How long have you been in the real estate industry?

10+ years

What made you want to become a Realtor®, or get involved in the industry?

My dad, Gary Oslund, has been a residential Realtor® in the Twin Cities for over 50 years, so I grew up being surrounded in everything real estate and houses.

What is your favorite thing about being a Realtor®?

Being able to problem solve difficult, timely, sensitive, emotional, “fill in the blank” situations for my clients and get them to a successful and satisfying resolution for them.

What career highlight are you most proud of?

It would have to be a very selling situation I had around 2017. The seller was residing in an assisted care facility due to mental health issues they had, so I worked with that seller, along with county workers at the Department of Human Services. The house itself had issues, to put it lightly, however the situation worsened further when the entire interior of the home burned from an electrical fire. Needless to say, this was a very emotional sale for the seller, who was in their sixties, and also grew up in the home. I was very happy to secure a great buyer for the property, keep the sale together after the fire, and get the seller to a successful closing.

Who or what inspires you in your career?

Honestly, seeing all the ways that both buyers and sellers need proper representation and advocacy through the process. This extends far beyond just the monetary differences that they can incur with poor, or no, representation, and rather how these decisions can really impact the rest of their lives.

What’s something an outsider wouldn’t know about the real estate industry?

The emotional rollercoaster that full-time, invested realtors ride with and for their clients. Whether representing buyers through multiple offer situations, having really hard conversations with sellers, to getting through very difficult situations during Pending periods…we really provide not only a line of defense for our clients, but also are much more invested than our clients probably think we are.

How do you give back to your community?

I chair a Supportive Housing Committee aimed at housing justice; I fundraise and donate for many local housing and food insecurity nonprofits in the Twin Cities.

What are your hobbies, and how did you get into them?

Multiple softball leagues, hockey league, boot hockey league, random outings with my family. I grew up with sports and kept playing them as an adult for varying reasons. As a family we try and do as much as we can together before the kids start getting into all their activities.

Are you more of an extrovert of an introvert?

I thought I was more extroverted until the pandemic hit, then I realized I was pretty situational in my social interactions.

What’s one thing that can instantly make your day better?

My kids laughing or smiling.

How do you take your coffee?

Milk and flavored syrup (Vanilla/Hazelnut/etc)

What would be the first thing you’d do if you won the lottery?

Donate it to charities that focus on equity.

What is your favorite thing to do or place to visit in Minneapolis?

When it’s not too crowded, walking around the place where my wife and I got engaged, Minnehaha Falls.