Located in Minnesota’s lake country, Baxter offers a convenient lifestyle along the northern banks of the Mississippi River. “Baxter is a newer, suburban-style city,” says Noah Goedker, Realtor with eXp Realty. “It's seen significant retail, dining, and recreational development, making it a desirable place for families and professionals.” Established as a city in 1939, Baxter began as an agricultural hub and further developed as a result of railroad expansion. It was named after Luther Baxter, an attorney for the Northern Pacific Railroad. Today the city is home to over 9,000 residents and top employers like Ascensus, a financial services company, and Walmart Supercenter contribute around 1,000 jobs to the local workforce. Community go-to spots include Whipple Beach, for lakeside sunbathing during summer, or Oscar Kristofferson Park, for outdoor ice skating in winter. Aside from the annual Lakes Area Music Festival held in neighboring Brainerd, locals rarely have to leave the city limits to have fun. “The Brainerd Lakes Area spans multiple cities and townships, including Baxter,” says Goedker. "This area is a top-tier destination for second-home buyers and vacationers, drawn by the almost 500 lakes, world-class fishing, golf courses, and year-round outdoor recreation.”
The Mississippi River meanders along the southern edge of Baxter, offering a multitude of recreation.
Located in the heart of Minnesota's lake country, Baxter is a destination for homebuyers and tourists alike.
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Ranch styles and ongoing new construction
Low-cost housing, new development and a range of housing options attract buyers to Baxter. “The market in Baxter is on the rise, reflecting the city's expanding appeal,” says Goedker, a third-generation Realtor who has over 7 years of experience selling in the area. “With one in four new listings being new construction, Baxter is rapidly growing to meet demand.” Most of the housing stock here consists of single-family ranch-styles, however the area also includes a mix of condos and townhouses as well as split-levels and two-story Traditionals. With a median sales price of $350,000, homes cost around $50,000 less than the national median. Price points can range from as low as $20,000 for a vacant plot of land to $360,000 for a three-bedroom ranch-style and upwards of $600,000 for a new traditional with lakefront views. Outliers, like properties with expansive acreage, can reach up to $1 million. Multi-family condos and townhouses are primarily clustered in developments like Gracewin Living and Country Club Estates, while new construction is ongoing throughout the city.
Classic ranch-style homes are common throughout Baxter.
On the outskirts of Baxter, new construction homes with modern designs are prevalent.
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Year-round recreation at Oscar Kristofferson Park
Baxter maintains eight parks and outdoors facilities for residents to enjoy. Locals here are accustomed to all four seasons, ranging from hot humid summers to freezing winters with an annual average snowfall of 44 inches. “Whether it's boating in the summer, snowmobiling in the winter, or enjoying the local shops and restaurants year-round, the lifestyle here is second to none,” says Goedker. Oscar Kristofferson Park is centrally located and has sand volleyball courts, a batting cage and baseball fields for the warmer months. Come winter, the park has a hockey rink equipped with a warming house. Whipple Beach is another option on the north side of the city and offers a playground, picnic pavilion and a fishing pier along its sandy beaches. Three Bear Waterpark, also to the north, features waterslides, hot tubs and a lazy river that's open for families to enjoy throughout the year. On the east side, Northland Arboretum provides miles of trails for hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing and nearly 400 acres of naturally preserved land to explore. Crow Wing State Park, to the south, is home to camp sites, a fishing pier, a canoe launch and plenty of scenic views of the Mississippi River.
Three Bear Waterpark in Baxter has waterslides, hot tubs, and a lazy river.
Baxter's Oscar Kristofferson Park is fun for the whole family with an expansive playground and multiple baseball fields.
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The annual Lakes Area Music Festival
In the summer, residents can attend the annual Lakes Area Music Festival in nearby Brainerd, less than 5 miles or a 10-minutes' drive away. Held over a four-week period from July through August, the festival features over 250 musicians and plenty of classical music performances. Concert admission is free, however, donations are welcomed. The festival is highly anticipated and has been a long-standing tradition for over 16 years.
Minutes from Baxter, the annual Lakes Area Music Festival features an array of musical performances and artists every July.
Baxter residents can visit the Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts for many performances during the Lakes Area Music Festival.
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High marks at Brainerd Public Schools
Families in Baxter are zoned for the Brainerd Public School District, which earns a B-plus from Niche. The district serves over 6,000 students and is ranked 69 out of 383 for the best school district in Minnesota. There are six elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. Most students attend Brainerd Senior High School, which earns a B-plus rating and offers 16 AP courses for college credit. Private options like Lake Region Christian School and Family of Christ Lutheran School are also available in Baxter. Those interested in higher education can look to Central Lakes College, which awards associate degrees in 48 programs.
Most Baxter students attend Brainerd Senior High School.
Central Lakes College, a comprehensive community and technical college, is only minutes from Baxter.
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Eastside grocers, eateries and Westgate Mall
Baxter does not have a designated downtown area, however, there’s a primary commercial hub on the east side of the city. Most residents shop along Highway 371, which features a mix of name-brand retailers like Walmart Supercenter, Costco Wholesale, Cub Foods and Target. Stores like Dunham's Sports, JoAnn Fabrics and Harbor Freight are available at Westgate Mall along Great River Road. When dining in the area, locals can choose between nationally recognized fast-food chains and locally owned eateries in the retail district. Notable restaurants include 371 Diner, which has served traditional American fare in Baxter since 1998.
Costco Wholesale is a popular shopping destination in Baxter for deals on bulk goods.
The 371 Diner is a local dining favorite in Baxter, offering classic American fare with a retro vibe.
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Nearby healthcare and access to U.S. Route 10
Highways 210 and 371 intersect on the east side of the city, connecting residents to neighboring areas and U.S. Route 10 for trips into the Twin Cities. Jefferson Lines provides public bus rides along Great River Road. When traveling farther outside of Baxter, the Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport is 8 miles away. It partners with commercial airlines like Delta for connections to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport. For healthcare, the Essentia Health-St. Joseph's Medical Center is 4 miles east of the community.
Crime
According to FBI data, the Baxter Police Department’s violent and property crime rates remain well below national figures. Violent crime rose by 60% in 2023, while property crime increased by 14%.
Mike Fish is the Broker/Owner of MN Real Estate and Management. We are a full service Real Estate Brokerage helping sellers and buyers; however, we also specialize in short term rental management which gives us a unique advantage and place in the market. We are normally working with 10 to 15 potential lake home buyers at a given time, and will certainly analyze any property for its potential as a part time short term rental with no pressure. We help those who want to keep their properties do so by filling it up when they are not using it, we help those who want to sell do so at top dollar and we are always looking for buyers who are dreaming of their own place!
Go to: www.MNREandM.com to learn more!
Sellers
Our unique and aggressive selling strategies have allowed us to help our clients take advantage a great market. We would love to discuss how we are achieving up to 150% of county-accessed market value on lake homes & 130% on residential! We believe this may be the highest percentage of any local agency! Most brokerages will never bring this stat up because it objectively proves if a brokerage is getting top dollar or not for their clients.
Buyers
We are happy to show a buyer as many properties as they want to see with no pressure!
It takes experience, perspective, and determination on the part of the buyer agent to win in this market. The Agent MUST be willing to put the time and work in to be successful and we help each buyer, step-by-step, from the beginning of the search through closing! Our job is to watch your back every step of the way! We aggressively negotiate the lowest price possible!
Vacation Home Owners
MN RE&M Short Term Rental Management Services! Net 30k to 80k!
Do you own a lakefront property in central Minnesota that often remains vacant for weeks at a time? Consider transforming your property into a lucrative vacation rental by partnering with Minnesota Real Estate and Management. We simply fill it up when you’re not there. We do everything and transfer the profit into your bank account! We specialize not only in facilitating the buying and selling of vacation homes for investors but also boast a proven track record of developing and managing more than 50 properties in the Brainerd Lakes Area over the past several years!
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
