Going Exploring in the NorthWoods (Duluth, Bemidji: homes, water heater, disposal)

[golfgal]

There is a back to nature school of sorts in Grand Marias. They teach things like living off your garden, how to make your own canoe, etc. I can't remember the name of the school though (think adult education school vs elementary school). It might be something you would be interested in. Otherwise, there is a house in Highland Park (part of St. Paul) that has everything you want except they are known to enjoy a glass of wine with dinner .

[crazyme4878]

Originally Posted by PhilJohnson

Also how is the crime up there. Around where I am (rural central Wisconsin) there has been a bit of stealing going on and a lot of drug related troubles. Is meth a big problem up there? It seems like when meth hit around here that is when the crime started happening.

As far as property taxes go, are they pretty high? I know in Wisconsin they are a little ridiculous. Also is the real-estate market up there in a tumble? Is land expensive? Does everyone and their brother from the Twin Cities have a cabin getaway up there? That is the way it is getting around here. Most of the locals are getting priced right out of the market because of it.

When I last lived in that area, Babbit was known as a meth area. Not sure if it still. Obviously, we have all heard of the prodominance of meth almost everywhere, but it was just the Babbit was starting to get known for it--not a good sign!

Property can be very expensive, but I think you can also find some good deals, depending on your price range. Before, we thought we would never be able to afford buying a house in Ely, but at our current income now, it looks like we would be able to afford quite a selection, especially in town or waaay out of town(we are around $150,000 for a house). Its my understanding that something on a lake or out of town, but still close to town, will be expensive. Yes, everyone and their brother has a cabin in the northern part of the state.

I have no idea on taxes, but in either this forum or the Wisconsin forum, someone mentioned how the two even out because Wisconsin has higher property taxes/lower income taxes and Minnesota has lower property taxes/high income taxes. Again, no clue if that is correct, just something I read here.

[sophocles_sarcophagus]

Another town you might consider looking at is Two Harbors, which is half an hour north of Duluth on Lake Superior. Grand Marais and Ely are always the towns that are famed for being outdoorsy and scenic, but other towns besides Grand Marais along the north shore also have that vibe.

Lots of people in Two Harbors and even Silver Bay commute to Duluth which is nice, because small towns don't usually have the best economy. If you do want a decent paying job in one of the towns, it's usually in health care, the railroad, or education.

As far as being outdoorsy, Two Harbors, is closer to the Boundary Waters than Duluth or Hibbing, and is in proximity to lots of state parks. Gooseberry State Park is only 12 miles away and there is also a really nice path in town that goes around the lake. Silver Bay is a town that's also on the lake, and also has lots of state parks nearby, but isn't as scenic as TH, Grand Marais, or Ely, because of some of the industrial stuff there.

Northern Minnesota is great if you're into the outdoors. As far as the people go, there are lots of different types. People drink, but it's not like Wisconsin. You'll probably find lots of like-minded people to yourself.

[Clifford63]

Originally Posted by crazyme4878

When I last lived in that area, Babbit was known as a meth area. Not sure if it still. Obviously, we have all heard of the prodominance of meth almost everywhere, but it was just the Babbit was starting to get known for it--not a good sign!

Property can be very expensive, but I think you can also find some good deals, depending on your price range. Before, we thought we would never be able to afford buying a house in Ely, but at our current income now, it looks like we would be able to afford quite a selection, especially in town or waaay out of town(we are around $150,000 for a house). Its my understanding that something on a lake or out of town, but still close to town, will be expensive. Yes, everyone and their brother has a cabin in the northern part of the state.

I have no idea on taxes, but in either this forum or the Wisconsin forum, someone mentioned how the two even out because Wisconsin has higher property taxes/lower income taxes and Minnesota has lower property taxes/high income taxes. Again, no clue if that is correct, just something I read here.

Property Taxes, in my opinion, for Northern Areas of MN are low. If you can homestead, they are significantly lower than having a second property. I have about 15 acres in St. Louis County with a small cabin that is not homesteaded and taxes are less than $500. My house in Hennepin County was 1300 Sq feet and I was paying over $4000. There has been conflict at the state level on this issue. To further complicate this, St. Louis County gets federal money for land in the BWCA that is not on tax ledger. I believe this is true for Lake County as well.


Meth problems seem to be more prominent in rural areas and it is very difficult to keep in check. Babbit is about 20 miles south of Ely, and I don't know much about what is going on there. I do know that Ely is making efforts to keep this in check and there is certianly awareness.

[PhilJohnson]

I think I am starting to get a general idea of where to look. I think I'll give the North Shore area another shot this winter. I am thinking of setting up a place like how I have it down here. Right now I live off-grid and dabble a little in gardening. I would like to find an area that is cheap enough where I could expand into a small scale farm. Any place I'll buy will be raw land unless I get a killer deal on a house. Around here land is going for 1800-4000 acre depending on lot size and drainage. I was hoping for property to be a little cheaper up there, am I hoping for too much?

[Auntie Bob]

If you are worried about a meth problem, I think I'd skip Silver Bay. I have a friend that lives there and he says it's pretty bad. There's definitely some pretty hard drinking folks in that area too.
As long as you stay away from lakefront property, you'll probably find something in the affordable range.
LOL...the less 'civilized' the area, the cheaper the land is gonna be.

[Clifford63]

Originally Posted by PhilJohnson

I think I am starting to get a general idea of where to look. I think I'll give the North Shore area another shot this winter. I am thinking of setting up a place like how I have it down here. Right now I live off-grid and dabble a little in gardening. I would like to find an area that is cheap enough where I could expand into a small scale farm. Any place I'll buy will be raw land unless I get a killer deal on a house. Around here land is going for 1800-4000 acre depending on lot size and drainage. I was hoping for property to be a little cheaper up there, am I hoping for too much?

Yes, and it is highly questionable for farming as well.

[sophocles_sarcophagus]

Yeah, farming isn't so good here. Short growing season and lots of clay. Some of my neighbors had little hobby farms, though.

As far as drugs go, when I was in high school quite a few kids were really into them and we had a pretty large number of drop outs. On the other hand, there were a lot of kids who ended up going to college - even to schools like Carleton, St. Olaf, and Madison.

There's a mix of people. Quite a number of people move here for the same reasons you do.

If you're looking for cheaper land, as Auntie Bob already said, "the less 'civilized' the area, the cheaper the land is gonna be." Brimson, MN might be a good place, because it's way out in the boonies. It's about 40 minutes north-west of Two Harbors and 50 minutes north-east of Duluth.

[crazyme4878]

I don't know about farming, but for gardening--even potentially larger scale gardening--you might want to think about raised beds. A little more work in the beginning, but it removes the difficulties of clay and rocks. Also, a homemade greenhouse will help to get a jumpstart. I'm sure you have already thought of these things, though. I've planned my ideal off-grid, self-sustaining life in northern Minnesota in my mind. I don't think I will be able to use my dreaming for my own benefit, so I thought I would pass it along to you!

[PhilJohnson]

Originally Posted by Clifford63

Yes, and it is highly questionable for farming as well.

I am not thinking of anything huge as far as a farm goes. More along the lines of a hobby farm. I was worried land might be pricey up there. Still, there may be a deal lurking somewhere, I hope.

CrazyMe, your plan sounds totally awesome. I hope it works out for you