What to look for when buying a lakefront property

Posted on by lfriendly
home on lake

There is great lakefront property throughout the good old United States. The problem is: many people can’t afford the mortgage payments.

Whether it is a secluded lake in the middle of nowhere, or one of the sprawling New York Finger Lakes in the heart of the state, there are so many to choose from. If you are seeking lakefront property and have the cash to pay for it, you should be able to find something that meets your wants and needs. Just be prepared to pay a lot more to live there. As living on the water is a luxury for most folks, they are willing to pay more to do so.

Though living on a lakefront delivers beautiful views and breaths of fresh air, there are a few issues that can often come with it. If your cottage or home is too close to the water, you may deal with flooding. You may also discover that your flood insurance is higher than in most other locals. Most people are willing to shell out their money for higher insurance if they find an ideal lakefront property. Just be certain to factor this into your decision to buy.

A good real estate agent can help you uncover desirable and affordable lakefront property in your area. If you don’t reside near any lakes, you must widen your search. Because lakefront property has much value, agents are eager to help you find what you’re looking for. An agent will handle of most of the heavy lifting and call you when they have discovered a lakefront property that you may be interested in. Agents also take care of most of the paperwork and deal with all the other problems that often surface with buying land and homes.

Regardless of your budget, there are pieces of lakefront property that you can acquire. Some is protected for the health of the animals and the environment. Such protected land may be owned by the government, or might have been purchased by a person or organization to protect it from being disturbed. The ecosystem around a lakefront is unique, and it is important that portions of it remain untouched. A lot of disturbance can result in an imbalance in the environment.

You may also find cheaper homes that are in need of a fix up. The kitchen and bathrooms may need to be upgraded. A fresh coat of exterior paint might make the property more attractive. Or bigger problems may need to be resolved, like adding a new roof, or calling on a foundation repair contractor in New Orleans for structural assistance.

Some of the best lakefront property available in 2020 is located in the heart of Minnesota. While a few areas are experiencing a lull in the housing market, the lakefront property in Minneapolis and St. Paul is still highly desirable. Not only does Minnesota have several beautiful lakes, it also has vineyards and four full seasons of weather.

Though many people enjoy warmer weather year-round, others love the changing of the seasons. Living on the lake as the leaves change for fall is a quite a sight to see.

The ins and outs of living by the water

Posted on by lfriendly
lake house

The many neighborhoods near Lake Nokomis in Minneapolis feature beautiful residential homes, apartments, and townhouses. While houses vary in cost and are rising throughout the area, a buyer can find a good deal.

As with any kind of real estate, waterfront realty sales come with a handful of unique considerations.

If you plan to buy a residence on the water, be it a lake, ocean or river, it is wise to know for sure what your rights and responsibilities are to that water and its shoreline on or near your property.

For instance, you may be required to build a dock with specialized characteristics. A lot areas have rules and regulations governing what kind of dock can be built.

Are you permitted to moore your boat there? Oftentimes your rights end at the waterline.

Is your beach property accessible to public visitors or are you able to limit who goes there?

Can you build beside the waterline, or does any type of structure need to be erected a certain distance away?

Be certain to research the maximum water levels, and investigate the flooding history of the region. Answering each of these questions is important to your successful future at your waterfront home. Be sure to dig for the facts before buying, so you know what to expect and what to do.

Living next to water, it is imperative that you realize that it is a delicate ecosystem. Consider the environmental effect of all that you do.

It is prudent to avoid things like weed killers for your grass if your lawn runs down a slope into the water. Check local and state laws governing what is safe to use on your property and what is not.

For this reason, houses with septic systems beside a body of water may be governed by special regulations. Since the water level is higher underground, follow the rules carefully to prevent sewage from leaching into the lake, into your drinking water or into your basement during the wettest times of year.

To limit flooding and ensure waterproofing, It is wise to have your basement inspected by local Canton foundation contractors.

You should also definitely consider safety when living right beside water. Ask neighbors and others in town about possible local dangers, such as hidden currents or underwater rocks near the surface. Consider also old rusted boats or garbage that has sunk that could injure unaware swimmers.

When you determine everything you need to know about your own piece of waterfront real estate, it’s time to sit back and enjoy its many benefits.

The active community around the lake take advantage of its beaches, bike paths, and athletic fields and facilities. Minnehaha Park is also located in Nokomis area, and includes walking and bike trails, areas for picnics, and Minnehaha waterfalls.

Additionally, Nokomis features many retails stores and shops, restaurants, and cafes.

Not only will you love living in such a beautiful region and enjoy local recreation, you’ll have peace of mind knowing you have invested in the most valuable real estate in the great state of Minnesota.

Stucco Pro Enjoys Running on the Lake in Free Time

Posted on by lfriendly
man running on lake

Let me introduce myself first. My name is Robert Snyder, and I’ve been a dedicated marathon runner now for the past eight years. I run a lot when I’m not busy with my stucco service business.

What I love about living in the great city of Minneapolis is the large amount of green space the city has available and the vast number of trails and paths that the city has provided in these green spaces. It’s been a wonderful experience to be able to train and run along the Minnehaha trails, up and down the Mississippi River, across the Midtown Greenway, and the wonderful Chain of Lakes trails.

I firmly believe the Twin Cities Marathon has acquired its “The Most Beautiful Urban Marathon in America” slogan because of the beautiful and amazing greenways of the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board.

It’s been an exciting experience to be able to run and train on the Marathon course, especially since it’s practically in my backyard. The frequency of water fountains and water pumps along the paths also is advantageous in that I don’t need to carry water with me as I run around the city.

Lake Nokomis is the closest lake to where I live and I seem to find myself running there three or four times per week. Very quiet and serene, except for the occasional airplane, I find Nokomis to be very relaxing.

I run in groups occasionally and I know many find enjoyment when running in a group atmosphere, but for me I find real happiness in the solo aspect of running. As a stucco repair contractor in Chandler, it is most often convenient to go solo after a long day on the job.

With just me and the path ahead, I can immerse myself in my thoughts and solve problems that have been plaguing me through the day. While running my typically two laps around Lake Nokomis, I can sometimes be in deep thought and not realize that my two laps are complete. A lot of this I attribute to the fact that there is just less foot traffic on the path around Nokomis.

The popular Chain of Lakes (Cedar, Lake of the Isles, Calhoun, Harriet) can sometimes be so crowded that I find myself having to stay focused on the path ahead to ensure that I don’t bump into other people. Focusing so hard on the path ahead leaves me with no time to go into deep thought, which is why I cherish Nokomis so much.

The scenery is also a big plus at Nokomis. One of the things that I have been fond of at Lake Nokomis is that there is green space to the right and left of Lake Nokomis Parkway. Only on a small section between Cedar Avenue and 54th Street are there houses on Lake Nokomis Parkway but, when running on the walking path through this area, Nokomis Knoll pond and an open field sits between the path and Lake Nokomis Parkway. This openness around Nokomis is truly a gem and makes running around the lake an even more pleasant experience.

The addition of the Art Walk in 2011 around Lake Nokomis appeared to bring some more pizzazz around the lake.

Prior to the addition of the Art Walk, the only other thing to look at around the lake was the antiquated Vita course exercise apparatus strategically placed at different locations around the lake. More than half of the signs for the exercise equipment are either faded away or missing so you can never be certain what specific exercise was supposed to be performed.

While I typically do my easy runs around Lake Nokomis, I also like to challenge myself with some Tempo runs around the lake. Doing speed runs around Lake Nokomis can get interesting and be a challenge due to the busy Cedar Avenue running right through the western part of the lake.

At 2.7 miles on the walking path around the entire lake, accomplishing this run nonstop at a tempo can be difficult with the two stop lights on Cedar Avenue. This is why on Tempo run days, I have to resort to taking the “short-cut” route by following the path along the Cedar Avenue Bridge and cutting the lake to only 2.5 miles per lap.

I hate having to cut out the western section of the lake, which is actually part of the Hale Page Diamond Lake neighborhood mainly because it is my neighborhood and I take pride in being able to run through portions of my own neighborhood.

Sometimes when I run through the western section of the lake in the HPDL area, I like to look up at the landing planes descending over Nokomis and wave. The City of Minneapolis’ dedication to have the paths cleared of snow and ice in the winter has allowed me to enjoy running and training year-round. I enjoy being able to step out my front door, make my way over to the running paths, and be able to run practically throughout the entire city.

During the winter months, the biggest risk I take is just making it over to the paths. I have to stumble up and down un-shoveled sidewalks, and avoid slipping and falling, but I know once I reach the running paths, I know I will be delighted with a plowed, salted, and sanded path suitable for running. I can once again enjoy the run on the paths until it’s time to go home and I once again have to stumble and avoid falling on the sidewalks to reach home.

As we approach the spring months, my training will once again pick-up as I start the training process for the Twin Cities Marathon. Having run the marathon now for eight consecutive years, there is a familiarity about the entire training process that I will repeat and that familiarity will once again include Lake Nokomis.

If you see me running around Lake Nokomis as I normally do each year, wave me a big hello. If I don’t initially respond to you, let it be known that I am probably deep in thought and will try to acknowledge you if I see you again around the lake. Take care, be fit, and live well.

An Update On Water Quality

Posted on by lfriendly
lake

Lake Nokomis has been classified as impaired by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) since 1998, due to excess nutrients present in the lake leading to more rapid eutrophication (2002) and pollutants (mercury and PCBs) found in fish tissue (1998).

In 1998, the three neighborhood associations serving the residents of the Nokomis watershed, Hale Page Diamond Lake, Nokomis East Neighborhood Association and Standish Ericsson Neighborhood Association, joined together to establish the Blue Water Commission (BWC) to address water quality issues in Lake Nokomis and nearby Lake Hiawatha. Their report BLUE WATER COMMISSION: Report and Recommendations for the management of Lake Nokomis and Lake Hiawatha, issued in 1998, outlined issues addressing the aforementioned water bodies and specific actions they recommended taking to improve the water quality of the lakes.

Recommended Actions

The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD), the City of Minneapolis Public Works Department and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) undertook several of the recommended actions in the BWC’s report, with most projects implemented between 1998-2002.

  • The Public Works Department implemented an additional annual street sweeping to reduce phosphorus entering the lakes via storm water run off (1998).
  • The MWCD hired a commercial fishing crew to remove carp that were stirring up phosphorus deposits on the lake bottom, contributing to nuisance algae blooms (2000).
  • The MWCD created three wetland settling ponds with grit chambers on the southwest side of the lake by expanding and modifying existing wetlands. The ponds work to reduce particulates and pollutants entering the lake via storm water runoff (2001).
  • The MWCD worked with an engineering firm to have an inflatable weir installed to prevent the polluted waters of the Minnehaha Creek from entering Lake Nokomis during storm water events and periods of low lake water levels (2001).

Carp Removal

The carp removal that took place in 2000 will not permanently control the carp population in Lake Nokomis. To attempt to keep their numbers down a bio-manipulation project managed by the MCWD began in 2009. Channel catfish (native to the MCWD) will be introduced to eat the fry of fish that disturb the lake floor. In addition, several plant surveys will be conducted to see if a reduction in lake bed disruption allows for the recovery of native aquatic plants.

In 2010, the MPCA undertook a Total Maximum Daily Load Study (TMDL) of several lakes within the MCWD, Lake Nokomis being one of them. This report analyzed what the maximum acceptable level of pollutant loads, including non point source pollutants (run off from yards, parks lands, parking lots and streets) for the lake are. The draft version of the study submitted for approval recommended a 57% reduction in the levels currently being found to enter the lake, with a 63% load reduction needing to come from the portion of the watershed falling within the four Minneapolis neighborhoods draining into the lake.

Help planted saplings thrive by the lake

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Last fall, white flags and then white poles started popping up throughout the park, and some now have leaves growing out the top of the tube.

These poles are young tree saplings protected by a tube that are part of a research partnership between the University of Minnesota Department of Forest Resources and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and part of the board’s ongoing efforts to diversify the urban forest. Some of the trees planted were propagated from Minneapolis Heritage Trees at the U of M tree nursery, and others a unique species that we are unable to typically obtain from commercial nurseries.

What the tubes do

The tubes, while awkward looking in the landscape, serve several important functions in helping these trees be successful.

  • The tubes protect the saplings from grazing by animals.
  • The tubes function as a mini-greenhouse, encouraging straight growth with fewer low branches as well as encourages a strong central leader.
  • The tubes are very visible to park users and equipment operators so the saplings are less likely to be stepped on or cut down during routine mowing and park use.

Trees planted by this method

Here’s a list of the trees planted in the parks via this method:

  • American Mountain Ash
  • American Sycamore
  • Bitternut Hickory
  • Bur Oak
  • Catalpa
  • Crimson Sunset Maple
  • Disease Resistant Elms (multiple types)
  • English Oak
  • Horse Chestnut*
  • London Planetree
  • Pin Oak
  • Redbud*
  • Scholar Tree*
  • White Oak*

*Progeny of a Heritage Tree, trees that have been determined to be very large, very old, and/or are an important part of our history or culture in the city.

In partnership with the University of Minnesota research team and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board the Friends of Lake Nokomis is helping to coordinate a Community Science Project with the tube trees planted in the park.

Training sessions coming soon

Two educational training sessions have been scheduled with Chad Giblin from the University of Minnesota Department of Forestry Resources:

September 16 at 5 p. m.

September 30 at 6:30 p.m.

Each session will follow the same format; a high level overview of the project followed by training on how to care for the trees and collect data. Anyone can attend the educational training sessions, individuals interested in participating should be able to check on the trees monthly during the growing season and during the winter months on an ad-hoc basis to ensure the tubes and net coverings remain in place. This project will be an ongoing, multi-year collaboration that will continue until the trees are of a size that allows for their maintenance to be transferred to the MPRB Forestry Department.

Examples of maintenance participants will perform in addition to data collection:

(1) Weed around grow tubes. Keeping a 3 foot diameter circle that’s vegetation-free and mulched will help the tree by reducing competition and help the maintenance workers by allowing them more berth with the mowers.

(2) During dry spells each tree would really benefit from one or two buckets of water each week.

(3) Pull deep mulch away from tubes to avoid the closure of the bottom. Mowers sometimes push mulch up against the bottom of the tube and can close the opening causing problems with the base of the tree.

This project is an excellent opportunity for neighbors of the park and their families to nurture the urban forest for future generations of Minneapolitans and we hope you’ll join us in this endeavor!