Top 10 Reasons People L♥VE to Call OAKDALE, Minnesota HOME

Oakdale, Minnesota has its roots in agriculture, railroads and resorts. Early settlers to the area in the 1800’s chose the name for the groves of trees that enhanced the landscape. It started as a township organized in the 1850’s but it was over a century before Oakdale became a city. At one point Hudson Road at the south end of the city was an established stagecoach route to Chicago. Two railroads stations were an important part of putting Oakdale on the map. Lake Demontreville was once a popular summer home area for wealthy city dwellers, though it was once a part of Oakdale Township, it is now in neighboring Lake Elmo. From its humble beginnings, Oakdale became a city in 1974 and is noted worldwide for being headquarters for 3M and Imation. It is no longer a farming community. In the 1990’s the city became a growth suburb and expanded in population from just over 18,000 to nearly 27,000 residents which is where the estimates are today.Here is a top ten list of reasons why Oakdale Minnesota is such a great place to live:

#10—Oakdale Summerfest. The annual event held every June features everything to celebrate summer! Parade, Oakdale royalty coronation, carnival rides, baseball/softball tourney, crafts and more are combined to make this a memory-making event for area residents.

#9—Fish or Swim. Oakdale’s Tanners Lake is fabulous places to share a day with friends at the beach or on the dock! Tanners is a wonderful place to spend an afternoon.

#8—Tee Off at Oak Marsh. Play 18 holes among the wetlands on this centrally located 70 par course. Not a golfer? The pros at Oak Marsh can help you learn. Even if golf isn’t your thing, you can enjoy a fantastic dinner and view. The Oak Marsh clubhouse is known for hosting everything from class reunions to wedding receptions as it boasts a full service banquet facility.

#7—Awesome Schools. Castle, Eagle Point, Oakdale and Skyview are the public elementary schools within the borders of Oakdale. All are part of the North St. Paul/Maplewood/Oakdale District 622 along and Skyview Middle School and Tartan High School. GO Titans! Additionally, there are several private schools in the community including Paidea Child Development Center and Transfiguration Elementary

#6—Parks and Open Spaces. Dozens of parks and open spaces to explore, picnic and play at are scattered throughout the City of Oakdale. There is one a short walk or bike ride away from nearly every residential community. Explore and enjoy!

#5—Industrial Innovation! Oakdale can celebrate being home to innovative corporations including Imation and 3M! Okay technically 3M Corporation is on Oakdale/St. Paul border but many Oakdale residents work at this company that is world renown for creating exciting new products.

#4—Entertainment! Looking for a great movie or place to eat? Oakdale has an eclectic variety of choices for every age group. Yelp and Metromix searches for Oakdale indicate there are culinary choices including Mexican, Chinese, Italian and Lebanese dining options.

#3— Discover Nature. Hands on exhibits and 220 acres of prairieland to explore make the Oakdale Nature Preserve and Discovery Center a fun family destination. Discover art; learn about nature; hike, bike & cross-country ski along miles of trails; or just sit back and enjoy view of the 28 acre lake from the observation dock. There is much to do at this award winning facility in the heart of Oakdale.

#2—Eclectic Options for Living. Whether you want the convenience of a low-maintenance townhome a 1950’s rambler or bungalow, or a recently constructed, modified two-story, you can find an affordable option to rent or purchase in Oakdale.

#1—Friendly People. The number one reason for living in Oakdale is the welcoming community atmosphere. Isn’t that what most people search for in a place to call home?

Copyright 2011 www.terieckholm.com

Testimonials from Home Buyers& Sellers…Best Thing Since Sliced Bread for a REALTOR®!

In the past, I have received numerous testimonials from home buyers ecstatic with their new dream home and happy parents of first time homebuyers. I love receiving these notes from clients…as most real estate agents do.

I recently started handing out a client satisfaction questionnaire. In addition to a 1-5 rating scale for service, I have some open ended questions on what my clients had to say about working with me. Here are a couple of responses that I received this past month. I LOVE this type of feedback…best thing since sliced bread, as they say.

“We were very satisfied with your service when we bought our home and will recommend you to our friends and relatives. The best thing about working with you is that you were very likable and NOT pushy!” Bob and Gail W. of North Branch
“After a period of internet research, I was impressed by the type of feedback you were giving everyone on selling their home.

You were straightforward, honest, down to earth and extremely hard-working. The fact that you were able to sell our townhome in the worst market in decades speaks volumes about the way it was marketed.

Teri, we couldn’t have chosen a better person to work with us. We were very pleased with the attention and effort you put into selling our townhome. Thank you. Thank you. Thank You!” Brian and Dawn O. of Chaska, MN

Copyright 2009 Teri Eckholm http://www.terieckholm.com/

Change is Good! Teri Eckholm REALTOR® Moves to RE/MAX Specialists!

The late (and great) comedian George Carlin once quipped about stepping out of status quo; “I put a dollar in one of those change machines. Nothing Changed.” Dry humor yes, but a bit profound too…People seem to want change to happen to them without doing much of anything. But real positive change takes time and hard work. And, once the wheels are set into motion, the rewards are endless.

Just after Thanksgiving, I decided that I wanted to change my business in 2009. I spent over five wonderful years working as an agent under the Keller Williams Premier umbrella but sometimes a change will energize an individual and provide a more dynamic future. So without any decisions being made, I started interviewing brokers to see if there was a better fit out there for me and most importantly one that would provide additional benefits to my client base. I began researching smaller brokerages as I felt they would better fit needs. I contacted several but nothing felt right.

Fate played a role. In a Listingbook class, I was seated next to a fellow REALTOR® who I knew in the White Bear Lake area. She told me of changes that were taking place at the White Bear Lake RE/MAX office that she was affiliated with. A day later, I heard similar news from another trusted mortgage colleague. Intrigued, I contacted the owner/broker Mike Vanderheyden and listened to what RE/MAX Specialists had to offer. Small firm with innovative ideas. Redesigning itself to be poised for the future. Putting the needs of the clients first. Hmmmm….Sounds a lot like me.
So I took a risk and made the change. As of January 1, 2009 I am now proud part of the RE/MAX Specialists family.
Funny thing happened, when I made that leap off the bridge of change. A day after I called Mike and informed him of my decision, I received a call from Bob Stewart, Active Rain guru in Bellvue, WA asking if I was interested in being part of the Growth Leadership Marketing Program. I had read his post on the project months ago but Minneapolis/St Paul was not on the list of cities so I didn’t respond. Bob called me anyway. What an amazing opportunity that just sort of fell into my lap. The start up was put on hold until after the broker change but soon my readers will see weekly posts on this fantastic program.

And the positive energy didn’t stop there…After I decided to make my change, my phone started to ring like crazy. Things just started to happen!

• A referral from a long time friend.
• A “I need a house NOW” buyer from the internet.
• Showings on several of my listings during the usually slow Christmas week.

Sometimes change may not seem necessary but life’s forces are dynamic! One change can lead to others and create a field of positive energy. So take up the challenge: Make a change and reap the rewards in 2009!
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 or Homebuyers Success 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.
Buying a Home? Check out my new HOME BUYER'S BLOG!
Copyright 2009 terieckholm.com