We are in the midst of summer here in Sandpoint, and I can think of no better place to be at this time of year.  We have the lake (and in case you haven’t looked at a map, Lake Pend Oreille is huge) for swimming, kayaking, and sailing.  The mountains are full of huckleberries now, one of the best years in decades.  We picked 4 gallons over the weekend and have the purple fingers to prove it!  Gardens are growing well with all the sunshine we’ve had.  Zucchini is starting to overrun us all and tomatoes should be turning red soon.  Even if you don’t have your own garden, you can find all sorts of goodies at our local farmers’ market each Wednesday and Saturday.  The days are long and we’re filling up on sunshine, outdoor fun, and good food.  Come see us soon!

Times are a-changin’ as we all know! More and more of our inquiries today are about alternative energy properties or those with potential for that use. People are looking for a more self-sufficient lifestyle, especially in areas of temperate climate where there is a decent growing season, water, forests and – not least of all – fewer people. They want a place where you can have a little privacy and elbow room.

Places that fit this description are scarce, but our unique part of the world has all of these qualities PLUS the incredible natural beauty of diverse forests, lakes, rivers, streams, and breath-taking mountains.

At C.M. Brewster & Co., we have several alternative energy properties currently listed, along with other beautiful rural places. In addition, we have access to all such listings in the northern Idaho panhandle. You can see all of these on our website.

With 30 years of experience in this business, right here in northern Idaho, we can help you find the right place. We understand the local micro-climates and know where the best places are. We’re just a click away!

After a long and beautiful fall (we picked our last swiss chard on December 6), winter has come.  Our region has had a lot of snow in the past couple of weeks so we’ve all been busy shoveling and plowing.  But winter brings plenty of opportunities for outdoor fun, too.  Schweitzer Basin is full of skiers and snow boarders enjoying groomed runs and spectacular views.  We like to snowshoe and have been off exploring the woods around our house.

And speaking of snowshoeing…Tom is off now showing a remote property on snowshoes!  If you’re willing and able, it’s possible to see just about any property this time of year.  Give it a try!

The times they are changing.  Thank goodness 2008 is almost over!  I think the country and the world are ready for a new beginning in this coming new year.  At this time, I feel hopefully optimistic that we will see a slow but steady improvement in peoples’ attitudes.  This new mind set should help to spur other positive developments that will influence the economies of the world and contribute to an increase in peoples’ abilities to pursue their dreams, including home and property ownership.  More potential buyers will be able to profit from the previous long-term decline in home and land values.  This could be the opportunity for a new generation of home ownership.  –Ken

We all know that the financial market is going through a rough time right now, with stock prices down and lending money tight.  The good news is that it’s bound to recover.  The better news is that there are still home loans available and many of our local banks are making loans at low rates.  They’re also keeping quite a few of these loans in their own portfolios rather than farming them out on the secondary market where the current log jam is causing problems for the large lenders.

The best news is that with the slow-down in sales, real estate inventory is way up, with lots of choices in all categories – over 3,500 listings in our MLS area!  The large inventory is driving prices down to their lowest in years.  The best buys go to cash buyers or those with approximately 20 percent down and good credit.  Investors are now coming in to our market.

Are real estate prices bottoming out in our area?  Not yet, but we know from experience that the only way to recognize the bottom is after the market has turned and prices start going back up.  In a beautiful place like North Idaho, this can happen swiftly.  Now is a great time to buy real estate!

Tom

As the summer draws to a close, we’re seeing prices here continuing to come down a bit.  Tom says that this is the best buyer’s market in recent years.

For example, just in our office, we’ve had major reductions in prices recently.  For instance, there’s a 16 acre parcel with two homes (one’s a rental) reduced to $399,000.  Then we’ve got a 10 acre mini-farm in the Selle Valley near Sandpoint, with a modular home and large shop, that’s down to $299,900.  And we’ve listed a small older home in town that’s down to $145,000.  These are great deals!

There are many more bargains out there that we’d be happy to show to you.  Just give us a call or send us an email.  We’ll be happy to answer questions.

Kids love this rope swing!  It’s fun to watch them work up their courage to fly way out over the creek and then drop into the cold water.  The other day they asked me if I wanted to try – I politely declined!

This shady path runs for a couple of blocks along the edge of Sand Creek, from the Cedar Street Bridge to the rope swing.  It’s lovely and cool on a hot day.

Here’s the first photo from my walk along Sand Creek, which runs right through downtown.  What a beautiful place!

Summer is here and I don’t think you’ll find any prettier place than Sandpoint.  I just took a short walk this afternoon from our office downtown.  After crossing the Cedar Street Bridge, I wandered along the shady path that runs along Sand Creek.  When I reemerged into the sunshine, I was at the rope swing tree where three young boys were happy to demonstrate their skill with the rope, swinging way out over the creek before dropping into the cold water.

Down at City Beach, kids of all ages were playing in the sand, splashing in the water, and diving from the floating docks.  There were walkers like me mixed with skateboarders and cyclists.  We were all having fun on another great summer day in Sandpoint!

I’ll post photos soon – stay tuned!