Current lake homes for sale in the Brainerd Lakes AreaHere’s a guide to some of the best lakes in Cass, Crow Wing, and Morrison Counties, AKA "The Brainerd Lakes area" highlighting their natural beauty and recreational offerings:Cass County Leech Lake Size: 112,835 acres Highlights: Leech Lake is the third-largest lake in Minnesota and a famous destination for walleye fishing. It’s also known for hosting muskie, perch, and bass tournaments. The lake is surrounded by resorts, making it a year-round vacation spot. Activities: Fishing, boating, swimming, and ice fishing. Nearby Attractions: Chippewa National Forest, which offers hiking, camping, and wildlife viewing. Woman Lake Size: 5,518 acres Highlights: Woman Lake is part of a chain of lakes, known for its clear waters and peaceful atm... 09/17/2024

  Cooking, entertaining, reading, relaxing, and sleeping for many decades in the USA have been activities that homeowners did inside the house.  Now, the trend for many is to move activities to the out spaces.  Just as formal sitting rooms indoors are passé, formal gardens are out and the lived-in garden is very chic.       Kitchens for the patio come complete with fire brick pizza ovens, refrigerators, ice makers, sinks, and the traditional favorite BBQ grill in a fashionable streamlined stainless steel model.  Entertainment tents, screened  3- season rooms and gazebos move the crowd from the main indoor living spaces.  Piped-out music, a flat-screen TV and speakers that look like rocks, add to the draw.  A hot tub complete with a built-in DVD/CD/Blu-ray player and mood lights couldn’t... 07/02/2023

 To all my Family and Friends I have out lived by Robert Swetz As a new year comes around and or our birthday rolls around we seem to always think about Family & Friends. For the last several years I have been thinking about all of my Family & Friends that I have out lived. Some were older and some 20 to 30 years younger than me when they passed. I lost my grandmother around 30 years ago, grandfather 20 years ago, my stepmother 8 years ago, my Uncle Donny, Uncle Richard, my best friend Steve Pieper 10 years ago, Jay Comisky 11 years ago, Kent Larson 8 years ago, Joanne Olson, Mike Casey, Mark Shuda 7 years ago, Ben Anderson 6 years ago, Brian Eggert 4 years ago, David Bowie, Prince, Tom Petty, Thor Lindsay in 2017 and the list goes on and on ... and how many more Family & Friends will I... 01/29/2018

 Who's Ready For Christmas? With Christmas right around the corner I was wondering who's ready? Who has all their decorations done, all the shopping finished and reach their destination of celebration?  Well Robert Vegas Bob Swetz is always ready for Christmas and I have to say 2017 has been a great year for me.  I would just like to give everyone a heads up that may be running behind on preparation for the Christmas holiday.You have another 3 days to get ready so take a deep breath and try not to get to buzzed on caffeine.  If your driving in traffic respect other drivers around you. When your waiting in lines shopping please don't bud in line or be rude to other shoppers. If your having a bad hair day please go fix it.And please remember you are not the only one that may be frustrated... 12/22/2017

 Somewhere, there are a lot of people who love their timeshares, I just don't know any of them. I know my sister previously listed her timeshare at Whitebirch at Breezy Point, Minnesota, with the real estate company that sells timeshares there, and she insists the person who took her listing told her she is not a real estate agent. I don't know about Minnesota law, but a non-agent could not take a listing in California. Of course, the timeshare is not selling; her so-called listing expired, and Breezy Point Resort seems to have a pile of timeshare listings a mile long. I suggested to my sister that she give away her timeshare. Then a bunch of "non-profit" companies began calling her, asking her to pay to sell the timeshare. You should read this month's issue of AARP Magazine about these... 06/18/2017

Here in sunny and now finally warm Minnesota we have had a fabulous past few days with record breaking warm termperatures.  Note to sellers: Sellers need to take advantage of this break in the weather and spruce up the outside of the home. Add some mulch, pressure wash the exterior, clean the windows-replacing any broken glass, wash down the doors and scrape any chipping peeling paint and paint if needed.It’s been sunny for a few days and many of the trees and flowers are blooming. This means an early start on selling houses too. Note for buyers:Exciting times for buyers now!Mortgage applications are up 4% over the last 4 weeks and the search for property is on. It is crucial to get a pre-approval BEFORE you go out and look at homes.You will need to know how much you can spend and what ... 04/18/2015

A Spontaneous ActiveRain Gathering in Baxter, Minnesota Yesterday   Yesterday morning, I was in Baxter, Minnesota at the Greater Lakes Association of Realtors (GLAR), representing the Minnesota CRS Chapter (Council of Residential Specialists) as its 2015 President.  The event was part of our "Breakfast of Champions"  series, a panel discussion about Real Estate Trends and Issues Facing Today’s REALTORS®.   We had a fabulous group of attendees yesterday.  And among those in attendance was well-known Minnesota blogger and home staging professional Kathleen Lordbock. Kathleen approached me after the event ended and I recognized her right away!   Okay, so it turned out to be an impromptu gathering (and a very small one at that), but it was awesome nonetheless to meet Kathleen at one of our ... 02/26/2015

    Is your Brainerd, MN home ready for another Minnesota winter of frosty temperatures and   beautiful snowy weather?  It is important to clean and prepare your home in the fall before winter arrives. This checklist   covers most of the necessary maintenance for your home and gets you ready for winter in  Minnesota.  Inspect and clean gutters and downspouts to protect exterior surfaces and keep water out of the basement Seal any gaps or cracks around windows and doors with weather-stripping and caulk to reduce drafts and to keep the heat in Inspect roof for damaged or curled shingles, corroded flashing, or leaky vents-putting this off can be detrimental and disastrous (it is much harder to find and fix the leak when it is under snow and ice) Repair damaged sidewalks, driveways, and ste... 10/08/2014

 Cooking, entertaining, reading, relaxing and sleeping for many decades in the USA have been activities that homeowners did inside the house.  Now, the trend for many is to move activities to the out spaces.  Just as formal  sitting rooms indoors are passé, formal gardens are out and the lived-in garden is very chic.       Kitchens for the patio come complete with fire brick pizza ovens, refrigerators, ice makers, sinks, and the traditional favorite BBQ grill in a fashionable streamlined stainless steel model.  Entertainment tents, screened in  3- season rooms and gazebos move the crowd from the main indoor living spaces.  Piped out music, a flat screen TV and speakers that look like rocks, add to the draw.  A hot tub complete with built in DVD/CD player and mood lights couldn’t hurt!  ... 07/17/2014

Sriracha HOT! New Listings in Brainerd! Click to view the Newest Homes for Sale in Brainerd The spring home buying season is upon us here in Brainerd and some great new properties coming on market. Buyers are encouraged to act quickly with interest rates on the rise. The average interest rate on a 30-year fixed loan is predicted to climb from the current 4.4% to 5.3% by the 2015 spring buying season, according to Freddie Mac. The message? If you're planning to buy a home... HURRY UP!!!! GET ER DONE!!! With time of the essence, there are some thing you can do to get ready now. Shopping for homes is an incredibly exciting and emotional experience and you don't want to find yourself faced with disappointment. It's critical to prepare yourself. Some things a prospective buyer can do to to g... 03/27/2014

Cross Lake Minnesota by Robert Swetz   This beautiful sunrise was taken several years ago on a fishing trip with my brother. What a way to start the day with a vision like this. Robert (Vegas Bob) Swetz would like to wish everyone at the ActiveRain network and others a wonderful weekend.  Where ever you may go this Friday and into the weekend, try to create some time for yourself. Try to get out in nature and refresh your thoughts. Sit down for a moment in the park, at the beach, in the woods or anywhere away from the city.  Close your eyes, take in a deep breath of fresh air and think to yourself ... "Life is Wonderful"  Robert Swetz 02/28/2014

Beautiful Lake Homes in Emily, MN! Located in the northeast corner of Crow Wing County, Minnesota, the City of Emily is part of Minnesota's Central Lakes Region and home to a diversity of lakes, streams, wetlands and heavily forested areas. The City of Emily's rural charm entices visitors and residents with great hunting, fishing, bird watching, wildlife watching, ATV trails, and other outdoor activities. Search all Lake Homes for Sale in Emily, MN   Magness Team's Current Lake Front Listings in Emily The Magness Team proudly offers one of our Emily, MN Lake listings at 37335 Lukin Lane in Emily, MN. Listed at just $249,900, this home presents a wonderful opportunity to get on the lake for a reasonable price! Address: 37335 Lukin Lane, Emily, MN Price: $249,900 2 Bedrooms 1.5 Bathrooms ... 01/09/2014

Steve serves as the Director of Secondary Lending for BlackRidgeBANK (MN/ND). Steve earned his BA in Economics from Hamline University in 2001. Steve's father is a Wounded Warrior (Viet Nam era) which provides his motivation for creating awareness of the needs of these veterans and their families. Steve spends his spare time coaching football, pheasant hunting, and enjoying the lakes with his wife and two children.     Steve is also a board member of the Military Veterans Project (MVP), a not-for-profit organization that focuses on the needs of the spouses and families of veterans that are wounded or killed in action. 12/11/2013

11/13/2013

I learned more than how to stuff a turkey or properly dice an onion in my mother's kitchen She hardly ever let me cook (her kitchen), but she let me watch and she talked. She would tell me where this recipe came from and on what special occasion it would have been served. She talked about her mother and how she did things. She talked - I listened and watched. Having an very good visual memory - I learned. (Please don't ask me people's names, I am bad at that.) My mother has been gone now for several years, but her recipes live on, as do her notes. "V.G." on a recipe card means she thought that recipe was very good. "Skip salt", "more sugar" "cook 10 minutes longer" meant just that. "Walt's favorite" (my dad) surely couldn't have been written to jog her memory! My mother was recording h... 08/03/2013

I dashed out from my Keller Williams Realty Professionals booth at the Crow Wing County Fair to see the parade and I was able to get this great shot of a very old Doctor's car complete with the medical satchel on the running board. It is reassuring to know that should an emergency arise here on the Fair grounds, it will be attended to promptly.   We are having the perfect weather for fair going  and people seem to be enjoying themselves as always.   It is always fun to see clients and former clients and make new friends! Stop by and say hello if you are in the area. Kathleen 08/03/2013

     I will soon be setting up my Keller Williams Realty Professionals booth at our Crow Wing County Fair in Minnesota.The Crow Wing County Fair will celebrate its 116th year anniversary in 2013! The fair was organized in 1897 and fairs were held in Brainerd, Pequot Lakes and Crosby before permanently locating in Brainerd in 1937. The 1897 fair was held at grounds owned by M. K. Swartz located just east of the 1900 block on East Oak Street. In 1938 the fair was held at the Brainerd Armory and beginning in 1939 at the Mill Avenue fairgrounds where it was held each year until moving to its present location at 2000 South 13th Street in 1962. I have been participating in this fair since I was in grade school and pigtails.     The fair began as an agricultural event for the purpose of provid... 07/24/2013

I don't want to give my home away is an oft repeated phrase as I discuss with prospective home sellers the current estimated market potential of their home.They sometimes follow that phrase up with-" well, we will just hold on to it then" or "we will rent it out". Sometimes sellers can lose track of why they wanted to sell in the first place.   Waiting for a year isn't necessarily going to solve their problem and perhaps there is not really a problem, but a want.  I always like to ask them what will change in a year? Do we know what the market will look like in a year or two from now? Will it improve or decline?Do you think that tenants will leave the property in the condition it is presently?  What will the cost of repairs be after a year of renting? Will you be subsidizing the rent, a... 04/19/2013

This Brainerd, Minnesota short sale makes working at home a breeze.  There is an office space just steps away from but completely separate from the home with a bathroom and unfinished walk out basement with room for a kitchen or artist's space.  Your imagination could come up with something fabulous in this upscale neighborhood. Built with Insulated Concrete Forms and Structural Foam Panels- this is built solid and efficient. A Geo-thermal heat/cooling system plus forced air gives you in floor heat in the office building and the home basement and a bonus in the garage. The home is 4 stories of family fun with soaring ceilings and cozy nooks. The kitchen is the heart of the family and this one comes with a wood fired soapstone pizza/bread oven.The in floor heat in the garage make the Min... 02/10/2013

"Build it and they will come." While this line, from the film "Field of Dreams," references the construction of a baseball field, it holds true for theBrainerd Lakes area resort industry as well. Prior to the existence of the railroads, few people ventured into the northland. While the first industry in the area was Indian trade, according to Anna Himrod's "History of Crow Wing County," homes would often open their doors to travelers. These homes soon became known as "stopping places" to voyagers. In 1870, two stopping places were established on Gull Lake and it was at those locations that the Northern Pacific Railroad Company began surveying. According to "Brainerd Bound," the railway company had started near Duluth, laying tracks to the west. They reached the banks of the Mississippi ... 02/09/2013