Minnetonka Beach MN Real Estate

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This is truly a unique town. Even City Hall is unique. It just looks like another house. In fact, the whole City of the Village of Minnetonka Beach is entirely residential. It’s just 218 houses, 625 people, water, woods, parks, and open space. The only exceptions are Lafayette Club and St. Martin’s Church. If you want to live in a town that is persnickety about what the neighborhood looks like, this is it. Aggressive zoning policies protect the special character of this community, and regulations protect the environment. Ordinances carefully regulate what goes into the lake via storm sewers. You can bet that the City of the Village of Minnetonka Beach is concerned about protecting real estate values here as well.

The location of this town is unusual, too. It is made up of only 296 acres on a boot shaped peninsula that sticks out into Lake Minnetonka. Minnetonka Beach is nearly surrounded by prime Minnesota lakeshore real estate.

Changes do not occur quickly here. That’s a good thing. When the Three Rivers Park District announced plans to bring the Dakota Regional Trail through here, the City expressed concerns about trail safety, plantings, and snow drainage. The City is getting the Three Rivers District to modify plans to meet its concerns.

Minnetonka Beach City Hall and Post Office

Minnetonka Beach has a long and interesting history. A handful of settlers arrived in the 1850’s. A wealthy businessman named James J Hill purchased real estate here in 1879. Some of these plots of land were not even accessible during winter months. Hill decided that this would be a great spot along the Great Northern Railroad route for a grand summer resort called the Hotel Lafayette, which opened in 1882. This was a famous summer resort for the well-to-do of the time. In 1883, the area that is now Minnetonka Beach was surveyed and platted and given its name.

In 1897, the Hotel Lafayette burned down to the ground. It seems like all the grand old hotels always burn down. The Minnetonka Club was incorporated in the same spot, but the club building burned down too. In 1894, the city was incorporated.

Real Estate for Sale in Minnetonka Beach

Almost of the property here is luxury real estate. Homes that are not luxury homes right now will be eventually torn down and replaced by upscale executive homes. Minnetonka Beach is a community that is truly in “transition.” This is the kind of transition that is moving in the right direction.

This is not a huge market. A search on the Minnesota MLS for Minnetonka Beach only turns up five homes, at an average price of $2,393,980. There are a couple of homes for sale under $1M, and they are quite nice and livable. But considering the location, it would make sense to tear them down and build something bigger.

Homes on Lake Minnetonka

People were enjoying this lake not long after the glaciers receded about 11,000 years ago. What’s not to like about the lake? Indians fought great battles over hunting and fishing rights here. Although fishing is excellent throughout almost all of the lake, muskie fishing is hot right off of Lafayette Club Later in June, topwater lures work well if you work them over three to eight feet of water over sand and rock, or try deep runners just off the weedlines. If you try fishing the points, you might snag some pike, too. Walleye, bluegill, and smallmouth bass, walleye, and especially bluegills.

If you are looking for a Minnesota lake home here, be forewarned; right now there are only two availalbe. That’s not a bad thing if you are able to act quickly. Both of these are 7000 square foot mansions on Huntington Point Drive on Lafayette Bay, ranging from about $3.6M to $5.5M If you are fortunate enough to live in Minnetonka Beach, you will live either on lakefront, or you will have deeded access to the lake. If you have deeded access here, you certainly won’t be very far from water here.

Lake Minnetonka Real Estate Agent

This market is extremely tight, and the Minnetonka Beach MN lake home market is extremely tight. The best way to find a home here is to work with someone who is well connected to this Lake Minnetonka community. Because I have lived and worked in this area, Minnetonka Beach has become a key service area for me. Membership in community and professional organizations here are conduits of “inside” information for me. Sometimes a well networked agent can facilitate a sale before a sign even goes in the yard. Your best bet for finding the perfect lake home on Lake Minnetonka is finding it before everyone else does.

If you are selling your home you should demand and expect excellent service, top-notch marketing, and REALTOR who can understand the nuances of this specialized luxury home market. With little market turnover here, and very few comps to use for a market analysis, even pricing issues can be tricky, and mistakes can be costly. Work with a real estate agent who has actually seen and sold many homes in this community. Please call me for a free market analysis of your home at 952-220-6488. There is no obligation.

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