Express Commute Forest Lake to Downtown Minneapolis—Fast and Easy!

 
Forest Lake residents who work in downtown Minneapolis can skip the frustrating traffic jams and backups! There is a convenient commuter station, or transit center, is just a hop, skip or jump from most Forest Lake homes!
 
As a REALTOR® in the north and east Twin Cities metro, I often am asked about the commute to downtown Minneapolis from the Forest Lake area. It is a concern for anyone considering a move to the Chisago, Forest Lake and Wyoming area. A normal traffic free commute from Forest Lake by car to downtown Minneapolis is about 45 minutes. Add in rush hour traffic and travel time can stretch the ride into the city by an additional 20-30 minutes especially with winter storms or summer road construction.

A few years back, Metro Transit started a Forest Lake express route which has since expanded to 2 pick up locations: The Forest Lake transit station and Running Aces in Columbus. The free parking and convenient locations have attracted several commuters.

The Forest Lake Transit Station is located on the Hardwood Creek Trail just west of Highway 61 and 202nd Avenue about a mile south of Forest Lake High School.  This location is a great for parents of students who may have to drop off a student the high school, Century or Southwest Junior High as it is just minutes south of any of these schools.

The Running Aces lot is convenient for those commuters on the west side of 35E. It is a Park & Ride lot with ample space to park just off 35E on County Rd 23.

***Check out the Route 288 schedule HERE! *** 
Route 288 currently offers 7 south bound and 8 north bound trips daily. Departure times run at just before 6 AM with a last run approximately 8 AM and get commuters downtown in an stress free 45 minute ride! Using shoulders and commuter lanes gets the riders to their downtown workplace destination quickly and safely. Return express rides to Forest Lake start just after 3PM and run approximately every 25-30 minutes until approximately 5:45PM.

If you are considering moving to the north metro but avoided Chisago, Forest Lake and Wyoming due to the commute to Minneapolis, it might be time to expand your location choices. This route does make the commute to downtown Minneapolis a breeze! Communities like Chisago City, Hugo, North Branch, Scandia,Stacy and Lindstrom also will benefit as the transit station location is easily accessible from these communities as well.

Need to know more about buying or selling a Twin Cities home? Let me be your professional guide. If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional REALTOR®, give me, Teri Eckholm of Boardman Realty, a call or visit my website for a FREE Home Buyer Success Guide or FREE Home Value Report. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District. Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.

Copyright 2015 www.terieckholm.com

Lendt’s Pumpkin Patch—A Not-to-be-Missed Tradition in Wyoming, MN

Fond autumn memories--Holding tightly to my kindergartener’s hand as we stepped off the schoolbus into the Lendt Pumpkin Patch! We walked hand in hand to the tractor for our ride into the field to pick out the perfect orange beauty to carve into a jack-o-lantern for our front porch step. With dozens of other excited children and their parents or grandparents by their sides, we sat on our hay bales for the bumpy ride across the well worn track. A few minutes later tractor pauses and everyone scrambles out to find their idea of perfection. Large or small, every pumpkin was a beauty in the eye of the pumpkin picker! Within minutes, everyone had a golden prize and boasts were heard among the kids as to which pumpkin was more perfect. Wonderful memories were made that day! A couple of years ago, I drove through Wyoming on the way to visit the home of a listed client. The pumpkin patch field abuts an acreage development where I have worked with several buyers and sellers over the years.

It too was a bright sunny October afternoon. As I passed Lendt’s, I had to stop and snap a few pictures of the beautiful orange fruit peeking out from the greenery along Highway 22. They still are some of my favorite fall photos…so I had to share them again. Every time I see them I am transported back in my memories to that first visit with the tractor full of excited children and their treasured pumpkins. A fall visit to this Wyoming Minnesota pumpkin patch is a wonderful family tradition! And when you can pick your own for only $3 bucks, it is still very affordable too!




















Copyright 2010 Teri Eckholm http://www.terieckholm.com/

TEN Reasons WYOMING, MN is A GREAT Place to Call HOME!

People love living in Wyoming. And I am not talking about the state; I am referring to the City of Wyoming, located just three miles north of Forest Lake, Minnesota. Though some may think the area was named after the state out west, it was named by Dutch and German immigrants who settled the area when they arrived in the late 1800's. They had relocated from the east coast and their new Minnesota home reminded them of Wyoming Valley in Pennsylvania.
With the recent annexation of Wyoming Township, approximately 7000 people call the city of Wyoming, Minnesota home.
Here is a top ten list of reasons why this small town is such a great place to live:

#10-The Wyoming Library. Giese Memorial Library is a full service library open 6 days a week (closed Mondays). Located in the center of the community on Forest Blvd (Hwy 61) there is always something special to do...story time, author readings, computer classes. CLICK HERE for additional library information.

#9-Local Police and Fire. The City of Wyoming is proud to have its own police department and volunteer fire department.

#8-Wyoming Elementary. Grade school aged children living in Wyoming do not have to travel far to class as Wyoming Elementary is located in the heart of the community on Forest Blvd. The school is an integral part of the Forest Lake Area School District 831.

#7-Parks, Playgrounds and Trails. "Where can I play?" is hardly ever an issue for residents in Wyoming. With 17 playgrounds, parks and trails located throughout the community, there is always somewhere to have fun!

#6-Natural Resources. Wyoming, MN encompasses a large portion of the Carlos Avery Wildlife Management area which is a gem of lakes and wetland for hiking, bird watching and hunting. The Wyoming community is on the south end of the Sunrise River and several residents make their homes on the shores of Comfort and Ashton Lakes.

#5-Employers. Fire trucks and fiberglass are two of the many things manufactured in the Wyoming community. Several companies including AllSafe, Artifex Millwork, Hallberg Marine, Polaris, Rosenbauch General Safety, Sunrise Fiberglass and URSA Major call Wyoming home.

#4-Hospital. Most suburban residents have a bit of a drive when there is a medical emergency but not the residents of Wyoming. Fairview Lakes Medical Center is a full service hospital with 24/7 urgent and/or emergency care.

#3-Conveniently Located. Just off 35E and north of the 35E/35W split makes getting to Minneapolis, St. Paul or Duluth a breeze.

#2-Eclectic Options for Living. Whether you want the convenience of a low-maintenance detached townhome or the wide open spaces of a 10+ acre hobby farm, you can find an affordable option in Wyoming.

#1-Friendly People. The number one reason for living in Wyoming is the welcoming community atmosphere. Isn't that what most people search for in a place to call home?

Copyright 2010 terieckholm.com

Year End 2009 Snapshot of Wyoming, MN Market Statistics

The number of new listings was down again for 2009 in Wyoming, Minnesota along with the average sales price of a home in this Southern Chisago County community. Since 2007, the average sales price of a home dropped by over 30%; over 15% last year alone. A high point to the year is that homes are selling at a faster pace with an average of 47 days less time on the market in Wyoming, Minnesota compared to last year. Sellers appear to be getting just over 91% of their asking price which is in line with several other north east metro communities. If you are considering selling your Wyoming home, this might be a good time to list with less inventory on the market to compete with.

Copyright 2010 Teri Eckholm 

Wyoming, MN—A Perfect Place to Call Home

People love living in Wyoming. And I am not talking about the state; I am referring to the City of Wyoming, located just three miles north of Forest Lake, Minnesota. Though some may think the area was named after the state out west, it was named by Dutch and German immigrants who settled the area when they arrived in the late 1800’s. They had relocated from the east coast and their new Minnesota home reminded them of Wyoming Valley in Pennsylvania.

With the recent annexation of Wyoming Township, approximately 7000 people call the city of Wyoming, Minnesota home. Here is a top ten list of reasons why this small town is such a great place to live.

#10—The Wyoming Library. Giese Memorial Library is a full service library open 6 days a week (closed Mondays). Located in the center of the community on Forest Blvd (Hwy 61) there is always something special to do…story time, author readings, computer classes.

#9—Local Police and Fire. The City of Wyoming is proud to have its own police department and volunteer fire department.

#8—Wyoming Elementary. Grade school aged children living in Wyoming do not have to travel far to class as Wyoming Elementary is located in the heart of the community on Forest Blvd. The school is an integral part of the Forest Lake Area School District 831.

#7—Parks, Playgrounds and Trails. “Where can I play?” is hardly ever an issue for residents in Wyoming. With 17 playgrounds, parks and trails located throughout the community, there is always somewhere to have fun!

#6—Natural Resources. Wyoming, MN encompasses a large portion of the Carlos Avery Wildlife Management area which is a gem of lakes and wetland for hiking, bird watching and hunting. The Wyoming community is on the south end of the Sunrise River and several residents make their homes on the shores of Comfort and Ashton Lakes.

#5—Employers. Fire trucks and fiberglass are two of the many things manufactured in the Wyoming community. Several companies including AllSafe, Artifex Millwork, Hallberg Marine, Polaris, Rosenbauch General Safety, Sunrise Fiberglass and URSA Major call Wyoming home.

#4—Hospital. Most suburban residents have a bit of a drive when there is a medical emergency but not the residents of Wyoming. Fairview Lakes Medical Center is a full service hospital with 24/7 urgent and/or emergency care.

#3—Conveniently Located. Just off 35E and north of the 35E/35W split makes getting to Minneapolis, St. Paul or Duluth a breeze.

#2—Eclectic Options for Living. Whether you want the convenience of a low-maintenance detached townhome or the wide open spaces of a 10+ acre hobby farm, you can find an affordable option in Wyoming.

#1—Friendly People. The number one reason for living in Wyoming is the welcoming community atmosphere. Isn’t that what most people search for in a place to call home?



Copyright 2009 Teri Eckholm http://www.terieckholm.com/

Foreclosures on Lakeshore, Acreage and New Construction in Chisago County that YOU will WANT to Call Home!

Looking for a foreclosure, bank-owned or short sale but need to be able to live in the home immediately after closing?

Good news is that foreclosures are no longer always trashed, fixer-uppers. Today's foreclosures can be simply AWESOME! This economy has forced builders and responsible homeowners alike to let amazing properties go back to the bank. Many are still in pristine condition. Some still may require a bit of cleanup or a few cosmetic changes but there are many in move in condition too.


Here are a few of the treasures I noted on the Twin Cities MLS in Chisago County this past week:

• 75 feet of lakeshore on Lindstrom’s South Center. Executive lakehome with all the upgrades previously priced at $475K; now listed for less than $260K!
• Chisago Lakes Acreage! Newer one level 5BR ranch home with pole barn& five acres. Previously listed at $360K now priced at $235K.
• Brand new 1.5 story log home on 5 Acres in Fish Lake Township. Originally listed for $500K but now sold by the bank for over $200K less!
• 80 feet shoreline on South Center. New Construction 2 story! 3BR/2BA was almost $800K bank selling for $600K.
• Modified 2-story in Wyoming on 3 acres 3000+sq ft and 5 car garage. Listed originally at $450K but bank has listed for $315K.
• Newer North Branch multi-level w/3car on wooded acre. Listed originally for $260K, bankowned price under $160K.

If you are in the market for a great deal on a foreclosed home, time to get a buying strategy put together because the rules to buy a REO or bank-owned home are a bit different than when working with a traditional seller. Good homes at great prices go very quickly so you have to be ready to make your move when you see a deal!

Seven Tips for homebuyers considering a foreclosed home:

1. Banks LOVE clean offers. Buyers MUST be preapproved with credit checked and employment and funds verified. Documentation must accompany the offer or it won't be considered.


2. Banks most often reject lowball offers...no negotiation. They are a business and know the value of the asset they are selling.
3. Well priced foreclosed homes get multiple offers. Serious buyers put in their best bid first.


4. Banks sell homes AS-IS. What you see is what you get. Repairs will not be made.


5. Banks will not pay for inspections in most cases. This includes the septic system and/or well. Be prepared as all inspections could end up being the buyer's responsibility. If you chose to inspect the septic or the county requires a septic compliance test, expect to pay $400-$500 for this inspection. A well test will run around $150. A whole house inspection is $350-$500.


6. Personal property is not included as part of the sale. So if the appliances are at the home when you close, they are a bonus. The bank will not remove. But they don't guarantee will remain at the home or that they are in working order. This means if someone breaks in the home prior to the closing and takes them, the bank will not replace.


7. Having your own REALTOR® to represent your interests is essential. The listing agent is under contract to represent the bank. In many cases, the bank will not allow a dual agency so if a buyer contacts the listing agent to write the offer, the buyer does not have representation. This means all of your information goes to the bank...the listing agent is required to tell the bank everything that you say about your financing and the amount you are able or willing to pay. But the agent is not required to tell you anything in return. The agent works only for the bank.

Copyright 2009 Teri Eckholm http://www.terieckholm.com/

Year End 2008 Snapshot of East Bethel, MN Home Sales Statistics

While the number of closed sales was up, the average sales price was down significantly for homes in the East Bethel community in 2008 compared to statistics in 2007. Like in other areas, new listings were down too. At under 88%, the ratio comparing sold price to list price it is one of the lowest in the north and east metro communities I work in. Days on the market is also significantly longer as it took almost 6 weeks longer for an East Bethel home to sell in 2008 than in 2007.

If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional REALTOR®, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet or Homebuyers Success Packet. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.

Buying a Home? Check out my new HOME BUYER'S BLOG!

Copyright 2009 terieckholm.com

2008 Year End Snapshot of Wyoming, MN Home Sales Statistics

The number of new listings is down in Wyoming, Minnesota but so is the average sales price of a home in this community. It took and average of twenty extra days to sell a home in Wyoming, Minnesota compared to last year but the Days on Market Statistic is similar to other area communities.. The average sales price for a home is down just over 17% but on a positive note, this means affordability for home buyers is up as well. If you are a home buyer looking for the right time to buy a Wyoming, MN home, the time is now!

If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional REALTOR®, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet or Homebuyers Success Packet. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.

Buying a Home? Check out my new HOME BUYER'S BLOG!

Copyright 2009 terieckholm.com

Finding a GREAL Deal on Real Estate on Cyber Monday

Everyone knows that today is the day all computer lines will be buzzing with online shoppers trying to get the best deals on Christmas bargains from online retailers. Websites will be slow as millions surf the web to take advantage of discounted prices. So while millions are overloading shopping sites looking for deals on electronics and holiday gifts, now would be the perfect time to search out a great real estate deal.

No I am not kidding. Real estate sites often have tons of widgets, photos and video links that can slow searches. But while others flock to save a few bucks, a savvy homebuyer can save tens of thousands by looking for a home to buy now. Not only are there bank owned properties, pre-foreclosures and short sales on the market, there are homes owned by families that have relocated, there are estates that must be sold and there are houses that are being sold due to family changes such as a new baby, marriage or on the downside, divorce. These homes won’t be removed from the market due to the holiday season. But you can bet that the owners don’t want to face a winter of maintenance on an empty property.

These homes are featuring drastically reduced pricing. Yep, I am seeing listings on homes, tens of thousands off the price from even a few weeks ago. Whether you are looking at a starter home, a town home or lakeshore, great deals can be found! And with the masses of other people buying holiday gifts, a home buyer won’t be faced with as many multiple offer situations. (Yes, there can be multiple offers on a home in this market when the home is priced well!) So home buyers, take advantage of Cyber Monday as a time to shop till you drop for a home bargain! Come January, those distracted buyers will be back in the game.

Here are a few GREAT Deals on Anoka and Chisago County Real Estate:

• 4BR/2BA Townhome $199,900
• 2.5 Acre Rambler w/heated 2nd garage/shop $279,900
• 3BR/2BA/3Car on Pond $204,900

If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional REALTOR®, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.

Buying a Home? Check out my new HOME BUYER'S BLOG!

Copyright 2008 terieckholm.com

Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions—Homeowner Version: Pumpkins Year Round in Wyoming, MN

While visiting one of the favorite pumpkin patches in Wyoming, MN last month, I noticed a bit of permanent décor among the display for the festivities. Long after October, people will be able to drive down County Road 22 and know from this Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distraction where the pumpkins will be next fall.

This carved set of pumpkins is in the front yard of the Lendt Pumpkin patch year greeting the family and friends of the owners year round while providing a bit of artful roadside distraction for those passing by. No doubt left in anyone’s mind what grows in these fields, even in the dead of winter.

Have a VERY Happy and Safe Halloween!

Other Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions:

• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions-Hometown Version: The North St. Paul Snowman
• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions-Homeowner Version: Grrrr....Black Bear in Columbus
• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions-Hometown Version: Giant Mouse and Buffalo in Center City
• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions-Homeowner Version: Forest Lake Steam Train
• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions--Homeowner Version: Ham Lake Bald Eagle in Nest
• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions-Homeowner Version: Little Gnome Facts in Forest Lake
• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions--Hometown Version: Lindstrom Teapot Watertower
• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions-Homeowner Version: D'oh! Homer at Home in Centerville
• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions-Hometown Version: Giant Polar Bear in White Bear Lake
• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions--Hometown Version: East Bethel’s New Resident Black Bear
• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions--Homeowner Version: Steel Dragons in Blaine
• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions--Homeowner Version: Move Over Tiger! Yogi’s Ready for the Links in Forest Lake!
• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions—Homeowner Version: Skol Vikings! Minnesota Viking in Roseville, MN!
• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions—Homeowner Version: Not Paper Roses…Wooden American Beauties in Blaine, MN

Don't be distracted when making YOUR important real estate decisions! If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional Realtor, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.
Copyright 2008 terieckholm.com

Wyoming, MN Real Estate Market Statistics 3rd Quarter 2008

The City of Wyoming, Minnesota on the northeastern edge of the Twin Cities metropolitan area is a hidden gem! According to the city's website the town was named after the first settlers who in 1855 relocated from the Wyoming Valley in Pennsylvania. Wyoming boasts its own police and fire departments, city utilities, library, hospital, elementary school and several community parks. Neighborhood shopping is great with a cute coffee shop, drug store and grocery store in the heart of the town.

Activities are abundant in Wyoming. Not only is the center of the community located smack dab on the walking/biking/snowmobile trail that runs along Hwy 61, there is the new Stars and Strikes bowling, laser tag, restaurant and meeting facility too. Several great fishing lakes are nearby including, Forest Lake, Coon Lake and Comfort Lake. Hunting is a favorite activity of many Wyoming residents as areas of Carlos Avery State Wildlife Management area are within its border. Wyoming Elementary is an integral part of the Forest Lake District 831 school district which provides community sports and activities for individuals of all ages.

Commuting into St. Paul or Minneapolis is a breeze from Wyoming as most residences are a within 3-5 minute drive to I35. The city is just 3 miles north of Forest Lake which is home to the NEW Park and Ride lot for an express commute to downtown Minneapolis.

A good fall pumpkin crop isn't the only big surprise for Wyoming, MN. Real estate in southern Chisago County is finally selling at a pace similar to other areas in the metro. The cumulative Days on Market (DOM) Statistic for single family homes in Wyoming was 163 days or just over 5 months in the third quarter. This time frame is down significantly from the 7 months/214 DOM statistic in the first half of 2008.

Inventory levels are significantly lower in all price points which is a good indicator of a positive trend. Though the highest number of homes available is in price points under $300,000, this category is selling faster translating to about 10 months of inventory. But homes at higher price points still struggle for sales. A DOM of 74 days sounds great in the $400,000-$500,000 category but with only one sale, it is an anomaly. With inventory levels down and sales up, Wyoming is in a better position than it was earlier this year. Current numbers show about 11 months of inventory for Wyoming homes over $300,000, as compared with 4 years of inventory based on sales in the first half of the year.

The amazing deals on the homes in the Wyoming area reflect the changed market. The prices on many existing homes for sale in the Wyoming community have been priced aggressively to entice buyers to drive just a little further north.

Mid Year 2008 Wyoming residential real estate statistics for single family homes:

Under $300,000 ~ 38 Active Listings, 8 Pending Listings, 12 Sold Listings, 136 DOM

$300,000-$400,000 ~ 17 Active Listings, 1 Pending Listings, 5 Sold Listings, 302 DOM

$400,000-$500,000 ~ 1 Active Listings, 0 Pending Listings, 1 Sold Listing, 74 DOM

$500,000 and Up ~ 4 Active Listings, 0 Pending Listings, 0 Sold Listings, N/A DOM

**All Statistical information based on information from the REGIONAL MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE of MINNESOTA, INC. for the period of 7 /1/08 through 9/30/08.

Photo Featured Home in Wyoming MN:


25797 Freeport Avenue, Wyoming, MN 55092



Articles on Wyoming, Lakeshore and Minnesota that might be of interest:

• Wyoming, MN Real Estate Market Statistics Mid Year 2008
• Lendt’s Pumpkin Patch—A Fall Tradition in Wyoming, MN
• Does "Minnesota Nice" Affect the Real Estate Market? "Yah, You Betcha!"
• Dreaming of Life on MN Acreage?--What YOU Need to Know Before YOUR Move!
• Relocating to Forest Lake MN? The Schools are Full of Ranger Pride!

If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional REALTOR®, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.


Copyright 2008 terieckholm.com

Lendt’s Pumpkin Patch—A Fall Tradition in Wyoming, MN

It was a bright sunny October day almost a decade ago, when I first stepped off the Forest Lake Area school bus onto the Lendt’s Pumpkin Patch. Holding my kindergartener’s hand, we walked to the tractor for our ride into the field to pick out the perfect orange beauty to carve into a jack-o-lantern for our front porch step. With 30 or so other excited children and their parents or grandparents by their sides, we sat on our hay bales for the bumpy ride across the well worn track. Within a few minutes after stopping, everyone had a golden prize and boasts were heard among the kids as to which was more perfect. Wonderful memories were made that day!

Last week, I drove through Chisago County on the way to visit a listed client. Colorful directional arrows reminded me of Octobers past when our family made the trip to Lendt's. The pumpkin patch field abuts an acreage development in Wyoming where I have worked with several buyers and sellers over the years. Though I always know the field is there, in October is when the holiday memories come to life!

This too was a bright sunny October afternoon. As I passed Lendt’s, I had to stop and snap a few pictures of the beautiful orange fruit peeking out from the greenery along Highway 22. In minutes, I was taken back to that first visit as a tractor full of excited children and adults arrived at the parking area with their treasured pumpkins. It is still the same. A fall visit to the Wyoming Pumpkin Patch is a wonderful family tradition!

Have a wonderful, memory-filled autumn and safe Halloween!

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If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional REALTOR®, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.

Copyright 2008 terieckholm.com

Wyoming, MN Real Estate Market Statistics Mid Year 2008

The City of Wyoming, Minnesota on the northeastern edge of the Twin Cities metropolitan area is a hidden gem! According to the city’s website the town was named after the first settlers who in 1855 relocated from the Wyoming Valley in Pennsylvania. Wyoming boasts its own police and fire departments, city utilities, library, hospital, elementary school and several community parks. Neighborhood shopping is great with a cute coffee shop, drug store and grocery store in the heart of the town.

Activities are abundant in Wyoming. Not only is the center of the community located smack dab on the walking/biking/snowmobile trail that runs along Hwy 61, there is the new Stars and Strikes bowling, laser tag, restaurant and meeting facility too. Several great fishing lakes are nearby including, Forest Lake, Coon Lake and Comfort Lake. Hunting is a favorite activity of many Wyoming residents as areas of Carlos Avery State Wildlife Management area are within its border. Wyoming Elementary is an integral part of the Forest Lake District 831 school district which provides community sports and activities for individuals of all ages.

Commuting into St. Paul or Minneapolis is a breeze from Wyoming as most residences are a within 3-5 minute drive to I35. The city is just 3 miles north of Forest Lake which is home to the NEW Park and Ride lot for an express commute to downtown Minneapolis.

Real estate in Wyoming, MN in southern Chisago County is still selling but it is selling slower than other areas in the metro. The cummulative Days on Market (DOM) Statistic for single family homes in Wyoming is 214 days or approximately 7 months. That is roughly 2 months longer than areas just to the south and west in Forest Lake, Ham Lake and Lino Lakes.
Inventory levels seem to be in line with surrounding communities for price points under $300,000 with about 16 months of inventory. But at higher price points, the inventory level is quite high which translates to approximately 4 years of inventory for Wyoming homes over $300,000, if sales continue at this slower pace.

The amazing deals on the homes in the Wyoming area reflect the changed market. The prices on many existing homes for sale in the Wyoming community have been cut drastically to entice buyers to drive just a little further north.

Mid Year 2008 Wyoming residential real estate statistics for single family homes:

Under $300,000 ~ 53 Active Listings, 5 Pending Listings, 19 Sold Listings, 201 DOM
$300,000-$400,000 ~ 16 Active Listings, 0 Pending Listings, 2 Sold Listings, 256 DOM
$400,000-$500,000 ~ 4 Active Listings, 1 Pending Listings, 0 Sold Listing, N/A DOM
$500,000 and Up ~ 4 Active Listings, 1 Pending Listings, 1 Sold Listings 417 DOM

**All Statistical information based on information from the REGIONAL MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE of MINNESOTA, INC. for the period of 1 /1/08 through 6/30/08.

Featured Home in Wyoming MN (Pictured Above):
25797 Freeport Avenue, Wyoming, MN 55092

Articles on Wyoming, Lakeshore and Minnesota that might be of interest:

• Forest Lake, MN Real Estate Market Statistics Mid Year 2008
• Ham Lake, MN Real Estate Market Statistics Mid Year 2008
• Does "Minnesota Nice" Affect the Real Estate Market? "Yah, You Betcha!"
• Dreaming of Life on MN Acreage?--What YOU Need to Know Before YOUR Move!
• Affordable Minnesota Lakeshore
• Relocating to Forest Lake MN? The Schools are Full of Ranger Pride!

If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional Realtor, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.
Copyright 2008 terieckholm.com

Express Commute to Downtown Minneapolis from Forest Lake—Fast and Easy!

Forest Lake residents who work in downtown Minneapolis can skip the frustrating traffic jams and backups! A new commuter station, or transit center, began offering express bus transportation in January. No need to drive 35 down to the 95th station either…The new Park and Ride station is located a hop, skip or jump from most Forest Lake homes!

As a Realtor, I get questions regarding the commute to downtown from Forest Lake all of the time. It is a concern for anyone considering a move to the Forest Lake or Wyoming area. A normal traffic free commute from Forest Lake by car to downtown Minneapolis is about 30-40 minutes. Add in rush hour traffic and the delays can stretch the ride into the city by 20-30 minutes especially in light of the 35W bridge collapse and detours. The best option was the nearby, very busy, Park and Ride at 95th Avenue in Blaine, just south of Lino Lakes. Great option…no doubt, but the new station is…A Welcome Relief!

The new Forest Lake express route started without a lot of fanfare but with a good number of excited riders! The station is not yet open but rides have begun.

The free parking and convenient location has attracted several commuters.

It is located on the Hardwood Creek Trail just west of Highway 61 and 202nd Avenue about a mile south of Forest Lake High School.

Great for parents of students who may have to drop off a student the high school, Century or Southwest Junior High as it is just minutes south of any of these schools.

The transit center, scheduled to be complete in early March, will be heated or cooled as weather dictates and have bathroom facilities for commuters.

***Check out the Route 288 schedule HERE! ***

Departure times run at approximately 30 minute intervals between 5 AM to 7 AM and get commuters downtown in an approximate 45 minute ride! Using shoulders and commuter lanes gets the riders to their downtown workplace destination quickly. Return express rides to Forest Lake start just before 3:30 in the afternoon and run approximately every 25-30 minutes until 5PM.

If you are considering moving to the north metro but avoided Forest Lake and Wyoming due to the commute, it is time to think again. This route will make your commute to downtown Minneapolis a breeze! Communities like Chisago, Scandia,Stacy and Lindstrom also will benefit as the transit station location is easily accessible from these communities as well.


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If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional Realtor, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.

Copyright 2008 Teri Eckholm http://www.terieckholm.com/

Showing Instructions—Lock Doors, Leave a Card and Bring Your Shovel and/or Snowshoes!

Yesterday the second of January, I was out showing houses throughout Forest Lake and Wyoming, MN. It was a blustery Minnesota winter day that perpetuates the myth that our state is located somewhere north of Canada. It was COLD…No, it was downright FRIGID! Though the sun was bright, the morning temperature was -4. After a day of sunshine, the mercury had risen to the single digits or maybe teens depending on your location.

Now the native Minnesotan that I am didn’t let this stop me. I was working with a buyer who is in town sporadically. Yesterday was a day that she was in town. Our showings were set so all I had to do was warm up the car for a little longer and dress warm.

Everything went along fine until the fourth home on our tour and this was the scene. That whopping foot of snow we received just before Christmas was still on the driveway of this home! (Note that 4 foot bank of snow left on the curb by the snowplow.)

I asked my client if she thought the home was worth the trouble from the exterior. My client was adventurous so we did blaze a trail through the snow to see the home. Inside the home was nice, but not for my client

The feedback I emailed off to the listing agent was short and to the point. Shovel the driveway!

So what if the home was perfect and my client decided forgo the winter snow climbing adventure? We saw five homes yesterday. Three were vacant. Only one looked like we needed snowshoes to get to the door! If it had been “the” home, our offer would have been lower to reflect the lack of maintenance.

Today the weather is warming up and temps in the mid-30’s and low 40’s are expected for Friday through the weekend. The snow at this property will melt , pack down and turn to an ice block when the refreeze, that undoubtedly will happen, comes!

Sellers even if you have relocated or are not in the area to shovel your driveway, hire someone to maintain the exterior of your Minnesota home. It can’t sell if the buyers don’t get through the door!


Featured Minnesota Listings:

3608 Woodland Drive
20685 Georgia Ave N



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If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional Realtor, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.


Copyright 2008 Teri Eckholm http://www.terieckholm.com/