Minot, It's About Time!!! Photo by Jill Schramm of the Minot Daily NewsCentral Ave in Minot is now OPEN!It almost seems like a miracle to see Minot's Central Ave open to traffic again. Although this downtown portion of Central Ave in Minot is just a few blocks long it's being closed had totally screwed up downtown traffic for the entire Spring/Summer seasons.Just like armchair quarterbacks wonder what there team quarterback and/or coach was thinking many of us wondered if the City Engineer had a brain at all. Well now that it's open I'm sure everyone will think he was a genius.It opened today and I've driven up and down it 3 times already just to make sure it is really open. This should be a big help to the struggling Downtown Merchants who have had to endure a lot of heart ache over th... 11/03/2015

BOO at the Minot ND Roosevelt Park ZooToday was the annual Boo at the Zoo for the Roosevelt Park Zoo in Minot ND. I wish I would have got the word out earlier but now that my kids are to old to participate I totally forgot until our street rapidly filled up with costumed children and adults. It was a huge turn out and the best Boo at the Zoo I can remember. I got to wander through and get pics for my blog.       10/24/2015

Minot North Dakota's BEST Mexican FoodObviously when we are talking about food personal preference is going to be very biased and when I reveal what I consider to be  the best Mexican food in Minot ND a whole lot of people will disagree. I also want to point out that I am talking food here NOT restaurants! So, my favorite Mexican food can be found at....OK, I hear some groaning out there BUT this is my absolute favorite place to eat. Forget the $50.00 a plate restaurants with the ambiance for the hoity toitie crowd. Give me Taco John's famous 6 pack and a pound (6 soft shell tacos and a pound of potato Ole's). The location pictured above is Taco John's newest location in town on North Broadway slated to open next week. We currently have 3 locations in town and this new one will replace ... 10/24/2015

Minot Lost One Of It's BestLarry SundbakkenI was shocked to read in today's paper at the passing of Larry Sundbakken. It was only a brief statement that he passed away at the age of 68. Larry was one of the "Good Guys" in this industry. He was a Broker Associate/Co-Owner at Signal Realtors here in Minot ND. Larry never had a bad thing to say about anyone and he was encouraging to everyone. You could always expect this soft spoken man to tell you the truth and in a fashion that never offended. If I could magically transform from my rough personality to another I would like/strive to be like Larry.His passing is truly a shock to me and our community. Larry will be greatly missed by all who's lives he touched. Please keep his family in your prayers. 10/20/2015

Help Wanted At National Marketing RealtorsAs the broker of National Marketing Realtors I am looking for a personal assistant.This will be a part time position, Monday through Thursday, 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM.Punctuality and a willingness to learn are a must as well as a good working knowledge of social media.Must be able to work with a PC and able to learn Microsoft Office products.I don't care as much about experience as I care about a good attitude and a willingness to work hard.All applicats must be willing to submit to a background check and a drug test.Call me for an interview today!701-720-8513  10/07/2015

Your AM Real Estate Pro In Minot ND!I, Bob Timm, can be found at my office desk every day before 8AM.Time has taught me that I may be the only Realtor in Minot who is consistently ready to work first thing in the morning, Monday through Friday. week in and week out.When I've worked for other Real Estate agencies in Minot, prior to my purchase of National Marketing Realtors, I was always the first in the office. Even long before the Secretaries.How does this benefit you?When it comes to answering your Real Estate related questions I'm first in line with servicers like: Lenders, Builders, the Title Company, Home Inspectors and more. For those of you who work nights I'm there when you get off of your shift so we can get that paperwork done before you go to bed for the day. I'm there to sho... 10/06/2015

CALL ME!I'M ASKING YOU TO CALL MEON WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 7THBETWEEN 8:00 AM and NOON701-852-8498Our locally owned Christian radio station has it's annual fall "Sharathon" that starts on October 7th and I've agreed to man the phone lines (by myself) for the first 4 hours of the Sharathon.Sharathon was created to make up for the revenue the station does NOT make by refusing to advertise liquor, tobacco, casinos, and the like.I support Christian radio because it was instrumental in my understanding and becoming a Christian. I owe them my eternal life!You can learn more about KHRT Radio by going to their website, KHRT.com  10/01/2015

  I went for a walk in the park with my Bride after dinner tonight and I had to take a couple of pictures. The first one is a challenge to Roy Kelley as I am hoping he can tell us what kind of flowwer this is. The plant looks a bit like a cabbage and is about 18 inches tall.The next picture just shows all the great colors of Fall and Summer sharing the same time and space.Last of all I'm just throwing in a look through the zoo fence at an odd couple that has been together for several years. This pelican has mated with a snow goose and nothing ever seperates them.  09/30/2015

         ARE YOU A TOURIST?This is "Spirit" week in Minot, at least in the Minot School system. Today is "Tourist" day where the kids are encouraged to dress as a tourist. This is Tina's offering for today's event.It made me think about how often people "assume" they will fit in to a new environment. An environment that they are usually totally unfamiliar with.Minot ND has been blessed with many years of consistent prosperity. We have had a positive housing market for over 30 years straight. 30 years of a Sellers market. Our prosperity has brought a lot of people here from all over the country to claim their fortune in the oil field or in the construction business.My daughters outfit for today reminded me of the tourist that has come here from a depressed home market expecting Sellers t... 09/29/2015

WOW! I'm so pleased with every ones input about the work my graphic designer is doing on a logo for me. Yesterday I posted a color logo that, thanks to your input (especially Jill Murty, Realtor - Orange County, CA ) is under further construction. You will see some minor adjustments on the logo with this business card sample. The logo below is metallic Gold and will remain so on my card but I will also be using the Red, White, and Blue logo as well when appropriate. The jury is still out on adding more detail to the eagle. There is something to be said for simplicity and also how easy it will be to use this logo for embroidery and screen printing.    09/23/2015

After about 6 weeks of going back and forth with my Graphic Artist, Kayla Cote of Cote Creative, we came up with the design above. It wasn't the easiest of choices as Kayla had some very good work to chose from. It was especially tempting to take one of her designs in Gold or Silver but I felt with my biggest client base coming from the Minot Air Force Base, and the name National it would be best to go with Red and Blue on White. What do you think?  09/23/2015

Minot's New Airport, Out With The Old, In With The NewMinot's old airport wasn't that old and it really was is a nice building but... with the booming economy Minot has had for about 20 years straight it just was to small to accommodate the number of flights in and out of Minot. When it was built I think we had about two commercial flights out a day in Minot.As you can see the new airport is much larger. It is to open yet this fall/winter. I believe we are now experiencing about 30 flights a day.What to do with the old airport? Well it is just across the street from the Fabulous National Marketing Realtors current office so I'm thinking if they will just rent me the old building for say... $1,000. month (utilities paid) it would make a great office for me.  09/21/2015

Minot's BEST Antique & Collectable ShopOne of my best friends owns The Downtown Mall which is a small antiques and collectibles shop. The shop is located at 108 Main Street, Minot ND and you may call Gene at 701- 852-9084. He is on the lower level, same door as the Beauty Collage. Here are a few pictures of Genes' shop.For Nina!My favorite, the Square Chair!                    09/11/2015

If You Are Irish On St Patrick's Day ....Then Sept. 29 - Oct 3rd You Need To BeScandinavian!!!It's PURE SCANDIMONIUM in Minot ND for North America's largest Scandinavian Celebration/Party!It's that time of year again when thousands of people from all over the world flock to Minot North Dakota to party like a Norwegian... or Swede, of Finlander.5 days of non-stop entertainment including Martina McBride, The Band Perry, The Beach Boys, Ronnie Milsap, and to many more to mention. There are free stages that run all 5 days non-stop with quality entertainers as well.The food, the fun, the shopping, it's a 5 day party!Not even mentioned in their own promotion (found here)is that about 1,000 of those who come arrive by motor home and the motor home community is a party in itself.You have 24 day... 09/04/2015

Minot Real Estate 101, It Sure Is Dark In HereI just drove from my office to downtown Minot ND do make a special blog post on a friends antique shop. When I got out of my car and walked to the door people started to stream out of all the downtown buildings seemingly looking for something.They were looking for the light!Actually they were looking for the reason they had no light.Black Out!There has been a lot of construction in downtown Minot ND for the past year and evidently a backhoe operator or someone else cut a main power line just as I got there.I will post about the best little antique/collectible shop soon but it made me think about that 1st time home owner and the black out they have yet to experience.What to do when the lights go out.#1) Step out of the house and see if your n... 08/20/2015

Hey! Do I Have Tomato On My Face?Last night was my favorite social event of the year,The Great Tomato Festival I know I should have blogged about this yesterday but it was a busy day and they sold out of tickets last week anyhow. As far as I'm concerned this is the BIGGEST snob social event of the year. Every year I volunteer to set tables and do what I can before all the people come. From time to time I donate items for the silent auction and I always do my part to bid up items on the auction (hoping I don't get stuck with them). Anyhow, it's a good cause:This year’s proceeds will go to the Minot Symphony Orchestra, Minot Public Library, Taube Museum of Art and the Lewis & Clark Ft. Mandan Foundation.Some records were set this year including attendance and money raised. It's a lot of f... 08/13/2015

Come And Bring Your Appetite!Timmothy (Red shirt) and I spent part of our morning this morning helping set up the big tent for New Member Sunday. Part of the celebration is the church picnic at 12:30. Everybody is welcome. Hey, notice the dunking booth in the background. I may even volunteer to sit in it if you come.I see someone in there... did they get packed away with the tent last year?That post on the right must be the one Bob Timm put up.  08/08/2015

A Fun "Local Boy" ConcertA young man who grew up in our church returns a couple of times a year (to see Mom and Dad) and always gives a free concert at our church each time.NATHAN (NATE) HANCEIs an accomplished pianist and song writer who now lives in the Denver area. While I know you would enjoy his work, he does everything from Beethoven to "Roll Over Beethoven", I thought you might enjoy this short little nonsense piece he calls piano trick shots. Nate has several pieces on Youtube and has CDs available.  08/07/2015

 A TIME TO KILL   Ecclesiastes 3:3  Last night I decided to tackle one of those chores that the Broker/Owner of a small Real Estate Firm often does, repair yard signs. First I repaired a plastic frame that failed to hold up against at 40 to 60 MPH wind. Then I broke out my little welder to repair an open house sign.I set up my little welder out the overhead garage door that leads to the alley and everything went amazingly well... until clean up. I took a couple of tools into the garage and all of a sudden the little basterd hit me 3 to 4 times in the belly even before I saw him. Now I'm pretty fast, I used to work out doing traditional boxing exercises and I raised my left to fight him off and he hit me right in the wrist, again before I even saw him. He was fast.When I finally saw my a... 07/28/2015

1-2-3 Days To Go Til The ND State FairEven at the "mature" age of 61 I love the ND State Fair and can't wait to spend an entire day there. Friday is the 1st day (of 8 days) and Saturday is kind of the big kick-off starting with a 4 hour parade leading from Downtown Minot out to the Fair Grounds.For 1st time parade goers I'd suggest you find your place on the parade route prior to 8AM as there are crazies, like myself, who set up the night before or by 6AM.For this years entertainment line-up check out the ND State Fair website here. There are many FREE stages with top quality entertainers and there are tons of commercial booths as well as the livestock shows. Come! Have a day or 8 of fun!  07/13/2015