It's a FIRST for me... my new listing has an OUTHOUSE! - 03/30/10 10:03 PM
Janna Rankin Scharf, GRI, CSP, CLHMS, SFR - Coeur d'Alene Idaho Real Estate
On days like today I need to remind myself that I am a Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist with Million Dollar Guild status for my successful performance in the $1 million plus market! 
That is no slouchy thing! 
But then, the high end market tanked, and I relocated from metro Colorado to lovely but rural Idaho.  Last year, my first transaction in Idaho was for a $6400 piece of land which earned me a commission check of $158.  I found a lot of humor in that, still do, … (30 comments)

It's CRAZY MAKING she said! And then she said I was a godsend..... The Joy of Short Sales - 03/30/10 10:43 AM
Janna Rankin Scharf, GRI, CLHMS, CSP, SFR - Coeur d'Alene Idaho Real Estate Short Sales
I had an opportunity yesterday to counsel with a distressed homeowner who was at her wits end.  She described the course of events in her dealings with Bank of America to modify her mortgage.  She was approved, then disapproved, yadda yadda yadda.  She described all the rigmarole we Realtors go through in our short sale transactions that sometimes make me feel like my head is going to explode! 
They approved her and she sent in the agreed upon payment.  They notified her that she wasn't approved because … (3 comments)

Residents LOVE living in North Idaho's River City of Post Falls - 03/29/10 11:57 PM
Just about 7 miles west of Coeur d'Alene is the charming little river town of Post Falls, Idaho.  And it's residents love living there!
In the city with a population of about 26,000, a total of 1,200 random households were surveyed and 429 responses were received.  Post Falls received high marks for library services, safety, air quality, animal control, sewer/water services, ease of bike and car travel, garbage correction, ans availabliity of affordable, quality housing. 
Post Falls Demographics
Post Falls has enjoyed healthy real estate activity as droves of first time homebuyers, anxious to buy in time to claim the $8000 tax credit, … (5 comments)

Homeowners continue to invest in outdoor living spaces in spite of economy - 03/26/10 09:50 AM
Janna Rankin Scharf, GRI, CSP, CLHMS ~ Coeur d'Alene Idaho Real Estate
It's official, homeowners love the great outdoors!  With one of the most mild winters in recorded history in beautiful north Idaho, the burgers started sizzling on the backyard grills weeks ago!
As summer approaches, there will be a flurry of activity as Idaho homeowners begin planting gardens, building decks, installing landscape improvements and water features.  You just can't live in beautiful north Idaho and not want to spend every minute you can outdoors!
Experts are expecting that with the weak economy will drive this continuing backyard love affair.  More folks … (1 comments)

Artscape Landscaping and Jayson Frank ~ Your North Idaho Landscape Specialists - 03/25/10 11:58 PM
Janna Rankin Scharf, GRI, CLHMS, CSP ~ Coeur d'Alene Idaho Real Estate
We in the real estate business are often asked by our clients for referrals of excellent service providers.  I'd like to give a shout out to home grown local boy Jayson Frank, owner/operator of Artscape Landscaping. 
Jayson, his beautiful wife Natalie, and their two adorable kids are family friends.  Perpetual motion is how to best describe them!  Although I haven't had an opportunity to use Jaysons's services personally, I have seen many examples of his work and I have been very impressed.  He has a natural flair for beautiful landscape … (3 comments)

From MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE to MISSION: ACCOMPLISHED! A Short Sale Success Story. - 03/25/10 01:52 AM
Until Monday, the best day of my real estate career was the day I double sided the closing of a $1,425,000 listing.  It was the first day of the new year, and it satisfied that year's cap on my split with with my broker.  The result was my receiving 100% of my commissions at the closing table for the remaining 364 days that year.  It was a VERY GOOD DAY!
Monday, I accomplished something that knocked that experience off the top of the list of very good days.  I closed on a modest short sale listing after 356 days of mind blowing real … (7 comments)

It all started when my car got hit by a dog... Truth is stranger than fiction! - 03/24/10 01:25 AM
I was telling this story to the lady at the sign shop today and we both laughed so hard at the absurdity of it all.  I decided to share it here for a little comic relief.  Proof that truth is stranger than fiction!
So one day I was driving down Sherman Avenue at 20 MPH, minding my own business, on the way to a showing appointment.  WHAMMO!  A dog, running at lightning speed, ran out from behind a building and plowed into the passenger side of my car.  Turned out to be a beautiful Husky, in pursuit of his doggy friend, and he … (14 comments)

Sellers, do you know who is negotiating your short sale??? - 03/17/10 11:36 PM
Janna Rankin Scharf, GRI, CLHMS, CSP - Coeur d'ALene Idaho Real Estate
Currently, I am representing some buyers who are hoping to purchase a short sale property.  The listing agent, a great guy and very busy listing agent, is using the title company to handle the short sale process and negotiations.  The sellers have given authorization to the escrow officer, not the listing agent. The listing agent passed off the purchase contract to the title company.  The title company was assigned to work with the seller to acquire and handle all the short sale paperwork and submit the packet. Then follow up, negotiate and take care of everything.  The … (11 comments)

Your lowball offer won't fly in the Coeur d'Alene Idaho real estate market! - 03/15/10 12:30 AM
Janna Rankin Scharf, GRI, CLHMS, CSP - Coeur d'Alene Idaho Real Estate
For the most part, Sellers in Coeur d'Alene have come to grips with the reality of the current market conditions and are pricing their homes appropriately. 
Buyers in the Coeur d'Alene area, on the other hand, still seem convinced that all Sellers should be grateful for any lowball offer that comes their way.  Buyers I have worked with in the last six months have been convinced they can get their dream home at much less than whatever a Seller is asking.  They have been surprised to find competitive conditions in the … (7 comments)

USDA RD loans drying up. Hurry, so you don't lose out on the $8000 tax credit! - 03/14/10 10:51 PM
Janna Rankin Scharf, GRI, CLHMS, CSP - Coeur d'Alene Idaho Real Estate
On March 9, the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development (RD) announced that program funding for the Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program (SFHGLP) will most likely be exhausted by the end of April.  This is particularly worrisome in our Coeur d'Alene area real estate market because these RD loans have financed the vast majority of our local home purchases in the past few months.
These RD loans have attractive terms favorable to entry level and/or lower income buyers. These are the same buyers who have been out in … (1 comments)

Spring at Schweitzer Basin in Sandpoint Idaho - 03/13/10 11:31 AM
Janna Rankin Scharf, GRI, CSP, CLHMS - Coeur d'Alene Idaho Real Estate
Last weekend was gloriously sunny and warm in beautiful North Idaho.  It was perfect for a day trip north to Bonners Ferry, through Sandpoint and across Lake Pend Oreille. 
We headed out to meet up with my husband's sister and brother-in-law, who were headed our way, taking their own day trip south from Cranbrook, BC. 
The scenery was magnificent, the promise of spring in the air, and not a cloud in the bright blue sky.  My youngest son had spent the night at his friend's cabin at Schweitzer Mountain.  … (7 comments)

SPRING AHEAD this weekend - don't forget to reset your clocks! - 03/11/10 10:23 PM
Janna Rankin Scharf, GRI, CLHMS, CSP - Coeur d'Alene Idaho real estate
Here comes spring!  I remember learning very early that we Spring Ahead and Fall Behind.  This weekend marks the springing ahead part or our semi-annual Daylight Savings Time ritual.  Daylight Savings Time officially ends at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 14th.  Be sure to set your clocks ahead one hour before you go bed on Saturday night.
I also remember learning at an early age that it is much easier to Fall Behind than it is to Spring Ahead!  Good luck everyone!
… (10 comments)

SUCCESS! Another first time homebuyer in Coeur d'Alene got a SUPER DEAL with an $8000 bonus today! - 03/11/10 05:30 PM
Janna Rankin Scharf, GRI, CLHMS, CSP - Coeur d'Alene Idaho Real Estate Success Stories
Another first time homebuyer in Coeur d'Alene got a SUPER DEAL with an $8000 bonus today!
Today was a GOOD DAY for my first time homebuyers Steve and Alicia.  They closed on their first home, which is always a mixture of emotions.  Excitement, anxiety, anticipation, fear.... 
I don't think this cute couple fully realizes yet how big they scored today!  For starters, their mortgage payment is LESS than they have been paying in rent!  SCORE!  They have an interest rate that is just a hair above the lowest interest rates have … (4 comments)

Internet? Internet? We don't need no steenkin' internet! - 03/11/10 10:32 AM
I love to read the witty musings of my ActiveRain blogging buddy Alan May.  I got such a kick out of this post that I reblogged it here on my blog for your reading pleasure. 
Alan and I must be of the same era, because I can always relate so personally to what he writes.  He is my favorite blogger to read in all of blogdom! Honestly, if you took him out of these stories and inserted me, it would still be accurate to my life to a T!  (Except for the part about the Bar-Mitzvah gifts.  Replace that with Christmas gifts and we … (6 comments)

Be careful where you piddle! - 03/04/10 11:55 PM
Okay, I apologize in advance, I just couldn't resist writing this!  My sister sent me a story from the newspaper this past week. It really is sad and tragic, but when I read it, the first thing that came to mind was another true story that happened here in town not too long ago...
A local celebrity broker, owner of the #1 Brand X real estate brokerage in the world and leader in local market share, left a restaurant where he had one too many, ran a stop sign and plowed into a carload of teenagers. After the police arrived, in front of the … (15 comments)

The tax man cometh! File your Homeowners Tax Exemption by April 15th in Kootenai County - 03/04/10 11:23 PM
Homeowners in North Idaho benefit from a substantial reduction in property taxes when they occupy the home as their primary residence.  But to receive it, you must apply by April 15th!  This exemption is provided by state law and deducts 1/2 of the assessed value of the building & the one acre home site, up to a maximum of $104,471 or 50%, whichever is less.  This rate may be adjusted annually.  You qualify if you have:
A valid Idaho drivers license (if you drive) A vehicle licensed in Idaho (if you own a vehicle) Registered Idaho voter (if you  vote) File … (0 comments)

Do you know your neighbors? I mean REALLY know your neighbors? - 03/02/10 04:52 PM
I'm blessed to live in a wonderful community that is postcard pretty, peaceful and relatively safe.  That being said, there are criminals amongst us, no matter where we live.  People who have, and would, do harm to us and ours.  Are you safe?  You have a right to know.
Life would be good if the dangerous and unsavory characters were readily apparent, if something about them made it obvious to us that danger was present so we would know to keep our distance and keep our guard up.
That is not the reality, but there is a site we can go to … (47 comments)

Unlike LAST year, March came in like a lamb in North Idaho as the little lambs attest! - 03/01/10 01:54 PM
A photo popped into my mailbox this morning of this frigid little lamb, taken LAST March 1st, 2009, by my sister Kerri.  What a contrast from today, when we awoke to blue skies, grass turning green and SUNSHINE!  I made a mental note to write a blog post today and use her wonderful photo.  Thanks Kerri!
I had the thought, "I wonder where I can find a lion standing in the sunshine to snap a picture to contrast with the shivering, snow covered lamb from last year."  Hmmmm.  That thought left my head just as quick as it entered, and I headed … (7 comments)

Lights! Camera! Action! Area libraries announce workshop & film festival for teens! - 03/01/10 10:52 AM
I wish I were a teenager again! If I were, I could get in on one of the four workshops that have been scheduled to instruct teens in grades 7 - 12 on the fine art of making 3-minute, YouTube-type videos.
Admittedly, I am an old dog learning new tricks.  I have created a YouTube account and have plans to produce videos that highlight the best features of our community parks, beaches and neighborhoods.  These productions will enhance my listings, my website and my business!  But my plan is still just that, a plan.  It would be so great to be a … (2 comments)

 
Janna Rankin Scharf (Keller Williams Realty Coeur d'Alene) Ambassador_large

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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