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Benefits of Owning a Home Versus Renting: 6 of 6, Community
Hi there, I’m Tom Sommers, and as a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Realty, I’ve seen firsthand how owning a home offers so much more than just a place to live. It’s about finding your community. This is the final part of my series on the benefits of homeownership versus renting, and today I want to talk about what community really means when you buy a home.
Lakeville is a perfect example of what I mean. I’ve sold so many homes to people who fall in love with how community-oriented this city is. Every summer, Lakeville hosts Pan-O-Prog, a celebration that stretches across the whole month of July with events happening constantly around it. Downtown has become genuinely vibrant, full of local businesses. Grab a table at B-52’s or another local spot and you’ll find yourself in conversation with neighbors who feel like they’ve lived here forever, because a lot of them have.
The school district is award-winning, and it’s a huge draw for families moving here. Kids get involved in everything from athletic teams to academic programs, and that involvement is what makes people feel like they’re truly part of something. Throughout the summer, local food tastings let you sample vendors from all over the area, and winter festivals keep that same community spirit going all year round, not just in the warmer months.
For some of my clients, community starts with schools. As I always tell buyers, dig deep. Check the ratings online, but also make a call or two, since that conversation often tells you more than a website ever could.
- Walkability matters too. Some clients light up at the idea of strolling to a coffee shop or local restaurant instead of driving everywhere. Owning a home in a walkable neighborhood means choosing that lifestyle for the long haul, not just getting lucky with a rental location
- Trails and green space are a daily draw for a lot of buyers. Being able to hop on a bike from your own driveway and be on a trail within minutes is something owning lets you choose intentionally
- Getting involved matters to plenty of homeowners too. I’ve worked with clients who jump into local events, volunteer, host block parties, or get involved with the Chamber of Commerce. Owning gives you a real stake in where you live, not just a temporary address
Community isn’t one-size-fits-all. Schools, walkability, trails, local events, they’re all pieces of the puzzle, and the best communities have a mix of everything. When I help clients buy a home, we don’t just look at the house, we look at the whole area, because that’s what actually determines whether a place feels like home.
Whether it’s Lakeville’s Pan-O-Prog and downtown energy, the trails and parks in Eagan, the small-town feel of Farmington, or the strong schools across Apple Valley and Rosemount, owning gives you the power to choose a community that actually fits your life. Ready to find your perfect community? Let’s get started.
Serving Lakeville, Apple Valley, Eagan, Farmington, and Rosemount, and the greater South Metro Twin Cities area.
