Dakota County
Dakota County: A Gateway to Nature and Modern Living in Minnesota
Dakota County, located in the southeastern part of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area, offers residents the perfect blend of natural beauty and modern amenities. As a leading real estate agent in the region, we pride ourselves on helping people find their dream homes in this family-friendly and diverse community. If you're considering making Dakota County your new home, take a look at some of the fantastic resources and attractions this area has to offer.
Education and Libraries:
Dakota County boasts excellent educational opportunities with top-notch public schools, including Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Public Schools, Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District, and Lakeville Area Public Schools. The county is also home to several private schools and post-secondary institutions, such as Inver Hills Community College and Dakota County Technical College, offering a range of academic programs.
With nine public libraries within the Dakota County Library system, residents have access to extensive resources, including books, digital media, research materials, and community events and programs for all ages.
Outdoor Activities:
Nature enthusiasts will love the abundance of outdoor recreational opportunities in Dakota County. The county is home to over 70 parks, including Lebanon Hills Regional Park, Spring Lake Park Reserve, and Whitetail Woods Regional Park. These parks offer a wide array of activities, such as hiking, biking, fishing, canoeing, and horseback riding.
During the winter months, residents can enjoy activities like cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and ice skating at various parks throughout the county.
Arts and Culture:
Dakota County offers a vibrant arts and culture scene, with community theaters, art centers, and galleries. The Eagan Art House and the Lakeville Area Arts Center host art classes, workshops, and exhibitions, while the Burnsville Performing Arts Center and the Steeple Center in Rosemount showcase local and regional theater productions, concerts, and other live performances.
Historic sites like the Dakota City Heritage Village and the LeDuc Historic Estate offer a glimpse into the area's rich history, providing guided tours, educational programs, and special events throughout the year.
Shopping and Dining:
Dakota County is home to a variety of shopping destinations, from charming local boutiques to popular retail centers. Residents can shop at the Burnsville Center, Eagan Outlet Mall, and the numerous stores in downtown Lakeville, Apple Valley, and Farmington.
The dining scene in Dakota County offers a mix of local gems and well-known chains, with options ranging from casual eateries and cozy cafes to fine dining establishments.
Community Resources:
Dakota County offers a wealth of community resources to help new residents feel at home. The county's website (www.co.dakota.mn.us) provides essential information on services such as public transportation, waste management, and healthcare facilities. Local community centers also offer classes, workshops, and social events catering to various interests and age groups.
With its picturesque landscapes, top-rated schools, and thriving communities, Dakota County is an exceptional place to call home. Whether you're looking to buy or sell a property in the area, our team of knowledgeable real estate agents is here to help you navigate the process with ease. Contact us today to begin your journey in this beautiful and welcoming community.
Testimonials
"
If you want someone to be on your side of the transaction, call Lisa and Chris Handley. They are the ABSOLUTE BEST at what they do.
They help prep the house, price it right, and negotiate on your behalf, not just getting the sale done and their check cashed.
You will be so glad you called them!!!
"
- Tanya S
"
Lisa goes above and beyond for her clients! She will do what it takes to get your home ready for the market AND find your next dream home! Lisa is easy to communicate with is a glass half full kinda gal!
"
- Ashland Colsen
"
It’s our second time working with Lisa and her team, and we will continue to do so again and again. They are THE definition of dedication, honesty, and trustworthiness. I’m very picky and have high expectations and the Handley’s have always surpassed my expectations. Lisa is 100% dedicated to her customers and will make you feel like you are always her #1 priority (which is impressive because they are very busy folks), she is always available, and is incredibly efficient at managing hurdles. Chris has an impressive a background in construction, so he is a huge asset when looking for a home by pointing out any issues or concerns from a structural/building perspective. It is very reassuring to have his input when looking for a home. They have quickly gone from our realtors to folks we consider dear friends. We have and will continue to refer them to our friends and family, without hesitation. They’re the best!
"
- Barbra G
"
We have loved working with Lisa. She was very patient walking us through the process and answering all of our questions. We can’t thank her enough for helping us find our new home!! We would recommend Lisa to anyone looking to buy or sell a home. Thank you!
"
- Yvonne Stone
"
There aren’t enough great things I can say about my experience working with Lisa. She is relatable, down-to-earth, a great negotiator, trustworthy, and she has a wonderful knowledge of the real estate market in the Twin Cities and surrounding area.
I always knew Lisa has my best interests at heart because she listened to me, asked questions, and never made me feel pressured into making decisions. Lisa was able to help me see past the façade of a home and realize its true value and potential. Her knowledge of the cost and level of difficulty to do home renovation was an added bonus (see Handley Construction).
I never felt awkward talking to Lisa about anything. On the rare occasion she was unable to take a call, she always called right back. She also responded to my long-winded e-mails quickly and with patience.
Lisa has an inspiring amount of energy, passion, and determination and working with her on the search for and purchase of my first home has been an absolute pleasure and privilege. Thank you Lisa!
"
- Buyer - Richfield, MN
"
A perfect example of exceeding my expectations of selling my home! Very well done!
"
- Mitchell W
"
We can't express enough how wonderful our experience with Lisa and her team was. She's incredibly knowledgeable about the value of properties in the area, which quickly and efficiently led to the sale of our property within days of listing (MULTIPLE offers). We were navigating this from another state and it was such a relief to not have to stress over any details. Her people did an exceptional job - from cleaning the property, to staging it, to any repairs - we never had to worry at all. She and her team handled everything and resulted in closing on our property less than a month after we listed. And their professionalism is top of the line.
"
- April D
"
Lisa and her team were absolutely incredible! They were very easy to communicate with, very flexible, and very knowledgeable! This was my first time buying a home and it was an absolute breeze! I'm grateful to have had such an awesome experience, and I would recommend again and again!
"
- Ana P
"
Lisa and Chris were the perfect choice for us as first time home buyers! They helped us understand every step of the process thoroughly and with confidence. Chris's construction knowledge helped us identify tons of insights that we otherwise would have missed during showings. Lisa is a true go-getter and worked late + odd hours on our behalf. Once we found our home they wasted no time to secure it for us! We closed quickly and capitalized on every opportunity along the way to get the best deal.
What really impressed us though was how involved they were even beyond close. Lisa and Chris offer a dump trailer (photo included) that we used for a flooring project. All we did was fill it up and they took care of the rest! They also have been available for additional questions and recommendations to ensure we had resources for all of our new home projects. All in all, they care about their work and cared about us. I feel like we made a lifelong connection that we'll forever recommend to others. 10/10, would buy a house with them again!
"
- Riley H
"
We had received marketing materials from Lisa while living in our townhome and, with market demand, we debated about whether or not we wanted to sell. We saw a listing in our community go up by Lisa and we decided we would wait to see how she did with it before making a decision. It sold in one weekend! So, we reached out to her online and she worked around our schedule to set up a visit. She came prepared with a market analysis of our home and a recommendation for what to list it at – Which was more than we expected. We signed the papers that day, she scheduled two open houses for the same weekend and, sure enough, we accepted an offer for our asking price that following Monday! We truly believe it was due to her listing recommendation, staging of the house, and social media marketing efforts that got it done. From that day forward, from offer acceptance to our closing date, she was available to answer our questions and guide us through the process. It was a great experience and we would highly recommend her.
"
- Seller - Rosemount, MN
"
It was clear the moment we met Lisa why she has so many 5-star reviews. But honestly, five stars simply isn’t enough for the person she is, the above-and-beyond effort she gives, and the genuine care she provides. Lisa is a solid 10-star individual! She’s not a realtor you can compare to the many—because she simply can’t be compared!
We were cared for in every aspect of selling and buying our home in ways I didn’t even know were possible. She handled things I thought I’d have to do myself, yet by the time I brought them up, they were already done. She went the extra mile to have our home beautifully staged and priced competitively, making sure we were confident and satisfied as sellers. As buyers, she worked tirelessly to get every detail taken care of and to ensure we were happy at every step.
I’ve never met someone so dedicated to both her work and the relationships she builds with her clients. She has a heart of gold, and it shows in everything she does. You’d be making a mistake to consider any other realtor—Lisa is your one-stop shop for success, peace of mind, and happiness in buying or selling your home!
"
- Kita B
"
I met Lisa through our SMART Networking Group. She is a strong member and is very knowledgeable about her industry. She definitely takes the time to learn and convey market trends and information. She does her homework! Her attention to detail and concern for her clients, whether buyer or seller, shows in her presentations. If you are looking for an agent that will listen to you, set up a meeting with Lisa. You won't be disappointed.
"
- Arlene Fishman Seifert
"
There are realtors, and then there’s Lisa. She goes above and beyond in every way imaginable. One of the best choices I’ve made was choosing her to help us with our home sale. She is communicative, thorough, and knows what it takes to get the house on the market. Her connections to construction, cleaning, photography and clearing were paramount. Run, don’t walk - this is your person!
"
- Suzy L
"
Lisa was there for me from day one. When I was stressed, she was there to reassure me that she was there for me. When there was tears, she was there to wipe the tears away. Then when I could get things done fast enough, she sent recruits to help. Who would of guessed God sent a angel to help me get the sale of my family home done. Don’t second guess on picking her to help you on the sale/buy of your home. You choosing her, you will always be in great hands!!
"
- Seller -Rosemount, MN
"
Lisa and Chris were amazing to work with. We were moving to NC for my husband’s job and originally decided to keep our MN home. We decided last minute to sell it. They helped us get our home ready to sell fast and it did.
Thank you for helping us sell our beloved home so fast and for making it look beautiful. I highly recommend working with them. Thanks again Handley Advantage Team!!
"
- Elisabeth M
"
Lisa is outstanding to work with. Especially in this competitive market. She will go up to bat for you but will also be empathetic and an excellent listener. I would recommend her with 10 stars! ?? ? She is great working with first time home buyers as well as seasoned sellers.
"
- Buyer & Seller
"
Lisa and Chris have been nothing but the BEST team to help sell all of our family's and friends' homes in the twin cities area! They listen to your needs and wants of what you are looking for in a home, they stage your home and help you clean it out afterwards. We highly recommend and you can't beat them! Make a call today!
"
- Cecilia D
"
We were .oving from out of town and had very limited time to look at homes. She cleared her schedule when we were abailable and never made us feel rushed. She also handles inspections, walk throughs and all the logisitics to make the sales process as smooth as possible!
"
- Buyer - Woodboro, Rhinelander, WI
"
Lisa and her team have gone above and beyond to help us with an extremely last minute buy/sell process. She’s helped clean, organize, stage and hosted a very successful open houses. To have an incredible offer accepted in 24hrs of listing - shows the talent and connection they have. HIGHLY recommend
"
- Jackie B
"
Two words to describe Lisa..on point. She contacted me immediately when I was looking for an agent. She was tremendous from start to finish of the buying process. She is incredibly knowledgeable and intuitive. She gets her clients and she’s very connective. I would refer her highly to anyone. For future real estate transactions I have Lisa and I’ll be sticking with her.
"
- Buyer - Farmington, MN
"
Lisa is an amazing realtor who has her clients best interests at heart. Working with Lisa was truly an amazing experience as I knew I was in great, trustworthy hands. Will always use her as my realtor.
"
- Buyer -New Prague, MN
"
Amazing, fantastic, thorough, on top of her game. She tagged onto our home-buying adventure for almost 2 years, and always extends so much patience. She is successful for a REASON. 💖
"
- Camryn S
"
Lisa and her husband Chris go above and beyond for their clients!
They ensured we would be in the perfect home for our family (2x now!) and they have exceeded :)
The lenders they work with are amazing and know how to get the job done!
I’d recommend lisa and chris over and over a million times! They are officially considered family to us because of the process!
"
- Sarah S
"
The best realtor I have ever had. Her and her husband are such genuine, good people and are great at what they do. I will definitely be using Lisa again.
"
- Kat D
"
Lisa and Chris from the Handley Advantage Team really took a lot of worrying and stressing that comes with selling my house at ease. They graciously wanted to help and reassured me it would be ready to go on time and with a lot of their help by finishing up loose ends, cleaning, staging, finishing final touches etc. They went above and beyond expectations and couldn’t have asked for more. I highly recommend The Handley Advantage Team to anyone going through this same process! A job well done and thanks again for everything!
"
- Mark W
"
Lisa and Chris Handley have been the most amazing realtors we have ever worked with and appreciate everything they have done to help us find our new home and sell our current home!! We have gotten all 4 and 5 star reviews from showings and open houses and its because of Lisa and Chis Handley! They literally have done so much to help and support us each step of the process and above and beyond anyone we have ever worked with in the past!! They are so friendly and kind and they know what they are doing!! We highly recommend them! I am glad my sister and my brother in law recommended them to us!! Hands down the best Thanks!
"
- Joan B
"
Lisa and her team were great to work with on sale of my dad’s home. Starting with a complete market analysis and pricing/ marketing strategy to negotiations and close I knew I could count on her. She offers extra services that are real value adds compared to a typical realtor. Would recommend and would use her again!
"
- Pat J
"
Lisa's strong leadership, and her passion to provide exceptional service to her clients clearly sets her apart from her peers. This is the Handley way!
"
- Krista Salo
"
Lisa delivers the Handley Advantage! A caring heart and a determined approach leads to great results! Best of the best. She recently helped me flip a property, 30 day flip. True professional, you will want her on your side!!
"
- Kelvin K
"
Lisa was absolutely amazing in helping me buy my first home! Her extensive knowledge of the market, trends, and top-notch recommendations for mortgages, inspections, and repairs were invaluable. Chris's experience as a contractor also provided fantastic insights during house tours, making the process even more reassuring. Thanks to Lisa's expertise and dedication, I bought my first home after a 1.5-year journey. She made everything smooth and manageable. I highly recommend Lisa to anyone looking to buy a home—she's simply the best!
"
- Greg C
"
Lisa Handley is professional yet personable, very knowledgeable, kind, caring, understanding and patient. I couldn’t have hoped for a better experience as a 1st time homebuyer.
"
- Buyer -Inver Grove Heights, MN
"
Wow, just wow! Lisa and Chris are just amazing. They went above and beyond at every turn and gave us the best advice along the way. They really helped us find the best place to use our budget for repairs and we just appreciate them so much. Can't say enough good things!
"
- Lyndsey V
"
As busy professionals with two kids, my wife and I needed someone we could trust to help us sell our rental property. We had limited time and needed a one stop shop. Lisa and her team worked with the renters, facilitated/ made the repairs needed and sold our property for above asking price. When her team said they were on it, items got done within the agreed upon timeline. If you want a team that can handle your construction, repair and real estate needs I would highly recommend The Handley Advantage team.
"
- Seller
"
Lisa was very knowledgeable and knew what to do to get the house viewed and how to present it the best. She kept in contact during the entire process. She went above and beyond to get items fixed after inspections and to make the house show better. I live 300 miles away from where the house was located and it was difficult to arrange some of the items that needed to get done but Lisa had suggestions about what to do and scheduled some of the items herself with workmen that she knew. Lisa was very supportive every step of the way. It wouldn't have happened without Lisa's extra efforts.
"
- Seller - Hastings, MN
"
Lisa & Chris are great team to work with. Very personal to work with and I would highly recommend
"
- Ryan F
"
Lisa and Chris Handley at REMAX Advantage were simply AMAZING!!! From day one, they had the best interest of our family at heart. They asked what we wanted, what we needed, what would be the best fit for us and guess what, they delivered on it all. Not one thing was pushed on us but the biggest thing, it felt like family was helping us find our dream home!! We can’t thank Lisa and Chris enough and I know we have made life long friends. I would highly recommend these two for all your home finding needs!!
"
- Michelle R
"
Best relators in the Twin Cities. When they help you they dont just see the profit they're going to make but making sure your 110% happy. They will stick their neck out for you and look out for your best interest. We did not just find a house because of them, but we found our dream home. If I could give a higher review I would. They are the best!
"
- Wendy O
"
Such an amazing experience with Lisa & Chris! Thank you so much for working with Darin and I, on buying our first home together. You guys made it easy and fun!!
We appreciate you, and we will definitely recommend you to our family & friends!
Thanks, Darin and Angie
"
- Angie M
"
Great leaders. They have a BIG HEART for everyone, just wanted the best for everyone. They are true with their intentions, and their limitless initiatives and commitment in all they do definitely inspire us all. They lead without losing their hearts— that’s rare! They truly are great leaders.
"
- Rachel Lansangan
"
Lisa was incredible! Got me the home of my dreams, on my timeline and for what I wanted to spend! Awesome!
"
- Karen Ober
The data relating to real estate for sale on this web site comes in part from the Broker Reciprocity Program of the Regional Multiple Listing Service of Minnesota, Inc. Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than REMAX Advantage Plus - Eagan are marked with the Broker Reciprocity logo or the Broker Reciprocity thumbnail logo (little black
house) and detailed information about them includes the name of the listing brokers.
© 2026 Realtor Association of Southern Minnesota. All rights reserved. The data relating to real estate for sale on this limited electronic display comes in part from the Broker Reciprocity (sm) Program of the Realtor Association of Southern Minnesota Multiple Listing Service. Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other then REMAX Advantage Plus - Eagan are marked with the Broker Reciprocity(sm) logo or the Broker Reciprocity(sm) thumbnail logo (a little black house) and detailed information
