White Bear Lake covers 2,427 acres and reaches 83 feet at its deepest point, spanning Ramsey and Washington counties in the Twin Cities' north metro. It's one of the highest-priced lakes in the Twin Cities, and Lake Avenue still has a real entry point, it's just not where it used to be.
Honestly, it's gotten hard to find a lot on this stretch of shoreline under $900,000. Looking at closings on Lake Avenue going back to 2021, prices at the affordable end of this street have climbed close to double what they were at the start of that window. That's not a one-off, it's the direction the whole street has moved.
Two ways to buy in near $1,000,000
At this price tier, Lake Avenue really comes down to two different products. A 3,700-square-foot, 5-bedroom single-family home on 1.78 acres closed at $925,000, giving you real acreage and full square footage for a family.
The other option is Lake Avenue's condo building, at 5009 and 5011 Lake Avenue. A 2,708-square-foot, 3-bedroom, 4-bath unit in that building closed at $995,000, showing that even the low-maintenance condo product on this street now sits right up against the $1,000,000 mark.
Either way, if you're shopping Lake Avenue with a budget under $1,000,000 today, you're choosing between a smaller-lot single-family home and a larger condo unit, not between "cheap" and "expensive." That distinction below $900,000 mostly isn't available anymore.
Why this matters if you're budgeting for this street
If you're planning around an older price point for White Bear Lake, from a listing you saw a few years ago or a number a friend mentioned, update that number. The realistic starting point on Lake Avenue today sits close to $900,000 to $1,000,000, and it climbs quickly from there for anything with more square footage or a larger lot.
Quick Answers
What's the entry-level price for Lake Avenue in White Bear Lake? Realistically, $900,000 to $1,000,000 today. A recent single-family closing came in at $925,000, and a condo unit in the same price tier closed at $995,000.
Are there condos on Lake Avenue? Yes. A condo building at 5009 and 5011 Lake Avenue offers a lower-maintenance option, with units at this tier closing near $995,000.
Have prices on Lake Avenue gone up recently? Yes, significantly. Based on closings from 2021 through 2026, entry-level pricing on this street has climbed close to double what it was at the start of that period.
How big is White Bear Lake? 2,427 acres, with a maximum depth of 83 feet, spanning Ramsey and Washington counties.
This reflects closed sales over the past 2,000 days (January 2021 through July 13, 2026).
I live one lake over, on Centerville Lake, and I track White Bear Lake's numbers the same way I track my own. My closed transactions run through the surrounding corridor, Bald Eagle Lake, Turtle Lake, Centerville Lake, Forest Lake, Reshanau Lake, and Sunfish Lake, with Bald Eagle Lake being the strongest part of my business. I haven't closed a sale on White Bear Lake itself yet. There are good agents who specialize here, and I respect that. What I bring is the same data discipline I use on my home lakes, applied to this one, and I'm actively building toward representing buyers and sellers on this shoreline because it earns the attention.
If you're trying to figure out what's realistic for your budget on Lake Avenue, I can walk you through the current numbers before you start touring.
Best,
Tim Ornell Waterfront Real Estate Advisor | Ornell Group Real Broker, LLC — Luxury Division (NASDAQ: REAX) Minnesota Real Estate License #40442506 651.263.9480 | ornellgroup.com 7037 20th Ave S, Suite 200, Centerville, MN 55038 Specializing in Twin Cities, MN waterfront properties and relocations.
Sources checked for this post:
- Regional Multiple Listing Service of Minnesota (MLS) closed sale records for Lake Avenue, White Bear Lake, MN, 2021–2026 (provided by Tim Ornell)
- DNR LakeFinder — White Bear Lake surface area and maximum depth
- Price appreciation trend and "under $900,000 is hard to find" market read: Tim Ornell's professional assessment, based on this closed-sale data
