Sandpoint & North Idaho Waterfront Real Estate Blog

My name is Gary Lirette 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.

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. I also own a secondary waterfront home on the Hope Peninsula. 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:

December 14, 2009

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.

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:

 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

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.

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?

February 27, 2009

(Just to update the last blog entry, the homes came in at $348,500, $424,500, and $509,000.) This week we will be listing a home in Hope, Idaho with 180°unobstructed views overlooking Lake Pend Oreille for a projected price of $425,000, my second home on the historic Hope Peninsula with its own boat slip at Kullyspell Beach for $349,000, and a 1970 sq. ft. home on Derr Island at the confluence of the Clark Fork and Lake Pend Oreille right on the water with a community airstrip for $549,000. What this indicates is that prices are roughly $100,000 lower than their peak. In fact, about 25% of all homes sold since January 1, 2007 in our MLS area sold for 25% lower than their original asking price. The flip side of that is 75% of all homes listed sold closed between 94% and 100% of asking price. While there have been some small declines in our area, and some great deals on waterfront, those have been few, and much of the waterfront listings are maintaining their price. Here is an Excel spreadsheet showing those sales.

Currently around Lake Pend Oreille there are 103 homes listed as waterfront. This can be misleading since some are on creeks, others are condos, some are secondary waterfront without lake views, etc. The lowest priced actual waterfront begins with a home squarely between Sandpoint and Priest River at 11464 Dufort Road listed for $450,000. I have been in this house three times since it was originally listed eighteen months ago. While is has good river views and its own dock, the house is dated and sits across from the river with Dufort Road in between. The next actual home on the water is on Gypsy Bay, just a few miles up the river. There are two listings there, where the houses are pretty close to each other listed right under $500,000. It looks like $500,000 is the magic price point. You can get a home on Eagle Flight near Garfield and Bottle Bays with actual big lake frontage for that same $500,000. Pretty nice home, too. Granted, to get down to the water you have to take a steep and long flight of stairs, but the views are incredible. In fact, this home is on a bluff, so the views are considerably more panoramic than something in a flood plain at lower elevations. Then up to $600,000 there are a couple of other homes, and several condos.

At the $699,000 price point there are another dozen homes available. This used to be where they started with actual waterfront. Now you can find homes for much less, but not so many to choose from.

In that Excel spreadsheet you will see that there were three or four homes that were listed in the $600-700,000 range that closed in the $300-400,000 category. What this means is that out of these 103 homes listed, there is a chance that a handful would accept an offer hundreds of thousands lower. Which sellers would accept such an offer? Your guess is as good as mine. I have never had a problem writing a low offer. Still, if 3/4 of all sellers are getting close to asking price, then my suggestion is to have your ducks in a row and make reasonable offers.

Anyway, looks good for prices coming down a bit. Just to remind the readers, Idaho housing values declined 1.76% last year, while home values declined nationwide by 4.5%. Washington's went down 3.7%, Spokane's down 1.26%, Coeur d'Alene declined 4.45%, and our area lost 4%.

In fact, indicators are favorable to see slight increases this year for Sandpoint, but not so much for the outlying areas.

February 1, 2009

Like a lot of the country, we have had some decline in values over the last three years. Our declines were 4%, 6%, and 6% respectively. However, waterfront is still in demand, our market sales are decent. There have been a small number of homes that have sold for unbelievably low prices. For instance, one home listed at $699,000 on Bottle Bay sold for the mid 300s, but these are rare, and buyers either have to have their financing in place and be ready to pounce, or have cash on hand. While actual frontage is still in the stellar range, secondary waterfront is lower by the same rates as the declines in the rest of our market. We have a few repos, but the banks sell those to preferred customers. It is difficult for the average buyer to get a contract in fast enough when there are hundreds looking for waterfront, and only a handful of true bargains. Water view properties are much more reasonable than in years past, and the farther you get from Sandpoint, Coeur d'Alene, Hope, and Sunnyside, the better the bargains. Truth is, most sellers and developers are not selling far out of town, but are holding out with prices still high, knowing that the number of homes and land on the market is far smaller than demand. Plus, it seems they have the funds and financial wherewithal to wait out the bad market. Some waterfront communities are selling well, like Dover Bay. Our company, Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty, had its best September ever, and December totaled over 23 million. Not bad. The echelon of those seeking waterfront are not hurt as much by this current downturn in the market. I am closing on a 1.4 million dollar water view development this month. Last month, I hosted the Midwinter Art Fest at Dover Bay with well over 1,000 attending as part of an event I was integral in organizing: The Sandpoint Winter Carnival. So, it is a mixed bag. It will be interesting to see where the market goes this spring. My suggestion to buyers is to make offers. Certainly the small number of homes on the water that sold for hundreds of thousands below the asking price were not advertising they would take such low offers. The few brave buyers that took the chance to put in the offers that were accepted won great prizes.

August 11, 2008

Currently, there are 192 homes listed in our market in the $500,000-750,000 price range.

Since January 1^st, only nine homes have sold in that range in our entire MLS area according to data taken from the Selkirk Association of Realtors MLS.

Currently there are nine homes on the water in the Sandpoint/Sagle area under $600,000, ten if you count Comeback Bay. On Lake Pend Oreille, there are three homes similar in size and architecture under $600,000, and two much larger. These mainly are on slightly smaller lots, but the advantage is being right on the lake.

All of the following listings we have used for comparison have closed in the last six months. They range from waterfront to view properties.

100 Upper Syringa was originally listed for $612,000 and closed after 290 days on market for $470,000. A similar home in quality in an upscale neighborhood in Sandpoint, though not on the water, has clear water views.

137 Birch Haven was originally listed for $749,500 when it first went on the market in 2005. It has been listed three times, with various price drops. It also has its own private little inlet with a great dock, with 200 feet of frontage on the water. It finally closed at $482,000 after almost three years on the market.

373 Sunnyside was originally listed for $649,000 in July 2006. It has been listed four times with various agents and price drops. It sold for $495,000 in February.

126 Laclede Shores was originally listed in November of 2007 and was listed twice. It closed in June for $475,000. It started at $545,000.

3 Canoe Cove was listed twice. First price was $525,000, and it sold the second time round for $478,000. While technically not waterfront, it is on a slough that feeds into the Pend Oreille.

203 Comeback Bay Lane was listed once and started at $599,900. It sold after 260 days on market for $525,000. It is new construction, but is secondary waterfront.

205 Cedar Ridge was listed with Charesse Moore prior to my team listing it. It started at $1,119,000 early in 2007. We convinced the owner to drop to eventually to $799,000, then advised him to take it off the market until the real estate conditions improved. They sold for recently $650,000.

There are several new, paved road, waterfront developments in the vicinity of Raptorview. This includes the Crossings at Willow Bay, River Fjord, River Bend, and Salish Point. These will bring even more competition.

July 31, 2008

29 Sourdough has great views of the water, its own dock in a great marina, three swimming areas, a tennis court, and the community area is its own island. This one is priced right at $449,000. If you would like to see pics I took of the Sourdough community, click www.sandpointid.net/Sourdough.html

There is also a five acre parcel available there for $310,000 that comes with community water. Serious views.

Another very good parcel is on Denton Slough by the Hope Peninsula. It is listed for $339,000, and has about two usable acres. While it is off the highway, the properties just down the road from it have all sold in the last year for upwards of $1,000,000. The great thing is the stand of trees there. Here are some pics of that lot: http://www.sandpointid.net/Hope.html

I also like Bel Tane on Bottle Bay. There is one .43 acre lot currently listed there for $130,000, but I know one that was listed last year that the owner would take $120,000 for.

Garfield Bay has an old mobile but sits on two lots. The cheapest other thing on Garfield Bay is $258,000 with a 400 sq. ft. tear down. This one is $135,000. It is a steal. I also have pics I have taken of that one. I take the pictures because of these properties because you never get a clear idea from the web searches. Here is what I have for this property: www.sandpointid.net/Garfield.html

We have some of our own listings on waterfront or secondary. Look these over and see if anything interests you.

July 18, 2008

So, we sold one secondary waterfront this month, and the market has sold a total of eight closed waterfront sales since June 1^st.

Again, just to keep you updated, the listings below are the ones that we believe are the best values up to the $500,000 range. After that are the lots for sale. There are a couple newer listings. The last of the land lots is in Hope on Denton Slough. Sent you info about this one. Two usable acres, great trees, and actual lake frontage on Lake Pend Oreille. Listed for about $150,000 less than the cheapest comparable property. I went out there and took pics, and have included those pics with this e-mail. Might have sent them in to you already, but here they are again.

A couple of listings bear looking at. I have never sent anything from Dover Bay, because I believed they were simply overpriced. Some have come down, and I have included a couple of those.

A couple others are worth looking at:

230 Comeback Bay

1020 Wrencoe Hills

103 Deer Lane in Hope

119 Comeback Bay

And Sourdough

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

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