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9.1/ 10
Exceptional
The best choice in their niche
Jim Dropps has lived in the Sheridan neighborhood of Northeast Minneapolis since the mid-2000s and founded Northeast Real Estate Group, an independent two-agent brokerage, in 2012. His recorded sales cluster almost entirely in Northeast and North Minneapolis neighborhoods — Audubon Park, Waite Park, Windom Park, Holland, Sheridan, and Near North — and his firm markets itself specifically around neighborhood duplexes and starter homes. Public reviews are limited in number but uniformly five-star, and a construction-and-building background in the family gives him a practical angle on the area's older housing stock.
Pros
- ✓Two decades living and selling almost exclusively within Northeast and North Minneapolis, with recorded sales clustered in Audubon Park, Waite Park, Windom Park, Holland, and Sheridan
- ✓Construction and home-building background (12 homes built) gives a practical read on older housing stock and duplex conversions common to the area
- ✓All 33 public Zillow reviews are five stars, with reviewers specifically citing his knowledge of Northeast Minneapolis housing stock and patience with first-time buyers
Cons
- ✗Public review volume (33 on Zillow) is modest next to high-volume Twin Cities teams, so the sample behind the rating is smaller
- ✗Small independent brokerage — one other agent alongside him — means less backup bench than a larger team if he is unavailable
- ✗Recorded sales skew toward starter and mid-range homes (roughly $240,000-$1.2 million, averaging about $423,000); little public evidence of true luxury-tier transactions
Agent overview
Jim Dropps grew up in a real estate and construction family in the north Twin Cities metro, moved to Minneapolis in 2000 for the University of Minnesota, and settled in the Sheridan neighborhood of Northeast Minneapolis in the mid-2000s. He became licensed in the mid-2000s and worked as an agent for several years before founding Northeast Real Estate Group in 2012, an independent brokerage built around personal, low-pressure service rather than volume.
He is broker/owner of the firm, which also includes one additional realtor, and lists 21 years of industry experience. Public transaction records show 97 closed deals over the trailing five years (about $41 million in volume) and 373 lifetime sales/listings tracked on Zillow, concentrated in Northeast and North Minneapolis with occasional work in Saint Paul and Blaine. The brokerage markets itself explicitly as a Northeast Minneapolis duplex and multi-family specialist alongside general buyer and seller representation.
Core specialties
Northeast Minneapolis duplexes and multi-family
Northeast Real Estate Group brands itself as a Northeast Minneapolis duplex specialist, citing experience with turn-of-the-century true duplexes, converted single-families, and 1960s-70s side-by-sides in the neighborhood.
First-time buyers and starter/mid-range homes
Recorded sales concentrate in the $240,000-$500,000 range across Audubon Park, Waite Park, Windom Park, and Holland, and several client reviews specifically describe him walking first-time buyers through each step of the process.
Commission & fees
Not publicly listed; contact directly for current rates, which the brokerage presents as negotiable rather than fixed.
Who this agent is for
Buyers or sellers of Northeast/North Minneapolis homes or duplexes
His sales history and brokerage marketing are concentrated almost entirely in Northeast and North Minneapolis housing stock, including duplex and multi-family conversions.
First-time buyers who want a slower, explained process
Reviews repeatedly describe him explaining each stage of a transaction rather than pushing a fast close, which suits buyers wanting more hand-holding over speed.
Not for
Buyers wanting a large team with round-the-clock coverage or a specialist with a public luxury-tier sales record outside the urban core.
Verdict
For a buyer or seller specifically inside Northeast or North Minneapolis, Dropps' two decades of concentrated neighborhood experience and small-brokerage attention are hard to match locally. Outside that geography, or for luxury-tier transactions, his public track record offers less direct evidence.
Score: 9.1 / 10 · Exceptional
Areas served
Common questions about Jim Dropps
Does Jim Dropps only work in Northeast Minneapolis?
No. Northeast Real Estate Group states it serves the broader Twin Cities metro, and his sales history includes Saint Paul and Blaine, but the large majority of his recorded transactions are in Northeast and North Minneapolis neighborhoods.
Does he handle duplexes and investment property?
Yes. His brokerage explicitly markets duplex and multi-family expertise in Northeast Minneapolis, citing experience with true duplexes, converted singles, and side-by-side conversions.