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