Walker - Leech Lake Minnesota Articles

All markets have ups and downs, and the real estate market is no exception. When activity slows in real estate, asking prices come down, and that’s what we’ve been seeing in the last few months. The good news is that buyers are responding. They are calling us, coming up to view properties, and purchasing that lake home or cabin they’ve been dreaming about. Buyers are finding value.

Living through a real estate market in transition is difficult for sellers (and for real estate professionals, too). However, the market always works itself out, and will move to the place (i.e. price) where a willing buyer and a willing seller meet. Formerly I had been a commodity trader and it was there that I came to really understand the process of how to handle a quickly moving market on a daily basis. Experienced guidance and counsel are very important in a market in transition. As a buyer or seller spend time finding an experienced agent, someone you can feel confident working with. They can help guide you to a good value.

So ask yourself, what are you dreaming about? What picture comes to your mind when you think about that special lake place ‘Up North’? What do you value? Now spend some time searching through some of the great listings here on lakeshoredreams.com, or on one of the many great sites linked through this one. Or check out our website at billhansenrealty.com. Now’s the time to find that dream property. Keep looking and I bet you’ll find it.

It’s time to make the dream a reality.

P.S. This spectacular Leech Lake home is offered for $699,000 (MLS #178807). Check it out on our website, and then give me a call!

Our toll-free office numbers: Longville (888) 517-2550 Hackensack (866) 611-7653

“This home is the culmination of years of planning,” Kay says. “Now we’re at the point where we can enjoy it.”

The Miedes developed several different floor plans over the years, but they knew they had found “their home” when they attended the Golden Eagle Tour of Homes at the company headquarters in Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. “We walked into the Double Eagle model and immediately knew this was what we wanted,” Rick says. “Once we saw that house, all of our other plans went out the window.” 

Soon after, they connected with Mary Best, owner of Best Properties and a Golden Eagle Log Home dealer in Park Rapids. As a licensed general contractor, Best worked with the Miedes in completing their dream home.

“Building a log home is truly about a feeling, an ambience,” Best says. “It is very much a lifestyle. Having that ambience and atmosphere come through is what we’re all about.”

And that careful planning is on display throughout the Miedes’ 2,600+ square foot second home in the woods. The home is set back down a hill with a gorgeous view of the island on Elbow Lake. A great deal of excavation was done, moving the house further down the hill, in order to give the house the best vantage point from every window.

“We help our clients recognize the contour of the building site and what view they want from a particular room at a particular time of day,” Best says. “Building a log home is a commitment to a certain lifestyle. We want our clients to maximize the natural environment.” 

While the Miedes selected the floor plan for the Double Eagle, one of Golden Eagle Log Homes’ best sellers, the couple added many of the amenities of the Double Eagle Deluxe. One of the added benefits of Golden Eagle Log Homes is the ability to modify home plans, Rick says.
 After receiving the building permit on July 5, 2005, the Miedes and Best were ready to go. Excavation was completed in September of that year and full construction began in mid-October.

Best is a “hands-on” general contractor and oversaw construction throughout the winter; the home was completed at the end of August 2006. Because it is a second home for the Miedes, the process was more relaxed, allowing the couple to add just the right touches to the home.

A welcoming entryway provides the first glimpse of the Miedes’ little slice of heaven. The floor-to-ceiling windows are framed by comfortable, lodge-style furniture from Home Furniture of Wisconsin Rapids and a huge stone fireplace created by Burton Construction of Park Rapids. The inviting earth-tones of the room invoke a sense of calm and relaxation.

“Since this is really the room we will spend most of our time in, I wanted it to feel comfortable,” Kay says. “Above all, this is a home, not just a house on a lake.”

The dining room and kitchen are just off of the great room, allowing perfect views of the lake from every angle. Custom hickory flooring offers a unique blend of colors that enhance the main level of the home. Granite counter tops from Designer Stone in Randall are framed by the U-shaped kitchen, highlighted with specialized lighting above and below the cabinetry done by Red Willow in Grand Rapids. The cabinets, featuring solid doors as well as glass fronts and hideaways, were built by Golden Eagle Log Homes as part of the Miedes’ package.

A lakeside deck that runs the length of the house is accessible from the dining area by a sliding glass door; a sliding glass door also opens from the master bedroom, and French doors provide an additional access to the versatile deck.

Just off the great room is the master bedroom. Featuring toe-warming carpet, the bedroom is highlighted by hand-made furniture from The Lonesome Cottage in Pequot Lakes. 

“I was completely amazed by how well everything came together with our furniture,” Kay says. “There are some very interesting looks involved, and I am very pleased with it all.”

The master bath is off of the bedroom and features a dynamic ceramic tile pattern by Jeremy Chase of Park Rapids. A whirlpool tub is tucked away in a bump-out section of the room, and double sinks and a shower complete the room. A large walk-in closet is also off of the master bedroom, providing plenty of room for the couple’s belongings.

A large log-tread stairway off the entryway leads to the upper loft level, and another stairway opens to the lower level of the walkout. Two bedrooms are upstairs, each with large dormer windows and gentle carpeting to continue the warm atmosphere of the home.

Some aspects of the Miede home were specialized just for them. The inverted dormers in the great room had logs hewn to fit and feature handcrafted full logs. The king post truss system over the deck is another upgrade the Miedes selected.

“Golden Eagle Log Homes provides everything in their packages,” Kay says. “That was such a help for us because it took the mystery out of building and allowed us to focus on our home instead of the minute details involved. We left that up to Mary and Best Properties.”

At no time during the home’s construction — from the selection of the lot to the planning of the layout to the log peeling and building — was the need to integrate the entire living space forgotten. Wandering floor to floor and room to room, everything flows in concert with all the other elements.

“We’ve dreamed about this for years,” Rick says. “It’s been exciting to watch the process unfold, see our ideas being built. We’re looking forward to enjoying our home for many years to come.”

Mary Weaver is a writer who lives on Pickerel Lake. Photo courtesy of Lake and Home Magazine.

This is the last installment of Mary Weaver’s cabin series courtesy of Lake and Home Magazine.

Gathering Shores—Sylvan and Tamarack Lakes—Backus, MN—Map

Gathering Shores will be a 7 lot development built on a 38 acre parcel located between Sylvan and Tamarack Lake in Cass County. Four lots will have frontage on Sylvan while the remaining three will be on Tamarack. The lot sizes range between is 1 and 5 acres with frontages ranging from 150 to 420 feet. These lots are intended for single family homes.

Lake Name: Sylvan
Acreage: 98
Max Depth: 26 ft
Fish: Bluegill, Yellow bullhead

4 Lot Development--Girl Lake—Longville, MN—Map

The Cass County Planning and Zoning Committee recommended that this development be approved on Jan. 25^th, 2007.

The development is located ½ mile south of the corporate limits of Longville in Cass County. The lakeside property contains approximately 20 acres along with a 3-4 acre bay on Girl Lake, measuring 1,320ft east to west and 630ft from north to south.

Lake Acreage: 383
Max Depth: 65 ft.
Fish: Nothern Pike, Walleye, Bluegill

Bill Hansen Realty first opened its doors in 1977 under the direction of Bill Hansen, Sr. Its mission was simple: to provide outstanding real estate service to their clients and it has done so for the past 29 years. Today, the tradition of excellence continues with the next generation of Hansens at the helm, Bill, Jr., and his wife Laura.

A native of Longville, Minnesota, Bill Hansen, Jr. became very familiar with the lakes area as a youngster looking for places to fish, hunt, and enjoy the great outdoors. After high school, he studied at the University of Minnesota Duluth, earning a degree in business marketing. Bill, Jr. then went to work for Cargill, Inc. for 10 years as an international grain trader. He's lived all over the United State, calling Ohio, Colorado, and Kansas City home, before returning to Longville in 1998 to join the family real estate business.

Selling real estate has been a good fit for Bill, Jr., combining his business and marketing expertise with his deep love and knowledge of the area. LakeshoreDreams.com had a chance to chat with Bill, Jr. and learn more about him and the area that he serves.

LD: What do you love most about living and working in Longville?

Hansen, Jr.: It's absolutely gorgeous out here. Within a 25 mile radius we have about 127 lakes. Lots of people are drawn here because there are plenty of amenities. There are lakes to fish and boat in and trails for hiking. Even driving through Longville is a treat because of the trees.

Approximately 2/3 of the land surrounding Longville is public land, so everyone is free to use and enjoy it. The Chippewa National Forest is also nearby.

And during the winter time, a lot of the locals may head to Arizona during the winter, but it's just as enjoyable up here. There's snowmobiling and ice fishing, things like that.

LD: What do you feel is your biggest obligation to your clients?

Hansen, Jr.: I always work with the client's best interest in mind. If you are looking to buy, I want to find you the best piece of property that suits your need and is in your price range. The same goes if I'm helping you sell. I strive to show your property to as many prospective buyers as possible. The more people who view your property, the better chance of finding the person who would be a good fit for that property. And when you find that person, they tend to pay the best price for it.

LD: What kind of properties are you working with now?

Hansen, Jr.: About 80% of my business revolves around lake homes. The remaining 20 is a mixture of everything else, some residential, some rec land, things like that. It's kind of funny. A lot of the real estate agents have "Lake Specialist" in their title, but the thing is that the majority of the places for sale out here are lakeside property. I guess that makes me a Lake Specialist by default. That's what's available to show, so I show them.

LD: Who's buying out there?

Hansen, Jr.: Most of the people buying are the baby boomers, the people who aren't quite at retirement age, but are looking for a place out of the city to stay before the snow hits.

LD: Any new developments or big projects on the horizon?

Hansen, Jr.: Nothing really big on the horizon. About 93% of the lakes out here have houses on them already. What a lot of individuals are doing is rebuilding or refurbishing existing cabins and turning them into more permanent homes. For example, I've seen a 900 square foot 2 bedroom, 1 bath cabin be remodeled into a 2,400-3,600 square foot house with 3 bedrooms and 2 baths. These projects are usually undertaken by our semi-permanent residents. They want a nice place to stay out of the city for six months out of the year before moving on to warmer climates for the next six.

For more information on properties in the Longville/Leech Lake region please visit Bill Hansen, Jr.'s listing page on LakeshoreDreams.com.

Bunyan buffs will know that this town is the home of Lucette Diana Kensack, Paul's girlfriend and eventual wife. They celebrate this union during the Paul and Lucette Wedding Anniversary Celebration held in June. The carnival like atmosphere includes arts and crafts, remote controlled airplane demonstrations and a canoe race.

Music lovers will enjoy Sweetheart Days in July, Lucette's very own rock 'n' roll festival, and fans of wood carving and power tools won't want to miss the National Chainsaw Sculpting Invitational in September, where some of the artists in the area break out their buzzsaws and create some of the most amazing works of art right before your very eyes.

Don't forget to experience the Deep Portage Conservation Reserve, an environmental education center and an outdoor recreation facility all rolled into one. Encompassing over 6,000 acres filled with glacier hills, lakes, rivers, and bogs, their facilities provide opportunities to explore the regions natural wonders both inside and outside the classroom. Why just learn about forest conservation, when you can go out into the woods and put some of those techniques into practice. There are miles of trails to enjoy, a visitors' center, and year-round educational programming. Summer is a great time to paddle, hike, bike or otherwise explore the forests and lakes.

While this town may claim to be the "Turtle Racing Capital of the World," don't think that it's all this city has to offer. Longville, Minnesota has been a popular vacation destination for several years now.

Surrounded by lakes and forests, this city offers a diversity of activities all year round. Some of the best boating, hiking, and fishing spots can be found in this area during the summer and fall, while ice fishing, cross country skiing, and snowmobiling are popular during the spring and fall.

Local businesses are very accommodating offering lodging and equipment rentals for all of your recreation needs.

Runners, be sure to challenge the annual Run Around Woman Lake, a 30k event held every May. The race takes you along the shores of the beautiful Woman Lake and passes through a portion of Chippewa National Forest. What better way to challenge yourself and enjoy the natural beauty around you.

You'll be able to find a little bit of everything in this charming town. The winter months provide quality cross country skiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, and any number of activities to keep the winter enthusiast occupied. Summers can be spent down by its many lakes boating, fishing, or just relaxing on the beach. However, if you are looking for some fun away from the water, Park Rapids will not disappoint.

Why not catch the Northland Bison Ranch tour and learn about the majestic "American Buffalo" and its place as one of the most useful and revered creatures in both Native American and pioneer history.

Learn that great wine doesn't have to come from France as you sample the wines at the Forestedge Winery in nearby Laporte.

The village of Walker was founded on March 10, 1896, shortly after the railroad came from Brainerd to Walker. Cass County was one ten counties created out to the Minnesota Territory on May 1, 1851. The county was named after Governor Lewis Cass, of the Michigan Territory. Cass along with Schoolcraft, led the famous expedition of 40 men to discover the true source of the Mississippi River in 1820.

The annual Eelpout Festival calls this city its home. This three day festival in February pays homage to one of the tastiest (if not ugliest) in this region with fishing contests, auto races, and rugby matches, all held on ice.

Coburn's Leech Lake Cruises offers a nice relaxing way to enjoy Leech lake with cruises offered three times daily complete with a full bar, some light dining fair, and scenic views of the lake and surrounding woods that you won't soon forget.

The Shingobee Recreation Area about six miles southwest of Walker highlights one of the most geologically unique regions. The Shingobee River valley is believed to have been created by the cataclysmic collapse of the giant glacier that covered and created Leech Lake (Minnesota's third largest lake) 10,000 years ago. Known locally as "The Little Grand Canyon" it is characterized by deep glacial moraine, virgin white and red pine forests, land faults, a diversity of animal and plant life, plus a wealth of hiking trails and nature areas. It was also the home of one of Minnesota's first downhill ski areas in the 1930's.

Fans of classic rock won't want to miss the Moondance Jam in July. This annual four day festival started out as a small promotion for a local riding stable and has since become the largest summer concert event in Minnesota. Rock legends such as The Guess Who, Starship, Steppenwolf, and ZZ Top have graced the Moondance stage along with up and coming talent from the surrounding area. So come and visit for a day or haul out the tent or RV and stay on the grounds for your own rocking after party.

According to Ojibwe legend, Leech lake, Ten Mile, and Winnibigoshish, were formed when an Indian princess drove a magical obsidian spear into a rock, bringing water and life to the once dry and barren region. Today, there is no denying that the Leech Lake region has lost none of its magical beauty and charm.

Leech Lake is the third largest lake in Minnesota that lies entirely within the state's borders. Covering 112,000 surface acres, this irregularly shaped lake dotted with many bays and coves ideal for fishing. Anglers flock to this lake, spending an average of 1.2 million hours a year hooking walleye, northern pike, and muskellunge during the open water fishing season. Most of the lake bottoms out at 35 feet while its deepest point at Walker Bay is 150 feet. 

Walker sits on the shores of Leech Lake and is home to some of the best fishing in the nation. The annual Eelpout Festival in February pays homage to one of the tastiest (if not ugliest) in this region with fishing contests, auto races, and rugby matches, all held on ice.

The Shingobee Recreation Area about six miles southwest of Walker highlights one of the most geologically unique regions. Known locally as "The Little Grand Canyon" it is characterized by deep glacial moraine, virgin white and red pine forests, land faults, a diversity of animal and plant life, plus a wealth of hiking trails and nature areas.

Ten Mile Lake is a 4669-acre lake located near Hackensack that has 21.8 miles of shoreline and has a maximum depth of 208 feet. Northern pike are most abundant in this lake followed closely by the walleye. Other species found here include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, largemouth bass, lake whitefish, pumpkinseed sunfish, rock bass, smallmouth bass, white sucker, yellow bullhead, and yellow perch.

Paul Bunyan buffs will want to visit Hackensack, the hometown of his sweetheart and wife, Lucette Kensack. They celebrate this union during the Paul and Lucette Wedding Anniversary Celebration held in June. The carnival like atmosphere includes arts and crafts, remote controlled airplane demonstrations and a canoe race.

Music lovers will enjoy Sweetheart Days in July, Lucette's very own rock 'n' roll festival, and fans of wood carving and power tools won't want to miss the National Chainsaw Sculpting Invitational in September, where some of the artists in the area break out their buzzsaws and create some of the most amazing works of art right before your very eyes.

Lake Winnibigoshish is one of the largest lakes in Minnesota. It covers 58,544 acres which makes it nearly the size of the entire city of St. Paul. Lake Winnie, as the locals call it, is located in central Minnesota along Highway 2 in the Chippewa National Forest and bordering the Leech Lake Indian Reservation.  Like most of the other lakes of the region, the walleye fishing is excellent and its smooth, open waters makes boating a very pleasurable experience.

Cass Lake is located in the heart of the Chippewa National Forest. It is the largest in a chain of 8 lakes interconnected by the Mississippi river. The scenery on this 15,596 acre lake is absolutely breathtaking with its 26.9 miles of forested shoreline and sandy beaches. Anglers will be challenged by her steep drop offs, midlake bars, and sunken islands but the rewards that await them will be well worth the effort. Cass offers a healthy population of Walleye, Northern Pike, and Perch, as well as trophy worthy Muskie.

Woman Lake is a 4782 acre lake that lies three miles west of Longville. Best known for her crystal clear waters, Woman Lake provides fantastic fishing for a wide variety of species of fish. Most anglers go after the walleye, but yellow perch is the most common species caught. Other popular species found here are black crappie, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, rock bass, smallmouth bass, and sunfish.  

Longville, "The Turtle Racing Capital of the World," holds the annual Run Around Woman Lake which takes runners along the shore of beautiful Woman lake and through a portion of the Chippewa National Forest.

Longville offers a diversity of activities all year round. Some of the best boating, hiking, and fishing spots can be found in this area during the summer and fall, while ice fishing, cross country skiing, and snowmobiling are popular during the spring and fall.

Local businesses are very accommodating offering lodging and equipment rentals for all of your recreation needs.

Park Rapids has a little bit of everything for the winter and summer enthusiast. The winter months provide quality cross country skiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, and any number of activities to keep the winter enthusiast occupied. Summers can be spent boating, fishing, or just relaxing by the beach.

Park Rapids is also the gateway into Itasca State Park and home to the historically famous Heartland Trail.

For Lakeshoredreams.com, the counties grouped in Walker\Leech Lake MN include:

Hubbard County MN, Cass County MN

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