Oh, what a lucky man: Pat Acuff reflects on 56 years in real estate and life in Cd'A

COEUR d’ALENE — After more than half a century of being involved in real estate, Pat Acuff is done.

“I just felt it was time. Fifty-six years, that’s forever,” he said, smiling.

One thing is certain: He has no regrets.

“I’ve always been extremely lucky, starting with being born and raised in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho," Acuff said.

When the 78-year-old let his real estate license expire March 31, it marked the end of a career that dates back to 1967, when he went to work for Acuff Realty, owned by his father, Joe Acuff.

Pat Acuff, a fourth-generation Idahoan, survived decades of ups and downs in real estate. He watched prices rise and fall, saw companies come and go, and witnessed his hometown develop in ways he wasn't wild about.

“I don’t like change much. I guess I'm old-fashioned," Acuff said.

He was there when homes were selling for around $15,000 in the 1970s and shot up to the $40,000 range in the 1980s.

He was there when it was tough to sell a home in Coeur d’Alene in the late ‘70s and when there weren’t enough houses to sell in the '90s.

He made money, sure. But more important to Pat Acuff, he made friends.

Acuff played on the same softball team for 17 years, and said he and about 25 members of the Coeur d’Alene High School Class of '63 still meet once a month for Saturday breakfast.

“I’ve been fortunate to have lots of good friends,” he said.

He counts himself blessed. He doesn't speak of his many achievements or hundreds of real estate transactions, but speaks more about his wife, Heidi, and the musical career of their son, Colby Acuff.

When Pat was growing up, the Acuff family lived on Lakeside Avenue for a time, then moved to 16th and Front Street before settling in Fernan Lake Village, where Pat and Heidi still live today.

He recalled swimming at Sanders Beach in his youth, diving off docks before they were banned, and driving around downtown Coeur d'Alene with friends, for the most part staying out of trouble.

“Growing up here was pretty special,” he said.

Joe Acuff opened Acuff Realty in an 800-square-foot office in July 1955 at 11th and Sherman Avenue. Joe's wife, Lucille, was the secretary; Mac McEnroe was the salesman; and 10-year-old Pat was the janitor, sweeping floors, emptying trash baskets and cleaning ashtrays.

Pat loved it. He was fascinated by the office atmosphere and knew what he wanted to do for a career.

He earned his real estate and marketing degree from the University of Idaho and, at age 22, went to work for his father. Then, Acuff Realty had six agents and two appraisers.

He recalled that in the '60s, Coeur d’Alene’s population was about 15,000 to 20,000. Homes sold in the $10,000 to $15,000 range. Agents earned a few hundred bucks a sale.

“Not quite like today,” Acuff said.

He bought his father’s business in 1980 — just before the recession of 1981 and 1982, and interest rates rose to 20%. Mining and lumber industries were on the decline.

St. Helens blew May 18, 1980, sending ash over Coeur d’Alene, and causing potential home buyers to reconsider.

“People were not buying,” Acuff said. “You couldn’t sell anything unless they absolutely had to move.”

While real estate offices closed, Acuff Realty held on, barely, said Pat.

In 1987 Acuff Realty did a merger buyout of Northwest Real Estate and formed a new company, Acuff Northwest.

"This proved to be the answer to coming out of a very long recession," Acuff said.

In 1990, Acuff bought the neighboring property to his office and completed a major remodel of two older buildings to a modern office with 20 full-time agents.

The '90s were the best of times.

Acuff Northwest sales went from $3 million a year to more than $27 million. Acuff focused on commercial property and let the agents handle home sales.

"We had a lot of fun,” Acuff said. “It was just a blast, and we made pretty good money."

In 1993, three-quarters of the business were sold to three agents who worked for the company. Acuff kept a quarter.

In 1999, the company moved to a building at U.S. 95 and Dalton Avenue. It changed a couple of partners and increased to 40 agents. Sales climbed to $40 million.

"The company broke even on all those sales, so it was decided to sell," Acuff said.

In 2001, it was sold to John Beutler Century 21.

Acuff didn’t so much miss the work as much as being part of it.

“That’s the hardest thing to overcome, being out of the loop,” he said.

Semi-retired, Acuff maintained his real estate license and spent the last seven years with Northwest Realty. He had about $7 million in property sales.

“That’s not very much in this market,” he said.

Acuff attributed five decades of success to working with good people and integrity.

“My dad had a lot of integrity and he tried to teach me that,” he said. "I tried to be honorable and honest. If we made a mistake, we paid for it.”

Acuff loved the freedom that came with real estate. It allowed him to pursue his hobbies, including golf, boating, hunting, art and snowmobiling.

He takes pride in knowing he took time to smell the roses and that he was active in the community.

He was co-founder of Coeur d’Alene Junior Tackle Football; past chair of the Junior Miss Pageant; co-founder of United for a Better Coeur d'Alene; past president of the Coeur d’Alene Jaycees; past chair of the Fernan Lake Village Planning and Zoning Commission; served on Fernan's City Council from 1993 to 2000 and was the town's mayor from 2001 to 2007.

While he loved real estate, he didn't let it rule his life.

"I just wasn't there every day pounding, and I’m glad I did not do that," he said. "I never wanted to make the last nickel. It just had to be enough. That was my goal."

In looking at today's housing market, Acuff said prices can’t continue their upward spiral.

“I’m a pro-growther, but I’m not pro-growth with what we’re doing. It’s way too much," he said. "If you try to stop it, prices will go up even further. That’s not a remedy in my mind.”

“I don’t know what the answer is,” Acuff said.

He does know that he loves Coeur d'Alene, including this year's seemingly endless winter.

“There’s nothing prettier than a brand new, fresh snowfall,” he said.