If you’ve ever dreamed of life on or near the water, where small-town charm meets upscale amenities, Wayzata delivers. From lakeshore views to boutique shopping, excellent dining, and a strong market, here’s everything I love — and what buyers should know — about home in Wayzata.
What makes Wayzata special
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Lake Minnetonka waterfront & walkability: Wayzata sits on the northeast shore of Lake Minnetonka, giving many homes beautiful lake views or proximity to the water. Residents also benefit from downtown accessibility — shops, restaurants, gardens, and scenic trails along the lake.
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Parks & public access: There are 16 parks in Wayzata. Also, about 87% of Wayzata residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park, which is well above many comparable suburbs. Trust for Public Land
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Highly ranked schools: Wayzata is served by Wayzata Public Schools (District 284), though as always I encourage clients to review school boundary maps, programming, and performance themselves. Here is a link to the greatschools.com profile for Wayzata, as one resource.
Housing & market trends
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As of mid-2025, the median sold price of homes in Wayzata is around $982,500, up slightly (~0.8%) year over year. Rocket
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Zillow’s typical home value (ZHVI) sits around $900,668, up about 2.7% over the past 12 months. Zillow
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Homes tend to move reasonably quickly: many sell in under a month to ~40-45 days depending on price point and condition.
Neighborhood snapshots
Here’s how Wayzata breaks down by vibe:
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Downtown / East Lake Wayzata: Charming historic homes, townhouses/condos, lakeside views, very accessible to shops and dining. High demand here; many lake view or lakefront homes.
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West of Downtown / Wooded & Lakeshore Areas: Homes here often have larger lots, mature trees, custom or luxury builds, and more seclusion.
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Newer Builders / Modern Builds: New construction tends to skew price points based on luxury finishes, lake views or proximity, contemporary designs. Great options for buyers wanting move-in new, but premiums apply.
Eat, drink, & local flavor
Here are some of my favorite spots in Wayzata — places I take visiting clients or recommend:
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CōV Wayzata – Lakeside eatery, relaxed but upscale, with water views and a stylish interior vibe. CoV Wayzata
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The Hotel Landing Dine collection (including ninetwentyfive, 6Smith, Benedict’s Morning Heroes) – Some excellent variety here: lake views, dockside patios, great brunch spots. The Hotel Landing
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Macanda – Latin meets Japanese fusion on the lake; also has a record-bar element, so it’s both special and fun. macandawayzata.com
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Thirsty Whale Bakery – A cozy spot for baked goods, pastries, and coffee; perfect for slower weekend mornings. Wayzata.com
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Grocer's Table & Eloise – Grocer's table for casual dining, Eloise for an elevated experience. Expect excellent food, locally sourced ingredients, and a lovely setting. Wayzata.com
Lifestyle & amenities
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Boating, sailing, and lakeshore recreation are big draws. Whether you want a spot to dock your boat, stroll along the water's edge, or watch a breathtaking sunset, Wayzata’s lakeshore is one of its crown jewels.
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Boutique shopping & galleries downtown: small shops, galleries, and independent retailers bring personality. Perfect for clients who want more than chain retail.
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Outdoor options: parks, lakeside trails, green belts. Also community events, farmers markets, and seasonal festivals downtown.
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Commute: Freeway access to Minneapolis. Traffic & transit vary depending on direction and time.
Buyer tips & what to watch
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For waterfront/lakeside lots: water access, shoreline rules, maintenance, and taxes can vary a lot — it's best to get those details up front.
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Historic vs. new: older homes have charm, often great craftsmanship, but may need mechanical updates; newer builds will cost more up front but less for near-term renovations.
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Price per square foot & lot size matter a lot here. Similar size houses can differ greatly depending on lot, view, condition, and lakeshore status.
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Be ready-to-act, especially in certain price bands: $1M+ tends to be competitive, especially for lakeview or lakefront homes. But there are deals below that, especially for smaller homes or those without direct lake views.
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Use comparable strategies carefully: compare homes in your same sub-area (lake view, lot size, condition, build age) rather than City-wide averages.
Work with a local
Since I live in Wayzata, I bring more than just property data to the table. I help buyers map searches based on view, water access, walking access, architectural style, and finish level, plus all the logistics (inspection, shoreline understanding, property taxes, etc.).
Thinking about Wayzata? Let’s map out neighborhoods by amenities, preview listings that fit your criteria, and explore a couple of routes so you can feel the day-to-day rhythm firsthand.
Reach out to get started
