Lake Life

Opening the Cabin

24 March 2021
Tommy Lindquist
No comments
Categories: Blog, Cabin Life, Lake Life, Lake Property, Vacation Property

Opening the cabin is a rite of spring for many Minnesotans. Coming back to your home away from home Up North is something to look forward to!

Here are some tips to help you plan your first weekend back at the cabin:

Before you go

Check your boat registration and insurance status to see if anything needs to be renewed, and make sure you have copies to keep on the boat. It’s also a good idea to schedule any services you need, like dock installation. Waiting too long can put you on a waitlist, which is no fun when you’ve slogged through a long winter already! Also, remember to turn on any services that you had shut off for the winter.

Do an opening inspection

A safety inspection should be at the top of your list; upon arriving, test your smoke detector and C02 batteries, turn on water/heating, and inspect for any external damage that may have happened over the winter.

Check for critter damage

Be on the lookout for holes in your screens, siding, gnawed wires, or rodent droppings. Any of these can signal that critters found their way into your home and made themselves cozy over the winter.

Restock necessities

Toss any expired canned food or staples leftover from last year and do an inventory on basics you might need to shop for. Things like sunscreen, batteries, bug spray, cleaning supplies, toilet paper, and paper towels are some of the main items to check for.

Thinking about buying a lake home Up North this year?  With offices in Longville, Hackensack, and Walker, we can help you find the best properties in the state. Our area offers over 130 clear water lakes within thirty minutes, including the Woman Lake Chain, Ten Mile Lake, and Leech Lake. Contact us today!

Maple Syrup Season in Minnesota – A Delicious Time of Year

11 March 2021
Tommy Lindquist
No comments
Categories: Blog, Cabin Life, Lake Life, Northern Minnesota Things to Do

Is your favorite part of pancakes the maple syrup topping? If so, get ready for maple syrup season in Minnesota. Here in the land of 10,000 lakes, March is maple syrup month. Sap usually runs from about March 15 to April 20. 

To get pure maple syrup requires boiling down the sap of the maple tree. Pure maple syrup is produced in the northern United States and Canada during the early spring months. Minnesota is one of seventeen states and three provinces in Canada that produce pure maple syrup on a commercial scale. Our state isn’t a huge producer, but we do produce around 13,000 gallons per year. Even so, that is less than 1% of the maple market. 

Minnesota has four types of native maple trees that grow large enough to tap for syrup: red, sugar, silver maples, and boxelder. The sugar maple is the favorite of syrup makers because its sap is the sweetest of the different maple trees.

Many Minnesota state parks offer syrup-making events in March. You can watch the event calendar at this link for upcoming events!

Four Ways to Finance Your Minnesota Dream Cabin

23 February 2021
Tommy Lindquist
No comments
Categories: Blog, Cabin Life, Lake Life, Lake Property, Minnesota Cabin Real Estate, Minnesota Real Estate, Northern Minnesota Real Estate, Vacation Property

If you dream of owning a cabin in Northern Minnesota, now is a great time to pursue that dream! One question potential cabin buyers always have is how to pay for it. When it comes to financing a cabin, you have multiple options:

Second-Home Loan

If you’ve already paid off your first mortgage or would like a conventional loan for your cabin up north in Minnesota, getting a vacation home loan is your first option. We recommend using a mortgage lender who specializes in second homes in the local area. These lenders will have ready financing sources and understand the required rules and specifics of the place you’re buying in.

Cash-Out Refinance

If you have equity in your home and it makes financial sense, you might be able to refinance at the current rate and get the cash to buy your vacation home by doing a cash-out refinance. A cash-out refinance allows you to replace your current loan with a new mortgage loan for a larger amount than the existing mortgage and keep the difference between the two loans in cash. 

Home Equity Loan 

Home equity loans are a very popular way of financing a cabin. They allow you to borrow money against the equity you’ve built up in your home. This type of loan is a lump-sum payout with a fixed interest rate and is paid off in equal monthly payments, like the mortgage on your primary home. 

Go in with Friends or Family

Sometimes buying your Minnesota dream cabin might feel out of reach. One option you could consider is going in on a vacation property with friends or family. Two checkbooks are larger than one and could make buying a vacation home achievable. 

Need help finding your dream cabin in Northern Minnesota? We would love to help! Bill Hansen Realty is the market leader in Northern Minnesota. Please click here to contact us.

Three Fantastic Silent Sports You Need to Try in Northern Minnesota

22 January 2021
tbo
No comments
Categories: Blog, Lake Life, Northern Minnesota Things to Do

The quiet of a winter’s day up north in Minnesota is something everyone needs to experience. Crisp winter air, lightly falling snow, and the beauty of the forest is something to behold!

Not everyone enjoys the long, cold winter here. But when you discover the beauty of winter silent sports, a long winter can be pure bliss.

Cross Country Skiing & Snowshoeing

There are miles of trails in the area for cross country skiing and snowshoeing, but the Chippewa National Forest and the Shingobee Recreational Area are among the most popular places to hit the trails. Itasca State Park is another excellent place you’ll want to check out.

Fat Tire Biking 

Like cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, you can find fat tire bike trails pretty easily around Walker, Minnesota. But one of the best fat bike trail systems in the state is within an hour of us. With over 25 miles of groomed single track trails, Cuyuna tops the charts for fun on your fattie. The scenery is spectacular, and you can even bike into town on Main Street Crosby for a beer and food during your mid-day break.

Winter’s peaceful landscape is ideal for silent sports in northern Minnesota. I hope you get out and enjoy at least one of them!

The Best Snowmobiling Fun in Northern Minnesota

6 January 2021
tbo
No comments
Categories: Blog, Cabin Life, Lake Life

Winter in Northern Minnesota is spectacular, and we are fortunate to enjoy a plethora of winter activities, including cross-country skiing, ice fishing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling.

Snowmobiling is a particular favorite of many Minnesotans, and if you’re looking for some great trails to ride, you won’t have to look far.

Paul Bunyan Trail

The Paul Bunyan trail is hugely popular, with over 120 miles of groomed trails; don’t forget your map! It’s perfect for all levels of riders and offers 14 trail towns to stop and enjoy along the way. For more information about the Paul Bunyan Trail, click here.

Heartland Trail

The 50-mile Heartland Trail runs from Park Rapids to Cass Lake and is a local favorite due to the stunning forest of towering pine forests and the many lakes and streams it weaves around and over. For more info on the Heartland Trail, click here.

Chippewa National Forest

The Chippewa National Forest is another great place to snowmobile, with over 315 miles of trails that can be accessed. You’ll love the views along the trails, which include scenic woodlands, frozen wetlands, and 1,300 lakes! The trails connect to nearly 200 miles of routes beyond the Forest. For more information, please click here.

Stay safe, and enjoy the special time of winter up north in Minnesota!

Three Fantastic Tips for Early Ice Walleye Fishing

23 December 2020
tbo
No comments
Categories: Blog, Lake Life

It’s strange to be talking about early ice in late December, but here we are. The mild temperatures have been a bit unusual, but hey – it’s 2020! It looks like winter is finally here, however, and so it’s time to start enjoying some fishing!

Here are a few tips for early ice walleye fishing:

Try the weeds. Early ice means you might still be able to find weeds, which hold fish all year long due to the oxygen they create. 

Use live bait. With the milder temps we’ve had, it’s easier to keep bait alive and lively. Active bait attracts more fish versus using a limp minnow. Try Red-tails, a favorite with Minnesota anglers!

Move quietly and minimize noise. Walleye are cautious early in the season and easy to spook. They’re getting used to new noises from footsteps to augers. Make sure you’re set up and ready come evening; it’s key to not spooking the fish!

Don’t forget to overdress for the weather. You can take layers off if you’re hot, but once you get cold, it’s miserable.

Want the latest fishing update? Click here. Above all, be safe out there. And have fun!

Interesting Minnesota Deer Hunting Facts

1 December 2020
tbo
No comments
Categories: Blog, Cabin Life, Lake Life, Lake Property, Northern Minnesota Things to Do

Deer hunting season was reportedly off to a slow start this year. Nevertheless, in general, hunters should have more opportunities to harvest deer because deer populations have increased in much of the state. 

Here are some interesting facts about deer hunting in Minnesota:

  • About half the deer shot during the season are shot opening weekend. This year that was most like somewhere around 100,000 deer, depending on the weather.
  • About 70% of the season harvest occurs in the first four days of the season.
  • A whitetail’s home range is about 1 square mile.
  • Last year, 36% of all Minnesota hunters successfully harvested a deer (including archery and muzzleloader)
  • The average hunter spends five days afield during Minnesota’s firearms deer season.
  • The biggest white-tailed deer recorded in Minnesota was a 500-pound buck.

For more statistics, the latest state rules, and safety tips, click here. Have a great hunting season, and above all, remember to stay safe!

Up North Minnesota Leaf-Peeping Tips

25 September 2020
tbo
No comments
Categories: Blog, Cabin Life, Lake Life, Northern Minnesota Things to Do

You don’t have to go far to see spectacular fall color where we are in Walker, Minnesota! Minnesota DNR’s Fall Color Finder shows we have reached peak color all around us in Schoolcraft State Park, Itasca State Park, and La Salle Lake State Recreation Area.

Some people say these are the most vibrant colors they’ve seen in several years, so be sure to get out there this weekend and do some leaf-peeping. Here are a few tips for your fall color excursion:

  • Find some water. With the thousands of lakes in Minnesota, you don’t have to go far to find a lake. Seeing the fall colors reflecting off the water is breathtaking, so don’t forget your camera. 
  • Take in the sights on two wheels. Riding a bike path through the many wooded trails is like riding through a brilliant wonderland; check out this link for a list of the numerous bike trails in the area.
  • Take advantage of Golden Hour. For Instagram-worthy photos, get out early (an hour after sunrise) or an hour before sunset to capture amazing soft, golden light.

Enjoy this beautiful time of year!

How to Ensure Your Dock is Ready for Winter

15 September 2020
tbo
No comments
Categories: Blog, Cabin Life, Lake Life, Lake Property, Minnesota Cabin Real Estate, Minnesota Real Estate, Vacation Property

It’s hard to believe summer is over, and we’re already talking about closing up your lakeshore cabins for the winter. Here’s hoping we have several weeks left to enjoy comfortable but cooler weather and no mosquitos!

But, when it comes time to winterize your Minnesota lakeshore cabin, here are a few tips:

  • Remove your floating dock, so it doesn’t get damaged if the lake freezes. Secure it once out of the water, and don’t forget to bring in the anchors!
  • Clean your dock’s surface. Whether you can see it or not, you may have algae and fungus on your dock. Cleaning it thoroughly ensures it will be in good shape next spring/summer when you’re ready to put it back in the water
  • Inspect your boat lift if you have one. Check to make sure all parts look good and are working properly.
  • Verify insurance coverage. If you haven’t insured your dock, you might want to consider doing that. Docks are expensive, and insuring them can save you a lot of pain down the road if something happens!

When warm weather rolls back around, your dock will be ready to use and enjoy.

Wildlife Food Plot Tips for Northern Minnesota

25 August 2020
tbo
No comments
Categories: Blog, Cabin Life, Lake Life, Lake Property, Northern Minnesota Things to Do, Vacation Property

Wildlife food plots can be a component of wildlife management on your property up north in Minnesota. Though natural habitat provides suitable cover, food, water, and space, planting annual or perennial crops on your land can provide a supplemental food source for wildlife.

Here are a few tips to help you with your food plot this year:

  • If you have a lot of land, several smaller plots are better than one large plot. Also, irregular edges and shapes are best.
  • Test your soil for pH and nutrients and add appropriate amounts of lime and fertilizer to maximize plant growth. 
  • Purchasing expensive seed mixes is not necessary. Single species seeds can be purchased at your local store and mixed together. 
  • Good choices for your food plot include clover, alfalfa, and brassicas (rapeseed, turnips, etc.)