McGregor, MN

From the New York Times:

Michael S. Barr, Treasury’s assistant secretary for financial institutions, said in an interview Friday that the government would try to use shame as a corrective, publicly naming those institutions that move too slowly to permanently lower mortgage payments. The Treasury Department also will wait until reductions are permanent before paying cash incentives that it promised to mortgage companies that lower loan payments.

“They’re not getting a penny from the federal government until they move forward,” Mr. Barr said.

I am wondering if shame is the new step to take in getting the banking industry to do what the government wants them to do? It worked when I was young and my Mother used it, but I think there really may be a more adult way and I am wondering who the adult in this situation really is?

Last month it was reported that fewer than 2000 of the 500,000 loan modifications that were then in progress had become permanent. Has the Making Home Affordable program worked with any of your clients? We throw the term “loan modification” out there but who has seen real progress in this? I know of only a few and then not personally but “someone who heard of someone who”.

I am seeing progress in the time frames of processing Short Sales and the ease of doing so. By 2010, I do think that there will be a more standardized system and would welcome that. I certainly prefer a Short Sale over a foreclosure.

Until then “shame on you” – feel better now???

I am pleased to announce that I have just started my new position as CEO/Team Leader for the Keller Williams Integrity First office in Mesa Arizona. I am very excited to be affiliated with this wonder group of agents and owners of this Market center. I came to Arizona looking for new opportunities this past winter and had no clue this one would show up. I am very happy that Tom Drainey the SW Regional director of Keller Williams saw the potential and talent in myself and started the ball rolling for me. I also want to thank Rick Bandimere of Keller Williams in Coon Rapids Minnesota, if it were not for him I never would have meet Tom Drainey and all of the other wonder people of Keller Williams. I look forward to a very long and rewarding carreer with this Awesome company.

Big Sandy Lake: is well known for the camaraderie all over the lake and throughout the whole McGregor area. I will say though that this event is by far the largest winter event that Big Sandy lake has. I as a Real Estate Broker have been sponsoring this event since day 1 and have had a hole on the Ice each and every year. One year we Had a big fire ring out on the ice and were giving away free silkscreen T- Shirts and the people loved it, another year we had Big Huge umbrella's outon the ice and we help Katie & Mike sell refreshments to the Golfers. This year however I will not be attending the Golf On Ice event. My family will be there. My oldest son Matthew Borden and his Girl friend Stephanie, will be out on the Ice swinging away for all it is worth. I am currently out in Scottsdale, Arizona getting my Brokers License so I am able to offer people services in both markets. I specialize in waterfront property and will be helping Baby boomers buy retirement homes in sunny Arizona. So it looks like this year is all work no play for Mr. Rick. I will be there next year out on the Ice, so see you then. If you were at Golf on Ice this year 2009 please send me your photos and stories to share. Email them to Rick@BigSandyLake.com

Here are some images from the past years. If you do not have ant plans on the first weekend of March each and every year you should call to get more information, I will provide a link to the Resort for you.

BigSandyLake.com has been a sponsor for years at Golf on Ice at Hill Crest Resort, Golfers Waite for their teams to be called. You can usually get a cold beverage inside and outside on this day, they have carts that drive around the course and sell beverages. Make sure you buy plenty of tickets because they do not have cash out on the lake.

HILLCREST

RESORT

On Minnesota's Big Sandy Lake
in Aitkin County

www.BigSandyLake.com

Hill Crest Resort ~ 218-426-3323

Big Sandy Lake ~ 6526 acres

McGregor, Minnesota 55760

Fishing for crappie, walleye, northern

Snowmobiling, 4 wheeling, cross country skiing

Boating, water activeties all yaer round.

Real Estate prices from high $190's to over $2 mil.

New Construction town homes & New Construction Log Cabins, association maintained.

Minnesota National Golf Course ~ New Construction Homes and Play and Stay Golf Packages for 2009 are on www.MinnesotaNationalGolfCourse.com

Aron and Brooke are local cabiners up on the lake their parents are good friends of ours and these young ladies will be future clients of our once they get out of college. They both had the whole crew out on the Ice and spent the day at Hill Crest Resort.

Viking Game Headquarters - 2008/2009 Season
Golf-On-Ice - March 7, 2009
Patty's Day - March 17, 2009
Fool's Feast - March ?, 2009
Easter Egg Hunt - April ?, 2009
Chili Cook-Off - 2009 watch for date
Human Bowling-On-Ice - 2009 watch for date
Testicle Festival - 2009 watch for date
Lakes Area Fishing Tournament - June ?, 2009
Big Sandy Lake.com Fishing Tournament - August ?, 2009
Viking Boat Parade - August ?, 2009

www.BiGSandyHillCrestResort.com 218-426-3323 Katie Lutz

This years event if like ant other year should be as I said earlier on e of the best days out on the Lake this Winter. Make sure you call Katie at The Hill for more information about this event and all other activities they have all year long.

Come visit McGregor Minnesota & Big Sandy lake.

Rick Borden 763-238-8668

With the changing times and the economy the way it is I have decided to learn more about the foreclosure side of the business so I am going to Arizona for some hands on training.

I am a Real Estate Broker in McGregor Minnesota and my market is 2nd homes and investment properties, I also market Minnesota National Golf Course a pristine gated community with access to Big Sandy Lake and over 10,000 acres of navigable water. www.MinnesotaNationalGolfCourse.com Minnesota National has a 309 lot development called Settlers Ridge, it is Awesome call me for Play and stay information if you would like to come play a round or 2 at the resort. The golf course has rental property on the course and it is an Awesome area for a vacation.

Market trends in Mcgregor currently are not very good the people who have been buying cabins are only spending on average around $350,000 or less on the lakes around are area. I realize that my market place is not going to keep me busy, to accomplish the goals I have set in place to currently retire when I want to. I am going to Arizona to learn more about the market they are currently in and it is a very large foreclosure market they are dealing with REO's and doing BPO's for lenders as well as Property Preservation. The loan modification business is starting to really take hold as well. I currently have a Loan Modification company assisting borrowers keep their homes, hoping to avoid foreclosure.

I will attending the Arizona School of Real Estate & Business March 6Th for the Brokers crash course it is a 9 day crash course on Arizona Principals and Practices, as well as the Federal portion I have to take all over again.

Rick Borden

www.BigSandyLake.com

<!--StartFragment-->

LAKE INFORMATION

LAKE SANDY

Status of the Fishery (as of 07/11/2005)

HTTP://WWW.MNLAKEPLACE.COM

651-334-8312 STEVE VENNEMANN

Big Sandy Lake is located in northeastern Aitkin County approximately 9 miles north of McGregor. The lake is characterized as a large fertile walleye lake comprised of several habitat types. These include the open, windswept main basin, the deep cool eastern basin, Bill Horn Bay, the shallower and more isolated south basin, Webster Bay, and shallow bays containing dense rice beds on the south, east and northeast sides of the lake. The lake is currently managed for walleye, northern pike and black crappie. Walleyes are the most popular target for anglers, particularly in the main basin. The walleye in Big Sandy grow slowly and tend to be smaller on average than lakes with a faster growth rate. Past management has included a long history of various stocking strategies for walleye dating back to 1917. No measurable changes in the walleye abundance were detected due to stocking, therefore stocking was discontinued in 1995. Furthermore, the strongest year class of walleyes ever produced was in 1994, which was a year when stocking did not occur. The mean length for walleyes caught in the survey gill nets was only 10.8 inches long and only six percent measured 18 inches or longer. The size distribution was similar to what was found in previous surveys and gillnet catch rates were virtually identical to what was observed in 2001 at 3.2 fish per net. Survey data indicates that current catch rates are lower than what was documented through the 1990's when gill net catch rates ranged between 5.2 and 9.4 fish per net. Five different age classes were represented in this survey with the 2002 and 2003 year classes being the strongest. These fish will recruit to the sport fishery in the next couple of years. The walleye population will continue to be monitored at regular intervals in the future. Northern pike are also an important game fish in Big Sandy Lake. The gillnet catch rate for northern pike is about average for this type of lake at 4.6 per net and has ranged between 4.0 and 5.9 per net since 1975. The northern pike were also small, averaging just 17.8 inches, but ranging up to 26 inches in the survey gill nets. Despite the presence of a desirable yellow perch and tulibee population northern pike are small and seem to grow slow. Habitat segregation may explain some of this incongruity for example; yellow perch were mostly captured in the main basin, whereas northern pike were captured more often in the shallower, more vegetated areas of the lake. Angler harvest may also be a factor contributing to the lack of large pike. The abundance of yellow perch was about average for this type of lake and has fluctuated over time. The average size of perch was 8.0 inches and 30% were 9 inches or longer with some individuals reaching nearly 13.0 inches. The black crappie catch was up slightly from historical numbers and ranged in size from 7 to12 inches in length and averaged about 9 inches. The 2002 year class of crappies is strong and now are about 8 inches long. Bluegill numbers also showed an increase in 2005 with a strong 1999 year class and reasonable recruitment from the 2000, 2001 and 2002 year classes. Although not particularly numerous the average size was good with a mean of 7.2 inches and 33% of the sample over 8 inches in length. The tulibee population experienced summer kill in the mid 1980's but has since rebounded to normal levels. Tulibee were caught at a rate of 9.8 per net in 2005 with an average size of 13.8 inches with some fish reaching nearly 20 inches. Tulibee are a cold-water fish and provide quality forage for walleye and northern pike. They have a low tolerance for warm water and are therefore are usually limited to the confines of Bill Horn Bay during the summer months. Anglers are encouraged to release large northern pike and walleye and also to protect habitat by practicing responsible shoreline management techniques.

HTTP://WWW.MNLAKEPLACE.COM

651-334-8312 STEVE VENNEMANN