Neighborhood of the week: East side of Lake Coeur d'Alene

In case you haven't noticed, the town of Coeur d'Alene is conveniently located on the shores of stunning Lake Coeur d'Alene, providing both residents and visitors with a host of recreational opportunities, not to mention amazing views. We're lucky to be able to stroll down to City Beach and spend a leisurely afternoon sunning, swimming, and enjoying the beauty of the lake.

But there's far more to our lovely lake than the small section we see from town. A short drive east on I-90 will take you to Highway 97, the Lake Coeur d'Alene Scenic Byway. From there, it's a gorgeous drive along the lake from Wolf Lodge Bay to Harrison. On the way, you'll catch glimpses of the lake as you wind past Beauty Bay, Echo Bay, Gotham Bay, and Carlin Bay. With the mountains on one side and the lake on the other, you'll soon see how this scenic road earned its designation.

There are advantages to living on the east side of the lake, said Chris Fillios, a Realtor and Associate Broker with Tomlinson Sotheby's International Realty in Coeur d'Alene. Although Highway 95 runs down the west side of the lake, you're 3-4 miles from the shore; as soon as you come off the Highway 97 corridor, you're on the water.

"It's really a matter of preference," he said.

Residents of the east side of the lake enjoy later afternoon sunshine, Fillios pointed out. They can take a swim after work and still be in the sun. "You get shade or sun in the afternoon, depending on the side of the lake you choose," he said. "On the east side, you get the great sunsets."

Prices are a little more competitive on the east side of the lake, he said. There is a wide variety of housing options: everything from acreage to waterfront to secondary waterfront, and from cabins to condominiums to single-family homes.

You'll find both full- and part-time residents living on the lake, although Fillios said that 80 percent of the waterfront properties are occupied by part-time residents. For those who commute to Spokane for work, the west side of the lake is more attractive. But if you don't have to commute, the east side is equally as desirable.

You don't want to hurry along Highway 97: it truly is a scenic route. "The switchbacks are part of the adventure of the drive," Fillios said. Although, the drive to Arrow Point is roughly the same as that to Rockford Bay, he said, about 20-25 minutes.

Burma Road has recently been reconstructed, at a cost of more than $10 million, and provides a shortcut to and from points north and south on Highway 97, connecting with South Carlin Bay Road and cutting off 5-8 minutes of the journey.

There are a host of recreation opportunities on the east side of the lake, largely due to the national forest and waterfront. You can access the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes, the 72-mile rails-to-trails

recreational trail. At Thompson Lake Wildlife Refuge you'll find osprey, eagles, white swans, and other wildlife. Along with its shops and restaurants, Harrison offers a museum, bicycle, boat and kayak rentals, public docks, a boat launch, shoreline campground, and a sandy beach. You'll also find great boating, whether it's the Chain Lakes, the numerous bays on the lake, or the Shadowy St. Joe.

One of the few established developments on the east side of the lake is Gozzer Ranch, a 700-acre private community and member-owned club with a golf course, marina, and 267 estate-sized custom homesites. It also offers cabins, cottages and waterfront condominiums.

Children living on the east side of the lake are served by Coeur d'Alene School District 271; the city of Harrison has its own school system. The Idaho Transportation Department and the East Side Highway District maintain the roads on the east side of the lake, and there's great fire protection from the dedicated volunteer men and women of the East Side Fire District, with three stations located along Highway 97.

Along with the waterfront properties, you'll find both secondary and non-secondary lots on the west side of 97 with water views; most secondary properties have docks and lake access.

Prices vary widely on east side properties, Fillios said. For example, you can buy a lot in a gated 17-lot subdivision in Arrow Point with 80 feet of waterfront, with water and sewer, for $157,000. Or a 3,500-square-foot home on 10 acres with a private road and 30-by-40-foot shop for $639,900, just 1/2 mile west of Highway 97. Or maybe you're looking for a waterfront cabin, with 110-foot deep waterfront, for $229,000. If it's a ranch you want, how about one on 800 acres for $7.9 million?

Fillios has been in real estate for 8.5 years, and with Tomlinson Sotheby's for 3.5 years. He and his family moved to Coeur d'Alene in 2000. He has a background in lending, appraising and credit reporting, which allows him to better serve his clients. His wife, Linda, is also a Realtor, and a Certified Residential Appraiser with more than 35 years experience.

So, if you long to watch the sun set over the lake from your front porch, call Chris Fillios at (208) 818-5583 to find out more about the slow pace of life on the east side of the lake.

"The east side of the lake has a lot to offer."

If there's a neighborhood that you'd like to see featured in this series, please contact Beth Hanggeli at (208) 659-8367 or bhanggeli@cdapress.com.