About a dozen words into the local leadoff news story last night I told my Bride "those idiots had to be drunk". I was right on. Drunk or not these two men have to rate at the very top of the stupid list. Here is today's headline:So here is a tip: If you are already stupid you don't need to drink. 05/23/2016

The chart above is the total MLS activity for the week. This includes ALL types of properties as well as all cities in our MLS. The chart below is very restrictive as explained below.Be sure to note the line above as this is a very restrictive report. There were 11 homes sold in this limited category. The most expensive home sold for $460,000 and it was on the market for 193 days. The least expensive home sold for $145,000 and it was on the market for 117 days. Median days on market for the 11 homes sold was 98. This report is updated daily at MinotHome.com 05/22/2016

Those are words NO parent wants to hear.I just received a phone call that my 14 year old son has missed the last two classes at school. It was a robo call from the Minot School system. We receive other calls from the system about days off and other important events.My son is the most responsible person I have ever known and I immeadiately knew there was something wrong. I called the school, all lines were busy. I called my Bride to see if she took him home sick... she did not and also received the call and she too was in a panic.I decided I needed to jump in the car and see what was going on. Knowing my son, the only way he would miss a class is if he were abducted.My Bride works in the Minot School system and knew who/what number to call to get through the busy lines. With my keys in h... 05/17/2016

The chart above is the total MLS activity for the week. This includes ALL types of properties as well as all cities in our MLS. The chart below is very restrictive as explained below.Be sure to note the line above as this is a very restrictive report. There were 7 homes sold in this limited category. The most expensive home sold for $379,900 and it was on the market for 106 days. The least expensive home sold for $109,900 and it was on the market for 180 days. Median days on market for the 7 homes sold was 171. This report is updated daily at MinotHome.com 05/14/2016

Saturday 1:30 - 3:3042 Mulberry Loop, Minot ND 42 Mulberry Loop ……………………….……………SATURDAY…1:30 – 3:30 PM ……...   $395,000.OFFERED BY NATIONAL MARKETING REALTORS, Hosted by Bob Timm. 6 Bedrooms 3 Baths, and a Triple Garage. This gorgeous home is the center piece of the cul-de-sac on which it is located in the Stonebridge Addition. Super convenient location for families who work on the base or anywhere on North Hill. Walking paths and a neighborhood playground right out your back door.   See pictures at www.MinotHome.com, call 852-1197 or stop by our office at 1919 North Broadway. National Marketing Realtors, Over 40 years of Service from the same North Hill location. 05/13/2016

The chart above is the total MLS activity for the week. This includes ALL types of properties as well as all cities in our MLS. The chart below is very restrictive as explained below.Be sure to note the line above as this is a very restrictive report. There were 10 homes sold in this limited category. The most expensive home sold for $329,900 and it was on the market for 214 days. The least expensive home sold for $145,000 and it was on the market for 88 days. Median days on market for the 10 homes sold was 112. This report is updated daily at MinotHome.com  05/08/2016

The Blackwood Brothers Quartet and Danny "Elvis" Wagnerwill be having a concert in Minot ND tomorrow and I won two tickets. blackwood Brothers websiteI'm not real familiar with the Blackwood Brothers but I love Gospel Music and I'm really looking forward to this concert.I've never been an Elvis fan either but I've got a feeling that I will be a much bigger fan after seeing "Danny Elvis's" impersonation of The King of Rock and Roll. I do know that Elvis did a lot of excellent Gospel recordings.While many of my generation was loving Elvis I was banging my head to Black Sabbath and Alice Cooper. My transformation from hard rock to gospel is a whole different story.The concert is Friday from 7:00PM till it ends and will be held at the North Dakota State Fair Grounds in Minot ND. Tickets in ... 05/04/2016

Minot Comfort Suits by Choice Hotels is located at 601 22nd Ave SW Minot, ND 58701.When I was shopping for a place to hold my daughters Birthday I didn't think having it Comfort Suites for a fee of  $170.00 (which did include a room for the night) was much of a bargain... boy was I WRONG!For the $170.00 you get a spacious room with double queen beds, a living area, bath, and closet. The pool area only has one area for a party and you get that area (no sharing with 10 other screeming kids parties) and because we booked a Sunday, which are slow days, we had the entire pool area to ourselves for 6 whole hours!The kids had a great time, dad relaxed in the hot tub and went down the water slides several times. See the pic of Dad having fun with Tina's candles as they also work for his age (fo... 05/02/2016

For some Realtors it's all about the money, for me it's all about the family... Your family and Mine.As the Broker/Owner of National Marketing Realtors in Minot ND I love how my occupation allows me to work with my family for the well being of your family. My kids have been involved with my work ever since they were old enough to help with cleaning, mowing lawns, help with a radio commercial, and help dad with farming.In Real Estate "Farming" is marketing and most often referring to mailing information, such as a news letter, to a specific area. Today Tina and Timmothy helped me catch up with addressing envelopes for my monthly news letter that I got behind on with one of my office helpers being sick last week.After today I may have a harder time recruiting Tina. She will be turning 16 ... 04/29/2016

 All week I tried to keep a pair of Robbins from nesting on top of my hose rack under our carport. A couple times a day I would wipe the mud and twigs off my hoses and I'd place something uncomfortable on top of it all like the spray gun you see under this nest. The birds got really busy here when the kids went to school and I was at work. They completed their task.The thing is the nest is in a high traffic area with our cars pulling in and out and a lot of foot traffic.I don't think the female sat on that nest for an hour before they abandoned it.Sometimes persistence doesn't pay off in Real Estate for birds or for humans.A good example is the Buyer who submits an offer for $50,000. less on a $200,000. listing in a hot market. After the initial laugh by the Seller and rejection of the ... 04/28/2016

Can someone who pronounces Minot (My-Not) as "Minnow" really be an expert on the town?There is a great letter to the editor in today's paper about "Buy Local". While this letter is in regards to a local book store vs Amazon the point carries over fairly well to Real Estate. NOTHING is more local than Real Estate! It seems amazing that people look to web based entities located thousands of miles away for local information. Why on earth would anyone take advice on a local market when the person offering the advice had never heard of the town before (most can't even pronounce Minot properly) never seen your home but is willing to give you an estimate, or should I say zestimate, on what your home is worth. Local agents know the market, they know your neighborhood, and they may even know you... 04/24/2016

 Still NOT Kicking Into High Gear! Be sure to note the line above as this is a very restrictive report. There were 11 homes sold in this limited catagory. The most expensive home sold for $525,000 and it was on the market for 92 days. The least expensive home sold for $75,000 and it was on the market for 245 days. Median days on market for the 11 homes sold was 94. This report is updated daily at MinotHome.com 04/24/2016

According to my little home weather station we had wind gusts up to 55 miles per hour.Even at that I was still surprised to look up at my roof and see my antenna laying on it.In our house this is a major disaster, we don't have streaming video, cable, dish, or any other "pay for" TV entertainment. The dozen or so broadcast stations we receive are plenty.Saturday nights are special for my daughter and I however because we watch the original Star Trek on Memorable Television (ME-TV).The point to this post is actually that when it comes to contractors you most often get what you pay for. Last year I had my home re-roofed by a young man who was a part of a roofing crew that did some work for me the year before on another project. He told me he could do the job for far less than anyone else ... 04/23/2016

Every Saturday our News Paper does a "show case" of homes right before the open house listings. I have never participated because of the cost and because everyone says "no one reads the paper anymore". Well I'm starting to get quite a bit of inventory so I'm going to advertise by what ever means is possible. Please give me your opinion of the ad that will appear Saturday.  04/20/2016

It appears that Home Sales are picking up in Minot ND.Be sure to note the line above as this is a very restrictive report. There were 14 homes sold in this limited catagory. The most expensive home sold for $439,000 and it was on the market for 178 days. The least expensive home sold for $59,900 and it was on the market for 235 days. Median days on market for the 14 homes sold was 83. This report is updated daily at MinotHome.com 04/16/2016

You can shop the BIG box store orShop Local at Lowe's Garden Center.Located behind (NW) the ND State Fairgrounds. Lowe's is a family owned shop not associated with the big retail giant.  Friendly customer service.                       Several greenhouses.  Lots of plants are ready to go now.            Tons & tons of pots. All colors & sizes. Baskets from the far East.                     Wind chimes and lanterns.All kinds of decorations and gifts are available.I really liked these colorful metal pheasants . These unique BURN TWICE candles are made in Hillsboro ND. There is a wick on the top on the outer ring that you light 1st. As it burns the wax will fill the inside of the candle and stop burning. Then the inside candle is ready to burn.     04/11/2016

Thank you Minot Daily NewsIn Saturdays paper the Minot Daily News Included their annual "Progress" section on Minot Housing.There was a nice one page article that three local Brokers were quoted in and I was one of the lucky ones to be noted as you can see from the section on the left.To be one of three out of a couple hundred was neat enough but it was really cool to be recognized as "an accomplished blogger" and that of course I can thank Active Rain for.The quote was a little off, as I actually said The days of JUST placing a sign on your front lawn are long gone, but what the heck, I'm very happy they recognized my accomplished blogging. Tomorrow I'll be sending The Minot Daily News a thank you card.    04/10/2016

As far as I know all States require Realtorsto take several hours of Continuing Education. In North Dakota we are only required to take 9 hours of continuing education a year. I have 10 hours in so far this year because I enjoy learning and I figure I will most likely have 20 to 30 hours in by the end of the year.The latest class I attended was put on by the USDA, United States Department of Agriculture. It was a tough class to sit through for four hours but certainly worth my time in the classroom.The USDA offers some great loan programs in an effort to bolster rural home sales. USDA loans are NOT for people with bad credit but help some folks with marginal credit and folks who have little or no money to put down. In Ward county all homes are eligible outside of the city limits of Mino... 04/10/2016

Yesterday was the opening day of Historic Corbett Field in Minot with Minot State University's 1st Home Game. They played Nebraska's Wayne State Wildcats who licked their butts. Yesterday was a great day to play ball with temps in the 70's. Not so much today as it's about 40 degrees with 40 mile per hour winds. I'm glad I'm in my house across the street watching and not in the grand stands.    Corbett Field is about a zillion years old and the old Negro Leauge played here. 04/10/2016

Housing Sales Slowly Picking Up Be sure to note the line above as this is a very restrictive report. There were 11 homes sold in this limited catagory. The most expensive home sold for $342,000 and it was on the market for 75 days. The least expensive home sold for $138,000 and it was on the market for 72 days. Median days on market for the 11 homes sold was 91. This report is updated daily at MinotHome.com 04/09/2016