Living near water is a dream for a lot of people. There is something about water that calms us, gives us a sense of tranquillity. For some, it is about the sound of waves crashing on the shore or the soothing sound of a river rushing by. For others, it is about the natural beauty of living near water, the views, and the spectacular sunsets. Still, for others, it is about the laidback lifestyle and holiday feel of living near water. Location, location, location!Location is everything in real estate. In addition to the basic human desire to live near water, buying waterfront property is has other attractions. Waterfront properties indeed tend to cost more than properties elsewhere - this is a factor of supply and demand. There is more land that is not near water than land that is adjacent... 11/19/2021

  Bi-partisan support for real estate green card may benefit Minnesota lake region  Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) have proposed a bill that would grant foreign investors a three year residential visa if they purchase real estate valued at $500,000 or more.  It does come with a few strings.  The purchase must include a property valued at $250,000 while the balance of the $500,000 can be income producing property. Sorry, cash only and they must live in the property 180 days each year to fully qualify.  A BBC article said that foreign investors bought $82bn worth of real estate in the year ending March 2011, with nearly one third of it in Florida.  Since these visas are not work visas it makes sense that a certain portion of this investment would be vacation home... 10/23/2011

Price: $82,212 FIZBER.com ID 14633834 Single Family with 2 bed, 1.0 bath, in 2nd Ave E Osakis, MN, 56360 http://www.fizber.com/14633834/ 2nd Ave E - For Sale By Owner Property Details: Type: Single Family Address: 2nd Ave E, Osakis, MN, 56360 Sq footage: 1440.0 Floors: n/a Bathrooms: 1.0 Bedrooms: 2 Year built: 0 View full property details and seller's contacts. View more Minnesota homes for sale. Homes for Sale by Owner. Description: Very nice older home with attached single garage. Newly remodeled kitchen and bath, new triple pane window in dining room and newer flooring through out. One bedroom downstairs and one bedroom, den/office and optional third bedroom/den upstairs. Newer stove, refridgerator, washer & dryer included. Maintenance free siding and windows. Natural gas heater an... 02/23/2010

  Realty Executives Alexandria Home Sales Expands its Business by Launching New Era Alexandria, MN (Grassroots Newswire) September 28, 2009 -- Realty Executives Alexandria Home Sales, located at 504 3rd Avenue East in Alexandria, announces the local real estate brokerage has gone through a change in ownership. Doug Holm has become the sole owner of Realty Executives Alexandria Homes Sales, with Gloria Iverson, long time realtor for the Alexandria area, as the company's active broker. "We are happy to share the good news with the Alexandria community. We look forward to working with you in the future." said Holm. Realty Executives Alexandria Home Sales has been serving the Alexandria and surrounding communities for the past five years. The continuing success of the brokerage has been see... 09/29/2009

10/28/2008

Today is my first entry on my blog and I'm looking forward to seeing how many people actually read this. Our local real estate market is what you're interested in, so here's what I have found to be true. The sellers are steadily seeing results in getting things sold. We have seen an increase in showings and therefore offers being written. If sellers are willing to prepare their home and price it within what other 'solds' have come in at, we are seeing those homes move quickly.Buyers...you should be making your move NOW! Don't think that prices will go down much more, most sellers have made the adjustments needed and are close to their current listed prices. Don't be afraid to make your investment today...it will be well worth it overall.My outlook in selling existing homes in the area c... 03/27/2008

Alexandria has many, many beautiful lakes. In fact, from most places of employment, you can walk out the door and be at a lake within 5 minutes (while Alexandria is a popular, bustling community, traffic isn't a factor in Alexandria). It is tough to choose one as a favorite, but if forced to do so, I'd choose Lake Carlos. Here are 5 reasons I like it. 1. County Road 11. Each time I turn onto it off Carlos Darling Drive, I immediately relax. 2. Three Havens Grocery. It is kitschy and is convenient for a newspaper and cup of coffee or missing ingredient for a recipe 3. It's big. It's the biggest on The Chain (2,520 acres). If it is a busy day on The Chain, just head to the northern end of Lake Carlos. Most boaters out for a tour will cut across Carlos half way up the lake. 4. Carlos State... 01/20/2008

We all know that buying or selling a home can be a very time consuming process.  Although there are thousands of people looking to buy homes here in Osakis, it can be a tricky process finding the right person interested in your home.  With thousands of other homes for sale in the area, there is always some form of competition.If you’re looking to sell your home fast, you’ll need to attract as much attention as possible.  A good real estate agent can help, although she can only do so much.  She can show your home and help to get it out there to buyers, although she can’t make it sell.  If you want to sell it fast, you’ll need to do some work yourself.  If you put the effort into selling your home fast, chances are that you will.The quickest way to sell a home is by staging it.  Staged ho... 12/12/2007

It will be a  busy weekend in the Lakes Area. If you aren't going to be at Waterama, be sure to stop by Art in the Park on Saturday and Sunday. Held for 31 years at City Park on the shores of Lake Henry, there is arts and crafts but also has live music, food vendors and more. If you aren't going to it, avoid this part of CR-42 like the plague as traffic is very slow (for Alexandria anyway). Shuttles are offered from Runestone Community Center. This is advisable. You park and hop on an air-conditioned shuttle that drops you off at the entrance.Also happening this Saturday is the 4th annual Iron Horse Animal Ride. Animal lovers are hopping on their motorcycles and riding together to benefit the Lakes Area Humane Society. If you are interested in participating or just would like a little m... 07/27/2007

A joint effort between the DNR and the Viking Sportsmen will help increase the walleye population in the Chain of Lakes. In the fall, the DNR will put approximately 2,5000 pounds of walleye fingerlings into the lakes and this will be matched by the Viking Sportsmen. Fingerlings are one to six months old and can range from a size of one to twelve inches depending on the species. Walleye fingerlings range from three to eight inches each fall. With roughly 20 fingerlings to a pound, there will be roughly 100,000 fingerlings added. 07/10/2007

The Minnesota Lakes Maritime Museum is now offering sailing classes. "Sailing for Kids" is available July 16th thru the 19th. Times are 1-3 pm for grades 3-5 and 2:30-4 pm for grades 6-8. Classes for teens and adults will be offered later in July and in August. Each class is $50 per person. Contact the museum or visit them to register. The museum (205 3rd Ave. W) is open from 9-5, Monday thru Friday, and 9-4 on Saturday. 07/10/2007

From the August 30th, 1878 edition of the Alexandria Post:Minnesota, the famed land of "sky-tinted waters," has no other equal area embracing so many attractions to health and pleasure seekers, tourists and sportsmen, as well as permanent residents as are found in Douglas County. The time has now fully come when these advantages, unsurpassed beauties, should be made known to the world. Next summer will witness the coming of hundreds - even thousands - of visitors to spend a few days or weeks or an entire season among this wealth of loveliness. Business men and men of means need look after the accommodation of these guests. Summer homes along the lakes, with boats, drives and all facilities for enjoying what nature has so lavishly bestowed should be provided for all who come. 06/27/2007

Each year, there is a Walleye tournament on Lake Osakis (Osakis translated in Ojibway means "The Sauk's Lake or Asagi Sagaiiun"), a top-rated fishing lake in Minnesota. It takes places this year June 16th-17th and features 100 two person teams competing for cash prizes. Weigh-ins will take place at the downtown public access. For lunch, my recommendation is Just Like Grandmas.Team fishing hours: Sat. and Sun. 7 am - 3 pm.More information is available by calling Mike Thesing at 320-859-4781.  05/07/2007

Carlos is a small town nearby Alexandria that has a population of 329. The town was named after nearby Lake Carlos, the largest lake on The Chain of Lakes. Most residents of Lake Carlos have Alexandria mailing addresses except for some located on the far northeast end of the lake.The town began to form in 1879 after an Indian uprising and the official townsite was chosen in 1903 after the railroad was completed. 05/05/2007

Set to open this spring in Alexandria is a new italian restaurant, Bella's on Broadway at the former home of Kolstad's Clothing. Cafe Bella is a popular italian restaurant in Glenwood (9 Franklin St. N., Glenwood, Minnesota) and Bella's on Broadway will be their sister restaurant. I have heard that the plan is to have a wine bar on the 2nd level overlooking Broadway. 05/03/2007

There is a lake called Crooked that is 12 miles west of Alexandria and 2 1/2 miles outside of Holmes City. It isn't a deep lake but has a decent maximum depth of 35 feet. 152 acre Crooked Lake is a good fishing lake for families and northerns in the 4-6 pound range are routinely caught. 05/02/2007

Earlier today, I was in my Volvo heading south towards Maple Lake. Along with me was a couple from a metro area that will soon be moving to Alexanria permanently. As we crossed over I-94, they asked about the drive time to Maple Lake. After answering their question (around 5 minutes), they then asked about the drive time in the morning. Life is good in Alexandria. The drive time is the same any time of the day. 05/01/2007

District 206 serves over 27,000 residents and approximately 4,000 students in all or parts of the cities of Alexandria, Carlos, Forada, Garfield, Miltona, Nelson and the townships of Alexandria, Belle River, Carlos, Holmes City, Hudson, Ida, LaGrand, Lake Mary, Leaf Valley, Miltona, Moe, Osakis, Reno and Spruce Hill.A $40 million budget.Approximately 44% of District 206 teachers have earned an advanced degree (masters, Ph.D., National Board Certification, etc.)District 206 students surpassed state averages at all grade levels (3-8, 10 & 11) in reading and math Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment Series II (MCA-II) tests. (November 2006 data).Alexandria's average test scores in grade levels 3-8, 10 & 11 are consistently in the top three amongst other target ten regional center schools.98.... 04/28/2007

Alexandria has a first-rate health care that contributes to the quality of living in Douglas County and the entire Alexandria Lakes area. Ranked as one of the “Top 100 Hospitals in the U.S.,” Douglas County Hospital offers complete medical care including surgery, ICU, ER services, radiation oncology and mental health. Alexandria’s two major clinics provide top-notch health care in all areas of medicine and therapy and has satellite clinics and services in outlying towns bring health care closer to those in need. 04/28/2007

The Alexandria Area Economic Development Commission(AAEDC) combines economic efforts to strengthen the wealth and stability of Alexandria and the surrounding communities. According to the AAEDC web-site, the commission concentrates on four major areas of strategic objectives: Community—Collaborating in community efforts that strengthen the economy by creating and retaining jobs and expanding the tax base with respect to natural resources. Business—Maximizing the area’s potential for businesses, jobs and economic opportunities to include economic diversification, retention and expansion. Resources—Enriching the financial and personal resources in building new revenue centers to include loan funds, financing sources, and avoiding duplication of efforts. Organization—Developing a professio... 04/26/2007