What is happening in the Schweitzer Mountain real estate market?  Is it the right time to sell?  This is a question that I have received from a number of my clients lately as they try to determine what course to take.  We have Sellers at the high end of the market that are struggling with their listing prices, grappling with the fact that the high end of the market at Schweitzer has just not moved. There are a total of 70 condo and house listings (non-land) at Schweitzer right now.  Having just seen about 50 of these on an MLS tour,  I was struck by the fact that I showed many of the same properties in early summer, or even last winter (often the price was about the same as before).  My belief is that many of these sellers are indeed willing to negotiate substantially, yet they have a h... 12/03/2008

This past week was the semi-annual Realtor tour of Schweitzer listings, where I had the chance to preview 50 out of the 70 listings on the mountain. I have a number of prospective buyers that have asked me what the best deals are and where I think the market is heading.  Here is my honest assessment of what I believe are the best values in each price range: Low-end - This is a great time to pickup a condo within walking distance to the village at a price that is unheard of for most ski areas.  There are a handful of 1bdr and studio units available in the Black Bear (located next to the St Bernard), with pricing starting at $175,000.  Unit 104 is probably the best value at $179k, 474 sft with fireplace, main level.  However with 5 of these on the market, a buyer could probably pick one u... 11/30/2008

Believe it or not, we are still mountain biking in Sandpoint on November 22.  What a gorgeous day! My buddy Collin Beggs and I rode up and down Trail 3 today, which was admittedly the coldest day I've riddent this Fall.  We rode through a frozen inch of snow over the top mile.  The views from the top were as beautiful as I've ever seen at around 330p today, with the sun and clouds dancing over Lake Pend Oreille creating all sorts of colors and reflections. These are the days where I feel very fortunate to be here year round.  Spring and Fall tend to get the bad rap in terms of living in North Idaho.  Winter rocks with Schweitzer Mountain as Sandpoint turns into a ski town.  However Summer is considered even better by many because of Lake Pend Oreille, all the festivals and events, and t... 11/22/2008

There has been alot of talk about the recent challenges facing The Idaho Club.  Most notable is the fact that the preferred builder, Sullivan Homes of Idaho, has now gone out of business.  Sullivan had been the builder of the Lodge Home product, which were built around the core of the resort and priced from $900s and up.  It has been over a year since any of these homes have been sold. IMI, the reputable Sales & Marketing organization that had been representing The Idaho Club, has now pulled out or been removed from the project.  Having said all this, I believe the Idaho Club will still be a successful project moving forward.  Chuck Reeves and his partner, the original and current owners, have formed a real estate brokerage called North Idaho Properties.  The Broker will be Brad Arnold,... 11/21/2008

For those people who are able to disengage themselves from the emotional elements of the current economy, there is incredible opportunity in the North Idaho real estate market.  This area did not experience the irrational home appreciation that many cities (ie Bend, OR, Bakersfield, CA, Las Vegas, Phoenix) went through that led to a ridiculous oversupply problem and property values that were supported primarily by investors. Sandpoint is an area that will continue to attract people for the four season active lifestyle and small town values.  Prices are extremely low relative to other resort destinations offering similar amenities i.e. Whitefish, Lake Tahoe, Tamarack.  And where values did become out of reach for many people, the market correction over the past couple years has made even... 11/12/2008

New pricing has just been made available for The Spires at Schweitzer, an 80 acre planned development located off the South Bowl of Schweitzer Mountain.  The seller has just announced that he will offer a few lots as 'loss leaders', with pricing starting at $225,000! The Spires is the highest elevation of any neighborhood at Schweitzer Mountain.  Every one of the homesites offers stunning views of Lake Pend Oreille.  The community has been very well-planned to preserve not only the view corridors but also ski access to all homesites.  Each site is arranged so that the building envelope is essentially the entire lot - the common space has all been built in to protect these view corridors and create a very well laid out community. Access to The Spires is at the end of Mogul Hill Road, whe... 11/04/2008

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 t... 11/03/2008

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... 10/30/2008

Despite the slowing of the real estate market, the ownership of Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort is continuing to do the behind the scenes work to ensure that our ski resort gets better and better.  Last year we saw the creation of the new arrival roundabout, and more importantly the addition of two new ski lifts. This Winter 08/09 season will see a substantial increase in snow-making ability, with the goal of being able to open for Thanksgiving weekend every year.  The installation is the most energy efficient and low impact snow making system available with the latest proven technology. Nine fully automated Techno Alpin M18 fan snowmaking guns will be moved between twenty-three hydrants. These high tech automated snowmaking guns are able to produce 25% more snow for the amount of energy... 10/20/2008

Having managed the Schweitzer Mountain Discovery Center over the past winter, many people have asked me what is going on with Schweitzer Mountain Real Estate.  I had been recruited to take over the sales of Trappers Creek and the other Schweitzer owned property last year, bringing the Sothebys brand as the new exclusive listing agency. Here is the good news:  The decision makers for Schweitzer are very engaged and have been in direct talks recently with Jeff Bond (Tomlinson Sandpoint Sothebys).  Howard Trott has been hired as the new Pres of Schweitzer Mtn Real Estate, essentially replacing the position that was held by Steve Wood.  When they do move forward (if not this winter then certainly by next year), the new plan is likely to be just what Schweitzer needs. Trappers Creek, Schweit... 10/20/2008

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 t... 10/16/2008

Our company, Tomlinson Sandpoint Sothebys, continues to sell more real estate than any other agencies in Bonner County.  Through the third quarter of 2008, Tomlinson Sandpoint Sothebys had sold $92 million in real estate, for a 23.6% share of the total Bonner County market.  This is with just 16.6% of the total number of Realtors.   Sothebys has maintained roughly 1/4 of the total market share year after year, with a particular emphasis in high-end properties including waterfront and resort.  In fact our Sothebys office is the exclusive representative of most of the resort projects in the area, including Dover Bay, Seasons at Sandpoint, and Schweitzer Mountain Real Estate (Trappers Creek).  This is due in large part to the international network that Sothebys benefits from and the exposu... 10/10/2008

In the Sandpoint area, the most desirable property is unquestionably 'waterfront'.  All else being equal, you will typically pay more for waterfront, with big view property and ski property being the next level of pricing.  Some may find it interesting that waterfront property is so valuable and in such high demand in a four season destination, where the summer season is truly the only time that most people are in and on the water.  This has alot to do with the fact that Sandpoint (and the Northwest in general) is in such high demand in the summertime, with the resident population almost doubling from June through August.  Summertime in Sandpoint centers around Lake Pend Oreille and the Pend Oreille River.  The majority of second home buyers here who can afford it, are specifically inte... 09/24/2008

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 th... 09/21/2008

Everyone has certainly seen the troubled headlines in the national media regarding the financial crisis.  And this concern has certainly had an impact on our local marketplace in Sandpoint, as some people have been scared away from taking action.  However it is important to note that real estate remains in large part a 'local' business.  People are buying in Sandpoint because of the 'lifestyle' it affords.  The core attractions to Sandpoint remain the same:  great skiing, an amazing lake, a cool artistic town with a good music scene, and most importantly some of the best and most genuine people you'll ever meet.  Consider also that Sandpoint is still one of the most affordable of all resort communities in the country.  There is a limited supply of waterfront property in this area (with ... 09/19/2008

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, includi... 09/10/2008

The town of Sandpoint, Idaho offers its residents a quality of life that is second to none. Life in Sandpoint is characterized by wide open spaces and the countless amenities that come along with living in a year-round resort setting. This popular vacation destination is quickly becoming a place to which more and more Americans are choosing to relocate. Situated in Bonner County, Sandpoint boasts some of the nation's finest natural beauty. With this backdrop, locals here enjoy a more relaxed pace, and a sense of serenity that would be nearly impossible to find anywhere else. Sandpoint truly has it all. At the edge of town, Schweitzer Mountain begins its ascent, rising over six thousand feet into the sky. In the summer and spring months, locals enjoy hiking along the mountain trails, st... 09/05/2008

Well Everyone. . . About the time people start asking this question, it's too late.  Yep we are.  So instead of dwelling on all of the bad things that are happening in the world maybe it's time to capitalize on the positive things.  EXAMPLE  Real Estate values have dropped 30% - 40% world wide even 50% & higher in some areas.  Holy moly !  Do you think this would be a great time to invest in real estate??? Do you think that real estate values will bounce back???  Answers are YES AND YES! These are the times when the Rich get Richer and the shoulda woulda coulda's don't really do anything but have great stories to tell their kids in 3 years...Oh my god I could of bought that house on the corner for less than $100,000 back in 2008. Nobody has a crystal ball.  Nobody knows exactly what's g... 09/05/2008

NPR radio ran a special on August 20 talking about how more and more people are moving to resort towns in order to live where they want to rather than where they have to live.  It says that people are moving to towns with water, mountains, and skiing. This naturally got me thinking about Sandpoint, Idaho and I realized this is the very same phenomenon going on here.  It certainly fits the profile of myself and my young family, when we decided not too long ago to seek out the perfect town to raise kids and live an active, outdoor lifestyle.  We cast a wide net, with the main criteria being: good snow skiing, summer time activity (such as a lake), a town that was smaller but still had alot going on, and finally a decent price of real estate. Our short list ended up being Sandpoint, McCall... 09/02/2008

Exciting plans are underway at Dover Bay Waterfront Resort.  This summer marked the opening of several new amenities around the Marina Village.  Dover Bay Marina itself is without doubt the nicest marina in the area, with covered boat slips and public docks.  Finally people have a place to stop as they towards Sandpoint from the Pend Oreille River or from Sandpoint to water ski or wakeboard. The Dover Cafe and Market opened this summer, giving boaters and others a place to eat outside on the water and to stock up on beverages for the day.  Adjacent to the Cafe is the new Fitness Center and outdoor Pool and Jacuzzi.  The pool will be open year round with hydronically heated pavers to keep the snow from sticking.  A new Activities Director has just been hired who will plan a number of act... 08/28/2008