Chanhassen’s name is a Dakota phrase that means “tree with sweet sap,” in case you were wondering why a maple leaf is used as the city’s logo. It’s a good choice, considering that the rolling hills and wide open spaces are dotted with sugar maple groves. Maple trees also garland the shoreline of its recreational lakes, especially Lake Riley and Lotus Lake. The trees and lakes of Chanhassen attract homebuyers who seek a bucolic setting, but don’t want to miss out on the 21st Century. The abundance of parks, woods, waterfront, and wildlife make Chanhassen real estate an attractive choice for homebuyers who still want shopping, good municipal services, entertainment, and easy access to the downtown metro area. The new MN Highway 312 means that the big city amenities are closer than ever.
Many buyers will purchase Chanhassen homes on the basis of the quality pubic school system alone. The city is served by three award-winning school districts, and all of them have reputations for academic excellence. Good schools are indicative of an overall high quality-of-life for any community, and the top-notch districts that serve this area help to protect and progress the value of Chanhassen real estate.
More about Chanhassen
Chanhassen is southwest of Minneapolis and St. Paul and has a population of just over 24,000 residents. It spans an area of 14,427 acres and 24 square miles and while most of Chanhassen is in Carver County a small are of 154 acres are in Hennepin County.
Chanhassen was mainly a farming community and it was in the early 1850’s when the first settlers arrived. When the Indian land title ended in 1853, the area began to grow with the arrival of more settlers. Train access to the town by the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad brought additional people to Chanhassen and in 1896 the Village of Chanhassen was incorporated. Soon a feed store, lumber yard, saloon and the State Bank of Chanhassen joined Pauly’s General Store.
The area saw minimal growth until the 1960’s when the first mini-mall was built and in 1967 the merger of the village and surrounding township created the now City of Chanhassen. The Chanhassen Dinner Theatre was built in 1968 and still attracts more than 300,000 people to its live theater performances.
The late 1970’s saw redevelopment of Chanhassen’s downtown and industrial parks. Today you can enjoy eating, shopping and various entertainments in Chanhassen’s downtown and over 500 businesses are located in the industrial parks. The Chanhassen real estate market saw a surge of real estate activity in the 1980’s.
The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is located in Chanhassen, which is a showcase of gardens, landscapes, natural woodlands, wetlands and prairies featuring a generous collection of northern-hardy plants. It is on over 1,000 acres with 12.5 miles of garden paths and hiking trails. The natural beauty of the area continues to be a strong drawing card for the Chanhassen real estate market.
Twelve glistening clean lakes can be enjoyed in the area along with two of the best beaches in the Twin Cities, Lake Ann Park and Lake Minnewashta Park. Bikers, runners, and walkers love the 55 miles of trails and sidewalks that connect them to the downtown, parks and neighborhoods. There are also five community parks and 22 neighborhood parks coving 500 acres. Four skating and hockey rinks are an option on Minnesota’s winter days and if you do get cold warming houses are available. If you are an in-line skater or skateboarder you will want check out The Chanhassen Skate Park that offers a 100’ x 200’ asphalt pad with a hotbox, wedge, quarter pipe, spine, half pipe and grind rails.
Finding Homes in Chanhassen
Is the Chanhassen housing market about to explode? Plug your ears! Well, can really predict future housing markets, but the smart money is on Chanhassen. The geographic location and the new freeway system favors growth; home buyers who may have settled for Eden Prairie or Edina in the past can now purchase Chanhassen homes that are newer and are generally more affordable. They can live in a town that still retains a rural flavor, without incurring additional driving time to work.
At the time of this post, there were 155 single family real estate listings for sale on the Chanhassen MLS, according to Northstar Regional MLS statistics. Average asking price was $706,183, however this number is a bit misleading, as it is skewed sharply upward by a handful of multi-million dollar properties currently for sale. The vast majority of Chanhassen homes for sale are under $500,000. Options include everything from multi-acre estates by Lake Riley, Lotus Lake, and Lake Lucy to mint-condition splits and multilevel 80’s homes priced in the 200’s.
Chanhassen townhomes are even more affordable, and the selection is equally diverse. There are detached townhomes for sale on the north side of Lake Riley, entry-priced multi-level Dean Johnson units north of Byerly’s and Target, and handicap-accessible Chanhassen condos for sale on Lake Drive West. Older quads with walkouts, decks, generous master bedroom dimensions, and plenty of trees and grassy areas are for sale near Powers and Kerber Boulevard for the mid $100’s. Newer slab-on-grade two story side-by-side townhouses built by Rottlund in the 1990’s are for sale in developments along MN Highway 5 just west of town. Pulte multi-level Chanhassen townhomes with soaring vaulted ceilings and decks overlooking grassy backyard areas are for sale along Century Boulevard. Newer, all-one level units are scattered throughout the area. New Chanhassen home construction is also an affordable possiblity.
For more detailed information, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Our goal is to provide the most up-to-date information so you can make a quality decision.
Possibly Related:
