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Since we have received a number of inquires related to purchasing and owning a rental townhome at Surfside and holding it a retirement account, I thought it may be beneficial share a few additional details about how it works.

Several years ago, my wife and I became frustrated with the lack of performance our IRA/SEP. Through much research, we found an established company that specializes in self-directed IRA's. After doing our due diligence, we decided to roll over our IRA accounts to Pensco Trust Company (www.penscotrust.com). Since then, we have found Pensco to be fast, friendly, efficient and, most of all, very easy to work with. Pensco has provided us the ability to acquire investment properties whether for appreciation, rental income or a combination of the two. Their website is user friendly and their forms are quite simple. They also have offices on both the east and west coasts, so they're available for consultation throughout the day.

Pensco's self-directed IRA allows us the acquire Real Estate investment property in areas very familiar to us. The rental or lease income we earn along the way is deposited back into our Pensco IRA account on a monthly basis, much like an annuity. When we sell the property, the appreciation is also deposited back into our IRA. We have total control and it took the risk of the unknown out of the investment equation, because we decide what to buy and what to sell and not worry about the "Ponzi" schemes we hear about so often in the media today.

If you would like to hear more about the benefits of investment property ownership within your IRA portfolio, I would be happy to share some thoughts with you. Please feel free to contact me at 320-352-2511.

Chuck Anderson, Partner
Surfside on Lake Superior

The graph shown above illustrates the total assessed value of all privately owned land parcels classified as "Seasonal Recreational" in Cook County, Minnesota from 2000 through 2008. As the graph illustrates, Real Estate in Cook County has seen steady appreciation every year this decade.

Even during the most trying economic times, there are a couple reasons why Cook County Real Estate has historically continued to appreciate in value. First, Cook County is one of the most desirable areas in all of Minnesota for destination getaways. The abundance of four-season outdoor recreational opportunities combined with the allure of Lake Superior make Cook County a wonderful place to escape. Whether it be a summer trip to the BWCAW, a fall visit to take in the stunning fall colors, or a winter escape to ski at Lutsen Mountains or snowmobile the North Shore State Trail, Cook County has it all! And the ever-changing theatre that is Lake Superior is great any time of year!

The second reason has to do with a fundamental principal of economics: Supply and Demand. Less than 10% of land in Cook County is available for private ownership, with an even smaller percentage of land having Lake Superior shoreline. Also, with the recent adoption of the North Shore Management Plan, you are not likely to see many more North Shore resort communities like Surfside anytime in the near future, thereby increasing the demand for properties such as Surfside.

If you would like to learn more about how you can own a stable income generating investment that you, your family and friends will be able to enjoy for many years to come, please contact me to discuss. For a limited time we're offering some great incentives to our next few buyers. Also, be sure to ask how you can diversify your retirement portfolio by purchasing a Surfside townhome using your IRA.

Ryan Anderson
218/663-6886

*Information used for the graph was provided by Allison Lowe, Assistant Cook County Assessor*