyers now, off-market, and if one meets your needs, you accelerate your move. If not, you’ve lost nothing and can list traditionally when the time comes. 

For example, a young couple with a baby on the way might say, “We’d sell our one-bedroom condo in Elliot Park if we could close by fall,” but if not, they’ll stay until after the baby’s born. In the program, they might find that perfect buyer who’s willing to let them stay until autumn. 

Or consider a professional anticipating a transfer to Chicago next spring. If a buyer right now offers a solid price and a lease-back until spring, it could be a win-win. Life-stage sellers use the program to take advantage of buyer demand now, without jeopardizing their own timing.

Why Off-Market Selling Works and Why Now Is a Good Time

Selling a home off-market can be a smart strategy for many Minneapolis homeowners. In fact, an estimated 1.2 million U.S. home sales in 2024 were done off-market through private transactions (ResiClub).

Why Sellers Choose This Approach

Privacy and Discretion 

Off-market listings keep your sale confidential where details aren’t blasted across real estate sites. This is ideal if you value privacy or don’t want neighbors or the public knowing your plans. High-profile owners and those in smaller communities often use this route to avoid public attention.

Less Hassle, More Control 

You avoid staging, open houses, and constant showings. Your home is shown only to serious, pre-qualified buyers. And there’s no pressure to sell unless an offer meets your needs.

Speed and Convenience

Because you’re tapping into a ready pool of motivated buyers, deals can move quickly. Many off-market buyers are prepared to close fast and buy as-is, which means fewer repairs and less back-and-forth.

Exclusive Buyer Pool

Private marketing creates a sense of exclusivity. Serious buyers often pay a premium to get first access to a property before it hits the open market.

Why Now Is a Smart Time to Sell in Minneapolis

Not Much Competition 

In July 2025, there were only about 7,592 homes for sale across the metro which is a fraction of what we saw in the 2008 crash years, when inventory was closer to 49,000 statewide (Zillow Market Overview). That’s roughly 2.6 months of supply,  far less than the 5–6 months needed for a “balanced” market (Redfin Metro Data). 

Prices Holding Strong

The median sale price hit $395,000 in July,  up 3.9% from last year and the highest July on record (Redfin).

Buyers Paying Up

Homes are going for a median of 100.4% of list price which is  over asking in plenty of cases (Redfin).

Quick Turnarounds 

If you list at the right price, expect offers fast — the average home here is under contract in just 15 days (Redfin).

Leverage on Your Side

Zillow’s research team puts it simply, sellers in Minneapolis have “limited supply, steady buyer demand, and strong equity positions” working for them (Zillow Research).

Low inventory, strong prices, and eager buyers make this a rare sweet spot for homeowners. And selling off-market right now? That’s your chance to keep things private, skip the public frenzy, and still land a serious offer from a motivated buyer.

What Happens When You’re Ready to Sell Formally?

One common question is: if you do get that dream offer and decide to move, what comes next? Since Make Me Move is an off-market program, how does it transition into an actual sale? We handle all the formalities once you give us the  green light.

If you choose to accept an offer, you’ll sign a standard listing agreement with DRG at that point (an Exclusive Right to Sell contract) to formalize our agency relationship and take care of any required disclosures. Essentially, we move from “informal match-making” to a normal sale process just without ever putting your home on the open market, unless you want to. We will guide you through all the paperwork, negotiations, and due diligence just as they would with a regular sale.

What about commission? Since we would be representing you in the sale, a listing commission will be charged, but note that it’s negotiable. We pride ourselves on being fair and transparent. There’s also a standard $595 broker admin commission on any transaction, which covers the admin work. This is the same fee they charge for normal sales. 

All of these details are discussed up front when you enroll, so there are no surprises. The key point: enrolling in Make Me Move costs you nothing, and you only incur a commission if you actually decide to sell and close a deal (just like any real estate sale).

Importantly, you still have options at decision time. If an off-market buyer’s offer doesn’t quite hit your mark and you’re now feeling ready to sell more aggressively, you can always choose to list your home on the open market instead. 

Enrolling in Make Me Move doesn’t lock you into an off-market sale. We can pivot with you. We can list your condo on the market  and market it if you decide that’s the route you want to go. The goal is simply to get your condo sold for a price you’re happy with, in the timeline you need.

The primary purpose of the program is to eventually sell off-market to a DRG buyer. But if that doesn’t happen, you’ve at least gathered intel and maybe even built up some demand that can be used when formally listing later. There’s really no downside. 

Ready to Test the Market?

If you’re a downtown Minneapolis condo, loft or townhome owner who’s been toying with the idea of selling “if the price is right,” DRG’s Make Me Move Program was made for you. It’s straightforward, no-nonsense, and puts you in the driver’s seat. 

I’ll be in your corner at every step as your Minneapolis condo expert, so you can skip the typical headaches of selling.