Are you looking for a place in town or in the country? Land up there seems to be getting more expensive, but if you keep trying you can still find a good deal. I have a close friend in the area that managed to buy 40 acres with a house and a decent shop building for under $200k. It took him a few years to find that steal though.
I don't live there full time, but I have some land with a small cabin between Brainerd and Aitkin that I'm at often.