All Blog Entries by Kris Lindahl

The month of February is slowly winding down, but the month of March already promises plenty of action for those in Rochester.

Wines of the World- March 2

To begin with, take a trip around the world this March without even leaving home. Wines of the World is set for March 2 at the Rochester International Event Center. Hundreds of different wines will be available for taste tasting, with proceeds benefiting Bear Creek Services.

The Addams Family- March 2-25

It was a long-standing favorite on the small screen, now The Addams Family is coming to the stage of the Rochester Civic Theatre Company. The family-friendly comedy runs throughout most of the month

The Winter Market- March 10 & 24

You don’t necessarily have to wait for warmer weather

Home sales continue to fall, as the latest data shows existing home sales in the US fell again the first month of the year from the previous year. Sales dropped more than three-percent from December 2017 to January 2018, making for the second straight monthly decline in home sales.

Compare that to a year ago, though, and sales actually dropped 4.8-percent, making the biggest decline, year-over-year, in about three and a half years. While demand is said to be strong, some blame the lack of available homes for declining sales.

At the same time, though, home prices are said to be on the rise. According to the National Association of Realtors, the typical home price during the same year time period went up about 5.8-percent in January. This comes at a time when

From home tours to sleigh rides, there’s plenty to do in Rochester, MN in the coming days.

Free Family Day- February 3

Rochester Art Center

Family-friendly themed art activities are on the menu during Free Family Day at the Rochester Art Center. Each first Saturday of the month the Art Center opens up with free admission for everyone.

Sleigh Rides- February 3

History Center of Olmsted County

It’s also the day for free sleigh rides at the History Center. Hosted by the Rochester Area Special Olympics, the sleigh rides last through the afternoon and donations are accepted.

Frank Lloyd Wright Trolley Tour- February 3-4

Rochester Art Center

The first weekend of the month is additionally the time to head to the Art Center for a Frank Lloyd Wright

A premiere and elite golf course community, Byron’s new Somerby community offers the choice of ten different and unique neighborhoods. This affords the opportunity to choose from everything from a townhome to twin home, villa, or even a single-family home, all within one exceptional area.

Right now, single-family home sites are available overlooking the golf course, making it easy for buyers to head out on the greens or to the nearby clubhouse. As well, you’ll also find homes near a private community park, and others with walkout lots right off the course. Yet additional options include larger estate homes or even villas, ideal for those in search of a maintenance-free lifestyle.

Along with the beautiful home sites and golf course, Somerby also boasts

The holiday season is easily upon us, and the area in and around Rochester, MN is packed with things to do to celebrate the season before the end of the year.

Mayowood Christmas Tours- November 11-December 17

Take a step back in history, as visitors embark on a “Christmas with the Mayo Family”. Holiday themed tours of the Historic Mayowood Mansion take place from now through mid December.

Holiday Train- December 5

Get ready for the Holiday Train, as it rolls into town on December 5. The free event features plenty of fun, plus hot chocolate and live performances. As well, organizers will be collecting food for needy food banks.

Zoodazzle- December 9

A trip to the zoo isn’t just for the warmer months of the year. The nearby Zollman Zoo is

If you're in the market for a fabulous new place to live, here are several Rochester, MN communities you’ll want to consider when starting your new home search:

Salley Hill

Surrounded by plentiful open space and wooded terrain, the homes of Salley Hill sit close to the peacefulness of the Zumbro River, with spacious lots and plenty of privacy. Many of the homes are on cul-de-sacs too, adding to the exclusiveness of the neighborhood.

The Estates of Windamere Woods

Also extremely private, the Estates of Windamere Woods are encircled by lush woodlands, with only around three-dozen available lots to choose from. This luxury community offers home sites starting at around a half-acre to nearly two-acres in size.

Hunter Pointe

Meanwhile, the

Old Man Winter may be coming up fast, but there’s still plenty to do in Rochester, MN before the winter season hits.

Pumpkin Patch

Head out to the pumpkin patch for a day of fun, including the corn maze and more than 20-acres of things to do. Just outside Rochester, Tweite’s Pumpkin Patch in Byron provides plenty of entertainment for the entire family throughout the month of October.

Visit the Orchard

While you’re at it, stay in town for a trip to Sekapp Orchard. The orchard includes upwards of 170 acres of fruits and veggies. Not only can you pick up some fresh produce, including apples, but also go on a wagon ride while you’re there.

Mansion Xmas Tour

From mid-November through mid-December, head to the historic Mayowood Mansion, for a

Everybody loves new construction, which makes sense. The fresh look and feel of a new home, brand new kitchen appliances and bathroom fixtures, and even the piece of mind of having a new home warranty makes buying new construction in Rochester an appealing option for anyone searching for a new place to live. 

Of course every home buyer has different needs and wants, and every home buyer’s budget is usually what dictates any eventual decision. But taking all that aside, if you’re looking for the perfect new home somewhere in the Rochester, MN area, here are a few great places to begin your search. 

Scenic Oaks 

A quiet Rochester subdivision that features some of the nicest ranch-style homes you’ll find anywhere, Scenic Oaks has a little bit of a

There’s an on-going push to build a new clock and bell tower at the corner of Sixth and Broadway, which is a project that would essentially return a prominent piece of Rochester’s rich history to a distinguished part of downtown. The campaign is called “It’s Time to Bring Back The Clock,” and it’s a community-wide effort to match a $100,000 donation from a local resident that would bring the city one-step closer to reaching the $270,000 to $300,000 it would take to build the brand new structure.

Although the tower itself will be new, the clock and bell both date all the way back to 1899 when each was used to call area firefighters to work, and also mark the hours next to the old Central fire station at Broadway and Fourth.

The plan to build the new tower

With the month of July now in the books, the Southeast Minnesota Realtors recently released the latest housing data from last month, which as you might expect, was more of the same of what we’ve been seeing for most of 2017, and even in 2016  for that matter.

Once again, the median home sales price in the Rochester area increased slightly year-over-year last July, this time jumping by 2.2%. In addition, inventory also took a major hit compared to this time last year, falling 22.1% to just 1,406 units.

The steady decline of existing homes on the Rochester real estate market continues to be the driving force behind increased home prices, but buyers still seem to be responding. As noted in SEMR’s monthly report, many communities in Rochester are still seeing