Extremely Affordable Minnesota Lakeshore!

Last week I wrote about the deals that can be found on Minnesota Lakeshore in the north and east metro Counties of Anoka, Washington, Ramsey and Chisago. Lakehomes are selling for tens of thousands less than just a few years ago. Click Here to read Think Now is a GREAT Time to Make a DEAL on a MN Lakeshore Home? I Do!

A few years back, when prices were seemingly out of reach, I wrote another article, Affordable Minnesota Lakeshore, that remains to this day one of the most popular pages on my website. It was written for those dreaming of a lake home but unable to afford the rising costs MN shoreline. Now with real estate values correcting from the inflated pricing of the past few years, these variations on traditional lakeshore are now extremely affordable—usually not much higher than a home without water’s edge. With this in mind, it is once again time to review some of the lakeshore options in the Land of 10,000 Lakes to get the average Joe (or Josephine) into an extremely affordable lakehome!

• Channel Shore Shoreline along a channel is a great option for a full recreational lake. Many large lakes will have channels or narrow extensions that lead to other lakes or ponds. Usually there is not a place for a beach but you can have a slip or short dock for your boat. The channel will provide access to the main lake. The view will probably include homes on the opposite shore of the channel but if your goal is affordable use of a full recreational lake, this is a great alternative.


• Smaller Lake with Channel to Full Recreational Lake Often the lakes in Minnesota are connected to one or several smaller lakes. This can be a great opportunity. Shoreline that is shallow or weedy is not considered prime but if it has access to a larger lake, it could provide the same enjoyment at a much lower price.


• Small Acreage Lake Smaller lakes can be of interest to the more laidback water lover. Often there will be restrictions disallowing motors or only small motors. These smaller lakes can still be great for fishing, canoeing, kayaking and swimming. Some will allow docks and beaches but check with the DNR for specific restrictions. A small lake will still offer wonderful natural views at a significantly lower price than a full recreational lake.


• Environmental Lakes and Wetlands (Sometimes referred to as a NEDS Lake) These are very shallow lakes that are wonderful for privacy but not great for recreation. If you are looking for a home with awesome views of wildlife, this may be something to consider.


• Deeded Access Many homes and associations near a full recreational lake have been developed with deeded access providing use of the lake. The ability to have a dock, use the beach, or moor a boat, will be outlined in a legal agreement specifying what uses are allowed. Not all deeded access is created equal! Request a copy of all of the specific uses and rules before writing an offer so you can fully understand the access available as a home owner.


• Lake View A home with a beautiful lake view but no shoreline or lake access, can provide the wonderful picturesque views everyone dreams of without the high lakeshore taxes.


• Location with Public Access Nearby A final option is to look for a home that is near a park with public lake access. I sold one such home where the public access to a good-sized full recreational lake was about a quarter mile down the street. This family uses the lake to canoe, cross country ski and fish without driving or trailers. There was none of the additional cost or taxes associated with lakeshore property but all of the benefits!

LAKE RESOURCES
Department of Natural Resources Lake Finder Comprehensive search engine to find information regarding the size, depth and condition of Minnesota lakes by county and lake name. There is even information on approximate numbers and types of fish found in the listed lakes.
Need to know if you can have a dock? Put in a beach? If the water is safe? This site offers a directory of who to call for the most often asked water, lake and shoreline questions.
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 terieckholm.com

Weighty Issue for Today’s Home Seller--Make Sure Your Scale isn’t Broken!

A few years back there was a weight loss contest at our Keller Williams Premier Realty office in Vadnais Heights, Minnesota. It started as a way for people to inspire each others weight loss and help keep to New Year’s resolutions. A scale showed up in the office bathroom for participants to track their achievements. Though not a part of the contest, I stepped on that scale now and again. I hated that dumb scale…It seemed to weigh heavier than my scale at home by about five pounds or so. I didn’t like the numbers, so I avoided the scale.

Last week, I decided to give the office scale one more chance…I have been cutting back for the past few days. Maybe the scale could be my friend after all. Well, low and behold, the scale was my friend! So friendly in fact, that I weighed a whopping 50 pounds less than I had weighed on my scale at home this morning! For a split second, the sun was shining brighter, birds started singing; everything was right in the world!

Reality Check….This is the office scale. Somebody who didn’t like their numbers had probably kicked the darn thing against the wall after their weigh in. The Scale was BROKEN!! I knew this on an intellectual level; but on another unrealistic, basic feel-good level, I wanted to believe the incredibly low numbers that I haven’t seen my pre-teen years.

The euphoria of an unrealistic weigh-in was very short lived. A broken scale may give me a number I want to see, but not the number I need to know.
As I drove off to a listing appointment, I started to think about how some home sellers really prefer the unrealistic numbers of a few years back. They use a “broken scale” by measuring their home’s value by their neighbors’ sale price or a two year old appraisal. Some seem to think that they should get double the return of every penny spend on a remodeling project. And those who interview several agents and compare the competitive market analysis’s (CMA’s) will often choose the agent with the values their home the highest without question.

It’s time for a Reality Check. As a Realtor, I work diligently to get good numbers, to be your scale and weight the value of your home appropriately and correctly. In this market many people do not like the numbers. If you don’t have to move, you don’t have to get on the scale. If you are not moving in the next few years, don’t worry about the value of your home. The numbers will be different when it comes time for you to sell. Properly maintain your home it will retain a good market value.

Those have to move must step on the realty reality scale today. Due to a job relocation or change in family or financial situation waiting out the market is not an option. These sellers must be realistic when they step on the CMA value scale no matter how ugly the number is. They have to cut back on the junk and declutter their homes. They need workout hard to prepare the home for sale by making any and all repairs that potential buyers will find concerning. And they must have a proper realistic weigh-in with an accurate CMA from a professional Realtor. Take off the rose-colored glasses and listen to the professional advice of your real estate agent to get your home ready to sell and properly price your home from the start. Using a broken scale is not an option if you want to sell your home.
Other articles on Selling Your Home in a Buyers Market that might be of interest:Is the "Busy Road Factor" Affecting the Sale of Your Listing?
Home Sellers! You’ve Got to Know When to Hold ‘Em and Know When to Fold ‘Em!
Teri's Top 10 Tips for a Quick Sale!

If you are relocating to Minnesota, are looking for Homes for Sale in the north and east Twin Cities metro area and need help from a professional Realtor, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet. I specialize in acreage properties! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.

Copyright 2007 www.terieckholm.com/

MN Landscaping: Composting & Tree Planting Tips

It is that time of year again…Most Minnesota home owners are itching to get out into their yards and get started on that big landscaping project. And, it is finally warm enough to jump right into it! Landscaping can add thousands of dollars to the value of your home.

As a Realtor in the northeast metro, I know how important it is for home owners to keep their property looking nice inside and out! Homes that have a wonderful curb appeal entice a potential buyer into the home.

If you plan to make a move this year or if the landscaping project is just to add to your own personal enjoyment of your home, think through your landscaping plan. Whether your project is a huge endeavor with a total redesign of your landscape or just trimming the bushes and grass, there are a few things you should consider before you get started.

Yard Waste

In Minnesota, it is against the law to place yard waste in your garbage. This includes leaves, lawn cuttings, weeds, shrubs and tree trimmings, and plant prunings. Using a mulching mower provides a natural fertilizer and strengthens the lawn. Residents of Anoka County can contract to have yard waste picked up or bring leaves and clippings to one of two county compost sites.

Composting is a great option for many homeowners. Compost bins are available from Anoka County or you can build your own. Compost turns into humus which enhances the soil when used as mulch so flowers, shrubs and trees can grow stronger. No need to buy and haul expensive mulches home anymore!

Yard waste that can be composted:

• Leaves
• Grass Clippings
• Dead flowers
• Pine needles
• Acorns
• Shrub trimmings (minus the branches)
• Straw
• Garden Waste

Household waste that can be composted:

• Vegetable scraps
• Fruit scraps
• Tea bags
• Coffee grounds
• Rinsed Eggshells
• Saw dust

Planting Trees

Trees add to a homes value. Leafy deciduous trees can provide shade to save energy as well as add beauty to the landscape. But planting a tree in the right location is essential. If you have above ground power lines anywhere in your yard or on the perimeter of your property, you need to consider the type of tree and how large it will grow before planting the tree.

According to Xcel Energy, trees are a common cause of electric service interruptions in Minnesota as well as throughout the nation. Use the "zone" approach, illustrated below, when planning the location of your new tree to avoid many of these problems.
Anyone who has ever driven by a home or property where the trees have been butchered by a utility company in the winter knows how bad it can look. Branches hanging over the power lines can cause power outages if they fall on the lines during a spring or summer storm. Utility companies have to be proactive in the winter and trim away any potentially hazardous branches, leaving some very ugly trees behind. Xcel Energy offers a free guide on how to correctly plant trees near power lines to help homeowners protect their landscape investment.
Before planting any trees or digging, Call Gopher State One Call 1-800-252-1166 to have all underground utilities located. This is a free service in Minnesota to prevent damage to underground utilities. It usually takes 24-48 hours so plan ahead for that weekend project.
If you are relocating to Minnesota, are looking for Homes for Sale in the north and east Twin Cities metro area and need help from a professional Realtor, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet. I specialize in acreage properties! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.
Copyright 2007 terieckholm.com