The 2007 annual report from Alexandria's Assessor's office shows that the market value of all property within the city increased from $772 million in 2005 to nearly $895 million in 2006, a 16 percent increase. The majority of the value, nearly 55 percent, was derived from residential and agricultural zoned property. Commercial property accounted for 32 percent of the value. New construction in 2006 contributed $41.4 million to the total, a significant increase from 2005 ($27.5 million). 04/11/2007

Alexandria has once again been designated a Tree City USA city. The Tree City USA program is sponsored by The National Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters. To qualify for Tree City USA, a town or city must meet four standards established by The National Arbor Day Foundation and the National Association of State Foresters. These standards were established to ensure that every qualifying community would have a viable tree management plan and program. A Tree Board or DepartmentA Tree Care OrdinanceA Community Forestry Program With an Annual Budget of at Least $2 Per CapitaAn Arbor Day Observance and Proclamationprovided by craigmische.com 04/11/2007

Mill Lake is a spring fed, deep and clear lake, with 5 miles of shoreline and 650 acres in size. A mill was once located on the lakeshore, and this is were the lake got it's name. It is a very picturesque lake with several bays and a wooded shoreline that enhance its beauty. Walleyes, northern, largemouth bass, sunfish and crappie are abundant in Mill Lake. Many prize winning fish, particularly bass and sunfish, have been caught in the lake. Some feel that Alexandria is the bass capital of Minnesota and Mill Lake is one of the reasons why.courtesy of domainMN.com 04/10/2007

Did you know that the largest lake in Douglas County,Lake Miltona, could have easily been named Lake Roadruck? In 1866-67, Indiana's Benjamin Roadruck and his wife, Florence Miltona Roadruck, settled on the west end of what in now Lake Miltona which was named in honor of them. See what real estate is available on Roadruck, er, Miltona [MLS link]. 04/09/2007

6 miles east of Alexandria is 710 acre Smith Lake. With a maximum depth of 32 feet, spring fed Smith has pleasant woods surrounding the lake providing a quiet, peaceful atmosphere for nature lovers.Lake Notes: Specializing in Northern Pike, Bluegill and Crappie. Walleye, Largemouth Bass and Sunfish also caught. There is a Public Access located on Northeast shore off State Hwy. 27 and Smith Lake Rd.[FIND SMITH LAKE REAL ESTATE FOR SALE]  04/08/2007

10 miles south of Alexandria is a lake Big Ole could fit in his pocket. Fittingly, it is name Pocket Lake. The shoreline of Pocket Lake is 4.7 miles and consists of hardwood forests and wooded pastures of varying elevations. The maximum depth of Pocket is 40 feet and the median depth is 15 feet. It is a good fishing lake but fisherman like Pocket in particular for panfish and bass. A Public Access is located on South shore of the lake off State Hwy. 114 and Pocket Lake Road. [Find real estate for sale on Pocket Lake] 04/08/2007

In 1858, a 20 X 30 mile area of land and water was given the name Douglas County. Five men are known to have settled in Douglas County in 1858. Three of the men, named Holmes, Grant, and Sanford, settled in what became known as Homes City on Grant Lake. Two brothers, Alexander and William Kinkead claimed land along Lake Agnes and Lake Winona. The site was selected for its natural beauty, abundance of water, and timber. It was in 1858 that a company was formed that established the first business; the new company was set up to advertise and sell the newly formed lots. How else would a town develop without Realtors? Alexander Kinkead became the first postmaster and his log home became the Alexandria Post Office. During the summer of 1858, the U.S. Army cut a trail through the brush, woods,... 04/08/2007

I've been looking at some of the numbers from the local mls reports.Here are just a few of the numbers-Sold Market AnalysisResidential- last year  this year  sold last year  sold this year city(Alex)      151         158            30                  30area 2            148        107            16                 20Area 2 is around Alex,carlos,Ida,Lagrand.The average sale price is up 33% in the city $125,688 last year to $167,500 this year.The average sale price is down in area 2 from $192,644 to $169,867.(-11%)Active ListingsBare Land     active    new   pend   soldcity               140      85      1         4   avg price- $51,588area 2           303      96      5        10  avg price- $54,135Res/w acreagecity                112      93     13     32   avg price-$ 176,953#2       ... 04/06/2007

TOP LAKEHOME SALES BY SOLD PRICE IN DOUGLAS COUNTY, MINNESOTAMARCH, 2007 3. 3724 Christopherson Road, Alexandria, MN (50 feet of lakeshore on Lake Ida) - sold for $209,9002. 11080 Tall Timbers Road, Garfield, MN (115 feet of lakeshore on Lobster Lake) - sold for $295,0001. 13110 Maple Island Point SE, Glenwood, MN (352 feet of lakeshore on Maple Lake) - sold for $398,500  04/05/2007

MARCH, 2007TOP 5 RESIDENTIAL SALES BY PRICE FOR DOUGLAS COUNTY, MINNESOTA5. 3125 Crestood Drive, Alexandria, MN - sold for $240,0004. 2787 Wilderness Ridge Rd, Alexandria, MN - sold for $247,5003. 180 Willimantic Drive, Alexandria, MN - sold for $260,0002. 12783 Gurie Lane SW, Alexandria, MN - sold for $266,0001. 1919 Homestead Road, Nelson, MN - sold for $342,000   04/05/2007

Lake Mary is a 2,371 acre lake located southwest of downtown Alexandria in Douglas County that is well developed. Many resorts on Lake Mary attract tourists to the lake during the summer months. It is also a popular destination for local anglers with two public accesses. The number of resorts is dwindling as resort owners are opting to convert resorts to association because of the market value of lakeshore.Currently, there are 27 properties available on Lake Mary. 04/02/2007

LAKE LOUISE is located 4 miles west of Alexandria. The terrain surrounding the lake is rolling and sandy. Louise is 219 acres in area and its maximum depth is 33 feet. This is another good family fishing lake with panfish and bass being the main species caught.Visitors to Alexandria's Arrowwood Resort have driven by Lake Louis many times. It is the little, round lake that is across from Arrowwood Drive. Almost a perfect circle, I have always thought it would be a water skiiers dream lake as it always seems to be calm. 03/30/2007

MAPLE LAKE is located 8 miles south of Alexandria on Highway 29. It's shores are 50 percent wooded and 50 percent agricultural land. There are both homes and cottages on this lake of 835 acres in size and a maximum depth of 72 feet. Walleyes and northern pike are the best species to fish for at Maple.To view all real estate currently for sale within the Greater Alexandria Area MLS, follow this link. 03/28/2007

LAKE DARLING is a 954 acre lake on the northern edge of Alexandria. It is a very sandy lake with a maximum depth of 62 feet. Darling is also one of the main "Chain" lakes (by boat, you can go to Lake Carlos, Lake Le Homme Dieu..depending on the size of your watercraft, you can also possibly visit Lake Cowdry, Lake Geneva and Lake Victoria). The best species to fish for are walleyes and largemouth bass. To view all properties for sale on Lake Darling, click here. Located on Lake Darling is Arrowwood Resort. Pull up and dock your boat for drinks, food and entertainment. 03/27/2007

Lake Le Homme Dieu Public Beach is located on the southeast corner of 1,744 acre Le Homme Dieu. Initially constructed as a wayside rest, the property quickly became popular as a swimming spot. In 1992 Douglas County entered into a 20 year lease agreement with the Minnesota Department of Transportation to improve and operate the facility as a public swimming beach. With assistance from the Alexandria Golden K Kiwanis Club, the property was rebuilt with new restrooms, parking lots, and beach area. Lakes Area Recreation provides lifeguard services from noon to 7:00 p.m. during the summer swim season whenever daytime temperatures are above 68 degrees. 03/26/2007

You can drive to a lake in 5 minutes or less drive from almost all workplace the Central Lakes Trail(A 55 mile all season recreational trail that provides a 14' wide bituminous surface for safe off road non-motorized travel by biking, walking or rollerblading in the spring , summer and fall. It also provides safe permanent routes for snowmobiling in the winter (December-April).) the Twin Cities is just a 2 hour drive Festival of Lakes concert series District 206 schoolsfrom craigmische.com 03/26/2007

A new golf club and luxury family townhomes have been added to Arrowwood's (located on the shores of Lake Darling in Alexandria) portfolio of accommodations. Atikwa (the former name of Lake Alvin) is a newly renovated golf course that was designed with wetland preservation in mind and focuses on scenic lake views and unique golf challenges. Voted "Best 2004 Lakeshore Resort" by MN Meetings & Events Magazine, Arrowwood offers a higher ratio of meeting space to guest rooms than any other Minnesota resort.  03/24/2007

price from $125,000 to $175,000 in Alexandria-32 houses for saleAreas surrounding Alex. same price range-22 houses for saleLakeshore Homes for sale-85Lots range from $14,00 to $3,640,000-408 for sale32 houses have sold this year so far,average sale price in Alexandria,MN. was $170,927 03/23/2007

Earlier this year, I purchased a Canon HV-10 high definition video camera to put high quality home tours online. This morning, I was looking through my files and found a video I took with my Treo smartphone. It is a tour of a home for sale on Lake Geneva. Besides my unsteady hand, the video quality is pretty darn good for a phone. Maybe not good enough for a web-site but decent enough for an email of a quick video display of pretty much anything. 02/28/2007

In my home of Alexandria, people can receive a variety of locally grown produce, carefully boxed and delivered weekly to a location in downtown Alexandria. This service is offered by Ploughshare Farm, which is located in Parkers Prairie (a small city located north of Alexandria). You will sample over 100 varieties of certified organic (MOSA) vegetables, fruits and herbs.  Each week's delivery yields its own unique harvest including staple veggies, plus a healthy dose of the exotic and novel. Deliveries start in early June and continues weekly through October. 02/28/2007