If you’re thinking about moving to Minnesota or you’re moving from another part of Minnesota and you’re looking for a family-friendly community that has great amenities White Bear Lake is a great choice. It’s one of the best places to live in Minnesota. White Bear Lake is just north of St. Paul so it’s about a 20 minute commute to the St. Paul metro area which isn’t bad. The namesake lake is on the southeast side of the city, and most of the luxury housing available here is on the lake or near the lake.
Outdoor Activities Are A Way Of Life
Outdoor enthusiasts love the active lifestyle of White Beak Lake. Life here is centered on White Bear Lake and Bald Eagle Lake but there are also a string of smaller lakes throughout the area. So fishing, kayaking, swimming, canoeing, and other water activities are easily accessible. There are also miles of hiking trails and bike paths. The Tamarack Nature Center is popular with families and there’s a great golf course near Jim Birch lake.
And you can find large open parks throughout the city with swings, sports fields, tennis courts, swimming, and many more activities for the whole family. Bellaire Beach is a popular local swimming beach in the summer and it’s accessible from most parts of the city. In the winter skiing and skating are popular but there are also plenty of great sledding hills.
Lake front living is still affordable in Minnesota
History And Charm
White Bear Lake has been around for a long time but it’s kept that small town feel and charm. It has a fantastic historical downtown district with shops and restaurants that draws people from the city and other communities because of the quaint shops and atmosphere. White Bear Lake was founded in the mid-1800s. People would come by steamboat up the Mississippi River and then travel by railroad out to White Bear Lake.
Because of the lakes and all the recreational activities here it become a tourist destination. Shops and restaurants and businesses supported by tourism sprung up and then some people decided they wanted to be in this beautiful area year-round and stayed. The most rapid expansion came during the 1950s and 60s. But it has always kept its small town resort feel even though it now has over 24,000 residents.
Community Events For Everyone
White Bear Lake has a strong community feel and there are lots of community festivals and events. In Washington Square you can find farmers markets, concerts, art and craft fairs, and more all through the spring and summer. There’s Manito Days festival just before the 4th of July that ends with a huge fireworks show on the 4th. There are parades, beach dances, city-wide scavenger hunts, boat shows, and all kinds of activities for the community and tourists to enjoy.
Schools In White Bear Lake
White Bear Lake has its own school system with both public and private schools at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. The White Bear Lake schools have an overall B rating. But since the community is close to St. Paul you can also choose to put your kids in private or charter schools in and around St. Paul if you prefer those schools.
Affordable Real Estate
Luxury housing in White Bear Lake is definitely out there, but there is affordable real estate in this area too. The median price for homes that aren’t in luxury neighborhoods or on the water is $340,000. That’s about $30,000 lower on average than the price of a home in the Twin Cities Metro region. The most plentiful affordable housing in White Bear Lake is on the south side of the city near White Bear Lake High School. Homes in that area will be priced generally around $350,000 for homes that were built in the 1940s and 50s that have usually three bedrooms, two bathrooms, decent square footage and a little bit of land too. Most of them are one level or split level and they are popular with first time home buyers, especially ones with families. If you want to get the most recent real estate in Minnesota market update go here.
Luxury Real Estate
Waterfront real estate in White Bear Lake is going to start around $800,000 and can go into the millions. Toska Park is one of the low-end luxury neighborhoods. It’s got a private beach, a dock, and lots of outdoor recreational space. Manito Island is another popular luxury neighborhood that is an exclusive private neighborhood directly on White Bear Lake. The lakefront houses are hard to come by because it’s rare than any hit the open market. Usually they are kept within families for generations. In fact, only a few have come on the market in the last 20 years. If you want a luxury lakefront or beach front home in White Bear Lake you need to be ready to put in an offer as soon as it hits the market.
Want to know more about buying a home in White Bear Lake? Let’s talk! Or check out video tours of other great places to live in Minnesota.
Joe Carmack, Minnesota Realtor®
Keller Williams Classic Realty
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