Local Living
Willmar or New London–Spicer? Work, Schools and Housing Types
Compare Willmar and New London–Spicer through work locations, verified school assignments, housing types and the weekly routine behind your home search.
The Home Match Realty library
Real estate questions, answered, page 15
Practical reading for your next move in West Central Minnesota. Find help with a purchase, prepare for a sale, compare places or look more closely at a lake property.
Posts 169-180 of 188
More articles
Buying (3)Closing and Moving (8)Disclosures (9)Due Diligence (10)Financing (6)Guides (1)Housing History (12)Lake Property (6)Lake, Cabin and Land (42)Lakes (4)Land (1)Local Living (30)Market (4)Marketing and Prep (2)Neighborhoods (1)Offers and Negotiation (9)Property Types (14)Relocation (1)Rural Homes (7)Selling (5)Title and Taxes (7)Transactions (6)
Selling
5 Pricing Mistakes West Central Minnesota Sellers Make
The five list-price mistakes I see most from Alexandria, Willmar and lake-country sellers, with 2026 Minnesota Realtors numbers showing what each one costs.
Market
Alexandria vs Willmar vs St. Cloud: Where Should You Buy?
Alexandria, Willmar and St. Cloud, MN compared for home buyers: prices, drive to Minneapolis, employers, colleges, lakes and my own NorthstarMLS closings in each market.
Neighborhoods
Alexandria, MN Neighborhoods: Where People Actually Live
Alexandria, MN housing falls into five areas: the lakeside northeast and northwest, the Broadway grid in town, the Highway 29 corridor and the nearby towns.
Land
Buying Land in Osakis: Septic, Wells, and Lot Rules
Before you buy a lot in Osakis, MN: Douglas County septic and shoreland rules, well setbacks, city versus township lots, with Longview Circle as the example.
Guides
Douglas County, MN Property Taxes: Due Dates, Homestead and Lookup
Douglas County, MN property taxes are due in two halves, May 15 and October 15. How homestead, its December 31 deadline, tax notices and parcel lookup work.
Buying
First-Time Home Buyer Programs in Minnesota for 2026
What Minnesota Housing's Start Up loan, Deferred Payment Loan and Monthly Payment Loan give first-time buyers in 2026, with the limits for our counties.
Lakes
Green Lake, Spicer MN: Lake Facts and Real Estate Guide
Green Lake in Spicer, MN: how big and deep it is, public access and parks, the Willmar connection, recent sales and the checks to make before buying or selling.
Market
How Much House Can You Buy in Willmar, MN?
What a Willmar, MN paycheck buys in 2026: the payment math at three price points, today's mortgage rate, and the household income each one takes.
Selling
How to Sell a House in Alexandria, MN in 2026: Step by Step
The seven steps I walk every Alexandria seller through in 2026, with local sales numbers, Minnesota disclosure rules, and the closing costs that actually apply.
Lakes
Lake Miltona vs Darling vs Carlos: A Buyer's Comparison
Lake Miltona, Lake Darling and Lake Carlos compared for home buyers: acres, depth, clarity, public access, drive to Alexandria and what each shoreline costs.
Lakes
Lake Osakis Homes: What Buyers Should Know
Buying on Lake Osakis? It spans Douglas and Todd counties, so confirm the parcel's county first, then check shoreland rules, septic and access before an offer.
What you will find here
Start with the question in front of you. Buying a house, reviewing a parcel of land and selling a seasonal cabin involve different records and decisions. This library organizes those questions into topics, with links to the buying guides, community pages and lake directory when you need more local context.
Home Match Realty is based in Alexandria, where Janet Matchinsky has her office at 302 Kenwood St Ste 116. She has been a full-time real estate broker since 2014. Articles connect general real estate questions to the towns, lakes and rural properties in West Central Minnesota without assuming every property follows the same rules.
Next step
Use the reading to prepare your questions, then talk through your own situation with Janet. You can ask about buying, prepare to sell, or request a home-value conversation. Call or text (320) 219-2488.
Ready when you are
Read something useful?
The natural next step is a conversation about your own situation. Call or text Janet any day.