The town was originally formed as a plot of land called "Glen Carey," which is a Scottish name meaning "Beautiful Valley."
Ham Lake is a small town with a big attitude! Located just outside of the Twin Cities, it has a population of 15,296. It offers easy access to all the excitement and entertainment of big city life while retaining its small town charm and wonderful sense of community. There's no shortage of ways to enjoy life in Ham Lake but you'll always have a real sense of "country living." The city has 25 public parks and 140 miles of roadway, so it may be small in population but it's huge in size! It also has the lowest tax capacity rate in Anoka County! In case you didn't already have enough reasons to consider renting an apartment here, the annual "SnowBowl" community festival held in February is thought to be one of the most magnificent winter celebrations in the world!
Moving to Ham Lake
If you're thinking about finding places to rent in Ham Lake, you better get started right away. There are precious few rental homes here and a super low vacancy rate. That doesn't mean you should give up altogether, just that it might be in your best interests to allow a little extra time to find your dream home.
Looking for an apartment for rent here will involve a little bit of strategy on your part. For starters, you could consider renting in the cold winter months when fewer people are hunting for homes. You might have to bundle up in mittens and scarves, but it could boost your chances of finding a place to live more quickly. Second, you can make sure that your credit rating is through the roof so that you look great compared to other applicants. Third, you can arrange to stay somewhere in the surrounding area so you buy yourself a little extra time to find a place to move into. Other than that, you'll just need diligence and a little good luck to find yourself a gem of a place to live in!
What You'll Need
In order to move here, you're going to want to set up appointments to see as many places as possible. You might not want to be as picky as you would be in places where there are more rental options, but you still don't want to sacrifice any apartment essentials that you hold sacred. Try to visit as many places as you can in order to get a feel for what is available. It's a rural area so you won't have to worry about things like loud, noisy streets or parking spaces. If you are planning on bringing pets, be sure to ask your landlord upfront what the animal situation is at your new house you don't want to be in for any surprises when you arrive with your puppy in tow! You're going to need a bunch of documents to prove you're a trustworthy renter, so do yourself a favor and get these together before you set out on apartment visits. You'll need a copy of your ID, your credit report, letter of employment, bank statements, pay stubs, references and vet papers for any pets you plan on bringing. Oh, and don't forget to bring your checkbook. If you see a place you like, you'll want to put your money where your mouth is.
Neighborhoods
Ham Lake has a fairly small population but it covers an expansive 36 miles of property here in Minnesota! Most of it is rural area with a small-town feel. Here's a little info about some of the different neighborhoods that make up Ham Lake.
Lexington Avenue / Constance Boulevard: This neighborhood makes up the southeast part of town and is where you'll find mostly large single-family homes and some apartment complexes. The vacancy rate is the lowest in the whole city, which means that when people come here they just don't like to leave! That's usually a good sign for a neighborhood. Most folks drive themselves around here, as houses are set pretty far apart and there isn't much in the way of shopping or dining here. But it's great for nature lovers and people who like the feeling of fresh, unspoiled country air!
City Center: This is the place to live if you want to be close to the town's shops and restaurants. Highway 65 runs right down the middle of this neighborhood and you can find places like the T-Box Bar and Grill, Maxx's and Tanner's Station located right along this stretch of highway. It's definitely higher in the convenience factor than some of the more outlying neighborhoods.
Lake Netta: Set up in the far northeast corner of Ham Lake, Lake Netta is a beautiful countryside enclave. You can find medium and large houses on all sides of the lake, and it makes a beautiful setting for a peaceful home. There are a number of parks nearby and also some great golf courses for people who like to tee up every now and then.
Living in Ham Lake
Life in Ham Lake is just about as charming as it gets. You'll find lots of wide-open plains and country roads and houses are spread out with lots of space between you and your neighbors. Almost all of the restaurants are small, local spots run by residents and there isn't much in the way of shopping here. If you do want a little more action, you can head to nearby Andover or to the Twin Cities, where you can take in a Major League baseball game, catch a movie or just have a fun night out on the town enjoying the many restaurants and bars in the downtown area!
