JUNE NIBJ: Finding your way to home, sweet home

Home, sweet home.

For some, that means a home high in the mountains or deep in the forest. For others, home is next to a lake with the sound of gentle waves lapping against the shores. Still others want to be where the action is, bright lights, music drifting from a dance club a few blocks over.

Whether you’re looking for a place to hang your hat, either to rent or to purchase; or you’re looking to spruce up the place you’re already in, “homes” means many things to many people.

Coeur d’Alene, Sandpoint, and Bonners Ferry — which, respectively, anchor Kootenai, Bonner and Boundary counties — are all pursuing strategies to meet the persistent demand for affordable living in North Idaho.

Among those potential solutions in the Miracle on Britton neighborhood in Post Falls. Spearheaded by the Panhandle Affordable Housing Alliance, the Miracle on Britton is a fee-simple, shared-equity neighborhood built through a certified deed restriction management program.

Buying a home is no small feat, and involving a real estate agent in the process early on can mean the difference between signing closing papers and missing out on your dream home. 

Talking to an agent can give potential homebuyers practical information on what their budget can buy and how much they will need for a down payment. Agents can also help connect homebuyers with lenders — ones best suited to their particular situation and circumstances.

Homeowners-in-the-making can get a helping hand through programs such as Finally Home! Homebuyers gain knowledge, tools and education to make informed decisions and avoid potential pitfalls and, finally, a home.

New legislation on short-term rentals goes into effect starting this July, opening up destination areas in the state to the prospect of more short-term rentals.

And who is buying the region's homes?

Census Bureau estimates show those newcomers are coming primarily from a consistent group of states. California, Washington and Oregon account for the largest share of migrants into Idaho, with smaller but steady inflows from Utah, Texas and Arizona. In 2023 alone, more than 81,000 people moved to Idaho from other states, including roughly 17,000 from California and about 14,600 from Washington.

Those patterns did not change during the pandemic — they accelerated. Between 2019 and 2021, Idaho experienced some of the fastest population growth in its history, as remote work allowed more people to relocate and housing demand surged.

The bottom line? More people are finding their way home.

Caroline Lobsinger

NIBJ Editor