The “Live Near the Fun” series of Neighborhood of the Week has taken us to downtown Coeur d’Alene, Athol (Silverwood and Farragut State Park) and near the shores of the Spokane River in Post Falls.

The series wouldn’t be complete without talking about Hayden, where the annual Hayden Days summer event was held last weekend. Festivities included a car show, a parade through downtown, and live entertainment and vendors at the McIntire Family Park, located at 8930 N. Government Way. The park is home to several events throughout the summer, including a concert series and outdoor movie screenings that continue through August.

The downtown stretch of Hayden still has that small-town feel along Government Way, even while the area (including the admittedly busier Highway 95 corridor) boasts a multitude of restaurants and activities. Triple Play Family Fun and Raptor Reef Indoor Waterpark, the Hayden Discount Cinemas, golf and nearby Hayden Lake access and public beach area at Honeysuckle Beach and boat launch. Head a little further northeast and you can hike around English Point.

As far as real estate goes, there’s definitely a clear distinction between Hayden and Hayden Lake. Obviously, being near the water means you’re going to be paying a lot more.

But Hayden prices in town are comparable to Coeur d’Alene and Dalton Gardens. West of Highway 95, you aren’t going to find much difference in price on the Hayden side of Prairie Avenue compared to the Coeur d’Alene side. As you head a little north, properties get a little more expensive based mostly on lot and home sizes. Between Atlas Road and Highway 95, the least expensive homes available currently range from around $290,000 to $315,000. Some larger active homes south of Atlas near Hayden Avenue range from $360,000 all the way up to an almost $460,000 home, but that one is touting almost 3,800 square feet.

A bit closer to the highway, around the area of the Hayden Walmart, you can find some active listings for a couple of smaller homes listed in the mid-$200,000s. In the neighborhoods south of Government Way near Finucane Park, there are currently three active listings with 3-4 bedrooms and 1,600-2,000 square feet all hovering around $330,000. Honeysuckle Beach from this area will take less than five minutes by car.

Of course, the closer you get to the lake and the Hayden Lake Country Club, prices begin to spike. Plenty of active listings here, starting in the high $300,000s, then prices get real high for the gated Forest Hills community. Three admittedly immaculate homes are listed there pushing into the high $800,000s.

Heading north, Rocking R Road has some nice listings right now in the $600,000s near Lacey Avenue. Keep going and the Stone Creek development near Buckles Road has brand spanking new homes going for around $700,000. The Forest Ridge development near English Point has active listings in the $800,000s. Even still, Hayden is filled with all sorts of different neighborhoods of varying ages and size of homes, and there are $200-$300,000 smaller homes listed all throughout this area.

As for lakefront… well, you know. It’s expensive. However, there are deals to be had on some smaller, older properties around the lake, including an 800-square-foot home for $360,000. There’s a lakeview home with 1,600 square feet listed just under $700,000 too, which, yes, is a lot of money, but consider some of the prices listed above that don’t have the same view. You can also buy some property near the lake and build your dream home (or hut, depending on your budget).

It’s all extremely varied, which is why we generally do Neighborhood of the Week rather than a Town of the Week.

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Let us know about more standout neighborhoods and developments that we may feature in an upcoming Neighborhood of the Week. Contact Tyler Wilson at twilson@cdapress.com.

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