Sanders Beach neighborhood a classic Coeur d'Alene option

In the Sanders Beach area of downtown Coeur d’Alene, history is an important attribute to every single property in the neighborhood.

“Sanders is highly desirable,” said Roni Young, a Realtor with Windermere — Coeur d’Alene. “There isn’t one home alike. They are all unique.”

Young represents a home in the area that was placed on its lot in 1945, but there are records of the home itself dating back to 1920. The neighborhood has an eclectic mix of original homes from that era, completely remodeled properties and even recently built homes that are replacing original properties.

“They all have their own stories,” said Realtor Leah Cafferty of Windermere. She represents a home that was owned by one of two sisters who built mirroring homes next to each other. The house next door has the same floor plan but inverted.

The variety of stories appeal to a wide spectrum of buyers, but many of the older homes especially appeal to those looking for “classic” elements — hardwood floors, individualized designs, mature tree growth, etc.

“Some people love the original charm and like to live in it as is, or they go in with a creative mind and have ideas to renovate,” Cafferty said.

Above all, location is what continues to make Sanders Beach a consistently popular choice for buyers. It’s close to downtown Coeur d’Alene but still feels secluded with a small-town charm.

The Sanders Beach neighborhood is generally considered to be the homes south of Sherman Avenue to the lakefront, between Eighth and 19th streets. There remains a section of the beach open for public access, and dock slips are available for lease at the nearby 11th Street Marina.

The neighborhood rests alongside Tubbs Hill, with easy access to the east side of Coeur d’Alene’s iconic recreational space. The Centennial Trail also runs through the neighborhood, connecting downtown to the gorgeous waterfront section along Coeur d’Alene Lake Drive.

“We get a lot of active outdoorsy people, it’s close to Tubbs Hill, it’s close to downtown, so you can ride your bike places,” Cafferty said.

Indeed, Sanders Beach is an ideal distance from downtown events, fireworks and recreation — close enough to walk or bike there, but far enough to avoid the ruckus if you choose. Sanders Beach does have its own famous event — the Polar Bear Plunge, held annually on New Year’s Day. Brave souls jump into the frigid lake water. It’s… not for everyone.

A price spectrum can be somewhat tricky to pin down. Home and lot sizes, age, add-ons (driveways, garages, etc.) and much more factor into pricing. As expected, prices tend to be higher the closer you get to the lake.

Of the current listings, prices range from $205,000 on a 1,400+ square-foot home closer to Sherman, to a $345,000 home a little closer to the lake with 2,200 square feet. Another available property is an almost 1,200-square-foot home three blocks up from the beach listed just under $300,000. Waterfront homes, when they become available, are listed much higher, obviously.

The 11th Street Marina was remodeled in 2014, and features newer amenities. The marina has its own association, which can be found at www.11thStreetMarina.com. You can find information on available slips under the Classifieds tab, with prices ranging from $29,900 to $90,000, depending on size and features. There was also a $95,000 slip listed on the real estate website, Zillow.com

Contact Roni Young of Windermere at (208) 661-6364 or email RoniYoung@windermere.com for more information on her listing and the Sanders Beach area.

Leah Cafferty of Windermere can be reached at (208) 818-8126 or RealtyByLeah@windermere.com for more information on her listing and the neighborhood.

Let us know about more standout neighborhoods and developments that we may feature in an upcoming Neighborhood of the Week. Contact Tyler Wilson at twilson@cdapress.com.

Real estate agents, take advantage of Neighborhood of the Week by sending in your suggestions for featured areas, including sites outside the normal confines of Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls and Hayden.