In a recent Forbes "Best Cities for Young Professionals" list, Minneapolis ranked #3 among the top 40 bigest metro areas in the US.  This was based on having the nations highest concentration of Top Companies that pay above average salaries, along with its low cost of living.  Their explanation of their methodology and be found in the complete Forbes Article. They looked at the current unemployment rate, what these young professionals wer actually earning and how many of the 200 largest U.S. public companies are located in each city considered. This bodes well for our real estate market in the long term.  We have strength and stability in the long term due to our  broad based economy.  We are not dependant on one segment of manufacturing or on a heavily based service economy for our growth.   Those of us that live here can also attest to our extensive arts and entertainment communities along with great food and yes, outdoor activities all year round.