We’ve reduced to $695,000 on this exquisite retreat- a reduction of $170,000 from the original price, and WELL below the total invested in this property.

As the salmon fishing heats up in the Betsie River, so has the opportunity to own one of the rarest, most exclusive properties on this blue ribbon trout stream.  This one of a kind peninsula is wrapped in over 4000 feet of prime fishing waters, with resident brown trout, spring steelhead runs and fall salmon runs.  A fly fishing dream come true, with a compound taken straight from the pages of an Orvis catalog, including a sun room overlooking several hundred feet of river frontage.

The sellers were kind enough to share this slide show they created for their property:

<div style="width:425px" id="__ss_5158351"><strong style="display:block;margin:12px 0 4px">Betsie River Property Presentation</strong>

Posted via email from Rivers Bend on the Betsie

The headline first brought to mind the Mark Twain quote “Rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated”, and then, perhaps even a better metaphor for those of us whom have struggled through adjustments in the Northwest Michigan Real Estate market.  From Monty Python and the Holy Grail:

Well… except for the the part where he gets offed.

I’m up here with fellow Directors for the Michigan Association of REALTORS(R), and have enjoyed some great conversation with leaders from around the state already.  This morning Past NAR President Pat Vredevoogd Combs will be sharing some of her insight with us.  Pat and I are meeting over coffee this morning to talk about the role and potential of social media in association activities.  Pat’s a fantastic example of what you’d like to see in a leader: passionate about her industry, an active listener, eager learner, empowering of others, and fantastically bright.  I take special pride that she’s a part of the Coldwell Banker Schmidt organization as well.

While we’re here to discuss association matters and work to develop a vision for the future of our association, the dinner table conversations are a great opportunity to get a sense of what’s happening in markets all over the state.  The sense I’ve gotten so far is that there is a lot more optimism, and better levels of business are being done by most.  Deals are still full of hurdles and pitfalls, and financing remains a challenge.  Short sales still are a great source of frustration, and while the handling of these by the banks may be improving, it has a long way to go and still is an impediment to successful transactions, especially with large national banks.

I mean, where else but a marina can your family swim over and make new friends.  My wife swam/floated past a neighboring boat, and in conversation discovered that she’d actually graduated high school with one of the boaters, Tim Beson of Bay City.

2. Loaning your car to someone you’ve known for 30 minutes is actually NOT a bad idea…

Since we established such a fast friendship, of course we volunteered our vehicle for Tim’s use in the morning so that he didn’t have to leave via boat that evening.

2. Tim owns Beson’s Market in Bay City.  Beson’s Market has the best meat in Bay County the greater tri-cities area

Our car came back unscathed, with a full tank of gas, and a cooler of amazing fresh meats…

3. You can save a boat from sinking with quick thinking and a piece of rag.

Shortly after the sun set and we gave up on swimming, it was discovered that Tim’s boat was taking on water.  As in a LOT of water.  In an amazing display of quick wits, a flashlight was produced, bilge pump activated, and a rag stuffed in a split outdrive boot to save the boat from a quick trip to the bottom of the harbor.

4.  I can still do front flips off a dock.

Did anyone take a picture?  Better yet, video?

Posted via email from Matt’s posterous

http://realestate.yahoo.com/promo/housing-markets-that-will-be-strongest-by-2014

The new Day Boater dock has been installed at the Crystal Lake beach in Beulah.  An idea that was long overdue, this gives people from anywhere on this 7 mile long jewel of a lake the opportunity to tie up and walk into town to shop or dine.

Awesome work by the Beulah Boosters, and kudos to John Darien for stepping up on this effort.

Beulah and the Crystal Plaza in Benzonia are having their annual street sale day today.  Lots of bargains!

Where can you choose from 15, 25, 45, and 62 mile bike routes through beautiful Benzie County, and support good work being done in our community at the same time?

The Bike Benzie Tour, that’s where!

Sponsored by the Benzie Sunrise Rotary Club, the tour starts from Crystal Mountain Resort and Spa on Sunday August 22, 2010.

Visit www.bikebenzie.org to sign up.

And here’s some bicycle music to get you in the mood.

Posted via email from Matt’s posterous