Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Beware of Décor! Tips to Declutter Your Home Prior to Listing For Sale!

As much as Location, Location, Location has been the number one real estate mantra for decades, decluttering and depersonalizing has to be a close second. But what is clutter? Hard to tell in this eclectic world! Martha Stewart has one style and theme restaurants another. Go into any TGIFridays throughout the United States and the décor covers almost every inch of wall space! No wonder when as an Anoka County Realtor, I make a that initial visit to a potential seller’s home my response can often be, “Oh my, we have some work to do!”

Americans have too much stuff! We have it on our walls and under our beds. We store things in our basements, closets, and garages. It is our history and our lifestyle. It is the way we live. But in order to sell your house, you must learn to live a different way at least while your home is on the market.

I visited a lovely Forest Lake area home recently that had been on the market all last summer. It was decorated to the nines! Beautiful oak and antique furniture sat in the bedrooms, living room, family room and even the foyer. There was 2500 square feet of furniture in a 1600 square foot house! The cozy home had a crowded feel and potential buyers would consider it much smaller than it really was. Their previous agent had not addressed the overpacked house situation at all. When I brought it up, the husband said, “But it is what makes our house our home”.

I completely understand this reasoning….But if a seller is serious about moving, they MUST pack up their treasures, mementos and photographs for their new home. If someone is serious about moving, the treasures will have to be packed sometime, why not now? When decluttering the property turns from the perfect home into “The Perfect HOUSE on the Market”.



  • Store, sell or donate everything are not using! Clean out the drawers, cabinets, closets and garage too!


  • Go for the minimal look in decorating! Use a rule of 3…No more than three pieces of décor in any direction.


  • Take down the wall of family photos. People start looking at the family pictures rather than your house.


  • Pay attention to the outside of your home. Too many bird feeders hanging from the trees, Little Tikes toys in the yard or plants covering the entry can be distracting in the MLS photos.


  • Bring in a professional! If you are not certain of what to pack and what to leave out, hire a stager for a consultation.

Other articles on Getting YOUR Home Ready for SOLD!

Home Staging Tips to Help YOUR Home Sell in a Slower Market
Staging for a Quick Sale—Cleaning for a Buyer!
Moving with Pets--Important things to remember!
Top 10 Ideas to Get Your Home Ready to SELL!

If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional Realtor, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Wildlife in Ham Lake—Is a Possum Possible this far North? You betcha!

They say you cannot pick your neighbors but this one picked us. A few weeks ago as our family returned and stomped into our Ham Lake house in our usually way, my youngest son noticed a ball of fur sneaking out from under our cedar steps. The animal cautiously moved along the cement block of our basement wall; away from the noise of the groceries being brought in. We had an opossum living under our porch!

Living on acreage in Anoka County, we have seen our share of wildlife. We see deer almost nightly and have had raccoons in the trash. An assortment of squirrels, black, red, white and gray, play in the trees. Though we rarely spot them, we are aware that an occasional skunk will wander through the property. Our sandy soil is perfect for painted turtles come up from Coon Lake and lay eggs in the grass. There was the spring a few years back when the neighbor came over to let us know that a bear had been on their deck. And last fall we had a turkey knocking on the window to get in!

My experience with opossums was limited to Disney’s,
A Goofy Movie, when Goofy and Max visited Lester’s Possum Park while on vacation. This guy didn’t have little x’s for eyes but did have the long ratlike tail! I had to read about them in the Opossum Wiki to see if it was some kind of threat or if it would swing from it’s tail and drop down on me. (It won’t thank goodness!)

The opossum hid himself under our front porch before I could get my camera out that day but this past weekend he was out in the yard again. I ran and got my camera. It took about fifteen minutes before I found him “playing possum” behind one of our giant oaks.

Don't play possum in your real estate transactions! If you are considering buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota acreage and need help from a professional Realtor, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.

Monday, March 17, 2008

It’s Historic! It’s Irish! It’s St. Patrick’s Day with a Minnesota Flair!

Or Flaherty…In this case! Though many consider Minnesota to be the home of Swedish and Norwegian immigrants, the Irish have very deep roots in Minnesota’s soil. Railroads and farming opportunities enticed Irish immigrants in the late 1800’s to the state to settle in colonies along the Mississippi. Of course on St. Patrick’s Day every Minnesotan has a bit of the Irish in them. The traditional St. Patrick’s Day parade in St. Paul was held this past Saturday as to not conflict with holy week but Minneapolis is holding true to a celebration today.

Growing up in St. Paul as a Flaherty, we did participate from time to time in the St. Paul St. Patrick's Day parade and watch the Gaelic events. I think we may have had a traditional familiy corned beef and cabbage dinner once or twice too. Whether as a spectator or walker, it was fun to watch the celebration of our heritage. The Irish dancing and music are a unique cultural experience, though I doubt my hair would have ever held those tight ringlets.

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, I wanted to share some fun Minnesota Irish websites. Enjoy!


And here is the chorus of my favorite Irish song:

When Irish eyes are smiling, sure, 'tis like the morn in Spring.

In the lilt of Irish laughter, you can hear the angels sing.

When Irish hearts are happy, all the world seems bright and gay.

And when Irish eyes are smiling, sure, they steal your heart away.

If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional Realtor, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.

Copyright 2008 Teri Eckholm http://www.terieckholm.com/

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Dispute Resolution—Understanding Arbitration in Minnesota Real Estate

This past week I received an email from a reader of my blog who was upset after receiving an arbitration ruling that did not go in his favor. He had read one of my past posts What is a Septic System? How does it differ from a city sewer system? He and his wife had recently purchased a home in Andover, Minnesota and filed for arbitration after discovering a significant problem with their septic system and that the disclosure forms their received were incomplete.

The arbitrator ruled in favor of the sellers, agent and broker and the frustrated homeowner doesn’t understand how this could have happened. He strongly cautioned me to never let my buyers agree to arbitration. I don’t know all of the details of his situation but he was obviously frustrated with the system.

Fortunately, I have not had any clients with outstanding disputes following closings that lead to arbitration or litigation. When clients on both sides of the transaction take the time to:

  • Disclose all defects in the home
  • Perform all inspections
  • Opt to purchase warranties if necessary
  • Review all documents
  • Discuss any and all aspects of the home honestly and thrououghly
Then buyers have a good understanding of what they are purchasing and the limitations of the existing home. Good honest disclosures will prevent most disputes.

If you are considering buying or selling a home in Minnesota will be confronted with the question, “Do you agree to arbitration?”
It's a tough question as most clients do not understand the system they are agreeing to when they receive the disclosure form. Disputes can arise in real estate transactions, so understanding the process of arbitration is essential prior to sitting down to sign the purchase agreement.

When we purchased our first home, prior to my becoming a Realtor, I remember the explanation of the arbitration system given by our real estate agent. “It’s an inexpensive alternative to the legal process and frankly anyone who doesn’t agree to it is a fool as an attorney can cost thousands more.” We couldn’t wait to sign the form.

As a Realtor, I am more diligent when explaining this arbitration system. Though I am not an attorney and cannot give legal advice, I am required to explain this document to my clients. Here is a synopsis of what I say when I explain this form:

“When there is a dispute after the closing, buyers and sellers can choose to arbitrate or litigate for a resolution. By signing the arbitration form, you give up your right to litigate and agree to binding arbitration. Though parties can hire an attorney to assist them with the process, they cannot take their case to a court; they must file a request for arbitration. After the arbitrator makes a ruling, all parties MUST comply with the findings of the arbitrator.”
In Minnesota, the arbitration system for residential commercial property is Construction Arbitration Services (CAS). In reviewing the CAS website, I discovered that hiring a team of arbitrators is not inexpensive. While for small situations under $3000, the fees are relatively low, starting at $250 for one arbitrator to review documents, the numbers are significantly higher for larger claims. If you want to speak with the arbitrator to present your case, the cost jumps to $650 on a case under $3000.
For the situation described above, one arbitrator for a three party case would be $1,200-$1,500 and hiring a 3 member panel would be nearly $2,500! The party bringing the claim would be required to pay the amount upfront for the service and would only receive reimbursement if the decision was in their favor. The arbitrators are not employees of CAS but are neutral third-parties trained in dispute resolution and could be anyone of a number of trained professionals from a variety of backgrounds.  


So what should a buyer or seller do when confronted with this form, sign or not sign?

Again, I cannot give legal advice but a popular option is to decline signing at the time of writing the purchase agreement. This is not an outright refusal to ever agree to arbitration. It is a way to keep your options open in the event a dispute arises. This way a buyer or seller could chose to hire an attorney, file for arbitration or present your case to a small claims court judge if need be.



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If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional Realtor, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.

Copyright 2008 Teri Eckholm http://www.terieckholm.com/

Thursday, March 13, 2008

North Metro Home Prices Plummet—No Wonder Activity is Picking Up!

The sales numbers are out for February 2008 and it comes as no surprise that the median price for a home in the north east metro Twin Cities has drop compared to the same period last year. No surprise to someone like me who as a Realtor works in Anoka, Chisago and Washington Counties everyday. Though it is hard to look at a double-digit drop in average prices, it is what is getting home buyers to start buying again.

Here are a few of the indicators I have noticed in the Ham Lake, Forest Lake and Lino Lakes areas:


  • Mortgage options have tightened.

  • Every appraisal is being scrutinized.

  • Home buyers don’t want to overpay.

  • Sellers are tired of waiting for their price.

  • Deals are now being negotiated.

I have noticed a marked change since mid-December in the north and east Twin Cities. Throughout the area, buyers and sellers are coming to agreements and the stagnant housing inventory is starting to move.

This is happening in areas closer to the cities first. Homes in areas like Hugo and White Bear Lake have less days on the market than those in Forest Lake, Linwood, Wyoming and Chisago. But homes in the north are starting to see more activity than in the past year.

When inventory starts moving, prices will level off. Now is a good time for home buyers to waiting on the sidelines to look at getting into the game. Deals are being made and your dream home could be waiting!

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If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional Realtor, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.

Copyright 2008 Teri Eckholm http://www.terieckholm.com/

Sunday, March 9, 2008

Change the Clock and Spring Forward on that Housing Purchase!

In the debate on daylights savings time, I am on the progressive side who likes the change. Sure it messes with some old software so a clock or two is out of sync, but the tradeoff is well worth it. We get an hour more of evening daylight weeks early than in the past. This is a tremendous help to buyers, sellers and Realtors!

The traditional winter slow down in housing sales can be attributed to a plethora of reasons: cold, snow, holidays, school year, etc., but it really boils down to one factor. People don’t buy homes in the dark. It the winter daylight hours are short. Most people work that 9 to 5 shift so are not able to view homes in the daylight during the work week. It is tough to tie up weekends looking for homes so the process is delayed until spring and summer when people have more flexibility and more light in their evening schedules.

In this changed real estate market many homes are vacant. It is difficult to assess the condition of a foreclosed home that has the utilities turned off without light. Sure a flashlight, or better yet a half dozen flashlights, would help. But it stigmatizes the home further by giving it an “old haunted house” feel. Most vacant properties look a bit better in the light of day! Sunshine gives a better perspective on the work that would need to be done on the home.

Owner occupied homes also look better with the warm spring rays shining through the windows! People get a better idea of the colors and space inside the home. It is also easier to view the exterior for features or necessary repairs and to walk the property lines in the late afternoon sunshine!

Spring forward and get in gear! If you are thinking of making a move this year, you have been given a few extra weeks in the spring market to see homes. Remember it is the early bird that catches the worm! The first spring buyers have an awesome selection of properties across the Twin Cities metro! And those savvy sellers who put their homes on the market in the early spring attract those motivated family buyers who want to move as soon as the school ends.

Featured Homes “JUST LISTED” in the North and East Metro:

15139 E Vermillion Circle NE, Ham Lake, MN 55304
29541 Shoreview Circle, Lindstrom, MN 55449

If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional Realtor, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Year End Real Estate Market Statistics for Lindstrom, Minnesota

Lindstrom is known throughout Minnesota as America’s little Sweden. Lindstrom was first settled by Daniel Lindstrom who left Sweden for America in 1853. A statue of Karl and Kristina Oskar, the fictitious characters that symbolize Swedish peasants who migrated to America over one hundred years ago, is a focal point for visitors to the Lindstrom community. Lindstrom is one of four cities that comprise the Chisago Lakes Area. The area is named after an Indian phrase, "Ki Chi Saga," which means "fair & lovely waters." Swedish immigrants referred to it as, "The Big Lake," as many of today's area lakes comprised one large lake.

Currently real estate in Lindstrom, MN in Chisago County is selling slowly. Being a bit east of the main metro area, it is often overlooked by home buyers as too far out. With the recent Highway 8 improvements and the brand new
Park and Ride in Forest Lake, Lindstrom is worth a second look. As homes linger on the market in this area, sellers are negotiating and relisted properties are coming in at lower asking prices. There are great prices on new construction, nearly new homes and lakeshore properties throughout the community of Lindstrom.

In other Twin Cities counties, inventory levels are sitting at about 4-6 months but Lindstrom levels are a bit higher. Homes under $200,000 are in the best position to sell in Lindstrom as there is currently only 8 months of inventory on the market based on last years sales. Inventory levels are a bit higher than demand in the $200,000-$300,000 price range with just over a years worth of inventory. In the over $300,000 price range, it will take over three years to sell all of the currently listed homes if sales continue at this slower pace.
Lakeshore opportunities are abundant in Lindstrom! The combination of an amazing inventory of 22 lakeshore homes on 8 different lakes, long market times, and low interest rates, creates the perfect situation as sellers should be ready to negotiate an acceptable deal for the sale of your piece of shoreline!


2007 Year End Lindstrom residential real estate statistics for single family homes:


Under $200,000~ 21 Active Listings, 4 Pending Listings, 31 Sold Listings, 140 DOM (Lakeshore Subgroup ~ 1 Active, 0 Pending, 0 Sold)


$200,000-$300,000 ~ 32 Active Listings, 2 Pending Listings, 28 Sold Listings, 182 DOM (Lakeshore Subgroup ~ 4 Active, 0 Pending, 4 Sold)


$300,000-$400,000 ~ 21 Active Listings, 1 Pending Listings, 7 Sold Listing, 162 DOM (Lakeshore Subgroup ~ 6 Active, 0 Pending, 3 Sold)


$400,000 and Up~ 13 Active Listings, 0 Pending Listings, 4 Sold Listings 279 DOM (Lakeshore Subgroup ~ 11 Active, 0 Pending, 3 Sold)


Lakeshore available in the Lindstrom, MN
22 Active Listings

Lindstrom lakeshore price range: $169,900-$747,777

4 Homes on Kroon Lake
1 Home on NEDS Environmental Lakeshore
3 Homes on North Center Lake
4 Homes on North Lindstrom Lake
7 Homes on South Center Lake
1 Home on South Lindstrom Lake
1 Home on Spider Lake
1 Home on Vibo Lake

**All SOLD Statistical information based on information from the REGIONAL MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE of MINNESOTA, INC. for the period of 1/1/07 through 12/31/07. Current pending and active listings statistics as of 3/4/08.

FEATURED LINDSTROM LISTING:
29541 Shoreview Circle, Lindstrom, MN 55045

Articles on Lakeshore and Minnesota that might be of interest:


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If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional Realtor, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.


Copyright 2008 Teri Eckholm http://www.terieckholm.com/

Monday, March 3, 2008

Anoka County Foreclosures Rate Highest in Metro—How Does this Affect Homeowners?

Another housing report and more bad news; foreclosures are up in Anoka County. In fact, Anoka County ranks in first place in the 13 county metro area for foreclosures at 1.57% according to article by Paul Levy on StarTribune.com, Housing Crisis Hits Hardest in Anoka County. Does this come as a surprise?

Maybe for some, but there are some factors that could help explain. Anoka County is one of the largest counties in the metro with a southern border to Hennepin County where the foreclosure rate has been on the rise for many months. Add this to the housing development explosion all over Anoka County in the past 5 years in communities like Andover, Lino Lakes and Blaine. During this time period, many first time homebuyers took advantage of the zero down programs and adjustable rate financing to maximize purchasing power and possibly purchasing more than they could afford. With balloon payments coming due on these programs, rates rising and property values stagnant or in some cases falling, there is no refinancing safety net. Foreclosure is the ONLY option for those who are over extended.

So how will high foreclosure rate affect the property values of other homeowners in Anoka County?


Two factors give this situation a little more perspective:
  1. Real estate is local and Anoka County is a BIG county.

  2. The foreclosure rate less than 2% means that 98% of homes are NOT in foreclosure.
Sounds a little better right? Before we get too excited, we have to remember that some specific communities may be hit hard. If you live in a neighborhood where several of the homes are in the foreclosure process, if will probably have a negative affect on the value of your home. Families facing foreclosure often do not have the funds to keep up their homes so when the foreclosure process is complete, the bank has to sell at a discount to find a buyer. Banks don’t give away these homes so property values won’t plummet but they are not getting top dollar either.

If you don’t have to move over the next three to five years, you should be okay as this downturn should balance out in time. However if you need to sell your home this year, it is more important than ever to have good expert advise from someone who knows the community where you live.

Understanding and assessing the neighboring property values and positioning your home to compete with foreclosed homes for sale will take knowledge and expertise of a Realtor who works to sell homes in your specific community every day.

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If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional Realtor, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.

Sunday, March 2, 2008

Ham Lake Chamber of Commerce Hosts Forum on City Sewer and Water

Last Monday, the Ham Lake Chamber of Commerce hosted a discussion on the proposed Ham Lake development. The discussion was lead by Ham Lake’s Mayor Paul Meunier along with East Bethel’s Mayor, Greg Hunter. Several commercial Realtors and developers were invited and on hand for the discussion. Though not widely publicized, several dozen members of the public were in attendance at the informal discussion as well.

The two hour Q&A event on February 25 was held in the Ham Lake Senior Center just downstairs from City Hall. Mayor Meunier gave a brief introduction to East Bethel’s Mayor Hunter and then proceeded with an overview of the five proposed plans from the task force. View the Five Visions of Ham Lake Development HERE.

During the overview, Mayor Hunter did interrupt the discussion to clarify that East Bethel does not yet have a wastewater treatment system or pipe to connect to and at this time just has designated areas along Highway 65 that would be for proposed development. According to Mayor Hunter this area includes two major intersections at County Rd 22 and 65 and another intersection to the north. It would extend approximately three quarters of a mile in either direction from Highway 65. The City of East Bethel has been working on this development project for four years and is continuing on the research and development stage of the project. The Met Council has committed $30 million dollars to the development of a wastewater treatment facility but as of yet, no developers have stepped forward to pay for the infrastructure to connect. Until that happens there is no plant for Ham Lake to connect to.

This prompted questions and soon hands started popping up in the crowd, mainly belonging to members of the public. The questions were specific. One resident questioned why the amount of connection changed from $37,000 down to $22,000-$25,000 on the Ham Lake proposal, Mayor Meunier answered that the numbers had not changed. “These are the exact numbers presented at the Town Hall meeting,” was the Mayor’s response.

Mayor Meunier is correct that the numbers are the same as presented at the meeting. But earlier meetings and in an online Powerpoint Presentation documentation dated December 11, 2007, the price range was listed as $32,500-$37,500 per REC Residential Equivalent Connection (One REC per Acre) for this option. View documentation HERE. When I personally reviewed all of the documentation of what I had posted previously, I notice changing numbers and a lot of fuzzy math.

No matter what the number, with foreclosures up considerably in Anoka County, is it fair to add an additional concern to any residents of Ham Lake…Even if it only encompasses 7% of the community?
Read StarTribune’s Article "Housing Crisis Hits Hardest in Anoka County" HERE. Many people are struggling to make current house payments, is it realistic to think that ANY homeowner can absorb even a $20,000 assessment?
When asked about what East Bethel residents would be required to pay, Mayor Greg Hunter said that it was very difficult to put a price tag on something that may or may not happen. He further recommended to Mayor Meunier that Ham Lake use caution when putting price tags on something so far in the future. He reiterated that there is no pipe yet and no developers.
Link to Update on East Bethel’s Plan.

When asked specifically about Coon Lake as it is several miles out from the 65 corridor, East Bethel’s Mayor Hunter did admit that there are some issues with failing septic systems and small lots that could possibly be addressed in the Hiawatha Beach neighborhood. Though no one pointed it out at the meeting, this area is not within the designated ¾ mile city water and sewer area of East Bethel but several miles away. He additionally made a point of saying that the water quality of Coon Lake continues to be monitored and it is as good as it has ever been.

Ham Lake Mayor Meunier did make a statement that he did not want to see the rural aspect of Ham Lake changed. He knows that many residents live in five acre developments as he does himself and he has no intention of having city water and sewer brought to every street in Ham Lake. The city sewer and water area encompasses only 7% of the community. It is obvious that neither he, nor his neighbors, are in the proposed Coon Lake city sewer and water district. But the unvoiced question remains as within that 7% area there are several 2, 3 and 5 acre parcels as well larger and smaller lot sizes.
Why is it ok to force ANY Ham Lake resident to connect to city water and sewer?

Questions were asked of both mayors regarding whether residents will be forced to connect. The mayors were in agreement on this that if the pipe came down the street, it is not the intention of the CURRENT city councils to force residents of either community to connect. But they went on to further say this could be as many as 10-20 years out and that they cannot control what the Met Council or FUTURE city councils might require.

At this point, a developer stood and offered that it was his belief that whenever utilities are offered to a community it is best to connect no matter what the cost. A resident questioned this logic considering the plight of the neighboring community of Ramsey facing bankruptcy. The developer called the Ramsey situation an “anomaly” but few in the audience were convinced as several other town center developments in Burnsville, Lake Elmo and Apple Valley are also struggling and restructuring.

Another resident who has some experience in the city utilities spoke his distrust of the statements that connection will be an option or choice to the homeowner. He remembered a few years back when people in Blaine were forced to connect and the assessments were so high several homeowners were forced to sell. He went on to further tell of signs along the roads in house after house of people who could not afford to pay.

Toward the end of the meeting, Mayor Paul Meunier did state that 84% of the Task Force was in favor of moving ahead with Option 2, the Town Center with a Coon Lake Water and Sewer District. He pointed out that every Ham Lake resident was given the option of participating in the task force. This is true. But had the task force been presented as “Ham Lake is considering City Sewer and Water” rather than being organized to look into a trail system, I am certain that more than 34 residents would have signed up.

It is interesting to note that of the 34 listed on the Task Force, I could only verify 22 as Ham Lake residents in the Anoka County tax records. So, that 84% of the task force is roughly 28 people. When there are over 12,000 citizens in the Ham Lake area, this means that less than 0.2% of Ham Lake residents agree that this is the best option.

With something as big as city water and sewer being considered which will in some way affect all Ham Lake residents,
doesn’t it make sense to poll all Ham Lakers?

Additional Articles on the City Water and Sewer in Ham Lake:


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If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional Realtor, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.

Copyright 2008 Teri Eckholm http://www.terieckholm.com/

Rent Continues to Rise in Minneapolis & St Paul MN

The September Rent report just released by ABODO shows te average rate to lease a one bedroom apartment in St Paul to be increasing ...