REAL ESTATE CLASSIFIEDS: 3D
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THURSDAY JULY 19, 2018
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In the Garden
Perennial care necessary for good health
T
he great attraction in growing perennial flowers is that you never have to replant them, at least in theory. This doesn't make all perennials care-free, though. Few of them let you just sit back to enjoy them year after year once they're planted. Take coreopsis, for example, a wonderful perennial that ends its first flush of bright yellow blossoms around midsummer. Like a number of other perennial flowers, coreopsis can be overly exuberant in some gardens — mine, for instance. Right now, the plants are threatening to take over the whole flower bed in which they were planted.
SOME PERENNIALS LEE REICH WANDER Coreopsis spreads very effectively by self-sown seeds and by roots that travel underground and then send up shoots ("suckers") some distance from the mother plant. Both seedlings and root suckers are beginning to elbow out dianthus and other more sedate neighbors. Agastache (sometimes known as anise hyssop), also in that bed, is one plant that can stand up to coreopsis. As a matter of fact, agastache is so aggressive that I might call it a weed, tempting me to remove it altogether once and for all. Like coreopsis, it spreads by seeds and suckering roots. As I pull on those licorice-minty stems, though, their aroma beckons me to leave in at least a few plants. I give in. Fortunately, keeping agastache, coreopsis, and similarly exuberant perennials in line is satisfyingly easy. A quick tug on a stem or two will wrench a wayward plant from the ground, roots and all, causing little disturbance to nearby plant roots. (Tug on too many stems at once and they don't release so easily, or they pull along too big a clump of soil.) If I did want to plant more of any of these perennials, those dislodged stems re-establish quickly at a new site or in flower pots to plant out later.
SOME PERENNIALS NEED TIDYING UP Oriental poppy is another perennial needing some attention in summer. Excess plants may need to be weeded out, but — more important — this plant needs tidying up. Oriental poppy dies back in summer, so I cut back the sadlooking, dying flower stalks and leaves and cart them over to the compost pile. See Reich p. 2D
This undated photo shows delphinium flower stalks being cut back in New Paltz, N.Y. Cutting back spent flower stalks of some perennials, such as delphinium, can result in a repeat performance later in the season. (Lee Reich via AP)
Thinking about transforming a fixer-upper? Bu MetroCreative The real estate market will always have its ups and downs, but real estate is an oft-profitable investment. Real estate investors do their investing for various reasons. Some see a house as a place to hang their hats for years and years, while others look at properties as nothing more than investments. Buying a home with the intent to fix it up and resell it is called a “fix and flip.” In such situations, investors buy homes at below-market prices before refurbishing the homes with the goal of recouping their initial investment and then some when the homes are ultimately put back on the market. Flipping has become popular for both expert remodelers and novice investors. RealtyTrac®, the nation’s leading source for comprehensive housing data, noted in its “YearEnd and Q4 2015 U.S. Home Flipping” report that 5.5 percent of all single family home and condo sales during the year were flipped properties. This marked an increase from the same time the previous year. Investing in a fixer-upper requires a leap of faith and a vision of what the home can look like in the future. Turn-
ing a real estate lemon into lemonade requires certain skills and a good measure of patience. The following are some guidelines to get anyone started. Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Make an honest assessment of your abilities and which renovations, if any, you can handle. If you are unskilled or inexperienced working with your hands, then it can be easy for an investment property to quickly become a money pit. Before purchasing a property, hire a trained home inspector to tour the home with you and point out all of the areas that will need renovation. With this list, begin getting estimates on how much money the work will entail. Determine if this fits with your budget or not. You do not want to invest so much that it exceeds what you could feasibly recoup when it comes time to sell. Overlook cosmetic things when visiting properties. Cosmetic issues include all of the easily replaceable items in a home, such as carpeting, appliances, interior paint colors and cabinetry. Focus on the bones of the house — the architectural integrity and those little touches that you envision having
a “wow” factor. Seek the help of experts. Some flippers think they’ll save the most money by doing all of the work themselves. This isn’t always the case. Professional architects, designers and contractors may help you save money. Contractors have an intimate knowledge of where to buy materials and may be able to negotiate prices based on wholesale or trade costs. In addition, experts can help you avoid common pitfalls because they’ve already done this type of work time and again. It’s smart to rely on expert advice, even if it means investing a little bit more. Save money by doing some work yourself. While the pros may tackle the more complex parts of a given project, such as rewiring electricity or changing the footprint of a home, you can still be involved. Ask to participate in demolition, such as taking down walls or removing old materials from the home. Such participation may be fun, and it can save you substantial amounts of money on labor. Recognize that not everything must See Project p. 2D
US housing starts tumbled 12.3 percent in June
By JOSH BOAK AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON — U.S. homebuilders sharply curtailed the pace of construction in June as housing starts plummeted 12.3 percent. The Commerce Department said Wednesday that housing starts fell to a seasonally adjusted annual rate
of 1.17 million from 1.34 million in May. June’s pace of construction was the lowest since September 2017. Housing starts plunged 35.8 percent in the Midwest and declined less severely in the Northeast, South and West. Permits, an indicator of upcoming construction, also declined 2.2
percent in June from the previous month. Still, the drop-off in housing starts might only reflect the volatile nature of the government’s monthly construction report, rather than the beginning of a downward trend. For the first half of 2018, a steady job market and a shortage
of existing homes for sale has bolstered housing starts. New home construction has climbed 7.8 percent year-to-date. Homebuilders are also relatively confident that the expansion will continue. The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo builder sentiment index declined slightly to a reading of 68 in
June. Any reading above 50 signals growth. But builders also see reasons for concern. They face cost pressures from a lack of available land and construction workers, as well as from higher commodity prices from the tariffs announced by President Donald Trump.
2D The Mining Journal
Thursday, July 19, 2018
House to Home Many schools keep gardening efforts going all summer
Above, left, in this June 21 photo, Seth Raabe, an agriculture teacher and full-time manager for the South Whidbey (Island) High School Garden near Langley, Wash., is shown while preparing plant beds for students to cultivate upon their return to classes from summer vacation. There is no summertime break for school garden educators. Above, right, also on June 21, Cary Peterson, program coordinator at the same school, is shown preparing some plant sets for volunteers to put into the ground. These summertime work parties are organized so crops are ready for students to cultivate upon their return from their summer vacation. The volunteers often build their lunches around some of the fresh leafy edibles after they finish work. (Photos from Dean Fosdick via AP) By DEAN FOSDICK Associated Press The school year runs just the opposite of the growing season, making it difficult for educators to teach kids how to garden. But many school systems enlist volunteers to prep garden beds while students are on summer break, making the crops ready to tend when classes resume in September. “We’re working against nature but we add a lot of season extenders,” said Seth Raabe, South Whidbey (Island) School Farms coordinator in Langley, Washington. “That includes greenhouses and different plant varieties. We want to get the school gardens going as early as possible and then extend them as late as possible in order to fit class schedules.”
Proje ct from 1D be completely redone. Realize that, in some instances, a coat of paint and some new accents may be all you need to transform a space. For example, if kitchen cabinets are in good condition, see if they can be refaced or painted instead of replaced entirely. Install new door pulls/handles to add visual interest. Look for some ready-made items, such as bookshelves, instead of installing custom carpentry.
Re ich
from 1D
I mentioned that dianthus is well-behaved, yet even this plant needs some attention. Shearing back the stems now that the first flush of bloom is past helps coax another flush of bloom this season or, at least, better bloom next year. Shearing stimulates growth of new, flower-bearing stems and diverts energy that otherwise would go into ripening seeds to new growth and blossoms. Thwarting seed production also prevents at least one
School gardens have been used as an educational tool in the United States for well over a century, developing from standard vegetable beds into year-round windowsill settings, Grow Labs and hydroponic towers. Fresh student-grown edibles augment public school menus, contribute to healthier nutritional habits and food safety, teach record keeping and marketing, provide exercise and build a life-long appreciation for the environment. In short, students are encouraged to shift from being couch potatoes to cultivating lunchroom tomatoes. Whidbey’s school garden volunteers, like many around the nation, range from parent-child teams to community activists — different
Think about what the buyer wants and not what you want. Renovate with an eye toward prospective buyers’ needs. Keep things neutral and accommodating. Research the latest trends to understand what buyers might be seeking in a home. You want potential buyers to envision themselves moving right in. Renovating a fixer-upper takes time, but it can be a worthwhile project, and one that can help anyone turn a profit in a booming real estate market.
means of spread — by seedlings — of some perennials. Shearing is useful for creeping stems, but cutting back individual flower stalks is the treatment for clump-forming plants. Other plants slated for shearing or cutting back include snow-in-summer, delphinium and columbine. SOME PERENNIALS NEED NOTHING FROM YOU A few perennials do live up to gardeners' hopes of a plant you set in the ground and then do nothing more
generations working shoulder-toshoulder to plant, fertilize, water, cultivate and then harvest what produce matures early. Raabe said the summer work sessions are twice a week. “Some of what we harvest we eat immediately after the work sessions,” he said. “One of us leaves the garden early to prepare fresh salads or fruit.” Surplus edibles are donated to food banks. “We just dropped off 20 pounds of peas to a co-op last week,” Raabe said. School gardens get children outdoors, active and engaged in what occupational therapists call “heavy work,” said Emily Shipman, executive director of KidsGardening in Burlington, Vermont.
“Some teachers find it a challenge to get kids outside, unfortunately,” Shipman said. “Children today are on average 30 percent weaker than children in the 1980s because they are more sedentary — less recess and more iPads,” she said. “They’re also eating more processed foods leading to obesity (and) diabetes.” KidsGardening is an independent non-profit group that provides grants, lesson plans and more. Since garden-based learning is mostly participatory, even failures count as valuable learning experiences. Everybody learns best through doing, Shipman said. Youth gardens can be used for subjects ranging from math to science, reading and writing.
“There are so many countless lessons, including those soft skills such as collaboration and team building,” said Tanna Nicely, executive principal of South Knoxville (Tennessee) Elementary. “We also use it for conflict resolution and therapy with our school counselor. Working with the soil tends to create a safe haven for my kids.” Online: For more about kids gardening, see this fact sheet from the Western Growers Foundation Collective School Garden Network: www.csgn.org/sites/default/files/ GFL_1.pdf You can contact Dean Fosdick at deanfosdick@netscape.net
Mortgage Index 30-YEAR Rate-Fee/Pts.
15-YEAR Rate-Fee/Pt.
High rate
4.750
1
5.125
1
Low rate
4.375
1
3.750
1
Average rate
4.562
1
4.437
1
This graphic represents a Tuesday survey of regional lending institutions. Figures are based on rates at Range Bank, First Bank of Upper Michigan, the Marquette Community Federal Credit Union and mBank.
PENDING
TBD Shot Point, Mqt The perfect place to build your home or luxury camp! With over 1000 feet of Lake Superior frontage on nearly 20 acres! (1108976) $169,900
www.lookrealtyinc.com
o n S is te r L a in M ic h ig a n re u n d e rg ro fr o m w h ic h y e a r ro u n d th e M u n is in
k e ’s u n d to g
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FEATURED PROPERTY
100 Coles Dr, Mqt This spacious building has 13,800 Sq. Ft. at an excellent location for your business! Nearly 9,600 Sq. Ft. of retail space and an ample amount of storage, this building has many potential uses! (1107399) $679,900
1 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 .3 8 a c r e s a v a ila b le fe a tu r in g b e a u ty a n d p r iv a c y U p p e r P e n in s u la ! A ll u tilitie s a to th e p a r c e ls . A n id e a l b a s e e x p e r ie n c e th e b e a u ty a n d r e c r e a tio n a l o p p o r tu n itie s in a r e a . $ 4 4 ,5 0 0
1 1 0 6 3 8 1 A p a rtm e n 1 -1 B R , 3 - 2 B R , a n d in c lu d in g u tility r o o m U n it is c o m p le te ly r e n te r s . T h is a p a r tm e v e r y n ic e n e ig h b o r $ 2
228-7255
162 Heritage, Negaunee Commercial lot with excellent US-41 exposure. There is a building on the property that would need extensive remodeling or removal. (1109455) $122,500
321 E. Munising Ave., Munising www.bigcrealty.com office@bigcrealty.com
1 1 0 7 5 1 7 G a te w a y to P ic tu r e d R o c k s , M in e r s C a s tle , M in e r ’s B e a c h a n d M in e r s F a lls - w h a t a p e r fe c t p la c e to b e ! ! ! T h is 4 b e d r o o m , 2 b a th lo g h o m e is ju s t w a itin g fo r y o u to e n jo y a ll y e a r r o u n d . C a th e d r a l c e ilin g s in liv in g /d in in g a r e a w ith fr e e s ta n d in g L P fir e p la c e fo r th o s e c h illy n ig h ts . B e a u tifu l n e w e r s u n r o o m o ff d in in g a r e a o v e r lo o k in g y o u r fe n c e d in b a c k y a r d - p e r fe c t fo r y o u r p e ts , c h ild r e n a n d /o r g r a n d c h ild r e n . M a n y r e c e n t u p d a te s in c lu d e n e w w in d o w s , fu r n a c e , c e n tr a l a ir , a p p lia n c e s , g e n e r a to r , 1 4 x 2 8 a d d itio n to g a r a g e – to n a m e a fe w ! ! P L U S a p p r o v e d b y to w n s h ip fo r a v a c a tio n r e n ta l. $ 2 3 9 ,9 0 0
1900 Presque Isle Ave.
213 Timberlane, Choc. Beautiful turn key 3 bedroom 1.5 bath ranch style home in a lovely subdivision with a spacious living room, updated kitchen, wood fireplace in the finished basement and more! (1107468) Reduced! $224,900
(906) 387-3074
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than enjoy. Some that come to mind are peony, daylily, hellebore and hosta, all with dense enough foliage to even shade out most weeds. Baby's-breath and butterfly weed are perennials that also rarely need attention but don't have dense foliage to shade out weeds. Keep them weeded.
1003 Altamont St, Mqt Turn-key 3-bedroom home on a double lot! A balcony off the bedroom, kitchen with newer appliances and counter tops, updated bathroom with granite, refinished staircase and floors, fenced in back yard and more! (1109475) $169,900
BIG C REALTY
OPEN HOUSE
1420 W. Little Shag Lake Rd. Saturday, July 21, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, July 22, 1 to 3 p.m.
Directions: M-35 take a left at Jack’s Bar, follow Serenity Drive to 4 way stop, go straight, see lake sign go left to end of road, down gravel to bottom, home is on right. Follow Signs. Own this home and you will own a piece of paradise on earth! This Craftsman Design family home has 4 bedrooms and 3 baths. Charming front porch with front entrance door opens to a spacious foyer and an extra-wide side closet. Spacious living room has solid oak flooring and the large kitchen has tile flooring and walls with craftsman design oak cabinets and quartz counter tops. There is a cozy sitting area with enamel pellet stove at the end of the livingroom with a beautiful stained glass window. Large picture windows also help you enjoy the view of the lake in ail-seasons beautiful year round. The first floor includes a good size bedroom with a bath and laundry. Up stairs master bedroom with bath. Downstairs, lower level consists of 2 more bedrooms and another bath. All bathrooms are good size and have beautiful tile floors. A very nice family-room area with gas stove and a patio door to the lake. Also, a sauna and a boathouse and the spacious deck seats you and your whole family overlooking the lake. Includes a large garage with heated wood shop or studio space. Also, huge storage space above with another heated room. More additional storage shed for all your toys. House is surrounded by beautiful flower gardens, a large vegetable garden and a garden house and more. What a pleasure to enjoy living on this private one acre paradise! A Must See! $369,000
Shown by
Phannee Ball (906) 360-8223
2112 U.S. 41 West, Suite 1 Marquette, Michigan (906) 228-5230
www.century21.com
The Mining Journal 3D
Thursday, July 19, 2018
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4D The Mining Journal
Thursday, July 19, 2018
Northern
FEATURED PROPERTIES
Michigan
Land Brokers
54 Blue Road, Champion
New price on this recently listed, magnificent waterfront Lodge on Lake Michigamme with over 641 feet of frontage and over 13.5 acres MLS#: 1108908
$788,800 BOB SULLIVAN
8298 W Swanson Road Iron Mountain
Country home on 25 acres of beautiful farm land, wooded hunting land, brook trout stream and just minutes from Iron Mountain.
MLS#: 1108989
New price on this private Estate-type property with approximately 700’ of frontage on Fish Lake MLS#: 1109420
N106 Corner Lake Road Wetmore
TBD M94/Townline Skandia
$430,000 NATHAN BRABON
$299,500 BOB SULLIVAN
203 Sunday Lake Street, Wakefield
3557 Co Rd FFB Champion
Fantastic opportunity for someone interested in a small business consisting of a bar and restaurant and a complete home on the upper level! The Club 28 in Wakefield is a well known, established and extremely popular venue at the corner of US2 and M28. MLS#: 1108757
Newer Listing on popular Corner Lake in the Chain of Lakes near Munising with a Family style cottage MLS#: 1108361
51 sprawling acres with a large field hosting a variety of spring fed ponds making excellent pasture land or a beautiful building site to build
$235,000 SUE FELDHAUSER
$299,900 BOB SULLIVAN
$69,000 BRIAN OLSON
E6599 Crossover Road Munising
400 Acres, 12th Road Bark River
6917 Silver Bay Road Republic
MLS#: 1107778
24 acres of peaceful land with thousands of acres bordering Hiawatha National Forest and a unique home MLS#: 1093614
400 acres of heavily wooded hunting property in Western Delta County with a small cabin
$149,900 SUE FELDHAUSER
$269,000 ROB SULLIVAN
$149,500 BOB SULLIVAN
N2025 Co Road 510 Marquette
116 Riverdale Harvey
1075 Ortman Road Marquette
MLS#: 1106297
Amazing 113 acres with a red pine log cabin, 1/4 mile frontage on Lost Creek, and beaver ponds MLS#: 1106072
$158,500 NATHAN BRABON
91 N Billings Gwinn
Three bedroom meticulously maintained, turnkey and impeccably spotless home in Gwinn
MLS#: 1107921
$108,000 BRIAN OLSON
25377 Campsite Drive Michigamme
Three level cottage with great views and 200 feet of frontage and a floating dock on Beaufort Lake MLS#: 1109366
B o b S u lliv a n
Associate Broker/ Owner Cell: 906-361-4212
MLS#: 1109432
Stunning turn-key home in Chocolay Township with a pool! Fish or drop your kayak in the Chocolay right out your back door MLS#: 1108143
Four bedroom, four bath executive estate home on 10 wooded acres just outside of Marquette MLS#: 1108550
$328,000 BRIAN OLSON
$449,500 ROB SULLIVAN
80 Acres, Co Road FFH Republic
2384 W Co Rd 432 Gulliver
Eighty acres and hunting camp located only minutes from Republic adjoining hundreds of acres of State land MLS#: 1108972 $80,000
Waterfront home with 225 acres and over 3,000 feet of frontage on walleye-filled Clear Lake. New price! MLS#: 1089456
6343 F Road, Bark River
TBD Imperial Heights Road, Michigamme
$549,900 BOB SULLIVAN
NATHAN BRABON
Upper Peninsula log home with 6000 sq. ft. of living space on three acres with additional acreage available
MLS#: 1106010 $499,000 ROB SULLIVAN
$143,000 NATHAN BRABON
Love the Land!
Quaint, beautifully restored log cabin on delightful Silver Bay on the Michigamme River
R o b S u lliv a n
Associate Broker, Office Manager Cell: 906-362-3337
B ria n O ls o n
Associate Broker Cell: 906-869-6446
Twenty-five acres with white water frontage on the Spurr River MLS#: 1108171
$89,000 BRIAN OLSON
N a th a n B ra b o n
Agent Cell: 906-869-8451
S u e F e ld h a u s e r Agent Cell: 906-360-2891
C h a rle s D ru ry
Agent Cell: 906-235-3198
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