About Sandpoint's Dover

Marina Town is the premier waterfront condominium at the four season Dover Bay Resort. These condos offer a level of luxury that is difficult to find in North Idaho, with all of the top end fit and finishes, and phenomenal views. The closest competition in the Sandpoint area would be Seasons at Sandpoint, or perhaps the waterfront condos that are still in preliminary stages of development at The Idaho Club. The Idaho Club is pricing their condos from around $2 million, and the developer inventory at Seasons starts around $1 million.

The new Building 1 for Marina Town has just been completed. The two downstairs units have actually been combined into one penthouse for one buyer. However the two upstairs condos are currently available and are drawing quite a bit of interest even in this market. They are both priced around $900,000 and each offers more than 2000 square feet and includes a loft and high ceiling that makes it feel even bigger. Building 1 is perched just steps from the water, and adjacent to the Marina Town private sandy beach. The views from each of these units are phenomenal, with a spacious deck opening from both the great room and the master bedroom. Because each is a corner unit, there is a ton of light and large windows offering water views for almost 180 degrees.

In addition to the private beach, there is a new reflective pool that is being worked on now. This will be an infinity edge pool that provides majestic views and has the feel of dropping into the lake.

Buildings 3 and 7 have now been staked out so that a prospective buyer can get a true picture for just what their view could be. These two buildings have four condos each, all of which are true waterfront yet priced lower because they are setback from the water at an angle. In some ways they offer an even greater view, as they will have unobstructed site lines overlooking the reflective pool to the lake. Prices for these units start as low as $595,000 which is unheard of for luxury waterfront in the area. Two of the four available in building 7 have already been reserved.

Each of the new condo units offers a 2 car garage (as opposed to 1 car in the existing buildings 8 and 9). Another key change has been moving the fireplace from the center of the living and dining rooms to the corner, thus opening up the great room. There are also fireplaces in the master bedroom and an incredible resort-style bathroom off the master.

With the prime location next to the Dover Bay Marina, the Cafe and Market, Fitness Center and Pool, and the miles of trails, Marina Town at Dover Bay is truly a one of a kind offering. This is the only lakefront condominium product to be offered at Dover Bay, and there is a limited amount of inventory remaining.

For more information, photos, etc or to schedule a tour, just shoot me an email or give me a call.

What a fantastic Fall season we have had in Sandpoint, and at Dover Bay! The foliage is amazing, the sun has been shining every day, and the pace has been relaxed and tranquil. For those of us fortunate enough to live at Dover Bay year round, the months of Sept and Oct are one of the best times here.

One of the more overlooked aspects of the Dover Bay location is the incredible mountain biking and hiking trails out our back door. Within two or three minutes from home I can access miles of single track trails in the hills behind Dover that locals call 'Syringa'. These trails are a local favorite and are user-friendly enough to be a great introduction to mountain biking. At the same time there are challenging, more technical routes that can be taken. Picturesque views are offered to the south overlooking Dover Bay and the Pend Oreille River, while to the north you get sweeping vistas of Sandpoint and Lake Pend Oreille from the top of Ravenwood.

Another favorite family activity of ours is to take our two little dogs and walk the miles of flatter trails that meander through the woods and estuaries of Dover Bay itself. The views from the top of Dover Point on the east side of Dover are as good as it gets. We also love started our walk at the beach park and crossing over the foot bridges, doing a couple mile loop that takes you around Browns Inlet.

These walks are when you really appreciate living out here, as we inevitably run into people we know or make friends with new visitors or residents of Dover. The pace here is unhurried and most everyone we meet is very friendly and shares common interests. In fact when we first showed up with our moving van I had two different neighbors show up offering to help out.

Other nice additions to this community have been the pool and jacuzzi, the fitness center, the Cafe, and the Market. We love hitting the Cafe for breakfast on Sunday mornings, overlooking the lake. This is another place that has become a popular local gathering place. The plan is for breakfast and lunch to continue through the winter from Wed through Sunday.

We are now looking forward to a Winter wonderland where we will be able to cross country ski literally out our back door, snow shoe in the nearby hills, access Schweitzer with ease, and finish the day in the lakefront jacuzzi.

While my wife and I are working with Dover Bay Development to build our Cottage at Dover Meadows, we decided to go ahead and move from downtown Sandpoint to a rental property at Dover Bay. We found a Bayside South condo and have just settled in this past week. When I got a text message from my wife today saying how happy she was that we were living out here, I knew this was a good decision.

What we really like about the Bayside condos is the spacious, open feel and the incredible amount of natural light that comes in. The ceilings are approximately 12 feet high throughout, which really gives you a spacious feeling, not to mention the fact that the Great Room and the Master Bedroom are very large for a condo. There are windows that go almost from floor to ceiling all the way around three sides of the condo. With all Bayside buildings having just 4 units, everyone is a corner unit benefitting from the windows on both sides.

The other thing we are already noticing is the incredible efficiency of new construction and new appliances, in comparison to the large older home we were in downtown. The entire 1380 square feet heat up in minutes and the house stays warm through the night.

The convenience of the Syringa mountain bike trails is certainly a huge plus for me. I can actually access miles of single track trails in about two minutes. The paved bike trails throughout the resort are great for roller blading, biking, etc.

Its fantastic to have the waterfront Cafe available essentially next door to us for breakfast and lunch, or last minute conveniences from the Market. And then there is the Fitness Center, Pool, and Jacuzzi that are open year round.

We are looking forward to the winter months when we will take advantage of all the trails for cross country skiing (from our door step), and snow shoeing on the adjacent hills at Syringa.

While Dover Bay has definitely quieted down with the passing of summer and boating season, there is just enough activity out here to maintain a sense of community. When we first arrived on Sunday with our moving fan, we actually had two random people come up and offer to help us unload. Its a neat environment here where you talk with your neighbors and everyone is on a first name basis!

The Parkside Bungalows at Dover Bay Resort are one of the more exciting resort real estate opportunities to be offered in the Sandpoint area in a few years. This is a prime example of a developer who anticipates and responds to the current market and interests of the buying public. The key to these bungalows is the value, efficiency, and location in the heart of all the new amenities at Dover Bay.

Earlier this summer (2008) Dover Bay completed construction of 19 Beach Bungalows, along with a new Fitness Center and Pool, Volleyball court, Cafe and Market. The Beach Bungalows are intended to be a rental product only (not for sale), to be retained by the developer as a means of supporting the amenity structure at Dover as the resort becomes a four season destination. By all accounts these rental units have been a rousing success. Many locals and weekend visitors have discovered that these bungalows are the perfect setting for a vacation for families and friends. Sandpoint has not had many high-end resort hotel options, and this serves the bill nicely. The Bungalows are free standing homes with fireplaces and vaulted ceilings, with the advantage of not having to share walls, take an elevator, or walk a long hallway to your room.

After offering these Beach Bungalows for rent, there had been tons of comments asking if they would be for sale. People love the idea of owning a small 'family lake cabin' where they can stay for weekends, and then perhaps rent out when they aren't around. Dover Bay Development decided to take the land between the Marina Village and Brown's Inlet to build a larger, better version of these that would be for sale. This has led to the Parkside Bungalows, which have been released for reservations as of July 08.

The floor plans for these Parkside Bungalows are just being completed. They will offer 1 and 2 bedroom plans, with 1 to 2 baths., priced from $198,500 to $268,500. Most buyers are electing to add a loft, which really provides a generous amount of extra space for $25,000 or less. This takes the total square footage to up to 1200 square feet. Waterfront plans are available with stunning views overlooking Browns Inlet- these are offered at under $400,000 but there are only two of six remaining.

The developer is bound and determined to exceed expectations and provide added value to the first buyers of Parkside. Granite countertops will be standard for the first buyers. Lofts are being given 'dormers' at no extra charge, which will allow for substantial headroom. All of the Bungalows will come with fireplaces, washer/dryer, dishwasher, and ample storage space. Their is now going to be an option to add a bathroom to the loft, so that one could have a 2 bdr plus loft, with 2 baths for under $300,000!

Another important change to the Bungalow planning was the legal description changing from condo to that of 'single family detached home'. This is an important change as it will make it substantially easier for buyers to secure financing. Dover Bay is also working on a finance package to make it even more attractive.

Dover Bay Development is also working on some exciting additions to its newest neighborhood. Subject to Army Corps approval, there will be a boardalk along the water of Brown's Inlet, a sandy beach with a dock for fishing, canoeing, swimming, in addition to brick barbeque pavilions scattered throughout. This community will be completely maintained with walking paths, beautiful lawns, flower beds, etc. Snow removal to include the driveways, roads, and walking paths all the way to the doors will be provided in the winter. The HOA fee for all of this, including exterior building maintenance, will be just $151 per month.

The site for phase 1 of the Parkside Bungalows has been entirely cleared, retaining as many trees as possible. The first 25 bungalows have been staked out and labeled so that prospective buyers can walk their homesite to see precisely where they are located and what views they may have. Construction is expected to begin any day, as soon as the final permit is received from the Dover Fire Dept. There was some delay in construction, caused by the change from condo to single family home. But in the end this is going to be a huge deal for everyone as they get their financing in order.

Some people are looking at the Parkside Bungalows as a part time retreat and hope to offset their costs by renting their bungalow. Dover Bay Property Management has developed a Rental Management program which owners can elect to use. However in order to be fair and ensure the best deal for owners, Dover is going to get an additional 3 proposals from area property management firms. The first buyers will have the opportunity to select which rental company they want to use. While the Community Charter requires all of Parkside to use one rental management firm, it may or may not be Dover Bay Prop Mgmt that ends up getting the business.

Several recent national surveys are showing that real estate buyers are placing more importance on cutting gas bills and commute times, and that homes near urban centers and bus stops are selling faster than those in distant suburbs. More and more, people want to live, work, and go to school within a 6 block radius, a fact that is changing the way people look at property. As evidence of this trend, real estate agents around the country are starting to offer bicycle tours of property.

This makes total sense and certainly applies in my experience in and around Sandpoint. When the snow melts in town in early Spring, it is amazing to see how Sandpoint transforms into a bicycle town. The appeal of downtown and South Sandpoint stems in large part from the ability to bike anywhere, including the 3rd Avenue Pier or City Beach, the Festival at Sandpoint and other regular events, the Panida Theatre, or Eichardt's Pub. In dealing with buyers coming to this area, one factor that appeals to many is how easy it is to get around by bike.

From our own experience, the bike trails in and around Dover Bay Resort have certainly been a key factor in our decision to build a house there.

The resort community of Dover Bay is located around 2 miles from downtown Sandpoint. One of the most important amenities offered is the paved bike path that runs alongside the lake and mountains and connects residents and visitors of Dover to the community of Sandpoint. It just makes town so much more accessible and certainly adds value to Dover's real estate. Add to this the fact that the developer of Dover created 9 miles of easy biking and walking trails throughout the 285 acre resort, meandering across the waterways and wooded areas of the community.

Immediately outside the entrance to Dover Bay is also a very accessible and excellent set of single track mountain biking trails, in an area referred to as 'Syringa'. This is primarily fast riding, with all sorts of loops, some great views, and a decent amount of technical and steep terrain as well.

In any case, it just makes sense for everyone buying real estate to consider the activities that are important to them, whether that be snow skiing, boating, biking, whatever. This is perhaps even more important for second home buyers. Before making a purchase decision, ask your Agent to give you a bike tour of the area. Or simply hop on a bike and start exploring. You'll soon get a completely different perspective on various neighborhoods that may point you in the right direction for your decision.

If you'd like to give me an excuse to get on my bike, I'd love to show you some of the better bike trails around town. For photos of some of my recent rides, check out this link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/29620933@N02/sets/72157607155396501/

Enjoy!

Rick Evans

www.SandpointResortRealty.com