Richard M. Borden

I live in McGregor Minnesota and am an active Real Estate Broker that markets Vacation property on Big Sandy Lake, I am seeing good signs of the market picking up for this area which is good what I am not seeing though and we are very fortunate of this unlike many larger Cities is my market place is not seeing the foreclosure market having an effect on our appraisals. My market is primarily lake-shore homes, cabins, lake lots ect.

McGregor Minnesota is holding on really good so far as far as our Bank repo's we have some but not like I am seeing with New Construction and other markets.

I have seen values stabilize over the last 2 years and really noticed it this last 5-8 months now in my area.

Rick Borden

BigSandyLake.com Realty

I am very fortunate to have just received the contract to represent the newest and largest golf community and most state of the art golf course in Northern Minnesota and perhaps the state of Minnesota. Wayne Alden the Developer and current owner of this project and I have agreed to partner up and market this property up in McGregor Minnesota, Which is just 2 hours north of the Twin Cities metro area. The project will consist of 300+ home sites situated in a true up north setting literally being carved right through majestic red and white Pines.and other hard woods.

A spectacular new 27 hole golf course designed by renown architect Joel Goldstrand has been built here in McGregor on 600 acres of land. The course is developed within the dense covering of towering pines, hardwoods,abundant wetlands,and wildlife. Minnesota National Golf Course offers an 18 hole Championship Course and a 9 hole par 33 Course.

The Champion Course plays to a length of over 7200 yards and features bent-grass fairways, Ohio white sand bunkers,and five sets of tees that give dramatically different challenges on many of the holes.

Let me tell you about the 9 hole par 33 Course it is perfect for the beginners or the golfer like me looking for the less challenging round of golf!! That's me. :) It plays to a length of 2,500 yards and includes a set of junior tees on every hole.

The new club house at Minnesota National, named the Gatehouse, will provide for your every need. Arranged around an impressive log framed hall and soaring fireplace, the Gatehouse will be much more than simply the headquarters for your golfing experience. With the new Irish pub , it will build on it's well known tradition of fine and casual dining.

I am very excited to be a part of this Awesome area and to be the Broker for such a great Project.

Richard M. Borden

BigSandyLake.com Realty

I have owned many lake lots and or lake homes and I have found these tips and suggestions helped me out when I bought a property. And now when I represent a Buyer on a Transaction to buy a Minnesota lake home.

1) If at all possible try to Waite until the Ice is off and you can walk or boat in to the shore line.

2) Ask the Neighbors what the lake shore is like

3) Drill a hole every 10' to 30' out from the shoreline to see what the bottom is like.

4) use a under water camera to see how weedy it may be

5) Look for protruding weeds out in the water this is a good indication it is a very shallow bay

6) Look for Muskrat houses they typically like shallow bays for feeding and they will have little domed house in the water.

7) Look at lake maps they usually have depths on lake maps, GPS does the same thing with lake specific software.

8) Ask a good local Realtor, about the lake who will assist you with these items if they frown on it. There probably is a reason why? So ask them

I as a Real Estate Professional offer to assist a buyer with these things but I want them to be right by my side when we do them so they can SEE for themselves how things look, or if I have a friend of there's with me I will do it then. But I always go do it for my own personal curiosity to see if they are making a good decision based on my opinion. It is also nice to refer back to notes if I sell or list a neighboring home, I can then pull out the file and share it with them and then introduce them to a possible new neighbor.

On Big Sandy Lake we are all neighbors.

Rick Borden

Well today is the 30th of April and last year the Ice on Big Sandy Lake went out on the 20th of April, It always goes off of Bill-horn bay last as it is the deepest bay on the lake. I was out this past weekend on my snowmobile and saw just hundreds of people fishing out on the lake this past weekend and ice conditions were favorable to driving on still. We have anywhere from 18" to 3' of Ice but................. do not let that fool you just down the bay from me when I was out on Sunday, I saw open water in front of the Prarie River only a 10' hole but it was open.

Rick Borden

Minnesota National Golf Course is the hottest Golf Course in Northern Minnesota. McGregor Minnesota is the Host City for this Awesome Golf Course. I must say as a Realtor/Broker I am very happy about having such a nice place so close to my stomping grounds of Big Sandy Lake. I myself love to golf and since we all know Minnesota has more golfers per capita than any other state in the Country I am as I said earlier very pleased that such an establishment is just down the road a couple of miles from the shores of Big Sandy Lake and Lake Minnewawa too.

This course has 300+ home sites that the local agents have access too as far as Selling Lots, Town-homes and Single family homes too. Prices start from the low $200's and go up from there. The course will have 27 holes to play on and is in the process of having a 18,000 square foot facility that will have fine dining as well as a Irish pub and cuisine, and way to much to talk about in one posting.

The other part that makes this such a great asset to the community is it is accessible by the water from Big Sandy Lake, Can you Imagine having Lunch or breakfast at Big Sandy Lodge and setting a Tee Time and then boating over on a pontoon sipping on your favorite beverage? I will let you know how that goes this summer as I plan on having some of my Investor friends up to look at this course and Development this Summer. Stay tuned for pictures I will post them on my site and my Blog! I truly love my neighborhood Big Sandy Lake

Rick Borden