Real estate firm not to blame for area's growth

Since I moved to the Sandpoint area five weeks ago, I have been reading letters in the Daily Bee to get a feel for the community. I like what I've read so far although I may not agree with it all. That's healthy.

Tomlinson Black has appeared in a few of the letters as being almost pariah like in their attempt to grow their business and change their marketing strategies.

It's as if they are the sole reason housing prices are becoming unaffordable, downtown Sandpoint will be inaccessible and I'm pretty sure air pollution and gridlock will soon be blamed on them should they end up employing more Sandpoint residents.

The home I bought in Sagle was built on a piece of land that sold for $45,000 four years ago. Today similar parcels in this development are selling for $250,000. I don't think Sotheby's or Tomlinson Black caused that to happen. Truth is I bought my home from Tomlinson Black. Why? Because I interviewed and researched many of the other real estate agencies in town and Tomlinson Black score the highest. My criteria for selecting an agent/agency to help me find the purchase the largest investment I will ever make are pretty high… They met all of them.

Are there other ways to stop the rising price of real estate, the influx of "outsiders," the ever resent town traffic issues, etc., without pointing fingers at businesses who understand that change is necessary sometimes just to survive. I'm guessing there are.

PAT WENTWORTH

Sagle