For those of us in the real estate industry, August and September seemed quite slow. But it’s a different kind of slow than a year ago. Last year was slow, with low inventory. This year, properties are slow to move, but there are a lot of them.
Continue readingOctober 2024 High Mountain Happenings
Ski Season Stoke
Payette Lakes Ski Club Ski Swap
Friday, Oct 18 – Sunday, Oct 20
Now is the time to try on and sort through your ski and snowboard gear because the PLSC Ski Swap is just around the corner. This is a great place to gear up kids of all ages, AND clean up your quiver by parting ways with your extra gear.
Friday, October 18th | 5pm -9pm | Gear Drop
Saturday, October 19th | 10am – 4pm | Shop
Sunday, October 20th | 10am – 2pm | Shop
Admission is $10 for early birds (Saturday 10 – 2) and $5 2 pm and later.
Broken Horn Brewing Brings the Stoke with Warren Miller’s Latest “75”
Warren Miller’s newest film “75” is debuting in McCall with three showings to choose from
Friday, October 25 | 6:00 PM
Saturday, October 26 | 3:00 PM
Saturday, October 26 | 6:00 PM
Grab a craft brew from Broken Horn, dinner with River Grill food trailer onsite, sit back and enjoy amazing footage!
Frights & Delights
Halloween Events You Don’t Want to Miss
Haunted Casino Night
Friday, October 25
McCall’s Northfork Lodge will be transformed into a haunted casino for this fun new event. Enjoy a live DJ and favorite casino games like Poker, Black Jack, Roulette and Craps. There will be a prize for best costume, but un-costumed guests are welcome, too!
Hilloween at Tamarack Resort
Saturday, October 26
A fun and active way to get into the Halloween spirit! Race up and down Discovery Hill to earn raffle tickets for a chance to win big prizes. Each lap earns a ticket, and wearing a Halloween costume doubles the tickets per lap. Random prize basket drawings will occur, and the participant with the most vertical for the day will win the grand prize, regardless of raffle tickets.
Witches, Wizards and Warlocks on the Water
Saturday, October 26
Halloween spirit meets outdoor adventure in this fun tradition that is open to all ages.
Anyone who can paddle their own non-motorized watercraft from Legacy to Rotary Park is welcome to don their witchiest gear (on top of sensible layers) and join this playful parade.
Donnelly Harvest Party
Sunday, October 27
Music, dancing, games and a $100 prize for best costume are just some of the reasons to head to the Donnelly Library from 5pm – 8 pm on Sunday, October 27. There’s also a prize for best family costume. Admission is $10/person or $50/family.
McCall Trunk or Treat
Thursday, October 31
It’s all about the kids at McCall’s Annual Truck or Treat celebration at Alpine Village from 4 pm – 6 pm.
Hosted by McCall Parks and Rec and the Police Department, this is a safe and fun way for kids to experience Halloween. (Insider tip: It’s also super fun to host a trunk if you’re too old for trick or treating).
Halloween Trick or Treating in Cascade
Thursday, October 31
The whole community gets in on the Halloween action in Cascade, from “lick or treat” at Valley Pet Resort to “fishing for candy” at Tackle Toms, kids are invited to stop by local businesses for special treats before the main event, the 5 pm Trunk or Treat in the D9 parking lot.
September Market Insights
The big news in the real estate world is that it looks like the Federal Reserve is getting ready to lower interest rates soon. Right now, mortgage rates are hovering around 6.5% to nearly 7%, which has been keeping some buyers on the sidelines. But with the anticipated rate cuts, things could start to shift. Even a small drop in rates might make monthly payments more affordable, which could encourage more people to jump into the market.
In McCall, where homes are staying on the market longer (about 116 days on average), the lower rates could help get things moving again. Buyers will have more choices, which could give them a little more negotiating power.
The combination of more available homes and better mortgage rates could bring more activity this fall. Just keep in mind that prices might tick up as competition heats up.
In a changing market like this, having a realtor with deep local knowledge can help buyers find the best value available and help sellers price their homes for quick and profitable sales. Feel free to give me a call!
September 2024 High Mountain Happenings
Fishing & Hunting Outlook
Whether your goal is to hook into a perfect rainbow, land a steelhead or just wet a line and enjoy some quiet time outdoors, there’s no end to the fishing opportunities in our area this time of year.
For those who prefer catching over fishing, here are some handy links from Idaho Fish & Game:
Rainbow Trout Stocking Schedule
For hunters, rifle season is right around the corner, and archery season is already open. After a rough 2022, IDFG says deer and elk hunters have reasons to be optimistic this year. Learn More
Don’t Let Wildfires Ruin Your Wild Adventures!
Our local area is in the thick of the 2024 fire season, with several fires putting up smoke plumes that can be seen from Valley County and Meadows Valley.
We’ve put together a few links to help you check conditions before you head into the woods.
Idaho Wildfire Overview: Inciweb
Use the interactive map on this site to zoom in to a specific area. Click on an icon for quick stats on each fire and scroll down on the page for a more detailed description.
West Mountain Complex: Facebook Page
USFS Fire managers have created a Facebook page specifically for the four largest fires burning in our area. You can find multiple updates per day on the Boulder Fire (immediately SW of Cascade) and the Snag, Dollar and Goat fires, which are burning east of Cascade.
Valley County Sheriffs Office Facebook Page
This page is a great place to find all the latest info on any road closures and evacuations that are underway in Valley County.
Mark Your Calendar
Signature Fall Events:
McCall Chamber Business Expo
Thursday, September 19
4 PM – 7 PM
Top of Tamarack | Bike, Run, Hike for Mental Health
Saturday, September 28
8 AM
McPaws Oktoberfest at Brundage Mountain
Saturday, October 5
Noon – 6 PM
August Market Insights
We’re (finally) seeing a boost in new listings…but the question is…are buyers buying and what can potential sellers learn from the trends we’re spotting this summer?
Continue readingAugust 2024 High Mountain Happenings
Is it August already? In spite of the heat and smoky skies, summer seems to be flying by. This month, we’ll point you toward some fun events that show off our communities’ “Local Flavor” in more ways than one!
Continue readingJuly Market Insights
As you relax and recreate around our beautiful mountain lakes, it’s hard not to notice the waterfront homes around the edges. Not surprisingly, Payette Lake and Lake Cascade have been recognized as two of the “10 Best Lakes in Idaho to Live On” and a new listing for a “legacy lakefront compound” on Payette Lake ranks as one of the most expensive properties for sale in the entire state. We thought it was a good time to track some trends on our area’s lakefront listings to see whether they’re truly out of reach…
Keep in mind, there’s not a lot of inventory moving on either of these lakes. Only three homes were sold on Payette Lake in 2021 and 2022, with 5-6 sales closing on Cascade Lake in recent years. These stats are for single family homes, no condo sales are included.
July 2024 High Mountain Happenings
McCall’s music scene spans all tastes, check out these classic summer festivals, ongoing concert series, and vibrant venues helping lay down the soundtrack to Summer 2024.
Continue readingJune 2024 Market Snapshot
We’re seeing some signs of life return to the local real estate market as we head into summer listing season. Overall sales are still sluggish compared to 2 years ago, but we are seeing an upswing compared to last year.
Continue readingJUNE 2024 High Mountain Happenings
RESORT ROUNDUP
Golf at Jug Mountain Ranch: Courtesy McCall Chamber of Commerce
There’s so much going on at our local resorts that we couldn’t possibly cover all of it here…but we will try to share the major highlights…some unexpected offerings…and point you in the right direction to find more information as your plans take shape throughout the summer:
TAMARACK RESORT
The main event at Tamarack this summer is the rebirth of the Osprey Meadows Golf Course. Nine holes are already open for play and the full 18 hole course is expected to be open by July. Renovations on the course, which has sat idle since 2015, include better playability and a 19th Gamblers Hole.
Tamarack is also opening four new mountain bike trails this summer. New downhill trails add to the appeal of the lift-served bike park and a new beginner trail caters to those who want a slower-paced adventure. Tamarack has transformed its concert venue into a grass amphitheater, where it will host its summer concert series on Saturday afternoons.
Other summer highlights include Scenic Chairlift rides, Zipline Tours, Guided Rafting Trips, and all kinds of watersports based out of the resort’s marina on Cascade Lake.
Don’t overlook Tamarack’s event calendar. Tamarack hosts multiple events each week, ranging from summer classics like live music and mountain bike competitions to unexpected offerings like this weekend’s Triple Crown Archery Competition and an Astrophotography Workshop in August.
JUG MOUNTAIN RANCH
Jug Mountain Ranch is rolling out the welcome mat for a different type of golfer with the launch of is brand new six-hole Par 3 course, Jug Junior. The shorter course appeals to beginners, golfers who want to work on their short game, or anyone who wants to include some golf in a day packed with multiple activities.
We love Jug’s weekend events like the “Nine and Dine’ on Wednesdays, (which offers nine holes of golf with a cart and dinner at the clubhouse for just $49/person), and Thursday Scrambles that just so happen to end right when Prime Rib night begins.
For those who’d rather hit the trails than the links, Jug Mountain’s one-of-a-kind mountain bike shuttle service kicks off this weekend. It runs Saturdays and Sunday from 10 am to 1 pm through September…reservations are required.
BRUNDAGE MOUNTAIN RESORT
Brundage Mountain is set to kick off its summer season on Friday, June 14 with scenic chairlift rides, lift-served mountain biking, a new disc golf course, and free yoga practice twice a week.
Early season (June) operations run Fridays through Sundays, the chairlift and restaurant are open Wednesdays through Sundays (with Bonus Days the week of July 4) for most of the summer. Summer Operating Hours
Music lovers will want to mark their calendars for the Fourth of July Music Fest, for the free Friday “TGIF” Concert Series, and for a new offering, Saturday sounds at Smoky’s Bar and Grill (each Saturday from 1-3 pm). Smoky’s is also celebrating the return of its Sunday Brunch Buffet just in time for Father’s Day on June 16.
One of our favorite things to do at Brundage is take a scenic chairlift ride to the summit, then hike a short half-mile in either direction to take in the spectacular views from the Lookout Trail or the Hidden Valley Overlook trail.
Aspiring Mountain Bikers have some fresh options to build their skills this summer at Brundage. The Mountain Sports School is now offering a series of affordable mountain bike clinics in addition to its daily private and semi-private lessons.
That means mountain bikers of ALL TYPES can build the skills they need to ride from the summit of Brundage to Bear Basin via Rock Garden, Lakeview Vista, and the new B2BB trail. This new route, which some are calling “the best 12 miles of singletrack in McCall” is a cool combo of varied terrain, incredible views and fun flow sections.
MEADOWCREEK GOLF RESORT
Always the first course to open in the area each season, MeadowCreek Golf Resort offers a few advantages in exchange for the 22 minute drive from McCall. Last minute tee times are easier to grab at MeadowCreek, and the resort has been upping its game when it comes to events the whole family will enjoy. Some of this summer’s golf clinics are targeted specifically to women and kids. Be sure to check the event calendar for fun events like a Father’s Day BBQ, a Fishing & Golf Derby on June 23, Fourth of July Fireworks and live music events throughout the summer.
FOR THE KIDS
Adventurous parents tend to include their kids in their favorite activities, but sometimes, catering specifically to the children reaps benefits for everyone in the family Here are some events “just for the kids”, and some kid-approved itineraries for the whole family!
Youth Mountain Bike Clinics from Wild Rockies Racing
Starting June 11
If your child (6+) can ride a bike on asphalt and gravel, but yearns to hit more interesting trails, there are three Wild Rockies MTB clinics that can help take them to the next level. The first session starts June 11 at Jug Mountain Ranch. There are also two sessions for intermediate youth riders 8+. Learn more.
Kaleidoscope – A Hands on Celebration of Art for Children
Saturday, June 22, 10 am – 2 pm
This fun outdoor arts festival features a variety of booths, which in past years have included clay-building, tie-dying, watercolor, cardboard castle, face painting, origami, woodworking, music, theatre play, planting, and much more. This free event is brought to you by the McCall Arts & Humanities Council. Learn more.
Break Dance Summer Camp
June 24 – 28 – McCall Community Center
Kids 5-12 have a chance to learn a unique form of dance at this fun, active and creative camp. Students will learn to arm ripple, body wave, top rock, strut & worm as they learn, rehearse and perform the empowering story of breakdance in America. Learn more.