Jesse Steed, REALTOR®

There’s nothing like sitting around an open fire, watching the tinder catching the spark, the flames curling the bits of kindling, sending bits of embers into the air, as the flames consolidate and grow. During the early evening or under the beauty of the starry night sky, a fire sings its own song adding a different rhythm to the chorus outdoors. Warmth, protection, a source for cooking—campfires are practical but they are also fun.

Welcome to October! Crisp air, beautiful trees, and the cider couldn’t be better!  It’s time to enjoy all those crazy corn mazes and football games, right? Well, sort-of. DO enjoy the outdoors but do NOT forget that this is Minnesota. Temperatures will drop and snowflakes will fly before you know it and you will want your home to be ready before that first hard freeze. Here are some important reminders.

What do these names have in common: Paul Bunyan --Tater Tot Hotdish -- Luke Skywater -- Drainy McDrainface? They are all names of Minnesota Storm Drains, also known as Catch Basins. These particular catch basins are part of a community volunteer program called Adopt-A-Drain.

Make it local. Make it Northfield. Enjoy a walk along the Cannon River and the sights, smells, and sounds of this year’s Fall Celebration Market October 9 at Bridge Square. Check out the new vendors for this special event and greet your favorite regulars.

Nice to have a safety net.

A home warranty is a common part of a real estate transaction. The cost is around $600 per year and covers appliances, mechanicals and other components of a home. But if I already have homeowners insurance, why would I want a home warranty?

Because it can save you money, that's why.

When I was a child, landscaping meant adding a border and mulch to spruce up your flowerbed and the term outdoor space was redundant. But, like many other things, these terms have evolved. Landscaping has become an art form, encompassing design and the environment.

The latest in apartment living in Northfield can be found downtown at 5th Street Lofts and down the road apiece on Jefferson Road at Timberlake Apartments. Both built in 2020-2021, they have much to offer the discerning renter.

It has been said that the only thing that you can count on is change. And so it is in Northfield. The latest winds of change swept over two elementary schools—Sibley and Longfellow. In October 2020, the school board considered changes in policy regarding the naming of school buildings and facilities.

One hundred forty-five years ago a notorious outlaw gang rode into town with plans to rob the First National Bank, but brave citizens of Northfield rallied to the cry, “Get your guns, boys—they’re robbing the bank!” and denied them one more cash withdrawal.  That day, brave men put their lives on the line and defended their bank and their right to live in peace, and the James—Younger Gang was never the same.  

In my younger days I was a fearless real estate agent. One day I was showing a house to a buyer when I noticed the house next door appeared to be under construction. Actually, that wasn't my initial assessment. At first glance I thought the homeowner maybe needed some help or perhaps had reconsidered the construction prospects. I decided to see what the story was.