| There seems to be a trend to leave the cities | | | | platinum/palladium mine in the United States. |
| - to get in touch with one's own self. People | | | | Minnesota on the other hand was always farm |
| seem to start listening to the little voices | | | | country with big grain mills run by |
| inside of themselves, their gut feeling or | | | | hydro-power. Minnesota is also one of the |
| nudges. Word got out, that there are friendly | | | | largest producers of lumber and wood |
| people wherever you go, especially out west | | | | products. The lumber industry in Montana has |
| and in the country, where they can grow a | | | | been pretty much shut down by people who are |
| garden, raise livestock, hunt and fish and | | | | concerned about the environment, even though |
| where people can be more independent of the | | | | the elks enjoyed the clearings. Now the |
| things the rest of the world is doing. If | | | | forests just do their own thing with |
| someone has a job they can do from home, | | | | wildfires to create clearing for the grazing |
| there are Internet connections available via | | | | animals. It just all amounts to the same |
| satellite from even the very remotest spots, | | | | thing, except if Mother Nature does it, |
| and most small towns make it a point to have | | | | nobody profits. Minnesota on the other hand |
| Internet connections available. People, who | | | | manages its forests for productivity, |
| work from home and are connected to the rest | | | | regarding lumber and wildlife. Because of all |
| of the world via the Internet, are referred | | | | the lakes and sloughs, Minnesota has an |
| to as "Lone Eagles" - a new "industry" which | | | | amazing variety of birds, including many game |
| small towns like to attract. The Lone Eagles | | | | birds of course, but also many birds that are |
| are un-obtrusive, non-polluting and | | | | just fun to listen to.When you relocate to |
| contribute to the local community through | | | | Montana you need to watch out for ground |
| their level of education.I have many clients, | | | | water availability and for mining activity. |
| who came to buy acreage and then decided to | | | | Sometimes you will encounter contaminated |
| live in a friendly small town with all the | | | | ground from a previous chromium mine or |
| services they know from the big cities, but | | | | similar activities. Even gold dust required |
| where it is easy to walk downtown and yet | | | | some poisonous material to bind it. When you |
| they are only a stone throw from the | | | | purchase land, in most cases you do not |
| countryside, at a lake or creek for fishing | | | | automatically receive the mineral rights. The |
| or in the forest to hike and hunt. Small | | | | mineral rights are usually scattered about |
| towns and countryside are also a great place | | | | among different previous owners and the |
| to raise children. Here the children are free | | | | State. Mineral rights supersede surface |
| to walk to school and to enjoy the town. If | | | | rights and even though the mineral rights |
| they do get into trouble, you can be sure the | | | | owner has to reimburse you for digging up |
| parents will receive a phone call from a | | | | your land, it might not be what you had in |
| neighbor or storeowner within minutes.Many | | | | mind when you moved to Montana. Some large |
| Lone Eagles will have to fly to their place | | | | ranches on the other hand welcome mineral |
| of business once a month or so, which is easy | | | | right owners, since they will build roads to |
| to do. There are commercial airports just | | | | a remote part of the ranch and drill water |
| about anywhere within an hour's drive. So if | | | | wells, which will benefit their livestock. |
| you have an office job, which you could do as | | | | Many ranchers would have been forced to give |
| well via video conferencing and Internet, you | | | | up their herds during the drought if it would |
| might want to take a look at my websites. | | | | not have been for the water wells drilled by |
| "Montana, here I come!" and "Minnesota, here | | | | the mineral rights owners.In Minnesota, there |
| I come!" both will give you information about | | | | are not that many minerals to worry about and |
| rural areas and the states in general. These | | | | all the mineral rights are being held by the |
| websites will inform you about the economy, | | | | state. Also in Montana rock formations are a |
| geology and history. On both sites you can do | | | | concern. If your ground is on a piece of |
| searches for available real estate in | | | | granite, to have a septic system will be |
| different areas. This might also come in | | | | impossible. Also there are many old |
| handy if you are just looking for a second | | | | subdivisions that were created before the |
| home in order to have fun in the snow, to | | | | state released subdivision laws, and those |
| participate in summer activities, or just to | | | | often do not have legal access. The mountains |
| rest and let the fur grow back in for the | | | | create small micro climates and you can have |
| next battle in the corporate world.The | | | | a very windy spot just a mile or two from a |
| winters in the north have become much milder | | | | very quiet spot. So just to find a piece of |
| over the last 20 years and are actually fun. | | | | property on the Internet and buying it, won't |
| The cold air is very invigorating, it makes | | | | work. You will need a real estate agent who |
| your skin prickle and you have more energy. | | | | works for you and checks for all of these |
| Snow is very much enjoyed by the people who | | | | pitfalls. The western part of Montana often |
| live there year round, but they also offer | | | | gets gloomy in winter, while the central and |
| great indoor activities. Mall of America in | | | | eastern parts enjoy more sunshine, but also |
| Minneapolis is one example and you have that | | | | more wind and dryness. Eastern Montana is |
| on a smaller scale in smaller cities, with | | | | wide open; those are the plains that will |
| large indoor swimming pools, performing arts | | | | continue through all of North Dakota. That is |
| and festivities. The snow fun in Minnesota | | | | where the sky looks so big, because there are |
| includes riding snow mobiles on the side of | | | | no mountains or trees to block the view. The |
| the roads. It just takes one day of training | | | | real estate prices are very reasonable in |
| and even 14 year olds are allowed to ride | | | | those areas; the expensive real estate is |
| them. In Montana you have 16 downhill ski | | | | right around the mountains and |
| slopes and about 50 cross country areas with | | | | creeks.Minnesota and Montana now have strict |
| groomed trails. In Minnesota they have dog | | | | regulations when it comes to building near |
| sled races and ice fishing. It is also a lot | | | | rivers, streams or lakes. You want to be sure |
| of fun to take your snowmobile or truck on | | | | to get the latest from the local health |
| the ice on the frozen lakes. The lakes freeze | | | | department. Actually Montana does not have |
| solid much later now and melt weeks earlier | | | | any building codes. You can build whatever |
| then they used to, but you still have about | | | | wherever, but you need to adhere to health |
| two month of fun with the ice on the | | | | and safety regulations, which includes the |
| lakes.Montana has millions of acres of | | | | proper installation of a septic system and |
| National Forest and Minnesota has millions of | | | | the ability for a fire truck to get water and |
| acres of State Forest. So there are big areas | | | | to turn around. Subdivisions on the other |
| that have fresh air to breathe and are a | | | | hand have architectural requirements. If all |
| paradise for hunters. In Montana the | | | | homes in a subdivision are of similar value, |
| mountains catch the rain and send the water | | | | it will hold up the value of all the homes. |
| down in creeks and underground aquifers, | | | | On the other hand a crummy trailer will keep |
| which is used to water the farm ground. | | | | the home prices below replacement cost for |
| Montana is basically high desert for the most | | | | quite a distance all around. Do not buy a |
| part and the rolling hills are suited to | | | | cheap lot and build the home of your dreams, |
| accommodate cattle for grazing. Often you | | | | if the neighborhood does not look similar to |
| will need 40 acres for one mother cow and | | | | the home you want to build, find a different |
| calf. There are barb wire fences everywhere | | | | lot. Also you are better off buying a stick |
| to contain the livestock. Near the creeks and | | | | built home, it will hold the value much |
| rivers ranches have water rights, to irrigate | | | | better in the long run if the location is |
| some of their acreage. That is where they | | | | right.Subdivisions in Montana are often a far |
| grow their hay for the winter. Water rights | | | | cry from what you might think about when you |
| are very important in Montana and they say: | | | | think of subdivisions. Often you have miles |
| Whisky is for drinking and water is for | | | | of river gravel road, which are very bumpy. |
| fighting. Of course in winter, all the | | | | You get 20 acres as a lot and often |
| ranchers are friends again. But if you just | | | | electricity and phone are miles away. Also |
| want to buy a small parcel of land, you need | | | | watch out for rattlesnakes, bears and |
| to do some research to be sure that there is | | | | mountain lion, if you are near the mountains. |
| ground water available for a well, otherwise | | | | Wear boots when you walk through the grass. |
| you will have to haul water from a nearby | | | | When you see a bear, be sure not to get |
| town. Also if you buy real estate, trees and | | | | between a mother and her cubs. Moose attack, |
| grass are extra and so is an ample supply of | | | | hug a tree, because they want to trample on |
| water. If you want to buy a large tract of | | | | things and they can't trample you if you hug |
| land, you need to look out for weeds, which | | | | a tree. But those encounters are very rare. |
| need to be treated. If you think about | | | | In Red Lodge, Montana, the moose wanders |
| depending on water rights, you need to check | | | | along the sidewalks and into yards. Bears |
| and make sure the water will be available | | | | frolic along the alleys in fall to fatten up |
| through all of the growing season and does | | | | on leftovers for the winter. They are mostly |
| not get turned off in the middle of summer.In | | | | fun to watch as they bumble along and you get |
| Minnesota it rains frequently, the ground is | | | | used to scooping moos poop out of your yard. |
| fertile and suitable for row crops and | | | | You are just part of the wild things here.In |
| gardens without water rights. The cattle you | | | | Montana you can encounter county gravel roads |
| find there are mostly dairy cows, which are | | | | that go on for 20 miles before you arrive |
| kept inside in winter. Most of the lakes and | | | | where you wanted to go. In Minnesota most |
| State Forests are in the north. Much of the | | | | county roads are paved, so that comes in |
| land is softly rolling with tree lined fields | | | | handy if you would like to drive an economy |
| and charming old farm houses and barns. | | | | car. In Montana to own a 4-wheel drive SUV or |
| Everywhere are lakes; from small ponds to the | | | | truck is just about mandatory if you want to |
| one's big enough for water skiing. There is a | | | | live out in the country or climb the mountain |
| waterfront home for every budget, depending | | | | passes or foothills in winter.Dorothea Lowe |
| on the size and location of the lake. Private | | | | is the Broker/Owner of Sky Lodge Properties, |
| boat docks are being pulled ashore in winter. | | | | Inc. licensed in Minnesota, North Dakota, |
| During the time when the lakes are open, you | | | | Montana and Wyoming with two websites |
| can often see a rack with canoes near a boat | | | | containing a wealth of information about |
| landing. Those spaces are for rent. As | | | | these states: |
| opposed to Montana, Minnesota has hardly any | | | | |
| fences. Corn stalks don't wander off.... But | | | | AND also publishes a monthly |
| if you have a horse, you can make friends | | | | newsletter, which is sent out once a month to |
| with your neighbors and practically ride | | | | 8,000 subscribers via email, informing about |
| forever.Montana was mostly settled by the | | | | real estate listings, geology, history, |
| English, Irish and Germans, while Minnesota | | | | informs about agriculture and specific areas. |
| attracted Scandinavians and Germans. Montana | | | | Dorothea Lowe grew up in Germany, and bought |
| is called the Treasure State, because it has | | | | and sold real estate in Los Angeles, Oregon |
| Gold, Coal, Oil, Methane Gas, Uranium and | | | | Coast, Arizona, Montana and Minnesota |
| many other minerals, including the only | | | | (Detroit Lakes). |