Sandpoint Real Estate Guide

Sandpoint Winter Activities, Attractions, and Recreation

Gary Lirette (Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 22:59:38 -0600

Sandpoint, Idaho has had so many great articles and accolades that it is hard to believe that right above is one of the world's best ski resorts: Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort. The North Idaho Panhandle is truly a winter wonderland, with several mountain ranges, including the Bitterroot Mountains, Cabinet Mountains, Clearwater Mountains, Coeur d'Alene Mountains, Purcell Mountains, Saint Joe Mountains, and Selkirk Mountains. There are many outdoors things to do for the winter months in Sandpoint and the surrounding winter sports areas, but there is also Shopping, many Events, Art, and great Drives, Tours, & Scenery. Sandpoint and North Idaho also have great Attractions, plus there are scores of Cool Things to Do within 100 miles of Sandpoint. For a great guide, see this 2009 Visitor's Guide, and to learn all about fun winter activities, see the rest of this Winter Recreation Guide.

See the Lights at the Coeur d'Alene Resort

In Downtown CdA, the Festival of Lights starts off with a bang on November 27th, with Fireworks and a Parade. Best to get to the parade for a good spot in the mid afternoon, but get a place to watch the fireworks by about 5 pm. Many will go up Tubbs Hill for the best vantage point. This is a bit of a small hike, and be aware of the weather. We like to skip the parade, and get a good place at Whispers in the Coeur d'Alene Resort, with a toddy or two, and take in the sights with video camera, all nice and cozy. Good, clean windows, and higher up for really cool shots, both down the gullet and off the camera.

Starting Thanksgiving weekend, the Coeur d'Alene Resort hits the light switch with it's Holiday Light show. All during the holiday season you can experience America's largest floating holiday light show and laser extravaganza. Cruise boats take you on Lake Coeur d'Alene to view the animated light displays and holiday scenes along the Coeur d'Alene Resort shoreline, and then a special visit to Santa's workshop.

Other events include breakfasts with Santa, Sunday brunches with Dickens Carolers and Mrs. Clause, Santa Cruises for the very young, a downtown Christmas lighting ceremony, fireworks shows and a lighted parade. The parade starts at 5 pm at 8th and Sherman Ave, downtown Coeur d'Alene. 208-667-5986 or www.cdadowntown.com

November 27-29: Coeur d'Alene - Festival of Trees The incredible event is something the entire family will never forget! The Coeur d'Alene Plaza Shops are transformed into a Christmas Wonderland with carolers, gingerbread houses, and of courses, beautifully decorated Christmas Trees by professional designers. All trees are auctioned off at the end of the event, with the proceeds going to a local charity. Coeur d'Alene Plaza Shops located on Sherman Avenue, downtown Coeur d'Alene. Info: Kootenai Medical Center Foundation 208-666-8733 or www.thefestivaloftrees.com

Downhill Skiing & Snow Boarding

Within a half day drive of Sandpoint are five great resorts: 49º North, Mt. Spokane, Silver Mountain, Lookout Pass, and Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort. If you are in Sandpoint, Schweitzer looms right above the city, and if you drive the speed limit, you can usually reach the slopes in about a half hour. We are so spoiled. Most ski resorts afford spectacular mountain views when weather permits. Unlike other resorts, when skiing Schweitzer, you can see not only the mountain views, but the city of Sandpoint, and the 148 square mile giant Lake Pend Oreille. Schweitzer has garnered many accolades over the years, and has oft been considered one of the great 'undiscovered' ski treats. Then, last year, Skiing Magazine named Schweitzer to its Top 25 Ski Resorts. Schweitzer is also #3 for tree skiing. So, way up here in tiny Sandpoint, Idaho, on majestic Lake Pend Oreille, we have one of the best ski resorts in the world: Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort.

Lake Pend Oreille from Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort

Still, it is nice to have variety, and North Idaho gives winter sport enthusiasts great opportunities to live the perfect ski life of Idaho's noble winter, be it skiiing developed ski resorts and a groomed trails, or off in the hinterlands of Panhandle backcountry. Silver Mountain is fine for downhill, but also added a very cool feature this year: an indoor water park. It is the home of the world's longest single stage gondola. To learn more about each resort, visit Skiing in the Inland Northwest.

Cross country skiing is a great way to enjoy the beautiful outdoors at a leisurely pace. A wide variety of terrain awaits, including a well-maintained trail system at Farragut State Park. A catalog of Nordic trails is available from the Idaho State Department of Parks & Recreation. Call 208-769-1511 or www.idahoparks.org. The Centennial Trail, which runs from the east end of Lake Coeur d'Alene to Spokane, through Post Falls is a favorite for local enthusiasts. Over 8 miles of trails are ready for exploration at Schweitzer Mountain Resort who also hosts two fun Nordic races annually - the Cougar Gulch 10K/5K and the Great Scott 10k/5k. Each winter the Priest Lake Golf Course becomes The Nordic Sports Center at Priest Lake offering some of the finest groomed trails in the area. Plus, Priest Lake is renowned for snowmobiling, and has a fantastic dog sled race.

The State Parks Annual Passport is $25 (plus tax) and is good for day use at all of Idaho's state parks. Cross country skiing at Priest Lake, Round Lake, Farragut and Winchester Lake state parks is offered at no additional charge. Passes are available at any state park or locally at 2750 Kathleen Avenue, Coeur d'Alene.

The Park N' Ski Pass is $25 (plus tax) and allows you to park and ski at 11 back country sites across the state. Passes can be purchased at regional offices of the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, as well as most cross country ski shops statewide.

Snowmobiling & Overland Snowmobiling and Cats

Priest Lake

There a many places in the US that have restricted snowmobiling, and for a short while, we had some issues. North Idaho has the perfect snow and terrain to offer some of the best snowmobiling in the world. Snowmobiling is one of the area's fastest growing sports. SnoWest Magazine recognized The Silver Valley's thousands of miles of snowmobile trails as "one of the best full service snowmobiling hot spots in the world," and Priest Lake has some of the best views that can be seen from the seat of a 900cc. Contact the Priest Lake Trails & Outdoor Recreation Association at 208-443-3309. To learn more check out Snowmobiling Priest Lake. However, you can find places for snowmobiling off Rapid Lightning Creek, Trestle Creek, and so many other areas.

Seventy-five miles north of Coeur d'Alene at Priest Lake find an additional 400 miles of groomed trails. Trails are mostly on forest service roads ranging in elevation from 2,500 to 6,500 feet. Ample snowfall and marked and patrolled trails along one of the world's most pristine lakes make this a winter wonderland. 443-3191. A history of timber and mining in the Coeur d'Alene area has left an extensive network of trails through the Idaho Panhandle National Forest. www.idahowinter.org.

Winter Riders in Sandpoint has great info (208-263-5868).

Peak Adventures offers survival training and avalanche training, but their forte is Cat Skiing. Very cool stuff here.

As mentioned before, the Selkirk Powder Company offers great guided tours. This the snowcat-skiing and snowmobiling outfitter takes you to the best locations in the Rockies and Pacific Northwest. With it's headquarters right on the summit of Schweitzer Mountain Resort, SPC skis and snowmobiles in 4,000 acres of epic terrain directly behind the burgeoning 3,000 acre ski resort. Prompt access to your full day of guided skiing begins at or before 9am. You can expect up to 8 runs and 10,000 to 14,000 vertical.

Boundary County has ample snowmobiling opportunities. There are many well-groomed trails higher than 7,000 feet. The two major areas include Roman Nose in the Selkirk Mountains and Canuck Basin in the Purcell Mountains. Visitors to Schweitzer Mountain Resort in Sandpoint can enjoy guided snowmobile tours through the backcountry.

Kellogg offers thousands of miles of groomed trails with a vast choice of lodging and tourist services. Wallace encourages driving snowmobiles inside the city limits and has a number of annual snowmobile events. 753-7151.

Snowmobiling regulations and trail maps are available from U.S. Forest Service offices throughout the region. Machine and equipment rentals are available locally. With the eminent success of snowmobiling projects throughout North Idaho, here's a recommendation: Make plans for your visit before the rest of the world gets here!

Ski & Snowmobile Links

Idaho State Snowmobile Association - Region 1

Specialty Recreation & Marine, 772 Kathleen Ave, Coeur d'Alene, 888-567-5664

Helmet Outlet, 5648 Governmentt Way, Coeur d'Alene, 208-762-3668

Two Wheeler & Ski Dealer, 9551 Hwy 95, Hayden, 208-772-8179

Silver Mountain Resort, Kellogg

Dog Sledding

For over thirty-five years the US Pacific Coast Championship Sled Dog Race has been held at Priest Lake. Each year 75 to 100 teams from around the country and as far away as Alaska and Canada gather on the west side of the lake for the competition. 509-447-5744 or Inland Empire Sled Dog Association Last year we had them on my radio show: North Idaho Arts & Adventure. Having owned Samoyeds, I was particularly interested in the teams with Sammies. We have one team from Athol, and though Sammies aren't perhaps the best pulling dogs, they sure are the most beautiful. Anyway, great event to attend.

Snowshoeing, & Walking the Area

There are few places that are groomed well enough to venture out without some help to walk on the snow. However, there are a few. For instance, off Brisboys is a trail at the second entrance off Lakeshore that is not known to most, but is fabulous. Others that don't always require special gear are the 2-miles of path on the Pedestrian Long Bridge that runs alongside the Long Bridge (Highway 95). This is one of the best because of the views of Lake Pend Oreille.

Dover Bay resort has nine miles of fabulous paved paths, and many are groomed in the winter. These are free to the public, and the scenery is outstanding. Here is a map of their Master Plan.

One of our favorite charities was the forming of the Bonner Healing Garden. We sponsor their website. Even in the dark of winter, it is a place to sooth the soul.

The new Pend d'Oreille Bay Trail was donated much by the Ross Hall family, and goes approximately two miles to a place called Black Rock along Lake Pend Oreille. Park next to the water treatment plant next to Seasons at Sandpoint. You don't have to use the trail. The railroad often plows the roads along the tracks for service purposes, so you can walk the small peninsula between the lake and Sand Creek.

Try some of the area parks. City Beach isn't bad, but there are many to choose from. To learn more about area parks, visit our Parks & Camping.

Strapping on a pair of snow shoes and making first tracks in fresh snow on a sunny winter day is as good as it gets for North Idaho outdoor recreation. If you're a novice or enjoying an outing with younger family members, the Centennial Trail is ideal. Park at the trailhead on Northwest Blvd. at I-90 Exit 11 in Coeur d'Alene and hike a flat trail along the Spokane River, through Coeur d'Alene City Park along the lake. Another popular route begins at Silver Beach on Lake Coeur d'Alene Road, I-90 Exit 15 at Sherman Avenue, with parking, year 'round restroom facilities and a stunning view with no changes in elevation.

Coeur d'Alene's Tubbs Hill is a short loop trail (3.2 miles) accessible from downtown that winds through a 120-acre natural park jutting out from the shore of Lake Coeur d'Alene. Start your hike at the south end of 3rd Street by the Coeur d'Alene Resort.

Falls Park in Post Falls is right in town. Exit 5 off of I-90, south a block to 4th Avenue and west two blocks. The park has family friendly trails and scenic overlook platforms to best view the wide open gates of the hydroelectric plant at the Spokane River falls.

For more advanced snowshoers, the following offer a backcountry hike. The winter wonderland scenery of North Idaho makes it worth your while. Don't forget to bring a camera!

Gold Hill - 2 miles south of Sandpoint on US 95. turn east on Bottle Bay Road, 4.8 miles to the trailhead located on the right.
Length-3.7 miles one-way
Difficulty-moderate
Highest elevation-3400 feet
Elevation gain/loss-1200 feet
Panoramic views

Trail to Chimney Rock - a popular climbing destination. Getting to the trailhead in winter may require a 4-wheel drive vehicle. From Sandpoint-north on US 95, 13 miles to Pack River Road, turn west onto Road 231, 16 miles to West Branch Road 2653. Turn left and then a half mile to trailhead at bridge.
Length- 5 miles one way
Difficulty-last 2.5 miles are most difficult
Highest elevation- 6720 feet
Elevation gain/loss 1820 feet
The first 2.5 miles are along an old road, the last 2.5 miles are somewhat steep.

Moose Lake - from Sandpoint head east on Hwy 200 then 12 miles to Trestle Creek Road, turn left onto Road 275 then 16 miles to Lighting Creek Road 419, turn left and then 1.5 miles to Moose Creek Road 1022, turn right and 2 miles to the trailhead. This is also a trailhead for Blacktail Lake Trail 24 and Lake Estelle Trail 36.
Length- 1.6 miles one way
Difficulty-moderate
Highest elevation-6160 feet
Gain/loss-1240 feet

Depending upon snow conditions, accessibility may be limited to the backcountry areas. There are no restrictions to snowmobiles for both Moose Lake and Chimney Rock.

Sledding

The local sledding hills of yesteryear are still part of the fabric of North Idaho small town life. Some are maintained by local parks departments, some are just part of the neighborhood. For a fun family day in the snow, here are some local favorites:

Coeur d'Alene - Cherry Hill Park is located at 15th Street and I-90. Generations of children have enjoyed this popular sledding hill which is now part of the park. For all ages, paved parking lot adjacent.

Post Falls - Black Bay Park, just north of the main parking lot off of E. Third Ave., has good sledding hills in the winter months.

Kellogg - Locals enjoy sledding and tubing at Silver Mountain and at Kellogg City Park, across from the football field.

Sandpoint - Schweitzer Mountain is a great place to sled or tube. Great Northern Park is a new 7-acre park which is slated to have a sledding hill shaped by the time the snow flies. For the younger children, Hickory Street Park has a small hill.

Priest River - Right in town is a sledding park off of Highways 2 and 57.

Clark Fork - Locals bundle up for sledding at the ball park on the north side of the pond.

Ice Skating

Traditionally, Sand Creek was the place that Sandpoint locals skated, though last year many could be seen by the Long Bridge on Lake Pend Oreille. There are many places to skate, such as the smaller lakes. To learn more about area lakes, check out our Lakes Guide. For streams and rivers, go our Rivers Guide.

Gliding across frozen lakes and ponds on ice skates is postcard perfect in North Idaho, when temperatures are cold enough for long enough to freeze the water to safe depths.

Smaller lakes, such as Fernan at the east end of Sherman Avenue in Coeur d'Alene are the best bet most years. Lake front homeowners often create a groomed skating area near the public docks. Twin Lakes and Spirit Lake are also likely to freeze solid enough for skating.

In Bonners Ferry, Mirror Lake is similarly swept for skaters, weather permitting, as is Dawson Lake. In Sandpoint, Sand Creek, just below the Cedar Street Bridge, is popular with the locals and near the city beach, a skating area is often cleared for the public.

The winter of 2007/2008 saw the opening of a public outdoor skating rink on the grounds of the Coeur d'Alene Resort. The rink opened in conjunction with the Festival of Lights and operated through the holidays. 765-4000

The KYRO (Kootenai Youth Recreation Organization) Ice Arena in Coeur d'Alene is open to the public for indoor recreational ice-skating and lessons; adult and youth hockey leagues and lessons; and competitive and recreational figure skating. The facility is also available for group and business functions. 3519 W. Seltice Way. kyro.org

Sandpoint Waterfront: Best Waterfront Properties under $700,000 in Sandpoint and North Idaho

Gary Lirette (Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:08:05 -0600

Sandpoint Waterfront - End of year 2009

Having sold waterfront homes on Talon Drive, Bryce, and Derr Island, plus secondary and waterview lots this year, in this market, few other REALTORS® have had as much success as I have had.

The market is slow, and while statistics are indicating we will see an 18-23% decline in prices this year, waterfront continues to be the one segment that maintains value. This doesn't mean that prices haven't slipped for a home with a boat dock. What has declined similarly are homes in less desirable waterfront communities. Those are typically riverfront homes, homes in communities that are more crowded, and areas farther away from Sandpoint or Coeur d'Alene. During boom times, these homes competed with the better locations in price. Now, those are typically 10-25% less.

Areas such as the Hope Peninsula, Garfield Bay, in town Sandpoint and Coeur d'Alene, Sunnyside, Odin Bay, and others still command top dollar.

I wrote this post on December 15, 2009 in response to a client looking for a Sandpoint-centric location. Also, condos were not in consideration. Therefore, some nice waterfront homes were left out in Bayview, Hope, Clark Fork and perhaps other areas. Also, the criteria by which I searched was for homes that were free-standing, not in developments per se, which also eliminated Dover Bay Waterfront Community. In the previous 19 postings on waterfront, I have commented on Priest River, Priest Lake, Hope, condos, Dover, and virtually every other area of Bonner County and Boundary County. I invite those looking to learn more about the market as pertains to waterfront and waterview properties to read all of the blog postings I have posted on Activerain, as well as my forty-eight other websites. Additional commentaries are in the articles written about Sandpoint and myself, including the most recent piece featuring yours truly in Where to Retire magazine in the December 2009 issue: a magazine with 2,900,000 readers.

Listed below are the twenty homes that offer the best values under $700,000, plus information and my opinion about each:

MLS # 20903657 11464 W Dufort Rd, Priest River, ID 83856 $350,000

This home is dated, and could use some modernizing. It was remodeled years ago, and has that late-1980s feel, though it was probably done about ten years ago.

It was listed at almost double this just a couple of years ago. It has much more acreage than most waterfront listings, and has great views, but the house orientation does not take much advantage of the river. In fact, the river frontage and the home are separated by Dufort Road, and though it is a major east-west route, at least this part is less traveled. Ideally, the home would become the guest house or be torn down one day to make room for a place that gets those spectacular views. The least expensive direct waterfront in this list.

MLS # 20904346 535 Comeback Bay Ln Sagle, ID 83860 $374,900

Comeback Bay is a development, just across the Longbridge from Sandpoint, on Sagle Slough fed by Fry Creek. It is a boatable body of water during much of the warmer months, but as the Army Corps of Engineers lets 7-10 feet out of Lake Pend Oreille every year, most of this slough becomes a mud flat.

The home was built in 1973, and the layout is typical of that time. However, it has been updated in what I like to think of as high-end apartment dwelling.

This is a bank repo, and with the combination of convenience to Sandpoint (seven minutes away), paved road access, and boatable, under $400,000, this is a good deal.

MLS # 20903964 275 River Birch Road, Laclede, ID 83841 $399,000

Laclede is on the Pend Oreille River just fifteen minutes to Sandpoint and ten minutes to Priest River on what is arguably our best highway. Certainly the drive along the river is serene and one of the most beautiful drives in the world.

This home is a short sale, and is being offered for less than is owed to the bank. The home was built in 1994, and is a cookie-cutter design that could be found in any city in the U.S.

Still, it is a good buy at the price.

MLS# 2082384 331 EAGLE FLIGHT WAY Sagle, ID 83860 $407,000

Eagle Flight is near Garfield Bay on Lake Pend Oreille, making it one of our more desirable areas. This home has been on the market almost two years, and started at $609,000. This area is steep, and there is quite the trek down to the water.

The property, at almost ¼ acre, would be substantial in Orlando or Seattle, but is a postage stamp in North Idaho. The home is equally small, at just under 1,300 sq. ft., and though built in 1982, has had some updating.

The price is about right for Garfield Bay area, but I would suggest offering right under $400,000.

MLS# 20900570 2255 Gypsy Bay Road Sagle, ID 83860 $495,000

There was a time when a home like this on Gypsy Bay on the Pend Oreille River might have sold for $800,000. Now, with Sandpoint about 25 minutes away, this location seems a bit far. Still, Priest River is about 15 minutes, making this a good central location. This home is dated, built in 1971, and it still has the same tired wood paneling that I am sure is original. A much more luxurious, modern home on 12 acres right down the road almost is pending with 2 ½ times the size for only $100,000 more. The big difference is that this home has direct water frontage, but for $88,000 less, I would sacrifice the extra .25 acre and get the one on Eagle Flight.

MLS # 20903446 419 Campbell Point, Laclede, ID 83841 $499,000

Laclede is about equally distant from Sandpoint and Priest River, but lies on the opposite bank of the Pend Orielle River. It has a couple of advantages. First, this bank has southern exposure, which sounds like a realty spiel, but in North Idaho, especially during winter, this is huge. It is also a much, much larger home, almost three times larger. While also a bit dated, built in 1982, it is clean and comfortable.

Highway 2 is, as previously stated, perhaps our best road, and the ease of access to both your own dock and town is another big plus.

MLS # 20903881 963 Riley Creek Park Road, Laclede, ID 83841 $539,000

Again another Laclede/Pend Oreille River home. Both the home and the lot are not quite as large as the previous listing. There are some big differences. First, though this home was built in 1976, it has been tastefully remodeled. The attention to detail is evident, and the materials are top-notch.

Also, with the new county guidelines, no new homes could be built this close to the water. You can literally step out the back door and jump right in for a swim. It has a covered boat lift and dock, and affords unbelievable views from almost every window.

This one is a stunner.

MLS # 20903628 4114 Dufort, Sagle, ID 83860 $545,000

Only a tiny home, and not on boatable waterfront. Still, this is 60 acres on a beautiful slough, and just minutes from the river. Just thought I would throw this one in.

MLS # 20902312 155 Birch Haven Dr, Sagle, ID 83860 $550,000

Birch Haven is directly across the Longbridge from Sandpoint. The Longbridge Swim, 4^th of July fireworks, and four minute access to Sandpoint makes this one of the most convenient locations in Bonner County. It is in a traditional neighborhood. It accesses Lake Pend Oreille through its own dock on Fry Creek.

Built in 1965, it was renovated about 20 years ago, and could use another facelift.

MLS # 20901974 644 KEEPA WAY, Sagle, ID 83860 $550,000

Okay, so this isn't direct waterfront, but has access to waterfront and a boat slip. It is also on five acres, making it considerably more land than some of the others. Plus, it is what we expect from beautiful North Idaho construction. It is a log home built in 2007 with spectacular view, privacy, and very nicely appointed. The road is less than desirable, but not terrible.

Nice home, but a tad small.

MLS # 20903202 995 Comeback Bay Lane, Sagle, ID 83860 $599,000

A stunning home on Sagle Slough. Best materials, over one acre, easy access to town, your own boat dock.

Pretty nice. Again, this is a more traditional neighborhood.

MLS # 20903866 229 Gypsy Bay Rd. Sagle, ID 83860 $624,000

Another Pend Oreille River home. This large home on 9 acres was built in 1992, but looks like it was built yesterday with premium materials. Though you are a bit far from town, the home has privacy, its own dock, and you can boat to Sandpoint in twenty minutes.

Cool place.

MLS # 2083906 60 CAMPBELL POINT CT, Laclede, ID 83841 $647,500

This beautiful, North Idaho style home is only seven years old, and is on .83 acres. The beach area and dock is top-notch, and the home has nice materials, though not as nice as a couple mentioned previously. It has been on the market over 500 days, and started $100,000 higher.

Remember, Laclede is on about fifteen minutes from Sandpoint.

MLS # 20902794 304 Larch, Sandpoint, ID 83864 $650,000

This is the only in-town home on this list. It is on Sand Creek, which boats in a couple of minutes out to Lake Pend Oreille. It is on Larch a couple of blocks behind Safeway, and is a great location. Though it is zoned commercial, it is a decidedly residential neighborhood.

Nice older home, well-maintained, but could use some updating.

MLS # 20903912 289 W Garfield Bay Rd., Sagle, ID 83860 $695,000

Garfield Bay is still one of the most wanted areas. This is a very large home, Lake Pend Oreille frontage, and walk to restaurants, the marina, etc. The lot is large, and though built in 1943, it has been remodeled, though even that is feeling a bit tired now.

MLS # 20902105 3570 Sunnyside Road, Sandpoint, ID 83864 $695,000

Okay, so Sunnyside is one of our best locales. Only about ten minutes to Walmart and another couple of minutes to Sandpoint, this location offers very easy access.

The lot is .69 acres, but you feel much more private. The cabin is small, but the dock and the views are the best.

Can't help but think that these sellers have not gotten the memo about prices being lower now.

MLS # 20904617 143 JONES ROAD, Sagle, ID 83860 $698,500

Another home right across the Longbridge from Sandpoint. While this newer home has its own dock and provides easy access, it is close enough to Highway 95 to present noise as an issue. Plus, while built in 2003 it already has that feel of being out of touch. The counters are tile, and this is not one of my favs.

MLS # 20900653 99 Buck Run, Sagle, ID 83860 $698,500

Okay, so this house is virtually in the same area as the last one, but a much nicer home: better material, style, all around a winner. It has been listed for almost 300 days, and they have dropped the price $130,000.

MLS # 20904457 193 Birch Haven Drive, Sagle, ID, 83860 $698,759

This one is also in the same area, but a bit farther from the highway noise. A bigger home that compares well to Buck Run, though the lot is bit smaller.

There is another home is on Jones Road, same area, same stuff.

You would think that the homes that are in the higher price ranges would be substantially better, but mostly, they are just closer to town or a desirable area.

This was the list.

According to the MLS, only 28 homes have sold this year that are considered waterfront on a major body of water. I know this number is skewed, because some of the REALTOS® still have not learned how to operate our new MLS system, so about 5-10 do not show up in a detailed search.

Still, here are the numbers:

LIST PRICE:

SOLD PRICE:

DOM:

HIGH	LOW	AVERAGE	MEDIAN	TOTAL PRICE	LISTING COUNT
$1,789,000	$39,921	$624,310	$519,450	$17,480,684	28
$1,779,000	$36,500	$555,073	$465,000	$15,542,070
750	0	147	84

MLS Numbers: 20903657, 20904346, 20903964, 2082384, 20900570, 20903446, 20903881, 20903628, 20902312, 20901974, 20903202, 20903866, 2083906, 20903912, 20902105, 20904617, 20900653, 20904457

To view all of these properties,
Click Here to View Listings

If the above link 'Click Here to View Listings' does not function, copy and paste the following link into your browser address bar:
http://selkirk.fnismls.com/publink/default.aspx?GUID=8a1f22cf-7702-4a84-bd86-5c60f8f7113a&Report=Yes

Market Commentary from Chris Basset of MetLife Home Loans in Sandpoint, Idaho

Gary Lirette (Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:30:00 -0600

Fannie Mae's shares are still falling, and they in turn tightening their lending requirements all together. One change is to get rid of all loans <80%LTV and no FICO's below 620. This will mean a continued increase in volume for FHA loans that require a 620 FICO but only 3.5% down. If you are selling a house that is in good condition, a good option is USDA Guaranteed. No money down, and the income limit for a family of four is $73,600.

Condo approvals are available for Fannie and Freddie directly through MetLife. We will have direct approvals for FHA as well by January 1. There is no cost for my assistance in getting your project approved, and once all of the paperwork is in and accurate, we can have that approval to you for your borrowers within 72 hours. If you have questions about the phasing, declarations, HOA bylaws or budgets, please give me a call and I will be glad to assist you.

http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/12012009_oct_pending_home_sales.asp

Mortgage Rates are at an amazingly low level right now:

30 year fixed conventional rate for purchase: 4.625%
FHA/VA/USDA purchase loans: 4.875%
20% down payment Jumbo Loans start at: 4.625% up to 6.25%

These rates will be on the rise over the next few days with the current ceiling on the Mortgage Backed Securities being pushed by the hour.

Mission Statement for Gary Lirette: REALTOR® for Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty

Gary Lirette (Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 10:49:40 -0600

My promise to my community and clients

Commitment, service, and community are words bandied easily it seems these days, but not seen often. This is my promise. I promise to work diligently for my clients, friends, and family: to be a man of integrity, learning the newest methods, becoming not only proficient at cutting edge technologies and practices, but to become an expert for their benefit. I am committed to being their advocate, to helping improve their lives, both professionally and personally, in all ways I am able.

I honor service: service to my home of North Idaho, service to my family, service to my country. I honor the service I have given, honoring my time as a soldier, my time as an airman, the many events, charities, and needs I have served. I understand the job is never done, and will offer my time, the monies I am able to give, and my expertise in creating a place that people are proud to call home.

I believe in my community. I know the place I live in is special in all of history. Sandpoint, Idaho is the best small town in America, and America will own a position high in the annals of time. Such a special place takes special care, and I will protect this place and do everything I am able to help my town and country continue to be a community we are all proud of.

I understand that this is not the normal business model, and that community service takes time away from the standards of commerce. I will work towards having others become aware that this country was founded on service. That part of its greatness comes from the sacrifice our forebears made so that all of us could enjoy not only freedoms, but the standards we now have as part of our routine lives.

Finally, I commit to work harder than my competitors, so that I will have the time to not only give to my community, giving service to my country, but will learn to be smarter with my business practices, so that the time I devote to my business will be successful on behalf of my clients, friends, and family.

Following these tenets is an absolute for my life. I have always followed them, and always will.

Living in the paradise of Sandpoint, Idaho, where I have found more and better friends than any place I have ever been before, though these troubled times have weighed heavy on my soul, these thoughts have prevailed upon me:

This I commit:

I commit to be positive every day, to help others to find that which can help us all to discard depression and see that which is best in the world.

I commit to buying locally, helping my fellow business people survive in this down economy.

I commit to look back on the last thirty days and if I haven't done something to help another in my community, to do something beneficial over the next seven days.

I commit to speak well of my neighbors, whether they are deserving or not.

I especially commit not to be detrimental to those in my community. Not to gossip, not to slander, libel, or otherwise do harm.

I commit to be kind.

I commit to be instructive and to help teach what I know to those who need it most.

I commit to learn and become better educated every day.

I commit to help mentor other small businesses, especially those that are being started by young people.

I commit to support community and church events.

I commit to offer support no matter political affiliations, religious beliefs or race, color, creed, or sex.

I commit to be there for my friends in times of need as well as in times of plenty.

I commit to help those that want to live here find a way to do so. In this matter, I commit to helping find employment, homes, food, or whatever small or large thing I can do to make this happen.

I commit to be a community cheerleader, singing the praises of my town.

I commit to getting rid of the negative. When I complain or whine, I commit to saying one hundred positive things for every negative thing I say.

I commit to be a better family member, to be more loving, supportive, and understanding than I have ever been before.

I commit to helping my clients in better ways every day. I will learn the new methods, work the hours needed to get the job done, and do more than I did yesterday to help them accomplish their dreams.

I commit to never quitting.

I commit to making my company better by helping my fellow workers improve their lots and positions. By helping them to improve themselves, it will bring more clients into the company fold, and my position will improve in like fashion.

I commit to be happier, to love unconditionally, to be patient with children, to honor my country.

Most importantly, I commit to trust in a better new tomorrow. How do I know this will happen? I commit to it.

Is my business plan on target and working?

In the last three years, I have gone from a new REALTOR® to a trusted member of my profession. This is illustrated in three waterfront sales this year, along with a waterview lot, a home sold in town, and three other REO sales, all in what many consider to be our worst market since the Great Depression.

I have written almost two dozen other offers, including contracts for up to $1,400,000. The market, as well as other obstacles, have derailed many of these.

I have done this by the following measures:

•· Hosting two local radio shows - North Idaho Business as well as North Idaho Arts & Adventure

•· Becoming one of the most viewed internet hosts on the web concerning Sandpoint and North Idaho

•· Working with charities and events diligently over the last five years

•· Working diligently at my profession to provide the best realty services I am able

•· Building and selling homes in a down market

•· Learning the best cutting edge methods, both as a REALTOR® and in technology

•· Becoming one of the most viewed video segments on Sandpoint on YouTube

•· Networking

•· Blogging

•· Working towards being part of and joining every web-based part of what can promote my business and community

In the next week, I will have my SWOT Analysis complete, and will have my business plan for the new year in place by January 1^st.

Sandpoint Plays its heart out in State Football Championship

Gary Lirette (Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:33:31 -0600

It has been twelve years since Sandpoint won its last State Football Championship. Just a few weeks ago, both the girls and the boys soccer teams won state championships, and Sandpoint High School has an incredible tradition of state championships in a myriad of sports for both boys and girls teams.

Sandpoint was up against highly touted Blackfoot. Blackfoot is a community, roughly half again larger than Sandpoint. It is in the farming community between Pocatello and Twin Falls in southern Idaho. They are an ethnically diverse community, and their boys were big, really big.

We were an unlikely challenger, being fourth seeded, but our defense has played strong all year, and our offense stepped up to defeat all comers.

In the first quarter Sandpoint elected to receive the opening kickoff and promptly marched down the field to come within three yards of scoring. Unfortunately we fumbled with Blackfoot recovering. We scored first, then Blackfoot tied. We garnered a safety, but then, the gigantic men of Blackfoot took over, and it seemed they put the game away.

Sandpoint came back in the second half to score twice, making the margin less than a touchdown at 23-29. With less than a few minutes of play left our boys methodically rallied down the field, and it looked like we would pull off an upset win despite the outstanding play by their opponents.

After crossing midfield, the drive stalled, and with no time left to make another attempt, Sandpoint conceded defeat to their opponents.

Still, both teams can be very proud. What an outstanding game. While four or five sections was filled with rabid, screaming Sandpoint fans, students, and parents, Blackfoot only filled one of the Kibbie Dome's sections. Indeed, the noise and enthusism of the Sandpoint Bulldog fans was tantamount to having another player on the field. The indoor stadium was balmy warm, around 70 degrees. Please, someone remind me to bring sun tan lotion next time.

The drive to Moscow coupled with the game time and the drive back totalled over ten hours, but boy, it was worth it.

How great to see our town come together in such numbers, by some estimates over 1,200. What great fun, and how nice to see the community support our wonderful teenage men, playing in a game of a lifetime.

Great Job Sandpoint!

Go Bulldogs!!!

The Kibbie Dome was a balmy 70 degrees for the State Championship - Sandpoint vs. Blackfoot

Our Bulldogs played hard

Economic Commentary by Chris Bassett of MetLife in Sandpoint, ID - 11/05/09

Gary Lirette (Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:02:29 -0600

As we move into Winter, we are all expecting to see another 6 months of stimulus with the extension and expansion of the Home Buyer Tax Credit. The current proposal being worked through the Senate keeps the First Time Home Buyer with an $8,000 credit and for people with ownership for 5 years or more a credit of $6,500. We will keep our eyes and ears open as they iron out the unemployment bill that this extension and expansion is attached to.

Here is a solid commentary on the market from Mortgage News Daily, written by Victor Burek.

Mortgage rates ticked higher yesterday as prices of mortgage backed securities were pressured lower by a selloff in the long end of the Treasury yield curve. To remind readers, as prices of MBS and Treasuries fall, their yields or rate increase...price and yield have an inverse relationship. No major report or headline caused the moved lower, AQ and MG point out that it was a function of Friday's bond market rally being unwound before today's Treasury auction announcement and the FOMC meeting which was ignited by a "Build America Bond" issuance pricing in California. Their brains are complicated but we make a good team! Whatever the reason was, price losses held into the close and the majority of lenders repriced for the worse.

This morning the Mortgage Bankers' Association released the Weekly Mortgage Applications index. This data which tracks the weekly change in the amount of mortgage applications for refinance and purchase loans. An increasing trend in applications is a positive economic indicator. First, the purchase of a new home shows that the consumer feels comfortable enough with their own job security and finances to make a major purchase. Additionally, it will lead to many other purchases such as flooring, furniture, appliances, etc... to fill the home. Next, an increase in refinance activity should give consumers additional cash each month as they refinance to a lower interest rate and payment. With this increased cash flow, the consumer will have more funds to buy items which should increase future consumer spending and corporate profits. For these reasons, market participants track the applications index for signs of future economic momentum.

The report shows that the refinance activity moved higher by 14.5% last week as mortgage rates fell; however, the purchase activity posted a 1.8% decline. The decline in purchase activity is an indication of weaker home sales in the future.

Next we got a peek into the employment situation with the release of the ADP Employment report. This data is similar to the official government report we get on Friday with a couple key differences. First, the ADP report is compiled by a private company, Automatic Data Processing, not the government. Next, it only counts private payrolls and does not take into account government jobs. Historically, this report has varied greatly from the official report but it's accuracy has been improving. Since jobs are so crucial to any economy, market participants track this report to get a gauge on economic momentum but it continues to be of much less significance than Friday's official Employment Situation report.

Expectations called for a loss of 195,000 jobs, but the ADP reports that our economy lost only 203,000 jobs last month (ONLY HAHA). The prior months figures were revised from an initially reported loss of 254,000 to -227,000.

The final data release today was the ISM Non-Manufacturing Index. This data is a survey of 400 non manufacturing firms across the country regarding the strength of their business conditions. Readings above 50 indicate expansion while reading below 50 indicate contraction. Recent reports have shown that non-manufacturing business conditions have been improving with last month's report moving above 50 for the first time since the summer of 2008. Economists surveyed had expected to see continued improvement with a 51.6 reading but the actual reading came in lower at 50.6. With the Fed statement in a few hours, there was no reaction to this report.

Helping to keep the pressure on the fixed income sector to move lower is the announcement from the U.S. Department of Treasury regarding the size of the upcoming auctions next week. The announcement shows that they will offer $40billion of 3 year notes, $25billion of 10 year notes and $16billion of 30 year bonds which is basically in line with expectations.

The big news of the day will be the Fed statement at 2:15est. Today is the conclusion of the Federal Open Market Committee's 2 day meeting which occurs 8 times a year. At these meetings, our nation's monetary policy is set. It is widely expected that they will maintain the current Fed fund rate of 0 to .25%. As always with these meetings, the statement that is released is scoured by market participants for any hint at future monetary policy and their outlook on the economy. I suspect today's statement will be very similar to the last one. They will maintain the current rate "for an extended period" and caution about a slow and but steady economic improvement.

Lakedance International Film Festival in Sandpoint, Idaho - Named to the Top 100 Film Festivals

Gary Lirette (Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:37:05 -0600

Lakedance Film Festival has gone through some changes since its beginnings four years ago. Its founder, Trevor Greenfield, wanted to bring a world-class event to small-town Sandpoint, Idaho. In the first year, there was no major sponsor, and the event was in the red. For the previous two years, Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort sponsored the film fest, and last year they went into the black, making a small profit for the first time.

Schweitzer declined to be the backer this year, and Laser Image stepped in. Good timing too, because Lakedance was named to the Top 100 Film Festivals this year.

Three years ago I started the Cedar Street Bridge art show called the Sandpoint Art Break as a two-day event that was put on in support of Lakedance. I have also catered the special events during the fest since its inception, continuing this year through my affiliation with Dish Home Cooking.

The first night, last Saturday on Halloween night, the turnout was so-so, but the following Tuesday the crowd was among the largest ever for the Panida Theater.

I ran the concession stand, Evan's Brothers Coffee Roasters served awesome espressos, and a great time was had by all.

I will blog again later in the week to give you an update, but so far, a nice beginning to our very own Lakedance Film Festival.

Sandpoint and REALTOR® Gary Lirette featured in Where to Retire magazine

Gary Lirette (Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:11:24 -0600

When Where to Retire magazine approached me about being interviewed for a feature article, I wondered why they would choose me of all people. Still, the reasons they gave were compelling. With so many REALTORS® dropping out of the business, I have had several closings this year. As the radio host of two successful shows on North Idaho, there are few people that know the region better. As an avid community supporter, sponsoring and volunteering for dozens of charities and events, there are few people that are bigger cheerleaders. Finally, they learned from several sources that I was the guy to talk to.

The article is very accurate about Sandpoint, and there were no misquotes.

If you would like to read it, follow this link to Undiscovered Haven: Scenic Sandpoint, Idaho

This website sponsored by Gary Lirette &
Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty
200 Main Street
Sandpoint, Idaho
208-255-3474

Having the best web presence takes skills - How to best represent your clients from Sandpoint, Idaho REALTOR® Gary Lirette

Gary Lirette (Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:54:48 -0600

With over 100 websites, there are few private individuals that can compare with my web presence. While in a company meeting, our broker, Jeff Bond, suggested that having YouTube videos would help a website's position in Google. So, using my tiny netbook, I put two videos on one of my sites right then and there.

This year those websites are on target to get over 450,000 hits. The websites range from pure real estate business, to art, community support, and a variety of other fields and interests, all about Sandpoint, North Idaho, and Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort.

Other REALTORS® have to pay web pros to do their sites. They have to hire people to create content and write material. I am a Flash animator, with several published books and works, and have created all content, designed the sites, taken the photographs, and even shot the videos.

One of my sites has been judged one of the four top community websites in North Idaho.

You decide for yourself. Here are some of the dozens and dozens of websites I have created for myself, as well as a couple of others:

www.SandpointID.net
www.SandpointCentral.com
www.SkiSchweitzer.net
www.Sandpoint-Idaho.org
www.HopeIdaho.net
www.WaterfrontHomesSandpoint.com
www.RealtySandpoint.com
www.SandpointRealtor.net
www.Sandpoint.cc

Every one of my listings gets special web presence, from enhanced listings on sites like Realtor.com or Trulia, to Craigslist, to even videos on YouTube.

Special listings get their own exciting websites, and some areas get special attention, like the site we prepared for Comeback Bay.

It isn't enough that websites get the message out. We add high-quality print materials on glossy media, way better than plain paper printing.

Is it enough to be providing a strong web presence and good print media? My team continues to do print advertising. Most REALTORS® can't afford to advertise in the rags and magazines that we continue to provide. I was the only REALTOR® to advertise on radio this year. This fits my profile since I am going into my seventh year as the host of two radio shows: North Idaho Business as well as North Idaho Arts & Adventure. This year I have done less than any of the previous five in terms of supporting and providing time and funds to local charities and events. Even so, nine charities and events have gotten over 120 hours of commitment from me, as well as over $12,000 in direct contributions.

This kind of community support and commitment creates a warm and fuzzy feeling from the community. This kind of commitment creates trust. I often hear from various visitors and townsfolk, "You should run for mayor!"

When a writer for Where to Retire magazine was looking for someone to interview that represents what Sandpoint is all about, my name came up over and over. The December issue of the magazine produced a showcase article titled Undiscovered Haven: Scenic Sandpoint, ID. The six page piece covered much about what makes Sandpoint special, and a large part of that article was about our experience here.

We also back all this up by being part of Sotheby's family of companies. Sotheby's has been one of the few brokerages that still attract viable buyers. We have the tools, experience, and savvy that produces sales that are the envy of our industry.

There are a lot of reasons my team and I should help you with your real estate experience in North Idaho, and it starts with cutting-edge technology and a strong web presence. That experience has been years in the making, and the know-how of internet technology can't be replaced with the best of the old-school ways of doing things: footwork, doing our homework, people skills, and just showing up every day with a good attitude to get the job done.

Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty

200 Main Street
Sandpoint, Idaho

208-255-3474

Waterfront in Sandpoint and North Idaho on Lake Pend Oreille

Gary Lirette (Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:45:56 -0600

Having just closed on 333 Derr Island - a beautiful waterfront home on Derr Island at the mouth of the Clark Fork River and Lake Pend Oreille - I can truthfully say that there are hardly any other agents in North Idaho that have had more success in 2009 selling waterfront than I have had. My waterfront sales have included Bryce closed at $749,000, which had an asking price of $719,000. I also have sold Raptorview for $50,000 over asking price, and got a fantastic water view parcel for another young couple just a month ago for over $200,000 less than just two years ago, and for half of what is being asked for a similar lot in the same development.

Another area that I have excelled in is in finding waterfront listings priced well below the rest of the market. For instance, Derr Island was the best priced actual boatable waterfront in Bonner County. Priced at $499,900, it sold for full price, and had a private airfield as part of the deal. Just yesterday I listed 200' of waterfront on the Pend Oreille River for lower than any other lot: $175,000. This 2.5 acres has an old manufactured on it, but the mobile is given no value. This lot is $75,000+ lower than the competition. Why priced so low. The competition isn't selling at their higher prices. I will also be listing another secondary waterfront home on Comeback Bay for under $300,000. My own vacation home on the Hope Peninsula, with its own dock and secondary waterfront, is also priced below $300,000. This means I have easily cornered the best priced waterfront properties in the county.

Is waterfront selling? Not as well as in recent years. But I am selling waterfront. What is my secret? I show up for work every day, and am the king of websites in North Idaho. Want to know more about my web presence? Read the next blog article.

Gary Lirette, REALTOR® & host of the Tuesday noon local radio shows North Idaho Business as well as North Idaho Arts.

E-mail Gary or call 208-610-1384
Read Gary's Blog
For more detailed local info & real estate

Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty

200 Main Street
Sandpoint, Idaho

208-255-3474

Sandpoint Aerial Tour: Pictures and Photos of Sandpoint and Lake Pend Oreille from the Air

Gary Lirette (Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty) — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 13:51:11 -0500

Aerial Picture Tour of Sandpoint and Lake Pend Oreille

There are at least three ways to see the City and Lake Coeur d'Alene: one by helicopter and two by plane. I have been told these are smaller planes, but the tours are great; can't say about the chopper. The choices aren't limited to Lake Coeur d'Alene; Hayden Lake and several smaller bodies of water are minutes away.

Sandpoint Seaplane Service offers a tour around Lake Pend Oreille, but also can fly you over Lake Cocolalla, Twin Lakes, Spirit Lake, and the magnificent Priest Lakes. Lake Coeur d'Alene offers significantly more urban scenery, but still has the feel of wilderness. Lake Pend Oreille is much more pastoral, and Priest Lake is awesome.

These pictures are from a 45-minute tour over Lake Pend Oreille.

Check out this link for more Cool Things to Do around Sandpoint and North Idaho.

Entering Sandpoint, IDaho

Sandpoint, Idaho

Sandpoint City Beach and the Long Bridge

Sandpoint, IDaho

Pack River Estuary

Meandering Pack River

Livermore Lake

Lake Pend Oreille

Idaho Club and the wandering Pack River

Idaho Club

Pack River where the Idaho Club begins with Lake Pend Oreille in the background

Highway 200 along Lake Pend Oreille leading out to Hope, IDaho

Hope Peninsula in the middle of Lake Pend Oreille

Flying over the Hope Peninsula

Green Monarchs

Pend Oreille River

Garfield Bay

Dover Railroad bridge over the Pend Oreille River

Dover Bay Marina

Dover Bay waterfront resort community

Cabinet Gorge Dam

Bottle Bay

Clark Fork River

Wrapping up the Festival at Sandpoint - A look back on 2009

Gary Lirette (Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 00:38:36 -0500

...and the heavens opened up before us, parting the clouds, for the angels sang on high...

...or at least that's how it felt. For a freakish two weeks we had incredibly unusual cool weather. Gone were the "I could have fried an egg on the sidewalk days" to "Dear Lord, can anybody spare a parka!" Not kidding. The norm of mid-90s to low 100 degree temperatures gave way to nightly lows in the 40s. Plus, given the atmospheric conversion, or is it inversion, daily downpours gave rise to the parting of the Red Sea/Lake Pend Oreille. Okay, enough with the Biblical asides.

Seriously, seemed like daily a deluge would soak us right before show time, then dry for the remainder of the day. Unfortunately, Dyno, our Festival imperial leader, put it mildly when she stated, "It definitely put a damper on this year's festival." For three weeks I had Dyno Wahl on my Tuesday radio show to talk about our premier music fest, then to wrap it a couple of days after it finished.

Festival at Sandpoint 2009 saw great acts like Poco, Boz Scaggs, Blues Traveler, and Clint Black. The Festival is fourteen main performances on eight separate days over a two week period. This year several other musical talents also graced the stage and War Memorial Field to add a more local flava' than the event has had in recent years. For instance, on the Finale Sunday the Festival also has, for the price of an admission ticket, a wonderful wine tasting, during which a couple of different local musical talents played their stuff, much to our delight.

I was there every night but one, either doing my volunteer thing, or helping my friend Gary Peitz with his booth from Dish Home Cooking, and on the last day, having done so for the last few years, putting on the Finale Winemakers Dinner. Last year we had twenty vintners presenting; this year we added five more. So, the dinner served a total of over 70 people.

Another epic sight are the Ospreys that swoop and soar above the crowd. The tall lights meant to illuminate the field for night games also provides nests for several of these raptors. One wonders if they enjoy the music, or do the many people make them agitated enough to do their nightly aerial acrobatics? Certainly there are often crowds there. Maybe it is a mix of both, with this or that Osprey flying to the tunes, while others are protecting their nests with ever vigilant flight.

Getting back to the weather, it seemed like every night, after a brief rain, we would watch the ominous clouds approach, then part and clear above us, only to form again past us and continue with their cats and dogs ways.

So, those who might have come locally or in neighboring communities like Spokane or Coeur d'Alene would look out their windows and see the clouds, and many opted not to attend this year. While ticket sales don't make up the total of revenue needed to operate such a renowned event, it is an important part, as Dyno explained: "While this year was by anyone's yardstick a success, we were down about twelve percent. That may not sound like much, but twelve percent for us is around $60,000. That hurts. So, now that the music is over, we all take about two weeks off, then start the fund raising for next year." The horde of personnel that man the fest are mostly volunteers, but the sponsors and donations are a large part of the total revenue. So, even if we were in the red this year, that was an anomaly. Dyno and her team had already lowered projections given the state of the economy, but things are already looking up for next year.

Setup is mainly done by the army of volunteers. Memorial Field is transformed into a great music venue. This takes about a week prior and after the actual concerts. The tent goes up, hundreds and hundreds of plants are brought in, decorating is days long, and chairs, tables, and signs, along with uncountable other parts and parcels make what appears to be a permanent fixture.

It wasn't always like this. Look back at pictures from a quarter century ago, and the Festival was a weekend concert event where the Spokane Symphony came to town for a few hundred local listeners. Then some local acts got involved. Things kind of changed once Willie Nelson played here. Now, it is a world-class act.

For me, as a simple observer, the Festival seemed like a great success, given the rain and economy. The herds of people seemed as good as previous years, and I absolutely loved every night.

Some of the acts stood out as memory-makers. I especially loved Jonatha Brooke, the Subdudes, and Boz Scaggs was like listening to a CD. Given that his band has been together for half my lifetime, their perfection was a treat. The rain also provided a repeat of last year. The Spokesman Review reported, 'Donavon Frankenreiter is already legendary in Sandpoint because of his performance last year. His set was cut short by thunderstorms, but he then jumped out in the audience and played acoustically, as if around a big campfire, and then ended up at Eichardt's Pub, where he played for hours.' I was at that concert last year, and after leaving went downtown driving on First Avenue then Cedar looking to see where the party was. In front of Eichardt's was a mulling crowd, so we decided to go elsewhere, not knowing who was playing inside. It was just too crowded for us. Oh, brother! This story has become kind of an urban myth, in that Sandpoint only has around 9,000 people, and listening to the stories, you would guess that 10,000 were at Eichardt's that night.

The way it really goes is that they don't cancel because of rain. Truth is the Festival will have any group willing to continue playing unless there is thunder and lightning. So, last year Donavon had the light show, this year it just sprinkled. The fans were intrepid though. At opening bell there are always crowds looking to get in and stake out their favored places with blankets and such, most right in front of the stage. One of the funniest things to watch in Sandpoint is to see the first 100, who are handed numbers for entry, race across the field to throw down the blankets, claiming this or that space as their own. We were so sure, given the soggy field and all, that someone would lose their footing and do some kind of America's Funniest Home Videos kind of flip. Watched every day, and it never happened, but the racers evoked giggles nonetheless.

2009 was a good year for music in North Idaho, and the Festival at Sandpoint did what it does best. It placed smiles on young and old alike, brought a few visitors into town with their accompanying dollars, and lifted spirits for two magical weeks along the shores of the Pend Oreille.

Festival at Sandpoint

Gary Lirette, REALTOR® & host of the radio shows North Idaho Business as well as North Idaho Arts on KSPT & KBFI in Sandpoint & Bonners Ferry. When you need your real estate questions answered...

E-mail Gary or call 208-610-1384

www.SandpointID.net - To learn all about Sandpoint and North Idaho

www.RealtySandpoint.com - For Sandpoint Realty

www.SkiSchweitzer.net - To visit Schweitzer Mountain's Community Web

Sandpoint and North Idaho Real Estate and Economy - Summer 2009

Gary Lirette (Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty) — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 15:37:24 -0500

Economic outlook for Sandpoint and North Idaho: Summer 2009

By Gary Lirette, Host of North Idaho Business on KSPT and KBFI and Realtor for Tomlinson Sandpoint International Realty.

How are things here in North Idaho? Besides being named to Sunset Magazine's Top 10 Resort Towns this year, Idaho was just named the nation's 8th healthiest state. In Sandpoint and Priest River, several new businesses just opened, including a Jack in the Box, Big 5 Sporting Goods, the Priest River Inn, and Zip's. The new Mountain West Bank building on the way to Priest River now graces Highway 2, and the Panhandle State Bank is a monument downtown. Quest Aircraft hired 60 new employees over the last two quarters, and the Sand Creek Byway is fully underway, as anyone crossing (or parked and not moving) the Long Bridge will attest to.

However, unemployment went up a tick from 8.8% last month to 8.9% for June. Normally, because of summer hiring, we see a substantial lowering in the rate during the summer tourist season, but this year, we should consider ourselves lucky that we are virtually maintaining our current levels. Since the national unemployment figure is at 9.4%, we are actually faring better in our neck of the woods.

I very much enjoy the weekly commentaries by Chris Basset of Metlife. His research is impeccable and insight thoughtful.

Here is what he wrote August 14, 2009:

Commentary: The mortgage market is experiencing a rally this morning spawned by relief that the record-breaking $75 billion three-part Treasury auction is over and by news from the Labor Department indicating inflation pressures at the consumer level remain near record lows.

The Consumer Price Index, the government's broadest gauge of inflation on Main Street, was unchanged in July, following a 0.7% increase in June. Compared to the same period last year, consumer prices have fallen 2.1%, the largest decline in this measure since January 1950. The core rate of consumer inflation, a value which excludes volatile food and energy prices, edged up 0.1%. Compared to last July, the core inflation rate has risen 1.5%, the slowest advance for this metric since February 2004.

In a separate report the government said industrial production rose 0.5% in July - marking its first monthly increase since December of 2007. Most analysts were quick to discount much of this apparent improvement as a temporary result of the federal "cash-for-clunkers" program. The capacity utilization rate, a guesstimate of how much of the nation's total factory and utility production capabilities are actually being used, rose to 68.5% from June's 68.1%. The June mark for capacity utilization was the lowest since records began in 1967.

This morning's mortgage market friendly news is being shadowed by a growing sense among mortgage investors that until the massive wall of government debt overhanging the credit market is dramatically reduced -- it will be difficult if not impossible for mortgage interest rates to move notably below current levels - no matter what the economic data may say about the state of the economy.

The Fed has been the primary buyer in the mortgage market since the first of the year - purchasing roughly 80% of all new mortgage-backed securities coming to market. For the next couple of months the Fed will likely continue to show a solid buying appetite. As of last week, they have spent about $750 billion of the $1.25 trillion they have allocated for the direct purchase of mortgage-backed securities. In their post-meeting statement following this week's Federal Open Market Committee - Fed. Chairman Bernanke put market participants on notice that once the Fed has spent what money they have to spend - policymakers are unlikely to resurrect this particular program any time soon.

The central bank has slowed their average weekly purchases of mortgage-backed securities from $25 billion to something closer to $12.5 billion to try to get a little more mileage out of the available capital - but eventually other buyers will have to step in and take the Fed's place. I have no doubt that will happen - but the likelihood the replacements will make anywhere near the effort the Fed did to be mortgage market friendly is very small.

Next week will be pretty mild with respect to scheduled economic data. Tuesday's 8:30 a.m. dual release of July Housing Starts and Building Permits figures together with the July Producer Price Index will likely draw little more than a passing glance from mortgage investors. Thursday's 8:30 a.m. ET release of the initial jobless claims figure for the week ended 8/15 and Friday's July Existing Home Sales data won't likely be much of a "barn-burner" either.

Here is what he wrote August 7, 2009:

Commentary: The good news from an economic and stock market perspective is that the July headline nonfarm payroll loss was considerably less than expected - which, on the other hand, was definitely bad news as far as the near-term prospects for lower mortgage interest rates is concerned.

The Labor Department reported employers cut 247,000 jobs in July, far less than the 320,000 most economists had projected. The job loss in July represents the slowest pace of job destruction since August of 2008. Last month's fob losses were spread across most sectors of the economy, but the pace of firings appears to have slowed substantially. With fewer workers being laid off, the national unemployment rate eased to 9.4% in July from 9.5% in June - marking the first time the jobless rate has fallen since April of last year. To round out the much improved story from the labor sector - the government revised May and June figures to show 43,000 fewer jobs were lost during those months than had been previously reported.

Those readers that were watching as the July nonfarm payroll data hit the news wire saw mortgage interest rates immediately jump dramatically higher - before improving notably from their worst levels of the day. Following the early "out-of-the-gate" knee-jerk investor reaction -- calmer, cooler traders were quick to pick-up on the fact that the workforce fell by 422,000 workers in July, far exceeding June's decline of 155,000 - an indication that large numbers of unemployed workers have become so disillusioned with current labor market conditions they have simply quit looking for work. My personal opinion is that the full story here is yet to be told.

Boiling all this economic double talk down to its "bare essence", here is the core "so what" factor from today's labor market report. While it is true that employers cut fewer jobs in July than at any other time since last summer, unemployment remains stubbornly high, which means consumers will likely remain very conservative with their spending. Since consumers drive more than 80% of all domestic economic activity the pace of future economic growth will remain extremely anemic - a condition that will significantly limit the velocity of increase for mortgage interest rates over the foreseeable future.

Looking ahead to next week, the members of the Federal Open Market Committee huddle up in a two-day meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday, Uncle Sam will be thrashing around in the credit markets over the middle three-days of the week looking to borrow $75 billion in the form of three- and 10-year notes and a smattering of 30-year bonds. In terms of economic reports Thursday's July Retail Sales numbers and Friday's Consumer Price Index will draw considerable mortgage investor attention.

Be patient . be disciplined . and use the recommendations above as a blueprint as you develop your pipeline risk management strategies during this very volatile period of time in the mortgage market.

Chris Bassett

Relationship Manager 212 N First Ave Suite 103 Sandpoint, ID 83864	Office: (208)265-8981 Cell: (208)290-0305 Fax: (208)265-8740
NEW E-mail: cbassett@metlife.com http://www.cjbassett.com

A lot of noise has been made over the unemployment rate going up a couple of points since summer quarter.

Looking back on historic figures since 1990, there has not been one year in which the rate did not increase during winter months. The facts are, in that eighteen year period, Bonner County had 47 months of unemployment over ten percent; the highest rate was 15.1% (Thank God for our current low rate); 40 times the rate swung more than two percent; several times the monthly or quarterly change was 4%, 5%, or even up to 8.4%. Why such volatile swings? In a county with under 50,000 full-time residents, seasonal changes because of weather and tourism make great changes the norm. Alarmists sound the bell, but don't actually look at what our area is all about. Compared to the national rates, we are still ahead, and our future does not look bad. Click here to view the Unemployment Rates 1990-2008

Since 1997, the biggest gain we have had in employment is in manufacturing. With companies such as Quest Aircraft, Airtow, Encoder Products, Litehouse Foods, Coldwater Creek, and Thorne Research, we have better than average big company representation. In ten years over 1,000 new jobs have been created in Bonner County. Many think tourism is king. While important, it is only a fraction of our base.

According to Jeff Bond, owner of Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty, the company had its best September ever this year. Plus, we had sales for our office over 23 million for the month of December 2008. Certainly we have seen a decline in prices. Some estimates for our area are declines of 4%, 6%, and 6% for the last three years. However, we saw increases of 30%, 40%, and 40% the previous three. All in all, we are not doing so bad in real estate. Most values are maintaining, and sales, while not robust, are certainly better than other parts of the country.

Across the country the banking issue has been disconcerting to say the least. Home loans are tougher to get. Borrowers need to have sparkling credit, and according to news reports, 20% down payments are also becoming the norm. For those looking for loans in North Idaho though, the best resources appear not to be national companies, but local sources. Mountain West Bank did not take on the kind of bad loans that bigger banks took on, and recently, a story was sent out by Judy Delucchi about a loan that was falling apart right before closing. Jason Hauck of MetLife (that's right, they make home loans, too!) put together a loan at a decent rate in just one week. The changes with USDA loans are generous. Joseph Cool of USDA in Post Falls says that a family of three can buy a home anywhere in Bonner County, and they can make in excess of $70,000, and even get assistance. There is money out there for loans in the Inland Northwest. Just look down the street rather than around the globe.

Every month I interview new businesses and pour over economic information. Like the rest of the country, we are having difficult times. However, from these interviews, what I garner is optimism and 24/7 commitment to excellence and success. The people here are amazing and friendly, plus hard-working to a fault. We all love the beauty of the area, and are inspired by the lakes and mountains.

So, any way you look at it, whether from the numbers or by the anecdotal conversations with people who work here and run stores, shops, and businesses, we are doing well.

Real Estate Market Conditions for North Idaho - Spring 2009

Business Conditions in North Idaho

Our major employers are not strapped for funds. Luckily, companies such as Coldwater Creek, Thorne Research, and Unicep Packaging are cash-rich, though the stocks for Coldwater have not been this low since 2003. The current economy is troubling for many, but our area is graced by continued good stewardship of its companies, many of which have national and international business: Coldwater Creek, Quest Aircraft Manufacturing, Buck Knives, Airtow, Easy Docks, Encoder Products, Thorne Research, Unicep Packaging, and Litehouse Foods are all companies with low debt and good cash reserves. Even our banks are among the few that did not make the kind of destructive loans that has put our nation at jeopardy.

Finding out about how many businesses are going under and how many are opening is fluid at best. Cathleen Hyde of the Downtown Sandpoint Business Association said that what people see from the street is not a good indicator of occupancy rates. She explained that the visible storefronts might give the appearance of empty buildings, many have simply moved to inner spaces that were significantly more affordable. In fact, we are down about 20 businesses over last year. However, there have been so many new start-ups, including big box stores like Big Five sporting goods opening on Fifth, and other national chains like Jack in the Box and Subway. The new digs for Mountain West Bank and Panhandle State Bank are stunning additions to our town, and with companies like Parsons hiring for the Sand Creek Byway and Quest continuing to hire, our job situation is a mixed bag.

The current rate of occupancy is virtually no different than 2003-04, though does not approach the 94% we saw in '06-'07. This is probably a good thing though. One of the things that makes Idaho an attractive place to do business are the low costs. We have had a booming economy in some sectors for twenty years. It was not uncommon over the last 3-4 years to see rents in the same high rates as Spokane or even Seattle. With the downturn and closed storefronts, rents have come down to reasonable levels.

Plus, while some businesses have gone under, certainly our rate of bankruptcy is not overt. Idaho ranks 22nd in the nation for bankruptcies, putting it squarely in the middle, and most of the bankruptcies and foreclosures are in areas south of the North Idaho counties of Bonner and Boundary.

Coeur d'Alene is not faring as well as Sandpoint, but predictions are for a fairly rapid recovery even there.

Why do companies, without much of a tax incentive, find Sandpoint and North Idaho so alluring. Check out this video from the Bonner County Economic Development Corporation: http://www.bonnercountyedc.com/business-video.html Basically, one of the biggest draws is quality of life, but there are other reasons.

On their website they explain:

Skilled Employee Pool

Part of the inherent ease of doing business in Bonner County is its bounty of skilled workers. And when you're located in a beautiful area that happens to have a lower cost of living, it's particularly easy to find employees who are excited about being part of your growth and productivity. Additionally, Idaho distributes a Workforce Development Training Fund to help Idaho businesses train their workers, so you can have a knowledgeable team up and running in no time.

Low Business Costs

In Bonner County, you'll also discover some of the lowest workers compensation premiums in the country, thanks to Idaho's emphasis on working safely and productively. And, having already dropped 36% in the last five years, rates continue to fall steadily, making this an ideal time to relocate your business.

Overall, the costs of doing business in Idaho are much lower when compared with other parts of the country. According to the Regional Financial Associates, Idaho is the seventh best state in the country for total business-related expenditures. For example, many companies find their overall energy costs are half of what they would be in other western regions. And gas prices are just as attractive, as the state is conveniently located on a major north-south natural gas pipeline.

Idaho enjoys a business-friendly government that is committed to helping businesses become successful, profitable assets to its communities. And state and local officials have worked hard to ensure a balanced tax structure that has to date resulted in the third lowest per capita tax burden in the West.

One thing not as easily quantifiable is that employees here have an old-fashioned, show up for your shift, work ethic. Until very recently, Idaho had one of the lowest foreclosure rates in the nation in spite of lower wages than neighboring states. Why? Values that still are important here.

Certainly it has become harder to find work. Once a month for the last few the Bonner County Daily Bee has posted the same story about the rise in the number of unemployed...and, of course, it is true. We enjoyed unprecedented low unemployment for the last few years. Still, since 1997 manufacturing jobs increased in Bonner County by over 1,000, Quest just delivered its first aircraft to missionaries, as another wrote last time, Litehouse is always hiring, and though there are few jobs in the Bee, this is not the bellweather for job postings. For instance, there are dozens of jobs listed in NorthIdahoHelpWanted.com , and Sandpoint Online has similar numbers. Other jobs can be found on Craigslist regionally, and on the job search engines like Monster.

Tourism

There have been several restaurants that have closed in the last year, yet we have seen several new ones also: Jack in the Box, 41 South, Subway, Dish to name a few. We saw a real slowdown in summer tourism, much of which can be attributed to the high cost of gasoline, yet we saw few businesses shut down. In fact, in an interview I had on my radio show with Tom Chasse, CEO of Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort, he explained that bookings for this season were on a par with last year's, and that season was a record breaker for the ski resort. If the throngs that turned out for Sandpoint Winter Carnival are any indicator, then this winter will not be as bad for North Idaho as it has been for many other parts of the country.

According to the Journal of Business, the economic outlook for 2009 expects a soft year for tourism:

Jeanne Gustafson reported that Tourism is expected to slow further in Spokane and North Idaho in the coming year, though event bookings remain strong, observers say. The article went on to state that 2009 group hotel room bookings for events such as conventions so far are up by 2.3 percent compared with 2008, and such bookings for 2010 already have surpassed this year's group bookings.

Coeur d'Alene and North Idaho hope to maintain their current levels for tourism in the coming year, in contrast to double-digit growth in hotel receipts that those areas experienced last year, says Dani Zibell-Wolfe, vice president of tourism at the Coeur d'Alene Chamber of Commerce. The chamber also administers state grants for the North Idaho Tourism Alliance, which promotes tourism in the five northernmost counties in Idaho, Zibell-Wolfe says.

Last summer, Canadian visitors contributed a lot to the economy, choosing northwest U.S. destinations because of favorable exchange rates. Though gas prices were high in the U.S., they were even higher in Canada, Zibell-Wolfe says.

One trend Zibell-Wolfe says is expected to continue is a rise in tourism from areas within a four-hour drive from Coeur d'Alene.

Idaho Foreclosure Rates

Our local newspapers have regurgitated this misleading info about foreclosures, namely that they are skyrocketing. Only six months ago it was reported that Idaho was the eighth best state in the nation. In other words, one of the lowest rates. Now, less than one year later, we are ranked closer to the bottom. Same thing happened with misleading reporting when our unemployment went up two points this winter. But looking at the data since 1990, this is the absolute normal pattern during winter months. Plus, Schweitzer Ski Resort has not even hired its full staff yet.

Here is what ForeclosureResearch.com wrote in December 2008

Idaho foreclosure rates: Nothing to be alarmed about

Camping and Parks in Sandpoint and all around North Idaho: Outdoors Activities and Attractions

Gary Lirette (Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:07:23 -0500

North Idaho & Sandpoint Area Parks & Campgrounds

Sandpoint is a jewel that has been recognized by Sunset Magazine as The Best Small Town in the West, and by Outsider Magazine as one of America's Best Small Towns. However, when National Geographic Adventure named Sandpoint one its Top 10 Adventure Towns, they got it right. North Idaho and the surrounds of Sandpoint and Lake Pend Oreille, with the majestic Cabinet, Monarchs and other mountain ranges rising out of Alpine lakes and rivers is opulently beautiful. Camping and RVing is one of the best ways to see the area.

This resource provides access to all the camping areas, and our region's many parks.

North Idaho Campgrounds and RV Parks

Idaho State Parks by Region

North	Central	South
Coeur d'Alene Parkway Dworshak Farragut Hells Gate Heyburn Mary Minerva McCroskey Old Mission Priest Lake Round Lake Winchester Lake	Harriman Henry's Lake Lake Cascade Mesa Falls Ponderosa Yankee Fork	Bear Lake Box Canyon Bruneau Dunes City of Rocks Eagle Island Lake Walcott Lucky Peak Malad Gorge Massacre Rocks Niagara Springs Three Island Crossing

Local Parks in Sandpoint, Idaho

3rd Avenue Pier is a 1/4 acre neighborhood park developed in 1995 for the need to provide more waterfront access and to address safety concerns of an old sewer outfall structure that predated the dams. Located on South 3rd Avenue, this park provides: 2 benches, picnic table, swimming and wading areas, 2200 sq. ft. of green space, and 1100 sq. ft. deck.

The 9th Grade Center Park area has a large green space that has been reverted back to the city after the closure and sale of the Junior High School. The park is located on Hwy 2 and Boyer and is 1.6 acres in size. It has a small backstop for youth baseball and softball and has a perimeter fence adjacent to Highway 200.

Albeni Falls Dam Recreation Area The Albeni Falls Dam area offers four recreation sites along the Pend Oreille River with sandy beaches, boat ramps and campgrounds. The river's winding path through the mountains offers protection from severe winds, creating a safe place for all types of small boating. Guided tours of the powerhouse may be arranged during the summer months. Albeni Cove Recreation Area near the dam has a boat ramp, swimming and picnic area. Priest River Recreation Site has a boat ramp, camping and dump stations. Riley Creek has a boat ramp, swimming, camping and hiking. Springy Point south of Sandpoint has a boat ramp, camping and an RV dump station.

The Concrete Lake, Sandpoint's new skate park! Located 2102 Pine Street in Sandpoint ID Check it out!

The Dog Beach is a cool little beach not far from City Beach on the side of the Long Bridge. Walk about a couple hundred yards past the Conoco along the bike path 'til you come to the small sandy beach. Since dogs are not allowed at City Beach this is a nice alternative.

Farmin Park is located at 3rd and Main in the heart of downtown Sandpoint. The park was donated to the city by the Farmin family, the bandstand that is in the park was donated by Doug and Ed Hawkins' families, and the sidewalks and path system by the Sandpoint Rotary. The .8 acre park also includes picnic tables and pedestal BBQ's.

Farragut State Park is located 30 miles north of Coeur d'Alene on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho's largest lake. Once the world's second largest naval training station, today the 4,000-acre park provides a multitude of recreation opportunities. To the traditional activities of picnicking, swimming, boating, hiking and camping; visitors can add playing disc golf, visiting the Farragut Naval Training Center Museum, taking advantage of the orienteering course, model airplane flyer's field, taking the kids to the playground, and using the horseshoe pits and sand volleyball courts.

Lakeview Park, located at the corner of Ella Avenue and Ontario Street, is a 13 acre park where numerous community events are held, as well as, family picnics and reunions. Lakeview Park contains a picnic shelter, picnic tables, BBQ pits, tennis courts, basketball court, playground area, boat launch ramp, and although not owned or operated by the city, this park is the home of the Bonner County Museum and the Lion's Den meeting facility.

Mickinnick Trail, is a 3.5 mile trail (one-way) that "switchbacks" through 160 acres of huge rock outcroppings, grassy meadows, and old growth timber. It is also graced with spectacular vistas of Lake Pend Oreille, Sandpoint, the Cabinet Mountains and the Pend Oreille River. The top boasts an elevation of 4300' for a total elevation gain of 2150'. The land was originally donated by Nicky Pleass in 1997 to the U.S. Forest Service in memory of her late husband Mick Pleass. Both Mick and Nicky envisioned a scenic trail directly above Sandpoint Idaho. They wanted to preserve this scenic land for future generations and as a gift to the community. In 2005 the trail was opened thanks to grants and partnerships between the Idaho Panhandle Resource Advisory Committee, the City of Sandpoint, Bonner County, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service and The Friends of Mickinnick Trail.

Directions: From Sandpoint point your car North on Boyer, Turn Left on Baldy Mt. Rd, Turn Right on Great Northern, Turn Left on Woodland Drive "crossing the tracks" the trail head is just up the road on your Left. :)

Pine Street Park is a 2 acre park located next to City Hall on Pine Street and is an excellent neighborhood park for general play. Pine Street Park has one little league size baseball field, 2 full size basketball courts, picnic tables, and a playground area containing a swing set and slide.

Sam Owen Park is next to our old home on the Hope Peninsula, 17 miles east of Sandpoint on Highway 200. The campground is run by Forest Service, and was donated by pioneers Sam and Nita Owen. It has 80 camp units, 1 group picnic site, 18 family picnic units, covered picnic shelter with 6 tables, flush toilets, potable water, boat ramp, beach, dump station. Attractions: Lake Pend Oreille, fishing, swimming, boating. There is a fee, with an additional fee for a second vehicle. There is a special day use fee as well.

Sandpoint City Beach is what Sandpoint is named for. While other areas around the lake are decidedly rocky, this is one of the few sandy beaches. It is located on the edge of Lake Pend Oreille and is a good place to swim or just sun. It is also home to many migrating species of birds. City Beach is the oldest and best known park is the City Beach Park which is an eighteen acre park located on Bridge Street. The City Beach is the busiest park in the system and is used for several large community special events. The amenities include: 2 restroom structures, concession area, picnic shelter with BBQ's, 2 boat launch ramps, playground area, tennis courts, basketball court, horseshoe pits, 2 life guarded swim area (in season), 2 marinas, and boat sewage pump out station. The park is open 4am to 11pm. Projects recently completed or underway at the beach include a brand new restroom facility on South Beach scheduled for completion on Nov. 30th and a newly re-shingled roof on the beach hut. View City Beach Slide Show

Sandpoint Community Hall is a log framed structure located at 204 S. 1st Street. This building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of the focal points of the city. The main portion of the building is log and was constructed by the United Servicemen Overseas (USO) in 1936 for the servicemen stationed at Farragut Naval Station. An addition of 840 square feet was added in 1945 by the Boy Scouts of America and is still used by that organization. The 5400 sq. ft. building contains a large kitchen, large meeting room "floor were just redone", 2 small meeting rooms, and restroom facilities. To reserve this facility contact the City Clerks Office: (208) 263-3317 To download the clean up check list to be turned into the Clerks Office when returning the key Click Here

Sandpoint Outdoor Shooting Range is a 6 acre park located on Baldy Mountain Road and has been improved to its current condition in 1990. Amenities include: 14 covered shooting lanes with benches and stools, pole barn style structure used for weather protection, 12' x 12' secure storage / range master facility, emergency telephone for communication with the City Police Department, and 6' chain link fence around entire range perimeter. Scheduling for the range is through the city and is open to the public only when volunteer range masters are present.

Springy Point Recreation Area is located on the shores of the Pend Oreille (pond o'ray) River with views of the Cabinet and Selkirk Mountains. The campground offers 38 campsites (no-hookups). Park gates lock at 10 pm and reopen at 7 am. Other amenities include a dump station, hot showers, a boat ramp, pay phone, a swimming beach and beautiful sunsets over the Pend Oreille. Area attractions include shopping in Sandpoint, Silverwood Theme Park about 15 minutes south on US 95 and biking or hiking across the Long Bridge into Sandpoint. The Schweitzer Mountain Resort 30 miles away offers mountain biking adventures. Throughout the summer the Festival of Sandpoint provides the camper with the opportunity to attend a concert or symphony. For the bird watchers or moose watchers, a short trip up to the Pack River Area to watch wildlife provides a great day trip.

Travers Park, located on Pine Street, boasts 24.5 acres and has a wide variety of amenities, including 3 full size softball diamonds, a medium size baseball diamond, soccer fields, football fields, and 2 tennis courts. The children play area includes a slide, swing sets, and youth climbing apparatus.

Trestle Creek Recreation Area Eagles are frequent winter visitors along this shoreline and ospreys fish these waters spring, summer, and fall. But these wildlife creatures are not the only visitors. For those who want to take advantage of the great open water access for boating, swimming, or enjoying a picnic, Trestle Creek Recreation Area is a great stop. The day use area maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and is complete with boat launch, restrooms, picnic tables, and swimming beach. Privately operated RV parks are adjacent neighbors for extended visits.

War Memorial Field, which is located right next to Lakeview Park on Ontario Street, is dedicated to the memory of the Bonner County servicemen lost in battle during WWI, WWII, Korean, and Vietnam Wars. It has traditionally been named the home field for the Sandpoint High School Bulldogs. The park also hosts the Festival of Sandpoint in July and August and various other community activities throughout the year. The field is used for football, soccer, and baseball. There is a large restroom and concession building for these sport activities. Memorial Field also includes a 2,700 square foot field house, 865 seat capacity covered grandstand, 400 seat capacity portable bleachers, and 140 seat capacity baseball grandstands.

Covered picnic areas at City Beach, Lakeview, Travers, or Farmin Parks are available for reservation. Fee is $30 for the whole day. Reservation notice is posted at the location to advise others of your reservation. To make a reservation, please call Sandpoint Parks & Rec. Department at 263-3613. To print the reservation application Click Here

Other Areas along the Pend Oreille Byway

Other Idaho Parks, National Monuments, & National Forests

Boise
Caribou
Challis
City of Rocks - National Reserve
Clearwater
Coeur d'Alene
Craters of the Moon - National Monument
Curlew National Grassland
Hagerman Fossil Beds - National Monument
Kaniksu
Lewis and Clark - Historic Trail
Nez Perce
Nez Perce - Nat. Historic Site
Oregon - Historic Trail
Payette
Saint Joe
Salmon
Sawtooth
Targhee
Yellowstone

North Idaho Campgrounds and RV Parks

As usual, my promise is to work 24/7 for my clients, and always be available, not only in areas of real estate, but in mentoring new businesses, finding the right schools, and helping with your job search in this place, your new home.

Gary Lirette, REALTOR® Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty
208-610-1384
gary.lirette@sothebysrealty.com

To learn more about our area, visit one of our 50 websites:

www.SandpointID.net

www.RealEstateSandpoint.net

www.WaterfrontHomesSandpoint.com

www.SkiSchweitzer.net

www.RealtySandpoint.com

Sandpoint Waterfront Real Estate and North Idaho Waterfront Property

Gary Lirette (Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 17:00:11 -0500

Sandpoint & North Idaho Waterfront Real Estate Blog

My name is Gary Lirette and my partner and I specialize in waterfront in and around Sandpoint, Idaho. This includes Lake Pend Oreille and the Pend Oreille River primarily, and Lake Cocolalla. To a lesser degree, we also have extensive knowledge of the Priest River, the Moyie and Kootenai Rivers, Pack River, Rapid Lightning Creek, the Clark Fork River, and the lesser lakes around Lake Pend Oreille.

Click to Search for Real Estate

    Jed Sigman                       Gary Lirette
208-255-6739                    208-610-1384
        e-mail                                 e-mail

Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's
International Realty
Looking for Sandpoint waterfront?
Contact Gary or Jed

What to do on the Water

N Idaho Lake Guide

N Idaho River Guide

Boat Launches & Marinas

Lake Pend Oreille Depth Map

I live on the Pend Oreille River about a mile from Lake Pend Oreille. Many think this is the lake since the river is so wide here, but the lake really begins at the Long Bridge. Jed Sigman, my business partner, also lives on the Pend Oreille River at Gypsy Bay. Just living on the water does not make us experts. Instead of me bragging about the hows and whys, every week as I send info to my waterfront buyers, I will update this blog. At times the info will be very specifically dealing with what those buyers are looking for. Mostly we search for the best value at that moment. Certainly if what you are looking for is that special million dollar property right on the water with its own fabulous dock, we can help. Still, we are constantly searching for the property that is the proverbial 'screamin' deal.' That said, here is this week's info:

August 5, 2009

The Best Primary Waterfront available in Sandpoint currently

When it comes to waterfront, there is still more demand than inventory. The homes can be stunning, but price has always been a hurdle.

Have prices come down? There are still some incredibly overpriced homes on the Pend Oreille River and Lake Pend Oreille in North Idaho.

As of August 5, 2009, leaving out condos and timeshares, there are 92 homes offered with main frontage on Lake Pend Oreille and the Pend Oreille River. For our purposes, we are leaving out homes offered on lesser bodies of water. The average price of those homes is $1,550,646 and median price is $999,000.

LIST PRICE:

SOLD PRICE:

DOM:

HIGH	LOW	AVERAGE	MEDIAN	TOTAL PRICE	LISTING COUNT
$11,000,000	$349,921	$1,550,646	$999,000	$142,659,501	92
$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
646	0	153	102

Here is a link to view those homes: 92 Waterfront homes

Closed sales don't support high prices in this current market, but the truth is most of the sellers of waterfront properties don't have to sell. While closed sales can be used to get a lower offer accepted, the numbers are showing that offers that are too low are simply being rejected.

Secondary waterfront has fared much better, and I have sold three secondary waterfront homes this year.

Bank owned and repos don't find their way to the light of day with waterfront. Banks have preferred partners and buyers, and any professional specializing in waterfront has a long list of clients that are willing to buy great deals when waterfront becomes available. So, those never make the repo lists, rarely get put out as short sales, and fewer still go all the way to foreclosure and get listed on the open MLS.

Here are a dozen homes that have some sense of privacy, better than postage stamp lots, and homes with craftsmanship and character

MLS# 20901542 - 2233 Wooded Acres, Sagle, ID. This home has a great sense of privacy even though it sits on .41 acres. It has a 2-slip dock and has beautiful attention to detail. The only detraction is that Wooded Acres is down the Pend Oreille River about 5 miles down the river from Lake Pend Oreille. However, this is an upscale community down Lakeshore Drive.

Overpriced at the original $899,000. Currently offered at $619,021

MLS# 20901961 - 191 S Camp Bay Road, Sagle, ID. The architecture in this home is strictly lake second home, but with a slightly larger lot - .59 acres - this home, while smaller, has a superlative dock, 150' on the water, which is better than the par 50' or even 100', feels very private, and Camp Bay is one of the premier bays on Lake Pend Oreille.

Overpriced at the original $950,000. Currently offered at $639,000

MLS# 2081289 - 615 East Bottle Bay Road, Sagle, ID. There are two main bays that are the sought after play areas on Lake Pend Oreille: Bottle Bay and Garfield Bay. This home is a half mile past Bottle Bay and is a dream home, with one of the nicest area docks complete with boat lift. Not as private as some of the others with a smaller .31 acre lot. Even has a shoreline cabana, something that couldn't be built under current county guideance.

Overpriced at the original $750,000. Possibly still a bit high at $699,000

MLS# 20900352 - 39 Conrad Vista Road, Laclede, ID. Only fifteen minutes to Sandpoint is Laclede along the Pend Oreille River. This newer home also has boat lift and dock on 100', but with an acre of land, this feels much more roomy than some of the other waterfront homes. The home is detailed to the nines, and is one of the better offerings in this list.

Overpriced at the original $1,250,000. Currently offered at $799,000

MLS# 20902757 - 1799 Wooded Acres, Sagle, ID. Another Wooded Acres property, this home is larger with a larger .65 acre lot. This is what a million dollar home should look like. Big dock has boat lift as well as jet ski lifts. This one has to be seen. While some homes may be overpriced, this home is worth taking a look at. Has a nice sense of privacy.

Might be close to the right price at $895,000 and only listed 30 days. No price reductions yet.

MLS# 2083582 - 3165 Bottle Bay Road, Sagle, ID. In an area of million dollar+ homes, this is what many would consider to be the atypical lakefront estate home. My only issue with this is the interior is dark and a bit dated. Otherwise, the 1.08 acres is one of the larger lots on a premier section of Lake Pend Oreille, and this home is nice.

Way overpriced at the original $1,395,000. Still probably a bit over at $925,000

MLS# 20805054 - 95 Eagle Flight, Sagle, ID. This is the kind of home most of us think of when we think of luxury lake retreats. Almost 2,700 sq. ft. on .54 acres, with all the right touches. Private, cool dock, really beautiful. Closed sales show this home should sell for in the area of close to $1,000,000.

Overpriced at $1,145,000. Now $973,300

MLS# 20902362 - 413 Swan Shores, Sagle, ID. On Gypsy Bay, 8.1 miles down the Pend Oreille River from Lake Pend Oreille, Swan Shores has only homes in this range or better. This well-appointed and comfortable home has a rarity for our area: a sandy beach with 125' of frontage. With 1.77 acres, it is among the largest lots currently available on the water under a million, and has easy access to Sandpoint. Offering perhaps the best privacy on this list.

Overpriced at the original $1,100,000. Still probably a bit high at $990,000

MLS# 2080875 - 222 Stewarts Dr., Sagle, ID. One of two good offerings on Stewarts, this is down Bottle Bay Road about 8 miles. Nice home, nice deck, nice landscaping, but nothing over the top. It is typical of homes offered on the lake with 100' of frontage and .44 acres.

Incredibly overpriced at $1,500,000. Still high at $995,000

MLS# 20902134 - 236 Stewarts Dr., Sagle, ID. While this home has a lot that is just a touch smaller, the home and grounds are a touch better. If I were representing a buyer, I would ask for countertop and some other upgrades. Same as above.

Incredibly overpriced at $1,300,000. Still high at $999,000

MLS# 20900261 - 266 Kaniksu Shores, Sandpoint, ID. This is perhaps our most desired area, being on the Sunnyside Peninsula, mere minutes from downtown Sandpoint. With 1.76 acres this rivals the other large lots, is a brand new home, but does not have a dock yet, and you can certainly see your neighbors. The cachet of the neighborhood and location though make this perhaps the only home worth the asking price in this range.

Overpriced at $1,500,000. Just right at $999,000

May 15, 2009

Waterfront Comparisons for Sandpoint, Idaho

We have had a lot of homes listed as waterfront, but comparatively fewer sales than in previous years.

Here is the pdf of a CMA for waterfront, secondary waterfront, and water view homes that have sold in the last year and are active listings:

Waterview CMA

Two of our premier waterfront areas in the past have been Sourdough with its own marina, island, tennis courts, etc., and Comeback Bay off Fry Creek and Sagle Slough. Comeback Bay has close proximity to town, Sourdough better views and amenities. Yet there were woefully few sales for over two years on Comeback Bay until this year. Now they have had six closed sales in the last ten months. Sourdough's problem was their overpriced nature. Now that their pricing has come down to earth, that trend will reverse.

This pdf is a list of all the homes that have been listed in and around Sourdough in the last year. Only one has sold:

Sourdough CMA

To give you an idea of what we do for our buyers, when I had a couple interested in buying 160 Sourdough, I went there and took pictures, and even did a video. Here is link to that page: http://www.sandpointid.net/Sourdough.html

April 17, 2009

I haven't updated my waterfront blog since the end of February, and we have had some big changes. First, we haven't had any real and actual waterfront under $500,000 for a couple of years, with the exception of the occasional property. Those were usually snatched up so fast, regular buyers were out of the loop. This year, while we don't have hundreds or even dozens, we have some good buys. While there are some nice homes on some smaller lakes and rivers, most people are looking for Lake Pend Oreille access. Currently, from $399,000 to $500,000, there are seven homes that are on, or have direct access to Lake Pend Oreille, all with water views. There is one that I through in on the Pend Oreille River because it is the least expensive with waterfront, plus it has acreage and is listed for $450,000. There are few properties yet this season with the kind of killer lake views everyone wants. Included in this group is one in Hope.

To view these properties side-by-side, click this CMA link.

Let's be honest, we all would rather pay under $500,000 than over $700,000 or even more. Right now, there are roughly 60-70 homes on Lake Pend Oreille for sale. There are another 20-30 that are on tributaries that have immediate access to the lake. With the exception of the few that I have listed, 90% of those are still over $700,000.

Will all of these better priced homes sell this season? We will likely sell eight out of ten of those, and about twenty of the others if this season is like last year. However, we are heating up right now, and my team represents four of these better priced listings.

For the last three years, many of my clients have indicated to me that the one thing they wanted was waterfront, depending on area, under that magic number. So, we went out of our way to find those properties and get them priced right.

The best two things about these under $500,000 is the current interest rate, and that jumbo loans begin above $417,000. So, even if this is a second home, the rate savings is about one percent or more. Just one extra point higher makes any property cost ten percent more. This can amount to hundreds more a month. Imagine you can put down $200,000 on a home that sells for $750,000. If you could save one percent, then the monthly savings with taxes could be $500 a month. Over the life of the loan, again factoring taxes and insurance, this amounts to a savings of over $125,000. Could you put your child through college for that?

We have improved our assets on our websites to better inform about the waterfront life. Listed below are the links that have something to do with lake life in North Idaho:

http://waterfronthomessandpoint.com/
http://www.sandpointid.net/What_to_do_on_Lake_Pend_Oreille.html
http://www.sandpointid.net/North_Idaho_Lake_Guide.html
http://sandpointid.net/North_Idaho_River_Guide.html
http://sandpointid.net/North_Idaho_Docks-Marinas.html
http://www.sandpointid.net/fish-health.htm
http://sandpointid.net/Lake%20Pend%20Oreille%20Depth%20Map.html
http://www.sandpointid.net/N.Idaho-Waterfalls.htm
http://sandpointid.net/Cool_Things_to_Do.htm

Gary Lirette, REALTOR® Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty
208-610-1384
gary.lirette@sothebysrealty.com

To learn more about our area, visit one of our 50 websites:

www.SandpointID.net

www.RealEstateSandpoint.net

www.WaterfrontHomesSandpoint.com

www.SkiSchweitzer.net

www.RealtySandpoint.com

Sandpoint, Idaho's premier music event: Festival at Sandpoint

Gary Lirette (Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 20:23:10 -0500

Festival at Sandpoint

These are some pictures of setting up and scenes from the last couple of years of the Festival at Sandpoint. This year, 2009, marks the 27th annual Festival at Sandpoint.

There is so much more that goes into producing such a large event. Besides running the event for two weeks with international stars appearing four nights a week, there is the wine tasting, other associated events, and the set up and break down takes days.

These photos of the Festival at Sandpoint are just to give you a brief glimpse of that great musical magical time in Sandpoint, Idaho along the shores of the Pend Oreille River.

To see this year's lineup, visit
www.FestivalatSandpoint.com

Hundreds come to support and volunteer to put on the Festival at Sandpoint

Putting up the tent

Almost there...

It is like a jigsaw puzzle

...and then the fun begins.

Thursday through Sunday, for two weeks...

Where are you from?

The music ranges from the classics to the most current vibes that rock the radio waves.

Every night, our souls are touched by sounds along the waters of Pend Oreille.

The finale is always special.

Often dancers compliment the tunes.

Finally, fireworks end the best of Sandpoint's two-week long music fest: The Festival at Sandpoint.

Another very cool week in hot, hot Sandpoint, Idaho filled with awesome summer activities

Gary Lirette (Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty) — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 12:07:50 -0500

Okay, so sometimes I just don't have pictures 'cuz I am just having way to good a time to be the snapshot king. So, there are shots of some, but others you are just going to have to use your imagination.

Earlier this week on Wednesday, about thirty of us took to the waves and spent all day on Lake Pend Oreille. It was the annual waterfront tour of homes on the lake for the REALTORS® from Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty.

We spent the day checking out the dozens and dozens of lakefront homes we represent, and had just a tiny bit of fun along the way.

See more here: http://sandpointid.net/Day_on_Lake_Pend_Oreille.html

Then the Sandpoint Artwalk started Friday, and downtown was hopping all day long. There was live music everywhere, lots of cool folk from all over the US and Canada, plus art on display in what seemed like every place that had a door.

The next morning was forecast to be the hottest day of the year. While Seattle and Portland have been in the midst of a heatwave with temps in the mid-100s, we have had cloud-free skies in the 80s and low-90s. We got up to around 100 Saturday, but early on several hundred intrepid water racers competed in our 15th Annual Long Bridge Swim. This 1.76 mile race starts in Sagle near the Long Bridge and ends up at Dog Beach. The race began around 10am, and a couple thousand well-wishers cheered on the swimmers.

See the pictorial of the event here: http://sandpointid.net/Sandpoint-Longbridge-Swim.html

Later that night my friend Gary Peitz, owner of the hip new restaurant Dish Home Cooking, and I hit the town looking for the happening night spot. We went to the Beach House, now known as Cafe Trinity at the Beach, and had a couple of cocktails, enjoying the cool breeze coming off Lake Pend Oreille. They had hosted a thirtieth class reunion and I don't mind saying that the class of '79 still has some stunning babes, though the guy with the mullet was just rude. Hey dude, the '70s called and they would like their haircut back.

Anyway, we checked out Oiishi, 219, and APs, but the kickin' place was Downtown Crossing. We picked up a couple strays along the way, and at the Crossing rocked out to a Robin Trower-esque blues guitarist that made a boy stand up and pay attention.

This kid is about to graduate from the Berkeley School of Music. He rocked! Stoney, who DJs the airwaves for KPND every weekend turned us on to the virtuoso. I will be doing a video interview of the guy later this week and will post it on YouTube. Still, vids don't capture the cool, so if you want to catch a listen, go to Downtown Crossing next Friday and he will be sitting in with Stoney's band.

All in all, a very cool week in Sandpoint, Idaho.

If you are looking for something to do, and can't find it in our Calendar of Events, try these resources:

http://www.sandpointid.net/Cool_Things_to_Do.htm

http://sandpointid.net/Sandpoint-Summer-Activities.html

http://sandpointid.net/N.Idaho-Waterfalls.htm

Gary Lirette, REALTOR® Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty
208-610-1384
800-282-6880
gary.lirette@sothebysrealty.com

To learn more about our area, visit one of our 50 websites:

www.SandpointID.net

www.RealEstateSandpoint.net

www.WaterfrontHomesSandpoint.com

www.SkiSchweitzer.net

www.RealtySandpoint.com

Sandpoint Long Bridge Swim

Gary Lirette (Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty) — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 18:07:31 -0500

SANDPOINT LONG BRIDGE SWIM - 2009

Today was the perfect day for a swim. The proverbial news on the airwaves called for temperatures to be the highest of the year so far. Not a cloud in the sky. The 1.76-mile swim was most likely in 65-70 degree water (usually the temperature is between 68-70 degrees) from the south end of the Long Bridge to the north. Two and a half hours was the allotted time limit for swimming the distance.

There were hundreds and hundreds of cheering onlookers, and with yesterday being the beginning of Sandpoint's Artwalk, the perfect day was underway.

The swim is not quite the distance of the two-mile span of the Long Bridge, which crosses Lake Pend Oreille from Sagle to Sandpoint.

The first Long Bridge began May 26, 1908, and was in operation until being torn down in the 1930's to make room for a new wooden bridge.

During the Great Dpression that the second bridge was built with help from the WPA and finished March 3, 1934. The bridge had the moniker of "The longest wooden bridge in the world" and was a tourist draw for decades, serving the region for 22 years. Heavy traffic of World War II (Bayview had a Naval training station during the war) took its toll on the structure and in June of 1956 the third bridge was built.

This current Long Bridge was dedicated on September 23, 1981 and it runs along side the previous one.

This Long Bridge swim is the fifteenth annual rendition of this event, and was very cool. Check it out.

41 South Restaurant at the end of the Long Bridge

The dock at 41 South Restaurant

Crossing under the Long Bridge

The swimmers arrive!

Nice crowd to cheer on the swimmers

Getting ready for the plunge at the Long Bridge Swi

...and they're off!!!

The race begins - Long Bridge Swim

The Long Bridge Swim

The Long Bridge Swim - Crossing the bridge

Sand Creek Byway construction

The finish line - Long Bridge Swim

Pictures by Bill Schaudt

Gary Lirette, REALTOR® Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty
208-610-1384
800-282-6880
gary.lirette@sothebysrealty.com

To learn more about our area, visit one of our 50 websites:

www.SandpointID.net

www.RealEstateSandpoint.net

www.WaterfrontHomesSandpoint.com

www.SkiSchweitzer.net

www.RealtySandpoint.com

Sandpoint Real Estate

Gary Lirette (Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:58:08 -0500

Sandpoint Real Estate: Yes, we are selling properties

While our market suffered its worst effort in years in 2008, so far, in total we are behind that number. However, my team is selling. As part of the Northwest Group of Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty, my part of the team consists of our assistant Keely, my business partner Jed Sigman, and me, Gary Lirette. This year we have had a couple of waterfront sales among several other closings, and I had two accepted offers this week. Plus, in the last two weeks I have written seven offers. Granted, getting financing has been the final hurdle that does not always get overcome.

That said, when the market was hot, order takers could easily make sales. Wouldn't you want an agent who works hard and smart enough to sell during these difficult times?

Here is a resource for you to find real estate and stay better informed about our realty market in Sandpoint, Idaho and our North Idaho area.

To Search for Realty, click

We Specialize in

Waterfront & View Properties

Finally, some good economic news

Resources

New Septic Guidelines Private Roads Standards Building Resources Well Log Search

Bonner Plan & Zoning Idaho Dept. of Lands Div. of Building Safety

Boundary P & Z Bonner County Profile Boundary Cty Profile Construction Links

Banks & Financial Institutions

Bank of America Mountain West Bank Northwest Mortgage Panhandle State Bank

Town & Country Wells Fargo


N Idaho Market Conditions	Schweitzer Real Estate Overview & Info	Sandpoint - N Idaho Market News

Bonner Proposed Zoning Map - Hi Resolution	Septic Guidelines have changed - FAQ	Bonner Proposed Zoning Map - Lo Resolution

Dump this house	CdA MLS Stats - Aug 2007 to Feb 2008	Ignore the headlines

8 tips to get most money for your home	If you have been waiting to buy the time is now	8 reasons why your house is unsellable

Buy, sell, hold? Your home questions answered	Homeowners Refuse to drop prices - NBC Video	15 questions to ask your real estate broker

N Idaho Real Estate Outlook in PowerPoint	North Idaho Sales and Info Graphs	FHEO Housing Price Index

E-mail Gary or call 208-610-1384

Sandpoint Real Estate: Lake Pend Oreille, a great place to live

Gary Lirette (Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:30:46 -0500

A Day on Lake Pend Oreille in Sandpoint, Idaho

Every year the REALTORS® from our office, Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty, take to the massive waters of Lake Pend Oreille off the shores of Sandpoint, Idaho to preview the waterfront homes we represent. We make it a day of fun and camaraderie, learn a bit about the inlets and homes on the lake, and a good time is had by all.

The Pend Oreille River is wide and deep, but nothing compares to the open waters of Lake Pend Oreille. With 148 square miles, 111 miles of coastline, and over 50 miles from tip to tip, there are few lakes in the U.S. that are this large and this uncrowded.

L ake & River Boat Launches & Marinas	Lake Pend Oreille Depth Map (large file)
Health of fish in Lake Pend Oreille	North Idaho Fishing Guide
What to do on the Water	North Idaho & Sandpoint River Guide

These pictures are about our team and the great time we had, July 29, 2009, on Lake Pend Oreille and the Pend Oreille River.

The day begins with our flotilla boating out of Dover Bay Marina. Temps about 84º, sunny and lots of laughter.

Heading out on the Pend Oreille River towards the Long Bridge and the open waters of Lake Pend Oreille.

Opening up out of the Dover Bay Marina.

Lake Pend Oreille has Kamloops, Kokanee, Trout, and...uh...apparently, hats.

Beautiful waterfront Pend Oreille home.

Another Pend Oreille stunning home.

Having fun on Lake Pend Oreille.

Lake Pend Oreille Boating.

Fishing on Lake Pend Oreille.

Lake Pend Oreille North Idaho style home.

Lodge at Sandpoint.

Sandpoint Long Bridge crosses Lake Pend Oreille for over two miles.

Boating under the Long Bridge

Ready, set...

Goooo, for some great skiing on Lake Pend Oreille.

Yes, Lake Pend Oreille has pretty girls...

How do I get on this boat?

Way too much fun on Lake Pend Oreille.

Warren Island, Cottage Island, Pearl Island off the coast of the Hope Peninsula on Lake Pend Oreille.

Sailing under the majestic mountains off the coast of Hope, Idaho on Lake Pend Oreille.

The massive Green Monarchs rising up from the tremendous depths of Lake Pend Oreille.

Historic Hotel Hope as seen from Lake Pend Oreille.

Thanks for joining us for a great day on Lake Pend Oreille.

E-mail Gary or call 208-610-1384

Real Estate Market News: Things looking up both nationally and for Idaho

Gary Lirette (Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty) — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 14:17:25 -0500

Finally, some good news for Sandpoint, IDaho's outlook and our national condition.

By Gary Lirette, host of North Idaho Business radio show on KSPT and KBFI, and REALTOR® for Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty

July 28, 2009

Home prices show signs of stabilizing in May
Widely watched index shows first month increase in almost three years

According to the Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller home price index of 20 major cities, reported by MSNBC on July 28, 2009

Housing construction hits a 7-month high
Sign builders regaining confidence as emerge from housing bust

Construction of new U.S. homes rose in June to the highest level in seven months, reported by MSNBC July 17, 2009

New-home sales soar 11 percent in June
Largest monthly increase in more than eight years, Commerce Dept. says

According to MSNBC reported on July 27, 2009

LA Times really likes Coeur d'Alene and Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort
According to the LA Times Travel section, our part of the Inland NW is a "relaxing lakeside retreat" as reported on July 25, 2009

June 25, 2009

With the U.S. unemployment rate currently at 9.1%, the 7.8% rate in the state of Idaho seems generously low, though this is a 22-year high. Unemployment in Bonner County is still lower than the national level at 8.6%, with neighboring Kootenai County at 8%. The summer tourist business is experiencing a slow start, but with gas prices low and people looking to make more regional trips the vacation norm being forecasted, our summer season should hold its own. This means that at least a few more summer hires to bring the rate down even further. Construction is also moving forward, though not booming by any measure. Certainly the North Idaho region is faring better than our biggest neighbor: Spokane. They have an even higher number of unemployed than the national average, approaching double digits at 9.4%.

Even our real estate market is doing considerably better than last year. With homes in every other county in Idaho losing value in the last year, Bonner County has had a modest increase of just over 1%. Our pending sales as of today are at 167, though 115 of those are for homes and condos. With 282 closed sales since January 1, 2009, we are on target to match or exceed the 907 closed sales from last year. The hardest sell this year seems to be land parcels, much because there are fewer banks making land loans, and the ones that are continue to require stellar credit and 25 - 30% down.

Bottom line is that while we are not jumping up and down for joy in Sandpoint, we aren't as bad off as the rest of the country. In fact, according to Economy.com and Moody's, Idaho will be one of five states that will lead America out of the recession by the fourth quarter 2009. Read the article below.

Five States That Will Lead US Out of Recession

Posted By: Cindy Perman | Writer

cnbc.com

03 Jun 2009 | 03:03 PM ET

If you're not prepared to go to Australia to ride out the recovery, great news! A new report shows the five U.S. states poised to lead the nation out of recession.

You might want to get out your hiking boots and trail mix because most of the states are out in the northwest: Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Texas and Washington.

Those are the states where job growth is expected to sprout first - in the fourth quarter of this year - according to Moody's Economy.com, which conducted the survey.

The criteria for the survey included the labor market, income, credit quality/banking, real estate and consumer spending. Moody's conducts a regional employment forecast as well as an "adversity index" to gauge the status of state economies.

In the case of the northwestern states, the reason they got picked is because of their high concentration of high-tech companies, Moody's economist Andrew Gledhill said. Analysts expect a pick-up in tech spending as the recession gets going.

"[W]e feel that pent-up demand for high-tech equipment that has been furthered in part by the financial crisis could benefit states with these kinds of links," Gledhill said.

As for Texas , it was the oil industry: The strength of the industry made the lone-star state one of the last states to join the recession, and therefore will make it among the first out.

Housing was another factor: All five states had better-than-average household credit, which left them in shallower holes than other states, like, say, California .

Don't worry, California . You'll be back.

And, in case you're wondering where your state is in the lineup, Moody's has come up with the next waves of states to start showing signs of recovery.

The second wave, expected to hit in the first quarter of 2010, includes a lot of southern states-and Dakotas . That group includes: Alabama, Georgia, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota and South Dakota.

This group had relatively minor recessions that affected cyclical industries like manufacturing, Gledhill said, and should be able turn those minor recessions into minor recoveries when the economy starts to turn.

"Plus, housing has not been as much a factor for some of this group, which is such a hindrance elsewhere," Gledhill explained.

The third wave, expected to show growth in the second quarter, is all across the map. Those states are: Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Tennessee and Wyoming.

If your state wasn't mentioned - sorry - it's in the remaining 31, which isn't likely to start popping until the third quarter of next year.

The most sluggish growth is in the northeast (ahem, Wall Street), midwest (*cough*cough* GM ), and Florida (enough said).

Gledhill said the impact of the housing crisis could also be a factor in California , Florida , Arizona and Nevada , causing those states to be slow to recover.

There was only one state that, as of the end of March, still had enough growth that it wasn't technically in recession.

Can you guess what it is?

You betcha, it's Alaska!

Pony Treats:

Down-But Not-Under. Australia, dubbed the best place to ride out the recession, really dodged a bullet on this one: Its economy actually grew last quarter, meaning it never officially entered recession, Reuters reports.

URL: http://www.cnbc.com/id/31086859/

March 18, 2009

The stock market was up all week. MSNBC reported on March 18, 2009 that "Stocks had their fifth advance in six days Tuesday after a surprisingly strong report on home construction and building permit applications. Since the rally began last week, the Dow is up 849 points, or 13 percent."

Housing starts were up 22 Percent according CNBC (http://www.cnbc.com/id/29734541).

Add to that on March 11, 2009 CNN reported applications for new mortgages are up 11%. (http://money.cnn.com/2009/03/11/real_estate/mortgage_applications.reut/index.htm)

Bonner County is the only county in the whole state of Idaho that is not a declining market for housing prices, according to Jack Dyck, VP of Mountain West Bank.

Locally, home prices are going back up, unemployment is still lower than other areas, and is historically normal.

On Sunday Ben Bernanke took the bull by the horns, sounding very reassuring on 60 Minutes, and the Fed will be releasing their latest guidance today.

Another nice boost is the reappearance of cheap airline tickets. With gas prices being so much lower, airline flights have finally followed suit.

There has been so much bad news lately it was nice to note that CBS News has changed their motto to "CBS News is Very Good News."

How about the flack over AIG? Didn't the majority of this money go out during the Bush Administration? While the current administration owns responsibility for 30 billion more going to this behemoth, the lack of oversight started with the previous congress and president. President Obama's Geitner made the same mistake.

Obama recently unveiled his plans for helping small businesses, and stimulus money is already hitting North Idaho with the hiring of firefighters to help keep the danger levels down.

Add to that our unemployment rates for Idaho are among the lowest in the West, and Bonner County is the lowest in the region.

Good news? You Bet!

E-mail Gary or call 208-610-1384

www.SandpointID.net - To learn all about Sandpoint and North Idaho

www.RealtySandpoint.com - For Sandpoint Realty

www.SkiSchweitzer.net - To visit Schweitzer Mountain's Community Web

A Pristine View: Lake Pend Oreille and the Clark Fork River Estuary from above Spring Creek

Gary Lirette (Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty) — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 13:21:55 -0500

This last week did a bit of hiking above the Clark Fork River and Spring Creek and the views of the island of the estuary and Lake Pend Oreille were awe-inspiring.

No need for more words, check out the view and you decide.

Lake Pend Oreille above the Clark Fork delta

Clark Fork River delta

Clark Fork River

The Clark Fork River is the major waterway that feeds Lake Pend Oreille

Lake Pend Oreille with Highway 200 leading to Hope, Idaho from the Clark Fork River delta

Gary Lirette walking a little slice of paradise

Sandpoint & North Idaho Real Estate Market Share 2009

Gary Lirette (Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty) — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 13:05:29 -0500

How is the Sandpoint Real Estate Market Doing?

First of all, as of today, July 26, 2009, pending sales in the Selkirk MLS area of North Idaho the stats are as follows:

Pending Sales: 169 All Types $44,542,718

Closed Sales since 1/1/09: 369 All Types $92,392,240

Closed Sales 2008: 907 All Types $241,893,271

Personally, closing on two waterfront homes in the last several weeks was a plus, but this last ten days has been especially busy. With seven contracts written, two have been accepted and close quickly. Another, 333 Derr Island, had one that was not accepted, but with over 50,000 hits on Tour Factory (Click Here to visit the tour) we are finally working with a buyer that looks to make a viable offer. We have had eight showings, several house events, and one wine tasting. There virtually no other waterfront properties in this price range, and there is even an airstrip right on the island.

Another buyer is doing his due diligence with an engineering firm to make an offer on a million dollar waterfront lot on the Hope Peninsula gold coast.

Funny thing is, I am working mainly in the half million range, and the sub-$250,000 range with virtually all my clients.

I am not having a banner year, but am having what many consider to be an average one. This is apparently much better than the vast majority of REALTORS®. I believe this to be directly related to my web presence, with outstanding web advertising, and over 100 websites that direct people to me and my team. These sites include www.SandpointRealtors.net, www.SandpointID.net, www.WaterfrontHomesSandpoint.com, www.RealtySandpoint.com, www.RealEstateSandpoint.net, and many more. The combined totals of visitors to these websites, and our many community sites is over 400,000 annually.

A couple of great real estate knowledge gurus are some of the things we are working on this summer, including David Knox and Walt Fry. While following all the tenets of Ninja Selling would be admirable, our market of lake front properties, ski resort realty, and the quirks of our quaint North Idaho population don't always make their teachings applicable. The ones that work well though are worth emulating. Right now, my job for both buyers and sellers is to keep buyers in the funnel, continually finding people willing to make purchases, and finding them the right properties that fit their needs.

Continuing to make a living is hard for many REALTORS® for so many of the obvious reasons, but if I am not supporting myself, I do a great disservice to my clients. Decisions should never be based on needing to make the sale so that my next set of bills can be paid. Also, with the changing market, if an agent doesn't earn enough to warrant full-time to the job, part time knowledge is what the customer gets. Education, both in the field and in the classroom is paramount and the bare minimum of where customer expectations should begin.

So, not doing so bad in this down market. Don't you deserve a REALTOR® who is successful even when the job is hard?

THE TOP SIX
BONNER COUNTY REAL ESTATE SALES

Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International

Agency Volume $ Sold % of Total Volume Sold

Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty $   46,713,850      30.26%
Second Place                                                              28,079,335      18.19%
Third Place                                                                 13,216,525      8.56%
Fourth Place                                                               11,186,240        7.25%
Fifth Place                                                                   7,001,650        4.53%
Sixth Place                                                                  5,822,350        3.77%

January-June 2009 Market Analysis

Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty has 21.00% of the Realtors in Bonner County

Balance of Bonner County MLS Real Estate Offices have less than 2.45% of $ Volume Sold
This representation is based on information from the Selkirk Association of Realtors for the period of January 1, 2009 through June, 30 2009. Statistics do not include transactions not reported to the MLS.

Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed

Sandpoint Wooden Boat Show and Dover Bay Days: A Great Weekend in North Idaho

Gary Lirette (Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:43:56 -0500

A Great Weekend in Sandpoint and Dover, Idaho

As if having a fantastic 4^th of July the week before wasn't enough the weekend of July 11^th and 12^th is packed with cool things to do in North Idaho.

Dover Bay Days Pics
Sandpoint Wooden Boat Show Pics

JerryFest also rocked this weekend at Camp Eureka in Sagle, and Acorn Project, Spoonshine and Ten Mile Tide performed, but my commitments were elsewhere, but I promise to post the photos my friends shot as soon as I get them.

First, on the 11^th the Wooden Boat Show is hopping at the City Boardwalk in Sandpoint Marina downtown. This annual event showcases antique and classic wooden boats from all over the country, plus there are events and happenings the entire day for the whole family. The day begins at 7 am with the Mountain Man Breakfast, and the day continues with the Spokane Model Boat Club Exhibit and Demo, the Parade of Dogs, Search Dog North Idaho Presentation, and the Flock of Dogs Floater. If you haven't gotten the clues, then the subtitle of A ‘Howling Good Time' along the City Boardwalk gives away the theme of this year's show: a tribute to our loving canine companions. There are a lot of things going on, including Summer Sounds at Park Place music, the Farmers Market, and so much more. Check out the full schedule of events below.

"Mare de Mer" follows "Killer", she is a 1958 17' Chris Craft Sportsman. Repowered last year with a 350 Chevy engine. Originally delivered to Lake Tahoe. The Sportsman was the most affordable of all the Chris Crafts and many are still on the waters today.

Not far down the road is the Dover Bay Resort's Dover Days, featuring big band live music, displays, food, drinks, and so much more. Dover Bay is North Idaho's premier waterfront community, and in addition to events and happenings over the two day fest, all of the eleven neighborhoods are on display. There will be booths and vendors with food, information, and crafts. Check out Dover Bay's Café and Wine Bar while you are there. A great place for lunch or to enjoy a nice glass of chardonnay while taking in the sun reflecting off the waters of Pend Oreille. See their schedule farther down the page.

Dover Marina looking over the water at the Cafe and resort.

Right in the middle of these two great events is one of Sandpoint's newest dining experiences: Dish Home Cooking. Gary and Laura Peitz have created one of Sandpoint's most pleasing and inventive menus, and with our #1 chef, Gabe Cruz at the helm, you can't go wrong stopping in for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Veterans are even being honored this weekend at the Veterans Stand Down at the Bonner County Fairgrounds Saturday, July 11^th from 0800 - 1600 offering services for veterans and their families, such as haircuts, lunch, coffee and snacks, in addition to the more serious offerings of helping with VA claims and employment counseling.

www.SandpointDish.com

With so much to do, this weekend promises to be a typical great Sandpoint summertime respite from the daily grind.

Sandpoint 7th Annual
Wooden Boat Festival

A DOG-GONE FINE FESTIVAL!

July 11, 2009

Schedule of Events: Get ready for a tail wagging good time!
On the City Boardwalk & Sandpoint Marina and Downtown

7:00 - 11:00 AM	Mountain Man Breakfast - Sandpoint Community Hall Sponsored by the Bonner County Historical Society
9:00 AM	Farmers Market Opens - Farmin Park & Town Square
9:00 AM	National Guard Presentation of Colors - Sandpoint Community Hall ACBS Skippers Meeting - Sandpoint Community Hall
9:30 AM	Retiring of colors - Sandpoint Community Hall
10:00 AM	7th Annual Sandpoint Wooden Boat Show Opens - City Boardwalk & Sandpoint Marina ‘The Ships Store' aka "The Dog Pound" Spokane Model Boat Club Exhibit & Demo Kids Boat Building Program
11:00 AM	Sandpoint's ‘Summer Coats Canine Fashion Show' (PAS models) - Cedar Street Bridge
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM	Beer Garden - Sponsored by Laughing Dog Brewing - Sandpoint Marina Barking Good BBQ - sponsored by Arlo's Ristorante - Sandpoint Marina
11:30 AM	Parade of Dogs - (PAS) Cedar Street Bridge to Sandpoint Marina
Noon	Park Place Summer Sounds: Selkirk Brass Quintet
12:00 - 12:15 PM	Search Dog North Idaho Presentation - Sandpoint Marina
1:00 - 3:00 PM	‘Flock of Dogs Floater' - A trough full of offers from Downtown Businesses and a chance to win the Golden Dog Biscuit Grand Prize! Children's Chalk Art - US Bank across from Town Square
2:00 PM	Spokane's Model Boat Clubs Parade of ‘Model Boats' - Sandpoint Marina
2:30 - 2:45 PM	Search Dog North Idaho Presentation - Sandpoint Marina
3:00 PM	Parade of Wooden Boats - (spectator favorite) Sand Creek
5:00 PM	Close of Wooden Boat Show
7:00 PM	FREE Classic Family Movie - The Shaggy Dog at the Panida's ‘Little Theater'. Doors open at 6:30 (seating is limited)

See you there for a great day on the water!

Get more information on the show:
For registration information: inlandempireacbs.org
For sponsorship information: downtownsandpoint.com or (208) 255-1876

Schedule of events and information for Dover Bay Days

Saturday

8:00 AM - 2:00 PM	Volleyball tournament
11:30 AM - 2:30 PM	Music in food area between café and fitness - Inbred Goat Ropers
12:00 PM - 3:00 PM	Potato Sack Races and other kids activities on the Marina Town Lawn

Sunday

11:30 AM	Tomlinson Bear arrives
2:00 - 4:00 PM	Concert in the park - Swing Band

All Day Activities

>   Boat and ATV Demos from Sandpoint Marine and Motorsports
>   The following vendors will be serving food and beverages all day in between the café and fitness area:
>   Dover Bay Café
>   Dover Bay Beer Stand
>   The Flatbread Pizza Company
>   Papas Mini Donuts
>   Aurora - Shaved Ice
>   Kettle Korn
>   Big Bear Chocolates
>   Variety of food from Mountain Sensations
>   Fruit cups and Pesto Tortellini (Sunday Only)
>   Croquet and other grass games at Parkside Bungalows
>   Magic Show for kids at the Little Lambs booth every hour on the hour
>   Juggling lessons at Waldorf School booth
>   Jump-a-lot

Open Houses with prize giveaways at Parkside Bungalows, Marina Town, Bayside South, Cottages at Dover

As REALTORs® it is our job to promote our communities

Gary Lirette (Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:13:39 -0500

Let's face it, REALTORs® have a reputation just hovering above used car salesmen. I don't mean that everyone thinks poorly of us, but we rank in opinion right around attorneys, politicians, and doctors. Weird that some of those professions used to be the most respected.

I believe that while we earn our daily bread from selling properties, it is also our job to promote and steward our towns and communities.

Some of our area REALTORs® do a very good job of doing just that. Right here on ActiveRain in Sandpoint there are three that are very good at helping the world know about our award-winning town. Both Kent Anderson and Rick Evans not only blog constantly about area events and features, but also get out and enjoy the activities Sandpoint and North Idaho have to offer. Both are avid skiers, hikers, and cyclers, and each spends lots of family time basking in the glorious outdoors which have become synonymous with North Idaho. It is a wonder they have the time to sell real estate and/or blog about it.

Rich Curtis is very active with local politics and policies. There are many like this in our area, but since we are on ActiveRain, I think it is appropriate to mention these three.

Personally, I also blog, but carry it a bit further with hundreds of pages and articles that you can find on my dozens of websites. In fact we have three of the top-10 most viewed websites in Sandpoint, including www.SandpointID.net, www.SandpointCentral.com, www.Sandpoint-Idaho.org, and www.SkiSchweitzer.net. I have posted over 2,000 pictures of Sandpoint and North Idaho on the web, have written for the Sandpoint Reader, the Bonner County Daily Bee, and Idaho Cuisine magazine.

Support of charities and events has been the one place I have found to make my heart happy. Over the last four years over four dozen charities and events have received monetary and time support, and my plans are to fully support the upcoming Wooden Boat Show (thanks to Cathleen Hyde for her never-ending efforts), Dover Days, Jean Pack's last Variety Show (her final show will be her 33rd in support of local charities), and Lakedance Film Festival. For Lakedance we will pay for and host the 3rd Annual Sandpoint Art Break at Cedar Street Bridge. In fact, over the last three years, my team, meaning my business partner Jed Sigman and myself, have not only hosted but paid for 25 art shows and events.

This weekend I will be filming and photographing both Dover Days and the Wooden Boat Show and will be manning the information booth at the Dover Bay event. I will be performing at the Jean Pack show at the Panida on October 17th at the Panida to benefit area veterans.

For the last five years I have hosted two community radio shows: North Idaho Business and North Idaho Arts and Adventure. These are broadcast on KSPT in Sandpoint and KBFI in Bonners Ferry. These two stations were the first radio stations in each respective area, and the shows have introduced hundreds of notable people to our towns, including artists, business people, politicians, and characters. Don't get paid for the effort, but believe these interviews have provided a glimpse into what our town is all about. See, I think that while we are blessed with extraordinary natural wonders and beauty, it is our people who make us truly unique.

Since I am a business man with extensive experience, another way to give back to our community is to have mentored over a dozen new businesses in Sandpoint.

Since I am a web designer, I have also donated to many of these businesses and charities websites that have helped get their messages out.

See, most of us have many talents, and as REALTORs® suffering from a bad image, it is important to improve that image by using those abilities and talents to better our towns and promote our communities. Besides, even if it doesn't make others think better of us, it sure makes your heart skip a beat with happieness each and every time you do something that helps our your neighbors.

Finally, since we are a resort community we do have some spectacular homes and real estate. Many of those properties range in price well above the million dollar mark. Certainly I sell those properties, and actually specialize in waterfront and view properties. I also make extra effort in getting deserving folk in homes that are sub-$200,000. This month I will have helped a wonderful retired gentlewoman get into a stunning cedar-sided home overlooking the Roman Nose mountain for only $100,000, and two other couples into great homes under $150,000. To only sell to the wealthy is elitest, and it is our job to help everyone who wants to live in our part of paradise find the homes of their dreams.

Try it. You might just find that simply selling land or homes won't be enough any longer.

Gary Lirette, REALTOR® Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty

208-610-1384
800-282-6880
gary.lirette@sothebysrealty.com

To learn more about our area, visit one of our 50 websites: