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)

Coeur d’Alene Visitors Bureau Reports Winter Lodging Sales
This year’s lodging numbers are up significantly from last year. Year to date (Idaho Tourism fiscal year), Kootenai County is up 19.1% from last year. We continue to experience significant increases in North Idaho as our area increases in popularity to visitors. We expect to see an increase in weekend visits for the shoulder seasons (spring and fall) through additionally marketing efforts of the CVB.  For more information about tourism and the CVB, contact Dani at 415-0114.

Posted under Economics of North Idaho

Coeur d’Alene Visitors Bureau Reports Winter Lodging Sales
This year’s lodging numbers are up significantly from last year. Year to date (Idaho Tourism fiscal year), Kootenai County is up 19.1% from last year. We continue to experience significant increases in North Idaho as our area increases in popularity to visitors. We expect to see an increase in weekend visits for the shoulder seasons (spring and fall) through additionally marketing efforts of the CVB.  For more information about tourism and the CVB, contact Dani at 415-0114.

Posted under Economics of North Idaho

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.

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

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!

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

Lately we’ve had people interested in the area, but assuming we are a seasonal tourist area - both from perception (this is, after all, an incredibly beautiful area and it’s hard to imagine having the privledge of living here!!) and from people spreading their preconceived notions.

Point of fact - while tourism is a strong industry in our area, it is far from the ‘main’ industry. We are growing, and fast.

. . . Jobs have increased in Kootenai County to more than 56,000 from just over 15,500 30 years ago. . .

. . .there will be a $2 billion to $3 billion investment in the area in the next few years. . .

. . .construction on commercial and residential projects proceeding at a fever pace. . .

These are just a few of the highlights from the October 14th, 2006 article on the “Boss of the Year” event held at the Coeur d’Alene Resort on Friday.

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