Albert Lea is a small town of about 18,000 people in southern Minnesota. Located about 90 miles south of the Twin Cities, Albert Lea is best known for its many lakes, including Fountain Lake and Albert Lea Lake, which are connected at the center of town by a channel. These lakes are the largest in the area and are popular for outdoor recreation activities like boating, fishing and waterskiing. The area also attracts residents who are looking for waterfront real estate. Despite Minnesota's cold winters, what many love most about living here is the warmth of the community. "The people here are wonderful," says Realtor Heather Allen. "Over the past few years, several people I've worked with have come from outside the community and have raved about how it's a hidden treasure, how nice and welcoming it is." Even though it's a small town, Allen notes that there are always people out and about and there's always plenty to do. "Fountain Lake in the middle of town is always bustling," she says. "It's nice to see how pretty it looks in the fall with all the colors. Even in the winter, when everything is frozen, you see people out. Even if you don't enjoy the winter, it's nice to see that someone out there is enjoying it."
Albert Lea was founded in 1855 and is the seat of Freeborn County.
Fountain Lake is the heart of Albert Lea featuring a 5 mile walking trail around the lake.
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Waterfront homes along Fountain Lake and Albert Lea Lake
The median sales price in Albert Lea is $155,000, which is about $250,000 below the national median. However, the city's average home value has steadily increased since 2020. Albert Lea offers a mix of single-family homes, which range in design from bungalows and ranch styles to split- and bi-levels. The city's most expensive real estate includes its waterfront homes, with those along Fountain Lake reaching into the $600- and $700,000s. Buyers looking to build custom lake houses will also find land available for sale along Albert Lea Lake, with costs depending on the number of acres and location. The area also features several condo options, which vary in price depending on the number of bedrooms, most start in the low $200,000s.
Albert Lea has many homes inspired by late 19th century Queen Anne homes.
Ranch style homes are incredibly popular throughout Albert Lea.
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Lakefront parks and Myre-Big Island State Park
Albert Lea's central lake, Fountain Lake, is popular for those who want a water-oriented lifestyle. Here, activities like boating, fishing and waterskiing are common. Or for a scenic walk, there's also a 5-mile trail that surrounds the lake. The town's other lake, Albert Lea Lake, offers kayaking, canoeing and fishing and sits adjacent to Myre Big Island State Park. This park features a savanna landscape and is home to over 200 species of birds, among other wildlife. In total, the city of Albert Lea has more than 300 acres of parklands split between more than 40 parks.
Myre Big Island State Park offers amazing bird viewing and is just a short drive from Albert Lea.
Albert Lea Lake is the area's second major recreational lake.
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Albert Lea Area Schools and Riverland Community College
Albert Lea Area Schools gets a C-plus rating from Niche and is home to four elementary schools, one middle and one high school. The city is also home to Riverland Community College, which offers bachelor's degree programs, workforce training, certificates and two-year programs for students transferring to four-year universities.
Riverland Community College has a campus in Albert Lea that offers many areas of study.
Lakeview Elementary serves kids in grades K through 5 in Albert Lea, MN.
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Downtown dining at 112 on Broadway and Jake's Pizza
"Our downtown is thriving with tons of boutiques and local shopping and restaurants," Allen says. She recommends 112 on Broadway, a charming local bar and restaurant serving cocktails and American fare, and notes that "Jake's Pizza is probably the best pizza joint in southern Minnesota."
Jake's Pizza serves up hot pizza in downtown Albert Lea.
One 12 on Broadway offers cocktails and classic American food in downtown Albert Lea.
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Weather and the Albert Lea Police Department
Albert Lea's humid climate means hot summers and cold winters. "Living in Minnesota, we get the full effect of all the seasons," Allen says. "It does get very hot here in the summer, and in the winter, it can be below zero at times. It's beautiful in the spring and fall. I have family come in from out of state, and they can't believe how green everything is and in the fall the colors are just beautiful." In 2022, the Albert Lea Police Department reported that overall crime continued to decrease, and that the city had its lowest crime rate in the previous five years.
Interstates 35 and 90, Mason City Municipal Airport and SMART
Interstates 35 and 90 run through Albert Lea, providing routes to larger cities like Owatonna, 35 miles north; Mason City, 37 miles south; and Rochester, 63 miles northeast. "Because we're centrally located, if we don't have something here, we can find it less than an hour away," Allen says. When traveling out of town, residents can fly out of the Mason City Municipal Airport, which offers daily routes to Chicago. The SMART bus has a single-loop route that runs through the city of Albert Lea.
Wind Down Wednesdays and the Big Freeze
Albert Lea has an average of about 40 seasonally themed events each year. "We have a big Fourth of July celebration and Wind Down Wednesdays in the summer where we shut down most of Broadway and have vendors and live music, things like that," Allen says. The holiday season kicks off with a lighted parade down Broadway, followed by a Christmas tree lighting in Central Park. "Fountain Lake is in the middle of our town, and it turns into a little winter village with makeshift hockey rinks for kids and tons of ice fishing," Allen says. "It looks like a little winter city." Later, during the coldest months, the Big Freeze is a polar plunge and chili cookoff held in Edgewater Park.
Born and raised in Owatonna, MN. Core Skills include Risk Management, Buyer Counseling, Seller Counseling, Home Inspection Basics, Confident Negotiator. Jason shares his insight on the market every week and provides New Listings, Closed sales and other market activity. The information in those reports helps 100’s of Buyers and Sellers make the best decisions possible.
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