Thinking of moving to Couer d'Alene (Post Falls, Sandpoint: for sale, new home, high school)

[Seabiscuit]

Just wanted to ask anyone who lived or is living in Couer d'Alene what it was like as far as having that "small town feel" and if the people are friendly there. I've heard only good things about Couer d'Alene, and that it is an awesome place to live and is absolutely beautiful. Are there any downsides? Does the sun come out much in the winter? Also, Christmas is a big holiday for me, what are the festivities like over there?

[pacalady]

Seabiscuit:
You must be a horse lover .... I am of the Seabiscuit era as well and I live in Post Falls, just a few minutes outside of CdA. I was raised north of CdA about 50 minitues drive in Clark Fork.

I left after high school but have now returned, and yes what you see/read/hear is true. The people welcome everyone, and are caring and giving beyond belief!

ALL holidays are a 'big deal' here, because we are so close-knit and still have a 'small town community atmosphere'. Especialy Christmas!!

Wednesday the 4th of July is full of things going on from parades to watermelon eating contests to fireworks! It is an ALL DAY event!

There are many festivities, activities to take part in or just observe with each holiday ..... This entire area is growing with those young at heart, and wanting to have fun, but is still a place of opportunity for those who are young.

Yes, the sun DOES come out during the winter ....and YES the winter's seem a tad bit longer than any of us would like! BUT!!! Crocus is in bloom late Feb, with narcissus and daffodils only a couple weeks later. Tulips bloom in March and April for me, and the robins, killdeer, quail and pheasant are 'nesting' just after that. So for me, Spring arrives about mid Feb, and is filled with anticipation! Of course I have crias (baby alpacas) due late April May so you can imagine what I'm talking about here!

As for downside: Hmmm, I guess that depends on your expectations. A 'traffic jam' here means that you are still moving at 40 mph..... Jobs don't pay what they do in Seattle or Portland ....but taxes are 1/2 if not less. Car tabs are reasonable; income tax is reasonable; food prices are reasonable, but not a LOT different than any city. WA has no sales tax on food (and there is a huge Albertson's and a Safeway just across the border from Idaho and 20 min from CdA) but what you save in tax, you spend in gas!

When shopping, our major problem is that it takes going to 6 different stores to find it (something for the farm, like a part for a machine) to get it because the businesses are small, and carry small inventories ... which we're still getting used to. So we usually find it is easier and more cost effective to search the internet and have it shipped in if we don't need it 'TODAY'.


If you have more specific questions, I'll be happy to give you my 2-cents-worth for free!!

PacaLady

[Seabiscuit]

wow! Thanks for the reply PacaLady! Lots of great info! I do love horses but don't own any, I just love animals in general. That brings me to my next question... is there a lot of wildlife in the area that you see on a daily basis? Just wondering cause I just took a trip to Alaska and saw moose walking down the street. It was awesome! Wondered how often that happens in CDA?

It's so nice to hear that people are friendly up there. We are thinking of moving there and I may not get a chance to see it before we make the decision. My husband has been up there about 10 years ago and loved it, but that's basically all I have to go on for now. I wanted to move to Alaska but he felt the winters were going to be too harsh for us and our dogs.

Anyway, thanks again for the info! It's my first time on this forum, pretty cool!

[brokencrayola]

You may have a wayward moose or bear wander into CDA now and then, but not often. They tend to stay in the woods and not near people, cars and streetlights.

[pacalady]

Hi Seabiscuit!
About the wildlife .... we live on what is called 'the Prairie' which is mostly cleared farmland. We have coyotes wander thru, which our livestock guard dog barks and barks at to keep them away. Our farm has LOTS of birds!! We have two robins that nest every year; a covey of quail (the little ones have just hatched); lots of pheasant with their babies; a killdeer that has nested in what was our garden last year; and a bunch of finch, sparrows etc that stay pretty close. The hawks are wonderful to watch hunting the fields ...there are several different kinds, and last fall we had a Great Horned Owl perched in our trees for a few days. We also have a wild rabbit that has taken up residence.

To see deer, elk, badger, raccoon, bear, cougar, and yes moose, you would need to take a drive into the forests near here. The forest service roads are generally very well maintained, and it is great to just drive into the mountains, find a stream and have a picnic!

If you like to go berry picking, huckleberries are abundant, and since they are wild, guess what? You have to drive to the forest!!

Are you looking for a place 'in town' or 'out of town'? Either way, you are only 1/2 hour from Spokane where there is 'major' shopping, 15 minutes from the lake if you like water activities, and 20-30 minutes from 'forests'.

PacaLady

[Seabiscuit]

thank you both. This place sounds almost too good to be true! Exactly what I've been searching for. I would love to find a peaceful place on the water in the forest. Are there many properties like this for sale (existing homes)? So I could probably find something like this 20-30 minutes from downtown CDA? Are there new homes for sale also in CDA?

Oh, this is probably a dumb question but are you pretty much guaranteed a white Christmas every year? How about Thanksgiving? I've never really lived in snow but it fascinates me because it is so, so beautiful.

I envision CDA to be a very peaceful and laid back place to live, yet it seems to have all the amenities (I was surprised there was a Costco) and a great downtown with wonderful restaurants. Is that a pretty accurate depiction? I also assume CDA is "pet-friendly" because it seems like a very outdoorsy/ nature oriented place?

[pacalady]

Seabiscuit!

Yup, it is a pretty special place, alright! Suggest you try using a realty company website to search properties out. Some have better 'filters' than others, but I like the Tomlinson Black or John L Scott realty company's search. Both serve Washington and Idaho.

Yes, there are tons of new homes being built. Especially on the outskirts of Post Falls and Rathdrum.

Well, I wouldn't exactly say 'guaranteed' to have snow! But we do get a little of it!!! When I was growing up we always had between 1' and 5' of snow (5' being the exception!!) from mid November to March, and sometimes later. That was in Clark Fork, and CdA is just a bit milder. At any rate, the last three years I've been here in PF, we do get a little snow accumulation around the holidays and into January, but it doesn't ever seem to last very long. We got a 6" burst then it melted; another 6" burst that stayed a couple weeks but nothing at all like when I was a kid! In fact my hubby bought a snow blower, and has used it once in 3 years!!

Yes, you've got the description of CdA correct. There are lots of fun restaurants, shops, farmer's market, antique shops and community activities during all seasons. I think you could find out quite a bit by getting into the Coeur d' Alene Chamber of Commerce website.

It seems everyone has at least one dog, kitty, horses, goats, alpacas so I'd have to say this area is VERY pet / animal friendly.

Have fun searching, and have a great 4th
PacaLady

[Seabiscuit]

thank you so much PacaLady! I really, really appreciate all your help. Happy 4th to you too!

[Seabiscuit]

hi PacaLady (or anyone that may know)... sorry I forgot to ask you one more question... can you see the Northern Lights from CDA? Forgive me if it's a stupid question but I recently read an accolade on the CDA Chamber of Commerce website that mentioned the Northern Lights. Just wondering... thanks

[YOU-CANT-EAT-SCENERY]

My wife, son and I are going up that way at the end of July, to check out possible locations. I'll take as many pics as I can. We plan to look from as far north as Bonners Ferry (maybe), and only as far south as CDA. Our main focus will be Post Falls, CDA, Rathdrum, Sagle, Sandpoint, Oldtown, Cocoalla, as well as a few others.
We are horse/animal owners, so animal friendly is very important to us as well.