January 2015

The housing market in Duluth is looking good and there is some news for both home buyers and those hoping to sell a home in Duluth.

Duluth Housing Market News for Homeowners

The median list price for a home in Duluth is holding steady. It took quite a tumble from November’s $285,000 to December’s $225,000 but it appears to be holding steady at the latter through January. This is good news, overall, because last year at this time the median list price was $169,900.

The inventory of available homes is way down from last year. As long as there are buyers interested in purchasing Duluth homes for sale, homeowners offering homes in good condition should have an easy time selling right now.

Interested in Buying a Home in Duluth?

If you’re hoping

Special occasions happen all year long from Valentine's Day to birthdays to Anniversaries and more. When it's time to send flowers or get a nice gift, you need to know where to go. Here are a few shops to keep in mind in Duluth for special occasions.

Engwall's Florists, Greenhouses & Garden Center - 4749 Hermantown Road

Engwall has been the chosen florist for many in the Duluth area since 1876. They provide a professional design team to help crate the perfect arrangement for your special occasion. If you want to send flowers, you can trust Engwall Florist and Greenhouse.

The shop is open from 8am to 5pm every day of the week except on Sundays. They provide delivery on holidays with at least one day prior notice and the shop is closed for

Found on the shores of Lake Superior, the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center or DECC is one of the top convention centers in the area. Not only do they hold a number of trade show events throughout the year, but they also hold plenty of entertainment, sporting and special events.

DECC is found very close to both Downtown and Canal Park. There are plenty of shopping and dining options found nearby, along with many lodging choice. Of course, this facility also provides amazing panoramic views of the Harbor and the Aerial Lift Bridge.

The AMSOIL Arena

Named at the stadium of the year in 2013, this arena is a part of DECC. It's used by many sporting groups within the area. It's a popular arena for UMD hockey games, conventions, larger trade

As usual, there is a lot going on in our fair city this week. I picked a few things I thought might be of interest to you.

Free Radon Testing Kits

Radon, an odorless, colorless radioactive gas, is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. It seeps into our homes through the cracks in the foundation and can build to unhealthy levels.

The U.S. EPA has named January the month to test the air in your home and to help Duluthians do that, the American Lung Association is offering a limited number of FREE testing kits at several Duluth locations.

If there are still some available, you can pick up a testing kit at the following Duluth locations:

•        American Red Cross, 2524 Maple Grove Road in the Miller Hill Mall

We can stop wondering what’s going to happen to Duluth Central High – it’ll be torn down and housing will go up in its place.

The school originally opened its doors to students in 1893 when it was located at Lake and Second. In the early 1970s, the current school was built on top of the hill near Central Entrance and Pecan.

With a consolidation of schools, Central was shut down and the 77-acre site has sat empty for almost four years now. Many of us have wondered why. The hilltop setting is amazing and it’s surprising someone didn’t snatch it up sooner.

A group of real estate advisors out of Minneapolis is paying $10 million for the site that peers down on downtown Duluth and the lake. It was originally listed at $13.7 million.

There’s a

With plenty of water nearby, Duluth is a very popular place for charter fishing. Many travel to the area every year just to enjoy the great fishing. Here are a few places you can go to enjoy a charter fishing trip within the Duluth area.

Happy Hooker Charters - Waterfront Plaza Marina

This charter fishing company has three vessels and provides plenty of charter trips every year. They have been in business since 1976 and have a reputation for courteous and competent service. They run three of the largest and fastest boats in the area and each captain is a little bit different. You will even get free fish filleting and bagging with a charter fishing trip from Happy Hooker Charters.

N&S Great Lakes Fishing - 300 Marina Drive, Superior, WI

Sure, we’re almost a week into 2015 but the start of a new year is always a good time to take a look back at where we were last year.

We were, well – number one last year, at least according to Outside magazine. Duluth was ranked at the top of the magazine’s “The 16 Best Places to Live in the U.S.: 2014.”

What goes into becoming America’s best town to live? According to Outside’s editors it takes “Access to adventure, healthy eating options, bike lanes, and green spaces.” Duluth has all of those – and so much more.

They go on to add that they also consider the “number of outfitters, miles of trails, and number of bike shops—plus considerations like unemployment rates, median incomes.”

There were 1.5 million votes for this award, so

If you just moved to the Duluth area and you're not sure what you can do here, there are plenty of things to choose from. This area is full of great attractions for all ages. Here are some of the best things you can do in the Duluth, Minnesota area.

Adventure Zone - 329 Lake Avenue South

This attraction provides more than 50,000 square feet of space for all types of fun activities. Whether you enjoy laser tag or want to play a little bit of mini golf, you'll find it here. They provide a kid's playground with a large inflatable fire truck slide and so much more.

Some of the most popular things found at Adventure Zone include the video arcade, rock climbing walls and the laser tag course. Whether you just want to enjoy a day of fun or you want