Inclusion as secret gem’ surprises town
CRAIGMONT, Idaho – An Internet site for home buyers considers one small agricultural town on the Camas Prairie a real bargain for a second home, but local residents say NeighborhoodScout must be thinking about somewhere else.
Craigmont, population 556, is in the middle of the Camas Prairie grain belt. City officials say they suspect the distinction actually belongs to neighboring Winchester, which has plenty of second homes. Winchester, with 308 residents and a 103-acre lake in the pines, long has been a getaway town.
“Maybe there is a little misconception there,” Winchester city Clerk LeAnn Trautman said.
Andrew Schiller, president of Location Inc. and NeighborhoodScout.com, says he was looking at the bigger picture when he picked Craigmont, including Winchester.
“That area, along U.S. 95 and (state) routes 64 and 7, came out as a wonderful choice,” he said.
Schiller’s firm pinpointed Craigmont as one of 10 spots in the Rocky Mountain region with emerging vacation-home markets.
The Web site compiles census, crime and other statistics for potential home buyers. Wallace, which has struggled with the slump in the silver industry, is the only other Idaho community to make the list.
Schiller’s company specializes in nationwide relocation software and real estate investment advising. Schiller said he was looking for “secret gems” such as great fishing as well as future potential.
Schiller was unruffled that the Camas Prairie area he targeted is economically depressed and losing population.
“It’s a number of factors in combination,” he said. “Solid schools, low crime, a good mix of owner-occupied versus rental houses, quiet, adult education attainment above the national average, good price point.”
“Good price point” means the median house value is below $100,000, Schiller said. The Craigmont report places the average house value at $83,423.