CRAIG’S BLOG
CO-OP OWNERSHIP

Co-ops are common in Manhattan but not Minnesota's Douglas County. One local co-op is on the east side of Lake Ida. The photo above (July 2017) shows a bird's eye view of ...
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DRAWING FOR HOMES

If you are in the market for a home and know the area of Alexandria that you'd like to live, consider using my real estate search with advanced features. In it there ...
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PAINTED FRIDGE

Did you know that refrigerators can be painted? I didn't until reading an article from Architectural Digest. To top it off, they say it can be accomplished for less than $75. At ...
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LAKE TIME TRANSPORT

It was a tough week to be in Minnesota unless you really love sub-zero weather, bad driving conditions, and shoveling snow. I don't mind any of it and the Winter Classic was ...
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COMING SOON AND NO CHANCE

If you were on a lake home hunt in 2021 you have likely become familiar with "Coming Soon" as a listing status. It is a listing option that is a fantastic tool ...
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LAKE IDA NEWS

Lake Ida is already one of the cleanest lakes in Douglas County and steps are being taken to keep it that way and even improve its water quality. Close to $288,000 in ...
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3,072 SF OF STORAGE

Stor Smart North is a storage community conveniently located north of Alexandria 1.5 miles east of Lake Carlos. There are twenty units that are 3,072 square feet (the largest size at Stor ...
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EMERGING HOME DESIGN TRENDS

This morning I watched a short video from Houzz. If you are interested in what is popular right now inside and outside homes, a great source is big increases in internet searches ...
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DON’T SEND A CHECK

Have you bought real estate and received a letter like this (pictured) soon after closing? Don't send a check. A client of mine received one in the mail recently and called me ...
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A FEW LAKE COTTAGES

East of the Carlos-Darling channel there are only twelve homes with Carlos Darling Drive addresses. Eight facing Lake Carlos and four facing Lake Darling. As you will see in the video below ...
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A FEW MINUTES AGO AT LAKE DARLING

It has been another beautiful day in Alexandria, Minnesota. The photo below was taken about 20 minutes ago and shows a little bit of Big Darling, all of Little Darling, and glimpses ...
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THOUGHTS ABOUT LAKE LIFE

Earlier today I was reading through a collection of memories from Alexandria's Lake Ida and came across a page titled 'On The Lighter Side'. I am unsure of the date this lighter ...
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Aerial, Alexandria, Ida, Video
IDAWILD EAST

This Friday a lake home at Idawild East goes on the market. The current status is "coming soon" which means potential buyers can view information and photos/videos about the property and can ...
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AQUATIC VEGETATION

For those that will have aquatic vegetation (aka "weeds, reeds, lilly pads" etc.) here is what can and can't be done with aquatic plants in Minnesota. Per Minnesota law, the emergent and ...
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NW IRENE ROAD AT LAKE IRENE

Back in 2006 land at the northwest corner of Lake Irene was platted. The plat name is Irenes Sunny Brook and the lots are located on NW Irene Road. Most of them ...
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WEIR MOD AT LC

You may have viewed the title of this post and wonder if I am having some typing challenges. All is okay, or at least that is what I tell myself... At the ...
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FOR SALE AT SMITH LAKE

UPDATE: A Purchase Agreement was accepted a day after the listing went live in the MLS. If you are like many and have been waiting for a lake home to go on ...
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A+ SWIMMING AVAILABLE

With an ultra tight lake home market maybe it is time to consider building. You will be able to get the floorplan that suits your lifestyle and needs as well as choose ...
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INTERNET AT YOUR LAKE HOME

If your lake home is in a location where your down/up speeds aren't very good, there is a new option that may interest. T-Mobile's wireless home internet is now available nationwide. For ...
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BOB FOR THE WIN

Are you without a dishwasher at your lake cabin? Sign up to have Bob do your dishes. Bob is made by a French Company named Daan Tech and soon Bob will be ...
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BOY’S POINT – L’HOMME DIEU

Did you know that L'homme Dieu's Government Point used be named Boy's Point? Before it became Government Point it was owned by six Alexandria men that intended to build a clubhouse on ...
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LE HOMME DIEU ONE YEAR AGO

Close to one year I recorded the video below. It was early April of 2020 and the video starts from the Lake Le Homme Dieu side of Blakes by the Lakes (Blakes ...
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LISTING STATUS EXPLAINED

This morning I had a phone conversation with someone that is actively searching to buy a lake home in the Alexandria area and a number of good questions were posed to me ...
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