affordable housing in CDA area? (Coeur d'Alene, Lewiston: days on market, to rent, new home)

[Big Lebowski]

Hey There -
I've read as many posts as I can find about affordable housing in Coeur d'Alene and surrounding areas...but I have a new question that I couldn't find an answer to.
I checked out some MLS listing for homes in these areas...our price range is upper 100's (like 180's, 190's...) It looks like there are some really decent houses out there in our price range...but my question is...are they in really sketchy/undesirable areas? Or can you still live in a pretty nice neighborhood for this price?
Do you think the spike in housing costs will cool, and if so, when do you forsee that happening?
Thanks!
Big L.

[jufrbo]

Housing prices are already falling all around the country. The most dangerous thing in CDA that might make your neighborhood unsafe, is an angry moose.

[Anchorless]

There are a lot of drug houses and meth labs around up there, though.

I mean, I strongly doubt you have to worry too much about them, and they're certainly found everywhere else, but just a thought.

[Sage of Sagle]

Not many meth labs around here. One here and one there, yeah..like the rest of the country's rural areas..but the Spokane area has a LOT. By comparison, Washington State has approx. 2500% (25x more, yes) more meth labs (WA is usually higher than even California), and Idaho normally has the least of any western state except Wyoming. So there are some yes, but not something that is normally a concern for people moving to North Idaho. But to be fair, Anchorless has a point...North Idaho (From Lewiston north) has about 40% of the state's total meth lab busts IIRC.

My concerns about certain areas would be; proximity to noisy traffic areas, proximity to very run-down older areas (not so much due to crime, just general look & feel of an area and the "tattoo-to-tooth ratio" of your neighbors). But even that's going away IMHO. For example, Rathdrum used to have a rep for being run down, but suddenly as the Post Falls area expands into the Rathdrum prairie, Rathdrum is getting more expensive and trailers are being torn out to build new homes.

So what areas are you considering? Let us know and some of us in the area can comment on your options...

[Big Lebowski]

Thanks for the laughs you guys!
I've read tons of posts for Northern, ID, and everyone has been so friendly & helpful.
We are looking at CDA, Post Falls, or surrounding areas. My wife & I plan to commute to Spokane--so a nice family town w/ amenities, liveliness and a reasonable commute to work. (heck no - we're not going to move to Spokane. I researched that first and that's definitely out!)
I think our best bet will be to rent for awhile while we scope for non-shady areas and wait for housing prices (hopefully) to fall.
Any other thoughts/advice/areas to steer clear of??
Thanks again & have a great week.

Big L.

[Sage of Sagle]

You know, if you can find something on the west end of Post Falls, that makes for the shortest commute. I'd look at Post Falls, CDA (west side around Ramsey, etc), but you can look up off 53 since you can take that right over into Spokane Valley to work too.

I honestly don't know of ANY "shady" places...just some that are less affluent and more run down.

Oh, and with regard to prices...I think they've already done most of the falling in the CDA area...I think people are now either pulling their houses off the market to stay another couple years, or making some deals here and there if they're getting tired of the longer "days on market", but then again, I'm no realtor, so you should get with a local one to inquire. Exit Realty in Sandpoint treated me really well...I'm sure they have people in the CDA/PF area. Ask for the Bastians (husband and wife).

Anywhere you move...the dude will abide...yes?