Not all .5 Acres Created Equal

Similar Lots . . . Dissimilar Feel

Anyone who knows real estate knows that not all 3,000 square foot homes seem like they're the same size.

Due to floor plan, size and number of windows, ceiling height and other variables, some homes this size feel absolutely huge. Others have you scratching your head to see if the square footage can possibly be right.

The same variability is true of lots, too.

I just finished previewing a rambler sitting on a .5 acre lot for a client looking for a nice piece of land -- and in particular, a big back yard.

Notwithstanding the huge lot size, this home didn't have it.

Long and rectangular to begin with, the lot's narrow feel is accentuated by the (long and narrow) rambler's location in the center, back of the lot.

As a result, most of the acreage is on the front and sides, cut up into smaller pieces that seem to diminish the lot's overall size as well.

Huge St. Louis Park Lot!

What: .24 acre lot
Where: 7508 West Lake St. (10 minutes to downtown Minneapolis, less to City Lakes and Uptown)
How much: $99,900
Contact: Ross Kaplan (612-925-7701)

No, it doesn't have goal posts at either end -- but it's big enough that it could! This surprisingly affordable lot is located in a pocket neighborhood close to Knollwood, Sam's Club, and Miracle Mile.

If you're looking for a nice, level piece of land to put up a $300k-$400k new home on, this is a strong candidate . . .