Thankful Thursday ~ Thank you Keller Williams! - 04/30/09 12:37 PM
I decided a few weeks ago to pause long enough every Thursday to write about something I am thankful for, and post it in the Thankful Thursday group. 
Yesterday, I met Rich, who is in real estate school.  Rich had met my husband, who had mentioned that I was a Realtor.  Rich is in the process of researching his different brokerage options and asked if I would share with him why it is that I am associated with Keller Williams.  You betcha!
I ended up spending a good chunk of my morning with Rich, answering all of his questions, and explaining what I … (4 comments)

Here's a great article on short sales and deficiencies. Know what you are doing! - 04/30/09 12:03 PM
A short sale is one option of avoiding foreclosure for those who have fallen on hard times.  But while it can be a good option, depending on your personal circumstances, it is not for everyone.  Home sellers, please be careful! 
Make sure you are using a real estate agent who knows what they are doing.   
Keep in mind that each lender will have different policies for negotiation.  Some are notoriously difficult to work with, while others are relatively pleasant.  But every short sale is a complicated event that requires skill and attention to detail.  And PATIENCE!  With so many people in … (1 comments)

Study: Coeur d'Alene Idaho a Breath of Fresh Air! - 04/30/09 11:13 AM
What a nice headline to be smiling up at me when I opened the paper this morning.  According to the American Lung Association, Coeur d'Alene Idaho's air quality is about as squeaky clean as it gets!
In the 10th Annual State of the Air Report, Coeur d'Alene tied with several other cities as having the cleanest air in the U.S. for ozone air pollution, commonly known as the dreaded SMOG!
Now, this isn't exactly a news flash to me.  I didn't need a official study to tell me that I am breathing wonderful, fresh, CLEAN air.  But it is always nice to be … (2 comments)

Can someone please explain to me how this scam works? - 04/29/09 10:54 PM
I am hoping that my network of savvy professionals here on ActiveRain can help me understand what has been going on, because I am at a loss to understand it.  
This guy approached desperate sellers with some kind of proposal that involved a lease back, lease option that required a loan of the seller's equity at closing. 
The first time I heard this story, from a lady sobbing in my office, I have to say I was a little skeptical.  She said the guy, a skimming scammer, had preyed on her vulnerabilities. she was a battered wife in a divorce trying to … (10 comments)

Wordless Wednesday - Tubbs Hill in Downtown Coeur d'Alene - 04/29/09 03:41 PM

Photo taken by my brother-in-law Kerry Park on an early morning walk last weekend. 
Janna Rankin Scharf provides a superior level of real estate services to home buyers and sellers in Coeur d'Alene and Kootenai County, Idaho. Visit www.JannaScharf.com to search for homes in the Coeur d'Alene MLS for anywhere in spectacular North Idaho.
No matter how grand or modest your real estate dreams may be, you can turn to me in confidence.  Give me a call today and let me know what I can do to be of service to you!
Janna Rankin Scharf, AB, GRI, CSP, CNS, CLHMS … (9 comments)

No, you can't sell your property to my buyer if you don't own it! Geesh! - 04/28/09 10:04 PM
A few weeks ago I wrote about my frustration trying to track down a seller so my client could pay cash for her property.  It actually took THREE WEEKS, but finally we were under contract.  Geesh!  I was astonished that someone with a property listed for sale would be so hard to contact. 
My buyer, a young guy with big plans, as well as CASH, was pressed for time.  But we persevered.  We needed a quick close so he could get on with his business, which involved this purchase.  Now comes the news from our fabulous escrow officer, Heidi Simon at Pioneer … (46 comments)

INVISIBLE Neighbors! Seller's Loss is Your Gain on this 10+ Acre Short Sale. - 04/28/09 05:00 PM
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Earn Some Good Old Fashioned Sweat Equity with this Short Sale Opportunity! - 04/28/09 04:56 PM
… (0 comments)

Post Falls leads Coeur d'Alene and Hayden for most homes sold YTD in 2009 - 04/26/09 06:13 PM
I decided to have a little statistical fun and see which community in North Idaho was leading the pack for 2009 home sales.  I would have guessed Post Falls, and I would have been right.  Currently, in North Idaho about 70% of sales are under $200,000.  The $8000 tax incentive for those who haven't owned a home in the past three years is helping to fuel entry level purchases.  The USDA low down payment loan program, which is available in smaller communities, like Post Falls, is providing an incentive for home shoppers to focus there.  
Here's what I found in my … (2 comments)

This Month in Real Estate - 04/25/09 07:53 PM
Check out This Month In Real Estate.  It's a great overview of what is going on in the real estate market, nationally. 
Affordability, low interest rates and a desire to buy have combined to provide hope for the struggling US housing market. 
Housing affordibility now stands at its best level since 1971!
Remember, all real estate is LOCAL, meaning that you need to take NATIONAL trends with a grain of salt.  Think of a national weather report.  It has little bearing on the weather in our town if it's warm and sunny in Omaha, or there are thunder storms in Denver.  Real estate markets are the … (1 comments)

Wordless Wednesday - Scenes from a Different Kind of Coeur d'Alene Tea Party! - 04/22/09 10:53 AM


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Photos by my amazing sister, Kerri Thoreson.
Janna Rankin Scharf provides a superior level of real estate services to home buyers and sellers in Coeur d'Alene and Kootenai County, Idaho. Visit www.JannaScharf.com to search for homes in the Coeur d'Alene MLS for anywhere in spectacular North Idaho.
No matter how grand or modest your real … (2 comments)

Hooray for SPRING! Dress up your yard, FIRST IMPRESSIONS MATTER! - 04/18/09 11:31 AM

This morning I noticed an ad in the newspaper that caught my eye.  I'd like to give a shout out to a local small business that is offering a great deal, GreenTec Lawn & Tree Care.  
        FERT. + WEED + AERATION        $65.95 + tax
An Amazing Spring Package Up to 5000 Sq. Ft. Satisfaction Guaranteed Call for Free Estimate       Call by 5/1 to Schedule
If you are planning to sell your home this selling season, one of the best returns on your investment of time and resources in getting it ready will be what you do to increase CURB APPEAL.  … (2 comments)

Thankful Thursday's Thanks for The Gravy! - 04/16/09 10:56 AM

About this time last year, I found out from my neighbor Judy, who found out from her daughter, who found out from Facebook, which college my daughter decided to attend!
My daughter was planning to tell me, just hadn't seen me yet.  I immediately went to my computer and figured out how to join Facebook, and joined.  I have been a proud parental stalker ever since! 
This past year, Facebook has opened an amazing world of contact with distant friends and relations, kids, siblings, and even clients and business associates.  Like everything that I have found in ActiveRain, FACEBOOK has … (8 comments)

Wordless Wednesday - Takes a licking and keeps on ticking & SMILING! - 04/15/09 06:47 PM
 
My beautiful little granddaughter Chloe fell down the stairs, along with her daddy, put a hairline fracture in her little leg and she ended up in a hard cast up to her waist.  It didn't dim her perpetual smiles or sweet, happy nature.  I think there is a lesson in there somewhere for all of us!  
Janna Rankin Scharf provides a superior level of real estate services to home buyers and sellers in Coeur d'Alene and Kootenai County, Idaho. Visit www.JannaScharf.com to search for homes in the Coeur d'Alene MLS for anywhere in spectacular North Idaho.
No matter how grand or modest … (12 comments)

A carrot, an egg, and a cup of coffee... - 04/15/09 10:16 AM
How do you react to adversity?  Here's a great little story that deserves retelling.  I promise that it is worth the few minutes it will take to read it through. 

Via Janice Roosevelt,Ecobroker, ABR, e-PRO - Matt F (Matt Fetick Real Estate Team - Keller Williams Real Estate -):
 A young man went to his mother and told her about his life and how  things were so hard for him. He didn't  not know how he was going to make it and wanted to give up,.
 His mother took him to the kitchen and filled three pots with water and  placed each on a high … (3 comments)

Save a Life! Join our Keller Williams Blood Drive on April 24th - 04/14/09 12:15 PM
One of the great things about being associated with Keller Williams Realty is the culture of caring and giving back to the community.  I would like to extend an invitation to my friends and clients to participate with us in our annual blood drive. 
For over 60 years, The Inland Northwest Blood Center has been the Inland Northwest's only independent, not-for-profit blood provider. What started out as a small community blood bank has since evolved into a full service center providing blood and related services to a region consisting of nearly one million residents!
Keller Williams RealtyBlood DriveFriday, April 24, 20099:00 am … (0 comments)

My response to "What's the @#$%* Problem With BPOs?" - 04/14/09 11:45 AM
I came across a blog post by a fellow Rainer, Andy Tolbert of Sanford, FL.  She was venting her frustration with BPOs and the agents who do them.  For those of you who aren't familiar with the term BPO, it is a Broker's Price Opinion.  Lenders will order one done on a property when the homeowner has defaulted and the foreclosure process begins.  Also, BPOs are ordered when a lender is considering approving a short sale. I have done BPOs lately for a number of refinances and home equity loans. 
My comment to her post was so lengthy that I decided to turn it … (3 comments)

Commission rates up, but agents earn less - 04/13/09 05:06 PM
I came across a very interesting article by Bernice Ross in Inman News.  Recently, there has been spirited debate among readers about the future of agent compensation.  Ross points out that what few people are discussing is a pattern that has been consistent for more than 30 years that she has been in business.
Commission rates are primarily contingent upon whether an area is experiencing a buyer's or seller's market.
Ross points out that in a buyer's market, the "value" of an experienced agent who can close a difficult transaction increases dramatically.  Despite the tremendous number of REO, short sale and … (3 comments)

Ms. Seller, WHERE ARE YOU? Hello??? Anybody home??? - 04/13/09 01:19 PM
I am always amazed at how difficult it is to get a response from some Sellers!  I have an eager, cash buyer for a piece of vacant land.  Young guy, big dreams, small lot.  Nevertheless, we have now been officially waiting for A WEEK for a response to his offer while the listing agent tries to track down the Seller.
I will resist the urge to turn this into a rant, although I have to admit that I am tempted by my frustration to blast out.
It just seems to make sense on so many levels that if you are SERIOUSLY attempting … (5 comments)

Just L@@K at these views! A premier timbered acreage ready for YOUR dream home! - 04/13/09 12:35 PM
1.8 Acre Premier Homesite CLOSE IN with STUNNING Lake Views Location: Dalton Gardens, IDNo need to go out to the boonies for privacy and beauty! This lovely wooded parcel has million dollar views, yet it is convenient to everywhere you need to be. It's one of just a handful of homesites on Canfield Mountain, where the views go on forever. A well maintained private, gated road is the only access to the mountain. This provides you with the seclusion you desire. It's rare to find a beautiful parcel set in the tall timbers, with breathtaking views and southern exposure, but so … (0 comments)

April is Fair Housing Month - Your Rights and Responsibilities - 04/13/09 08:30 AM
With April being Fair Housing Month, this is a good opportunity for a reminder that when it comes to selling or renting, you cannot discriminate when deciding which buyer or tenant gets your home. 
That is, if your prospective buyer or tenant belongs to certain protected classes.
The law that establishes the protected classes is found in several Congressional acts, as well as in state and local laws.
The Civil Rights Act of 1866 prohibits racial discrimination in the sale or rental of property.
Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in places of public accommodation and commercial … (1 comments)

He is RISEN! Have a glorious Easter everyone! - 04/12/09 10:54 AM
I would like to pause a moment this morning to wish all of you a Happy Easter!  I am humbled and grateful and full of joy as I consider the wonder and power of the atonement and ressurection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  May you find peace in the glorious message of Easter!














Janna Rankin Scharf provides a superior level of real estate services to home buyers and sellers in Coeur d'Alene and Kootenai County, Idaho. Visit www.JannaScharf.com to search for homes in the Coeur d'Alene … (6 comments)

Thankful Thursday ~ My first referrals in the Rain! - 04/09/09 03:27 PM
I only recently became aware that there was a Thankful Thursdays group on Active Rain.  Last week, I combined a Thankful Thursday with a Wordless Wednesday post, but today I am writing my very first Thankful Thursday post.  Seems only fitting to express my thanks for the first real business that has come from my association with the amazing people in the ActiveRain network.
This afternoon will be spent preparing not one, but TWO listing contracts, thanks to a referral from Brian Brumpton.  Brian is a fellow Keller Williams agent, in Boise - about eight hours to the south of me in Coeur d'Alene.  … (3 comments)

Wordless Wednesday - Can I bring my 4x4 sign home to ID from CO in the back seat of my Toyota? - 04/08/09 09:36 PM
















Janna Rankin Scharf provides a superior level of real estate services to home buyers and sellers in Coeur d'Alene and Kootenai County, Idaho. Visit www.JannaScharf.com to search for homes in the Coeur d'Alene MLS for anywhere in spectacular North Idaho.
No matter how grand or modest your real estate dreams may be, you can turn to me in confidence.  Give me a call today and let me know what I can do to be of service to you!
Janna Rankin Scharf, AB, GRI, CSP, CNS, CLHMS … (15 comments)

A Great Info Resource if You Have Had a Short Sale Deficiency or Other Cancellation of Debt - 04/08/09 03:09 PM
Lots of questions surround the Mortgage Debt Relief Act of 2007 and whether or not cancellation of the debt when there is a deficiency is taxable. 
Here is a link to the official IRS site that explains the provisions of the act.  It's a wonderful resource of information.  Please pass it along to anyone you know who might be in, or looking at, a deficiency situation.  This is typical in short sale and foreclosure situations. 
Is Cancellation of Debt income always taxable?Not always. There are some exceptions. The most common situations when cancellation of debt income is not taxable involve:
Qualified … (0 comments)

Why are home prices dropping? - 04/05/09 03:49 PM
In a nutshell, here is what has happened: 
In the TWENTY YEARS  from 1980 through 2000, median home values rose 26.5%.  In the SIX YEARS that followed, the average appreciation was 89%! 
Prices are now adjusting to the inconsistent and unsustainable growth that occurred during the first six years of this decade.  Although it seems like it, the market is not in a decline.  It is stabilizing, correcting and becoming a healthier market.
Janna Rankin Scharf provides a superior level of real estate services to home buyers and sellers in Coeur d'Alene and Kootenai County, Idaho. Visit www.JannaScharf.com to search for homes in … (5 comments)

Thinking of buying a foreclosure? Here are a few things you need to know... - 04/05/09 02:53 PM
Because local market conditions vary from town to town and state to state, the answers to these simple questions will help you determine if NOW is a good time to buy a foreclosure in your market. 
What's the first step? 
It's important that you visit with a lender and become preapproved for a loan before home shopping.  If your plan is to purchase a foreclosure as an investment property or second home, it's important for you to understand that financing the home will be more costly and more difficult than if it were your primary residence.  Also, you will typically have … (1 comments)

Defeat Mold and Win the Sale! - 04/05/09 02:21 PM
I don't think there is anything worse than mold for turning potential buyers away from what otherwise could be a desirable new home.  You might not know this, but in many cases, mold remediation can be successfully accomplished as a do-it-yourself project.  If your home shows signs of mold, you will want to eliminate it as part of the process of staging your home for success.  Find great resources and information on mold remediation by clicking here. 
Mold is a type of fungus made up of tiny microscopic organisms that can grow on virtually any organic substance or building material comprised of … (2 comments)

Premier Homesite Under the Tall Timbers With Million Dollar Views! - 04/05/09 01:42 PM
1.8 Acre Premier Homesite CLOSE IN with STUNNING Lake Views Location: Dalton Gardens, IDNo need to go out to the boonies for privacy and beauty! This lovely wooded parcel has million dollar views, yet it is convenient to everywhere you need to be. It's one of just a handful of homesites on Canfield Mountain, where the views go on forever. A well maintained private, gated road is the only access to the mountain. This provides you with the seclusion you desire. It's rare to find a beautiful parcel set in the tall timbers, with breathtaking views and southern exposure, but so … (0 comments)

Grandma's Wordless Wednesday AND Thankful Thursday combined! - 04/02/09 11:44 AM
 
 Janna Rankin Scharf provides a superior level of real estate services to home buyers and sellers in Coeur d'Alene and Kootenai County, Idaho. Visit www.JannaScharf.com to search for homes in the Coeur d'Alene MLS for anywhere in spectacular North Idaho.
Janna Rankin Scharf, AB, GRI, CSP, CNS, CLHMS  208.651.9700  NorthIdahoJanna@gmail.com  
… (11 comments)

 
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Janna Rankin Scharf

Coeur d'Alene, ID

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Keller Williams Realty Coeur d'Alene

Address: 1450 Northwest Blvd. Ste 301, Coeur d'Alene, ID, 83814

Office Phone: (208) 667-2399

Cell Phone: (208) 651-9700

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Coeur d'Alene Idaho Real Estate Blog By Janna Rankin Scharf of Keller Williams Realty is a Great Place For Real Estate Agents and Potential Buyers and Sellers to get to know more about Coeur d'Alene Idaho as well as other parts of Kootenai County and North Idaho.
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