Is Golden Valley, MN, an excellent place to buy a home?

Located 5 miles west of downtown Minneapolis lies the first-ring suburb of Golden Valley. The landmass is 10.19 square miles; water covers a .34 square mile area, population according to the 2010 census is 20,374, median home price as of October 2015 as published on Zillow is $254,300 with prediction values in Golden Valley will rise 1.4% over the next year.

9 Reasons why Golden Valley MN is an excellent place to buy a home

1. Easy Access to the Downtown Minneapolis

A location 5 miles west of downtown Minneapolis makes commuting to the city for work or play a snap. All the cultural and recreational attractions the city has to offer are a mere 10-minute drive!

2. Shop in and around Golden Valley

If you love to shop, you have great options! Why not explore the trendy Shops at the West End in nearby St. Louis Park. Need a mall fix? A mere 5 miles to the west lies the Ridgedale Center in Minnetonka, where you can browse through 2 levels featuring 140 retail stores.

A 10-minute ride into downtown and you are in the cultural and commercial heart of the city. Visit the Nicollet Mall and shop at Saks Off Fifth, Target, Macy's, or dozens of unique shops offering everything from popcorn to diamonds! Eclectic, from chic to rustic, trendy or traditional, you will find it here.

3. Great Local Restaurants and Entertainment

If your preference is casual family dining or an elegant and romantic dinner for 2, you will find an eclectic assortment of restaurants in and around Golden Valley. Perhaps you crave the city lights and the music and nightlife that Minneapolis offers. Spend a day in the city at the Walker Art Center, see a play at the Guthrie, listen to a concert at Orchestra Hall. It's your call.

4. Golden Valley has Open Spaces

More than 1035 acres of land in Golden Valley are dedicated open spaces and parks. This includes natural areas and preserves, parks, and athletic fields. The city also maintains 50 miles of trails for walking, running, biking, and rollerblading enthusiasts.

If golf is your game, play 18 holes at the Brookview Golf Course, where you will also find a nine-hole course, a driving range, a golf shop, and a grill. Enjoy the beauty of a mature course as you follow the path of Bassett Creek as it flows through tree-lined fairways.

Take the family swimming at the St. Louis Park Aquatic facility with its water playground, slides, lap pool, or splash around in the 20,000 square feet of water! (Available to Golden Valley residents by reciprocal agreement.)

Launch your canoe at Adeline Nature Center or Sweeney Lake Park and soak up the sun and beautiful natural surroundings. Do a little fishing, or relax with your favorite book. You got to love those lazy days of summer!

In winter, ice-skating is available at 10 locations around the area, with six offering Hockey rinks and seven warming houses for when your nose and toes get cold! Or hit the hills with your sled at Scheid or Wesley Park.

5. Brookview Community Center

Of particular interest to seniors (55 and over) may be activities sponsored by the Golden Valley Senior Program. At the Brookview Community Center, you can enroll in a painting class, sing your heart out with the Golden Tones Chorus, or learn to make chocolates. You can play a few hands of Bridge with your friends and neighbors or enjoy an afternoon of bowling. There are discussion groups on various topics from computers through gardening, and you can even get help and advice with your taxes. You can take a class in Tai Chi or avail yourself of the Health and Wellness program events. There is something for every field of interest and opportunities to socialize with other seniors.

6. Quality Schools and Educational Options

Education for students in Golden Valley is provided by two public school districts, Robbinsdale and Hopkins. In addition, there are a state-operated Arts High School and three private school options to round out the academic menu.

7. Golden Valley is safe

The Crime Rate in Golden Valley is 21% lower than the Minnesota average, 34% lower than the national average. Areavibes rates the city an A+. It's essential to feel safe in your community.

8. Golden Valley has jobs

Golden Valley serves as the headquarters for General Mills. This translates into jobs and an unemployment rate of 4%, considerably lower than the Minnesota average of 6.6% and the national average of 7.9%.

9. This and That

Areavibes rates Golden Valley "extremely livable," and I could not agree more! Great amenities and proximity to downtown Minneapolis, low crime rates, a stable housing market, and high per capita income, with a wide diversity of community services and recreation, make Golden Valley an excellent place to live!