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North Branch, MN Real Estate News

By William Feela, Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.
(WHISPERING PINES REALTY)
I know, many of you are thinking that it is still summer.  In most people's minds it is, but those of us who hunt...fall is fast approaching. For those wanting to buy a chunk of land to hunt on, now is the time to start looking.   There are many things to consider.  Here are just a few... 1. What will you be hunting for? 2. Will this property be used solely for hunting or will it have other uses? 3. What area would you like to stay in. 4. Will your hunting interests be full filled in the area you are considering. 5.  Do you want to be close to public land? 6. how about water.  Do you want a large pond, swamp or other wetlands? 7. Dollars...What can you afford comfortably. 8. Will there be other who own this with you? 9. Have you checked on financing.  (This is the toughest item right no...
Comments 5
By William Feela, Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.
(WHISPERING PINES REALTY)
Those of you know who I am talking about.  There is someone you know that always does it best or better than everyone else.  This is one of those people... A small town Dr. was known in the area as always catching large fish. One day while out on one of his numerous fishing jaunts, he got a call  that a woman in the neighborhood was giving birth.  So off he rushed to her aid. After the child was born, the farmer didn't have a scale in which to weigh the newborn.  So the Dr. took out his fish scale to weigh the new arrival. The baby weighed...22 pounds, 10 ounces!   I used the Dr.s scale and this Crappie weigh 8 pounds 4 ounces!
Comments 10
By William Feela, Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.
(WHISPERING PINES REALTY)
OK, for us kids it isn't quite 58 years, but that is how long Mom and Dad have been married.   Mom and Dad celebrated 58 years with many friends and family around them.   It was a very simple get together, but still had the same effect...LOVE!  There was silly dress ups along with games for young and old!   And what is a back yard party with out food on the grill and a beer or two!    What is a back yard party without a game of shoes?   This was the last game we threw...I started with a double ringer, my son threw back a single ringer and I threw another double.  That was 15 to zip...11-0 is a skunk!  The tradition has always been with me and dad playing.  Dad and I we the team to beat in the family. Now it is my son and myself.  Tradition must stay alive. To my Mom and Dad...THANK YOU ...
Comments 10
By William Feela, Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.
(WHISPERING PINES REALTY)
A client shard this with me this morning.  Said his brother was an atty.  Also said that it was very true of him! The devil walked into an atty's. office one day.  "I can set you up for life', said the devil.  "I can increase your earning 5 fold, make it so that everyone in the office loves you and you can have 4 months of vacation a year.  All I need is your wife's soul and your children's soul." The Atty thought for a second..."Sounds good...What's the catch?" Have a safe weekend everyone!
Comments 14
By William Feela, Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.
(WHISPERING PINES REALTY)
WE all have rules  in our homes... Keep your feet off the table, at least when you are eating. Leave the toilet seat UP! Don't drink anything right from the carton, unless you are going to drink it all! Take muddy shoes off after you have wiped them on the new rug! When the family dog is done licking it's butt, or what ever else it can reach, it is OK for it to then lick your toddlers face. You get the idea.  In my home we also have the 50-50-90 rule. The man will have a 50-50 chance that when he speaks he will be wrong 90% of the time!
Comments 10
By William Feela, Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.
(WHISPERING PINES REALTY)
I hear this a lot from people.   Then in the next breath they say there are no jobs.  They send them all overseas! I not going to get into the obvious banter of...buying American promotes jobs and taxes paid and a number of other things.  I am looking just at the products themselves. First off...tools!  this is the hardest one for me.  Good quality tools cost a lot of money!  BUT, many are Made in the USA!   You can spend a dollar on a cheap imported 10" crescent wrench or pay $7 for a good well made USA made wrench. For me, one of the hardest things for me to find Made in the USA is fishing supplies!  Rods and reels are hard to come by.  Misc supplies can be found and more increasingly so.  Plastic storage boxes for hooks and lures, the American equivalent is 10% cheaper than the Chine...
Comments 25
By William Feela, Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.
(WHISPERING PINES REALTY)
I hate garage sales.  At least the ones that we put on.  More work than they are worth and you still end up with stuff you don't want.   So, now that she is ready to set up, I am going to help and then go fishing while they make all kinds of money!(Yea Right) So, to get ready, I call Jim, one of the good ol' boys from down the road.  He loves to wet a line and his wife is really glad to see him go. "Jim, I am shedding the leg irons Friday.  The Bass are calling.  You up for it?" "Sorry buddy, but no can do." "WHAAAT!"  I responded as I caught my chair from flipping backwards.   Do I need to tell your sweetheart that you are refusing to go fishing.  She won't be happy!" "Well, um..." Jim responded.  Remember when I went to Canada with he boys.  Well when I got up there, my 'sweetheart' a...
Comments 13
By William Feela, Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.
(WHISPERING PINES REALTY)
I met a young couple at the home for sale in town.  It was our first meeting.  I was going to be in that area when I was done with my last showing with a different client.  I usually like to meet at the office to do some ground work, but after a few questions, I felt comfortable enough to meet at the house. I told the husband to bring the pre-approval letter with them.  He had told me that he talked with the lender already.  They were at the home when I arrived.  A very nice home, vacant and in nice shape.   I gave them the tour and asked more of the probing questions that I usually do.  When I asked to see the pre-approval letter, well, he didn't have one. "Did you just forget it?" I asked.  "Well, no, I never had one." "OK, then how did you come up with this price range?"  "Well, it i...
Comments 9
By William Feela, Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.
(WHISPERING PINES REALTY)
I could only be this lucky! 2 men died and were standing at the pearly gates.  I am sorry guys, but your mansions are not ready yet.  Can we send you back down to earth until they are ready and you can be anything you want. "Sure" said the first guy.  "I want to be an eagle flying over beautiful scenery."  POOF gone in an instant. The second guy said, "Yea, sound great.  I'd like to be a cool stud."  Poof, off he was. After some time, St. Peter told one of the Angels that it was time to bring the 2 guys back. "But, where will I find them" he asked. "Well," said St. Peter.  "One is soaring over the Grand Canyon and the other is on a Snow Tire in Duluth!" One must be careful how your place your request!
Comments 14
By William Feela, Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.
(WHISPERING PINES REALTY)
Prices are down and financing is harder than ever.  Now look at bare land and that statement is truer than ever.  Local banks want from 40-60% down on bare land.  There are very few who are able to compile that kind of money. There is a big pool of buyers, many of them who have been foreclosed on, who are looking for land.  They want to start compiling something for the future.  Many of them had and still have good jobs, but because of prices being down, could not refinance.    We have all seen this before. This pool of buyers have money in hand and are looking to jump start their future.  But to come up with the kind of down payment the bank wants...NO WAY! Contract for Deed has been an option for a  long time.   30 years or so ago, 25-30% of the sales were done this way in the rural a...
Comments 5
By William Feela, Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.
(WHISPERING PINES REALTY)
I was out this evening with new buyers.  Pre qual. letter and all and out we went.  After about 3 houses with 3 to go, the lady said she would like to look at homes that were higher priced.   "Well, we can look a little higher, but we are already looking at homes that are listed above your pre-qual. amount already." "I want to look at homes that are 30-40% above what we are qualified for." "Just how do you plan on paying for this extra dollar amount you will need above the loan?" "Well, the sellers will just have to come down in their price!" I explained, that in this area, homes are selling within about 5-7% of the list price.  No one is fire saleing their homes.  These homes are all occupied, as you preferred.  None of them are on the short sale list. "Well, I don't care about that, I...
Comments 24
By William Feela, Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.
(WHISPERING PINES REALTY)
Another good guy will bite the dust this weekend.  42 and never married!  The guy had it made.  He never had to Mow the grass..just because!  He never had to prove he actually went FISHING!  He didn't have to worry about leaving the seat up on the toilet. How can I help him see the error in judgment he is about to make.  I think I have it!!!  A little gift just before the Bachelor party!   I am going to send him a 'Mother-in-law"  Dressed in flannel PJ's and a Mud pack to boot. That should do it!!!
Comments 16
By William Feela, Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.
(WHISPERING PINES REALTY)
A bit of light humor for the end of the day.   Things seam to be a bit tense so enjoy! Bob and Fred are out in the boat fishing.  They are having a great time and the fish are biting non-stop also. "This is the best day of fishing we have ever had", said Bob. "It sure has, to bad we couldn't mark this spot for the next time", replied Fred. Bob reaches into his tackle box and pulls out a big marker and puts a big 'X' on the bottom of the boat.  "There, now we will know!" "That is the dumbest thing you have ever done", hissed Fred.    "What if we don't get the same boat next time.  Someone else will get our spot!"  
Comments 9
By William Feela, Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.
(WHISPERING PINES REALTY)
I visited this weekend with a good friend.  He is getting up in age and the body is giving out.  Here is a few words of wisdom to chuckle at... At a 104, a man in the nursing home was asked...."What is the best thing about being 104?"No peer pressure!" A lady at the funeral home was taling to the mortician.  "How old was Fred?""He was two years older than me.  Hardly worth going home, is it!" "The nice thing about being senile...You can hide your own Easter Eggs." "My memory isn't as sharp as it used to be, and My memory isn't as sharp as it used to be!" "It is scary when you start to make the same noise as the coffee maker!" SENILITY PRAYER: Grant me the senility to forget the people I neverliked anyway.The good fortune to run into the ones I do, andThe eyesight to tell the difference!...
Comments 9
By William Feela, Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.
(WHISPERING PINES REALTY)
We all get a bit tired and run down at times...but I can't remember blaming it on this!!! A lady had a checkup with her Dr.   She was complaining about fatigue and always being tired.   None of the tests show anything wrong, so, he asked her "How often to you have intercourse?" "Every monday, wednesday and friday." she replied. "Well," the Dr. said..."Cut out Wednesday." "I can't" she said,  "That's the only night I am home with my husband!" OK...Now I am going fishing!
Comments 11
By William Feela, Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.
(WHISPERING PINES REALTY)
Yup, it's true...I tripled my money! At this rate I can retire in about 2000 years.  My winning ticket paid me....3 bucks.  But, this guy did much better.... The car comes to a screeching halt in the drive way.  Out jumps the ladies husband and in to the house he rushes..."Honey...pack your bags...I Won the Lottery!! "OH MY GOD...What do I pack...beach, mountains Big city?" "It doesn't matter," replied the husband...Just get the Hell Out!!!!" I would be the one leaving with my new boat...going to the lake!!!  
Comments 11
By William Feela, Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.
(WHISPERING PINES REALTY)
Relationships seam to be Love Hate...When you love them you still seam to somehow hate them.  It is the indiscretions that you get caught in that are the downfall... A lady walks into a drug store and askes the druggist for some arsenic. "Ma'am, what are you going to do with arsenic,' he askes. She replies..."I am going to kill my husband." "Well for that reason, I can not sell you any." the druggist replied. The lady reaches into her purse, pulls out a picture of a man and women in a compromising postion.   The Man, is her husband...the woman is the druggist's wife.  The woman hands it to the druggist. he looks it over and replies..."I am sorry ma'am, I didn't know you had a prescription!"
Comments 10
By William Feela, Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.
(WHISPERING PINES REALTY)
We all go through days where we just aren't at the top of our game.  Some days I feel like I didn't even get to the ballpark.  I think this short story will relate my feelings... Over 5000 years ago, Moses said to the children of Israel...Pick up your shovels, mount your asses and camels and i will lead you to the promise land! Nearly 75 years ago, (When welfare was introduced), Roosevelt said...Lay down your shovels, sit on your asses and light up a camel, for this is the promise land! Now, Obama has stolen your shovel, taxed your asses, raised the price of camels and mortgaged the Promise land. I was so depressed last night thinking about the health care plans and the economy, the wars, the lost jobs, saving, retirement plans, social security...ect That I called lifeline.  I got some ...
Comments 9
By William Feela, Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.
(WHISPERING PINES REALTY)
Because of busy schedules, I don't get a chance to catch up with my boys.  If is isn't me busy, it is one of them.  They live close, and we talk often but visits are hard. Tonight, we said that is it...we are getting together.  Mini-Golf was the ticket. Now, non of us is real good, but we had a great time.  This was our second course of the evening.  Located in St. Croix Falls, WI.  Yea, I live in Minnesota, but this is the closest [place to go to and it's about a 1/2 hour away.    We didn't do the go carts...that will be next time.  This is a fairly new place and it is very nice for all skill levels.  Even my wife, Judy in the above picture enjoyed it.   Aaron on my right and Cory on my left.  I am trying to figure out how thay got to look so old...For them to look this old I would hav...
Comments 12
By William Feela, Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.
(WHISPERING PINES REALTY)
How many times have you seen it.  Someone gets lucky and finds a windfall, and then tries to increase it.  Gamblers are notorious for this.  They win a little and then think they are on a roll, next thing they are behind.  But they are not the only ones... At a Kansas Kwik Stop gas station, a man goes inside to rob the place.  He finds that the till has very little money in it. Not to be deterred, he ties up the clerk, and then works the counter to increase his take.  He was arrested after 3 hours when a patrolman arrested him, still working behind the counter! Now here is a few things I thought his mind may be thinking... Damn..another credit card purchase. There's another pay at the pump! Small coffee?  Is that It!? A check...What am I going to do with a check? Hell, I would have made...
Comments 14
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