Find your place in North Idaho.
Land, ranches and rural homes, with a veteran REALTOR who checks the ground before you buy it.
Get the land buyer's guideBuying land up here is different. Wells, perc tests, easements and winter roads decide what a parcel is really worth. I'm a veteran and a REALTOR, and you'll know all of it before you sign.
Chaz Hurd, REALTOR® · Lifestyle North Realty Group, brokered by eXp Realty
Five things to know before you fall for a view.
A beautiful parcel can hide a dry well, ground that won't perc or a road nobody plows. I walk every buyer through all five before an offer goes in.
Water
Is there a well, how deep is it, what does it flow, and what do the neighbors' wells show? No well means budgeting to drill.
Septic
Has the ground passed a perc test? The soil decides what kind of system you can put in and what it costs.
Access
Recorded easement or a handshake? Who maintains the road, and can you get in after a January storm?
Power
How far is the nearest pole, and does a line extension pencil out, or is off grid the real plan?
Financing
Land loans work differently than home loans. We line up the right lender before you write the offer.
You earned the VA loan. Let's put it to work.
I'm a veteran, and I work with veterans, active duty service members and military families. I know what a PCS timeline feels like, and how to buy in North Idaho while you're still living somewhere else.
A VA loan can buy a rural home on acreage. Raw land on its own usually needs a different route, and I'll connect you with lenders who know the difference.
- Veterans and active duty buying a home with acreage
- Military families relocating from out of state
- Land buyers planning a homestead, cabin or future build
- Ranch buyers who need room for animals, shops and equipment
Loan eligibility and terms are set by the VA and your lender.
Elk in the timber. Whitetail in the hay.
Much of North Idaho backs up to national forest, and a lot of my buyers come for the hunting as much as the house. Tell me what you're after and I'll point you to ground that fits.
Where I work
Boundary and Bonner Counties, from the Kootenai valley to the shores of Lake Pend Oreille.
On the market
Featured listing, for sale
$199,000
NKA Bethlehem Road, Bonners Ferry, ID 83805
Draft: add MLS photo, acreage and details from Chaz
Buying Land in North Idaho
The well, septic, access, power and VA loan checklist I use with every buyer.
The checklist I'd want before buying land up here.
Plain English, and short enough to read before you drive out to see a parcel.
It's on the way.
Check your inbox in a few minutes. Got a parcel in mind already? Call or text me at (208) 714-8653.
A veteran who knows what to look for out here.
I'm a REALTOR with Lifestyle North Realty Group, brokered by eXp Realty. I focus on the property most agents avoid: land, ranches, acreage and rural homes across Bonners Ferry, Sandpoint and the rest of North Idaho.
Rural property takes more homework. Wells, septic, easements, power and the right loan all matter, and I work through every one of them with my clients so there are no surprises after closing.
I hold the MRP, Military Relocation Professional, a REALTOR® certification for helping service members, veterans and military families buy and sell during a move.
Draft: Chaz's own story, branch of service and why North Idaho
From first call to keys
Buying from Texas or from down the road, you'll always know what comes next.
We talk plans
What you want the land for, your budget and how you'll finance it.
We narrow the map
I send parcels that fit and flag water, septic or access problems before you drive out.
We check the ground
Walkthroughs in person or by video, with well, perc, survey and easement questions answered.
We close clean
Offer, inspections and closing on a clear checklist, with no surprises at the table.
What buyers say
Questions buyers ask
Can I use a VA loan to buy land in Idaho?
A VA loan can buy a home on acreage. Vacant land by itself usually needs a different loan, though some buyers use a construction route to build. Your lender decides what qualifies, and I'll connect you with lenders who know rural property.
What is a perc test and do I need one?
A perc test shows how well the soil drains, which decides whether and what kind of septic system can go in. On land without existing septic, it's one of the first things to check.
What if a parcel doesn't have a well?
Then you're planning to drill one. We look at nearby well records for depth and flow so you have a realistic idea before you buy, and you can talk to local drillers about cost.
Can I buy property up here while living out of state?
Yes. I do video walkthroughs, send detailed notes on every parcel and handle the local legwork, so you only make the trip when it's worth it.
How do I know the road access is legal?
We confirm whether access is a recorded easement, a public road or a private road agreement, and who maintains it. Title work and a survey confirm it before closing.
Found a parcel you love?
Send me the listing and I'll tell you what I'd check first.