<![CDATA[Hawleyhomesforsale.com - Blog]]>Mon, 17 Feb 2025 16:40:21 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[REAL ESTATE NEWS]]>Tue, 13 Aug 2013 07:00:00 GMThttp://hawleyhomesforsale.com/blog/new-hawley-home-for-sale-on-lee-lake
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2/23/2017
Hottest Markets in US
From www.realtor.com/news/trends

The tight just keep on getting tighter. In the last, briefest month of winter (yay!) supplies were scarcer than ever in the residential real estate market, according to a preliminary analysis of our data here at realtor.com®. Factoring in strong buyer demand, sales remained strong in February after a January in which the pace of existing-home sales was at a 10-year high.
And early birds were scrambling to get the worms … er, homes, which are moving off the market 5% more quickly this February than a year ago, and five days faster than in January. That’s even as prices remain at record highs.

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“Spring has arrived early this year, at least in terms of the rapid decline in the age of inventory,” Chief Economist Jonathan Smoke of realtor.com said in a statement. “Strong off-season demand powered new seasonal highs in prices and left us with a new low in available homes for sale. Potential sellers take note: This year is shaping up to favor you even more than last year.”
Related ArticlesAnother indication of the continuing strength of buyer demand is that the median list price remains level at $250,000, which is a steep 9% higher than one year ago. If this figure holds by the end of the month, it would be a record for February. Buyers are also ramping up their search online: realtor.com saw the highest year-over-year increase in average views per listing since April 2015.
While nearly 425,000 new listings will have entered the market in February, there still aren’t enough to meet buyer demand. In fact, the sharp double-digit decline in for-sale housing inventory observed since October is continuing.
All this may sound like music to sellers’ ears, but not so much for buyers. However, buyers who are able to land the home of their dreams can reassure themselves that their investment is likely to be a solid one—especially in our hottest markets, where homes are selling fastest and there’s the most demand.
This month’s ranking has California dominating the list as usual, with 12 markets, but five other states made a showing: Texas, Colorado, Ohio, Michigan, and Massachusetts.
Leading the list is Vallejo, where the median days on market fell by almost half, powering it back into the top spot for the first time since August.
New to the list this month are Boulder, CO; Boston; and Midland, TX, which jumped eight, 14, and 15 spots respectively since January. Note that these metropolitan markets may also comprise neighboring cities or towns. For example, the Boston market also includes Cambridge and Newton, MA.



Lee Lake Property At Timber Shores

$534,900

Country Living Meets Lake Life on Lee Lake!  Located on one of the closest lakes in Minnesota to the Fargo/Moorhead area, Lee Lake is becoming a desired destination for its fishing, water recreation and beautiful scenery.  Come and experience all the area has to offer and enjoy this amazing setting on Lee Lake.

Located just a mile off of Highway 10 this 4.9 acre lot features mature trees and over 200 feet of hard bottom lakeshore.  The lot is about as private as any lake lot could be as rolling hills surround the property yet provide a gentle slope down to the water’s edge.  Much of the land has been kept in its natural state yet the mowed areas of the yard feature an in-ground sprinkler system and extensive landscaping.  One example of how the property incorporates the natural beauty is the creative way the owners built their walk out basement patio using boulders and incorporating their children's sandbox to give the area a unique beach feeling.

Approaching this 2011 custom built home you are welcomed by the multi-colored earth toned steel siding with rock accents.  The 3 stall attached garage features 46 feet x 32 feet of great storage and work space.  This area has its own furnace and air conditioning unit for easy year round use of the facility.  An extra overhead 6 foot wide access door allows for easy storage of yard equipment and personal belongings.  Finishing off the garage are added work benches and a built in dog kennel.

Entering the home through the main entrance brings you to the living room with vaulted ceilings and hard wood floors of hand scraped maple.  Large south facing windows provide excellent light to the area of the home and good views toward the lake.  This room also includes a gas fireplace and office area with built-in desk and cabinets.  Set just off of the living room is the master bedroom with trayed ceilings and large walk-in closet.  Moving toward the connecting bathroom with tiled floors and double sinks one finds a large tiled shower approximately 10 feet long by 6 feet wide with numerous shower heads for spa-like bathing experience.

The other end of the living room gives way to the kitchen and dining area which also feature the maple hardwood flooring.  The granite countertops in the kitchen combine well with the multi-colored custom maple cabinets with excellent amounts of storage space plus an additional pantry.  Leading off the dining area is the maintenance free deck which is great for entertaining and overlooks the lakeside yard.  This area as well as the kitchen, living room, master bedroom and basement family room all are wired with speakers for extra entertaining enjoyment.

Finishing off the main level is a 1/4 bathroom and mud room just off the garage entrance.  This area is tiled and hosts the washer and dryer, laundry sink, storage cabinets as well as wood lockers for coats or children's belongings.  From the mud room, steps lead up to the large 700+ square foot bonus room above the garage.  This are provides for a possible 5th bedroom, workout room or office.

Moving to the basement brings one to the large family room with big screen television which is included in the sale.  Just off this room is a pool table area, one full bathroom, utility room and 3 additional bedrooms.  The utility room has two 200 amp electrical panels for all the power one could ever need.  This room also has many built in shelves for additional storage space.  A second utility room hosts the furnace and on-demand Rinnai gas water heater for instant and endless hot water.  For added efficiency the entire house has been spray foamed to help keep utility costs down.

Finishing off the property highlights are the beautiful lakeshore set in a deep water bay of the lake.  The lakeshore has been rip-rapped and has a good swimming area as well as good fishing.  Just off the end of the dock the water is 7 feet deep and extends to 20 feet in the middle of the bay.  Lee Lake has produced good sized walleyes and provides for great crappie fishing.  The DNR public access to the lake is just a few hundred yards away but is nowhere in sight from this secluded setting.  Whether fishing, boating, water sports or just enjoying country living is what you desire, Lee Lake and this property are sure to please.  Come and see for yourself and experience life in Timber Shores! 

]]><![CDATA[Sales Beating New Homes on Market]]>Thu, 02 May 2013 00:30:57 GMThttp://hawleyhomesforsale.com/blog/sales-beating-new-homes-on-marketIn the last two days home sales have exceeded new properties on the market.  In the Fargo/Moorhead MLS the sales for Monday and Tuesday were 65 properties.  The new properties on the market were only 55.  This is the first time in over a year I have seen these types of numbers.  Usually on a daily basis it is a 3 to1 or 3 to 2 ratio or new property for sale compared to sold property. 

In the Hawley real estate market there are currently 27 homes for sale.  The newest properties include a $179,900 home in the Westgate subdivision featuring 3 bedrooms 2 bathrooms and a 2 stall attached garage.  This rambler has some finished areas in the basement and is updated with new windows, paint, air conditioning, flooring and washer/dryer.  The home has 1400 square feet on the main level and is heated by electric baseboard
]]><![CDATA[Area Realty Update]]>Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:41:42 GMThttp://hawleyhomesforsale.com/blog/area-realty-updateThe local and area real estate markets continue to improve as more buyers are actively looking at property.  The Hawley area had one new listing yesterday and it was a 23 acre tract of land located about 7 miles southeast of town.  This property consists of half open land and half wooded acreage so there are different options where one could build a home.  The property is also set on a small body of water also known as Overson Lake.  The property is listed for $122,000.

Hawley currently has 23 homes on the market and still a fair number of lots available for building on both in the city and in rural locations.  The development of Eglon Hills located just 1.5 miles east of Hawley has only 4 lots remaining as I sold 3 lots to two different buyers over the weekend.  Overall in the Fargo/Moorhead MLS there were 15 new properties on the market and 10 sales.  Most of these sales took place on Moorhead or West Fargo properties.  In the Detroit Lake MLS there were 7 new properties on market and 4 sales.  These sales were all on starter homes and under $138,000.
]]><![CDATA[Hawley Real Estate and Daily Realty Update]]>Thu, 18 Apr 2013 13:59:29 GMThttp://hawleyhomesforsale.com/blog/hawley-real-estate-and-daily-realty-updateThe Hawley real estate market had some activity yesterday as one home and two rural lots got accepted offers them.  The home was located in the Westgate subdivision and was listed for $229,900.  The property was built in 1994 and has over 3,000 finished square feet.  The home had been on the market last fall then came back on the market this spring.  Many sellers do this for the fact that moving is just much more enjoyable during a "normal" spring than during the dog days of winter.  This would also explain why there are only 21 homes currently on the market in town.  I would anticipate more property to come available in the next months as last summer we had over 45 homes at the peak of the market.

The two lots that got accepted offers were located out at Eglon Hills subdivision.  The lots were each just under two acres and listed for $29,000 each.  There are 5 remaining lots out at Eglon Hills that overlook the west.  Those lots are have some elevation but the seller would be willing to do some dirt work to level the lots for those that are looking to build a rambler or one story home.

One new property came on the market in Hawley yesterday.  The home is located in Prairie Hills Estates and is listed for $219,500.  This one story property hosts 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a 2 stall attached garage.  The home was built in 2010 and is in almost new condition.  There is a full unfinished basement as well as almost no specials on the property.  Overall in the Fargo/Moorhead MLS there were 33 new properties on the market and only 10 sales.  In the Detroit Lakes MLS there were 11 new properties listed and only 2 sales.  Look for good weather to bring more sales in the housing markets.
]]><![CDATA[Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Detector Law in Minnesota]]>Wed, 17 Apr 2013 13:40:00 GMThttp://hawleyhomesforsale.com/blog/carbon-monoxide-and-smoke-detector-law-in-minnesotaAre you following the state law on CO2 and Smoke Detectors???   In 2007 the state of Minnesota required all new construction homes to have CO2 alarms within 10 feet of any sleeping room.  Depending on how far your bedrooms are apart you could potentially have one CO2 detector for two bedrooms.  In my case I actually have three bedrooms that can be serviced by one CO2 detector because all three rooms down the hallway are within the 10 feet of the alarm.  Many homes built just prior to 2007 may not have these alarms and should install them as soon as possible.


In 2008 the Minnesota CO2 law required all existing homes to have CO2 detectors within 10 feet of any sleeping room.  So now no matter how old your home is the state law requires you to have CO2 alarms.  Furthermore, in 2009 the state required all multi-family properties(apartments) to have CO2 alarms installed in them.  For those of you who have investment properties this is important to make sure you are following the state laws and providing this important safety feature.


All residential property must have smoke detectors in the following areas:
1) In every sleeping room.
2) Outside each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms.
3) On each additional story of the dwelling, including basements but not including crawl spaces and uninhabitable attics. In dwellings or dwelling units with split levels, a smoke alarm installed on the upper level shall suffice for the adjacent lower level provided that the lower level is less than one full story below the upper level.

For more information visit:
www.dli.mn.gov/ccld/PDF/bc_websmoke_co_06_07.pdf
]]><![CDATA[Farmland in Clay and Becker County]]>Mon, 08 Apr 2013 17:41:44 GMThttp://hawleyhomesforsale.com/blog/farmland-in-clay-and-becker-countyFarmland values have been strong for over the last 3 years and there have been record sales all over the country as well as in Fargo/Moorhead and the Lakes areas.  Sales have reached as high as $5,550/acre in Becker county and as high as $7,375/acre in Clay county.  The parcels have ranged in size from less than 40 acres all the way up to over 460 acres in our area.

Today I just listed a 50+/- acre parcel just east of Hawley one mile and located at the northeast intersection of Hwy 10 and Hwy 32.  This parcel has approximately 47 tillable acres and frontage along Hwy 32.  The property could also be subdivided for smaller tracts if wanted.  The asking price is $5,700/acre or $285,000.
]]><![CDATA[Home Insurance ]]>Thu, 04 Apr 2013 14:57:46 GMThttp://hawleyhomesforsale.com/blog/home-insuranceHome insurance is a cost not many of us like to pay but it is necessary to protect one of our biggest possessions.  Just watch the news and you will see all over the country homes are affected by disaster almost daily.  With that in mind it helps make it not such a big deal to pay our bill once a year or even monthly.  Most home loans allow you to escrow a small amount each month and then pay your bill when it is due.  Escrow means to set aside money in an account which is managed by a 3rd party (usually a bank).  That bank will then pay your insurance bill each year when it is due.  This helps take away the challenge of setting money aside each month.

The cost you insure your home at can either be its "Actual Cash Value" or at its "Replacement Cost Value."  Today I visited with Mike Nordby a close friend who is an agent for his own company Modern Insurance Services.  He works all over the region and explained the importance of understanding the two different ways one could insure their home.  If you insure your home at Actual Cash Value you may end up saving some money monthly but if a disaster happens you will more than likely need to use some cash out of your own pocket to rebuild your home exactly how it was because you will only get the amount of the value of the home.  For example there are many more additional costs that just building your home after it were to say burn down.  The removal of debris is one of the biggest costs and there would more than likely not be enough money left for that if you only insured the property at Actual Cash Value.

Replacement Cost Value is exactly what it reads.  You will get your home rebuilt exactly like it was and you will not have any extra costs out of your pocket besides a deductible of course.  Comparing the two ways to have homeowners insurance may be best illustrated by the following example.  If you had built a home in 1980 and it cost you $80,000 to build that same home would probably cost you over $160,000 today.  If you were insured for cash value you would have a lot of extra costs to rebuild the same home.  Always check with your insurance agent to see what insurance option works best for you. ]]><![CDATA[More Hawley Housing Activity over Easter Weekend]]>Wed, 03 Apr 2013 15:54:35 GMThttp://hawleyhomesforsale.com/blog/more-hawley-housing-activity-over-easter-weekendOver the holiday weekend Hawley experienced some real estate activity as well as at the start of the first week of April.  One property finally got an accepted offer on it after years of being on the market.  The 7 acre rural property was listed for $210,000 and featured 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and a 3 stall attached garage.  One reason it may have taken much longer for this property to sell is because it was only being marketed in the Detroit Lakes MLS.  Being located in Hawley it is a good idea that any property listed for sale be marketed in both the Detroit Lakes MLS as well as the Fargo/Moorhead MLS.

Two new homes came on the market as well I as the one I listed on Sunset Blvd.  The two new properties were on the market last fall and took them off the market for the winter season.  One home is listed for $139,000 and is a slab on grade rambler built in 1999.  The home hosts 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and a 2 stall attached garage.  The other property is being marketed at $139,900 and features 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a 1 stall attached garage.  The home was built in 1979 but has been competely updated with a new kitchen, siding, shingles and windows.
]]><![CDATA[New Hawley Home Coming on the Market Monday]]>Fri, 29 Mar 2013 19:00:32 GMThttp://hawleyhomesforsale.com/blog/new-hawley-home-coming-on-the-market-mondayI will be listing a new property this coming Monday.  The home is located in Westgate and was built in 1994.  The property features over 3500 finished square feet, 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 3 stall attached garage with drive through 3rd stall and NO SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS!  The home is very well taken care of and comes with a storage shed, hot tub, surround sound and a large amount of storage space.  The asking price is $274,900 and more information will come.  If you know of anyone looking for a property like this give me a call anytime!
]]><![CDATA[Hawley Property Sales Heating up with Warm(er) Weather]]>Fri, 29 Mar 2013 18:51:29 GMThttp://hawleyhomesforsale.com/blog/hawley-property-sales-heating-up-with-warmer-weatherThe sunshine has helped bring out buyers as 2 rural Hawley properties have recently sold.  Today a rural home between Prairie Hills Estates and the Hawley Elementary school closed.  The property was one of the most unique properties in town as it is located within the city limits but has 2.5 acres.  The home is also unique because it is one of only 4 other homes within city limits that has a well and septic tank.  For years the property was actually a rural home site, yet with the growth of the city and its housing developments it has now become part of the city.  Despite this the home still has a country feel and very private setting.  On my last visit to the home this morning I saw 3 pheasants on the driveway next to the home.

The other sale that recently took place was located in the Rollag area and was set on 40 acres.  The home was listed for $289,900 and ended up selling for $279,000.  The home featured 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and over 2,000 finished square feet.  Other highlights of this property were the 4 detached garage stalls along with a large shop and metal horse barn.  In the big picture of our region we had only 10 new properties come on the market today but had 20 sales.  This is the first time I have seen more sales than new listings in over 4 months.  This is a good sign of increased strength in the local housing market.
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