Lake shore values

Anybody got a wild guess you should expect to pay per foot of shoreline on a smaller fishing lake in Aitkin county?

Go to or call the County Assessors office and ask for some values. Most are ready to help you with simple questions.

Another options, don’t know if they have available like in Metro is County GIS/Property information pages on their website. You can pick various properties and see latest sales along with property size, lake frontage, etc.

Other factors may influence price more than anything is location, location, location:
Is property on a busy highway or back country road?
Is it buildable per current Zoning Rules? The County Planning & Zoning office can tell you what rules are for property your considering.
Is it steep access to lake or gentle slopes?
Does it have a well or do you need to have one drilled?
Does it have easy access for putting in a dock, as in nice open water or really deep or really shallow & thick with weeds?

Good Luck

Aitkin County GIS MAP
Here you can search for some data yourself.

Don’t forget about the water table. I think that’s what’s it called, but any who the land my folks put their cabin on had to be re-placed a few hundred feet further away from where they originally wanted BC of this. Also caution of any marshy areas there are laws stating you can’t fill in any of those no matter how mosquito infested it is.

And ensure you can put in a septic system. Usually requires a perk test. You’d prefer not to have to do holding tanks.

Don’t forget about access to electric. I work for a utility company and it is getting expensive to extend power to a site. It’s always a shock to a customer who has bought property and then I tell them it’s going to be $30,000 to get power. Always get an estimate from the power company before you buy the property

Generally speaking, if the lake has zeebs the value will be worth more.

If you’re serious about buying educate yourself online and research realtors and hire one.

a lake cabin is all about Location Location Location…nothing worse than having a place on a lake that you can’t swim or fish in because the water sucks..

Quote:

---

If you’re serious about buying educate yourself online and research realtors and hire one.

---

And good luck finding one that is actually helpful AND knowlegable and not just interested in the commision

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

If you’re serious about buying educate yourself online and research realtors and hire one.

---

And good luck finding one that is actually helpful AND knowlegable and not just interested in the commision

---

True, but it can be done. You don’t want to do all the leg work and then go thru the listing agent. No matter how fair they say they are they already have a relationship with the sellers.

Thanks to the internet and reciprocity you can view all listings.

Be diligent, walk properties without contacting any agents. Talk to neighbors. DNR lake info.

When it’s time to buy is when you need a savvy, educated agent that will protect you. Water tests, septic certifications, surveys,etc…

Remember, as the buyer you don’t pay any commissions, the seller does.

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

If you’re serious about buying educate yourself online and research realtors and hire one.

---

And good luck finding one that is actually helpful AND knowlegable and not just interested in the commision

---

True, but it can be done. You don’t want to do all the leg work and then go thru the listing agent. No matter how fair they say they are they already have a relationship with the sellers.
Thanks to the internet and reciprocity you can view all listings.
Be diligent, walk properties without contacting any agents. Talk to neighbors. DNR lake info.
When it’s time to buy is when you need a savvy, educated agent that will protect you. Water tests, septic certifications, surveys,etc…

Remember, as the buyer you don’t pay any commissions, the seller does.

---

Use Google & Bing Maps/ Aerial Photo’s to view what is surrounding the property. Roads, Powerlines, Railroads, Businesses other buildings that may be hidden by the landscape, trees, etc. Also the USGS & MnDNR MAPS for lake levels and flow direction, terrain features.

Check with County Registrar if a Property Survey or Plat has been filed. If there is, get copies of them. There should be information on a Plat as to Easements for Access to other parcels, utility lines, storm water, etc.

Here is a website link with good information on what to look for.
Land Buyers Guide

Beginners guide to buying land

Hope these help.

Quote:

---

Anybody got a wild guess you should expect to pay per foot of shoreline on a smaller fishing lake in Aitkin county?

---

There is no general answer to this. Everything depends on the property specifics. How good is the lakeshore, how desirable is the lake, how buildable is the lot, what are the restrictions, how good is the road access, neighboring properties, view, sun orientation, etc, etc, etc.

Lakeshore property ranges from unusable and unbuildable, to absolutely golden.

If you use the main MLS website, you can narrow the search by county and then filter by lakeshore property only. That will give you some idea of both current listings and you can search sold properties, but I think there’s a limit to how far back you can go.

A realator probably has more tools to research.

Grouse

Quote:

---

If you’re serious about buying educate yourself online and research realtors and hire one.

---

Belletaine’s advice is good! I bought a place on Mille Lacs a few years ago and got lucky to find a good agent.

I worked with Bob Kochenderfer with Mille Lacs Realty. He was great to work with and helped us make a good decision. I would highly recommend him.
Bob’s Webpage

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

If you’re serious about buying educate yourself online and research realtors and hire one.

---

And good luck finding one that is actually helpful AND knowlegable and not just interested in the commision

---

True, but it can be done. You don’t want to do all the leg work and then go thru the listing agent. No matter how fair they say they are they already have a relationship with the sellers.
Thanks to the internet and reciprocity you can view all listings.
Be diligent, walk properties without contacting any agents. Talk to neighbors. DNR lake info.
When it’s time to buy is when you need a savvy, educated agent that will protect you. Water tests, septic certifications, surveys,etc…

Remember, as the buyer you don’t pay any commissions, the seller does.

---

I would NOT advise anyone to walk properties without permission. That can be considered trespassing. If a property is listed, you need to inform the listing agent or the owner that you’d like to access their property.

As others have said, do your home work and get a reputable Buyer’s Agent to represent you. Get someone who is local and has experience in the particular type of property you’re looking for. Buying real estate is too big of a deal to trust an inexperienced agent or worse, try to do yourself, unless you’ve had LOTS of experience in buying and selling.

Land for sale and posted for sale, especially land only with no cabin gets walked all the time. I would be shocked if someone who desires to sell a piece of land would have a guy arrested for trespassing. People in the market for cabins do a lot of driving and spend a lot of time “peeking” at the property. Trust me, in a competitive market seller’s enjoy exposure of all kinds.