Many people think of picturesque, peaceful resort towns in the mountains as a place they’d like to visit one day. Most states have at least one area like this: a small town that offers peace and quiet, gorgeous views, and plenty of outdoor activities year-round.
In the past few years alone, resort towns like these have been booming with real estate sales, particularly in the McCall area of Idaho. Tamarack Resort and towns like it have seen major jumps in property purchases and a decrease in available homes due to high demand.
This means that not only is the number of vacationers increasing, but the number of homeowners is also rising by a significant margin. Just how much has Tamarack Resort real estate changed in recent years? Let’s take a look and find out!
Recent Trends in Valley County Real Estate
Tamarack Resort (and Valley County at large) has been a desirable destination for vacationers, seasonal residents, and year-round locals for many years.
In the last two fiscal years, property sales in Tamarack Resort real estate alone have jumped by about ten properties per year. That’s a lot in a town as quaint as Tamarack Resort, which prides itself on providing residents with a lot of open space!
Tamarack Resort's real estate listings are also spending less time on the market than they were at the beginning of 2020. While the average days listed were 183 for each new property between June 2020 and June 2021, that number decreased to 136 between June 2021 and June 2022.
Properties in Tamarack Resort are in high demand, which means the homes and lots that are still available have increased slightly in cost.
Average and median sale prices have gone up to account for the decreased supply of homes, and this trend has been seen in a variety of Valley County real estate markets, including McCall, Donnelly, Cascade, and others.
Has COVID-19 had an Effect on Tamarack Resort Real Estate?
Before we outline some of the main reasons why Idaho resort towns have seen such a dramatic increase in real estate sales, it’s important to acknowledge the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the real estate industry at large.
Though home purchases may have slowed in mid-2020 due to shutdowns and stay-at-home orders, the industry revved up again toward the end of the year and into early 2021.
Why did the real estate industry see a boom at the end of 2020 despite the ongoing pandemic? After many businesses transitioned to a work-from-home setup in order to stay open during shutdowns, a large number of them kept this format even after stay-at-home orders started to lift.
This means that many people who were previously tied to one location due to their workplace now have the freedom to live and work wherever they want! For many people, that means spending more time in their vacation home or even moving full-time into an area that prioritizes quality of life more than city access.
5 Reasons Why McCall Real Estate Is Booming
If a work-from-home setup means that employees can live wherever they want, why are they choosing Idaho’s resort towns? Let’s take a look at the top five reasons why real estate in the McCall area has increased by such a significant margin in recent years.
- Wide Open Spaces and Privacy
Whether the pandemic made you transition to working from home or your experiences with stay-at-home orders simply caused you to prioritize time with family and friends even more than before, many homeowners are craving the wide-open spaces and private areas that a region like Valley County can provide.
This is especially true for previous city dwellers who no longer need to live close to an office building for work or those in search of a major lifestyle change. Additionally, while cities can be located near natural areas, living within a natural area — complete with gorgeous views and plenty of outdoor activities — is now a feasible way of life.
- Easy Access to the Best Idaho Sports
Idaho is known for its incredible outdoor recreation, and Tamarack Resort real estate gives residents easy access to some of the best areas in the state all year round.
Those that live within resort towns like Tamarack Resort enjoy the closest proximity to top-notch Idaho skiing and snowboarding in the winter, as well as fun Idaho activities like hiking, mountain biking, whitewater rafting, and fishing during the summer months.
- Close-Knit Communities
Small towns around the country tend to be tight-knit, with most neighbors knowing each other, but resort towns bring this type of community to a whole new level. Resort towns like Tamarack Resort tend to attract a specific type of resident: someone who loves nature, is always up for an adventure, and has a zest for life.
Having these core traits in common makes it easy for resort town dwellers to bond with one another and create life-long connections. You can bet that your next hiking or skiing buddy is never farther than a few doors down!
- Many Home Types to Choose from
It’s a common misconception that resort towns, especially in mountainous regions like McCall and Valley County, are made up solely of sprawling cabins on huge plots of land.
Though properties just like this are available for purchase, there are also many more property types to choose from based on your needs, such as single-family homes, condos, and more. With surroundings as stunning as the Idaho countryside, you can’t find a property with a bad view!
- Up and Coming and More Affordable than Most
Tamarack Resort is considered one of the country’s most desirable up-and-coming resort towns for year-round family fun and an unbeatable outdoorsy lifestyle.
Additionally, due to average living costs in the state, a home in Valley County costs much less than a similar home in nearby states like California or Nevada — while still offering the same value and benefits.
