www.joshsteinland.com
 906-370-4898
Real Estate
Home Josh's Featured Listings! Today's New Listings Search MLS All Properties Land Contract Properties How much will the taxes be? What is my property worth? Contact Me
Journals, Pics, Videos and more!
Help Feed a U.P. Deer! Pic of the Day! Josh's Journal The Hunting Journal Buck Pole In Memory Poll Question Past Journal Entries
Webcams
Black Bear Den Cam Bald Eagle Nest Cam Bridge Cam MTU Campus Cam Mackinac Bridge Cam
Forestry
The Forestry Journal Northwoods Forest Management

January 31st, 2012.  The last journal entry of January!  Today was an absolutely beautiful day, so I spent most of it out at my timber sale near Lake Linden.  The thinning is going fantastic, and there are lots of nice veneer sawlogs.  Also, some of you have already noticed the 'donate' option underneath the 'deer cam', or the new link on the left.  As usual, I appreciate those of you that care to pitch in to help feed the deer through the winter.  This year it has gotten even harder, as the county has decided to stop plowing the road to my property, so now I'm paying for private plowing to be able to access it to fill the feeders.  Thank you already to Steve and Chuck who both purchased some deer pellets today!  There will now be 300 lbs of pellets provided to the deer from some of you out there!  Thanks a bunch, and have a great day!
 
January 30th, 2012.  I was a little bit limited on working today.  Our daycare lady was ill, and couldn't take any children today, so I stayed home with Landon.  We had a fun day together, and I still managed to answer some e-mails, and get some timber payments mailed out.  I've got a friend bringing over some deer antlers tonight to get it scored for Commemorative Bucks of Michigan.  Hopefully he makes it!  Have a good day.
 
January 28th, 2012.  We had a real nice weekend.  Saturday night we hosted the company Christmas party at our house.  We had lots of good people, food, and laughs.  Sunday morning when I checked out the webcam there was a ton of snow out in the woods!  I measured close to 20 inches of fresh powder!  I ended up seeing the nice buck that has been making appearances on the webcam, and he only had one antler on his head!  Sure enough, after doing some digging under the feeder, I found the other antler lying in the snow.  Also, the website traffic has been fantastic this winter.  If you are enjoying the site, don't forget to e-mail a link to a friend, I appreciate it.  Have a great week!
 
January 27th, 2012.  Today was a productive day.  In the early afternoon, I had a showing on a house in Hancock.  Later on, we officially got the deal accepted for the 40 acre parcel near Tapiola, so congrats to my sellers on that one.  I also listed a nice parcel of land in Keweenaw County today as well.  I'm looking forward to hosting the belated State Wide Real Estate Christmas Party tomorrow night, should be fun!  Have a great weekend!
 
January 26th, 2012.  Just another day of fighting with this furnace, but fortunately, I think that the fight is over.  I'm very convinced that we have solved the problem(s), and it working flawlessly now.  I'm looking forward to listing a piece of land between Gay and Lake Linden tomorrow.  Thank you to those of you sent in some pics for 'pic of the day'.  I appreciate it very much, so keep them coming!  I'm also hoping to wrap up a deal tomorrow on my 40 acre parcel near Tapiola.  Lets have a great Friday!
 
January 25th, 2012.  Unfortunately I spent most of the day working on my furnace situation.  Two different service companies can't seem to figure out what is wrong with it, but a friend and I worked on it all night, and we may have figured it out.  Currently it is working perfectly, I'll know more tomorrow.  Also, I'm starting to get a little low on 'pics of the day', so if you have any nice pics, don't forget to send them to me at josh@statewideofhoughton.com, they are always appreciated.  Also, for you hunters, the 'buck pole' is still being updated, so continue to check that out.  I also appreciate those of you who have been e-mailing pics of the nice buck that has been showing up on webcam, keep those pics coming as well!  Have a great day!
 
January 24th, 2012.  What a long day!  This morning I made the long drive to Gwinn to check out the timber on a 600 acre parcel.  I almost got my truck stuck in the middle of nowhere when I backed over a log, but fortunately I finally made my way out.  I sure am glad I bought my Polaris RMK last winter (deep powder mountain sled).  It does very well in the deep snow, when my old one probably would have gotten me stuck.  I saw a wolf today.  I ended up down in Gladstone, and then drove back up through Sagola, Crystal Falls, Covington, and then back up to Houghton.  All in all, about 7 hours on the road.  It feels good to finally be back home, and enjoying the heat from the woodstove.  I was also thrilled to learn that my Detroit Tigers made a big splash in free agency by signing Prince Fielder!  Go Tigers!
 
January 23rd, 2012.  It was a very yucky day for driving in the Keweenaw.  We received close to a foot of wet, heavy snow overnight, and it still snowed throughout the day.  The roads were really sloppy and slushy, and I saw a couple different cars in the ditch today.  Today I sent out a counter offer for a 40 acre parcel near Tapiola that I'm trying to get together.  Hopefully we'll come to an agreement soon.  I did some winter price reductions on a handful of properties as well.  Many of the best deals happen during these months.  Right now I'm getting maps and GPS coordinates ready to check out 600 acres of timber near Gwinn tomorrow.  That is quite a drive, so hopefully it goes well.  My snowmobile and snowshoes are ready to go.  Take care!
 
January 22nd, 2012.  Did you have a good weekend?  We had a pretty fun weekend.  Melissa's Mom took Landon overnight on Saturday night, so we caught a couple of basketball games at Michigan Tech, and then had a nice dinner at the Pilgrim River Steakhouse.  Sunday morning we got a lot of projects done around the house.  Our furnace is still acting up, so I'm hoping to get that figured out right away this week.  I had a few e-mails today from some of you that watch the 'deer cam', and a nice new buck just started showing up today.  Keep an eye on the webcam, as he'll likely stick around as long as there is food.  Time for another week!
 
January 19th, 2012.  I finally got my hunting DVD's done this morning, so I'm glad to have wrapped up that project.  It was extremely cold today, mostly around 0 degrees, which was the ideal day for our furnace to stop working.  It worked off and on throughout the day, so I had a technician come out and look at it.  He thought that it needed a new ignition module, but couldn't do it until tomorrow.  I decided that I didn't want to get up every 45 minutes tonight to reset it, so I made arrangements to pick up the part after hours, and put it in myself.  It has been working great since, so it looks like I did it correctly.  We also had a friend out tonight, and played some ping pong, and also took a nice hot sauna.  Gotta love winter!
 
January 18th, 2012.  We are already getting closer to February!  I noticed tonight on the way home from work that it is indeed getting dark a little later, so it is nice to know that the days are getting longer.  Today I ironed out some details to go check out a potential 600 acre timber harvest near Gwinn.  I'm hoping to get over there next Tuesday.  After work tonight, I spent another late night editing hunting videos/footage.  Almost done, hopefully.  Take care!
 
January 17th, 2012.  Another cold, snowy day!  It finally feels like winter should feel.  I got a lot done in the office again today, and scheduled a couple of showings on some of my listings.  Later on, I did 'sign patrol', putting up signs on one of my new listings, and taking down signs at another.  There is a new poll question for you vote on.  Have a great day!
 
January 16th, 2012.  Another week is off and running.  Nothing too exciting today, just lots of random office work to catch up on.  We're already getting excited to take a vacation next month.  It is going to be really nice to go somewhere warm for a few days.  I'm sure you've noticed that the deer cam is still getting plenty of action, I hope that you are enjoying watching them.  Have a good Tuesday!
 
January 15th, 2012.  Did you have nice January weekend?  There is finally plenty of snow here in the Keweenaw, and it looked lik the ski hills and snowmobile trails were all busy.  I see that we have already had a snowmobiling fatality, and it seems that there always will be some every year.  Snowmobiling can be dangerous business.  I laid low this weekend for the most part, my mouth is still healing, and the swelling if finally going down.  It feels good to carefully chew food again.  I'm ready for another week.  Right now I'm watching the Packers, who are currently losing.  Hopefully they get it together.  Have a good one!
 
January 12th, 2012.  The snow and cold are here!  Be very careful driving out there.  This morning I looked at a great house that I'll likely be listing between Lake Linden and Calumet.  Tonight I had a showing on a house with a large pole building in Calumet.  It seemed like a blizzard up there tonight.  So, here is the house that I just listed overlooking the Portage Canal.  What a great place!  I can't wait to sell it.  Also, I'm still recovering from the wisdom teeth ordeal.  My face was a little more swollen and sore today.  I'm looking forward to getting all healed up and back to normal.  Stay warm out there!
 
January 11th, 2012.  Hopefully we got lots of snow tonight, we'll see.  My teeth were kind of sore today, but not too bad all things considered.  I was able to work all day.  I got my new residential listing entered onto the MLS today.  Tomorrow I have another listing appointment, as well as a showing later on.  Tonight I played some cards for a bit with 'the guys'.  We had a good time.  Time to get ready for tomorrow.  Have a good one.
 
January 10th, 2012.  What crazy weather we are having!  Temperatures exceeded 50 degrees in many areas up here today, so crazy.  It doesn't sound like the warm weather will last however, I expect plenty of cold, snowy days coming soon.  Today I went down to Niagra, WI for the wisdom teeth extraction.  I was able to talk them into letting me just get numbed, rather than be 'put under', so that made me happy.  It went pretty well, but I am quite sore now tonight, as the numbness has worn off.  Hopefully I'll be back up to par quickly, as I have a lot to do.  It also stinks not being able to chew food.  You can only eat so much ice cream and chicken noodle soup.  We'll see how I feel in the morning.  Have a good day!
 
January 9th, 2012.  This morning I had a good meeting with Torch Lake Township.  This afternoon I went down to L'anse to put up some signs, and set up a lockbox on a house that I have listed down there.  This weather is crazy!  I've never seen the roads so completely dry this time of year, it seems like May outside.  Tonight I listed a really great house overlooking the canal between Hancock and Ripley.  I'll post the details in a couple days.  I'm not looking forward to tomorrow.  I have to go to Niagra, WI to get my lower wisdom teeth removed, blah.  We'll see how that goes.  Take care!
 
January 8th, 2012.  We had a group of people over for the Lion's playoff game last night, and even though Detroit lost, we still had a good time.  The Black Bear Den Cam is back up for the winter!  It sure is interesting to watch, so check it out.  I'm getting ready for a meeting with Torch Lake Township in the morning, regarding selling some property that they own.  Lets make it a good week!
 
January 6th, 2012.  Unseasonably warm weather.  It really felt like late April outside today.  This morning I had an electrician over to check out the sauna, and we finally have it back working!  When I tried to do it myself, I had everything right except I crossed a couple of wires.  Now we're good.  Melissa is excited to use it tonight, as she is exceptionally Finnish.  Today we closed on a parcel of land up in Keweenaw county, so congrats to everybody on that one.  We're looking forward to having a few people over tomorrow night for the Lions playoff game.  Go Lions!

January 5th, 2012.  Nothing like a sunny winter day in the Keweenaw.  After spening the morning in the office, I went out to Rice Lake to prep a house for a home inspection.  We got a nice cottage under contract out there last week.  I also forgot to mention that we closed on a 240 acre parcel near Ewen that I've had listed for quite awhile.  Congrats to Doug, Jan, and Steve on that transaction.  I also visited a timber harvest that I'm managing near Lake Linden today.  Everything is looking fantastic.  The new road system looks great, and the ground is nice and frozen, minimizing any impact from the machinery.  Tonight I had two different showings on my house in Sylvan Estates.  The second showing went quite well, hopefully we'll make something happen.  Have a nice Friday!

January 4th, 2012.  It feels good to be back in the swing of things at work.  We're getting quite a bit of activity on this spacious house in Sylvan Estates.  It is a great buy, and I expect that it will sell sooner than later.  I've been getting literally dozens of e-mails from you wondering what kind of camera I am using for the 'deer cam'.  Here is a link to the webcam that I use.  Time to get ready for a busy day tomorrow.  Take care! 

January 3rd, 2012.  I'm still trying to get the hang of typing '2012'.  Today was very busy and productive.  I tried to get caught up with everything in the office, but didn't quite make it as the phone kept ringing.  Lots of buyers inquiring now that the holidays are over.  I should have some new deals together very soon.  We're also getting excited about getting our vacation planned in February.  Other than traveling to visit family, Melissa and I have not been on a vacation since we got married four years ago.  We're going someplace warm...

January 2nd, 2012.  Finally home!  We had a very nice time down on the family farm.  We visited a few friends, and hung out with lots of relatives.  We had great food, played lots of games, and shared a ton of laughs as usual.  It was a pretty long drive home today.  The northern lower had some heavy snow, and then when we got to Munising it got really bad.  The snow and wind were so heavy at times that we nearly had to stop the truck on the highway, as the visibility was nearly zero.  It finally cleared up past Marquette, and we eventually made it home.  It feels great to be back.  I have lots of work to do tomorrow and this week.  I hope that you all had a safe and fun New Year's Eve.  I feel very thankful to have had another great year in 2011, and look forward to making 2012 even better.  Time to get the year off to a good start!

December 28th, 2011.  Good morning from Munising!  We hit the road after Melissa got off work last night.  We did a little last minute Christmas shopping in Marquette, and finally made it to Munising around Landon's bedtime.  We're getting ready to hit the road shortly to complete our trip to the farm.  Hopefully this will be nice for Landon to break up the driving time like we did.  Have a great New Year!

December 26th, 2011.  Were you back to work today, or still enjoying the holidays?  I spent some time working on an upcoming closing this Friday.  In the afternoon, I went on my last deer hunt of the year, and it sure was windy out there.  Melissa and I are getting packed for a quick roadtrip to see my family.  Take care!

December 25th, 2011.  Merry Christmas!  I hope that everybody had a great weekend.  We hosted Christmas at our new house this year, so we had a full house all day.  Lots of good food and gifts for everyone.  Landon was practically overwhelmed with all the people and excitement.  We still have a handful of Christmas parties yet this year, so we're just getting started.  Also, thank you to those of you who have been e-mailing me pics of that nice buck on the webcam, I like to see them, so keep them coming.  Back to work already?

December 23rd, 2011.  The holiday weekend is just about upon us.  We officially got the deal together on this waterfront home on Lake Bailey, so congrats to my buyers!  I also received an offer tonight on this great cabin on Rice Lake.  Hopefully we'll reach an agreement on that one as well.  So much for slow real estate activity around Christmas!  After work today I went out bowhunting, and had an exciting/frustrating hunt.  Anyhow, Merry Christmas to you and yours.

December 22nd, 2011.  Another day closer to Christmas.  It is getting to be that time of year where I actually start thinking about Christmas shopping.  I'll probably go ahead and wait until Saturday night.  We are still ironing out the details on my waterfront deal up north, but we are getting very close.  Also, I'm not sure if I mentioned that we recently reduced the price on this nice camp near Mass City.  Later this afternoon I went out towards Rice Lake to mark property boundaries for a timber harvest that I have starting up next week.  It was cold, but a nice night in the woods.  Stay warm!

December 21st, 2011.  It is looking good for my waterfront home deal.  I'll post the details of the house once I officially get it together.  I spent the day in the office, and am feeling pretty caught up for this time of year.  I actually like when things slow down a bit in the winter, as I have more time to think of more innovative ways to sell real estate.  Right now I'm gathering some GPS coordinates for a property line project that I need to get going on for a timber harvest.  Winter time is the ideal time for logging operations.  Earlier tonight we drove to Ripley to drop some cookies off and visit our old neighbors.  It was great to see them again!  Take care!

December 20th, 2011.  What a great day!  This morning I went up towards Copper Harbor to show a beautiful lakefront home.  The showing went very well.  After getting back to the office for a bit, I went out for my first December bowhunt.  Later on, I received a call from the buyers that I had met up north in the morning, and they were ready to make an offer.  I met them back at the office tonight, and we wrote a good offer on the place.  I'm sure we'll get it together.  Writing deals + hunting = a good day!

December 19th, 2011.  I don't know what the deal was today, but my phone would not stop ringing.  Lots of calls from buyers today, as well as a few potential listings.  We closed on a 35 acre parcel this morning near Donken-Tapiola, so congrats to Roger and Amy on that.  I scheduled a showing for tomorrow morning on a nice house on Lake Bailey.  In fact, I better go print off all my data sheets so I'll be ready to go first thing in the morning (Sorry, thinking out loud).  Tonight I put a new part in our Sauna, and it did start working again, but it isn't getting very hot yet.  Looks like I still have some investigating to do.  Talk to you tomorrow.

December 18th, 2011.  Did you survive the last weekend before Christmas?  Saturday I took the snowmobile for a ride for the first time this winter.  The trails in the higher country were decent, but down in Houghton/Hancock they were a little rough.  Saturday night I went to a Christmas party with some friends and a very nice time.  On Sunday Landon and I hung out here at the house while Melissa made some Christmas cookies with a friend.  Watching the Detroit Lions win was so exciting.  One of the best games I've seen.  Time for one more week of work before the holidays.  Have a good day!

 
December 16th, 2011.  Come on snow!  We really need more than this, it just doesn't feel like December yet.  I'm starting to see another nice surge of buyer activity.  I've been busy e-mailing out property information, and trying to schedule some showings around everybody's holiday schedule.  I heard from a few different people that there was an 8 pointer on the 'deer cam' this morning.  If you ever see anything interesing on there, you can 'right click' your mouse on the image, and save it as a picture.  I'd love to have you e-mail me any interesting things you see, as I don't get to watch it too much during the day.  Have a good weekend, Christmas is almost here!
 
December 15th, 2011.  I didn't have to work today, and it felt great.  I spent the day working on odds and ends that I've wanted to do around the new house.  It seems like there is an endless amount of projects/modifications I'd like to do.  We really got some nasty weather up here today, so I hope that everybody up here is driving carefully.  Take it slow!
 
December 14th, 2011.  Are you going to have a white Christmas?  I'm sure we will.  I spent most of the day in the office.  It feels good to be 99% caught up with all of the loose ends.  I'm really not much of an office guy.  I prefer to be out in the woods or out showing houses any day of the week.  I hope you have a good Thursday!
 
December 13th, 2011.  Our snow is going fast.  We are supposed to get rain tomorrow, so that won't help matters.  I spent most of the morning taking apart our Sauna stove.  It quit working, so I'm trying to figure out what went wrong.  I think I'm on the right track, it looks like I'll have to order a new part from FinnLeo.  I spent the afternoon taking down some hunting stands for the year.  I'm going to keep a couple of stands up for December bowhunting, but my hunting is definitely winding down for the year.  Time to put Landon to bed.  Talk to you tomorrow.
 
December 12th, 2011.  We're losing snow!  Oh well, I'm sure we'll have no shortage before long.  I just listed this 80 acre parcel that I have near Mass City.  This is a great hunting property at a great price, with easy seller financing available.  Tonight we had some friends over, and had a nice time.  Their little girl is about 10 months old, and so cute.  Landon gave her a smooch.  Time to get ready for another day, take care! 
 
December 11th, 2011.  How was your weekend?  Saturday night we went to a Christmas party with Melissa's co-workers, and had a really good time.  Lots of good snacks!  Sunday we put up some Christmas lights outside the house, and they look really nice!  I also got my snowmobile out and ran it a bit.  I just need to pick up a trail permit and I'm good to go for the season.  Christmas is getting closer!
 
December 9th, 2011.  Brrrr!  With wind chills, the temps were below zero in most places up here today.  However, it is supposed to warm back up a bit over the weekend.  I decided to brave the weather and go hunt one of my spots one last time for the year.  It is amazing how phones, camcorders and other gadgets quickly begin to fail in those kind of temperatures.  Anyhow, enjoy your weekend!
 
December 8th, 2011.  It was really cold today, and it is supposed to be colder tomorrow!  I spent a full day in the office and I swear I got a week's worth of paperwork done.  It feels great to be totally caught up.  Now I need to start thinking about Christmas shopping.  I don't get caught up in all the Black Friday chaos.  I'm also looking forward to getting the snowmobile fired up for the season.  Winter is a great time of year!
 
December 7th, 2011.  I basically spent the entire day in the woods, and it sure was cold!  Now that I'm home and warming up, I'm starting to feel pretty sleepy.  The house is looking cozy thanks to Melissa's Christmas decorations.  Back to the grind tomorrow.  I hope that you are having a great week!
 
December 6th, 2011.  This morning I got the deal together on the 35 acre parcel off of Donken-Tapiola Road.  Congrats to the sellers and buyers.  It is always nice to put some deals together before the end of the year.  This afternoon I was able to go out hunting, and it sure was cold, but I had a great time.  Stay warm!
 
December 5th, 2011.  The week is off to a great start.  First thing this morning I had a meeting with Torch Lake Township to discuss some property that they would like me to sell for them.  I'm honored that the township is considering me to represent them.  Everything is moving along smoothly for the Ewen 240 acre sale.  I also have a new deal going on 35 acres in Portage Township.  We've been negotiating back and forth tonight, but it looks like it will be all wrapped up by morning.  Tonight we had our brother-in-law over for dinner and to watch some football.  The weather is cold and I love it!  Take care!
 
December 4th, 2011.  I put a nice deal together this weekend.  On Saturday, I had my showing on the 240 acre parcel near Ewen.  We spent about 4 hours hiking all over that property, and everything went great.  After that, we had a late lunch in Bruce Crossing, and wrote up a purchase agreement.  The seller already accepted it, so we are off and running.  Sunday we got our Christmas Trees up, along with other decoration.  In the afternoon I went out for my first muzzleloader hunt of the season.  And...our snow is back!  We have close to 8 inches in our yard. 
 
December 2nd, 2011.  Just another day at the office.  I printed off aerial photos and maps for a showing on this 240 acre parcel near Ewen tomorrow.  What a smoking deal!  I finally updated the 'hunting journal' with a new video, so check that out if you are interested in watching it.  Time to get some sleep, I have lots of property to hike tomorrow.  Have a great weekend!
 
December 1st, 2011.  Bring on December!  This morning I drove up to Copper Harbor to put up and take down real estate signs in the area.  In the afternoon I had a closing back in Houghton, so congrats to Susan on selling off the rest of her property.  Happy clients are what it is all about.  Have a great Friday!
 
November 30th, 2011.  The end of November is here!  The snowfall has finally came back as well, as it started coming down heavy tonight.  After spending the morning in the office, I went out to the woods for the last evening of rifle season, and had a great night in the wilderness.  Also, the roaming cougar has made the news again.  It is currently north of Hancock.  Here is a link to a pic, and the story.  This radio collared cougar was photographed near Ontonagon, as well as northern Houghton County.  This means that this large cat must have swam the Portage Canal.  Crazy!
 
November 29th, 2011.  It sure doesn't feel like late November with no snow!  I spent most of the day in the office.  We're all set for a closing on Thursday.  Tonight Melissa, Landon, and I ate at Applebee's so we could use up a gift certificate we received.  Tomorrow is the last day of rifle season in Michigan, so I'll likely get out in the woods in the afternoon.  Take care! 
 
November 28th, 2011.  3G is here!  AT&T finally updated the cell phone towers to allow 3G speeds.  It makes the internet capabilities on our phone so much faster.  Today I started on some closing statements for a sale commencing on Thursday.  After that I got tons of errands done today.  It felt great to finally get so much done around the house and property.  December is almost here!
 
November 27th, 2011.  Did you eat too much turkey?  I hope that everybody had a great Thanksgiving.  We had a really good dinner up in Fulton at Melissa's Uncle's house.  Other than a showing in Mass City on Sunday morning, it was a pretty 'work free' weekend.  We've pretty much lost all of our snow.  Hopefully it will start to snow again soon.  Tonight on the way home I almost hit a buck with my truck.  I was coming up Quincy Hill, and he darted across the road heading towards the 'scenic lookout'.  I was surprised to see a deer in the city limits like that.  Back to work!
 
November 23rd, 2011.  Happy Thanksgiving!  I hope that everybody has a great day.  We'll be heading up to Melissa's Uncle's house in the afternoon.  I was kind of stranded today, since my truck was still in the shop.  I ended up using our woodstove for the first time today, and it works great!  It turns out that the woodstove that came with our house is a very nice Vermont Castings Catalytic Woodstove.  We'll be sure to keep an eye on Landon around it, but he has done a great job of staying away from it.  Also...Go Lions!  It will be so great if we beat the Packers, but Green Bay sure looks impressive this year.
 
November 22nd, 2011.  Here is a new 10 acre listing near Mass City.  I've listed two other 10 acre parcels next to it and sold them already.  Nice property + nice price = sold!  Today I paid a sizable repair bill for my truck.  It seems that countless miles of off roading with your truck on rough two tracks for work does a lot of damage on your front end parts.  Hopefully I'll be good to go for awhile now.  Right now I'm working on a deal to sell some property in Ewen, so hopefully tomorrow I'll be making money rather than spending money.  Have a great day!
 
November 21st, 2011.  I spent a full day at the office and got a lot done.  I've got some new listings hitting the market, and also extended a few that haven't sold yet.  We are still getting some e-mails from potential buyers, but in general, things start to slow down a little bit around the holidays.  I'm still looking forward to putting together several more deals before the year ends.  I hope that your week is off to a great start!
 
November 20th, 2011.  It was another snowy weekend here in the Keweenaw.  I didn't have any appointments, so I was able to get out in the woods and hunt most of the weekend.  Now I'm ready to get back to work tomorrow.  I hope that you all had a great weekend!
 
November 18th, 2011.  So here is the house that I listed in Sylvan Estates.  That is a lot of house for the money!  This is a great opportunity for somebody.  I can't wait for my first showing.  Other than that, I'm ready for the weekend.  I know that deer camps across the U.P. will be busy this weekend.  Hopefully I'll have time to get out and hunt a bit.  Take care!
 
November 17th, 2011.  Snow, snow, and more snow!  It really feels like we fast forwarded into winter.  Some areas have 8 inches on the ground already.  Today I put a great house on the market in Sylvan Estates.  So far in my career, I've listed three houses in the neighborhood, and sold all three.  I can't wait to sell this one.  I'll post the details tomorrow.  We had some friends over tonight, and had a lot of fun.  Our new house is great for entertaining, and I really enjoy it when we have company.  I have some work to do in the morning, and then hopefully I'll be able to hit the woods in the afternoon.  Stay warm!
 
November 16th, 2011.  I spent many hours in the cold woods the last two days, and it feels good to be back home.  Yesterday we closed on 30+ acres on DesRochers Road in Baraga County, so congrats to my seller on that sale.  Today we got a deal together for the remaining acreage to the north, so that is great news as well.  This morning I had a good showing on 80 acres in Ontonagon County, I'm confident that we'll work something out.  Also, check out the new price on a great lot on Lake Medora near Copper Harbor.  There are some great buys on that lake right now.   Snowfall has moved back into the area, and the roads were very slippery tonight.  I need to get Melissa's snow tires put on tomorrow.  I'm ready to get to work tomorrow.  Take care! 
 
November 14th, 2011.  The woods will be full of hunters across Michigan tomorrow for the firearm deer season opener.  Up here, it supposed to be slightly windy and rainy, so we'll see how the deer move.  As I'm typing this, deer camps across the U.P., are full of food, drinks, laughter, and cards.  I'm also sure a few people are finding a way to tune into the Packers game on Monday Night Football.  Everybody be safe out there. 
 
November 13th, 2011.  We had a mild weekend, and lost most of our snow.  I'm already looking forward to getting it back.  We had a pretty laid back weekend around the house, which was really nice.  I got to spend a lot of time with Melissa and Landon.  I'm finally starting to feel a little better after my bout with bronchitis.  This will be a busy weekend in the Western U.P., as the firearm deer season opens on Tuesday.  That is similar to a major holiday here in the north country.  I hope that those who go out have a good time in the woods, a great time at the camp, and be safe!
 
November 11th, 2011.  Is it the weekend already?  In honor of Veteran's Day, a heartfelt thank you to all Veterans past and present.  This morning I got caught up in the office a bit.  We're still negotiating back and forth on a piece of land in Baraga Township.  Tonight I went hunting for awhile, and it was an enjoyable evening in the big woods.  Now I'm playing with Landon before he is off to bed.  Enjoy your weekend!
 
November 10th, 2011.  I have a feeling that this month is going to go by quickly.  It was interesting to wake up this morning and feel like it is winter all of the sudden.  We had plenty of snowfall, although it was kind of slushy.  I've been getting lots of feedback regarding my video footage of the wolf pack that I saw last night.  If you didn't watch it, you can see the video here.  Enjoy the snow, hopefully it lasts!
 
November 9th, 2011.  This morning I drove down to L'anse to put out some 'for sale' flyers for this great camp with 110 acres.  This afternoon we received our first snowfall of the season!  It started off nice and fluffy, but later in the evening it turned kind of wet and slushy.  I also updated the hunting journal, so check that out if you like.  I have some video footage of wolves on there that I saw tonight.  Take care!
 
November 8th, 2011.  Today I got lots and lots of errands done.  They are calling for quite a bit of snow overnight, and I sure hope we get it!  I went bowhunting this afternoon, and now I'm anxious to see how much of the white stuff we actually get overnight.  Also, it always seems like there are so many cars in the ditch and/or accidents on the first big snow of the year!  Slow down!  Remember that winter driving is very different.  You must drive slow, and give yourself plenty of distance between yourself and the next car.  Snow tires are also a big help if you can buy some.  Be safe!
 

November 7th, 2011.  I'm still not feeling great, but I did get quite a bit done at the office.  Tonight we closed on a building site near Traprock Valley, so congrats to Jason and Jessica on their new land.  Also, be sure to check out 'the hunting journal', as I posted a new video, and it is a good one.  Take care!

November 6th, 2011.  I'm so happy that November is here.  Unfortunately I ended up with pretty bad Bronchitis, and had to get some antibiotics.  I'm starting to come around a bit, but I'm still coughing a lot.  I've got quite a bit to do tomorrow, and also have a closing at 5:00 pm.  I also finally got around to making a new hunting video, which should be posted on the hunting journal by noon on Monday.  Have a great day!

November 4th, 2011.  Sorry that I missed a journal entry yesterday.  I actually ended up feeling very under the weather.  I have some sort of nasty cold.  This morning I went to a closing on a house with 40 acres near Tapiola, so congrats to everybody involved with that transaction.  I did end up getting the listing for the nice house in Hancock, so I e-mailed out the listing agreement today.  Other than that, I mostly just got some rest and drank lots of water.  I sure hope to feel better soon.  Have a great weekend!

November 2nd, 2011.  Back to work today.  Got a lot done.  We closed on a 5 acre parcel near Skanee, so congrats to Brian and Cassi on adding on to their previous purchase.  I got all the papework ready for another closing coming up on Friday.  Tonight I talked with some sellers who own a great house and Hancock that they are considering listing with me.  I really like the house and look forward to the opportunity to sell it.  Time to get ready for tomorrow.  Have a great day!

November 1st, 2011.  November is here!  I had a nice birthday yesterday.  We took Landon 'trick or treating' to a few of Melissa's relatives.  Today my cousin and I went hunting one last time, and now he is heading back home in the morning.  I'm ready to get back into the swing of things at work after a fun weekend.

October 30th, 2011.  Did you have a good weekend?  My cousin Marcus came up this weekend, and we stayed out to the cabin and did some hunting.  The deer hunting was a little interesting this weekend as we had lots of wolf problems.  We finally got back home after a long weekend, and enjoyed watching the Detroit Lions beat the Denver Broncos.  I didn't even realize until tonight that Monday is my birthday.  The birthdays start to get less exciting when you get old like me.  Oh well.  Back to work tomorrow.  November is almost here!

October 28th, 2011.  Today I got myself caught up with work.  We recently reduced the price of this 40 acre parcel near Lake Linden, and we've already gotten a couple of inquiries as a result of the new price.  Tonight we took Landon 'trick or treating' at the local business establishments on Shelden Ave. (including State Wide Real Estate!).  He was very well behaved, and seemed interested in seeing all of the crazy looking kids.  After that we stopped and visited one of our friends at her new house, and had a good time.  Landon was very happy to go to bed when we got home.  Have yourself a great weekend!

October 27th, 2011.  I took a day off!  It felt great.  I spent most of the day at the cabin.  They were calling for freezing rain all day...and it never rained a drop.  I spent a cold night in the treestand, and then headed back home to Melissa and Landon.  Back to work tomorrow.  Hope you are having a great week!

October 26th, 2011.  Today we got the deal together for 33 acres on DesRochers Road, so congrats to my seller on that one.  I also got a deal together on five acres near Skanee, so congrats to Brian and Cassi on that as well.  After work I went out in the woods and saw a lot of deer, and had a great time.  Have a nice day!

October 25th, 2011.  It was nice and chilly today, just the way I like it.  I got the wheels turning on a few upcoming closings.  After work, I went down towards Tapiola to do a little hunting.  It was a cold night in the stand, but I always love to spend a few hours in the woods.  Can you believe we are nearing the end of October?  It won't be long and I'll be trick or treating with Landon! 

October 24th, 2011.  The week is off to a good start.  Today Melissa and I went down to Ontonagon County for a court hearing to reclaim a piece of land that I sold on a land contract a few years ago.  The buyer stopped making payments about a year ago, so now we got it back.  Tonight I received an offer on some acreage that I recently listed in Baraga Township, and it sounds like it will be accepted.  Also, I updated the hunting journal with a new video, so check that out if you want.  I posted a new poll question several days ago, and I can't remember if I mentioned it.  Feel free to vote on it if you haven't yet.  Have a great day!

October 23rd, 2011.  Friday night we had a bunch of people for a 'housewarming party part 2'.  This time it was mostly Melissa's co-workers and friends.  We had a nice turnout, and lots of good snacks.  Saturday I had some showings down towards Mass City, and then I hunted and stayed out at the cabin.  I did put together a video which should be updated on 'the hunting journal' soon.  Time to get ready for another week.  I hope that you had a good weekend!

October 20th, 2011.  Are you ready for Friday?  I spent most of the day in the office networking my property listings onto more and more websites.  Tonight I had a showing up in Copper City.  After that, we worked on getting the house ready to have some people over tomorrow night.  There is a new poll question for you to vote on.  Hopefully this weekend I'll finally get back out hunting and bring back some good footage for the hunting journal.  Have a great day!

October 19th, 2011.  Kind of a long day.  I got one of the offers accepted on my new listing on Cliff Drive, but it was a multiple offer scenario.  No matter how you explain the process, and no matter how clear the contracts are, you always end up with a disappointed party when there are multiple offers.  I often end up having to absorb the frustration, but that is part of my job I suppose.  All I can do is know that I do the best I can and do things right.  Other than that, there were quite a few calls from prospective buyers today on other properties.  I really am seeing a nice wave of activity as Autumn moves on.  We'll see what tomorrow brings.  Enjoy October while it is still here!

October 18th, 2011.  This morning I wrote a second offer on one of my new listings.  We now have a multiple offer scenario, which actually happens more often than you might think.  After that I hurried down to Ewen to show a couple of larger parcels, 240 and 297 acres to be exact.  It was kind of rainy and cold, but the buyers were very interested and we covered lots of ground.  It really was a fun showing.  Here is a fantastic new listing near Twin Lakes.  I've truly never quite seen anything like this property.  I also recently reduced the price on this 'camp' near Mass City.  It was a long but productive day.  I hope you have a good day as well!

October 17th, 2011.  Today I made the 100 mile round trip drive to a property south of Mass City for a showing.  The only problem is, I got stood up.  Unfortunately, this happens all too often in my job.  You'd think that people would have the consideration to call you and let you know that they are not coming up, but you'd be surprised how many times they don't.  Frustrating.  When I got back to the office I listed a property near Twin Lakes that I can't wait to feature on here tomorrow.  The winds are finally dying down, and I can't wait to get back out hunting soon.  Have a great day!

October 16th, 2011.  The windy conditions lasted throughout the weekend.  After meeting with a seller to go over an offer on Saturday morning, it ended up being a good weekend to get things done around the house.  By the way, I recently reduced the price on this nice 40 acre parcel in Portage Township.  That one is close to Houghton, and a good buy.  Anyhow, I know that us Lions fans are not happy, but you Packer fans are smiling.  Right now I'm watching to see what happens with the Vikings/Bears.  October is already more than half over! 

October 14th, 2011.  The rain is falling and the winds are howling up here in the Keweenaw Peninsula.  Here is a really good deal on a nice piece of land overlooking Keweenaw Bay.  This one probably won't last long.  Right now I'm working on a getting a deal together for one of my newer listings in Keweenaw County.  I have to run into the office in the morning to meet with the seller to go offer the offer.  I just heard that Michigan Tech hockey beat Wisconsin tonight, so go Huskies!  Have a great weekend.

October 13th, 2011.  This morning started off with a closing, which is always a good day.  After that I met with a landowner and got a listing agreement signed for a parcel of land overlooking Keweenaw Bay.  Here is a beautiful newly listed parcel of land in a great location just outside of Hancock.  I've been working hard with my sellers this year keeping prices very affordable, which has been one of the keys to another great year in a challenging market.  Also, I finally updated 'the hunting journal' with a video of my recent successful hunt.  I'm lucky to have taken a nice deer already with these unseasonably warm temperatures.  Now we are due for some rain and extreme winds over the next couple of days.  Enjoy your Friday!

October 12th, 2011.  You may have the noticed that the webcam was froze up for a couple of days, but I fixed it this morning.  I covered quite a few miles today taking down signs, putting up signs, and taking pictures of new listings.  This afternoon I e-mailed out another purchase agreement, and also scheduled some upcoming showings.  I'm really seeing a nice surge of buyers this week.  The only bad news of the day was watching my Tigers lose.  Oh well, it isn't over yet.  Have a great day!

October 11th, 2011.  This sure is a nice time of year.  Today I entered in a new listing at the office, and I also ended up sending out a purchase agreement for one of my vacant land listings. Time to watch the Detroit Tigers now and see if they can salvage this playoff series.  I also need to start working on a 'hunting journal' video.  I hope you are all having a great week!

October 10th, 2011.  The Detroit Lions are 5-0?  This is surreal for a lifelong Lions fan.  I had a pretty busy weekend.  I had showings on Saturday and Sunday, from Mass City to Elo.  Today I ended up writing an offer with buyers on my new listing on Cemetary Road, and it is already accepted.  Time on the market, 3 days.  Love it.  I also have some exciting action for 'the hunting journal', as soon as I get a few minutes to put it together.  Now it is late and I need to get to bed.  The week is off to a great start!

October 7th, 2011.  It was so exciting to watch the Tigers beat the Yankees last night!  Good stuff.  I got lots of work and errands done today.  I'm all set for showings on Saturday and Sunday.  By the way, we just did a big price reduction on this lot on Lake Medora.  I never thought I'd see these kind of prices on that lake.  I'm sure many of you are enjoying these unseasonably warm temperatures.  Personally I'm ready for the colder temperatures so I can enjoy some bowhunting.  Anyhow, get out and enjoy the weekend!

October 6th, 2011.  This morning I went down towards Twin Lakes and listed one of the most 'postcard' beautiful properties I've ever seen.  I can't wait to show you the details.  It was a beautiful day to walk the woods, with unseasonably warm temperatures in the mid 70's.  I had an uneventful warm night in the treestand tonight, and now I'm anxiously watching my Detroit Tigers battle it out against the New York Yankees.  Come on Tigers!

October 5th, 2011.  This morning I drove down to Askel, near Pelkie, to take pics and put up signs on a house listing with 40 acres.  On the way back, I failed to come to a complete stop at a corner, and I caught the attention of a Houghton County Deputy Sheriff.  He was very nice and let me off with a warning.  I won't forget to stop next time.  This afternoon I worked on a closing folder, and entered some new listings.  I also got another QFA management plan job.  Tonight we had some friends over for dinner and ping pong.  Time to get ready for another day.  Take care!

October 4th, 2011.  This morning I drove down to Covington to show this log home with acreage.  The showing went well, it was a beautiful day to walk the woods with buyers.  Also, here is a new listing up near Centennial Heights.  Easy seller financing terms on these three nicely wooded lots.  Tonight I had my first official scoring session as a Commemorative Bucks of Michigan scorer.  The buck's antlers scored around 121", falling just short of making the record books.  It was still fun to see a beautiful deer and hear the story.  Time for a busy day of real estate tomorrow.  Have a nice day!

October 3rd, 2011.  It was a beautiful day.  In the morning I drove up to Cliff Drive in Allouez Township to take pics of a new vacant land listing.  It was a beautiful property, so I took some extra time walking around and enjoying the woods.  In the afternoon I went back to the office and entered in the listing, as well as another listing near Centennial Heights.  Other than that, right now I'm watching the Detroit Tigers fighting hard against the New York Yankees in the playoffs.  Go Tigers!

October 2nd, 2011.  Ahh, October!  It was a great day for Michigan sports, as the Tigers and Lions both won.  This weekend I stayed out at the cabin, and spent lots of time in a treestand.  Be sure to check out the hunting journal if you'd like to watch the first video of the year.  I got lots of deer on film, as well as a coyote.  Now I'm pretty tired from all that fresh air this weekend.  Time to get ready for a busy day tomorrow.  I hope that your October is off to a great start!

 

September 30th, 2011.  It is finally time for my favorite month!  I've got all of my hunting gear organized, and I'm ready to hit the woods this weekend.  There is nothing like spending time in the Autumn woods of the Keweenaw.  Hopefully I'll have some good video footage to share on the Hunting Journal soon!
 
September 29th, 2011.  I'm so excited for October!  Today I spent a long day in the office finishing up four more forest management plans, and I'm all caught up for the year on those.  It feels great to be finished.  Tomorrow morning I'm going to look at a house that I may be listing soon.  After that I have a closing in the afternoon, and then I'm going to wrap up preparations for opening weekend of archery season.  I wait all year for this time of year.  I think the weather is supposed to be decent as well, so I can't wait.  Have a great Friday!
 
September 28th, 2011.  Today was spent in the office getting caught up.  I have a handful of new listings coming soon.  I'm getting a nice amount of buyer inquiries as of late.  We sure are enjoying the new house.  It is really nice sitting down to dinner and watching deer all over the backyard while we eat.  Tonight we saw five does and fawns, and two bucks.  Landon actually spotted the deer tonight before we did.  He started yelling "dee!", and when we looked outside, sure enough, one was coming.  He is growing up fast.  Have a good Thursday!
 
September 27th, 2011.  It is hard to believe that September is winding down.  I've already gotten a few e-mails from people letting me know that they are looking forward to watching the videos on the hunting journal this fall.  I'm just excited to make them for you.  I have over a half dozen stands set this fall, and they are looking great.  Today I worked on forest management plans all day.  I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.  They must be in the mail to the DNR by October 1st.  Two more plans to go and I'm done.  Have a great day!
 
September 26th, 2011.  This time of year is so beautiful.  The fall colors are really getting nice.  According to the weather, today was supposed to be the only dry day for awhile, so I spent the entire day working in the woods.  Now I need to wrap up my forest management plans as the deadline is approaching at the end of this week.  I hope that your week is off to a great start!
 
September 25th, 2011.  It has been a busy and fun weekend.  My cousin Marcus and his friend Melissa arrived up here on Friday to stay with us.  Friday night we had a handful of people out to the house, and a great time was had by all.  Saturday we took a fall color tour up around Copper Harbor.  Sunday we worked on hunting spots all day.  It was finally sunny, and a great day to be in the Autumn Woods.  When we finally got home, we watched the Detroit Lions vs Minnesota Vikings game that we recorded.  What a game!  It sure is great to see the Lions start the season 3-0.  I hope that you had a great weekend!
 
September 22nd, 2011.  Today was a cold, long, rainy day.  Today was my designated day to collect field data for several forest management plans, and of course, it poured all day.  I drove down to Bootjack, Rabbit Bay, Bumbletown, and even Misery Bay, and collected all the data needed.  Tomorrow morning I'll start wrapping up the plans.  We are looking forward to a pretty busy weekend.  We're having a small party at our house tomorrow night, and we also have more company coming up this weekend as well.  I'm looking forward to it.  Have a great Friday!
 
September 21st, 2011.  It is definitely starting to get dark earlier as we approach October.  Today was pretty wet and rainy, and I think that tomorrow will mostly be the same.  I still have to go walk some properties tomorrow to collect data for forest management plans no matter what.  Time is not on my side as October approaches.  I spent the day in the office, and then after work listed a house on 40 acres down near Askel tonight.  I bet most of you have never heard of Askel!  It is near Tapiola.  I'll have to go back another day for my outside pictures, as dark/rainy pictures never look very appealing as listing photos.  Time to answer some e-mails and then get to bed.  Also, I need pictures for 'pic of the day'!  E-mail me a neat photo to josh@statewideofhoughton.com.  Thanks! 
 
September 20th, 2011.  This morning we got the offer accepted on this waterfront home in Lake Linden, so congrats to the sellers!  This afternoon Melissa and I drove down to Ontonagon for a court hearing to reclaim an 80 parcel that we sold on a land contract some years back.  The seller hasn't made payments in about a year, so we are taking it back.  There is still another hoop to jump through, so we have the final hearing on October 3rd.  Tonight I got quite a few random updates around the house done, including installing carbon monoxide detectors, which is always a good idea.  I'm ready for a full day of work tomorrow.  Take care!
 
September 19th, 2011.  My relatives left for lower Michigan late this morning.  It was a short but enjoyable visit.  I quickly got back to work, and received an offer on a house in Lake Linden today, which sounds like will be accepted.  I'm still working on some other deals as well.  I also entered in a new 10 acre listing today near Otter Lake.  It is hard to believe that archery deer season will be here on October 1st.  This year is the least prepared I've been in awhile.  I've just been too busy with the new house, forestry plans, and real estate.  However, I sure am looking forward to getting out in the woods this fall.  Our colors are just starting to change, so plan your tours accordingly. 
 
September 18th, 2011.  We've had a fun weekend up here.  Friday I had a closing on a waterfront lot on Portage Lake, so congrats to the buyers on getting a great deal.  Friday night we went to a BBQ and had a nice time.  Saturday around noon my cousins arrived with their children along with my grandparents.  We spent some time checking out the cabin/property.  We spent the rest of the weekend mostly hanging out here at the house, with the exception of a trip up to Copper Harbor and Brockway Mountain Drive.  They will be heading back downstate on Monday morning, and I'll be heading back to work.  We're already making some fun memories in this new house, and it is definitely starting to feel like home. 
 
September 15th, 2011.  How is your day going?  Aside from a little office work today, I took some time to get the house ready for our guests this weekend.  We also had some friends over for dinner tonight.  Our ping pong table arrived today, so it was fun to break that out tonight.  Everybody had a great time, this is a nice house for entertaining.  There is a new poll question for you to vote on.  I'm looking forward to a good closing tomorrow.  Take care!
 
September 14th, 2011.  September is almost half over?  This morning I worked with a local farmer putting in three food plots on different properties.  It rained off and on, and we even got hailed on at one point.  You'll notice on the 'deer cam' that the food plot is all planted and ready.  It will probably green up in a couple of weeks.  I'll also get the feeder back out soon.  I hadn't put corn in it all summer, which is why we don't see many deer in the summer.  The problem is, if I put corn in it during the summer, the bears would destroy it.  Anyhow, once I got back to the office, I submitted a couple of offers on one of my waterfront listings in Keweenaw county.  I also had some buyers come in at 6:00 pm to write an offer on a waterfront parcel in Stanton Township.  I'm seeing a nice surge of activity as we enter Autumn.  My favorite time of year!
 
September 13th, 2011.  I'm listening to the rain coming down again tonight.  This morning I finished up a Forest Management Plan, and then also made some good progress towards putting a couple of deals together.  My food plot project got put off due to a bad bearing on a tractor, so watch for it again on the webcam between 9:30 to 10:30 AM.  Right now I'm watching some classic episodes of 'Dallas' on DVD.  Yes, you read that right.  Good ol' J.R. Ewing cracks me up.  After that I'm off to bed.  Have a great day!
 
September 12th, 2011.  It is shaping up to be a busy/interesting week.  This morning I sent out some timber payments, as well as a couple of bid forms for upcoming timber sales.  In the afternoon I had a showing on a house in Lake Linden, but the house needed too much work for these buyers.  Tonight I worked late on some QFA plans.  Tomorrow in the late morning I'm scheduled to put in the 'food plots' out at some of my properties.  If you watch the webcam tomorrow, you'll likely see the tractor in action.  We're getting it in a little late this year, but it should still be alright.  Have a great day!
 
September 11th, 2011.  I'm sure that everybody took a moment today to remember 9/11, it is hard to believe that is has been 10 years already, I remember it like it was yesterday.  Saturday I drove up towards Lac La Belle for a waterfront showing, and then checked out some new potential listings on the way home.  Other than that, we made lots of progress on the new house this weekend.  It is starting to feel more 'settled in' everyday.  We're looking forward to hosting my grandparents and cousins this coming weekend.  It will be great to have them all up here.  Now I just have lots of work to accomplish before they arrive.  Also....the Packers and Lions won, so lots of happy people in MI and WI.  Let's all have a great week!
 
September 9th, 2011.  Today was a good day.  I officially got the deal accepted on my 80 acre parcel in Ontonagon County, so congrats to Art on that.  This morning I had a buyer come in and write an offer on a house in Chassell, and we already got the offer accepted, so that was good news.  I also had a deal that recently went cold, but now it looks like the buyers are ready to move forward again.  I got a little bit of unpacking done tonight, so it always feels good to make progress.  It is also really fun watching deer and sandhill cranes out the window everynight.  Tonight Landon was excited and saying his version of the word 'deer', which really isn't too bad.  Now I'm getting some paperwork ready for a Keweenaw County showing in the morning.  I hope that you all have a great weekend!
 
September 8th, 2011.  I feel like this month is going to go by fast, and I have way too much to do!  We closed on the Montezuma house today, so congrats to everyone involved in that sale.  I sent out a purchase agreement this morning on an 80 acre parcel that I own in Ontonagon County, so that was good news.  Also, we reduced the price on this beautiful acreage just outside of Houghton, whoever scoops this parcel up is going to be pleased.  I stopped by one of my properties this afternoon to check one of the 'trail cameras'.  I got pictures of several deer, and also a sow bear with three cubs, so that was neat to see.  On the way home tonight I stopped to meet with a group of neighboring landowners to a piece of land that I will be selling soon.  We are going to offer the neighbors first opportunity at the land before it hits the open market.  Anyhow, there is three minutes left in this football game, and I'm going to try to enjoy at least that much of it.  Take Care!
 
September 7th, 2011.  I got lots of work done at the office today.  It feels good to be getting caught back up.  I'm all set for a closing on my Montezuma Ave listing tomorrow, so that will be great to have that sold.  It also sounds like I'll be writing an offer on a house with a buyer Friday morning, so that was good to hear.  Other than that, we still have a lot of unpacking to do.  This place is feeling like home very quickly, and Landon absolutely loves the room to run.  What a great home for a kid to grow up in.  Have a nice day!
 
September 6th, 2011.  We are back in action!  We are officially moved into our new house, and couldn't be happier!  We have so much space now, it is so nice.  We still have lots of unpacking to do, but things are going great.  I finally got my internet hooked up late this afternoon.  Pretty much all we've done is move the last four days, so we kept plenty busy with that.  Now I need to get caught up with work, which is piling up quickly.  Tomorrow will be an office day for sure.  Anyhow, we are happy to be moved in, and I'm happy to be back online.  I hope that you had a great holiday weekend!
 
September 1st, 2011.  Hooray for September!  However, it didn't feel very "autumn-like".  It was very warm today.  All we did today was pack, move, pack, and move some more.  It was a long day, but we're getting a lot done.  I hope that your September is off to a great start!
 
August 31st, 2011.  Is September really here?  What a great month we have ahead of us.  I worked in the office as long as I had to today, and then got back to working on moving.  We still have a long ways to go, but we'll really have time to buckle down this weekend, and we have lots of help.  It is kind of weird thinking that Landon will never remember the house that he lived the first 1.5 years of his life in, but that is the way it goes.  This will be an exciting new chapter in our lives.
 
August 30th, 2011.  It was a long day and a late night.  I spent the majority of the day in the office preparing several closing statements for upcoming closings.  Tonight I took a logging company on a tour of a 40 acre timber sale near Lake Linden, and a 400 acre timber sale near Gay, as they will be one of the bidders on the sale.  After that I had a late showing on this cottage in Grant Township, and it went pretty well, we'll see what happens.  Anyhow, I didn't get back home until 9:00 pm, so it is time to answer e-mails and then get ready for bed.  Time for the last day of August!
 
August 29th, 2011.  This week will be a balancing act of working and moving.  I spent the first half of the day working in the office, and the second half moving.  I'm going to have to make the transition to 'Satellite Internet' out at the new house, which will be much slower than what I have now.  We'll see how that goes.  Anyhow, time to get ready for a busy day tomorrow.  Take care!
 
August 28th, 2011.  September is almost here!  We worked on moving all weekend.  We were able to get everything moved from the storage building, basement, attic, and some other closets.  We're still shooting for a September 6th, closing date, but we were offered the garage until then, so we're taking advantage of that.  It was a lot of work this weekend, but we're making lots of progress.  We'll both sleep good tonight!
 
August 26th, 2011.  I hope that everybody had a great Friday.  There are small signs of Autumn up here as I look around.  Apples are starting to red on the apple trees, some of the ferns are starting to turn brown, and even some leaves along the highway are starting to show some orange and red color.  We are approaching my absolute favorite time of year.  Today we finally got all of our issues resolved in order to move forward on a rental home sale I've been working on in Houghton, so I'll be glad to wrap that up.  Melissa had a sore throat today, so hopefully she'll feel a little better in the morning.  Enjoy the LAST weekend in August!
 
August 25th, 2011.  Another day closer to starting our move!  I spent the morning in the office working on closing statements.  I also dropped the price on this cabin near Mass City.  I finally had a free afternoon, so I was able to get out to one of my new hunting properties to get some work done.  I got a new stand all trimmed out and set for October.  It is a lot of dirty, sweaty work, but it will be worth it when I'm 25 feet up a tree in the beautiful fall weather come October.  I checked my trail camera, and I'm still seeing bears, wolves, and deer pretty regularly.  Have a great Friday!
 
August 24th, 2011.  It was a cool, rainy day in the Keweenaw.  I finally feel basically caught up at the office.  I even cleaned and organized my desk.  I started working on closing statements today for several upcoming closings.  I entered in this new listing on Gay Lake Lake Linden road.  This property may look familiar.  There are several parcels available, and so far I've sold three of the lots.  This one is number four.  Anyhow, right now I'm getting ready to enjoy some blackberry pie that my lovely wife was nice enough to make for me.  She is a great gal.  Have a good day!
 
August 23rd, 2011.  Just another full day.  I met with the surveyors this morning to survey the property I'm buying with my house.  I get quite a few e-mails from people looking for land with seller financing, so here is a good one.  This very nice 10 acre parcel near Pelkie can be purchased on an easy land contract.  Tonight I drove out towards Mud Lake to do some cover typing on four different 40 acre parcels that I'm writing QFA (Qualified Forest Act) plans for.  The deadline for this years plans to give a tax benefit for next year is October 1st, so I'll be busy trying to get them all completed in time.  I really slacked for the last year on updating the Forestry Journal, but I finally did update it with a video last night, so check it out.  I hope that you are having a great week!
 
August 22nd, 2011.  These cooler temperatures at night have been really great.  Today I got the signatures back for a large scale timber harvest project up near Gay, so I'm anxious to get going on that.  I've also been working out some issues on a deal I have going for a rental house in Houghton.  Residential sales can often end up with some unforeseen hurdles along the way.  We are still negotiating on the waterfront lot out by Freda, but I'm confident that we'll get a deal together soon.  I finally got the time this afternoon to enter in a few new listings that I've been working on.  Tonight I was thinking about going out towards Mud Lake to start taking notes on some acreage for a forest management plan, but it was getting closer to dark, and I kind of ran out of steam for the day.  I hope to get out there tomorrow afternoon.  I can't wait for this week to be over so we can start moving!
 
August 21st, 2011.  I spent the weekend preparing for some upcoming forestry projects.  Saturday I hiked many miles taking measurements and notes on a 800 acre parcel near Gay, and also on a 40 acre parcel near Lake Linden.  I spent Sunday working on the management plans, and got them completed.  The next step will be to show the properties to reputable logging companies, and take sealed bids on the jobs.  Speaking of timber value, here is a very nice 38 acre parcel near Ontonagon that we reduced the price on.  This parcel is one of the better deals out there, and does have some legitimate timber value.  Time for another busy week.  Also, we should be able to start moving some things into our new house later this week!
 
August 19th, 2011.  Today was a very productive day.  This morning we got a deal together on a foreclosed home that I have listed in Laurium.  In the afternoon I got my signatures back to manage a 400 acre timber harvest in Grant Township.  I also reached an agreement to serve as a 'transaction coordinator' for a private sale near Lake Linden.  Tonight I had a showing on a nice Lake Superior parcel near Freda.  The showing went so well that we went back to the office and wrote an offer on the spot.  Mental note: showing western facing waterfront lots at sunset time is a great idea.  Anyhow, tons of work to do this weekend, talk to you Sunday night. 
 
August 18th, 2011.  Another summer week is almost over.  This morning we had a closing on an 87 acre parcel overlooking Torch Lake, so congratulations to my sellers on that sale.  I managed a timber sale on that property just this winter, and then we had no trouble selling the property for a good price this summer.  It just shows how nice things can work out when everything is managed by professionals.  Here is an interesting new listing in Baraga.  This property has potential for residential, commercial, and is currently a successful rental.  Lots of beautiful frontage on Keweenaw Bay.  Tonight I wrote up a timber sale contract for a large parcel in Keweenaw county, so that is exciting.  The forestry business has been very steady for over a year now.  Also, I saw a fawn on the 'deer cam' tonight, and I had a friend tell me that they saw a coyote on it this morning.  Sometime around the first of September, I'll be having the food plot worked up and planted to rye again, so expect plenty of deer activity on it shortly after that.  I hope that you have a great Friday!
 
August 17th, 2011.  Summer keeps rolling along.  I received an offer on one of my Laurium listings today, so that was good news.  After meeting with the gas company to prepare one of my homes for an inspection, I spent the rest of the day in the office.  I entered in a very interesting new listing that I'll post the details about tomorrow.  Tonight I had some house showings in Bumbletown and New Allouez.  They went pretty well.  Right now I'm watching Landon run around the house.  He seems to get cuter everyday, but I'm sure I'm biased.  I'm looking forward to a closing tomorrow morning.  Take care!
 
August 16th, 2011.  I'm really starting to look forward to moving in to our new house!  We still have a couple more weeks to wait, however.  I spent the majority of the day in the office, and still can't seem to get caught up.  Buyer activity has been really good so far this week.  I'm getting lots of e-mails and calls.  It sure is a good time to be a buyer.  There are so many nice properties out there, and some great deals to be had.  I got a deal together today on a bank foreclosure near Chassell, so congrats to Al on that one.  Anyhow, we are one day closer to the big move!
 
August 15th, 2011.  Off and running with another week.  This morning I went to Ontonagon with an excavator to get him started on some site preparation on one of my listings.  In some cases, putting in a driveway and clearing a building site can really help sell a property.  Many buyers have a hard time visualizing what can be done with a property if they haven't developed a parcel before.  Tonight I had back to back showings at this new listing in Dollar Bay.  The house needs lots of updating, but is sitting on one of the nicest Portage Lake lots I've ever seen.  After dinner tonight I also made a last second showing on a nice little home in Hancock.  Real estate demands that you keep a very flexible schedule.  I hope that your week is off to a great start! 
 
August 14th, 2011.  I hope that everybody had a great weekend.  Saturday we were able to spend some time at the house that we are buying.  Melissa's parents were excited to check it out with us, and we also brought some paint samples so we can start coming up with some ideas.  I also took a few minutes to walk the property a bit.  Sunday I worked on a property line project up in Delaware.  The excessive green foliage makes it extra difficult.  I typically prefer to do those projects in the winter or spring.  On the way home tonight I visited some acreage in Traprock Valley that I may be listing.  So here is a nice little house that I recently listed just north of L'anse.  I also listed this extremely nice waterfront parcel on Keweenaw Bay.  Time to get to work, I have a ton of things that I want to get done before September. 
 
August 12th, 2011.  Did you have a good Friday?  I spent the day in the office, and entered in a couple of new listings.  Tonight we went out to dinner with Melissa's sister and future husband.  We ate at the Bambu Asian Restaurant in Houghton, and it was very good.  There is a new poll question for you to vote on.  Have a great weekend!
 
August 11th, 2011.  This morning I met with another landowner to reach an agreement to write a few different QFA plans.  Many people are starting to take advantage of this opportunity to lower their property taxes.  We did a drastic price reduction on this beautiful waterfront lot on Vermilac Lake, making this an exceptionally good buy.  Later this afternoon I had a showing on this large Portage Township home.  Tonight Melissa and I celebrated our fourth wedding anniversary.  I make her a three course dinner tonight, and she was thrilled.  I don't cook very often, but it really did turn out great.  It also made me realize that I have been typing this journal for over four years now, as I started it before we were married.  Time flies.
 
August 10th, 2011.  This morning I drove down to the Misery Bay area to walk an 80 acre parcel that I'm writing a QFA (Qualified Forest Property Tax Exemption) Plan for.  From there I needed to get to Elo, so I took the Donken-Tapiola road as a shortcut.  Donken-Tapiola road is a narrow woods road that is a pretty fun drive.  Just make sure you know where you are going, as it is easy to get turned around.  When I arrived in Elo, I took pics and put up signs on a new listing.  My arms are kind of feeling it tonight, as digging a 36 inch hole in clay country can be pretty tough.  From there I went to Arnheim to visit my timber harvest.  A sawlog/veneer buyer was out there grading/scaling the logs.  When I finally got back to the office, I ended up writing a purchase agreement on one of my parcels up in Skanee.  I'm starting to wonder if I'll ever get caught up on paperwork in the office, but hopefully I will someday soon.  Summertime for me is go, go, go, and that is a good thing.  Take Care!
 
August 9th, 2011.  Todays temps were in the 60's, and it felt great!  It made me think of fall, which is my favorite time of year!  I'm sure you've all noticed another big dip in the stock market.  This has convinced me even more that I should continue to invest in land, rather than the market.  Our land values here have been far more stable than the stock market.  The other thing I like about land is that you actually have a tangible asset that does not go away.  If you lose your money in the stock market, what do you have to show for it?  At least with property you can experience enjoyment, and create lasting memories, regardless of any minor fluctuations in value.  Click here to read a brief article on the advantages of investing in vacant land.  If you ever have any questions or need any advice, I'm happy to help.  Have a good day!
 
August 8th, 2011.  My 14 hour day went by pretty fast.  In the morning I went out to Sherman Township to give some buyers clarification of the property boundaries of some land that they recently purchased.  After that I walked an 80 acre parcel of land that I will be selling soon, and possibly doing some forest management on.  In the afternoon I had a showing on a foreclosure in Chassell Township.  We ended up heading straight back to the office to write an offer.  Tonight I took a logger out towards Bootjack to give him a tour on a 40 acre parcel that I'm managing a timber harvest on.  On the way back, I picked up a couple of signs from properties that I've recently sold.  Right before I got home I received a call from somebody thinking about listing their house, so I drove straight there to look at it with them.  Busy, busy.  Time for bed!
 
August 7th, 2011.  We had a pretty nice weekend.  I had some showings get cancelled, so I was able to spend some extra time with the family.  Sunday we grilled burgers and hot dogs at the cabin.  We had to run inside a couple of times because of scattered rain, but most of the day was sunny.  We saw some deer on the way home and Landon was getting very excited.  He seems to be getting obsessed with deer.  I wonder who he gets that from?
 
August 5th, 2011.  We continue to have a warm summer up here, with temps hovering around the 90's today.  Houghton seems a little busier than usual with the Michigan Tech Alumni Week going on.  I had a couple of waterfront showings in the Dollar Bay area today.  We may take a second look at one of the two properties.  Landon has been a little bit fussy the last couple nights.  It seems that all of the rest of his teeth are starting to come in at once, so that has been bothering him a bit.  Anyhow, try to get out and enjoy a summer weekend!
 
August 3rd, 2011.  This morning I put a very nice piece of land on the market, details to follow tomorrow.  After lunch I drove down south to check on my timber harvest.  Things are progressing nicely, and we've even gotten into a little birdseye maple, which is quite valuable.  After that I toured some property so I can write a management plan for placement into the Qualified Forest Property Tax Exemption Act.  We recently dropped the price on this nice cabin with beautiful sandy Lake Superior frontage.  This place will sell soon, I have no doubt.  Melissa is out golfing tonight for the first time this year.  I hope she is having fun as she sure deserves the break.  I retired from golfing about 10 years ago.  I used to get so frustrated that I finally decided to stick to fishing.  Take Care!
 
August 2nd, 2011.  It felt good to get back into the swing of things at work.  We are very close to getting a deal together on this rental house in Houghton.  I also received another purchase agreement tonight for some vacant land in Torch Lake township.  Other than that I spent the day in the office, and I'm getting caught up fast.  I'm getting close to having a new design finalized for my website, and I'm very confident that you will like it.  I've spent lots of thought making sure that the site maintains all of the popular features, but becomes simpler and more user friendly.  Have a nice day! 
 
August 1st, 2011.  I'm back!  Last weekend I was down in southern Michigan.  I took a class to bring myself one step closer to becoming an 'official scorer' for the Commemorative Bucks of Michigan organization.  I also visited the family farm while I was down there.  The weather was very hot the entire weekend, especially when we were unloading hay.  On Sunday I went to a Detroit Tigers game, which was very exciting as we were sitting in Row 1, right on the grass.  It was a great game and a great time.  Now it is great to be back home, and it is hard to believe that we are already in the month of August.  Lots of work to do this week.  Glad to be home!
 
July 27th, 2011.  I hope that everybody is having a great day.  Everything is rolling along smoothly with the sale of our house, so that is good.  Today I brought the office a pizza from Pizza Works in Houghton.  We had the spicy buffalo chicken pizza and it was great!  I can't wait to have it again.  I spent the rest of the day doing nothing but paperwork.  I'm getting anxious for the upcoming fall so I can start spending some more time in the wilderness where I belong.  Tonight I had a showing on this 40 acre parcel near Tapiola.  Isn't it crazy that July is already winding down?  Have a nice day! 
 
July 26th, 2011.  Today was a beautiful day in the Keweenaw.  I had to get a new tire put on my truck this morning at Fine Line Tire in Hancock.  They are fantastic tire/repair shop.  After that I had a few showings in Houghton and Hancock.  I ended up getting an accepted offer on our house today!  It was only on the market one day!  It just shows that if you have a nice house, and most importantly, if you price it right, it doesn't take long to find a buyer for it.  Later in the day I had another showing in Portage Township.  I had kind of late night in the office, trying to keep the paperwork moving along on my deals.  Hopefully by the end of tomorrow I'll have it all caught up.  I also have five new listings to put on the market.  Anyhow, I will sleep good tonight knowing that our house is under contract.  Everything seems to be falling into place for our new home purchase.  Have a great day!
 
July 25th, 2011.  The week is off and rolling.  Here is a new 40 acre listing between Houghton and Tapiola.  That is a great price for that property.  Also, here is an affordable clean house in a great neighborhood near Houghton/Hancock.  Today I drove down to Baraga County to list a handful of properties.  I listed a commercial building, a house, a vacant waterfront parcel, and a log cabin on Keweenaw Bay.  It was a busy day down there.  Now I'm getting set for a busy day of showings tomorrow.  I have a feeling that this week is going to fly by.  Speaking of going fast, now that Landon has 'mastered' walking, he seems to want to run everywhere.  That didn't take long.  I sure look forward to seeing his smiling face when I come home each night.  Take care!
 
July 24th, 2011.  Busy weekend.  I think that everybody up here enjoyed the cooler temperatures.  By the way, I forgot to mention that on Friday we closed on a house in Copper City, and two lots on Rice Lake, so congratulations to everybody involved in those transactions.  Most of the weekend was spent finishing up preparations to put our house on the market.  This has been a good experience for me getting to appreciate what my clients go through during the selling process.  Tomorrow I'm going down to the L'anse area to list a home, some vacant waterfront, and a commercial business.  Lastly, we recently reduced the price on this beautiful home overlooking Torch Lake.  It sure a nice place.  Have a great week! 
 
July 22nd, 2011.  Friday was full of action.  I checked on my timber harvest this morning, and things are looking great.  I entered in a new listing near Tapiola, and the price is fantastic.  I'll share the details on Monday.  We got the offer accepted on this waterfront parcel near Copper Harbor, so congrats to the buyers and sellers!  I also received an offer today on this rental house in the City of Houghton.  So here is a short video of my recent fishing trip in Keweenaw County.  Check it out and enjoy! 
 
July 20th, 2011.  Summer just keeps rolling along.  Things are progressing on the purchase of our house, so that is very exciting.  After lunch today I listed a 3.5 acre parcel in Stanton Township that is priced very reasonably.  I spent the rest of the day at the office doing paperwork.  I have a lot of deals in the works, which is always a good thing.  I know that many parts of the country experience much hotter weather than the copper country, but I think we're all still looking forward to the cooler weather this weekend.  Tomorrow morning I'm going to look at a potential timber sale, and then I'm going to keep working on getting our house ready for sale.  Have a good day!
 
July 19th, 2011.  Just another busy day.  I spent time in the office finalizing the closing documents for three closings on Friday.  We got a lot of work done on our house tonight, cleaning/organizing, getting ready to put it on the market.  We still have some work to do, but I expect to have it on the market by next Monday.  I don't have much time, so I will be pricing it to sell quickly.  I also got a good lead on some timber management today, so I need to get out and check out some acreage in Torch Lake Township.  It is still hot here, I hope that you are staying cool!
 
July 18th, 2011.  Today was a pretty exciting day for Melissa and I.  We finally found the right house, and have an accepted offer on it.  The next step for us is to start prepping our current house for sale.  It will be a weird feeling putting a 'for sale' sign out in front of our home.  Today I also got an accepted offer on this foreclosed lot on Portage Lake, so that was great news.  I hope that everybody had a great Monday!
 
July 17th, 2011.  The temps are very hot up here in the Copper Country.  Saturday morning Melissa ran the 5 mile Canal Run, and did a great job.  She is already excited to run it again next year.  Later on I got the offer accepted on the 10 acre parcel near Mass City, so congratulations to David and Gary on that one.  Right before lunch we closed on the 38 acre parcel near Lake Linden, so thank you to everybody involved in that sale.  In the afternoon we had a cookout on the water with all of our co-workers.  It turned out really nice, and we had lots of great food.  The kids did a lot of swimming, and Landon absolutely loves the water.  He never wants to stop playing in it.  I spent most of Sunday fishing with a friend up in Keweenaw County.  We had a great day, and landed lots of fish.  The most exciting part is when he slipped and fell out of the boat.  It was kind of scary for a second, but ended up being pretty funny.  I've never had that happen before.  At least he got to cool off in the hot weather.  Have a great week!   
 
July 15th, 2011.  Real estate is pretty busy.  I have two offers that I'm currently working on getting accepted.  We also got the deal together on the 80+ acres overlooking Torch Lake, so congrats to all involved in that transaction.  I spent part of the day out at my timber harvest, and things are going well.  I just hope that it stays relatively dry.  Landon sure is getting adventurous now that he is doing so much walking.  I have to keep an eye on him so he doesn't try to climb up and stand on boxes, pillows, etc.  Melissa is ready for the canal run tomorrow morning.  Hopefully they have decent weather for that.  Enjoy your weekend!
 
July 14th, 2011.  Today was a long day.  I spent the majority of the day showing land near Ewen and Mass City.  We ended up writing an offer on the spot for the Mass City property.  Tonight I went and helped my friend that was bailing some hay at his farm.  We didn't get done until about 10:00 pm.  I'm ready to get some sleep, then off to my timber harvest in the morning.  Have a good day!
 
July 13th, 2011.  The temps got down to 48 degrees last night, which made for some nice sleeping weather.  Quite a bit of action at the office today.  I'm still negotiating a deal on my 86 acre listing near Lake Linden.  We're all set to close Saturday on the 38 acre parcel that I had listed adjacent to that property as well.  I had a buyer come in today and write an offer on this Portage Lake lot near Dollar Bay.  Hopefully we can get it accepted.  Tonight Melissa's sister and future husband Joe came over and watched Landon for awhile so we could go out for dinner.  We had a gift certificate for the Ramada that was expiring soon.  We had a nice dinner there, and it was a beautiful night to be sitting on the edge of the Portage Canal.  Time to get ready for lots of driving and vacant land showings tomorrow.  Have a nice day! 
 
July 12th, 2011.  It was a pretty nice day today.  I'm getting close to writing an offer on one of my waterfront listings near Dollar Bay.  I spent most of the afternoon and early evening marking timber on my current timber harvest near Arnheim.  Later tonight I had a showing on a vacant parcel near Lake Linden, but the property probably won't work for my buyers.  If you are into deer hunting, be sure to check out the 'buck pole'.  I've recently had a couple of hunting 'celebrities' e-mail me pics for the buck pole, so that was pretty cool.  Anyhow, I'm just going to watch the MLB All-Star game before bed.  Take Care!
 
July 11th, 2011.  Monday is off to a busy start.  I spent the morning preparing paperwork for upcoming closings.  In the afternoon, I had house showings in Hubbell and Hancock.  As far as the offer that I received this weekend, we have counter-offered, so we'll see what happens from there.  Also, we recently reduced the price on this 80 acre parcel in the Craig Lake Wilderness Area.  Did I mention that Landon is really starting to walk now?  He really doesn't like to crawl much anymore.  My little boy is growing by the day.  Have a great week! 
 
July 10th, 2011.  We had a really nice time entertaining my brother and his family over the last few days.  Friday we toured all over Keweenaw county, checking out the beaches, shops in Copper Harbor, Brockway Mountain, and everything in between.  Saturday was kind of rainy so we went swimming at their hotel, and played in the arcade at the Rock House/Mine Shaft.  Today I showed some property outside of Lake Linden.  I did receive an offer this weekend on this beautiful acreage overlooking Torch Lake.  Time for another week.  Hope you had a great weekend!
 
July 7th, 2011.  Today we got started on a timber harvest I'm managing on US 41.  Everything is off to a great start.  Later this afternoon, my brother and his family arrived in the Copper Country.  We mostly hung out at the cabin tonight, and now we're all set for some Keweenaw touring tomorrow.  Have a great Friday and a great weekend!
 
July 6th, 2011.  I've been busy trying to get work all caught up so I can spend some time with my brother and his family.  They will be arriving tomorrow night.  So here is an incredible estate being offered near Arnheim.  The property has miles of Sturgeon River frontage, and hundreds of beautiful acres.  Tonight after closing down the office I drove out near Mud Lake to meet with a landowner.  We looked over his acreage that he is considering having a timber harvest on.  I drove him over to show him a timber harvest that I managed just a few months ago and he was very impressed.  Forestry done right is a beautiful thing.  Also, there is a new poll question for you to vote on.  Have a great day! 
 
July 5th, 2011.  The phone was ringing today as lots of weekend lookers had questions on properties that they checked out over the weekend.  We did have a buyer decide not to move forward on this house on Lake Annie Road, so it is available and back on the market.  It is a very nice house on 40 acres.  It was a very nice night here, I just got done mowing the lawn and grilling some steaks.  Anyhow, I just got a phone call and was asked to e-mail out some information to write an offer on some property that I have listed on Bootjack Road, so that is good news.  I better get going on that.  Take Care! 
 
July 4th, 2011.  I hope that everybody had a nice weekend, and a great Independence Day!  Saturday morning I put up a couple of signs, and then in the afternoon I had a 'short-notice' showing on this fantastic Mining Captain's house outside of Painesdale.  Saturday night and Sunday morning I roofed a new garage for Melissa's uncle.  Once that was done, I finally got to do a little bit of fishing in the evening down by Twin Lakes.  It was a beautiful night on the water, and I landed a couple of pike and bass.  There is nothing like listening to the call of a loon on a north country lake.  Today we visited some friends camping up in Copper Harbor, but weren't able to stay long enough for the fireworks, as Landon goes to bed around 9:00 pm.  I'll be trying to get a lot done this week before my brother and his family arrives on Thursday night.  Hope you enjoyed your weekend!
 
July 1st, 2011.  I hope that your July is off to a great start.  It was a hot and humid day up here.  Today I listed an unbelievable estate with over 250 acres, over 10,000 feet of riverfront, and much more.  I'll have the details on here next week.  I'm sure many of you will be out and about this weekend, so be safe, and have a great time!  Happy Independence Day!
 
June 30th, 2011.  Today I traveled over 100 miles doing nothing but putting up and taking down signs.  I covered Tapiola, Mass City, Nisula, L'anse, Baraga, Lake Linden, and Calumet.  Some were newer listings, others were properties that recently sold.  I saw my first buck of the year, he was bounding across Tapiola Road in the middle of the afternoon.  I can't even imagine how many wood ticks those deer have to deal with during the summer months.  We just finished a late dinner, and now it is time to get ready for tomorrow.  July is here!
 
June 29th, 2011.  It is hard to believe that the month of June is already winding down.  I woke up last night with a sore throat, and didn't feel too great today.  I spent the day in the office, and actually did get a lot done.  Here is a super price on a fully rented duplex that I just listed in Calumet.  Anyhow, I'm hoping that I feel a little better tomorrow.  Take care.
 
June 28th, 2011.  Today I put a duplex in Calumet on the market.  I also ended up looking at a couple of potential listings in the afternoon as well.  Tonight I showed a 'shop' near Tamarack City.  After that I went to Lake Linden for a second showing on this waterfront home.  The buyers seem very serious, and I really feel that they are a good fit for the house.  I also recently reduced the price on this foreclosure lot on Portage Lake.  We've had a couple of offers on the property, but haven't quite put anything together yet.  Melissa was up north visiting some friends tonight, so I treated myself to dinner at the "Rock House" in Houghton.  It was really busy in there, and the dinner was very good.  For the size of our towns up here, we really do have a lot of dining options.  Talk to you tomorrow! 
 
June 27th, 2011.  The week is off to a great start!  This morning I showed a couple of parcels of land that I have near Skanee, and ended up getting a deal together on both parcels at once.  They really are nice properties.  After lunch I made my way back north and stopped by a timber harvest that is going on near Tapiola.  I helped the loggers establish a property line at their current job.  Right now Landon is moving around the living room babbling away.  I don't quite understand his language, but he seems to know what he is talking about.  Have a great day!
 
June 26th, 2011.  It was a beautiful summer weekend!  I actually didn't have any showings this weekend, which was kind of nice.  I spent most of Saturday at the cabin with Melissa and Landon.  I mowed the grass, Melissa got some sun, and Landon had fun playing as usual.  Saturday night we went to the 'Fireman's Parade' in South Range.  That was the first parade that Landon has ever been to, and he really liked it.  He was clapping his hands at the fire trucks as they rolled by.  Sunday we went up to a beach near 'Big Betsy' and grilled out with in-laws and friends.  It was a little cooler than expected with the winds coming out of the northeast across Lake Superior.  It was still a great day.  I'm ready for an extra busy week.  Hope your weekend was great!
 
June 24th, 2011.  The weather system finally passed us by, and we had a beautiful sunny night here in the Keweenaw.  Today I set up a handful of appointments for next week.  I have five new listings to check out, as well as a couple of potential timber sales.  Hopefully it stays sunny long enough to dry things out up here.  I really need to cut the grass.  When I was a kid, I didn't like mowing the lawn.  Now for some reason as I get older, I really enjoy it.  Get out and enjoy the weekend!
 
June 23rd, 2011.  Hopefully we are only one day away from some sunshine.  I was out showing properties most of the day in the rain.  Even properties that are typically 'high and dry' are really wet.  The showings did go well, I think we may end up writing an offer on a very affordable waterfront lot.  Speaking of affordable, here is a really nice new listing for some vacant land in Tapiola.  Less than 10K for a great piece of property!  Seller financing terms make it even easier to acquire.  Anyhow, I'm ready for some sunshine!
 
June 22nd, 2011.  Rain, rain, rain.  We've certainly got more than we need now.  This morning I hung out with my relatives a little longer until they got back on the road after lunch.  In the afternoon I entered in a couple of new listings near Tapiola.  I'm all set for some vacant land showings tomorrow, and I'm planning on packing my rain gear.  I actually like showing properties in the rain, because I know that buyers must be serious if they are willing to hike the properties in bad weather.  Hope that you have a great day! 
 
June 21st, 2011.  It was a rainy day up here.  In the morning I had a good meeting with some potential buyers for one of my listings near Lake Linden.  In the afternoon I finished up a couple of land division application for recent pending sales.  I also signed a listing agreement for some nice parcels near Tapiola.  I got a call from some relatives that I haven't seen in quite some time, and they happened to be visiting the area.  We ending up having them over for dinner, and had a great time. They enjoyed meeting Landon and Melissa, and then I drove them around for a brief tour of Houghton/Hancock.  It really was nice seeing them.  Wasn't today the first day of summer?  Try to make the most of it, as it will be over before you know it.   
 
June 20th, 2011.  Off and running on a productive week.  We officially got a deal together on two lots near Gay, so congratulations to Doug and Mary!  Other than that, I got most of the items done on my 'to-do' list.  The weather is calling for a rainy week, so we are still holding off on a timber harvest that we were supposed to be starting.  Right now Melissa and I are watching some 'Food Network' before we head off to bed.  Some of these shows are pretty addicting.  Hope that you a good Monday!
 
June 19th, 2011.  I hope that all of you 'Dad's' out there had a nice Father's Day.  It was a rainy Father's Day here, we spent it at home and had the in-laws over for a late lunch.  Friday I wrote an offer on one of my listings between Lake Linden and Gay, and I'm working on getting it accepted.  This weekend I traveled to L'anse and Ewen, to take updated pictures of a couple of my listings.  I was hoping to sneak in my first 'UP' fishing trip this weekend, but the weather just didn't cooperate.  Well, I've got my 'to-do' list ready to go for this week, so time to get ready for another week of real estate and forestry.  Take Care!
 
June 16th, 2011.  It was cloudy and cooler today, but still a nice day.  Real estate is still rolling along at a nice pace.  Here is a new waterfront listing on Vermilac Lake, near Covington.  I've never been down to that lake before, and I was really impressed with the water and terrain.  Really nice value.  Get out and enjoy Bridgefest! 
 
June 15th, 2011.  Houghton is starting to get busy as the city is preparing for Bridgefest.  If you're not familiar with bridgefest, check out the website here.  Today we closed on my residential listing up in Sylvan Estates, so a big congrats to Walt and Karen on that.  I'm glad everything worked out smoothly for you.  Later in the day I entered in a new listing on Vermilac Lake near Covington.  Details to follow tomorrow.  We're still getting tons of projects around the house done everyday.  Pretty soon we'll probably never want to sell this place.  The week is half over already?  Talk to you tomorrow. 
 
June 14th, 2011.  We were pretty excited to see the Tigers win tonight, moving them up to first place in the division.  Today I did quite a bit of paperwork preparing for upcoming closings.  In the afternoon I went down to Baraga county to walk some property that I'm managing a timber harvest on.  The ground is still pretty soft and moist, so I'm going to wait at least another three weeks before checking it out again.  We want to make sure everything is nice and dry to minimize any damage caused by logging equipment.  We're still getting lots of projects done around the house.  Hope you are having a fun and productive summer. 
 
June 13th, 2011.  Off and running on another week.  First off, congrats to the Dallas Mavericks for defeating the Miami Heat, I enjoyed watching that game.  This morning I went up to Copper City to help get the power and water turned on for an upcoming inspection.  After that I went up to the Phoenix area to check out 240 acres that I should be listing soon.  We officially got the deal together on a 38 acre parcel near Lake Linden, so congrats to all involved on that one.  Also, we've been getting quite a few showings on this waterfront home, now that we have reduced the price.  The house needs some updates on the inside, but is quite a value for the handy person. Tonight we worked for hours getting the five layers of old shingles picked up from the roofing project.  I ended up getting a dumpster brought out here, which is making things easier.  Everything is all picked up and looking great.  Lastly, there is a new poll question for you to vote on.  Take Care!
 
June 12th, 2011.  Nothing like a summer weekend!  Saturday I wrote an offer on about 38 acres near Lake Linden.  It sounds like we have a deal, I'm just waiting to get the signatures back.  Today Landon received his first haircut, he looks so grown up with it!  Anyhow, as I was posting 'pic of the day' tonight, I noticed that I just posted my 1,000th picture.  Thank you to those of you who have e-mailed me nice pictures over the years to help.  It can be tough coming up with a different interesting picture everyday, so I really do appreciate the pics that you e-mail me.  Time for a busy week. 
 
June 10th, 2011.  Hopefully everybody is all set for a great weekend.  The weather is quite cool up here, in the 40's.  I put together three closing folders today for deals that I got accepted this week.  Here is a nice efficient house that I just listed this week.  Nice location between Houghton and Calumet.  Our roof project is nearing completion.  Now we just have lots of clean-up ahead of us.  Tonight we stuffed ourselves with a fantastic smorgasbord at Henry's Never Inn in Rockland.  You really have to make the trip to Rockland on a Friday or Saturday night to eat at Sally and Henry's place.  The food is so good.  Have a great weekend!    
 
June 9th, 2011.  We ended up staying out at the cabin last night, and I met with some loggers in the morning to look at doing a thinning on my own property out at the cabin.  In the afternoon I had two closings, so congrats to all involved in both.  We recently reduced the price on this extremely well kept home overlooking Torch Lake in Lake Linden.  It sure is a nice place.  I also just listed this really nice cottage on Hermit's Cove.  That area has some of the nicest beach in the Keweenaw.  Have a great Friday!
 
June 8th, 2011.  Kind of weird weather today.  It started out around 80 degrees in the morning, then dropped to the high 40's by late afternoon in some areas.  I entered three new listings onto the MLS today.  In the afternoon I got a phone call, and ended up doing some short notice showings on vacant land near Gay and Jacobsville.  The showings went very well.  The buyer has three great properties to choose from.  The roofing project is progressing.  I'm all set for two closings tomorrow.  Take Care!
 
June 7th, 2011.  I hope that your week is going well.  Today was got the offers accepted on two different lots on Rice Lake, so congrats to all involved.  I also got an offer accepted on one of my vacant parcels in Skanee.  Here is a recent HUGE price reduction on this 240 acre parcel near Ewen.  If you can't afford the whole 240 acres, you can also buy it in smaller pieces, such as this 10 acre version of the listing.  This afternoon I started working on updating the roof on part of our house.  It was plenty of work just tearing several layers of old shingles off, but now we are making progress.  Have a great day!
 
June 6th, 2011.  What a busy day!  I ended up writing four different purchase agreements today, all of which I expect to get together one way or another.  I also drove up to Hermit's Cove to take pictures of a nice cottage on Lake Superior that I am listing.  I didn't get back home tonight until late, so I need to catch up on some e-mails so I can go to bed.  Check out 'pic of the day', it was so cool seeing that newborn fawn out at the cabin.  Take Care!
 
June 5th, 2011.  What a nice weekend!  Summer is in full swing.  Saturday I had a good showing on some acreage near Lake Linden.  I've been getting some good interest out that way lately.  We just had a nice price reduction on this nice lot on Lake Medora.  I can't believe how good the prices are getting on that lake.  Lake Medora is one of the most pristine lakes in the Keweenaw.  We also lowered the price on this acreage near Lake Superior on Bolo Road.  With the amount of interest we've already had on the property, I'm confident that this price drop will make it move.  Sunday we had a great day out at the cabin.  The weather was fantastic, and I got a lot of random projects done.  We had a handful of in-laws out there, and grilled some delicious lunch.  Landon is really starting to have a good time out there.  The highlight of the day was finding a newborn fawn hiding in the tall grass nearby.  We didn't touch it, as you never should, since the fawn's mother is always within hearing distance.  Even though you may not see the mother, they will be back, so don't disturb the fawn.  It was really neat to see such a tiny little creature.  I got a good picture, and then backed away.  I'll post the pic later this week.  Time to start making my 'to-do' list for work this week.  Have a great week!
 
June 2nd, 2011.  It was a nice sunny day up north.  I spent the morning in the office working on closing statements.  I also received an offer on a couple of waterfront lots that I have for sale, so hopefully we'll get that together.  Later in the afternoon, I stopped by the cabin to attempt to mow the grass, but my riding lawnmower wouldn't run right again.  I'll have to take it back to Abe's Supply in Dodgeville, and let them figure it out.  It sure was a nice day to be out there anyhow.  I hope that you have a great Friday!
 
June 1st, 2011.  The month of June is finally here!  What a great month to be in the U.P.  Our hummingbird feeder has been extremely busy, which is always fun to watch.  Last night we had heavy winds, and lost power from about 6:30 AM until after 2:00 pm.  You never realize how much you rely on electricity until you don't have it anymore.  This afternoon I went and looked at a very nice house in Tamarack City that I will be listing.  I'm looking forward to selling it.  Time to get back to watching the Tigers.  Take care!
 
May 31st, 2011.  It was nice to get back to work.  I set up several appointments later in the week for listings and showings.  I listed a nice house conveniently located between Houghton and Calumet.  Most of the day was just spent getting caught up on random issues, and getting a couple of closings scheduled.  Speaking of closings, congratulations to Walt and Evan on their closing last Friday.  The weather was nearly 80 and mostly sunny today, which is really making our leaves finally come out.  It looks like summer has finally made its way into the Keweenaw. 
 
May 30th, 2011.  We're back!  I hope that everybody had a safe and great weekend.  Landon did very well on the long ride.  We stayed in St. Ignace on Wednesday night, and I forgot what a nice little town that is.  We had a great breakfast at "Java Joe's", I highly recommend it.  We spent the rest of the time at the family farm, where we stayed really busy.  I caught some nice fish, and we played a lot of games, and got to see lots of friends and family.  Although we had a great time, it feels good to be back in the Keweenaw as always.  I'm refreshed and ready to get back to work.  Have a great day!
 
May 24th, 2011.  I'm trying to get everything wrapped up to leave town tomorrow afternoon. We just had a price reduction on this immaculate house with a fantastic view near Lake Linden.  Anyhow, it felt good to pack up some fishing gear today, as I'm really looking forward to a little vacation time.  We are pretty much all packed up and ready to go.  I'll check in here again when I get a chance from lower Michigan.  I hope you have safe travels if you are out and about this Memorial Day weekend.  Take Care!
 
May 23rd, 2011.  I'm still fighting a cold.  This morning I got the paperwork rolling for a couple of upcoming closings.  We officially got a deal together on a vacant parcel near Lake Linden, so congrats to buyer Chuck and seller Gene on that one.  In the afternoon I had some vacant land showings with a nice young couple from Wisconsin.  We got rained on most of the afternoon, but had a good time and covered some ground.  Melissa is already starting to pack for our upcoming trip to Lower Michigan.  We plan on heading out on Wednesday afternoon.  Have a good day!
 
May 22nd, 2011.  Saturday was mostly spent out at the cabin with Melissa and Landon.  We mowed grass out there, and enjoyed our time together down there.  Today I woke up feeling very under the weather.  Sore throat, sneezing, etc.  I ended up having to postpone some showings that I had scheduled for Sunday.  I am very pleased to show you the details on one of the most exciting houses I've ever listed.  This Mining Captain's house is truly spectacular.  I've never seen anything like it.  Anyhow, I hope I feel better tomorrow, as I have lots to do.  Hope you had a nice weekend!
 
May 20th, 2011.  Everybody in the Keweenaw enjoyed summertime temperatures today.  It felt nice to wear shorts for the first time this year.  I spent the morning out near Gay, freshening up some property boundaries on some acreage.  After that I was over on the east side of Torch Lake taking pictures of a new listing, and checking out a recently completed timber harvest.  Everything looked great.  We just did a 10K price reduction on this large waterfront parcel on Point Abbaye.  Anyhow, we got some household projects done tonight.  I'm really looking forward to tomorrow, as it is the first Saturday in quite awhile that I don't have any appointments.  I could use a day off, and I'm looking forward to spending it with Melissa and Landon.  Hopefully you can spend your weekend with your loved ones too.  Later. 
 
May 19th, 2011.  I feel like today I had a well rounded real estate day.  I had a closing, got a new deal together, listed a house, and had a showing.  Those are the four primary activities in real estate, and it was interesting to do them all in one day.  Congrats to my relatives involved in the closing this morning.  Here is a new affordable listing on Duck Creek near Ontonagon.   Also, here is a really nice sized cottage near the Ottawa National Forest near Mass City.   I'm really getting some nice listings to sell this year.  In the afternoon I listed an amazing house that is over 6,500 square feet!  I can't wait to show you the details.  Tonight I had a showing on this nice home in Houghton.  Time to get ready for another day.  I hope that your week is going well! 
 
May 18th, 2011.  I was supposed to be showing land on Brockway Mountain this morning, but the showing ended up being cancelled.  That actually worked out alright as I had a lot to do in the office.  I reduced some prices on current listings, as well as entered in a couple of new ones.  I also finished up my land division application for my recent sale near Ontonagon.  Here is a price reduction that is going to get some attention.  I've had several buyers watching this beachfront cottage on Lake Superior.  At this new price, somebody is going to scoop this up soon.  Take Care!
 
May 17th, 2011.  Today was even warmer than yesterday.  In the morning I did some scouting on a new property that I will be hunting on this fall.  I picked out a couple of potential treestand locations.  After lunch I went down to Mass City to take pictures of a newer cabin that I'm listing.  After that I drove down further south to Vermilac Lake to take pictures of a beautiful lot that I'm listing.  I have never been to that lake, and I was very impressed.  Time to get some GPS coordinates ready for a showing on Brockway Mountain in the morning.  Have a great day!
 
May 16th, 2011.  What a beautiful spring day.  In the morning I received an offer on one of my new foreclosure listings.  I also ended up writing an offer on a piece of land in Sherman Township.  In the afternoon I was down in Ontonagon county taking pics of some new listings that will be hitting the market soon.  By the way, Landon is sooo close to walking now.  He can stand on his own for quite awhile, and he can take one or two steps before he drops down and decides that crawling is faster.  I hope your Monday treated you well. 
 
May 15th, 2011.  How was your weekend?  Today was sunny but cool.  On Saturday I spent most of the day with Landon as Melissa was attending a baby shower for her friend.  I went into the office later in the afternoon, and offically got a deal accepted on my new 7.5 acre listing on Bolo Road.  I spent a couple of hours after that putting together comparable land sales all over our area for a prospective buyer I've been working with.  Sunday I went out Hermit's Cove to meet with sellers and sign listing paperwork on a nice cottage I'll be listing on Lake Superior.  I have a very long list of things I need to get done this week.  I'm really looking forward to our annual trip to the family farm for Memorial Day weekend.  Our trees are starting to green up slightly.  Summer is coming! 
 
May 13th, 2011.  I hope that Friday the 13th wasn't unlucky for anybody.  We experienced some cooler temperatures today, but that doesn't really bother me.  After working most of the day in the office, I had a showing on a waterfront cottage on Portage Lake tonight.  It was a very beautiful parcel.  We should be writing an offer on it next week.  I've still got plenty of work to do over the weekend.  It is hard to believe that May is almost half over already!  Try to get out and enjoy your weekend!
 
May 12th, 2011.  I hope that everybody had a great day.  I covered quite a few miles.  I showed a remote 80 acre parcel outside of Herman.  We unloaded the ATV and toured the property, food plots, deer blinds, and the surrounding CFA lands.  Then we traveled to the Craig Lake Wilderness area to do the same thing for another 80 acre parcel that I have listed there.  That took up most of the day, but I stopped by a logging job on the way home to meet with one of the logging companies that I work with.  It was pretty fun, they actually showed me how to operate the harvester and I cut and processed a dozen trees or so.  The equipment that they use now is so sophisticated.  Here is a video example of the type of harvester that I got to run tonight.  Fun stuff.  Now we're watching the Red Wings in game 7, Go Wings!
 
May 11th, 2011.  It is 9:57 pm, and I'm officially done working for the day.  Well almost, I still have a few e-mails to answer.  Many people think that being a real estate agent sounds great because you can set your own hours.  This could be true for part time real estate agents.  The truth is, if you wanted to support a family and make a full time living at real estate, you will work more than 40 hours per week, and be flexible enough to work nights and weekends with little notice.  I'm not complaining at all, I just point it out to my friends that think they want my schedule.  What I really love about my job is the variety.  Everyday I'm doing something different, and I get to meet so many interesting people.  The days that I'm out walking in the woods is when I especially love my job.  Anyhow, I have a couple of purchase agreements I'm working on right now, and put a new property on the market.  This large parcel on Lake Superior really impressed me.  It has a nice cleared site ready to go for somebody to enjoy.  Right now I have a whole bunch of GPS coordinates loaded up for tomorrow morning.  I'm showing some remote parcels from Craig Lake to Herman, and other random places as well.  Hopefully it doesn't rain too hard.  Have a wonderful day!
 
May 10th, 2011.  Every day is one day closer to the wonderful month of June.  There was a major power outage from Copper Harbor to Escanaba for many hours this morning.  Many area schools were closed.  I went out to take pictures of a new waterfront listing in Stanton Township.  I also put this nice waterview acreage back on the market near Sedar Bay.  Tonight I received an offer on one of my listings near Covington, so hopefully we can get that together.  Here is a new poll question for you to vote on.  Go Red Wings!
 
May 9th, 2011.  It was kind of a cloudy rainy Monday up here.  This morning I sent out the final payments for a completed timber harvest near Lake Linden.  Later tonight I got a timber sale contract signed for a new harvest in Baraga Township.  I finally convinced myself that spring is officially here, so I had the snow tires taken off of Melissa's vehicle.  Other than that I have a few new listings to put on the market, and I have a few new sales in the works as well.  We had a friend over for dinner tonight, so that was nice.  Right now I'm very happy to see my Detroit Tigers continue their winning streak!  I hope that your week is off to a great start. 
 
May 8th, 2011.  I hope that all you moms out there had a great Mother's Day.  Saturday was a beautiful day, and I was out and about showing houses.  I've got a few different residential deals in the works right now.  Melissa had a nice Mother's Day on Sunday.  Her and Landon's birthstones are both diamond, so that works out nicely for her ;).  Later in the day we went up to the Harbor Haus in Copper Harbor for their annual Mother's Day dinner.  It was a fantastic five course meal.  Time for another week of action.  Take Care!
 
May 6th, 2011.  I hope that everyone had a good Friday.  I've been busy putting listings onto the market.  Here is an interesting parcel that I'm relisting at a much lower price.  The property is already going to be shown this weekend.  Today we also closed on my foreclosure listing in Hancock.  We sure had a lot of interest on that house.  I have another foreclosure coming out next week that is a great deal as well.  We did get the offer accepted on my nice listing on 40 acres just outside of Hancock, so that is good news.  Anyhow, I'm all set for some showings this weekend.  Also, Happy Mother's Day to all of you Moms out there!  I have developed a new appreciation for what it means to be a parent.  Have a nice weekend!
 
May 5th, 2011.  Happy belated Cinco de Mayo.  Today I got caught up in the office after being on the road and out in the woods for the last two days.  I got a couple of new listings loaded onto the MLS.  We are also getting very close to putting a deal together on my new house listing on 40 acres outside of Houghton.  We also had a closing today on a place with two lots on Lake Superior, so congrats to Todd on that one.  Later tonight I had a showing on an absolutely amazing home that is over 6,000 square feet!  It went very well.  Things are really rolling along this year.  Have a fantastic Friday!
 
May 4th, 2011.  Today was another extra long day.  I spent about 5 hours on the road traveling to check out another couple thousand acres of land.  It really has been fun though to see all of these beautiful properties.  On the way home tonight I saw a moose, and stopped to take some pics.  It was a little far away, but I think I got some decent shots.  I'll post one on 'pic of the day' someday soon.  My face feels pretty warm, I actually got quite a bit of sun today, which was nice.  I hope that you are having a great week!
 
May 3rd, 2011.  I didn't get home until after 10:00 pm tonight.  I spent the afternoon and early evening taking an inventory of a huge timberland parcel for a new client.  The property was very impressive, one of the nicest properties I've ever seen.  I still have over 2,000 acres in multiple counties that I need to visit before the week is over.  Lots of work, but it sure is great to spend a beautiful spring day in the deep woods.  I came across a couple of wolves today, and they took off quickly when they realized what I was.  Time to answer some more e-mails, and then get to bed.  Take care!
 
May 2nd, 2011.  This morning wasn't very springlike!  We had snow flurries most of the morning and early afternoon.  I was out and about showing rental houses for sale in Houghton and Hancock.  The showings went well, the buyers are trying to decide which house they want to offer on.  Speaking of offers, we received an offer on this new listing on Lake Annie Road, but we still have some work to do to get it together.  I'm getting dozens of GPS coordinates ready for tomorrow so I can investigate a huge timberland parcel that I have a buyer looking to purchase.  Time to put Landon to bed.  Have a great day!
 
May 1st, 2011.  Hooray for May!  Saturday was Melissa's birthday.  I had to go to the office for awhile to set up some showings for Monday, but later in the day we went out to dinner at Quincy's, and then visited some friends.  Sunday morning I had a showing on a beautiful house south of Houghton.  Later on Sunday I checked out a potential new listing in Hancock.  Right now I'm making a list for a very busy week that I have ahead of me.  I hope that you had a fun weekend! 
 
April 29th, 2011.  Nothing like a warm sunny day to lift everyone's spirits.  This morning I finished up my closing statements for a sale on my foreclosed home in Hancock.  Later on I traveled up north to put up a sign on a new listing.  I swung by the cabin for a bit today, and didn't want to leave since it was such a beautiful day.  This year is off to a great start in both real estate and in forestry.  I really hope that you will consider recommending me to anybody you know needing my services in the western U.P., as I really do love what I do for a living.  Tomorrow is Melissa's birthday, so I'm going to spend some time with her to celebrate.  Have a great weekend!
 
April 28th, 2011.  I spent the morning in the office getting things together for some upcoming closings.  This afternoon I had a listing appointment on a house that will end up being one of the most impressive homes I've ever seen.  I can't wait to get it on the market.  Here is a nicely wooded parcel of land conveniently located between Houghton and Baraga.  My sister-in-law and future brother-in-law came over for dinner tonight, and now we are watching the NFL draft.  Is is Friday already?
 
April 27th, 2011.  This morning I went and looked at a potential new listing of a duplex rental in Calumet.  I'm also happy to post the details on one of my new listings, a fantastic house on 40 acres just outside of Houghton/Hancock.  This one is priced to sell for sure.  Time to get to bed and get ready for tomorrow.  Take Care!
 
April 26th, 2011.  You've probably already noticed a few subtle changes to the website.  I changed the green color to blue, updated the photo at the top of the homepage, and also have the homepage displaying three 'featured properties, rather than one.  I've already had some nice feedback on the slightly different look.  We had some problems with our sites and e-mail today, so if you sent me an e-mail or information request on Tuesday, you may want to re-send it.  Today I put another new listing onto the MLS, and I finished up my forest management plan for an upcoming harvest.  The weather was kind of ugly today, going back and forth from rain to snow.  There is a new poll question for you to vote on.  Please vote.  Have a nice day! 
 
April 25th, 2011.  Temps were in the high 60's which made for a beautiful day.  I entered a new residential listing on the market this morning, and also signed a listing agreement on a 6 acre parcel on US-41.  In the afternoon, I went out to a property where I will be managing a timber harvest.  I recently had the corners surveyed, and today was just a matter of 'connecting the dots' and ribboning the boundaries.  The next step is to write up the management plan for review by the landowner.  I also received quite a few calls from potential buyers today.  It seems like the amount of buyer inquiries rise with the temperature.  If you have been looking to buy land, I think that this is a great year to do it.  The values are as good as I've seen them, and interest rates are also as low as I think they are going to get.  Combined with the vast array of properties to choose from, this is certainly the perfect time to find your piece of the U.P.  Owning property up here is truly something special.  I hope that your week is off to a great start. 
 
April 24th, 2011.  Happy Easter!  I hope that everybody had a great holiday weekend.  Friday night I stayed at the cabin.  We ended up getting several inches of snow that night, and lost power, so it ended up being a long cold night.  This weekend I put this acreage in the city of Houghton back on the market, and we also got the offer accepted on the house in Mohawk.  We spent Sunday at the in-laws and had a delicious dinner.  Right now I'm watching the Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL playoffs, and watching my ol' pal John Scott knocking people down as usual.  Time to get ready for a busy day tomorrow.  Have a good Monday!
 
April 21st, 2011.  I spent the morning communicating with some buyers looking to purchase some large acreage in the western U.P., so I'm looking forward to working on that.  In the afternoon I took pictures of a new residential listing on 40 acres just outside of Houghton.  I also put this 40 acre parcel back on the market at a new price.  Later on I drove up to Calumet to write an offer with a buyer on this residence in Mohawk.  Tonight we met friends for dinner at De La Terre in Lake Linden, and it was very good.  Every Thursday night you can get a free entree for dinner if your birthday is in that month.  Melissa has an April birthday, so she got a free dinner tonight.  Take care!
 
April 20th, 2011.  It was a pretty mild day.  I worked on some forestry paperwork in the morning hours, and then spent the afternoon at the real estate office.  I entered a 40 acre parcel onto the MLS, and made some other listing appointments for Thursday.  Buyer inquiries are still coming in, and it is shaping up to be a very good year.  Landon is so close to walking now, I think it could happen any day.  He can stand up on his own for 5 seconds or so, but then he decides that he can get places faster by crawling.  It is a good thing we 'child-proofed' our house, because he gets into everything.  I'm looking forward to a busy day tomorrow.  Have a great day!
 
April 19th, 2011.  This morning I got the wheels turning on a couple of upcoming closings.  I'm also working on a few new upcoming listings.  This afternoon we had Landon's one year doctor's appt, and everything went well.  We got the green light to change his carseat around to forward facing, so we took him for a ride tonight.  He really seemed to enjoy the new perspective.  He babbled all the way home.  I see on the webcam that the turkeys have still been showing up, so that is fun to watch.  Have a nice day!
 
April 18th, 2011.  Today was Landon's 1st birthday!  Our lives sure have changed since he was born.  Today we got a deal together on this waterfront property near Chassell, as well as some additional frontage available, so congrats to the buyers and seller.  You may recall I recently sold a 9 acre parcel between Lake Linden and Gay.  Now the seller is going to sell another 9 acre parcel east of the one I just sold.  You can see the listing here.  We already lost a bit of our snow today, so hopefully we'll get back to some springlike conditions.  Take Care!
 
April 17th, 2011.  It went from spring back to winter here in the Keweenaw.  We received plenty of snow over the weekend, and it looks like we have went back to March.  Oh well, hopefully the snow will leave as fast as it came.  I entered in a few new listings on Friday, including this fantastic affordable waterfront in Keweenaw County.  I have no doubt that this one will sell.  Today I have been trying to get a deal together on some waterfront in Chassell Township.  The buyers have been having a hard time making up their mind today, so we'll see what happens and hope for the best.  Oh, and I almost forgot, Friday I got an offer accepted on this foreclosed lot on Portage Lake.  It is always good to be busy.  Hope that you all had a great weekend.
 
April 14th, 2011.  This morning I was out near Gay in Sherman Township showing a 25 acre parcel.  We spent lots of time getting a detailed look at the land, and checking out all of the property corners and boundaries.  It was a good showing.  After that I stopped out to check on my timber harvest going on near Bootjack.  The job is almost complete, and I'm very happy with how everything looks.  Responsible forestry is a beautiful thing.  This afternoon we closed on my 154 acre listing on Cliff Drive near Mohawk.  Congratulations to seller Clinton and buyer Mike.  The new buyers are a great fit for the land.  Tonight I drove up to Lake Bailey to take pictures and put up signs on some nice waterfront that I am listing for a very aggressive price.  I'll have the details up and running by Monday.  Speaking of new listings, here is great rental house in Houghton that is licensed for six tenants, and has parking for all six, which can be hard to find in Houghton.  Long day, drove over 150 miles, and got a lot done.  Enjoy your Friday!
 
April 13th, 2011.  Busy day.  Looked at a nice house on 40 acres that I will be listing just outside of Houghton.  In the afternoon I looked at another beautiful home south of Houghton that I'm hoping to list.  Both houses look very saleable.  We also got the offer accepted on my foreclosure listing in Hancock, so it is nice to have that together.  Also, here is beautiful waterfront log cabin that I just put on the market yesterday.  It is the perfect north country get-a-way.  Anyhow, it is getting late, and I'm still loading up some GPS coordinates for some vacant land showings in the morning.  The Detroit Red Wings started their playoff series tonight, so go Red Wings!
 
April 12th, 2011.  Another beautiful day in the north country.  This morning I went out the cabin for a couple of hours, which was probably a bad idea, as I didn't want to leave.  I really need to pick a day to spend out there soon.  In the afternoon we got an offer on my new listing on Emma Ave in Hancock, which I'm thinking will be accepted.  After closing the office tonight, I had a showing on this waterfront home in Lake Linden.  We recently reduced the price, which seemed to stimulate some interest.  Have a great day!
 
April 11th, 2011.  What started off as a windy and rainy morning, ended up being a beautiful and sunny day.  As you can see on 'pic of the day', I had some new wildlife show up on the webcam that I've never seen before.  Wild Turkeys have made their way into the area, so that was really fun to watch.  Hopefully they'll stick around for awhile.  Tonight I had a good showing on this home in Mohawk.  We'll see what happens.  By the way, here is a new listing just outside of Houghton.  This is a nice parcel of land in a great location, with a very affordable price.  I hope that your week is off to a great start.  Take Care.
 
April 10th, 2011.  It was a nice warm weekend here in the Keweenaw.  I watched Landon all day Saturday while Melissa went shopping in Marquette with her Mom and Sister.  I've actually come down with a minor cold.  I never knew how often you could sick until you have a child in daycare for part of the week.  Anyhow, we're losing snow fast, and summer seems like it is slowly heading our way.  I hope that you had an enjoyable weekend. 
 
 
April 8th, 2011.  The weather was beautiful today!  It was sunny and the temps reached the 60's in our area.  I spent the entire morning in the woods, which I always enjoy.  I was taking inventory and measurements for a new upcoming timber harvest.  After that I was in the office until after 7:00.  We are still in negotiations trying to get a deal together on my Portage Lake waterfront listing.  I also met with a seller and got the listing paperwork signed on a new log cabin on Rice Lake.  It was a productive day, and I'm looking forward to spending the day with Landon tomorrow.  I hope you get out and enjoy the outdoors this weekend!
 
April 8th, 2011.  The weather was beautiful today!  It was sunny and the temps reached the 60's in our area.  I spent the entire morning in the woods, which I always enjoy.  I was taking inventory and measurements for a new upcoming timber harvest.  After that I was in the office until after 7:00.  We are still in negotiations trying to get a deal together on my Portage Lake waterfront listing.  I also met with a seller and got the listing paperwork signed on a new log cabin on Rice Lake.  It was a productive day, and I'm looking forward to spending the day with Landon tomorrow.  I hope you get out and enjoy the outdoors this weekend!
 
April 7th, 2011.  Busy day.  I wrote an offer on this Portage Lake waterfront lot this morning, now we're just waiting for a response from the seller.  After lunch I showed this foreclosed house in Hancock that has been getting a ton of showings.  We ended up writing an offer on the spot, but it was rejected.  One thing I've learned in real estate is that you can list a property for an incredibly low price, and people still want to come in lower.  I think it is more of a mental thing for buyers.  Sometimes even full price is a great deal.  After that I had to hurry off for a showing on this waterfront property in Chassell Township.  The showing went very well, and hopefully I'll be writing an offer with the buyers.  Tonight I drove out to Hermit's Cove near Gay to look at a Lake Superior Cottage that I may be listing.  I covered quite a few miles today, but it is always good to be busy.  Enjoy your Friday!
 
April 6th, 2011.  Today I took pictures of a rental house that I'm listing in Houghton.  I also already had a buyer come along for a preview of the place.  I spent the majority of the rest of the day and night working on income taxes, blah.  By the way, the Portage Canal is mostly open now, so it is nice to see the water, rather than ice.  Also, there is a new poll question for you to vote on.  I hope that you had a great day!
 
April 5th, 2011.  This morning we closed on the cabin on the Silver River, so congrats to Josh buyer and Joe seller.  In the afternoon I met with a landowner and signed an agreement to manage a timber harvest on a 57 acre parcel in Baraga county.  Tonight I had a showing on this house outside of Atlantic Mine.  Landon is getting so close to walking.  He stood without holding himself a couple of times tonight, and then laughs his little head off.  He sure is something.  Enjoy that bald eagle cam, it is very nice this year!
 
April 4th, 2011.  It was a busy day trying to get caught up from missing last Thursday and Friday.  The Bald Eagle Nest Cam is back!  I can see two brand new eaglets in the nest getting fed as we speak.  For future reference, you can use the link on the left side of the homepage under "webcams".  I hope you'll enjoy watching it as much as I do.  Take Care!
 
April 3rd, 2011.  April is here, but it sure feels like winter.  Much of Michigan received some snowy weather today.  We made the 450 mile drive back from the lower peninsula today.  They had a very nice service for Grandma Mabelle, and it was nice to remember all of the fun times we had growing up.  It was a quick trip, and I have plenty of work to do right off the bat this week.  By the way, I recently listed this foreclosed home in Hancock.  This is a hot property right now, as we are getting several showing requests on it, but no offers yet.  I predict an accepted offer by the end of this week.  I hope that you all had a nice weekend!
 
March 30th, 2011.  It was a busy day as I was rescheduling several appointments.  I wrapped up a forest management plan I wrote for a landowner to enroll his property in the Qualified Forest Property Tax Exemption Act.  We are pretty much packed up to head downstate in the morning in preparation for Grandma Mabelle's funeral.  We'll be back on Sunday, and I'll check back in with you after our 1,000 mile drive.  Have a good weekend! 
 
March 29th, 2011.  We were sad to learn today that my great grandma, Mabelle Preston, passed away at age 102.  She was an amazing lady, and she will be missed.  I will be very busy tomorrow making work arrangements so that we can hit the road for lower Michigan on Thursday morning.  Take care.
 
March 28th, 2011.  We're all excited that April is almost here!  Today I sent out some listing agreements, and mailed out some timber payments.  I also met with a seller today to discuss some plans for her property.  The meeting went well, and I'm looking forward to the project.  Tonight Melissa and I went to look at another house, but it was a 'no' for us.  I hope that your week is off to a good start! 
 
March 27th, 2011.  Michigan Tech came up short in the National Championship, but they sure had a successful and memorable season, so a big congrats to them.  Friday we closed on a small parcel on Copper Harbor, so congrats to Kirk on the purchase.  Saturday morning I went down to an 'inspection' of sorts on my pending sale on the Silver River.  I had to hurry back to Houghton for a home showing at 11:30.  Sunday I walked a 58 acre parcel that I will be listing, as well as possibly managing a timber harvest, so I'm looking forward to seeing where that goes.  Time for an extra busy week.  Hope your weekend was fun!
 
March 25th, 2011.  Right now we are watching Michigan Tech play in the National Championship.  I sure hope they can bring the trophy back home to the U.P., but either way they have had a great season.  This morning I showed a handful of houses in Mohawk, Bumbletown, and Calumet.  In the afternoon, I used my snowmobile to get buyers up to the top of this 154 acre parcel in Keweenaw county.  We ended up hiking to one of the highest points in the area.  The snow is so hard packed now that you don't even need snowshoes.  That was definitely one of the most beautiful properties I've ever seen.  Time to get back to the game.  Go Huskies!!
 
March 24th, 2011.  Go Tech!  The women's basketball team won last night, advancing to the first national championship game in school history.  They will play Friday night at 8 pm (EST) on ESPN2.  Today I drove down (then up) to Point Abbaye to show this waterfront parcel.  It is such a beautiful property, and the showing went pretty well.  Speaking of waterfront, I still think that this parcel in Chassell Township is one of the best deals out there.  Somebody better snatch this one up.  Tonight I went towards Oskar (yes that is how it is spelled) to look at a parcel of land that I'll be listing.  Time to get ready for an extra busy today tomorrow.  Have a great Friday!
 
March 23rd, 2011.  Congratulations to the Michigan Tech Women's basketball team who defeated Arkansas Tech last night, and have now advanced to the 'final four'.  You can watch them play tonight (wednesday night) on ESPNU at 9:30 pm.  Go Huskies!  Today was very productive.  I got pictures and measurements on a house I'm listing in Hancock.  I'm also working on listing a beautiful cabin on Rice Lake.  Tonight I loaded up my Polaris for a showing tomorrow out on Point Abbaye.  I have no idea how much snow will or won't be out there, but I'll be prepared either way.  Take care!
 
March 22nd, 2011.  I sent out a purchase agreement today for the cabin on the Silver River, I'm just waiting to get the signatures back.  I also found out that I'll be listing a house in Hancock this week as well.  Right now I'm waiting for a guy from Marquette to show up to look at my Arctic Cat.  I recently put my old snowmobile back up for sale, and this guy seems pretty serious.  Hopefully he likes it.  Have a great day!
 
March 21st, 2011.  I feel like I'm pretty well caught up.  I spent most of the day following up on e-mails and phone calls.  I see that they are predicting 10 inches of snow or more this week, which would be great.  I hope we get it.  Melissa and I went and checked out a house tonight, but it wasn't for us.  The search continues.  Let it snow!
 
March 20th, 2011.  Today I made the long drive back from lower Michigan.  It feels great to be home, and I've already been fielding calls and e-mails for upcoming listings/showings.  It is actually snowing pretty heavily here right now.  The more it snows the happier I'll be, as I need to show some acreage this weekend that would be most accessible by snowmobile, this time of year.  Landon was sure excited so see me, as I was to see him and Melissa.  Time to get back to work.  I hope your weekend was a good one. 
    
March 18th, 2011.  I hope that everybody had a great week.  I was gone for a couple of days to Grand Rapids, Michigan.  I went to a filming for Michigan Out of Doors big buck night, and everything went great.  It was fun to see all of those nice bucks.  Next week is going to be busy.  Have a great weekend!
 
March 15th, 2011.  Melissa and I have been keeping our eyes open for a new house of our own, so this morning I looked at one that caught our eye, but I think I'm going to keep looking.  You'd think that since real estate is my career, it would be easy for me to find a house, but I can certainly understand why it is such a difficult decision for many buyers.  We officially got the deal together on this pole building with acreage near Jacobsville, so congrats to my sellers.  In the afternoon I had showings near L'anse and Skanee, and they went pretty well.  There is a new poll question for you to vote on.  Take Care!
 
March 14th, 2011.  This morning I went out to the timber harvest I'm managing near Lake Linden, and everything is moving along nicely.  Hopefully the ground stays frozen for a couple more weeks.  We are slowly but surely losing our snow cover.  After that I looked at a cabin on Rice Lake for a potential listing.  Tonight I went to the NCAA women's Division II Regional Final hosted here in Houghton.  The #1 seed Michigan Tech Huskies were victorious, and will now be moving onto Missouri to play in the "Elite 8" quarterfinal, so a big congrats to them.  They really have a great basketball program at Michigan Tech.  I hope that your week is off to a great start. 
 
March 13th, 2011.  Did you remember to set your clock ahead one hour?  I know a lot of people aren't looking forward to waking up an hour earlier tomorrow.  At least we have an extra hour of daylight.  Sunday I took another call on my Silver Road Cabin listing, and ended up running down to L'anse to show it.  I am writing an offer with the buyer tomorrow morning.  On the way home, I stopped at a 40 acre parcel in Baraga Township to take forestry measurements and pictures so I can write a management plan in order to place the property in QFA (Qualified Forest Act).  QFA is a great program where if you own at least 20 vacant, wooded acres in Michigan, you are likely to qualify for the program.  The short version is that a qualifed forester works with you to write a management plan for your property, and in return, you will realize a very nice discount on your property taxes.  The best part about QFA is that you do not have to allow any public access on your property, as you would with the more common CFA designation.  You can learn more about QFA by clicking this link.  I am certifed to write these plans, and would be happy to answer any questions that you may have.  I hope you had a great weekend!
 
March 11th, 2011.  It was a sunny day today.  This morning we had some office pictures taken, as we have recently added a couple of new agents.  In the afternoon we closed on my 9 acre listing near Lake Linden, so congrats to Bill and Gene.  Today I received an offer on this beautiful 10 acres with a pole building, we'll see if it comes together.  Good luck to the girl's Michigan Tech Huskies basketball team tonight, as they have started playing in the tournament.  Last I heard they were winning, so it is looking good.  Hope your weekend is a good one.
 
March 10th, 2011.  It sure was a busy day, right now it is after 8:00 pm, and I haven't stopped working yet today.  This morning I opened up the office, and then after lunch I drove to Calumet, as well as Painesdale, to take a pics of a couple of potential future listings.  I made an appointment to show my Silver Road cabin next Tuesday.  I get lots of inquiries on that property, and I'm ready to sell it.  I also reduced the price on this nice lodge with acreage near Covington.  Tonight I also drove to Bootjack to take pics of a home for a Broker's Price Opinion that I'm completing for a bank.  Time to get ready for another busy day tomorrow.  Cya!
 
March 9th, 2011.  This morning I put the signs up on the Laurium foreclosure listing.  I'm communicating with a few different buyers right now on some of my listings, and I'm looking forward to putting the next deal together.  Here is a major price reduction on one of my residential waterfront listings near Chassell.  Also, I wanted to thank Rebecca for her donation towards the feeding of the deer.  It is very much appreciated, especially by the deer.  Have a good day!
 
March 8th, 2011.  Just another day of answering e-mails and phone calls.  Here is my new foreclosure listing in Laurium.  This house sold for 69K in 2003, and is now on the market for $34,900.  It is already going to be shown twice tomorrow.  The price reflects some needed TLC, but it is still a fantastic value.  Landon is growing and growing.  He can now pull himself up to a standing position on the side of the couch or chair.  I'm sure he'll be walking before we know it.  Take Care!
 
March 7th, 2011.  Greetings from 'up north'.  I hope that your week is off to a good start.  It felt good to get back to work today.  I put a foreclosed home on the MLS today, and the price is right.  It hasn't even hit the websites yet and I'm already getting e-mails about it.  I'll be able to post details tomorrow.  Also, I forget to mention that I already got an accepted offer on this 154 acre parcel that I just listed last week near Mohawk, so that is great news.  We did a little family grocery shopping trip tonight, and Landon sure seemed to enjoy taking in all the sights.  There is a new poll question for you to vote on.  Have a good day! 
 
March 6th, 2011.  We had a great time this weekend.  The only work I had on Friday was a closing on an 80 acre parcel in Ewen, so congrats to Rob and Jenny on finalizing their retirement dream.  Saturday Melissa and I went up to Copper Harbor with my cousin Marcus and his girlfriend.  It was a busy time in Copper Harbor, as they were having the CopperDog 150 dog race.  Lots of people were in the village, as well as competitors from all over the country, as well as some from Canada.  We rented a cabin at the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge, and unloaded our snowmobiles on site.  We rode them up Brockway Mountain, and eventually made our way to Lac La Belle.  Lac La Belle was super busy as well, with the Mount Bohemia Ski Resort hosting their annual Mardi Gras weekend.  We made our way back to the harbor before dark for dinner at the Mariner North.  Sunday we ended up riding our sleds down to Twin Lakes for lunch, and then back home.  As you can imagine, we are going to sleep good tonight after all that fun and cold air.  There is lots to do in the Keweenaw if you just get out there and do it!
 
March 3rd, 2011.  I opened up the office today, and eventually went to a closing.  We closed on a cabin with some acreage that I had listed in Houghton county, so congrats to the seller.  I'm still waiting to get the signatures back on the purchase agreement that I sent out yesterday.  Tonight Melissa went to a birthday party for one of her friends, so it was just Landon and I hanging out here.  I just put him to bed.  I hope that Melissa is enjoying her well deserved break.  We are looking forward to my cousin Marcus and his girlfriend arriving tomorrow.  It should be a fun weekend.  Talk to you later...
 
March 2nd, 2011.  Is your March off to a good start?  This morning I went up to Laurium to take pictures of a foreclosed home that I will be putting on the market soon.  Tonight I sent out a purchase agreement on one of my new listings, I'm just waiting to get the signatures back.  There is no doubt now that real estate is really moving in 2011.  That is good news for everybody.  Landon is cracking me up.  Once he figures out how to make a new sound, he just keeps doing it louder and louder.  Funny stuff.  It is hard to believe that next month he will be one year old!  What a fun journey it has been so far.  Take care.
 
March 1st, 2011.  March is here!  Today was mostly filled with paperwork for this week's closings.  I'm pleased to show you this unique piece of property in Keweenaw County.  I find this to be a very special listing, and I'm looking forward to selling it.  I'm always excited to list something extra nice, especially when the price is right.  Also, I just found out that my cousin Marcus is coming up this weekend to visit us with his girlfriend, so we are looking forward to spending some time with them.  Have a great day!
 
February 28th, 2011.  It was a busy start to the week.  I'm getting everything wrapped up for two more closings this week, and got a new listing entered into the MLS.  There is a misconception that real estate doesn't move up here in the winter, but if you've followed my journal for awhile, you know that I'm always keeping busy.  You can tell winter is ever so slowly moving on, as it is staying light outside until after 7:00 pm now.  Time to get ready for another day.  Cya!
 
February 27th, 2011.  February is almost here and gone.  March means springtime for many areas, but here in the Keweenaw, it usually takes quite a bit longer to make the transition.  Saturday I went and took pictures of a couple of new listings.  Sunday I started working on my income taxes (fun, fun).  I'm laughing as I'm typing this.  Landon is in his jumper, and boy does he like to jump.  This kid is going to be a handful once he starts walking/running.  I hope that everybody has a great week! 
 
February 25th, 2011.  It got really cold today, and it is snowing pretty good right now, which is just fine with me.  We officially closed today on a 120 acre parcel in Baraga county, so congrats to Tom & Marilyn.  Later in the day I measured up and took pics of a house in Copper City that I am listing.  I also went up to my new 160 acre listing in Allouez Township to take pictures.  Speaking of new listings, here is newly listed 38 acre parcel near Lake Superior in Ontonagon county.  The nicely wooded property also has a creek running through it.  Anyhow, another week is here and gone.  I have some work to do this weekend as usual, and I hope that you enjoy your weekend. 
 
February 24th, 2011.  This morning I entered in a new listing for 38 acres just outside of Ontonagon.  I'll post the details tomorrow.  In the afternoon, I drove down to Ewen to close on a house with 80 acres.  Congratulations to Rob & Jennifer, I'm really happy for you guys.  Tonight I picked up a Lobster Pizza from the Ambassador for dinner, yum!  Have a great day!
 
February 23rd, 2011.  Today was a good day.  I listed the 160 acre Keweenaw county parcel that I mentioned yesterday.  This is truly a unique parcel, I can't wait to get the pictures to show you.  I also got the wheels turning on listing two different homes up north of here.  I'm all set for a closing in Ewen tomorrow.  It seems like this month is going by fast.  Take Care!
 
February 22nd, 2011.  Sunshine always makes for a beautiful day up here.  After spending the morning in the office, I drove my snowmobile out to the timber harvest that I am managing by Lake Linden.  Everything is looking great.  We're losing a bit of snow, and I actually hope that we get quite a bit more.  Lack of snow isn't very helpful to most aspects of our economy up here in the winter.  I made an appointment tomorrow to list a very special 160 acre parcel, I'm looking forward to it.  Have a good one!
 
February 21st, 2011.  This morning our friends Ross and Amanda had their baby girl, Madeline, so a huge congratulations to them.  I went to the hospital to meet the new addition, and she sure was cute.  It is hard to believe that babies start out so small, and then grow so fast.  Other than that, it was just an office day.  I e-mailed out some listing paperwork for a great rental house in Houghton that will be hitting the market soon.  I received five different buyer inquiries via e-mail today.  It is great to see the busy start to this year continue.  I hope your week is off to a great start. 
 
February 20th, 2011.  I hope that everybody had a great weekend.  Other than getting stood up for a showing in L'anse today, I had a pretty nice weekend.  Saturday I had a showing on this spotless house near Lake Linden.  Later that day, Melissa's mom watched Landon for a few hours, and Melissa and I went for about a 30 mile snowmobile ride around the Copper Country.  She hasn't ridden with me for a couple of years, so that was fun.  Now I'm getting geared for another productive week.  Keep the 'pics of the day' coming!  Thanks! 
 
February 18th, 2011.  It was WINDY!  I didn't sleep good last night, as the wind was howling like crazy.  Lots of areas lost power today.  It seems to be calming down now, however.  We had our closing today on a 10 acre parcel near Tapiola, so congrats to the buyer and sellers.  I hope you've been enjoying the 'bear den cam'.  It has been really interesting to watch this winter.  Have a great weekend, I'll be out showing property, which is always enjoyable.  Take Care!
 
February 17th, 2011.  I'm all set for a closing tomorrow.  Everybody has still been getting out and enjoying the warmer temps.  It is funny to me how if the temps get down in the 40's in the fall, people dress like it is winter, but when the temps get in the 40's this time of year, people are wearing shorts.  We visited some friends tonight and had a fantastic dinner.  Landon sure is growing, I need to get some updated pics of him on here to show you soon.  Enjoy your Friday!
 
February 16th, 2011.  I can't ever recall seeing temperatures this warm in February!  There were areas up here today that hit 60 degrees!  People were out and about walking and jogging in shorts and t-shirts.  Unfortunately I was stuck in the office all day, getting everything finalized for three upcoming closings.  Enjoy this weather while you can.  Also, there is a new poll question for you to vote on.  Have a great day!
 
February 15th, 2011.  It was another nice day in the Keweenaw.  I'm still getting a good amount of e-mails from potential buyers.  I scheduled two different closings next week, which is always great.  Tomorrow I'll be preparing closing statements for both transactions.  I've also got a couple of forestry plans that I need to get started on shortly.  I hope the weather is nice where you are!  It seems like even the slightest warm spells tend to increase buyer activity in real estate.  Sunshine just puts people in a good mood.  Take Care! 
 
February 14th, 2011.  The warmer temperatures are very nice.  We officially got the deal together on one of my residential listings in Hancock, so that is great news.  Today I did a BPO just outside of Houghton.  A 'BPO' is a Broker's Price Opinion.  These are typically ordered by lenders/mortgage companies when they are entering a foreclosure situation, and they need to know what value the house may sell for.  Anyhow, I hope that you had a good Valentine's Day.
 
February 13th, 2011.  Saturday was sunny and beautiful.  I drove up to Copper Harbor and met my buyers who are interested in this stunning property on Brockway Mountain.  Taking them on the snowmobile was a lot fun, and we did lots of snowshoeing on the mountain.  It was a great showing.  Sunday was nice and warm, and I spent some time at the cabin with my wife and son.  You may notice that I removed the 'Chat' feature for now, simply because of lack of interest.  I guess I'm not much fun to talk to ;)  Have a great week!
 
February 11th, 2011.  We officially got the deal accepted on this 80 acre parcel in Ewen, so congrats to all involved.  The streets of Houghton were full of people and cars today, as Winter Carnival is kicking into gear.  I've heard that the statues are outstanding this year, so be sure to check them out if you are in the area.  Speaking of that, does anybody have a good pic of a Winter Carnival ice sculpture?  If so, please e-mail it to me at josh@statewideofhoughton.com, and I'll post it on 'pic of the day' for everybody to enjoy.  I have my snowmobile all loaded up and ready for some Keweenaw county showings tomorrow.  Have a great weekend!
 
February 10th, 2011.  I'm keeping busy.  It is looking like we should get the house deal together in Sylvan Estates, and I also have a deal going on 80 acres that I'm hoping comes together.  Tonight we went out to the cabin to plow snow, and there was way more snow than we expected!  There was probably 20 inches of new snow on the ground.  Anywhere else in the country, 20 inches of snow would be considered a FEMA disaster.  In the Keweenaw, 20 inches of snow is considered a long Thursday afternoon.  Take Care!
 
February 9th, 2011.  The temperatures this February have been very cold, but the real estate market has been pretty hot.  I received another offer today, this time on one of my residential listings in Hancock.  We are making a counter offer, and I'm optimistic that we'll get the deal together.  I've been getting maps and GPS coordinates ready for a weekend of showing land in the northern end of Keweenaw County.  Some properties are only accessible by snowmobile this time of year, but I'm always ready for an adventure.  I hope that you are staying warm!
 
February 8th, 2011.  I got both of my land division applications approved, so we can move towards closing on a couple of deals.  Today I also made progress towards listing a very productive rental house in Houghton.  Landon continues to grow quickly.  Now he has started pulling himself up to a standing position whenever he feels like it.  I lowered his mattress in the crib all the way down so he can't climb out.  It is going to seem strange when he starts walking.  Have a nice day!
 
February 7th, 2011.  In Michigan, we were all back to work today.  I'm guessing that many people in Wisconsin may have taken the morning off.  We officially closed on 'Ye Ole Cottage Shop' in Copper Harbor, so congrats to the buyers and sellers.  So here is my new residential listing with sunset views over Torch Lake.  This house is spotless, and shows very well.  Tonight I went out to fill the deer feeder, and the cold temperatures have it acting up again, even though I have ran electric heat to it.  I guess I'll just have to feed them manually until we get out of these single digit temperatures.  Hope your week is off to a great start!
 
February 6th, 2011.  Congratulations to the Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers!  I know that many of you are fans.  This weekend we got the deal together on my cabin/acreage listing, so congrats to the seller.  You've probably noticed that I finally got the 'Donate' feature up and running underneath the deer cam.  If you check out the 'Help feed a U.P. deer' link on the left, you'll see that there is another method to donate this year.  If you don't wish to use the 'Donate' button, you can simply call Erickson's Feed & Seed, and purchase deer pellets right over the phone, tell them it is for me, and they will hold them for me.  Just shoot me an e-mail if you do it that way, and I'll know to go pick up the pellets.  It feels good to help these deer make it through our brutal winters.  Time for another busy week, and congrats to you Packer Fans!
 
February 3rd, 2011.  It was a pretty nice day today.  Temps in the high 20's seem warm this time of year.  I had lots to do in the office today.  I prepared for a closing tomorrow, completed two different land division applications, and I still have two deals in the works that I'm still trying to get together.  Tonight I went out and listed a very nice house near Lake Linden with beautiful views.  I'll load it onto the MLS in the morning.  Here is a new 10 acre parcel just outside of Ewen.  It also available as 20 acres.  Do you have plans for the Super Bowl?  You can answer that by voting on the newest poll question.  Have a great day! 
 
February 2nd, 2011.  Today was a paperwork day.  We officially got the deal together on the 10 acres near Tapiola, so congrats to all involved.  I started in on a land division application for the property I'm selling in Sherman Township, and also entered in a couple of new land listings near Ewen.  I saw on the news today that many areas south of here are really getting pounded with nasty weather.  I hope that everybody was able to stay safe.  Drive slow!
 
February 1st, 2011.  January is here and gone, and was a great month.  My showing in Skanee today got cancelled, so I decided to try out my new snowmobile.  I drove it out to my timber harvest today, to check on everything out there.  Everything looks great, and the deer are taking advantage of all the fallen tops.  It is nice to be helping the deer through the winter.  I ended up driving the sled about 50 miles today, and it performed great.  It was especially good in the deep powder, which is what I was looking for.  I've also received a couple of e-mails recently, asking how people can donate to help feed the deer again this winter.  I'll get it set back up on the website soon, with a new twist this year.  Have a great day!
 
January 31st, 2011.  Today was my third day in a row with a new purchase agreement.  We received an offer on a cabin with 10 acres that I have listed.  We are currently working on coming to an agreement.  I also got the offer accepted on the deal I wrote yesterday, so congrats to Bill and Gene.  I found the type of snowmobile that I was looking for this morning, and bought it.  I'm looking forward to taking it riding once I get the time.  I hope that your week is off to good start!
 
January 30th, 2011.  If the first month of 2011 is any indication of how the rest of the year will be for real estate, we are in for a great year.  Saturday I showed some acreage near Tapiola, and the buyer ended up writing a cash offer.  Sunday I snowshoed some acreage in Keweenaw county with a different buyer, and he also ended up writing a cash offer.  It sure is nice to have this much action in January.  Other than that I went to the Michigan Tech vs Wisconsin Badgers hockey game on Saturday night, but Michigan Tech just didn't seem to be on the same level as the Badgers.  I hope you had a great weekend.
 
January 28th, 2011.  Today we officially got the deal together on the 120 acre parcel with Sturgeon River, so congrats to my sellers.  The real estate buyers are very active right now.  I just got another call tonight for a vacant land showing on Sunday.  We had some friends over to our house for dinner tonight, and had a good time.  Have yourself a great weekend!
 
January 27th, 2011.  This morning I opened up the office, and real estate keeps rolling on.  I received an offer today on this 120 acre listing with Sturgeon River frontage.  I'm confident that we will get the deal together.  You may have noticed some new cords on the side of the deer feeder on the 'deer cam'.  Once I figured out that the electronics just don't function properly in the freezing temps, I ordered a small heater pad designed for warming up car batteries in cold climates.  So far is seems to be working like a charm.  The feeder has been dispensing the feed as it should be.  I did put my snowmobile on the market, check out pic of the day. 
 
January 26th, 2011.  Everybody in the office seems very busy for this time of year.  Here is the house in Ewen that we currently have under contract.  I need to get some pics of my snowmobile, which I am going to sell.  I've had it for about 4 years, and I'm ready to try something new.  I'll post some pics on here once I finally get around to it.  Maybe you or somebody you know will be interested?  Have a terrific Thursday!
 
January 25th, 2011.  I forgot to mention that we recently closed on the lake view lots in Centennial Heights, so congrats to Bob on that purchase.  It looks like the deal on the Ontonagon county house is coming together, so that is great news.  Tonight I looked at a potential listing near Lake Linden, and it turned out to be a very nice house with a view of Torch Lake.  Here is the nice house I recently listed in Sylvan Estates.  This is a great neighborhood, and the house is very, very nice.  Have a nice day!
 
January 24th, 2011.  This morning I entered my new house listing in Sylvan Estates onto the MLS.  I'm still working on the two offers that I wrote this weekend.  Lots of action on the bear den cam.  Last I knew there was the adult sow Lily, and her cub from last year sharing the den.  Now apparently Lily has had cubs already!  That makes four bears in the same den!  Also, some experts are listening to heartbeats, etc., and think that it is possible that there may be a third cub.  That is going to be a busy den.  By the way, I hope you have checked out the new 'live chat' link, I have already enjoyed chatting with those of you that have checked in.  Take Care!
 
January 23rd, 2011.  I know that many of you are excited that the Green Bay Packers have made it to the Super Bowl.  Now that the Lions are out, I'm cheering for them as well.  Saturday I had showings in Ontonagon County, and ended up writing an offer on a house, as well as some vacant land.  Hopefully we'll be able to get the offers accepted right away this week.  If you look on the left, you'll notice a new link "Chat Live With Josh".  When I am logged into the website (which is pretty often), you'll be able to chat with me, as well as each other.  When I'm not logged on, it will simply say that I'm offline.  I made it very easy for you, there is no need to register or anything, just type in your first name, and start chatting.  I look forward to talking with you about real estate, the outdoors, or whatever.  There is also a new poll question for you to vote on.  Have a great week!
 
January 20th, 2011.  We have lots of fresh snowfall, and much more to come.  I checked out the MLS statistics, and I was #1 in land sales for the entire U.P. in both the number of sales, and in overall volume.  I really want to thank those of you who I've done business with this last year, and in years passed.  I also hope to work with many more of you in the future.  I really enjoy what I do, and I think that anybody who has looked at real estate with me can notice that.  I'm currently working on a few price reductions, to give extra incentive to those people considering buying this winter.  Winter is a great time to find that perfect piece of land.  I've got an extra pair of snowshoes waiting for you.  Have a great weekend! 
 
January 19th, 2011.  The sun actually peeked out for a few minutes today, which was nice.  I know that many of you on here have been watching the bear den cam, and if you haven't, be sure to take a look at it.  Justin flew back to Atlanta today, and I got back to work.  We officially closed on two of my listings on Silver Road, so congrats to the buyers and sellers.  I've been having a few issues again with my deer feeder for the 'deer cam'.  When the temperatures get this low, the electronics just can't seem to function to disperse the food, even with new batteries.  We are going to look at running conventional power to the feeder, and using some 'heat tape' to see if we can get it to function more consistently.  In the meantime, I just have to keep making trips out to manually feed the deer.  Take Care!
 
January 18th, 2011.  The snow just keeps on falling.  Today I took Justin up to Copper Harbor, where we went to lunch, and visited some friends.  There were quite a few snowmobilers up there, considering that it was Tuesday, and it is extremely cold out.  I verbally struck a deal on one of my properties in Skanee today, and will mail out a purchase agreement tomorrow.  Have a great day!
 
January 17th, 2011.  It was a nice snowy morning in the northwoods.  Justin and I stayed out at the cabin last night.  I really like it out there in the winter.  I spent some time in the office today, scheduling some appointments for this weekend.  We also went out to my timber harvest today, and everything is looking great.  Winter is really the ideal time for logging operations.  I hope that your week is off to a great start.
 
January 16th, 2011.  Brr!  Temps in the single digits.  I actually just returned from being in Phoenix for a few days.  The weather was very nice out there, usually around 70 and sunny everyday.  It is good to be back in Michigan, I've got closings to get ready for this week.  My friend Justin is up from Atlanta for a few days as well.  Have a great week!
 
January 13th, 2011.  I hope that your week is going well.  I'm getting ready for three upcoming closings.  I'm also looking forward to my friend Justin arriving from Atlanta for a few days.  I recently dropped the price on this lot on Lake Medora, which is one of the nicest lakes in the U.P.  I'm hoping to get out ice fishing sometime yet this winter.  I did get the snowmobile going, which is a good first step.  Take Care!
 
January 11th, 2011.  Real estate is off to a pretty busy start this year.  I'm getting lots of buyer inquiries, and have four upcoming closings.  I have some great new listings that will be hitting the market soon.  I think many buyers are trying to take advantage of the interest rates while they are still so low.  I know of a buy that somebody should take advantage of.  Here is a great deal on some waterfront just south of Houghton.  Have a great day!
 
January 7th, 2011.  Snow, snow, and more snow!  Plenty of cars went in the ditch tonight, so hopefully there were no serious accidents.  The snow keeps coming down, and the roads are slippery.  We finally had our State Wide Office Christmas Party tonight, and a good time was had by all.  Now I need to get to bed because I have a showing in Copper Harbor in the morning.  I hope that the roads are decent by then.  Have a great weekend!
 
January 6th, 2011.  Did you check out the Bear Den Cam?  It is pretty fun to watch.  Today was mostly an office day, except for showing a house on Portage Street in Houghton.  Later in the afternoon I made a trip to keep the deer fed.  It was really cold out today!  The deer up here sure live through some harsh winter conditions.  I hope that your Friday goes well. 
 
January 5th, 2011.  Guess what!?  The bear den cam that was so popular last winter is back online!  You can click here, but for future reference you'll be able to use the link on the left under 'Webcams'.  Very cool webcam.  Today was very productive.  We officially got a purchase agreement together for the 'Ye Ole Cottage Shop' up in Copper Harbor, so congrats to everybody involved.  I got caught up today, and it feels great to be back on top of things.  Enjoy the Bear Den Cam!
 
January 4th, 2011.  It feels great to be home!  The roads were pretty good today, especially for this time of year.  Landon did about as well as could be expected for an infant riding in a car for 8 hours.  Now it is time to catch up on e-mails that I wasn't able to fully respond to over the last few days.  I hope that everybody had a good 2010, and I hope that 2011 is even better.  I was looking up sales statistics on our MLS, and I sold more in 2010 than I did in 2009, and it looks like that I'll be #1 in the U.P. again for vacant land.  Thank you very much to all of you that I have done business with.  I feel very thankful to be making a living in a challenging real estate market.  Lets make it a great year!
 
January 1st, 2011.  Happy New Year!  Right now we are still in lower Michigan, in Reed City at the moment.  We are at a nursing home visiting my great grandmother Mabelle, who just celebrated her 102nd birthday, and is doing very well.  They had a computer here at the facility, and I had a few extra minutes, so I thought I'd check in.  I've been getting several e-mails about properties, as well as voicemails while I've been down here, so I've been answering them as fast as I can, with limited internet and cell access.  I've learned in my job, if I want buyers to start calling, all I need to do is leave town, it seems like that is always the way it goes, lol!  Anyhow, we have more people to visit while we are down here, and then hopefully we'll have good roads when we had back early this week.  Hope you had a great holiday weekend!
 
 
December 29th, 2010.  Today was busy and very productive.  This morning I drove up to Copper Harbor for a couple of showings.  I ended up writing a cash offer on one of my listings, and the sellers plan to accept it, so that is great news.  In the afternoon, we finally closed on a very large waterfront property on Lake Superior that I have been trying to sell for nearly three years.  Congratulations to the sellers, I appreciate your patience on that one.  The property was sold with a Conservation Easement, which means that the entire shoreline (over 1/4 mile) will always remain intact, and never be divided up and split, which is happening fast along our shores.  Great sale.  Now Melissa and I are finishing up our packing for heading to the family farm tomorrow.  I will check in when I get a chance down there, but 'pic of the day', and everything else will be updated daily.  Have a great 'New Year's'!
 
December 28th, 2010.  Another nice day in the Keweenaw.  I've been getting a few e-mails from potential buyers looking for property, which is always nice.  I've also been getting many nice e-mails from new visitors who are enjoying the website.  Tonight we met up with a large group of friends at the Ambassador for pizza, and now I'm ready for a busy day tomorrow.  Hope you have a great day!
 
December 27th, 2010.  It was a beautiful day here in the western U.P.  The temps were somewhat warm, and it was nice and sunny.  I spent the morning in the office, working on some strategies to get some of my listings sold this winter.  In the afternoon I went out to fill the deer feeder and change the battery.  While I was doing it, a buck approached me, and eventually got within 5 yards of me.  Check out 'pic of the day' to see the culprit.  I really enjoy helping to get these deer through the winter.  Take care!
 
December 26th, 2010.  Hopefully everybody out there had a great weekend.  We're ready for a short week of work, and then we'll be heading out to visit my family later in the week.  I still have some showings and a closing this week before I take off.  If you have any nice pics for 'pic of the day', please e-mail them to me at josh@statewideofhoughton.com.  Thank you!
 
December 24th, 2010.  Happy holidays from the Stein family!
 
December 23rd, 2010.  The U.P. roadways are getting busier, as people are starting to travel for the holidays.  Some are heading out, some are heading in, most to be with family and friends.  Pictures for the 'buck pole' keep rolling in, and I keep posting them for all of you hunters out there to enjoy.  We had Christmas Party Part One with the in-laws tonight, and enjoyed a good dinner.  I guess tomorrow I might as well do a little shopping.  Happy Holidays!
 
December 22nd, 2010.  Today we finalized and sent out the closing statements for an extra large waterfront parcel I'm selling in Baraga County.  Tonight we went up to Copper Harbor for an annual Christmas Party with several local friends up there.  If you live in Copper Harbor, you pretty much live as far 'up north' as you can get in Michigan.  We had a delicious dinner with prime rib, ham, and plenty of other sides and snacks.  I'm sure we'll all gain a few pounds over the next couple of weeks.  Have a good day!
 
December 21st, 2010.  I probably better start thinking about Christmas shopping soon.  This morning I put some more corn in the deer feeder, as well as some of the special deer pellets that give deer what they need to make it through the winter.  I mentioned that one of the bucks had dropped an antler, and this morning I found it on the ground beneath the feeder.  By the way, we just reduced the price on this 61 acre parcel right in the City of Houghton!  This is one of the last undeveloped properties in town.  It borders up to Wal-mart, as well as the Copper Country Mall.  Take Care!
 
December 20th, 2010.  I noticed on the deer cam today that one of the usual bucks has dropped an antler.  This is about the time of year when bucks will start shedding their antlers.  Speaking of deer on the deer cam, there is a new "poll question" for you to vote on.  I spent the day in the office, getting caught up, and getting ready for an upcoming closing.  It was a beautiful day out, still pretty cold, but it is always nice to see the sun shining up here in the winter.  Melissa had to work late tonight, so I got to pick up Landon from daycare, and feed him tonight, which was quite the messy affair, but fun.  I hope your Monday was a good one. 
 
December 19th, 2010.  Saturday morning I looked at a very nice house that I will be listing in Sylvan Estates in Hancock.  Today I was really excited when my Detroit Lions won their second straight game, and it was their first win on the road since 2007!  Landon is growing like a weed, and crawling all over the place.  We are lucky to have such a laughing, smiling, happy baby.  I've got plenty of work to get done this week before all of the holiday action.  Hope you had a nice weekend!
 
December 17th, 2010.  The snow if falling pretty heavy tonight.  It was slow going driving back from the cabin.  This morning I had a good showing on my 20 acre listing near Mass City, and then I also ended up showing the buyers a parcel of land near Bergland as well.  The buyers said that they had called four different real estate agents, as they wanted to look at land this weekend, and I was the only one who called them back.  Now I'm getting ready for a listing appointment tomorrow morning in Hancock.  Have a fantastic weekend!
 
December 16th, 2010.  Today I got a legal description for a 40 acre parcel that I will be listing near Ontonagon.  I also made an appointment to show 20 acres near Mass City tomorrow.  It is hard to believe that Christmas is almost here already.  I usually do my shopping the day before.  Have a nice Friday!
 
December 15th, 2010.  Good news today.  I've been working on a large waterfront deal for quite some time now, and we finally have it nailed down to close before the end of the year.  Congrats to the sellers and buyer.  My friend that helped me frame in the walls for the cabin a few years ago is up here visiting, and he hasn't seen the cabin since it was just plywood.  We went out there today, and it was fun for him to see the finished product.  We finally got back the results from the DNR wildlife biologist aging my buck, and he ended up being 5.5 years old, which is very old for a Michigan deer.  The 'buck pole' pics from other hunters keep rolling in, I'll try to keep posting them as soon as possible.  Take Care!
 
December 14th, 2010.  Today we got the deal together for a nice parcel of land in Skanee, so congrats to Kent!  I'd like to extend a welcome to some of you that are new visitors because of the TV6 story last night.  After the episode aired, I've received lots of nice e-mails from people that have never visited the site before.  I hope you will check everything out and enjoy it.  There has been lots of activity on the deer webcam, including some bucks hanging around throughout the day.  Have a great day!
 
December 13th, 2010.  Single digit temps made for a cold day.  I've got four deals in the works that I'm trying to wrap up before the end of the year.  Other than that, it has been somewhat quiet.  I've noticed this every year since I've started real estate.  When you get this close to the holidays, people have lots of other things on their mind, other than buying real estate.  The good news is that we often see a flurry of activity after the turn of the year.  Right now lots of my friends are getting ready to tune into TV6 to watch the story of my buck on "Discovering".  There was also an article in the Detroit Free Press, so I got quite a few e-mails from people that read it.  Thank you for all of the congratulations.  Try to stay warm!
 
December 10th, 2010.  The holidays are approaching quickly!  Here is the new listing near L'anse.  The property has 110 acres, a pole building, two cottages, and more.  One of the obvious keys to marketing properties, is maximizing the exposure.  My listing are already networked to well over 30 websites, that I know of, and now I will be able to more than double the exposure.  I've signed up with an agreement with 'Lands of America', and my listings will now reach more websites than ever.  Would you like your property to be accessible from websites such as "Field & Stream", "Outdoor Life", "Overstock.com", "Wal-Mart", and many, many more?  List with me!  Here is the complete list of the new added network.  I'm always looking for more ways to find that perfect buyer for your property.  Have a great weekend!
 
 
December 9th, 2010.  It was really cold this morning!  I went down to L'anse where I listed a 110 acre parcel with a nice cabin.  I should have the details posted on here tomorrow.  I sent out to purchase agreements today, one for the 2.5 acre parcel in Skanee, and one for three lakeview lots in northern Houghton county.  Tonight Melissa's sister watched Landon for a couple hours, and we went over to Ross and Amanda's house for dinner and a board game.  Have a great Friday!
 
December 8th, 2010.  Have you ever been to the Calumet Theatre?  If you haven't, you should!  It is beautiful, and has deep history.  Right now, it is in the running for a $250,000 grant from Pepsi to replace the leaking, deteriorated roof.  All you need to do is vote!  Click here, and then click on the icon that says 'vote for this idea'.  It will only take you 5 seconds, and can really help an important landmark here in the Keweenaw.  Thank you!
 
December 7th, 2010.  Snow and cold, winter is definitely here to stay.  I've got a couple of deals in the works that I'm still trying to get together.  Later today I met up with Buck Lavasseur from TV6 to do the interview with my deer.  It went well.  I showed him my website and videos, and he really liked them.  He will be posting my website address on the episode next Monday, so that should be good for site traffic.  If you enjoy the site, please share a link with a friend.  Have a good day!
 
December 6th, 2010.  Lake effect snow is really hitting us right now, it has been snowing pretty much all day and all night.  I heard that in some areas near Marquette they got about 18 inches.  I spent most of the day getting caught up in the office.  Pics and videos of my big buck have been circulating around the internet, and created a minor stir, which is kind of neat.  I talked with a guy from the Detroit Free Press today, and Buck Lavasseur from TV6 is coming out tomorrow to interview me with the deer to broadcast on his "Discovering" show on NBC.  Fun stuff.  Anyhow, try to stay warm, and I'll talk to you tomorrow. 
 
December 5th, 2010.  Friday night we had a good time at Melissa's work Christmas Party.  Saturday night I sat out in the cold snow and got a 15 point buck.  Feel free to check out the hunting journal for more details.  I'm a happy camper! 
 
December 2nd, 2010.  Today was cold and snowy, just the way I like it.  We had a closing today, so congrats to James and Camille.  In the afternoon I was out in the woods all day, making last minute preparations for muzzleloader season.  Soon, the snow will be too deep to get a vehicle near some of my spots.  I've updated the 'hunting journal', so check that out if you like.  I hope you are having a great week!
 
December 1st, 2010.  I spent the day in the office, and got a lot done.  I'm looking forward to getting the paperwork back to get a riverfront cabin on the market.  I don't know if any of you have seen this 'Elf Yourself' program from Office Max, but it is pretty funny.  I made a christmas clip of Melissa, Landon and I, and it is pretty hilarious.  Check it out here.  Happy holidays!
 
November 30th, 2010.  Bring in December!  Today was the last day of firearm deer season in Michigan.  I hunted with my cousin Marcus today, and he left for home tonight.  Time for me to get back to work.  I agreed to terms on a new listing tonight, I will get the paperwork going tomorrow.  Landon seems to be feeling better, and Melissa and I are still coughing occasionally, but definitely improving.  Have a nice day!
 
November 29th, 2010.  Can you believe that it is almost December?  Not too much work to do today, my cousin Marcus is still up, and we hunted nearly all day, so I answered e-mails on my iPhone from out in the woods.  We saw 61 deer today!  It was crazy.  Sorry that I haven't updated the hunting journal, but I will probably tomorrow night.  Gotta get to bed, we're getting up at 5:00 am. 
 
November 28th, 2010.  We've had some nice cold weather, and I like it.  Cousin Marcus drove up through some bad roads, but made it safely.  We stayed out at the cabin, and did some hunting.  Are you ready for Christmas?  Now that Thanksgiving is over, I'm sure you are hearing plenty of Holiday ads on TV.  Melissa already did a little shopping on 'Black Friday'.  Time for another week!
 
November 26th, 2010.  How was your Thanksgiving?  Hopefully everybody ate well and had a good time.  We really got snow and wind last night, and I spent a long time today digging out and cleaning off our vehicles.  My cousin Marcus is on his way up here right now to visit for a few days.  He may end up staying the night in Munising, as the weather is really bad coming across the U.P.  Enjoy your weekend, and drive carefully!
 
November 24th, 2010.  This morning I prepared a counter offer for a deal we are working on for two of my Silver River listing near L'anse.  After lunch I fixed the webcam, you may have noticed that it was down.  I did see a few deer on it today around 5:00, so that was cool.  I went hunting tonight, and posted a video, so check out the 'hunting journal'.  I hope that you have a great Thanksgiving!
 
November 23rd, 2010.  We have snow!  We woke up to quite a bit of it this morning.  I've been getting quite a few inquiries on land lately, which is great.  Today I mailed out a purchase agreement for this acreage outside of Lake Linden, I know that a few of you have been watching this one.  For those of you traveling for Thanksgiving, be safe, and enjoy visiting family/friends.  We will be having dinner with Melissa's family at her Uncle's house.  They always have a very good meal, and I'll also watch the Lions lose to the Patriots.  Take Care!
 
November 22nd, 2010.  We had some really yucky freezing rain today, so if you are out and about in the Keweenaw, please drive carefully.  Also, you ever notice how the first big snow storm of the year seems to have the most accidents?  Don't forget to totally change your driving habits for the winter weather.  Also, I know that the deer cam was kind of hit or miss for a couple of days, but it seems to be better now, and hopefully it will stay that way.  Now I just need deer to start showing up during daylight hours so we can watch them.  That should pick up as soon as we start getting significant snowfall.  Have a nice day!
 
November 21st, 2010.  Still sick!  Melissa and I are both on antibiotics, and can't wait to start feeling good again!  Little Landon hasn't been feeling so hot either.  It will be a short week of work, with Thanksgiving on Thursday.  If you are a deer hunter, be sure to check out 'the buck pole', as I've added several new pics sent in by successful hunters.  And don't forget, I'm also always looking for 'pics of the day', so keep them coming! 
 
November 18th, 2010.  I got quite a bit done today.  I was in Jacobsville first thing in the morning, taking a sign down for a property that I just sold.  After that, I stopped in at the timber harvest that I'm managing near Lake Linden.  Everything is off to a good start.  After that, I checked out a potential new listing on the Traprock River.  At 3:00 today we closed on the 20 acre parcel on Bootjack Road, so congrats to Caleb and Marci.  I finally went to the doctor tonight, and I have some sort of bacterial bronchitis, or something like that.  Anyhow, I'll get some antibiotics in the morning, and hopefully I can shake this thing.  This week went by fast!
 
November 17th, 2010.  Today I finally left the cabin and made it back home.  It felt good to shave my face and clean up.  I had to closings wrap up via mail, so congrats to Mario, as well as John on their recent purchases.  I spent the rest of the day in the office, closing out those files, and getting caught up on random paperwork.  I made myself a lenghty list of things that I need to get done tomorrow.  It should be a busy day.  Also, check out 'the hunting journal' for the latest deer video.  Take Care!
 
November 16th, 2010.  I'm tired of being sick.  I can't stop coughing and hacking, so I'll probably go to the doctor tomorrow to see if I need anti-biotics or whatever.  I've been trying to hunt the last couple of days, but haven't been seeing too much.  Time to get caught up with work, as I have three closings this week, and am exciting about putting a new house onto the market.  Have a good day!
 
November 14th, 2010.  Good luck to all of those heading out in the woods on Monday, and be safe!
 
November 12th, 2010.  By the way, we did get the deal together on the property on the Silver River.  I also got a deal together today for the 6 acre parcel near Jacobsville.  Today I got a listing agreement signed for a large house in Houghton.  I'm looking forward to getting it on the market.  Melissa is on her way back from Marquette from a shopping spree (hopefully not to much of one).  Just kidding, she is pretty frugal.  I have seriously been fighing a cold for almost a month, I don't know what is going on.  I've been coughing all day.  To all of you heading out to camp or in the woods for rifle season, good luck and be safe!
 
November 11th, 2010.  The unseasonably warm temperatures continue.  Considering that we had such an early spring, and no snow yet this fall, we've certainly went longer than usual without snow on the ground this year.  Today I made a few preparations for rifle season, and then went bowhunting for the rest of the evening.  There is a new poll question for you to vote on.  Enjoy your Friday!
 
November 10th, 2010.  Today was all work and no play.  This morning I had a listing appointment for a house in Houghton.  Everything went well, we just need to figure out an appropriate asking price, and it should be on the market soon.  In the afternoon we signed some papers in advance of a closing happening next Monday.  Later tonight, I had a second showing on my house listing in Lake Linden.  Second showings are always a good thing.  We'll see where it goes from here.  Enjoy the rest of the week!
 
November 9th, 2010.  I'm pretty sure that it hit 60 degrees in many areas today.  We are still counter offering back and forth on the Silver River property.  Today we finalized the closing statements for two upcoming closings.  Now it is just a matter of signing and cutting checks.  I made appointments for a potential listing, as well as showing tomorrow.  Landon has come down with his first cold, which isn't surprising, as Melissa and I have both been sick.  Other than being stuffy, he still seems pretty happy.  I hope that your week is going well!
 
November 8th, 2010.  Today was very warm for November.  I was up and out in the woods bright and early this morning.  I have a 160 acre timber harvest starting up near Lake Linden.  I got all of the property lines marked, and well as designating some specific cutting areas.  Later in the day I ended up receiving an offer on my vacant 10 acre listing on the Silver River near L'anse.  I'm thinking we should have no problem getting the deal together.  I did go hunting tonight, and got some nice footage.  After waiting 70 minutes for my HD video to upload to YouTube, the upload all of the sudden failed.  This means that I have to start over, and I'm not sure I'll be staying up to wait for it.  Keep checking the Hunting Journal, and I'll post the video as soon as I can get it to load.  Have a great day!
 
November 7th, 2010.  Saturday morning I had a showing on this waterfront home in Lake Linden that is getting lots of activity.  It is priced very aggressively, but needs plenty of remodeling on the inside.  Whoever is willing to do the work will be able to get a great deal.  Saturday night I went hunting.  I posted some video footage on the Hunting Journal, so be sure to check that out.  Today was spent up at the in-laws to celebrate my belated birthday, as well as my Mother-in-law's bday.  I also sighted in my rifle while I was up there, in preparation for firearm season which opens November 15th.  My Detroit Lions broke my heart today, losing in overtime.  It was horrible.  Anyhow, I plan on getting up bright and early tomorrow, as I have lots of work to do, and I hope to get it all done in time to go hunting.  I hope you remember to set your clocks back!
 
November 5th, 2010.  Today I checked the trail cameras on a few of my hunting spots, and there are some nice bucks making appearances at a couple of the spots.  Tonight I went hunting, and it was very cold.  I saw some deer, and got some footage, but I won't have time to post a new video until Sunday night.  I'm getting my stuff around for a showing tomorrow morning.  Enjoy your weekend!
 
November 4th, 2010.  They are calling for snow tonight, and I hope that we get it.  After my Dentist Appt this morning, I prepared statements for two upcoming closings.  I've still been fighting a cold, and I really felt run down today.  I took a nap, which is usually impossible for me, and even decided not to go hunting tonight, so you know I must not feel good!  Let is snow!
 
November 3rd, 2010.  This morning we had Landon's 6 month check up.  He is over 17 lbs now, and healthy in every way.  I just successfully rocked him to sleep, which was fun.  My showings today went well, now I'm just getting some questions answered for my buyer.  I have a property that you need to see.  This six acre property near Jacobsville has been reduced to $7500!  Quite a price reduction from $17,900.  The property is nice and dry, and has blacktop road frontage, power, phone, and lots of wildlife.  This is the best deal I know of right now.  I've actually talked to the seller, and if nobody buys this over the next few weeks, I will probably personally purchase it myself.  Anyhow, this is a great opportunity for somebody.  Have a nice day!
 
November 2nd, 2010.  Today was my friend Gary's last day up here.  We hung out at the cabin, and went hunting in the evening.  Now I'm getting ready to play catch up tomorrow.  I have two showings scheduled for tomorrow as well.  I made it back to town tonight, just in time to vote.  I hope you were able to vote as well.  I'm also looking forward to not getting political ads in mailbox every single day.  If we listened to those ads, we'd never be able to vote for anybody!  Talk to you tomorrow.
 
November 1st, 2010.  November is here!  This is a great time of year, I hope that we get some snow soon.  I spent the morning in the office, getting paperwork rolling for a couple of upcoming closings.  I was supposed to have showings in the afternoon, but my buyer was a no-show.  In my job, I get stood up several times a year.  Oh well.  I went hunting tonight, and saw a 6 pointer, and that was about it.  Right now I have a delicious snack tray of crackers, cheese, and salami in front of me, and I'm going to enjoy some Monday Night Football.  Happy November!
 
 
 
October 31st, 2010.  I hope that everybody had a good weekend.  My friend Gary and I stayed at the cabin, and got in a couple of hunts.  I videotaped a real nice buck on Friday night, so be sure to check out 'The Hunting Journal' to see the video.  Today was my 31st birthday.  I had a showing on my house listing in Lake Linden, and then we went out to get my free birthday dinner at the Ramada.  We also went bowling at the Mine Shaft, which was fun.  I actually beat Melissa one game, which hardly ever happens.  She is really good.  Anyhow, I think I'm supposed to be showing properties all day tomorrow, but I haven't heard back from the guy to confirm.  Have a great week!
 
October 28th, 2010.  It is pretty cold out right now, and supposed to be in the 20's tonight.  Today we finished up some projects on the tower deer blind.  We carpeted it, and insulated the walls.  Gary arrived tonight, and we had a nice dinner of venison and pork that was in the slow cooker all day.  I'm actually feeling under the weather right now.  I started feeling like I was getting a cold over the last couple of days, and I guess now I have one for sure.  I'm kind of surprised since I just got over being sick a couple of weeks ago.  Hopefully this one doesn't last long.  Take Care!
 
October 27th, 2010.  I saw something today that I haven't seen in awhile....snow!  It didn't stick to the ground, but when I was up in Calumet this morning, there were pretty large snowflakes coming down.  The winds last night put many areas out of power.  I was reading about it in the newspaper, and it said many long term power company employees said that it was the highest amount of outages and damage that they had ever seen.  We actually never lost power at our house.  Today we offically got a deal together on 10 acres near Skanee, so congrats to the newlyweds, Mario and Stephanie!  I got as much as I could wrapped up at the office today, since my buddy Gary is supposed to finally be arriving sometime tomorrow.  Hopefully the weather straightens up soon.  Have a nice day!
 
October 26th, 2010.  It was windy today, but nothing too serious yet.  They are still calling for nasty winds yet overnight, so we'll see what happens.  I can see a couple of deer on the webcam right now as I'm typing this.  Today was pretty uneventful, my friend Gary isn't coming up until the weather clears up, which should hopefully be by Thursday or Friday.  I know some people don't like to hear this, but I'm actually looking forward to getting some snow.  Talk to you tomorrow!
 
October 25th, 2010.  Today is supposed to be the calm before the storm.  We are supposed to get some severe winds, some say worse than the winds that sunk the "Edmund Fitzgerald".  We'll see what happens.  This morning we officially got the deal together on the Lake Superior View parcel on Tamarack Waterworks Road, so congrats to the buyer and sellers involved.  I'm also very close to getting a deal together on a 10 acre parcel near Skanee, which is a beautiful property.  I went out hunting tonight, and just got home.  Time for dinner.  Hopefully the storm isn't too bad!
 
October 24th, 2010.  This weekend seemed to go by pretty fast.  I have a couple of new deals that I'm hoping to get together by tomorrow.  Today it pretty much rained all day, so we didn't do too much.  I'm looking forward to Gary getting up here sometime this week.  For those of you that sent in some pics for 'pic of the day', THANK YOU!
 
October 22nd, 2010.  How was your Friday?  I closed down the office tonight, and then we had our friends Ross and Amanda over for dinner and some card games.  I also ended up getting an offer tonight on one of my Keweenaw county listings, so hopefully we can get that together by tomorrow.  This weekend I'm getting ready for my friend Gary to arrive sometime on Monday.  We hope to do lots of hunting next week.  Also, here is a new five acre listing in Skanee.  We already sold one next to this, and now we are offering this one.  Enjoy your weekend!
 
October 21st, 2010.  Today was pretty chilly out, but it is supposed to warm up a bit tomorrow.  In the morning I entered in a new five acre listing near Skanee.  Later in the afternoon it was quite windy, but with the cold temperatures, I was pretty anxious to go hunting.  By the way, I know you have some nice scenic pics on your computer, so why not e-mail one to me at josh@statewideofhoughton.com ?  It is hard to keep up with 'Pic of the Day', so anything you can e-mail me would be appreciated.  Plus, it is fun to see pics from other places as well.  Have a nice Friday!
 
October 20th, 2010.  This morning I finished up a timber sale contract that I have been working on.  The project should start some time in mid-November, which means I have a lot of property lines that I need to get marked.  I talked with a buyer for some time today, and he is booking a flight to come see a bunch of properties with me in a couple of weeks.  I've also gotten two website requests on this lake view parcel near Calumet today.  At this new price, this may end up being the buy of the year.  Have a nice day!
 
October 19th, 2010.  Today we finalized the paperwork for a sale of some vacant land in Baraga county.  Now we just need the signatures to come back.  I didn't have too much else on my plate today, which was nice, so I ran some errands, and got some 'winterizing' done around the house.  Today I ordered a new deer feeder, so once it arrives, I'll be putting it on the 'deer cam', which should increase the wildlife sightings even more as we get closer to winter.  I hope you are enjoying the site, if you are please e-mail a link to a friend.  Cya!
 
October 18th, 2010.  I forgot to mention that last Friday we closed on a five acre parcel in Skanee, so congrats to Brian and Cassi!  I got my work done in time to go hunting tonight, and it was a cool, beautiful fall evening.  You may notice a change in the lower portion of the home page.  I cleaned it up a bit, and created a large, easy to use "Search MLS" icon.  No matter who has a property listed in the western U.P., you can find it on this site.  I had to take the 'poll question' off of the home page, as it was causing some conflicts/problems with the rest of the page.  However, you can still view and vote on the poll question by clicking the link on the left.  Speaking of that, there is a new poll question for you to vote on.  Take Care!
 
October 17th, 2010.  How was your weekend?  Saturday morning I met with a buyer so we could try and find a way to close a deal that has been in the works for quite some time now.  Saturday night Melissa's Mom watched Landon overnight, so Melissa and I had a 'date night'.  We had a nice dinner at 'Gemignani's', and then simply decided to go home, watch T.V., and relax.  Sunday morning we went out to breakfast at the Kaleva Cafe in Hancock, and it was really good!  Sunday night I went hunting, and saw a decent buck right at dark.  Check out 'The Hunting Journal' for the story and a video clip.  By the way, here is a new 80 acre parcel that is fantastic deer hunting.  Time for another beautiful October week!
 
October 15th, 2010.  This morning I had a showing in Lake Linden, and then later showings in Calumet, Ahmeek, and Centennial Heights.  This lake view lot in Centennial Heights is very affordable.  As the leaves start to fall, so do some of the real estate prices, making it a great time to buy.  This nice lot on Lake Medora just came down $10,000!  Tonight Melissa, Landon, and I went out to dinner with our friend Janelle.  Landon did pretty well, he ended up snoozing through most of our dinner.  Have a great weekend!
 
October 14th, 2010.  Today I covered over 200 miles listing and showing properties.  I took pics and put up signs on a new 80 acre listing near Herman.  I then showed properties in Skanee, Pelkie, Mass City, and Ontonagon.  I got back to the office late, and scheduled some more showings for tomorrow morning.  By the way, check out this big price drop on this property overlooking Lake Superior.  This is getting to be a steal, somebody needs to buy it.  Time to get some sleep.  Cya!
 
October 13th, 2010.  I woke up feeling a little better today, so that was good.  I'm getting ready for many miles of driving, and lots of showings over the next couple of days.  This morning I went up to Copper Harbor to take down some signs, as well as put up new ones.  In the afternoon I went out hunting, so check out 'the hunting journal' for details and a video.  I worked forever on my computer tonight, getting my movie making softward to let me publish 'HD' videos, so be sure to enjoy them.  Have a nice day!
 
October 12th, 2010.  I got a lot done today despite not feeling well.  I've been under the weather for quite a few days now, and didn't feel much better today.  I got caught up in the office, and made many appointments through the remainder of the week.  I have another interesting new listing.  This is a 120 acre hunting/fishing parcel with Sturgeon River frontage, and is being offered for $69,500.  I'm going to get some good sleep tonight, and hopefully feel better in the morning, since I have a busy week left.  Hope your week is going well!
 
October 11th, 2010.  We are back home!  It was a long drive today, but it feels great to be home.  Our grandparent's anniversary party was a big success.  We were able to visit with lots of friends and relatives, and everybody really enjoyed seeing Landon.  That kid is all smiles, and hardly ever cries.  By the way, I've had quite a few e-mails over the years complaining that they are not able to visit www.joshsteinland.com on their 'smart-phones'.  It used to automatically take you to a mobile MLS search site, which would not allow you to check out the normal features of the main site (journal, pic of the day, webcams, etc).  Problem solved!  You are now able to visit the site from your cell phone, and check out all of the normal features.  Also, here is one of my new listings, a huge parcel of Lake Superior frontage with a mobile home and big garage.  Check it out here.  Anyhow, it is great to be home, and I have lots of catching up to do starting now.  Have a great week!
 
October 7th, 2010.  We made it!  We are now in Lower Michigan.  We originally only planned on driving part of the way Wednesday night, but since Landon was doing so good, we drove all the way and made it to the family farm about 11:30 pm.  We are at my Mom's house right now letting her visit with Landon.  Tonight I am going bowhunting with my brother at his property, so that should be fun.  This will probably be my only chance to check in, so we'll talk to you again when we return to the Keweenaw on Monday.  Have a great weekend!
 
October 5th, 2010.  It was very warm today, pretty close to 70 in many areas.  I got all of the paperwork finalized for a closing on some commercial property near Dodgeville.  Tonight I went and took pics and put up signs on a waterfront home that I just listed in Lake Linden.  Melissa has been busy getting packed up for our trip to Lower Michigan.  We'll be taking off tomorrow, so I'm not sure when I'll be able to update the journal again, as my family dairy farm isn't exactly wired up for internet yet.  It takes her about four days to pack, and I pack within the last 20 minutes before we leave.  However, there is a lot more to remember to bring now that we'll be traveling with Landon.  Have a great day, I'll try to check in as soon as possible! 
 
October 4th, 2010.  What a beautiful time of year.  I love the temperatures, and I love the colors.  I entered in a couple of new listings onto the MLS today.  Melissa, Landon, and I are heading downstate later this week, so I have lots to get squared away before I go.  My grandparents are having a 60th wedding anniversary party, and I wouldn't miss it for the world.  I hope you enjoyed the first video of the year for the hunting journal.  I see there has been lots of views on it already.  There is a new poll question for you to vote on.  Have a great day!
 
October 3rd, 2010.  I had a fun weekend hanging out at the cabin and doing some bowhunting.  I already got a buck, so if you'd like to see some videos and pics, check out the " hunting journal".  I'm looking forward to another season of bringing you video footage from the deep woods of the U.P.  If you enjoy watching my videos, please send a link of my website to your friends.  Take Care!
 
 
September 30th, 2010.  My favorite month of the year is beginning.  I listed a couple of new properties today.  One is a 120 acre parcel near Baraga with some Sturgeon River frontage, the other is almost 600 feet of frontage on Lake Superior with a small mobile home and pole building.  Here is the 40 acre hunting parcel that I listed a few days ago.  I used to hunt this property, and it is phenomenal deer hunting.  This property comes highly recommended for any hunters out there.  Tomorrow morning is the season opener for bowseason, and I plan to be out hunting most of the day.  Hopefully I'll get some nice video footage to share with you.  Hooray for October!
 
September 29th, 2010.  Another day of lots of miles, almost 200 to be exact.  I showed parcels in Tapiola, Pelkie, Mass City, and Skanee.  A couple of the parcels really stood out to the buyer.  All we need now is wife approval.  Tonight I'm getting my hunting clothes around, I'm pretty excited for Friday.  Hopefully the weather isn't too nasty this weekend.  I'm charging up my camcorders, and getting ready to bring you some footage for the hunting journal.  Have a nice day!
 
September 28th, 2010.  Lots of driving today.  I had a showing near Watersmeet and Bruce Crossing, and another one near Ewen.  When I got back to the office, I entered in a new listing, filled out a land division application, and got paperwork ready for another day of showings tomorrow.  Here is a recent new 120 acre listing in Baraga County.  Sorry for the lack of pictures.  There is an issue between the websites and the MLS data, and it is only loading one of the pics on new listings, instead of all of the pics.  This should be fixed within the next day or two.  I'm watching Landon right now, who is getting very close to crawling.  He should be mobile anytime now.  Time to start 'baby proofing' the house!
 
September 27th, 2010.  Busy Monday.  I entered a new 120 acre listing onto the MLS.  I also got the paperwork back for a fantastic 40 acre parcel that I used to hunt on near Baraga.  Tonight I looked at a house in Lake Linden that I will be listing soon.  At about sunset, I went out to Bootjack to put up a sign on one of my newer listings.  There were several nice bucks out in the field, which was neat to watch.  Right now I'm trying to catch a little bit of Monday Night Football, before I head to bed.  Showings tomorrow.  Cya!
 
September 26th, 2010.  We had a pretty busy weekend.  Saturday we went to a wedding in Calumet, which was a good time.  Sunday we went down to the cabin, and it sure was a nice day for it.  It was a nice, cool sunny day, and the colors are fantastic.  I made some final preparations for archery season, which starts on Friday.  Right now I'm making a list of things I need to get done for work this week.  I already have lots of appointments this week, and it is going to be busy.  Enjoy the last week of September!
 
September 24th, 2010.  Lots and lots of rain.  It looks like the weather should clear up in the upcoming days, however.  Earlier this week we had an accepted offer on this 10 acre parcel on the Silver River.  The buyers had some financial issues come up, and will not be able to qualify for financing.  Now this property is available once again.  We've been getting lots of calls/e-mails about these properties, and they really are nice.  Tonight I went to a wedding rehearsal/dinner for a wedding that Melissa is standing in tomorrow.  We had a nice dinner, and now we're ready for the busy day tomorrow.  I can't believe that archery season will be here in one week.  I still have lots to do, and have appointments nearly everyday this week, so I will be doing a lot of running around.  Enjoy your weekend!
 
September 23rd, 2010.  Today was pretty rainy.  Marcus and I worked on some projects today.  We officially got the deal together on the vacant 10 acre parcel on the Silver River, so congrats to the buyers and sellers.  Here is a new 80 acre listing near Otter Lake.  Later on Marcus and I went to Marquette to do a little shopping at Gander Mountain.  I swear that the fall colors this year are as pretty as I've ever seen.  Take Care!
 
September 22nd, 2010.  The fall colors are on!  If you have been planning a trip to see them, I suggest you get on the road soon!  Today we closed on my house listing in South Range.  It was a nice closing, the seller and buyers were all very excited.  In the afternoon, my cousin Marcus and I were working out in the woods setting treestands.  It always seems that whenever I try to take a half day off of work, my phone is twice as busy as usual.  I've got way too many voicemails and e-mails right now, but I'm getting caught up as I speak.  Anyhow, get out and enjoy the fall colors, they are really good right now.  Cya!
 
September 21st, 2010.  This morning I had a showing on this cabin on the Silver River.  I've been getting lots of inquiries on this listing lately.  Later today, my cousin Marcus showed up, so we hung out at the cabin most of the evening.  I have a closing tomorrow, and then we are going to visit Copper Harbor for the rest of the day.  It sure is beautiful this time of year.  The colors are starting to change, and the temperatures are great.  Enjoy the fall weather!
 
September 20th, 2010.  Today was an interesting story.  I went to L'anse for a showing on this 10 acre parcel on the Silver River.  I ended up getting there about 30 minutes ahead of schedule for my 2:30 showing.  When I pulled up to the property, there was a vehicle already there.  There happened to be some other buyers there, who were trying to locate the property on their own.  I introduced myself as the listing agent, and let them know that I was there for another appointment, but would be happy to show them around until my 2:30 appointment showed up.  Long story short, I ended up writing an offer with them on the hood of my truck before my appointment even showed up.  I still had my second showing, but I don't think that it is going anywhere.  It looks likely that the first 'lost buyers' will end up getting the property.  I've never had a sale go down quite like that before.  Anyhow, it is late, and I just got home from the Keweenaw Whitetails banquet.  Take Care!
 
September 19th, 2010.  I hope that you enjoyed your weekend.  Saturday Ross and I got the windows and door done at the deer blind.  I also caught some young 'hunters' illegally road hunting for grouse.  I blocked them in with my truck, and had a conversation with them.  I'm pretty sure they won't be coming down my road again, and I took down their license plate number in case I ever see them again.  Saturday night I received an offer on a house that I have listed in Calumet.  My sellers already accepted the offer, so congrats to Scott and Carrie.  Here is a new 10 acre listing overlooking Lake Superior.  I attached more pictures than what is showing up, so I'll have to figure out why it is only showing the one.  September is winding down! 
 
September 17th, 2010.  This morning I drove up to Cedar Bay to take pics and put up signs on a new 10 acre listing.  I'll have the details on here Sunday night.  I had plenty to do in the office today.  Tonight Melissa went out to a bachelorette party for her friend Rachel that is getting married next weekend.  Landon and I had a 'guy's night' at home.  We watched the Tigers win, so that was good.  September sure is a beautiful time of year.  Get out and enjoy the weekend!
 
September 16th, 2010.  These days seem to be going by fast.  This morning I got the offer accepted on the 20 acre parcel near Bootjack, so congrats to everybody involved.  I checked one of my trail cameras today, and was excited to see lots of nice deer at the edge of one of my new food plots.  Tonight my buddy Ross and I built the door for the tower blind, and got the hinges and windows ready.  I'm really loving this fall weather.  I also noticed today that some of the trees are starting to show their fall colors.  Hope you are having a great week! 
 
September 15th, 2010.  Can you believe that September is half over?  I still have lots of work to do in the woods to get ready for archery season.  The temps were in the 30's this morning, and I heard that some areas received frost.  Speaking of freezing, I see that my webcam is froze up right now.  Hopefully it fixes itself soon, if not I'll fix it tomorrow.  Tonight I wrote an offer with some buyers on a 20 acre parcel that I just listed near Jacobsville.  I should have a response from the seller tomorrow.  Enjoy the rest of September!
 
September 14th, 2010.  Very nice weather today.  Sunny, with temps in the high 50's.  I got quite a bit done today.  I had a closing on 20 acres on Bootjack Road, so congrats to the buyers and sellers.  I got paperwork back today for three new listings, so I have lots of pictures to take and signs to put up soon.  Landon sure is growing.  He laughs at me a lot now, which is pretty cute.  By the way, check out this new listing in Bruce Crossing.  118 acres for 60K, looks like an excellent deal.  Take Care!
 
 
September 13th, 2010.  I got lots of work done out in the woods this morning.  I sure love being outside this time of year.  Tonight I met with some buyers about some property out near Bootjack.  They are very serious, and I'm confident we will put a deal together.  By the way, if you haven't noticed, the poll question changed a couple of days ago, so go ahead and vote on it, if you haven't already.  My cousin Marcus is supposed to be on his way up here tomorrow, so that will be fun.  I have quite a bit to get done tomorrow before he gets here.  Hope you had a nice Monday!
 
September 12th, 2010.  Another weekend gone by too fast.  I had to cover the office most of the day on Saturday.  In the evening we went down to Henry's Never Inn for a nice meal with my sister-in-law and her boyfriend.  We stopped at the cabin for awhile, and had a good time.  I watched some football on Sunday, and unfortunately watched my Detroit Lions lose a heartbreaker.  In the evening I was down at the cabin with my chainsaw, cutting shooting lanes for the new deer blind until dark.  I'm happy to have it all done.  I'm looking forward to a busy week, and also looking forward to my cousin Marcus coming up for a visit.  Have a great week!
 
September 10th, 2010.  This morning I looked at a new listing near Cedar Bay.  10 acres overlooking Lake Superior, it was a really nice property.  I should be putting it on the market next week.  Tonight Melissa's sister watched Landon for a couple of hours, and we went to dinner with some friends at De La Terre.  It was really good, they did a nice job with the renovation of the place.  I can't stay up too late tonight, I'm scheduled for office time tomorrow.  Have a fantastic weekend!
 
September 9th, 2010.  This morning I wrote an offer with my buyers for a property near Boston Location.  Hopefully our offer will be accepted, we'll see what happens.  I got my land division application approved already for my sale in Portage Township.  I really appreciated the quick response on that from the assessor.  When I was done with work I went out in the woods tonight to set a couple of treestands for bowseason.  I checked out two of my food plots, and the rye is already sprouting.  It is kind of hard to see, because rye is actually reddish when it first comes up.  Within about a week, it should turn to a nice green, which you will easily notice on the webcam, and the deer will take notice as well.  Our friend Janelle just stopped by to visit us, and play with Landon.  Cya!
 
September 8th, 2010.  It was another nice, cool, fall-like day.  Today I worked on putting together a purchase agreement for a place in Franklin Township.  I also completed a land division application for a property that I have under contract in Portage Township.  I have quite a few new listings that will be coming on the market soon.  Right now I'm watching Melissa feed Landon.  He just started eating rice cereal now for about the last week.  He seems to enjoy it.  As soon as she puts his bib on him, he starts kicking and getting all excited.  I need to post some recent pictures of him soon.  Have a great day!
 
September 7th, 2010.  Today we closed on the house in Laurium, so congrats to Sylvia!  I had lots to do in the office today, which was good because it rained most of the day.  I submitted an offer today on a Re/max listing, so we'll see what happens with that.  On my way home tonight, the temperature was 49 degrees.  I love fall weather!  This was my dad's favorite time of year as well, so I end up thinking about him quite a bit lately.  I hope you enjoyed your summer!
 
September 6th, 2010.  I hope that everybody had a fantastic labor day weekend.  I had showings on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and all day Monday.  I'm hoping that something will come of all the time I put in this weekend.  Saturday night Melissa, Landon, and I went to the cabin and mowed grass, cleaned up, and had a nice fire.  It was a beautiful night.  You've probably noticed on the webcam that the food plot has been worked up.  The rye should start growing by the end of the week, and after that, we will start seeing quite a few deer out there.  I have a busy day tomorrow, including a closing first thing tomorrow morning.  I should be in for a busy week.  Take Care!
 
September 3rd, 2010.  We got lots of rain today, which will be great for my newly planted food plots.  I spent the afternoon in the office, and got quite a bit done.  Tonight Melissa and I went out to dinner at 'The Michigan House' in Calumet with some friends.  It was really busy there, and we had a good dinner.  It is hard to believe that is was 95 degrees just a few days ago, and right now it is 48 degrees.  Only in Michigan.  Have a fantastic Labor Day Weekend!
 
September 2nd, 2010.  It was pouring rain this morning.  I met with my farmer bright and early out at the cabin.  We got three food plots planted today, which took us pretty much all day.  I couldn't get my ATV to start, so we ended up seeding them by hand.  We officially got the deal together for the commercial lot on Main Street, so congrats to Jill and Scott.  Here is another one of my new listings, 160 acres with woods, fields, and a nice creek.  Tonight I had a showing on a place in Boston Location that went very well, I have a bunch of questions to get answered tomorrow.  I think I'll sleep good tonight, I got quite a workout planting the food plots.  Enjoy your Friday!
 
September 1st, 2010.  September is off to a great start.  The temperatures cooled down today, which felt great.  I got lots of work done today, and scheduled several upcoming showings.  My labor day weekend is going to be full of showings, which is usually the case.  Tonight we wrote an offer on one of my commercial parcels on Main Street, which the seller intends to accept tomorrow.  I'm looking forward to a long day tomorrow of planting food plots, hopefully it won't rain too much.  Cya! 
 
 
August 31st, 2010.  This morning I sent out a purchase agreement on a parcel of land in Copper Harbor.  So here is one of my newly acquired listings.  38 nicely wooded acres with power/phone/blacktop road.  This is a nice buy for $1,000 per acre.  I've seen a big surge in buyer inquiries over the last couple of weeks.  I can't believe it is the last day of August!  I'm so excited for September.  The only thing better than September is....October!
 
August 30th, 2010.  It was a hot one in the Keweenaw today.  Temps reached mid 90's in many areas.  This morning I picked up an approved land division application from the assessor's office, so now we can close on the 20 acre sale on Bootjack Road.  I also reduced the price of two of my listings, which I will be updated on the site by tomorrow.  I had a good showing tonight on this commercial property on Main Street.  I've had two good showings on that property now in the last four days.  Anyhow, we are looking forward to some cooler temperatures soon.  Stay cool!
 
August 29th, 2010.  Both of my Saturday showings had to reschedule for another weekend.  I went into the office for a few hours to get caught up.  Sunday I shingled the roof on the tower blind, which was quite a job, just because it is so hard to get at.  It kind of figures that it was 90 degrees out for that job.  I'm glad to have it done.  On the way home I got to check out a new 'food plot' at one of my hunting spots.  The bulldozer finally moved in and cleared the site, now I just have to plant it next week.  It should be an interesting deer season.  I can't believe it is almost September!  I'm excited about that.  I hope you had a nice weekend!
 
August 27th, 2010.  It was a sunny and warm Friday.  I took pics and put up signs on some new vacant land parcels.  I spent the rest of the day in the nice air conditioned office, but still didn't get everything done.  I'll probably stop in this weekend to finish up.  Tomorrow I have showings on some remote properties in Baraga County.  Both buyers seem serious, so I'm optimistic about making something happen this weekend.  Today was freshman orientation for Michigan Tech, so the streets were busy all day with the new students.  Enjoy the nice weekend!
 
August 26th, 2010.  This morning I had a showing on this historic building in Copper City, and it went very well.  In the afternoon, I had another good showing on this commercial lot between Hurontown and Dodgeville.  I saw a bear on the 'bear cam' today, which was pretty cool.  I hope you've been enjoying the new webcams.  Here is my latest listing, 8 lots for sale in Tamarack City, which are absolutely beautiful.  Melissa and I took Landon for a walk tonight, which was nice.  Time to get ready for tomorrow morning's showings.  Cya!
 
August 25th, 2010.  We got an accepted offer on my house in South Range today.  Time on the market....less than one week.  Today I set up three showing appointments on some other properties between now and this weekend.  I also entered my new Tamarack City listing onto the MLS.  After closing the office tonight, I showed a 160 acre timber sale to a logging company that will be bidding on the job.  As we were walking out of the woods up to the edge of a hayfield, we saw five large deer feeding with their heads down.  When I made a noise to get them to lift their heads, all five deer were bucks!  Two of them were pretty nice ones.  That was neat to see.  Anyhow, it is almost 9 pm now, and I still need to eat dinner and answer e-mails.  Have a good day!
 
August 24th, 2010.  I spent most of the day in the office.  I got a listing agreement signed today for 8 lots in Tamarack City.  I will enter the listing on the MLS tomorrow.  I have a buyer coming up this week to look at some lots in Portage Township, so I went to the township office today to get copies of the local zoning ordinance for that township.  He is looking at building a specific type of business, so we want to make sure that it would be in compliance.  Tonight I went up to Ahmeek for a birthday party for my father-in-law, Happy Birthday Wayne-O!
 
August 23rd, 2010.  I'm watching a deer on the webcam as I'm typing this.  In about a week, that field is going to be worked up and planted rye.  Once that happens, you will be seeing plenty of deer action for months to come.  Today we did our continuing education class for our real estate licensing.  That took up most of my day, but I did end up showing this cottage on some of the nicest shoreline in the Keweenaw.  The showing went pretty well.  By the way, there is a new poll question for you to vote on.  I hope that your Monday went well!
 
August 22nd, 2010.  September is almost here and I can't wait!  Saturday I worked on the tower blind most of the day, and we made some good progress.  Sunday was nice, we stayed home all day and mostly relaxed.  I mowed the lawn and washed my truck.  Melissa has a new job now, and she no longer has to work weekends, so that is going to be nice.  Landon had a big day on Sunday.  He is rolling over!  He can roll from his back to his tummy, and back the other way.  He looks so pleased with himself.  I bet he'll be crawling before we know it.  Time for a new week!
 
August 20th, 2010.  Longgg day.  I dropped Landon off at his grandma's this morning after I fed him.  Then I showed these nice lots overlooking Lake Superior in the pouring rain.  The buyer loved the lots, but he has some property he needs to sell before he can make a move on these.  Later, I went back up to Copper Harbor for a second showing on the 'cottage shop', as well as a new listing on First Street.  At 6:30 I had a showing on my new listing in South Range.  We also ended up back in Calumet showing my listing on Caledonia Street.  I finally got home at 9:00, grabbed a quick bite to eat, and am ready for bed soon.  It looks like the Tigers are going to win tonight, so that is a nice way to end the day.  Enjoy your weekend!
 
August 19th, 2010.  This morning I had a showing on my 'cottage shop' listing up in Copper Harbor.  The showing went very well.  The buyer is the perfect fit for the property, hopefully it all works out.  This is the house that I listed in South Range.  The house is priced right, we've had three inquiries on it within the first 24 hours on the market.  Time to eat dinner.  Enjoy your Friday!  
 
August 18th, 2010.  This morning I got all of the paperwork signed for my new house listing in South Range.  I already have a couple of prospective buyers.  My phone was quite busy all day.  After closing down the office today I drove up north to meet with some buyers to write an offer.  I will be presenting the offer in the morning, hopefully all will go well.  I didn't get home until late tonight, so I only had time for a quick snack, and now it is time to get ready for bed.  Landon was happy to see me as always.  He is quite the motivation.  Take Care!
 
August 17th, 2010.  I didn't have any appointments today, so it was nice to get some errands done.  Tomorrow I'm getting the papers signed on a residential listing in South Range.  I'm also supposed to be writing an offer tomorrow on a different property.  Tonight I got one of my treestands set at one of my hunting spots.  One down, many to go.  But I was glad to make some progress.  Landon has started eating some Rice cereal now, so he is obviously growing by the day.  Have a nice day!
 
August 16th, 2010.  I hope that everybody had a good Monday.  I was supposed to show a place in Twin Lakes this morning, but the buyer never confirmed a time with me, so we'll have to reschedule it.  We had Landon's four month doctor's appointment today.  He is now 25 inches long, and weighs 14 lbs 14 oz.  Tonight Ross and I built the trusses for the tower blind.  Now we just have to find time to install them.  Take Care!
 
August 15th, 2010.  Another fast weekend is here and gone.  Saturday our friend Carrie got married up in Copper Harbor, so congratulations to her and Scott.  Sunday morning I was up bright and early to go work out at the cabin.  I had to run to Twin Lakes for awhile for a showing that went very well.  It is nice and cool out today, which feels great.  By the way, if you have been looking for some nice property in the Skanee area, check out this five acre parcel.  I'm getting some paperwork ready for a showing tomorrow morning.  Hope your weekend was good!
 
August 13th, 2010.  This morning I went to Marquette and we closed on a brand new house on some big acreage.  Congrats to Roger and Dana!  Now I'm back home and getting caught up on some e-mails.  By the way, if you request information on a property, you need to at least leave an e-mail address, or else I have no way of responding.  If you requested info on a property, re-send it, and be sure to include your e-mail.  I think I hear some thunder right now, we may be in for some interesting weather this weekend.  Talk to you on Sunday night!
 
August 12th, 2010.  This morning I had a listing appointment for a house in South Range.  I should be putting it on the market early next week.  Later in the day, I had a showing on this really neat building in Copper City.  Tonight we had a birthday party for my sister-in-law, but I'm not sure if I'm supposed to share her age with you or not.  Anyhow, I need to get to bed, I have to be in Marquette tomorrow morning for a big closing.  Stay cool!
 
August 11th, 2010.  Today was our 3rd wedding anniversary!  It is hard to believe that it has been three years already.  It is also hard to believe that I began typing this journal before we were even married.  After work tonight, we had dinner at De La Terre in Lake Linden.  The food was very good.  They did a very nice job remodeling the inside.  Hope that you had a nice day!
 
August 10th, 2010.  Landon was pretty sleepy this morning, so he napped long enough for me to finish up a forest management plan.  After I dropped him off at his Grandma's house, I got back to the office to work on an upcoming closing.  I finished up another forest management plan tonight, so I'm happy to have made some good progress.  Earlier tonight, Melissa and I took her cousin Sarah out to our cabin for dinner.  It was a pretty night, but quite warm and humid.  I refuse to complain about the heat, however.  A lot of people complain about the cold all winter, and now that it is summer, they complain about the heat.  Time to get some sleep, take care!
 
August 9th, 2010.  This morning we made more progress on selling the home in Laurium.  The home inspection went well, and we have removed the inspection contingencies.  This afternoon I had a showing on this parcel on Tamarack Waterworks Road, and this cozy cabin on Fisherman's Road.  Both showings went well, we'll see what happens.  Now I'm back home answering e-mails and returning phone calls.  Did you check out the two new webcams?  I've been enjoying them myself.  Have a nice day!
 
August 8th, 2010.  How was your weekend?  It was beautiful here.  Saturday morning Ross and I finished building the floor on Landon's playhouse.  Later in the day Melissa and I went to a wedding reception in Cedar Bay.  Sunday we met her family up at "Brunet Park" between Gay and Lac La Belle for a day on the beach/cookout.  We couldn't have asked for a nicer day.  There are two new REALLY good webcams for your enjoyment.  Be sure to check out the new Owl Cam, and the new Bear Cam.  You are going to love them.  Please be sure to e-mail links to your friends and family.  Enjoy!
 
August 6th, 2010.  The temps only reached about 70 today, which was fine with me.  It really was a beautiful day.  I had a showing outside of Calumet today, and it went quite well.  When I was done with work, I picked up some lumber so I could make some more progress on Landon's future playhouse tomorrow.  Our friends Ross and Amanda came over for dinner tonight, and we had pork chops on the grill.  Later on, our neighbors had a fire, and we hung out over there for a bit.  It was quite cool tonight, and it seemed really nice to be able to wear a sweatshirt, since it has been so warm lately.  Have a great weekend!
 
August 5th, 2010.  Today was slightly cooler, and very windy.  I had a couple of showings near Tamarack Waterworks, just outside of Calumet.  Tomorrow morning I have a second showing on one of the properties that we looked at today.  Other than the two showings, I had a relatively quiet day, which was kind of nice.  They were going to do some additional work to the Lift Bridge tonight, I hope that they get it figured out.  Enjoy your Friday!
 
August 4th, 2010.  Landon made sure to wake Melissa and I up nice and early this morning, so we got a head-start on our day.  Later on I dropped off a land division application for torch lake township.  One of the most common errors in a 'for sale by owner' transaction is failure to get approval from the township on a land division.  This can result in serious problems with your ownership of the property.  In fact, sometimes it turns out that the property was never allowable to begin with.  It can get really ugly.  Contrary to what some will say, you really need professionals involved in a real estate purchase.  Keep in mind that if you are purchasing a 'for sale by owner', you can still employee a Realtor as a 'transaction coordinator' for a very low fee.  This way, the Realtor will see the transaction through from start to finish, and make sure everything is done properly.  The talk of the town today was that the Portage Canal Lift Bridge was stuck in an upright position for hours.  It is amazing how fast the traffic will back up when that occurs.  The only other option to get between Houghton and Hancock is by boat or plane.  They finally got the bridge working again, and people were able to get home, or wherever they needed to go.  If you live in Hancock or anywhere north in the Keweenaw, you are actually living on an island.  We are completely surrounded by water up here.  By the way, here is my new 80 acre listing near the Craig Lake Wilderness Area.  Take Care!
 
August 3rd, 2010.  This morning I sent out a land division application for Arvon Township.  After that we had the closing on the Mass City acreage on Adventure Creek, so congrats to seller Gary and buyer Carl.  The property sold via land contract (seller financing).  I've done a lot of land contract sales, and know them inside-out at this point.  If you need to buy property with seller financing, feel free to shoot me an e-mail, and I can help.  We officially got the deal accepted on the house in Laurium, so congrats to Sylvia.  Everybody is complaining about the heat today.  The temps are about in the mid 80's, which is hot for up here, but I'm sure that for some of you, you are used to much higher temperatures than that.  We just got done eating a couple of steaks that I grilled.  I hope that your week is going well! 
 
August 2nd, 2010.  This morning we got a counter-offer on the Laurium house that I wrote an offer on yesterday.  I have to meet with the buyer sometime tomorrow to try and get it wrapped up.  Today I went to Skanee to take pictures of a beautiful new 5 acre listing.  I may already have a buyer for it, we will see what happens.  I also stopped at my listing on Eilola Road to check out a couple of things for my prospective buyer.  By the way, how does 225 feet of Lake Superior with incredible views for $69,900 sound?  The price on this nice 2.83 acre parcel is getting really low!  I finally got out of the office after 7:00 tonight.  I made dinner tonight, which means I picked up a large order of Ravioli to go from Gino's.  They are delicious.  Also, thank you to those of you that e-mail me occasional pics for 'pic of the day', as it gives me one less thing to worry about everyday.  Take Care!
 
August 1st, 2010.  August is here!  We are one month closer to my favorite month, October.  Saturday my friend Ross and I went to the cabin to start construction on my tower deer blind/Landon's future playhouse.  It was a lot of work, digging the holes, and setting and leveling the 16 foot long 6x6 treated posts.  We did get everything leveled and tied together.  Next time there we will build the floor, which will be about 14 feet off the ground.  Sunday morning I drove out to Big Traverse to meet with my buyer for the house in Laurium.  We wrote up a good offer, so now we are waiting to hear back from the seller.  In the evening I met with the president of a local logging company to show him a 160 acre sale that I am taking bids on near Lake Linden.  We thoroughly walked the entire property.  I still need to meet with two additional companies so I can get a total of three bids on the job.  Now I'm finally home, and need to start getting ready for Monday.  I hope you had a fun weekend!
 
July 30th, 2010.  This morning I wrapped up a land division application for my recent deal on the 20 acres on Bootjack Road.  After that I hit the road for the Three Lakes area.  I listed a very remote 80 acre parcel in the Craig Lake Wilderness Area.  It took a lot of GPS coordinates to find this property, as there were about 9 forks in the 5 miles of two tracking.  The property does have legal recorded easement.  Anyhow, I found the property and got several good pictures.  It reminded me that selling vacant land up here is really a specialty.  Hopefully I'll find a buyer for it.  Tonight we went to dinner at the Harbor Haus with our friends Ross and Amanda.  It was delicious as usual.  I hope that you have a great weekend!
 
July 29th, 2010.  This morning I had showings on three different parcels of land near Pelkie/Tapiola.  The showings went very well, it is looking probable that the buyer will end up purchasing one of them.  Today we also officially got the deal accepted for a 20 acre parcel on Bootjack Road, so congrats to buyers and sellers.  I got a timber sale agreement back from a landowner today.  I will be managing a thinning on a red pine plantation near Rice Lake.  Here is a new property near Pelkie.  I have sold two parcels out of this property, and now there are 48 acres left.  Nice spot for a hobby farm.  Tonight I need to wrap up a forest management plan, and start up a new one as well.  Landon is doing very well, and growing fast as always.  He is a very happy baby, and always seems to be smiling.  Enjoy your summer, it is going by fast!
 
July 28th, 2010.  I forgot to mention yesterday that we started off the day by closing on 20 acres in Baraga county, so congrats to James on landing some new hunting property!  Today I took pics of two new listings in Baraga county, and I loaded them onto the MLS today.  Tonight I had a second showing on a nice house in Laurium.  It looks the buyer will end up writing an offer.  After that I went out towards Lake Linden to look at another potential timber harvest.  The timber markets have been improving, and landowners seem ready to take advantage of it.  Also..we officially got the deal accepted for this huge parcel on Keweenaw Bay, so a big congrats to the sellers.  I am actually home by dinner time tonight, so I am finishing my journal, and then I have vowed to not talk about, or think about work, for the entire rest of the night.  I will try my best. 
 
July 27th, 2010.  Was it hot where you were?  It was plenty warm here.  This morning I went out to the Rabbit Bay timber harvest which is now complete.  The roads have been all fixed up, and the last of the wood has been hauled away.  I took some video updates and pics that I hope to post on the Forestry Journal very soon.  At lunchtime I had a buyer come in and right an offer on a 20 acre listing that I have on Bootjack Road.  The seller has counter-offered, but I expect that we will have an agreement by tomorrow.  I have a verbal agreement for a 40 acre timber harvest near Elo.  I need to put together a contract in the morning and mail it to the seller.  I am finally at the point where I am going to have to look at training in some help to assist with my forestry fieldwork.  With the amount of jobs that I have coming up, there just isn't enough hours in the day for me to do everything myself.  Tonight I drove down to Nisula to check out some bulldozing  that is getting done.  Everything looks great.  Time for bed.  Take Care!
 
July 26th, 2010.  Today was a warm one, and it is supposed to be getting even warmer.  Today I sent a couple of listing agreements for some land that I will have on the market soon.  I also had some people stop in today that have 40 acres, and are thinking of having some forest management done.  Tonight I went and looked at the property, and it is certainly a good candidate.  I will have to schedule another meeting with them to go over the options.  Tonight I went out to Laird Township to meet with some excavators that  are starting some road work on a property that I caretake for the owner.  Now I'm taking some last looks at some closing statements for a closing that I have first thing tomorrow morning.  I hope that you had a good start to your week!
 
July 25th, 2010.  There was no time for fun this weekend.  I spent most the morning and early afternoon Saturday preparing a forest management plan.  The owner is going to put the property into the Qualified Forest Property Tax Exemption plan, which will save him on property taxes in the future.  If you own 20 wooded, vacant acres in Michigan, you are likely eligible for this program.  Send me an e-mail sometime if you would like more details.  In the afternoon I went up to Copper Harbor to put up signs and take pics of a property that I am re-listing.  Sunday I drove to Ontonagon county for a 160 acre property line project.  I spent a long day in the heart of wolf country, and it was a long one.  It was terribly rugged terrain, and the blackflies, ticks, and deer flies were relentless.  I twisted my ankle twice, lost my GPS (and eventually found it), and it was just too darn hot out.  Anyhow, it wasn't the most enjoyable project I've ever worked on.  However, the property lines came out extremely accurate, and that is priority #1.  Time to get ready for Monday.  I hope your weekend was more fun!
 
July 23rd, 2010.  Lots of action on this Friday.  In the morning I wrote an offer with a buyer on this large parcel of waterfront in Baraga county.  The sellers intend to accept the offer, so congrats to all involved.  This should be one of the largest waterfront sales of the year in our area.  In the afternoon I entered in a new listing for a parcel of land near Mass City.  I also took a call from a logging company that needs some property line work done.  I'm hoping to get it done for them before the weekend is over.  This afternoon we closed on a 13 acre parcel on Pelkie Road, so congrats to Eric, Mary, and Devlin.  Tonight at 6:30 I had a showing on a house on Isle Royale Street in Laurium, and the showing went well.  When I finally got home I grilled some steaks, and they turned out really good.  By the way, here is the 126 acre parcel that I listed near Lake Linden yesterday.  It is a fantastic piece of property.  If you noticed 'pic of the day', you saw that one of our visitors captured a nice picture of a buck on my 'deer cam'.  If you ever happen to see anything interesting on the deer cam, just right click your mouse, and and select 'save picture as', and then you can save the pic to your computer.  I really appreciate any pics that you can e-mail me, as you never know what could show up on the cam.  Have a great weekend!
 
July 22nd, 2010.  This morning I finalized the paperwork for a closing that is happening next week.  We're having a few issues with a deal I have going in Marquette, so I spent a lot of time on the phone today trying to keep things moving in the right direction.  I entered in a new listing that is about 126 acres, overlooking Torch Lake.  I will have details on here tomorrow.  At 6:15 pm tonight we had a closing for the house in Baltic.  Congrats to James and Kristen on their first home!  I'm hoping to get more sleep tonight than I did last night.  Landon was up a little earlier than usual.  Cya!
 
July 21st, 2010.  Today we closed on the 19 acres near Copper City, so congrats to Carla!  After that I went out to the new 160 acre timber harvest to take an inventory of the property, so I can start to formulate my management plan.  After that I had a showing on a 20 acre parcel that I have listed on Bootjack Road.  I'm pretty sure that the buyers are going to end up writing an offer.  I also found out today that my offer for the 40 acre parcel near Skanee was accepted, so I am very excited about that!  Tonight I met an excavating company out at my cabin to get an estimate on some road work.  Take Care!
 
July 20th, 2010.  My phone was very busy today.  I've got some new listings and some new sales in the works.  We got some rain today, which was nice.  Here is my new listing in Copper City, it sure is a neat old building.  I'm not sure if you have noticed or not, but we've dropped the price on this really nice parcel of land overlooking Lake Superior.  I also turned down a listing today.  Some people are surprised that I do that, but I don't see the point of putting my resources into a property if it is not going to sell.  Some sellers have a price in their minds that is just not realistic, so I respectfully pass on the deal.  Time to get ready for a busy day tomorrow.  I hope you are having a good week.
 
July 19th, 2010.  This morning I traveled to northern Baraga county to check out a property that captured my interest last week.  I liked the property so much that I wrote an offer on it as soon as I got back to the office.  Hopefully I'll get it.  I entered in the listing for my building in Copper City today.  I have three closings this week, so I double checked that everything is ready to go.  Melissa has golf league tonight, and I hope that she is enjoying the break, she deserves it.  Have a good day!
 
July 18th, 2010.  How was your weekend?  It was pretty uneventful here.  Melissa had to work all weekend, so I stayed home with Landon, except for Sunday afternoon for a listing appointment.  I got my pics for a really neat old building in Copper City.  I will be entering it onto the MLS tomorrow.  By the way, I know you have a nice picture on your computer that would make a great 'pic of the day'.  Please e-mail it to josh@statewideofhoughton.com.  I'm hoping to get a lot accomplished this week.  Take Care!
 
July 16th, 2010.  After a quick breakfast at the Suomi Restaurant, my brother Adam left for home.  I spent the rest of the day in the office, and got a lot done.  I came home and got a lot of 'honey-do' projects done as well.  Sister-in-law Erin came over with her friend Joe tonight, and we grilled out and played a board game.  Enjoy your weekend!
 
July 15th, 2010.  My brother Adam and I stayed at the cabin last night, and it was a good time.  We wanted to go fishing this morning, but it was way too windy.  We went to Henry's in Rockland for lunch, and then we went out in the woods to take down a treestand from one of my hunting spots that I will be moving this fall.  Tonight, Melissa, Adam and I went to the Mine Shaft in Houghton for dinner.  We bowled a couple of games, and bowled pretty well for amateurs.  Adam is leaving in the morning, and then I'll be in the office the rest of the day getting back in action. 
 
July 14th, 2010.  We are having a nasty thunderstorm right now.  This morning Adam and I went up into Keweenaw county to go fishing.  We only got to fish for an hour before the wind became two much.  We did land 4 pike in that hour.  Later in the day we hung out at the cabin, and went over to a friend's house to grill some burgers.  It should be a good growing season up here this summer, as we are getting a good amount of rain.  Have a nice day!
 
July 13th, 2010.  This morning I had a showing on a house near Boston Location.  Nice little house, but not a good fit for this buyer.  I went back to the office to get numbers finalized for two upcoming closings.  In the afternoon, I signed a listing agreement for a 120 acre parcel with a lake view.  I also signed a timber sale management contract for a 160 acre parcel.  That should keep me extra busy well into the winter.  My brother arrived later this afternoon.  We went for a ride tonight and I showed him one of my new hunting spots.  When we got back tonight, I ended up e-mailing out a purchase agreement for some nice acreage that I have listed in Baraga County.  I am ready to take Adam fishing tomorrow, weather permitting.
 
July 12th, 2010.  My phone was ringing off the hook today.  I set up a showing for tomorrow morning, and also agreed to terms on listing some new property, as well as managing a timber harvest.  I saw a deer on the webcam earlier tonight, and there is actually a buck on the webcam as I am typing this.  My brother Adam will be arriving from lower Michigan tomorrow, so I'm trying to get as caught up as possible before he gets here.  Have a nice day!
 
July 11th, 2010.  We had a fun and quick weekend.  Saturday we drove down to Escanaba for the State Wide Real Estate Corporate Convention.  We attended a nice dinner and an awards ceremony.  After a fun, late night, we headed on back first thing Sunday morning.  Melissa's mom watched Landon overnight, and it was our first night without him.  Melissa had a great time, but she was certainly ready to see Landon as soon as we got back on Sunday.  Time to get ready for Monday!
 
July 9th, 2010.  This morning we closed on the 20 acre parcel on Parkila Road, so congrats to JoAnne, Paul, and Ryan.  I know some of you have been watching that property, but don't worry, because there are still 3 more 20 acre parcels available.  Later in the day I had a listing appointment for a really neat building in Copper City.  We will be putting it on the market next week.  Here is my new 20 acre listing just outside of Tapiola.  It is a very nice property at a very reasonable price.  Melissa and I are now looking forward to a fun weekend, I hope that you are too!
 
July 8th, 2010.  Today I showed some property out by Gay in the morning.  At 3:00 I met with a seller about listing some property in Osceola Township.  I got the paperwork rolling for the Copper City property.  I had a showing on a house up in Coburntown after that.  I feel like my journals are boring lately, because it has been all work and no fun.  Melissa got a well deserved break tonight and went out to dinner with her friend Janelle while I watched Landon.  Now that she is back I have to get things ready for a closing tomorrow morning.  I am looking forward to my brother Adam coming up for a few days next week, so I should get to go fishing at least once.  Also, there is a new poll question if you haven't voted on it yet.  Have a nice Friday!
 
July 7th, 2010.  This morning I went down to Tapiola to take pics and put up signs on a 20 acre parcel that I just listed.  The rest of the day was spent in the office.  Today I FINALLY got a land division application approved by Baraga Township (57 days later).  So, we're ready to close on 20 acres on Parkila Road this Friday.  For the Copper City property, my seller counter-offered, and my buyers e-mailed me tonight that they are accepting the counter-offer, so we have a deal.  Anyhow, I have lots of real estate action going on.  Time for another busy day tomorrow.  Lots of long days this time of year, but I have to make hay while the sun shines right?
 
July 6th, 2010.  Today was very busy.  In the morning I went to Bootjack to look at an old farmhouse with lots acreage.  The property is beautiful, and the sellers have lots of options, which we discussed.  After that, I went down towards Jacobsville to a timber property so I could take pics, notes, and make measurements in the woods.  I am writing a QFA plan for the owner.  QFA is similar to CFA.  With a professional written management plan, you can enjoy a significant property tax savings as long as you own the property.  The difference with QFA is that you only need 20 acres of unoccupied forest, and you don't have to allow any public hunting access as you would with CFA.  It really is a great program, to learn more, click here.  FYI, I can write the plan for you.  In the afternoon I went to Chassell to sign a listing agreement with a seller for 20 acres near Tapiola.  After that, I helped my buddy Ross tonight with remodeling a bathroom.  When I got home I received a call from some Wisconsin buyers, and we ended up writing an offer on one of my listings near Copper City.  I e-mailed them the paperwork, and should have the signatures back by morning.  Now it is 9:30 pm and I am hungry.  Have a nice day!
 
July 4th, 2010.  Happy Independence Day!  The Keweenaw was buzzing with people all weekend, enjoying the warm sunny weather.  Our weekend was pretty laid back, we got around and visited some friends and family.  Tonight we are just watching a movie at home, and I'm ready for another week.  I hope you had a great weekend!
 
July 2nd, 2010.  It is shaping up to be a nice weekend for all of you 4th of July travelers.  It was in the 80's today.  I went out to one of my hunting properties with a heavy equipment operator.  We ribboned out a road to be built, as well as a food plot that I will plant for deer hunting this fall.  I'm pretty excited to get that going.  Be sure to check out a great new webcam....the WOLF CAM.  On the Bald Eagle cam today, I saw two adults feeding the young one.  Pretty fun stuff.  HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!
 
July 1st, 2010.  July is here!  This is wonderful month to be in the Keweenaw!  Today I met with some clients about some potential listings/timber near Lake Linden.  Also, here is my second new listing on Lake Medora.  This lot has very good access, and is the lowest priced lot on the lake!  Nice opportunity.  After work, I went down to the cabin with Melissa and Landon.  Landon napped a lot, Melissa got some sun, and I mowed the grass.  We went for a walk later, the weather was really nice.  We also drove out to the backside of Courtney Lake in Ontonagon county to check out the public beach that we had heard about.  What a beautiful little spot!  We'll have to picnic there soon.  Now we are home and ready for a snack before bed.  Have a great 4th of July weekend!
 
June 30th, 2010.  What a beautiful day!  Today I signed a listing agreement for a house in Hancock.  I also wrote an offer with my buyer on this house that we looked at in Chassell last night.  I heard back from the listing agent tonight, and the offer has already been accepted!  Congrats to Todd.  Here is the first of my two new listings on Lake Medora.  The parcel features more than 191 feet of lake frontage.  I'm hoping to fish Lake Medora within the next couple of weeks.  This nice weather is giving Melissa and I cabin fever, we are hoping to sneak out there sometime before the week is over.  Have a nice day!
 
June 29th, 2010.  Today was sunny, but quite cool, with temps around 60 degrees.  I spent the day in the office.  I entered in a couple of new listings, and made some appointments for upcoming showings.  After closing the office, I had a showing on a nice house out near Chassell.  The showing went quite well.  I ended up going back to the buyer's house to discuss listing his current residence.  I'll probably end up listing it before the week is over.  Some of you have been asking about the deer cam.  I don't feed the deer in the summer, as they have so much natural food around them this time of year.  However, during the first week of September, I will disc up the food plot, and plant it to rye and oats.  From September on, you'll see plenty of activity on the deer cam.  However, you never know what you may see this time of year, I spotted a buck with velvet antlers a couple of nights ago.  I'm hungry, time for dinner.  Cya!
 
June 28th, 2010.  Today I showed some buyers three different lots on Lake Medora.  They seem to really be leaning towards one of them, we'll see what happens.  Two of the lots were new listings of mine that I took pictures of while we were out there.   My phone was busy today!  Buyers are really starting to inquire about properties.  Anyhow, after taking the buyers to lunch in Copper Harbor, I hung around town for a bit longer to visit friends that I have up there.  I miss the old days when I could stay up there for two or three days at a time, I just don't have time anymore.  Tonight I ate the new Pizza Works in Houghton.  They really did a nice job remodeling that place, you should check it out.  Have a good day!
 
June 27th, 2010.  How was your weekend?  Saturday I was in the office all day, and got a lot done.  I also ended up writing an offer on my listing on Froberg road, and it has already been accepted.  I also entered my new hobby farm listing on 80 acres near Tapiola.  The property is absolutely beautiful, with some substantial timber value.  After work, we had some friends over for dinner and games.  Sunday I did absolutely nothing, and it felt great!  I needed a boring day to unwind a bit.  Now I feel refreshed, and ready for another productive week.  I hope your week will be a good one! 
 
June 25th, 2010.  Rain, rain, and more rain!  At least we're not having too dry of a summer like we've had the last couple of years.  We officially got the deal together on the Mass City property, so congrats to Gary and Carl.  In the afternoon I went to Copper Harbor to show some vacant parcels.  Some were waterfront, some were not.  We only got out of the truck at the two most interesting parcels, as it was raining pretty hard.  I'm ready to get some sleep, I have lots to do in the office tomorrow.  Summer is here, enjoy your weekend!
 
June 24th, 2010.  Quite a few miles traveled today.  I went to L'anse to look at a commerical building that I'll be listing soon.  After that I went up to Skanee to meet with my seller of this wonderful cottage on Lake Superior.  Whoever buys this place is getting a fantastic deal, I can tell you that.  Maybe it should be you?  After that I went to Tapiola where I listed and took pics of a house on 80 acres.  I'll be entering it onto the MLS tomorrow.  When I got back to the office I had my signatures for the offer on the Mass City property.  I presented it to the seller, and we'll have a counter-offer for the buyer by tomorrow morning.  I'm pretty confident that the deal will come together.  Now I've got everything printed out for a bunch of showings in Copper Harbor tomorrow.  People can say what they want about the real estate market, but we are still listing and selling plenty.  We are very fortunate here in the Western U.P.  Melissa says that dinner is just about ready, and it sure smells great.  Meanwhile, Landon is napping away in his swing.  Take Care! 
 
June 23rd, 2010.  This morning I went to a showing that was taking place on this nice cabin near Lake Superior.  The showing went pretty well, but I know that the buyers had many other properties that they were going to look at.  When I got back in the office, I ended up writing an offer on the property that I showed on the Adventure Creek in Mass City yesterday.  I'm waiting to get the signatures back so I can present the offer to the seller.  After that I got lots of paperwork done.  I'm all set to list two different properties tomorrow.  Time to give Landon a bath!
 
June 22nd, 2010.  Today was a very productive day.  I went down to Mass City to show my listings on Fox Road.  The showings went very well.  In fact, the buyer called me tonight indicating that he'd like to write an offer, so things are looking good for that.  On the way back, I went to Limestone Mountain to complete a property line project for my forestry business.  I'm actually kind of sore after hiking on the steep terrain all night.  I don't remember getting sore back when I started that type of work 7 years ago!  By the way, if you are looking for a very nice property with inexpensive seller financing, check out this Lake Superior view lot.  Or, you could purchase all three lots for a discounted price.  Landon has been a little fussy tonight, but now he is lying on me while I type this, and he seems a little happier.  Have a good day!
 
June 21st, 2010.  I think that today has the longest amount of daylight of the year?  It is kind of sad to think that it will be getting dark earlier each day from here on out.  Right now I'm watching the rain come down, but my goldfinches on the birdfeeder don't seem to mind.  The buyer inquiries keep rolling in.  I entered in a new listing today that overlooks Lake Superior.  Tonight I talked with a seller, and we agreed that I'll be listing her 80 acre hobby farm near Tapiola.  I also recently added a service that will add my listings to 34 additional quality real estate websites.  This will about double the exposure that I've already had.  If you are thinking about selling your home or property, call or e-mail me so we can give your property the maximum exposure!
 
June 20th, 2010.  We had really nice weather this weekend.  From the sounds of it, Bridgefest was a success.  Saturday I had a showing down in Covington on this beautiful property and cabin.  The buyers loved the property, but the cabin wasn't for them.  I'm going to start searching to find something more suitable for them.  Sunday was my first Father's Day!  We spent most of the day at the in-laws, and then in the evening I went to Baraga to remove my billboard sign, and then I put it up on a new property between Houghton and Calumet.  Around sunset, I went up to Centennial Heights to take pictures of a new listing.  By the way, there is a new Bald Eagle Cam that is in working order.  Not quite as good as the old one, but there is a young one to watch in the nest, and the adults are there frequently as well.  Time for another week!
 
June 18th, 2010.  Today was quite sunny and warm, which should make for a nice start for Bridgefest.  I was in the office most of the day getting caught up.  I'm also getting papers printed out for this upcoming weekend's showings.  My internet keeps freezing up for the webcam, so I'm trying to figure out why.  There was a big parade in Houghton tonight, but we missed it.  Enjoy your weekend!
 
June 17th, 2010.  My friend Gary is on his way back downstate.  We fished hard, and had a good time doing it.  Last night we were fishing up near Copper Harbor, we saw some really big pike, but the biggest one we landed was about 32 inches long.  This morning Gary had a gigantic pike break his line right at the boat.  Tonight Melissa's sister watched Landon for awhile so we could go bowling.  As usual, Melissa beat all of the guys, she is quite a bowler.  Houghton is gearing up for Bridgefest this weekend, which is usually quite busy.  I'm gearing up for some showings this weekend.  The buyer inquiries have really increased over the last few days.  Have a good day!
 
June 15th, 2010.  Today was rainy and windy, so we didn't do any fishing.  That was O.K., since I had some work to do.  Tonight I helped my buyers finalize their home inspection for their purchase in Baltic.  I have finally learned that since many of my showings are on weekends, it easier for my friends to come up for a couple days during the week, and I'll have more of a chance for time off.  Today Melissa took Landon on a shopping trip to Marquette with her mother and sister.  They had a good time, and Landon is getting more smiley by the day.  I hope that you are having a good week!
 
June 14th, 2010.  This morning we closed on a nice house in Hancock, so congrats to Brian on his first home.  After getting everything done in the office, Gary and I went fishing tonight near Twin Lakes.  We caught quite a few bass, and one pike, not a bad trip.  Here is a nice home that I just listed in Calumet.  I've shown most of the houses in Calumet earlier this spring, and this one is definitely better than most of them out there.  I'm hoping that it doesn't rain all day tomorrow, but they are saying it will.  I'll have to keep my fingers crossed.  Take Care!
 
June 13th, 2010.  It was a great weekend!  I had to go to a home inspection Saturday morning, and then I headed out to the cabin.  I got lots of mowing and weed-wacking done, and cleaning up getting ready for Gary to come up fishing for a few days.  It was nice to stay the night out there, I haven't stayed there since last year.  Sunday Gary and I went fishing, and we landed lots and lots of pike, but they were all small...  except one big one, that you can see on Pic of the Day.  I caught it on an ultra-light rod, which made the battle even more fun than usual.  It was quite a fight, and lots of fun.  Now I'm back home and getting ready for a closing tomorrow morning.  Have a great week!
 
June 11th, 2010.  Here is the new listing on 80 acres just outside of Houghton.  This property is absolutely fantastic.  The house is very clean and comfortable, and there is plenty of room to build if you want something bigger.  Back in the office today I entered in three other new listings.  It ended up raining really hard here most of the day.  By the way, when you send me a website request about a property on here, please double check that you typed in your e-mail address correctly.  If you mistype your e-mail address, and you don't leave a phone number (many of you don't), I have no way of responding to your inquiry.  Don't ever worry about leaving your phone number, I'm not going to call unless you want me to, or if there was a problem with your e-mail address.  Anyhow, I'm looking forward to my buddy Gary showing up sometime this weekend.  We're hoping to go fishing a few times this week when the weather allows.  Enjoy your weekend!
 
June 10th, 2010.  This morning I went out to officially list the home on 80 acres near Houghton.  I entered it into the MLS today as well.  In the afternoon I went up to Calumet to take pics and put up signs on my new listing on Caledonia Street.  Tonight I had dinner with a logging company that I have been working with.  We're coming up with some ideas for future work together.  Anyhow, I'm finally home, and for some reason, I have a pretty good headache tonight.  I'm going to try to relax tonight and not think about work for at least a couple of hours.  But, I'll never complain about being busy.  It is always a blessing to be able to making a living in such a wonderful place!
 
June 9th, 2010.  It really feels good to be home in time for dinner tonight.  This morning we officially got the deal together on the nice home near Marquette, congrats to Roger and Dana!  I went and checked out a million dollar plus property today, one of the most impressive I've seen in awhile.  I had lots to do in the office, and also signed a listing agreement for a nice house in Calumet on Caledonia Street.  Here is the info on the nice 4 bedroom house that I listed in Hancock yesterday.  Whether you are a family, or students trying to save money while going to college, this house will please you.  Time to eat some spaghetti.  Have a nice day!
 
June 8th, 2010.  This morning I checked out a neat little home on 80 beautiful acres near Tapiola.  I was the third Realtor that they interviewed, and they told me that they have decided to work with me, so I look forward to getting it on the market soon.  In the afternoon I traveled to Baraga county to check out some remote property for potential timber management.  The property had timber that was ready for harvest, but unfortunately because of the small size of the parcel (12 acres), and the lengthy and difficult access, it won't be economically feasible to do any cutting on the property.  Today we did officially get the deal accepted on the house in Baltic, so congrats to James and Kristin!  Tonight I listed a nice 4 bedroom house in Hancock at a very good price, so I'll have details on here soon.  Also, if you have been looking for affordable riverfront property, you've found it with this 10 acre parcel in Baraga county.  Anyhow, I just got done printing off aerial photos, maps, and comparable sales for another listing appointment tomorrow morning.  Time to relax for 30 minutes, and then off to bed.  Take Care!
 
June 7th, 2010.  It was a very full day.  I drove to Marquette today to show a bunch of nice houses.  We ended up writing an offer on one of the houses, so hopefully the deal comes together, it is a fantastic house.  When I finally made it back to Houghton tonight, I met with some other buyers at my office at about 10:00 pm, to write a counter offer on a deal we have working on another house.  I'm finally home, and am trying to catch up on e-mails, and get ready for another busy day tomorrow.  By the way, make sure to look at this cabin that I just listed near L'anse.  Log cabin, 10 acres, trout stream...all for 49K!  Have a good day!
 
June 6th, 2010.  I'm keeping busy everyday.  Saturday I went out to Rice Lake, where I listed 21 acres near Lake Superior.  It was kind of rainy, but it didn't pour too hard.  I also put together a purchase agreement to assist in a sale down in Mecosta County.  Saturday night Landon's Grandma watched him for a few hours, so we could go to Copper Harbor and have our first dinner at the Harbor Haus this year.  The food was fantastic as usual.  Sunday morning I had a showing down in Jacobsville.  In the afternoon I met with some clients in the office where we wrote an offer on a house that I showed on Friday.  I'm very confident that we'll get the deal together.  Now I just got done getting paperwork ready for a bunch of showings tomorrow.  Time for a busy week.  I hope that you had a good weekend!
 
June 4th, 2010.  It was a busy, rainy Friday.  I entered in three new listings today near L'anse on the East Branch of the Silver River.  Speaking of waterfront, here is my new listing on Lake Superior in Keweenaw County near Betsy.  You can pack in plenty of family and friends in this five bedroom cottage on the nicest beach you will find anywhere in the U.P.  After closing the office, I had showings on houses in Baltic, Laurium, Calumet, and Ahmeek.  It is looking like one of the houses in Baltic is going to be a good fit for these buyers.  Anyhow, it was nice to get some much needed rain.  Enjoy the first weekend of June!
 
June 3rd, 2010.  It was a beautiful day, and an even nicer night.  I spent the day in the office, and am about 2/3 of the way caught up.  Here is my new listing in Mohawk.  Whether you are looking for a year round home, or a vacation getaway, this house is in mint condition, and has a wonderful garage for your toys.  After 5:00 tonight, I had showings on 7 houses in Lake Linden, Laurium, Calumet, and Allouez.  We are supposed to get some rain over the next few days, so try to stay dry.  We need the rain anyhow.  Take Care!
 
June 2nd, 2010.  We are back!  We had a very busy week in lower Michigan, it would take me forever to tell you all about it.  Landon was the star of the show, and everybody was so thrilled to get to see him and hold him.  He did a very good job riding on the long trip.  At one point there were over 30 people out at our family farm, having all kinds of fun and playing all kinds of games.  I managed to get out fishing a few mornings, and did quite well.  Now we are finally home, and are busy getting unpacked, and I have a ton of work to get caught up on.  Glad to be back, and have a great day!
 
 
May 25th, 2010.  Today I had lots of things to get wrapped up, as Melissa, Landon and I are heading to lower Michigan tomorrow.  My family is very excited to meet little Landon for the first time.  He is the first Stein boy in our family since myself being born 30 years ago.  I spent quite a bit of time at the timber harvest today, which is nearing completion.  I also went up to Little Betsy to take pics and put signs up on my new listing along some beautiful sandy beach.  I'll have the details on here soon.  By the way, I really appreciate the comments on the poll question about changing my website.  Any input I can get from you, what you like, what you don't like, is very helpful to me.  If you want to e-mail suggestions, e-mail them to josh@statewideofhoughton.com.   Anyhow, I got everything wrapped up in the office, and Melissa has most of our things packed.  It is amazing how much more needs to be packed due to one tiny human being.  My internet access will be somewhat limited while we are down at the family farm, but I'll try to give an update when possible.  If you are traveling this weekend, please be safe!  Time for our first road trip with our son!
 
May 24th, 2010.  The word of the day in the Keweenaw was...HOT!  The temperatures reached 95 degrees in many areas, which was an all time record setting heat for this time of year.  I went up to Mohawk to take pics and put up signs on my new residential listing on Cliff Street.  I'll have the details on here tomorrow.  After the office closed, I had showings on seven houses in Coburntown, Boston Location, Calumet, and Centennial Heights.  The buyers have narrowed it down to a couple of houses, and are going to get their financing in line before making any offers.  When I got home tonight I set up the window air conditioner in our bedroom.  We typically don't need AC all that often up here, in fact I never even used it last year, so this is odd to be setting it up in May.  PLEASE vote on the new poll question, as your input is going to be a major determining factor on whether or not I have new website built.  Anyhow, lots to do tomorrow.  Stay cool!
 
May 23rd, 2010.  The temps were very summer-like today.  Saturday I had showings on houses in Baltic, Painesdale, Hubbell, Calumet, Laurium, Copper City, and Mohawk.  Sunday my buddy Ross and I went out to the cabin to install a window.  It was quite a bit of work taking down siding, removing tongue and groove, and then re-installing everything.  All in all it took about 7 hours.  I'm still fighting that cold, so I'm feeling a little worn out tonight.  Melissa is coming down with the cold now too, which is tough on her while taking care of Landon.  Time to get ready for tomorrow, I have lots to do.  Have a great week!
 
May 21st, 2010.  Grrr I hate being sick!  I had so much that I wanted to do today, but I just didn't feel good enough to go anywhere.  I had some showings for Saturday get cancelled, but I ended up scheduling some new showings with another buyer anyhow.  I have plenty of houses to look at tomorrow, so hopefully I'll feel a little better by then.  Landon is growing everyday!
 
May 20th, 2010.  My sore throat was gone this morning, now I'm just stuffy and still feeling a little under the weather.  I did feel good enough to go to the office just for a bit, to send out a new listing agreement.  I've got a couple nice new listings to put on the market within the next few days.  I received a price on redesigning my website, now I just need to decide whether or not I want to do it, and whether or not it is worth the money.  I'll be posting a poll question for you to help me decide sometime soon.  Enjoy a beautiful Friday!
 
May 19th, 2010.  I never left the couch today.  I'm definitely feeling under the weather.  Hopefully it won't last too long, as I have quite a bit of work to do.  I'll try to keep resting for the next day or two, and hopefully be able to get back at it this weekend.  Hope you are feeling better than I am.
 
May 18th, 2010.  I covered lots of miles today.  In the morning I went to L'anse and looked at some beautiful riverfront property with a log cabin that I should be listing soon.  After that I drove up to Point Abbaye to take some updated pics of a listing that I have on Lake Superior.  Since I was out that way, I drove up to a timber harvest that I managed about 7 years ago.  It was really neat to see the fruits of my labor, and how nice the forest looks now.  I took some pics that I'll share someday soon.  When I got back to the office, I sent out a listing agreement for a waterfront cottage near Betsy in Keweenaw County.  When I got home, it was just too nice of a day, so Melissa and I decided to go out to the cabin.  This was Landon's first trip to the cabin, so it was neat to get some pictures of him out there.  I mowed some grass, and burned all kinds of lumber scraps, cardboard, and some other stuff that had accumulated over the winter.  We both ended up wishing that we had brought our stuff to spend the night, but we didn't.  So, now we are home, and time for bed.  I'm getting kind of a sore throat, I hope I'm not getting sick, but I probably am.  By the way....here is the new listing near Pelkie that I can guarantee you that I will have sold before summer is over.  What a price!
 
May 17th, 2010.  It feels like summer!  This morning I took pics and entered in a new 13 acre listing near Pelkie.  I stopped in the office long enough to complete a land division application for a parcel that I'm selling in Baraga Township.  Tonight I went up to Mohawk where I wrote an offer, and got it accepted, on a house that I listed yesterday.  We were very fortunate to find some buyers in the neighborhood that were perfect for the house.  I'm all set to go check out some riverfront property in L'anse tomorrow morning.  Take Care!
 
May 16th, 2010.  It was a pretty busy weekend.  Saturday morning we had the burial for Melissa's grandmother.  All of her family was up, so we had a cookout at her parent's place, and then Sunday we were working on cleaning out her grandma's house.  We got a lot of work done, and everybody really enjoyed the beautiful weather that we had.  I know that the walleye fishermen were happy to have such nice weather for opening weekend, as the last couple years have been pretty bad weather.  I haven't really given fishing much thought, but the weather this weekend is making me look forward to it.  The nice weather is supposed to continue, so it should be a fantastic week.
 
May 14th, 2010.  It was still cool and windy today, but the sun has come out tonight, and we are ready for beautiful weather this weekend.  Most of Melissa's relatives are coming up this weekend, so we'll be having a cookout, and spending lots of time with them.  They are all very excited to meet Landon.  Have you been watching the Bald Eagle Cam?  It is amazing how fast that little eaglet is growing.  Our leaves are starting to come out, and we've been getting some summer birds, such as the Rose Breasted Grosbeak, and an Oriole.  There is nothing like summer in the U.P.!
 
May 13th, 2010.  Today was a good day to stay home and help Melissa.  I didn't have any appointments, and it was raining thoughout the day.  I was still able to get some work done in my home office anyhow.  Landon has been sleeping a lot today, so hopefully that doesn't mean that he'll be up more through the night.  I did finally find the time to make a new video update from the timber harvest.  Check out the forestry journal to read the update, and watch the video.  I got another showing request today for this nice cottage on Lake Superior.  This place is super clean, peaceful, and a great value.  Have a nice Friday!
 
May 12th, 2010.  Sorry I missed typing a journal last night, things got kind of busy, and then it was bedtime.  Yesterday I looked at a house in Laurium that I'll be listing soon.  When the seller is in the process of fixing things up before putting it on the market, I like to meet with them to advise them on where their money is best spent.  If you are on a budget you need to carefully consider what improvements are worth doing, and which ones aren't.  I spent most of today in the office.  I sent out a listing agreement today for a parcel that will sell quickly.  We had a photographer over to take pics of Landon, I'm anxious to see the pictures when they are done.  Have a nice day! 
 
May 10th, 2010.  Today I got the deal signed and accepted for the 20 acre parcel near Pelkie, so congrats to all involved.  Once I get the land division approval signed by Baraga Township, we can schedule a closing date.  Melissa and her sister took Landon for his first walk in the stroller today, and just like he does on our car rides, he slept right through it.  We're hoping that he travels just as well when he take him to visit my family.  Take Care! 
 
May 9th, 2010.  Lately it is kind of hard to tell the weekdays from the weekends.  Sunday I showed this 20 acre parcel near Pelkie, and ended up writing an offer on the spot.  I'm very confident that we'll have the offer accepted tomorrow.  There are still three other 20 acre parcels to chose from, so if you have been watching these properties, it might be time to make your move.  We grilled out on Sunday with the in-laws.  To all of you mothers out there....Happy Mother's Day!  I am learning a new appreciation for you.
 
May 7th, 2010.  If you saw the deer cam tonight, you noticed that it is snowing in the Keweenaw.  It is still snowing while I type this.  They are calling for 2 to 7 inches in some areas.  It is supposed to be back in the 50's by Sunday, so it shouldn't stay long.  This morning we officially closed on the cabin off of Brooks Road, so congrats to Walt and Evan!  Enjoy your weekend!
 
May 6th, 2010.  Kind of sleepy today, but got quite a bit done.  We're all set for a closing tomorrow morning.  Here is my new pole barn listing on 10 acres.  It just hit the market yesterday, and we've already had three good leads on it.  After work, my buddy and I went out to the cabin for a bit.  I'm gathering together what lumber I have left over for some upcoming projects.  The black flies are starting to come out, another sure sign of summer!
 
May 5th, 2010.  I watched Landon for most of the morning, to give Mom some much needed sleep.  It was a busy day in the office after that.  Quite a few inquiries from buyers today, and I also had some sellers come in to sign some closing papers.  I entered in a new listing near Lake Linden today, and already had a call on it.  We're expecting some colder weather over the next few days, and maybe even some snow.  Get your coat back out!
 
May 4th, 2010.  I went out to the timber harvest in the morning, and everything is moving smoothly.  I also talked with a landowner nearby who is interested in having me look at his timber as well.  Tonight at 7:00 I had a showing on a house on Tamarack Waterworks Road, just off the shore of Lake Superior.  The Houghton county real estate market seems to be getting busier and busier as the year goes on.  Have you been watching the Bald Eagle Cam?  That eaglet is really growing fast!
 
May 3th, 2010.  I hope that May is off to a good start for you.  Here is my new 40 acre listing, just outside of Houghton.  This is a very good price considering the location of the property.  We had our first check up at the hospital today for Landon.  He now weighs 7 lbs 6 ounces, so he is healthy and gaining weight.  I try not to take it for granted that we were blessed with such a healthy baby.  This afternoon Melissa and I actually looked at a house for ourselves, and I ended up writing an offer on it tonight.  I'm not very optimistic that we'll get it, but we'll see what happens.  There is a new poll question for you to vote on.  Take Care!
 
May 2nd, 2010.  May is here!  This winter really went by fast.  My friends from lower Michigan were up this weekend, and they have never been to the western U.P. before.  I drove them over 200 miles on Saturday, just trying to show them all of the 'must see' sights during their short weekend here.  The weather turned out to be great, and we had a really good time.  Now it is time to get back to work, and continuing to provide for my family.  Lets all have a great week!
 
 
April 30th, 2010.  This morning I entered in the new 40 acre listing on Tapiola Road.  Today was Melissa's birthday, so her mom watched Landon for a bit and we went out to dinner.  She hasn't really been out of the house, so it was nice for her to get out, if only for an hour.  We also ran into some friends at dinner that we haven't seen for about 9 months, so that was a nice surprise.  We had a couple of other friends stop by tonight, our baby is becoming quite popular!  Now it is almost 11 pm, and i'm waiting for more even more friends of mine from lower Michigan roll into town.  They've never been here before, so I was going to help them get settled in and unpacked at their hotel.  It is going to be a whirlwind weekend showing them the sights of the Keweenaw.
 
April 29th, 2010.  Today was cloudy and windy.  We're getting all set for our company to get into town tomorrow night.  Tomorrow is also Melissa's birthday.  She sure has her hands full as a new mother, but she is doing a fabulous job.  If you want to e-mail her any birthday wishes, you can e-mail it to me, and I'll read them to her.  Today I went out to Tapiola to take pictures and put up the sign on the new 40 acre listing.  I'll have the details on here by Sunday night.  Landon is wailing while I'm typing this, he has been pretty fussy the last couple of days.  Is it Friday already? 
 
April 28th, 2010.  Landon is growing cuter everyday.  Today I got the paperwork back for a 40 acre parcel that I'll be listing on Tapiola Road.  I spent the day in the office, getting caught up with everything.  I've got some friends coming up this weekend, and they've never been to the western U.P., so I'm looking forward to showing off the beautiful area that I live in.  Speaking of friends, I have a friend here in the Keweenaw that is a coppersmith.  Check out their website, and take a look at the beautiful items that he makes.  Copper sure is beautiful.  Why don't you order something and tell them I sent you, I know they will appreciate it.  Uh oh, Landon is fussing, gotta go...
 
April 27th, 2010.  This morning I sent out a purchase agreement on this 20 acre parcel near Pelkie.  I've had lots of inquiries on this property, so I'm looking forward to getting it sold.  Here is my new listing on Lake Medora.  Lake Medora is one of the nicest lakes in the Keweenaw, and this lot is the only one I'm aware of for under 100K.  Melissa had to run some errands today, so I got to watch Landon for a few hours on my own.  I got to bottle feed him, and I got peed on, and I got to change him, so everything went pretty well.  Later in the day I showed 20 acres out near Liminga.  Now Landon and I are watching the Detroit Tigers on TV.  Another nice day!
 
April 26th, 2010.  We had a nice sunny day to start off our week.  In the morning I entered in my new listing on Lake Medora.  I also sent out paperwork for a new pole building with acreage that I'm listing near Jacobsville.  I've got all of my stuff together for a showing on a house in Hancock tomorrow morning.  Landon already looks so much bigger to me than he did when he was born just over a week ago.  We took him outside for a bit today, and he seemed to enjoy the fresh air....for about 30 seconds.  Then he passed out and slept for about an hour.  I'm looking forward to teaching him all about the outdoors when he gets older.  Take Care!
 
April 25th, 2010.  It was a nice weekend in the Keweenaw.  Saturday I was able to stay home with Melissa and Landon all day.  We seem to be getting the hang of things.  He sure is a beautiful baby.  Sunday I went up to Lake Medora to check out some properties, but it didn't take too long.  Later her sister came over, and we made shish kabobs on the grill, which turned out great.  Have you been checking out the eagle cam?  I saw both parents in the nest last night, feeding the little one.  Time for the last week of April!
 
April 23rd, 2010.  I had quite a bit of work to do today once again.  I had to meet with a seller in the morning to get some paperwork signed.  I also sent out a listing agreement for a 40 acre parcel just south of Houghton.  After lunch I drove up to Lake Medora to take pics and put up signs on an extra nice lot that I'm putting on the market.  It was a beautiful day, by the way, with temps in the high 60's.  I was back by 4:30 where we finally closed on the house on Crestwood (Sylvan Estates).  Also, please take a look at this very nice cabin close to Lake Superior out by McLain State Park.  These are the types of properties that really sell well for me.  Melissa's mom and sister have been very helpful by coming over and helping with Landon while I'm working.  I swear that the kid gets slightly bigger everyday.  It is a lot of work, but we are really enjoying parenthood.  Have a very nice weekend!
 
April 22nd, 2010.  Today was a bit cool, but a nice sunny day in the Keweenaw.  In the morning I had to go out to the timber harvest in Rabbit Bay.  Everything is looking good, I took some video that I'll try to post on here within the next few days.  In the afternoon I went out by McLain State Park to take pictures of a new listing.  It is a very nice cabin on 10 acres just off the shores of Lake Superior.  I'll post the details on here within the next day or two.  Landon is doing great.  Our friends Ross and Amanda came over to see him tonight, and he went pee all over Amanda, which I thought was hilarious.  I guess we shouldn't have laughed too hard because he went pee all over Melissa just an hour later.  He is so little that even these newborn diapers seem slightly loose on him.  He is laying here next to me with his eyes open as I'm typing this.  I'm watching him for the next two hours while Melissa sleeps, and then when she gets up I'll go take my turn for sleeping.  There is a new poll question for you to vote on.  Have a nice Friday!
 
April 21st, 2010.  The first night home with Landon went about as expected.  Melissa didn't sleep all night, and I was in and out.  He is doing great anyhow.  I had to go to work today for a bit.  We had the closing on the 10 acre parcel, so congrats to Gary and Nate.  I'm working on putting together some new listings.  I got back home as quickly as I could, and we're working on getting somewhat of a routine going with our new family.  We keep learning as we go.  I've been hearing from some of you that the Eagle Nest Cam has been fun to watch.  Many have watched the little eaglet getting fed by it's mother.  I also had a credible source tell me that they saw a pheasant on my deer cam this morning.  I've never seen one yet, but I do know that there are some around.  I didn't want to flood 'pic of the day' with baby pictures, but I've been getting e-mails asking for more, so I'll be sure to keep some coming.  Take Care!
 
April 20th, 2010.  We're home!  They finally let us out tonight, and we're home for our first night with Landon.  Everything has been going great, he has gotten the hang of feeding, and is feeding frequently.  He is a very content little boy, so far he doesn't cry much, and if he does, he doesn't cry long.  It is a really weird feeling leaving the hospital for the first time, knowing you are totally responsible for this little person.  I got a lot of real estate calls the last few days, and I feel bad because it was hard to keep up with everything from the hospital.  I have a closing in the morning, and I guess I'm as ready for work as I can be.  By the way, we really appreciate each and every e-mail that we received from all of you.  It has been fun sharing this experience with you.  Time to get used to very little sleep for awhile.  Cya!
 
April 18th, 2010.  Landon Richard Stein was born at 6:58 AM.  He weighs 6 lbs 10 oz, and is 21 inches long.  Melissa has been through a lot, and she is ready for some well deserved sleep.  Check out 'Pic of the Day' to see him.  I can't even describe how happy I am.  Wow.
 
April 17th, 2010.  What a long 24 hours it has been.  I can't even imagine how much longer it has been for Melissa.  It is 9:00 pm, and we are at the hospital.  She is still having very strong contractions, but the Doctor thinks that it will still be several hours until she is ready to deliver.  They have given her some medication to help her try and get some rest now.  She hasn't slept a wink since Thursday night, and I've only slept about two hours.  Anyhow, we are going to try and rest, and we are hoping for a smooth delivery sometime soon.  Thanks for your e-mails of encouragement.
 
April 17th, 2010.  It is now 3:00 pm on Saturday, and no baby yet.  She is still having contractions every 5 minutes, and they are getting more intense, but we're still waiting. 
 
April 17th, 2010.  UPDATE  It is 1:30 AM, and Melissa woke me up and said that we need to go to the hospital.  We're heading there now.....
 
April 16th, 2010.  How was your Friday?  Ours was pretty uneventful.  I spent just a few hours in the office, working on a couple of different closings that will occur next week.  Melissa is feeling 'cramps' (contractions?) about every 15 to 20 minutes, and I've been writing down the times just to keep track.  We'll just keep waiting, and let the baby come out on his own terms.  Even though I don't typically write a journal on Saturday nights, I'll try to post something short and sweet if/when we go to the hospital this weekend.  Have a great weekend!
 
April 15th, 2010.  Today was tax day.  I hope you got your returns in on time.  This morning I had a closing on the 12 acre parcel on Brooks Road, so congrats to Walt.  I really thought we were going to have the baby today, but it didn't happen.  There are definitely some things happening that lead us to believe that the time is getting close.  Maybe tonight?
 
April 14th, 2010.  Still no baby.  I've realized something today.  Because of my job, I am in charge of a lot of scheduling.  I am constantly scheduling listing appointments, showings, appraisals, home inspections, health department evaluations, closings, etc.  Because of this, I feel a little frustrated having no control over when this baby comes out.  I wish I could just know when it is going to happen!  I guess we'll see what tomorrow brings.  Today at the office I got everything ready to go for a closing that will take place in the morning.  Here is one of my new listings, 9 lots right in the city of Houghton.  This is a very unique opportunity to build your private home in a great area.  Anyhow, back to waiting for the baby.
 
April 13th, 2010.  Today was the due date....but no baby yet.  There are a few minor signs that lead us to believe that it could happen any day now.  I'm really excited for the big day to come.  Melissa is still working full time until our big day arrives.  Finnish women are tough cookies.  Today I signed the papers on a really nice cabin listing near Lake Superior.  I'll have details soon.  Here are the details on a new waterfront parcel that I just listed near Copper Harbor.  I am taking extra efforts this year to be sure that my listings are priced to sell, as compared to the comparable properties in the area.  Anyhow, maybe tomorrow will be the day for baby boy Stein...or tonight?  Who knows?
 
April 12th, 2010.  I spent the morning out at the Rabbit Bay Timber Harvest.  It is nice and dry out there, and everything is moving along.  The loggers weren't there today, so I wasn't able to get any video footage.  I'm happy to have this amazing property back on the market, at a reduced price.  Did you see the newly hatched eagle?  Also, there is a new poll question for you to vote on.  Lastly....Tuesday is Melissa's official due date.....
 
April 11th, 2010.  There was a cute little baby born this weekend!  But it wasn't ours.  ;)  Check out the Bald Eagle Cam, where you'll see that her egg finallly hatched, and she has a cute little one to take care of.  Pretty neat stuff.  Saturday I entered four new listings into the MLS.  I went to a charity banquet that night, which was a good time.  Anyhow, Melissa is due on Tuesday, so we are getting VERY close!
 
April 9th, 2010.  Today I listed 9 lots in the city of Houghton.  In the afternoon, I went up north to check out some new properties that I'll be listing on Lake Medora, as well as Lake Superior.  Tonight Melissa and I went to the Pilgrim River Steakhouse with some friends.  Still no signs of the baby wanting to come out.  Have a great weekend!
 
April 8th, 2010.  Things were somewhat back to normal in the Copper Country today as there was light snow in the air most of the day.  I'm sure you've noticed by now a decrease in activity on the deer cam.  This is to be expected for this time of year.  The deer are now content to browse in their natural habitat, now that the snow is gone.  The green field that you see on cam is a mix of rye and oats.  The feeder has basically stopped working, and I'm going to end up getting a new one, but not until fall.  The deer will typically prefer browsing on the new green growth, rather than eating corn and/or pellets.  There will still be plenty of activity, but most of it will be at dusk and dawn now, as the deer transition back into their normal behavior.  The bucks should start growing their velvet covered antlers anytime now.  Have a nice Friday!
 
April 7th, 2010.  This morning was all about signs.  I took down signs on some sold properties, and put up new signs on new listings.  I spent the afternoon in the office, where I got a lot done.  I have quite a few closings coming up, so we're getting everything ready to go.  Melissa is still feeling great.  I've always got my cellphone ready, since you never know when labor might begin.  I'm really getting anxious to meet my son.
 
April 6th, 2010.  I hope that your week is going well.  I'm happy to have re-listed this very nice cabin on Lake Superior.  It is in a great setting.  After getting my work done today, I ended up out at the cabin, where we installed some new doors to replace the old ones that I didn't really like.  There sure is a difference between cheap hollow core doors, and nice solid panel doors.  I'll be sure to post a pic of them on here soon.  Also, my Aunt Judy sent me this link of a raven stealing an egg out of the bald eagle's nest.  Watch the clip here.  Very sad to see.  But, one thing I've learned from when I worked on Isle Royale is that nature is not like what you see on Walt Disney movies.  It can be very cruel.  That is the circle of life I guess.  Take Care!
 
April 5th, 2010.  Another nice day today.  I entered in a new listing for 40 acres near Lake Linden.  I'll have details soon.  Here is a new waterfront listing near Chassell that I just put on the market.  This parcel easily has the lowest price on the stretch of shoreline from Houghton to Baraga.  I can definitely feel that summer is coming, as my phone is starting to ring daily with new buyers and new sellers.  I hope that you are enjoying the Eagle Cam!
 
April 4th, 2010.  The countdown to the due date is only about 8 days!  We kind of layed low this weekend, but we did enjoy a nice dinner for Easter at the in-laws on Sunday.  Melissa hasn't had any early contractions or signs of labor, so we're just taking each day as it comes at us.  I can't stop thinking about all of the things that I feel like I need to get done soon.  As far as the bear cam goes, it looks Lily has decided that it is time to take her cub out of the den, and teach it the ways of the wild.  I did add a new cam this weekend, the 'Bald Eagle's Nest Cam'.  This is a very interesting cam.  The eagle is keeping the eggs warm, and I have no idea when they are going to hatch, so keep checking it out.  I also love the sound on that cam, it makes you feel like you are outside, even if you are home, or stuck in the office.  Check it out.
 
April 2nd, 2010.  Today was a long day.  I spent about 4.5 hours on the road, and covered over 600 acres of timberland, mostly on foot.  I'm looking at a couple more potential timber harvests to work on this year.  One of them looks like a go, the other may not be ready yet.  Everybody was happy today, with the temps being in the high 70's.  When I finally got home tonight, we grilled out for the first time this year.  Enjoy your weekend!
 
April 1st, 2010.  I sent an e-mail to about 20 people this morning with 'Melissa is in labor' in the subject line.  They were all disappointed when they opened the e-mail to read..."April Fools".  Hopefully nobody played any pranks on you for April Fool's Day.  Today I had a showing up in Copper Harbor that went very well.  After that I had to run to Marquette to pick up some things from Menards.  I ended up being on the road for about 6 hours today, so it feels good to finally be home.  Is it Friday already?
 
 
 
March 31st, 2010.  Today was very productive.  Everybody was out and about with the weather hitting the 70 degree mark.  I put the battery in my ATV, and got it running for the year.  I'll need it for Friday, as I have over 600 acres I need to look at.  I entered in two new listings, which of course I'll post the details on within the next couple days.  In the afternoon I put together an accepted offer on the Brooks road cabin.  That listing didn't last long, as I predicted.  Congrats to Evan and Walt.  Enjoy the weather!
 
March 30th, 2010.  Temperatures in the 60's feel great!  I see that Lily the bear left the den today, but I'm betting that she'll be back.  We'll see.  I sent out a listing agreement today for a nice cottage on Lake Superior.  After closing the office, I had a showing on a very nice house in Houghton near the elementary school.  I was figuring out my schedule for Thursday and Friday, and it looks like I'll be driving over 400 miles for work over those two days.  I cover a big territory up here.  Take Care!
 
March 29th, 2010.  Today I put the wheels in motion for the closing on the 10 acre parcel near Mass City.  It shouldn't take too long, it mostly depends on how quickly the township will approve the land division.  The Michigan Land Division Act requires that if you are breaking off any parcel smaller than 40 acres, you must get approval from your local township assessor.  Today I got the surveys needed to go look at some new potential listings.  We'll see what happens.  I have actually turned down several listings over the years, if the seller isn't realistic about the price.  I don't believe in putting my sign on a property if I don't think that I can sell it.  We're ready for the warm weather coming this week!  Oh, and there is a new poll question for you to vote on.
 
March 28th, 2010.  Another weekend has flown by.  Saturday I had a showing on the cabin property just outside of Hancock.  The showing went well, and the buyers said that they are very interested, so we'll see what happens.  Sunday I got a deal put together on this 10 acre parcel near Mass City.  I received a couple of other phone calls on Sunday, so there is a good amount of inquiries from buyers right now.  I've read some publications that are saying that interest rates are expected to start creeping up by the end of spring.  They don't predict a dramatic increase, but they think that the rates are as low now as they are going to be.  We'll see what happens.  March is almost over!
 
March 26th, 2010.  Today was sunny, but cold.  I ended up showing this 40 acre parcel near Pelkie.  It went well, we'll see what happens.  Right now I'm getting some GPS coordinates ready for other showings that I have this weekend.  Tonight Melissa and I went to dinner with a friend of ours at Quincy's in Dollar Bay.  Lots of baby talk.  Have a great weekend!
 
March 25th, 2010.  Today the temps dropped back down to where they should be for this time of year.  We FINALLY got the final approval we needed to close on the 'short sale' for the house in Hancock.  All in all, the process will have taken about 4 months.  You'll notice I have changed the bear cam link just a bit, for faster viewing.  Let me know if any of you have any trouble viewing it.  I hope that you have a nice Friday!
 
March 24th, 2010.  Today I got the signatures back on an offer for my 800 acre parcel in Keweenaw county.  We'll see where it goes from here.  In the afternoon, Melissa and I had our weekly appointment with the doctor.  The baby is growing by the day, and his heartbeat still sounds great.  He has been kicking a lot. In fact, rather than hold my hand on her stomach, I can simply see her stomach moving.  I got a showing request today for the new cabin listing near Brooks road, so I'm looking forward to that.  Have a good day!
 
March 23rd, 2010.  Today we had the funeral for Melissa's grandmother, who passed away on Friday.  After that we spent the rest of the day with family up there.  Back to work tomorrow.
 
March 22nd, 2010.  We're off and running with another week.  We've got the baby's room pretty much ready.  Today I purchased an I-Phone.  There are many useful applications, especially some that are made for Realtors.  I've been getting e-mails from people saying that there has been good action on the 'bear den cam' lately, so be sure to check it out.  Be sure to keep e-mailing me pics for 'pic of the day', my e-mail is josh@statewideofhoughton.com.  Thanks!
 
March 21st, 2010.  I hope that you enjoyed your weekend.  Saturday I went and listed a new parcel on Lake Superior in Chassell Township.  Only 79K for 262 feet along the lake, with a new driveway already put in.  I'm pretty excited about that one.  Sunday morning I hung out at the cabin for awhile, and then spent the rest of the day up at the in-laws.  I'm ready for another busy week.  Take Care!
 
March 19th, 2010.  Today I mailed out a listing agreement for the waterfront parcel I looked at in Copper Harbor yesterday.  The 'nesting' continues in preparation for the baby.  We spent most of Friday assembling an armoire, bassinet, pack and play, and the stroller/car seat.  We saw some snow in the air today too, which I kind of liked.  Have a nice weekend!
 
March 18th, 2010.  I hope you had a nice Thursday.  After opening up the office, I went up to Copper Harbor to check out a waterfront parcel that I'm working on listing.  Every night I get phone calls from family and friends all wanting to know how Melissa is feeling.  We're getting down to the wire.  I've still got some more work to do to get the baby's room 100% ready.  Enjoy your Friday!
 
March 17th, 2010.  Well here it is.  This is my new listing that I'm very confident will sell quickly.  I get lots of inquiries for property like this, and this one is in a great location and setting.  I'm still busy trying to get my 'honey-do' list of things done before the baby is born.  Take Care!
 
March 16th, 2010.  Today I entered in my new listing near Brooks Road, just outside of Hancock.  I can't wait to show you the pics tomorrow.  I started putting together the closing folder for the recent purchase agreement on the Hancock house.  I spent quite a bit of time washing my truck today, which seems kind of pointless.  As soon as I'm out in the woods again, which is often, it will be right back to filthy.  Tonight we went to the Michigan Tech game here at the SDC, where the girls managed another win, advancing them to the 'Elite 8'.  They'll have to travel to Missouri now, to finish out the tournament.  It was nice to see all the seniors win their last home game.  This was truly the best team in Tech history.  Have a good day!
 
March 15th, 2010.  Almost 60 degrees today!  It feels so weird to see open water in the Portage Canal already.  Today I went out to Brooks Road to take pics of a new listing that I'm pretty excited about.  Also, today we officially got the deal together on the house in Hancock, so congrats to Brian!  I went out to the cabin tonight, and heard a pack of wolves howling just before dark.  I've seen tracks on a property not far from mine, but I have never seen any on my property...yet.  Speaking of interesting wildlife, if any of you ever see any interesting activity on the deer cam (bear, wolves, coyote, bobcat), please send me an e-mail and let me know about it.  Better yet, if you ever see something interesting, you can simply right click on the cam image, click 'save picture as', and save that image to your computer.  Maybe somebody will capture a bear or something this spring that we can put on 'pic of the day'.  Enjoy the weather!
 
March 14th, 2010.  Have you sprung ahead?  I'm sure you've all adjusted your clocks for the time change by now.  The weekend went by pretty fast.  Saturday morning I had a showing on a house in Tamarack City.  Sunday we went to round 2 of the NCAA girls tournament, where Michigan Tech managed another win against Findlay.  They've now advanced to the 'sweet 16', where they'll play Drury here in Houghton on Tuesday.  I played some basketball myself in Dollar Bay afterwards.  Melissa and I are now less than 1 month from our due date for the baby!  Hard to believe.
 
March 12th, 2010.  I hope that your Friday went well.  Tonight Melissa and I went to Round 1 of the NCAA tournament here in Houghton.  Michigan Tech defeated Northern Kentucky by 20 points, so they are off to a good start.  I need to look at a couple of new listings this weekend.  We are losing snow fast!
 
March 11th, 2010.  Today was pretty busy.  We're still in negotiations for the house in Hancock.  Here is my new listing in the city of Houghton.  This is one of the most interesting properties on the market, and I am absolutely determined to sell it.  Very good investment.  Tonight at 6:00 I had a showing on a nice cabin near Twin Lakes.  The showing went well.  It would be a perfect fit for the buyers.  Time to get ready for a busy day tomorrow.  Take Care!
 
March 10th, 2010.  It is raining here, which is going to make for some very sloppy conditions.  I'd like to say 'hello' to the many new visitors who have been coming over from the Earthcam website.  I hope that you'll enjoy the daily updates here, as well as the webcam.  Today I entered in a new listing in the city of Houghton that I'll feature here tomorrow.  I also sent out a listing agreement for a really neat cabin on 19 acres just outside of Hancock.  By the way, some of you have been asking me if all of the brown in the snow on the webcam is deer feed.  It is not, it is actually just mud as they have packed the snow down and now it is melting away.  The copper country ground is starting to get sloppy.  Enjoy your day!
 
March 9th, 2010.  Today I had a second showing on a house in Hancock, and we ended up writing an offer.  We are still negotiating, so we'll see what happens.  To get the first time buyer tax credit, you must have a house under contract by April 30th, and close on it by June 30th.  We have a handful of people still trying to get in on this great program.  Here is my new listing near Jacobsville.  Nice buy on a nice parcel.  Time for dinner.  Have a good day.
 
March 8th, 2010.  Temps in the 50's!  It feels weird already hearing a robin singing.  In the morning I snowshoed around a property with one of my clients, to help him figure out the property lines.  The phones were pretty busy at the office today.  It seems like as the temperatures heat up, so does real estate.  I was very excited today when I got an e-mail from Earth Cam, informing me that their editors picked my Upper Peninsula Deer Cam as one of their 'top 10'.  Thank you to any of you that have sent a link to it to friends, family, co-workers, etc.  There is a new poll question for you to vote on.  Take Care!
 
March 7th, 2010.  The copper country was busy this weekend as everybody was curing their cabin fever.  With temps in the mid 40's, everybody was out and about, walking, running, and just enjoying our beautiful peninsula.  Melissa had her baby shower on Saturday, and everything went great.  We received many gifts that will be very helpful when the baby is born.  We are very grateful for everybody's generosity.  Saturday night we went to the Michigan Tech girl's basketball game.  It was the GLIAC conference finals game against Northern Michigan University.  Tech won a very good game, so congrats to them on another great season.  I have a new update on the Forestry Journal, so feel free to check out another video clip of the action.
 
March 5th, 2010.  The spring-like conditions are still here.  The weather forced the road commission to enforce the road restrictions until spring.  This means that the loggers will not be able to truck anymore wood off of the job until they lift the restrictions in the spring.  Today I entered in the new listing in Jacobsville.  I'll post some details Sunday night.  Tomorrow is Melissa's baby shower, which is going to be quite the event.  The days are flying by.
 
March 4th, 2010.  Today was pretty busy.  I showed a few houses in the early afternoon.  It went pretty well, one of the houses really stood out.  We'll see what happens.  After that I went down to Jacobsville to put up signs and take pics of a nice new listing.  Then I drove over to Rabbit Bay to check on my timber harvest.  Everything is moving along at a very good pace, but it would be nice if the temps would go back to freezing, otherwise the ground can end up getting too soft.  I'm sure this heat wave won't last long.  Before dark, I went and checked out a new potential timber sale on 40 acres outside of Houghton.  That parcel really needs to be thinned, and has a lot of potential.  I did take some videos today for the forestry journal, but I don't have time to put them on tonight.  Look for them soon.  Hopefully your Friday goes by quickly!
 
March 3rd, 2010.  I put the new lens on the webcam this morning, you may have noticed that it is zoomed in slightly closer than before.  In the afternoon, I officially got the deal together on a property near Hancock that I listed two days ago.  Congrats to Walt.  Tomorrow I'm heading to Jacobsville to take pics and put up signs on a new listing.  It was another beautiful sunny day.  I'm loving it.  See ya! 
 
March 2nd, 2010.  We have been very lucky to have so many mild days this winter.  It got close to 40 degrees, which feels pretty good compared to what it should be.  I'm pretty pleased with the amount of inquiries I'm getting from buyers as of late.  If you have property to sell, I would try to get it on the market soon, as spring will be here before you know it.  People that I talk to typically assume that real estate stops in the winter up here.  This is not true.  I've closed over $750,000 in volume since this January.  Summer is probably our busiest time of year, but plenty of deals are done in the winter months.  Have a good day!
 
March 1st, 2010.  March is here!  I sent out a purchase agreement on one of my new listings today, which is a great way to start the month.  Thank you very much to those of you that e-mailed me pics for 'pic of the day'.  We've got a nice variety coming up this week.  Keep them coming.  Also a big thank you to those of you that have donated money towards the deer feed.  It really helps a lot, and it is much appreciated.  I've been able to purchase 100 lbs of feed with it so far, which will keep the deer happy for several days.  There is a new poll question for you to vote on.  Take Care!
 
February 28th, 2010.  February has come and gone, and Melissa and I are getting very close to parenthood.  We had a busy Saturday.  I opened up the office in the morning, and then in the early afternoon we went to the Michigan Tech Women's basketball game.  They defeated Saginaw Valley in a pretty close game.  In the evening, we went to the Michigan Tech hockey game where State Wide had rented the President's Skybox for the evening.  A good time was had by all, and it sure was fun way to watch the game.  If you haven't already noticed, I FINALLY have the deer cam automatically refreshing!  All you have to do now is sit back and watch, and the webcam will automatically update for you every 10 seconds.  This will make it much easier to enjoy the action.  Have a great week!
 
February 26th, 2010.  Friday went by pretty quickly.  I reduced the price on my beautiful cabin listing near Covington.  All of the paperwork came back, and the acreage near Kenton is officially closed.  Congrats to buyer Brett and seller Dennis.  We had friends over tonight to play Monopoly, and it ended up lasting for about 4 hours.  We have a busy day tomorrow, so I had better get to bed. 
 
February 25th, 2010.  The sun came back out today, which always seems to be a blessing up here in the winter.  I had to go mess with the deer feeder in the morning, and it seems to be working again.  In the afternoon I went out to Rabbit Bay to check on the timber harvest that officially began yesterday.  I was really pleased with how everything looks.  Please check out the 'Forestry Journal', to see the latest video update.
 
February 24th, 2010.  Light, fluffy snow continues to fall.  I spent the day in the office.  We're closing Friday on the Kenton parcel.  Eight days from originally showing the property until closing, not bad.  The loggers have moved their equipment into the property for the timber harvest, so I'll get out there at some point tomorrow to take some pics and videos.  I've had e-mails from people wanting to know how they could make a donation to the deer feeding project.  To make it easy, you'll notice a new link on the left (Help feed a U.P. Deer), and also a 'donate' link below the cam.  Paypal is very easy and secure.  No obligation, but donations of any size will go along way in assisting with the feeding program.  The nighttime viewing is great when the motion light is on, but the infrared lens is still lacking once the light goes off.  I have ordered an infrared illuminator to try and improve this.  Take Care!
 
February 23rd, 2010.  Our nice weather is about over, and the snow is starting to fall.  We're supposed to get several inches overnight.  Today we closed on the large parcel with 1100 feet along Lake Superior in Keweenaw County.  Congrats to buyer Robert and seller Al.  If you are reading this at night, you are noticing that the new deer cam is up and running.  The night viewing is vastly improved, I'm very happy.  The only thing I don't like is that the cam is making the feeder appear about twice as far away as it really is.  I already have a new lens on the way that will bring it in closer.  I'm still waiting for help in getting my image to refresh automatically.  Hopefully someday soon I'll have this thing to the point where I'm happy with it.  Have a nice day!
 
February 22nd, 2010.  I know that this nice weather can't last much longer.  My truck battery has been acting kind of weak lately, and this morning it was dead.  So I ended up putting a new battery in it today.  I sent out the paperwork for a new listing today.  I'm still making slow progress on my 'short sale' in Hancock.  Do you know how to e-mail a picture?  Do you have a nice picture?  Are you really going to make me come up with every picture for 'pic of the day'?  E-mail me a nice pic at josh@statewideofhoughton.com.  Thanks!
 
February 21st, 2010.  The sun continued to shine throughout the weekend.  Saturday I met up with some clients to show them around a property that they recently purchased.  We had a nice time looking at their newly acquired piece of the Keweenaw.  By the way, check out the price reduction on this foreclosure waterfront lot on Portage Lake.  This is one of the best deals on Portage.  Sunday was a good reminder to myself how dangerous it is to snowmobile alone.  Just before dark, I was heading south out of Keweenaw county when I got the brilliant idea to take a shortcut off the main trail.  Long story short, I got my snowmobile extremely stuck, and I ended up knee deep in freezing cold water.  I had no hope of getting it out myself, so I had to walk quite a distance to the main trail.  I finally flagged down three young riders, and they helped me pull the machine out.  I then got home as quickly as possible, since I was dripping wet and plenty cold.  No more riding alone off trail for me.  Time for the last week in February!
 
February 19th, 2010.  Another nice day in the Keweenaw.  I got the paperwork together for a quick closing on the Kenton parcel.  I'm also looking at a couple of new properties that I should be listing soon.  I read in the paper that another snowmobile went through the ice on the Portage Canal.  If you are a snowmobiler, STAY OFF THE CANAL!  The Portage Canal has a major current, much like a river, and does not freeze well.  The bridge is lowered specifically so you can safely snowmobile across, so why risk your life?  People have gone through the ice literally every year since I've lived here.  Anyhow, we rode up to Copper Harbor tonight with some friends and had a great dinner at the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge.  I'm so happy that the Lodge is open during the winter now.  They have the nicest fireplaces around.  Have a nice weekend!
 
February 18th, 2010.  Today I covered a couple hundred miles in the truck.  It was another sunny day, which made for a beautiful day on the road.  I had a showing on my 4 acre listing in Kenton.  We ended up writing a purchase agreement on the spot, and I already got the deal signed and accepted in the afternoon.  Happy buyers and happy sellers are what it's all about.  You'll notice a new 'guard' on the deer feeder that I put on tonight.  The deer previously were able to reach in with their tongue and pull feed out.  That was a problem in two ways.  One was that their saliva would freeze on the moving parts, and cause problems with the feeder getting stuck.  The other is that overnight, they were nearly emptying the drum on their own.  Now they shouldn't be able to reach it with their tongue, and the feeder can broadcast the feed like it is supposed to.  By the way, the feeder is programmed to go off at 8:30 am, 12:00 pm, and 3:00 pm.  You can usually expect to see deer shortly after any of those times.  They have definitely learned to come eat when they hear the sound of the feeder going off.  Have a nice Friday!
 
February 17th, 2010.  We had some sunshine today, which is always a nice sight.  I had to go to Watersmeet today, which took up a good chunk of the day.  We officially closed on the 50 acre parcel near Elo, so congrats to Jim & Lynn!  After closing down the office tonight, I went to a card game with some other local businessmen.  It was pretty fun.  It is amazing how those guys can be so successful at business, yet be so bad at cards ;)  There is a new poll question for you to vote on.
 
February 16th, 2010.  Another day has flown by.  Most of the morning I worked at home on taxes.  After a couple of hours in the office, I went up to the hospital to meet Melissa for a scheduled appointment.  The baby's heartbeat still sounds great, and Melissa's measurements are right on schedule.  Today we got a tour of the birthing facility.  Her due date is April 13th, and I have a feeling that it will be here before you know it!
 
February 15th, 2010.  We really ended up getting a lot of snow.  It was nice snow though, real light and fluffy.  I sent out the closing statements today for a closing that will occur on Wednesday.  Today I ordered a new webcam, one with night vision.  Once it gets all set up, the after dark viewing should be much improved.  I'm hoping to have the new one up and running sometime next week.  I spent about 4 hours tonight working on income taxes, one of my least favorite times of year.  Have a nice day!
 
February 14th, 2010.  Happy Valentine's Day!  Saturday we went to a birthing class all day.  We both learned a lot.  The more I learn about the whole pregnancy process, the more amazed I am.  It truly is a miracle.  We spent most of Sunday watching the Winter Olympics.  You'll notice that many of the links on the left side of the page are in different locations.  I got rid of a few links that were rarely used.  You'll notice that the links are much more organized now.  I've put all of the links that pertain to real estate in one segment, non-real estate links in another, webcams, and then forestry.  I'm sure you'll quickly get used to the changes, and it will make it much easier for new users to navigate.  Speaking of new users, please send a link to my website to one of your friends, I'd appreciate it.  Lets have a great week!
 
February 12th, 2010.  It was a nice sunny day in the Keweenaw.  I had appointments all morning, and then in the afternoon Melissa and I went for a ride to the cabin.  Around 4:00 pm, I had deer within 5 feet of me on the deer cam again.  If you actually saw this today, e-mail me at josh@statewideofhoughton.com, and let me know.  Melissa took some pictures.  I'm looking at buying a new webcam with infrared night vision.  I'm still in the process of trying to justify spending that kind of money.  We'll see what happens.  I've had people ask what I'm feeding the deer.  It isn't corn.  I'm actually feeding a high protein pellet mix, that is endorsed by the DNR and Keweenaw Whitetails.  This pellet mix is much healthier than corn, and gives deer what they need to make it though the long winters.  Unfortunately it keeps clogging up in my feeder, so I've had to go out there every other day to make it work.  I made some modifications today that hopefully will keep it working, so I don't have to drive 75 miles round trip every other day.  It is a lot of work trying to keep you all entertained ;)
 
February 11th, 2010.  Today we had a closing on a nice parcel near Baraga.  Congrats to Becky!  Later in the afternoon, I also closed on the foreclosure lot on Rice Lake.  The buyers of that lot got a very good deal.  After work, Melissa and I went over to some friends for dinner and to play cards.  I'm sure you saw deer on the website yesterday, as they were out there pretty much all day long.  I'm pretty tired tonight, so I'm going to head to bed.
 
February 10th, 2010.  If you were watching the deer cam today at about 3:00, you saw something pretty neat.  I've been having lots of problems with the feeder, so I was working on it this afternoon.  While I was working on it, a curious and obviously hungry deer began approaching me.  She ended up within 5 yards of me, while I threw her a little feed, that she gladly ate.  It was a very cool encounter.  Deer behave very differently in the winter, when filling their belly is their one and only priority.  Tonight I was working on getting paperwork completed for a 'short sale'.  For the few of you that don't know, a 'short sale' is when the house sells for less than what the owner owes the bank on the property.  It is a long and tedious process.  It is almost comical to me how banks operate sometimes.  You send them everything they need, and then wait for weeks without any updates or information from them.  Then, when they finally e-mail you forms that they need from you, the e-mail says that they need everything back and signed within 3 days or else the whole deal will be terminated.  We wait forever, then they need it now.  But, they have all of the power in these situations, so all we can do is exactly what they ask in order to keep the deal moving forward.  Closing statements across the country have all changed now as well.  The idea was to make them clearer for buyers and sellers, but many could contend that they are now less clear.  With the constant changes and evolution of this industry, I know one thing for sure.  Now more than ever, you really need to work with a real estate professional.
 
February 9th, 2010.  I spent most of the day in the office.  We are getting some calls from first time home buyers who are anxious to get in on the action before the program expires.  The program has been extended to April 30th.  If you'd like to learn more about this opportunity, you can search for it online, or simply click here.  This really is a great opportunity.  There is a new poll question for you to vote on.  Take Care!
 
February 8th, 2010.  Back at it.  Got a call today about a potential new listing on Rice Lake.  I get a lot of questions from people wanting to know how our market has been.  This is what I've seen.  The residential market here has still been quite steady in sales and value (I'm talking about Houghton/Hancock in particular).  Recreational properties have seen the most change.  Land still seems to be selling well, the main difference is that there is a lot more land for sale than what used to be available.  This is starting to move some of the land prices down, but only slightly.  What it boils down to is that with more land available, the properties that are particularly a good value are the ones that are going to go.  If a property isn't priced right, it is likely to stay on the market.  Another big difference is the average sale price of land.  It seems that many of the less expensive properties (25K and below), are becoming more attractive.  The larger parcels seem to be selling at a slower pace.  This leads to my opinion about the waterfront market.  Waterfront properties have slown down quite significantly.  I mainly believe that this ties in with the trend that people just haven't been wanting to spend big money on vacation properties.  I think that our vacant land values have stabilized, but I do think that waterfront values may still dip a little.  This is my current take on our market.  All in all, we definitely can't complain compared to many other areas in Michigan, or the country for that matter.  Our market overall is very stable as compared to many areas.  Slow and steady wins the race?
 
February 7th, 2010.  I'm sure that many of you watched the Super Bowl.  It was a good game, and the Saints deserved the victory.  Not much else happened this weekend.  I originally thought I was going to be showing some property, but the buyers had to cancel.  Melissa is looking more pregnant by the day, and the baby has really been kicking a lot.  Time to get ready for another week.
 
February 5th, 2010.  The weeks keep flying by.  We officially closed on the Lake Linden parcel, and we also closed on the lots near Tamarack City.  After leaving the office, I went up to Copper Harbor to check out a foreclosure property.  We stopped at the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge to warm up for a bit on the way back.  The lodge is open year round now, which is a great thing.  Nothing like a big crackling fireplace on a cold winter day.  Houghton is staying very busy with Winter Carnival.  Get out and enjoy the beauty of winter!
 
February 4th, 2010.  I got plenty of exercise today.  I went out to Rabbit Bay to mark the cutting boundaries on my new timber management project.  I covered about 3 miles through the snow and thick woods today.  It always feels great to spend a day in the deep woods.  For this project, I'm planning on showing you the entire process from start to finish.  I've created a Forestry Journal, and will be providing pictures and videos along the way.  For future reference, you can find the link on the left side of the main page, near the bottom under the "Forestry" column.  Please enjoy today's video.  I'll sleep good tonight!
 
February 3rd, 2010.  We had pretty nice weather today.  The sun doesn't come out all that often in the snow country, so it sure is a nice break when it makes an appearance.  We wrote a counter offer today on the house near Dollar Bay that I'm working on selling.  I put some brighter bulbs in the floodlight for the deer cam.  It is still dimmer than I'd like, I'm going to have to try to change some settings in the cam itself to see if that will help.  Tonight we met some friends and walked around the MTU campus for 'all nighter'.  Tonight all of the student organizations are working around the clock trying to finish up their ice sculptures.  Winter Carnival is a great time in Houghton!
 
February 2nd, 2010.  So far I've still been keeping myself busy preparing for upcoming closings.  I have the motion light set up for the deer cam.  I already saw some deer on it tonight.  The cam doesn't seem to be displaying it as bright as it seemed with the naked eye.  I'm going to put some more powerful bulbs in it within the next day or two.  The biggest problem right now is that the automatic feeder isn't working even with a new battery.  I don't know if it just isn't made to operate in the cold, or whether I may need to get a new feeder all together.  This is already getting to be an expensive project to broadcast these deer, but I'm sure it will be worth it in the end.  Take Care!
 
February 1st, 2010.  February is here!  I'm very happy to see that there has plenty of action on the 'deer cam'.  I'm still trying to get it to automatically refresh, so you'll have to manually refresh it for a little while yet.  The best times to see deer are usually in early morning or late afternoon, but I've actually been seeing them many times throughout the day.  I also know that some of you have been having some problems viewing the new 'bear den cam', so I fixed the problem today.  Check it out again if you haven't, I was just listening to the cub squawking as I'm typing this.  Tonight I had a showing on a home on Portage Lake, but it failed to impress any of us.  Have a good day!
 
 
January 31st, 2010.  January is here and gone.  We're one month closer to becoming parents.  This weekend I got the crib put together, and a changing table.  As the baby room materializes, it all becomes very real that we are getting close.  I've got plenty to do this week, and I'm ready to get at it.  Lets all have a great week!
 
January 29th, 2010.  Today Melissa had the day off, so she went with me down to Baraga to pick up some "State Wide Real Estate" hats that I ordered.  We stopped at the cabin for a bit on the way back.  It was a beautiful day out (a comfy 9 degrees), I wish I had remembered to bring my camera. Tonight I ended up meeting a buyer at the office to write an offer on a house.  Hopefully the deal ends up coming together.  I noticed today that there was some action on the 'deer cam'.  Have a great weekend!
 
January 28th, 2010.  Single digit temperatures are keeping the Keweenaw frozen.  There hasn't been many deer on the cam for a couple of days, I guess they are just staying in the swamps, where it is slightly warmer, and out of the wind.  This week has mostly consisted of paperwork, but at least it is 'warm' work.  Melissa's belly continues to grow, as we near the April 13th due date.  Our life is about to change forever!
 
January 27th, 2010.  It was extremely cold today!  This morning I met with landowners to go over the forest management plan.  Everything is moving along smoothly.  I hope to get things started next week.  I ended up showing a couple of houses in Dollar Bay today, and the showings went well.  The buyer is trying to meet the deadline to utilize the first time home buyer tax credit.  Let it snow! 
 
January 26th, 2010.  The colder weather is here, and for some reason, I like it better.  It just seems less sloppy out when things are frozen.  Today I got everything finalized for two upcoming closings, and I have more to prepare for tomorrow.  Tonight at home I spent several hours preparing a management plan and contracts for an upcoming timber harvest that I'm excited about.  I love forestry.  There is a new poll question for you to vote on.  Stay Warm!
 
January 25th, 2010.  Today the new carpet got installed on the stairs, and in the baby's room, and it looks great!  Nothing like the smell of new carpet.  I kind of think that his room looks nicer than ours now.  I'm still working on getting the webcam perfected, which will include slightly brightening the image.  I also ordered my flood light today, which will hopefully allow for some good viewing after dark.  People have been seeing deer on it throughout the daylight hours, which is great.  Our mild weather is supposed to be about over, with a major cold snap coming our way.  This will be a good thing for my upcoming forest management project.  We need to get the roads froze in, which will minimize any damage done to the soil.  Take Care!
 
January 24th, 2010.  I hope that you had an enjoyable weekend.  Our weather has been very odd, it rained pretty much all day on Sunday.  I'm seeing quite a few deer on the new "Upper Peninsula Michigan Deer Cam".  Keep watching for improvements, but I'm sure you'll enjoy it.  We got some house projects done this weekend, tearing out some carpet, rebuilding the railing on the staircase, and painting it.  We're all set for new carpet on Monday.  So far your #1 name for our baby boy is Landon, thanks for your votes.  I'll leave the poll up for a little while yet.  Have a good Monday!
 
January 22nd, 2010.  As you can see there is a new addition to the website, the "Upper Peninsula Michigan Deer Cam".  This is my very own webcam that I'm excited to entertain you with.  Please be patient as there will be a few adjustments to improve it over the next week or so.  I'm working on getting the image centered on the homepage, and also so it will refresh the image automatically for you.  I'm also hoping to get a light for night viewing soon as well.  I usually see deer throughout the day, so you should have no trouble viewing our U.P. whitetails.  Have a great weekend!
 
January 21st, 2010.  The temperatures finally dropped back down to where they should be.  We woke up to single digits.  I had to run to Baraga in the morning, and then I stopped at the cabin for a bit on the way back.  I looked at some lots this afternoon up in Centennial Heights.  I should be writing an offer on them tomorrow.  I spent most of the evening getting paperwork going on the new timber harvest.  I'm thinking about starting a "Forestry Journal" documenting all the steps involved in managing the timber on a piece of property.  Have a nice Friday!
 
January 20th, 2010.  The days seem like they are going by quickly.  I went out to Rabbit Bay this morning to show some loggers a forest that I'm going to be managing.  Hopefully we'll be able to make something happen out there yet this winter.  I spent the second half of the day in the office.  I entered in three new vacant land listings, which are all priced quite well.  They'll be on the website by tomorrow.  Thanks to those of you who have voted on the baby name.  If you haven't voted yet, please do!
 
January 19th, 2010.  Today I have a very important poll question for you.  We still have a long ways to go, but we have a few names for our baby that we are considering.  I've posted them on the poll question, and we are very curious to hear your opinions.  Please vote to help name my son!
 
January 18th, 2010.  I got a lot of odds and ends done today.  I ordered some new State Wide hats that I give out to friends, family and clients.  I've been doing some research getting ready to install my webcam over my food plot.  By the way, I've really been enjoying the new Bear Den Cam, I hope you've checked it out.  I found a couple of older electrical outlets in my house that weren't grounded, so I replaced them with GFI outlets today.  After Melissa got off of work, we went and picked out new carpet for the baby's room, and decided to get new carpeting for our stairs while we were at it.  We're working on coming up with a list of baby names that I'm going to share with you soon.
 
January 17th, 2010.  I hope that you had an enjoyable weekend.  Ours was relatively warm and mild.  I'm very excited about the latest edition to the website.  Under 'webcams', you'll notice the new "Bear Den Cam".  There is a webcam inside of a bear den, that you can view and listen to 24/7.  She is actually supposed to be giving birth to cubs any day now, so be sure to check it often.  I hope you'll enjoy.
 
January 15th, 2010.  Today I officially got the deal accepted on a 80+ acre parcel with over 1,000 feet along Lake Superior shoreline, so congrats to Al and Robert.  I'm very excited about the fact that I ordered a webcam for my cabin today.  Hopefully within a couple of weeks, I'll have a great new webcam on here, where you'll get to watch lots of deer and other wildlife all day long.  Tonight we had our belated office Christmas Party, which was a great time as usual.  I didn't stay too late, as I have to go look at a potential timber harvest tomorrow.  Have a great weekend!
 
January 14th, 2010.  I covered a lot of ground today, over 200 miles to be exact.  I met up with a buyer in Covington, and then we drove over to Ewen to look at this 320 acre parcel, and this 297 acre parcel.  The only way to show these types of property this time of year is by snowmobile.  Because of the deep powder, it isn't a good idea to put two people on the snowmobile to break trail, so for each parcel I would go by myself to make trails throughout the property.  Then I would return to put the buyer on the machine with me and take a nice ride around to check out the property.  The showings went pretty well, we'll see what happens.  On the way back, I stopped in Baraga to check out a house that I will be listing soon.  I also stopped at my cabin on the way home, and found a shed antler from one of the bucks that is still hanging around the area.  Anyhow, it is nice to be home, it was quite a day.
 
January 13th, 2010.  Today was a day of accepted offers.  I officially got the deal together on the house in Sylvan Estates, seven lots near Tamarack City, and 3 lots up by Centennial Heights.  I spent the majority of the day in the office setting the paperwork in motion for all of the new transactions.  My sister-in-law and her friend came over tonight to play a board game with us.  Time to hit the hay and get ready for a long day tomorrow.  Take Care!
 
January 12th, 2010.  I just now noticed that I had been typing 2009 for all of this year's journal entries, which I just now corrected.  Why didn't anybody e-mail me and tell me this?  I'm sure some of you must have noticed.  Anyhow, 2010 continues to be off to a great start.  I got the offer accepted today on the 50 acre parcel near Elo, so congrats to Jim and Lynn!  This morning I wrote an offer with a buyer on 7 lots near Tamarack city.  I got my snowmobile going today.  I drove it to work which is always fun.  Later in the afternoon I had a great showing on 40 acres near Jacobsville.  Have a nice day!
 
January 11th, 2010.  I know the website was down most of the weekend, so it is good to be back.  Real estate continues to be very busy.  I wrote two purchase agreements today, one on some residential lots in Houghton county, and one on a large piece of waterfront in Keweenaw county.  I also went and looked at a house that I'll be listing in Houghton.  By the way, here is good price on a 20 acre parcel that I listed about a week ago.  There is a new poll question for you to vote on.  Have a great week!
 
January 8th, 2010.  I hope you had a nice Friday.  There must be some sort of sporting event in Houghton tonight, as the town seemed very busy.  We officially got the deal together on the foreclosed lot on Rice Lake.  I also had the closing today for the beautiful home in Houghton, so congrats to Bob and JoAnne.  Tonight we went to dinner at "The Library" with some friends.  We received a gift certificate for Christmas, so we made good use of it.  I have my snowshoes ready for lots of land showings tomorrow.  Enjoy your weekend!
 
January 7th, 2010.  It has been plenty cold, but that is the norm for this time of year.  I'm optimistic that the deal on the house in Sylvan Estates is going to come together.  Today I put together closing statements for a fairly big closing tomorrow on a house in Houghton.  I had a few hours free in the afternoon, so I went down to check on the cabin.  There is still quite a bit of deer sign around.  Later on, I met with a client who is seriously looking to purchase some land.  We're going to look at a piece on Tuesday that I think will work perfectly for him.  I hope your Friday goes by quickly!
 
January 6th, 2010.  Lots of real estate action.  Today I showed a place in Dollar Bay.  The showing went well.  My Rice Lake foreclosure parcel is likely to come together now as well.  I talked to several different buyers today, people are definitely looking.  I looked at the final MLS stats today, and once again I closed the most land deals in the U.P., so a big thank you to all of you that I did business with this last year, and in years past.  I'm looking forward to 2010 being the best year yet!
 
January 5th, 2010.  I'm back to work, and work is busy.  Today we signed the closing papers on the lot in Tamarack City.  I'm really getting a lot of inquiries from buyers, so I expect some new deals to come together very soon.  In fact, I just received a call from a buyer while I was typing this.  I received an offer today on my house in Sylvan Estates (on Crestwood Drive), so we'll see where that goes.  It feels good to be home!
 
January 4th, 2010.  We made it home!  We had a real nice time downstate.  We visited lots of friends and family.  I even did some snowmobiling on the family farm.  We ended up having a bonfire out in the woods, which is something we haven't done in over 10 years.  The roads were so-so on the way home, we ended up pulling a girl out of the ditch, and she seemed very grateful that we stopped.  The wind was coming off Lake Superior so hard that I could barely open my truck door.  Anyhow, we're glad to be home, and I'm ready to get back to work.  Have a great week!
 
 
December 30th, 2009.  Greetings from Mackinac City!  In all my years of traveling through here, I've never actually stayed the night in this town.  We decided to drive part of the way tonight, so we'll only have a three hour drive tomorrow to get to my family farm.  The lady at the front desk here at the Holiday Inn was really nice, and gave us a free upgrade.  We have a nice big room with a fireplace, living room, kitchen, and all kinds of nice stuff.  We're going to bed so we can get back on the road in the morning.  December is almost over!
 
December 29th, 2009.  Today we received an offer on the foreclosure lot on Rice Lake.  We'll see what happens, but I'm optimistic that we'll find a way to get it together.  In the afternoon I went on my last bowhunt of the year, and it ended up being a heart pounding hunt, so check out the hunting journal for all of the details.  Melissa and I are getting all packed up to head downstate soon for the belated Christmas parties with my family.  Take care.
 
December 28th, 2009.  I had 5 different inquiries from buyers today.  I like starting off my week like that.  I'm expecting to receive an offer on my Rice Lake foreclosure lot tomorrow.  Tonight I had the rack from this year's buck scored by an official CBM (Commemorative Bucks of Michigan) scorer.  The buck qualified for the CBM record books, so that was pretty neat.  Have a great day!
 
December 27th, 2009.  I hope that everybody had a Merry Christmas.  Ours was very nice.  It was actually raining here on Christmas day, which is quite unusual.  We still have more Christmas parties to attend this weekend, so we're not quite done with the holiday season.  Don't forget to e-mail me some pics if you have any nice ones for 'pic of the day'.  There is a new poll question for you to vote on.  Only about 10% of our visitors are actually voting, so if you haven't, please do.  If you can click your mouse, you can vote, it is that easy!
 
December 24-25th, 2009.  Merry Christmas!
 
December 23rd, 2009.  It is almost Christmas!  The other day I was contacted by another local realtor, and her and her clients were unable to locate one of my listings on Rice Lake.  I met them out there today to show them around the parcel.  The lakefront lot is a foreclosure, and is the best buy on the lake right now.  It sounds like her clients are planning to write an offer, so if you have been watching this one, you better spring into action.  Tonight we had some friends over to play some games/cards, and we really had a great time.  I also wrapped up my christmas shopping today, so now I'm ready for the big day.  Have safe travels if you are going to be on the road for the holidays.
 
December 22nd, 2009.  Today was a nice sunny day.  We sent out all the paperwork to close the deal on Froberg Road.  This one only took about a week to close.  I went out to the cabin today, and I have pics of lots of deer, but only one big buck, and he only comes out late at night.  Melissa and her friend Janelle are out cross country skiing, and I'm waiting for them to get done so we can eat.  There is a new poll question for you to vote on.  Have a good day!
 
December 21st, 2009.  I hope your Monday was good.  We officially closed on the 20 acre parcel on Bootjack Road, so congrats to all involved.  I was going to go check on the cabin, but it was snowing pretty good, so I decided not to make the trip.  I got a call from a visitor of the site yesterday, mostly to talk about the U.P. deer herd and other things.  I always enjoy hearing from you guys.  Always feel free to send me an e-mail or give me a ring.  Take Care!
 
December 20th, 2009.  Christmas is right around the corner.  Saturday night we went and watched the new movie "Avatar".  We really liked it.  For a long movie, it seemed to go by pretty fast with all the action.  Sunday night we went to a Christmas party in Copper Harbor.  Good food and good friends always makes for a good time.  My smoked venison sausage always seems to go over well.  Paul Lewis out in Bootjack makes it, and does a fantastic job.  Have a good Monday!
 
December 18th, 2009.  Did you have a good Friday?  I'm not exactly sure why, but there was a lot of traffic in Houghton today.  There is also a lot of snowmobilers traveling in to enjoy our ample snowfall.  Melissa wrapped Christmas presents pretty much all day.  Tonight I'm making a bacon chicken ranch recipe in the slow cooker, and it smells good.  Have a great weekend!
 
December 17th, 2009.  Today I went down to the cabin.  I was in the treestand at around 2:00 pm, and bowhunted until dark.  You can read the details in the hunting journal.  Now I'm home and ready to eat some popcorn.  I bet the stores will be busy with Christmas shoppers this weekend.  Maybe I'll be one of them.  Have a good Friday!
 
December 16th, 2009.  This morning I went to check my trail camera at the food plot.  I was pretty excited when I saw a picture of a beautiful 10 pointer that I have never seen before!  Check out 'pic of the day' to see him.  I'm planning on bowhunting tomorrow.  We officially closed the waterfront parcel near Jacobsville, so congrats to Dave and Mary.  Take Care!
 
December 15th, 2009.  I spent most of the day in the office.  We got the paperwork out to close the 20 acre sale on Bootjack Road.  The Pelkie property deal is official, so we're getting the wheels turning on that one too.  I spent about 4 hours in front of the computer tonight.  Every year I take all of my hunting footage, put it together, and make a DVD.  It is a lot of work, but my friends and I enjoy watching it.  Have a good day!
 
December 14th, 2009.  The sellers are going to accept the offer on the Pelkie parcel, so congrats to all involved.  We finally got the land division application approved for a sale on Bootjack Road, so it will be nice to finally wrap that up.  In the afternoon I checked my trail camera at the food plot, and I have lots of deer coming, including 3 bucks, but no big ones.  There are two new bucks on the buck pole, so check them out if you like.  Cya!
 
December 13th, 2009.  I hope you had a good weekend.  Our winter storm finally passed us by.  I spent Saturday in the office working on various things.  Saturday night I ended up sending out a purchase agreement on this 10 acre parcel near Pelkie.  Saturday night our friend Janelle bought us dinner at the North Shore.  Her and I had a bet about whether the baby was going to be a boy or a girl, and I won.  Sunday my buddy Ross and I went down to the cabin to do some snowplowing, and I couldn't believe the deer sign!  I've decided I'm going to try to put in a late season archery hunt when I get the chance.  Enjoy your Monday!
 
December 11th, 2009.  Finally Friday.  This morning consisted of the usual snow removal.  I also had a buddy of mine who was stuck in Hancock, so I came and pulled him out with my truck.  At the office today I made progress towards selling a 40 acre parcel near Craig Lake.  Tonight we went to Holiday Party #2.  I'll be working in the office tomorrow.  Have a fun weekend!
 
December 10th, 2009.  The nasty weather continues.  It looks like we fast forwarded into February.  I hunted hard the last couple of days, and posted new footage on the hunting journal.  There is also a new buck to check out on the buck pole.  My Jacobsville waterfront deal hit a small bump, so we'll end up closing next week instead of this week.  I need to redo the closing statements tomorrow.  My wife was happy that I brought home a Christmas Tree tonight.  She always insists on a real tree, so that is what she gets.  ;)
 
December 9th, 2009.  Brr!  It is cold and nasty out.  Baraga got hit a lot harder with the snow than Houghton did last night.  Many schools and businesses were closed today.  I actually went hunting tonight, and saw lots of deer, and one buck.  I got some good video that I'll post soon.  Stay warm!
 
December 8th, 2009.  We woke up to another six inches of snow.  After moving snow all morning, I winterized and put away my ATV for the winter.  In the office today I got paperwork finalized for another upcoming closing.  In the afternoon I went and checked out some bank foreclosure properties.  Buyers are always curious about foreclosures, but unfortunately, most of them are beyond help.  We are bracing ourselves for a severe winter storm that is supposed to be on the way.  There is a new poll question for you to vote on, it is about Tiger Woods, who seems to be getting a lot of attention lately.
 
December 7th, 2009.  The snow keeps falling.  Monday was relatively quiet.  I'm starting to see an increase in e-mails from potential buyers, so that is a good sign.  There is a new buck to check out on the buck pole.  There is also a new entry in the Hunting Journal, complete with video.  I sit and freeze for hours on end just to bring you a couple minutes of footage, so I hope you are enjoying it! ;)
 
December 6th, 2009.  I hope your weekend was good.  If you were in Houghton, you got pounded with snow!  We have over 14 inches of fresh powder at our house.  Saturday night we went to a work Christmas Party for my wife.  One party down, many more to go.  Sunday I finally got to go out hunting with a muzzleloader, and I did get some footage of a buck.  I'll post it on the hunting journal soon.  By the way, we closed on Parcel's A and B on US 41, so congrats to Dawn!
 
December 4th, 2009.  Greetings from Marquette!  This morning we woke up to several inches of fresh snow.  However, we couldn't let it keep us from going to Marquette as planned for a little shopping.  Once we neared Baraga, the weather cleared up and was nice the rest of the way.  I did get the signatures and deposit for the Tamarack City lot, so congrats to Lou!  We're getting ready to go have some dinner at Casa Calabria, and then we'll be heading back to the Keweenaw in the morning.  Have yourself a great weekend!
 
December 3rd, 2009.  This morning I sent out a purchase agreement for my lot in Tamarack City.  I'm just waiting to receive the signatures back.  After that I went down towards Mass City to take additional pics of this really nice listing.  I'm working for the client as a buyer's agent.  After that I got one of my muzzleloader spots ready.  I checked my trail camera at the cabin, and I had pics of does, bucks, a coyote, and a bobcat all in the last three days.  We're supposed to really start getting the snow anytime now.  I'm ready for winter!
 
December 2nd, 2009.  This morning I went out to Rabbit Bay to look at a potential timber sale.  It looks like I got the job, so I'm looking forward to doing some forest management.  I'm also hoping to write an offer on my lot in Tamarack City tomorrow.  Today was a good test for my cell phone booster, and it certainly makes a significant difference.  I was able to talk clearly in areas where I normally can't.  After work tonight, my buddy Ross came over and helped me, and we got a much needed project done at my house.  I'll be covering a lot of miles tomorrow, checking out real estate.  Take Care!
 
December 1st, 2009.  Happy first day of December.  I got a cell phone signal booster installed in my truck today, which is very useful in my job.  We had an appointment with our baby doctor this afternoon, and everything is going smooth.  After work tonight, we met some friends at the "Lode Movie Theater" in Houghton.  We watched that new movie, "The Blind Side", which was very good.  It is certainly worth going to see if you haven't.  Have a nice day!
 
 
November 30th, 2009.  I swear that I can remember being excited about summer being here, and now it is almost December.  Can you believe it?  We got a little more snow today, but it isn't accumulating much yet.  I got some work done today, and made some appointments for this week.  I went to Surplus Outlet in Houghton to get a new winter coat.  I was surprised at how great the prices were there!  There is definitely no reason to leave town for holiday shopping, support your local businesses.  There is a new poll question for you to vote on.  Take Care!
 
November 29th, 2009.  I hope that you had a great Thanksgiving, and a nice weekend.  We finally did get some snow on and off throughout the weekend.  Melissa had to work today, so I surprised her and made dinner (this doesn't happen very often).  I tried a good slow cooker recipe that I found online, and it turned out great.  Check out the recipe here if you are curious.  I've got a quite a bit going on this week, and I'm looking forward to it.  Have a good day!
 
November 25th, 2009.  I spent most of the day being excited about having a son.  I worked in the office until about noon, and then headed down to the cabin.  I saw about 7 deer tonight, but no bucks.  I hope you all have a good Thanksgiving, and be safe if you are traveling!
 
November 24th, 2009.  IT'S A BOY!  We had our ultrasound today, and everything looked good.  We were easily able to tell that it was a boy, so we're both excited.  Now we have to start thinking about names.  Maybe he'll like to hunt and fish?
 
November 23rd, 2009.  I got lots done today.  I was in the office all day, and we have everything sent out for three upcoming closings.  I've also been answering some questions from potential buyers.  I'm also going to be re-listing my house in Sylvan Estates, at a much improved price.  It will sell now.  Melissa and I are excited for tomorrow, as we are going to have our first ultrasound!
 
November 22nd, 2009.  I hope that you all had a good weekend.  Saturday Melissa and I went down to the cabin.  I went out hunting that night, and you can see the video on the hunting journal.  It was an unseasonably warm weekend.  Sunday I stayed home and watched football, and I was shocked to see my Detroit Lions win their second game of the season!  Anyhow, be sure to keep e-mailing me pics, I'm going to be needing some for 'pic of the day'.  Have a good Monday!
 
November 20th, 2009.  This morning I got the deal accepted on this beautiful house in Houghton.  Congrats to Bob and JoAnne!  That is always a good way to start the day.  I spent the rest of the day in the office, and I am officially caught up.  Looking forward to some sunny weather this weekend, and then hopefully snow next week.  Here is a new, super affordable property near Kenton.  There quite a few new pics to check out on the buck pole.  There is also a new poll question for you to vote on.  Officially caught up.
 
November 19th, 2009.  It was nice to get back to work.  I had a third showing on a great house in Houghton.  We made a counter offer tonight, and we're hoping to have it accepted by tomorrow.  I also entered in a new listing today.  I drove down to check on the cabin, and everything looked good.  I'm really looking forward to getting some snow soon.  Many people cringe when I say that ;)  Check out the buck pole for a new entry, and also the hunting journal for a new video from my trip downstate.  I enjoy making these videos, so I hope that you enjoy watching them.
 
November 18th, 2009.  I'm back!  As you know, I've been gone for awhile.  I ended up having to drive downstate to pick up the truck that I recently purchased.  I took my hunting stuff, and decided to spend a few days hunting the family farm like I used to.  It was a good time.  I saw quite a few deer.  I really like my new truck!  It sure feels good to be back home.  I have lots of catching up to do.  Talk to you tomorrow!
 
November 12th, 2009.  I hunted at the cabin this morning, and then headed back into the office.  Co-worker Kevin found his buck, so congrats to him.  Not much going on at work, I did get a call on an 80 acre parcel near Gay.  It was another warm and windy day.  I'm getting extremely anxious to pick up my new truck.  I'm still trying to figure out if my buddy is going to be able to drive it up, or if I need to go get it.  Have a good day!
 
November 11th, 2009.  This morning I went down to Kenton, to list a new four acre parcel on National Forest Highway 16.  I'll post the pics and details soon.  It was interesting, when I was hunting tonight, I started to smell smoke.  Pretty soon, it was really smokey, and there were ashes landing on me while sitting in my treestand.  Soon I heard fire trucks in the distance.  There is a guy that has a house about a mile south of my cabin, and his house caught fire.  I hope he is okay.  I had deer on the food plot, and they didn't what to think about all the smoke.
 
November 10th, 2009.  I spent most of the day in the office, getting things ready for a couple of closings coming up soon.  After that, I went hunting tonight, and then took down my treestand afterwards in the dark.  Some of my spots are public land, so I like to get my gear out of there before rifle season starts.  Tomorrow I have to head to Kenton to take pics and put up signs on a new listing.  Have a nice day!
 
November 9th, 2009.  The phone was pretty quiet for a Monday.  I did get enough e-mails to keep me busy, however.  In the afternoon, I went hunting.  It was extremely windy, and I didn't see anything.  I did have a great hunt on Sunday though, you can check out the details and a video on the hunting journal.  Now I'm just watching some Monday Night Football.  I just got an HD TV, and I must say the difference is pretty impressive.  Take Care.
 
November 8th, 2009.  I hope that you had a nice weekend.  Is was pretty warm here.  Saturday I had a second showing on one of the homes that we looked at on Thursday.  After that I went down to the cabin hoping to hunt, but it was way too windy to be sitting in a tree.  I did hunt on Sunday, and got some good footage of a nice buck that I'm looking forward to posting tomorrow night.  This will be the least week of archery season, before rifle season starts next Sunday.  I'm ready for a productive week.
 
November 6th, 2009.  Today was a very busy day.  In the morning I went to the waterfront home near Bootjack that I'm selling for a final walkthrough.  I helped the buyers unload their U-Haul, and then we headed back to Houghton to finalize the closing.  After that I sent out a purchase agreement for a deal I'm working on for a waterfront parcel near Jacobsville.  I also listed some acreage near Kenton today as well.  In between all of this, I finalized the deal on buying a new truck.  I hope to have it up here next week.  It was a productive day, and I'm looking forward to a good weekend.  Enjoy your weekend!
 
November 5th, 2009.  I got confirmation today that I'll be getting a check from the insurance company for my truck damage.  I've decided to get a new truck.  Hopefully I find one soon.  Tonight I showed four houses.  A couple of them were very nice, we'll see what happens.  I'm hoping to do plenty of hunting this weekend.  I got some pictures of some nice bucks that are starting to show up around the cabin.  Hopefully I'll have some nice video footage for you by Monday.
 
November 4th, 2009.  Today I finalized the details for my Friday closing.  I also set up some showings for Thursday night.  I was excited to finally get out in the woods again tonight.  I'm hoping to hunt quite a bit before rifle season arrives.  Check out the hunting journal for a new video of a buck.
 
November 3rd, 2009.  I've been getting prepared for some showings later this week.  Tomorrow an insurance appraiser is coming to look at my truck so they can decide if they are going to approve the estimate that I recently had.  I'm starting to think about getting a new truck, we'll see.  We had a check up this afternoon at the hospital.  The baby's heart is still beating strong, and in three weeks we are going to have the first ultra sound.  We are planning on trying to find out whether it is going to be a boy or a girl.  By the way, there is a new poll question for you to vote on.  Also the buck pole is new and very much improved.  Now you can leave comments on pics if you like.  There are two new deer on there as well.  If you have any nice deer pics, be sure to e-mail them to me.
 
November 2nd, 2009.  I got lots of work done today.  In the morning I went out to Jacobsville to finalize the 20 acre sale.  After that I checked out a waterfront parcel that I am doing a market analysis on.  I stopped by the office of DPM assessing to drop off the land division application for the 20 acre sale.  I have seen many 'for sale by owner' deals have future problems because the seller didnt' know this was required.  In Michigan, if you are selling off a part of your property that is less than 40 acres, you need to confirm that you have the right to make land divisions, make sure that the division meets all of the township requirements, and then go through land division application process with the township.  Anyhow, got lots of office work done after that.  I'm anxious to get out in the woods and do some hunting soon.
 
November 1st, 2009.  November is here!  My buddy Gary left for home this morning.  It has been fun having all of the company up here, but it is still nice to get things back to normal.  Yesterday was my 30th birthday, but I was at the cabin, so Melissa had a party for me tonight.  Lots of good friends showed up, and everybody had a good time.  This morning I got the offer accepted on 20 acres out of the 40 acre listing near Jacobsville.  I'm anxious to get in the office tomorrow and get everything organized.  By the way, here is a very nice new listing just south of Houghton.  Have a productive week!
 
 
October 29th, 2009.  Another rainy day in the Keweenaw.  Tonight Gary went hunting and didn't see a thing.  I had work to do, so I spent the afternoon in the office.  It was good to get caught up.  I've got a big closing coming up next week.  They finally got the street project done in downtown Houghton.  All of the detours are gone, and traffic can flow smoothly once again.  Time to get going. we're all going bowling at the Mine Shaft tonight.
 
October 28th, 2009.  I've got a couple of deals in the works, but I'm still trying to get them together.  We received another offer on this great waterfront buy in Keweenaw county, and we plan to counter offer it tomorrow.  We're also still back and forth on this 40 acre parcel near Jacobsville.  I did however put a deal together on my last highway parcel near Baraga.  I currently have all four parcels under contract.  The weather for hunting isn't very good right now, as it warmed up signficantly.  Gary went out tonight, but didnt' see anything.  I'm looking forward to getting some snow (lots of people cringe when I say that).
 
October 27th, 2009.  Today we counter offered on the Jacobsville 40, we'll see what happens.  I also put up signs and took pics of a new listing near Tapiola.  I dropped my deer off at the taxidermist, so now I won't get to look at him until next spring.  On the hunting journal, I updated yesterday's brief slide show with a better video, that includes the recovery.  Be sure to check it out, or just click here to see the new video.  Have a good day!
 
October 26th, 2009.  Today I was still smiling about my successful hunt last night.  I ended up writing an offer today on one of my 40 acre listings near Jacobsville.  Gary is out hunting right now, and I'm giving myself the night off.  Be sure to check out the hunting journal, as I have the story, and a short video slide show with pics of the buck.  Take Care!
 
October 25th, 2009.  What a weekend.  Saturday night after hunting I had an unfortunate incident.  On the way back to the cabin a buck ran out of nowhere and I hit it hard with my truck.  My truck has lots of damage, but seems driveable.  I'll have to get some estimates to get if fixed.  On Sunday after I decided that my truck wasn't leaking any fluids, I drove it down to one of my hunting spots.  It was raining and nasty out, but at 5:15 pm, I shot my biggest buck ever!  I got a beautiful 8 pointer with a 17 inch spread, and it weighed 206 lbs!  I'm extremely happy, especially since my season has been so slow.  I'll post pics and videos on the hunting journal soon, so keep checking in.  :)
 
October 23rd, 2009.  Lots of rain and wind today.  We're supposed to get some snow accumulation overnight, and I hope that we do.  I entered in a couple of new listings today.  One was a bank foreclosure on Rice Lake, the other is a 10 acre parcel near Tapiola.  My buddy Gary is supposed to be up sometime tomorrow night.  We plan on hunting hard, and I hope that we some deer.  The snow should help.  Have a fun weekend!
 
October 22nd, 2009.  Today was productive.  I sent out another purchase agreement for another one of my highway parcels near Baraga.  I have three of them under contract right now.  We got our awards from State Wide Corp today, and our Houghton office was the #1 office for the first time!  I'm glad to see our office continue to grow.  I'm taking a few days off from hunting until my next hunting buddy shows up this weekend.  I'm impatiently waiting for the deer movement to improve.  Enjoy your Friday!
 
October 21st, 2009.  My company left this morning, so I headed back into the office and got a lot done.  I've got a couple new deals that I'm hoping to get under contract by the end of them month.  Everybody on Shelden Ave is anxiously waiting for the weather to dry up so that they can finalize the street constructions, and we can get back to our normal driving patterns.  There is a new 'poll question' for you to vote on.  Have a good day!
 
October 20th, 2009.  I can't believe that we are nearing the end of October already.  Tonight was Jim's last hunt, he saw a few bucks, but nothing too big.  We officially closed on the property on Brooks Road, so congrats to Kurt.  They are calling for plenty of rain for the next few days, so I might not be out in the woods too much.  Take Care!
 
October 19th, 2009.  I hope that you are having a good week.  My buddy Jim and I managed to lock ourselves out of the cabin this morning, so we had to drive up to see my wife at work to get her key.  After work today I had a really good showing on this Portage Lake parcel.  Hopefully they'll end up writing an offer.  Jim went hunting tonight and didn't see a thing.  Maybe we should try fishing instead.
 
October 18th, 2009.  This weekend consisted of mostly hunting.  My buddy and I have been hitting the woods hard, but not seeing much.  This fall is off to a really slow start for me.  I have some real estate to take care of Monday, and I'm looking forward to it.  Have a good week!
 
October 16th, 2009.  I hope you had a good Friday.  I felt kind of silly today.  My buddy Jim was supposed to be coming up for some hunting, and he was supposed to be here by noon.  So I came out to the cabin, started cooking a roast, brought pastys, and waited...and waited...  Come to find out he had told me that he was coming out on SATURDAY.  Oops.  Needless to say I had a pretty large dinner for myself.  I did go hunting tonight, but the weather was very nasty, and the deer weren't moving very well.  Have a great weekend!
 
October 15th, 2009.  I got quite a bit done today.  My hunting spots are all ready.  I have my buddy Jim coming up tomorrow, and he'll be hunting with me for a few days.  I spent some time in the office getting everything set.  Tomorrow we are supposed to close on the 9.8 acre parcel on Brooks Road.  I also received a deposit today on one of my land contract parcels on US 41.  Be sure to check out the hunting journal for another new entry and video.  I've posted two new videos in the last 24 hours, so make sure you check them both out if you haven't yet.  I got some fantastic footage of a coyote.  Have a good Friday!
 
October 14th, 2009.  Another nice, cool fall day.  After hunting last night, I stayed the night at the cabin.  Between noon and 1:00 PM today, I saw 6 deer out the window on my rye plot.  I took some pics that I'll eventually post.  I've got so much good video to share, I'm just trying to get caught up on the hunting journal.  I did put together my video for the weekend of hunting in the lower peninsula.  It is going to take about an hour to upload on youtube, so I'll post it on the hunting journal in the morning.  Keep checking, it will be there soon.  Have a good Thursday!
 
October 13th, 2009.  It is great to be back in the Keweenaw.  We had a really nice weekend down in the lower peninsula.  We had a 101st birthday party for my great grandmother.  She still lives independently and is sharp as can be.  We stopped at the hospital on our way back just in time to see our cousin Allison's newborn baby, Mason.  I also managed to go hunting three times.  This morning I got caught up in the office, and then went hunting in the afternoon.  I have lots of great video footage to share with you, I hope to have it posted by tomorrow night.  Take Care!
 
October 13th, 2009.  It is 12:30 AM and we just got home.  It was a long drive, with lots of heavy snow.  Had a great weekend, but need some sleep, so I'll check in with more details tomorrow night.
 
October 9th, 2009.  We made it to lower Michigan.  I'm looking forward to going hunting with my brother tonight, but I sure hope the weather improves at some point.  It is just steady rain down here.  They are actually calling for a chance of snow back home in the U.P. this weekend.  Anyhow, we've got lots on our plate while we're down here, so I'll probably check back in with you when we get home.  Have a great weekend!
 
October 7th, 2009.  We're all set to hit the road for a few days.  I didn't get the deal together on the place in Dollar Bay.  I got a few things done around the house.  It is that time of year when you should change the filter on your furnace, as cold weather is coming.  I went hunting tonight, but it was uneventful.  I'm surprised how many green leaves are still out in the woods.  By the way, thanks to those of you who voted and nominated me for the 'people's choice' real estate agent.  Thank you!
 
October 6th, 2009.  Another day of constant rain.  It is pretty frustrating weather when I'm itching to be out hunting.  Today I wrote an offer with the buyer that I showed the place to in Dollar Bay last night.  I'm optimistic that the deal will come together, as it is the perfect place for this buyer.  Tonight I watched the Detroit Tigers completely blow their entire season.  It was a heck of a game, so congrats to the Twins, as they surely deserved to win it.  Lots of buzz about that deer pic from yesterday's "pic of the day", what a nice deer.  There is a fun poll question for you to vote on.  Please vote.
 
October 5th, 2009.  It was a nice Monday.  Today we closed on a 40 acre parcel near Jacobsville.  Before dinner tonight I had a good showing in Dollar Bay.  During the day I went to check on a couple of my trail cameras out in the woods.  Wait until you see 'pic of the day', I got a pic of a beautiful north country 10 pointer.  Great pic of a great deer.  Also, here is a fantastic 320 acre parcel I just listed near Ewen.  Very nice property.  Take Care!
 
October 4th, 2009.  It was a rainy, uneventful weekend.  I went hunting on Saturday, but didn't see anything.  No real estate happenings this weekend either.  I guess that it is nice to relax once in awhile.  I have plenty to get done this week before we hit the road for lower Michigan to visit my family for a long weekend. 
 
October 2nd, 2009.  The weather turned bad fast here.  Extremely windy and rainy, so unfortunately I won't be able to go hunting until it clears up.  This morning I drove to Ewen and put up signs and took pics of a new 320 acre listing.  The hunting journal is back!  I go through a lot of work to capture close proximity videos of these deer, so please enjoy!
 
October 1st, 2009.  October is here!  This morning we had the site evaluation for septic approval on the parcel on Brooks Road.  It passed with flying colors.  In the afternoon, I was ready to go hunting.  I had a pretty enjoyable hunt, and I'll be posting the details along with videos on the hunting journal tomorrow night.  I love fall!
 
September 30th, 2009.  Lots of new listings.  I listed a couple more 40 acre parcels near Jacobsville.  Here is a property I'm excited about.  How about 20 acres for 15K?  There are actually 4 different parcels to choose from.  I've personally never seen 20 acres listed for that price.  Thank you to those of you that e-mailed me some congrats on the baby news.  We'll take all the advice we can get, you can always e-mail me at josh@statewideofhoughton.com.  Well, tomorrow is the first day of October, which means the opening day of archery season.  Any of you that know me understand what it means to me.  I'll be spending many hours in the woods this fall, and I'm looking forward to bringing back video footage to share with you.  Have a great October!
 
September 29th, 2009.  Today I drove just shy of 200 miles, taking nice fall pics of listings, to make them stand out a little more.  I also entered in four new listings in the office this morning.  Well.....as some of you figured out, the sound on the 'pic of the day', was the sound of a baby's heartbeat.  Melissa and I are expecting our first child.  She is due in April, and we are very excited!!!
 
September 28th, 2009.  Very nasty weather today.  40 degree temps, and extremely windy.  We really needed the rain though.  I was supposed to have a septic evaluation this morning, but we cancelled it because of the weather.  Be sure to check out pic of the day today!  It is an audio file, so give it a listen, and see if you can figure out what it is!
 
September 27th, 2009.  The last weekend of September is here and gone.  Saturday was spent out to the cabin.  We got the kitchen cabinets/countertop installed.  It really looks great, I'll post a pic this week.  I checked my trail camera pics today, and didn't have pics of any bucks at one of my favorite spots.  I'm thinking that the early part of the season might be kind of slow, but of course I'll be out there no matter what.  I was VERY happy today that Detroit Lions FINALLY won their first game in almost two years.  I have a busy week ahead of me. 
 
September 25th, 2009.  Today we closed on the hobby farm on Old County Road, so congrats to all involved.  I worked on some hunting spots, and then got caught up in the office.  I have several new listings to enter in next week.  I'm hoping to install my kitchen sink/cabinets at the cabin this weekend.  October is almost here!
 
September 24th, 2009.  We covered a lot of ground today.  My cousin Marcus and his friend came up to visit.  We went up to Copper Harbor in the morning.  The colors are barely starting to change.  In the afternoon we went fishing, and I caught a 20" bass.  It makes me wonder if it is the same 20" bass I caught earlier this summer, since it was at the exact same logs/spot that I caught it before.  I guess I can't know for sure.  We had dinner at the Parkview in Twin Lakes, and then stayed at my cabin.  Marcus is the first person to sleep in the newly finished loft.  I also got a picture of a nice buck on my trail camera, so I was happy about that.  Have a good day!
 
September 23rd, 2009.  It was a beautiful fall day.  I've got lots of closings coming up.  I went down to Jacobsville today to put a couple of new 40 acre parcels on the market.  I also went up to Copper Harbor today just for a scenic drive.  Tonight I showed this beautifully wooded parcel near Lake Linden.  My cousin Marcus is on his way up here, so I'll try to spend some time with him this week as well.  The fall colors are starting to change up here, but we still aren't even close to the peak.
 
September 22nd, 2009.  We officially closed on the Pelkie Road parcel, so congrats to James and Marcus.  Since it was the first day of fall, I was determined to get out in the woods today.  After getting my work done, I went and checked out one of my hunting spots, which was looking good.  I hung out at the cabin for a bit before heading back to the office.  My cabinets and kitchen countertop is supposed to be in any day now, and I'm looking forward to installing them.  I can't wait until October 1st!
 
September 21st, 2009.  Summer is officially over!  I love fall, and I'm glad that it is here.  Today we sent out the closing paperwork for the hobby farm on Old County Road.  I also had to go to the health department today to get the paperwork rolling for a septic evaluation of a vacant parcel that I have under contract.  I am able to oversee the whole process, which is convenient for buyers that are out of the area.  After closing the office, I showed two different waterfront homes.  The buyers are a very nice couple, and I enjoyed meeting them.  There is a new poll question for you to vote on, so please do.  Enjoy the fall season!
 
September 20th, 2009.  Another weekend gone by too fast.  Saturday was spent in the office, and then in the afternoon I went over to my sister-in-law's house to roof the garage she is building.  Sunday Melissa and I went out to the cabin get some stuff done.  We ate dinner out there and enjoyed the peace and quiet.  I've got plenty of work to do this week.  By the way, I saw a nice buck tonight on 'wildlife cam #2', at about 7:00 pm.  Be sure to check those webcams from time to time.  I hope your weekend was great.
 
September 18th, 2009.  I hope you had a good Friday.  Today we closed on the house in Ahmeek, so congrats to Carrie on her first home!  I sent out the paperwork to list a 320 acre parcel near Ewen.  Not much excitement tonight, I have to work in the office all day Saturday.  Our friend Janelle stopped over and we enjoyed some Ravioli from Gino's.  Now I'm watching the Tigers play an important game.  Enjoy the weekend!
 
September 17th, 2009.  Today was a good day.  We got the deal together on the property on Brooks Road.  I got the paperwork ready for a closing on Friday.  By the way, here is my new listing near Mass City.  After work, my buddy Ross and I got my hunting stand all set at the new Otter River spot.  After that we went to the cabin, and got the 'buck pole' all done.  It looks good, I'll post pics soon.  The weeks keep flying by, enjoy your Friday!
 
September 16th, 2009.  Today I presented the offer for the property on Brooks Rd, I expect a response tomorrow.  I officially got the deal together on this great waterfront home near Lake Linden.  Congrats to Sharon.  After work today I went out toward the Otter River to set up a new bowhunting spot.  It ended up being a lot of work.  I used my chainsaw to make an ATV trail over 1/4 mile through some of the thickest terrain you can imagine.  I didn't even get the treestand set yet, as I ran out of daylight.  I'm excited about the property, however.  My arms are feeling pretty heavy after all of that, so I'm sure I'll sleep good tonight.
 
September 15th, 2009.  The temps dropped a little today, which made it feel more like fall.  I spent most of the day at a new property  I'll be listing near Covington.  The property has 920 acres, a small lake, and a beautiful cabin.  It is one of the nicer properties I have been on.  On the way back, I went to Sandy Lake to take additional pics of a listed property for a potential buyer.  Upon returning to the office, I e-mailed out a purchase agreement for my recent showing on Brooks Road.  I drove 286 miles since yesterday.  I cover a large area up here, but I enjoy it all.  Take Care!
 
September 14th, 2009.  I hope you had a good Monday.  Today I listed a 63 acre piece of land near Mass City.  I'll have details on here soon.  I stopped at the cabin for awhile since I was down that way.  My rye/oats food plot is already about 5 inches high, even without rye.  I got trail camera pictures of one buck there, and got a picture of a nice 8 point at one of my other spots.  I also got pics of coyotes and sandhill cranes.  Trail cameras are pretty fun.  I shot my bow for a little bit, and everything is looking good.  Take Care!
 
September 13th, 2009.  Another nice, warm weekend.  Saturday I got the opportunity to fly around the Keweenaw peninsula in a private plane.  It sure is amazing to see this place from the air.  I got lots of great pics, and even flew over my cabin and some other properties to take pics.  I'll be posting some soon.  Not much happened Sunday.  Just enjoyed the opening weekend of football.  The Lions didn't win, but of course, they haven't won since 2007.  I have to start working in the woods, I really wish the temperature would cool off, but we'll see what happens.  Make it a good week!
 
September 11th, 2009.  Real estate continues to be busy.  Today I wrote an offer with a buyer on a very nice 300K+ home on Torch Lake.  We are supposed to have a signed acceptance tomorrow.  I also sent out a purchase agreement on another parcel on US 41 between Houghton and Calumet.  After a good day of work, we went up to the Harbor Haus in Copper Harbor with friends.  The dinner was the best we've ever had up there.  I wanted to buy them dinner in exchange for helping me build the deck.  I'm looking forward to a fun day tomorrow.  Enjoy the weather!
 
September 10th, 2009.  Today was pretty uneventful.  I got the paperwork going for the deal that I put together yesterday.  The warm weather continues.  It is hard to believe that archery season is just a few weeks away.  I still have work to do in the woods.  We also really need some rain.  I'm waiting to get the green light to close on the house that I sold in Ahmeek.  Tonight Melissa and I had dinner at Gemignani's in Hancock.  Tonight was the season opener for the NFL, so I've been enjoying the game.  Have a very good Friday!
 
September 9th, 2009.  I hope that everyone is having a good week.  I showed some properties today, and we ended up getting an offer accepted on a nice parcel on US 41 between Baraga and Houghton.  I feel very fortunate to have been so busy this year.  Today I got my exhaust system replaced on my truck, and also picked up my ATV from the shop, so now I'm ready to get back in the woods.  I'm really hoping for some rain to help get my food plot growing.  Anyhow, I just enjoyed a nice dinner, and now we're watching the Tigers on TV.  Have a good day!
 
September 8th, 2009.  Today was a good day.  I got a lot done at the office, and then had a great showing on this beautiful parcel on Brooks Road.  The showing went very well, and I'll be surprised if they don't make an offer.  In the afternoon, I had a closing on a house in Houghton.  I've got a few new deals in the works, which makes me happy.  After work tonight, a buddy and I went up to the Keweenaw to do a little pike fishing.  I usually don't get out fishing much this late in the summer, but it really was nice since the weather is so warm.  We landed quite a few pike, including a couple of decent ones.  I lost one at the boat that was about 29 inches, and my buddy had a really big one follow the lure up to the boat, but it didn't hit.  On the way home we were driving through Eagle River, and just outside of town a HUGE black bear was crossing the road.  He stopped in the ditch and just stared at us when we stopped.  He was the biggest black bear that I have ever seen in the wild, so that was very exciting.  You never know what you might encounter in the Keweenaw.
 
September 7th, 2009.  I hope that everybody enjoyed their Labor Day Weekend.  Our weather here was some of the nicest we've had all summer.  We went to a cookout on Saturday, and then Sunday we went out to the cabin.  I brought my chainsaw and cut down a couple of dead trees near the cabin.  We had some friends show up, and we had quite a fire all night.  Other than that, we just really enjoyed the peace, quiet, and weather.  There is a new poll question, so check it out.  Enjoy the short week!
 
September 4th, 2009.  I sure got a lot done in the last 48 hours.  We got the deck all finished.  It sure adds a lot of enjoyment being able to sit outside on the deck and enjoy the peace and quiet.  I also had my farmer come over to the cabin today to disc and plant my food plot.  This year I planted rye and oats.  I have some properties to show this weekend.  Here is one of my new commercial/residential properties in Houghton.  Nice price for this location.  Anyhow, the weather has been great the last couple of days, and it looks to be a nice weekend.  Be sure to get out and enjoy the holiday weekend!
 
September 3rd, 2009.  I'm really tired so this is going to be short.  I quit work at noon today, and my buddy Ross met me out at the cabin.  We worked until dark and got my deck built at the cabin.  It is really nice, and I'm very happy about it.  We had a nice bonfire, and we still have some stuff to wrap up tomorrow.  Enjoy your holiday weekend!
 
September 2nd, 2009.  It was a busy and productive day.  I am still in the negotiating stages on one of my Jacobsville 40's.  Another couple came in today and wrote an offer on this other 40.  We already got the offer accepted, so congrats to all involved.  I listed three commercial parcels near Houghton, and today I went and put signs up on them.  It was quite a bit of work finding a spot that wasn't too rocky to dig through.  At 1:00 we closed on the 17 acre parcel on Bootjack Road, so congrats to Paul.  After closing the office tonight, I showed a house in Tamarack City, and two in Lake Linden.  I think we may be writing an offer on one of the Lake Linden houses.  I like busy days!
 
September 1st, 2009.  September is here!  One more month until archery season.  I can't wait.  I got my lumber dropped off at the cabin so I can build my deck.  I sent out a purchase agreement today for one of my new 40 acre listings in Jacobsville, and I have another buyer coming in tomorrow to write an offer on the other 40.  It is always good to be busy.  I'm watching a deer on the wildlife webcams as we speak, be sure to check them out.  The best time to view deer is at dusk and dawn.  I'm glad you are enjoying me site, please e-mail the link to a friend.  Thanks!
 
August 31st, 2009.  We are offically at the end of August.  Another short but sweet summer.  It was a very nice day today.  After work, I went down to the cabin with a load of gravel in the back of my truck.  There was one low spot in the parking area of my cabin that I have been wanting to fill in, so after about an hour of shoveling it out of the back of my truck, it is much better.  I also ordered my material to build a deck.  I have been noticing that the apple trees are really loaded with apples this year, and some of them are already dropping.  Plenty of deer tracks around my apple trees is always a nice thing to see.  I hope you had a good August!
 
August 30th, 2009.  Another weekend that flew by.  I was in the office all day on Saturday, and got a couple of good leads.  The phones have been ringing pretty steadily with buyers.  Sunday I showed a house in Hancock, but it wasn't a good fit for my buyer, so we're going to look at other houses this week.  I wanted to work on a hunting spot, but I couldn't get my ATV started, so I managed to get it in the back of my truck so I can drop it off at the shop tomorrow.  It is getting to be that time of year where I'll be using it a lot.  I have a feeling that this is going to be a productive week.  Take Care!
 
August 28th, 2009.  Lots of rain.  After work today, Melissa's friend from college and her husband arrived for a wedding this weekend.  They are staying with us for the night.  We took them down to the cabin, and then we had a good dinner at the Parkview in Twin Lakes.  By the way, be sure to check out the new and improved "Wildlife Cams".  I put two different wildlife cams on the same page, so you can watch them both at once.  Check it out, they tend to get pretty entertaining the further we get into fall.  I'm scheduled to be in the office on Saturday.   Enjoy your weekend and stay dry!
 
August 27th, 2009.  The weather was nice today, and we need to enjoy it, as summer is winding down.  Here is my new listing between Lake Linden and Gay that will please the pickiest of buyers.  Very, very nice parcel.  In the morning I listed some prime commercial property in Houghton.  I'll have it up and running soon.  In the afternoon I drove out to St. Cyr subdivision near Skanee to set up a lockbox for this spotless cabin on Lake Superior.  There are two showings on it this weekend, so we'll keep our fingers crossed.  Have a nice Friday!
 
August 26th, 2009.  Today we closed on the 40 acre parcel near Covington.  That one sure didn't last long.  I went out toward Lake Linden later to put up signs and take pics of my latest listing.  I was extremely impressed by the property, and I'm looking forward to selling it.  I had to vacate the house for several hours tonight while my wife hosted a "Party Lite Candle Party".  I think it is an excuse for women to spend money, but that is just my guess.  I guess I really can't complain considering how much I put into the cabin.  Anyhow, I know that they all had a good time, and that is most important.  Time to get ready for another day.  See ya!
 
August 25th, 2009.  Today we closed on the 95 acres on Copper City Gay Road, so congrats to all who were involved.  Later I listed a really nice piece of land outside of Lake Linden, I'll go take pics of it tomorrow.  After work tonight my buddy Ross and I went out to the cabin and finally completed every last piece of trim in the cabin.  I'm ready to put a bed up in the loft.  Next up is building a deck.  Interesting results in yesterday's poll question.  At this time 97% of potential buyers want the price listed in a real estate ad.  Good advice if you are trying to sell your property by owner.  If you are ashamed to put the price out there, it is probably too high.  Have a nice day!
 
August 24th, 2009.  It was pretty uneventful for a Monday.  I'm all set for a couple of closings this week.  I always check out the real estate listings in the classified ads in our newspaper.  I notice that many times, the 'for sale by owner' properties never have a price listed.  Why is that?  If I were looking to buy real estate, the price is a pretty important factor.  With that in mind, please vote on the new poll question, as I'd like to get some feedback on this.  I've noticed some real estate agencies in other areas do this as well.  Also, only about 20% of the traffic is actually voting, so if you haven't been voting, do it.  Thanks!
 
August 23rd, 2009.  It was a busy and productive weekend.  Saturday I wrote an offer on my 17 acre parcel on Bootjack Road.  The seller plans to accept the offer on Monday.  Later in the afternoon I replaced the sideview mirror on my truck, and replaced a burned out daytime running lamp.  Saturday night we went to a nice wedding reception at the Ramada Inn in Hancock.  Sunday I got some trim work done at the camp, and then I ended up getting three different treestands set and ready for archery season.  I still have more stands to go, but I'm glad to be making progress.  Also, if you have been looking for an inexpensive parcel overlooking Lake Superior, click here.  Enjoy the last full week of August!
 
August 21st, 2009.  We had to roll up our sleeves a bit, but we got the hobby farm deal together, so congrats to all involved.  Here a couple of new listings near Jacobsville.  This a nice 40 acre parcel on Jacobsville Road, and this is an affordable 10 acre parcel on Bootjack Road.  There was already a showing on the 10 acre piece today.  I entered in my new listing on Tamarack Waterworks road today.  Melissa's parents got us an Applebee's gift certificate for our anniversary, so we met some friends for dinner and used it tonight.  I need the weather to dry up so I can start getting my bowhunting stands set.  We are also going to another wedding this weekend.  Busy summer!
 
August 20th, 2009.  We're still in negotiations for the hobby farm.  We'll find out tomorrow for sure whether or not we have a deal.  Here is a new listing that is one of the most inexpensive parcels in the Keweenaw, and with seller financing available, it is a very easy way to have a place up here.  I got the paperwork finalized today for two closings that I have next week.  Later in the day, I went up to Copper Harbor to check out some properties.  It was a cold, rainy, foggy day.  I'm looking forward to some better weather, as I have lots of outdoor projects to get wrapped up.  Have a great Friday!
 
August 19th, 2009.  I wrote an offer on the hobby farm this morning, we have a counter-offer, so we'll see what happens.  You all know how much I enjoy my cabin, so I think that you need a cabin of your own.  This cabin near Ontonagon has a price reduction, and is a very affordable way to start enjoying the U.P.  I listed three parcels near Jacobsville today, and also took pics of a new listing near Lake Superior tonight.  I'm hoping for another productive day tomorrow. 
 
August 18th, 2009.  The temperature dropped dramatically today.  I had a good showing on this hobby farm near Calumet.  We officially closed on the 40 acre parcel near Bootjack, so congrats to Darrell and Kathy.  After work tonight, my buddy and I went down to the cabin and installed a 'directional light' that I hadn't gotten around to installing yet.  I'm thinking about ordering the materials to put a deck on the front.  Archery season starts October 1st, and I have a lot of things I need to do between now and then.  Take Care!
 
August 17th, 2009.  It feels good to be back to work.  Typically I'm not much for sitting in the office, but today was kind of nice since it was pretty hot outside.  The temps are supposed to drop back to the 60's by tomorrow.  I'm pretty well caught up with being gone, now I have some listings to put on the market.  I'm also supposed to show my hobby farm near Calumet tomorrow.  Tonight we had the in-laws over for dinner, and had pork chops on the grill.  We better start making the most of the summer weather, since it will be gone before you know it.  Have a nice day!
 
August 16th, 2009.  We are home!  The wedding yesterday was in Grand Rapids, Michigan at the Meijer Gardens.  It was a beautiful wedding, and everything went smoothly.  I got to see many people that I haven't seen in about 10 years.  Driving back from Grand Rapids today made for a long drive.  I expect to be very busy on Monday, getting caught up with work.  Tonight I also went to take down signs from my recent sale near Covington, but unfortunately somebody had stolen my signs.  I don't know what people enjoy about stealing real estate signs, but I usually lose about 10 per year, which starts to add up.  Anyhow, I'm looking forward to a busy week in real estate.  Take Care!
 
August 13th, 2009.  Greetings from Lower Michigan!  We are enjoying nice weather down here.  We arrived last night at about 8:00 pm, and then unloaded hay until about 10:30.  We've been running around today visiting friends and family.  Later I have to go up to Cadillac to try on my tux for Saturday's wedding.  Wednesday morning before we left I officially got the deal accepted for the 95 acres near Copper City.  Today I am sending out a purchase agreement for a waterfront home between Eagle Harbor and Copper Harbor.  Enjoy the rest of the week!
 
August 11th, 2009.  Today was a wonderful, beautiful day in the Keweenaw!  Lots of happenings in real estate right now.  Today was also our 2 year wedding anniversary!  It is hard to believe it has been two years already.  Tonight the entire team at State Wide Real Estate (including spouses) enjoyed a cruise on the Keweenaw Star.  If you have never done it, I highly recommend it.  It was probably the nicest night so far this summer, and everybody had a great time.  After that we had a late dinner of delicious pizza at the Ambassador.  Tomorrow morning I have one deal to get wrapped up, and then we are heading downstate to my family farm.  I found out that I will be unloading hay as soon as we arrive tomorrow evening.  I'll probably be without internet for a couple days, so I'll check in as soon as I can.  Bye!
 
August 10th, 2009.  Today was pretty busy.  I didn't quite get the deal together on the Copper City property, but I expect to by tomorrow.  In the afternoon I looked at a nice new house that I'll be listing in Laurium.  Later on I met with a seller who owns some prime commercial property near Houghton that I'll be listing as well.  There are more listings than buyers right now, but I'm still selling plenty of real estate, so I can't complain.  There is a new poll question for you to vote on.  Take Care!
 
August 9th, 2009.  I hope you had a good weekend.  Friday night I stayed at the cabin, but didn't really get any work done.  Saturday the weather wasn't very good, so it ended up being pretty uneventful.  Sunday afternoon I showed the 95 acre parcel near Copper City.  I've been getting lots of interest on it, and I finally wrote a good offer on it.  I expect a response from the seller on Monday.  After that, I went fishing down by Twin Lakes, but didn't catch much.  I'm going to have a busy Monday.  Have a great week!
 
August 6th, 2009.  Today was very productive.  I went up to Copper Harbor to take pics and put up signs on a new listing.  I also have a deal cooking on some acreage near Lake Linden.  Later in the afternoon, I wrote an offer with a buyer on my residential listing in Ahmeek.  The seller has already verbally accepted the offer, I just need to get her signature tomorrow.  After that I received an offer on my Covington 40 that I listed two days ago.  I expect an acceptance on that offer as well.  I have showings planned for tomorrow.  Have a great Friday!
 
August 5th, 2009.  Lots of calls from buyers today.  This is my new 40 acre listing near Covington.  I already had a couple calls on it today, and I don't expect it to last long.  After closing down the office, I showed a waterfront home on Portage Lake.  The showing went well.  Later tonight I checked out a new survey that was just done on a lot I own near Tamarack City.  Enjoy the day!
 
August 4th, 2009.  This morning I entered in my new listing near Covington.  I'll have the details posted tomorrow.  After that, I went out to the cabin to start putting up trim in the loft now that the carpet is down.  I got the end wall completely done, and I have just a little bit left to do before it is done.  I'm looking forward to the day where I have no work left to do out here, but I don't know if that day will ever come.  Melissa and her sister also came out to the cabin tonight, and did some work.  We had a nice bonfire tonight.  Everytime I am here I never want to leave.  I have a busy day of real estate tomorrow, so time for bed.  There is a new poll question for you to vote on.  Have a nice day!
 
August 3rd, 2009.  This morning I had to run out to the cabin to let the guys from Kirkish Furniture in to lay the carpet in the loft.  While the door was open, a bat flew inside, and it was pretty interesting getting it out.  Once we had that over with, they did a nice job, and the carpet looks great.  I'll post a pic later this week.  Back in the office, I had plenty to do, and I still have plenty to do tomorrow morning.  We did close on the waterfall property in Eagle River, so congrats to all involved.  Anyhow, I have to see how much I can get done this week, as we have to leave for another wedding next week.  Summer is a busy time of year.  Take Care!
 
August 2nd, 2009.  Is it really August already?  Every summer seems to go by faster.  I had so many things that I wanted to get done by fall, and I have a long way to go.  The wedding in Canada this weekend was a lot of fun.  Those Canadiens sure know how to have a good time.  On the way back home today, we stopped near Covington to take pics and put up signs about a 40 acre parcel I just listed down there.  Anyhow it is great to be home, and we're ready for another week. 
 
July 31st, 2009.  Greetings from Canada!  We made it to Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, for our friend's wedding.  We stopped in Marquette to do a little shopping on the way.  It ended up being about a 5 hour road trip.  We just returned from a nice dinner, and now we're ready to rest up for the big day tomorrow.  By the way, here is an extra nice cabin on Lake Superior in Baraga County that I just listed.  I was very impressed by this place.  We're looking forward to a fun weekend, I hope yours is good as well!
 
July 30th, 2009.  I sold a property today, which is always a good day.  We got an accepted offer on this 10 acre parcel on Pelkie Road, so congrats to Marcus and James.  Here is a six bedroom house I just listed in Mohawk, which is a lot of house for the money.  Also, I'm pleased to have listed this fantastic 411 acre parcel near Copper Harbor.  I've spent a lot of time on this property, and it is truly special.  This property has over 3/4 mile frontage on the beautiful "covered road" stretch on the way to Copper Harbor.  We're getting packed up to hit the road to Canada tomorrow.  Have a great Friday!
 
July 29th, 2009.  This morning I put up signs at the new house listing in Mohawk.  Today I also listed a 411 acre parcel on the 'covered road' near Copper Harbor.  Here is a really nice place on over 600' of Lake Superior Frontage.  This is a very quiet area, and is priced to sell.  Melissa and I are headed to Canada this weekend for a wedding, these summers sure fly by quickly.  We're at that age where we have lots of friends that are getting married.  Talk to you tomorrow.
 
July 28th, 2009.  I drove more than 200 miles today listing new properties.  I went and looked at a very nice cabin on Lake Superior, north of Skanee.  Later on, I listed a house in Mohawk (north of Calumet).  I'm looking forward to closing on the waterfall home in Eagle River this week.  Tonight we had a gift certificate for the North Shore Pub & Grill, so we enjoyed that.  Now I'm pretty tired and ready for another day tomorrow.  Take Care!
 
July 27th, 2009.  Monday was busy as expected.  I have had four inquiries on this acreage north of Houghton.  If you are looking for land, this is absolutely one of the best buys out there.  After lunch I drove down to Jacobsville and listed a really nice place on 600' of frontage on Lake Superior.  Details to follow soon.  I have more listings to look at tomorrow.  Have a good Tuesday!
 
 July 26th, 2009.  My brother made it back to the L.P., but we sure had a fun weekend.  Saturday we scouted a couple of new bowhunting spots, and even set a new stand.  In the late afternoon, we decided to fish for a few hours, and did very good.  We caught two bass and several pike in no time.  We did a lot of topwater fishing for pike this weekend, which if fun.  Check out the video of a couple of pike caught this weekend.  I also posted this video in the hunting journal.  On the real estate side, check out this new waterfront listing near Copper Harbor.  This parcel is priced to beat anything else up there for that size of lot.  There is a new poll question for you to vote on.  I already have lots of appointments scheduled for this week.  Take Care and enjoy the pike video!
 
July 24th, 2009.  Friday is here and gone.  I actually ended up having a somewhat busy day at the office.  A couple came in and listed a residential lot in the city of Houghton.  In the afternoon we closed on the property on Oneco Road, so congrats to Craig and Ashley, who will be building their first home there.  After that my brother Adam and I went down to the cabin, and then enjoyed a great dinner at Henry's in Rockland.  We hope the weather hold up for us to go fishing tomorrow.  Have a great weekend!
 
July 23rd, 2009.  It was a very fun day.  After getting out of the office in the afternoon, my brother Adam arrived.  They are calling for some rainy weather this weekend, so we decided to take advantage of tonight's great weather.  Even though we got a late start, we went up to Keweenaw county.  It was a beautiful night, and we probably landed at least 20 pike.  The biggest was about 28".  We heard coyotes howling in the woods nearby, and we also saw a deer swim across the lake, right past our boat.  It really was an enjoyable evening.  I've got a closing tomorrow, and then we'll see what the day brings. 
 
July 22nd, 2009.  I finally got one of my closings scheduled today.  Friday we'll get the deal wrapped up.  Tomorrow I've got some office stuff to do, and then I'm looking forward to my brother arriving from lower Michigan.  Hopefully the weather isn't too bad this weekend, as we're hoping to do a little fishing.  I'm anxious to show you my new waterfront listing in Copper Harbor, the details should be ready by tomorrow.  Have a good Thursday!
 
July 21st, 2009.  Another day.  I'm seeing a noticeable increase in buyer inquiries the last few days.  I'm still working on a couple of closings, one of them is getting increasingly complicated.  That is one thing I have noticed this year is that none of the deals seem easy anymore.  Tonight I drove up to Copper Harbor to take pictures and put up signs of a new waterfront listing.  I'll enter it into the MLS tomorrow.  Take Care!
 
July 20th, 2009.  Today was a very nice day.  I had plenty of errands to run.  I picked out the carpet for the loft in the cabin.  I closed out a deal today.  The hobby farm on Rousseau Road is now sold, so congrats to David.  I have a couple of more closings that I hope to wrap up by the end of the week.  I've also scheduled some upcoming showings with buyers, so I'm looking forward to that.  If you are still thinking about selling, it is not too late to list.  If you are thinking about buying, right now is a great time!  We've got banks with money to lend at very good rates.  If you don't want to work with a bank, we've got sellers willing to do seller financing.  If you don't own a piece of the upper peninsula, you should!
 
July 19th, 2009.  It feels great to be back in the Keweenaw.  The weekend went by pretty quickly, but it is always nice to be back home.  I have plenty to do this week before my brother arrives on Thursday.  July is a great time of year, enjoy your week!
 
July 17th, 2009.  Another fun day in the twin cities.  Today we arrived at our friend's condo in Minneapolis.  After catching up for awhile, we went out to dinner at a nice place called 'the news room' in the downtown area.  We walked around and visited a few other places.  This is a really nice city.  Their condo is in a really tall building, so it is neat to see the nighttime city lights as I type this.  We have plenty of things planned for tomorrow, so I better get to bed.  Enjoy your weekend!
 
July 16th, 2009.  Hello from Minneapolis!  The drive wasn't too bad today.  The temperatures are pretty cool here, but I hear that they are even colder back in the U.P.  It is always interesting for me to look at real estate brochures from other areas.  It is amazing how low our prices are compared to most of the country.  Especially when you consider the beauty of our land, and the quality of life.  Anyhow, we're staying with Melissa's relatives tonight, and then we'll be spending the rest of the weekend with our friends John and Danielle.  Have a great Friday!
 
July 15th, 2009.  Today we officially closed on the 20 acres on Rice Lake road, so congrats to Justin!  Today I learned that I shouldn't be distracted on the cell phone while backing up with my truck.  I forgot how close I was to a light pole, and ended up with my side view mirror on the ground and a nice dent in my truck.  Insurance should cover it.  Later I looked at a nice new waterfront home that I'll be listing in Jacobsville.  After that I got everything wrapped up so we can hit the road.  We'll be on the way to Minneapolis all day.  We'll check in from Minnesota!
 
July 14th, 2009.  I didn't have any appointments today, so I spent some time at the cabin.  It seems that in the summer, weekends are usually busy with showings, so you kind of take a day off whenever it presents itself.  I did get the paperwork back on a waterfront listing near Copper Harbor.  Tomorrow I have an appointment to look at a potential new listing near Jacobsville.  Right now I'm enjoying watching the MLB All Star game.  I'm still excited for our road trip this weekend.  Make sure you take a fun trip this summer if you haven't already!
 
July 13th, 2009.  The nice summer weather continues.  I've got a couple of closings coming up this week, and then we are off to Minneapolis for the weekend.  I sent out a purchase agreement today on one of my listings, I'm just waiting to get the signatures back.  After work, I went down to one of my favorite lakes to do some fishing.  It started off very windy and slow, but I ended up landing a couple of pike and a couple of bass.  Any day of fishing is a good day.  Speaking of fishing, please vote on the new poll question.  Have a good day!
 
July 12th, 2009.  It was a very nice weekend.  Saturday morning I ended up showing this townhouse in Houghton to two different buyers, and both showings went well.  The offer I wrote on Friday night isn't looking good, as it seems that there was a better competing offer.  Later Saturday I showed a couple of houses up in Keweenaw county.  Sunday I went up to Copper Harbor to pick up my camper and deliver it to a friend who is buying it from me.  I've had a lot of great memories with that camper, and I really hate to see it go.  But now that I have the cabin, I've come to the realization that I'm just not going to be using the camper anymore, and I hate to see it just sitting around.  Have a great week!
 
July 10th, 2009.  I covered a lot of ground today.  I showed waterfront properties all over the Keweenaw today.  It was a long day, but we saw some great properties and had a good time.  The buyers are very nice.  We ended up writing an offer in the office at 10:00 pm on one of the places, so we'll see what happens.  Tomorrow morning I have another waterfront showing with another buyer, so I better get to bed.  Take Care!
 
July 9th, 2009.  It was a busy day.  This morning I showed this fantastic piece of waterfront between Houghton and Baraga.  In the afternoon, I met with a client to address an offer that we received.  Later I showed a couple of houses in Hancock, including this house on Quincy Street, that is a very good deal at 99K.  Tomorrow I'm going to try to pick out some carpet for the loft at the cabin.  The weather has been great, summer in the U.P. is fantastic.  Have a good day!
 
July 8th, 2009.  The weather was very nice today.  In the morning, I met a buyer down in Baraga who bought some property from me in December.  He needed a clearer idea of the property lines, so I came down and showed him.  The rest of the day was spent in the office, where I scheduled some nice showings coming up that I'm excited about.  It sounds like my brother should be coming up to visit later in the month, so I'm looking forward to that.  Take Care!
 
July 7th, 2009.  This morning I had a closing on a house on Water Street in Hancock.  I also received an offer today on my listing in Sylvan Estates.  After that, I went down to the cabin to get some work done.  I installed the cedar log ladder for access to the loft, and I put down the last piece of flooring, so now it is ready for carpet.  The grass grows fast out there, so I had to mow it again.  By the way, if you enjoy the site, please e-mail the link to a friend, as I'd like to keep increasing traffic.  Thanks!
 
July 6th, 2009.  The phones were busy today as expected.  I'm hoping to write an offer tomorrow on my new land listing near Copper City.  I've got a couple of closings scheduled this week, so I was in the office quite awhile getting everything squared away.  Here is a new poll question for you to vote on.  Be sure to use the 'today's new listings' feature on the site, as it is very useful, and you won't find it on most other sites.  I hope you had a good Monday!
 
July 5th, 2009.  What a beautiful weekend!  We rented a cabin with some friends at the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge for the entire weekend.  On Saturday we did some fishing, and probably caught about 8 pike.  Everybody got a little bit sunburned.  The fireworks in Copper Harbor were fantastic as usual.  This year was probably the best weather we've had for fireworks in many years.  I'm expecting to receive a lot of calls on Monday, as it is usually a busy day after the holiday weekend.  I hope your 4th of July was good as well.  Take Care!
 
July 2nd, 2009.  The holiday weekend is almost upon is.  After office hours this morning, I traveled down to Ontonagon county to check on a logging operation.  I was about as far in the wilderness as you can get between Victoria Dam and Ontonagon, and I unfortunately got a flat tire.  30 minutes of mud, mosquitoes, and ticks later, I got my spare tire on and made it back to town.  We had burgers on the grill tonight, and we're ready for a fun weekend.  Here is new listing that is priced right.  Have a fun and safe weekend!
 
July 1st, 2009.  July is here!  Summer sure is a great time of year.  I'm anxious for the weather to straighten up so I can get back out on the lakes and go fishing.  I mentioned earlier in the week what a great deal I had on some Copper City property.  The property can be split, so here is a more affordable version of the acreage.  It is nice to see that interest rates are creeping down again.  I have people tell me that they were under the assumption that you can't get a vacant land loan.  Wrong!  I work consistently with a lender that loans on vacant land with low downpayment, and long term fixed rate interest.  If you were ever thinking about buying land up here, this is the year to do it!
 
 
 June 30th, 2009.  It seems like we wait forever for summer to arrive, and now July is already here!  Here is a nice new hobby farm listing in a great location between Houghton and Calumet.  After work tonight, my friend and I went up to Copper Harbor to check out a couple of new listings.  The weather is still very cold and rainy, but everybody is happy knowing that the holiday weekend should be nice.  We've made plans to be in Copper Harbor for the 4th.  There is a new poll question, please vote on it!
 
June 29th, 2009.  The week is off to a rainy, cool start.  This morning I went out to a new listing on Portage Lake to put up signs and take some pictures.  In the afternoon, I entered in another new listing before heading up to Tamarack Waterworks Road to show a neat little house.  It looks like the weather is going to be wet most of the week, but hopefully should clear up in time for the holiday weekend.  Thank you to those of you who e-mailed pics for 'pic of the day', keep them coming!
 
June 28th, 2009.  I hope you enjoyed your weekend.  The weather this weekend wasn't very good for outdoor activities, but we still had fun.  Friday I got the deal accepted on a 40 acre parcel near Bootjack, so congrats to Darrell and Kathryn!  I entered in a few new listings this weekend, and I have more to enter on Monday.  Here is a fantastic buy near Copper City.  I have a feeling that the listing will have an accepted offer by the end of the week.  Saturday evening we went up to Copper Harbor and had a fantastic meal at the Harbor Haus with some friends.  Unfortunately there was a bad car accident up that way, I guess we'll find out more about it in the paper on Monday.  Anyhow, I continue to get calls from sellers and buyers, so the summer is off to a great start.  There are a lot of properties on the market this year, but they continue to sell as long as they are priced right.  Aggressive pricing is the key this year.  Have a great week!
 
June 25th, 2009.  This morning I listed a wonderful property with over 1500' on Portage Lake.  I'll enter it in the MLS on Monday.  In the afternoon I wrote an offer on 40 acres that I expect to get accepted tomorrow.  I'm also listing some nice property in northern Houghton county, and a hobby farm between Houghton and Calumet.  In the afternoon I drove up to Lac La Belle and Copper City to put up some real estate signs.  We had a really fun evening with lots of friends after that.  By the way, thanks to those of you that sent in pics for pic of the day, keep them coming!  I'm ready for Friday!
 
June 24th, 2009.  The warm weather continues.  Melissa's parents visited us at the cabin this morning, and then we had to head back to Houghton.  I had a deal together on this Rousseau Hobby Farm, but it looks it may have hit a snag.  It looks like this property will be available again, so you may want to jump on it, as I've been receiving lots of inquiries.  There is a new poll question for you to vote on.  I know you must have at least one scenic picture on your computer, so please e-mail it to me at josh@statewideofhoughton.com, so I can use it for "pic of the day".  Have a nice day!
 
June 23rd, 2009.  Today was the warmest day so far this year.  I spent the day working on the cabin.  I don't have too much left to do, but I figured I might as well make some progress.  I finished the tongue & groove in the loft, and got most of the flooring down up there.  It will be easier to have company once the loft is finished.  Melissa and I went to eat in Rousseau tonight, and it sure tasted good after a long day of work.  I'm usually showing property on weekends, so sometimes a random weekday is easier to sneak out to the cabin.  Back to the office tomorrow.  Stay cool!
 
June 22nd, 2009.  Monday went by pretty quickly.  I spent the morning in the office, getting paperwork going on some closings.  The offer on the hobby farm on Rousseau road is officially accepted, so congrats to David.  I didn't have any appointments in the afternoon, so I decided to go fishing near Twin Lakes.  It was a beautiful day on the water.  I caught 2 pike, 2 bass, and missed quite a few.  One of the bass was 20" long, very heavy, and probably a close tie for my biggest Largemouth ever.  It was a beautiful fish.  I'll try to get a pic of it on here soon.  After fishing, I ate a delicious pasty from Krupp's Resort in Twin Lakes.  I love summer!
 
June 21st, 2009.  It was a warm, beautiful weekend.  Friday night I went out to the cabin to get some work done.  Saturday morning I showed this nice land contract parcel just off the shores of Lake Superior.  Melissa met up with me at the cabin in the afternoon, and a couple of friends came down as well.  We went and had a delicious dinner at Henry's Never Inn in Rockland.  In hopes of spotting some wildlife, I took some two track roads on the way back to the cabin.  It paid off, as we ended up seeing a wolf cross the road, and then it stood in the ditch and stared at us for a couple minutes before running off.  It was a pretty neat encounter.  Back at the cabin, we had a nice bonfire.  At one point, some sort of Keweenaw critter started rustling around in the woods behind us.  I've never seen two Finnish girls run so fast in my life.  It was probably a raccoon, but I got a good laugh watching the girls hide inside the cabin.  Anyhow, I'm ready for another week of action.  Take Care!
 
June 19th, 2009.  Not too much to report today.  I just got all the paperwork rolling for the deals that I put together this week.  Bridgefest is off and running.  Other than some scattered rainshowers, the weather turned out pretty nice.  In the afternoon I got some work done at the cabin.  I have two showings this weekend, and am looking forward to having some fun in between.  Enjoy your weekend!
 
June 18th, 2009.  Another day, another deal.  Today I got a deal accepted for a 24 acre parcel just north of Hancock, so congrats to Craig and Ashley!  Later this afternoon I showed a new house in Lake Linden, it was a second showing, so we'll see what happens.  Also, for those of you that enjoy an occasional game of solitaire (hopefully not while you're at work), I have a new and improved version here on the website.  I'm really looking forward to this weekend.  Have a great Friday!
 
June 17th, 2009.  Another day, another deal.  Today I wrote a very good offer on my recent hobby farm listing on Rousseau Road.  I have no doubt that the deal will be accepted.  In the afternoon I had a closing on a nice home in Calumet, congrats to Jack and Karen!  Everybody in Houghton is gearing up for bridgefest this weekend.  It might be a little bit rainy, but it still looks like it should be warm.  Right now I'm watching the Detroit Tigers lose another game.  They need to get in gear.  Take Care!
 
June 16th, 2009.  Another day, another deal.  This morning I showed a couple of properties out near Lake Linden.  We ended up writing an offer on a 20 acre parcel I have listed on Rice Lake road.  The deal has already been accepted, so congrats to Justin!  Tonight I went up to Calumet to do a pre-closing walk through of a house I'm selling to make sure everything is ready to go.  There is a new poll question for you to vote on.  Have a good day!
 
June 15th, 2009.  Another beautiful day.  I put up signs and entered the listing of a house in Ahmeek.  Details should be here tomorrow.  I've already scheduled many appointments this week.  Buyers are ready to look at properties.  Here is my new 840 acre listing near Rabbit Bay.  That is one big piece of beautiful property.  I'm very confident that I'll have some more deals together by the end of this week.  I hope you had a good Monday!
 
June 14th, 2009.  What a beautiful weekend!  Summer weather is finally, finally here.  Saturday a friend and I went up to Copper Harbor.  We went pike fishing during the day, and had fun, catching about 15 in just a few hours.  In the evening, we went out on Copper Harbor and fished very hard, until about 11:30 pm, and only caught one splake.  It was actually my first splake, so that was cool.  Sunday I went up to Ahmeek to visit the in-laws, and then served as 'caddy' for Melissa and her friends during their ladie's golf league.  I'm ready for another week of real estate.  Enjoy the weather!
 
June 12th, 2009.  Friday!  I am soooo disappointed that the Red Wings lost.  I guess there is always next year.  Today I entered in my new 840 acre listing, I can't wait to show you the details.  Later in the afternoon today, I closed on a nice house in Hancock, so congrats to Ryan.  After work tonight, Melissa and I spent time with friends.  We are all enjoying the summer weather that has been reluctant to arrive.  Enjoy your weekend!
 
June 11th, 2009.  The weather keeps improving.  Today I officially got the deal together on the Eagle River waterfall property.  We are still in negotiations for my new listing near Gay.  I have more listings coming soon.  Tonight I went and looked at a potential new listing near Dreamland.  After that, I went and took pictures of my new 840 acre listing near Rabbit Bay.  The property was fantastic, and I saw every kind of wildlife track imaginable.  After that I went and ribboned an approximate property line for a sale I'm working on out at Oneco Road.  I'm excited for Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals Friday night!  Go Red Wings!
 
June 10th, 2009.  My friend Gary left this morning.  I had a showing on my new listing on Rousseau Road.  That listing has been receiving lots of interest.  I spent the rest of the day back in the office, where I wrote another offer on my new listing near Gay.  I'm also working a few new listings that I'll be putting on the market soon.  It feels good to be home, after being out and about for the better part of the last six days.  Real estate is busy!
 
June 9th, 2009.  The offer on the Lake Linden house wasn't accepted.  It does look like my deal on the Eagle River waterfall property is finally going to come together.  I also have another nice deal in the works, I e-mailed a purchase agreement out tonight that I expect back tomorrow.  Today Gary and I went fishing up in Keweenaw county.  We ended up catching probably about 15 pike, and Gary lost a couple of nice ones.  Gary caught and released a 12" rock bass, which is extremely large for that species, and would actually qualify for a master angler award.  We took a pic and released it.  The weather finally started to get pretty nice by the end of the day.  Have a nice day!
 
June 8th, 2009.  It was a cold, rainy day.  Gary and I didn't go fishing.  I went in to work for awhile today, and ended up writing an offer on a house in Lake Linden.  We expect a response on the offer tomorrow.  Here is a new listing near Rousseau in Ontonagon county.  As you can see by the price, it is a steal of a deal, and I've already had a few inquiries on it within the first few days.  The weather is supposed to improve tomorrow, so hopefully we'll do some fishing.  By the way, I know that the site was not opening for some of you the past few days, and I have corrected the error.  Please let me know if it happens again.  Take Care!
 
June 7th, 2009.  How was your weekend?  Mine was filled with fishing.  The weather was pretty cold and windy throughout the weekend, but Gary and I still covered a lot of water.  Saturday night we went to a lake near the cabin, and caught a few, including one pretty nice bass and a nice pike.  Sunday morning we went to Prickett Dam and fished for several hours.  We caught probably about 6 bass and pike, but nothing very big.  The windy conditions made it very tough.  Later in the afternoon we went towards Michigamme to fish the Craig Lake Wilderness Area.  It is a non-motorized lake, so we had to carry our boat in about a 1/4 mile.  We caught a couple, but it really wasn't worth the difficulty of carrying in the boat.  Anyhow, we hope to do some more fishing in the northern Keweenaw this week.  Also, here is a new property near Lake Linden.  Have a good Monday!
 
June 5th, 2009.  Friday was a good day.  We got an offer on one of my listings in Houghton, we counter-offered, but the buyer intends to accept it.  I entered in two new listings as well, I'll post the details soon.  Hopefully my buddy Gary should be here in the morning.  The long term weather looks a little cool, but I just hope it is not too windy for fishing.  Enjoy your weekend!
 
June 4th, 2009.  The weather was beautiful today.  This morning I had a showing down in Baraga county.  Once I returned to the office, we officially got the deal together on a house in Hancock I recently wrote an offer on.  In the afternoon I went out to a new 6 acre listing near Torch Lake.  I got some pics and put my signs up.  Today I also listed a foreclosure for a local bank.  The property was out near Rousseau, and I went down there tonight to get some pics.  I stopped at the cabin and did some mowing, and put up blinds in the rest of the windows.  I'm looking forward to some company this weekend, and we hope to do lots of fishing.  Have a nice Friday!
 
June 3rd, 2009.  We made it back safely from Green Bay.  My vision was well better than 20/20, so no more follow up appointments.  Today the 12 acres I had listed on Lake Annie Road closed, so congrats to the buyers and seller.  Here is a very nice land contract parcel in a great location.  With these terms, it should sell quickly.  The weather was pretty nice today, and is supposed to be even nicer tomorrow.  I have a showing in Baraga county in the morning.  There is a new poll question for you to vote on.  Have a great day!
 
June 2nd, 2009.  Greetings from rainy Green Bay!  We came down here tonight since I have my LAST follow up eye appointment at LasikPlus in the morning.  We had a delicious dinner at Texas Roadhouse tonight, we even saw quite a few Packers players come in as well.  After a little shopping we're ready for bed at the Cambria Suites.  Tomorrow morning we'll be heading straight back to the keweenaw after my appointment.  I'm sure the appointment will be quick, my vision is absolutely perfect, I'm very happy that I had the surgery.  Take Care!
 
June 1st, 2009.  Monday was another busy day.  In the afternoon I showed 6 houses in Houghton and Hancock.  We ended up writing a good offer on a Hancock house.  After that I sent out paperwork to list an 840 acre parcel near Rabbit Bay.  Later in the afternoon I showed a house in Houghton that would make a good student rental.  After office hours tonight, I showed a nice house in Dollar Bay, and then listed a 6 acre parcel just outside of Lake Linden.  Now do you know why I laugh when people ask me if real estate is moving at all?  We are busy up here!
 
 
May 31st, 2009.  Did you have a nice weekend?  Saturday I was in the office from 10-3, and then I showed a couple of houses in Houghton.  After that I went out to the cabin for the rest of the weekend.  I intended to get some work done on the cabin, but sometimes I just want to relax, and that is what I did.  My rye is growing, and is already taller than my knees.  Here are couple more of my recent listings.  This 20 acre parcel near Rice Lake is a nice buy.  Have you been looking for land near Copper Harbor?  This waterfront parcel is in a great location, and is really nice land.  I also just listed this large parcel of land with access to Lake Superior on Friday.  This one is a bargain.  Well, I'm ready for more showings on Monday.  Make it a great week!
 
May 29th, 2009.  This morning I went up to Keweenaw county where I listed a great property near Gay, and another nice property just west of Copper Harbor.  I showed my waterfall listing near Eagle River, and we ended up writing a good offer on it later in the afternoon.  Here is a great parcel on Pelkie Road.  I've sold four 10 acre parcels out of this property, and this is the nicest one yet.  Here is another great property outside of Pelkie.  Very quiet road, very peaceful property.  Have a great weekend!
 
May 28th, 2009.  Today I took pics and put signs up on a new listing near Tapiola.  After that I drove west of Pelkie and took pics and put up signs at a new listing on Eilola Road.  After that I drove to Baraga and took pics and put up signs on a parcel near Lake Superior.  Then I drove up to Lake Linden and took pics and put up signs on a listing on Rice Lake road.  After that I checked a new parcel I'm listing on Gregorie Road.  I then went back to the office and loaded up the listings until about 8:30 pm when the buyers I showed homes to the previous night in Lake Linden came in and we wrote an offer on a house.  I finally got home at about 9:30 for another late dinner.  I'm ready for another busy day tomorrow.  It was a gorgeous day by the way.  Have a nice day!
 
May 27th, 2009.  It is 9:30 pm and I'm finally getting home from work.  This morning I had a closing on my one acre parcel near Nisula.  In the afternoon I showed some houses in Houghton and Hancock.  After closing down the office at 6:00, I showed three houses in Lake Linden tonight.  After that, I met with a buyer and wrote an offer on a 30 acre parcel and already got it accepted.  Real estate is really getting busy, and I'm getting lots of e-mails from potential buyers.  There is a new poll question for you to vote on.  Take Care!
 
May 26th, 2009.  The day was busy as expected.  I set up showings with buyers virtually everyday the rest of this week.  I sent out a purchase agreement for a parcel of land in keweenaw county day.  This parcel on Oneco Road has been generating a lot of interest, and tonight I got an offer accepted on it.  I didn't get everything done that I needed to today, and I have even more stuff to do tomorrow.   I have four new listings coming up once I get an extra hour to get them on the market.  I love being busy!
 
May 25th, 2009.  We're back!  I hope everybody had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend.  We made the 8 hour drive back to the keweenaw from lower Michigan today.  There was a lot of traffic heading back south, but the northbound traffic wasn't bad at all.  I'm starting to get over my cold, and now Melissa is just starting a cold of her own.  We had a great time visiting everyone down there, and the weather was fantastic.  I did quite a bit of fishing, but one night was a little too exciting.  I'm all alone out in the middle of one of my favorite lakes down there, and all of the sudden a big snake appeared from underneath one of the boat seats.  I've never particularly liked snakes, so being in a small boat with a big one in the middle of the lake was not something I enjoyed.  By the time I got done dancing around the boat trying to get him out (I'm lucky I didn't capsize), I looked behind me and realized that my pole was nowhere to be found.  I lost my best pole in the bottom of the lake.  I had to go buy another one the next day.  There were a couple of young kids out on the lake, and they got a good laugh watching me tangle with the snake.  Oh well.  Judging by my e-mail inbox, I know I'm going to have a very busy week.  Talk to you soon!
 
May 20th, 2009.   We made it to lower Michigan.  It feels like we drove right into summer.  Temps are in the 80's today, the leaves are out, it is wonderful!  We've been busy visiting with family and friends, and I'm ready to do some fishing.  I'll try to check in again soon, Take Care!
 
May 18th, 2009.  Today was very busy as we are getting ready to hit the road.  To make things a little more difficult, I've come down with a really nasty cold, and I don't feel very good.  Today I listed a house in Ahmeek, and sent out a purchase agreement for a parcel near Baraga.  I'm going to try to get some rest tonight, and hopefully I won't feel too bad for the long drive tomorrow.  There is a new poll question for you to vote on.  If you haven't yet, check out the new "mackinac bridge cam".  It is a pretty neat webcam.  Maybe you'll see me on it?  Have a great week!
 
May 17th, 2009.  My cousin Marcus was up visiting this weekend, and we stayed very busy.  We covered a lot ground fishing and touring the Keweenaw.  Saturday we intended to go fishing, but severe winds and snow forced us to abandon the fishing trip.  Sunday we went fishing in Houghton county and had a nice day.  The sun was out and we landed some nice fish.  I'll have a busy day tomorrow getting everything at work lined up so I can leave this week.  Melissa and I will be traveling to visit my family farm.  I hope you enjoyed your weekend!
 
May 15th, 2009.  Yesterday we closed on the lot on Donmar street, so congrats to all who were involved.  I also got an accepted offer on my one acre parcel in Nisula.  I've listed three new properties, one is this waterfront home on Lac La Belle.  I still think that this is one of the better waterfront buys on the market.  I also listed this parcel on US-41.  This is a prime location between Houghton and Calumet.  I'm very pleased to show you this new listing on Oneco Road.  Some properties I just know as soon as I list them that they will sell quickly, and this will be one of them.  My cousin Marcus arrived last night, and we stayed the night down at the cabin.  Today we went up to Keweenaw county to do some fishing for the pike opener.  The extremely windy conditions resulted in us not catching any fish.  It didn't really matter, and day on the water in the Keweenaw is a great day.  We've covered a lot of ground in the last 24 hours, and we're planning on having plenty of fun this weekend.  I hope you have a fun weekend!
 
May 13th, 2009.  This morning I received a phone call from a landowner in Baraga county.  I e-mailed him a listing agreement and hope to get the signatures back tomorrow.  I'm still negotiating some counter-offers on the houses I've written offers on this weekend.  Later in the afternoon, I also listed a new parcel right on US-41 between Houghton and Calumet.  Tonight we had some friends over for dinner and some card games.  It is warm and raining right now, but I think it is supposed to be sunny tomorrow.  I hope so because I have some real estate signs that I need to put up, and some sold signs that I need to take down.  Real estate is really moving right now, and I'm actually going to run an ad on local T.V., because I need more houses to sell.  Residential seems really hot right now with all of the incentives for buyers.  If you know anybody with a house to sell, please send them my way. 
 
May 12th, 2009.  Real estate is really moving.  This morning I got the deal accepted on the nice house up in Calumet.  Later in the day I had 5 showings, and ended up writing offers on two different homes.  After all of that I went up to Oneco road, where I listed a fantastic building site.  I am so pleased to have this new listing, I can't wait to show you the details.  Time to unwind for a few minutes before I go to bed.  Have a nice day!
 
May 11th, 2009.  Real estate continues to be busy.  This morning I wrote an offer on a house in Calumet.  In the afternoon, I showed a couple of homes in Hancock.  Later in the evening, I went up to Mohawk for a showing, but the buyer never showed up.  I'll hopefully find out tomorrow what happened.  There is lots of talk about the first time homebuyer's tax credit.  Many people are taking advantage of this program right now.  I'm ready for another busy day tomorrow.  Take Care!
 
May 10th, 2009.  It was a busy weekend.  Happy Mother's Day to all of the Moms out there.  Saturday I had a cancellation on a showing, but I was still in the office until about 4 pm.  The talk of the town was all of the snow we received Saturday.  It snowed most of the day, but it didn't really accumulate.  Sunday was right back to being a nice sunny day.  I showed seven houses on Sunday, and then spent the rest of the day with the in-laws for Mother's Day.  It is definitely going to be a busy week in real estate.  There is a new poll question for you to vote on.  Lets make it a great week!
 
May 8th, 2009.  Today was a busy day.  I had showings in the afternoon, and ended up writing offers on two different houses.  Hopefully we'll get at least one of them together.  I have a busy weekend coming up, with showings on Saturday and Sunday.  So here is a new listing that I'm very pleased to show you.  This 30 acre parcel of beautiful property borders Wal-Mart and the Copper Country Mall.  That is one prime piece of real estate.  I'm looking forward to selling this listing.  Enjoy your weekend!
 
May 7th, 2009.  Sorry for the delay, I tried to update the journal last night, but the site was experiencing some difficulties.  Here is price reduced property that you should check out.  This is very nice cabin near Ontonagon.  This would make a fantastic getaway.  I'm so glad that I built my cabin, I've been enjoying it very much.  I was out there yesterday afternoon, and have finished up the trim.  The temps have cooled down quite a bit today, and I think that it is going to stay that way for awhile.  I better get moving, I have showings this afternoon.  Have a great day!
 
May 6th, 2009.  Everybody was very happy about the 70 degree temperatures today.  I was happy as well, since it really seems to make the real estate market heat up.  I listed an incredibly prime piece of real estate in the city of Houghton that I'll feature on here tomorrow night.  I have a couple more listing coming soon.  I also set up showings with a couple different buyers for Friday and Sunday.  I like being busy!  It is amazing how many people are buying homes right now.  I did a search for homes in the Houghton/Hancock area from 50K to 120K, and I think almost half of them had accepted offers.  Many buyers are taking advantage of the low interest rates and tax credits.  Have a nice day!
 
May 5th, 2009.  I ended up staying the night out at the cabin for the first time this year.  I got up early and got lots of work done on the cabin before heading back to town.  I probably only have about 2 hours worth of work left in order to finish up all of the trim.  This afternoon I had a showing on my listing in Sylvan Estates that went very well.  We'll see what happens.  Tomorrow I have a listing appointment that I'm very excited about.  I hope you are having nice weather like we are!
 
May 4th, 2009.  What a beautiful day!  I don't know what the temperature was, but it sure felt like summer.  After I got a few real estate things done in the morning, I went out to the cabin, I couldn't resist it on such a nice day.  I finished putting up trim on all the windows, and got part of the bedroom done.  I saw a few deer on my food plot at dusk.  I'm so ready for summer!
 
May 3rd, 2009.  I had a productive weekend.  Saturday I did springtime stuff around the house.  I got my snowmobile and my snowplowing ATV "summerized" and put away until next winter.  Sunday was a beautiful day spent at the cabin.  I worked on putting up trim for about 7 hours.  It felt great to be back to work out there.  I look forward to kicking up my feet someday, with nothing left to do out there, but I'm sure there will always be projects.  The warm spring weather seems to cheer everybody up.  There is a new 'poll question' for you to vote on.  Have a great week!
 
May 1st, 2009.  Hooray for May!  It is nice to know that summer is almost here.  This morning Melissa and I drove up to Eagle River to take down/put up some 'for sale' signs.  After that I went and looked a potential new listing in Houghton.  It ended up being one of the most impressive pieces of land I've seen in awhile, so I'm excited about the prospect of listing it.  It looks like we have some nice weather coming next week, so we'll look forward to that.  If I don't end up working all weekend, maybe I'll be able to get some work done at the cabin.  Here is a fantastic house I just listed in Hancock.  This is a lot of house for the money, and I don't expect it to last long.  Enjoy your weekend!
 
April 30th, 2009.  It is the last day of April and I'm glad.  Today I entered in my new listing on Quincy Street in Hancock.  I'll post the details tomorrow night.  Later in the afternoon, I had to go put up and take down some 'for sale' signs.  It rained here most of the day.  Tonight we went out to dinner for Melissa's birthday.  Her parents joined us at the Ramada Inn, where they give you a free dinner on your birthday.  The new detours in Houghton are already causing confusion, as I met a car coming at me head on the way home tonight on the bridge.  They trying to merge onto M-26 where you can't anymore, and they had to cut between some of the cones to get back where they are supposed to be.  I'm ready for May!
 
April 29th, 2009.  I pretty much spent the entire day in the office.  I got the Pelkie Road closing all ready for next week.  I have many different buyers right now that I've been e-mailing back and forth with regarding some different properties.  I really feel that it is going to be another good year.  Tomorrow the major road renovation on Shelden Ave (where our office is located) begins.  There is going to be some major detours in Houghton all summer, but the end result is going to be very nice.  Michigan roads are constantly under construction anyhow, right?  After work tonight we went up to "The Hut" in Kearsarge for dinner.  They really have good food and huge portions there.  After dinner tonight I listed a great house in Hancock, that I'm going to take pics of tomorrow.  Have a great day!
 
April 28th, 2009.  It was a cool but sunny day.  Today I worked on a closing that is coming up next week.  Later in the day I checked out a nice house that I'll be listing within the next few days.  Tonight I showed this waterview house between Houghton and Chassell.  After that I drove down near Baraga to check on some survey work I'm having done on one of my own properties.  You sure can tell that spring is coming, as the lawns are really greening up.  I still won't be surprised if it snows again before summer.  Have a nice day!
 
April 27th, 2009.  My phone was ringing all day, which is always a good thing.  We got a deal accepted on this wonderful home in Hancock, so congrats to Ryan.  Also, here is a great deal on 80 acres of timberland in Iron County.  Tonight after work I went up to Melissa's uncle's house, and we put new brakes on her car, so that was a good job to get done.  Well I'm ready for another day tomorrow, take care!
 
April 26th, 2009.  We're getting lots of rain.  This should really help get rid of the snow once the sun comes back out.  Saturday I watched the NFL draft on ESPN.  I never know what to think of what my Detroit Lions do, but every year I have hope.  That night we went to the Chassell Country Music Festival, held at the Rosza center at Michigan Tech.  Our company, State Wide Real Estate, is one of the main sponsors.  It is always amazing to see how much talent we have locally.  Afterward, we enjoyed a nice dinner at the Pilgrim River Steakhouse.  Here is a good deal on a 160 acre deer camp near Michigamme.  I have started posting some of my listings on Craigslist, as I'm always looking for any way that I can to find a buyer.  There is a new 'poll question' for you to vote on.  Lets enjoy the last week of April!
 
April 24th, 2009.  Today I did my continuing education for 2009.  Every year, a real estate agent is required to attend 6 hours of continuing education, mostly to keep up with new laws or court cases regarding our profession.  When it was over I went to the office, and entered in a couple of listings from Iron county.  I have many other new listings on the way.  Today was "senior walk" for Michigan Tech.  Any of you that are familiar with this know that it ends being more of a "senior crawl" for most of the students.  We avoided the busiest part of town and had dinner up at the North Shore.  Ok, here is a listing that you need to see.  I'd be willing to bet that you can't find easier financing terms to own a beautiful piece of land in the U.P.  Check out the listing here.  Have a great weekend!
 
April 23rd, 2009.  Today was another productive day in real estate.  I showed a couple of houses to a buyer in the afternoon, and she really liked one of the two.  After that I entered in some new listings.  After work tonight, I showed a very nice house in Hancock, and we ended up writing an offer.  We'll have to wait for the seller's response.  Here is a very nice new piece of land in Portage Towship, Houghton County.  This property really has it all.  The weather was warm today!  We've pretty much already lost the snow that we received a few days ago.  Have a good Friday!
 
April 22nd, 2009.  Things warmed up a bit today, and are supposed to warm up even more tomorrow.  Today I listed a 22 acre parcel in Portage township, and I have many more listings on the way.  Here is the Superior Woodworks business in Mohawk.  There are already buyers interested in the place, so hopefully this listing well sell quickly.  Tonight we picked up dinner to go from Gino's, and played cards with some friends.  I'm looking forward to a busy day tomorrow.  Have a nice day!
 
 April 21st, 2009.  Bad, bad weather.  Many cancellations and closings, as the roads piled up with several inches of dangerous slush.  We closed on the Larson Road 40 acre parcel this morning.  After that, I entered in the listing for the 'Superior Woodworks' business in Mohawk.  I also entered a listing of a nice parcel of land near Nisula.  I'll feature the listings once the website catches up to them.  I can't wait for better weather.  Take Care!
 
April 20th, 2009.  Monday was busy as usual.  I'm working with a couple of buyers on some vacant land parcels.  In the afternoon, I went up to Mohawk and listed "Superior Woodworks", a very successful local business.  I'm very excited to market this opportunity.  I'll detail the listing on here soon.  The other discussion of the day was our ample snowfall.  If you get a chance, check out the local webcams.  It is still coming down, and isn't supposed to stop for at least another day or so.  The quick change in weather is part of the price we pay for living up here.  It is still hard to get used to 70+ degrees a couple days ago, to shoveling snow today.  It is supposed to warm back up later in the week.  Have a wonderful day!
 
April 19th, 2009.  I kind of figured that our pleasant weather wouldn't last.  I drove home tonight watching the snow accumulate.  I think it may be warming back up later this week.  Sunday I showed a couple of high end properties.  I feel bad that the weather was so bad, but I guess I can't control that.  After that, I traveled around with my buddy Ross to check on his camp, and some other random properties.  Tonight I had a delicious venison dinner, which really hit the spot after being wet and cold all day.  Have a great week!
 
April 17th, 2009.  Today it was over 70 degrees!  What a beautiful day.  Earlier in the day, I went and walked the US 41 property that a partner and I recently purchased.  After that, I went to the cabin to check things out.  I'm ready to get back to work on it.  I don't have too much left to do.  I jumped a grouse and a snowshoe hare while walking my property.  Shortly after lunch, I was back in the office for the remainder of the day, still trying to get a couple more deals together that we are still negotiating.  The weather is supposed to cool off this weekend, but I hope it is still relatively nice.  Enjoy your weekend!
 
April 16th, 2009.  Thursday was a day of negotiations.  We have a counter offer on the Lake Superior property, so I'm still working on getting that together.  Later in the day, I wrote an offer on the house in Hancock that I showed last night.  We expect a response from the seller tomorrow.  The weather today was beautiful!  Temps in the high 60's are making the snow melt fast.  Tomorrow is supposed to be even warmer.  Be sure to check the wildlife cam from time to time.  I've been noticing some turkeys on there almost everyday lately.  Have a great Friday!
 
April 15th, 2009.  Tax day is here and gone, I can't wait until next year.  Today we got the snow tires off of Melissa's car, and replaced them with the summer tires.  I finally got the signatures back for my purchase agreement on this Lake Superior property.  Now we just have to see if we can get the deal together.  I showed a couple of houses in Hancock tonight, and I think we are going to be writing an offer on one tomorrow.  After a long day, we had friends over for Ambassador pizza and games.  There is a new poll question for you to vote on.  Have a great day!
 
April 14th, 2009.  Are you ready for tax day?  I guess I am.  Today I wrote an offer on this lot in Houghton.  The deal has already been accepted, so congrats to everybody involved.  I have some other deals in the works, which is great.  Things are really starting to get busy.  Later in the day I went and looked at a potential new listing that I'm excited about.  I have some showings tomorrow, and I'm excited to see what the day will bring.  Warm weather seems to bring the buyers out.  Take Care!
 
April 13th, 2009.  It was a busy Monday.  I wrote an offer on this large waterfront parcel in Chassell township.  Hopefully we'll come to an agreement.  The phone was busy all day.  I'm also going to look at a potential listing tomorrow.  We're really enjoying the mild temperatures.  Anyhow, back to finishing up taxes.  Have a nice day!
 
April 12th, 2009.  I hope that everybody had a great Easter.  I showed several houses on Saturday.  Saturday night, Melissa and I went out to dinner with a couple of friends down at Henry's Never Inn in Rockland.  We had a good dinner, and a great time.  Sunday was spent with her family.  Needless to say, I ate very well this weekend.  As far as real estate, here is a waterfront lot on Rice Lake that just had a price reduction.  Also here is my new listing on Portage Lake.  This is a PRIME waterfront lot, and is priced less than what it sold for a few years ago!  This is going to be a great buy for somebody.  Well, back to work for most of us, I hope you have your taxes ready because the 15th is approaching!
 
April 10th, 2009.  I hope everybody enjoyed good Friday.  Most offices were closed today, but I ended up working there for quite awhile.  I may be writing an offer soon on my lot on Donmar Street.  I was also setting up several showings for this weekend.  I wanted to feature the new listing on Portage Lake, but my MLS link is currently down.  I've e-mailed my 'web guy', so hopefully it will be back up and running soon.  The weather is supposed to warm up a bit here this weekend, so I'm looking forward to that!
 
April 9th, 2009.  It was a great day.  I met a buyer from Wisconsin to show him my 10 acre listing on Pelkie Road.  We walked the property, and ended up going back to the office to write an offer.  The offer has already been accepted, so congrats to all involved.  After that, I reduced the price on a listing, and also listed a new parcel on Portage Lake that I'll feature on here tomorrow.  It is always exciting to list something on Portage Lake.  Have a GOOD FRIDAY!
 
April 8th, 2009.  Today was a fun day.  I got the listing agreement signed on a fantastic waterfront parcel on Portage Lake.  During the afternoon, I was up in the northern Keweenaw checking out several properties.  Melissa and I had fun tonight visiting some friends.  I'm excited about a showing that I have tomorrow.  Have a great day!
 
April 7th, 2009.  Today I officially got the deal together on my rental house listing in Houghton.  Later on, I drove down to Chassell Township to take additional pics of a waterfront parcel for a buyer.  After closing the office, I showed a house in Portage Township.  It is nice to be busy.  There is a new poll question for you to vote on.  Take Care!
 
April 6th, 2009.  It was a cold, breezy Monday.  I'm still working on getting a deal together on a rental house I have listed in Houghton.  Later on, I ended up showing a commercial listing up in Calumet.  Here is a new price reduction for you.  This may be in the most inexpensive waterfront lot you will find, especially for how nice it is.  This would make a great investment.  Right now I'm watching the Tigers and the Spartans, and it isn't looking good for either team.  Oh well.  Talk to you tomorrow.
 
April 5th, 2009.  It was a busy weekend.  Saturday I showed several houses.  We still have another one to look at this week.  One of the houses we looked at had a major problem.  Something must have recently happened, and their totally finished basement had over 6 inches of standing water everywhere!  I've informed the listing agent.  After the showings, my friend Ross and I went out to check on the camp.  There were some deer tracks, so they must be starting to come out of the yarding areas.  Saturday night I was excited to see the Michigan State Spartans advance to the championship game on Monday night.  Sunday I went predator hunting around the Jacobsville area.  The deer are having a hard enough time making it through this winter, especially with our extremely high predator population.  I had some excitement, which I detailed in the hunting journal.  I'm ready for another week of real estate.  Take Care!
 
 
April 3rd, 2009.  I sure love waking up and looking out my window to see open water on the canal.  This morning I showed a new commercial listing up near Calumet.  I went very well, I'll be surprised if we don't write an offer.  I have a couple of major price reductions that I mentioned yesterday.  We reduced this price on this private waterfront listing outside of Houghton.  The price was also reduced on this large, vacant waterfront parcel.  This building site is gorgeous, and a great value at that price.  Anyhow, we had dinner at the Ambassador tonight, and I'm looking forward to several residential showings this weekend.  Have yourself a great weekend!
 
April 2nd, 2009.  This morning we made a counter-offer on the potential rental home sale in Houghton.  Student rentals are in strong demand right now, as Michigan Tech had great enrollment this year, with limited housing options.  I also was able to make some pretty significant price reductions on a listing that I'll be able to feature on here tomorrow.  Other than that, I'm stillll trying to wrap up my taxes for the year.  I did see a very welcome sight on the way home tonight.  As I was crossing the bridge, I saw open water in the Portage Canal, which is a beautiful sight.  Take Care!
 
April 1st, 2009.  April is here!  Did you get pranked on April fool's day?  I played many, many tricks on my co-workers today.  It was a lot of fun.  The highlight of the day was telling the owner of State Wide that he needed to call Mr. Lyon.  The number I gave him was for the Detroit Zoo.  By the time he got to the operator at the zoo, they were laughing pretty hard at him.  I received an offer today on a residential listing in Houghton.  I'm pretty confident we'll get it together.  Tonight we had a great time as we went out to dinner with a couple of new friends.  Have a great day!
 
March 31st, 2009.  March is gone!  I'm happy to be moving into April.  As we approach spring, not only does the weather get better, but business picks up as well.  Oddly, I'm still getting more inquiries on the high-end parcels than I am on the inexpensive properties.  Keep your eyes open for April Fool's day pranks!
 
March 30th, 2009.  I had quite a few calls and e-mails today.  Lots of questions from buyers, and hopefully showings will follow.  I'm getting close to writing an offer with a buyer on this large waterfront parcel on Lake Superior.  By the way, it kind of cracks me up when I see ads in the paper from buyers who are looking to buy property, but 'no realtors'.  I know some people have this idea that they can get a better deal if they pursue 'for sale by owners', but I don't think that is usually a better option.  Many buyers I've talked to said that most of the 'for sale by owners' that they contacted were not very good values.  The point is, I have a few different investors who buy and sell all of their property through me, and it is all done through the MLS. They have made VERY good money doing so.  The MLS is a great tool, and you can find great buys working with professionals.  Take Care! 
 
March 29th, 2009.  I hope you enjoyed your weekend.  Saturday I talked to a prospective buyer on this 240 acre listing near Ewen.  I hope it sells.  Later, Melissa and I went down to the cabin to check on things.  The road was very soft, so we walked in from a distance.  Everything was great, but there is still plenty of snow out there, and lots of critter tracks.  I'm excited to finish up the final details this spring.  Saturday I went to the NRA banquet.  It is always a great dinner, and I usually don't win any raffle prizes, but it was a great time.  Sunday was a great day for sports here in Michigan.  Michigan State basketball advanced to the final four, the Pistons won, and the Tigers won.  There is a new poll question for you to vote on.  I'm ready for another great week!
 
March 27th, 2009.  Friday is here and gone.  Tomorrow there is showing on that big log home that I recently listed in Covington.  Today I also received a call on this waterfront home near Copper Harbor.  I can't believe nobody has bought this house yet!  You can't find a better deal on a great home near Copper Harbor.  Enjoy your weekend!
 
March 26th, 2009.  I got a deal together today.  Last week I wrote an offer with a buyer on my Lake Annie Road listing.  It took awhile, but today the deal is official, so congrats to all involved.  I did get three other property inquiries today, so things are picking up a bit.  This week has flown by.  We'll see what tomorrow brings.  Have a great day!
 
March 25th, 2009.  Today was spent in the office.  The phones have been pretty quiet this week.  It is not all bad, as I always have things to catch up on.  Our mild weather is supposed to be leaving us.  It is supposed to be cold and snowy for several days now.  Summer still seems like a long ways away.  Have a terrific Thursday!
 
March 24th, 2009.  Today was kind of uneventful.  I went to the office for awhile to work on an upcoming closing.  After that, I came home to continue working on taxes.  There is a new poll question to vote on if you haven't seen it already.  Last night it rained through the night, but it didn't really seem to decrease the snow, it just made it icy.  I'm ready for April.  I guess I'll go back to watching the presidential address.  Take Care!
 
March 23rd, 2009.  I hope everybody survived Monday.  Today I went to estimate the value of a stand of red pine owned by a local church.  Other than that, the word of the day was taxes.  I worked on them all day, and I still have a long ways to go.  It is never enjoyable.  Have a great day!
 
March 22nd, 2009.  Another week here and gone.  It seems like the days are flying by.  I'm ready for another week of real estate.  I get phone calls every week from people wondering how we are surviving in this economy.  Meanwhile, we just keep selling properties.  Some people never seem to grasp how our economy in the U.P. isn't greatly affected by what is going on in the rest of the country.  When the real estate market was booming in the rest of the country, we were still slow and steady.  Now when the market is down in most of the country, we're still slow and steady.  I'm glad I have done most of my investing in land rather than the stock market.  What do I have to show for the money I lost in the stock market?  Not much.  However, my land investments are turning out great.  Even if property values were to go down, I'd still have some wonderful U.P. property to enjoy and cherish, unlike lost money in the stock market.  Maybe you should consider investing in land?  There are some solid buys out there, and I'd be glad to tell you what I think.  Call or e-mail anytime.
 
March 20th, 2009.  I hope you all had a great week.  It was relatively warm today, but now it is snowing.  I'm looking forward to a long weekend of working on my taxes.  I better not watch too much college basketball, or else I'll be distracted.  Have a great weekend, and I'll talk to you Sunday night.
 
March 19th, 2009.  This morning I was out on sign patrol.  I made some rounds, taking down signs from properties I sold, and some for other agents.  I was down in Jacobsville, where you'll always see a lot of deer this time of year.  I also saw a huge coyote, I actually did a double take to make sure that he wasn't a wolf.  Later I got my new phone activated, a blackberry curve.  This is my first 'high tech' phone, so I still have to learn all of the features.  Is it Friday already?
 
March 18th, 2009.  Today was a windy, sunny day.  I'm still working on getting the deal together for the Lake Annie Road property.  Buyer inquiries are starting to increase, as I had a couple more today.  One of them seems really serious about one of my land contract properties.  Last night when I was driving back from Nisula, I noticed that some of the snow had melted off some of the fields.  There looked to be hundreds of deer taking advantage of the exposed vegetation.  It was really good to see, as I'm really worried about the deer making it through this winter.  Hopefully this early warm spell will help our herd.  Have a great day!
 
March 17th, 2009.  Happy St. Patrick's day!  Today was a busy day for me, I didn't get home from work until 9 pm.  This morning, the sellers accepted one of the offers on the Larson road 40.  The unsuccessful buyer was very upset with me that he did not get the property.  I really feel bad, but in a multiple offer scenario, one party is going to be disappointed.  Yesterday, I advised both parties to make their best offer, and I would submit them both to the seller, and then let the seller choose.  Obviously one offer was better than the other, and I thought that would be a fair way to do it.  Anyhow, congrats to the successful buyers.  After all of that, I went and showed my 12 acre listing on Lake Annie road.  I snowshoed the entire perimeter with the buyer, giving him a better idea of the boundaries.  We saw a grouse and a snowshoe hare, which is always fun.  We then went back to the office, and he wrote an offer.  I already have a counter offer, so we'll see what happens tomorrow.  After that, I took a buyer down to Nisula took look at a nice building site.  He really likes it, but needs to get his financing figured out.  Overall, it was a long and productive day.  We'll see what tomorrow brings.  Take Care!
 
March 16th, 2009.  The week is off to an interesting start.  The weather was unbelievable today, topping out at 64 degrees!  It sure was nice.  The Larson road 40 consumed my entire day, even forcing me to cancel a showing.  I ended up with two different offers at the same time.  This is always good for a seller, while stressful for everybody else.  No matter what, one of the buyers will be very disappointed.  The sellers will accept one of the offers by tomorrow.  I'm anxious to get the deal wrapped up.  Have a nice day!
 
March 15th, 2009.  It is starting to feel like spring!  I know we'll still get some winter storms yet, but it sure felt nice to be in some warmer weather.  If you are a snowmobiler, don't worry, we still have plenty.  We ended up staying in Green Bay until Sunday, and had a great time.  My vision is now 20/20, and I couldn't be happier.  I'm looking forward to a very productive week in real estate.  There is a new poll question for you to vote on.  Have a good Monday!
 
March 13th, 2009.  This morning I wrote an offer on the 40 acre parcel that I listed on Monday.  We have a counter offer, and I'm going to have to roll up my sleeves to get this deal together.  Right now I'm typing this from the Cambria Suites in Green Bay.  Tomorrow is my final follow-up appointment for my eye surgery.  My eyes have healed wonderfully, and I'm very happy.  We have a couple of friends who will be arriving here shortly, to go to dinner and do some shopping together.  Green Bay is packed right now, since they are having their 'fan fest'.  Have a fun weekend!
 
March 12th, 2009.  I hope everybody had a great day.  Inquiries from buyers seem to increase as the temperature does.  Tomorrow morning I'm supposed to be writing an offer on one of my listings, so I'm looking forward to that.  It is getting to the point where I'd like to have some more residential listings, so if you or someone you know is thinking about selling, please have them get in touch with me.  Right now I'm watching a very exciting Red Wing's game.  We'll see how it turns out.  Enjoy your Friday!
 
March 11th, 2009.  I'm not the type that likes to talk about the weather everyday, but it was really, really nasty.  Super high winds woke me up several times last night.  However, the storm has passed, and I think we're in for a mild weekend.  I thought I was going to be writing an offer on my Donmar Street lot tonight, but I guess not yet.  It sure is a good price.  Not much else to report, talk to you tomorrow. 
 
March 10th, 2009.  The winter storm has started.  As I am typing this, there are frozen snow pellets accumulating.  The roads may be treacherous tonight.  I was supposed to be writing an offer on a house today, but the buyer decided that he better wait until his house sells for sure, which is probably a good move.  As I mentioned yesterday, I listed a great 40 acre parcel close to Houghton.  This property really has it all, check it out here.  Have a great day and drive safe!
 
March 9th, 2009.  The week is off to a good start.  We had nice weather today, which I guess we better enjoy since a winter storm is coming.  I finally got the paperwork back today for a 40 acre listing just outside of Houghton.  I'll have the details on here soon, it will be a great property for somebody to own.  There is a new 'poll question', so be sure to check it out.  Have a great week!
 
March 8th, 2009.  I hope everybody had a great weekend.  Saturday I showed a lot that I own in Tamarack City.  It is a very nice lot, and the showing went very well.  I hope it sells.  Saturday night we went to the GLIAC girl's basketball finals, where unfortunately Michigan Tech lost to Hillsdale.  Hillsdale played very well and deserved the win.  Sunday night I went and played basketball in Dollar Bay.  I had fun, but I certainly don't have the energy that I had back in high school.  This year I'm going to turn the big 3-0.  But my life is just beginning, right?
 
March 6th, 2009.  It was a busy day.  I had lots and lots of phone calls today from potential buyers.  I can tell that it is going to be a great spring.  I showed a house east of Lake Linden today, and it went very well.  We may be writing an offer on Monday.  I have received some nice e-mails this week from some of you that enjoy the website.  I just wanted to say thanks, and that I really enjoy hearing from those of you that enjoy the site.  Please tell your friends to visit the site!  Have a great weekend!
 
March 5th, 2009.  Another relatively warm day.  My phone rang a lot today, I can tell that spring is coming.  In the afternoon I drove down to L'anse to list a house with big pole buildings and acreage.  My deal on a Hancock house fell apart, so I'm working with the buyer on finding something else.  I'm also looking forward to a showing I have tomorrow.  Enjoy your Friday!
 
March 4th, 2009.  It was a pretty nice day today, as the temps were over 40 degrees for part of the day.  I spent much of the day at work putting together a new desk, to give myself more space.  It ended up being more work than I expected.  We did a counter offer back on the South Range home, now I'm just waiting for the buyer to decide what he wants to do.  I'll be in Baraga county most of the day tomorrow.  Take Care!
 
March 3rd, 2009.  I didn't receive a response to offer yet, but I expect to tomorrow.  You'll notice on the left that there is new link for 'land contract properties'.  I get a lot of people asking for properties with seller financing, so I went ahead and made a link to sort them out for you.  There will hopefully be some additional improvements to that link soon, so hang in there.  Alright, I am exceptionally pleased to introduce a new listing.  If you have been looking for that perfect vacation or retirement home in the U.P., this is it!  Check out this truly special log home on 76 acres, at the end of a dead end road in Baraga county.  After work tonight, we went to the MTU girls basketball game against NMU.  MTU won a tough game, and clinched home court advantage for the GLIAC playoffs, so congrats to them.  Have a great day!
 
March 2nd, 2009.  I thought it was supposed to warm up today?  Oh well.  I entered in my new listing, the log home near Covington.  I should have details on here tomorrow.  I'm also working on listing a great 40 acre parcel not too far from Houghton.  Tonight I went back to the office to meet with the buyer I showed the houses to on Saturday.  We wrote an offer on one of the houses.  I sure hope we get it together.  Take Care!
 
March 1st, 2009.  Hooray for March!  We are sneaking closer to more tolerable temperatures.  It is still below zero as I'm typing this now.  Saturday I showed a few houses, two in South Range and one in Liminga.  It went pretty well, we'll see what happens.  I've got quite a bit going on in real estate this week, and I'm anxious to get some new deals together.  There is a new poll question for you to vote on.  Lets make this new month a great one!
 
February 27th, 2009.  Brrr!  The temperature is currently 15 degrees below zero!  Today I went and checked out a 40 acre parcel that I'm working on listing.  It was really nice.  After work tonight, Melissa and I drove down to Rockland to enjoy the fabulous buffet at Henry's Never Inn.  If you have never tried it, you really need to.  They have it every Friday and Saturday night.  On the way home we stopped and visited some friends for a bit.  I have some showings this weekend.  Talk to you Monday!
 
February 26th, 2009.  The temps are dropping and the snow is falling, but today was a good day.  I went down to L'anse for an appointment to list a 'camp' and 76 acres.  The 'camp' turned out to be a 3600 square foot amazing log home.  I can't wait to show you the pics of this place.  I'm very happy to have this listing.  Have a great Friday!
 
February 25th, 2009.  I hope everybody had a great day.  I'm happy to report that my left eye is starting to come into focus, catching up with my right eye.  It has almost been one month since my surgery, and so far I'm pleased.  By the way, I found a new wildlife cam that is still in operation, so I replaced the one that had shut down.  The new one is located in Pennsylvania.  I'm actually hoping to have a wildlife cam of my own up and running before spring time.  Busy today tomorrow, take care!
 
February 24th, 2009.  Today I went and looked at the rental house I'm listing in Houghton.  I'm pretty sure we already have a buyer for it, so it should be a pretty straight forward deal.  To continue with the price reduction theme, here is a property that has gotten a lot of interest all winter, and now the new price makes it even more interesting!  I'll be surprised if this property lasts through the spring.  Speaking of spring, we've got a long ways to go, but mild days like today give you hope that it is coming.  Take Care!
 
February 23rd, 2009.  Today was pretty busy.  I talked to different people regarding three different potential listings.  I have appointments this week to go check them out.  I also drove down to Baraga to put up a sold sign, and to fix up a few signs that have been taken out by the wind and snow.  I decided to try a new idea to market some properties.  I made a short movie about one of my listings that I uploaded to youtube.  I get thousands of hits on my hunting videos, so I figured maybe I can get some good exposure for some of my listings.  It only takes one buyer to make it worthwhile.  Check out the video here.  Have a great day!
 
February 22nd, 2009.  Another weekend here and gone, I hope you enjoyed yours.  Not much happened here.  I went down to the cabin on Saturday to check things out, the deer have actually left.  I hope they have moved on to a suitable deer wintering area.  Later in the day, I met a buyer to let him into a house for an inspection.  He wants to do a couple more inspections with electricians and plumbers yet this week.  It is important to cover all of your bases during your inspection period, typically 7 days after an accepted offer depending on what you negotiate.  Anyhow, here is another price reduced listing that I currently have.  Another great deal.  Remember to vote on the poll question if you haven't already.  Have a great Monday!
 
February 20th, 2009.  I hope you had a great Friday.  I rode my snowmobile to work today, which makes for a fun commute.  We did officially close on the 80 acre Jacobsville deal, so congrats to all involved.  To continue with the price reduction theme, I havc another property you have to see.  This property is a great deal!  Especially with a land contract available, you won't find an easier way to own some great U.P. property.  See the listing here.  Feel free to call or e-mail me any additional questions about the property.  Have a great weekend!
 
February 19th, 2009.  Today was a productive day.  I got caught up on a long list of things I needed to do.  I'm hoping to receive an offer on my residential listing in Sylvan Estates.  Here in the keweenaw, we really can't complain with the local real estate market.  We are all staying busy, and homes and properties are still moving steady.  However, I have lofty goals for this year's real estate production, so today I started my own 'real estate stimulus package'.  I reduced the prices on several of my listings today, making for some fantastic deals on many properties that you may have already been watching.  Here is one of the properties with a new price.  You'll see several more good deals over the next few days.  Tonight I also made some improvements to the site that you'll notice as you navigate around.  Have a great Friday!
 
February 18th, 2009.  We made it home.  It was really windy and a little bit snowy, but I've definitely driven through worse.  I'm excited to get back to work.  I've got some real estate deals in the works.  Tomorrow we're also finalizing the deal on an 80 acre parcel near Jacobsville.  Have a good Thursday!
 
February 17th, 2009.  Greetings from Green Bay Wisconsin!  Today started off as kind of a sad day as I realized it would have been my dad's birthday.  Melissa had to work until about 2:30, and then we hit the road to Green Bay.  The roads were great all the way, but we're supposed to get some winter weather tomorrow.  We did a little shopping at Kohl's, and have a beautiful room at the Cambria Suites.  We had dinner at the texas roadhouse, and it was wonderful!  I really, really liked it.  Tomorrow morning I have a follow up appointment with my Lasik doctor.  Right now my right eye is almost perfect, and my left eye is a bit blurry, but I'm still healing ahead of schedule.  Also, the offer I wrote on the Hancock house last night was accepted today, so congrats to Zach.  Have a great day!
 
February 16th, 2009.  Back to work.  Today I wrote an offer on a house in Hancock that I had shown last week.  I'm confident we'll be able to come to an agreement.  I need pics for 'pic of the day'.  I'm sure you have some cool pics on your computer, so e-mail me some at josh@statewideofhoughton.com
We're halfway through February!
 
February 15th, 2009.  We had a fun weekend, I hope you did as well.  Saturday night we went out to dinner at the Ambassador with a group of friends.  If you like pizza, you have to try their tostada pizza, it is very good.  Sunday we visited the in-laws for awhile, and then went to a 40th birthday party for a friend of ours.  There is a new poll question for you to vote on.  Have a good week and stay warm!
 
February 13th, 2009.  Hooray for Friday!  After closing the office today, I had a showing on a house in Houghton, and a house up in Boston location.  We'll see what happens.  I think that this is going to be a great year for residential real estate, and I want to make a big dent in the residential market this year.  If you have a house to sell, I'm anxious to sell it for you.  If you want to buy a house, I'm anxious to show some to you.  Vacant land is my specialty, but I never get tired of selling houses.  Here is the new 156 acre parcel in Ontonagon county.  We had some gift certificates that were set to expire in February, so tonight we used them up at Applebees.  It was really busy in there tonight.  Lots of snowmobilers have rolled into Houghton for the weekend.  Happy Valentine's Day!
 
February 12th, 2009.  I picked up my truck from the shop today.  I had some warranty work done to replace a wheel bearing, and decided to have my transmission fluid changed while it was there.  This afternoon, I had a showing on a house in Hancock.  We are going to look at two more houses tomorrow afternoon.  Melissa has been working a lot lately, so I decided to make her dinner tonight.  This is a big deal because I NEVER cook.  I'm so happy that dinner turned out great!  It was a beef burgundy recipe that I found online, and it was so easy even I could do it.  Here is the recipe if you want to try it.  Have a great Friday!
 
February 11th, 2009.  Another nice, mild day.  I listed a 156 acre parcel in Ontonagon county, near Mass City.  It is fantastic, it has a creek, year round access, and utilities, I'll have details tomorrow.  We've been having some difficulties with e-mail this week, as we're switching to a new hosting service.  If you have e-mailed me recently, and haven't gotten a reply, please e-mail me at josh@statewideofhoughton.com.  I hope you are having a great week!
 
February 10th, 2009.  Today was unseasonable warm.  We were in the mid-40's, and snow was melting fast making several large puddles on the roads.  It was still a nice break from the cold stuff.  This winter still has a long way to go.  Today I did some planning of a timber harvest that I hope to manage early this summer.  My vision is blurry, but that is to be expected for another month or so.  Please e-mail me some pics for pic of the day to josh@swoh.us!  Thanks!
 
February 9th, 2009.  It was a beautiful day.  Even though spring is a long time away, you can't help but think about it.  Today I worked on writing an offer on my lot on Donmar Street, but we didn't write the offer yet.  Hopefully tomorrow.  Later on I met up with a buyer of mine to look at an 80 acre parcel in southern Houghton county.  Since I was down that way, I checked on the cabin, I sure love that place.  Take Care!
 
February 8th, 2009.  We had beautiful weather this weekend, and it seems that winter carnival was a huge success.  We were able to watch the fireworks Saturday night from our house.  I have some real estate deals in the works, I'm actually hoping to write two different purchase agreements on Monday.  Sunday was a long day for me.  I shoveled off the roof of our house, and the roof over the back storage building.  We received some rain, so the snow was very heavy and hard to move.  I know I'll sleep good tonight.  Have a great Monday!
 
February 6th, 2009.  Houghton was absolutely packed today with winter carnival in full swing.  I couldn't even find a parking spot going to work.  I had a closing today on a house in Centennial Heights, congrats to Roger.  We were crunching some numbers today, and our office was up 20% in sales in comparison to 2007.  State Wide of Houghton was the top selling single office in our MLS.  I have a feeling that this year will be even better.  Tonight Melissa and I went out to dinner with some of her co-workers at Carmelita's in Calumet.  It was very busy, but we had a great time.  Have a fantastic weekend!
 
February 5th, 2009.  Today was a beautiful day.  The temps warmed up a bit, and the sun was out most of the day.  It actually felt good to get out and shovel some snow after being trapped inside for so long.  My eyes are still blurry, but pretty much pain free.  I finally went to the office today, getting things ready for a closing that I have tomorrow.  If you have any nice pics, please e-mail them to me at josh@swoh.us.  It has been hard for me to get out and take pics lately.  Winter carnival is off and running, and should continue to have good weather.  Have a fantastic Friday!
 
February 4th, 2009.  Today we made the 4 hour trip to Green Bay for my eye appointment.  The appointment went great!  My vision is way ahead of schedule for the healing process, and I'm so glad to have those contacts out!  My eyes are virtually pain free now.  Now my vision should continually get clearer over the next few weeks.  I'm excited to get back to work on Friday.  By the way, tonight is the 'all nighter' for winter carnival, where the students are working overtime on their ice sculptures.  I felt bad for them as we drove by, the temperature is currently 0 degrees.  They appear to be having fun anyhow.  If you have never been to a winter carnival, you need to put it on your list of things to do.  Have a great day!
 
February 3rd, 2009.  Another boring day stuck at home.  My eyes feel about the same as yesterday, with a little less sensitivity to light.  In comparison to other people's experiences I've read online, I'm healing very well.  Tomorrow we head to Green Bay to get these temporary 'contacts' out of my eyes.  That moment can't come soon enough.  I'm continuing to get inquiries from real estate buyers and have kept somewhat busy e-mailing info.  There is a new poll question for you to vote on, so please check it out.  Take Care!
 
February 2nd, 2009.  I really really hate lying around all day.  I still can't do much, so I rest my eyes and listen to TV.  I am able to work on the computer for limited amounts of time, so I was able to answer some property questions and feel useful.  My eyes felt much less irritated today, but my vision is getting blurrier.  My eyes are supposed to actually get blurrier for another week or so, then will improve.  At this point, I'm happy just to have the pain subsiding.  I've been reading other people's PRK experiences online, and they are all very similar.  Somewhat long recovery, but eventually great results.  We really got some serious snow today.  I can't really handle the outside brightness yet, so Melissa had to do a lot of shoveling.  I'm glad I married a yooper gal, they are much tougher than your average girl.  Any of you that watched the Super Bowl saw a very good game.  Now the hoopla is over until next year.  Stay warm!
 
February 1st, 2009.  Well, I'm back.  It has been quite an experience so far after surgery.  I was hoping to get standard LASIK eye surgery, but because of my thin cornea and bad prescription, I had to get PRK surgery.  It is the same as LASIK, except that they remove the cornea, rather than bending it back on a hinge.  The long term results are actually better than LASIK, but it has a longer recovery time.  Right now I'm wearing a very uncomfortable, clear contact lens to protect my eye as the cornea grows back.  I'm scheduled to get it removed on Wednesday, which can't come soon enough.  By the way, forgive me if I have any typos as my vision is still kind of blurry.  Anyhow, the actual surgery itself was painless, the real pain starts after you leave and the numbing drops wear off.  The first night was horrendous, but by the next morning my eyes felt much better.  It could take up to a month before I'm fully functional, and up to 3 months for your vision to be perfect.  I'm attaching a link for a video that shows the same procedure that I had.  It is not for the squeamish, so watch this clip at your own risk.  Since my eyes are more comfortable closed, this will be my first time 'listening' to the Super Bowl.  Have a great week!
 
January 29th, 2009.  Greetings from frigid Green Bay!  We had a good drive down here.  We had a great dinner tonight at a steakhouse called Prime Quarters, and I'm ready for Lasik eye surgery tomorrow.  Wish me luck!
 
January 28th, 2009.  I got the flat tire repaired today.  The culprit was a small nail.  I have no idea where it may have came from.  I sent out a purchase agreement today on this nice Ontonagon county property.  I'm still waiting to receive the signatures.  I had many, many inquiries on the property all throughout the fall.  Hopefully we'll get an accepted offer.  Take Care!
 
January 27th, 2009.  Another beautiful, frigid day.  After work, Melissa and I were on our way to the cabin when we got a flat tire!  We just put new snow tires on it at the beginning of this month.  I'm guessing I must have ran over a nail or something.  Luckily it went flat right in front of one of our coworker/friend's house, so we pulled in there and I put on the spare.  We ended up grilling burgers there for dinner, and then played with their new Nintendo Wii until about 10:00 pm.  It was really fun.  Off to the tire shop tomorrow to get it fixed before our trip to Green Bay.  Have a nice day!
 
January 26th, 2009.  I hope everyone had a nice Monday.  This morning I had a nice couple from lower Michigan stop in the office to visit me.  They enjoy the website and are considering moving to the U.P.  The temps continue to be very cold.  Today I made some hotel reservations for a trip to Green Bay soon.  I'm planning on getting LASIK eye surgery.  I'll keep you posted on that.  There is a new poll question for you to vote on.  Also, check out the hunting journal for a video from my recent ice fishing trip.  Take Care!
 
January 25th, 2009.  Justin flew back home, and I'm ready to get back to the real world.  We sure had a lot of fun and covered a lot of ground.  Friday we went down to the cabin.  We saw some deer and enjoyed the buffet at Henry's Never Inn in Rockland.  When I get more time this week, I have some more ice fishing pics to post, and a video.  P.S. It is freezing cold!
 
January 22nd, 2009.  Justin and I had a great day.  We went up near Copper Harbor to do some ice fishing.  Him and I used to ice fish together a lot when we were kids.  We ended up catching 3 pike, one was a keeper.  Afterwards, a friend of mine who lives up there cooked us a delicious walleye/perch dinner.  A day spent outside is always a good day in my book.  Take Care!
 
January 21st, 2009.  Hello!  Today I finally got the offer accepted for some Baraga county property I am purchasing.  I ended up having to work in the office most of the afternoon, so my friend Justin went snowboarding again at Mt. Ripley.  Tomorrow we're planning to head north for some ice fishing.  Also, I wanted to explain something about my website.  I've heard some people tell me that sometimes they visit other local real estate sites to try to find some different houses/property.  My site is the ONLY site you need!  EVERY property in our MLS is listed on my website, regardless of what company has it listed, and I can sell any of these properties to you.  Just wanted to clarify in case you've been jumping around trying to find additional properties.  Have a great day!
 
January 20th, 2009.  Today we closed on a 16 acre piece of property near Copper City.  Congrats to Jack and Steve.  After work, Justin and I met my wife up at her parents to do some snow removal.  We shoveled off the house and garage, and needless to say, are exhausted.  We took some pics with her Mom's camera, so hopefully I can post some soon.  The snow on the roof was up to my chest.  I'm sure my back will be feeling it tomorrow.  Take Care!
 
January 19th, 2009.  I was at the office for a little while today, getting myself ready for tomorrow's closing.  Other than that, Justin and I have been out and about.  He had a good time snowboarding at Mt. Ripley tonight, I had to pass on that.  Later on, we had a couple more friends over for pizza and games.  The snow really hasn't stopped.  I really feel bad for the U.P. deer herd this winter. 
 
January 18th, 2009.  I hope that everybody had an enjoyable weekend.  My good friend Justin flew in on Saturday.  We went to the Ambassador for some delicious pizza.  Sunday was kind of a lazy day.  You should notice that there is a new webcam on the home page below the office cam.  We're looking forward to a fun week enjoying the Keweenaw! 
 
January 16th, 2009.  Today is supposed to be the last day of the cold spell.  I received a counter-offer on the property that I made an offer on in Baraga county.  I plan to respond to it on Monday.  I'm excited that my friend Justin is flying in tomorrow to stay with us for a week.  We should have a great time.  By the way, be sure to check out the office cam on Saturday.  They are having a snowboarding demonstration right on our street, and we have the cam set up for your viewing enjoyment.  Have a great weekend, get out and enjoy the beauty of winter!
 
 
January 15th, 2009.  Hopefully there is only a couple more days of this bitter cold stuff.  Today I officially got the deal together on the Centennial Heights house, so congrats to all involved.  With interest rates as low as 4.75%, many people are currently refinancing their homes.  I have an appointment next Tuesday, and I think we'll be refinancing our home.  I've already refinanced several of our land loans.  I also made on offer today to purchase some property in Baraga county, we'll see how it plays out.  Have a good Friday!
 
January 14th, 2009.  It was so cold this morning that Melissa's car wouldn't start.  It started for me with no problem later in the day.  My buyer that looked at the Centennial Heights house yesterday came in and wrote an offer.  We already received a counter-offer, so we'll see what happens tomorrow.  I really can't wait to shake this cold.  Stay warm!
 
January 13th, 2009.  Brrrr!  Our temperature is currently below zero.  I'm still under the weather, but had a showing today.  A buyer that I have worked with before looked at a house in Centennial Heights, which is just north of Calumet.  It went very well, and I'm pretty confident that we'll be writing an offer on it.  After plowing snow, I put a little gas line anti-freeze (heet) in our vehicles tonight.  If you are experiencing the same cold spell, you may want to pick up a bottle, or else you may end up with a car that won't run.  Take Care!
 
January 12th, 2009.  I am sick.  I stayed home today, but kept busy with e-mails and phone calls.  I'm getting plenty of buyer inquiries lately.  Winter is a great time to buy and sell.  I really have a feeling this is going to be a great year for real estate.  I hope to get over this cold soon.  Speaking of cold, the temperatures are supposed to be very frigid this week, so I hope you can stay warm.  Have a great day!
 
January 11th, 2009.  It was a pretty busy weekend.  Saturday I drove up to the northern Keweenaw to show this 80 acre parcel on brockway mountain.  Brockway mountain drive isn't plowed this time of year, so we had to use snowmobiles and snowshoes.  It was an absolutely gorgeous day, and a lot of fun.  The showing went very well.  Afterwards, I stopped at an old friend's place up near Copper Harbor.  He recently fell and cracked some ribs, so I visited with him for awhile, and then put away his christmas stuff and brought in some firewood to help him out.  On the way home I stopped at the in-laws to shovel off their roof.  I got about 1/3 done,  but then I ran out of daylight.  I'll have to get back up there soon.  Sunday afternoon/night we finally had our State Wide Christmas party.  We had a great time, but I really have a cold coming on, and am starting to feel under the weather.  I have a few things to take care of tomorrow, and then I'm going to try to get some rest.  Have a great week!
 
January 9th, 2009.  Today I drove up to beautiful Eagle River to show this spectacular waterfall property.  This was the 2nd showing for these buyers, so they seem to be getting serious.  I brought along snowshoes and a sled, so their little boy really enjoyed getting pulled around be me on the sled.  I was notified that there was a problem with the 'today's new listings' link.  I have fixed the problem, so it is good to go now.  Tonight I loaded up the snowmobile so I'm ready to show property on brockway mountain tomorrow.  It should be a fun day.  Have a fantastic weekend!
 
January 8th, 2009.  I got lots of exercise today.  I did property line work on a 160 acre parcel down in Jacobsville.  The area is a known deer yard, and I always feel bad scaring so many deer when they need to conserve their energy.  I noticed a couple of different bald eagles today too, probably hoping for some of the deer to give in to the brutal winter.  It took 2 miles of snowshoeing to do all 4 sides of the property.  The snow is still really powdery, so the snowshoes were sinking in pretty deep.  My legs are really feeling it tonight.  Anyhow, I was glad to get the job done.  Tomorrow I'll be out showing properties.  Take Care!
 
January 7th, 2009.  Today was another snowy Keweenaw day.  Melissa and I took her friend Michelle down to the cabin today.  We gave her the grand tour, and did some snowshoeing.  I really love the woods in the winter.  I still had to work in the office in the afternoon, so we got back early.  I rode the snowmobile to work, which is always fun.  We decided to use one of the Applebee's gift certificate that we received for Christmas tonight.  Some of our friends joined us, so we really had a good time.  There is a new poll question for you to vote on.  Take Care!
 
January 6th, 2009.  It felt good to be back in action today.  I have 3 showings scheduled yet this week.  I called a client to set up a closing today, and found out that he lost his mother today.  Our condolences go out to him and his family.  Tonight I accomplished the tiring task of shoveling snow off of the roof.  I'm glad to have it done.  Have a great day!
 
January 5th, 2009.  We're back!  It feels great to be home.  There was a nasty ice storm in lower Michigan, so we ended up leaving one day later than planned.  Today's roads were just fine for the 8 hour drive.  The Keweenaw received lots of snow while we were gone.  I received many real estate inquiries during the last week.  It always seems that as soon as I leave the office for a week, things get really busy.  I'll be in the office tomorrow getting caught up.  We had a great time visiting my family and friends.  It seems that the older I get, the faster the years are going by.  Have a great week!
 
January 1st, 2009.  Happy New Year!  I can't believe it is 2009 already.  We're still in lower Michigan visiting family.  I'm already looking forward to getting back to the great white north.  Everybody in lower Michigan couldn't wait to show us how much snow they got.  Needless to say it is hard to impress Keweenaw people with snowfall.  What they call a winter storm is what we get by lunch time.  I hope everyone had a safe holiday season, and we're all looking forward to a great 2009. 
 
December 29th, 2008.  We're on the road!  I finished up some things at the office, and we are now in Marquette.  We had a little shopping to do, so we thought we'd get a head start tonight.  Tomorrow we'll end up in lower Michigan with my family.  The MLS statistics are about over for the year, and it looks like I was the #1 closing agent for land in the entire U.P.!  I want to say a special thank you to all of you who I have done business with.  I really am blessed to be doing what I love up here.  Have a great week!
 
December 28th, 2008.  I hope everybody enjoyed their holiday weekend.  I'd like to say happy birthday to my mother who turns an undisclosed age today.  Today we took down many of the christmas decorations, including the tree.  Its amazing how fast it comes and goes.  We're still getting ready to head downstate and visit my family.  Tomorrow I have lots of work to get wrapped up before we go.  I got my snowmobile back from the shop, it had water in the gas.  There is a new poll question for you to vote on.  Have a great week!
 
December 26th, 2008.  I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!  Melissa actually had to work until about 2:00, and then she drove up to her parents.  I thought it would be fun to ride my snowmobile up there.  What a great Christmas ride!  I met the trail groomer early on, and after that I never saw another snowmobile.  It was a beautiful day with smooth trails.  Christmas went great, then we spent the night up there.  Today on the way back, my snowmobile died on me.  I managed to get it going again, and made it into Calumet where it died again.  I ended up calling my father in law who brought the snowmobile trailer so I could drop it off at the shop.  Today we officially got the deal accepted on the Jacobsville 80 acre parcel, so congrats to the buyers and sellers!  Have a great weekend!
 
December 24th, 2008.  Merry Christmas!  I did manage to squeeze in some real estate today.  I wrote an offer on an 80 acre parcel near Jacobsville.  After that, I went to Wal-Mart for a little last second shopping.  It seems that many other people had the same idea...it was a madhouse in there.  We went up to Melissa's parents the rest of the night.  We had lots of snacks and watched 'The Christmas Story'.  Ho.....ho.....ho.  ;)  Have a wonderful Christmas!
 
December 23rd, 2008.  Another day, another Christmas party.  Today Melissa and I signed the closing paperwork for our highway property.  After work, we drove up to Copper Harbor to the Tamarack Inn, a great place to eat.  They throw a private Christmas party every year for some of the local friends.  We had fantastic prime rib.  The drive back was a little slow, since we are trying to drive carefully on the winter roads.  If you have family traveling for Christmas, I hope that their travels are going smooth.  Take Care!
 
December 22nd, 2008.  I hope everybody had a great day.  I was happy to get my truck back today.  I went to the office and finalized the paperwork for the closing on the highway property that I own.  Tonight my wife and I went to dinner with some friends at the Pilgrim River Steakhouse.  After dinner, they came over and played games with us.  We had a lot of fun.  Have a great day!
 
December 21st, 2008.  I hope you had a great weekend.  I know that lots of people were out finishing up holiday shopping.  Melissa and I went down to the cabin on Saturday.  We are still seeing lots of deer.  I believe that almost all of the bucks have already dropped their antlers, preparing for another brutal winter.  Lots of lookers in real estate right now.  Interest rates are getting very low.  I'm sure most of you have a short week at work, so hang in there!
 
December 19th, 2008.  It's Friday!  I had another enjoyable day of using my snowmobile as my primary means of transportation.  Happy birthday to my great grandmother Mabelle Preston who turned 100 today!  She is an amazing lady.  Don't forget to vote on the poll question if you haven't already.  Have a fantastic weekend!
 
December 18th, 2008.  Today I closed on a 13 acre parcel near Copper City.  Congrats Jack!  My truck isn't running right, so I had to tow it to the mechanic.  Luckily I have my snowmobile to get me back and forth to work.  Tonight my wife and I had a great pizza at the Ambassador.  Have a great Friday!
 
December 17th, 2008.  Cold temps meant nasty roads today, as we heard about many car accidents.  It seems it takes people a month or so to remember how to drive in the winter.  In fact, as I type this at 10:30 pm, I just returned from pulling out a co-worker who was stuck.  Tonight I spoke in length with a buyer regarding this large waterfront parcel in Houghton county.  Hopefully things will continue to progress on this good buy.  Have a great day!
 
December 16th, 2008.  The low temperatures made part of my day difficult.  My wife's car wouldn't start this morning, so she had to take my truck.  I decided to take the snowmobile to work, but ended up having to change the spark plugs to get that going.  With a little isopropyl and jumper cables, I managed to get her car going when I got back home.  Here is a 40 acre parcel near Pelkie, and another one just a mile away.  Nice hunting properties.  We're looking forward to slightly warmer temperatures.  Take Care!
 
December 15th, 2008.  Blizzard!  Schools and most businesses were closed today.  You know it is a snowy day when you have to dig yourself out to go to work, and then dig yourself back in to get home.  There is new pic on the buck pole.  There is also a new poll question.  Tonight all I'm worried about is staying warm and watching Monday Night Football.  Have a great day!
 
December 14th, 2008.  We sure are having goofy weather.  First it was blowing and snowing all day, and then tonight it turned to rain and 36 degrees.  The power went out in all of Houghton tonight for awhile.  I went down to the cabin to enjoy the last weekend of muzzleloader season.  Today's hunting journal might be my last for the year.  My grandpa got a buck in lower Michigan tonight, so I'm very excited for him.  He takes his hunting seriously.  Anyhow, it is supposed to get very cold later tonight, so all of this rain will freeze I'm sure.  Should be interesting roads in the morning.  I need some pics for pic of the day....so send me some! 
 
December 12th, 2008.  Brrr!  The temps are single digits.  We have a full moon tonight, it sure is beautiful.  This morning I had a closing on a waterfront lot down near Bootjack.  Congrats to Paul!  In the afternoon, I entered two new listings, 40 acre parcels near Pelkie.  Tonight Melissa and I went to another Christmas party with many of her co-workers.  We had a lot of fun, but couldn't stay too late.  I'm looking forward to toughing out the cold and doing some muzzleloader hunting this weekend.  Have a fantastic weekend!
 
December 11th, 2008.  More and more snow.  I heard a report today that we've already received over 60 inches of snow this winter.  Today I had a showing on this 80 acre parcel near Jacobsville.  We snowshoed about half of the property.  It was very tough going as the snow is still so soft and powdery.  The showing went very well.  We had a bald eagle circling us several times during the day, he seemed to be following us around.  I don't expect this property to last long.  They expect to make a final decision sometime later next week.  I'm looking forward to a closing tomorrow morning.  Also, sorry the video didn't work on the hunting journal.  Youtube was very slow, but it is working now, so check it out.  Have a great Friday!
 
December 10th, 2008.  The cold and snow continues as winter is off to a quick start.  I went hunting in the morning, then headed back to the office for the rest of the afternoon.  I have a closing on Friday, so I had to get all the closing paperwork finalized.  Tonight we went to the women's Michigan Tech basketball game versus Finlandia.  Tech dominated Finlania in every aspect of the game.  The radio said that Tech is ranked 14th in the nation right now.  When we purchased our tickets, we noticed on the back that we won a free large pizza at the 'Mine Shaft' in Houghton.  We decided to take advantage of the coupon right after the game.  The pizza was great.  I finally updated the hunting journal tonight with some new video footage, so check it out.  Have a great day!
 
December 9th, 2008.  I hope everybody had a great day.  I heard that lower Michigan got pounded with snow.  By the way, if you are using this site searching for real estate, make sure you are using the 'today's new listings' feature.  I'm quite sure that you won't find that feature on any other website in our MLS.  Today I went muzzleloader hunting, and saw many deer, including 2 bucks.  I'll try to post some footage tomorrow.  There is a new buck on the 'buck pole'.  Take Care!
 
December 8th, 2008.  Another day, another deal.  The buyers from this weekend decided to make an offer on the parcel adjacent to the one they just secured a deal on, and got an accepted offer on that parcel as well.  Now they will have plenty of elbow room.  Tonight Melissa and I had a delicious dinner (ribs) at our sister-in-law's house.  Also, there are two new pics on the buck pole, including one real giant.  Have a great day!
 
December 7th, 2008.  It was a fun and productive weekend.  On Friday, I sold my property that was on Ebay.  I communicated with the buyer, and everything is a go.  On Saturday, I met a wonderful couple from Illinois to look at this property near Copper City.  They were adventurous, and more than willing to hike all of the ridges and valleys through the rapidly accumulating snow.  We went back to the office, wrote an offer, and got it the deal accepted before they went back home, so congrats to them!  That night, my wife and I went to her work Christmas party, and really had a blast.  I'm anxious to get back to work tomorrow.  Have a great week!
 
December 4th, 2008.  Snow, snow, and more snow.  I opened the office this morning.  Came down to the cabin today to check out the deer situation.  The snow is well over their knees now.  I should be able to muzzleload hunt, but I think they'll be migrating out of here soon.  The roads were an absolute white out tonight.  No end of snow in sight!
 
December 3rd, 2008.  It was a beautiful, cold winter day.  Today I wrote a purchase agreement and got the wheels turning for a deal where I'm serving as a transaction coordinator.  We also got a Christmas tree today, and Melissa put up most of the decorations around the house.  I'm looking forward to doing some hunting on Friday, and then Saturday I'll be showing some property in northern Houghton county.  Take Care!
 
December 2nd, 2008.  There are a couple more big bucks to check out on the buck pole!  Many people had some great hunting this so congrats!  There are only a few days left on my ebay property, I encourage you to check out.  You won't find an easier way to own some great property.  LOW downpayment, LOW monthly payments.  Feel free to call me or e-mail me with any questions about it.  Have a great day!
 
December 1st, 2008.  December is here!  I went to the office for awhile today, and then got lots done around the house.  I put away some of my hunting stuff for the year, which is always kind of sad.   I got the plow set up on the ATV, and did some plowing, it is working great.  I surprised my wife by putting Christmas lights out on our house.  I'm usually pretty reluctant to get in the Christmas spirit, so she was very happy.  Be sure to check out the hunting journal if you haven't, I posted 4 new videos.  Have a great week!
 
 
November 30th, 2008.  Rifle season is over!  It actually wasn't bad this year, I saw bucks on pretty much every hunt.  I got some pics e-mailed to me for the buck pole, and I expect some more this week.  Keep them coming!  I hunted hard this weekend and got lots of video.  I'll try to get some posted on the hunting journal, I may not be able to get it all uploaded tonight.  Back to work tomorrow!  I hope you had a great Thanksgiving!
 
November 26th, 2008.  I spent the day at the office, sending out info to potential buyers.  The website traffic has been great, and I wanted to thank you all for continuing to visit the site.  I would like to wish everybody a Happy Thanksgiving!
 
November 25th, 2008.  The phones are starting get a busy.  I had a few different productive calls from buyers today.  I'm glad that people continue to invest in the U.P.  There is no place like it.  Later today I set up my muzzleloading spot, and hunted on my property.  I updated the hunting journal, complete with video.  Tomorrow will be a busy day at the office.  Take Care!
 
November 24th, 2008.  Did you survive Monday?  It was a pretty good day here.  Got an inquiry from a good buyer.  I also may have secured a deal as a transaction coordinator.  A transaction coordinator is where you don't represent the buyer or the seller, you simply make sure all the paperwork is done properly for a deal.  I went to the cabin today and watched deer.  Saw about 5 or 6, same does and fawns as usual.  Have a great day!
 
November 23rd, 2008.  I hope everybody had a great weekend.  Saturday was an absolutely beautiful day.  I went hunting, and saw quite a few deer.  Anyhow, the hunting journal is updated, the buck pole has another entry, and if you have been hunting, please vote on the poll question so we can see how everybody is doing.  Have a great Monday!
 
November 21th, 2008.  15 degrees and snowing steady!  The cold exposed the old batteries today, I had to change one in the ATV and in my truck.  I have to make this one short because we have a whole bunch of people coming over for a party at our house.  Should be fun!  Have a great weekend!
 
November 20th, 2008.  Today I hunted all day.  We are really getting the snow.  Lots to do tomorrow, we're hosting a work party at our house.  I finally got my opening day video on the hunting journal, so check it out.  There is also another entry on the buck pole, keep the pics coming!
 
November 19th, 2008.  Just another snowy day in the Keweenaw.  I really shouldn't be saying that already, since we have months and months of it to come.  Deer didn't move as good as I thought they would tonight, probably because of the gusting winds.  Be sure to check out 'pic of the day' and the 'buck pole', my friend Jeremy got a HUGE Keweenaw buck.  Congrats Jeremy!
 
November 18th, 2008.  Today was a catch-up day in the office.  I've been getting at least a phone call a day on this 80 acre parcel near Baraga.  At that price, it is obviously one of the best deals out there.  I'm already anxious to get back out in the woods, I love when the snow arrives.  There is a new poll question for you to vote on, primarily the deer hunters.  Have a great day!
 
November 17th, 2008.  Hello!  I hope those of you that went hunting had a good time.  I have a couple of pics that were e-mailed to me for the buck pole, so check them out.  If you have a pic of your success, please e-mail it to me!  The hunting journal has been updated.  It really wasn't a bad first three days of rifle season.  The snow has really been falling today, I think that winter is here to stay now.  Have a great day!
 
November 14th, 2008.  It is the night before the rifle season opener.  I'm sure many of you are excited for tomorrow.  I pulled a couple of my treestands today, and went bowhunting one last time tonight.  I'm at the camp and ready to go for tomorrow.  I sit from dusk to dawn, never leaving my stand on opening day.  We'll see what happens.  Have fun and be safe!
 
November 13th, 2008.  Today the sellers signed for their portion of the closing on the Calumet house I recently sold.  Buyers will wrap it up tomorrow.  I'm sure many of you are excited to hit the road for deer camp tomorrow.  Rifle season isn't my favorite season, but I kind of excited for opening day.  The weather wasn't good enough to hunt tonight, but I'm hoping to sneak in one last bowhunt tomorrow night.  I also wanted to clarify something about the 'wildlife cam'.  I don't own the camera, and it isn't on any of my properties.  I simply found it online, and wanted to share it with you.  I actually don't even know what the state the cam is located in.  It sure is fun to watch though, I saw 7 deer on it at once tonight.  Have a great Friday, and safe travels if you are heading out to the woods.  Good Luck!
 
November 12th, 2008.  Yucky day.  Pouring rain, and south winds weren't good for the spot I wanted to hunt, so no hunting for me.  I spent most of the day in the office, and later on my wife and I went up to Ahmeek to visit the in-laws.  My father-in-law and I sighted in our rifles.  Both of our guns were on, and required no adjustment.  I hope the weather improves soon.  Have a great day!
 
November 11th, 2008.  Today was a pretty nice day.  The sun was out some, and the temps were tolerable.  I stayed down at the camp to make some preparations for the upcoming rifle season.  After getting my spot ready, I decided to just hunt right over the food plot by the cabin.  I ended up seeing 13 deer, I was very surprised.  Anyhow, I updated the last couple of hunts on the hunting journal, so feel free to check it out.  Take Care!
 
November 10th, 2008.  It was a cold Monday.  It finally stopped snowing.  I am getting things ready for a closing this week, and we are still working on putting a deal together for the Pt. Abbaye parcel.  Tonight I went hunting, and saw several deer.  I'll post some details/video on the hunting journal tomorrow.  Gas prices are down to $2.19 in Houghton, it is a nice change.  Have a great day!
 
November 9th, 2008.  Brrr!  It is only 27 degrees right now, and it has been snowing all weekend.  We got about 6 inches in Nisula, and maybe 3 or 4 in Houghton.  It is hard to believe that less than a week ago I was complaining about how warm it was.  It feels like we fast forwarded to the dead of winter.  Melissa had to go to Marquette for a work conference this weekend, so I stayed out at the cabin.  I went hunting Saturday and Sunday, and saw a total of 7 different bucks, which was pretty exciting.  However, I really froze.  By the way, last night I saw a HUGE buck....on the wildlife cam.  Have a great Monday!
 
November 7th, 2008.  Happy Friday!  Today we made a counter-offer on the offer we got on the Pt. Abbaye parcel.  Hopefully we'll find a way to get it together.  After work, I went hunting.  By the way, there is a new poll question for you to vote on.  I've been seeing lots of deer on the 'wildlife cam', so be sure to check it from time to time.  I listed one of my properties on ebay, I've had some pretty good success selling parcels this way.  This property is a very good investment, check it out by clicking here.  I'll give you a special deal if you are a joshsteinland regular!
 
November 6th, 2008.  We are still stuck with warm weather.  I haven't went hunting due to the unfavorable conditions.  It is supposed to cool down this weekend, and I can't wait to get out in the woods!  I had a buyer purchase a lot on Rice Lake this summer who wasn't quite sure about the boundaries of the parcel, so I went out there today to ribbon up the corners for him.  It sure is nice out there.  Have a great Friday!
 
November 5th, 2008.  After all the build up, the presidential election over.  It will be interesting to see what the next few years bring for our country.  Today was warm again, and we actually had thunderstorms tonight.  My deal on the Calumet house almost fell through today because of the appraisal, but luckily I managed to put it back together.  I also received an offer today on the Pt. Abbaye parcel, we'll make a counter-offer tomorrow.  Tonight we had a nice dinner at 'the Hut' in Kearsarge, to celebrate my mother-in-law's birthday.  Have a great day!
 
November 4th, 2008.  It is a heat wave!  The temps hit 70 degrees here today!  Too hot for hunting, but I guess it is kind of nice to enjoy one last day or so of short sleeve weather.  I know they are calling for snow this coming weekend.  I did my duty and voted today.  I'll be anxious to see who wins tonight.  Take Care!
 
November 3rd, 2008.  How was your Monday?  Today was actually pretty uneventful for a Monday.  I got an appraiser set up to appraise a home that I sold.  I'm getting lots of interest on this waterfront parcel.  It was unseasonably warm, up in the 60 degree range.  I went hunting tonight and saw a nice buck.  Get out and vote on Tuesday!
 
November 2nd, 2008.  I hope everybody had a great weekend!  Melissa and I stayed at the camp Friday night, then headed back to town on Saturday.  I went hunting Saturday night, and then we went to the Michigan Tech hockey game.  Tech lost, but we had fantastic seats, and it was pretty exciting.  Sunday the in-laws came over for a little birthday get-together.  Great food, great times.  I thought my Detroit Lions were going to pull out a victory, but as usual, they found a way to lose.  Oh well.  November is here!  Have a great week!
 
October 31st, 2008.  Happy Halloween!  Today is my birthday so Melissa and I are down at the camp.  I can't think of any other place I'd rather be.  I went hunting tonight, and now we're getting ready to have a delicious dinner.  Melissa saw more deer from the cabin than I did out at my hunting spot.  Go figure.  Have a great weekend!
 
October 30th, 2008.  Today was unseasonably warm, with temps rising back up to the high 60's.  Tomorrow the temps are supposed to drop back down in the 40's, which makes me happier.  Today I officially got a deal together on this
 
Real Estate Web Site Design by CoreLevel