Real Estate Blog for the North & East Twin Cities

A bronze memorial of Officer Richard Crittenden walking hand-in-hand with his granddaughter is just outside the North St Paul police station on Margaret St. It was place there in 2010, approximately a year after the sad September morning when Officer Crittenden lost his life while protecting a woman from a domestic assault. He is a true local hero.

Linwood real estate didn’t come to a standstill in 2011 but the number of sales did drop significantly in this northern Anoka County communities. There were nearly 34% less homes sold in Linwood last year. New listings were down nearly 35% as well which does help to balance the market. The average price of a Linwood home dropped over 13% to $142,536 but at $91/sq foot, home sales prices do seem inline with other north metro communities. Linwood is a more rural Anoka County community that featuring acreage and lakeshore properties. It is located just north of Columbus and south of Stacy. Market time dropped for the fourth year in a row to an average 154 days on the market for a home to sell. Linwood’s home sellers were seeing offers come in a bit lower in 2011and were receiving an average of 90.7% of list price compared to 93% in 2010. While it does seem a bit low, the percent of list price received is similar to many other commuities in the north metro so Linwood is showing continued signs of a slow but steady recovery.

For additional details on home sales in Linwood MN at the end of 2011, Click HERE.

As in many other north and east Twin Cities metro communities, Lino Lakes has had a drop in new listing and a slight increase in sales. This is a good indication that we are moving toward a more balanced market across the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. There was a drop in the average home sales price in this eastern Anoka County community of just over 12%. Foreclosure and lender mediated pricing has affected the average price of a sold home in Lino Lakes coming in at just over $200,000 in 2011. Average price per square footage also took a bit of a tumble from $106/sq foot in 2010 to an average of $95/sq foot in 2011 but is still on par with other communities in the area. On average, it took about a couple of weeks more to sell a Lino Lakes, Minnesota home in 2010 but a good number of homes did sell in this Anoka County community so lender mediated properties are working their way through the system which will balance the market eventually. Sellers were getting just a bit less at 91% rather than 92% of original list price they received last year, Overall it appears that residential real estate market in Lino Lakes is continuing to stabilize.  

For additional details on home sales in Lino Lakes MN at the end of 2011, Click HERE.

In this north Washington County community, just north of White Bear Lake, closed home sales were remained flat in again in 2011 as they were in 2010. This follows a year where they were up by nearly 43% in 2009. That shows continued stability especially since new listings are down significantly for the second year in a row with a 21% decrease. Unfortunately, the average sales price did continue to decline by another 6% from just over $192K to $180,950. The amount sellers are receiving on sales is down a bit compared to asking price but not dramatically. Unfortunately the average price per square footage dropped significantly in 2011 from $98/sq ft in 2010 to $90/sq ft at the end of the year. This is still in line with most other north and eastern communities. Time on the market to sell a Hugo home, did jump up a bit in 2011 but with homes selling in roughly 5 months this Washington County community is making good progress toward stabilization.

For additional details on the inventory levels in Hugo MN at the end of 2011, Click HERE.

In 2011, homes continued to sell at a rate equal to in in Ham Lake, Minnesota; an area well known for its acreage properties. In this north and eastern Anoka County city, home sales were down just a few percent but with new listings down nearly 25% the absorption rate did not suffer. The average days on the market dropped by over 5% this year, from 176 to 166, which continues to level the playing field between buyers and sellers. The average price of a home sold did drop this year by roughly 8% from Just over $240K to $221,367. This also had a major affect on the price per square footage as it dropped from $100/sq ft to $88/sq ft which is similar to other areas in the north metro. Sellers seem to be negotiating more on acreage making this an opportunity for buyers to get out to an area where there is a bit more elbow room at an affordable price.

For additional details on the inventory levels in Ham Lake MN at the end of 2011, Click HERE.

Stabilization is the word that best describes the real estate market in the community of Forest Lake Minnesota. In 2011 compared to 2010 most statistics were pretty much status quo. New listings are down by over 10% and closed sales up by 12% but the average sales price did not take a hit nor did the days on the market go up or down considerably. Currently the average price is just a tad less than the 2010 average at $171,139. Price per square foot held strong at $91/sq ft which is comparable to other communities in the Washington County/east Anoka County area. Closed sales being up12% shows that buyers are interested in the Forest Lake area and that the market is continuing to improve.

For additional details on the inventory levels in Forest Lake MN at the end of 2011, Click HERE.

The average sales numbers in East Bethel are quite positive at the end of 2011. It shows that this north metro Anoka County community is starting to stabilize a bit. The number of closed sales were up dramatically and new listings are down a bit for the third consecutive year. A good surprise is seeing that the average sales price in 2011 in East Bethel is actually up 8% from 2010 and with new listings down, it appears that the real estate market stabilized a bit. The ratio comparing sold price to list price did see a bit of a drop in 2011 to just under 90% which is in line with other north and east metro communities I work in. The days on the market statistic is one number to watch as it did rise considerably and the price per square footage is another concerning factor as it dropped from $89 to $85, But as these were the only negatives in an otherwise stellar report, it appears that the affordable East Bethel housing market did have a good year in 2011

For additional details on the inventory levels in East Bethel MN at the end of 2011, Click HERE.

Coon Rapids, a northern suburb to Minneapolis, saw a significant decrease in new listings but a huge increase in closed sales in 2011 over 2010. The average sales price of a home in this vibrant Anoka County community was down a whopping 13.1% which caused a subsequent drop in price per square footage from a very affordable $81/sq ft in 2010 to a extremely low $69/sq ft in 2011. It is one of the lowest in the north metro but  keep in mind that there are many starter home and townhome developments with significant lender mediated properties. Coon Rapids area remains very affordable but prices will be leveling off again. Inventory dropped to less than 4 months at the end of 2011. Compare this to 7 months of inventory at the end of the previous year and there is a good potential for a rebound in prices into 2012. Market time is on the rise with an average 139 days on the market. The ratio of original price to received price is down in Coon Rapids but only by a bit under 3% so it looks like Coon Rapids will be continuing toward a balanced market in 2012.  

For additional details on the inventory levels in Coon Rapids, MN at the end of 2011, Click HERE.

Closed sales nearly doubled in Columbus, Minnesota in 2011 compared to sales in 2010. Only 12 homes were sold all of 2010 in this Anoka County community, just west of Forest Lake, which is well known for its acreage properties. Yet in 2011, sales came back with 23 sold properties. However nearly 50 homes came on the market so it there is still an abundance of inventory. The average price of a home dropped also dropped nearly 16% which is the second consecutive year that the average priced dropped over by over 12%. This did impact the average price per square footage which also went down from $103 to $97/sq foot. But $97 per square foot is very good as compared to other north metro communities. Homes took longer to sell in 2011 and sellers didn’t fair as well during negotiations as sellers received a respectable 91% of their asking price which is much higher than in many neighboring communities but down from nearly 97% in the previous year. Average days on the market is up considerably to nearly five months but this is also more in line with neighboring communities. Iit appears that buyers are continued to have the upper hand in 2011when negotiation on acreage homes in Columbus, Minnesota.

For additional details on the inventory levels in Columbus, MN at the end of 2011, Click HERE.

The real estate market really made a positive turn in Chisago, MN in 2011. Sales nearly doubled, up 69%; from 58 homes sold in 2010 to 98 sold in 2011. It was not at the expense of other stats either. The average sales price was almost dead even with the average in 2010 at just over $174,000. New listings were down nearly 7% so the market is more balanced than it has been for awhile in this northeast metro community just outside of Forest Lake. Sellers are receiving only slightly more than they did in 2010 with as the accepted sales price ratio compared to list price ratio is down just a bit. Market time also dropped significantly for the second year in a row. It now takes an average of 186 Days on Market or approximately 6 months which is similar to other north metro suburbs. The price per square foot in Chisago did slide a bit from $94/sq ft in 2010 to $90/sq ft which is comparable to other northeast metro suburbs. Buying a home in Chisago appears to be an affordable option into 2012.

For additional details on the inventory levels in Chisago, MN at the end of 2011, Click HERE.