A Word From Marc: Oh, January. The worst month. I call it the Long Dark. Winter in Minnesota can be challenging both physically and mentally. The entire state becomes a slip and slide. My brain tries to convince me that it's not that bad but my heart knows better. Sure snow can be fun but then it starts to blend in with the endless grey mushy skies. It's easy to let these long dark days manipulate most of our thoughts but then an unexpected blue sky will make us break out in a hallelujah chorus. I do enjoy some aspects of this dreadful season. I can enjoy long nine-hour sleeps. I have time to play with fire and read. In the summer I ignore my friends but in the winter I need them. Misery loves company they say. We eat, drink and commiserate. In an effort get even colder I recently took up winter surfing on Superior. I promise I wasn't the only loony trying to catch a wave whose temperature is just above freezing. It's like cold plunging but with a greater chance of injury. Hey, we choose this place. Might as well put our long Johns on grab a large coffee and get after it. Stay positive folks! We got this. Call a friend. Trust me it ain't easy for anyone in Minnesota. Except that surfer dude I met with icicles on his face. Some folks are blessedly unencumbered by the harsh reality of life in our winter wonderland. There are currently only seven existing homes for sale in North Oaks. Seven! That might be an all- time low. A lot of homes sold in the last two or three months so the whole supply and demand equilibrium is not balanced. Less houses are available while the demand continues to grow. Normally after the holidays the days get longer and more homes come on the market. That's the normal flow of real estate in our seasonal diverse state. I spend a lot of time in the first few months of the year speaking to folks about what they should and shouldn't do to prepare their house for sale. It's a good time to paint that room or replace that faucet. This of course is after you have shoveled and scraped the ice off the front steps. Safety first. That could be our Minnesota winter slogan. Either that or Minnesota, where darkness spends the winter. Be well! Marc. SOLD! 66 MONARCH WAY. PLEASE WELCOME THE SWENSON FAMILY TO THE NEIGHBOURHOOD! MARC KURTZ 612-751-6472 | MARC@LAKESMN.COM TOP PRODUCER & REGULAR GUY! Lakes Sotheby's INTERNATIONAL REALTY A Word From Marc : Oh , January . The worst month . I call it the Long Dark . Winter in Minnesota can be challenging both physically and mentally . The entire state becomes a slip and slide . My brain tries to convince me that it's not that bad but my heart knows better . Sure snow can be fun but then it starts to blend in with the endless grey mushy skies . It's easy to let these long dark days manipulate most of our thoughts but then an unexpected blue sky will make us break out in a hallelujah chorus . I do enjoy some aspects of this dreadful season . I can enjoy long nine - hour sleeps . I have time to play with fire and read . In the summer I ignore my friends but in the winter I need them . Misery loves company they say . We eat , drink and commiserate . In an effort get even colder I recently took up winter surfing on Superior . I promise I wasn't the only loony trying to catch a wave whose temperature is just above freezing . It's like cold plunging but with a greater chance of injury . Hey , we choose this place . Might as well put our long Johns on grab a large coffee and get after it . Stay positive folks ! We got this . Call a friend . Trust me it ain't easy for anyone in Minnesota . Except that surfer dude I met with icicles on his face . Some folks are blessedly unencumbered by the harsh reality of life in our winter wonderland . There are currently only seven existing homes for sale in North Oaks . Seven ! That might be an all- time low . A lot of homes sold in the last two or three months so the whole supply and demand equilibrium is not balanced . Less houses are available while the demand continues to grow . Normally after the holidays the days get longer and more homes come on the market . That's the normal flow of real estate in our seasonal diverse state . I spend a lot of time in the first few months of the year speaking to folks about what they should and shouldn't do to prepare their house for sale . It's a good time to paint that room or replace that faucet . This of course is after you have shoveled and scraped the ice off the front steps . Safety first . That could be our Minnesota winter slogan . Either that or Minnesota , where darkness spends the winter . Be well ! Marc . SOLD ! 66 MONARCH WAY . PLEASE WELCOME THE SWENSON FAMILY TO THE NEIGHBOURHOOD ! MARC KURTZ 612-751-6472 | MARC@LAKESMN.COM TOP PRODUCER & REGULAR GUY ! Lakes Sotheby's INTERNATIONAL REALTY