Lakes Area Blog

There is definitely an abundance of property on the market in the Otter Tail Lakes Area. 

A quick look at the MLS statistics shows how true this is.  (Note: there is some overlap in data between the two multiple listing services I am a member of, but together they provide a good overview of the Lakes Area.)

Detroit Lakes Area MLS
May 2008
383 New listings added
2430 Active listings
86 Properties sold
28.26 Months of inventory

Fergus Falls area MLS
383 New listings added
2304 Active listings
88 Properties sold
26.18 Months of inventory

Every Spring grass fires pop up.  Not all are bad or out of control.  Many are set intentionally to control weeds and brush.  The MN Department of Natural Resources burns 100’s of acres of park land every year to restore natural grasslands.  As I understand it, some varieties of native prairie grasses need to be burned every few years to encourage new growth.  It is certainly evident after a fire that the new grass looks greener and fresher than the old.  Often deer and other animals are seen back in a burn area only a day or two later eating the fresh shoots.

Of course, grass fires can get out of control very quickly and cause damage to structures and endanger the livelihood & safety of many people.  They can be very costly to fight and get under control.  In dry conditions they can nearly become unstoppable; requiring a dousing that can only come from the heavens.

Whether or not the experts can agree on how to define our current economy doesn’t matter.  It is changing.  That much is clear.  Will it be a slow controlled burn?  Clearing out the dead grass and making way for the new.  Or are we looking at dry conditions, high winds and the possibility for major damage?

Time will tell.  Personally, I feel we will be somewhere in between.  Some companies will fail & burn, people will lose their jobs and be forced to look somewhere else, and it will seem as if everything is out of control.  In time, as the worst of the dead grass quits burning the fire will fade and eventually the rains will come and the jobs will return.  Then there will be new growth, new opportunities, and green pastures for those that adapt to the changing landscape. 

I was not expecting to wake up to 18″ of snow on the ground.

The yard work will have to wait.

Minnesota weather can be strange, especially in the Spring.  Last week we enjoyed sunny days in the 70’s.  Looking out the window, that seems like a distant memory. 

Snow drifts 3-4 feet high.  Ice covered tree limbs.  White.  Everywhere white.

I keep looking at the date on the calendar.  April 26th.

Crazy.

For me, the real sign of spring in the Lakes Area is when the ice goes off the lakes.  Oh sure, the snow is gone, and sunshine has some real warmth to it.  The grass is even green in places, but an ice covered lake is usually the last remnant of winter here.

In this region of Minnesota I think the average ice out date is somewhere around April 18th.  This year’s winter seemed long so it’s really no surprise that there is still several inches of ice on most of the large lakes. 

Now this week it gets exciting…

The ice is getting darker.

You see, this ice-out stuff goes through stages.

• First we get a couple warm days and most of the snow on top of the ice disappears.  (This is my favorite time to get in as much ice fishing as possible as the pan fish really start biting again.)
• The next few warm days and the ice will melt along the shore. 
• Then you start to see large areas of open water near inlets & outlets.

But the real real exciting change…

The ice goes dark.

 You know it won’t be long now.  OK.  Maybe this isn’t the most exciting thing for everyone.  I think it’s cool, (no pun intended).  The ice is no longer boring white, but a dark, deep, slate-grey.  It really is a hard color to describe.  Perhaps it more of a feeling.  The end is near.  One good rain or a windy day and the cracks appear; growing larger each day until the end of winter is nothing but slush along the shoreline.

This week the ice went dark.

Goodbye winter.

How else do I start, but with a good foundation?

National Association of REALTORS® basic principles of the Code of Ethics:

1. Protect and promote your client’s interests, but be honest with all parties.
2. Avoid exaggeration, misrepresentation, and concealment of pertinent facts.  Do not reveal facts that are confidential under the scope of your agency relationship.
3. Cooperate with other real estate professionals to advance your client’s best interests.
4. When buying or selling, make your position in the transaction or interest known.
5. Disclose present or contemplated interest in any property to all parties.
6. Avoid side deals without your clients informed consent.
7. Accept compensation from only one party, except with full disclosure and informed consent.
8. Keep the funds of clients and customers in escrow.
9. Assure, whenever possible, that transactional details are in writing.
10. Provide equal service to all clients and customers.
11. Be knowledgeable and competent in the fields of practice in which you ordinarily engage.  Obtain assistance or disclose lack of experience if necessary.
12. Present a true picture in your advertising and other public representations.
13. Do not engage in the unauthorized practice of law.
14. Be a willing participant in Code enforcement procedures.
15. Ensure that your comments about other real estate professionals are truthful, and not misleading.
16. Respect the agency relationships and other exclusive relationships recognized by law that other REALTORS® have with their clients.
17. Arbitrate contractual and specific non-contractual disputes with other REALTORS® and with your clients.

I can’t take credit for the content of this post, but it is something I do consider a foundation to this business.