If you lived there: Newport, Wash.

NEWPORT, Wash. — In all my 35 years living in the Inland Northwest, I’ve never been to Newport, Wash. Until last week.

Located about an hour’s drive north of Coeur d’Alene, Newport sits on the Washington-Idaho border where Washington’s Highway 2 and Idaho’s Highway 41 converge. The gorgeous Pend Oreille River flows on the edge of town, and the entire area is flanked by lush forest areas.

My wife and I attended a wedding near Newport, and we stayed in an Airbnb home in town. The description labeled the home as a “Craftsman Charmer,” which in Airbnb terminology means “small,” but the house was, admittedly, quite charming.

Anyway, the wedding venue was buried in the woods and the actual location of the ceremony had a picturesque view of the Pend Oreille River. If you’re looking for a quintessential North Idaho wedding spot, then it’s definitely an area to consider.

Admittedly, the town of Newport (population 2,100-ish) doesn’t have much beyond the river, trees and mountain views, but for folks tired of the tourist onslaught in our area, there’s definitely an appeal. All the essential amenities are there, including grocery stores and a few restaurants. It’s an easy drive to Sandpoint or back to the Spokane-Coeur d’Alene corridor if you need more civilization.

With isolation from a traditional metropolitan job market, cost of living in Newport remains low. The available homes in town are some of the best deals we’ve ever covered in Neighborhood of the Week, though the current options skew more to that “charmer” style.

For example, there’s a two-bedroom, one-bathroom home in town with about 750 square feet priced at $156,000. Another 800 square foot home built in 1950 comes in at $116,500. On the higher end, a four-bedroom, one-bathroom home with just under 1,700 square feet is priced at $156,000. There are also a couple of action listings in the low $100,000s.

Looking to spread out? A newish development located about three miles out of town offers several lot options to build on, including a few as big as 3.5 to 5 acres in size. The development is called The Overlook, and don’t worry, my research confirms it has nothing to do with The Overlook Hotel. Lot listings online range from $50,000 to $80,000, and the development touts flexible CC&Rs.

You’ll see plenty of signs for other acreage offerings on the drive to and from Newport. You’ll also apparently see a lot of people riding four-wheelers on trails along the side of the road. Regardless, if you’re looking to build in the woods, you’ve got options in the area.

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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.