A Spontaneous ActiveRain Gathering in Baxter, Minnesota Yesterday   Yesterday morning, I was in Baxter, Minnesota at the Greater Lakes Association of Realtors (GLAR), representing the Minnesota CRS Chapter (Council of Residential Specialists) as its 2015 President.  The event was part of our "Breakfast of Champions"  series, a panel discussion about Real Estate Trends and Issues Facing Today’s REALTORS®.   We had a fabulous group of attendees yesterday.  And among those in attendance was well-known Minnesota blogger and home staging professional Kathleen Lordbock. Kathleen approached me after the event ended and I recognized her right away!   Okay, so it turned out to be an impromptu gathering (and a very small one at that), but it was awesome nonetheless to meet Kathleen at one of our ... 02/26/2015

Interest rates are going up ever so slightly, but going up just the same. We are in a market where historically everything is set just for you to make a home purchase.  With the huge inventory to choose from, motivated sellers, a multitude of distressed properties priced under market and low interest rates - what are you waiting for?  Looking to invest in a rental and have the renters make your payments? Thinking of finally buying that lake cabin you have always wanted? Think fast! 12/11/2010

                                  The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of the blessings. The inherent blessing of socialism is the equal sharing of misery.      -Winston Churchill                  The only difference between a tax man and a taxidermist is that the taxidermist leaves the skin.     -Mark  Twain                         The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools.    -Herbert Spencer, English  Philosopher (1820-1903)                There is no distinctly Native American criminal class...save Congress.   -Mark  Twain                                     What this country needs are more unemployed politicians.     -Edward Langley,  Artist (1928 -  1995)                                  A government big enough... 01/20/2009

In the latest United States Census Bureau findings the city of Rochester came in first in growth with a whopping 9.8%.  Brainerd fell into 2nd place with  9.5% of growth from 2000 to 2006  out of what  the Bureau terms metro areas.  Areas such as the Twin Cities, areas around St. Cloud and into eastern Wisconsin continue to show growth.  These "metro" areas often included the surrounding communities for the purposes of this census.Brainerd is now listed with a population of 90,045  residents compared to the 2000 recorded population count of 82,252 which is a change of 7, 793.According to Brent Gunsbury in the Chamber Connection , our region was recently named a "micropolitan" and ranks as the 28th fastest growing  non-metro area in the U.S. We are growing at two times the statewide rate... 05/04/2007

       Come and help us celebrate Deloris Holman's 90th birthday.  Deloris sends out birthday cards to everyone in our church for their special day. This is a good time to make her 90th very special. There will be an open house in her honor on Saturday, May 5, 2007 from 2:00 - 4:00 pm at the Excelsior Place dining room 14211 Firewood Drive in Baxter, Minnesota.  No gifts please - just bring yourself.   Kathleen Lordbock Re$ale Design *Working as a Team to sell your Property Faster and for Top Dollar*  05/03/2007

 To create drama and dress up any room, consider adding touches of black. It works in virtually any color scheme and with any decorating style.  If you are going for major drama, inject even larger doses of this dynamic color in your window treatments, upholstered furniture, bedding, flooring or floor coverings, decorative wall moldings, shelving, cabinets, or your wooden furniture pieces.  Lime green, white, orange, red,  yellow and aqua all pop when positioned on or near black pieces.  Paint artwork frames, mirrors, or add black painted pinstripes.  Decorative boxes hung on the wall or open shelving to hold accessories in black are striking.  Paint the legs of a coffee table or dining table black -leaving the top in a wood tone. To give painted black objects an aged worn look; sand th... 04/18/2007