A Strong Offer Rejected: The Surprises Never Cease - 05/28/07 02:49 PM
After more than 25 years as a licensed real estate agent, I am amazed that every transaction continues to carry it's own uniqueness and even a few totally unexplainable surprises.Yesterday, I experienced one of those surprises.  In all of my years as a Wenatchee real estate agent, I have never had an offer that was stronger in every way turned down. 
For a couple of months I've been working with an out-of-town investor.  Yesterday he finally pulled the trigger and made an offer on a house.  The trick was that we knew we were competing with an offer that had been submitted the day before.  … (15 comments)

Wenatchee: Property Management Services - 05/25/07 01:11 PM
As I get more heavily involved with out-of-town investors buying in the Wenatchee area, it is becoming obvious another Property Management company is needed in the area.I have one favorite Property Management company to whom I have referred all of my owner and tenant inquiries in the past.  Recently, it's been difficult to get timely service from our inquiries.   In order to assure my investors (and other landlords) are receiving the highest level of priority and customer service, I've decided to expand my property management services in Wenatchee to include single family homes, duplex, tri-plex, 4-plex and other multi family units.  I am also considering doing some vacation rentals. For … (1 comments)

Question: Will Wenatchee or East Wenatchee Homes Appreciate Faster - 05/22/07 03:02 PM
As I was talking with a potential investor this morning, he asked an interesting question I'd never given much thought to.  Wenatchee is in a valley, tucked up against the east edge of the Cascade Mountain range and he noticed how this will restrict the availability of land in the future.  As demand has surged for more homes, development land is already becoming limited and very expensive.  East Wenatchee (Douglas county), which is just across the Columbia river to the east offers more opportunities for future development of land.   Land prices have skyrocketed over the last couple of years (on both sides of the river) … (4 comments)

What Makes A House A Home? Wenatchee, WA - 05/20/07 09:23 PM
Do you live in a HOUSE or a HOME? 
When I was a child, we were on a very tight budget (poor).  We, literally, lived in a structure that had been converted from a garage but it was our HOME.  It had a slab concrete floor with no floor coverings, hot water only in the bathroom, and there was no ceiling (just exposed rafters).  This was, nevertheless, our HOME.  After my Mom and Dad died, my brother and I went to live with an Aunt and Uncle in their HOUSE.  My Aunt & Uncle's HOUSE was much nicer than our HOME.  It had hot water in the kitchen AND bathroom and it had ceilings!  But … (13 comments)

More Open Houses Than Ever - 05/19/07 10:38 PM
I've noticed, over the last several weeks, a trend toward more and more Sunday Open houses.  This week I count 48, which is a lot for our relatively small market area.  The least expensive home on this week's tour is a condo on Skyline Drive for $149,900.  The most expensive is a waterfront home north of Entiat for $987,000.  With a few exceptions, the rest of the homes are fairly well split with in the 200K, 300K and 400K price ranges.Wenatchee real estate sales activity is still strong but I do notice more price reductions coming across the "hot sheet" on a daily basis.  … (5 comments)

Wenatchee's Median Sales Price Up 32% - 05/17/07 02:29 PM
The Wenatchee housing market continues to sizzle.  According to the latest statistical information available from the Pacific Appraisal SNAPSHOT report, the median sales price of homes in Wenatchee is up 32% over this same time last year.    Here are the numbers:The median sales price of a home in Wenatchee is up 32% from this same time last year....    $177,323 to $233,250.The average sales price for a home is up slightly less at 20%...    $217,050 to $259,665.Does the difference in "average" and "median" confuse you?  Median means there are an equal number of homes under and over a given price.  So, in … (0 comments)

If Only Walls & Ceilings Could Talk - 05/13/07 11:02 PM
For some unexplained astrological reason, I've had a number of challenging transactions lately.  When I first started in the real estate business over 25 years ago, professional home inspections were unheard of.  Now they are common practice. It's a rare transaction that does not involve a home inspection.  Generally, however, the home inspection is performed after an offer has been negotiated and all documents are signed by buyers and sellers.  In spite of how well a home is maintained, the home inspection ALWAYS identifies issues that need to be dealt with before closing on the transaction.  If walls and ceilings could talk, they could tell us about … (16 comments)

Happy Step-Mother's Day - 05/13/07 01:01 PM
I've seen a number of posts and tributes to Mother's Day here on Active Rain today.  Here is a link to a list (and more links in the comments section.  I especially enjoyed this post. by Ann Guy of Allentown, Pennsylvania.  But, the intended purpose of my post today is to honor step-mothers. I have 5 step-children.  When I married my husband he thought 5 was enough, so no biological kids for me. I know we're lumped in there with ALL Mother's, but step-motherhood is quite different than biological motherhood (from what I can tel).  Without going into details, I'm sure … (7 comments)

What To Say When Customer Service Sucks - 05/11/07 10:42 AM
Recently, in her blog, my virtual friend Kristal Kraft created a post to bounce around ideas for dealing with telemarketers.  Telemarketers can, truly, be a source of great irritation.  And, their uncanny ability to call at the most inconvenient times is unexplainable. My ongoing pet peeve is poor customer service and poor attitudes in the customer service sector.  So, I got to thinking perhaps I could start a script list ,somewhat like Kristal did in her blog, for dealing with customer service people.  Then, you all can add your suggestions as well.  So, next time you are on the receiving end … (3 comments)

Is Customer Service Dying? - 05/10/07 12:50 PM
What has happened to customer service?  Is our economy so good companies don't have to offer decent customer service any more?  I am constantly amazed at the poor service people and companies offer... and still stay in business.   I call plumbers and they say they will do a job then never show at the appointment time.  Nor do they return phone calls when you inquire.  Other subcontractor types are the same.
I am also constantly amazed at the number of people who, when I answer my phone, say "Oh, I was going to leave a message.  I didn't expect you to … (7 comments)

An Active Rain Graphic Signature - 05/10/07 12:11 AM
In a post in early April, Nick the Appraiser  offered to create a graphic signature for anyone who requested it.  He asked for a nominal fee of $20, which is really a donation for charity.  Many of us took Nick up on his generous offer and I love mine. 
Thanks  Nick for creating my fun graphic signature.   As requested, it incorporates the "Apple Capital of the World" theme for Wenatchee.  Nick was great because he gave me three options and I mixed and matched and he adjusted it for me just as I requested.I know Nick has created signatures for other Active Rainers  … (9 comments)

Latte Funded College Education - 05/09/07 12:32 AM
Since I'm on a savings and investment kick tonight, let's talk coffee. 
I like coffee as well as the next person, but I'm always amazed at the constant lines I see at every corner expresso stand in town. This isn't just in Wenatchee, but everywhere I go. These stands aren't there for you to order a 50 cent or $1 cup of drip to go... but rather a coffee with some hoity toity fancy schmancy name (that costs $2.75 and up each)! Who would have thought??? I got to wondering, if a person buys one of these lattes every single day of … (2 comments)

Elope: Invest the Wedding Money. Retire Young - 05/09/07 12:20 AM
As I was reviewing my calendar tonight, I realized how quickly the "wedding month" of June is approaching. This got me to thinking what the average cost of a wedding is these days, so I started searching the internet. I visited several sites and was shocked at the amount of money people are, apparently, paying for weddings. Did you know the average cost of a wedding now is around $30,000? I knew it had gotten exorbitant, but that totally blew my mind. This is even more scary when I think of the divorce rate.Being a practical person, I couldn't help but … (0 comments)

A Brief History of Wenatchee: Pronounced "Wa-Nat-Chee" - 05/06/07 11:45 AM
This photo was taken last month, out the window of the commuter plane, as I flew into Wenatchee.As more out-of-town people are finding me through the internet, I realize how difficult the word "Wenatchee" must be to pronounce for someone who has only seen it printed and not pronounced.  So, for those of you out there who have never actually heard the word Wenatchee pronounced, this article (with a brief history of the area) is for you. Local Native American (Indian) lore claims that the name Wenatchee (pronounced: Wa-Nat-Chee) derives from a poetic description of the area meaning, "robe of the rainbow." The valley's lush … (0 comments)

Cashmere Condo Conversion Coming Soon - 05/05/07 11:08 PM
Only $139,900:  I have pre-listed four, fully renovated,  condos in Cashmere that will be sold subject to the completion of the conversion.  The conversion should be complete within the next few weeks.  These condos are an excellent option for people looking for a vacation home in the area and don't want to pay the high prices just 15 minutes away in Leavenworth.  They are also an affordable option for those disgusted with the constantly increasing prices, and are looking for an option of something nice for under $200,000.2 bedroom / 1 bathCentral heat and air conditioning1 covered and 1 open parking space each unitConveniently … (0 comments)

Apple Blossom Activities: Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast - 05/05/07 01:00 PM
Every year, the morning of the Grand Parade for the Washington State Apple Blossom Festival, the local Kiwanis club puts on a big pancake breakfast at Triangle Park, where they stage the floats prior to the parade.It's a tradition for us to meet our friends, Carl & DiAnn and Tom & Jane at the Park for breakfast.  Breakfast consists of pancakes, with our choice of strawberry or apple topping, scrambled eggs with ham, and our choice of beverage (apple juice of course, coffee or milk).After filling our tummies, we wander through the park and watch the various cities complete the final … (0 comments)

Grandma Pansy's Deep Dish Apple Pie - 05/05/07 12:37 PM
With the annual Washington State Apple Blossom Festival currently going on in Wenatchee, it seems like a good time to share my favorite apple pie recipe.  It is the one my Grandma Pansy made when I was a child.  As a very picky eater, this was one of the things I WOULD eat.... this and her homemade apple sauce.  Having grown up in western Oregon,  I was destined to move to and live in the Apple Capital of the World, enjoying apples to my heart's content.Pie Base:Peel, core and slice apples as for a pie.  Put in an oblong cooking dish (8 … (3 comments)

Apple Blossom Activities: Some Interesting Trivia - 05/04/07 09:27 PM
One of the most fascinating things about the annual Apple Blossom Festival held in Wenatchee is how soon the parade route starts getting lined with chairs.  People, literally, start putting out their personal chairs along the route about 3 weeks before the parade date.  The local paper, The Wenatchee World, keeps a running total building up to parade day.  Today's paper, the night before the parade, reveals there are:  1,057 chairs currently lined up ready for the parade tomorrow morning.  In addition, there are 47 benches, 2 strolers and 1 playpen.Some other interesting numbers revealed in the paper today:There are 24 food … (0 comments)

Wenatchee Condo News - 05/03/07 08:49 AM
With dramatically rising prices in the Wenatchee real estate market, condos have become the new "affordable" housing option in the Valley.  Most of these "affordable" condos are from apartment conversions.   Most are fully renovated through the conversions.  With that in mind, I've started a new blog over at the Wenatchee Condo News blog, to keep tabs on inventory and trends in the condo housing sector.   I will focus on the affordable housing issue, but there are also a considerable number of other condo developments underway (and being planned) which will not fall into the lower price ranges.  Some of these … (2 comments)

 

Carol Williams Wenatchee Real Estate

Wenatchee, WA

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Vision Real Estate

Address: Wenatchee, WA, 98801-1495

Office Phone: (509) 670-7840

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