North Idaho Real Estate Blog Keeping the “invisible” property owners of Kootenai County in-the-know, as if you were here on a daily basis. 208.769.9464 * dreamteam @ nidt . com * Author: Christina Ethridge, REALTOR(R)

Growth in North Idaho has never stopped, despite the perception of the market. It’s just slowed down… ‘cept it looks like it’s starting to pick up again. Post Falls Idaho is growing even faster than other North Idaho towns, mainly because Post Falls has more land available for growth. Coeur d’Alene has pretty much used up the land within their city boundaries and since more and more people desire to live in North Idaho, the growth has to go somewhere.

“The preliminary subdivision plan allows for an expansion of commercial development that will incorporate and spread the atmosphere created by the Tullamore development across the street,” the project description states. “The project includes a retail center consisting of multiple building pads/lots in the area closest to Highway 41, and three parcels located to the east of the retail center which will be reserved for future commercial/office/retail development.”

Article here.

Posted under Economics of North Idaho, For Buyers, For Investors, For Sellers

The Kellogg area is considered one of the ‘hot and growing’ areas in the nation - with firmly expected appreciation.

A multi-state investment firm has expressed continued interest in acquiring 220 acres for what company officials said could become a $500 million multi-use development project at the defunct Bunker Hill Mine site in Kellogg.

Attero Inc. last year proposed spending $5.6 million to buy and prepare the land for development, according to Kellogg resident Lee Haynes, vice president of the Attero investment group.

Article here.

We are definitely seeing more and more going on in the area. It’s sometimes overwhelming how fast and furious growth is getting in the area.

Interested in cashing in on the growth opportunities? Connect with us. We can help.

Posted under Economics of North Idaho, For Buyers, For Investors

As 2008 President-Elect of the Coeur d’Alene Chapter of the Women’s Council of Realtors, it was my privilege to attend today’s Power Luncheon hosted by Kirsten Donovan at STCU.

Today’s Power Luncheon speaker was Post Falls Mayor Clay Larkin. Clay spoke on the “state of the city” and frankly, 2008 is looking pretty darn awesome for Post Falls.

1. Walmart currently has a 200,000sf store in Post Falls. They will be opening a 2nd Post Falls store of 250,000+sf at The Pointe (near Cabela’s). They will be retaining their current location and either leaving it as a Super Walmart or transitioning it into a Sam’s Club.
2. Cabela’s will be having their “Grand Opening” in February or March. They opened their doors on November 9th with their ’soft opening’. The Post Falls Cabela’s is the chains 24th store. The soft opening in Post Falls was the best soft opening of any of their stores.
3. There is an Electronic Chip Factory being built across from 84 Lumber
4. Lowe’s is expected to “sign on the dotted line” to put in a store at “The Pointe”.
5. Target is in serious negotiations for a Super Target at “The Pointe”.
6. There are 7 motel franchises interested in puttig 200-300 unit hotels at “The Pointe”. 3 will ‘land’.
7. Splash Universe, an indoor waterpark/hotel is seriously looking at putting a hotel at “The Pointe”.
8. There have been 2-3 serious ‘prospects’ in the past 60 days for Post Falls to have it’s own “Convention/Conference” center with seating for 600+.
9. In the new 50-acre shopping center going in at Prairie/Highway 41, it is probable that it will be anchored by a Home Depot and Fred Meyer.
10. Sysco is expanding their facilities from 160,000sf to 400,000sf.
11. Activity will be ‘happening’ on the LP Mill site in 2008
12. At the Hwy 41/Mullen northwest corner (current site of El Rancho Mobile Home Park) there will be a Safeway or an Albertsons and a shopping center similar to the one directly across the street
13. There will be “lots of dirt flying” at the Tullamore project in 2008
14. In the next 120-180 days, there will be 6-7 “Big Box” ground breaking, 2 at “The Pointe” and the remaining along the Hwy 41 corridor.
15. There have been positive/intense conversations from a major east coast furniture manufacturer of hardwood furniture. This company seeks to opening a manufacturing facility and a retail store.

Interesting things to know about Post Falls:

1. It took 105 years for the market value of the city limits to reach $1 billion dollars. It took 5 years for it to reach $2 billion. It’s current value is $2.3 billion.
2. 65% of the residents of Post Falls live between Mullan Avenue on the South Side, Prairie Avenue on the North Side, Highway 41 on the East side and Idaho Street on the West side.
3. Post Falls has gone from 95% residents/5% businesses to 78% residents/22% businesses.
4. After Walmart moved here in 2002, traffic counts rose drastically, increasing business for everyone. No business in the area has gone out of business because of Walmart.
5. Post Falls has instituted the “Smart Code” for growth. This will not change existing areas but only applies to new areas.
6. There are currently 700-800 acres waiting for annexation to Post Falls

Interesting things to know about Kootenai County:

1. The demographics of Kootenai County have historically been estimated by taking population from within 1 hour of Kootenai County. Now, because of growth and industry, the demographics include up to 3 hours away which is a population base of 1.2 million.
2. Idaho’s (not Kootenai County’s) #1 industry is Agriculture (because of Southern Idaho) and #2 is Tourism. It is expected that Tourism will overcome Agriculture in the next 1-2 years.
3. Kootenai County’s unemployment rate is hovering at 2-2.5%. This has created issues for employers. Sonic had to import workers from other stores up to 5 weeks after opening. They couldn’t find enough employees locally to staff the store.

© 2008 North Idaho Dream Team LLC North Idaho Real Estate.  If you are reading this outside your feed reader or on any blog other than the North Idaho Real Estate blog, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact legal@nidt.com so we can take legal action immediately.  The North Idaho Dream Team services the greater Coeur d’Alene area helping buyers and sellers of real estate achieve their goals and dreams.  Questions? Comments? Email us!

Posted under About the Area, Economics of North Idaho, For Investors

For all you horse enthusiasts out there - this is a “dream come true” facility.

“207-acre equestrian community at the northwest corner of Wyoming Avenue and Greensferry Road. It will include single- and multi-family homes, two arenas, a race track, equestrian pool, veterinary facility, stables and other horse-friendly amenities plus commercial ventures including an RV park.”

“The project includes 65 acres for 100 single-family houses and 120 multi-family duplexes and townhouses with up to eight units, and residents will have access to all facilities and a “gallop trail” around the project, Yearout said. Barns for homeowners and visitors and a pool round out the project.”

“Visitors and participants in equestrian events are expected to provide much of the cash flow for the project with their use of the facilities, which will include two 160-foot by 500-foot indoor arenas for year-round use, he said.”

“Work on the $50 million community will begin this fall and be done in three phases over four to five years. Phase 1, estimated at about $10 million, includes residential and commercial development including an RV park and arena and is expected to be completed in early 2009. Phase 2 will include more of the equestrian center, additional housing and commercial, with completion by fall 2010 and costing $20 million to $25 million. Phase 3 will include multi-family housing and the race track.”

News article, website

Posted under Economics of North Idaho

Big Post Falls Shopping Center Planned
Large, Cincinnati based retail developer eyes grocery, big-box stores for 50-acre site

Phillip Edison Development Co., a division of Cincinnati-based Phillips Edison & Co., says it plans to build a 500,000-square-foot shopping center on 50 acres of land near Post Falls.

Phillips Edison says it expects the shopping center to include a grocery store and big-box retailers as well as restaurants and specialty stores.

The center is expected to anchor the Prairie Crossing development, a large mixed-use community on both sides of Prairie Avenue that is part of the even larger Tullamore development.

Vision First LLC sold 15 acres at the southeast corner of Prairie and Highway 41 to Parkwood Business Properties, of Coeur d’Alene, for a possible future development of a business center. More . . .

This is looking great! Large scale retail to include a major grocery store is an excellent anchor in this location. This particular area of Post Falls, while appearing rather rural and vacant, has a population base of over 75,000 within 5 miles. Additionally, there are plans for a business center across the street - creating space for offices and various business. The balance of employment that will be available is excellent!

View Larger Map

Posted under About the Area, Economics of North Idaho, For Investors