Home inspection in Prior Lake.

What we see in Prior Lake homes.

Prior Lake became a village in 1891 and a city in 1921. Farms on the lake began renting cabins and opening resorts, and at the peak in the 1920s the shoreline held 18 resorts plus private cabins. Drought and the Depression closed many, and by the 1950s most summer cabins had been converted to year-round homes. Growth exploded after 1970, from 1,114 residents to 7,284 in 1980 and 27,617 in 2020, helped by Highway 13. The city covers 19.53 square miles, 3.25 of them water, split among Upper Prior Lake (354 acres), Lower Prior Lake (810 acres) and Spring Lake (290 acres).

That history gives us two inspections. On the shoreline, converted cottages mean additions on old foundations, mixed-era wiring and plumbing, small crawlspaces and basements, and retaining walls, docks and stairs that take a beating. Grading, sump operation and moisture matter, since lots sit close to the water. In newer subdivisions, grading settlement, attic ventilation, exterior flashing and mechanical age are the points to watch. Zebra mussels were found in both parts of the lake in 2009, so shoreline hardware and water-intake equipment can show wear or buildup worth noting.

Local facts checked September 2026 against: Wikipedia, mspmag.com.