COMING SOON - TO A BEACH NEAR YOU!!

You know what I'm talking about: Glorious, Stupendous, Fabulous, Incredibly-welcome-relief-from-a-winter-that-seems-to-never-end SPRINGTIME! Oh yeah, that's what I'm talkin' 'bout!

You can absolutely feel the change of the season. Sure, we will still have a few nasty winter days - another couple feet of snow will probably dump on us - we'll probably have a few more periods of numbing, frostbite-inducing wind chills - but what the heck, if you are a TRUE Minnesotan, a little cool weather is not going to discourage.

I know March has arrived just by sitting down for my morning coffee (Caribou Coffee . . . Mahogany - the best coffee to have on your team when facing mornings). The sun is breaking over the horizon much earlier than a month ago - and once that sunshine starts coming through the windows: WOW! There is nothing like a good healthy sunbeam to warm the spirit and chase off the doldrums. Out on the streets - even below freezing - we see the snow melting. It is because we are gaining the benefit of the sun's changing position in the sky - pulling back north - if you will.

There is something else: the Internet traffic at my real estate websites ramps up at an incredible rate. Folks are starting their search for the perfect summer lake home, or the perfect lake lot, or maybe just browsing for new primary digs. Whatever the reason, the web begins to buzz with people searching real estate this time of the year!

Anyone that has spent even a single summer's moment on one of our pristine lakes understands the sense of calm and renewal one gains. Summer and lake properties go together like macaroni and cheese - and once you start enjoying the combination the craving for more lake time will always be there - carrying you through the winter - back to the warming glow of sand, water, and sun!

In closing I just want to extend invitation to tour my websites - I maintain a portfolio of sites - each with a little different emphasis - each designed to provide the best available local real estate information. Here is a quick rundown of the key three:

• FergusFallsRealEstate.com - this is the hub of my online services. Even though the web name refers to Fergus Falls, you can find any listed properties in the Otter Tail County Region by visiting this site. You can create customized alerts via email to inform you when a fresh listing has hit the market. They say time is money - and this is very true - especially with real estate. It is important to review the market trends (local, relevant information is available on my website). It is equally important to know when the property you want becomes available so you can act on it quickly.
• OtterTailLakes.com - this is probably my favorite site for checking out both Otter Tail County lake homes as well as regional residential homes. The reason I like this site so well is because it is also linked to the Minnesota DNR LakeFinder web pages. You can click on the 'Lake Information' tab, choose from a list of Otter Tail County lakes, and be directed to the DNR's web website - providing loads of information specific to that lake - things like water clarity, lake size and depth, fish species, etc. Be sure to check it out!
• OtterTailLakeHomes.com - this is basically a custom search of current Otter Tail County lake homes. The nice thing about this site is you can quickly review all current lake properties - just scroll through the pages. Additionally, the site can be customized by adding or removing specific areas (by zip code). A convenient search for lake homes!

I have a few more custom real estate search sites in the works - one of next to be available will be a search for undeveloped land, lots, acreage, lake shore, etc. I think it will be useful for people with building/development plans and - as with all my sites - provides valuable information regarding current market pricing.

Remember: SPRING IS COMING - SOON . . . (well, at least pretty soon)! Let me help you get the MOST out of your summer season by putting a plan in place NOW! And in the mean time, I hope you find a warm sunbeam to relax in while you are enjoying your morning coffee!

Jon Drews with Keller Williams Realty Professionals
Serving Otter Tail County - and beyond!!

Meat & Potatoes Real Estate News

Time for some hard real estate news, folks! Let's take a look at how today's consumers feel regarding the housing market.

Fannie Mae recently completed their National Housing Survey - and compiled the input from roughly 1000 respondents. From this survey we gained insights into consumer confidence and optimism - and we have GREAT news!! Check out the following results:

• 23% of respondents said now is a good time to sell - up 12% from last year!
• 41% of respondents are expecting home prices to rise.
• 50% of those queried expect to see housing rental rates increase.
• 65% of respondents who rent say they would buy if they were to move.

Let's summarize: Consumer confidence is growing! This is fantastic news because homes are worth what the market believes them to be worth. Buyers and sellers set prices. If consumers are expecting home prices to rise, they will. Equally important, rental rates are on the uptick and two-thirds of current renters say they will buy if they move. Why? Because consumers believe home prices are increasing and they don't want to miss out on a great deal!!

On the flip side - for the same reason - more consumers feel now is a good time to sell. We will be seeing an increase in listings for the same reasons we will be seeing an increase in buyers.

More buyers and sellers are entering the market - confidence is up! Interest rates are still incredible. And remember this: many, many buyers have been on the sidelines going back several years because confidence has been low for an extended period of time. This is going to create a bulge in the line as increased buyer demand will need to be satisfied with an increase in inventory.

A healthy housing market is foundational to the greater economic health of our nation so, LET'S GET MOVING!!

Life Begins . . . at THIS Moment!

If you are like me, you've maybe had self-struggles with what you should do when you 'grow up'. Hopefully, for most folks, these struggles develop around age five and end by high school graduation! For myself, I wrestled with the question for a bit longer - into my late 30's!

Good grief! A third of my life spent trying to figure out where I fit in. Through the counsel of immeasurably valuable friends - and guiding faith - it finally occurred to me: what if I am already doing what I am supposed to be doing!?! What if I have been doing it for years and just was simply unable to grasp the role? Hmmm. Could it be possible? Yeah, it could. I can be pretty dense at times - especially when I let self-doubt and lack of confidence have a say.

It is a funny thing: All my life I wanted to work for one of the BEST organizations in the country. At the time I was working for what I considered to be one of the best organizations in my community but I wanted MORE. I started doing searches for 'best places to work' and came up with a variety of organizations that seemed light-years from my present location in terms of aptitudes, interests, and geography. Why couldn't the BEST place to work simply be the place I was working? It was a transforming moment - the dots connected - I finally could see the picture. If I felt what I was doing was not important, I needed to make it important! Similarly, where I worked WAS the BEST place to work. Aaaaah. Peace at last! So often the changes we most need come from the inside.

That brings us to the present - and guess what? The organization I serve, Keller Williams Realty, has been voted as one of the BEST workplaces in America! What a hoot!! Keller Williams Realty: now the largest real estate company (by agent count) in America! Keller Williams: Ranked Highest in Customer Satisfaction amongst Home Buyers and Sellers! Now how's that for going full circle!

I think it is pretty amazing how my career path connected with one of the best places to work in America, but here is the REAL message: even if Keller Williams didn't make all these BIG splashes - even if they weren't 'the best' - where I am today is the BEST place to be, the people surrounding me are the BEST people in the world, and how I am serving - right now - is the BEST opportunity I can possibly have. Embracing a lesson taught to me by our Golden Retriever, Nikita: TODAY is the BEST day of my life!

 So for those who skip to the end for the 'bottom line', here it is: Do your BEST to live your dreams and BELIEVE in what you do - every day! Life is not about where you end up, it is ALL about the journey traveled while getting 'there'. Life is THIS MOMENT! And for those of you that measure life's achievements with a Bucket List, here's what I keep on my list - in my bucket: Contentment. It is not really a very long list - I don't really need a bucket. It is not really a summary of what I have done or want to do - instead, it directs me back within to discover what matters most. Seek contentment in the life you are living and savor the contentment you find. Live the day like it is the best day of your life and the world becomes a better place - because of YOU!