REAL Market Update - Brought to you by Jackie Suarez, Associate Broker
What is the current real estate market climate in North Idaho?
An early winter blast had a chilling effect on home sales in Bonner and Boundary Counties last month, with transactions cooling by 15% over the past 30 days. But don’t let that frost fool you—median home prices have actually warmed up, rising 13%. Late-season waterfront sales helped keep the price thermometer climbing even as the broader market settled into icier conditions.
From a satellite view, 2025 sales volume year-to-date is up 5% compared to 2024. The median sold price across both counties currently sits at $560,000—unchanged from last year. The notable shift? Homes are taking, on average, 79 days longer to sell. Translation: buyers are proceeding with caution, sellers are showing patience, pricing remains steady, and the market feels well balanced. And with 57% of buyers using financing, lending sources are still making it rain.
The 2025 land market remains on solid ground, with sales volume, average sales price, and days on market all tracking within 2% of 2024 figures. Year-to-date, 67% of land buyers brought green to the closing table—proof that confidence in dirt still runs deep.
Up on Schweitzer Mountain, while winter has been slow to fully roll in, the resort market is heating up fast. Residential sales for 2025 have already outpaced 2024 by a striking 47%. Current inventory ranges from a $340,000, 320-square-foot studio to a $6.5 million ski-in, ski-out chalet. And if you want the inside scoop on the available Evolution Condominium, give me a call—this opportunity will blow your socks off.
Thinking about buying or selling?
Winter tends to separate the fair-weather shoppers from the serious contenders. Motivated sellers stay in the market, and committed buyers are willing to see how properties weather the season. That combination can create a unique window of opportunity in our real estate climate.
3 Forecast-Proof Tips for Navigating This Market:
- Get local guidance. Work with full-time real estate professionals who know the terrain, the trends, and the microclimates of this market.
- Sellers – Presentation matters. Know your competition and be ready to negotiate. Sellers with too much “blue sky” in their pricing expectations may need a course correction.
- Buyers – Stay grounded—financially and literally. Have a lender committed to you, inspect thoroughly, and don’t slip on any hidden issues.
*Data based on Selkirk MLS effective date 12/18/2025
