Just Visited Post Falls - Hayden Areas (Sandpoint, Rathdrum: sales, condo)

[Hunter Wold]

I lived in Sandpoint for many years, left the area, returuned last year to Post Falls. We rented for this last year and I found a good job at the Medical Center. The area of Post Falls we live in is south close to the river. It is very quite, very nice area. Rents are in the 900-950 for a new house.
House costs for a 3 brm, 2 bath (new) is about $250. Not on a lot of land, but very nice.
Re: realtors; you can "interview" many. When we sold our home in Western Washington we interview many. My wifes "former" realtor became the last to choice. We found a very knowledgeble capable person who solved a couple problems and have since found out that our house was the only one that sold in the last 8 months.
Do your research. Idaho is a great place; this last winter was not bad at all.
Compared to Sandpoint 30 years ago, we had snow, but never had a problem getting around. The county does a very good job with plowing etc. They now use "de-iceing" methods, just wash your car (even in the winter) to keep the deicer off.

HOWEVER; we are moving to New Mexico for a number of reasons.
My wife has arthritis and feels better down there. The outlining areas have some great land prices. We bought 120 acres for a very reasonable figure.
Low taxes, etc. And we just wanted to be out....

I will miss Idaho, the growth in the Coeur d'alene/Post Falls area is going to really go.
Now is a BUYERS MARKET.

Happy trails,
Hunter

[Ron House]

My wife and I are coming to Post Falls in three weeks. If you look on Realtor.Com you will find all the homes you will ever need to look at. It is best to do a search there first. Windermere is a good realtor for my money and they are really helping me in my move from SoCal.

[drr456]

Hello!
I have a son who lives in Post Falls. I live in Denver and have been wanting to move! Colorado is just getting to be toooo crowded! I've been here for
30 years and I have to say, It's getting to be just like LA. It's Not fun anymore! The traffic, the lines, THE PEOPLE! My son has been telling
me how beautiful Idaho Falls is. All the rivers and lakes. I've been
thinking the Hayden Area as well as Post Falls. What's the cost of living
like up there????? What's a gallon of milk go for? What about gas? I'm
ready.
Thanks!
Deb

[IdahoEagle]

Milk at Costco is 2 Gallons for $6.
I think gas is $2.75 a Gallon or a little lower.
Idaho Falls is very different from Post Falls, Idaho Falls is much drier and Post Falls & Hayden have much more trees, mountains, rivers etc.

[redwhiteblue]

I lived in Post Falls for the last year and this is what I have experienced.
I came from the Sacramento area of CA so was very relieved by the nice summers. When winter came it was a bit of shock not because of the cold but because of the lack of sun. There was also quite a few wind storms that did some damage to homes and cars. It never really rained hard like I had seen in CA but just a light drizzle or shower, but weeks would go by that you never saw the sun it was very dark and gloomy. There were times that I just needed some sun it got very depressing.
My parents moved there 3 years ago and say that this last winter was the worst for the lack of sun. I would love to know if that is the norm or unusual for the area?

The lack of traffic was great! I never saw any graffiti and felt very safe.
I would have to say the wages are very low and if you are moving without bringing some equity from another state it may be hard, I think being self employed in that area would be better.
Of course the recreation is great.
Shopping is much better in Spokane Valley/Spokane but you can get by in CDA I think going to Spokane would be good for Christmas shopping.
I just moved to Reno Nevada for work reasons but really miss the small town feel. I think CDA is a really self contained place you only really need to go to Spokane for certain stores, airport, and some medical specialties.
I just really wish it had more sunny days!

Hope this helps

[brokencrayola]

A lack of sunshine in the winter and spring is very normal. It is very hard for me to deal with despite me living in this area for 26 years. Winters can be very hard if you really need sunshine.

[redwhiteblue]

Originally Posted by brokencrayola

A lack of sunshine in the winter and spring is very normal. It is very hard for me to deal with despite me living in this area for 26 years. Winters can be very hard if you really need sunshine.

Brokencrayola, good to know about the sun, I do wish it didn't bother be.
Do you happen know of any towns similar to CDA that has more sun?
I am searching for one and am coming up a little short

Thanks!

[Winkelman]

Originally Posted by redwhiteblue

Brokencrayola, good to know about the sun, I do wish it didn't bother be.
Do you happen know of any towns similar to CDA that has more sun?
I am searching for one and am coming up a little short

Thanks!

If you are looking for similar scenery and sunshine you would have to go south. Lake Tahoe, Flagstaff, White Mountains of Arizona or higher elevations of New Mexico.

I had family that lived in CDA for about 7 years. From about November until at least March you don't see much sun. Sometimes weeks at a time. Even less sun in the Winter than Seattle IMHO. Freezing rain is another problem. Some will tell you it's not that cold in CDA compared to say North Dakota or Montana. True, you don't get the 30 below zero cold snaps, you get the 5 below zero ones.

And, I am not sure if they are still doing it but the fields get burned off in the fall, the whole area gets very smoky. The summers are almost perfect, but the other 8 or 9 months are not.

I suggest anyone considering moving up there to go in December or January and see if you like it.

[brokencrayola]

Originally Posted by redwhiteblue

Brokencrayola, good to know about the sun, I do wish it didn't bother be.
Do you happen know of any towns similar to CDA that has more sun?
I am searching for one and am coming up a little short

Thanks!

No, I don't know of any towns like CDA in Idaho that get more sun. The reason CDA and N. Idaho look the way they do with all the lushness and trees is because we get a lot of rain and moisture in the winter and spring. You will get more sunshine towards Boise but it doesn't look like here at all.

[Mark G. Duncan]

I live in west spokane out past the Airport and AFB, The wind never stops and the winters never end even in the summer you cant rest on a porch when the wind is blowing at 30 MPH, we own an Organic Farm here and there is not anyone I think in the whole spokane CDA area who really cares about Organics or healthy living at all, we are now looking of selling our farm (20 acres) and moving to the Portland Maine area, it seems to be a much more people friendly area and a lot less meth usage and child mollesters running free around the downtown areas.....oh yea home prices are outrageous this town thinks it is Seattle, including all the surrounding areas Liberty Lake, Hayden etc. anyway this attitude only took me 8 years here to get and I cant take it anymore, P.S. wages are below the average if you dont mind a little debt........move to the Spokane-Hayden CDA area