By Jacob Zwack Realtor, The Minnesota Real Estate Team
REAL ESTATE
STRAIGHT UP
Forget the news headlines. Here’s what’s actually happening in the North Metro while I pour you a drink.
Bartender Jake says:
Look, I hear a lot of chatter at the bar. People think the housing market is crashing. I looked at the receipts (the actual data), and spoiler alert: Nobody’s tab is going down. Here’s the fast version of what went down in December ’25.
1. Your House Earned a Tip
While you were sleeping (or partying), your house was working. Prices didn’t drop; they went up. Especially if you live in Coon Rapids.
That’s like finding $20k in your couch cushions.
Price per sqft is nearly $200 now. Fancy.
2. The Keg is Kicked in Anoka
“Inventory” is just fancy talk for “How much stuff is on the shelf.” Right now? The shelves are bare in Anoka. But Champlin just got a delivery truck.
Anoka (Running Dry)
Inventory dropped 14.3%. If you’re buying here, bring your elbows.
Champlin (Restocked)
New listings up 20%. Finally, some options on the menu.
3. Last Call is fast
Houses aren’t lingering. We track “Showings to Pending”—basically, how many people look at the house before someone buys it.
17
The Magic Number
In Anoka & Blaine, it only takes about 17 showings to sell a house. That’s 10% faster than last year. Don’t “think about it over the weekend.” It’ll be gone.
The Tab (Summary)
- Sellers in Coon Rapids: You’re the VIPs. High prices, low competition.
- Buyers in Anoka: Be ready to fight. It’s crowded.
- Buyers in Champlin: You can breathe. Listings are up.
Let me buy the next round.
Okay, maybe just coffee. But let’s sit down and look at the numbers for your specific house. The market is shifting fast, don’t be the last one at the party.
If you have been following the national news headlines regarding real estate, you are likely getting a mixed bag of confusion. Some pundits say the market is crashing; others say it is booming. The truth, as always, lies in the local data. Real estate is hyper-local, and what is happening in Miami or Phoenix has very little to do with what is happening right here in Coon Rapids, Anoka, Champlin, and Blaine.
As we kick off 2026, I dug deep into the actual MLS data for our specific North Metro communities to bring you this Quarterly Market Update. The numbers from December 2025 tell a very specific story: the North Metro is not just surviving; in many specific pockets, it is thriving with aggressive appreciation and high buyer demand.
Whether you are looking to sell your split-level in Coon Rapids or buy your first home in Anoka, here is exactly what the data says about our current market conditions.
1. Home Values: The Appreciation Engine is Still Running
One of the biggest fears for homeowners in late 2025 was that property values would plateau or drop. The data shows the exact opposite. Across our core four cities—Anoka, Blaine, Coon Rapids, and Champlin—we saw consistent, healthy appreciation year-over-year.
According to the December 2025 data, the Average Sales Price has increased across the board:
- Coon Rapids: $367,200 (+5.9%)
- Anoka: $344,001 (+5.3%)
- Champlin: $415,247 (+4.3%)
- Blaine: $426,291 (+4.0%)
What This Means for You
If you own a home in Coon Rapids, your asset earned nearly 6% more value this year than last. That is significantly higher than historical averages (typically 3-4%). For a $350,000 home, that is roughly $20,000 in equity gained just by living there.
We are also seeing this reflected in the Price Per Square Foot, which is a great equalizer when comparing different sized homes. Anoka saw the sharpest jump here, rising 5.4% to $195/sqft. Interestingly, the gap is closing between these cities. Whether you are in Anoka ($195/sqft) or Blaine ($198/sqft), the price density is becoming remarkably consistent.
The Takeaway: The “crash” didn’t happen here. Our local economy and housing demand are insulating home values, making real estate in Anoka County a continued safe haven for your capital.
2. Inventory: The Tale of Two Markets
While prices are up everywhere, the availability of homes varies drastically depending on which side of the river (or highway) you are on. This is measured by “Months Supply of Homes for Sale.” A balanced market is usually 5-6 months of supply. Anything under 3 months is a strong Seller’s Market.
Currently, we are in a hyper-Seller’s Market, but look at the divergence:
- Anoka: 1.2 Months Supply (Down 14.3% from last year).
- Coon Rapids: 1.2 Months Supply (Flat/No change).
- Blaine: 1.5 Months Supply (Up 7.1%).
- Champlin: 1.5 Months Supply (Up 15.4%).
The “Anoka Squeeze”
Anoka is currently the tightest market in our dataset. Inventory has dropped by over 14%. If you are a buyer looking in Anoka, you are feeling the pain of limited options. If you are a seller in Anoka, you effectively have no competition.
The Champlin Opportunity
Conversely, Champlin and Blaine are seeing inventory rise. Champlin saw a 20% increase in New Listings in December 2025 compared to the previous year. This is actually healthy news for buyers. It means you have more choices and potentially a little more breathing room to make a decision compared to the frenetic pace of 2023 or 2024.
3. Buyer Demand: The “Showings” Metric
A lot of agents talk about “demand” vaguely. I prefer to track “Showings to Pending.” This metric tells us exactly how many times a front door has to open for a showing before an offer is accepted and the house goes pending.
The data for December 2025 is fascinating because it shows buyers are becoming more decisive:
- Anoka: 18 Showings (-10.0% YoY)
- Blaine: 17 Showings (-10.5% YoY)
- Coon Rapids: 19 Showings (-9.5% YoY)
- Champlin: 16 Showings (0.0% / Flat)
Decoding the Data
In Anoka, Blaine, and Coon Rapids, it is taking roughly 10% fewer showings to sell a house than it did a year ago.
Why? Because inventory is low, serious buyers aren’t window shopping. When a good house hits the market, they are striking faster. If you list your home today, you don’t need 30 showings to get an offer; you might only need 17 or 18 strong ones. This reduces the disruption to your life as a seller.
Champlin remains the most efficient market—it only takes an average of 16 showings to get a home under contract. If you are listing in Champlin, expect quick traffic and quick results if you are priced correctly.
4. City-by-City Micro-Analysis
To help you understand exactly where you stand, here is a breakdown of the specific dynamics in our four key markets based on the 3-year trend lines.
Coon Rapids: The Appreciation Leader
Coon Rapids is the standout performer for ROI right now. With a 5.9% increase in average sales price, it is outpacing its neighbors. However, new listings are down slightly (-1.5%), and supply is stuck at a rock-bottom 1.2 months.
- Verdict: If you own in Coon Rapids, you are sitting on a goldmine, but there is nowhere to move to within the city because nobody is selling. This is the perfect time to sell if you are moving out of the area or upsizing to a new construction in a neighboring town.
Anoka: The Tightest Inventory
Anoka is experiencing an inventory drought. With supply dropping 14.3% and listings only up slightly, the pressure is on buyers. However, the price per square foot jumped 5.4%, matching the aggressive appreciation we see in sales price.
- Verdict: Anoka is becoming a premium/exclusive market simply due to scarcity. Sellers hold all the cards here.
Champlin: The Balanced Growth
Champlin is finding a nice rhythm. Listings surged by 20%, which is fantastic for the ecosystem. It allows people to move within Champlin. Despite the influx of inventory, prices still rose 4.3%. This is the sign of a very healthy, desirable community.
- Verdict: A great market for move-up buyers. You can sell your starter home (demand is high, only 16 showings to sell) and likely find a trade-up home because listings are up.
Blaine: The Volume Giant
Blaine continues to be the heavyweight in terms of volume, with 579 new listings in the dataset, far outpacing the others. Prices are stable and growing (+4.0%).
- Verdict: Blaine offers the most stability. It is a predictable market with plenty of inventory for buyers and steady appreciation for sellers.
5. What This Means for Your 2026 Strategy
As we move further into 2026, the strategy needs to shift based on these numbers. The days of “put a sign in the yard and pray” are over, as are the days of “offer $50k over asking blindly.”
Advice for Sellers in 2026
- Pricing is Precision: Even though inventory is low, buyers are savvy. The “Showings to Pending” data proves that if you price it right, it sells fast (16-19 showings). If you overprice, you will sit. The market is efficient.
- Leverage the Scarcity: If you are in Anoka or Coon Rapids, we can push the marketing angle of “rare opportunity” aggressively because the data backs it up.
- Winter/Spring Timing: With supply so low (1.2 – 1.5 months), listing early in the year (Q1) before the spring flood of listings can net you a higher price. You are competing against fewer homes right now.
Advice for Buyers in 2026
- Watch the “New Listings” Count: If you are looking in Champlin, don’t panic. Listings are up 20%. You have options. Be patient and wait for the right fit.
- Be Decisive in Anoka: If you see a house you like in Anoka, write the offer. With inventory down 14%, that house will likely not be there next weekend.
- Check the Price Per Sq Ft: Ensure you aren’t overpaying. The average is hovering between $193 and $198 across the North Metro. If a home is listed at $250/sqft without major luxury upgrades, it is overpriced. I can run these numbers for you instantly to protect your investment.
Conclusion: Data Over Drama
The headlines might be screaming about interest rates or global economics, but in the North Metro, the data is calm, consistent, and growing. We have steady appreciation, manageable inventory levels, and a very active buyer pool.
Whether you are looking to capitalize on the 5.9% growth in Coon Rapids or navigate the inventory squeeze in Anoka, you need a strategy based on numbers, not guesses.
As part of the Minnesota Real Estate Team, I have access to this data in real-time. We don’t just guess what your home is worth; we analyze the trends to ensure you get every dollar of equity you have earned.
Are you ready to see exactly how these 2026 trends impact your specific home value?
Let’s grab coffee and look at the numbers for your neighborhood.
Jacob Zwack Realtor, The Minnesota Real Estate Team Email: jacob@mnrealestateteam.com Phone: 763-250-3146 Web: mnbyjz.com
Data Sources: NorthstarMLS InfoSparks, December 2025 rolling data for Anoka, Blaine, Coon Rapids, and Champlin segments (Single-Family, Previously Owned).