Testimonials

“When it came time to move on from our Arizona portfolio and reinvest in Minnesota, I knew that Frank and his team at SVN | Northco were the brokerage to go with. We've stayed in contact over the years from their brokerage perspective and also on industry trends and best practices as fellow investors and managers. They had the broad scope of experience that I felt was best to manage a deal of this size. I also recently had direct experience working with Northco as the seller's representative for our purchase of The Wilds Golf Club, one of the top courses in the Twin Cities Metro. They worked very closely with all parties involved at every step of the process, making a complex sale, a very positive experience for both buyer and seller.

We then took the next step in our reinvestment plan by listing the three AZ courses. We did so confidentially, which can often be a much more difficult way of listing, but we knew that with Northco's connections to a vast range of industry veterans and also many new investors getting into the market, they would find the right group for us. They brought us multiple attractive offers and we ended up choosing a very strong group that is growing in the industry. Northco led the negotiations, worked side by side with the attorneys on the purchase agreement, managed a very complex due diligence process and helped bring us to close with numerous hoops to jump through all the way through the end. We also negotiated a management agreement for our sister company, Thompson Golf Management, to continue on at the three courses.

We are very pleased with the buyers we chose and are grateful for the team at Northco for another great experience working with them. Although they have international reach, with the Twin Cities Metro being home to Northco, we are excited to work with them as we expand in their backyard. I know I speak for the Thompson Golf Group team in strongly recommending working with SVN | Northco from both the buying and selling side.”

“We've looked at various golf courses with SVN | Northco over the years and have always been very impressed by their marketing and knowledge of the properties and businesses that they represent. When we looked at the Thompson Golf Group's Arizona portfolio, we knew this would be a great fit in a market we were eager to expand into.

As the seller's representative, the SVN | Northco team was extremely professional to work with from the initial inquiry, all the way through closing. They were timely, detailed and very organized throughout the due diligence process, getting us access to all of the information that we needed for a successful closing. They are much more than just your average brokerage firm, possessing in-depth industry knowledge from their background in legal, consulting, finance, management and investment. We look forward to working with them on future projects and recommend their services for both the buying and selling sides.”

“Blackberry Ridge Golf Club started out as part of our family’s farm and became a golf course in 2001 when it was time to retire from farming. Our family is very proud of the legacy property and business we have built and the strong community support it receives. At some point, the time comes when it’s time to pass the torch and we felt confident that SVN | Northco was the right team to guide us through the process. Our reasons for going with them were confirmed from the initial sale proposal and valuation through the final closing as their expertise in brokerage, marketing, finance, law, management and golf & hospitality ownership helped guide us through the whole process. We received multiple offers that were over asking price and were able to choose another local family group to carry Blackberry Ridge forward for our family and whole community.”

“When I decided to sell the Bluefin Bay Family of Resorts, with which I have been involved since its inception in 1984, I reached out to various industry contacts to seek recommendations on the best broker to use.

SVN Northco was recommended highly and repeatedly so I gave them a call. I met initially with Frank Jermusek and Cameron Peterson, a team soon joined by Edward Rupp. Frank and team proved to be very knowledgeable about the midwestern resort industry. They understand how properties like ours operate, how to value them, and how to best present them to prospective buyers. They provided excellent assistance to me in assembling the necessary information, and put together a very thorough and professional looking presentation on our resorts.

SVN had dozens of inquiries on our property and were very helpful in screening prospective buyers to make sure we spent time only with those with reasonable financial and operating capabilities. We ended up in serious discussions with several buying groups and were able to choose one that we believe will successfully carry on the traditions of quality, hospitality and customer service that have defined the Bluefin Bay Family of Resorts. I highly recommend the SVN Northco team to anyone considering buying or selling a resort property."

“SVN Northco was professional and knowledgeable surrounding selling the top tier Minnesota Resort property. They were aware of the complexity of a full service property with multiple key stakeholders in the Bluefin Bay family of Resorts community.

They had advised the seller surrounding the needed documentation for the process and that was also very helpful as the succession plan of Bluefin Bay came together. SVN was aware of what this property means to the seller, the guests and the owners at Bluefin Bay and were responsive with our questions as buyers."

"I want to thank you for your wonderful representation for the sale of my company, Odyssey Development & Resorts.

I know conclusively that this transaction would not have been consummated without your guidance and tutelage along the way.  As expected, there were many twists and turns along the way and your help in navigating those times was critical.  Very important to me, was the fact that you have developed a valuation method for resort properties that makes sense to both buyers and sellers.  Valuations of resort properties has long been very difficult given the uniqueness of resort properties and their ownership structures.  Your legal background was also useful in interpreting the many legal documents involved in the transaction.

Your access to qualified buyers and your management of the sales process was excellent in my opinion.  From the initial listing to transaction close, we were able to accomplish this in approximately 10 months.  This is remarkable given that I had seven different operating entities, each unique and with their varied ownership structures and individual financial statements.

I am most happy to talk with anybody that would like to inquire further about my experience with you and your team."

"We recently acquired a multi-property boutique resort portfolio in a privately negotiated transaction. With such a complex transaction, there are many moving pieces. SVN | Northco was an invaluable resource throughout the process – highly knowledgeable about the market, they did an excellent job maintaining the momentum needed to ultimately close the deal."

"It was great working with you on the Odyssey project albeit it was a complex one and it took a village to close the transaction and we got it done. Your firm was great to work with and your assistance in getting this very complex transaction closed is greatly appreciated. Between your experience with Legal, Buyer/Seller all of the Third Parties. We cannot thank you enough."

We've been working with Frank & Cameron for a few years now. Frank put multiple properties in front of us to look at, took the time to do tours at various resorts within Wisconsin and Minnesota and eventually we found the right fit and are the proud new owners of Lutsen Resort. Frank and his team are knowledgeable and understand the industry they represent. We look forward to working with SVN Northco in the future to find us our next acquisition.

"In planning to sell our resort, after 30 years of ownership and operation, I spent significant time on due diligence to define which firm would best help us with that process. We subsequently engaged SVN | Northco. We were very pleased with their depth of experience with Midwest resorts, their professional skills and their marketing reach as they assisted us through a successful sale."

“We had been searching for the perfect hospitality property to invest into and operate for over 5 years. We looked at many properties and were waiting to find the perfect gem to acquire. Frank Jermusek and the entire SVN Northco team supported us by acting as our guide and advisor throughout the journey.

Without a doubt, our acquisition would not have been as successful and coordinated without the SVN Northco team's dedication that was professional throughout the process and was there right by our side as one would expect from any great partner. Purchasing a property during the pandemic had its own challenges and the SVN Northco team helped us navigate through the uncharted waters providing brutally honest feedback, no matter the time of day or day of the week, to make the acquisition a reality. Spending this much time with the team made us feel a part of the family.

Thank you to Frank and the entire SVN Northco team for all your support!”

“Because our family owned this property for over 120 years, the idea of selling was hard to imagine. So when Frank Jermusek said interest in resorts was strong, and if there was ever a time, this was it, we didn't give it much thought at first. But we talked more and eventually decided to work through the process, thinking at least we would learn something from the exercise. In time, with SVN's guidance, we came to believe that the right buyer would be able to take our resort forward while honoring our tradition and culture.

The SVN team presented Ruttger's to several buyers privately and came up with good offers. As we approached closing, we had no idea the twists and turns that the transaction would take. At times it seemed unlikely we would be able to close at all, but Frank and team guided us through to a successful closing.

Emotions are bittersweet, but I am excited to see Ruttger's carry on with the improvements and additions that we weren't able to accomplish on our own. Thanks to SVN for guiding Ruttger's forward for future generations of guests.”

"We entered into an agreement with SVN | Northco to list our management company, the Blue Heron Restaurant and thirty-two condominium units we owned at the Wild Eagle Lodge.

SVN put together a wonderful Investment Memorandum that they sent to individuals and companies throughout the United States. They worked very hard, were quite imaginative, helped with business plans and even banking relationships. They did a spectacular job that ended up with a successful sale that benefited both buyer and seller. I cannot say enough good things about SVN | Northco, Frank Jermusek and his very professional and hard-working staff. I would be very happy to be associated with them again in the future."

"Based on the recommendations of people we respected, we engaged SVN | Northco to assist us with the sale of the Gainey Conference Center and Hotel. The Gainey Center was a very unique property with a limited potential market. The University of St. Thomas had used the off-campus center for events and classes over the years, but decided that it was time to sell. The SVN | Northco team was professional, engaging, optimistic and impressive. Thanks to the creativity and expertise of the SVN | Northco team, we ultimately closed a very complex asset sale with great results for all involved."

"We purchased Four Seasons Island Resort, in Pembine, WI, and Frank Iermusek, J.D., of SVN | Northco was the selling agent. Frank was responsive to our requests for the information we required to complete our due diligence. His knowledge of the property and expertise in facilitating a successful and timely closing was invaluable to us. We said we would surely use the services of SVN in the future and certainly did with the sale of Four Seasons when we were ready to move on to new projects, of which they also represented us on."

“We were searching for a resort with the potential to increase revenue through major restoration, modernization and marketing. Frank Jermusek of SVN | Northco presented us with what turned out to be the perfect property for our objective. Additionally, the SVN | Northco team presented statistics and concepts that gave us the confidence to proceed to purchase Pine Mountain Resort and TimberStone Golf in Iron Mountain, MI. As with Four Seasons, we had the SVN | Northco team represent us in the eventual sale of the resort and purchase of new golf and resort properties.”

“Our business had been in our family for 60 years. The decision to sell did not come easy for us with all the history attached to the property and the surrounding community. After much research, SVN | Northco was chosen to assist us in the selling of the golf course. During the entire process, the SVN | Northco team was involved in some part to ensure that our expectations were met. From the initial property visit until the closing of the transaction, all of the details were handled with professionalism and ease. Communication channels were always open and every concern that came up was taken care of promptly. I would recommend SVN | Northco in handling the sale of any commercial property.”

“I have a golf academy in the Twin Cities area and recently was involved in a transaction with SVN | Northco to purchase the Vintage Golf Club in Staples, MN. Vintage was going well and I had a positive experience with SVN | Northco the first time so when they brought Pinewood Country Club to the market, we connected again. Once again, the team did a great job and the communication and attention to detail was impressive as we all navigated through a complex property and business transaction. My wife and I both have strong histories in the golf industry and we look forward to carrying on the family tradition that the Bromann’s have built at Pinewood.”

“I had the pleasure of working with Frank Jermusek and his professional team at SVN | Northco in the transaction to acquire Quarterdeck Resort. Even being a veteran in hospitality, Frank and his team's knowledge about the industry, specifically the property, and vision they shared helped me realize what the property's maximum potential could be since this was a project that was started but still had a lot of development opportunities left for the next owners.

I found his team to be very accommodating, helpful, and overall very informative regarding the step-by-step process to closing. Frank's honesty and integrity made it easy to trust I was making the right decision in this acquisition. I look forward to doing more business with SVN | Northco in the future and highly recommend Frank and his team.”

“Our family is originally from the Midwest and now resides in Florida. In looking for future business ventures and also an opportunity to escape the heat in the summer, we thought about seasonal resort options, although hospitality was brand new to us. A mutual connection from the Twin Cities recommended SVN | Northco. After listening to our background and interests, they thought The Shallows would be a great fit for us.

They provided a lot of valuable information upfront to educate us on the current business and future potential, as well as Door County and the resort industry in general, so that when we toured and met the owners, we could make the most of our time. We went under contract shortly after and SVN | Northco's involvement throughout the closing process was of great value to all involved as they helped drive the communication between buyer, seller, lender and attorneys.

We were very excited for our family's future at The Shallows and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. We continued to stay in touch with SVN | Northco and eventually, another one of their projects caught our eye. It was an opportunity we felt we couldn't refuse so we engaged SVN | Northco to sell The Shallows and purchased Harpole's Heartland Lodge, which they represented the seller on. In working with SVN | Northco on both the buying and selling side, we couldn't recommend them more.”

“The SVN | Northco team was exceptional to work with. After 31 years of my family owning Sportsman's Lodge, I knew I wanted a quality agency to help me sell my family business. I couldn't have been happier with the process. From start to finish, the team was very professional and knew just how to handle all aspects of the sale of my family resort. They brought in qualified buyers to view the property and before long I had an offer. The SVN | Northco team took the offer to a successful closing. Thank you SVN | Northco Team for making this happen!”

“As a growing family of resorts, we are looking for unique properties to build and acquire. SVN | Northco is the go to broker for resort investments and has sellers well prepared for the sale process. I've had multiple experiences working with the team and they are always professional, responsive and go above and beyond throughout the whole process from initial inquiry to closing. Their knowledge of the property and business, what it is and what it could become, engaged us and helped us to see the vision of our future ownership that led to the purchase of Sportsman's Lodge.”

“With the rich history of our family resort dating back to the early 1900s and our love for Lake Vermilion and all the wonderful nature and community around us, we found the decision to sell difficult. However, we knew that SVN | Northco was the go-to team for this unique type of sale. From the initial valuation to the closing, the SVN | Northco team was dedicated to ensuring the process was handled with professionalism, clearly explained, and well organized.

Being on an island, we had a few more complexities to address, and the SVN | Northco team took care of every detail that arose promptly. Also, after four generations, knowing that the future of our resort was in good hands with the next owners was very important to us, and we feel very confident that we found the right group to carry our legacy forward. We would recommend Frank Jermusek and the team at SVN | Northco to anyone in the hospitality market. Their overall knowledge and experience within the industry is unparalleled to most.”

"Thirty years ago, I had a dream to create an outdoor enthusiast resort to help our community. Heartland Lodge has not only made the dream a reality, it has surpassed all my original expectations. It has become one of the top hunting lodges in the world along with a leading resort in the Midwest. But Heartland Lodge is bigger than just one person and has truly become a family, and like families, they grow and evolve over time. I started consulting with Northco a few years ago as I knew I needed to start planning for short and long-term goals for the Lodge and for me, personally. As Heartland Lodge continued to grow, we began looking for investors to ensure continued success. Northco connected us with the Duoos family and our relationship grew to a point where I felt that it was the right time to pass the torch. A decision like this is never easy, but I feel confident in the base that has been built, and their ability to continue to expand upon the incredible experience and tradition that is Heartland Lodge for generations to come."

"We have owned and operated a variety of different businesses over the years and purchased our first resort property in Door County, WI through a deal brokered by Northco. With a very positive experience through our first couple years with that project and our previous experience in a hunting club in California, we thought Heartland Lodge would be a great fit for our family. Gary Harpole has spent his life building a world-class operation and we couldn't be more proud to honor his legacy and continue to build upon this premier experience for all of our staff and guests. We are very pleased to include Heartland Lodge in our family resort and experience businesses and are excited for what's to come."

“A few years ago, I purchased Prestwick Golf Club in the Twin Cities Metro and I was looking to expand my golf portfolio. Northern Bay is such a unique opportunity, I reached out to SVN | Northco to inquire. It was under contract at that time but Emilia said she would get back to me if anything went sideways. Through no fault of the sellers, the contract was terminated and she called me right away.

The SVN | Northco team had everything teed up and ready to go through getting me all the information I needed on the property and business to present my offer, working with the attorneys on the purchase agreement, a very organized due diligence process and relatively short time to closing. My experience purchasing a golf resort through SVN | Northco was a very positive one and I continue to review their listings and look forward to growing my portfolio.”

“When we decided to list the lodge for sale, we reviewed different brokerage companies and right away, SVN | Northco stood out. More than just realtors, they have years of experience in brokerage, investments, consulting, management and even ownership. In fact, they had just purchased a resort on Lake Vermilion near Pike Bay so had an intimate knowledge of the location and resort operations. They did a terrific job of telling the story of the history of the property, the business that we had built, and what opportunities lie ahead for the next owner. We truly enjoyed our experience with SVN | Northco and the relationship we built with the team and would highly recommend them to anyone else in our industry.”

“Ned and team at SVN | Northco did an exceptional job guiding us through the sale of Colorado Bear Creek Cabins. They brought a thoughtful, strategic approach to positioning the property, and their understanding of the Colorado hospitality market was evident throughout the process. They were proactive, communicative, and highly detail-oriented from start to finish, resulting in a smooth transaction and a strong outcome. We especially appreciated their ability to identify and connect with a qualified local buyer who understands the property and is committed to continuing its legacy. I would highly recommend SVN | Northco to anyone considering the sale of a unique hospitality asset.”

“Some friends of ours had recently sold their generational resort and had a very positive experience with SVN | Northco as their representatives. When it came time for us to consider selling Timber Bay, which had been in our family for decades, we knew the right group to use.

The team's personal approach, attention to detail and knowledge of the industry as brokers and owners of their own resorts was a tremendous benefit to the sale process. They provided us with a very honest opinion of a fair sale price and got us a lot of attention through their vast marketing. Their experience through complex due diligence processes was also greatly appreciated as there are many hoops to jump through to get to closing on a resort property and business. We are so pleased to see our family resort continue on with two new families carrying on the tradition of Timber Bay.”

“When our board made the difficult decision to sell the camp, SVN | Northco came highly recommended. We had such a unique property, we knew it would take a very qualified and creative team to bring this to market. This was much more than just a simple real estate sale and we found great value in SVN | Northco's strategy to cast the widest net and speak to all types of potential future uses that the property could become to get the most eyes on the listing. The team did so much more than just secure the buyer, they went above and beyond during an extensive due diligence process and stayed very engaged all the way through closing. We made the right decision in working with SVN | Northco and now the sale of our camp allows us to continue on with our foundation's mission into the future.”

“My family has been coming to the area for more than 17 years and have a cabin nearby. I have spent the last 27 years in medical device development and manufacturing, but always missed summers in the mid 90's working outside in park and athletic field maintenance. I had a lifelong dream to own a course and Golden Eagle has been my favorite for years. When I saw it was for sale, I immediately reached out to SVN | Northco to inquire. Their vast knowledge and experience with the course came through right away. I knew they were the right group to carry on management going forward.

Not only was the due diligence process seamless, the transition to our ownership on the operation side was, as well. As a fairly hands-off owner, it's been a great experience knowing that I have complete trust and confidence in SVN | Northco's management as they continue to grow and improve the operations. Our family couldn't be more pleased with the course conditions, incredible staff and quality operations that has led to Golden Eagle being voted the best golf course in the Brainerd Lakes Area and in the entire state of Minnesota, as well.”

“Our family owned and operated the Baileys Harbor Laundry and later the Door County Laundry for 69 years when we finally decided to sell and move on to our next venture.  Being customer-service oriented people, the innkeeping business had always intrigued Debi and I so we decided to purchase The Ashbrooke Hotel from our long-time friends in 2001.  For the past 25 years, our family had the privilege of operating the hotel and sharing our true love of Door County with our guests, but the time came to think about retirement. Local friends of ours had recently sold their resort through SVN | Northco and they highly recommended them.

From the first meeting, we were impressed with their broad scope of experience and knowledge and appreciation of our area. They provided a very fair and honest valuation and we decided to move forward, however we wanted to do so confidentially at first, given that Door County is such a tight-knit community.  From their extensive database, they honed in on the right buyer very quickly, being someone who had recently purchased another resort through them in the area. The buyer was very diligent and the SVN | Northco team managed the process with great organization and thoroughness all the way through the close of the transaction, working closely with everyone involved. Working with SVN | Northco made this bittersweet transition a highly positive experience; we are thrilled to see our family legacy passed to a new family growing their hospitality portfolio while allowing us to remain deeply committed and connected to the community that we care so much about.”

"We engaged SVN | Northco to assist us with hospitality valuation and some strategic development scenarios with our portfolio. Over the years, SVN | Northco has assisted us with our Lodge, Ranch, Camps, and Golf Courses. Our portfolio has many moving pieces and we have appreciated the knowledge and sophistication that SVN | Northco has brought to the table. We plan to continue working with them for years to come."

"We engaged SVN | Northco to assist us with the sale of the Gunflint Lodge and Gunflint Outfitters. Our family has owned Gunflint for nearly 100 years, so it was a bittersweet decision to sell this asset. SVN | Northco was extremely responsive, professional, efficient, and effective throughout the entire process. We ultimately closed a very complex asset sale with great results for both the buyer and the seller."

"We hired SVN | Northco to assist us with the sale of the Timber Creek Golf Course. SVN | Northco's expertise in the golf business helped us greatly in finding the right buyer and working through a successful closing for all involved. The SVN | Northco team was engaged, professional, and ensured a smooth transaction."