Neighborhood of the Week spends a good deal of space looking at the Sandpoint area thanks to the partnership we have with the Dover Bay Waterfront Community, which is located just a few miles from the city directly on Lake Pend Oreille.

But it’s been a while since we’ve looked around the rest of the community.

A tourist magnet in its own right, Sandpoint presents itself with quite an introduction heading north into town across the Long Bridge. Maybe the drive heading west into Coeur d’Alene on Interstate 90 across the Veterans Memorial Centennial Bridge beats it, but why start a competition? It’s all gorgeous North Idaho, man, and it’s all a part of why all those out-of-staters keep flooding into the area.

The downtown Sandpoint area offers plenty of specialty shops and restaurants in addition to the essential amenities, and outdoor public space is abundant, with the city beach and park area acting as the main attraction. The other big attraction, of course, is nearby Schweitzer Mountain Resort, which offers excellent skiing in the winter and numerous summertime activities as well.

Much like the Coeur d’Alene area, lakeview and lakeside living is still going to cost you a pretty penny in Sandpoint. But also like Coeur d’Alene, you can live close without spending a fortune.

New construction very close to the water exists in the form of the Maplewood Village, located off South Division Avenue, offering a range of home sizes and floor plans. Middle-tier availability here translates to about $340-$365,000 for three bedrooms and around 1,500 square feet.

Head more into town, north of Highway 2 and just east of Sandpoint Middle School and Sandpoint High School, and prices come down. A 1970s-built but recently updated five-bedroom home with more than 2,700 square feet is a visually appealing choice priced just under $320,000. A little north on Pine Street are two recent listings — a 1930s-era remodeled home with little under 2,000 square feet listed at $290,000, and a 1990-built home with 1,500 square feet at $280,000. The homes are on opposite sides of another Sandpoint public green space, Pine Street Park.

The overall picture of real estate in Sandpoint depends on where you look. The primary house hunting resources online, which includes Zillow.com, Realtor.com, and Trulia.com, mark the median listing price between $350,000 to $390,000, depending on the source. That’s a big swing, and listing price doesn’t tell the whole story, but that’s the information you learn when you don’t work directly with a knowledgeable real estate agent. (The folks at Neighborhood of the Week love Realtors, so reach out to us a little more often! It’s sort of like free advertising!)

Honestly though, if you’re interested in Sandpoint living and all the options available, the drive is definitely worth a day or more of exploration. Our family took a recent trip to Sandpoint for the first time in years (it was the first time for all my kids), and we found plenty of fun to have in between peeking at the housing market. There’s still a bit of summer left to pretend to be a tourist in your own backyard.

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Let us know about standout neighborhoods and developments to feature in an upcoming Neighborhood of the Week. Contact Tyler Wilson at [email protected]

Real Estate Agents, take advantage of Neighborhood of the Week by sending in your suggestions for featured areas, including sites outside the confines of Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls, Rathdrum and Hayden.