Chisago County has several beautiful, large, recreational lakes 30-50 miles from the Twin Cities including; Green Lake, Chisago Lake, North & South Lindstrom Lakes, North & South Center Lakes, E & W Rush Lakes. Home prices on these lakes increased 11% in 2017 over 2016. There are many smaller lakes and rivers that also saw price increases.
There were 64 lake home sales, on the above-mentioned lakes, with a median sale price of $314,950 in 2017. The highest price was $810,000. In 2016 there were 71 sales with a median price of $283,900 and a high price of $675,000.
The Chisago County lakes are still a great value compared to Forest Lake, White Bear Lake, & Lake Minnetonka. Below is a comparison chart for 2017 sales broken down by lake.
| Lake Name | # of Sales | Median Price | High Price |
| Chisago Lake | 5 | $350,000 | $535,000 |
| Green Lake | 16 | $412,500 | $655,000 |
| N Center | 8 | $319,000 | $350,000 |
| N Lindstrom | 6 | $272,250 | $540,557 |
| S Center | 8 | $277,000 | $429,900 |
| S Lindstrom | 3 | $412,000 | $810,000 |
| E Rush Lake | 5 | $305,000 | $439,000 |
| W Rush Lake | 13 | $218,500 | $615,000 |
| Big Marine | 11 | $476,500 | $1,235,000 |
| Forest Lake | 42 | $482,500 | $1,200,000 |
| White Bear | 11 | $890,000 | $1,350,000 |
| Lk Mtka | 178 | $1,181,250 | $8,271,000 |
Currently, there are very few lake homes on the market, so it is a good time to study the options on the lakes. You will want to be prepared to make a quick decision when they become available, as they could sell fast. There are many considerations other than location or price, but prices are projected to continue to rise.
I see more buyers from the Twin Cities or Wisconsin buying our lake homes than current residents, as some people prefer more land or larger houses. The Chisago Lakes Area received a lot of attention over the past year with the work of the ABC Committee and the school district improvements, and many people that grew up here are returning to raise their children in our great community. Living on the lake is like living on vacation!
An experienced real estate agent can help you compare the features and benefits of the waterfront homes available in Chisago County, including the recreational lakes, small private lakes, or riverfront homes.
Ask the Real Estate Agent is a weekly column by Cheryl Kempenich of Coldwell Banker Burnet, who lives and offices in the Chisago Lakes Area. Submit your questions to ckempenich@cbburnet.com. All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. For legal assistance consult an attorney.