This "small town" has grown a lot in the past few years. You can live in the old downtown area, or find a gorgeous lake home right on Big Lake or the Mississippi River.
Here you will find lot of new housing developments, plenty of farms, and you can live anywhere from directly on the mighty Mississippi River, all the way north to the Sand Dunes State Forest.
With the excitement of the new commuter light rail coming to Big Lake, and Big Lake planning on being a major hub, there is lots of excitement in the housing market since people can jump on the light rail and be downtown Minneapolis in just minutes. This should be operational by the fall of 2009.
ZIP Code: 55309 Location Characteristics: Big Lake is located about 45 minutes from the city, about 20 minutes west of Anoka on highway 10. A busy small town of just under 10,000 residents, it has almost doubled in size in the last 10 years.
For more information on Big Lake go to www.BigLakeMN.org.
About Mark Claessens:
Meet the REAL . . . the DEPENDABLE . . .
MARK CLAESSENS
I have been buying and selling real estate with Edina Realty since 2002. After you let me share with you about my background in business and a little about my self, you will see why I am very confident that you would love to work with a real estate professional like me.
I currently live in the northern suburbs of the Twin Cities and was born and raised here also. I LOVE Minnesota. Although I have had the opportunity to have three jobs during my lifetime, I have essentially been in business for myself since the age of 10, when I started up my first business selling seeds door-to-door. That led to a paper route and many more opportunities. I went to a major university and received a degree in psychology and biblical studies, along with a minor in Spanish. Eventually I got into sales (in the “real” world) and started my own wholesale distribution company. This later developed into art-related products and eventually a full-fledged retail fine art gallery and custom framing shop. I spent 17 years building up this business and finally chose to sell it back in 2002 in order to fulfill my lifelong dream of being what I am today: a real estate professional.
During the time I owned the art gallery and frame shop (which is still in operation today under the same name that I started it as), I actually started two other businesses – both involving sales once again. One of these businesses really took off and I worked my way up into a top-ranking sales position that pushed me into the top ½ of 1% in their entire international organization. I then became one of their national speakers and traveled throughout the entire United States with this company.
Aside from all the advanced sales training over the years, I have completed a lot of training in the real estate arena. One specialty area is that of technology. I received my e-Pro designation right away after passing this course. As a graduate of this course I am one of less than 7000 agents (out of over 1 million) in the U.S. that have shown a high level of expertise in the training and use of all the latest cutting-edge technological advances that are available to me in real estate. This will make my relationship and communication with you much more efficient.
I would have to say that my years of hands-on experience starting and running my previous businesses has set the stage and prepared me for this career. I always wondered what I would do with all of my experience in starting up companies, running an office, legal challenges, hiring/firing, accounting/banking, shipping, receiving, ordering product, marketing, and customer service . . . if I ever did something else. Since my only other dream was to buy and sell real estate – and I am finally doing that - I can only thank God from the depths of my heart for all the years of learning and experience that have launched me into this wonderful place.
I LOVE THIS BUSINESS and am doing very, very well. In 2004 I finished in the top 15% of the Edina Realty agents. I can honestly say that it was not the least bit difficult to get started in real estate. Yes, many try and fail . . . especially in the first year. But I am here with the largest and finest real estate company (Edina Realty) and will be here until I take my very last breath.
There are three distinguishing factors that separate me from my colleagues and the other companies out there. The first is communication. Based on current statistics, over 85% of buyers and sellers chose to switch agents after their previous transaction. The reason? Lack of communication from their agent. I made the decision when I got in this business that I would be different than 85% of the other real estate professionals by simply making a firm commitment to have honest and regular communication with my clients and actually listen to their needs. I believe that I do this well.
The second thing that separates me from my colleagues is the use of effective technology and cutting edge systems that make the process of buying or selling real estate more simplified and enjoyable. Because of my technological training and the tools available through Edina Realty I can do things for my clients that the competition can only dream about. And that is a fact.
The third is experience. Not only am I widely experienced in the business world in general, but even in the real estate world. Most agents are good at showing houses to buyers, and most can get a sign in the yard and try to sell one. I have, however, made myself dig into a lot of other areas and gain more expertise. I have now had the experience of not only helping buyers and sellers with residential homes, but also been successful with buying and selling vacant lots, foreclosures, multi-family housing, investment properties, ranches, new construction, commercial properties and large tracts of vacant land. So, no matter what your interest level is, I have experience in that area and know what I am doing.
In conclusion let me say that my goal is to completely dedicate myself to the needs of my clients and deliver to them exactly what they are looking for whether it be buying or selling real estate, and whether that involves residential, commercial, multi-family, vacant land or investment properties. I will not allow the issues of money or time get in the way of satisfying my clients.
