Demand for homes remains steady here in the Northland, which bucks a statewide decline in home sales.

The Lake Superior Area Realtors Association reports that we remain a bright spot in the state.

The median home price in Minnesota rose to $343,000.

In Duluth, there have been nearly 150 homes sold since January 1st, with a median price of about $246,000.

As for what the spring market holds, we weighed in with Tracy Ramsay, from RE/MAX. She showed us a gorgeous home in the Woodland neighborhood on Monday. It’s a David Salmela design, and features beautiful wood and slate finishes.

It’s very unique and that’s what our area has to offer. From farms, to forests, condos to beachfront, you can find it all here.

“We’re seeing people moving here from California, Oregon, Washington, the East Coast. They’re coming here for our nature, for our water, and for overall way of life,” Ramsay said.

She added, “When you talk to loan officers, they’re saying that applications are up and we’re seeing multiple offers. So I’m predicting a really strong season.”

Steady interest rates and a potential dip in them are also good signals.

As for the change in administration at the White House, she said it’s too soon to say if there will be any impact. “But if you think about home ownership in general, when people are going to buy or sell, unless you’re a property investor, you’re doing it for personal reasons. You’re getting married, you’re getting divorced, you’re having babies, or maybe you’re dying. But it has very little to do with who’s in political power at the time. So we’re just staying the course.”

Inventory does remain a challenge, she said.

Ramsay has launched a new real estate and lifestyle magazine called North. https://www.northmagazine.com/