A couple relocating from Chicago bought a five-bedroom lakefront home on Parker's Lake in Plymouth by touring through live video first and widening the search beyond Lake Minnetonka.
The Move at a Glance
| Buyers | Couple returning to Minnesota from Chicago |
|---|---|
| Where | Parker's Lake, Plymouth |
| Home | 5 bed, 5 bath, 4,101 finished sq ft, 3 stalls |
| Lot | More than half an acre with dock and beach |
| Closed | Mid-July, before the planned spring move |
Touring from another state
CJ Norman ran detailed live video walkthroughs that the buyers directed room by room, so only serious contenders earned a trip to Minnesota. The Twin Cities relocation guide covers the rest of a long-distance move.
Looking past Lake Minnetonka
The search compared what each property offered day to day rather than the name of the lake. Parker's Lake gave them a dock, a beach, a large yard for their dog, more interior space for remote work and family about 20 minutes away.
Buying earlier than planned
The right home appeared months ahead of their spring timeline and had competing offers, so the couple weighed extra carrying costs against losing it. They closed in mid-July while still living in Chicago, which let them move gradually.
What Other Buyers and Sellers Can Take From It
- Buyer-directed video tours save trips without skipping the in-person visit.
- Comparing lakes by lifestyle can uncover better value than one famous lake.
- An early purchase can be worth the carrying cost when the right home is rare.
More on this kind of move lives on the Lakefront Buyers & Sellers page, in client reviews, and in CJ Norman's own account of this case study. See every story in Client Stories.