HOW'S IT HANGING?By A String.I walk by this icicle every time I enter or leave my home and for awhile I was wondering... hows it hanging there. I kept thinking that it was so narrow at the top and why doesn't it weight cause it to fall off of the Christmas decoration it is clinging to. Upon closer inspection if you take a look, the icicle has formed around a thread/string and that is 'HOW IT'S HANGING!Working with National Marketing Realtors of Minot ND we will NOT leave you hanging by a string. We believe in "The Golden Rule" and keep you informed through out the transaction of Buying or Selling a home. Call, text, or email us today for warm friendly service that won't leave you cold and hanging.  01/03/2016

HEY! THEY TOOK THE CURTAINS! Minot Real Estate 101The terms Real Property and Personal Property can be confusing if you are buying your first home. Most simply put Real Property is all land, structures, FIRMLY attached and intergrated equipment (like the homes plumbing and wiring) as well as anything growing on the land.Note that it doesn't mention rugs, lamps, clothes washer or dryer, mower, or snowblower. Keep in mind those words FIRMLY attached. I've seen yard sheds disappear over that wording.Lines 9, 10, 11 and 12 on the standard Offer To Purchase we use in Minot ND look like this:Also keep in mind that they may also type in the contract that they are keeping some of the window coverings... you would not want little Johnny to leave the Thomas The Train Engine curtains that matched ... 01/02/2016

What's The Market Look Like In Minot, Bob?These are the numbers today! Looking into my crystal ball of past experience I'm going to say we will continue to see a very gradual decrease in home prices until spring rolls around. Last year around this time the average home price was around or even above $300,000, today $267,731. that's better than a 10% drop in the average. I think maybe we will see it go down to a 12% drop before April. Come April I think the prices will rebound 8 to 10%. If the oil market tightens up we could see prices surpass last years highs. BUT I do not foresee oil prices rebounding (I think it will take about $50.00 a barell) to a point we will see sharp growth until late Fall, say September 2016. That's just my opinion.  01/01/2016

When Did You Discover That You Are An Entrepreneur?This morning in the Question and Answer section of Active Rain I asked about your News Paper reading habits. I mentioned to Roger D. Mucci that I sold Grit News Paper when I was a kid (back in the late 1800's).That got me reminiscing about the awaking of the entrepreneur spirit with-in me and believe it or not I remember it very clearly.I was attending Riverside Grade School in Moorhead MN when some folks were causing quite a stir after school showing kids some really neat toys and stuff they called "Prizes". You could win these prize's just by asking your parents and neighbors if they would like to sign up for The Fargo Fourm News Paper.There was some really neat stuff. What caught my eye was a banana seat and high-rise handlebars for ... 12/31/2015

Putting The Pieces TogetherOur whole family has been working on this 1,000 piece puzzle over the holiday. It's a weird puzzle, kind of a mix between outer space and something you would see under a microscope. It's the toughest puzzle I've ever helped with and I've always been good with puzzles.Real Estate is a very difficult puzzle too. I work with a family: my secretary, my assistant, a professional lender, a home inspector, a title company and the list goes on and on. Between all of us we probably have 100 years of more experience.Real Estate is not something anyone should do alone as a Buyer or a Seller. Buying and Selling Real Estate is allot like a jigsaw puzzle, it's very complicated, and it's best to have a family there to help you.National Marketing Realtors would like to be the... 12/31/2015

Minot Regional Explorer Post 9472 A GREAT ProgramThe Explorer program is a program that introduces teens and young adults to career fields like law enforcement.My daughter Tina became involved in it just this year and loves it. See was actually invited by a friend who I think was in danger of being on the wrong side of the law but now, due to this program and ROTC Tina's friend is on very good ground.Explorers is a national program run by Scouting (or Boy Scouts) Of America. You can read more about the Minot Explorer program here.  12/29/2015

2nd Annual Pay It Forward AR ChallengeSertoma International (Minot)Christmas In The ParkIt's NOT to late to get in on this fun little sites of Christmas tour through Oak Park in Minot ND. Just $5.00 per car load with your donations going to the worthy causes listed below. I was going to take a video for you but then you may have skipped seeing it in person.We went through yesterday, Christmas Eve, and I highly recommend it even if you have seen it in the past. Many of these displays were ruined in the flood of 2011 and have been rebuilt. There are several new ones as well. Either way you only see them once a year and the money goes to some very good local causes.Speaking of paying it "Forward" there is somewhat of an odd but fun twist to it with the Sertoma Christmas in the Park show of... 12/24/2015

Children Really Make ChristmasAnd we are all Children at Christmas.I just came from the Our Saviors Lutheran Church (LC-MS) Christmas program and it was wonderful. This church is so blessed musically and with a great balance of young and old. I could not resist taking a couple of pics of the kids, especially the one right in front of me.Best seat in the house.I've risen!When the teacher asked who brought Jesus presents one little girl blerted out SANTA CLAUS!  12/24/2015

Christmas Video Tour of National Marketing RealtorsFeel free to stop in for coffee and treats. We will keep the decorations up till January 8th. National Marketing Realtors is proud to celebrate the birth of Jesus, Christ, Lord and Savior not only at Christmas time but we proudly proclaim Jesus year around.    12/24/2015

Missing The ObviousHere is another clip art cartoon I found with lots of possible meanings.Obviously the man behind the desk isn't even aware of what's in front of him, he has to read it off the page. I think this is the Realtor many clients tell me about. They tell me: "We were with Tom and we told him what we wanted but he kept showing us this crap and that crap... it was like he didn't hear a word we said".Then there is the client with Big Hair. She could cut it short and blend in with everyone else but she knows she will stand out with Big Hair. She wants to be noticed. I'm here! See ME! Pay attention to ME! We all like to be noticed, some more than others.If you are looking for housing in the Minot area and you want a Real Estate Agent to pay attention to your needs than give Natio... 12/23/2015

Merry Christmas, My VideoI wanted to make a short, hopefully sweet Christmas greeting card for you, hopefully this gets the message across that I am definately in the Christmas Spirit.I don't think I've ever been more content during the Christmas Season as an adult. Business has been good, my health (and the health of my family) has been good, and we will be celebrating with family and friends right here at our home in Minot ND. 12/22/2015

No Snowbirds At Roosevelt Park Zoo Actually it's a matter of how you look at it. We indeed have birds like penguins that are "snow birds" but the term "Snowbirds" most people are familial with are those North Dakotians who head South for the winter, not actual birds.That being said, ALL of the animals at Minot's Roosevelt Park Zoo stay at the zoo year around.You may be very surprised at some of the animals that not only stay year around but ones that actually enjoy a little time outside even when the temp is well below freezing.Living only 500 feet from the zoo I can tell you that I see and hear the Lions and other big cats in the winter, the camels, and more.This week, weather permitting, you can visit the Roosevelt Park Zoo from noon to 4:00 on December 28, 29, & 30th. Donations will ... 12/18/2015

Minot's Eastwood Park Christmas LightsI just drove through Minot's Historical District, Eastwood Park, after dropping my daughter off at her friends and I thought I'd take a few pics along the way. The decorating is far from spectacular but these two homes looked pretty good so I thought I'd share. Of course it might have helped if I would have had my camera along instead of using my phone. Despite the look of the pics I was parked when I took the shots.   12/18/2015

I'm Crying FoulOK, actually I'm not doing anything but venting. Last week I sold both sides of a town house. A developer built a duplex which sat on the market for a while but not to long. He planned on building several of these duplex homes while our market was really moving with the oil boom. I brought 3 buyers to his agent and I have several more lined up. After I brought those 3 he got it in gear and is building more units. With 2 duplex's up and my selling 3 of the 4 units I got the Buyers permission to put up a row of SOLD signs for a week.Gee whiz, would you know all my signs mysteriously pulled themselves up the next day and laid themselves in the dirt. Who'd a thunk?Maybe I should ask the Sellers agent if he saw who could have done this... Dale? 12/15/2015

Tonight My Daughter Is In The Back Of A Police CarYou know I spend a lot of time bragging about my kids but tonight my darling little daughter is in the back of a police car!15 year old, honor student, very involved in church and ROTC, now in the back of a squad car.Oh wait!!! It's a good thing. Tina is now involved in a youth program for the police department.This will be her 3rd night out and she will receive a T-shirt in recognition of her involvement with the program. I think it's a neat program for kids to learn what a cops life is like. I'm sure her Grandpa Timm is smiling down from heaven as he once was a police officer.For more information on how your son or daughter can get involved in this program check with your local police department.  12/13/2015

It's So Slippery...We have had unseasonably warm weather this Fall/Winter and today started out with a light rain. With the temp right at the freezing mark and dropping our City streets were like ice skating rinks.Minot is NOT know to be proactive when it comes to sanding City Streets. The joke here is that the body shops pay them NOT to go out until the first 100 accidents.So HOW SLIPPERY IS IT? On my way back to the office from a visit I saw a sanding truck turn at a residential intersection and slide across the road to mow over a stop sign. I would have taken a picture but it was way to dangerous to even consider stopping.  12/11/2015

Flood Insurance In Minot North DakotaThere are a lot of misconceptions going around about flood insurance in Minot North Dakota. I hope the following will help some people understand better what is actually happening in the Mouse River Valley of Minot North Dakota.Rates have not increased since the flood of 2011. Here is my most recent Flood Insurance Statement: You can see My home is insured for $200,000. and it's contents as insured for $80,000. My annual premium is $429.00.When I moved to Minot and purchased a home 2 blocks from the river I wanted flood insurance, it was not mandatory. Because it was not mandatory my agent thought I was nuts and I literally had to talk him into selling it to me. $429.00 was cheap peace of mind to me and it certainly paid off big in 2011 when my home ... 12/07/2015

This Mornings Men's Breakfast @ OSLC Home made biscuits, gravy, and scrambled eggs were on today's menu for the Our Saviors Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod) Men's Breakfast this morning as well as information and a study called The Great Divide. It was a discussion about the differences between Islam and Christianity. It was very well put together and considering it was supposed to be a one week study of two hour lessons, one lesson per day, we did really well to get through the entire thing in 2 hours.I felt it was leaving people in a bit of a state of despair so at the very end I stood up and reminded people: "Let's not forget there once was a man named Saul who proclaimed jihad on the Christian faith".If you would like to come to the next OSLC Men's Breakfast it will be January 30th.... 12/05/2015

Grab Your Wiener Tomorrow From 1:30 to 2:45At Dakota Square Mall That's the shift I will be working on Thursday to help with a fundraiser for The Horn Of Plenty at The Dakota Square Mall.The KHRT Horn of Plenty reaches out to families in need during the Christmas season. It provides a week or two of food including items for a Christmas Day meal, toys for the children, and a ministry gift that shares the Good News of the Gospel with that family. You can read more about it HERE.If you would like to financially support the Horn of Plenty, it is a tax-deductible gift. Make your check to "I Help, Inc." and mail it to: I Help, Inc PO Box 2112 Minot, ND 58702 11/18/2015

Wally's World Of Knives, Minot North DakotaNo buddy is as knowledgeable about knives as Wally D., owner of Wally's World Of Knives.Ladies, Wally carries any and every kind of knife you want/need for the kitchen. Guys, Walley has any and every kind of knife for your pocket or for hunting.You can probably even pick up a Klingon Bat'Leth or dagger at Wally's World Of Knives. You can find Wally's at:Wally's World of Knives408 20th Ave SE Minot, North Dakota 58701phone (701) 838-4535Located inside the Hensen's Leather Building. 11/12/2015