Looking to relocate, considering Idaho (Boise, Pocatello: crime rate, home, buying)

[dlansdell]

My family and I currently live on a small farm in Georgia. We are looking to relocate in the western section of the US. My aunt lived in Idaho when I was young and I always loved visiting. We are looking for a great spot to build a cabin with enough land so that our children can do the same as they get older. We are all sportsmen who love to hunt and fish. We are looking for a mountain region with trees and possibly a creek or river. We don't mind living away from town, but I will still have 2 children that will need a quality education. Can anyone make suggestion?

[SacTown11]

Originally Posted by dlansdell

My family and I currently live on a small farm in Georgia. We are looking to relocate in the western section of the US. My aunt lived in Idaho when I was young and I always loved visiting. We are looking for a great spot to build a cabin with enough land so that our children can do the same as they get older. We are all sportsmen who love to hunt and fish. We are looking for a mountain region with trees and possibly a creek or river. We don't mind living away from town, but I will still have 2 children that will need a quality education. Can anyone make suggestion?

Have you looked east of Moscow? If I had the money and didn't need to work; that's where I'd want to live. As it stands, I need both so I am looking to move to Post Falls or CdA. Good luck!

[pimit2]

Hi dlansdell,

Idaho has all the things you want, in my view. I would suggest you consider the area of the state beginning in North Central Idaho and north to Canada. In particular, look at the lands outside of the towns of Grangeville, Orofino, Moscow, St. Maries, Coeur d'Alene, Wallace, Sandpoint and Bonners Ferry. Lots of open space with available acreage, mountains, rivers, creeks, lakes and reservoirs, great hunting (big game, waterfowl, upland birds, wild turkey) and, generally, good public and charter schools and many families home school.

This area is called the Idaho Panhandle. Generally, the people who live here are conservative, friendly, helpful, live-and-let-live folks. The crime rate is low. There are four distinct seasons but, on the downside, the winters can be tough. Plenty of snow most years, with cold temperatures and weeks of grey skies. We play in the snow (skiing, sledding, snowmobiling, etc.) and most of us have wood-burning stoves and/or fireplaces to keep our places toasty when we're indoors.

I prefer Sandpoint (where I live) and I tout it so much that I should be getting commissions from the Chamber of Commerce! You'll be getting more responses to your post recommending other locations. There are many places in Idaho that match your desires, so it's now a matter of opinions.

I'd suggest you visit the area I've described, if possible. Once you've looked over the Idaho Panhandle, I'm betting you'll fall in love with it.


pimit2 (Bob)

[cleosmom]

Even though I love my area of Idaho, southeastern, I too would suggest the panhandle. The region I'm in is high desert and you'd have to go further east and north to attain what you're looking for and I feel it's a little more pricey than the panhandle.

[Need2Leave]

Anywhere N. of the Snake River plain will have mountains, trees, and creeks. Everywhere has hunting and fishing. Best of Luck

[stingraynm]

You'd love the stuff along ID-55 anywhere north of Horseshoe Bend, but seeing as how a lot of it is bought up and the towns are a bit too small to hold much sway in the state's educational budget, the Panhandle is a better recommendation. Also, there are a lot of college prep and core courses available to high schoolers in the Panhandle towns. University of Idaho has an outreach in CdA and Sandpoint, I believe, and North Idaho College (NIC) in CdA is a more affordable alternative.

Sandpoint is a good recommendation because CdA is more of a resort town and any nice property will have markup just for that. Sandpoint has mountains aplenty and a great lake of its own (Lake Pend Oreille [pronounced pond-uh-RAY]). A nearby town gives away this colloquialism in its official name.

You may just want to look into listings throughout the Panhandle, as there are numerous smaller lakes off the beaten path where your kids would still be a part of one of the larger town districts.

[shades_of_idaho]

Where ever you choose to buy be sure to check rules regarding subdividing property. There are state laws that only allow four splits to one original piece of property. Check into how many times the property you do consider to buy has already been split. Just ask your Realtor they can tell you. I only say this as you mention buying a large piece and then splitting off for your kids. I am sure you will be able to find something that could suit you.

Chris

[dlansdell]

Thanks to everyone that has replied. It is all good information. As one of you mentioned the need to work. I too will still have to work. I'm currently in the auto bus. (work for a dealership), but I want to go back to college and obtain a degree to teach and coach highschool football and baseball. This probably complicates things. Any suggestions?

[Trace_Rinaldi]

Originally Posted by dlansdell

Thanks to everyone that has replied. It is all good information. As one of you mentioned the need to work. I too will still have to work. I'm currently in the auto bus. (work for a dealership), but I want to go back to college and obtain a degree to teach and coach highschool football and baseball. This probably complicates things. Any suggestions?

There are several colleges in N. Idaho, and Spokane Wa. If your around the Coeur d'Alene area you should find what you need for work and edu. even if its just over the border in Wa. I wouldnt want to live in Wa. the way the laws are heading there, but Spokane is a large city, and would have several automotive dealerships as well as CDA..
You simply cannot beat the outdoor opportunities, scenery, and land prices in and around that area IMO..

[Need2Leave]

For college proximity N. Idaho has been mentioned, you also have options like living in the Idaho City area and comuting to Boise, or the same with the Pocatello area, or Rexburg. Any of the four could afford you a place in the hills w/jobs & college close... but dito what s.o.id. said... check into the ability to split a parcel, or buy multiple adjoining parcels for the kids. Good luck