We are so fortunate to have The North Country Hiking Trail right in our back yard (well almost). The North Country Trail stretches from New York to North Dakota with hundreds of miles crossing Northern Wisconsin.
Bird Sanctuary Clubhouse to Highway 53 Trailhead, Douglas County, WI
North Country Trail – Bird Sanctuary Clubhouse to Hwy 53 trailhead
This 3.3 mile segment of the North Country Scenic Trail is right here in the Gordon-Solon Springs area. Because it traverses relatively open terrain, this segment is a good place to enjoy the vista. Near the north end of the route, there’s also a nice walk-in campsite overlooking Leo Creek.
Bird Sanctuary Clubhouse to Hwy 53
Bird Sanctuary Clubhouse to Hwy 53
Bird Sanctuary Clubhouse to Hwy 53
Finally, here’s a road map to help you find the trailhead:
I’ve just updated my website with helpful information related to this important question: Why wait??? It’s a question that has to do with the time of year, but it’s also a much bigger question.
“OK,” you’re saying, “but what do those tomatoes have to do with the view from cabins and lake homes in northwest Wisconsin?” The answer: Not much. Real estate and tomatoes are not the same. Let me explain…
Around here sellers, buyers, and even Realtors can often think a little too seasonally. Summer might be the only time of the year we can grow tomatoes in northern Wisconsin, but that doesn’t mean it’s the only time of year we can produce real estate sales.
Today’s lake-home market is no longer just a summertime surge. (And that’s even more true, of course, for off-water homes.) Don’t get me wrong. If you’re a buyer or seller who happens to read this in April or May, I’d love to hear from you today. But these days plenty of serious, purposeful buyers are on the hunt all year round; at this very moment they’re getting pre-approved, researching lakes, studying properties online, and arranging to view their top picks in person.
So, whether you’re buying or selling… If you’re ready to move on to the next stage of your life, there’s no rational reason to delay until May – and especially not until some Mayday years in the future. If it’s time, it’s time.
So, if you are thinking of selling real estate in NW Wisconsin, call Jean Hedren, Edina Realty NW Wisconsin, 218-590-6634. Email: jeanhedren@edinarealty.com. I’ll be glad to help.
The best way to get the most money for your home is to price it right at the start. Today’s buyers are discerning. They have the information at their fingertips to pay what they believe your home is worth. Ultimately, a home’s value is what a buyer is willing to pay rather then what the selling thinks their home is worth.
Here are 10 benefits to right pricing:
Each new listing creates a buzz in the local real estate community. The right price will generate more calls and inquiries, and attract more Realtors to show the house.
The right price will send the message to buyers that the price is based on actual value rather than sentimental value.
Homes tend to sell closer to the asking price during the first few weeks on the market, resulting in a higher price in a shorter time.
Fewer mortgage payments and less interest paid means more money in your pocket.
The right price sends the message to the buyer that your home is a better value compared to others on the market.
Less time on the market means less time keeping the home ready for showings.
In a fluctuating market, it is better to sell now as prices may decrease even more.
The longer the house sits on the market, buyers may think there is something wrong with the house.
Keep your ultimate goal in mind – selling now means moving on with your life.
There is never a second chance to make a good first impression.
Selling a home in NW Wisconsin? Send me an email or give me a call at 218-590-6634. I’ll be happy to provide a current price analysis to give you an idea of what your home will sell for in the current market.
All over northern Wisconsin, the term flowage has worked its way into dozens of lake names. Here in northwestern Wisconsin, we have the Minong Flowage, Gordon Flowage, Chippewa Flowage, and Tigercat Flowage—and that’s just for starters. And despite the number of flowages in northern Wisconsin, people who live on any one of them can often be heard calling their home lake simply “The Flowage.”
So what exactly is a flowage, and how did they come to be called that?
A flowage is simply a lake that’s formed upstream of a dam; it’s a regionalism that’s rarely heard outside of Wisconsin. In other parts of the country, especially in the South and the West, a flowage might be called a reservoir. A flowage, like a reservoir, can be any shape and size. Some, like the Minong Flowage and Gordon Flowage, were formed when dams flooded large, sprawling areas. Others, like the Colton Flowage in Washburn County, are smaller and have a simpler shoreline that resulted from the flooding of a long, narrow valley.
Nor is the term’s use universal; even around here, plenty of lakes upstream of dams are simply called “lakes.” Examples include Trego Lake, Hayward Lake, Nelson Lake, Moose Lake, and Lake Namekagon. And then there’s the Eau Claire Chain of Lakes that includes Lower Eau Claire Lake, Middle Eau Claire Lake, and Upper Eau Claire Lake. Each lies above a small dam. Although smaller lakes might have been there from the beginning, it’s the dams that give these lakes their present size and shape.
But why “flowage,” especially when it describes the one part of a river that’s no longer flowing? Webster’s defines flowage as a) an overflowing onto adjacent land, b) a body of water formed by overflowing or damming, c) floodwater especially of a stream. That first definition is key; it’s related to a whole body of real estate law surrounding the concept of “flowage easements,” which grant someone the right to flood land.
Flowage easements are most often granted to the state and federal government, but in the past they were often granted to utilities that built dams for generating electricity. Here in northern Wisconsin, flowage easements were also granted to logging companies so they could build dams for regulating water flow during the spring logging drives. They built dams, the water upstream of the dams rose, and then the water flowed onto the adjacent land. And that’s how we got the term “flowage.”
To learn more about any of the lakes and flowages mentioned in this post, go to the menu above and click on NW WI Lakes & Rivers. And for all your northwest Wisconsin real estate needs, whether you’re buying or selling, call Jean Hedren at (218) 590-6634. www.JeanHedren.com
Pricing your home right from the start can result in a quicker sale.
Strategic pricing that’s based on a thorough, up-to-the-minute market analysis. If our price is too low, we leave money on the table. If our price is too high, we leave your home on the market unsold. Later, it’s likely to sell for less than it would if we priced it correctly from the start. A strategic, fact-based listing price that helps your home get noticed and sell more quickly for the best possible sale price.
Each new listing creates a buzz in the local real estate community. The right price will attract more Realtors to show the house. The right price will generate more calls and email inquiries.
Homes tend to sell closer to the asking price during the first few weeks on the market, resulting in a higher price in a shorter time.
Fewer mortgage payments and less interest paid means more money in your pocket.
The right price sends the message to the buyer that your home is a better value compared to others on the market.
Less time on the market means less time keeping the home ready for showings.
In a fluctuating market, it is better to sell now as prices may decrease even more.
The longer the house sits on the market, buyers may think there is something wrong with the house.
Keep your ultimate goal in mind – selling now means moving on with your life.
If there are no showings, the price is too high. If there are several showings but no offers indicates good marketing, but buyers will react to overpricing when they step into the house.
Your mortgage loan consultant will be able to discuss the best mortgage loan program for you. Basically all mortgage loans belong to two main groups: conventional and government.
Conventional loans
Two types of conventional loans:
Fixed rate: Traditional type of financing. The interest stays the same for the full term of the loan, typically 15 or 30 years with predictable and stable payments.
Adjustable rate: An adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) interest is linked to a financial index, such as a treasury security, so the monthly payment can vary over the life of the loan, usually 25 to 30 years. There are lower initial payments. Some ARMs can be converted to fixed rates generally after the first 5 years.
Government loans
FHA loans, which are insured by the Federal Housing Administration, are typically designed to meet the needs of first-time homebuyers with low or moderate incomes. FHA loans can be approved with a down payment as little as 3.5 percent and a credit score as low as 580.
Often called “helper loans,” they give a boost to potential borrowers who may not be able to secure one otherwise. For this reason, FHA loans have maximum lending limits. Talk with your lender to see what the FHA loan limits are in the counties where you are searching.
And remember, because the agency is taking on more risk by insuring FHA loans, the borrower is expected to pay mortgage insurance both at the time of closing and on a monthly basis, and the property must be owner-occupied.
VA loans, backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, are guaranteed to qualified veterans and active-duty personnel and their spouses. VA loans can be approved with 100 percent financing, meaning VA borrowers are not required to make a down payment.Unlike FHA loans, borrowers do not have to pay mortgage insurance on VA loans.
USDA loans, backed by the United States Department of Agriculture mortgage program, are intended to support homeowners who purchase homes in rural and some suburban areas. USDA loans do not require a down payment and may offer lower interest rates; borrowers may have to pay a small mortgage insurance premium in order to offset the lender’s risk.
WHEDA: Low down payments and below-market interest rates. Interest rate is fixed for 15 to 30 year loan term.
Ready to enter the buyer’s market?
Need help financing a new property? Understanding the loan types is step one, but you’ll need the help of a qualified expert to get you into your dream home.
