Where you live plays a huge role in making your house feel like a home. That's why the old real estate mantra of, "Location, location, location" still rings true. But location is about much more than just great views or easy access to work or shopping. It's also about having a sense of community and having things to do and see in the area that make you feel at home. With that in mind, let's take a look at a few of the best neighborhoods in the Twin Cities.
Ham Lake
Looking to live somewhere with an abundance of greenery near your home? Look into Ham Lake, a suburb of Minneapolis (30 minutes away) in Anoka County with a population of a little over 16,000. Living in Ham Lake offers residents a rural feel in this cozy and charming town; however, despite its size, Ham Lake has a strong, tight-knit community, surrounded by acres of farmland and trees. Enjoy quality time with family in a spacious yard with plenty of privacy in one of many houses with unique designs and architecture. Ham Lake also offers residents easy access to multiple shopping and dining experiences, without the hustle and bustle of a major city.
Elk River
Just 34 miles from Minneapolis, Elk River is an attractive community made up of over 22,500 residents in Sherburne County. Looking for affordability, extra space, and a beautiful setting near the waterfront? Look no further than the family-oriented community of Elk River. Nestled between St. Cloud and Minneapolis, this charming area is on the rise and becoming increasingly popular; offering a coveted small town feel with unbeatable convenience to major cities.
With ample recreational opportunities for its residents, Elk River is home to 44 parks and over 800 acres of natural scenery. Some of the most popular recreational parks in Elk River include Hillside City Park, Orono Park, Woodlands Trails Park, and Rivers Edge Commons Park. It’s no wonder Elk River was nominated the #1 best place to live in Sherburne County.
Zimmerman
Located along the Mississippi River, 20 miles west of the Wisconsin border, Zimmerman offers residents a sparse suburban feel with great schools and friendly people. This is a community home to a little under 5,500 residents, where people aren’t afraid to come together to help one another. Family-friendly Zimmerman resides within Sherburne County, and was nominated the 4th best place for young professionals in the county, along with the 6th best place to live in Sherburne County.
Maple Grove
If you enjoy great shopping and dining opportunities, you’ll find plenty of them in Maple Grove’s Shoppes at Arbor Lakes. And when it’s time for outdoor activities, you can choose from one of the town’s 39 parks—including Central Park, that offers gardens, a labyrinth, sports courts, a splash pad, and an award-winning playground. Maple Grove Senior High (district279.org) has a 97 percent graduation rate and also offers AP course work and exams (77 percent of their AP test-takers pass these exams). The commute to downtown Minneapolis is only about 20 minutes and if you’re headed to St. Paul, it’s about a 30-minute drive.
Click here for a virtual tour of a model home Price Custom Homes built in Maple Grove (at 7850 Shadyview Lane, N) recently. This particular home is a Rambler-style home, but we can also build 2-story homes, multi-level homes, and even villas.
Blaine
The City of Blaine is proud to have been named to the prestigious annual Money.com 100 Best Places to Live in America list for 2019. Blaine is one of only three Minnesota locations to make the list. The rankings were based on factors that include the local economy, cost of living, diversity, education, housing, health and safety, amenities, and ease of living. This ranking and Blaine’s recent AAA bond rating shows that Blaine continues to be one of the best places to live, work, and grow.
The City of Blaine also received an honor from SportsEvents Media Group and the Minnesota Real Estate Journal for being a top sports events destination—an award given annually to cities across the country with sports destinations and venues that focus on youth and amateur sports. The Minnesota Real Estate Journal also named Blaine as one of four finalists for their city of the year award—highlighting several development projects as well as new programs and incentive deals that support business and new development in Blaine.
If you’re looking for detached townhome living, Blaine is a great place to find what you’re looking for. Price Custom Homes offers several villa floor plans in the area. If you click here, you can take a virtual tour of seven different homes we’ve built in Blaine. A nice feature of these virtual tours is that you can get an overall feel for the layout and design of the home and take a closer look at the details and craftsmanship that make these homes so special. Within the town of Blaine, you can choose a lot in either Flanders Village or Creekside Village.
