What a Day!

Thanks to the many who visited homes open during our Lakeshore Tour yesterday! It was an ideal day to visit area lakes and see what’s for sale. More than one visitor put their feet in on Pleasant Lake… they couldn’t resist!

Still thinking about selling? Wondering if it’s a good time to try? The turnout yesterday was proof there are a lot of lakeshore buyers out there. One of our seller’s in particular, was glad to list just in time to join the tour. 50+ people toured their property on a picture perfect Sunday afternoon. What a grand opening! It doesn’t get any better than that.

Take the Tour this Sunday!

If you’ve thought about owning a “lake place” in the Heart of the Lakes, this is the day for you! From 12-3 pm this Sunday, August 24th, we’ll open the doors of 15 of our lakeshore listings – from quaint cabins to luxurious vacation homes! Download a map/flyer on our web site, or stop in our office and grab a copy on your way. Just look for our signs and red balloons, they’ll be everywhere!

Days of Old Tomorrow!

Maple Lake will celebrate it’s old-fashioned day of fun for the whole family, this Saturday, August 16th! The weather should be great and the day is packed full of things to do.

Days of Old Schedule of Events:
Marketplace: 11 am – 4 pm
KRWC Road Show: Noon – 2 pm
Dunk Tank: 11 am – 4 pm
Days of Old 10K & Fun Run: Register at Maple Lake HS, 10K starts at 8 am, Fun Run at 9:15 am
Gathering of vintage cars, motorcycles, tractors & wacky machines: 11 am – 4 pm
BINGO: 1-4 pm
Days of Old Costume Contest: Noon – 4 pm
Free Music: Silverado (12-4 pm) & Outside recess (5-9 pm)
Demonstration Shows
Hasty-Silver Creek Sportsman’s Club Pork Chop Dinner: 4 pm
Beer Garden & Lots of Food Stands

Other activities going on throughout the day include a Kiddie Train, Barnyard BINGO, Large Moonwalk/Obstacle Course, Petting Zoo, Carnival Games for the Kids, Games of Challenge,…and of course, Fireworks at Dusk!

New MN Law for Carbon Monoxide Alarms

MN Stat. 299.51

What is it?
The new carbon monoxide alarm law requires that “every single-family dwelling and every dwelling unit in a multifamily dwelling” have “an approved and operational carbon monoxide alarm installed within ten feet of each room lawfully used for sleeping purposes.” This law was effective as of August 1, 2007 for newly-constructed homes, and just became effective August 1, 2008 for all existing single-family dwelling units. It becomes effective August 1, 2009 for existing multifamily dwelling units. The alarms must be an approved device (conforming to UL2034 standards) and may be hardwired, plugged in, or battery-powered (if attached to the wall).

What does it mean to you?
If you are a seller, it is your direct obligation to equip your home with these alarms. If you are a buyer, be sure the home you are purchasing is equipped with these detectors. As your realtor, we will do our best to verify our sellers are complying with this law before listing or selling the property. As a seller, simply disclosing the lack of having the required alarms in lieu of installing them, in an attempt to avoid responsibility for the cost of adding the alarms, is an unwise course of action.

What should you do?
Be in compliance with the law. We will be spreading this news among our buyers and sellers. Help us do the same by telling you friends and family.

Source: New MN Law for Carbon Monoxide Alarms – Protection for Buyers; Surprise to Sellers (MAR 8/12/08)

How did you find that home?

Earlier this year, The Minnesota Association of REALTORS® shared some very interesting survey data regarding Minnesota home buyers, and this is a great venue to share the findings with you. If you’re a buyer or even more so, a seller, we think you’ll find this interesting.

As a company, we are always trying to determine where consumers frequent for real estate information. We know that in the last few years the answer to that question has drastically changed. The results of this survey showed that the Internet is far and away the leader now (with 70% of consumers stating they seek information “frequently” from the Internet), with newspapers (11%) and open house signs (16%) falling dramatically.

One of the greatest examples we have witnessed is a significant drop in lakeshore being advertised in the Sunday Start Tribune classifieds. It was once a regular activity in our office on Sundays to have calls off those ads and even folks stopping in with the ad in hand, looking for a map and more information. Today’s buyers are showing that they prefer the convenience of the Internet, the ability to search at all hours and find a wealth of information like numerous photos, virtual tours, aerials and more before even seeing a property in person or contacting anyone about it. This simple fact has drastically changed our approach to marketing.

The following chart shows where Minnesota home buyers found the home they purchased in 2007.

The National Association of REALTORS® has tracked this figure since 1997, when the real estate agent was 50% and the Internet was 2%. The National figure today is 34% real estate agent and 29% Internet. More buyers in our state are using the Internet to find their next home than in other parts of the country!

This survey helped solidify some decisions we had already made as a company to focus our marketing efforts on the Internet: offering a locally-focused web site with useful tools and a format that was enjoyable and easy to use. We have also increased the number of Open Houses we do, by putting together “like-property” tours atleast twice a month, flooding specific target areas with our signs. By opening more homes at once that are similar, each home gets more visitors than it would have had open alone. And it’s continuing to work – open house visitors have increased in the last weeks of July and we’re looking forward to organizing some even larger tours in August and September. Watch our web site and the blog for more information in the coming weeks.

Information courtesy of REALTOR Magazine and the NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers survey.

Multi-Property Auction Tonight!

Four properties in Kimball will be auctioned tonight, Tuesday Aug. 5th, at Stanley’s Family Restaurant (41 Maus Drive W, Kimball) beginning at 6 p.m.

• 97XXX 135th St., Kimball (MLS# 3566570) – This is a 34-acre parcel with development opportunities. Currently tillable land.
• 237 State Hwy 55, Kimball (MLS# 3566706) – This is a 9-acre commercial property with great highway frontage!
• 41 Maus Drive W., Kimball (MLS# 3565414) – Busy highway frontage! Land, building & business options available.
• 251 Elm Street N, Kimball (MLS# 3566213) – Home on .4 acres. Open 1 hour prior to auction! This property is an Absolute Auction!
  

Give one of our offices a call immediately for more information!
Maple Lake 963-2088, Annandale 274-5737

To Franchise or Not

Life in the real estate business is changing fast, especially in a market that is saturated with bank-owned homes, short sales and a high number of homes on the market in general. How do we thrive as a business?

We frequently have franchise sales reps stopping in our office, boasting they are the biggest, best, and most trusted in the business. I repeatedly ask myself, would signing up with a franchise change the way we do business or would we just be spending a lot of time and money changing our company colors and real estate signs? When I ask reps these questions, they emphasize their “tools and systems,” training, relocation network, nationwide advertising, and most important (they say) – name recognition.

I consider how we currently measure up against our competition. Oak Realty has consistently been at the top of its game, with a listing inventory that meets or exceeds that of the area’s other companies. A couple of our agents had record years in 2007 with some of the highest sales volumes in the area. We’re having fun working as a team, and that philosophy, well… IT WORKS!

But the bottom line is our heart is not in world-wide presence, we don’t need a relocation network we won’t use, and these franchises don’t train in knowledge of this area – that comes from a lifetime of being a part of this wonderful community. Our staff is passionate about the Heart of the Lakes. We know its facts and secrets, inside and out. This is our greatest service to you!

My father purchased this company back in 1974. It is the oldest real estate company operating in Annandale today. Since that time, I took over the family business and now my oldest son recently obtained his real estate license. Someday, maybe he’ll take over and continue the Oak tradition? We’ll have to wait and see. I’m proud to own and operate a successful business in the town I grew up in. And I do my business locally every chance I get.

So, back to the franchises. They can skip our door for now. They haven’t been able to show me how taking their name will offer a better service to our local buyers and sellers. And isn’t that what our job is all about?
Brugge

Pintail Reveals its Style

If you have been driving County Road 5 South of town, you can see that the new and innovative Pintail Ponds development is really taking shape! Over the last couple of weeks, 2 more homes have gone up. The first home built was the Sanctuary. This is our model home, complete with in-floor heat, a gas fireplace, and many upgrades! Check it out, as we are open every Thursday from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.

The Sanctuary

The exterior of the second model, the Refuge, is up, and the majority of the siding is done. The cottage red 2-story features James Hardie siding, and lots of natural light!

The third unit is the Hideaway, featuring easy one-level living! Perfect for the buyers who are looking for no steps or yardwork!

The Hideaway

The final unit is the Retreat. The framing is well on its way and looking great!

The staggering setbacks, bold colors, and innovative design that this development brings to the area is one of a kind! Check out the nature reserve area and walking paths that keep things connected! The landscaping
is also adding to the beauty of the neighborhood, providing the finishing touches!

We are very excited to see things taking shape! What a great new addition to the area!