Housing briefs

Home improvement loans are aimed at modest-income families in Cass County.

Bi-County CAP, Inc., is taking applications for qualified families to obtain a 5 percent interest home improvement loan with the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency. Applicants must meet program requirements and eligibility criteria.

Eligible applicants:

-- Must own the property that needs improvement and it must be their principal residence.

-- Must be current in property taxes.

-- Must have net value of assets no greater than $25,000.

-- Must meet household income requirements.

For more information or to receive an application, contact Mary Almendinger or Terry Haugen at Bi-County CAP at 751-4631 or 800-332-7161.

MMBA schedules meeting Tuesday

NISSWA -- The Mid-Minnesota Builders Association's October membership meeting is set Tuesday at the Nisswa Community Center.

Social hour will begin at 6 p.m. with an Octoberfest buffet at 6:30 p.m. and live auction at 7:30 p.m., ending with the builder of the year award. Meeting sponsors are Wells Fargo Bank and Wells Fargo Home Mortgage.

For more information, contact the MMBA office at 829-4982.

Bercher Construction promotes two

BAXTER -- Bercher Construction promoted Duane Przybilla to manager of construction and scheduling and Chuck Hiltner to senior design consultant and estimator.

Tom Bercher, owner, said the promotions are a strategic step forward in the firm's growth.

Przybilla was formerly a design consultant and estimator. For the last decade, Przybilla has been involved in nearly every facet of the design and construction of hundreds of custom-built homes and no less than 25 commercial/industri-al/manufacturing properties. His primary role is working closely with clients to oversee projects from start to finish. Przybilla has nearly 20 years of experience with residential and commercial construction.

Przybilla, a 17-year Brainerd resident, is a graduate of St. Cloud Technical College where his focus was building construction, drafting and estimating and American Buildings Inc. certified him for steel building structures, estimating and design.

Hiltner was formerly a design consultant and estimator. He designed and oversaw the building of hundreds of homes and dozens of offices/warehouses in his 15 years with Bercher Construction. He works with clients from start to finish, guiding them through everything from what the house will look like to how a floor finish selection will mean simple or high maintenance.

Hiltner has a combined quarter-century of building and construction background with seven of them in the lumber industry. A 22-year resident of Baxter, Hiltner is secretary/treasurer-elect for the Mid-Minnesota Builders Association and serves on its board of directors.

He is a graduate of St. Cloud Technical College where his focus was building construction, drafting and estimating and he is certified for Computer Assisted Design from Construction Data Control.

Bercher Construction is 16-person firm.

Sontag joins Positive North GMAC

NISSWA -- Barb Sontag joined the staff at Positive North GMAC Real Estate in Nisswa.

Sontag has more than 10 years of real estate experience. She is also a past area business owner and real estate agent. Sontag served on the board of directors for the Brainerd/Baxter Lodging Association.

Anderson gains recognition

NISSWA -- Tina Anderson was named the top producer for the third quarter of 2000 for Positive North GMAC Real Estate of Nisswa.

Anderson has years of experience in the real estate field and is a contractor who builds homes and townhomes. The top producer award is based on closed transactions and is awarded quarterly to the agent with the highest production in the Nisswa office. Positive North GMAC staffs 20 full-time real estate agents.