How does Marquette stack up compared to other counties in the UP? As many of you know, Radon is a gas that can enter and accumulate in homes (actually the decaying by products do). As you also know, high levels of Radon are known to be the second leading cause of lung cancer.As a whole, upper Michigan has lower to moderate levels of Radon based on EPA and laboratory maps of the continental US.  In some parts of the country, Radon levels are scarily high in some residences. Comparing UP counties that have had homes tested for radon in the past, Air Chek has graphs by county showing Marquette to have average tested levels slightly above the mitigation 4 pCi per liter level. Counties such as Houghton and Keweenaw had rather low levels.It's true that no one can predict which area or which ... 03/15/2017

 As a long time Inspector myself, I've seen many (Home Inspectors) come and go over the past 18 years. The purpose of this post is to have an honest discussion about the value and scope of a home inspection, what effect it has on the buyer, seller and realestate transaction as a whole, and, from a Realtor's perspective, what you  find good about the process and what you feel could be changed or done better.From an Inspector's perspective, I believe we are focused on 3 things; evaluating the overall condition of the home, adhering to state mandated and/or association guidelines and also mitigating potential liability isses we face as a result of what was or was not reported.yes, it's unfortunate that we do think about liability, but in truth, those who don't never last long.So, first, le... 02/14/2017

St Peters Cathedral, in Marquette MichiganRecently, Nick and I had the opportunity to attend Mass in St Peters Cathedral in Marquette.This Cathedral is not just a special place to worship God but holds significant historical value to this region of the country.This is the Cathedral that the snowshoe priest, Father Baraga established as he ministered to the native people in the area walking and canoeing from lower Michigan and then back and forth across the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and along Wisconsins Northern shores.Bishop Baraga, had great love for these native people and they for him as he ministered to their needs, started schools, developed an alphabet for their native Ojibwa language and introduced them to Jesus.It was great to meet some of the great people of Marquette here an... 10/15/2016

Big Bay Monster? What is That Anyway?While visiting a lighthouse near Big Bay Michigan recently Jack and I came across one of those odd creatures that leave most of us wondering.I did not know what it was, and Jack did not know what it was either.So we left the camera there for a while to see if anyone else in the area would stop by and comment on the true identity of this creature.Sure enough a few minutes later along came a few turkeys with an opinion or two.     What do you think that it is? 10/03/2016

Big Bay Lighthouse and B&B, a Relaxing Stop and Worth the Trip. Recently while checking on our Forest Inventory Project in the Huron Mountains of Upper Michigan I took a little detour to do some touristing near Big Bay.Seeing a sign indicating “lighthouse this way”, I thought that this could be fun.Though I am not really a big fan of lighthouses, several people that I know seem to think a lot of them so I thought that at least they would enjoy the pictures.So hopefully my mom and my friend Sonya will read this post and enjoy these.It was a longer drive out to the point than I expected, but is was a pleasant one with beautiful northern hardwood forests lining the route.It was nice to see the lighthouse being utilized as a Bed and Breakfast, though a rather quiet sleepy one.And they welco... 10/02/2016

Relaxing On the Shores of MarquetteOne of my favorite cities in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is the city of Marquette.I had not been here in several years when I stopped here last week while checking on a Forest Inventory project we are working on North of here in the Huron Mountains.On this day while others were hard at work in the woods, I took a break and watered the dogs in Lake Superior, admired the view, took a few pics, and spoke with a cute lifeguard who told the dogs they had to go as soon as they got a drink.Fortunately I had one of those plastic bags in my pocket that city folks use to pick up dog deposits, since Drake displayed his displeasure by leaving a little gift behind.  I did however do the environmentally responsible thing though and deposit the contents of the bag out... 09/21/2016

*ARIZONA HOMES WINTER  SPECIAL* Arizona  Corner Lot Bungalow Home for Sale in Acacia Crossings  44701 W PARAISO LaneMaricopa, Arizona $149,900   Beds: 4 Bath: 2 Type: Single Family - Detached Sq Ft: 1754 Built: 2004 MLS: 5366178    Arizona  Corner Lot Bungalow Home for Sale in Acacia CrossingsGreat single level bungalow in Acacia Crossings!!Stone Accents on front of Home Corner lot. Do not miss this wonderful single level light and bright home in Maricopa. Interior features include 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, Walk In shower in Owners Suite, Private toliet, big walk in closet. A spacious eat-in-kitchen with a bay window and vaulted ceilings. Great room has a tv niche. Neutral window treatments throughout. Blinds and Curtains Convey Accent lighting. All appliances convey. new water heater, N... 01/21/2016

Outlasting Many Forest GenerationsGenerally trees are a long term thing and abandoned cabins are very short lived.Many of the forest trees we work with are long lived species that live to be over a hundred years old before they start to show signs of the end.And often when a cabin is abandoned in this area of Upper Michigan, the snow caves in the roof and nature quickly absorbs it.But it seems to be the inverse in this situation on the Yellow Dog Plain in Marquette County.Here we have a short lived tree type, Jack Pine, which lives a mere 40 to 60 years before it is time to be replaced with a new generation.And here we also have a cabin built by people who are long gone which has withstood the Northern Winters due to the steep pitch of the roof and better than average craftsmanship.I wo... 10/21/2015

When In Doubt, Do Not Go Out!Lake Superior is a beautiful body of water with a great view from whatever place you may be, but it does have a dark history in its cold deep waters.Nobody knows just how many ships, boats and other watercraft line the bottom of this lake, or how many people went down with them over the years.But one thing should be remembered, be careful when venturing out onto these waters, they can be dangerous for both shippers and recreationists alike and the weather changes very quickly out on the lake.Recently while working North of Marquette Michigan we came across this beautiful reminder of the dangers and memorial to 16 of the people who have passed away in this great lake. 10/20/2015

Finally Found the Front Door, and the Unwelcome Mat.After decades of working in the forests around the Huron Mountain Club and hearing stories about the rich and famous owners of this Huge chunk of Michigan wilderness I finally got around to taking a drive around to the real entrance to their property.I was hoping to see what the civilized side of the property looks like, the side that I have seen is rather remote, and maybe even have a conversation with a few of the owners.The drive to the front door was not too bad, once you get out to Big Bay, it is all nice new county highway leading right up to their front gate.Unfortunately they did not know that I was coming.There was no red carpet and welcoming committee.Just a locked gate, guard and a sign letting me know that I was not that we... 10/03/2015

What is That Anyway?While visiting a lighthouse near Big Bay Michigan this past week Jack and I came across one of those odd creatures that leave most of us wondering.I did not know what it was, and Jack did not know what it was either.So we left the camera there for a while to see if anyone else in the area would stop by and comment on the true identity of this creature.Sure enough a few minutes later along came a few turkeys with an opinion or two.     What do you think that it is? 10/02/2015

Big Bay Outfitters, Leave Fully Clothed and Caffeinated!Big Bay Outfitters, Walk in Through our Front Door in Yer Birthday Suit with a Fist Full of $$$, and Leave Fully Clothed and Caffeinated!Or so says the sign on the building.I had to stop at this little shop that had plenty of canoes and kayaks lining their yard and other local are inside and out.Jack stayed by the truck this time and played with some kids who were riding bikes around town while I took my camera for a quick couple of pics while looking at some of the cool equipment and art.So now I know where to go to get set for my next trip down one of the Huron Mtn rivers or out on the lake exploring islands and caves. 09/27/2015

Big Bay Lighthouse and B&B, a Relaxing Stop and Worth the Trip. Yesterday while checking on our Forest Inventory Project in the Huron Mountains of Upper Michigan I took a little detour to do some touristing near Big Bay.Seeing a sign indicating “lighthouse this way”, I thought that this could be fun.Though I am not really a big fan of lighthouses, several people that I know seem to think a lot of them so I thought that at least they would enjoy the pictures.So hopefully my mom and my old girlfriend Sonya will read this post and enjoy these.It was a longer drive out to the point than I expected, but is was a pleasant one with beautiful northern hardwood forests lining the route.It was nice to see the lighthouse being utilized as a Bed and Breakfast, though a rather quiet sleepy one.And t... 09/27/2015

Jean Kays Pasties, a Must Stop in Marquette Michigan.I have been working in the UP, Upper Peninsula of Michigan for about 30 years off and on and had never stopped at Jean Kays until this past week.Though Marquette is one of my favorite destinations in the UP, I never had the desire to seek out a pasty shop until this trip.Up until last fall the pasties that I have tried have been uneventful and not something worth going out of your way for.But last fall some friends from Marquette brought along a bag full of these treats to a meeting that we were attending in Northern Wisconsin, and they were delightful.So I knew that sometime before we finished Huron Mountain Forest Inventory Project that I had to stop and sample a few pasties, and our crew bought plenty of them.It was a tough call to... 09/27/2015

St Peters Cathedral, in Marquette MichiganThis morning Nick and I had the opportunity to attend Mass in St Peters Cathedral in Marquette.This Cathedral is not just a special place to worship God but holds significant historical value to this region of the country.This is the Cathedral that the snowshoe priest, Father Baraga established as he ministered to the native people in the area walking and canoeing from lower Michigan and then back and forth across the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and along Wisconsins Northern shores.Bishop Baraga, had great love for these native people and they for him as he ministered to their needs, started schools, developed an alphabet for their native Ojibwa language and introduced them to Jesus.It was great to meet some of the great people of Marquette this... 09/27/2015

New Crew Member at Woodland Management ServiceLast week I took a trip up to Michigan to drop off a new crew member, a New Yamaha Kodiak 700.After our old ATV bit the dust on a project in the Adirondacks this year we had a vacancy on the crew that was causing a lot of pain for feet and vehicles alike.So this month I have been doing a bit of shopping.Not finding anything worth buying in the used ranks, I finally bit the bullet and bought a new one.I have never been a fan of buying new vehicles but after looking at several used ATV’s that were nearly the price of a new one I finally broke down and paid more than double what I paid for my truck for an ATV.Jack and I got to take the maiden voyage on this new tool, for the first part of the 6 mile run Jack thought he was there to pull the ATV... 08/30/2015

Perseid Meteor Shower Coming to a Sky Near You This Week August 11-15, 2015Perseid meteor shower Here is a repeat of my blog from last summer, I hope that you will take a little time this summer to enjoy some falling starts with me. Perseid meteor shower   It’s been a long busy and stressful July so far, and Wednesday night or should I say Thursday morning as I crawled out of my truck at the Cadott office beat and stressed, I was treated to a  Falling Star.   It brought a smile to my face, remembering all the times that I have looked forward to this week in August when we get to witness the Perseid meteor shower or Tuttle’s Comet.    Hopefully I can stop for a few hours this weekend and sit in a lawn chair out in my tree farm where it is nice and dark and enjoy the show.   As Jack Horkh... 08/09/2015

  Over the years I have bought 6 homes and sold 4. Here are a few things to consider when choosing a realtor to work with to help you buy your first, or next home. 1. Lay out your expectations, and see if you and the realtor are well matched. If not, find another one. It is important to have realistic expectations. Don't expect them to show you 50 houses. 2. Exclusive buyer agent contracts are fine, a good idea actually, but do your homework before signing one. How available is the realtor? Will she/he show me homes that just come on the market, or only those that fit a specific price range or home style or location? If you know exactly what your looking for, a narrow search may be warrented, but if your just looking for a home big enough for your family at a good price, you should hav... 11/28/2014

In the Real Estate market, there are a number of unique issues that Veterans encounter. Responding to their needs is more than good service, it's an opportunity to give something back, and in some small measure, a way to say thanks! As a Veteran myself, I learned early on, how to navigate the VA loan process as it relates to building condition and reporting. As a gesture of thanks, I always give 10% off a Home Inspection to Veterans. So, as Veteran's day approaches, I was wondering...how does this demographic fit into your portfollio? Are they aware that you appreciate their sacrafice?           11/07/2014

"I find that a great part of the information I have was acquired by looking up something and finding something else on the way."  Franklin P. Jones quotes (American Businessman, 1887-1929)     I grew up in a family that was told to look it up when we didn't know the answer to something. In my house a question is invariably met with the answer "Google It." But I do have several go-to web sites for answers to many questions and I am pleased to share my top 8 links today.   •1)  For information on any property in the City of Marquette I use the website Marquette City  for property information you click on Resident services and then property information look up. From there you can find out who is in a neighborhood you may be looking at, how long a home has been owned by the homeowner or wh... 11/07/2008