LakePlace.com in the News

LakePlace.com: making "Up North" dreams come true.
By Sarah Giddings
The Florence Mining News

Dave Gooden and Cameron Henkel from Richfield, MN are internet entrepreneurs who run a website geared toward consumers looking for that perfect northern getaway. 

The pair designed LakePlace.com as a tool for Wisconsin and Minnesota real estate professionals who specialize in lake property and are looking for a way to expand their influence while targeting a specific audience.

The two men, who grew up together and have been friends since childhood, started LakePlace.com about two years ago.
Henkel graduated with a degree in geography from Bemidji State University in Minnesota, while Gooden chose to spend four years serving in the Navy. They teamed up again after that, buying and selling laptop computers online.

They say they turned to real estate because the market was good and they saw an opportunity to "create, maintain, and improve and online directory that encompasses the 'Up North' lifestyle."

"A lot of people in the real estate industry are still skeptical about websites. A lot of them don't even use websites," said Henkel.
Henkel says that those brokers and realtors are missing out because people from all over can view their listings quickly and easily. According to their tracking software, Henkel and Gooden say that their website is viewed by more than 40,000 people per month with an average of 800,000 page views.

Realtors and brokers can list properties for a flat fee on a monthly or yearly basis. The site currently lists properties from over 60 brokers and 550 realtors.

Henkel says buyers and sellers will find the site easy to navigate and with the help of this comprehensive directory, will be one step closer to fulfilling a dream of owning lake property.