Call of North Idaho

Like it or not, Coeur d’Alene is becoming an increasingly popular place to move to.

This resort town with strong small businesses and a charming downtown vibe surrounded in nature is not only desirable for its amenities but as a refuge and a safe haven for those whose cities are still in lockdown.

While there are many reasons to move to the Heart of the Awl, people have their own specific reasons for being drawn to North Idaho.

Jordan Gibson, a professional photographer in Los Angeles, is considering relocating to North Idaho.

“Honestly, Los Angeles is a shell of its former self,” Gibson said with a somber look. “It’s just not the same city I moved to five years ago. The industry has taken a massive hit and with current lockdowns and social restrictions there’s just no work.”

Gibson conveys bewilderment at the quality of life in Los Angeles since the coronavirus first shut down the city last March.

“It’s just not even the same place anymore. Homelessness has gone up. The city is dirtier than I’ve ever seen it. And people are depressed because they’re stuck indoors and nothing’s open," he said. "I have friends in Coeur d'Alene who keep telling me I should move up there. I want to be someplace where businesses are open and there’s opportunity for work.”

According to the 2020 U.S. Migration report, Idaho is number one on the list of Top Inbound States at 70%, with Arizona following at 64%. Idaho has made the top 10 every year since 2015 and continues to be one of the most desirable states for newcomers.

Job loss and moving back home with family are other factors for migrating to the Gem State in 2021.

Alaria Martinez, a student at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, is considering moving back in with her folks for a while and potentially transferring to North Idaho College.

“It’s been a crazy year for everyone but students especially have had to adjust to online learning when that might not be their strong suit,” Martinez said. “I know I am much more focused in the classroom when I’m able to be physically surrounded by students and a professor. That’s the college experience I thought I was going to get.”

Like so many students affected by the pandemic, Martinez is questioning whether her investment is still worth it.

“My family’s in Idaho so it just makes sense for me to go back home for a while and I might pick up studies again during the fall semester," she said. "For now I want to be somewhere where I can enjoy life without worrying about managing my time online. I love to get out in nature and go out to eat and Coeur d’Alene is one of the few places right now where both are possible.”

Jana Jack, a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Schneidmiller Realty, is a Pacific Northwest native and Coeur d’Alene transplant. She moved here from Maui with her husband last fall.

"I think people want to come here because it’s beautiful. It’s also inexpensive even if it is becoming increasingly less so," she said. "It’s a safe and affordable place to raise a family and hopefully live the way they want to.”

But it's getting more and more expensive to live here.

In Coeur d'Alene, there are only a handful of homes for sale for less than $350,000. One Sanders Beach area home sold for its full asking price, $785,000, in two days.

According to the Coeur d'Alene Multiple Listing Service, the median sale price of sold homes in January was $403,324 vs. $307,756 in 2020, an increase of 31.1%.

According to the Coeur d'Alene MLS January market report, in the last six months, 86 homes sold for under $300,000 and nearly 300 sold for more than $300,000. Twenty-five were in the $1 million to $2 million range.

The Coeur d'Alene Association of Realtors reported that 184 homes sold in Kootenai County in January, up 3.4% from January 2020. That might not seem like much, but it can be attributed to the lack of homes for sale.

According to the association, there were only 129 active residential listings in Kootenai County as of Feb. 10.

Jack said she and her husband moved to Coeur d'Alene from paradise "for the small town vibe and lake life. There are so many nice friendly people here too and we’re hopeful for future home ownership. Coming from Maui after four years we fell in love with the tourism scene and see how that can bring more foot traffic into amazing small businesses that are thriving here. There’s so much potential and hope you can feel it around you.”