342 W. Shingle Mill Rd., Sandpoint, Idaho (MLS#20120444) My new listing at 342 W. Shingle Mill Rd (MLS#20120444) comes complete with a family of moose.  While out taking pictures on a sunny day, I asked the owner what kind of wildlife they see on their 20 acres.  Before long, I got a close-up of Mrs. Moose looking out toward the driveway.  No extra charge for you home-buyers out there! "Of all the wonders of nature, a tree in summer is perhaps the most remarkable; with the possible exception of a moose..." -Woody Allen 03/04/2012

This series of blog entries features the various seasons in and around Sandpoint, Idaho. Sandpoint, North Idaho, Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort, and Lake Pend Oreille have been featured in the national news repeatedly over the last several years. Autumn of 2011 found Sandpoint, Idaho being voted America's Most Beautiful Small Town by Rand McNally, and in the winter of 2011/2012 Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort was named the Best Ski Resort of the Season byUSA Today/Rand McNally. Real Estate in Sandpoint has been on the rise approximately 7% a year for three years, much in part due to the decrease in pricing. That being said, I have had some success in the area of waterfront sales in Sandpoint finding great values for my clients. I am Gary Lirette, REALTOR® for Tomlinson Sotheby's Internat... 03/03/2012

Scroll  down and click a link to visit each article.   Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort named America’s Best Ski Resort of the Season in USA Today Sandpoint, Idaho named America’s Most Beautiful Small Town by Rand McNally July 7, 2011 Skijoring: The Awesome Marriage of Skiing and Horseback Riding - Photo and video article about Sandpoint Winter Carnival’s newest event in the February 17, 2011 of Wired.com Sandpoint nation's eleventh Coolest Small Town- Budget Travel in a 2010 national poll Best Snowboard Resorts- Schweitzer Mountain among the Top 10 according to Sno.co.uk Schweitzer Ski Resort - West's Best Ski Townsin December 2010 CNN Travel article Most under the radar: Sandpoint, ID- In the West's best ski towns from the December issue of Sunset magazine Big Dig Tells Nuanced Story Ab... 03/01/2012

This series of blog entries features the various seasons in and around Sandpoint, Idaho. Sandpoint, North Idaho, Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort, and Lake Pend Oreille have been featured in the national news repeatedly over the last several years. Autumn of 2011 found Sandpoint, Idaho being voted America's Most Beautiful Small Town by Rand McNally, and in the winter of 2011/2012 Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort was named the Best Ski Resort of the Season byUSA Today/Rand McNally. Real Estate in Sandpoint has been on the rise approximately 7% a year for three years, much in part due to the decrease in pricing. That being said, I have had some success in the area of waterfront sales in Sandpoint finding great values for my clients. I am Gary Lirette, REALTOR® for Tomlinson Sotheby's Internat... 02/29/2012

This series of blog entries features the various seasons in and around Sandpoint, Idaho. Sandpoint, North Idaho, Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort, and Lake Pend Oreille have been featured in the national news repeatedly over the last several years. Autumn of 2011 found Sandpoint, Idaho being voted America's Most Beautiful Small Town by Rand McNally, and in the winter of 2011/2012 Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort was named the Best Ski Resort of the Season by USA Today/Rand McNally. This video interview is about Ski Joring, the newest event for Sandpoint Winter Carnival. I am Gary Lirette, REALTOR® for Tomlinson Sotheby's International Realty in Sandpoint and Coeur d'Alene. I am also the host of the North Idaho Business radio show and the North Idaho Arts & Adventure radio show broadcast on ... 02/29/2012

This series of blog entries features the various seasons and events in and around Sandpoint, Idaho. Sandpoint, North Idaho, Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort, and Lake Pend Oreille have been featured in the national news repeatedly over the last several years. Autumn of 2011 found Sandpoint, Idaho being voted America's Most Beautiful Small Town by Rand McNally, and in the winter of 2011/2012 Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort was named the Best Ski Resort of the Season by USA Today/Rand McNally. Real Estate in Sandpoint has been on the rise approximately 7% a year for three years, much in part due to the decrease in pricing. That being said, I have had some success in the area of waterfront sales in Sandpoint finding great values for my clients. I am Gary Lirette, REALTOR® for Tomlinson Sotheb... 02/29/2012

This series of blog entries features the various seasons in and around Sandpoint, Idaho. Sandpoint, North Idaho, Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort, and Lake Pend Oreille have been featured in the national news repeatedly over the last several years. Autumn of 2011 found Sandpoint, Idaho being voted America's Most Beautiful Small Town by Rand McNally, and in the winter of 2011/2012 Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort was named the Best Ski Resort of the Season by USA Today/Rand McNally. Real Estate in Sandpoint has been on the rise approximately 7% a year for three years, much in part due to the decrease in pricing. That being said, I have had some success in the area of waterfront sales in Sandpoint finding great values for my clients. I am Gary Lirette, REALTOR® for Tomlinson Sotheby's Interna... 02/28/2012

This series of blog entries features the various seasons in and around Sandpoint, Idaho. Sandpoint, North Idaho, Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort, and Lake Pend Oreille have been featured in the national news repeatedly over the last several years. Autumn of 2011 found Sandpoint, Idaho being voted America's Most Beautiful Small Town by Rand McNally, and in the winter of 2011/2012 Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort was named the Best Ski Resort of the Season by USA Today/Rand McNally. Real Estate in Sandpoint has been on the rise approximately 7% a year for three years, much in part due to the decrease in pricing. That being said, I have had some success in the area of waterfront sales in Sandpoint finding great values for my clients. I am Gary Lirette, REALTOR® for Tomlinson Sotheby's Interna... 02/23/2012

This series of blog entries features the various seasons in and aroundSandpoint, Idaho.Sandpoint, North Idaho, Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort, and Lake Pend Oreille have been featured in the national news repeatedly over the last several years. Autumn of 2011 found Sandpoint, Idaho being voted America's Most Beautiful Small Town by Rand McNally, and in the winter of 2011/2012 Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort was named the Best Ski Resort of the Season by USA Today/Rand McNally. Real Estate in Sandpoint has been on the rise approximately 7% a year for three years, much in part due to the decrease in pricing. That being said, I have had some success in the area of waterfront sales in Sandpoint finding great values for my clients. I am Gary Lirette, REALTOR® for Tomlinson Sotheby's Internati... 02/22/2012

This series of blog entries features the various seasons in and aroundSandpoint, Idaho.Sandpoint, North Idaho, Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort, and Lake Pend Oreille have been featured in the national news repeatedly over the last several years. Autumn of 2011 found Sandpoint, Idaho being voted America's Most Beautiful Small Town by Rand McNally, and in the winter of 2011/2012 Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort was named the Best Ski Resort of the Season by USA Today/Rand McNally. Real Estate in Sandpoint has been on the rise approximately 7% a year for three years, much in part due to the decrease in pricing. That being said, I have had some success in the area of waterfront sales in Sandpoint finding great values for my clients. I am Gary Lirette, REALTOR® for Tomlinson Sotheby's Internati... 02/21/2012

This series of blog entries features the various seasons in and aroundSandpoint, Idaho.Sandpoint, North Idaho, Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort, and Lake Pend Oreille have been featured in the national news repeatedly over the last several years. Autumn of 2011 found Sandpoint, Idaho being voted America's Most Beautiful Small Town by Rand McNally, and in the winter of 2011/2012 Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort was named the Best Ski Resort of the Season by USA Today/Rand McNally. Real Estate in Sandpoint has been on the rise approximately 7% a year for three years, much in part due to the decrease in pricing. That being said, I have had some success in the area of waterfront sales in Sandpoint finding great values for my clients. I am Gary Lirette, REALTOR® for Tomlinson Sotheby's Internati... 02/21/2012

This series of blog entries features the various seasons in and around  Sandpoint, Idaho. Sandpoint, North Idaho, Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort, and Lake Pend Oreille have been featured in the national news repeatedly over the last several years. Autumn of 2011 found Sandpoint, Idaho being voted America's Most Beautiful Small Town by Rand McNally, and in the winter of 2011/2012 Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort was named the Best Ski Resort of the Season by USA Today/Rand McNally. Real Estate in Sandpoint has been on the rise approximately 7% a year for three years, much in part due to the decrease in pricing. That being said, I have had some success in the area of waterfront sales in Sandpoint finding great values for my clients. I am Gary Lirette, REALTOR® for Tomlinson Sotheby's Intern... 02/20/2012

  This series of blog entries features the various seasons in and around Sandpoint, Idaho. Sandpoint, North Idaho, Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort, and Lake Pend Oreille have been featured in the national news repeatedly over the last several years. Autumn of 2011 found Sandpoint, Idaho being voted America's Most Beautiful Small Town by Rand McNally, and in the winter of 2011/2012 Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort was named the Best Ski Resort of the Season by USA Today/Rand McNally. Real Estate in Sandpoint has been on the rise approximately 7% a year for three years, much in part due to the decrease in pricing. That being said, I have had some success in the area of waterfront sales in Sandpoint finding great values for my clients. I am Gary Lirette, REALTOR® for Tomlinson Sotheby's Inter... 02/20/2012

The next several blog entries will feature the various seasons in and around Sandpoint, Idaho. Sandpoint, North Idaho, Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort, and Lake Pend Oreille have been featured in the national news repeatedly over the last several years. Autumn of 2011 found Sandpoint, Idaho being voted America's Most Beautiful Small Town by Rand McNally, and in the winter of 2011/2012 Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort was named the Best Ski Resort of the Season by USA Today/Rand McNally. Real Estate in Sandpoint has been on the rise approximately 7% a year for three years, much in part due to the decrease in pricing. That being said, I have had some success in the area of waterfront sales in Sandpoint finding great values for my clients. I am Gary Lirette, REALTOR® for Tomlinson Sotheby's I... 02/20/2012

I have a snow globe on my desk.  When I shake it and the dust settles, it reveals a big question mark.  That's my answer when my customers ask me to predict the future mortgage rates this summer.  Based upon the graph below (supplied by our "good friend" Freddie Mac), it looks like now is the time to buy, however.  This was my answer a year ago and probably will be my answer moving well into 2012.   Home prices are down and mortgage rates are at the lowest point in 30 years.  If you are in a position to buy, talk to your local lender and work out the best deal possible.  Do not over extend, buy for the right reasons and enjoy your investment! Big thanks to Cathy Pizzini of Evergreen Home Loans for the great graph! 02/18/2012

If you remember North Lake Tahoe 20 years ago, you will appreciate Sandpoint today.  These photos from yesterday say it all.  The "immaculate Sandpoint/Schweitzer Winter" continues.  In fact, today I rode my bike 20 miles in the bright/warm sunshine...this marks the 12th straight month of outdoor biking!  That is truly amazing...especially considering I was skiing Schweitzer Mountain's soft powder on a 105" base yesterday just 11 miles from downtown Sandpoint! No wonder we've been recently awarded, "Best Ski Town In The U.S." (Rand Mcnally), "Most Beautiful Town In America" (USA Today) and, for you investors out there, Most Under The Radar Ski Town (Sunsets Magazine)! The photo below is not from yesterday.  I thought it might be worth a look (for the uninitiated) to see downtown Sandpoi... 02/05/2012

Well, this came as a bit of a surprise.  I love it here in Sandpoint but...#1 ski town in the U.S.?  The folks at Rand McNally really do love us.  I guess I can just sit back now and fend off the onslaught of buyers hoping to be a part of this bonanza.  I'm thinking that may not happen but our notoriety certainly can't hurt business.  The great part of this is our geographical location...Sandpoint is located in a narrow valley between Lake Pend Oreille and the Selkirk Mountains.  We're just not going to get a massive population explosion with sprawling neighborhoods.  There's no room here!                  I'm still perplexed by the #1 ranking, however.  I've lived in a few pretty exceptional "ski towns" and, not knowing the criteria Rand McNally used in claiming Sandpoint the #1 ski to... 01/22/2012

If you look around the ski world, races and events are being canceled on a regular basis.  Snow coverage is shockingly low and, in Europe, almost non-existent.  Schweitzer Mountain is the exception and I, for one, am happy to ride this wave as long as I can.  As of this post, Schweitzer has the 9th deepest snowpack in North America and has enjoyed 2900 acres of skiable/open terrain since the first week in December. Today marks the 2nd day of the SCHWEITZER NORTHWEST (FIS) CUP, a high level, FIS licensed giant slalom running January 5 - 8.  The racers are getting their moneys-worth this year with extremely fast conditions and no significant snowfall expected for several days.  They call this "boilerplate" conditions and it suits the "racing mentality" just fine. More important than the f... 01/06/2012

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR! It has been a special year so far at Schweitzer Mountain.  While so many ski areas are struggling with some pretty strange weather, Schweitzer has been blessed with some massive early storms.  See you on the slopes! Thank you to the entire Activerain community!  You guys are the BEST!     12/20/2011

There are two new webcams broadcasting life in Sandpoint. The first shows pics from First Avenue and the second from Gold Hill at this link: http://www.camscape.com/view/33718 Sandpoint Webcam from First Avenue Sandpoint Webcam from Gold Hill The second is at Selkirk Powder Company. 12/12/2011