Blog

3 Simple Ways to Increase the Value of Your Home for Resale

23 July 2020
BHRadmin20
No comments
Categories: Blog, Minnesota Cabin Real Estate, Minnesota Real Estate, Northern Minnesota Real Estate

If you don’t relish the idea of tackling expensive remodel projects to add value to your home for resale, I have great news for you: there are many small projects around the house that can be done quickly and yield high returns when you decide to sell.

Let’s look at three easy projects…

Paint

Giving your walls a fresh coat of a light, neutral paint color is a quick way to increase the marketability of your home. If you already have a neutral wall color that has been painted recently (and has no scuffs, marks, etc.), consider painting the trim and molding with a washable and durable satin or gloss finish. You might be surprised at what a dramatic change that can be if it’s been a few years since they have been painted. 

Landscaping

Front yard landscaping is the first thing potential buyers see when arriving at your home. As such, this first impression can add significant value to your home if it’s professionally landscaped. It’s one of the surest tickets to a quick resale, and a great place to focus on spending your money. Many experts think that landscaping returns rival the return on a new kitchen or bath.

Declutter

Decluttering is probably the cheapest but one of the most important steps you can take to add instant value to your home because it allows buyers to visualize themselves and their belongings in the space.

Ideally, you should pack and remove knick-knacks and personal items, including family photos, when selling your home. Your space will instantly look neater and cleaner and, as a bonus, will be easier to clean between showings.

Feel free to contact us if you have specific questions about selling your lake home in Minnesota!

Read More

Bored with Waterskiing?

21 July 2020
Andrew Hofstetter
No comments
Categories: Blog, Lake Life, Northern Minnesota Things to Do

Try These Activities Behind Your Boat Instead

It’s no surprise that here in Minnesota, the Land of 10,000 Lakes, many of our favorite summer activities take place on Minnesota’s abundant bodies of water. Waterskiing is a classic choice, but if you or your family are looking to branch out and try something new behind your boat, here are three activities to consider.

Wakeboarding

You’re probably already familiar with wakeboarding; it’s been around for about 30 years. It also has the “cool factor” that waterskiing doesn’t. While you probably can’t waterski behind a pontoon boat, it is possible to wakeboard, so that might make it appealing to families with older children/teens. Many people also consider it easier to learn than waterskiing and less taxing for your body since it’s typically done at a slower speed than waterskiing.

Wakesurfing

A new form of wakeboarding is wakesurfing, which has been gaining popularity on Minnesota lakes. However, you’re not being pulled by a rope behind the boat, though you do use it to get up initially. Once you’re up, you drop the rope and then ride the wake that is created by the boat. Wakesurfing is appealing because it’s done at a much slower speed than wakeboarding, so falling off doesn’t hurt. Anyone can do it, so it’s popular with everyone from kids to baby boomers.

Wake Foil 

Another iteration of wakeboarding is a wake foil board. Wake foil boards have been all the rage for the last couple of years; it’s essentially a surfboard with an attached hydrofoil (or a fin with wings) that extends below the water. The design of the wake foil board causes it to lift out of the water so that a rider stands a few feet in the air as it moves through the water. 

Part of the rising popularity of riding a wake foil is that you don’t need perfectly calm water. No matter how rough the water is, you can float smoothly and silently over it on a wake foil. Plus, you can ride behind virtually any boat with a motor. Some people liken it to the smooth ride of a snowboard on the best powder day of the season.

When trying a wake sport, remember to wake responsibly. That includes staying at least 200 feet away from docks and the shore to minimize adverse effects to the shoreline and avoiding multiple passes. Courteous behavior ensures the lake experience is safe and enjoyable for all! Take the wake responsibly pledge at https://www.wakeresponsibly.com

Read More

Lake Homes and Cabins – Today’s Sellers Market!

25 June 2020
BHRadmin20
No comments
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!

Read More

Birdwatching in the Land of 10,000 Lakes

22 June 2020
BHRadmin20
No comments
Categories: Blog, Cabin Life, Lake Life, Minnesota Real Estate, Northern Minnesota Things to Do

At the end of the day, Minnesota is much more than the land of 10,000 lakes. It’s also the land of all the wildlife and landscapes in and around those lakes! Cabin owners, vacationers, and outdoor enthusiasts love calling northern Minnesota their home away from home because of the natural wonder of the surroundings. Endless afternoons on the lake. Miles of shoreline and trails. The distinct call of loons or the melodious call of various common songbirds. 

One of the most fascinating — and tranquil — pastimes in Minnesota, and particularly in the northern part of the state, is bird and loon watching. Some birds are easy to spot while others require much more skill and patience. All of them are unique in their own right, and every bird watcher, from the seasoned veteran to the casual observer, has a unique blend of birds to discover throughout the state. It varies by location and time of year, and it requires the ability to be wait long enough to see and hear something you can recognize. But wherever you’re looking, the idyllic surroundings of Northern Minnesota will give you a chance to experience the beauty of Minnesota’s birds up-close-and-personal.  

It wasn’t that long ago that bald eagles were rare to see. Now you can spot them circling overhead on lakes around the state. Or try trying to track down the hard-to-spot peregrine falcon. See if you can spot one of the 12 species of owls found in our state! Or listen for the distinct, calming call of the white-throated sparrow. 

For some tips on birdwatching in our great state, check out this advice from MPR!

Whatever you’re looking or listening for, the North Woods of Minnesota has what you’re looking for. And whatever kind of vacation property you’re looking for, Bill Hansen Realty has you covered. Find out more by checking out our local listings and searching for the cabin, bare land, or year-round home that’s right for you. 

Read More