Sandpoint, ID

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

Fred and Trevor Greenfield have contributed greatly to the cultural aspect of Sandpoint by bringing us the Lakedance Film Festival. In its fourth season at The Panida Theatre, the Lakedance Festival is now one of the top 100 festivals in the country.

The event started on October 31 with a 'Horror on the Lake' Halloween special, airing four of the scariest movies of all time including Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Night of the Living Dead. It then picked up last night for the actual opening night and will take place each evening through Saturday. The first evening was devoted to North Idaho Filmmakers, a category this is growing each year and provides a unique opportunity for our local aspiring filmmakers.

Evans Brothers Coffee, a new coffee roasting business owned by my brother and I, has participated in the Lakedance Festival this year as a sponsor. We donated coffee for the sponsors event at Lakedance on Thursday evening and attended the Friday reception at Laughing Dog Brewery. My brother (the real coffee genius of the partnership- I just do sales and marketing) hosted the first ever espresso bar at the Panida Theatre last night, and will continue to do so through the rest of the week.

It has been fun for us to be involved in this event and we look forward to doing our part to help this and other cultural events thrive in the Sandpoint community. The Lakedance Festival is one of many events unique to our town that really make it special. Of course we have the amazing natural amenities with Lake Pend Oreille and Schweitzer Mountain. But the artistic, musical, and cultural offerings make us a complete destination in my book.

For more information on Sandpoint events, visit www.SandpointResortRealty.com.

This isn’t what I signed up for when I became a Realtor®…I don’t think.

"The core of mans' spirit comes from new experiences."

— Chris McCandless, (Super Tramp from “Into the Wild”)

The above quote quite adequately sums up my involvement with the Sandpoint Association of Realtors (SAR) HARVEST PARTY last night. Long story short…I played the role of Dracula in the Haunted House portion of the event and, in so doing, stepped far out of my comfort zone. The fact that my wife was on the HARVEST PARTY committee and is also the vice president of the SAR MLS pretty much sealed my fate.

My “nature” would not typically allow me to volunteer for a role such as this but, in this instance, my “nature” was not part of the equation. I squirmed a little, but I quickly realized this was a path I was going to have to walk so I accepted my fate and became Dracula for a night (as best I could, anyway). My pain was eased when I was informed I would have two beautiful “Draculettes” at my side in the frightening “Haunted House Bedroom Scene”.

The committee set the Haunted House up as a “typical” Brokers’ Open and created a 1-bedroom, 1-bath home within the confines of the Bonner County Fairgrounds Field House in Sandpoint. My wife (affectionately called AGENT SLASHER) played the role of the Realtor® hosting the Broker Open and she lead several groups of four to five agents into the dark, dank, frightening portals of the home throughout the evening. (Doesn't she make a lovely hostess?) The rest of the players in the scene did their best to scare these groups of “seasoned agents” as they passed through. Our nineteen year-old black cat, Chester, even joined in the fun…his job? … to meow, moan or howl and add to the atmosphere of fear we created (who cares that he never made a sound from his cage in the kitchen …thanks a lot, Chester).

From left to right: Norman (dressed as Norman's Mom), Psycho Shower Screamer, Dracula, the Little Kitchen Creature, Agent Slasher, the French Maid, the Crazy Chef, Beautiful Vampire #1, Beautiful Vampire #2, the Boogie Man, Norman's Mother, the Main Course for Supper, the Clown (we all fear the Clown) and the Head of the Dinner Table. Missing: Susan (the mastermind behind the event - she is taking this photo) and the Chainsaw "killer" lurking at the back door.

A good time was had by all! We were able to raise much needed and appreciated funds through donations and a silent auction to benefit the Grant & Scholarship Fund the Sandpoint Association of Realtors sponsors. We should ALL be proud of the shared efforts our Realtor Boards put forth to find ways to positively impact the communities we live and work in.

MANY THANKS TO ALL PARTICIPANTS AND HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

“Happiness is real when shared”

SANDPOINT, IDAHO QUARTERLY MARKET TRENDS

Here's a look at what happened in Sandpoint, Idaho in the third quarter (Bonner County). I like the fact I can make some comparisons between the current quarter and the 2009 second quarter report and the third quarter in 2008.

This was actually not a bad quarter for Sandpoint homes (relative to the general state of the economy). We have seen an 11% increase in the number of homes sold and basically unchanged average sales price since the same time last year. The "remaining months inventory" has lowered in the under $250K range, which is encouraging, but the upper-end homes are still troubling...almost a three year inventory. Overall inventory has decreased 25% from the same period last year...a very good sign. A slow recovery appears to be happening in Sandpoint.

...on an unrelated note...Snow expected in the mountains above 2500' tonight. Ski season seems to be on track for a Thanksgiving opening on Schweitzer Mountain.

SANDPOINT TENNIS...FALL EDITION

If you read my blog with any regularity, you'll find I am pretty impressed with North Idaho and Sandpoint, in particular. There are many reasons for being such a "Babbit" for the area...world class skiing (SCHWEITZER MOUNTAIN RESORT), world class lake (LAKE PEND 'OREILLE - 5th deepest lake in the U.S. and not overly cold), spectacular mountains (SELKIRKS, CABINETS, BITTERROOTS) and unlimited activities for sport enthusiasts.

...But you know what is really cool? Sandpoint Middle School is one of the VERY few Middle Schools in North Idaho to have an organized tennis program. This is just another reason to consider Sandpoint for your next home. "Lifetime" sports are definitely a priority for the residents of this community.

As the tennis coach for both the varsity in the Spring and the Middle School in the Fall, I feel privileged to be able to work with the kids in both schools and, somehow, be a piece of the puzzle in their life journey. It is part of my journey as well and a great release from the stresses of a Realtor® (especially in this market environment).

On a practical note, the Middle School is a wonderful feeder program for varsity and a big reason Sandpoint Tennis is so strong. As a native of Minnesota, I am used to Middle School tennis programs and appreciate the value of getting the kids started early in this sport. Sandpoint's emphasis on tennis made my transition from Minnesota that much easier. The lifelong sport concept is definitely alive and well in the tennis community. The Sandpoint Tennis Association is pushing 100 adult members and the ages cover the gamut.

The Fall season will be coming to an end tomorrow (October 22) and, once again, I have seen marked improvement in our players. It is always fun to watch them mature and move on to the next level. I need to add...the young people that I have been so fortunate to coach in this town are such outstanding individuals...every one of them. I am very appreciative and thankful for this opportunity and proud to be a member of the Sandpoint community!

GO BULLDOGS!