Maple Lake’s 1st Arctic Plunge!

This was the first year of the Arctic Plunge held last Saturday, January 30th. The money raised was divided between the Maple Lake Fire Department, Maple Lake School and the Maple Lake Lake Association. Somewhere between 25-30 people jumped into the icy waters of Maple Lake. Hundreds attended the event and were widely entertained! Watch this week’s Maple Lake Messenger for winners of the costume contest.

These great photos were taken by Charlene, who’s family can be seen participating in the event!

Marketing with YouTube

Who doesn’t love YouTube? It’s entertaining, yes, but what you might not know is it has quickly gained recognition as a quality search engine as well. Try it by typing something you’re interested in, into YouTube… our guess is you quickly forgot whatever it was you were doing and watched atleast a handful of interesting videos on your topic. Learn anything?

To go with our interest in YouTube and it’s identity as a useful search engine, we began creating short videos of our listings being offered for sale that we’re dubbing “Property Trailers.” Like a movie trailer, they give you a quick glimpse visually of the lifestyle and feeling of a property. We know you can find a couple pictures and bedroom sizes all over the web… this is something much more fun!

The response from our sellers has been enthusiastic! They are eager to share the video with others, and they can with complimentary DVD copies and by directing them to our YouTube Channel. Subscribe to our channel to stay up to date with the latest trailers. In the dead of winter, it’s not a bad way to tour property!

Our Predictions for Twenty-Ten!

“For the last several years, I’ve been saying the market has hit bottom and we can now start to move in a forward motion again. Wow, was I wrong. Prices continued to drop and drop again, who knew? The market is still hard to predict. With the stock market holding its own, interest rates still at an unbelievable rate, and throw in the current market values on real estate… 2010 has to be the year! Our volume in sales was up about 30% from the last 4 years. We were fortunate to have a huge inventory of listings. With all that said, 2009 was a great year for the Oak Realty team, and 2010, the year of the deals!”

You do not predict the future, you create it.
“I have always  believed that philosophy. The Oak Realty Team has put their heads down when the market has been down and pushed ahead. We have put in more time than ever. The best part is, I love to do what I do: selling real estate. I have a great team of agents and marketing staff that makes it fun to get up every morning and go to work.  We believe 2010 is going to be a GREAT year! We are a marketing company, and I am excited to see how creative we can get this year. Stay tuned!”  – Steve

More “Twenty-Ten” predictions from our team:

“My prediction is that local real estate will improve in 2010. Values will be more stable. I also predict that paint colors will change for the interior of homes and become darker.” – Gary

“Let’s do it again in 2010!” – Charlene

“Happiness is driving by a house that was once empty and abandoned and seeing Christmas lights hanging brightly from the roof top and a snowman in the front yard, knowing that you had a part in helping a family find a home and a house find a family!  Looking forward to filling many homes with families in 2010!” – Carla

“Oak Chili Team won the Silver Ladle in 2008 and People’s Choice in 2009 -
2010 will be the year to take BOTH!!!” – Tom

“Our name is going to pop up in new places and in many new ways in 2010. We’re moving with the times and restructuring for a new era in advertising that includes more purposeful print marketing and some great new ideas in online as well! I have some really fun work to do, and can’t wait to get it out there!” – Amy

“2010 will be another Super Year, home values are stabilizing, interest rates
are still the best they’ve been in years. For first time home buyers 2010
and into 2011 will be the year to make a move, otherwise they’ll be looking
back and saying ‘I should of bought in 2010.’ ” – Mike

“I’m looking forward to the excitement of the office atmosphere as we find new and fun ways to market with amazing new technology. Oh… and yes, I would love to take advantage of all the perks of a first time home buyer in 2010!” – Angie

“As I sit in my 80 degree fish house looking out my half fogged up windows at the beautiful snow covered lake homes I’m reminded that the new year is just around the corner. I wonder to myself how many lake homes will be marketed, listed and possibly sold in 2010? Last year was a crazy year for the mass quantity of homes listed and expired or cancelled. Why did so many list? Once word sums this up well, “the Economy”. The economy is to blame for pay cuts and or lost jobs. Why did so many not sell? I think that many of the folks selling their lake homes are still under the impression that they can get top dollar for their pristine property. Maybe if we were in 2003 you could get top dollar, but it’s 2010 so get real. Real means selling your property for just a hair less than your competition. This will sell your home faster and may possibly bring multiple offers which means a higher sold price for you the seller. Let’s flip the coin for a moment and take a look at buying lake property. If you’re a buyer looking for your weekend getaway or a year round home 2010 will be the year to buy. The seller’s had last year to try and get top dollar and failed miserably. After a little dose of reality, I believe that they will adjust prices in 2010 to actually sell their homes instead of just list them and take pretty pictures. I welcome ‘The Heart of the Lakes’ to 2010!” – Justin

Contest Winners!

We had 311 entries in this year’s Oak Holiday Coloring Contest! Take a look at our lobby on deadline day!

After voting for the most creative colorings in 3 age categories, 1st and 2nd place awards were given. Here are the winners!

Category: Age 0-4
1st Place! New Sled!
Henry Elsenpeter (Age 3) of Maple Lake

Category: Age 0-4
2nd Place! Movie Tickets!
Erin Uecker (Age 4) of Annandale

Category: Age 5-8
1st Place! New Sled!
Cole Smith (Age 7) of Annandale

Category: Age 5-8
2nd Place! Movie Tickets!
Ashley Carlson (Age 8) of Maple Lake

Category: Age 9-12
1st Place! New Sled!
Olivia Wolff-Herda (Age 12) of Buffalo

Category: Age 9-12
2nd Place! Movie Tickets!
Madison Nelson (Age 12) of Maple Lake

’till next year! Happy Holidays, from all of us at Oak Realty!

Good Deeds & Good Fun!

A couple of dedicated oak team members braved the bitter cold at the Holiday Train event on Monday night in downtown Annandale. As active members of the Lion’s Club, they assisted in collecting approximately 624 lbs of food for the local foodshelf. By early estimates, over $3,000 was raised that evening in monetary donations as well!

Back in the office, our Holiday Coloring Contest wrapped up yesterday. Our lobby walls are covered! Way to go kids!

A group of office elves will be voting soon. Winners will be notified early next week, in time to pick up their prizes before Christmas.

Thank you to all who helped a child participate! We had an outstanding turnout again this year!

Countdown to Christmas is on!

Frozen lakes? Check. Snow? Check. Cold? Definitely CHECK.

In a matter of days it has officially become winter in the Heart of the Lakes!

Our 2nd Annual Holiday Coloring Contest is in full swing, and our lobby is filling up with some wonderful entry’s! Keep ‘em coming… the contest runs through next Wednesday! Download the drawing and get more info on our homepage.

Don’t miss out on some great holiday events happening this weekend…

Check out Pioneer Park again this weekend, with their Holiday of Lights Friday and Story Book Christmas on Saturday. On Sunday morning, enjoy Breakfast and meet Santa at the annual Lion’s Breakfast with Santa event. Then on Monday, gather at the end of Main Street to enjoy the Canadian Pacific Railway’s Holiday Train as it stops in town for a show full of music and fun. Please bring donations for the food shelf along with you that night! The train is due to arrive at 7:30 p.m.!

Have a great weekend everyone… Stay warm.

Kick-Off the Season!

Can you believe it? December is here!

Weekend Opens!
Our office is kicking off the month with a pile of Open Houses this weekend, from 11 am – 1 pm both Saturday and Sunday. New and recently reduced properties in the area, including 4 homes in neighboring Clearwater. Visit our web site for directions and more property information.

Coloring Contest Begins!
This week’s local papers are helping distribute our 2nd Annual Holiday Coloring Contest, which officially begins today. Kids ages 0-12 can enter their completed coloring for a chance to win some great prizes. There are some awesome new sleds in our office right now, that will go out to First Place winners in three age categories. If you missed it in the paper, stop in our offices for a copy or download the 2009 Coloring here.

Enjoy the season with these upcoming local events!

Immigrants Christmas – this Saturday
Experience an old-fashioned holiday  at the 12th annual Immigrants’ Christmas at Minnesota Pioneer Park. Located just across Highway 55 from our Annandale Office, the park brings to life traditions of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s with food, music, a silent auction, horse-drawn rides, and opportunties to purchase homemade crafts and goodies. Santa will be there too! Visit the park’s web site for more information: www.pioneerpark.org.

Holiday of Lights – this Friday & Next
Tour Pioneer Village from 6-9 p.m. for the park’s first Holiday of Lights. The village will be illuminated with lights, filled with music and stores will be open with more goodies for sale.

Plan ahead!
Sunday, Dec. 13th – Lion’s Breakfast with Santa
Monday, Dec. 14th – Holiday Train

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!

Show Your Thanks

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Monuments at Annandale Memorial Park | Photo by Mary Christen

We are remembering our veterans and service men and women today!

Be there for military families by visiting www.thanksforbeingthere.com and sharing a heartfelt thank you. During this week, from Nov. 8-14th, State Farm will donate $1 to Fisher House for every thank you sent.

“Fisher House is a military support organization that is there for military families whose loved ones are undergoing treatment at military or Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers throughout the country and overseas in Germany. They will receive a donation of up to $50,000.

The goal of Fisher House Foundation is to ensure families of wounded service men and women have a “home away from home” on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers, enabling family members to be close when their loved one is hospitalized for an unexpected illness, disease or injury. There are 43 Fisher Houses located on 18 military installations and 13 VA medical centers in the United States, and all homes are operated and maintained by the Army, Navy, Air Force or Department of Veterans Affairs. In 2008 alone, these comfort homes saved military families more than $12 million in lodging expenses.”

Homebuyer Tax Credit Incentive Expanding

Horray Buyers! An extension and expansion of the Homebuyer Tax Credit is iminent. Both the House and Senate passed the bill with overwhelming majorities and it is anticipated that President Obama will sign the bill today.

The links below will provide you some information on how it has changed and answer some common questions!

If you have further questions, give our office a call and talk with your Realtor®!

Tax Credit Changes FAQ

Tax Credit Changes Overview

Happy Halloween!

Despite the wind, rain and falling temperatures… the Trick-or-Treat event in town was still a success. We had a variety of characters visit our office yesterday afternoon for some goodies!

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“You’re not in costumes!” We still gave the Cross Country Team treats — fuel for their run and a break from the nasty weather!

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The last two photos are some of the ghouls belonging to our Oak staff!

Happy Halloween night everyone!

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