Word Out About West's 'Best Small Town'

The mountain has 627 homes, with many more planned.

Lakeshore Mountain Properties is selling private land next to the ski area for $175,000 to $335,000 per lot for homes that must cost at least $500,000.

One drawback for the community is the lack of scheduled airline service. The closest commercial airport is in Spokane, some 90 miles away. Driving from Seattle to Sandpoint takes about six hours.

Local business leaders recently banded together to start air service, with McCall Aviation providing flights to Sandpoint from Boise and Seattle. Businessmen pledged to buy a certain number of tickets to persuade the airline to begin service using a nine-passenger plane.

Sandpoint is also serviced by Amtrak's Empire Builder.

Jeanne Jackson of the Sandpoint Assn. of Realtors said there are only 44 homes or condos on the market in the area. The average condo listing is $286,000 and the average home is $486,000, she said.

Lakefront property, the most expensive in the region, is expected to reach $5,000 per foot of shoreline this year. But if you factor out the recreation property, prices drop plenty, she said. The average house in town lists for $174,000, and condos can be had in town for $65,000.

That means Sandpoint so far has largely avoided the runaway housing costs that have priced low-wage workers out of the market in places like Vail.