North Dakota

dan88911 · 05-16-2012, 07:20 PM

Anyone here in North Dakota? I read that state is booming.
Low unemployment thanks to the oil industry.

dhrcr911s · dhrcr911s's Garage

Yep, booming in the NW corner.. NE Montana too.. No Homes or apts to rent.. Better be ready for sticker shock. Google search Bakken Oil Fields..

MT930 · 05-16-2012, 07:54 PM

I travel there for business. It's not pretty, the growth is too fast, it's a mess.

Money is big and fast in Nodak. I would not move my family there, the influx if people has caused some big problems that they have never had. Drugs, crime.

Housing is poor and very expensive. Hotel rooms near the oil fields are expensive and gnarly.

If your single it maybe a place to make your fortune. It's a young man's place.

I have friends in the construction business that are hitting it hard $$.

biosurfer1 · 05-16-2012, 07:55 PM

one of my good friends mother just rented out her house and moved in with his brother. She was able to get $1800/month for it and currently has a mortgage of $450/month. She bought it in 1999.

Crazy booming there right now but dhrcr911s is right, housing is the weak point but the oil companies are putting them up as fast as possible

GWN7 · 05-16-2012, 09:15 PM

Crime is rampant. Small town cops can't keep up. Meth labs abound. If you don't drink or do drugs and have some skills you can make a bunch of money. I was offered a bunch of cash to buy/rent my house just North of Antler, ND.

Oil Boom Creating Dark Side Of Industry In North Dakota « CBS Minnesota

Head416 · Head416's Garage

My boss has been telling me about his son... he moved to ND maybe six months back, along with his wife and baby. He's been working 100 hour weeks, making money hand over fist. Hopefully he stays clear of the negative elements.

kaisen · 05-17-2012, 07:35 AM

The negative elements are in any big city, it's just new to the little cities in ND. If you can avoid them in Chicago or Los Angeles, it's not like they're going to suck you in if you're in BFE, ND

VincentVega · 05-17-2012, 07:45 AM

Quote:

it's not like they're going to suck you in if you're in BFE, ND

Dont disagree you dont have a choice, but it's not like there is a ton to do there either.

MT930 · 05-17-2012, 07:47 AM

Bismarck is a nice town on the east of the oil fields, thats were the oil execs choose to live. for a high plains town I would give it a 8 score on quality of life.
it's to far away for labor jobs in the fields, better suited to management and support type activities.

Williston in the oil fields is scary, 2 score on quality of life.

Dickinson on the South side of the oil fields 3 score on quality of life.

Minot I have not spent any time there I have heard better things about it.

madmmac · madmmac's Garage

My Dad always said, "North Dakota, a good place to be from."

Both he and my mother grew up there and moved immediately once they were married.

The oil boom is indeed a boom and as stated, the infrastructure is totally overwhelmed. Roads, restaurants, housing, pretty much any and everything is in short supply......well, hookers and blow have been flocking there also.

I went back there at the end of March to sign some paperwork and to do a visual on my mineral rights holdings. Drill rigs and tankers were everywhere. I visited relatives in Williston and New Town. They all appreciate the boost and the income from the royalties, but they are overwhelmed by all the bad that was brought with it. Severe growing pains going on there. Prior to the boom, the towns were literally stuck in the 60's and the populations were declining.

If you have an RV and a CDL you would probably get hired on the spot when I was there. Not sure if that has changed, but I would doubt it.

Long hours, some jobs are hard, others not so much. The wind blows pretty much 24X7 and -30 below in the winter is not unheard of.

Due diligence prior to pulling up stake and trying to make it there would be a priority. If married, leave your family behind and see what you think before moving them. You could definitely bankroll some money in just a few years.

I am enjoying my royalty checks coming in every month, just from a different state or 2.

URY914 · URY914's Garage

Buy a used Katina trailer and make it your home.

dan88911 · 05-17-2012, 09:39 AM

Doesn't sound like a place to settle down and call home.
However, as mention it does sound like a young man with the will and/or credentials could make some money there.

BRPORSCHE · 05-17-2012, 10:08 AM

I wouldn't doubt on myself being sent there fairly soon.

Thankfully it won't be permanent and the company will put me up. I couldn't imagine actually living there.

madmmac · madmmac's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by NotaBRG

A co-worker of mine grew up there on the family farm.

Just over two years ago his portion of the oil royalties exceeded his day job so he retired. He's in his mid 40's.

I'm not there yet and would not speculate that a good producer would always be a good producer, they do dry up, and especially if I was in my mid 40's I would have just banked/invested it. I wish him luck.

sammyg2 · 05-17-2012, 03:57 PM

I make an occasional business trip to Mandan.
I try not to do that in winter.

MRM · 05-17-2012, 05:52 PM

Sammy, if you stop by Minneapolis on your way up, make sure to stop by and say hi.

We do some work with North Dakota oil exploration. It's a booming place. I wouldn't hesitate to go there if I was young and looking for opportunity.

varmint · 05-17-2012, 06:18 PM

recruiters/headhunters from the dakotas are wandering around alaska looking for anyone with oil industry experience. the smaller companies are having a hard time holding on to people.

Hawktel · 05-18-2012, 04:29 AM

I got a pal there installing cabinets in the homes being put up. 16 hour days working 7 a week. Lives in a tent in some guys field. Said he waited in line for 3 hours to do laundry once.

85eurocarrera · 85eurocarrera's Garage

16$ hr working at Minot McDonalds. I have family in Minot...no oil rights though.

kach22i · kach22i's Garage

I spent two days in Williston about three weeks ago.

1. Huge building boom as reported is correct.
2. No RV's or trailer's allowed in town, so no place for the construction workers to stay.
3. People there don't know what an architect is, and building permits often given out on engineer's seal. Every winter there are a handful of building collapses due to the snow loads and lack of quality control and regulation (last part as reported by a MN structural engineer I spoke with).

If anyone here has a couple of hundred thousand to invest, my builder buddy from Michigan is over there building houses. I can introduce you and introduce you to an incredible opportunity. His crew, half of which are Amish, drive 24 hours (Amish don't drive) to get there, and stay for 2-week stretches, coming back home for a week or two while the other shift takes over working sunrise to sunset.

E-mail me, knocking once.

Lots of land/lots ready and waiting.
MISC pictures by kach22i - Photobucket

In the two days I was there, four people drove up out of the blue to look at one of the houses under construction. First one said how much? About $500,000 I think was the reply, here's the realtor's number.

Second guy, same question - that's a bargain, they wanted $400,00 for half the house across town, I'll take it.

Third guy, I'll buy it now cash and out bid anyone.

The fourth, was an elderly couple, we told them three other people who had already expressed an interest. He counters with; I'll pay $850,000 cash today!

The sky is the limit.

I'm paying over two grand to get my architectural registration there (NCARB bastards), hope to make that money back quickly.