By Alan Olson

Minnesota, aptly named, the “Land of 10,000 Lakes”, is well known for its abundance of lakes and rivers. In fact there are over 11,000 lakes over 10 acres in size, and more than 63,000 miles of natural streams and rivers. Chances are, after spending a few years here, you may eventually purchase property on or near one of these bodies of water.

Here are some issues that need to be taken into consideration before purchasing a shoreland property:

Decide exactly what you want out of this property, and then do the research to determine if it will meet your needs. For instance, if you are looking for a year round home; are the roads maintained in the winter, or will you have to purchase a four-wheel drive vehicle to get around.

Are you looking for a weekend getaway for peace and relaxation? Make certain this isn’t “party lake central”, and bustling with wakeboarders and seadoos in the summertime. On the flip side, if you are looking for a place for your high powered water toys, and all you see are kayaks parked along the docks; you may run into some problems with your neighbors.

Different districts have their own set of zoning ordinances that may not agree with your plans for the lot. There are also many lots that were created prior to the shore land rules being put in place, and some of these may be too small to house a well or septic system. Depending on the intended use of the property, the lot shape may also be a consideration.

Land elevations are extremely important to consider when deciding on a location for your home. To minimize the risk of flooding, the basement or lowest part of your house should be at least three feet above the highest known water level. Sewage treatment systems should be inspected before you make any purchase, since these have similar restrictions and may require costly upgrades.

If the lot is situated on a steep slope, in order to prevent erosion, there are very specific rules that must be adhered to. Undesirable soil conditions can add thousands of additional dollars to a sewage treatment system if there is an improper balance of soil types. In general, a filled wetland makes an unstable base and development in these areas should be avoided.

You may have plans to remove some unsightly shrubs at the water’s edge; however, there are strict rules regulating the amount of vegetation that can be removed. If you were planning to add enough fill to create a sandy beach, you would require DNR approval to make any sort of changes at or below the water’s edge. It may be to your advantage to seek out a lot that already has a sandy shoreline.

The DNR shore land standards apply to all lakes greater than 25 acres (10 acres in municipalities). It may seem like a lot of rules to conform to, but the fresh water from Minnesota’s many lakes is a valuable resource, and adhering to these standards helps to ensure our future generations share the same enjoyment of these waters.

Experience the high standards and professionalism at Century 21 in your search for Minnesota real estate. Let their winning team help you with all your Fergus Falls real estate needs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alan_Olson
http://EzineArticles.com/?Lake-Front-Property—Look-Before-You-Leap!&id=786054

By Jessica Elliott

Maybe you’re buying your first home in Minnesota, or perhaps you’re relocating to Minnesota from another state. Either way, it’s important that you educate yourself on Minnesota home loans before shopping for a home and mortgage. This article explains what you’ll need to know before buying a home in Minnesota:

The median price of a home in Minnesota is $122,400. The price of homes in Minnesota varies widely between zip codes. For example, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the median price of a home in the summer of 2005 was $320,000; however, in Plymouth, Minnesota, the median price of a home was $214,000, and in Forest Lake, Minnesota, it was $225,000. Average interest and job growth rates in South Dakota are both below the national average.

Minnesota law prohibits the financing of points and fees on a mortgage that are more than 5% of the loan amount. Additionally, Minnesota limits the ownership of agricultural land to U.S. citizens and permanent residents, and corporations owned at least 80% by U.S. citizens and permanent residents.

The state of Minnesota does not regulate home radon levels. This means that home buyers must test for radon levels in the home they are purchasing and decide for themselves how much radon is acceptable in their home.

Jessica Elliott recommends that you visit Mortgage Lenders Plus.com for more information about Minnesota Mortgage Rates and Loans.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jessica_Elliott
http://EzineArticles.com/?Minnesota-Mortgage—What-to-Expect-When-Buying-a-Home-in-Minnesota&id=263529

EnergyStar.gov — Check Out Energy Rebates

This is a government site that offers lots of energy saving tips as well as explains what energy saving grants or credits might be available.

Here is the latest issue of my foreclosure trends newsletter.  As you can see, the trend is not our friend, in the sense that the housing market has not recovered.  Until jobs come back and people are employed and feel safe in their employment, they will tend to avoid making a committment.

ForeclosureTrends.pdf

Besides the board of realtor sites:  http://theThing.mplsrealtor.com and market data posted elsewhere at http://www.MplsRealtor.com I have a subscription to Realty Trac.  My subscription gives me additional data about foreclosures and trends within certain zip codes.  This is in addition to my daily subscription to Finance & Commerce (a business newspaper that prints all the foreclosure information as well as very timely articles regarding the business community).  If you are looking for someone who has experience and access to information about distressed sales, we need to be working together.  Whether buyer or seller-I can help you understand the market we are in and the options and opportunities available to you.  Give me call today.

These are a couple of my newsletters that have a ton of valuable information. Go check them out.

Foreclosure Market Trends Newsletter
http://www.realtytrac.com/MarketTrends/NewsLetter.aspx?guid=131bd355-1b69-4bd1-99cd-2f0c9a936810

Real Estate Cyber Space Tips
http://www.REcyber.com/cybertips/r11627

Caught on a medium sucker and bobber at 8pm

Thinking about buying a home but don’t know where to start? Why not start by reading the home buyer hand book that we have provided below. It is a great place to start to get the information you need. When you’re ready, we would love to help you find and finance a new home.