How did you get into real estate?

I worked for a local company called Lake Shirts for 20 some years and as the company grew, it felt like I wasn’t the best person to be managing 200-300 people. I wanted to get into something that was more independent. Something I could would work as hard as I wanted to at so I could hopefully reap the benefits.

And, I like working with, smaller groups and with people one-on-one. So, I made the decision. I also had the encouragement of a friend who said, “You should get your real estate license.” And I just said, “You know what? That’s what I’m doing.” So, didn’t think about it too long. I just made a decision and did it… And I’ve been doing that now for 20 years.

Do you work exclusively in the Detroit Lakes area?

No, I cover Becker County and probably the northern third of Ottertail County. That’s kind of where I like to stay. I just feel like if I get too far out of the area, I just don’t know the lakes well enough and I just don’t feel like I’m doing my buyer or seller justice.

How do you feel like your knowledge of the lakes helps to separate you?

It’s just my firsthand knowledge of being on them and knowing the areas, the beach, the water qualities, the fishing, and some of the history of the lakes.

I used to do a lot of open water and ice fishing.

Market At A Glance

Inventory up 3x over last 4 years.
8 properties sold for $1M+ already this year.
Homes $700k–$900k sitting longer.
Move-in-ready homes sell within days.

What To Look At In A Lake

Water clarity
Fishing quality
Sandy beaches vs. weedy shores
Lake history and usage (party lakes vs. quiet retreats)

How would you describe the Lakes area market right now?

I would say it’s good. However, with lake homes, there are some pocket areas where some price ranges aren’t doing as well as one would expect. However, we have a lot more inventory this year—probably three times more inventory than we’ve had on average over the last four years. There’s a lot more to choose from. That’s a nice and refreshing for us and for the buyers.

Right now, the good properties that are priced right and in good condition are selling fast.

If something needs repair and isn’t priced right or is overpriced, it’s going to take a little while to sell. There have been a lot of sales this year.

Is there a typical price range that’s moving fastest right now?

I would say the lakes area is from Lake Park to east of Osage, and then south from Callaway down to Dent. Within that range, their have been eight properties that have sold so far this year at over a million dollars. So, that’s on the high side. It just seems like the higher-end properties are the ones that are selling the quickest.

Looking at some different numbers for different clients and properties priced between 700,000 and 900,000, there were around 35 of them available, and none of those were really moving.

Every year is different, and every market’s different—it’s just hard to predict.

What do you think is special about the lake’s area?

Well, there are just a lot of things to do. The way downtown Detroit Lakes has been kind of growing and changing is part of it. The city is becoming a little more retail focused. There’s so much going on down by the beach. The pavilion is being redone. The trolls are bringing so many people in. I think everyone is just kind of excited to see all the changes that are happening here.

And, obviously, our proximity to Fargo-Moorhead makes it a pretty easy commute to get down here.

Are there any parts of the lakes area you would consider hidden gems for real estate right now?

Most people want to be on a lake with restaurants so they can take their boat over there and enjoy the day. People like to get on the sand bars and congregate. They go there to hang out with neighbors and the people across the lake.

People used to be a little more selective in their purchases. We kind of had the three main lakes: Detroit, Pelican, and Cormorant, and then Lake Melissa was right behind those. But after COVID, people just started buying homes on any lake they could get their hands on. It was strange.

Why do you think there are so many lake properties on the market right now?

I think this is a twofold thing. I think part of it is just demographics. There’s an aging population of people who are not able to keep up with the upkeep and the maintenance of a lake home. The other part would be some people saying, “Hey, you know what? We’ve been here long enough. Taxes are going up. People are buying homes. Let’s get out while the getting is good.”

And, last year was an election cycle and typically those are down years around here. So there wasn’t a whole lot of activity. Then, people got through the winter and said, “Okay, the election’s over. Let’s make some decisions.”

What advice would you have for people purchasing Lake homes?

Make sure you have an agent who knows what they’re talking about and has some experience in the area.
Move quickly because a good property can sell in three days. So, you have to be prepared with financing.

What advice do you have for people selling a lake home?

Most people these days want to move into a home where they don’t have to fix things up. No one wants to put sweat equity into a house and turn it around and remodel it. Most people want a move-in-ready home. So, if you’re going to put your home on the market, you either commit to that or realize that if your home needs updating, you’re not going to get the value you want.

What else do you think our readers need to know?

There are a lot of changes slowly going on in Detroit Lakes right now with leadership, resources, and activities. It just seems like there are a lot of opportunities down here, and I think the town is growing at a manageable rate. It’s a manageable area to live in. It’s not going to change too quickly. But I think there are some small improvements happening year to year.