Post Falls

Central Post Falls is a North Idaho neighborhood conveniently located on Interstate 90 between Coeur d'Alene and Spokane. "It has easy access to everything that Coeur d'Alene, Spokane and North Idaho offer, yet it is residential and has a private feel," says Becky Jo Randles, a salesperson with Coldwell Banker Schneidmiller Realty who has worked in the area for over 20 years. "Post Falls is a fast-growing area, but you're in the middle. You can quickly get on the interstate and head to Coeur d'Alene or west to Spokane for shopping and theater." The neighborhood is a suburban community in the heart of Post Falls, a city that's about 10 miles from Coeur d'Alene and 25 miles from Spokane. Buyers who make their home in Central Post Falls have easy access to the natural recreation and city shopping of the larger communities around them. Central Post Falls has several parks within the neighborhood that add outdoor fun to everyday life. White Pine Park is a 5-acre green space with basketball and volleyball courts, horseshoe pits and tennis courts. The park also has a playground for children and a covered picnic shelter. Chase Sports Field Complex has a softball field, a Little League baseball field and a soccer field. This area also has a playground and a half-mile walking trail. Q'emiln Park is just south of the neighborhood on the Spokane River. The 78.5-acre park has a swimming area, boat launch and rock-climbing wall. Coeur d'Alene has several popular parks about 10 miles east of the neighborhood. Residents can hike the scenic Tubbs Hill before visiting one of the public beaches to cool off in the waters of Lake Coeur d'Alene. The White House Grill is a popular restaurant in Post Falls, just south of the neighborhood, it's Greek columned-facade indicating the Mediterranean flavors on the menu inside. The grill also serves standard favorites like burgers and salads. Birdie's Pie Shop on Spokane Street is a small bakery serving sweet and savory pies including apple, key lime and chicken pot pie. Groceries are available at multiple nearby stores like Super 1 Foods or Yoke's Fresh Market, a regional chain focusing on organic and natural foods. The Walmart on Mullan Avenue offers a spot for more household items. As residents head west towards Spokane, they'll find several more shopping centers, including Spokane Valley Mall, home to stores like JCPenney and Macy's. Central Post Falls has a wide range of housing options for buyers. "You'll find a mix of existing homes with mature landscaping and newer homes. What you're also finding now in Post Falls is modern designs are being built," Randles says. Most homes in the neighborhood are new traditional or contemporary Craftsman styles with spacious front porches and large built-in garages. There are a few ranch-style homes throughout the community as well. The neighborhood's oldest homes are from the 1940s, while the 1970s to the 1990s saw the most growth in the area. The Montrose subdivision on the neighborhood's west side features 21st-century homes. Tall trees line the streets, adding natural scenery to the area. Many parts of the neighborhood don't have sidewalks, but the wide, quiet residential streets make it easy to stroll through the community. Homes built prior to 2000 typically cost between $350,000 and $500,000, while 21st-century houses can cost between $400,000 and $750,000. Students in Central Post Falls might attend Seltice Elementary School and River City Middle School, each rated a B-minus by Niche. Post Falls High School receives a B rating and serves approximately 1,500 students. The school offers dual credit courses that allow students to earn college credit in high school. Clubs at the school include a ski and snowboard club, needlework, robotics and horticulture. Interstate 90 is just south of the neighborhood, offering a route 10 miles east to Coeur d'Alene or 25 miles west to Spokane. The B route of the Citylink bus system also passes through the neighborhood, stopping on Spokane Street, Poleline Avenue, and Idaho Road. The bus takes riders east to the transit hub in Coeur d'Alene. Northwest Specialty Hospital is the closest medical center, just southeast of the neighborhood on Mullan Avenue. The closest airport is Spokane International Airport, about 30 miles away.

With access to the Spokane River and large public parks, Milltown is a popular neighborhood for homebuyers interested in outdoor activity. “It kind of speaks for itself when you see it. There’s hiking and biking and the water access,” says Ken Dodge, a real estate agent with Prime Real Estate Group who has sold several homes in the area. “There’s a park called Q’emiln Park near there, and it has a boat launch and public beach. There are hiking trails by the Post Falls dam.” Milltown is in the suburban city of Post Falls, about 10 miles west of Coeur d’Alene. With the Spokane River to the south and Interstate 90 to the north, residents benefit from easy access to recreation and transportation. Q’emiln Park (pronounced “ka-mee-lin”) is just west of the neighborhood on the south banks of the Spokane River. The 78.5-acre park is one of the only public swimming areas in Post Falls and also has picnic areas and a boat launch. Falls Park on the north bank has hiking trails and scenic views of the dams on the Spokane River. The park also has a small fishing pond where children and beginners can cast a line. Black Bay Park is a 56-acre natural area within the neighborhood with hiking and biking trails, basketball courts and tennis courts. The trails connect to the North Idaho Centennial Trail, a 23-mile trail stretching from the Washington state line east to Coeur d’Alene. Waterfront homes in the neighborhood often have private docks or boat slips that give residents easy access to water activities. Residents with boats but no water access can dock their boats at Templin's Marina or the River's Edge Marina nearby. Homes in Milltown come in a few different styles. “It’s mainly Craftsman and some cottage houses. There are some high-dollar spec homes that are different, but mostly Craftsman and cottage,” says Dodge. The waterfront houses in the neighborhood are usually the most unique, often in contemporary or log cabin styles. Some ranch-style and split-level homes are available in the area as well. The neighborhood streets tend to be suburban, with little room between the homes and mature trees towering above the sidewalks. Most houses in the neighborhood cost between $350,000 and $650,000. Homes closer to the water can cost between $1 million and $2 million. Milltown residents have several popular restaurants around the neighborhood offering a variety of cuisines. “The White House Grill is a mainstay of Post Falls. It’s been here for a really long time,” says Dodge. With Greek columns on the façade, The White House Grill is a Mediterranean restaurant that also serves standard American fare. The Old European is a breakfast and lunch spot on Schneidmiller Avenue, serving made-from-scratch meals like buckwheat pancakes and goulash. Groceries are available at Yoke’s Fresh Market on Seltice Way, a regional chain focusing on local foods. There is also a Walmart nearby on Mullan Avenue. Students in Milltown might attend Ponderosa Elementary School, rated a B-minus by Niche and located on the neighborhood’s west side. Post Falls Middle School and Post Falls High School are each north of the neighborhood and receive B ratings. The high school has approximately 1,500 students and offers multiple clubs, including robotics, ceramics, and ski and snowboard clubs. Interstate 90 is just north of the neighborhood, making it easy for residents to make the 10-mile drive east to Coeur d’Alene or the 25-mile drive west to Spokane. Public transit is available with the B route of the Citylink bus system, which has stops on Seltice Way and 3rd Avenue. The bus takes riders north through Post Falls and east to Coeur d’Alene. Northwest Specialty Hospital is the closest hospital to the neighborhood, just north of I-90.

With sizable suburban lots that have room for activity, North Prairie is an ideal neighborhood for homebuyers who want to mix city life with outdoor recreation. “I think it’s great if you’re looking for a little elbow room and certainly some shop lots which are very popular here in north Idaho,” says Deb Saunders, a real estate salesperson with Coldwell Banker Schneidmiller Realty who has sold several homes in North Prairie. “We’re a community of RVs, boats, trailers and toys to enjoy the natural resources.” North Prairie is in the northern section of Post Falls and is about 10 miles from Coeur d’Alene. The neighborhood has several subdivisions, ranging from modest properties to quarter-acre lots with shops to half-acre lots with plenty of room. Several parks in the neighborhood offer plenty of room for recreation. Syringa Park is a 7-acre green space with a playground and splash pad for kids. The park also has basketball and volleyball courts and walking trails. Park in the Meadows has a pickleball court in addition to a basketball court. The park also has a playground and a trail system with multiple loops. Golfers can tee off at The Club at Prairie Falls, a par-69 golf course that offers daily rates and season passes. The course also has six golf simulators for those not ready to take their game to the course. About 5.5 miles northwest of the neighborhood, residents can enjoy time on the water at Hauser Lake. A park on the lake’s southern shore has a dedicated swimming area and a boat launch for a day of paddling or motorboating on the lake. Most homes in North Prairie have been built since 2000. The few homes from the 20th century include ranch-style and split-level houses. Buyers will find plenty of new traditional and contemporary Craftsman houses in the neighborhood, often with wooden beams on the exterior. Built-in garages are common, and most subdivisions have sidewalks that offer walkability through the community. Although the neighborhood is suburban, most properties are large enough for a shed or workshop in the backyard. The Meadows subdivision features the largest properties in the area, with mature trees and tall pines lining the streets. Houses under 2,500 square feet typically cost between $400,000 and $700,000. Larger homes in the neighborhood can cost between $600,000 and $1.2 million. North Prairie has little commercial activity, but some businesses have moved in. “The addition of the new restaurant, hotel and shops at the golf course has been a nice addition to the community. They have the option there for events and 16 hotel rooms. It’s nice because there aren’t really any restaurants in the neighborhood,” says Saunders. Iron, Wood & Ice is the restaurant at the Club at Prairie Falls, serving bar food and cocktails in a setting overlooking the course. Anchored is a coffee shop and bakery in the area known for its scones and bagels. Further south in Post Falls, Konala is a fast-food spot serving protein bowls and smoothies. Groceries are available at Yoke’s Fresh Market or Super 1 Foods. There is also a Walmart on Mullan Avenue. Students in North Prairie might attend Mullan Trail Elementary School, Post Falls Middle School and Post Falls High School, all of which receive a B rating from Niche. The high school is just south of the neighborhood on Poleline Avenue and has approximately 1,500 students. The school offers dual credit courses, allowing students to earn college credit in high school. It also has several clubs, including ceramics, horticulture and robotics. Getting around North Idaho is easy from North Prairie, with Interstate 90 south of the neighborhood and Highway 41 to the east. The neighborhood's location makes commuting simple. “I see a lot of people who work over in Spokane, and this offers an easier commute. They can jump on the freeway or hop on 53 and travel over to Spokane,” says Emily Ellis, a real estate professional with Tomlinson Sotheby’s International Realty. Highway 53 is just west of the neighborhood and offers an alternate route for the 25-mile drive west to Spokane. Two bus stops on Poleline Avenue offer access to the B route of the Citylink bus, taking riders south through Post Falls and east to Coeur d’Alene. Northwest Specialty Hospital is the closest hospital to the neighborhood, about 3 miles away.