Pine Needle Lawn

A while back I wrote a post titled Waterfront Property Prices Going Up, Up, Up where I discussed the rising prices of lakeshore. The Star Tribune had an interesting article today called The Cabin Alternative in which they interview several people who wanted to buy..but found themselves priced out of the market. One of the couples ended up purchasing a Cokato Lake Property inside of an RV Park. Nice Lake – Affordable Price – Not a bad idea. The author also goes on to interview the owner of a large Bemidji lakeshore property on Gull Lake. He is converting his campground into 95 RV lots and plans to create an additional 70 lots. If you are dreaming of a cabin up north, but you are not able to find what you are looking for in your price range, you may want to consider in an RV Park. It is an affordable way to enter the lakeshore market. Check out LakePlace.com to find them all.

Tip: Use our Sort Price: Low-High option if you are on a budget.

I am sitting here on a Friday afternoon (approaching evening), thinking about a weekend drive on the Parkway. Every month or two I like to take a cruise around the lakes in Minneapolis. Most of the visitors to LakePlace.com are dreaming of big pines and resident loons…but more and more visitors to LakePlace.com are searching for lake homes inside the Twin Cities metro area. It is actually our #3 most visited section (behind Brainerd & Hayward). So, if you are planning to relocate to the Twin Cities and you are unfamiliar with the area…here is a list of lakes (all connected by a parkway) that are smack dab in the middle of the city…I am going to give these to you via my “Parkway Cruise Route” – Lake Nakomis (I lived on Lake Nakomis before I got married), Lake Harriet, Lake Calhoun, & Lake of the Isles. There are a couple more lakes in the city (Lake Hiawatha & Cedar lake), but this is my parkway cruise route. Once I make a complete loop around Lake of the Isles, I like to take a hard left and head Uptown. This is the point where I ask my wife to decide between Famous Dave’s or Chino Latino. Either one works for me. Have a great weekend!

I received an email telling me that I should have included “Greater Twin Cities” lakes as well – a few of them are Forest Lake, White Bear Lake, Lake Minnetonka, Prior Lake, Medicine Lake, and there are many more – just check out all of the Twin Cities lake homes on LakePlace.com. All of these are within the Twin Cities Metro Area.

Today’s needle in a haystack is Annandale, MN.  Located about 45 minutes outside the Twin Cities metro - Annandale is a very popular lakes area.  I usually make it up to a friends cabin in this area once a year and I have to admit…the short drive is a real luxury you can appreciate when your own cabin is 3 hours north.  LakePlace.com features dozens of Annandale lakeshore property listings including properties on Lake Sylvia, Clearwater Lake, Pleasant Lake, Cedar Lake & more! 

Happy Lake Home Hunting!

Today’s needle in a haystack is Lake Mendota in Madison Wisconsin.  A couple of years ago I was lucky enough to visit Madison for the WI Governor’s Conference on Tourism (WIGCOT).  It happened to be at the Madison Convention Center which is located on the shores of Lake Mendota.  I must say, it is a beautiful lake right in the middle of the city.  If you are thinking about purchasing or looking at Lake Mendota Homes – or any lakeshore property in Madison, be sure to use the easiest site around – LakePlace.com. 

Happy Lake Home Hunting!

Rhinelander, WI is a very popular lakes area for folks in Minnesota, Wisconsin, & Illinois – and it is today’s needle in a haystack.  Rhinelander has a nice mix of nature and city life.  If you are searching for Rhinelander lakeshore property – your search just got easy.  LakePlace.com features just about the entire market online.  By the way, the image above is the Rhinelander Hodag – I think he lives in the woods – not the water – so swimming is safe in and around Rhinelander!

Park Rapids, MN is today’s needle in a haystack.  Park Rapids is a beautiful area with plenty of fun to be had.  Check out the Park Rapids lake property listings on LakePlace.com – at the time of this post, we have more than 200 listings available in the area!  My accountant (and friend) makes a trip up to Boot Lake every year with his family and tell me you could not find a better place to spend your summer days.  Potato Lake & Fish Hook Lake are a couple of other favorites in the area.

Happy Lake Home Hunting!

Today’s Needle in a Haystack is Willmar, MN.  Willmar is a very popular area in Minnesota for vacation home owners.  This Log Home on Long Lake is priced at $265,00 – making it very attractive.  It features 150′ of lakeshore and a guest room above the garage for guests.  Check it out, along with all of the Willmar lake property listings available on LakePlace.com!  Happy Lake Home Hunting!

Today’s Needle in a Haystack is Ely Minnesota. Ely is the gateway to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). If you have never visited the Boundary Waters, it is one of those trips that you must make in your lifetime. I was lucky enough to grow up in a town 90 miles south of Ely – so a trip to the Boundary Waters was an annual or bi-annual event. Since leaving the area for the bright lights of Minneapolis, I have been able to take two of my children along the same canoe routes that I took as a kid – and I hope to take my youngest this fall.Â

Anyways, you will not be able to buy a property directly inside of the BWCA – but you may want to check out the available Ely lake property listings - some of these properties have direct access to the Boundary Waters. Many other lakes in the area share the same characteristics as well. Check out the listings on Burntside Lake, Birch Lake, Eagles Nest Lake, Shagawa Lake, and Fall Lake (like the Fall Lake Property pictured below).

Happy Lake Home Hunting!