Sandpoint, ID

I think it was ad-out in our doubles match today when we all had to take a break (A POETIC MOMENT) and gaze at what was happening in the park outside the courts...you've got to have priorities in life. (By the way, I was playing with my lender and one of my clients. Real Estate never rests.)

It was a little cloudy but warm, calm and beautiful here in Sandoint, Idaho.

New Zealand never received the brunt of the September 29th earthquake, as predicted, but they sure got a nice rainbow out of it. The tsunami was triggered by a magnitude-8.0 earthquake, the world’s largest in two years, that struck south of Samoa. Waves reached at least 20 feet high in parts of American Samoa and swept more than a half mile inland. This photo was taken by my daughter (a New Zealand resident) from Takapuna Beach outside of Auckland during the event. That is Rangitoto Island several miles in the distance across the Pacific. (The sea was up a few feet, but no giant surf).

The photo below was also taken on September 29th, but in Sandpoint, Idaho. That is Gold Hill, a few miles across Lake Pend Oreille viewed from my dock on Kootenai Bay. If we had a rainbow, the visual would be almost the same. It is a small world.

By the way, it is still Saturday here in Idaho, but it is Sunday in New Zealand...hence...SPEECHLESS SUNDAY.

The Sandpoint Farmers Market takes place every Wednesday from 300-530pm and on Saturdays from 9a-330p. For our size community to support two weekly markets from May into October is pretty cool in and of itself. But this one always seems to have solid support from both the farmers and vendors, to the locals who make it a habit to buy their groceries at the market.

My wife and I only recently started going to most of the Markets, and we're really hooked now. Since we have been at the Market over the past few weeks, we've gotten to know most of the farmers who are just awesome additions to Sandpoint and the North Idaho community. Most of these people are smaller scale family businesses. You'll usually see all the kids chipping in to help out, talking to customers about the fantastic family potatoes, vegetables, or goat cheese. The markets become a real family and neighborhood event if you participate regularly, as there are so many regulars in attendance each time.

The Market has been able to line up some nice entertainment every week as well, usually very entertaining and engaging. Its fun to see all the kids dancing and chasing each other around while parents visit with each other and buy groceries. Certainly a better experience than the standard trip to the grocery store! And the food is really something else- a great way to stock up on the essentials.

With the last Market taking place this Saturday Oct 10th, there is already a plan in place for a Winter Farmers Market in the Cedar Street Bridge. Hopefully this will be able to get off the ground. Regardless of this, the new online Six Rivers Marketplace is bound to catch on as a great year round alternative to these farmers markets. Local farmers and other 'producers' pay a small fee to sell their product through this website and post their offering online. Then consumers can shop online and pick everything they want, having it bagged and ready for pickup at the Sandpoint Events Center every Wed afternoon. This is a concept that has been huge in towns like Bend, Oregon and is certain to catch on. The basic concept of supporting local business and sustainable living just resonates well around here in these times.

So this final weekend of Harvest Fest is the last Farmers Market of the season. With OctoberFest following immediately afterwards in the Sothebys parking lot, there are sure to be tons of people out enjoying the peak of Fall and talking about another epic ski season on the horizon.

Sandpoint's Saturday Drama Queen - Lake Pend Oreille

The whitecaps and rollers are invading from the North...aided by a 40 mph wind. The snow covered peak is Schweitzer Mountain after a Saturday morning dusting.

This is the scene from a new listing I garnered yesterday in Sagle, on the South shore of Lake Pend Oreille looking out at the shores of Sandpoint.

SNOW!!! THE SCHWEITZER MOUNTAIN COUNTDOWN HAS BEGUN!

TRAILS OPEN: 0; LIFTS OPEN: 0; NEW SNOW: YES!

As I was driving up Schweitzer Mountain this morning, heading to my office in the Village, I noticed at about the 3,000 foot elevation the rain that has been invading the Sandpoint Valley below was turning a little slushy. This phenomenon happens each Fall, of course, and my corresponding reaction is also the same each Fall. OH MY GOD, THE COUNTDOWN HAS BEGUN! There is going to be snow in the Village!

The first thing to do? …crank up KPND (the local eclectic and wonderful fm station) and ride it in! I’m not the only one in Sandpoint who gets excited about snow. SANDPOINT is a ski town, after all. The next 10 minutes of the drive was consumed with AC/DC and the frenzied sounds so closely associated with ripping through the powder of the Schweitzer back bowls. (Trust me, I'm no "head-banger" but I can certainly relate when thinking about making turns in the powder)

(The picture to the right is the "RIDE 7B" cap. The local license plates have 7B on them which designates the owner as a Bonner County resident ...home of Schweitzer Mountain.)

This year, SCHWEITZER MOUNTAIN RESORT has added a 4 million gallon holding pond near the top of the mountain to feed the snowmaking system which, we hope, will insure a Thanksgiving opening. Schweitzer is rarely in need of natural snow (average snowfall is over 300” per season) but, Thanksgiving openings are a rarity.

Investing in Real Estate at a ski area is an act of PASSION. It certainly can be a wise financial move and, given market conditions today, it appears that is currently the case. Prices are low (especially here at Schweitzer compared to other major resorts) and interest rates remain very favorable. Actually pulling the trigger to make an offer, however, is about PASSION. People who own at Schweitzer are here because they love and NEED the North Idaho mountain experience. The three seasons leading up to winter are electrifying with natural beauty and wonder. The hiking, mountain biking, berry picking, animal watching, people watching, music festivals, tennis tournaments and "LIVING" are what gives our lives purpose up here. But let’s face it… the skiing is “to die for.” (#3 BEST TREE SKIING IN NORTH AMERICA • #1 SKI AREA IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST • LABELED THE #1 MOST EXTREME TOWN BY THE BANFF FILM FESTIVAL U.S. TOUR (I’m not exactly sure what “most extreme” refers to ...but I like it).

My AR friend Russel Ray likes to chastise me about the impending onslaught of winter from his San Diego “paradise”. Well, Russel, the winter onslaught has begun and with each snowflake the excitement level crescendos. The beauty of working up here on the mountain is that my clients ALL share the PASSION. We live and breathe this stuff and it really is a joy to help customers find the perfect ski-home. The snow is falling…now is the time to make that leap of faith…life only gets better as you imbed yourself in the Schweitzer experience.

…8 WEEKS AND COUNTING…