Congratulations on considering buying a home in Fargo, ND! This vibrant city offers a welcoming community, abundant job opportunities, and an affordable cost of living. Whether you're a first-time homebuyer or looking to settle down in a new area, Fargo has a lot to offer. In this blog post, we will walk you through the prequalification process and discuss the down payment requirements, including options such as VA loans and the USDA Rural Development program. Pre-qualification Process: Before you embark on your home buying journey, it's essential to get pre-qualified for a mortgage. This step helps determine how much you can afford to borrow and gives you an estimate of the loan amount you may qualify for. Organize your financial documents: Begin by gathering your financial informatio... 05/25/2023

I am either six months late or six months early with this post so given the option I am going with early. Consider this a heads-up for this coming holiday seasons Minot Air Force Base Coolie Drive. Over 9,000 COOKIES DELIVERED this year (2022) Key Spouses, volunteers, and the local Minot community came together to donate cookies for the annual Cookie Drive.Thanks to the hard work of the volunteers, leadership from the 91st Security Forces Group was able to deliver over 1,000 cookies to each Missile Alert Facility.These Airmen sacrificed time away from their loved ones and ensured the strategic deterrence mission was carried out, even during the holidays. 05/13/2023

On my first (very brief) photo walk of the spring I saw something fluttering in the trees that I knew was not a bird. I had to walk clear across the park to see just exactly what it was.They either escaped from a in the park wedding or proposal. I'm guessing the latter as the week before I saw an elaborate "Will you marry me" set up at the park.There was not much else to photograph but I wanted to show you a dead loop in the river where I have taken countless pictures before. The BIG difference here is that this is without the lush foliage or the swamp green algae covering the water.And then there was this couple looking for a home.I hope to share much more as Spring starts heating up and I get out camping but for now... this is Spring in ND. 05/01/2023

The tiger cubs born December 2021 at the Roosevelt Park Zoo are growing up. Dmitri, Luka and Victoria were adorable as babies and now they are pretty entertaining.Their enclosure is a heavily reinforced chain link fence. The enclosure is a brand new state of the art enclosure that gives them room to roam, a pond, and an elevated walkway. I was surprised at the amount of time they spent outdoors during this past winter. I was also surprised that they found the chain link over the elevated walkway a comfortable hammock.Of course they eat and sleep inside a heated enclosure... unless an unfortunate squirrel or  rabbit wanders inside their outdoor habitat. Here is a video of feeding time inside the heated enclosure.  04/17/2023

I could take Timmothy's cartoon strip many directions today. Sleep, blame, miss application of goods, and of course I could talk about warmth. My choice is warmth.While a good blanket (or a pile of clothes to hide under) may provide warmth there is nothing like the warmth of feeling loved.Let's not assume people know we love them, let's show and tell them that we love them today.Today is the last day that I have volunteered to help out our local Christian radio station, although the fund raising campaign has one more day to go. I am feeling the love of the givers to this ministry as many have called in, drawing us near the goal set to keep us on the air.There is nothing like the warmth of generous people. There is nothing like the warmth of those united by love and there is nothing like... 04/17/2023

Hiccups are never convenient and usually are very annoying... especially in a business transaction. Obviously I am NOT talking about the type of hiccup Joe is experiencing while trying to sleep.Purchasing or selling a home is one of the most complex business transactions most people will face in their lifetime. As a retired Real Estate Broker who owned one of Minot North Dakota's oldest brokerages I want to encourage Home Buyers to run away when they see For Sale By Owner. There are just to many legal hiccups that can ensnare you and cost you your life savings.It has been my experience that most homes being sold For Sale By Owner are being sold that way because the Seller does NOT want to disclose a condition/flaw in the home, or worse yet, a flaw (cloud) in the title.A Real Estate agen... 04/14/2023

We know it's Spring in North Dakota when the Snowbirds return. I look forward to when my Best Friend returns from Arizona but he is not the first snow bird I usually see. It's this fellow who, every spring, is calling for his mate from the downtown rooftops.Due to the heaver than normal snow melt this year there are plenty of good spots for the geese to nest but every year this fellow likes to hang downtown and let us know he is back. 04/14/2023

Now it's really summer!That is this years theme for the 2023 ND State Fair. Well I for one am ready, we just set a record for the coldest winter in North Dakota history.Looking at this years line up I gotta say I must be getting really old as I only recognize one performer out of the seven and none of them are going to get any money to come out of my old billfold. HOWEVER I will be there every day for the midway, food, commercial exhibits and much more.One word of caution. Scammers are selling fake tickets and one look-a-like site has already been shut down so be sure you are dealing with the official State Fair and only the State Fair Site. 04/04/2023

KHRT, the Christian radio station that I used to work at (and still do on occasion) announced that their Spring Sharathon will be in two weeks.The Sharathon is kind of like the PBS fundraisers that ask you to support the station. Frankly they could not continue to share the Good News without listener support.During the days of the Sharathon I will be their answering the phone as well as being on the air to help out (not both at the same time).  03/30/2023

Bob "RealMan" Timm is the most recent recipient of two virtual hands full of gold coins for the March to a Solution|ActiveRain March 2023 Challenge. Bob completed three great entries. Be sure to read his stories and all the entries for this challenge.Those who participated showed their talent, used critical thinking, problem solving skills, and solutions. It has been a humbling experience. Many people get into the business because we make our careers look so easy. We are all only humans, helping other humans and pets too! Much time is given for the greater good who now have homes. We really were created to help one another. In every transaction and in every situation, there are lessons to be learned. Just as there are no two transactions alike, there are no two human beings alike either... 03/17/2023

For about 24 hours now we have been getting buried under snow coupled with strong winds. This is NOT unusual for North Dakota but it still is disappointing. It has been enough snow that it has really brought the City to a stand still HOWEVER we (my family) decided we needed to go to Menards. It appeared that about 30 employees showed up... and us. It was kind of fun.The ContrastYesterday we received our notice that The North Dakota State Fair, held right here in Minot, is set and ready to roll for July 21st - 29th. The North Dakota State Fair is the largest event in the State of North Dakota and this year I am going to purchase a whole event pass for the first time ever. I am really looking forward to taking in all the free events. If you are coming to Minot I'd love to have you join me... 03/11/2023

Using Microsoft Publisher and my own little HP Printer I've come up with a brochure for Timmothy's art gallery (The Titus & Philemon Art Gallery).  This is a trifold brochure. Your critical input is welcome.Exposed when cover is open   This is the Back panel       This is the Cover panelAll three of these panels are exposed when the brochure is totally open.The panel with all the cartoons is a photo of one wall of the gallery. Each cartoon is 11" X 17" so you are looking at a span of roughly 7' wide. I wish it was sharper but it was the best I could do. Would you replace it with something else? It is easier to see on the actual brochure. As a brochure that is handed out with-in the gallery I thought it would still be a good reminder at home of what they saw... your thoughts?   03/07/2023

The BIGGEST obstacle to any family's travel plans could be their family member with fur. So it was for us as we had hoped to visit Tina (our daughter) 300 miles across the State in Grand Forks North Dakota.The hotel/motel that our daughter was staying at does not allow pets so we had to make other arrangements. It ended up that hotel had no rooms due to a hockey tournament so we stayed at another. A neighbor was kind enough to watch Baby for us for the day and 3/4 we were gone. Once we got to the hotel we were staying at it ended up they did allow pets. Truth be told it was nice to be away from home and not have to worry about Baby's bathroom schedule plus I'm sure she was more comfortable at home as opposed to coming along.Of course another option would be to kennel Baby. We had heard ... 03/06/2023

Why do I Love Minot North Dakota?We have all learned, or at least been told, NOT to love anything that can not love you back. That's good advice to live by.  It's not so much that I love Minot (yuck) but I do love the friendliness of the people in the community. Minot is a small city of just over 50,000 people. North Dakota, as a whole, is not a diverse community BUT Minot is. The Minot Air Force Base population of 5,494 active duty troops and the families of those Airmen and Misslers plus the support staff that comes with those troops bump that up to 14,624. They all add a lot to the cities diversity.  And then there is the constant influx of oil field workers who come from all over the world. It all adds up to you being surprised at Minot's diversity when you walk through the communit... 02/26/2023

Eleven years ago today we were able to move back into our flood ravaged home. My home is the one furthest to the left. The white metal roof is our carport. The lower edge of the carport is how high the water got at it's peak (5-1/2' inside on the main level).We were very fortunate that I had strong ties to many contractors at the time (except for an electrician). We were one of the very first to be back in our home out of the thousands of homes that were hit by the flood.Of course this was just the start of getting our lives back together. Truth be told our yard is still a mess because of all the bad seeds that the flood buried in it. This Spring I plan on nuking it for the 3rd time to start over. All that is buried below the surface keeps coming back and destroying the newly seeded yar... 02/24/2023

I know that I can not identify all the different kinds of pipe pictured above BUT I do know that water will freeze in every one of them.The real question here is which ones are least likely to burst when water freezes in them? I can tell you that from my experience (mostly as a Realtor and not as a home owner) I would have the most piece of mind going with PEX. My second choice would be cooper. I have seen virtually every other one crack or shatter when frozen.Why would I be writing this when Spring is so near? Because we are currently in a deep freeze with tomorrows high forecast to be -17 degrees AND a close friend told me her pipes were frozen today... only to find out the water main (6' or more down in the ground) froze cutting water off to her entire block. 02/23/2023

While cleaning up a hard drive yesterday I ran into this old photo and it brought back pleasant memories to me.It was taken on Fathers Day 2008 at a private residence. We were one of literally hundreds of families invited. The home is in city limits and on approximately 30 acres.It was a wonderful event put on by a Christian family for the sole purpose of celebrating Fathers and their families. It was much a carnival, vintage auto show, and a steak meal for all attendees. Completely paid for by the hosts. 02/16/2023

There is stuff you SHOULD know when setting out to purchase a new refrigerator.A new refrigerator can cost you as little as $800.00 for an small (18 cubic foot), family size fridge. You can also spend $10,000. for a ginormous household fridge.Tip: Do not confuse need with desire. Desire costs!Here is my story. Our fridge died Friday afternoon, this weekend. Not a good time to call a repair person (is it ever?). With the normal rate being about $100.00 an hour and time and a half or double on a weekend I decided to blow that plan off completely.We set out with four stops in mind: Menard's, Home Depot, Best Buy, and Karl's, in that order.Menard's: They had a really good price on one we liked BUT the little part time twit who waited on us was a royal pain in the ass. The twit did not know ... 02/07/2023

Okay, I truly doubt that is going to be a "Happy Trip"for Brownsie or that it will get him home.Hopefully Joe will step in and put a stop to it before Brownsie becomes a permanent splat on the wall.Speaking of happy trips my daughter, Tina, said the military flight out of the Middle East to the States was long but not bad. From the East Coast they sent her on a commercial flight to Milwaukee and then after debriefing she took the train from Milwaukee to Minot ND.Tina has used the train many times and says that the Amtrack service is good. I myself have only been on the train once and that was a Cub Scout thing traveling just 10 miles so we could "experience" it. What I remember from that 10 mile trip 60 years ago is that it seemed to go through unspoiled beauty.My point: If you are plan... 02/03/2023

Guess Who's Home!I know this is supposed to be wordless but I can not contain my joy that Tina is home from her six month mission in Kuwait. She surprised us all. Me first by walking into my office at 11AM this morning, Timmothy when he came home at noon, and Carol when she got off work at 3:30. Welcome home Tina. 02/01/2023