A daily journal concerning Lake Vermilion and surrounding areas
Selected real estate, notes, stories, musings, and anecdotes
------------ Comments and links welcomed ------------
Monday, March 31, 2003
The Lake Vermilion ice is on it's way out. Slow but sure. If you have an attraction to ice you are gonna love this photo gallery.
With 1214 votes, the Northern Cardinal edged out the Black-capped Chickadee (1030 votes) and the Common Loon (801 votes) to finish first in the DNR's Nongame Wildlife Program survey for favorite Minnesota wild bird. The survey results with the top 15 finishers are listed here. 5937 Minnesotans responded to the survey (mentioned in a previous post on this web site).
The DNR notes the most interesting entry (submitted by an 8th grade science class) was the popularity-challenged Archaeopteryx.
Post Survey Analysis. It looks like we may need a Congressional Subcommittee to look into the questionable activities of the Northern Cardinal. It turns out the ambitious Cardinal is currently the official State Bird in 7 of our 50 states. A curious coincidence made even more interesting after you look at the actual breeding range of the "black-masked" bird within the state of Minnesota.
It appears the over zealous avian has taken full advantage of its' limited presence within the states' more populous areas. Is it conceivable a well-orchestrated "vote early and often" campaign has secured the Cardinals' victory?
The poor Black-capped Chickadee never had a chance. The miniature creature is certainly a much more familiar sight with most Minnesotans. Ask anyone who maintains a winter bird feeder. The Chickadees actual breeding range confirms it. But it's too late. The Cardinal has been titled "Minnesota's Favorite Bird".
The Chickadee may have to confer with the Loon on how to gain and maintain a political foothold. The Loon finished in the number 3 spot in the Survey.
The Cardinal won and the State Bird finished third.
This Niles Bay log home is a beautiful property. Over 6000 sq. ft. of living area in this 4 bedroom, 4 1/2 bath quality home. Features include two large stone fireplaces, office/library, 3-season porch, and large exterior deck. Additional improvements include log boat house (with rail system), 2+ stall garage, and a tennis court. 698 feet of shoreline and 6.7 acres!
This is just simply a great Niles Bay home with generous space for family and friends. Please go here to view a photo album of this property. Email me if you would like additional information or if you would like to arrange a visit.
The St. Louis County Plat Book is a great resource for anyone with interests in rural real estate.
Our large county actually has two plat books, a northern and southern edition. You can order St. Louis County Plat books from the Minnesota Bookstore or the County Extension Service.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has just reclassified the Gray Wolf from "Endangered" status to "Threatened" status. The classification change is due to the rebound in wolf population in the western United States. In Minnesota, where we have the largest wolf population at 2445 animals, the change in class does not affect the wolf pack because Minnesota wolves are already classified as "Threatened".
The International Wolf Center (located just down the road from Lake Vermilion in Ely, MN) is a beautiful information facility. If you have an interest in the Gray Wolf, this facility has the resources to answer all your questions. You might even catch a glimpse of the resident wolves on the "Wolf Cam".
Maybe a volunteer position with the MFTCS is just what you need. That's the Minnesota Frog & Toad Calling Survey. Since 1996 the group has been gathering data on Minnesota's 3 toad and 11 frog species. They study where species are located throughout the state, and how their populations change in abundance and distribution. New volunteers get a cassette tape of calls, a map of the desired route, and specific directions on what is needed for the survey.
There is nothing like that first toad/frog chorus to cement the arrival of Spring. The little fellow shown here is a Spring Peeper. Their Spring mating call is unmistakable.
This is a new listing near the City of Tower, MN. A beautiful 16+ acre parcel with a location that offers numerous options for future use. It's on the northeastern side to the city, just several blocks from main street yet it has a country setting across the road from Lake Vermilion. Plus it is just down the road from the Tower Airport. The parcel is level and offers generous space for home or business development. Imagine the possibilites! Offered at $175,000.
A few photos here. Please email me if you would like additional information on this new listing.
A string of warm days has brought a layer of water to the lakes' ice cover. It can bring a false perception of open water. There is, of course, a significant bulk remaining in the ice. But the sun has compromised the integrity of that bulk. And we cannot blindly trust it again. That's too bad. It was a great ice pack. One of the best seen in years. Travel on it was almost carefree. Smooth, solid, clean, nearly perfect. It was great.
Be aware that before the ice converts to liquidity it could possibly be the source of considerable nuisance to lake shore owners. An older but relevant article from the DNR's Conservation Volunteer Magazine has the story of ice-associated problems.
Boat-access value! We have a very nice group of Lake Vermilion boat-accessible properties in our inventory. Some of these are mainland lots and some are island lots. Here is the complete list:
Property Number 11524 Gold Island Approx. 2 acres w/150' shoreline on each side of the island $149,900
Property Number 11523 Grassy Point Approx. 2 acres w/ 200' shoreline $114,900
Property Number 11519 Treasure Island Approx. 2 acres w/ 310' shoreline $129,000
Property Number 11512 Pine Island Approx. 1.8 acres w/ 200' shoreline $115,900
Property Number 11510 Pine Island Approx. 2.1 acres w/ 252' shoreline $145,000
Property Number 11496 Pine Island Approx. .5+ acre w/ 140' shoreline $55,000
Property Number 11482 Pine Island Approx. 1.4 acres w/ 365' shoreline $138,500
Property Number 11456 Frazer Bay Approx. 5.5 acre island $450,000
Property Number 11430 Norwegian Bay Approx. .3 acre w/ 100' shoreline $39,900
Property Number 11276 Oak Narrows Approx. 1.89 acres w/ 256' shoreline $79,900
If you have an interest in any of these properties, please send me a note!
There's a Full Moon tonight. Or more specifically a Full Crust Moon.
The Farmers Almanac tells us that the full moon has numerous names. The origins of these names date back to the indigenous people of the northern and eastern United States. These distinctive names were used to track the changing of the seasons. Names include the Full Strawberry Moon, Full Barley Moon, and the Full Beaver Moon.
The Almanac's web page has all the interesting details.
One of the potentially troublesome issues associated with the sale or purchase of real estate is flood zone determination.
Many areas near or adjacent to Lake Vermilion are identified as having some degree of flood hazard. Flood insurance is required for all structures located in a "Special Flood Hazard Area" (SFHA). By definition, a SFHA is an area...
"that has at least a one-percent chance of flooding in any given year and a 26-percent chance of flooding during the life of a 30-year mortgage."
If you are buying real estate your lender may secure a flood determination to establish the flood risk. A FEMA flood zone map will probably be used to make this determination. (There are more than 100,000 existing maps including a group for the Lake Vermilion area.) Because map interpretation is a subjective process, your lender may require you to purchase flood insurance for a property that, arguably, is not subject to flood risk.
There are practical solutions for this issue. The key is to identify the situation early in the purchase process so there is ample time to identify the best answers.
There are some frequently asked questions on the subject here and here . Or send me an email . I have additional details and area flood zone maps.
That's not a ball made of snow by the way. It's a phenomena common in these northern climes in which a particular predominant season forces it's presence onto the activities normally associated with another season. Winter is the perpetrator. Baseball season is the perpetratee.
We've had our first genuine taste of Spring this weekend. This causes all kinds of pent up urges to jump into the conscious side of the mind.
For the first time since last Summer it's warm enough to toss a ball around. So we do. The youngest and me. Our skills are blunt and the ball finds the wet slush almost immediately. It soon becomes wet, cold, and crusty. But it doesn't matter.
It's Snow Ball Season. And as far as we know, Spring and baseball are here.
Busties Lake is tucked into the woods just northeast of Bigfork, MN. It's a panfish lake consisting of 237 acres with a 44 foot maximum deep.
I have an extremely nice building lot for sale on the lake. It has 2 plus acres and 200' of south facing frontage. The lot is gently sloped with a cleared building site. It has excellent road access with power and phone nearby. A beautiful spot more a home or cabin building project.
The best feature of the lot is the asking price. $69,000
Go here for additional photos. Please email me if you would like additional information on this excellent value.
Lake Huron, Lake Superior, and Lake Erie have apparently frozen over (according to this source).
It's been nearly 10 years since the big water has completely skimmed over so it's not all that common. That's one additional confirmation we've been through an extended cold spell because it takes a state fair quality winter to freeze that much water. Lake Superior alone is 32,000 square miles! (You could fit 500 Lake Vermilions' into Lake Superior.)
But now it's time to thaw. LakeVermilion.com has it's 7th Annual Lake Vermilion Ice Out Contest up and running. Guess the actual ice out date and win!
This 100 acre parcel is an ideal hunting/recreational property. Willow River frontage and adjacent to hundreds of acres of public land . A mix of high land and low land with varied mature tree cover. Great whitetail country! The seller has reduced the asking price by $20,000. In addition, a recent timber survey has estimated the standing mature tree value at $40,000. (Survey by a professional forester, the majority of stumpage value is in aspen.) Convenient location between Cook and Orr, Minnesota. Asking price is now $90,000.
Go here to view additional photos of this listing.
Please email me if you would like additional information on this prime hunting parcel.
This is noteworthy because it's an event that happens only once every 10 years. On March 22nd, the Minnesota Department of Commerce will auction the unclaimed property accumulated from abandoned safe deposit boxes. This auction will sell the contents of 5500 boxes turned over to the Department of Commerce from 1992-2000! The Department has details and the auctioneer has the list of items.
OK, you're on the lake and fishing is good. Real good. So good you have your walleye limit and it is very apparent you could easily boat a few more.
Well, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has implemented a new penalty system that should diminish your temptation to keep that extra fish. First off, you're going to lose your fishing privileges. The only question is, for how long? The math to compute that penalty time goes something like this. The DNR has put restitution values on game and fish. These values are used to compute the penalty. For example, a walleye is valued at $30. Using the new math, a violator with 18 walleyes over the legal limit would lose his fishing license for 3 years. If the the game value goes over $1000, the penalty would become a gross misdemeanor. Additional consequences could include confiscation of equipment, such as boats, motors, and trailers.
The DNR explains the new penalties should eliminate the situation where
..."(they) just paid their fines and went back to fishing."
If you have thoughts on this topic or any other concerning Lake Vermilion, there is a discussion group on the internet where lake-associated opinions and news are shared. Just go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vermilion/ to join the discussion.
If you (or maybe someone you know) have plans to sell real estate you might benefit from a Market Analysis. A Market Analysis is an estimate of your real estates' value based on a comparison of your properties' features to those of other recent sales with similar features. It is a useful tool to insure your real estate is brought to market at an appropriate and competitive asking price. So whether you own undeveloped rural acreage, a lake front home, or anything in-between, a Market Analysis is available to you.
Just click here and tell me you would like to arrange for a free Market Analysis!
A very large tract (127+ acres) located 2 1/2 miles north of Giants Ridge on County Road 138. Many potential building sites or a single private development. Beautifully wooded with pine, birch, poplar, balsam, spruce. Level to moderate slope. Quiet, secluded, and undeveloped setting.
Some of Minnesotas' best cross country ski trails, downhill ski runs, and championship golf holes would be right out your back door! Offered at $259,000.
Please email me if you would like additional information on this unique property.
And lots of it. This is not news for local Lake Vermilion area winter residents. A rare combination of below normal temperatures and minimal snow cover has caused an epidemic of frost shattered piping. And anyone with buried plumbing is susceptible to this headache. An area newspaper story documents the story.
The Minnesota Climatology Office issues the following statement:
...soil frost continued to deepen across Minnesota during February. Cold temperatures, combined with limited snow cover, caused soil frost to penetrate beyond 30 inches in depth beneath sod-covered surfaces. Anecdotal reports of 60 inch or deeper frost depths under bare soil or disturbed areas have been noted. For many locations, soil frost is at the deepest levels observed in more than a decade. The deeply frozen soil created problems with septic systems and other below-grade plumbing. Soil frost historically reaches maximum depth in late February.
Not to beleaguer the point but the graph below is noteworthy. It's the mortgage trend over the past 30 years. With the current rates, a 15 year, $100,000 loan carries an approximate monthly payment of $777 per month. That same loan back in 1995 would have cost you about $178 more per month.
This is a very nice island lot! It has many of the features that make an island property attractive. It is close to mainland access. It is located on a sheltered bay with a southeast exposure away from prevailing wind. It has a moderate slope with several options for a building site. It is nicely forested with a variety of tree species, including spruce, balsam, and pine. There is electrical and phone service nearby. It is generously sized with approx. 300' of frontage and 2+ acres. As with most boat access properties, your dollar goes much further when you compare this lot to an equivalent lot with road access. Priced at $129,000.
Please email me if you would like additional information on this property.
There seems to be a certain, "Let's wait and see what the future holds." attitude in the air these days. There are obvious reasons for such hesitant anticipation and it's tough not to buy into that frame of mind. But we don't have to abandon an optimistic outlook.
As far as the real estate business goes, I would offer the following thoughts:
Our collective mindset will adjust to the new concerns the world has put before us and when it does the general economy will rebound with enthusiasm.
Local real estate values are and will continue to be stable, especially lakeshore and rural values.
Local real estate values will again see upward pressure.
Interest rates are low and probably not going to go much lower. (Local rates include a 15 year fixed mortgage @ 4 3/4%)
Real estate remains the investment your family can enjoy as it appreciates.
Yogi Berra was quoted, of course, on the subject and maybe he had it right,
"The future ain't what it used to be."
We better get used to it.
Here is a postscript on the subject: I stumbled on a website for the "Institute for the Future". There claimed membership list includes the likes of Coca Cola, Ford Motor Company, Nokia, Stanford University, among others. The one current and very curious announcement on the "Institute for the Future's" web page is the one that reads,
"IFTF Announces the Fall Conference, November 4-6, 2002".
It's March and there is snow in the forecast. Mother Nature likes to tease us in March. We just came through four months of ideal snow-making opportunity so this is not the time of year we appreciate a late-snow-making-game rally. Give it up Mother. There's always next year.
Actually snow is a bonifide natural wonder. The beauty of snow is much easier to appreciate in March when you imagine that shovelful is made up of individual works of Mother Nature art. Just take a look. Think you can do better than Mother? Give it a shot at this clever "make your own snowflake" web site.
Cal, one of the best shortstops to play Major League Baseball, had an amazing record. He played 2632 consecutive games. A stunning number in itself. What made it even more incredible is the fact the previous record was set by Lou Gehrig with 2130 games. Many considered Lou's feat one of the most untouchable records in baseball. Cal worked 16 years (1982-1998) to accumulate his record.
Yesterday I failed to post to this web page. That broke a streak of 39 consecutive days of posting. My guess is there are others who have done better. But it was a streak. My streak. I have no real excuse. The day was busy with a tour on the lake (see photos) and a trip to a distant town to attend a high school basketball play-off game (Go Lady Gophers!).
So now it's over. It was bound to happen. And the pressure is off.
Most Recent
Buyers!
And the winner is...
For Sale!
The Plat Book.
Upgraded!
Need a distraction?
For Sale!
H2O!
Off Topic Post!
The Flood Zone.
Off Topic Post!
For Sale!
Michigan and Ontario are under achievers.
For Sale! Reduced Price!
Off-Topic Post!
The new math is 1 walleye = $30.
For Sale!
For Sale!
Dang!
