Your dinner will be the talk of the TOWN!!

You should try this!
Sure to bring smiles from your guests!
Here is a new way to prepare your Thanksgiving Turkey.

1. Cut out aluminum foil in desired shapes.
2. Arrange the turkey in the roasting pan, position the foil carefully.  (see attached picture for details)
3. Roast according to your own recipe and serve.
4. Watch your guests' faces...

May your stuffing be tasty
May your turkey plump,
May your potatoes and gravy
Have never a lump.
May your yams be delicious
And your pies take the prize! ,
And may your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off your thighs!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Photo credits - Mark Hall all rights reserved - When you choose us to handle your Vancouver WA real estate needs, you choose a team of realtors® who care about you and your family. Buying or selling a home is always more enjoyable when you work with professionals who will listen to your needs and who will work together with you to achieve your objective. We are very familiar with all types a real estate in Clark County and we specialize in Vancouver, Ridgefield and Battle Ground. We are also very experienced with new home and custom home construction having assisted several local builders in selling new neighborhoods in the Vancouver Washington area.  Additionally, we have helped numerous families build their own Vancouver WA dream homes. We are dedicated to helping you make intelligent, informed decisions and to providing you with exceptional service. Go to www.ernw.org for more information. See our video here.  This post written by Mark Hall all rights reserved. Thanksgiving Humor - Surprise Your Guests!

Dear Home Seller, Is Your Agent Taking You For a Ride?

When choosing an agent to list your home, what factors are the most important to you?

Did you know that most people, when asked this question, will say that the listing price is one of the most important issues? Those people could be making a huge mistake. Here is the reason why-

Realtors® know that money is a huge issue for the seller. Some agents will try to "buy" a listing by telling the seller that they can get a price that is higher than the market is supporting. Their scam is to get a seller to list their home with them for an inflated listing price and then to ask them for a price reduction at a later date.

This tactic can be dangerous and costly to the seller for several reasons. The most obvious reason is that if the seller begins to make plans based on the inflated listing price, then they may make obligations that they will be unable to fulfill. This is very frustrating for sellers.

The most costly problem that this creates is the fact that the home is overpriced and sits on the declining market for longer than necessary. If a home is worth $400,000 and spends an extra month or two listed in a market that is declining 3% per month, the seller is losing about $12,000 per month!

Don't be fooled by the agent who comes to the listing appointment with a CMA that shows your home's value to be $20,000 or $30,000 higher than what the market suggests. We always shoot straight with our clients even when the truth means a lower price than they expect. We don't believe in misleading a seller just to get the listing and then asking for reductions later.

If you list with an honest agent at a reasonable price then the only ride that you should be expecting is a ride to the escrow office to sign the closing papers.

Photo credits - Mark Hall all rights reserved - When you choose us to handle your Vancouver WA real estate needs, you choose a team of realtors® who care about you and your family. Buying or selling a home is always more enjoyable when you work with professionals who will listen to your needs and who will work together with you to achieve your objective. We are very familiar with all types a real estate in Clark County and we specialize in Vancouver, Ridgefield and Battle Ground. We are also very experienced with new home and custom home construction having assisted several local builders in selling new neighborhoods in the Vancouver Washington area.  Additionally, we have helped numerous families build their own Vancouver WA dream homes. We are dedicated to helping you make intelligent, informed decisions and to providing you with exceptional service. Go to www.ernw.org for more information. See our video here.  This post written by Mark Hall all rights reserved. Dear Home Seller, Is Your Agent Taking You For a Ride? Vancouver WA Real Estate

 A snapshot of the Pier at Hermosa Beach CA. I was down visiting family last week and had a chance to surf here for a few days. The weather was nice and the waves were great!

Photo credits - Mark Hall all rights reserved - When you choose us to handle your Vancouver WA real estate needs, you choose a team of realtors® who care about you and your family. Buying or selling a home is always more enjoyable when you work with professionals who will listen to your needs and who will work together with you to achieve your objective. We are very familiar with all types a real estate in Clark County and we specialize in Vancouver, Ridgefield and Battle Ground. We are also very experienced with new home and custom home construction having assisted several local builders in selling new neighborhoods in the Vancouver Washington area.  Additionally, we have helped numerous families build their own Vancouver WA dream homes. We are dedicated to helping you make intelligent, informed decisions and to providing you with exceptional service. Go to www.ernw.org for more information. See our video here.  This post written by Mark Hall all rights reserved. PhoTabulous Friday Fotos - The Pier at Hermosa Beach CA

Buying Your First Home Should Be Fun - Not an adventure!

Our friends at Wikipedia define Adventure as follows:

An adventure is an activity that comprises (perceived) risky, dangerous or uncertain experiences. The term is often used in reference to physical activities that have some potential for physical danger, such as skydiving, mountain climbing, and extreme sports. However, the term also broadly refers to any enterprise that is potentially fraught with physical or psychological risk, such as a business venture, a love affair, or other major life undertakings.

As real estate agents, Janice and I don't think that words like dangerous or uncertain should be associated with a real estate transaction and the risks involved with activities like skydiving and mountain climbing should left to extreme sports enthusiasts.

To protect our clients, we write all of our contracts with the highest levels of protection available. All contingencies are included and the dates are tracked. We are proud to say that we have steered our clients clear of pitfalls and have never had a client fall into harms way during a transaction. We believe in words like safe and troublefree!

Are you looking fro a new home or do you know someone who is looking to buy a new home? Don't leave your financial well being in the hands of someone who you met at an open house. Their primary responsibility is generally to the seller. You need an agent who is dedicated to getting you into your new home in the safest manner possible.

Whether you are working to get your first time home buyer's $8000 tax credit or you just think it is time for a new house, we are here to help you.

Call us today for a free no obligation consultation.

Photo credits - Mark Hall all rights reserved - When you choose us to handle your Vancouver WA real estate needs, you choose a team of realtors® who care about you and your family. Buying or selling a home is always more enjoyable when you work with professionals who will listen to your needs and who will work together with you to achieve your objective. We are very familiar with all types a real estate in Clark County and we specialize in Vancouver, Ridgefield and Battle Ground. We are also very experienced with new home and custom home construction having assisted several local builders in selling new neighborhoods in the Vancouver Washington area.  Additionally, we have helped numerous families build their own Vancouver WA dream homes. We are dedicated to helping you make intelligent, informed decisions and to providing you with exceptional service. Go to www.ernw.org for more information. See our video here.  This post written by Mark Hall all rights reserved. Buying Your First Home Should Be Fun - Not an adventure!

The Crazy Lady Who Wouldn't Leave. Vancouver WA Real Estate

At the doorstep I gave my customary door knock and courtesy ring. It is a habit that I picked up during my first weeks as a realtor®. I always knock and ring the doorbell before I unlock the door. Unfortunately, I didn't have a chance to use the key because the seller opened the door and invited us in!

"Have you shown this house before?" she asked.

"Uh... No." I answered.

"Then you won't mind if I show you around." she said as she ushered us through the door and started her tour. She proceeded to take us through the cluttered house at a pace that would make snails looks like track stars. "This is the bedroom...this is another bedroom... this is the kitchen...this is..."

My clients peeked into a bathroom during her explanation of the second bedroom and were swiftly reprimanded for moving too quickly and asked to "pay attention."

My clients were annoyed and they completely checked out. There wasn't anything that anybody could have said that would have convinced them to consider buying that house. During the remaining home tours, they kept referring to it as the "Crazy Lady's House."

The sad part is that the home would have been perfect for them. The right size and layout. The right neighborhood and school district. The yard that they dreamed of. The problem is that they just can't get past the fact that it was the "Crazy Lady's House."

With that said, let me share a few thoughts with the sellers out there:

1. Most good realtors have toured thousands of homes in their careers.

2. You don't need to show them where the kitchen is, or point out the great room, or let them know that the bonus room could be used as an office, or a bedroom, or a den, or a... well you get the picture.

3. You make the buyer VERY uncomfortable and your presence will probably cause them to cross your home off of their list.

4. Listen to your agent when they talk to you about pricing, when they make suggestions about staging and de-cluttering your home, when they tell you how to successfully sell your home, and when they tell you to leave during buyer visits. You hired them for a reason. Take advantage of their expertise.

5. You don't want to be known as the owner of the "Crazy Person's House!" That would mean that the crazy person is you!

When you choose us to handle your Vancouver WA real estate needs, you choose a team of realtors® who care about you and your family. Buying or selling a home is always more enjoyable when you work with professionals who will listen to your needs and who will work together with you to achieve your objective. We are very familiar with all types a real estate in Clark County and we specialize in Vancouver, Ridgefield and Battle Ground. We are also very experienced with new home and custom home construction having assisted several local builders in selling new neighborhoods in the Vancouver Washington area.  Additionally, we have helped numerous families build their own Vancouver WA dream homes. We are dedicated to helping you make intelligent, informed decisions and to providing you with exceptional service. Go to www.ernw.org for more information. See our video here. The Crazy Lady Who Wouldn't Leave. Vancouver WA Real Estate

I found the post written by fellow Active Rainer, Israel Barden, and thought that I would share it with you all.

Found this while showing houses this week. Yes, it is hooked up with a dial tone!

Photo credits - Mark Hall all rights reserved - When you choose us to handle your Vancouver WA real estate needs, you choose a team of realtors® who care about you and your family. Buying or selling a home is always more enjoyable when you work with professionals who will listen to your needs and who will work together with you to achieve your objective. We are very familiar with all types a real estate in Clark County and we specialize in Vancouver, Ridgefield and Battle Ground. We are also very experienced with new home and custom home construction having assisted several local builders in selling new neighborhoods in the Vancouver Washington area.  Additionally, we have helped numerous families build their own Vancouver WA dream homes. We are dedicated to helping you make intelligent, informed decisions and to providing you with exceptional service. Go to www.ernw.org for more information. See our video here.  This post written by Mark Hall all rights reserved.

First Time Homebuyer's Tax Credit Extended and Enhanced! Vancouver Washington

The first time home buyer's tax credit has finally been extended and it has even benn enhanced to include current home owners. I have had a number of calls from my Vancouver Washington Real Estate Clients asking what that exactly means to them. This clip should clear it up for everyone.

When you choose us to handle your Vancouver WA real estate needs, you choose a team of realtors® who care about you and your family. Buying or selling a home is always more enjoyable when you work with professionals who will listen to your needs and who will work together with you to achieve your objective. We are very familiar with all types a real estate in Clark County and we specialize in Vancouver, Ridgefield and Battle Ground. We are also very experienced with new home and custom home construction having assisted several local builders in selling new neighborhoods in the Vancouver Washington area.  Additionally, we have helped numerous families build their own Vancouver WA dream homes. We are dedicated to helping you make intelligent, informed decisions and to providing you with exceptional service. Go to www.ernw.org for more information. See our video here.  This post written by Mark Hall all rights reserved. First Time Homebuyer's Tax Credit Extended and Enhanced! Vancouver Washington

Vancouver, NOT BC. Washington, NOT DC!

It seems that some of us Vancouver residents (Vancouverites? uh, Vancouveronians?) are suffering from an identity crisis. We don't know who we are and we aren't sure what to do about it.

The Columbian reports that "Clark County needs a new brand. Led by an economic developer at the city of Vancouver, they're launching a seven-month, zero-budget effort to agree on a new logo, phrase and "story" that somehow tie together this half-rural, half-suburban swatch of Southwest Washington."

Personally, I like Vancouver Washington just the way it is. I like to think of it as our little secret.  Beautiful scenery, no state income tax, awesome schools, great fishing and hunting, and just 10 minutes from everything that Portland has to offer...

Don't tell anyone. It will be our little secret!

Photo Credit - Mark Hall all rights reserved - When you choose us to handle your Vancouver WA real estate needs, you choose a team of realtors® who care about you and your family. Buying or selling a home is always more enjoyable when you work with professionals who will listen to your needs and who will work together with you to achieve your objective. We are very familiar with all types a real estate in Clark County and we specialize in Vancouver, Ridgefield and Battle Ground. We are also very experienced with new home and custom home construction having assisted several local builders in selling new neighborhoods in the Vancouver Washington area.  Additionally, we have helped numerous families build their own Vancouver WA dream homes. We are dedicated to helping you make intelligent, informed decisions and to providing you with exceptional service. Go to www.ernw.org for more information. See our video here. The Great Identity Crisis! Vancouver Washington

 I was looking for pics for another post when I ran across this one. It has always been one of my favorites.

Photo Credit - Mark Hall all rights reserved - When you choose us to handle your Vancouver WA real estate needs, you choose a team of realtors® who care about you and your family. Buying or selling a home is always more enjoyable when you work with professionals who will listen to your needs and who will work together with you to achieve your objective. We are very familiar with all types a real estate in Clark County and we specialize in Vancouver, Ridgefield and Battle Ground. We are also very experienced with new home and custom home construction having assisted several local builders in selling new neighborhoods in the Vancouver Washington area.  Additionally, we have helped numerous families build their own Vancouver WA dream homes. We are dedicated to helping you make intelligent, informed decisions and to providing you with exceptional service. Go to www.ernw.org for more information. See our video here.