I have nothing against other regions or states of the United States, and yes I am biased, but Minnesota has been the best place to grow up and I hope to have the opportunity to raise my family here, let me tell you why...

The People

There’s this little rumor that a common personality of Minnesotans falls under the category of “MN nice”. Some may describe it as “passive aggressive”, but in reality we would rather all get along and avoid conflict as much as possible. Expect people to hold the door, let you go first at a stop sign and say hi in line at Caribou.

The Cost of Living

Sperling’s Best Places (http://www.bestplaces.net/cost-of-living/minneapolis-mn/los-angeles-ca/85000) states that Los Angeles is 52% more expensive than Minneapolis and a salary of $85,000 in Minneapolis, Minnesota should increase to $129,132 in LA. The website for Minnesota Economic Development has a handy calculator to show each county’s cost of living based on family size.

The Career Opportunities

UnitedHealth Group, Target, Best Buy, 3M, U.S. Bancorp. and Medtronic are all Minnesota-grown corporations that anyone would be proud to work for. The Dept. of Numbers lists Minnesota’s most recent unemployment rate as 3.8%, which is impressive as compared to the national average of 4.6%.

The Schools

Last year WalletHub ranked Minnesota in the top 10 for best school systems! Although not true for every city and district, most places in Minnesota offer a great k-12 public education system. Not to mention, the public and private colleges in the north star state continually rank in the lead for cost, education standards and program offerings.

Four Seasons

In Minnesota, by the time you’re sick of the cold it’s springtime. And by the time you’re sick of the summer heat? It cools off for fall! The weather in Minnesota always keeps residents on their toes with an average temperature range of 100ºF. Whether it’s skiing and skating in the coldest months or boating and sunbathing on lakes over summer break, you’ll be bored with endless activities to choose from, that constantly change with the weather.

The Views

Before you visit, don’t assume Minnesota is “just another flat Midwestern state”, because trust me, this beautiful state has so much more to offer than corn fields (although we do have a lot of that). For example, the 11,842 lakes (that are 10 acres or larger).

The Twin Cities

Minneapolis and the capital city of Saint Paul are commonly referred to as “The Twin Cities”. “The Cities” are an urban hub of history, industry and art. The Mississippi river runs through the middle and the quaint lakes of Harriet and Calhoun lure in locals and visitors alike. The Guthrie Theater, Basilica of Saint Mary and Minnehaha Falls are also popular attractions year-round. Sporting events are also popular at the Xcel Energy Center, the Target Center, Target Field and the home of next year’s SuperBowl, U.S. Bank Stadium.

If you haven’t packed your bags and called my dad (Bryan Pankratz with ReMax Advantage Plus) to look at homes in the metro area, now is the time to start! Minnesota is family and fun friendly, warm or cold!