Home inspection in Forest Lake.

What we see in Forest Lake homes.

Forest Lake began as a fuel stop when the Lake Superior and Mississippi Railroad opened in 1868, and the city was incorporated on July 11, 1893. By the 1880s it was a resort town, with the Marsh House hotel taking guests, and by 1897 excursion trains ran daily from St. Paul. The county historical society notes that many lakeshore cottages were built between 1910 and 1930. After Interstate 35 was completed in 1969, the town became a bedroom community and summer cottages were converted to year-round homes. The city covers about 35.5 square miles, nearly 5 of them water, with 8,569 housing units in 2020.

Converted cottages are the specialty here. A house that began as a summer cabin may have thin walls, little insulation, a shallow or post-and-pier foundation, and heating added later. The foundation and crawl space, floor framing, insulation, the heating and chimney, and any additions built on top of the original structure are the main areas that matter. On the lakeshore, grading, drainage and basement moisture are the things to watch, and in newer subdivisions attic ventilation, flashing, decks and settlement. Ask whether a property is on city sewer or a septic system.

Local facts checked September 2026 against: Wikipedia, wchsmn.org.