Neighborhood of the week: The Landings

Location, location, location.

If you've lived in this area for any length of time, you've noticed that Coeur d'Alene is growing. Luckily, it retains the small-town atmosphere that we love - but growth is inevitable. And if you look around, you'll notice the lake to the south, Canfield Mountain to the east, and the Spokane River to the west. So that growth has to head northwest, toward the prairie.

And that's where you'll find The Landings.

"The Landings is in a special location," says Brad Richmond, Realtor with Northwest Realty Group, representing Hallmark Homes. "The growth comes northwest from downtown. This is where all the land is. You're right in the middle of that." He points out how easy it is to get to Post Falls and Spokane, but that the neighborhood is also close to the services of Coeur d'Alene, to schools and to shopping. The Prairie Trail runs right past it, so you can access the wide network of bike and walking trails in the area. It's centralized in Kootenai County, he says. You're truly in the middle of everything.

One of the many benefits of living on the prairie is the views. "You have mountain views all the way around," Richmond says, "with Canfield, Signal Point and Rathdrum Mountains."

Hallmark Homes has been constructing homes in The Landings for two and a half years. Richmond says in the past year, three new builders have started homes in the neighborhood, highlighting the continuing popularity of and interest in it.

"It's a very diverse neighborhood," says Richmond. Homes range from $140,000 to more than $300,000. There are apartments and condos, as well as single-family homes.

There is a strong homeowners association, as well as an active neighborhood watch program. They maintain a comprehensive website that serves as a great resource for the residents of the area. HOA fees are $175/year, which cover maintenance of the common areas.

The crown jewel of The Landings is Landings Park. "This park is a home run," says Richmond. The developer donated 11 acres, and worked with the city to create this beautiful spot. It features a playground and splash pad for summer fun for the kids; basketball, volleyball and tennis courts; paved bike trails and walking paths; a disc golf course; covered gazebos and restrooms. Every spring and summer, the community sponsors special events.

Hallmark Homes is a local, family-run business owned by Mike Fitzgerald and his son Michael. Fitzgerald has been in the business most of his life, and his son has followed in his father's footsteps. "He's an old-school builder," says Richmond, who has been selling for Hallmark Homes for 15 years, and joined Northwest Realty Group a year ago. "He includes standard

features that you want in homes, and gives his clients the ability to customize them like they want to." They have established allowances at a number of local businesses, so clients can pick out their own appliances, carpet, and colors.

They offer house plans ranging from 1,200 to 3,500 square feet, and concentrate on building homes with an open feel, rather than breaking them into a number of smaller rooms. The living areas flow together. The vaulted ceilings, arched doorways and large windows contribute to the sense of spaciousness. The homes are built on large lots. They offer standard features that create an upscale, elegant feel such as staggered kitchen cabinets topped with crown molding, wood-wrapped windowsills, and rounded drywall corners in the main areas.

Hallmark Homes are built with efficiency in mind. They're constructed on insulated crawl spaces, so plumbing isn't in the ground and ductwork isn't overhead. "Your heat is in the floor rather than in the ceiling," Richmond says. "Besides being more efficient, heat is evenly distributed. Your floors are warmer." Furnaces are high-efficiency and operated by a programmable thermostat. Garage doors are insulated.

They're interested in trying different things. The exteriors of the homes feature brick, fir beams, and stone. Ceilings are skip-troweled. Trim is stained and lacquered. Some home plans feature dormer skylights instead of the usual false dormers, allowing more light into the home as well as contributing to the open feel.

Hallmark Homes opened a new phase of 31 lots in The Landings a few weeks ago, and seven of those have already sold. "It shows a little pent-up demand," says Richmond. There are currently 14 houses under construction, where they usually would have four or five; people can't wait to move into this neighborhood.

Material prices are rising, as are interest rates, Richmond points out. The mild winter we've had means things are happening earlier than usual. People know that the prices are going to increase as the market continues to recover, so are buying early this year. So if you're interested in living in The Landings, you'd better move fast!

For more information about buying a Hallmark Home in The Landings, contact Brad Richmond at (208) 661-7516. Or drive through the neighborhood and see for yourself everything that this special location has to offer.