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.