Minnesota Real Estate

2008-11-25T22:48:00.001-08:00

Testing out my ping.fm updater. Fun!

Woot Woot! Nothing Like A Feature To Get Me Blogging

2008-11-08T09:25:00.000-08:00

Features are funny. They are a science that I think I am an expert on, but then quickly discover otherwise.
Last night I wrote a post, Top Ten Reasons I Wish I Was @NAR 2008.... I do top ten lists on this blog fairly often. I find them funny. I'm quirky like that. Okay, I'm weird like that. I'll admit it.
I didn't anticipate much.
A couple comments maybe? Someone who could relate.
I wake up this morning, reach for my Blackberry, and spent some significant time deleting the AR comment notifications from my inbox.
I totally never expected it. Thank you AR Gods for remaining so mysterious. An unexpected feature always motivates me to blog more to figure out just what it takes to get that coveted gold star.
More blogs are coming, that's for sure now!

Fantastic Opportunity to Purchase Bank Owned Properties in Minnesota

2008-11-06T11:26:00.000-08:00

Good news for buyers looking for a good deal! A two day auction is taking place November 15th and 16th at the Minneapolis Convention Center on over 400 properties throughout the state!
I am in charge of three of these properties in our immediate area.
Check out this home on 5 acres approximately 9 miles north of Mora. It has two bedrooms, a bathroom with a large garden tub, and a beautiful yard. Weekend getaway or year round home potential. Close to lakes (including Mille Lacs!), hunting, state parks and land. Needs some TLC from someone who loves it. Only 2 miles from Knife Lake, which has great fishing, a convenience store, and a public landing. About one mile from Highway 65, which makes it very easy to get to from anywhere in the state! For more information, check out www.ushomeauction.com, and look for 2921 Ivory Street, Mora.

This home in Isle, Minnesota, puts you oh-so-close to Mille Lacs lake. Literally less than a mile from Father Hennepin State Park, this house is located in a nice development in town. Hardwood floors, cabin trim, full deck off the sunny dining room. 4 bedrooms possible, two full baths. Nice family room in the basement. Lots of upgrades - not your standard split entry! Enjoy the recreation, community, and Mille Lacs Lake! For more information on this property, visit www.ushomeauction.com and check out 725 Linden Street in Isle.

I also just got a request for another property in Moose Lake. Live right in town! More information to come soon.
Many more properties are available throughout the state - just visit www.ushomeauction.com for more information.
If you would like to see these properties, please feel free to give me a call at 612-850-3153 or send me an email - Joslyn@JoslynSells.com.

Hobby Farm - Price Reduced!

2008-07-22T09:29:00.000-07:00

9863 Rice Road
Brook Park, MN 55007
Awesome 17 Acre Hobby Farm!

Joslyn Panka

Office:	320-225-2600
Mobile:	612-850-3153
Website:	Visit Website

Price	:	$145,000
Bedrooms	:	5
Bathrooms	:	2
Square Foot	:	3,855
Lot Size	:	17
County	:	Pine
Property Type	:	Detached
Year Built	:	1917

click for more pictures

Property Description

Farmhouse located on 17 acres near I-35 and Pine City ready for you to move in! Barn, pole barn, and pasture all fenced and ready for horses if you want, or make room for whatever your heart desires. Home has 5 bedrooms total, large basement, and gorgeous kitchen. You'll never want to leave home again!

Features List

Horse Shelter

Equal Housing Opportunity.

Northern Lights Realty :
Mora
MN
55008
: 320-225-2600

Lakehomes in Mora, Lakeshore on Mille Lacs, and Fishing in Pine County

2008-07-22T09:28:00.000-07:00

Joslyn Panka, your East Central Lakeshore Specialist, wanted to help you find the perfect cabin on a lake, or your new lake home. So I decided to post this blog with some helpful links to get you started.

If you are interested in the Mille Lacs area, including Milaca lakehomes, Garrison lakeshore, Isle cabins, and that general area, this is the place to start. With many great homes in a wide variety of price ranges, you are sure to find your perfect fit when looking for a lakefront property in Minnesota. Simply click the following link, and take a look at all the lakefront homes Mille Lacs County has to offer!
To see Mille Lacs County lakehomes, click here.

There are some wonderful lakes in Kanabec County. Maybe you've been dreaming of a home on Knife Lake, a cabin on Ann Lake, or some great weekends fishing on Fish Lake. Ogilvie, Mora, Brook Park, and the surrounding areas offer some beautiful lakes and some great opportunities for your perfect lake home! For more information on the lakes in Kanabec County, I recommend taking a look at my blog, Kanabec County Lakeshore - Let Me Help You!
To see Kanabec County lakehomes for sale, click here.

You're busy, but still want to escape on the weekends to your perfect Minnesota fishing haven. I-35 calls your name on Friday afternoons. Why not jet right up to your new lake property in Pine County? Pine City, Hinckley, Standstone, Finlayson, and Moose Lake offer some fantastic weekend getaways, with incredible fishing and an easy drive back home again. Or make all your dreams a reality and easily commute from your lakehome to your job in the metro area!
To see Pine County lakehomes for sale, click here.

My cell phone for direct access - 612-850-3153
Enjoy your home hunting!
**Joslyn can sign you up for automatic e-mail alerts! Find out IMMEDIATELY when a home that meets your specifications in Minnesota comes on the market. It's free, and you can cancel it at anytime! Email what your ideal home would be like to joslyn@joslynsells.com with the subject "Sign me up", and I will enroll you right away!**

More on Shoreline Restoration - Why It Is Important to Me

2007-06-12T13:41:00.003-07:00

Minnesota is a great state, with great lakes, and great fishing.

I love to fish, no doubt about it.

I, however, never thought about the environmental aspect of it.

One of my favorite conversations with Nick, my fiancee, who asked me to post Shoreland and Streambank Restoration in Isanti, Mille Lacs, Pine, Aitkin, Chisago, and Kanabec Counties, Minnesota on my blog, was one I had not too long ago. We were discussing the fishing on our favorite lake near us (I don't name - I want to keep it to myself!) and even though I act as though I don't know better, I do.

"So," I say, as we're eating dinner, "My mom said that they were catching crappies like crazy. She said that the lake is really weedy this year, all the way to the middle, though. I hate it when lakes get weedy. What a pain!"

"You know what that means, right?" asks Nick, looking at me. I hate these "quiz" moments, as I call them.

"What?" I ask, and continue eating.

"That the lake is turning into a meadow."

"What?" Okay, this is serious. I stop chewing and stare.

"It's the natural progression..." and he continues on with his explanation that eventually my lake will not exist, but will be a meadow, with trees. My response?

"What can we do to stop it???"

Now, to make things clear, I know better, and didn't mean that we should stop it. I do know that sometimes people think exactly the same way I did just then, though. Where will I fish? Where will my kids fish? Although it's not an immediate worry, it's still something I am thinking about.

It will take many many years for the lake to turn into a meadow. First it will become a bog, and then slowly change over. It's not something I will see in my lifetime. However, it does seem to be a shame that in the future people won't be able to enjoy the fantastic fishing I do. Of course, I guess by then the fishing will not be great, because I will have emptied the lake out already! :)

Now, to get back on subject. What does this mean to me?

The other day, on my way to a listing appointment, I noticed something in the road ahead. I wasn't sure what to expect, so began to slow down, and I saw movement. As I got closer, I realized that it was a mother duck with about 8 baby ducklings, trying to cross the road. As the traffic watched, I began to think how great it is that we all stopped to let them cross. Granted, mom was worried, and the ducklings were frightened, but they made it across the road okay. Then, for whatever reason, my random mind went flying off into a different thought altogether. I began to think of all the things that Nick tells me, about how mowing your grass to the water's edge leaves no where for the wildlife, as well as leaving the lake vulnerable. How if erosion and lake damage are allowed to continue, there will be nowhere for these ducks to live. I have a soft spot for ducks, anyway, but I think this subject would make anyone stop and think.

So I recommend, especially if you live in these counties and have waterfront property, to consider talking to Nick, or at least reading my article Shoreland and Streambank Restoration in Isanti, Mille Lacs, Pine, Aitkin, Chisago, and Kanabec Counties, Minnesota. Think about those ducks - where will they live?

Shoreland and Streambank Restoration in Isanti, Mille Lacs, Pine, Aitkin, Chisago, and Kanabec Counties, Minnesota

2007-06-12T13:41:00.001-07:00

This is part of a brouchure provided by IMPACK 6, and reprinted with permission from Nick Solomon.

Shoreline and Streambank Restoration

The Kanabec Soil and Water Conservation Department along with the IMPACK6 Technical Service Area are announcing that technical assistance will be available for SHORELINE AND STREAMBANK RESTORATION AND VEGETATION DESIGN. Nick Solomon, Vegetation Restoration Specialist from IMPACK6 and Kelly Osterdyk, District Manager from the Kanabec SWCD will be available this year for site visits to your property. Contact Kelly Osterdyk at (320)679-3781 (113) for more information or to set up an appointment.

Water quality issues are plentiful and can be addressed on each individual property on a lake, wetland or stream. Start by addressing erosion. Erosion, which is caused by runoff and concentrated flow, can cause water quality degradation in your waterbody. Erosion eats away at your shoreline or streambank causing you to lose property to the lake. As the water moves across your property toward the shoreline it builds up speed and washes soil particles into the water. These soil particles have phosphorus attached to them. The phosphorus then enters the water and helps turn the water green and cloudy.

As water runs off impervious surfaces such as driveways, sidewalks, compacted soil, and roofs it transports leftover fertilizer and grass clippings toward the waterbody. To minimize the amount of phosphorus that enters the water use zero phosphorus fertilizer (10-0-10). It's the law! Also, a vegetated buffer along the shore will help stop some of the pollutants and nutrients before they reach the water. If you want to start small, try not mowing the strip of your lawn closest to the water to slow the runoff.

Some design assistance may also be available for rain gardens on private property. A rain garden is a basin designed to catch the first flush of runoff after a rain. The first ½ inch of rainfall carries most of the pollutants to the waterbody. A rain garden is NOT a pond, a water feature, or a fountain location. Rain gardens are designed to hold water for about 24 hours allowing the plants to uptake the water and nutrients that have run into the garden. The plants in the garden are able to withstand wet feet for a short amount of time, but are not aquatic and need the water to drain effectively.

If You Had a Showing Nearly Three Hours Away, What Would You Do?

2007-06-11T13:40:00.000-07:00

I recieved an e-mail last week from some clients who wanted to see a commerical property in Swatara, Minnesota. I was excited, because although I hadn't dealt with commerical property yet, this was a very cute looking building, and I couldn't wait to get inside!

I Mapquest-ed the route, and found it to be approximately two and a half hours from the office. I debated all weekend long, knowing that this was going to be a long ride, which I hate to do alone. So what did I do?

The logical thing, of course!

I brought my cat!

First, let me say that my cat, Briggy, LOVES to ride in the car. There's nothing she likes better than to cruise around, looking at scenery, and getting some major alone time with me.

So I packed her up this morning, and off we went.

She behaved fantastically. We got to the listing early, and walked the ATV trail for some fresh air (I have a leash for her) and played in the grass a little. She stayed in the car with the AC on while I showed the property, and then we were back on our way home.

Adorable store, might I add. I love it!

On the way home, we swung through Garrison and went through the McDonald's drive-thru. I ordered a double cheeseburger and an ice cream cone, and shared a little with her. She slept on my lap the rest of the way home.

Now we're back at the office. I had to steal a chair from another desk, because she is sleeping (quite soundly) on mine. We have an offer to present at 5:30, and then we'll head home.

Long drive? No problem! But it sure is nice with someone along!

Brook Park Minnesota

2007-06-09T13:40:00.000-07:00

Although I'm destined to not recieve some of my mail on time because they are addressed "Brooklyn Park" instead of "Brook Park", I love living where I do. (The post office does a great job of getting my mail to me, anyway!)

As you can imagine, when I moved from Brooklyn Park to Brook Park, there was plenty of confusion while changing my mailing address. It was also a nice change from the big city to rural Minnesota!

Brook Park, located on Highway 23 East of Mora and West of I-35. Most of Brook Park sits in Pine County, but it also stretches West into Kanabec County. The town itself is small, with a gas station and restaurant, and a bar. There is a post office, and Brook Park is also the home of Herzog's Trailer Sales and Tack Shop.

The citizens of Brook Park are different than citizens of most other cities. 94% of Brook Park residents commute to their job, and 88% of residents own their residence. The average median income is approximately $45,000 a year, and the average cost of a home in Brook Park is $196,429. The average home has approximately 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, and was built in 1984.

A large number of Brook Park properties are seasonal and recreational properties. Brook Park has some very good hunting land, and is close to many lakes, including Knife Lake, Fish Lake, Ann Lake, Pokegama Lake, Cross Lake, and the Snake River. If you are looking for a cabin or hunting land in Minnesota, Brook Park may be the place for you!

Brook Park is great for commuting. Located just 5 miles from I-35 and approximately 15 miles from Highway 65, it is a great location for a getaway or a year round home away from the hustle and bustle. Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have, or see more statistics here.

East Central Minnesota Arts Upcoming Events

2007-06-08T13:39:00.000-07:00

Friday, June 8, 2007, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, June 9 at 2 p.m. the Prairie Fire Children's Theater production of Jack and the Beanstalk at the East Central Public School auditorium, 61085 State Highway 23 in Finlayson. For more information contact East Central Public Schools Community Education Director Toni Groe at (320) 245-5231.

Thursday, June 14, 2007, Lemonade Concert at 7pm it's back to the 50s and 60s with the TIMELESS Band. Bring your lawn chairs for this outdoor concert at the Kanabec History Center for food, fun, great music and free lemonade. In case of rain the concert will be rescheduled. This concert is free of charge to the public. The Kanabec History Center is located at 805 West Forest Avenue in Mora. Call 320-679- 1665 for more information or visit their web page at www.kanabechistory.org.

Tuesday, June 19, 2007, at 7 p.m. the Tuesdays in the Park Series presents Blue Wolf. The location is the Mille Lacs County Historical Society Depot Museum at 101 10th Ave. S in Princeton, MN. . Prior to each concert (at 6:30 p.m.) the Princeton Library sponsors a story hour and books are read by community members. For more information contact Princeton Community Education Director Tim Dalton at (763) 389-6199.

Tuesday, June 26, 2007, at 7 p.m. the Tuesdays in the Park Series presents Mary Bue. The location is the Mille Lacs County Historical Society Depot Museum at 101 10th Ave. S in Princeton, MN. Prior to each concert (at 6:30 p.m.) the Princeton Library sponsors a story hour and books are read by community members. For more information contact Princeton Community Education Director Tim Dalton at (763) 389-6199.

Tuesday, July 10, 2007, at 7 p.m. the Tuesdays in the Park Series presents the Bistodeau Family Band. The location is the Mille Lacs County Historical Society Depot Museum at 101 10th Ave. S in Princeton, MN. . Prior to each concert (at 6:30 p.m.) the Princeton Library sponsors a story hour and books are read by community members. For more information contact Princeton Community Education Director Tim Dalton at (763) 389-6199.

Thursday, July 12, 2007, Lemonade Concert at 7pm Siloa Creek performs at KHC. Bring your lawn chairs for this outdoor concert at the Kanabec History Center for food, fun, great music and free lemonade. In case of rain the concert will be rescheduled. This concert is free of charge to the public. The Kanabec History Center is located at 805 West Forest Avenue in Mora. Call 320-679- 1665 for more information or visit their web page at www.kanabechistory.org.

Tuesday, July 17, 2007, at 7 p.m. the Tuesdays in the Park Series presents the Liz Keeney Country Band. The location is the Mille Lacs County Historical Society Depot Museum at 101 10th Ave. S in Princeton, MN. . Prior to each concert (at 6:30 p.m.) the Princeton Library sponsors a story hour and books are read by community members. For more information contact Princeton Community Education Director Tim Dalton at (763) 389-6199.

Tuesday, July 24, 2007, at 7 p.m. the Tuesdays in the Park Series presents Overland Express. The location is the Mille Lacs County Historical Society Depot Museum at 101 10th Ave. S in Princeton, MN. . Prior to each concert (at 6:30 p.m.) the Princeton Library sponsors a story hour and books are read by community members. For more information contact Princeton Community Education Director Tim Dalton at (763) 389-6199.

Tuesday, July 31, 2007, at 7 p.m. the Tuesdays in the Park Series presents Indigo Nights. The location is the Mille Lacs County Historical Society Depot Museum at 101 10th Ave. S in Princeton, MN. . Prior to each concert (at 6:30 p.m.) the Princeton Library sponsors a story hour and books are read by community members. For more information contact Princeton Community Education Director Tim Dalton at (763) 389-6199.

Thursday August 9, 2007 KHC Lemonade Concert at 7pm - the Lumberland Cloggers perform. Bring your lawn chairs for this outdoor concert at the Kanabec History Center for food, fun, great music and free lemonade. In case of rain the concert will be rescheduled. This concert is free of charge to the public. The Kanabec History Center is located at 805 West Forest Avenue in Mora. Call 320-679- 1665 for more information or visit their web page at www.kanabechistory.org.

Sunday, August 12, 2007, at 1:30 p.m., the Fiddle Contest at the Mille Lacs County Fair. This is the third year for the fiddle contest at the Mille Lacs County Fair and the first year that ECAC has funded the project. This contest draws fiddlers from throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin, North and South Dakota. ECAC funds are providing the prize money. The Mille Lacs County fairgrounds are located on the southeast corner of the intersection of US Highway 169 and MN State Highway 95 in Princeton. For more information contact Deb Bistodeau, Project Director, at (763) 389-2739 or via e-mail at fiddle_fever@hotmail.com.

Thursday, Friday, Saturday, August 16, 17 &18, 2007, the Hinckley-Finlayson Summer Recreation Children's Theatre production of "Aladdin". The location will be the Ostrand Fine Arts Center located in the Hinckley-Finlayson High School in Hinckley. Time of the show are not yet available. This musical production will include children from Kindergarten through sixth grade For more information contact the project director Krista Matson at (320) 384-7325.

Saturday and Sunday, August 18 & 19, 2007, the Rush City Music and Arts Festival. The location is the Chisago County Fairgrounds, in Rush City. There will be 2 days of musical programming. On Saturday performances will include: Monroe Crossing and Die Wolpertinger. On Sunday there will be an ecumenical service utilizing Rush City graduates for the music. In addition there will be a visual art display of the artwork of Chisago County<>>Effie Sheldon Bornhoft. For more information contact the project director Joanne Lofgren Ploetz at (320) 358-3554.

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, September 28, 29 & 30, 2007, the Kanabec County Artist Tour Fall Participatory Art Event "Sticks and Stones." The location is the Hovland farm 5 miles northwest of Mora, 2416 Jade Street . There will be a small art show with artist demonstrations, a poetry reading, and live music. This group strives to get the public involved in making art as well as experiencing it. For more information contact the project director Keith Raivo at (320) 679-4667.

September 15, 2006, to September 1, 2007, completion will take place on the TRAC (Tourism, Recreation, Arts Crafts) website at http://www.ecmntrac.org/ and will include the development of artist member profile pages, member forums, artist showcase rooms, a member directory and an events calendar for people interested in the tourism, recreation, arts, and crafts industries in East Central Minnesota. There will be an artist showcase room dedicated to artists in the ECAC coverage area. For more information contact Judy Cain, TRAC Chair, at (320)532-5626 or Sara Schlegel, TRAC Secretary, at (320) 532-8816.

This information provided by Mary Minnick-Daniels, Director - East Central Regional Arts Council.

Buying A House Is Like Buying A Wedding Dress - Almost

2007-06-07T13:39:00.000-07:00

As some of you who don't know may have guessed from the title, I am planning a wedding. Thus wedding stuff is on my mind, although the whole dress issue has been solved for quite a while. I've been engaged for 3 and a half years, and I've owned my dress for over two. However, bridesmaid dresses are another issue. A few of my bridesmaids ordered theirs when I ordered my dress. Two others, however, don't have a dress yet, and now I'm not sure we can get the dress that everyone else has. Although it isn't a big deal to me, I was hunting online trying to find dresses in the same color as the other girls. I gave it some thought, and my mind wandered to real estate. So here you go - enjoy!

Since you know the story, you know I'm looking for bridesmaids dresses. I'm trying to match the silverish color that three of the girls already have. (I don't know what you would technically call that color, and I'm not going to stress about that too much, either.)

So the dress is still on the website, which is a good sign. Then I discover that the silverish color is either "Platinum" or "Ice Silver", but I have no idea what we ordered.

Then a friend calls me and says "Hey, Joslyn. They have the same exact dress at David's Bridal for $99."

I say "Oh really?" A little skeptical, but willing to check it out for my other girls.

So I'm scouring the internet, looking for similar dresses. I see that I can order many of them right then and there. All I need to do is enter my credit card number, and I can have two dresses in whatever size and color I want shipped directly to me, or my girls. However I would prefer.

I begin to think about wedding dresses.

Out of curiousity, I begin looking, and see that it's just as easy to buy a wedding dress.

I stop and think out of shock.

Like I said above, I have had my dress for a while. The process of getting that dress was amazing.

I started by looking through bridal magazines, tearing out dresses I liked, and slipping the pages into sheet protectors in a fun, modern looking binder (Okay, I worked at OfficeMax. I really liked the "modern binder", and it made me feel cool!) so that they were all in one place. Then I began internet searching, reading about what type of dress I should have for my body shape, and printing out the ones I liked.

At this time, Nick was working in St. Cloud, and I believe he had locked his keys in his car that day. I decided to go up early, since I had the day off (What? Days off in retail? Unheard of!) and do some shopping. I dressed like I like to dress when "chillin" (Totally ghetto, with jeans and a sweater, usually) and drove from Brooklyn Park to OfficeMax in St. Cloud.

I did a little bit of shopping, but I'm a sweater person, and it was summer, so as you can imagine, I didn't have much luck. I grabbed a phone book, and looked up bridal shops, thinking I would non-committedly take a look at some in real life. At this point I had been looking for about a year, and I still hadn't seen a single wedding dress in real life.

So I head out to Sauk Rapids to a place called This Side of Heaven. (Apparantly they are no longer open, or I would link to them.) I started looking around, and found a couple dresses I liked. They offered to let me try them on, and I was reluctant, but finally agreed. So here I am in a wedding dress, with mis-matched socks and giant maroon straps coming up out of my dress. I was definitely not dressed for such activities. We try on some, and I really like them. The owner brings a few more over for me to see. She encourages me to try on one - says it will look great. I stare at it. First, it's strapless, which isn't really something I was interested in. I also found myself enchanted by any dress that had little bits of colored detail. This was not one of them. It was "foofy", which wasn't really something I wanted either. I really didn't think it was going to look good on me at all, with it's defined waist. The only thing that I thought I might be able to live with was the fact that it was a lace up - I had decided early on I wanted a lace up dress.

I declined the offer, and tried on a few others.

Once again she brought the dress over, and said "I really think you'll like this one - I think it will look really good on you. Give it a whirl."

Looking for any excuse I could, I said "What size is it? It looks too small for me."

She replied, "It's a couple sizes small, but it laces up, so you're still going to get a really good idea of how it will look. Try it on. For me?"

One thing about me is that I'm a total pushover. Stores like The Limited LOVE me, because when they throw extra things in my size in my dressing room, I always end up buying them. Socks are buy five get one free, and they cost $20 a pair? Okay, sure. I CAN'T SAY NO.

So needless to say, the next thing I knew, I was trying this dress on.

I hadn't tried a lace up yet. I got into it and then held it up with one hand. The other hand was placed against the wall, and it was just like watching women put on corsets in the movies. The owner stood behind me pulling and tugging, and it was uncomfortable, along with my bruised confidence and self-esteem, because none of these dresses made me look like a sex goddess.

Boy, did I have another thing coming.

I walk out of the dressing room and into their viewing area, with mirrors all around me.

Since then, I have an obsession with corsets. I really wish I had a collection of them.

That dress looked great. It helped shape me, but also flattered my shape so well. I looked really different in this one. I was in love.

This dress was not ANYTHING like what I thought I wanted. EVERYTHING about it was wrong - except the lace up part. However, that very dress (in my size) is sitting in my closet in a nice bag, waiting for the big day. Laces and all. It's been bustled, taken in, hemmed - what a pain!

How does this story compare with houses, you ask?

When I started looking for a house, I had no idea what I was doing. NONE whatsoever. I began my search where most buyers do - the internet.

When I wanted information, I called to get it, but I didn't really want to deal with a real estate agent yet. I spent a lot of time driving around, looking at houses myself. I could eliminate a lot really quickly.

One day I got a little lost, and found a house for sale by accident. I fell in love. I went home, thinking for sure it was more than the price I wanted to spend, because I had never seen it in my searches.

The house was exactly what I wanted to spend. and it HAD come up in my searches. I had just taken the pictures at face value, and didn't look into the house at all. (I am not saying that the pictures were done poorly, because they were GREAT, but one of my favorite features wasn't in the main picture, and I kind of just skipped over it. I am now friends with the agent who had it listed, so if she thinks otherwise, she may kick my butt!)

Three weeks later we moved in. We had done three showings, negotiated the offer, and gone through the whole process with an agent. It was definitely a learning experience, and something I'm glad I have now that I'm in the industry. :)

So what is my point? I guess my thought was that I would never buy a wedding dress online without trying it (and others) on first. Perhaps there are women out there who can and would, who look great in everything they put on. For me it's not that simple. (I like to say that I'm kind of 'funny shaped'.) If I would have bought the dress I originally found on the internet and wanted to buy, I think I would have been unhappy with it once I got it on. Sure, the dress was gorgeous, but that doesn't mean it was gorgeous on me.

Houses are the same way. If I would have bought a few of them that I had seen and fell in love with on the internet, I think I would have been disappointed. I hunted, and we saw LOTS of houses. In this internet age, I encourage buyers to hunt, peck, and figure out exactly what it is they are looking for. But always ask yourself - would you buy your wedding dress online?

Mortgage 102 - What does all this mean, anyway?

2007-06-05T13:38:00.000-07:00

I have lots of questions about the differences between and FHA mortgage and a "regular" (conventional) mortgage, and what a negatively amortized mortgage is. I also hear "how come online it said I qualify for $400,000 and you're only saying $170,000???" (Those are totally random figures - keep that in mind!) I hope to explain the mystery of mortgages to you here - or at least get you some basic knowledge so that you're ready to start loan shopping!

We will start with a contract for deed.

A contract for deed is when a buyer offers a downpayment to a seller, then makes payments directly to the seller for a number of years, as decided by both parties. At the end of the term, there is usually a balloon payment due to the seller, which the buyer will usually get a mortgage for.

For example:

You find a property priced at $70,000, and the seller is offering a contract for deed. The seller requires a down payment of $5,000. You pay that, and then have a set payment you make to the seller every month based on the interest rate the seller decides. You do not need a mortgage at this point, and your payments go directly to the owner of the property. In my example, the contract for deed will be a 10 year agreement. For ten years, you make the payment arranged to the seller. At the end of the ten years, you will have a "balloon payment", which means that you have to pay the remainder of what you owe after the $5,000 down and the payments you made. At this point, you can either pay it off in full, or get a mortgage from a mortgage company to pay off the seller. Congratulations, you own your own house!

Partially Amortized (Balloon) Loans:

A partially amortized loan is a loan through a lender other than the seller in which you pay interest and a portion of the principal balance, or the actual amount you owe. These are similar to a contract for deed in the repayment aspect, because they usually require a balloon payment after a certain term, which you could refinance.

Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM)

An adjustable rate mortgage is a mortgage where most buyers are pulled in by a very low interest rate in the beginning. Lenders offer very low payments, but what most buyers don't realize is that these payments can increase GREATLY in a matter of months. ARM mortgages are under a lot of scrutiny right now, because they have had a part in the increased amount of foreclosures nationwide.

Adjustable rate mortgages vary widely from lender to lender. Sometimes the interest rate can change every month, and sometimes they can only change once a year. I personally do not recommend ARM mortgages, because you are betting on the future, and that is a risky bet to take. Some buyers say that they will refinance later, but that isn't always possible. Have you ever heard the saying "don't count your chickens before they hatch"? Keep that in mind here. You may think that you can take an adjustable rate mortgage now and refinance later, but what if you were to get hurt, lose your job, or simply be in the same financial situation you are now when your interest rate adjusts? You could find yourself in a bad situation, where you can no longer make the payments anymore. Also remember that it costs money to refinance. You have to pay closing costs, which can be pricey, along with an appraisal, and other fees.

FHA Insured Mortgage

An FHA mortgage is a mortgage that is insured by the government to help a buyer get a lower interest rate. It is important to remember that the money does not come from the government, but from a lender like any other mortgage. FHA, or the Federal Housing Administration, insures the bank against foreclosure, and therefore can get buyers the lower interest rate that they are looking for. Sometimes this can make a large difference in your monthly payments. This also makes a difference as to how much you qualify for. Because FHA is insuring you, you get to pay the insurance premium with your mortgage payment. Because of that additional cost, you may not be able to afford as much house as you could get if you were to get a conventional loan. FHA also has some requirements that a house must meet to qualify for financing. A fixer upper usually will not fall under FHA guidelines. Because FHA is insuring the bank for you, they want to make sure that you have a high quality house that gains equity and holds value. For more specifics, contact your mortgage broker or real estate agent.

DVA Insured Mortgage

DVA (Department of Veteran Affairs) mortgage is only available to borrowers who have served for our country. A DVA insured mortgage is very similar to an FHA insured mortgage. Usually DVA offers lower interest rates than a conventional loan, and oftentimes with little or no downpayment required. Not all lenders can offer DVA loans, so check with your lender if you are interested.

Conventional Mortgages

Conventional mortgages are the most common, and there are many types of conventional mortgages. Most are thirty year loans, in which you make an interest and principal payment every month. Some are insured if there is a low or no downpayment, and some are not, if there is a larger down payment. Interest rates may be a little higher, but you don't always have to meet the sometimes strict requirements of FHA and DVA insured loans. These greatly depend on your lender, your credit, and the type of home you are considering to purchase. Check with a mortgage broker for more information.

Interest Only Mortgages

Interest only mortgages are another mortgage I don't recommend for the standard homebuyer. Although your payments will be considerably lower, you will never gain equity in your home. These are quite similar to straight loans, where you will be required to make a balloon payment after a certain period. Depending on your home and the market, you may find yourself in a situation where you owe more than your home is worth when the balloon payment is due, and have trouble refinancing. Talk to a mortgage officer about the details.

Negatively amortized loans

You know those billboards, online ads, and TV commericals that say "$300,000 mortgage for $800 a month!"? These are usually negatively amortized mortgages. In a negatively amortized mortgage, you are not making a payment every month equal to the amount of interest that is accruing. Because of that, the amount you owe grows a little each month. Quickly buyers find that they owe more on the property than what it is actually worth. When the term is up, you have to refinance, and you will owe considerably more than what the home appraises for, leaving you in a sticky situation. This can also be tricky if you decide that you would like to move during the term of your loan. Because you owe more than you "paid" for the house, you will need to make more money when you sell. If the market doesn't support that price, you are going to have a tough time selling. I recommend steering away from these types of mortgages.

Straight or Term Loans

In a straight or term loan, the borrower only pays interest as their payment for a predetermined period, such as 3 years. Generally, these payments are very small, and not for very long. 3-5 years is the general length of a straight loan contract. At the end of the term, most borrowers refinance, using either a straight loan, or a conventional.

So here is a basic beginning on mortgage education. If you ever have any questions, contact a mortgage professional, or a real estate agent. Remember, you can e-mail me anytime with any questions you have! The only dumb question is the one you haven't asked!

Life Goals (Shouldn't We All Have These?)

2007-06-05T13:37:00.000-07:00

My life goals aren't all something to be admired, necessarily, but they are a big deal to me. I will probably continue to add things to this list... feel free to check back occassionally!

To see the Tyra Banks Show - live and in person!
To play in an orchestra again, even if it's just once
To own a lake home, even just for a while
To live in Duluth, once again, even if just for a while
To conduct a band, orchestra, or choir in a concert
To have my name on a billboard somewhere
To write a novel that gets published
To see my little brother graduate high school
To be in a position where if either of my siblings ever needs any help, they can count on me
To own a RE/MAX franchise someday
To get a college degree in SOMETHING, anything...
To finish this list...
To be brave enough at some point to actually sing karaoke in front of people
To learn how to do a coreographed dance
To attend a Southern Baptist service, where they sing and jump and dance... so much energy! I want to experience that once in my life.
To go to London and spend at least two weeks there.
To see The Price Is Right in person.
To sell my little brother and little sister their first houses.

Me? Me-Me'd??? Who Woulda Thunk It?

2007-06-02T13:37:00.000-07:00

So I saw the e-mail this morning from Rick and Lynn Orze and I unknowingly opened it. Okay, so it's not that bad, but now I have to come up with five interesting things about myself... which is hard to do. My life is a little different than the average real estate agent's - mostly because I'm the "baby". So here goes....

1. I am engaged and trying to plan a wedding on top of farming, selling, and all other fun real estate activites. His name is Nick, and I met him about five years ago. We are kind of like that couple in "The Notebook" - we fight a lot about nothing, but I couldn't imagine my life without him. He is a Vegetation Restoration Specialist for Kanabec, Pine, Aitkin, Mille Lacs, Isanti and Chisago Counties, and I'm very proud of him. When we met we were both going to school, then both worked retail, then he began working for Prairie Restorations, and I later began working for RE/MAX. I spend a lot of time begging him to get his license, because he could outsell me any day. (He doesn't read this blog, so it's okay to write that here! Besides, I'd like to prove myself wrong and kick his butt!) We hope to get married this September.

2. I don't have any kids, like everyone else does, so I have to mention my cats, I guess. I have a few too many cats at this point, and would like to find some nice homes for them, but I do love them to death. From oldest -

Liger
Harold
Henry
Stormin' Norman
Briggita (Briggy)
The nameless kitten that I found outside my house

3. I'm young, so I don't own a lot. My pride and joy is my 14' Alumacraft fishing boat. Honestly, what more do you need in life? I love to camp and fish, which is exactly what I did last weekend. It was a blast! I also like to have bonfires, and enjoy being outside. I do, like any true Minnesotan, dispise mosquitos.

4. I bought a house in 2004 and had no idea what I was doing. None whatsoever. Thus I bring that into transactions with me now. I want my first time homebuyers to know EXACTLY what they are doing, so they completely understand and feel comfortable with the entire transaction and everything afterwards.

5. Last but not least, I am very close to my family. I have a sister who is 5 years younger than me, and a brother who is 10 years younger than me. I'm the oldest (perfectionist!) through and through. My little brother is 14, and I'm having a hard time dealing with him growing up. Although I don't have kids of my own, he's kind of like my own, because he is so much younger than me. My parents live near Mora, and I visit my family often. :)

Okay, I think that's enough for now. Now you know some things about me....

I'm passing this along! I choose Jessica Horton, who invited me to AR and is someone I definitely look up to - and my own personal competition (Even though she isn't in the state), Cory & Tracy Frantzick , because I absolutely adore those two, and Lynn Marudas, because she deserves the torture! :)

How To Get More People (Or At Least Me) To Read Your Blog

2007-06-01T13:36:00.000-07:00

I can tell you the one thing I love when I read a blog. I go through and usually comment on blogs that I can relate to, learn something from, or is of value to me. I'm not a freak here. Post something like a new recipe or a new listing, and then post a blog about something that matters to real estate agents, and see what gets more comments from AR members!

I'm not saying that you never should write anything fun, or post your listings. I'm LOVING some of these recipes and listings, and they are GREAT for localism. I post them myself. Someone may find it of value, and that's all that matters.

But what I REALLY love is when I post a comment to a blog, and I get a response back in the blog. I started doing so soon after I joined AR. I love it. I figure if I take the time to read your blog, and leave you some advice/humor/tidbit I find worthwhile, I would love to hear what you think.

This is not always easy.

On the flip side, when commenting, don't just leave the "Great post. I liked it" comment. What am I supposed to say to that? When you get 5 comments like that, you can only say "Dear so-and-so, I'm glad you liked my post" so many times.

Roberta Lee is always great about commenting back, like in her recent blog, WHAT DO THE NUMBERS TELL US?

Cory & Tracy Frantzick are great about commenting, too. We even have long discussions, for example - Cheap opportunity to start a buisness! Own a piece of History!

In his recent blog, Why would anyone in their right mind buy a FSBO without an agent?, Andrew Lietzow-RE/MAX RE Concepts-DSM, IA answers comments with enthusiasm, too.

I return to these blogs over and over again, because I love to have "discussions" with these agents, and know that my opinion or voice is being heard and recognized.

You want more readers? WRITE BACK!!

For Sale By Owner - One Thing To Remember During Your Open House

2007-05-31T13:37:00.000-07:00

When I'm driving around and see an open house being held by the owner, I like to stop by for a few reasons.

I like to know my market
Seeing the home is great when trying to produce a market analysis for other homes in the area
I am knowledgable about the property if a buyer ever asks, or I can work with you if I come across a buyer in your price range

There are a few things I have noticed that I would like to bring to your attention when hosting your own open house. These are just a few tips that I think will definitely make a difference and help you out.

Open a couple windows a crack, if possible. Don't burn a lot of candles within plain sight. Remember, if a buyer stops by and sees tons of candles, they are going to think that there is a odor you are trying to cover up. I find what works best is a potporri pot or something similar - decorative and practical, and not as easily noticed.
Have a light on in every room that needs it - especially if it is a cloudy day. Make the home look inviting.
Remove pictures of your family. When most buyers see your family, they have a hard time picturing themselves in the house because you and your family are so evident everywhere they look.
Consider your pets. Some pets don't like strangers, and some buyers don't like pets. For your open house, keep your dog tied up if it tends to jump on people or bark. Kennel your cat if he or she doesn't like strangers. I have a cat that whenever anyone comes over, he will totally freak out and start losing his hair. Not good if your potential buyer has allergies! My beagle also whines and is all over someone new. She's very friendly, but I would definitely tie or kennel her up if I was hosting an open house at my house.
If you have flyers of information on your house, leave them out for people to take, and make sure they include your contact info, especially your name, phone number, and address. Make sure your flyer has a picture of at least the outside of the house, but a few of the inside, too. If your buyers are hopping open houses, at the end of the day it may be hard to remember their favorite features of each house. By providing them pictures and details, you are solidifying the image of your home in the their heads.
Buy some disclosure forms at OfficeMax or another office supply store and fill them out. Be honest, and remember that these are legal forms. Honestly is ALWAYS the best policy. Think about if you were the buyer, and what you would want to know about the house. Leave these disclosures out either in a binder, or in packets for potential buyers to take home and review.
Put your valuables away! Jewelry, money, and even medications should all be put somewhere that is not accessible to someone who is walking through your house. Sometimes at an open house it can be hard to keep track of everyone, so hiding away your valuables is a great idea anytime someone is coming into your house.
The biggest tip? REMEMBER THAT YOU REPRESENT YOURSELF. I can't tell you how many open houses I've been to where the seller tells me why they are leaving, how much they owe, the problems with the house, and more information. If you meet an agent, keep this information to yourself. If you are going into foreclosure and tell me that you have to sell, but you're asking $20,000 more than you owe to see if you can get it, and I bring a buyer in, I can tell the buyer that information, which may result in a lower offer. Don't give an agent or a potential buyer any ammunition to use against you if they do decide to write an offer. Protect yourself.

Hopefully these tips will help you when hosting your open house in the future! Good luck! Need more help! Call or e-mail me anytime!

Joslyn's Recipes - No Bake Fruit Smoothie Cheesecake

2007-05-31T13:35:00.000-07:00

Dessert I don't have to bake? I'm in!

Summer is here, and with the central air running, I am not going to turn on that oven! I love to have a special dessert every once and a while, and I found this recipe to be a great no-bake summer dessert!

No Bake Fruit Smoothie Cheesecake

What you need:

1 1/2 cups of graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup butter, melted
2 tbsp. sugar and 1/2 cup sugar, separated
4 packages (8 oz. each) low fat cream cheese
12 oz. of frozen mixed berries, thawed and drained
1 tub of whipped topping, thawed and divided

To make fruity cheesecake bliss...

I use a 13x9 inch baking pan, lined with foil. First I mix the graham cracker crumbs, butter, and 2 tablespoons of sugar, then press into the bottom of the pan. Refrigerate the crust while preparing the filling.

The filling is easy. Beat the cream cheese and 1/2 cup of sugar in a large bowl on medium speed until well blended. Then smash the drained berries with a fork and stir them into the filling. Gently stir in 2 cups of the whipped topping. The filling will start to turn purple - looks tasty!

Spoon the filling onto the refrigerated crust, and then cover and refrigerate for 4 hours. Cut and serve!

If I want to use fresh berries, I use three cups and increase the sugar to 3/4 cup instead of 1/2. Either smash the berries after you measure, or mix them into the filling with an electric mixer to help break them up.

Don't forget to store the leftovers in the refrigerator! Enjoy!

This excerpt taken from Local Real Estate News - Summer 2007 edition, published by Joslyn Panka. To subscribe to the newsletter, e-mail Joslyn with your name and preferred method of delivery, including address or e-mail, if necessary.

How Much Home Can I Qualify For?

2007-05-30T13:35:00.000-07:00

What a question! I can give you a "guesstimate", because I know that's what most buyers are looking for.

First I have to say that I understand what you're thinking. It's so easy to look at houses online from the comfort of your desk, weed out all the ones that you don't like, and pick out the ones you think might be "the one" in the end. I did it exactly the same way. What I didn't know is how much we would qualify for. I estimated low, but I actually bought much lower than what I was pre-qualified for, because I didn't want that big of a payment!

I tried online mortgage calculators, but they all assumed that I was putting 5-20% down, and I didn't know if I wanted to. When I changed the percentage, the numbers became huge and scary.

What I like to tell people is to factor in the worst case scenario. There's no telling what your payment will be until you talk to a loan officer (you can find great ones here on Active Rain!), and different things affect that, like interest rate, mortage insurance, taxes, and homeowner's insurance.

I always say to figure that your payment will be 1% of the total that you will be borrowing.

I like to say, for example, that if buyer is looking at a $120,000 house, you should assume that your payment will be $1,200 a month.

Keep in mind that this is not accurate. Usually that is a WORST CASE scenario, and it may be MUCH lower. I have seen houses purchased for that amount with payments of $700 a month, and some that were closer to $1,000 a month. This way you have plenty of extra cash, and you aren't stretching the limits by looking at a house that is priced way too high or outside of your comfort level.

The best advice I can give you is to figure out what you can COMFORTABLY afford per month, and then discuss that figure with a mortgage broker. Don't stretch yourself out. What would happen if you lost your job? Could you find another easily and continue making that mortgage payment? Will you have extra cash each month? Can you stash some money into savings, just in case something happens?

That is why I say 1%. That way, you have your taxes, insurance, and mortgage covered every month, and a little extra money in case the car breaks down or you get sick and miss a significant amount of work.

Remember - your house is the biggest investment you can make. If you stretch yourself out too far, you may lose that, harm your credit, and end up heartbroken. Play it safe, and always get advice from a mortgage officer when you're starting to get serious!

Good luck, and happy house hunting!

Joslyn's Recipes - Easy Creamy Chicken Enchiladas

2007-05-30T13:34:00.001-07:00

With the market picking up, I don't have much time to make dinner. Before you know it, I'm resorting to my "quick and easy" recipes. I thought I'd share one with you. This one is famous at our office potluck lunches! Don't be afraid to let me know what you think! Enjoy!

Easy Creamy Chicken Enchiladas

What you need:

1 can cream of chicken soup
8 oz. sour cream (I usually buy a 1 lb. container, for a little extra!)
1 cup salsa
2 tsp. chili powder
2 cups chopped, cooked chicken
1 cup shredded cheddar
10 fajita size tortillas, warmed
1 green onion, sliced

Then I mix the soup, sour cream, salsa and chili powder in a bowl. After mixed, take 1 cup of the soup/sour cream mixture and place in another bowl with 2 cups of the chicken and the cheese. Spread about 1/4 cup of the chicken mixture down the center of each tortilla. Fold the tortillas and place in a baking pan, seam side down. Pour remaining soup/sour cream mixture over the top, and throw it in the oven! Cover with foil and bake for 40 minutes at 350 degrees. I usually top with black olives, tomatoes, and green onions. Yum! Enjoy!

This excerpt taken from Local Real Estate News - April 2007 edition, published by Joslyn Panka. To subscribe to the newsletter, e-mail Joslyn with your name and preferred method of delivery, including address or e-mail, if necessary.

What Is Your Commission Rate???

2007-05-30T13:34:00.000-07:00

Isn't this the first question you want the answer to when you're looking to sell? Well, here's the answer for RE/MAX Select, Inc. in Mora!

Our commission rate depends on YOU! Yes, you read that right. You are the employer when you hire an agent to sell your house. How much you want to pay us is entirely up to you - depending on what you want us to do.

The greatest variable is advertising. We here at RE/MAX Select advertise in many local newspapers including the Advertiser, the Scotsman, Kanabec County Times, the Evergreen, the Anoka Shopper, the Star Tribune, and more, depending on the listing. A large majority of our leads come from newspaper ads. How often and where do you want to be seen? That is one thing to take into consideration when decided how much commission to pay your REALTOR.

There are other variables that also need to be considered. Please feel free to e-mail me or give me a call and I would love to discuss the options with you! I have one simple goal - to sell your house to your satisfaction! Give me a try today!

Five Days Off - Totally Worth It

2007-05-30T13:33:00.000-07:00

Kay Van Kampen CRS GRI ABR Broker/Owner Springfield Mo Real Estate was absolutely right. The first two days were difficult. It was also not the best weather, and I spent the entire time stressed and checking my e-mail via my cell phone. The third day I felt guilty, but it was definitely better. The fourth day was a BLAST. The fifth day, I was dreading going home, feeling that I didn't enjoy it as much as I could have.

We had a blast. The campground wasn't even 50% full, and we were one of the first people there. We set up the tent and our canopy, parked the boat, (it was raining, so we couldn't go fishing right away) set up the dog tie-outs, and made some killer good food.

We were nervous, because we had never taken Shiloh and Conan somewhere like this before. They were great! They even were good in the boat!

Fishing was fun, but we didn't luck out this time. Lots of panfish and small crappie. The slots for crappie on Mantrap are currently only 5 crappies, 10 inches or larger. I didn't catch any crappies THAT big! I caught lots of tiny panfish, and one super nice bass!

We had a blast. I ate more Smores than I think I've ever had (Smores are my weakness...), fished lots, played in the lake with the dogs, cooked great meals, played all kinds of card games, and witnessed a nice catch from our campground neighbors....

My favorite part? My usual game of "Floats or Not", where I take everything that is in the boat and put it in the water to see if it floats or not. I usually do this when the fishing is not so great and my ADD kicks in. :) I was amazed to see that my Old Navy sandals float! Nick asked me what I was doing, taking a picture of it, and I politely informed him that it was art, and to leave me alone. Then I laughed. :) So here it is, titled "My Big Catch". Enjoy, and remember to take a few days off now and then!

Five Days Off? Are You Kidding Me?

2007-05-24T17:41:00.000-07:00

I am a real estate agent through and through. I took to it like a duck to water.

Cell phone? Check.

Obsession with office voicemail? Check.

PA's and listing agreements neatly compiled in my car? Check.

So naturally, when my fiancee, Nick, said he wanted to go camping for Memorial Weekend...... I asked how long we would be gone.

We do this every year, and I've always been super excited.

Right now I'm having a panic attack.

We're leaving tonight, coming back sometime on TUESDAY. TUESDAY, people!

I'm freaking out.

What if someone calls? What if there is a question that someone needs answered? What if a PA comes in????

WHAT IF I DON'T HAVE CELL PHONE RECEPTION?????

I just don't know if I can do this.

I love fishing. I love camping. There's nothing I'd rather do..... except be close to the office while I did it.

It is exciting, though. We're going to Mantrap Lake, gonna fish our butts off, and definitely enjoy it. We've got food, and are bringing the pups.

Meanwhile, I'm busy wondering what Briggy is going to eat, and missing out on office stuff.

Is anyone else like this, or am I just a workaholic? Tell me, fellow agents, do you have an anxiety attack when you even THINK about leaving for a morning, much less a few days?

Please, tell me I'm not nuts!!!

Top Ten Reasons To Use A Local REALTOR

2007-05-22T13:14:00.000-07:00

10. A local REALTOR knows the competition in your price range in your area - VERY well.

9. A local REALTOR can frequently update pictures in the MLS as the seasons and scenery change.

8. A local real estate agent often has buyers in the area, resulting in more showings right away, and possibly a quicker closing.

7. A local agent is nearby in case you have any changes you want made to the MLS, or ever have any questions.

6. Are available to do a short notice showing (if the sellers allow) because they are close by.

5. A local agent is nearby, in case another agent has problems while showing the house, and are readily available to answer questions.

4. Local REALTORS know what marketing works for buyers in your area. Maybe most buyers come from the internet, or maybe most of your potential buyers come from newspapers. Local agents have been doing it for quite a while, and know what works.

3. A local REALTOR will have accurate directions from major local points and cities, and ensures that the directions are correct in the MLS, increasing exposure to potential buyers.

2. Your local REALTOR is familiar with great selling points in the area, such as "Easy access to ten lakes in ten minutes" or "hospital nearby".

1. A local REALTOR generally has a local office, specializing in homes JUST LIKE YOURS! Give your local REALTOR a call today!

Where Do You Blog?

2007-05-22T13:13:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I wonder if I'm the only one who blogs on multiple sites.

I blog first and foremost on Active Rain, because I love the results I get with the search engines and the comments and feedback I get from those of you who do read it.

Then I take the blog and post it on MySpace. By posting it on MySpace, it automatically feeds to my FaceBook Notes.

Then I copy it and post it on my other blog on Blogger.

So today I'm sitting here wondering "is this worth all this work?"

Has anyone had any luck blogging elsewhere? I'm linking to myself everywhere, so it should help in the search engines, but I don't find my Blogger blog anywhere on the searches, much less my MySpace blog.

Any tips, recommendations, or ideas? Am I wasting my time, or am I doing all the right things? Let me know what you think!

Thanks for the help!

Dear Yahoo Search, Why Do You Not Love Me?

2007-05-22T13:12:00.000-07:00

I love the way I rank in google searches. I don't have my own personal website yet - I have yet to figure out what I want, what to use as a domain, and so forth. But AR has carried me quite well in the google searches.

So why am I nowhere to be found when I search yahoo?

MSN recognizes me. I'm ranked fairly well there, too.

Ask.com doesn't know who I am.

I searched dogpile.com, which searches google, yahoo, msn, and ask. Here's what I get.

Joslyn Panka (RE/MAX Select, Inc.) - Real Estate Agent - Mora ... ActiveRain real estate profile for Joslyn Panka (RE/MAX Select, Inc.) a Real Estate Agent in Mora, Kanabec County, Minnesota. activerain.com/joslynpanka [Found on Google, Windows Live]

See that? "Found on Google, Windows Live"

That is when I search for "Joslyn Panka"

Yahoo doesn't even know my name.

Any suggestions????

What Do I Do If I'm In Foreclosure?

2007-05-22T13:11:00.000-07:00

This ia question a lot of home owners ask, but they usually ask too late. It's a scary time, and you are embarassed, don't know who to trust, and feel very alone. I'm writing this blog to help you out and review the situation, so you have some ideas and understand the process. You can always call me if you have any questions, and I would be happy to help - with complete confidentiality.

Foreclosure can happen anytime that you miss your mortgage payment. Some companies can send you into foreclosure right away, where others wait a few months before they begin the process. If you're in this stage, you should remember two things:

Your mortgage company WANTS to hear from you. Talk to them, because...
THEY DON'T WANT TO FORECLOSE ON YOU.

Your best bet is to explain to them what you're going through. Many mortgage companies have different programs to help you. Sometimes they will modify the loan, and wrap the payments you missed back into the mortgage if they believe that you can continue making payments regularly. Sometimes they will give you a temporary forebearance (this is rare, and in most cases due to a medical issue) where they delay payments for a short time. Generally, they are willing to work with you no matter what your situation is to help you get back on track.

Remember, foreclosure costs you your credit rating. It costs the bank legal fees and other costs, and a lot of times they end up taking a loss on the future sale of the house. If it is left empty and not winterized there can be frozen pipes and other damage, as well. The bank wants you to stay in the house and continue to care for it, hoping that someday you can pay your mortgage back in full.

After you stop making payments and the mortgage company starts the foreclosure process, there are still options. If you can't afford the home, perhaps you should consider selling. An agent can sit down and discuss what you need out of the home and your options at that point, but I will continue my blog so that you are familiar with some of the terms and process.

By getting your house on the market, you are making an effort to save your credit. If you sell your house before the Sheriff's Sale, the foreclosure will not be recorded, and you can move on with life "scar free". Sometimes, you will owe more on the house than what it will sell for, but it is always still worth a shot. If you do have it on the market, there is always the possibility of a short sale, which is where the bank allows you to take an offer that is lower than what you owe, and they clear the debt. Not all banks will do this, especially if they think the property is worth a significant amount more than the offer.

Once the foreclosure process begins, you will start to see advertisements in the local paper. This is called Foreclosure by advertisement, and is the most common method of foreclosure in Minnesota.

The property is advertised for sheriff's sale for six weeks, and you will recieve a copy of the notice at your residence. During this period, you can still stop the foreclosure. Check with your mortgage company and see what you can do.

If you can't redeem your property, and the sheriff's sale occurs, you have a statutory redemption period where you can still live in the property and possibly still redeem the property. Generally, you will have to pay the price bid at the sheriff's sale, plus interest.

The statutory redemption period is usually six months. The redemption period can be extended to 12 months if:

the mortgage was more than one-third paid off
the property is more than 40 acres; or
the property is more than ten acres and is in agricultural use

If you abandon the property, the statutory redemption period can be reduced to 5 weeks. It is generally recommended not to abandon the property early, especially if you are still trying to sell it on your own.

You may also escape foreclosure by the method of Deed in lieu of foreclosure. What this means that instead of going through the entire foreclosure process, you can give the lender the deed to your property and save your credit. The mortgage company then takes possession, and you usually are required to move out right away. Not all mortgage companies consider this option, so it is something you need to discuss with your bank.

During the statutory redemption period, you can continue to have your house on the market with a real estate agent. If it sells, and there is money left over, you get to keep that money, which is one plus of keeping it on the market if possible. If not, you will be required to vacate after the redemption period is up, and the bank will take possession of the house.

Hopefully you will find this informative, and it will give you some general ideas as to how the foreclosure process works. Remember, if you ever have any questions about your options, you can contact me for free and I will discuss the possibilities with you, completely confidentially.

No matter what, remember this - THE BANK DOES NOT WANT TO FORECLOSE ON YOU. Talk to them - you'll be surprised how hard they are willing to work to save you - and them - from all the trouble.

MOTIVATED! MAKE AN OFFER!

2007-05-18T12:38:00.001-07:00

Fantastic rambler located within Mora city limits! Price just lowered $10,000! 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, laundry closet with stacked washer and dryer. Lake view! Fish for panfish and enjoy the peace and quiet of the cul-de-sac! For more information - Metro Minnesota MLS# 3355339 or see the flyers online!

Friends, Associates, Blog Subscriptions.... My How Life Has Changed!

2007-05-18T12:36:00.000-07:00

When you click on "My Home" on Active Rain what do YOU see?

I know what I see. I see today's most recent blogs. It's what's to the right that shocks me.

My subscribed blogs. Millions upon millions of subscribed blogs

Okay, not millions, but definitely a lot!

I click on associations. Millions of associations.

Okay, once again, I do tend to exaggerate, but you get the idea.

I LOVE having "friends" in real estate. I love having people I can send referrals to, people who share their ideas with me, and people who are knowledgable, creative, caring, and fun. I love to hear from everyone - I love all the input I get. I love being on Active Rain!

There are the blogs that are thought provoking, like Your Blog is Your Presentation by Sarah Cooper, which raises a good point - how are you presenting yourself? I definitely got to wondering how I appear to other agents!

There are blogs about how to become more visible to internet clients, such as Rich Schiffer's The Hidden Value of Comments: "You Spilled Google Juice all over my Blog!"

There are tips for potential clients, like Stephanie Edward's blog 12 Steps To Buying Your Home

There are humorous blogs, to make you laugh - Why I Don't Take Pictures For Other REALTORS Anymore! written by yours truly.

There are listings, too! For example, 4 bedroom 2 1/2 bath luxury living at it's finest. Brand new and over 4,200 sq.ft. by Craig Bartels.

I do spend a lot of time on AR. I do a lot of research, a lot of reading, writing, and learning. A lot of communicating, friend making, and joke passing.

What I really appreciate, though, is everyone's opinions, willingness to help a "newbie" out, and input. Without that, I don't know where I would be.

My plea to you? Keep AR as great as it is. Comment, rate posts, and make friends. Teach, learn, and allow others to do the same. Be honest - if you think a blog is inappropriate, let that person know. They will most likely appreciate that opinion. That's what AR is all about.
I want to thank everyone for all the help they have given me - it's been amazing, and I hope it keeps coming!

Can't We All Just Be Friends???

2007-05-18T12:34:00.000-07:00

I love going out and meeting other agents. I love learning about them, seeing their listings, the way they act, things they do to stage a home... I just love it.
For example. Recently, an agent called our office and talked to our broker. Her office is in Ramsey, and she has a listing here in Mora. The hard part about that is that you aren't familiar with the competition. I feel sorry for her, because she called our broker, saying that she had gotten feedback from one of the agents here in the office, and their opinion was that it was priced too high.
That was me.
So why did I do it?
Before we went to this listing, we went to another one that is EXTREMELY similar, located just a couple blocks away. It is priced $20,000 less. Overall the condition was about the same - except for the basements. In the first one I showed, the basement was finished. It was still an old "Mora basement" as we call them, but complete with carpet, sheetrock, paint, etc. I left that listing and went straight to this one. The basement was bare concrete, and we could see the cracks, water leakage, and mold. It was a cold, cement floor, and had that "Mora basement" feel.
It wasn't necessarily that I thought that it was extremely high, but should be closer to what the price on the first home is, at least. My buyer, comparing both of them, said it was no contest - he would buy the first one.
Now, some agents would think I knew nothing and continue on their merry way. Some agent would decide to hate me. This agent deserves some credit.
She called my broker, and he hadn't been in the house for years. She asked if the whole office would tour the house, give some feedback, and in exchange she would buy us all lunch.
Lunch? Heck yes, we'll be there!
So today, we went over and met with the listing agent, and walked through. The agents agreed with me - if some things were fixed, it would definitely be worth more. As of right now, it was overpriced.
She feverishly took notes on all the things we thought would make a difference in the selling price. We talked, gave examples, laughed, and we discussed further over a great lunch at the Downtown Deli.
All the while, I'm thinking "This is what real estate should be about. Agent opens, great honest feedback, FREE LUNCH! Okay, not really the free lunch. The working together - that's what it's all about. I think of other agents who don't want advice, don't communicate with other agents, and I think "Why?" On a nice sunny day I love nothing more than to meet an agent from across the road on the sidewalk, and talk about real estate, the weather, and our listings. Honestly, there's nothing better.
So, I want to commend Sharlene for inviting us out, buying us lunch, and asking for our honest opinion, and honestly listening. If only we were all like that! :)

A Listing of Interest - Ogilvie, Minnesota

2007-05-18T12:30:00.000-07:00

I have a fantastic manufactured home for sale, ready to move! This 2001 immaculate home boasts 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a garden tub, skylights, and a kitchen island! Home has never shifted. There is a 8x10 shed also included in the sale. All appliances and window treatments are included. So many possibilities - a full time home, cabin, fishing getaway, or cozy hideaway! Move to land or a lot - your choice! Need more information? Check out the slideshow on my MySpace page!

Definitely worth a look! Too nice to pass up!

Just reduced $10,000! Don't pass this up - $124,900!

2007-05-18T12:29:00.002-07:00

My new listing in Mora has just been reduced! Definitely worth a look. This rambler located on 4 city lots is very cozy, and has that "up north" feel. Great getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city, yet still in the city limits. Very private, quiet cul-de-sac. Overlooks Lake Mora, which is great for panfish! The high school nature class fishes on the lake in the spring. One car garage, 2 bedrooms, 1 bath. Set up a showing today!
Lake Mora from Central Avenue
This could be your new home! Walk on up!
Rear view of home. Beautiful yard!
Large yard, quiet, great for grilling, picnics, and more!

More information? Check MLS# 3355339. You can view all our listings and the entire MLS from our RE/MAX Select, Inc. website, or find more information on my myspace page!

MySpace Networking - It Just Isn't Active Rain, Is It?

2007-05-18T12:29:00.001-07:00

I have been MySpace networking for months upon months. Before I was even licensed, I was making friends "in the biz" on MySpace. But has it helped?
I've gotten a few leads off of myspace. They have been cold leads, but they are still some. I just maintain my presence, helpful attitude, and girly layout. I blog, I add more friends, I comment for birthdays. Somehow, however, I find I would rather spend my time on AR.
AR gives me rankings in google searches, knowledge, opinions, and fun. I have become spoiled, looking no further than blogs for marketing ideas, advice on farming, and friendships. Have a problem? Need advice from "seasoned" agents when my broker isn't around? Blog it!
I'm now in charge of the RE/MAX Select MySpace page, too, along with trying to introduce AR to the "older" agents in the office. (They said it, not me!!!) I'm not sure that the company page is going to pay off. I'm not sure how to kick it off. I have added tons of people locally to my personal page - do I really want to pester them with another page for the company???
Any thoughts, ideas, comments??? There are things I've seen that I like, but I'm not sure how well they work. Anyone have a MySpace/Facebook tip that works for them????

You Crazy Cat!

2007-05-18T12:28:00.000-07:00

I don't know what to do about "Briggy Monster".
She has turned into a monster. Recently I came home to a window carelessy left open by Nick, and a screen sliced open by Briggs.
I was quite upset.
A week later, I came home after dark, and standing in the middle of the road was none other than Briggy. Examination of the house showed that another window (NICK!) was left open, and Briggy pushed the screen out.
Last night I came home, and Nick was outside. I went in the house, and there was no sign of Briggy. I raced around, checking all the windows, but couldn't find one ajar.
Then I tripped. Over something sharp and metal.
A vent cover.
Somehow, the little "Monster" lifted the vent cover and had crawled through the ventilation system. I ran outside, and sure enough, she was running around, her stubble tail wagging with excitement and her tags jingling.
I don't know what to do about her! The worst part is that when she escapes, she takes Henry with her. Poor Henry ends up outside and gets terrified, and he runs from me and hides! So I have to run around the yard calling and shaking treat canisters. Such a dork.
So all Briggy does now is walk around the house crying. Her dad, Harold, used to slap me in the face, attack the other cats, and do anything and everything that would upset me so that I would let him outside. I'm really hoping that she doesn't have the same attitude - but it looks like she will. Perhaps I'll have to lock her in a specific room by herself when I'm not home. Crazy, silly Briggy Monster.

Busy Month, Busy Joslyn!

2007-05-18T12:27:00.002-07:00

So May is underway, and my life has become absolutely CRAZY! What am I doing, you ask? Well, let's review!
Saturday, May 12th - Start my weekend off right! We have an Encore School of Music Recital, with 3 different times if you are interested in going. It takes place at Grace Lutheran Church in Mora, and there will be a variety of performers. Check it out - you'll be impressed
Fishing opener is that day, too. You can bet that Saturday afternoon I will be out on the lake fishin' away! The only hard part? Deciding WHICH lake to go to!!! Nick and I will have to heavily debate that!
Sunday, May 13th - Mother's day, obviously, which I will appropriately spend with my mother - fishing.
Friday, May 18th - Kickoff to the Mora 125th Birthday Celebration! There will be great food, fun, and entertainment! Check out the old tractor show and old car show, the dance Friday evening, and the variety of food!
Saturday, May 19th - Oh, where do I start??? In the morning, I will be attending the Washburn County Animal Humane Society Annual Pet Walk. I'm going to take Shiloh, my beagle, who we adopted from the shelter, and Briggy, my kitten with attitude. I need twenty five dollars to enter, and more than welcome to raise more. If you are interested in donating, let me know!
After that I will be heading to Scandia for the Prairie Restorations Open House. Nick used to work there, and would love to go back for the final opening of their new location!
I have a graduation party after that in Princeton for my long time friend, Matt. Other tha my siblings, I think Matt may be a person that has known me the longest. We grew up together in Otsego, Minnesota. It will be nice to see him again!
Of course, if I'm still able to stay awake after all that fun, I will stop back at the Mora 125th Birthday Celebration again. Here are Saturday's events:
8am to 11am - Firemen's Pancake Breakfast at the Fire Hall
11am, 1:15, 3:30 - Scheers Lumberjack Show, "Olympics of the Forest" on Union Street
*The Cloggers, Beard/handlebar moustache Growing Contest Awards, pie eating contest presented in-between shows
* Grocery store tents with food, sales, tractor show moved to parking lots of businesses along Hwy. 65
*Car show moved to Lennie's
*Art Association art show/sale in Library Park all day Saturday with snacky food, pop, music
*Businesses in downtown area having sidewalk sales
*Pig roast and street dance put on by The Crystal
* Fireworks over Lake Mora after dusk
*Horse and Carriage Rides around to event areas from the Civic Center - circular?
*The History Center will have sawing demos, pottery demonstrations and sales, flea market, plant sales and their museum will be open all weekend
What's next? Memorial weekend! I am really really hoping to go camping for at least part of that weekend. I have yet to determine where. Anyone have any recommendations? Me, Nick, Shiloh, Conan, and a tent. Could be interesting........
I hope everyone else's weekends are going to be fun in May. June is going to be even busier, especially with real estate, so take some time to relax, too! Enjoy the weather and the fishing!!!

Why I Love Working For My Broker

2007-05-18T12:27:00.001-07:00

Some people say "Joslyn, you didn't even bother to look at other companies. What were you thinking???"
I was thinking that I knew who I trusted, and knew I loved this office.
Some of you know, and some of you don't, that I started here as the receptionist. I had interviewed for a position as a receptionist elsewhere, but didn't get hired. An ex-broker had interviewed, and got the position.
When I started here, I wasn't sure how it was going to go. Everyone watched everything I did, and didn't trust me a bit. That faded with time. I just watched and observed. I had purchase my own house, but was amazed at the honesty and integrity in our office. It definitely impressed me.
I know there are other ethical agents out there, and I'm not saying that anyone is NOT ethical. I quickly found that it was an office who loved to laugh, was motivated, driven, and loved what they did. My broker was EXTREMELY knowledgable, served on the ethics board for Minnesota, and is a great teacher. He moved to Mora, bought the business, and started his real estate career, and was in the 100% club his first year in real estate. He's so good at what he does, and is a great model.
The agents in the office spend time with me, discussing what they are going through, what they have gone through, and how to fix it. They tell me what has worked for them in marketing, and are willing to help me out in any way. They have been nothing but helpful, kind, and supportive. It's great to know I have all this support.
We are like a family. We have potlucks, fights, jokes, and all the other little things that bring families closer. Agents bring their kids in sometimes. I have brought my cat in and my dog at one point. We share lunch, trips to class, and clients. We work together so well, it's almost sickening.
What's really nice is that the community notices it. They notice that we work together so well, are so good to one another and all the other agents in town. They also notice that yeah, Joslyn might be a new agent, but look at all the support she has behind her. She's not your typical new agent - she has seen a lot and been through all kinds of stuff through conversation and the other agents.
I love coming to work. I'm not trying to say everyone should work here, or that we're the best and you're not, but RE/MAX Select has definitely been the best for me. I don't regret it one bit.

Why I Don't Take Pictures For Other Realtors Anymore!

2007-05-18T12:26:00.000-07:00

So I'm fairly new, as most of you know, but I thought I'd throw this little story out there. I'm sure there are many other good stories, but it's still funny, and definitely worth a blog post!
Don't know about the contest? Check it out here!
I have a manufactured home that needs to be moved, and was discussing with another agent in my office how it may be beneficial to do a combined ad in the paper with my manufactured and a plot of land that she has listed where a manufactured home would be okay to move in. She, like me, was excited about the idea, and thought that it would do well. So we began to sling ideas over our cubicle walls, like we agents in this office do.
We wrote up the text and I typed it up and added my picture to it. We attempted a photoshop land graphic, but it looked dumb. We decided we definitely need a picture. Of course, she is much busier than me, and couldn't go out to her listing and get a picture that day. Of course, the ad was due THAT DAY.
Finally, we agreed that I would go out and do it for a small fee. I love doing that. "Oh, you don't have time to take a picture? I'll do it for _____ (Insert desired object here). I get to do all kinds of errands, and see listing that have been around since before I was licensed. It works out great for me and them. Sometimes I get lunch, money, floor time, or whatever else I can creatively come up with. It's experience and knowledge, both of which I'm dying for.
She told me where she thought the best picture would be from, and with my trusty Kodak in hand, I jumped in the car and off I went. It wasn't a far drive, and when I got there I did exactly as she said. I pulled in the driveway, parked my car, and jumped out, camera ready to go.
There are manufactured homes on either side of the land, and I was right next to one. I started shooting, and noticed that there was someone peeking out a window of the manufactured I was directly in front of. I figured I'd get my shots and then go up and let them know who I was, so that they wouldn't be upset or concerned about my mysterious presence.
After about five shots, I heard the door open. I was focused on my viewfinder at that precise moment, and didn't look up right away. When I did, it was quite a shock. Across the land runs an older gentleman in just a bathrobe, the bottom opening as he ran. It was loosely tied, and I was afraid that it was going to come off. He ran straight towards me, waving his arms, his robe slowly falling more and more open. I was afraid to look, but knew that I had to acknowledge him.
"Who are you?" He yells, still about 20 feet away, flailing his arms and running toward me.
"My name is Joslyn - I work with Tina at RE/MAX Select!" I reply, becoming very concerned about what I may see if he didn't stop running.
He slowed, and looked somewhat relieved. "Oh!" He said, and grabbed his robe tightly. He pulled it closed, and laughed a little. "Well then I won't do what I was going to do!"
"What was that?" I ask, and he was now right next to me.
"It's my son that is selling this land, and I told him I didn't want him to. When you get this old, no one listens to you." I grin at his wrinkled face, and notice that he has a bit of a limp. I was hoping it didn't hurt him to run out to me like he had.
"He doesn't listen to me - my son. I just don't know what to do. I really don't want anyone buying this land. So I decided that every time a buyer came out to look at it, I was going to run through the woods without any clothes on. I figured that would scare them away. When I saw you had a camera, I decided that I better see what you were doing first. I hear about those kids and the stuff they put on that internet nowadays, and I wanted to make sure you weren't one of them. So I got undressed just in case, and threw my robe on. I figured that way, if you deserved it, I could drop the robe and run thorugh naked."
I just stared. Now let me say, I have a GREAT broker. He prepares us so well for anything we might encounter in our career. At least, I THOUGHT he taught us how to deal with anything. I was very wrong. I wasn't sure what to say, so I said what I thought.
"Well, sir, can I say one thing? Thank you for coming out to see who I was first."
He laughed. "What do you need those pictures for, anyway?"
I explained to him the combined ad that Tina and I were doing, and he nodded, then replied "Well, dear, should I just go pose out in them woods, because that's what they are going to see if they come out here!"
"Actually," I started, trying hard not to laugh or gag, "I think I've got the pictures I need. Thank you for the offer, though."
He shook my hand, and we went our separate ways. When I returned to the office I informed Tina that I would no longer take pictures on any of her properties unless he payment was really good. The last thing I needed was pictures of a man old enough to be my grandfather streaking through the woods.
I'm sure I'll have many more hilarious stories, but for now this is the best I've got. I don't think I'll ever forget it. In fact, I'm sure of that.

HomeGain - Anyone Familiar?

2007-05-18T12:25:00.000-07:00

I've found that when I search google for "real estate agent Mora Minnesota", I'm only topped by two things. One is GMAC real estate (No problem, I'll overcome that obstacle soon!!!) and the other is homegain. I went online and checked it out, but I was curious if anyone here on AR is familiar with it. It boasts getting so many leads a month, but I don't know how I'd get that many leads considering the area that I'm working. I live in a small town, after all. I also wonder how I'm going to knock them down in the searches. I would think that it would be easy, but I can't imagine that many local agents are using homegain. Most of the agents in Mora are older and have told me over and over "I only use the internet as much as required by my job". I use it to tackle all the internet leads that would come in for Kanabec County that they aren't getting. I'm proud of the fact that I'm the only internet-guru in our roster of local agents.
Anyway, about HomeGain. Do you use it? Let me know what you think! Is it worth it???

Encore School of Music Recital

2007-05-18T12:24:00.000-07:00

On May 12th, Encore School of Music is having their spring recital! There is a general recital at 9:30 AM, String recital at noon, and another general recital at 2:00. My students and I will be performing at the 2:00 recital. There will be flute solos, a duet, and a trio, along with other students and faculty. Recital will be held at Grace Lutheran Church in Mora. Tickets are available at the door. Questions? Call me, or call Encore at 320-679-7770.
Encore School of Music offers lessons for all instruments and voice. I teach woodwinds (clarinet, flute, sax, oboe), beginning piano, and pop vocal. Lessons are $15.00 for a half hour lesson. Rusty? That's okay! Give us a call!

You Silly Goose! Literally!

2007-05-18T12:22:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, after showing houses all day, I went home and even though I was exhausted, couldn't seem to relax. I went outside and started turning the soil over in my flower garden. It's full of weeds all the time, and I just decided to dig it up and then spray it. Luckily, since I'm kind of stupid as far as gardening/plants/green stuff is concerned, I have a fiance who is a Vegetation Restoration Specialist for the 6 county area. (IMPACK 6) So even though I have no clue what I'm doing, he does. Thank goodness!
So I was wandering around the yard, and all of a sudden our white goose came running up to me, squaking and flapping her wings. I stopped, because I was afraid if I moved near her, she'd run away like she normally does. She came running up to my legs and started brushing up against me, like a cat would. I slowly lowered down to her level, and she stood there and let me pet her for a long time. She only got upset twice - once when the cat came near me (she bit him), and when Nick came over. She crawled up into my arms and just sat there on my lap. We got a couple pictures with my phone. It was just so weird.

Have you ever had anything like that happen to you??

My Monthly Newsletter - How I Do It

2007-05-18T12:20:00.000-07:00

We got talking about mailings, and I started discussing my newsletter. I've seen comments and blogs from agents who say they are having virtually no response from their mailings. So I wrote a long winded comment on one blog, but thought I would throw it up here, too, just in case someone else was interested. So far it seems to work for me!
Living in a rural area, we have newspaper boxes, which I'm sure not all of you have. What I do is make a monthly newsletter, which includes a couple of my listings on the back, a recipie that is quick, easy and tasty with some sort of pun about how busy I am. For example, April's newsletter is titled "Local Real Estate News" The caption below that says "Spring is here" which launches into a quick paragraph about how the market is picking up for us at RE/MAX Select in Mora. Below that I wrote a quick piece on what we did at the East Central Home Show, and congratulated the winners of our prize drawing, which was for carbon monoxide detectors. That is one paragraph. There is a second paragraph, which address the important of having the detectors in your home. The second column is my recipie section, with the title "Good Eats, Fast!" Followed by my intro - "With the market picking up, I don't have much time to make dinner. Before you know it, I'm resorting to my "Quick and easy" recipes. I thought I'd share one with you. This one is famous at our office potluck lunches! (Personalizes us, make us seem human!) Don't be afraid to let me know what you think! (Call for action!) Enjoy!" Followed by my "Easy Creamy Chicken Enchilada" recipe. Below that is my footer, with my contact info, picture, and the quote "MY business continues to grow by referrals from friends, family and customers like you! Thank you for recommending me!" I attach a business card.
On the backside I have an artice entitled "What can you offer that other real estate agents can't??" Which seems to be what I'm being asked a lot on listing appointments. I discuss my internet presence, the benefit of having an international name behind me, and the things I do to make myself different. The second column is a couple of my listings locally with pictures, and then my contact information on the bottom. I farm between work and my home, then wherever I do a showing. After my clients leave, I flyer the area. Then I also send them with my letters for expired listings and FSBO's. I have gotten a lot of response because they are personal, and the recipe makes people hold onto it. I love doing it, because it is kind of fun coming up with personal articles and recipes, and it's so cheap to do. Mine are even in black and white!
I drop them off on Friday night and Saturday morning usually. That way, they get them with their paper. When I drive back through the areas I've flyered, I look to see if there are any still sitting in boxes, and I have to say that I have yet to see one still sitting there. They are in black and white, business card attached, and the front side face up. It seems to work so far, and I fully intended on continuing the tradition. Good luck!

Before I'm Off To Showings

2007-05-18T12:12:00.000-07:00

I had a client call me yesterday morning. I had taken yesterday morning off (trust me, it wasn't easy!) because it was garage sale day here in lovely Mora. I live for garage sale day. While garage sale-ing, my cell rings, and it is one of my sellers. I answer "Hi, this is Joslyn"
"Hi Joslyn, it's Lucy. What are you doing today?"
I reply, "Well right now, I'm in town, and I'm on my way to the office to set up some showings." (True)
"Really?"
"Yes dear, what are you doing?"
"Oh, I'm going grocery shopping today. But I don't want to."
"Why not? That will be fun!" I say.
"No, the weather is crap. I just want to stay in bed until noon."
"Oh, I can understand that hun." I reply. I wanted to be in bed, too.
"Tomorrow you can sleep in, though." She says.
"Nope, not me. You definitely can, though!"
"Why not you?"
"Well, hun, I've got showings all day tomorrow."
"OH! You work seven days a week?"
I laughed. "Yes dear, I work seven days a week a lot."
"Oh wow. Okay then. I'll talk to you soon. Have a good day!"
I'm still not sure exactly what the point of the phone call was. She didn't ask about her listing, ads, or anything like that. I just have to chuckle. She's absolutely adorable.

Also, to counteract my depressing experience with my other sellers earlier this week, I get a call on Friday. It is from a gentleman who recieved one of my expired letters, and just had to call me.
He proceeded to tell me that he didn't think he was going to list right away. He was debating putting it up for auction, and maybe sitting on it a few months to see what the market did. He's attached to the home, and not sure that he wants to give it up for the amount of money everyone thinks he should.
Then he shocked me. "Well, miss, I had to call you. I just couldn't believe it when I got this letter. I was in shock."
I sit there wondering what I wrote in his letter that upset/shocked him so much.
"You know, I have worked with a lot of real estate agents here in Minnesota. I've moved a lot and sold a lot of houses in my years, and I just have to say that I've never seen one as aggressive as you."
Still scared.... aggressive in a good way or a bad way?????
"I think it's absolutely FANTASTIC what you're doing. Most real estate agents (I'm apologizing for this to all you agents who are going to read this!) are spineless, unconfident, in=it-for-the-money lowlifes, and I can tell that you are different. I was impressed with your letter, even more so impressed with your newsletter that you sent as well. (I have a monthly newsletter and when I write to expireds, I send the newsletter as well for a better taste of my personality/mission/devotion.) I have told so many agents that they really haven't done anything to impress me, and haven't even tried. One girl kept calling to cancel because of her kids something-or-other, and I finally told her "Obviously you don't want to make any money, dear. Tell you what, I'll pay you to NOT come up here. Deal?"
I'm trying desperately not to bust out laughing, because the way he said it just sounded hilarious. He has an accent, too - the kind that you would think would never say anything bad about anyone. And here he is, totally letting loose on me about his previous "worthless" agents.
"I just wanted you to know, that if I do decide to list, I will give you a call. I'm impressed with your work ethic. You appear not to be one of those "part time, I'm-too-busy-for-real-estate agents" that really aren't going to work for my business or satisfaction. So once again, I wanted to say congratulations and thank you."
When I hung up the phone I got the laughing out of my system, but I do have to admit - it was a self esteem boost. I'm feeling much better this weekend. :)

GoodSearch.com - My Search Engine of Choice

2007-05-18T12:10:00.002-07:00

About six months ago, we adopted a beagle named Shiloh from the Washburn County Animal Humane Society in Spooner, Wisconsin. (Yes, we drove two hours for a dog!!!) Every month I get a newsletter from WCAHS, which I love to read. I would have to say that WCAHS does a great job taking care of the animals and finding fundraisers to keep them going. I have been nothing but impressed, and do everything I can to help them out.
While on their site yesterday, downloading "The Scoop" online (cheaper for them if I print it myself rather than having it mailed), I noticed that they linked to "Goodsearch.com", which would send all proceeds back to the shelter, or charity of your choice.
Goodsearch is powered by yahoo search, and the results are good. I've been impressed with most results I get from the search, and the layout and format. I of course search "Mora Minnesota Real Estate" and "Realtor Mora Minnesota" and "Joslyn Panka" right away. All of us dying for those top search engine spots sound so big-headed because we're searching ourselves every day. I'm moving up, and that's good! I just figured, since I search those keywords, along with other random searches on a regular basis, why not do it through a search engine that gives back? Especially to a place where we got Shiloh, who we found by talking to them and the shelter screening us to find the perfect dog for our family. She has been a perfect fit, and we have been very grateful for the honesty, integrity, and great care WCAHS offers.
If you're interested, and would like more information, check out www.goodsearch.com or www.WCAHS.org. Even if we give back in small ways, it all adds up!

Ideas For Parade Giveaways?

2007-05-18T12:10:00.001-07:00

So the sad news came in that this year, we are not allowed to throw candy during the Kanabec County Fair parade. This was pretty depressing, considering last year was the first year I did it, and I thought it was a blast. No candy. Hmphf.
So then I decided to look at the bright side of things. So we can't throw candy. Surely there must be something I can hand out quickly, without explaning to everyone what it is, without running the risk of hurting anyone and promote myself and what I do. Surely, there is SOMETHING I can do.
The first thought was jar openers. Lonnie had some for the East Central Home Show, and they went like hot cakes. We went through 700 in about an hour and a half, and had to stop handing them out because the Home Show is two days long, and Lonnie had only ordered 1,000. Since there are 1,000 of them already running around Kanabec County with Lonnie's name on them, perhaps that isn't the way to go. Besides, we spent a lot of time explaining what they were.
There has to be something. So I'm sending this out to all my dear friends, wondering if any of you have any ideas. I want something that will promote me, isn't going to be thrown away less than a week later, and that I can hand out quickly to people watching the parade. Any ideas? Or should I just stand on the float behind my sign and wave??? :(
Thanks in advance!

What Is It About Duluth????

2007-05-18T12:08:00.000-07:00

There is one thing about me that I really don't understand, and can't seem to figure out. I have this horrible addiction to Duluth. Now that snow is gone, I seem to be going through withdrawls. It's like this every year. Every year since I first went up there on my own. I just want to get in my car and drive up there. Worse yet, I want to STAY up there for a while. Just like a mini-break. I find myself wishing I had a place up there. Then I pull up the Duluth MLS, and just make myself more miserable. I have all these priorities for the next year or two financially... I'd like to do many things, and focus on things like getting the house paid off, getting the house fixed so I can sell it even. Perhaps move altogether, probably staying in the area. But when I get like this, all I want to do is hoard money, save up 70 or 80 thousand bucks, and buy a cute place that needs some work. Then when I need to escape go up there and DO some work.
What's really sad is that about two years ago (not long after Nick and I bought our house) I started having dreams about living in this particular house in Duluth. When I'd dream it, I'd think I was crazy, because the way this house was laid out was NOTHING like ANY house I'd ever seen before. I mean, you'd remember this place if you saw it. And I loved it. I loved the big deck and the way it wrapped around and the walkout basement. It's not your typical every day house - it's definitely different than other houses.
About a month ago all the MLS systems in MN became accessible to everyone who participated in one (There's North Metro, which is what we are, Duluth, St Cloud, Western Wisconsin, St Paul, Minneapolis, etc.). Well I decided to play around and started searching the MLS in Duluth.
My house is there, people. It's for sale. It's in an area of town I think I may have been in once, but that's only because I spent a lot of time just aimlessly driving in Duluth with no destination in mind. IT IS THERE, PEOPLE. MY HOUSE FROM MY DREAMS IS THERE.
It's a foreclosed house. No electricity. It needs some work.
But what are the odds? I mean.... am I just having dreams of the future?
I know I've done that before, and it is freaky. This house is so dirt cheap right now that it's driving me nuts. I've calculated how much Nick and I could get out of our house right now, and it's not very much considering we've only been here two years. I just don't think it is possible. Nick has a job up there, because Prairie Restorations has a farm up there where he could work. But seriously, driving to Mora to sell houses and living in Duluth? Besides the fact that Nick doesn't want to live in town. He needs land. And LAND up there is expensive.
Who knows? Maybe someday I'll buy myself a little place up there to run away to. Maybe even my house from my dreams. Until then, I guess road trips will have to do....

Catster Never Sleeps, and Niether Do I

2007-05-18T12:07:00.000-07:00

I'm sure not many of you are familiar with Catster. It wasn't until recently that I was introduced to it, somewhat on accident, back when I was still the receptionist here at RE/MAX Select. If you have read my blog, you are familiar with Briggy, my kitten who is hypoglycemic. Not too long after she was at her worst, I started doing some online research, and came across a result from catster.com. I had to check it out, and it was definitely worth it.
People love their pets, there is no doubt about it. Catster.com and Dogster.com are websites that have the feel of myspace or facebook, but they are for your cat. You can make a profile for your pets, and they can make new friends, join groups, and read diaries. There is a ton of information about the care and habits of cats and dogs, and tips on training and adding a new member to the family. You can also search catster and dogster for adoptable pets in your area. The profiles are fun and personalized, and if you join catster or dogster plus, you can upload up to 50 photos per pet, and have even more features at your fingertips, all for less than $20 annually.
I spend a lot of time on myspace, facebook, and activerain.com marketing and working on real estate related things, so it's nice to have a place to go to just make a fun page for my animals. I do love my pets, and I don't consider myself one of those "crazy cat ladies", but I do enjoy playing with catster.
Catster has a few slogans, and one of them is "Catster Never Sleeps". I love this one, because during those nights of pure insomnia where I can't think about anything but how I can get so-and-so into their dream house, or what a dream house for another client is, I can get up, head into the office, and with Henry on my lap, play around on catster. I relax, take a break from real estate (at 3 AM, I think that's well deserved!) and just have fun reading stories about those crazy animals we all love.
So take a break from myspace and facebook, and check out http://www.catster.com/ or http://www.dogster.com/! One account works for both sites, so you can have your whole family linked between the two sites! Check out my family anytime!
http://www.catster.com/cats/412041

What RE/MAX Means to Me - Part Four - So Long, Farewell...

2007-05-18T12:06:00.000-07:00

What RE/MAX Means to Me - Part Four - So Long, Farewell...

So now I was back at the grocery store, plugging away at my job. I was thankful for the job, don't get me wrong, but I wasn't happy about how I had ended up back there. I was beginning to feel like I was going to lead a miserable life and die in this place where I spent most of my time.
That was in January. In the next eight months I had learned even more than I had before in many different departments. I could do just about everything in a grocery store, and I was proud of that. The store was a significant part of my life. I first discovered American Idol there. Learned that I should never work with my significant other, especially as their boss, because I expected them to be more than perfect. And I learned that retail wasn't for me. So in June I moved to Duluth.
I was renting the lower part of a house with my friend Aleathea, who spent the summer away on a mission trip. About a week before I left Mora, I met Nick. We hit it off right away, and after I moved, Nick spent a lot of time driving up to see me. I got really lonely in that house by myself, so I was desperate for the company. I got a job working for a small retailer in Duluth, and that took up some of my time. I enrolled in my classes at University of Minnesota Duluth, and spent a lot of time in the college practice rooms, because I didn't want to disturb the neighbors upstairs. I did love Duluth. I loved walking along the lake, how there was every store you could need but it still felt like a small town, the fact that my house overlooked the lake, and driving I-35 whenever I could. I'd cross over the bridge to Wisconsin and shop Wal-Mart in Superior and stop on my way back home at the neon pink chinese restaraunt. I don't even remember the name, just that it was pink and purple. Nick and I took a couple road trips and went to North Dakota and Canada. We camped and had a blast.
September came quickly. The first day of class I was miserable, because that morning Nick left for his home state of California. It wasn't all bad - he was packing up his stuff and he'd be back in a month. He was going to go to school down in the cities, and had an apartment lined up already. I adjusted some of my classes, and was set on getting a vocal education major and an instrumental education major. My day was full, and I was taking a total of 23 credits. Unfortunately, as many of you music majors may understand, it wasn't like some people's college experience. I had my first class at 8 AM and finished class at 9:30 PM. The courses I needed were so spread out! Band was in the middle of the day, so I couldn't work then. I needed a language, and my only option that worked around the required classes I needed was a 6:30-9:30 one. I had no time to work. I would work on weekends, but was still lonely, and wasn't making enough money that way. October came around, and by mid-October I had to ask my mom to help me pay the next month's rent. Nick moved back to Minnesota, but I didn't have time to see him, and didn't have a choice. I had no money, and I had to make a decision.
I had signed into a year lease, so I would have to keep paying. I started looking for full time jobs, but wasn't having much success, and at this point I was miserable without Nick. So I moved to the cities, started searching for a job, and kept paying on my Duluth apartment.
Duluth was now a dream that just didn't happen, and was kind of a sore spot for me. I fully intended on going back to college, but I wasn't sure how or when. Small town girl was having a hard time finding a job in the cities, and I finally got a position at a hotel not very far from where I lived in Brooklyn Park. I worked the front desk, and I actually really liked it. My first day, the General Manager announced that he was quitting. He had hired me, and I felt kind of abandoned. The Assistant General Manager moved up into his position (he didn't even give a two week notice!), and the interviewing began. Ads started popping up in the paper, and resumes came through on the fax constantly all day long. It wasn't even a week before management came to me and asked me to apply for the job. I figured I would, but was sure I wouldn't get it. I had no hotel experience, and there were so many applicants who did! Why would they choose me???
I'm sure you already know that I got the job. I mean, why would I talk so much about this if I didn't? I loved it. I loved checking rooms, working the front desk, sending out sales letters, learning more about the hotel business. I loved my co-workers (overall) and only having a five minute drive to work.
Of course, there were plenty of things that I didn't love, too. I didn't love calling the cops almost daily because of some incident. I didn't love dealing with the druggies. I didn't love the pages at two in the morning. I really didn't love feeling uncomfortable and being there at night. There were many times where I took Nick with me, just because I was never sure what I would come across. He would do homework, and I would look into colleges. We got engaged, and he started working at an office store down the street.
It wasn't long before Nick, being the hard worker that he is, was offered a full time, well paid position. We discussed it heavily, and decided that he would be better of taking the position. Nick had four years of college behind him, but had changed majors, so no degree. He was doubting what he was going to school for at that point, and it seemed smart for him to take this job. I was doing well - making a decent amount of money, and for the first time in quite a while, not feeling taken advantage of. Of course, it was too good to last.
The General Manager stopped answering his phone or pager at night, so I was called to the hotel every night over some dispute or another. I was constantly thrown into unsafe situations. Nick's schedule was full enough, and now I was waking him up at the middle of the night. He was unhappy and worried about me all the time. So when he came to me saying "I think I found you a better job", I listened.
He was working for the office store, and they needed an Operations Manager at another location. It was a lot of hiring, training, and bookkeeping, which I was in charge of at the hotel. I interviewed and was offered the position. It was better pay, a safer environment, better hours - and it was retail.

What RE/MAX Means To Me - Part Three

2007-04-27T12:22:00.000-07:00

What RE/MAX Means to Me - Part Three - Back to the Beginning

So after the scary confrontation in the parking lot, I was beginning to be paranoid. So when he called my cell phone (I still don't know where he got the number) and told me exactly what he wanted to do to me, I freaked out. I was very close to an assistant manager at work, and I sat down next to him at a break and said "I need to talk to you". Of course, after I told him my story, he said that this had to go higher up than him, and that the store management needed to be notified. It was his duty and responsibility. I understood that - I would do the same thing. I didn't know I would GET to do the same thing, but I would do the same.

The fun began. The next day there was a big meeting with the district manager, store manager, and a couple of the assistant managers. We all sat down and I went through my story again, stating that I was just really uncomfortable with what was going on more than anything. Of course it was sexual harassment, and they wanted to know if I wanted to press charges. I said no, and then they said they would investigate what had happened and in the meantime I was scheduled with male managers all the time.

That afternoon, I was approached by one of my "girls" as I called them. She said "Joslyn, I need to talk to you". So talk we did. We got an office, sat down, and she told me about how she felt really uncomfortable because an employee that worked at the store had approached her many times, followed her out to her car, made obscene phone calls to her, and had showed up at her apartment. I took notes feverishly, all the while feeling so sick to my stomach that I wasn't sure if I was going to make it through the day. After she told me the whole story, I looked at her and said "Hun, I know this is hard, but I have to ask... who is it?"

After a ton of debate and trying to get out of answering my question, she finally admitted it. I nearly threw up right there. She said "Joslyn, please don't tell anyone" and I said "I'm your manager, and it's my job to make sure you're safe. I have to tell management so they can address the issue."

After I got her stabilized emotionally, I sent her on her way. Then off I went, to address management, and let them know that the guy that I had just been reported had been reported again.

Of course this didn't go over very well. As you may have guessed, management was now freaking out. They split down the middle, and at first I didn't realize why. I was definitely naive at this point in my life, and it never ever crossed my mind that they would think that this was some kind of plot that the other "victim" and I had put together. There were the managers that worked with me every day, knew me very well, and knew that I would never do something like that. There were also the ones who I never had any contact with, and they were skeptical. Who knows, perhaps if I were in the same situation, I would be, too.

I was so glad to have a day off, and just took it easy and didn't think about any of this. I wasn't so upset about what had happened to me, but what had happened to the other girl. I could take care of myself, one way or another, but I spent a lot of time wondering how I could "fix things" for this other girl. I am a fixer. It is built into my personality - hard-wired, actually - and when something is wrong with ANYONE, I immediately am pondering possible solutions all day and night. So that's what I did, and arrived at work exhausted after my day off.

I really wasn't prepared for what was about to happen that day. About an hour into my shift, I was approached by a cashier. She asked if I had a minute, I said yes, and she proceeded to tell me about a male co-worker that had been harassing her. Once again I found myself taking notes, this time with a member of upper management, and delivering them to the management team. Eyebrows raised. I continued on my way.

Afternoon shift came in, and before I knew it, I was approached by a female associate who had told her friend about a confrontation between her and a male co-worker, and it happened to be the girl who first reported this co-worker to me. The first "victim" had referred this girl to me. This time I got her comfortable with other members of management but skipped out on the meeting. I couldn't do it anymore. I couldn't listen to another complaint against this guy.

I talked to my assistant manager, and he recommended that I switch shifts. So I went to night shift for a couple nights. After two days, nine girls - not including me - had reported a complaint against the male co-worker that I had originally complained about. He was placed on leave, and the investigation was underway.

A week passed, and I was called to meet with management. I did, and sat down to find out that they found it to be more than a coincidence that 10 girls total filed a complaint against this one person in a week, and that they were dismissing the case. They figured that it was a "conspiracy" and that we had "made up an elaborate story". I asked them about the text messages and voicemails that a few of the other girls had kept, and they dismissed them as being "taken out of context" or "probably not even him, anyway".

I couldn't believe it. I walked out of work that day in shock and absolutely devastated. On my drive home, I swung through Mora and stopped at the grocery store I had worked at about a year ago. I was filled with sadness and despair, and I did something I never thought I'd do. I pushed my way through the back doors, knocked on the office door, and asked the store manager for my job back.

What RE/MAX Means to Me - Part Two

2007-04-27T12:16:00.000-07:00

What RE/MAX Means to Me - Part Two - The beginning of the end of retail

So there I was, leaving home at approximately 4:30 in the morning, driving to Pine City, opening the restraunt. I ran my butt off, and I usually took on all 12 tables by myself. I started dropping weight like crazy. At 2:00 I'd run into the bathroom, change clothes as fast as I could, and sped down I-35 to North Branch and then across 95 to Cambridge. I'd get there usually at 2:27, and had three minutes to get in the building and punched in. Then I would work until 10:30 or eleven before I'd take on the hour drive home. This was my life, and I loved it. I rarely got to see my boyfriend at the time, and when I did, I almost always fell asleep. It seemed that if I sat still for more than about 2 minutes, I'd be snoring.

Then the bad news came. The owners of the restraunt weren't making enough money to justify staying open. My waitressing job that I loved so dearly was falling apart. I was upset, but as one waitress pointed out, I had another job. It could be worse. So we finished up the last few weeks and the doors were shut on my morning job.

Now my other job took priority, and since my schedule had opened up, things started to get crazy. As some of you who do or have worked retail know, there is no such thing as a "normal schedule". I would work until midnight one night, and then have to be back to the store by five AM. I found myself more exhausted than I had been when I was working both jobs because of the lack of sleep schedule. I hadn't worked for such a big company before, either. The grocery store is the biggest employer in Mora, but still was nothing compared to this. I made some friends and some enemies. (I have discovered that if you're young and you're a manager, you're always going to have some enemies that buck everything you do or say.) I kept on, though, and loved my job.

The holiday season was around the bend, and the store began to get busier and busier. I was working more and more, but what I noticed even more is that a certain guy was hanging around me ALL THE TIME. I couldn't seem to get rid of him, even though his job had nothing to do with mine. I began to make excuses or purposely hang around my guy friends at work to keep this other creep away from me.

After one of my late night shifts, I was walking out to my car. We had to park way across the parking lot in the dark, which didn't usually bother me. For some reason, I was just getting that creeped out feeling that we women get sometimes when something is wrong. I just knew that something wasn't right, and sure enough, when I put my key in the door of my car, someone draped himself across the side of my car, grinned at me, and said "Hey babe, what's up?"

Cell phone in hand, I realized who it was and said "not much", remembering that my cell phone was still in silent mode. "Just trying to go home." Meanwhile, in my coat pocket, I texted my one guy friend that had just left to come to the parking lot NOW. Thank goodness to my T-9 skills.
"Aw, why would you want to go home? Why not come to my place? I've got some drinks and we can watch a movie... and whatever..."

"I'm underage." I muttered, turning my key in the lock and reaching for the door handle.

"That's okay, babe. I won't tell if you don't." He moved in, blocking the door and trapping me.

Just then my guy friend came pulling up. Creepy guy stood up and stepped away from me as my friend came walking over.

"Joslyn, I wanted to know if you wanted to go over and get some ice cream across the road" my friend spoke, and I calmed a little.

"Yeah, let's go." I said, walking - a little more quickly than normal - over to his truck.

"I'll see you later, I guess" said creepy guy.

I didn't answer.... just jumped in the truck and we high-tailed it out of there.

I'm leaving cliff-hangers, I know. I'm sorry. I'm a writer - that's what we do! :) This is by all means a rough draft and not anywhere close to perfect, but I'm just working on getting this all down. My mind goes so fast sometimes that my fingers can't keep up. When I used to write novels, I used to hand write. I always seemed to be able to write more and better when it was handwritten. After writing a novel my senior year for my independent study, I got used to typing my stories, because I can come closer to keeping up with my brain - but still not quite.
I hope you're enjoying this and don't forget to check back! There is more to come!

Community Band???

2007-04-27T12:14:00.000-07:00

Is there anyone in the Mora/Pine City/Cambridge area that would be interested in joining a community band if there was one? I want to play again, but don't have anywhere TO play, and I was in a community band in Elk River when I lived there and I loved it. Let me know... perhaps we can get something started. I have taken conducting classes........

What RE/MAX Means to Me - Part One

2007-04-27T12:10:00.000-07:00

First I want to say that I started this the other day, but for some reason when I went to add what I was listening to, it cleared the entire blog, and I just haven't had a chance to re-write it yet. So this is attempt number two.

I also want to say that this story does start a few years back, because I want you as the reader to understand where I'm coming from and why RE/MAX is so important to me. Granted, I have not been a real estate agent for very long, but I have been at RE/MAX a while, and intend to keep it that way.

Why am I writing this blog? Well a friend of mine who is a RE/MAX agent in Georgia wrote her story this way, and while my story isn't the same, it may still be worth telling. So I thought I'd give it a shot and see what everyone thought. It's good for me to tell it, so I can remind myself what I've been through to get to this point in my life. It's all been worth it, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Some of you that are reading this may have known me in high school, but most didn't, and I'd like to start here because I had a dream before, and it's funny how things change. So here we go!
What RE/MAX Means to Me - Part I - High School Dreams

My sophomore year I discovered something major. Something that I knew I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Something that I was very good at, and I thought would take me far.

Clarinet playing.

Now some of you may laugh, but as a sophomore in Elk River Senior High School, I was kicking butt. By the end of the year, I had made it into All State Band, played in regional competitions and groups, and was quite possibly the most babied music student in the district. All I did was practice - before school, during school, after school. I played other instruments, too, but clarinet had been the instrument I was "stuck with" when I had started band in elementary school, and I had decided then and there that I was going to be the best, and that was all there was to it.
That summer I was off to All State Band camp. I was fourth chair, quite an accomplishment for a sophomore, not to mention the fact that I had a student level clarinet. The entire clarinet section had wood clarinets except for me, and I still beat out twenty plus other clarinet players and was playing in the first row of the band. It was nothing short of awesome. I loved every minute of it, but was determined to score a better position next year.

After summer camp, I returned home to bad news (at least I thought it was at the time). My parents were going to sell their house and move to a tiny town in the middle of nowhere called Mora. (That's how it seemed to me at the time, guys. I'm sorry to all you fellow Mora residents for this part!) No matter what I said, it didn't matter, as you can guess, and soon I was packing my stuff and moving to Mora.

We arrived a week before school was to start, and the first day of school I was supposed to meet with the band director first thing. I had wanted to take an independent study in clarinet my junior year, and now I was in a new school. I met with her and she was amazed at my playing. Immediately big things were underway for Joslyn Panka.

I began an independent study, along with band and choir. The teachers were determined to bring my other grades up, because although I had managed to stay afloat in my other classes, I didn't care about them as much. I was going to graduate and go somewhere like Cleveland Institute of Music, and was I really going to need to know the location of all the countries in the world? I sure didn't think so. I was immediately put into classes where the teachers pushed me to be the best, and I of course was driven to succeed. Linda, my band director, rented professional level clarinets for me to take home to my parents so they could hear the difference between what I was playing and what I should be playing. A professional level clarinet was going to continue to take me upward, where I had pretty much peaked on my plastic Yamaha. It didn't take much for my parents to notice the difference, and soon I had a brand new Buffet Vintage clarinet in a shiny double case, and I was back on track.

I enrolled in camps, went to contests, recorded audition pieces, and played a memorized concerto for every band concert. The pianists couldn't keep up, and I had grown accustomed to the stage. I was a performer through and through. I didn't get nervous - I just walked out and did my thing. I played in Orchestra Hall a few times, at numerous colleges, and was constantly on the run. My year in All State Band was up, and I had my eyes set on the most coveted position of all - first chair of the All State Orchestra. I was going to do it, and that's all there was to it.

I started private lessons at the University of Minnesota Duluth with Ted Schoen, who is AWESOME. I auditioned for ASO and made it in. Now I had to practice all summer to score that first chair. Meanwhile, I needed money for all these activities I was participating in, so I started working at our local grocery store. As you may have already guessed, when I do something, I do it right and am determined to be the best. So it was no time before I was a manager and working 32+ hours a week while going to school and participating in all the extra music activities. My senior year came, and I was applying to colleges to be a clarinet performance major. The letters began coming back, and because of my poor grade point average from Elk River, I was getting denial letters - until they figured out who I was. When they found out that I was Joslyn Panka, clarinetist extraordinaire, the acceptance letters came pouring in. I had always heard about how athletes would get into colleges no matter what their GPA was with massive scholarships, but I didn't believe it until all of this.

My mailbox was overloaded. Every college wanted me. I was offered full rides to some places. I started interviewing clarinet instructors, since I seemed to have my pick, and I wanted someone GOOD.

I quickly learned that there were a lot of clarinet professors, some who were in it because they were supplementing their income, some who were there because they couldn't get into an orchestra, and some who were just there for no reason whatsoever, and they absolutely hated it. Every instructor I met was immediately compared to Ted, and every instructor fell short. The decision, although not what I had in mind, was easy. I was going to the University of Minnesota, Duluth. That's all there was to it.

But Joslyn, you say, what about your dream? What about Cleveland Institute of Music or Julliard? What about Luther College? What about all these big music schools? Well, I checked out a few of those music schools, but they just weren't right for me. In some cases I couldn't tell you why. I'm not sure if it was because I had gotten so spoiled and spent so much time being the best in the school and getting all sorts of benefits because of it that I couldn't deal with being not-so-important anymore, or if I just couldn't imagine working with anyone other than Ted, but it wasn't happening. UMD was the right decision, and I started practicing for my scholarship audition.

During my senior year, however, something started to happen. Something that would change everything. During my travels to different performing groups, I started to hear talk of "thumb problems" among clarinetists. If you aren't familiar with the clarinet, it actually has a "thumb rest" on the back of it which sits on your thumb while you're playing to hold the clarinet up. It rests just behind your knuckle on the right thumb, and sometimes it can start to hurt. I talked to girls who were going to physical therapy three times a week for thumb pain, and I couldn't understand it. It sounded silly to me. What a bunch of bull!

I slowly began to notice problems, however, and my tune quickly changed. My hand would lock up completely in the middle of practice, and I couldn't move it at all. Then it started affecting my performances. My thumb would ache, I wasn't able to write or squeeze things with my right hand, and pretty soon I couldn't even hold things. I was dropping my clarinet on a regular basis, and I didn't know what to do. My parents couldn't afford physical therapy, and I had a hard time finding a doctor who knew what to do anyway. I began working more and playing less, and even though I was awarded a very decent scholarship to UMD, I was afraid that I was going to lose everything. What good was a clarinet performance major going to be if I couldn't play? There wasn't anything else I wanted to do, so I decided I was going to figure out a way, and instead of enrolling at UMD that summer, I continued to work.

Now I was "one of those" kids who hadn't gone to college straight out of high school. I was constantly reminded by people that "if you don't go right away, you will probably never go", and I was feeling pretty beat up. I pressed on, however, and put everything I had into work. I continued to move up at the grocery store, and life was okay. I really liked working with people, and had a lot of fun there. We were all kind of like a family, and it was great. I wasn't playing my clarinet a whole lot. In the years that I did play, my clarinet had personified, and was more like a boyfriend than an inanimate object. It's hard to explain, but it was like my clarinet had crushed all my dreams, and I could barely stand to look at it. Sometimes you get out of a relationship where you've been hurt so bad that it takes AGES to even see that person again without crying or flinching. That's where I was with my clarinet at that time. I would be perfectly happy if I didn't see the thing ever again.

That spring I was invited to play in the high school's pit orchestra for the spring musical. My little sister was in it, and I thought it would be fun. They always invite some community members, and so I went for it. It was painful to play, but I did what I could, and had a blast. It reminded me why I had wanted to go to college in the first place, and I began to look into it again.

By that time it was too late to start the following fall, so I began to look into next year. I figured I'd pack away some money and have plenty of time to start playing and getting back into my groove. I'd play when I could, and worked a ton. The grocery store was starting to not be such a great job due to all the drama. There were so many affairs and such a lack of morals that I began to live my life sick and upset all the time. I couldn't deal anymore, and applied for a job as a waitress over in Pine City.

I got the job, and started immediately working from five AM to 2 PM five days a week. I loved it! I loved my co-workers and loved the people! You met such a variety of people, and there were always the regulars who would sit and talk to you about everything and nothing at the same time. I learned a lot from people, and it was so much fun. However, not long after I got the waitressing job, I got a call from a popular retail store in Cambridge. They had just become a super center and had added groceries, and needed some managers. I loved the waitressing job, but the pay was pretty good at the store. I wasn't sure what to do. So I did what any normal person would - I took on both jobs.

I'm going to stop here and hopefully get home and sleep. I really need to get better, and Lonnie and Tina will never forgive me if they get sick, too! I'll write more soon, I promise!

My Original Post About Briggy

2007-04-27T12:06:00.000-07:00

My Original Post About Briggy

These are exerpts from my personal blog about Briggy. Enjoy!

Oh no, it's a Briggy Monster!!!

For those of you who don't know, a Briggy Monster is a small kitten about 5 weeks old that lives at my house. Her name is Briggita, and I started calling her a monster because she follows me around all day every day because she thinks I am her mom. That's mostly because I feed her. Her mom stopped taking care of her. So naturally, like any human that was acting like a mother would, I have completely fallen in love with her. I get up and feed her in the middle of the night, and she sleeps in bed with me.

The bad part is that in the last week, Briggy hasn't been eating very well. She can't eat hard cat food yet, and she won't eat soft cat food. I've been feeding her kitten formula, but in the last few days she doesn't want that, either. She's started losing a TON of weight, and to be honest I'm scared to go home tonight for fear of her being dead when I get there. I try to force her to eat, but I don't know what else to do. At least I know that I'll have the rest of the week off, and I can sit all day with her and focus on getting her to eat. I put her in the kitty carrier today with soft food, formula, water, and Science Diet mashed up in formula. Hopefully she'll eat something. But in the meantime I'm just gonna keep praying that she'll be fine when I get home tonight....which should be soon...........

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Stressful week... Current mood: satisfied

Okay, so if you've read my blog, you know that on Tuesday I was worried about Briggy monster. I got home with chicken flavored baby food, tuna, and formula. I ran into the house as fast as I could, and rushed to the pet carrier I had put her in. Because I was so worried, I had put her in there with food because she hadn't been eating. I whipped open the door, and there she lay, completely still... and I nearly choked. I dropped to the floor and picked her up. Her body was very cold and completely limp. She didn't move. She was dead. I started BAWLING (keep in mind I've been bottle feeding this thing for two weeks) and set her back in the kennel, shut the door, and turned away. And then I heard just a little squeak, and I froze, then whipped around, and I was just in time to see her mouth move. I grabbed her a the nearest towel I could find, and I ran to my car and drove as fast as possible (my car died twice on the way over, due to Wal-Mart gas that I bought two weeks ago. I will never put that crap in my car again!) to my parents. I got there nearly hysterical, and my dad took the kitten. She was completely limp, and he held her over the bath while running warm water and massaged her chest and throat. There were at least two times he thought she was dead, but then she'd open her mouth. Nothing would come out - but it was like she was letting us know that she was still there. Dad got her breathing somewhat normally, and then passed her off to mom, who continued to rub her. Dad got some hand warmers and put them underneath the towel to get her warm again. Soon she had somewhat stabilized, but her body felt awful with her being so malnutritioned. I finally took her home, and spent pretty much the whole night awake attempting to feed her and check on her. She slept under the covers with me all night long. The next morning she looked slightly better, and I got dressed and first hauled her to my parent's house, where there was extreme disbelief that she was alive. Then off to the vet. I go to Hinckely to the vet, so it's about 17 miles one way. There is another vet a little closer, but I don't trust them - especially since I had taken Harold there where his cheeks were swollen and they said they didn't know what was wrong with him and charged me 80 bucks. The next day I took him to our vet, and he showed me that Harold had a tooth coming in that was infected, gave me some amoxicillin, and it was 18 bucks. On the way to Hinckely, Briggy started crying like she was in pain. I passed a semi and set my cruise at 75, seriously praying that there weren't any cops around. She started tensing up and thrasing around, and I thought for sure she was going to die. We got to the vets office, and he was finishing up an appointment with a dog, so I stood in the waiting area, rocking back and forth like mothers do with their babies, and just talking to her. No matter how bad she got those couple of days, it seemed like when I talked to her she would fight harder to hang in there. So here I am, kitten wrapped in a towel, rocking back and forth saying "I love the Briggy monster...Briggy's gonna be fine...we're at the vet, Briggy, and Briggy is gonna be just fine..."
Crazy what you do for your animals.

The vet came out, and he's a real laid back kinda guy. He peeks into the towel and says in his completely monotone way "Oh. Little kitty is going into a coma."

I nearly threw up.

"Looks like kitty is hypoglycemic" He meanders (the best word to describe it) off to the back, and returns with a syringe filled with a clear liquid. He gets ahold of her tense thrashing body, and forces her mouth open. He lets the liquid drop into her mouth and she forces it down. "This is just corn syrup. It will help kitty when she has these lows." He walked away, and then returned with a needle and said "Kitty needs some liquids". He injected her (Which was the first time I had seen a response from her on anything lately) and then rubbed her head. "Better give kitty some amoxicillin, just in case" He got the amoxicillin, then took her from me and did like my dad had done the night before - rubbed her stomach and her throat. He gave her back, I paid him (20 bucks! That's all!!!!) and I was on my way. I was so freaked out, though. I put her in the car and was still pretty sure that she was going to die. But I drove hard and fast towards Pine City to get formula at Wal-Mart (thinking that she didn't like the brand they had at the vet in Mora, and she was used to the stuff from Wal-Mart because that was what I had originally fed her).

It wasn't even five minutes, and I turned to the passenger seat, and here she was, running around like she had NEVER been sick. Like nothing had ever happened, and I had just dreamed it all. By the time I got to Pine City, she had wore herself out and decided to stretch out across the passenger seat in the sun. I looked at her and said "Hey Briggy monster?" and she turned and looked at me, almost irritated that I had bothered her, and I was AMAZED because she hadn't responded to me at all in the last 24 hours. I said "You stay here, I'll be right back!" And RAN into Wal-Mart. First to the pet section, where I grabbed dry formula and two bottles. Then to the baby section, where I got soft baby spoons (They change color when the food is too hot! SOOOOO cool! There were four in the pack, so I put three away and am only using one. Hopefully I get to use the others in the next few years!) to feed her with. Then I ran through the food section looking all over for corn syrup, because I don't have any and had NO idea where to find it. Finally found it and ran toward the front. A nice older lady who was a cashier waved me down, and I ran to her register.

"You look like you're in a hurry!" She says cheerfully. I throw my stuff down on the belt.

"Yeah, I have a sick kitten in the car"

"A sick kitten?"

"Yeah"

"What's wrong with it?" She looked genuinely concerned, and I realized I had met yet another cat lady like myself.

I explained what had been going on with Briggy, and she looked at me and said "Oh! She's hypoglycemic!"

I stood there, flabbergasted. "Where have you been the last few days? Why couldn't I have met you sooner???"

"The corn syrup will help hun! Now go!"

So off I ran to the car, a little afraid of what I would find. But there laid Briggy, and she turned and looked at me, once again slightly irritated that I bothered her cat nap.

That was Wednesday. Today's Friday, and Briggy has sat here watching me type and occassionally helping. She's spunky, energetic, and she's getting fat, courtesy of me. I feed her as much as she will eat (per the vet's instructions) and her belly practically touches the floor now. She's doing GREAT, and I can't believe it. My dad says she went through AT LEAST five lives, if not seven this week. My response? "Well Briggy monster, I guess we're gonna have to take really good care of you since you don't have a whole lot of lives left, huh?"

So, from Briggy monster and I, we wish you a good weekend, and hopefully less drama than I have dealt with this week!!!

My Little Scare

2007-04-27T12:04:00.000-07:00

So yesterday, after a long day at the office, I headed home with Nick behind me in his car. We pulled up to the house and noticed that the was a tear in our screen on our living room window. I didn't think a whole lot about it, because we had a stray cat that roamed the neighborhood last year, and for like two weeks he kept jumping up and latching onto our screens. We had replaced a bunch of them, but this window wasn't one of them. I assumed that crazy cat was back, and went on my merry way inside.

Well, we went inside and started dinner and began to eat and relax, and about an hour and a half after I got home, I suddenly said to Nick "Hey, where's Briggy Monster?"
Now for those of you who are not familiar with Briggy Monster, I'll give you a quick explanation, and then I'll add a blog about her that I wrote a while ago when she was little. Briggy was born in a litter of two. Her sister died after two days, and so only Briggy was left. After two weeks, mama cat stopped feeding Briggy. No matter what I did, I couldn't get her to feed Briggy. So I started bottle feeding her, but she started getting really sick, and we found out that she is hypoglycemic. She almost died a few times, and it's been interesting. But she's my baby, and that's all there is to it.

I've been super sick lately, so I was already in my pajamas, but went running outside anyway, cat food in one hand and cat treats in the other, calling and calling for that silly cat. After about 15 minutes I saw a flash through the trees and went running after it. Sure enough, it was Briggy with her rabies tag almost touching the ground since she's so small. I grabbed her and ran for the house, just so glad that I had found her. She has such an attitude though that she scratched me the whole way, smacking me in the face every once and a while and growling. I got her inside and let her down, and she just sat on the floor in front of me, her tail stub twitching and her ears back. She was MAD.

The good news is that she was fine, but it was definitely a scare. I'd prefer not to go through that again!!!

My Opinion of the Real Estate Market

2007-04-27T12:00:00.000-07:00

I was SHOCKED the other night, as I'm sure many other people were, when I heard a news anchor on my favorite station say "The real estate market appears to be turning around...."

Everyone immediately seems to explode into "How, what, why, when, and who???"
Everywhere I go, someone has an opinion on the real estate market. There isn't a day that passes by that someone I know in this small town finds out that I'm now a REALTOR, and says "But isn't it a bad time to go into that???"

Well here I am, after more than a year at RE/MAX, giving you my opinion, and I have to say no, it is a GREAT time to go into real estate.

So we got snow this week, and it has thrown things off a little, but let me tell you about what was happening during all that warm weather.

I had some of my first official floor time here in the last week of March. For those of you unfamiliar with the real estate office practices, floor time is when you are the agent on duty, and when someone calls in and says "Hey, I want to sell my house" or "Hi, I'd like to look at a house", you're the one who gets the call. So after getting my license, signing up with the North Metro Assosciation of Realtors, and becoming an official RE/MAX agent, I sat at my desk for my first floor time.

I couldn't believe how busy I was. I quickly was surrounded by files and paperwork and showings and disclosures and lake setback information. Before I knew it, I was swamped. I have been so swamped, in fact, that today is the first day I've been able to do some of the things I've wanted to do, like write a blog about the real estate market.

I've got buyers. I've got sellers. I've got MLS listings, non-MLS listings, tons of potential listings, and a goal to have a purchase agreement in by the end of the month.
Not exactly the easiest goal in the world, as you real estate agents out there know. However, I think in this market, with my current situation, it's totally feasable. I've got a handful of pre-approved buyers, and even more that aren't pre-approved yet but looking into it. I've had lots of showings, and have more this next week.

I do agree that the market was bad. There was a slow period, but the National Assosciation of Realtors says that nation-wide, we hit bottom last AUGUST. We've been back on the uphill climb since then. Sure, winter hit, and winter is always slow, but Lonnie and Tina have been consistant through it all. They are plugging away, going to closings left and right, and still on track for their yearly goals. Back during my last week as receptionist, we had four purchase agreements in place by Tuesday. That's two a day.

So my shock at the media finally admitting that with spring, warm weather, and that itch to look at something different, people are starting to buy again. The confidence level is going up, and with it are the number of listings, purchases, and showings.

Am I worried about what may happen? Not really. The benefit of working in Mora is not only that we cover such a large area (Pine, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Isanti, Chisago, Aitkin, and Carlton counties), but we have lots of affordable homes for people who are buying. We have great starter homes, in town and on land, and great step up homes for after that first home. There is also the pricier lake properties, which are appealing to out-of-towners. We have so much opportunity right here, and the market really hasn't slowed because of it.

It is a buyers market right now, there's no doubt about that. What does that mean for you? If you're listing, you may have to negotiate a little. Buyers might want a little more than what you originally offered. Nothing that can't be overcome, though, and a good, through, hard working agent will get you that. If you're buying, you can be picky, you have lots of opportunity, and you can negotiate a little more. Buyers are asking for all kinds of things that weren't in the original listing agreement, from microwaves to lawn tractors. It's a fun market, and definitely something that is worth experiencing.

If you do feel concerned about the market, and have some questions, give me a call. I can show you our track record, that we're performing consistently, no matter what the media says. I can explain to you what you may face as a buyer or seller, and how to overcome any obstacles you might face.

The good news is that no matter what the media says, things are moving. Some price ranges may be a little slower, but there are always people coming to the point in their life that they want to buy a home instead of rent. The opportunity is great!

If you are interested in our listings, check our website out - RE/MAX Select's website! You can search the entire MLS from there. Otherwise, feel free to e-mail me at joslynpanka@hotmail.com for more information!

New Listing!

2007-04-06T11:54:00.000-07:00

More information on my new listing - 500 Central Avenue, Mora

New listing as of today! 500 Central Avenue in Mora! $134,900!

This home would be a great starter home, or perfect for a couple who is looking to retire in town, but wants to be in a quiet area!
An adorable ramber on 4 city lots offers comfortable one level living. The paint in the interior is fairly new, and definitely not ordinary. Sponging and rag rolling were done to offer texture and relaxing tones. The master bedroom is big and has a contemporary feel with a nice sized closet. There is a second bedroom, which is rag rolled in green tones, and gives you a touch of outdoors without being overbearing.
The living room is large and comfortable, and it would be very easy to relax on your couch after a long day at work. There is an eat-in kitchen with a door to the outside, making it easy to cook and then dine on a picnic table overlooking the lake. The bathroom has newer flooring and is immaculately clean and spacious. The laundry area is right in the bathroom, with a stacking washer and dryer in a closet, so it's easy to hide your dirty laundry.
Outside you have a nice walkway up to the door, a custom built deck that is absolutely gorgeous, and a nice sized garage to park the car or work on toys. The house is on a quiet cul-de-sac overlooking Lake Mora. You can sit outside and enjoy the wildlife along the lake and that fresh water breeze in the summers. Call me to take a look at this listing! 612-850-3153.

Want to drive by first? On Highway 65, go through both sets of stoplights heading north. You'll cross over Lake Mora, and Central Avenue is immediately on your left. Head down the road, and the house is toward the end on your right.