Lake Property

Opening the Cabin

24 March 2021
Tommy Lindquist
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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!

Four Ways to Finance Your Minnesota Dream Cabin

23 February 2021
Tommy Lindquist
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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.

Spring is a Fantastic Time to Buy a Cabin

11 February 2021
Tommy Lindquist
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Categories: Blog, Lake Property, Northern Minnesota Real Estate, Vacation Property

If you ask me (or any realtor, really) when the best time is to buy a lake property, I’ll happily tell you, “it’s always a good time to buy a lake property!” It actually is true; there are pros and cons to buying in both the peak and off-peak season, but here is why spring is a great time to buy a cabin:

  • Because of the expected influx of potential buyers just before and during the summer months, there are usually a larger number of cabins posted for sale in spring and early summer markets than any other time of year.
  • Not only is there a larger number of cabins to choose from, but there is also a wider price range; thus, you have a better chance of finding the RIGHT lake home or cabin.
  • Buying a cabin in the spring means you get to enjoy a full summer season of making unforgettable memories at your new lake home.

Questions about buying a cabin up north in Minnesota? Please feel free to reach out and contact me.

Interesting Minnesota Deer Hunting Facts

1 December 2020
tbo
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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!

Readying Your Minnesota Cabin for Winter

8 October 2020
tbo
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Categories: Blog, Cabin Life, Lake Property

Haven’t we had a gorgeous fall?! Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and winter will be approaching soon.

Here are some essential steps to take to ensure your Minnesota cabin is ready for the winter:

  • Turn off the water. If you don’t use your cabin in the winter, make sure you turn the water off at the supply point. Nobody wants the headaches that frozen pipes bring. Don’t forget to clear your dishwashers, washing machines, and refrigerators of water. 
  • Turn down your thermostat. But not all the way! If you have a furnace, lower the temperature but keep it above freezing.
  • Unplug appliances. It’s best to unplug all of your appliances when you’re preparing your cabin for winter. Doing so reduces your electricity bill and reduces fire risk due to old or faulty wiring or nibbling rodents.
  • Seal your foundation. Check your foundation for cracks and seal up any you find with steel wool and spray foam to ensure no critters find their way in when it’s cold.
  • Secure the property. When you leave for the last time, close the blinds and curtains and double-check that all doors and windows are locked. Consider installing outside security/motion detector lights that could deter would-be burglars. 

Properly preparing your cabin for winter protects your investment and helps ensure you don’t return to a mess when spring rolls around. Enjoy these remaining gorgeous fall days!

How to Ensure Your Dock is Ready for Winter

15 September 2020
tbo
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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
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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.)

Lake Homes and Cabins – Today’s Sellers Market!

25 June 2020
BHRadmin20
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Categories: Blog, Lake Property, Minnesota Cabin Real Estate, Minnesota Real Estate, Northern Minnesota Real Estate, Vacation Property

Up North – in lake country – we have seen a dramatic drop in lake homes and lake cabins for sale. In fact, inventories of lake properties for sale in June are half of what they were back in 2015 – yet we still have strong demand from buyers for lake homes and cabins. We are seeing an upward pressure on prices, as buyers compete for limited inventory. It’s not just the bigger lakes like Leech Lake, Ten Mile, or the Woman Lake Chain. We’re seeing this on lakes of all sizes throughout Cass County.

What’s this mean if you’re thinking of selling?

Right now is a great opportunity to sell – both from a price standpoint and from a time-on-market standpoint. Will prices be higher next year if you wait? Maybe. There are a lot of variables in the lake home real estate market right now making daily headlines, and how these macro events will affect buyer demand in the future is still unknown. We do know that the market swings from a buyer’s market to a seller’s market and back again. Things are really good for sellers right now!

Call us today and we can have a conversation about the current seller’s market and the current value of your property – at no cost or obligation to you. With fewer competing lake home sellers and strong buyer demand, this may be an opportunity for you!

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