Kootenai, Shoshone housing prices continue to rise

Kootenai County's housing market is holding strong through the first two months of 2025.

According to the Coeur d'Alene Regional Realtors February report, the median single-family home price in Kootenai County was $549,620, a 10% increase over one year ago.

The number of homes sold through February totaled 318, a 31% hike from February 2024.

And available inventory rose 12% to 736 homes on the market compared to 656 last year. Houses were taking on average 112 days on the market to sell, down 2% from a year ago. 

"Those are very positive numbers," said Jared McFarland, real estate agent with Century 21 John Beutler and Associates.

He said the housing market in general is showing solid activity. On his listings, McFarland said, he is having showings and response is good, with offers and phone calls.

The nicer weather in February this year compared to last was likely a boost to the rise in sales, he said, adding there is also pent-up demand as buyers have been waiting on mortgage rates to drop.

With mortgage interest rates finally inching down and a presidential election settled, McFarland said the housing market is looking positive.

"I think everyone is feeling a little bit of an uptick in confidence," he said. "With more houses selling, I think that's going to carry us into the spring. Overall, the energy feels good, real estate wise."

Chad Oakland with Northwest Realty Group said the increase in median sales price of Kootenai County homes could be attributed to supply and demand, as inventory is limited early in the year.

He believes homeowners with low interest rates are still reluctant to sell when it means they would face much higher rates when buying another home.

"Where would they go?" he asked.

He said more homes will go up for sale in the coming months.

"Spring is always better," Oakland said.

In Shoshone County, the median home was $269,000 through February, an increase of 21%, Listings were nearly doubled over last year, 100, compared to 53 in February 2025, while homes sold through February totaled 21, down 4.5%. Houses were spending 122 days on the market on average, up slightly from a year ago.

Juli Zook, real estate agent with Silver Legacy Realty, said the market has been steady, with a typical slower winter and housing activity increasing as spring approaches.

Like McFarland, she said many buyers are waiting for mortgage interest rates to fall, and they are, slowly.

According to bankrate.com, the current average 30-year fixed mortgage interest rate was 6.66%; the national average 30-year refinance interest rate was 6.65% and the average 15-year refinance interest rate was 5.91%. Mortgage rates are expected to continue to ease down. 

"That's going to be a positive as well," she said.

Zook said she's seeing more people looking to relocate to the Silver Valley from other states. People don't mind driving a little farther, even over Fourth of July Pass, if it means a more affordable home. Smaller schools, medical care and proximity to the outdoor recreation like the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes and two ski resorts are draws, too.

"They love it so much they buy homes," Zook said.

The difference in median price compared to Kootenai County was nearly $300,000.

"Homes are more reasonable here in the Silver Valley than they are in Coeur d'Alene," she said.