Neighborhood cold cases — Dalton Gardens

When snow falls on a red hot real estate market, it creates something we here at Neighborhood of the Week like to call Neighborhood Cold Cases.

Pause article to play the Neighborhood Cold Case theme song.

Now for a little explanation:

While January is often one of the quietest months for real estate activity, an in-demand, nationally recognized market like North Idaho doesn’t stop for a snowstorm or two. People seem to keep moving here, regardless of whether we have the housing inventory to accommodate them.

Normally, Neighborhood of the Week looks at developments with availability. But what about all those neighborhoods that never seem to offer much for sale? Without space for new construction, existing residents need to leave in order for new people to move in. Well, if where they live is perfect, why would they ever want to leave?

Those idyllic, low-activity locales are Neighborhood Cold Cases. It’s a good thing! Unless, of course, you really want to move there…

Case File No. 2: Dalton Gardens

Maybe an obvious pick, but a worthy addition to the case files nonetheless. Despite the explosion of growth that surrounds Dalton Gardens, the community has managed to maintain its distinct and charming sense of character.

Since it’s surrounded by Coeur d’Alene, Hayden and a mountain in all directions, Dalton Gardens can only really “evolve within itself.” That’s a quote from a Neighborhood of the Week story from 2018, which noted how the city’s policies and makeup helped to maintain a small-town feel. Spacious lots and a purposeful lack of businesses within city limits helps to create a rural vibe, even with traffic-jammed stretches of busy Coeur d’Alene and Hayden just a couple blocks away.

With few available lots, much of the change seen in Dalton are remodels and expansions of existing properties. With an abundance of mature trees and plenty of space between neighbors, it’s a welcome “trip back in time in the best sense of the phrase,” at least according to an insightful Press writer back in 2018.

With a quiet lifestyle close to all the bustling amenities of its surrounding communities, Dalton Gardens remains a highly sought-after residential destination. If only there was anything for sale…

At the moment, I’m spotting just two available options. One is a three-bedroom, 2,000-plus-square-foot-home sitting on more than an acre of land priced at just under $810,000.

The other option doesn’t even come with a house! We’re talking a two-plus acre lot with gorgeous views of Canfield Mountain (most properties in Dalton can boast this). It’s basically one of the last places you can build in Dalton, and it’ll set you back $585,000.

Looking at recent sales and… wow, there’s really not much to talk about, at least according to the “recently sold” tool on Realtor.com. Two homes sold in September 2021 — one was a four-bedroom, almost 3,000-square-foot-home and the other a three-bedroom 2,300-square-foot-property. Another lot moved in October. Zillow.com, meanwhile, reports a bit more activity, but those date back to much earlier.

Case verdict: A snow-filled COLD CASE (Translation: An awesome place to live, if you can manage to get in there).

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Let us know about the standout neighborhoods around North Idaho you want to see featured in Neighborhood of the Week. Realtors! Reach out to us with updates on new developments and established neighborhoods in Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls, Hayden, Rathdrum and beyond. Contact Tyler Wilson at twilson@cdapress.com.