Minnesota has one of the most beautiful sceneries of any state with its many lakes, rivers, and forests available. Known as the “Land of 10,000 Lakes”, the state has the largest number of lakes in the country. Gorgeous lakes and rivers are spread throughout the state, providing an exciting environment for Minnesotans. Minnesotans love the many outdoor activities available to them. Water skiing, fishing, rafting, and many other outdoor activities are available in the summer. Winters are long and harsh; freezing up lakes and snowing heavily. Winter sports play a large part in Minnesotan culture. Residents enjoy skating, skiing, hockey, and even curling in the winter time. With so many different opportunities available, outdoor enthusiasts from all over the country have been moving to the state.

As a center for trade in the Midwest, the major cities have also been growing in population in recent years. People of all kinds are moving to the cities as more opportunities and attractions are made available. The two biggest cities, Minneapolis and St. Paul, have experienced significant growth in the last ten years. Known as the “Twin Cities”, 60% of the state’s population resides in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. There has been a large increased interest in moving to urban areas in recent years. Residents, even from other parts of the state, are attracted to the big city lifestyle. Because of improved transportation, Minneapolis and St. Paul residents are close to any ski resorts or other accommodations. Families have the opportunity to live in the city and experience outdoor activities simultaneously. Read more »

Minneapolis is the largest city in the state, and most well known. It is the business center of the Midwest and anywhere between Chicago and Seattle. Numerous businesses support the economy of the state. Major businesses like Target, Best Buy, and United Health Group are headquartered in the city. Big businesses provide numerous jobs for Minnesotans. The city is also actually rated as one of the top tech cities in the nation. Many different people are finding Minneapolis a great place to live with its high tech atmosphere. Arts and culture is also very strong and brings people from all over to the state.

Sales Trends
The housing market in Minnesota is doing fairly well in this economy. Job creation and a steady population increase have helped the state maintain its sales volumes for recent years. Builders are continuing to build new homes in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. The Minneapolis area has the highest sales for the state. With a total of 5,674 new homes in 2008, the city is doing well compared to other major cities throughout the country. A slow steady increase of 1% in population has helped to keep home prices above the national average. Top builders like Lennar Corp, Centex Homes, and D.R. Horton are focusing on expanding in this area. Increased competition from top builders will keep home prices at affordable levels for consumers.  « Close »