Lake Vermilion Real Estate

Ice Out Update Low Down, 2009 Edition.

It’s unconfirmed but if the ice is not 100% off the lake it’s very close to it. Also, the navigation and hazard buoys are being placed and should be completely installed, weather permitting, by the end of the week.

Official announcement to follow.

Quick Fact.

The average asking price for a Lake Vermilion road access home/cabin remains at just over $600,000. (That excludes leased properties and common interest community property.)

The overall price range is from $200,000 to nearly $1.8 million.

FYI, with the current record low interest rates, the monthly mortgage payment on that $600,000 lake home is now about $461 less than it was last October.

The Lake Show.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources does it’s best David Letterman impression with today’s “Top Ten” news release.

At number one on the list is “anglers fishing without a valid fishing license in possession”. Number two is “anglers fishing with no fishing license at all”.

That’s right, today’s Top Ten category is… “The Top Ten Fishing Violations”.

Read the number 3 through number 10 violations here.

Pass The MRE’s.

It is said that change brings opportunity. For some folks, change can also bring fear. So what do you get when fear and opportunity come together with a licensed real estate person?

Perhaps something like this.

Coffee And Ice.

Each and every year in the April to May timeframe the local coffee shop talk will undoubtedly include observations and opinions on when the lake ice will “go out”.

This discussion is normally preceded by the annual “it’s been a long winter” commentary.

After those prerequisite topics are fleshed out the field is open to anything from water levels, the fishing opener (aka “the opening of fishing”), or under more desperate circumstances, yard raking.

Locally, the last ice on Lake Vermilion is timed to an event on another local and smaller lake called Jammer Lake.

Well, Jammer Lake was ice free yesterday. Local lore tells us Lake Vermilion should be ice-free in 7 days from that date.

Visit Don Simonsen’s www.cookmn.com for all the local ice-out details.

It’s excellent preparation for your next Lake Vermilion area coffee shop visit.

It’s Alive!

The St. Louis County Planning Department continues it’s work on the Lake Vermilion Plan. Here’s a recent statement from their website:

“The proposed Lake Vermilion Plan Zoning Maps have been provided to the organized townships for review and comment. The most significant revision is changing land use districts from shoreland mixed use to residential.”

You can view this revised zoning map here and read the entire Lake Vermilion Plan Draft here.

Bella.

The Lake Vermilion Resort Association has a blog.

A recent entry on their blog tells us about “Bella”, the Yellow Lab from Vermilion Dam Lodge who, according to her owner, Ed Tausk, has adapted amazing well to a life changing handicap.

Read the nice story here.

Lake Vermilion Fire Brigade.

The newly formed Lake Vermilion Fire Brigade will soon have an on-water presence with two fire/rescue boats. This volunteer group will be available to offer support for local, county, and state fire and rescue agencies. The Brigade continues to seek new members and volunteers.

For all the details please visit their new and informative website.

Quick Lake Vermilion State Park Update.

The Governor reaches for the towel, the County reaches for the rubber stamp, and the people reach out to each other.

Sow Na Not Saw Na.

Many residents in the Lake Vermilion area have family roots in Finland. And the country of Finland is synonymous with the sauna.

In other words… if Lake Vermilion = Finland and Finland = sauna, then Lake Vermilion = sauna!

This long standing connection makes it unnecessary to explain the benefits of the sauna to many who live on or near our local lake.

The Atlantic Magazine has a nice story about the Finns and their love of the sauna. The similarities between Finland and the Lake Vermilion area are obvious in the story line and related photos. The article is entitled “Saunas and Silence” and you can read it here.

Also, for more information about what goes on in the sauna take a look at www.saunatimes.com.