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LakeshoreDreams.com
Lake Home & Cabin Guide
July 2008

Most Popular Stories

Minnesota Lakeshore For Less	Feb 2007
Three Reasons to Look For a Lake Home Sooner Than Later	Jan 2007
Welcome to the new LakeshoreDreams.com	Dec 2006
Get Ready to Look for a Lake Home	Jan 2007
Easy Lakefront Condominium Living At The Heart Of Lake Minocqua	Mar 2007
Where Do You Want to Build Your Lake Home?: Minnesota Lake Classifications	Feb 2007
What's New in Recreational Lakeshore Homes	Apr 2007
Building on the Lake: Take Your Time, Do Your Homework	Apr 2007
Minnesota Lakeshore Property Owners Battle DNR Over Aquatic Vegetation	Feb 2007
Ready, Willing, and Able: Buying or Building a Lakeshore Cabin or Home-Tips for the Disabled	Feb 2007

Building A Legacy... Restoring Relationships

Neil Johnson - June 2008

Minnesota & Wisconsin Lakefront Properties and Lake Home News

Back in the summer of 2003, my wife and I started to aggressively look for a lake property. We were told that what we were looking for would be impossible to find, but I had been to too many PMA (Positive Mental Attitude) Seminars and read too many Zig Ziglar books to be deterred. And really, how hard should it be to find a private lake with quality water, firm shoreline, and five hundred acres of good hunting land? My dream was born out o... More

For Love of the Land

Erl Morrell-Stinson - June 2008

He’s an enigma, in a good sort of way! The owner of Land & Cabins in Hinckley, Minnesota, is an outdoorsman who would rather disappear into the deep woods with a backpack than be surrounded by people in a city. And yet he is one of those people who is extremely well-known, well-liked, and has “friends everywhere”. Get to know Brian Weidendorf, and you’ll quickly appreciate why. He’s friendly, good-natured, and there’s no q... More

Grand Rapids, Minnesota

Erl Morrell-Stinson - June 2008

Beauty & BusinessTake a boat tour on the waters of the world’s largest open pit mine, eat garlic cheese bread at the Pizza Hut that invented it, and watch a paper coating machine that broke a world speed record, coating nearly a mile of paper a minute. Where? Grand Rapids! The county seat of Itasca County, Minnesota, has been a favorite vacation destination for over a hundred years. The area’s one thousand fishing la... More

If You’re Burning Garbage, You’re Making Poison

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - May 2008

For generations, many rural Minnesotans have burned their own garbage on-site; usually in a burn barrel. It was free, convenient, and easy to do. The problem is, burning your garbage is far more harmful to your health, our health, and the environment than previously thought. Whether it’s done in a traditional burn barrel, wood stove, fire-pit, or at the cabin… if you’re burning garbage, you’re making poison. Fifty to a hu... More

Dreaming Trail: The Lake Escape. Preserved. By Nature.

Erl Morrell-Stinson - May 2008

Preserving Nature It’s easy for a company to say it protects the land and preserves places for you to enjoy. It is much more challenging to not only accomplish this, but also to be the leader in designing environmentally responsible lake escapes. Legacy Land Group does both. Legacy Land Group is earnest, almost obsessive, about its mission to create the finest affordable lakeshore getaways while protecting the land’s natural beauty. They... More

Detroit Lakes MN

Erl Morrell-Stinson - May 2008
Ever seen a sunfish with sunglasses, swept the ice in a bonspiel, swayed to the rhythm and colors of a Native American pow-wow, or camped out for a weekend of country music? Welcome to Detroit Lakes, county seat of Becker County, where you can enjoy a sense of fun and community all year round! Detroit Lakes is a water wonderland about forty minutes east of Fargo on Highway 10. As the name implies, it definitely is lake ... More

Phosphorus, Dishwashing Detergents, and Our Lakes and Streams

Darlene Carlson - May 2008
Water Quality Director (WAPOA)

Phosphorus is a nutrient required by all organisms for the basic processes of life. A natural element found in rocks, soils and organic material, phosphorus clings tightly to soil particles and is used by plants, so its concentration in clean lakes and streams is generally very low. However, phosphorus is used extensively in many dishwashing detergents and other household and industrial chemicals, so it can be found in higher concentrations in... More

Back to what Matters: Hayward, WI

Erl Morrell-Stinson - April 2008
Deep in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, Hayward is one of those places where you plan things like a dream wedding, a gorgeous honeymoon, or the ultimate family vacation! Loggers come here from New Zealand to compete. Tough guy, Al Capone, used it as his own personal retreat. In the Hayward Area they’ve got it all – gorgeous natural settings, pleasant weather, world class restaurants and caterers, a thriving business economy, and venue... More

Treeland Resort: A Treasure Across Generations!

Erl Morrell-Stinson - April 2008
Humble Beginnings “I don’t think the cows would mind being closer to the water!” In that moment of simple Norwegian stubbornness, Olaf Treland set a family standard of preserving what was truly important. Four generations later, what began as a simple saw mill on a cattle farm, has now grown into the four separate luxury resort properties that make up Treeland Resorts. Great-grandpa Olaf came from Norway wi... More

You Don't Know Jack?

Ben Haines - April 2008

The year was 1966, the scene, the “National Snowmobiling Championships – Detroit Lakes”, the end of day one of racing. On the sidelines sat young Jack Chivers, one could not have missed him at six foot seven and 250 lbs but they may have missed what he was thinking. Basically a change of his life plans was taking place that very moment inside his head. Before that moment, Jack Chivers – by the way you pronounce the ‘CH’ and then ... More

Arrowwood Resort: A Place to Make Memories

Erl Morrell-Stinson - March 2008
Just minutes from downtown Alexandria, Minnesota, the Arrowwood Resort & Conference Center is located on beautiful Lake Darling, and offers an incredible array of resort amenities right outside your doorstep. In a setting of natural splendor, featuring the Big Splash indoor water park and new luxury townhomes, and voted “Best 2004 Lakeshore Resort” by MN Meetings & Events Magazine, Arrowwood is your ideal choice for a Minnesota Res... More

Alexandria Minnesota: Easy to Love!

Erl Morell-Stinson - March 2008
Where southern prairie meets the northern forest, and receding glaciers once carved their way through the granite landscape, Alexandria is a scenic & recreational paradise. Just off I-94, the county seat for Douglas County lies almost exactly halfway between the Twin Cities and Fargo, and provides convenient access to business, work and commerce. The Alexandria Lakes Area offers the best of all worlds: unlimited access to the outdo... More

“Breaker, Breaker 1-9 for a 1031, got your ears on good buddy?”

Rocky Shores - February 2008

Real estate investors are getting more and more savvy. The best investors know they can sell a property and avoid taxes simply by trading for other like-kind property through Section 1031 of the IRS Code. Furthermore, our IRS explains “Like-Kind” Exchanges, in words only a tax accountant could love. Like-Kind Exchanges - Real Estate Tax TipsGenerally, if you exchange business or investment property solely for business or investment proper... More

Life as a Shampoo Bottle: Thankfully there are Lake Associations

Rocky Shores - January 2008

Have you ever looked at a shampoo bottle where it says, lather, rinse, repeat, but the directions never tell you when to stop? If you are a cabin owner your life may be a little bit like that shampoo bottle. Monday through Friday you work really hard at your job and somehow, someone during the week manages to get groceries, mow the lawn, and pay the bills. Friday, you repack some of those groceries and head Up North, arrive at the ca... More

WHAT and WHERE is the best SNOW?

Rocky Shores - January 2008

The last few years, we all have been saying and hearing, "Where is the snow?...Where is the snow?" and this year Winter snow has returned. Now, you may ask, "What's SNOW?" or perhaps, "Where is the best snow?" Let's find out some answers to those questions. But first, let’s look at a few FAQs on SNOW (for you non-IT nerds, FAQ stands for “Frequently Asked Questions”): “What is SNOW?” ... More

Ice Safety Tips

Minnesota DNR - December 2007
Minnesota DNR

There is no such thing as 100 percent safe ice, but before venturing out on a frozen lake or pond, here are a few things to keep in mind courtesy of the Minnesota DNR website: Check for known thin ice areas with a local resort or bait shop.Test the thickness yourself using an ice chisel, ice auger or even a cordless 1/4 inch drill with a long bit. Refrain from driving on ice whenever possible.If you must drive a vehicle, be prepared to ... More

Lakeshore Summit Explores “Your Best Way to the Lake”

Neil Johnson - October 2007

The fact that it is currently a buyers market does not apply to the residential home market only, for there are great values in the lakeshore or recreational property market right now as well. However, whether buying or selling it pays for the consumer to be well informed. Lakeshore Dreams.com, the premier Internet resource for lakeshore and recreational properties in Minnesota and Wisconsin, is sponsoring a Lakeshore Summit Decemb... More

Lakeshore Summit Comes to Maple Grove, MN on December 15, 2007

Amelia Gislason - October 2007

It has often been said that one cannot make good decisions if they have bad or unreliable information. No where is this more true than in the buying and selling of lakeshore property. Prospective buyers have grown more wary, and real estate professionals less confident, as usable lakeshore property within commuting distance of larger metropolitan areas has become more difficult to find and its value has increased. Lakeshore and rec... More

A Return to Their Roots

Rebecca Kurowski - September 2007
Lake and Home Magazine

Every home comes with a story. And all homeowners have a tale or two, as well. But it’s not every day that homeowners actually make the home’s story. A romantic Vergas couple with a penchant for preserving their personal histories has created and re-created their own legend in the voyage that has become their home. While preparing to retire from years of work as a civil engineer and a direc... More

Custom Built Lakes: Making a Splash in Real Estate

Lori Whitten - September 2007

Have you ever dreamed of living on a lake, but couldn’t envision how to make everything else in life work if you were living in a more remote location. There are all of the kid’s activities, the thought of a long and difficult commute to work each day, medical considerations, or any of the other obstacles that life brings our way. Added to these is the frustration that comes with spending most weekends locked i... More

Crosslake Minnesota: A Minnesota Lake City

Eric Canfield - August 2007

As one who grew up in a larger metropolitan area, I also had the good fortune to belong to a family that owned a lake place on Cross Lake. Cross lake is a beautiful lake on the Whitefish chain of lakes near Brainerd, MN. I have wonderful memories of summers at the lake and of all those times spent with family enjoying life together. Especially memorable are the excursions to the dam near the public campground and times of canoeing with my dad ... More

Opportunity of a Lifetime

Eric Canfield - August 2007

Over the last 20 years it has become increasingly difficult to find good lakeshore property at an affordable price, and prime lakeshore opportunities are rarer still. Private parties, developers and investors have all recognized that the purchasing of lakeshore property is a good investment that pays dividends well beyond a generous financial return. This recognition has led to a scarcity of premium lakeshore opportunities. However, there is ... More

Bringing Life Out of Destruction

Ben Haines - July 2007

I grew up in Kansas, where the summers were hot and muggy. As kids we played in the rivers to stay cool but usually by late August they would be a deep rust color from the surrounding clay. They also had a strong odor to them, making them very unpleasant to swim in. So it was an extremely pleasant surprise when our family moved to Minnesota and I got to experience the fresh clear water of Minnesota lakes at age 13. The contrast was both stark ... More

Swedish Stuga Reflects Family Heritage

Alissa Canfield - July 2007

When it became essential to add more storage space at the cabin, the Dahlstrom family decided to not just build a garage but to build out the area above the garage as well. And what began as a simple, and rather ordinary, building project, soon became a delightful journey through family memories and an exploration of their Swedish heritage. Their property, which is located on Ten Mile Lake near Hackensack, MN, has been in the famil... More

Water Toys: Boats, Docks, and Jet Skis, Oh my: Preparing to Buy a Boat, Dock, or Personal Watercraft

By Matt Krumrie - June 2007

While many people prepare, plan and save for securing the dream of life on a lake, many overlook the importance of preparing for the financial demands and upkeep once cabin ownership is secured. That’s why it’s important to keep one eye on the prize – buying a cabin or lake home – and another on the reward – being able to purchase a boat or pontoon, new dock or boat lifts, or other “toys” such as a personal watercraf... More

Building a Feeling: Log Home Near Itasca is a Dream Come True

By Mary Weaver - June 2007
Lake and Home Magazine

PARK RAPIDS — Standing in the great room of her log home on Elbow Lake near Itasca State Park, Kay Miede can’t help but be pleased. Kay and husband Rick, of Andover, are seeing the final touches completed on their Golden Eagle Log Home, built by Best Properties, Inc. “This home is the culmination of years of planning,” Kay says. “Now we’re at the point where we can enjoy it.” ... More

You Have a Voice: Wisconsin Seasonal Resident Association Fights for Out-of-State Owners

By Lucie Amundsen - June 2007

When your cabin is located out-of-state, getting that cozy “home away from home” feeling may take some additional effort. After all - you’re a tourist and an absentee landowner. But don’t forget you’re also a taxpaying seasonal resident and your concerns deserve to be heard. That’s why thousands of Wisconsin cabin owners have brought their issues and voices together through the Wisconsin Seasonal Residents Association (WiSRA) wit... More

Spring Opener: Gearing Up for Cabin Season

By Jason and Lucie Amundsen - June 2007

Ice melting off the lake and budding plants means spring is on its way and cabin owners have lots of necessary chores before the real fun can begin. Steve Butts and his family usually spend Memorial Day weekend on Big Round Lake in Hayward, Wisconsin at their cabin. “To be honest, I don’t have many emotional feelings about spring and the cabin,” laughs Steve. “For some people it might be a new awakening, yet for me it’s making sure... More

Congratulations Canoe Winners

By Al Josef - May 2007

LakeshoreDreams.com would like to congratulate Wally and Sheila Jaszkowski on winning the Old Town Penobscot Canoe drawing that was held at the Chicago and Minnesota Lake Home and Cabin Shows last month. LakeshoreDreams.com president Eric Canfield and Editor Al Josef delivered the canoe to their home in Bristol, WI. “This is so exciting,” said Sheila, when she saw their new 16 foot red canoe that came from Cabela’s. “We’ve nev... More

Cabins with Cashflow: Commercial Common Interest Community Offers Big Returns, Minimal Headache

By Al Josef - May 2007

Building or buying a lake home or cabin will always be an expensive task. Between the cost of land, building materials, permits fees, and labor, a person can expect to spend several hundreds of thousands of dollars easily. If the cost of routine maintenance and upkeep is added, the cost can climb to amounts that even the most diligent of savers might have difficulty reaching. But there is an old financial adage that goes, “Don't work for you... More

Money Matters: Financing Your New Lake Home

By Matt Krumrie - May 2007

According to the National Association of Realtor’s (NAR) annual Investment and Vacation Home Buyers Survey the typical vacation-home buyer in 2006 was 44 years old and had a median household income of $102,200. No matter what your age or income though, it’s never too early or late to consider fulfilling your dream of owning a cabin or lake property. For many the biggest obstacle to buying a vacation home is pretty simple - money – as i... More

Welcome to the NEW UP NORTH: Could Common Interest Communities Be Leading the Way?

By Al Josef - May 2007

Consider this. Within the next ten years, thousands of baby boomers will be at or nearing retirement. Many will be looking for a nice quiet place by the lake, but many may find that having a lake home might be more trouble than it’s worth. Having to do maintenance, repairs, and upkeep can easily sap the fun out of any weekend on the lake. Vacations up at the cabin are supposed to be about relaxing, not about doing yard work. How can you look... More

Behind the Wood: Here's the Inside Scoop on Building a Log Home

By Mary Weaver - May 2007
Lake and Home Magazine

In this second article of our three-part series detailing log homes, the focus is on the details: the nuts and bolts, so to speak, of building a log home. From choosing the type of log to deciding which walls are drywalled, the basics behind the wood are explored. First things first: your budget The first step in basic research is to determine what you can afford and the average cost per square foot for custom homes in the region where you ... More

Building on the Lake: Take Your Time, Do Your Homework

By Brenda K. Bredahl - April 2007

After months or even years of searching, you’ve finally found the perfect site on a serene lake among dense pines. It’s time to build the lake home or cabin of your dreams, and the hardest part is over. Or is it? The search for the right designer and builder for your lake home or cabin should take as much time as the search for the right location. And when you’re building that second or vacation home, having the luxury of time can make... More

What's New in Recreational Lakeshore Homes

By Arlene Becker - April 2007

Lakeshore homes, like the mansion “cottages” in Newport, Rhode Island, were grand affairs at the turn of the 20th century. In Wisconsin, Chicago’s rich and famous built huge summer lake houses around Lake Geneva. In other areas in the Midwest, lake cottages were really cottages, smaller and casual, more humble. Now, whatever their size, upscale vacation lake houses are being constructed all across Wisconsin. The award winning building ... More

Log Homes: A Lifestyle For Those with Pioneering Spirit

by Mary Weaver - April 2007
Lake and Home Magazine

American pioneers were driven by an unquenchable thirst to explore the new and unknown: to be free. To find that special place in the new world that would support them and their families. A place that they could — through honest labor — make their very own and pass along to their children. Today’s pioneers are those who still want to go out into the world and make their mark, leaving something of themselves for those who follow. They lo... More

Living Life on the Lake--Everyday

by Matt Krumrie - March 2007

Instead of worrying about how to afford a lakefront home or cabin, consider making your cabin or lakefront home your primary residence. Think it can’t be done? Consider these factors before making a decision. When Stan and Marcia Kulbitski decided to move from their St. Paul Park home to their newly purchased lake home on Lake Wapogasset in Amery, Wisconsin in the mid 1990’s, they knew there would be a trade-off. They w... More

The Right Way to Fix Your Home: The Right to Cure Law

By Al Josef - March 2007

After all the time and money you spent into building or remodeling your lake home, the last thing anyone wants to hear is that something wasn’t done correctly. You are well within your legal rights to take the ones responsible to court and attempt to get it fixed that way. But how successful would be? According to a study conducted by NERA, an economic consulting firm based out of White Plains, NY, litigation rarely secures a timely resol... More

It's Not Your Little Log Cabin Anymore

By Arlene Becker - March 2007

When pioneers settled this country their first homes were predominately log cabins, which were generally small one or two room buildings. Today, it’s a whole new story. Cabins can be as large as upscale houses made of conventional building materials, and equipped with all of the amenities of any high end modern home. Logs are excellent materials for recreational homes. They blend well into woods, or lakeside settings, so that the general ... More

Easy Lakefront Condominium Living At The Heart Of Lake Minocqua

By Bev Hlavka - March 2007

Visiting the Northwoods of Wisconsin is a treat everyone should experience. Expansive forests and glacial lakes provide an unforgettable vacation or a permanent change of lifestyle. A great choice for summer or winter activities includes the crystalline waters of the Lake Minocqua chain. The five popular lakes provide 5600 acres of sporting thrills and remote relaxation wrapped into one liquid package. Tourists enjoy the attraction of the No... More

Minnesota Lakeshore Property Owners Battle DNR Over Aquatic Vegetation

By Marc Hequet - February 2007

It’s your lakeshore property, right? Shouldn’t you be able to clear weeds when you want? Lakeshore property owners are pushing for legislation in Minnesota that would give lakeshore owners greater freedom to remove vegetation clogging open water and fouling swimming. The proposed legislation would require the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to grant permits for clearing vegetation in many cases. The DNR’s permit-granting... More

Minnesota Lakeshore For Less

By Jason Amundsen - February 2007

In the lakeshore market, if you don’t have a spare quarter million dollars for a starter cabin, then you’ve been relegated to renting one. But Mark Weber, a partner at Lakeshore Ventures, has a vision. It includes fun loving kids in water wings and practical thinking couples walking hand-in-hand along their shoreline at sunset. Weber purchased Cokato Lake RV Resort in Cokato, Minnesota two years ago and has been testing a new business ... More

Ready, Willing, and Able: Buying or Building a Lakeshore Cabin or Home-Tips for the Disabled

By Matt Krumrie - February 2007

Those who are disabled face different challenges when buying a cabin or lake property, but by following these tips below they can enjoy the benefits of life on the lake. According to the U.S. Census Bureau over 49.7 million Americans live with disabilities every day. According to the Minnesota Disability Data Table from the 2004 American Community Survey, an estimated 566,000 people in Minnesota have a disability, or 12.2 percent of... More

Where Do You Want to Build Your Lake Home?: Minnesota Lake Classifications

By Al Josef - February 2007

Like the people who enjoy them, Minnesota’s lakes are plentiful and diverse, ranging from the sterile, rock bottom lakes of the Arrowhead to the naturally fertile and shallow basins of the southwest prairie regions. Depending on what you want to do with your lake home, it would be wise to familiarize yourself with these different classifications to ensure that the lake you build next to suits your needs. The Minnesota Department of Natu... More

Not For the Sake of Convenience: A LakeshoreDreams.com Editorial

By Al Josef - January 2007
A college professor of mine taught that doing the lawful thing doesn’t always mean doing the just thing. Now before somebody brands me as a revolutionary and calls the feds, I’d like to point out a boundary issue in St. Louis County that I think illustrates my point fairly well. A Short Survey History Lesson Back in the days of Lewis and Clark, government surveyors were sent to map the land, using existing features and la... More

Get Ready to Look for a Lake Home

By Al Josef - January 2007

One of the most stressful things any young family can do (besides getting the all relatives together for Christmas dinner) is buying a home especially if it’s their first one. But with careful planning, diligent research, and plenty of patience, most families are able to find the home that best fits their personal and financial needs. The same goes for finding a lake home. By crunching your numbers, defining what you want, and shopping a... More

Three Reasons to Look For a Lake Home Sooner Than Later

By Al Josef - January 2007

Many of us dream of owning a lake home or a piece of lakeshore. There is a certain sense of freedom in knowing that you have a place to escape the stresses and the worries of ordinary life. A place where you can go and indulge yourself and do whatever you like to do, whether it be fishing, water skiing, or just enjoying watching the sun disappear behind the horizon. There is also a certain sense of security knowing that you have something ... More

Welcome to the new LakeshoreDreams.com

December 2006

Welcome to the new LakeshoreDreams.com, the online magazine that will help you make your dream of owning lakefront property a reality. Winter may be upon us, but as everyone else settles in and braces for the cold, LakeshoreDreams.com is rolling out a new look and new services to better serve you.Since 1995, it has been our mission to provide owners and potential buyers with the vital information they need to get the most enjoyment out of thei... More

Looking for some winter fun?

By Al Josef - December 2006

With our recent stretch of below freezing temperatures, there is no denying that the snow will soon be upon us.. Nothing compares to the chill in the air, the sound of snow crunching under heel, and a cup of steaming hot cider after coming in from a long day outside. And for a guy who finds winter time to be the right time for fun and adventure, I couldn’t have picked a better place to move to than Minnesota.When the temperature dips below f... More

Agent Spotlight: Bill Hansen, Jr.

By Al Josef - December 2006

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 ... More

Adam Meek, Broker Associate, RSPS

Underwood, MN

All information herein is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
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