Howard Lake City Hall · Photo: William Wesen Appraiser · CC BY-SA 3.038 homes sold in Howard Lake in the last year, at a typical $310K
Almost every sale is a house. Below: what each kind of home sells for, what your budget buys, the best months to buy, how hard you’ll have to bid, and a shortcut to every site where Howard Lake homes are listed.
Every place Howard Lake homes are listed, in one stop
We don’t copy listings: the agents’ sites have the photos and the latest price changes. Set what you want once and we open each site already filtered to Howard Lake.
For sale
Rent
New, land & open houses
Links open the listing sites; TownRatings isn’t paid for them and doesn’t rank one above another. Rentals and government-owned homes come from sources outside the MLS.
Houses are 97% of Howard Lake’s sales, at a typical $311K (year to May 2026)
38 homes sold in the year to September 2026.
typical sale · 32 sold in the year to May 2026
- Per square foot
- $188MN $191
- Days to sell
- 38
- Sold over asking
- 34%
- Listings with a price cut
- 30%
Townhouses: 1 sold, typical $230K
Too few sales in 12 months for reliable figures.
Fewer homes sell than before 2021, at twice the 2016 price
38 sales in the last year, against 73 in 2020 and a low of 26 in 2015. The typical sale went from $147K in 2016 to $310K.
Source: Redfin Data Center, MLS sales; from June 2026 each month is a 3-month rolling window, its counts divided by 3. Typical price and $/sq ft are the monthly medians, weighted by sales. Redfin stopped publishing towns’ figures by property type after May 2026, so houses and condos are shown for the year to then.
What $300K buys in Howard Lake
Check a listing against what Howard Lake homes sold for
Against the town’s median price per square foot over the last 12 months. A rough check: condition, lot and location within town move a price more than this can see.
Bidding wars in Howard Lake are back to pre-pandemic levels, but half fewer homes come up for sale
We read every month of Howard Lake’s home sales since 2012 so you don’t have to. Each figure covers 12 months, because a single month in a town is too few sales to mean much. Latest: the year to September 2026, 38 sales.
If you’re buying in Howard Lake
- Shop in May. It brings about 6 new listings a month, close to the busiest month, with fewer bidding wars (17% over asking).
- Bid near asking. Buyers paid 99.7% of the list price on average; 27% paid over.
- Move fast on good ones. Half of homes are under contract within two weeks.
Spring brings the homes; summer brings the bidding wars
March has the most new listings (about 6 a month), but June is the most competitive: 44% of June sales close over asking. May offers nearly as much choice with fewer homes bid up (17%). February has the least competition (9%).
Averages for each calendar month, 2015 on.
Calmer than the 2021 frenzy, and about like Minnesota as a whole
| Howard Lake now | 2017–19 | 2021 peak | MN now | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sold over askingShare of sales that closed above the list price | 27% | 26% | 52% | 29% |
| Gone within two weeksShare of homes under contract within 14 days | 47% | 42% | 71% | 40% |
| Price paid vs. askingAverage sale price ÷ list price | 99.7% | 98.8% | 102.4% | 99% |
| Days to sellMedian days from listing to contract | 34 | 44 | 24 | 38 |
5 homes for sale on a typical day
That’s 1.2 times the 2021 low (4), 48% fewer than in 2017–19 and well under 2013’s 16.
Source: Redfin Data Center, city figures, January 2012 to September 2026 (MLS sales, not seasonally adjusted; from June 2026 each month is a 3-month rolling window, its counts divided by 3). Ratios are weighted by homes sold; price cuts by homes for sale.
Owning the typical Howard Lake home costs about $1,946 a month
Price: Howard Lake’s typical sale, last 12 months. Property tax at Howard Lake’s 1.3% (median bill ÷ median value, Census ACS); insurance at 0.35% of price a year. Before PMI, HOA dues, upkeep and the tax deduction. Whether Howard Lake is affordable on local pay is on Cost of living.
Six things worth knowing
New listings in March
The month with the most choice. December has the fewest, about 2.
Best time to buyProperty tax, a year
Of a home’s value: the median bill over the median home value. On a $310K home, about $3,950 a year.
Taxes vs. neighborsSchools
The schools grade for Howard Lake, from test results, graduation and how much students grow.
Schools in Howard LakeTypical commute
The average one-way trip to work for people who live in Howard Lake.
Work & commuteCheck the flood map
Flood insurance isn’t in a standard policy, and lenders require it in FEMA flood zones. Check the address before you make an offer.
Natural hazardsLook up any property
Assessed value, lot size and every past sale of a home you’re eyeing are public, at the town or county assessor and the registry of deeds.
Cokato, Winsted, Montrose, Lester Prairie and Watertown sell for less a square foot
The busier markets within 25 miles of Howard Lake, by what sold. Prices, taxes and how far a paycheck goes next door are on Cost of living.
| Sold | Typical sale | $/sq ft | Over asking | Days to sell | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montrose | 75 | $297K | $169 | 31% | 36 |
| Watertown | 70 | $373K | $179 | 26% | 28 |
| Waverly | 60 | $348K | $193 | 31% | 49 |
| Cokato | 40 | $302K | $145 | 33% | 47 |
| Howard Lake | 38 | $310K | $187 | 27% | 34 |
| Winsted | 32 | $266K | $166 | 32% | 20 |
| Lester Prairie | 23 | $304K | $154 | 46% | 25 |
Redfin Data Center, October 2025 to September 2026. Towns with fewer than 20 sales are left out, and Redfin doesn’t report every town separately.
Post your home to Howard Lake, free
Selling it yourself, renting out an apartment or looking for a roommate? Post it to Howard Lake. People who follow the town see it, and so do people comparing Howard Lake with their own town. No commission, no listing fee.
Questions about buying a home in Howard Lake
What do homes sell for in Howard Lake, MN?
38 homes sold in the year to September 2026 at a typical $310K, $187 a square foot.
Is Howard Lake a buyer’s or seller’s market?
A seller’s market: 4 homes were for sale in September 2026 and 3 sold, about 1.2 months of supply. Buyers paid 99.7% of asking on average.
When is the best time to buy in Howard Lake?
March brings the most new listings. The sales history shows which months have fewer bidding wars.
How much are property taxes in Howard Lake?
About 1.3% of a home’s value a year. On a $310K home that’s near $3,950.
Where can I see homes for sale in Howard Lake?
Zillow, Redfin, Realtor.com and Homes.com all carry Howard Lake’s MLS listings; the search links above open each one filtered to Howard Lake.
Sales, prices, days on market and listings: Redfin Data Center (MLS, monthly, not seasonally adjusted; from June 2026 each month is a 3-month rolling window, its counts divided by 3). Property tax rate: Census American Community Survey. Two-bedroom rent: HUD Fair Market Rent. Typical home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Schools grade: TownRatings (how grades work).