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Sandpoint, ID Real Estate News

By Gary Lirette, Business & Investing in the Inland Northwest
One of the great things about Sandpoint is that when hippies started moving here in the 1970s, it became a mecca for forward thinking. Our area, incredibly beautiful and natural, attracted the very highly educated and successful. With 148 square mile Lake Pend Oreille and Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort, and removed from the heartless barren urban cityscape, Sandpoint was a paradise to those that had protested in Berkeley and LA. While the same types came from Portland and Seattle, a unique relationship formed with hunters and loggers, and the mindset of creating a truly unique home away from it all evolved. Ex-law enforcement and firemen came in droves, along with musicians, artist, and the like. In 1978, Ed Kienholz, one of America's great 20th Century artists made his home on the Hope...
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By Kent Anderson, from Schweitzer to the Lake
(Coldwell Banker Resort Realty, Sandpoint, Idaho)
Sandpoint, Idaho..."America's Coolest Small Town"?   Once again, Sandpoint is getting noticed.  Budget Travel Magazine has a poll for “America’s Coolest Small Town” and Sandpoint is in the running.  (http://www.budgettravel.com/bt-srv/coolestsmalltowns/CST2010.html).  If you have been reading my blog with any regularity and agree with my assessment about this area, click on the Sandpoint star on the map, then click “Add to Ballot”, then “Cast Your Ballot”.   I present this information with a certain amount of reservation.  The rule here is to "keep your mouth shut" about the virtues of this town.  We want everyone to enjoy the natural splendor of this area but...we DO want to keep it that way.  Well, the cat is out of the bag, as they say.  We've been labeled "The Most Extreme Town" (w...
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By Gary Lirette, Business & Investing in the Inland Northwest
I have hesitated to update this blog with an economic page due to the downturn in our national picture as well as local doldrums. In a meeting last fall with Mel Dick, former CFO of Coldwater Creek, and David Keyes, editor of the Bonner County Daily Bee, the question was asked of how many restaurants would go under before the next summer season. We were just firming up the plans for Dine Around Sandpoint. This one-month long promotion had radio and print advertising, and strategic internet marketing. It was intended to give a boost to some of our local eateries during what is normally one of the slowest periods of the year. By all standards it was a success. I have worked for years supporting the arts, local events, and mentoring small businesses, but this year seemed especially importa...
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By Gary Lirette, Business & Investing in the Inland Northwest
So, as I wrote in my previous blog, besides being featured in a 6-page article in Where to Retire magazine, Country Living has asked me for photos of Sandpoint. They specifically wanted Main Street, but I let them know our main place of happenings is First Avenue. So, I took these pics this morning and sent them in to their New York headquarters. You get a sneak peek at them first. Cedar Street Bridge on First and Cedar Farmin Park at Main and Oak in Sandpoint, Idaho First Avenue in Sandpoint, Idaho Historic Panida Theater on First Ave. in Sandpoint Main Street in Sandpoint, Idaho Main St and Oak in Sandpoint, Idaho Panida Theater in Sandpoint, Idaho Schweitzer Mountain from Bottle Bay on Lake Pend Oreille Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort     Gary Lirette, REALTOR® & host of the Tuesday n...
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By Gary Lirette, Business & Investing in the Inland Northwest
Pretty cool huh! Country Living spent a couple of days here last fall, and we have been looking for the article ever since. They kind of headquartered themselves at Dish Home Cooking during their stay, and though I never came into contact with them, I received an e-mail Friday from the magazine asking me for pics. They had some specifics they needed, but I also sent them the photographs below. It'll be interesting to see if they use any of them. Anyway, after being featured pretty prominently in the December issue of Where to Retire, a magazine with 2,900,000 subscribers, it will be nice to have another major rag have a good article about Sandpoint again. Hope you like the pics. 4th of July at City Beach in Sandpoint 4th of July at City Beach in Sandpoint 4th of July parade in Sandpoint...
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Yesterday was another epic day of skiing at Schweitzer Mtn. Ski Resort in Sandpoint, Idaho. As I was riding the chair  I was thinking about how lucky I am to live in such a great place and what a great opportunity to own a home at Schweitzer right now. We have all heard the mantra, prices and interest rates are at record lows, but for a second home it is even more true. We currently have ski in ski out homes in the Crystal Springs neighborhood starting at $260,000, that's right I said ski in ski out, try finding that at any other resort for that price, and that is with two bedrooms! The new Mountainside development has begun, Schweitzer Mtn's first fractional opportunity, and there you can get 3 bedroom slopeside homes within walking distance to the village for $195,000 for a 1/8 share....
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By Kent Anderson, from Schweitzer to the Lake
(Coldwell Banker Resort Realty, Sandpoint, Idaho)
Why I love Bonner General Hospital in Sandpoint, Idaho I have had many requests over the past several months to reveal exactly what my ActiveRain profile picture is all about.  I have decided that now is the time to answer those requests.  Especially since I just was emailed this great new photo of the baby in question from my daughter in New Zealand.  (I assume the baby is the only component of the picture my AR friends are curious about). In late April of 2009, my wife & I were graced with a brand new grand daughter...Baby Pepper.  She was born at Bonner General Hospital, here in Sandpoint, Idaho. That is my wife and me holding Pepper in my profile shot.   The birth at Bonner General is a story in itself.  My daughter and her husband currently live outside of Auckland, New Zealand and...
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Today in a training class put on by Sotheby's, we reinforced several tools that Sotheby's has that other agencies just can't compare to. Among those are Presentation Studio, our print materials, our web presence, and information that does something other companies are finding difficult in this down market. That something is the art of bringing buyers. With only 19% of the REALTORS® in our market, we make up almost 30% of the sales. We talked about many things over our Wednesday meeting and our Thursday morning training, including a video by the guru of real estate, David Knox. Today's topic by David was pricing. Simply put, if the realty is overpriced, it won't sell. He preaches honest communication, the realities of the market, and fulfilling your clients' goals. Mr. Knox is one of the...
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By Gary Lirette, Business & Investing in the Inland Northwest
As recently as last summer, fall, and winter the news pundits touted the apparent recovery of our national housing market. With the various government programs feeding the market, such as first time home buyer credits and loan amelioration programs, mainstream media found no end to positive spins of news stories. While these special tax credits and various programs have been extended and helped the lower end of the market, the improved numbers were not so improved at at, and these programs are losing their effect. Now, we are seeing the numbers in the housing market turn down once again. For the third month in a row the NAR (National Association of Realtors) reported existing home sales failing 0.6% in February to a seasonally adjusted 5.02 million units. While 'seasonal adjustments' ca...
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By Gary Lirette, Business & Investing in the Inland Northwest
Word on the street is that USDA is out of money...  This is not true... yet.  USDA had a memo put out last week that states that around April 30, 2010 there will be no more funds available for the Guarantee or Direct Programs.  Though it is common for USDA to be out of funds every quarter with a delay in guarantees being issued, the memo created a few concerns.  What has happened in the past is that if USDA ran out of money for their funding period, they would issue a "Reserve Guarantee" for Guaranteed RD loans.  This would reserve funds to be disbursed once it was available.  Some banks, like MetLife Home Loans, would fund the loans regardless of whether or not the USDA had run out of funding or not based on the "Reserve Guarantee".  Without a guarantee from the USDA there is no USDA l...
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By Gary Lirette, Business & Investing in the Inland Northwest
Carolyn at 2nd Avenue Pizza has her hands full just running her business, but for 25 years, she has also undertaken the considerable task of putting on one of Sandpoint's premier events: Lost in the 50's. For four great days, Sandpoint is transported to a time-gone-by, with dances and music, vintage car parades and more. Carolyn has a dedicated cadre of helpers, all of whom work for free, volunteering to put on this great week of fun. Carolyn herself has never made a dime on the event, and without her, it is unlikely we would still be celebrating. Now, those of you who know me know I can pat myself so hard on the back I ofter break a clavicle. Still, I have done my part. For the last five years we have promoted Lost in the 50's each year on my radio shows, and three years ago, I noted L...
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By Gary Lirette, Business & Investing in the Inland Northwest
A few years ago, a young woman touched the hearts of many of us in Sandpoint and on Schweitzer Mountain. Schweitzer named an event for her: A Day for Heather. The event is named in memory of Heather Gibson, a member of the Sandpoint community who did much to change the face of cancer in North Idaho before she died from the disease in August 2006. The initial campaign drew much praise, but also raised enough in funds to start Sandpoint's own Community Cancer Service. Now, just five short years later, CCS has its own digs, and works closely with many groups such as the American Cancer Society and Bonner Community Hospice, providing assistance, aid, groups, and guidance for those that are stricken with this live-altering, and often life-ending disease. I interviewed them on my North Idaho ...
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By Gary Lirette, Business & Investing in the Inland Northwest
Last Tuesday, on my North Idaho Arts & Adventure radio show, I interviewed Erica and Breitta, two of the instructors for our local Nia Dance Studio at the Cedar Street Bridge. Nia is an innovative way of getting in shape and centered. According to Wikipedia, Nia (previously Non-Impact Aerobics, Neuromuscular Integrative Action) is a physical conditioning program based on a premise that movement is a pathway for self-discovery and personal transformation. Nia is intended to deliver cardiovascular aerobic exercise and whole-body conditioning. Nia was created in California 1983 by Debbie Rosas (now Debbie Rosas Stewart) and Carlos Rosas (now Carlos AyaRosas). Nia is considered a body-mind-spirit exercise like yoga by Inner IDEA http://www.inneridea.com/about-us. Inner IDEA is part of IDEA ...
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By Gary Lirette, Business & Investing in the Inland Northwest
Okay, so I know that it is totally a method to get people to look at their product, but still... pretty cool. Featured in http://kodakprinterink.com/blog_awards/index.php?id=14787  
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By Janna Scharf, Coeur d'Alene Idaho Real Estate Expert
(Keller Williams Realty Coeur d'Alene)
Janna Rankin Scharf, GRI, CSP, CLHMS - Coeur d'Alene Idaho Real Estate Last weekend was gloriously sunny and warm in beautiful North Idaho.  It was perfect for a day trip north to Bonners Ferry, through Sandpoint and across Lake Pend Oreille.  We headed out to meet up with my husband's sister and brother-in-law, who were headed our way, taking their own day trip south from Cranbrook, BC.  The scenery was magnificent, the promise of spring in the air, and not a cloud in the bright blue sky.  My youngest son had spent the night at his friend's cabin at Schweitzer Mountain.  They had done some night skiing and were spending this glorious day on the slopes.  He had already texted me that it was the most incredible skiing conditions he had ever experienced! As we crossed the bridge into Sand...
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By Kent Anderson, from Schweitzer to the Lake
(Coldwell Banker Resort Realty, Sandpoint, Idaho)
Will wonders never cease?  We woke up to 25 degree temps and 4" of new snow on Schweitzer Mountain this morning.  Even though the Sandpoint valley warmed up to, a less than balmy, 40 after lunch, the slopes remained under 32 degrees and the snow was fabulous!  This was an unexpected gift after experiencing the mildest winter in the past few decades here in Sandpoint.  This has been the "perfect winter".    
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By Kent Anderson, from Schweitzer to the Lake
(Coldwell Banker Resort Realty, Sandpoint, Idaho)
  Attention Baby-Boomers – Now is the time to buy your ski escape!  …but for a different reason than you might think. Everyone knows the drill… 1) Prices are great (even if they do continue to self-adjust downward, the deals are still incredible today); 2)  interest rates are still at historic lows and, 3) lenders are looking for clients…believe it or not! But, You know what?  These are not THE most compelling reasons for you “baby-boomers” out there to take the plunge and invest in your skiing dream. I had an epiphany on the slopes today (while skiing some more great - albeit heavy - “Schweitzer Mountain powder”) ...BABY BOOMERS, YOUR WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY IS SHRINKING and it would be wise to make your move NOW! I do not rely on baby-boomers to fund my income stream, however, they are ...
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By Judith Ehlert
(Tomlinson Sothebys International Realty)
The season was late summer, beginning of fall 2009 and I was supposed to head into the wilds of North Idaho, where you have no idea what you might run into (human or critter) and find a 3 ac parcel.  I kept putting it off until the client's irritation finally shoved me out the door.  I told Jim, a realtor friend, where I was going in case I wasn't seen again and off I went.  Eventually, I'm deep into forest service land, past the sign explaining what a grizzly looks like, and something runs across the road.  My brain tells me it's an animal, but my eyes tell me another story.  I'm in disbelief as it registers that I'm looking at a very young child in a diaper, t-shirt and barefoot. I sat there momentarily as surely there would be an older brother chasing after him.   He appeared to have...
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By Gary Lirette, Business & Investing in the Inland Northwest
While watching Tom Brockaw's tribute to Canada for the Winter Olympics I felt a kinship and the pang of family pride with my Canadian cousins to the north. In the 1640s, my first ancestor was among the explorers of Canada, and for generations, my French forebears were among the first to visit this continent. To learn more about my family's origins in America, please visit http://www.angelfire.com/tx/cajunmae/ We were not rich, and unlike many of the boastful in New Enland, my family has been serving the wealthy and prominent for centuries. The word 'Chauvinism' comes from one of my ancestors, who followed Napoleon so ardently, the name came to be synonymous with extreme patriotism. In the United States, the term used to be quoted as 'Male chauvinist' which meant that one was blindly pat...
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For years, I was one of the few REALTORS that did REO in my area. There is only one REO specializing company, and I started locally with them. Short sales, bank repos, it all took a bit more skill than the rest of the agents in our market, and I finally decided to stop doing them. Still, every year about 25% of my sales were REO. Then the world fell apart. My friends Cindy Bond and Merry Brown Hayes have both related this is the hardest they have ever worked in real estate. I am not complaining. I had sales, was ranked 12th with my company, and was in the top 20% of my market. I would have done even better, but had a junior partner and I let him take a percentage of my closings. There are new guidelines put out by the banks concerning REOs every week. Getting loans to go through has bec...
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