Mike Drake-Realtor

The land price is the easy number.

Buyers see 20 acres listed at $450K and assume that’s the cost of getting to build a home. It almost never is.

In North Idaho, the additional infrastructure to make raw land buildable can easily run $80K to $150K — sometimes more, depending on the property. Wells, septic, power, access, permits.

Here is what most buyers miss

If you’re looking at land in Kootenai, Bonner, Shoshone, or Benewah and you want a real read on what the property can actually become — and what it’ll cost to get there — reach out.

Knowledge is leverage.

"There is nothing to do in North Idaho."

Yeah, okay.

Skiing and snowboarding in the winter.
Lake life all summer long.
Trails for days.
Fishing, hunting, and open space as far as you can see.

This is not a place people move to and regret it.
It is a place people move to and wonder why they waited so long.

If you have been thinking about making the move, reach out.
Happy to help you figure out if it makes sense.

📧 [email protected]
📞 (208) 819-4967

A quick North Idaho real estate history lesson.
In the 90's, Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls, Rathdrum, and Sandpoint were a fraction of the size they are now. Less traffic. Fewer people. And home prices that look almost made up by today's standards.
Here is what the market actually looked like back then:

Entry-level homes: $40K–$80K
Nice family homes: $70K–$120K
Acreage: often under $150K

And yes, the stories about someone picking up 10 acres for $60K are real. That was the going rate.
Wondering what your property would have sold for in the 90's versus what it is worth today? Reach out. Happy to run the numbers for you.
🏡 Mike Drake | eXp Realty | North Idaho
📞 (208) 819-4967
✉️ [email protected]

Happy Mother's Day to the moms in North Idaho and everywhere else today. The moms who keep the schedule straight, the fridge full, and the family steady. The ones who made the move so the kids could grow up here. The ones who turned acreage into a homestead and a house into the place everyone wants to come home to.
Whether you are a mom, a stepmom, a grandma, a foster mom, or the woman who showed up like one when it mattered, today is for you.
Hope you are getting a little rest, a good meal, and the kind of day you deserve.
How are you celebrating the moms in your life today?