The other night I was fortunate to take a three hour boat ride around Lake Minnetonka. It was the perfect crisp autumn night and the sunset didn’t disappoint – blues then to reds.
Posts tagged as:
lake living
Downtown Minneapolis from Lake of the Isles, Summer 2013
It’s amazing how many beautiful areas there are in Minneapolis, and in the summer, the Chain of Lakes is one of the hot spots in town. Minnesotans can take a stroll or bike around the three lakes, Lake of the Isles, Lake Calhoun, or Lake Harriet, canoe, paddle board, sail, and more! And all this with the Minneapolis skyline as a backdrop even though it feels like you are NOT in the city.
2719 Dean Parkway, Minneapolis
Located one block from Lake of the Isles and over looking Kenilworth Lagoon, 2719 Dean Parkway is unique among properties for sale around the Chain of Lakes. Constructed to ultra high-end specifications by Stonewood Builders in 2012, this home combines spacious open-plan living with stylish comfort and is magnificent for sophisticated entertaining. A huge, attached two-car garage with circle drive is a winter dream, while the front porch and rear deck provide special outdoor options in the warmer months. A heated and cooled workshop is perfect for projects, and the epoxy garage floors makes cleanup a breeze.
The charming breakfast-nook is wonderful for informal meals, while the formal dining area complements the large, efficient kitchen. An enormous center island offers extra seating and plenty of counter space for cooking up a feast for friends and family. Stainless steel appliances, pull-out pantry, cherry wood cabinets, and coffee station are additional kitchen highlights. And don’t miss the gorgeous American Cherry hardwood floors throughout the main and upper levels! The living room features floor to ceiling french doors overlooking the lagoon that pour in the natural light, a top of the line gas fireplace, and behind the large wall mirror is a hidden nook for your large flat screen TV. Finishing out the main level is a formal office with coffered wood ceiling and separate kitchen desk.
With 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 4299 square feet, this home is for sale at $1,315,000. You won’t find a new house with a better location for this price around Lake of the Isles!
For additional information, photos, and floorplans, please visit www.2719DeanParkway.com .
If you are searching for a lovely home in Minneapolis to purchase in 2013, I am pretty sure you will be able to find something that fits your budget. Prices of high end homes range greatly depending on location and style. Homes on Lowry Hill fetch more than those along Lake Harriet, and sometimes the style of a home is just as much a factor.
Take a look at the newest homes to hit the market in Minneapolis.
[idx-listings city=”Minneapolis” minprice=”700000″ statuses=”1″ propertytypes=”773″ orderby=”DateAdded” orderdir=”DESC” count=”10″ showlargerphotos=”true”]
Have you ever been driving around Minnesota and passed a lake who’s name you don’t know and wonder what it is? Well now the Minnesota DNR has created a phone application to help you out.
The LakeFinder contains data for more than 4,500 lakes and rivers throughout Minnesota and the application allows you to get the information on demand with an internet connection or save it to your device for off-line access. Have thousands of lake surveys, depth maps, and vegetation reports, plus water quality and clarity data literally in the palm of your hand. You can even save them as favorites.
Check it out on the DNR website, or visit your phone’s app store.
A month ago I took the family out for a cold day of Minnesota ice hockey- the US Pond Hockey Championships 2011. They are held annually on Lake Nokomis. It was about 10 degrees that day, but us Minnesotans know that is the best conditions to play pond hockey, especially if the sun it out. I know what you are thinking…we must be crazy!
You have to be careful when watching the games, as a puck can come flying at you any moment. A task even more difficult when looking through a camera lens!
Today I am in Austin, TX for a luxury home conference and had the opportunity to tour some beautiful homes currently for sale. While the Texas climate is completely different than Minnesota, I did find one thing that Austin and Minneapolis – St. Paul have in common… a river runs through them.
As most rivers do, they shape the future of any city. Without the Mississippi River, the Twin Cities as we know it might not exist – lumber and flour barons would never have come to the region to make their fortunes. I am sure the same goes for Austin and the Colorado River (not the one you are thinking of, this one is all Texas).
So, it should be no surprise that some of the highest priced real estate involves water. In Austin, million dollar luxury homes sit on top of limestone bluffs over-looking various man-made reservoir lakes on the river. With sweeping views of the landscape, how could you not love gazing out at this every morning?
Austin Blufftop Panoramic Water View
Of course the really expensive homes must sit on the water. I am told by the agents here that waterfront homes double the price of the home, which is not too different than the Twin Cities. Homes on the Mississippi River, or any of our large lakes like Lake Minnetonka can result in millions of dollars more in a home’s price. The home below had stone steps literally taking you down into the river (really cool!) not to mention a nice breeze coming off the water.
Austin Waterfront Luxury Home
Many times I find that not-so- luxury homes are still pretty expensive if they sit on the water. The current trend is to tear these houses down, and build a big luxury mansion in its spot. However the economy is slowing tear-downs in Minneapolis and the Metro area, with property owners rethinking the amount of money they want to sink into a large project.
Just remember, waterfront homes come with a heavy price tag so be prepared when its time to go shopping! Don’t suffer from sticker shock!
Sailboats on Lake Minnetonka
If you are looking for the premier place to live in the Twin Cities, then look no further than Lake Minnetonka. Located just 8 miles west of Minneapolis, or 20 -30 minutes depending on traffic, residents have access to numerous highways to get them around town and enjoy the best of both worlds – quiet lake living combined with all the local big city amenities.
Buying a Lake Minnetonka home can be a little overwhelming at first due to the shear size of the lake. With over 140 miles of shoreline and numerous bays, real estate options are endless. Some buyers narrow down their choices by choosing the town on the lake they wish to live in– Wayzata, Shorewood, Deephaven, and Excelsior are the most popular Lake Minnetonka eastern towns, with Orono, Spring Park, and Tonka Bay covering the center of Lake Minnetonka, and Mound, Minnetrista, rounding out the western side.
Some buyers look to the house as the number one determining factor on where they will be living. Most of the waterfront homes cost $1 Million and more so be prepared to spend some money on your home. Home styles differ greatly around Lake Minnetonka– Cape Cod, Victorian, Cottage, Modern, Cabin, Lodge, just to name a few. Most of the lakefront homes have their own docks, but some neighborhoods have deeded access to a bay, giving home owners the same opportunity for boat storage on community docks. With boating, fishing, skiiing, and all the fun lake living has to offer, docks are a major “must have” for life on Lake Minnetonka.
Exposure could be important to finding the perfect Lake Minnetonka home. Do you like sunrises or sunsets best?Want both? Then figuring out which way your future home faces could help the home purchasing decision. Lake Minnetonka waterfront homes have fantastic views, especially in the fall when leaves change color, and if you like to garden, consider the amount of tree coverage on the lot, as that will greatly affect what types of plants you will be able to grow.
But the number one action to take when buying Lake Minnetonka waterfront property is to search the current homes available for sale. Make notes on what you like and don’t like and start narrowing down the choices. Before you know it, you will have a handful to see and soon will be on your way to owning your own piece of lake paradise. Happy shopping!
Search Lake Minnetonka Homes for Sale
Lake Harriet in Early Fall
This week I was out and about Minneapolis taking some photos of the city in early fall. One great fact about living in Minneapolis is there are lakes everywhere for the public to enjoy, and Lake Harriet is always full of people taking advantage of the views – fisherman, joggers, walkers, people with dogs, bikers, and yes, even photographers.
