JOURNEY TO THE NORTH POLEKids from 1 to 92 enjoy the holiday magic on Lake Coeur d’Alene! Each year Coeur d’Alene resort hosts an unforgettable holiday lake cruise. Take a journey to the North pole and see more than 1.5 million twinkling holiday lights.  Travel past remarkable displays before crossing the lake to and visit Santa Claus and his elves at his waterfront toy workshop.  Each Childs name on the "nice list" is called out by Santa and then topped off with a brilliant fireworks display.  This was the first year of taking the cruise even though I go every year to see the light displays.  It is no wonder it is a yearly tradition for so many folks.   If you haven't been before, I encourage you to go.  12/12/2022

 A few fun American Flag factsWe now refer to all American flags as Old Glory but did you know it was started with one specific flag? William Driver, a sea captain, nicknamed the flag on his ship “Old Glory” when he saw it flying on his ship’s mast in 1831. The name stuck till this day.In 1949, 17-year-old high school student, Robert G. Heft, of Lancaster, Ohio created an 50 star flag design for a class project.  Despite getting a B- he submitted the design in a contest in 1958. It was chosen out of over 1,500 submissions by President Dwight Eisenhower. The design has lasted for over 60 years.Do you remember the tv show Gilligan's Island? During the opening sequence of the first season of Gilligan's Island, the American flag is filmed at half-staff. This was done to honor President Kenn... 06/04/2022

Kids from 1 to 92 enjoy the holiday magic on Lake Coeur d’Alene! Each year Coeur d’Alene resort hosts an unforgettable holiday lake cruise. Take a journey to the North pole and see more than 1.5 million twinkling holiday lights.  Travel past remarkable displays before crossing the lake to and visit Santa Claus and his elves at his waterfront toy workshop.  Each Childs name on the "nice list" is called out by Santa and then topped off with a brilliant fireworks display.  This was the first year of taking the cruise even though I go every year to see the light displays.  It is no wonder it is a yearly tradition for so many folks.   If you haven't been before, I encourage you to go next December.     12/27/2021

Coeur d'Alene real estate sales deemed ESSENTIAL during the covid-19 pandemic. We are taking this opportunity to update our clients and others about the current state of our local real estate market in Coeur d'Alene and the surrounding communities in north Idaho. The situation with the pandemic has been changing by the hour. Idaho Governor Brad Little issued a Statewide Stay-At-Home Order effective today. All non-essential businesses and services have been ordered to close. What does that mean for real estate, our transactions in escrow, showings, open houses, inspections, closings, mortgages and more? In north Idaho, Panhandle Health District has clarified that real estate is an essential business. People need housing in a crisis, it's essential. Many people are currently in the proces... 03/26/2020

Janna Rankin Scharf, GRI, CLHMS, SFR – Homes for Sale in downtown Coeur d’Alene IdahoDowntown Coeur d’Alene, Idaho homes for sale bring a premium over similarly sized homes of the same era in other locations in our real estate market. The attraction, of course, is the proximity to our beautiful lakefront downtown with it’s sandy city beach and park, quaint shops, restaurants galore and hopping night spots. The closer to the center of action, or the lake, the higher the price tag per square foot. Many historical homes, from bungalows to mansions, have been lovingly restored and remodeled with all the latest and greatest bells and whistles. Many are in need of fixing, and there is no shortage of people willing to snap them up the minute they come on the market. If you are looking for a ch... 10/17/2019

Congratualtions Stephanie and Daryl on the sale of your home!!!!A few years ago when you asked me to come sell your land I had no idea what an awesome couple I was about to meet. Smart, sweet, kind and so very loyal and it is an honor to call you my friends. We sold the land at a good profit in 2 days quickly and found that perfect house to buy. I was heart broken when a year later you let me know you had to move to Oregon and sell the house. The only good thing was I knew you would make some money for your next chapter in life. I was slightly disheartened when the house directly across the street came up $20,000 less. When I brought it up to you, you looked at me and said it doesnt matter we have you as our agent, now go work your miracles.Thank you for being the perfect sellers!!!!Jus... 10/03/2019

It's that time of year again when we remind our clients who purchased a home in the past year to make sure they have applied to receive their Kootenai County Homeowners Property Tax Exemption. April 15th isn't just the deadline to file your tax returns with the IRS, it's also the deadline with the county for application to have up to $100,000 deducted from the county tax assessor's value of your residence. Your deduction will be 1/2 of your home's value, up to a maximum of $100,000. Folks, that's $100,000 that you don't have to pay property tax on! Here's how it works:If your home's assessed value is $190,000.00 you will pay property taxes on half of the assessed value, or $95,000.00. If your home's value is $375,000.00 you will deduct the maximum exemption of $100,000 and pay taxes on ... 02/20/2019

It's ice dam season in my neck of the woods. (Literally, I live in the woods.)We all think of the freezing temperatures as time to watch our water pipes and cover outdoor hose bibs. Yes, that's sound winter advice, but there's another issue we tend to forget about in the winter until it rears it's cold, frosty head - ice dams. It takes the right weather condition as well as some snow build up to cause ice dams. My personal observation is they occur after a deep snow and then an extended period of frigid temperatures that stay below freezing day and night.Ice dams are caused by ice forming on the edge of the roof and/or in the gutter which backs up the edge of the roof. Then as the snow melts, or it rains, the water can't escape and it will find the path of lease resistance.This usually ... 02/19/2019

Absorption Rates are all about supply and demand. Absorption rates vary widely from town to town and neighborhood to neighborhood, and also from price range to price range within those communities. If you are trying to sell your house, or even if you're in the market to buy, one of the pieces of information that should be factored into your pricing or offer strategy is the absorption rate for homes in your specific community and PRICE RANGE. Do you know your absorption Rate?An absorption rate will tell you, based on current market activity, how many months, or even years, it should take to get your house sold in our current market, at a particular price. The formula is really very simple if you have the statistical info that you need. Let's say you have a home to sell for $250,000. And ... 02/12/2019

Families Feeding Families Food Drive February 1-15  The Kroc Center wants to make the season of giving line up with the season of need. Many local food banks are running low on donations, so The Kroc Center is teaming up with YOU to help restock our local food pantries. How can you help? Go shopping! Download a shipping list here or pick up an empty bag and a shopping list at the front desk at The Kroc Center. Go shopping and return your bag of groceries to The Kroc Center by February 15th.Too busy to shop, but still want to contribute? Make an online donation here. It only takes $25 to help fill the pantry. Monetary donations will also be accepted at The Kroc Center's front desk, or by calling (208) 667-1865.Your donations will support the following designated locations in Idaho's 5 no... 02/12/2019

Maintain the Beauty of North Idaho 2019 Conservation and Reforestation Tree Seedling Program Yesterday I blogged about the City of Coeur d'Alene's Re-Leaf program's street tree give away for residents within the city limits. For everyone else, here's a fantastic opportunity to buy a variety of seedlings very inexpensively.The CDA Chamber of Commerce Natural Resources Committee just sent out word about the annual tree seedling conservation and reforestation program sponsored by the four local conservation districts to provide tree seedlings to private landowners, contractors and businesses. These seedlings are locally sourced which keeps this program close to our home. Several varieties are available to purchase: ponderosa pine, western white pine, western larch, lodgepole pine, and Doug... 02/11/2019

 The North Idaho College Foundation is once again offering a brand new home as the grand prize in their Really BIG Raffle 2019. Try your luck for a chance to win a brand new $300,000+ home as well as a $20,000 car, $10,000 boat, $3,500 vacation package and $2,000 shopping spree! This marks the 26th year of NIC’s largest annual fundraiser, which is a collaboration between the NIC Foundation and the NIC Carpentry program. It's not too soon to buy your tickets for $100. Ticket sales are limited to 5,500 and they always sell out. Located at 1781 W. Midway in Post Falls' Montrose neighborhood, the 2019 home has three bedrooms and two baths with a large upstairs bonus room.  The NIC Foundation s a non-profit charitable corporation founded in 1977 to encourage private support for the academic ... 02/10/2019

The Garden District in downtown Coeur d'Alene, Idaho is a historical section of town full of character and majestic trees more than a century old. The Garden District is defined as the neighborhood encompassed by 4th Street on the west, Montana Avenue on the north, Sherman Avenue on the south and 11th Street on the east. I was fortunate enough to grow up in the area now known as The Garden District and I can tell you there was no better spot on earth to call home in the 60's and 70's!Location, location location! With quick and easy access to downtown activities, beautiful beaches and parks, Tubbs Hill, dining and entertainment, The Garden District is every bit as fabulous a place to call home now as it was back in the olden days. The Garden District was home to my friends and schools an... 02/10/2019

 If you are looking for waterfront homes for sale in or around Coeur d'Alene, Idaho - your search is over! I invite you to make short work of your search by simply clicking on this link:Waterfront Homes for Sale in the Coeur d'Alene, Idaho MLSThis link will take you to every waterfront home for sale that has been listed in our Coeur d'Alene Multiple Listing Service. Please don't hesitate to contact me for more information about our Coeur d'Alene Waterfront Market or for detailed information about any of the beautiful Coeur d'Alene waterfront homes for sale that you come across in your search. I can provide you with current statistical information specific to each lake or river, including: Number of Active listingsNumber of Pending listingsNumber of Closed Sales this yearHigh/Low/Average... 02/10/2019

SECONDARY WATERFRONT is a classification of waterfront property for sale in the Coeur d'Alene Multiple Listing Service. I often get questioned about just what exactly that term means.Quite simply, it means that a particular piece of property has no frontage on the water, but it does have rights to water access. Often, we will see this in waterfront communities where some of the homes have frontage on the lake or river, while others in the neighborhood do not. The non-waterfront homes or lots are granted access to the neighborhood beach, dock, boat ramp or park which does front the water.For many, secondary waterfront in Coeur d'Alene is desirable in that it gives them easy recreational access to our beautiful lakes and rivers, while protecting them from the higher property taxes that ac... 02/10/2019

Did you know Coeur d'Alene has an urban forest? That should come as no surprise to anyone who has marveled at the beauty of the magnificent trees around town. I've blogged about Coeur d'Alene's urban forest from time to time over the years.The Urban Forestry division of the Coeur d'Alene Parks Department just announced that free trees valued at $250 are available to homeowners residing within the city limits of Coeur d’Alene who are willing to provide care for the trees, including watering and protecting from mowers and trimmers. Trees will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.Street trees will be planted at residential locations within public right-of-way areas in the Coeur d’Alene city limits. Don’t worry about the planting — trees will be planted for you by a contracted... 02/10/2019

 2018 was a fantastic year for sales in the Sanders Beach community of Coeur d'Alene ID, which is no surprise to anyone.The Sanders Beach neighborhood in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho encompasses the area south of Sherman Avenue between 8th and 19th Streets, extending south to Lake Coeur d'Alene. Sanders Beach consists of a mix of 100-year-old cottages that have been loved and remodeled, 1950s-era homes, and new homes where the owners have razed the original structure and built their modern dream home. It includes waterfront properties, and from time to time a vacant lot will show up on the market. There are also some upscale condos and duplexes.One of the main assets of Sanders Beach is the stellar location. It lies at the foot of scenic Tubbs Hill, with its beaches and hiking trails. You're wa... 02/09/2019

Those of us who live in beautiful Coeur d'Alene Idaho have become accustomed to seeing our beautiful home town pop up on "The Best of..." lists of all sorts. Most recently, we've made the news as #5 on CarRentals.com's list of 33 Most Scenic Towns in North America. The 33 Most Scenic Towns in North America list lures readers to the open road, inviting them to "dive straight into places of wonder" and escape everyday life. However, for me it is precisely my travels out and about as part of the routine of my daily life that take me past spectacular scenery and sights that sometimes take my breath away. It is one of the perks of living in a place that is as pretty as a picture postcard. CarRentals.com claims to have scoured the entire continent to find these 33 delightful drive-through tow... 02/09/2019

The weather outside is frightful! If you'd like something family friendly to do in the warth of indoors, the Hayden Historic Preservation Commission has invited the public to view a new exhibit of old photographs of the city as it used to be.According to legend, the name Hayden comes from a man named Matt Heyden, a pioneer who won the rights to name the lake, and therefore the city by winning a game of “seven-up” against John Hager and John Hickey in 1878. Photographs taken as early as 1920 are on view in the lobby of Hayden City Hall at 8930 N. Government Way. Old family pictures, pictures of the original barns, schools, log cabins and homes of the founders of Hayden are on display. Among the photographs can be seen old implements in use during those early days: butter pats, noodle cut... 02/09/2019

Welcome! You have just discovered a link to all of the homes for sale in the Greater Coeur d'Alene, Idaho area listed for sale in the MLS - with a main level master bedroom suite. I recently celebrated another birthday. No getting around it, I'm getting older! But then so are you. And so are 80 million baby boomers approaching retirement age! My left knee hurts. My right foot hurts. But only when I walk! I need to schedule an eye appointment and face the music this time. Yes, I really DO need bifocals! My hairdresser keeps the gray at bay, and good genetics have blessed me with few wrinkles and an appearance years younger than my age.When it comes to homes, as we age we begin to rethink things a bit. Stairs! Recent years have seen a change in home designs to accommodate the desires of t... 01/09/2019