Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty - Gary Lirette

Realtor for Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby’s International Realty, representing Sandpoint Real Estate.

Knowing your community is the most important thing someone active in the community can do, or that a Realtor can be for a client. As the host for several years of the North Idaho Business and the North Idaho Arts radio shows, I have that knowledge.

Hosting my radio show in the last several years, I have interviewed scores of Sandpoint and North Idaho business people and local community leaders. With over 70 community and business websites, the research on our area has been a daily endeavor. With over forty articles written about North Idaho and Sandpoint, I have put my opinions out there, and found that we truly live in paradise. In the last several years, over fifty charities have been part of daily routines.

Sandpoint has garnered so much positive national press that, at times, we have been humbled by the attention. Sunset Magazine calls Sandpoint the Best Small Town in the West, National Geographic named Sandpoint one the the nation's Top 10 Adventure Towns, and Outside called Sandpoint one of America's Best Small Towns, and several others have named Sandpoint one of America's Top 10 Dream Towns. Last year, Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort was named to Ski Magazine's Top 25 Ski Resorts, and Lake Pend Oreille is the nation's 5th deepest, and one of the west's largest freshwater lakes. We live in paradise, and by being a part of community development, and active with events and charities, as well as an integral part of our business community, I have gained more knowledge about our area than many natives.

I am from New Orleans, and left twenty years ago to find my career in real estate here in the Idaho Panhandle. Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty is the largest and most successful realty team in North Idaho, and had its best September ever in 2008, despite the downturn in the real estate market.

My team had its best winter season ever last year, and look to expand on that success this season.

After working in Germany and central Europe, I moved to New Orleans and worked in the restaurant industry, working three years with Emeril Legasse. There I met my wife of twenty years, Terri, then a social worker.  We moved to Florida where we both studied accounting. I formed a company, 101 Enterprises, and worked selling commercial ventures and property in Orlando for ten years.

In 1997 I wrote the first of three books, two of which were published under the UPG imprint and Hastings House.

In Sandpoint we bought Walker Donuts, then opened Wigleys Café and Bakery. In the six years since we moved to North Idaho, we have bought, built, and renovated several homes. Real estate was supposed t be a part-time gig, but when you find something that makes you truly happy, and makes those you work for equally happy, then that is the vocation that should be a life endeavor.

I hope the info I offer in my websites and articles help, and that in this time of trouble and worry, you find a message of optimism and hope.