Rick Evans - Sandpoint Idaho Real Estate's Blog

Its Winter at Schweitzer!

Sandpoint Sothebys Intl Realty — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:37:20 -0600

No photos today, but there is a ton of snow at Schweitzer Mountain! I finally dusted off my gear and went skiing today-- just what the doctor ordered!

I had my mind set on skiing today, after hearing from my friends who have been skinning up for the past week or so. I arrived at around 1p and met up with a couple of buddies, Mike and Marty. We skinned in from the Spires, at the end of Tall Timber Road. Great way to get to the South Ridge fairly quickly.

It was amazing getting back on the snow after the off season. It dumped all day, and it showed. The conditions were actually really good, with some nice powder for at least 2/3 of the way. The rock skies won't even be necessary in a few days.

I skied A chute and just loved it. Word is that Schweitzer will open its lifts this Friday.

I'm ready for my favorite season in Sandpoint- Winter!

Best Real Estate Values at Schweitzer Mountain

Sandpoint Sothebys Intl Realty — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:00:10 -0600

What are the best values for condos and homes at Schweitzer Mountain? This is a question that I always get from prospective Schweitzer buyers, and I take pride in having found and negotiated some tremendous deals for Schweitzer buyers in the past couple years. Today was the annual Schweitzer property tour for our Selkirk MLS, where we had a chance to preview 38 listings before the ski season gets started.

The best values to me overall are in the middle price levels, from $400 to $600k. Also I would encourage people to consider some of the condos and homes that are not necessarily ski-in/ski-out, as the price/value gets much better for some of these units. The Schweitzer Recreation District started a free ski shuttle on the mountain last season, picking people up from their residences within 15 minutes of calling. There is also a new ski bridge at the end of Telemark Road that makes the ski access to Musical Chairs way better than before for property owners in this neighborhood.

Following are the properties that stood apart as being very good values relative to everything else on Schweitzer:

115 Crystal Run #10 - $299,021 -- 1600 sft, 2bdr, 3 bath -- Ski in/Ski out -- this is definitely one of the best buys on the market in my opinion. Located just above the Village with the ski trail to its door - nothing in this price range on the ski trail other than Selkirk Lodge. There are no rental restrictions. The downstairs garage was converted into a separate studio along with a hot tub room. You could rent out the studio separate from the upstairs main condo. This is a bit dated but you could fix it up pretty nicely.

Snowdrift Condo #B2, listed at $279,000, 750sft, 2/1. Snowdrift is located on the left just before entering the Main Village parking lot. This unit has been completely redone, and the ski and village access is great.

130 Stella Lane #202 -- not on tour, trustee sale taking place on 12/23 with First American. My sources tell me the bank would accept $215,000. The property next door is listed at $385k, near the most recent sale.

20 Snowghost, Cedar Ridge unit 2- $589,000, 2007 sft, 3/3. Very nice unit sold furnished including a huge flat screen, two story townhouse next to the St Bernard with good ski access from the trail behind Chapel Point.

Cornice Condos #202 - $349,000, 1330 sft, 2/2. Very nice, vaulted ceiling, 2+ loft, big jacuzzi tub in master bath, furnished, big fireplace; ski access is average but a very nice place for the money.

369 Telemark Road-- $495,000 -- 2268 sft, single family house, lake views, very nice open floor plan. This is a great house and one of my favorite places on the mountain. The ski access is much better now with the new bridge at the end of Telemark Road. One of the rare single family homes available, meaning no HOA, no rental restrictions or rules. Also has a good rental history.

205 Ullr - $550,000 -- Beautiful residence with high vaulted ceiling near The Ridge. Finishings are very high end including Viking appliances and hydronic flooring. 4bdr 3 bath, 2628 sft. A creek runs by the property. One of the nicer places on the mountain.

Whiplash Circle #10-- $339,000-- also at The Ridge, 9 of the 12 of these condos have sold, with the most recent closing at $365,000. 3bdr, 2.5 bath, and 1918 sft makes it best price per square foot at Schweitzer.

Granite Peaks -- several units still available, now at short sale prices starting at $359,000 for 1700 sft with high end finishes and near Schweitzer Village. Problem was the landscape engineering from the beginning, but these challenges have apparently been addressed.

Also noteworthy is that Schweitzer Resort is moving forward rapidly on the first three homes in their new neighborhood above the Village. Two of these will be sold as 1/8 fractions supposedly under $200k per fraction. The homes look beautiful at this point with unbelievable views. Schweitzer has done a nice job replatting the former Trappers Creek neighborhood into all single family residences, with a new plan that seems to make sense for the market.

For all of the details on any of the above, visit my website at www.SandpointResortRealty.com and go to Property Search. Or call me at 208-304-5665 or email Rick@SandpointResortRealty.com to schedule a tour.

Sandpoint High School Football team in Finals

Sandpoint Sothebys Intl Realty — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:34:00 -0600

I have to admit I am just now jumping on the bandwagon to support our Sandpoint High School football team. I really hadn't been to any high school games that I can remember....well, probably since I was in high school myself.

But high school football in Sandpoint is really a fun and exciting event. We live just a couple blocks from Memorial Field, and I remember earlier in the season hearing an incredible amount of noise coming from the stadium. I had walked down with my dog and my son to check it out, and saw a completely packed house of raving fans cheering on the local high school team.

This support seems to be there for every home game. I have tried to stop in to check it out when I'm around. And its always a good time, with seemingly everyone in town showing up to suppor the team. To me this is quintessential small town living at its best, and I love it!

I'm encouraging my fifteen month old son to pay close attention, as this year's team is pretty awesome. They just won their semi-final game of the 4A division Idaho State High School Playoffs, 20-8, over Hillcrest. This puts them in the State Finals for 4A, which takes place on Nov 20 in Moscow, against Blackfoot HS. I believe this is the first finals appearance for the school in about 15 or 20 years!

2009 Real Estate Sales Volume in Bonner County higher than 2003

Sandpoint Sothebys Intl Realty — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:31:45 -0600

We learned some interesting stats at our weekly meeting for Tomlinson Sandpoint Sothebys Intl Realty. Total real estate sales in our MLS year to date is actually slightly more this year than it was in 2002. So why do so many realtors feel so poor right now...because there are So Many Realtors.

In 2002 there were 73 producing Agents (those who had at least one closed transaction), sharing a total of $245 million in revenues (year to date through October). In 2003 there were 79 producing agents in the Selkirk MLS, producing YTD revenues of $325 million. The average Agent that year made $83,000. In 04 as the market was beginning to heat up, there were 107 agents earning an average income of $103 million. The market continued to heat up into early 2007, and has slowed off since then.

THis year there has been $309 million in closed transactions, close to the 2003 mark which at the time was considered an excellent year. This dispels the notion that sales transactions are significantly low and that there is no activity. The big difference however, is that this 309 mil has been shared among 218 Agents, making an average income of just $28,000.

Another factor for us Realtors is that we are spending a great deal more money to market ourselves and our listings than we did 5 or 10 years ago.

What we are seeing right now in this market is many Realtors leaving the business. As difficult as this process is, it seems to be a natural part of the economic cycle and is a painful necessity. The market is likely to remain below where it had been in the boom years from 04 thru 06, which means those of us planning to stay in the business have to buckle down and survive.

disclaimer: the above stats are deemed accurate but not guaranteed. Stats were taken from the Selkirk MLS with a time period of Jan 1 to Oct 31, 2009.

Mountain Biking with my Shih Tzu in Sandpoint

Sandpoint Sothebys Intl Realty — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:39:34 -0600

As I was getting ready for a quick mountain bike ride the other day, our dog Bentley (a Shih Tzu) gave me the full guilt trip for leaving him at home. I wasn't looking to work too hard anyway, so I figured I'd bring him along and at least let him run around for a bit before or after my ride.

We drove to the trailhead off of Pine Street Loop just past Syringa, and I figured I'd go ahead and ride half a mile in on the flatter part and let Bentley chase after me. I almost turned back in the first couple minutes as he was already falling behind. But every time I started to go back for him he would be coming around the corner. Long story short, we ended up at the top of this fairly substantial climb that ends just off of Janish Drive several miles away. I almost called my wife to meet me at the road to take my little dog back home. But he just seemed to have his A game going, so I headed down and he followed. I was absolutely shocked- this is a pretty fast and long downhill, and Bentley just scampered over everything and basically stayed with me all the way to the car.

What a stud! I'd like to see another Shih Tzu that can hang like that!

Incidentally, this is a great local Sandpoint ride that not many people know about. There are a bunch of ways to go, but essentially this is single track that connects all the way from Pine Street Loop to Janish Drive (way up Baldy Road). There are some relatively technical sections and also tons of fast and fun riding.

First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Extended into 2010

Sandpoint Sothebys Intl Realty — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:13:37 -0600

It's official. President Obama has signed a bill that extends the tax credit for first-time homebuyers (FTHBs) into the first half of 2010. This program had been scheduled to expire on November 30, 2009.

In addition to extending the tax credit of up to $8,000 through June 30, 2010, the extension measure also opens up opportunities for others who are not buying a home for the first time.

So Who Gets What?
The program that has existed for FTHBs remains intact with the one exception that more people are now eligible based on an increase in the amount of income someone may now earn.

Additionally, the program now gives those who already own a residence some additional reasons to move to a new home. This incentive comes in the form of a tax credit of up to $6,500 for qualified purchasers who have owned and occupied a primary residence for a period of five consecutive years during the last eight years.

Deadlines
In order to qualify for the credit, all contracts need to be in effect no later than April 30, 2010 and close no later than June 30, 2010.

Higher Income Caps in Effect
The amount of income someone can earn and qualify for the full amount of the credit has been increased.

Single tax filers who earn up to $125,000 are eligible for the total credit amount. Those who earn more than this cap can receive a partial credit. However, single filers who earn $145,000 and above are ineligible.

Joint filers who earn up to $225,000 are eligible for the total credit amount. Those who earn more than this cap can receive a partial credit. However, joint filers who earn $245,000 and above are ineligible.

Maximum Purchase Price
Qualifying buyers may purchase a property with a maximum sales price of $800,000.

First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit - Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about the tax credit.

What is a tax credit?
A tax credit is a direct reduction in tax liability owed by an individual to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). In the event no taxes are owed, the IRS will issue a check for the amount of the tax credit an individual is owed. Unlike the tax credit that existed in 2008, this credit does not require repayment unless the home, at any time in the first 36 months of ownership, is no longer an individual's primary residence.

What is the tax credit for first-time homebuyers (FTHBs)?
An eligible homebuyer may request from the IRS a tax credit of up to $8,000 or 10% of the purchase price for a home. If the amount of the home purchased is $75,000, the maximum amount the credit can be is $7,500. If the amount of the home purchased is $100,000, the amount of the credit may not exceed $8,000.

Who is eligible for the FTHB tax credit?
Anyone who has not owned a primary residence in the previous 36 months, prior to closing and the transfer of title, is eligible. This applies both to single taxpayers and married couples. In the case where there is a married couple, if either spouse has owned a primary residence in the last 36 months, neither would qualify. In the case where an individual has owned property that has not been a primary residence, such as a second home or investment property, that individual would be eligible.

As mentioned above, the tax credit has been expanded so that existing homeowners who have owned and occupied a primary residence for a period of five consecutive years during the last eight years are now eligible for a tax credit of up to $6,500.

How do I claim the credit?
For those taking advantage of the tax credit in 2009, you may choose to either apply for the credit with your 2009 tax return or you may apply for the credit sooner by filing an amended 2008 tax return with Form 5405 (http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f5405.pdf).

Sandpoint Idaho Featured in Where to Retire Magazine

Sandpoint Sothebys Intl Realty — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:06:41 -0600

Sandpoint Idaho has once again received incredible recognition in the latest issue of 'Where to Retire', a magazine that is available in every airport in the country.

This article talks about Sandpoint being 'the next great place' to not only retire, but also to live and enjoy the four season outdoor lifestyle and the many cultural events, so unique to such a small town. A fellow Sothebys agent and friend of mine, Gary Lirette, was one of several people interviewed and highlighted in this article.

The article talks all about Schweitzer, Lake Pend Oreille and the beautiful natural amenities we have. It also goes on to discuss the many festivals and cultural attractions. And it touches on the real reason that my family and I chose Sandpoint over so many other outdoor/ski towns...the fact that so many of us have come here for the same reasons, the old fashioned values, neighbors caring for one another, and a place where you are free to be an individual and are accepted for who you are, no pretension.

Finally the article discusses the relatively low prices of real estate, when compared to other towns that share even close to the amenities and quality of life that we enjoy.

To read the entire article follow this link:

http://www.sandpointresortrealty.com/pdf/WhereRetireNov2009.PDF

To see more press on Sandpoint:

http://www.sandpointresortrealty.com/sandpoint.html

Dover Bay Resort selects new real estate sales team

Sandpoint Sothebys Intl Realty — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:46:41 -0600

Dover Bay Waterfront Resort has selected a core team of Real Estate Agents to represent most of its property sales, including Bayside South condos, Parkside Bungalows, Cabins in the Woods, Cottages at Dover Meadows, Bayside North and Reedwalk Homesites. This new team is comprised of myself, PJ Nunley, Carrie LaGrace, and Brian Harvey, all with Jeff Bond's team at Tomlinson Sandpoint Sothebys International Realty.

TSSIR has and will continue to be the Listing Broker representing the sale of properties owned by Dover Bay Development. This change has simply reduced the number of Listing Agents on the Dover team. And rather than having two agents responsible for different neighborhoods, the four of us now form a core team sharing equally in the responsibility for all listings.

What this means for the customer and for Dover Bay property owners ...

1) Easier to form relationships with the Dover sales team, as all of us will have our primary offices at the Dover Discovery Center

2) A team approach means we all work together to help our customers. So if one of us is unavailable there should always be someone to help out at the time the customer wants assistance.

3) We are all experts on Dover Bay and all the real estate products offered. This eliminates the need for a customer (or another Agent) to be passed along to several people to get the help they need.

Any outside Real Estate Agents, Property Owners, or interested parties will also be able to call on any of the four of us for help with all of the above listings. We will work closely together to ensure an excellent experience for anyone interested in Real Estate at Dover Bay.

To meet the new Dover Bay team, stop by the Discovery Center at the entrance to Dover Bay or call our office at 208-265-0627.

For the latest information on Dover Bay, visit the Dover website at http://www.DoverBayIdaho.com as well as my site at http://www.SandpointResortRealty.com.

Lakedance Film Festival at the Panida Theatre off to a great start

Sandpoint Sothebys Intl Realty — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:47:07 -0600

Fred and Trevor Greenfield have contributed greatly to the cultural aspect of Sandpoint by bringing us the Lakedance Film Festival. In its fourth season at The Panida Theatre, the Lakedance Festival is now one of the top 100 festivals in the country.

The event started on October 31 with a 'Horror on the Lake' Halloween special, airing four of the scariest movies of all time including Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Night of the Living Dead. It then picked up last night for the actual opening night and will take place each evening through Saturday. The first evening was devoted to North Idaho Filmmakers, a category this is growing each year and provides a unique opportunity for our local aspiring filmmakers.

Evans Brothers Coffee, a new coffee roasting business owned by my brother and I, has participated in the Lakedance Festival this year as a sponsor. We donated coffee for the sponsors event at Lakedance on Thursday evening and attended the Friday reception at Laughing Dog Brewery. My brother (the real coffee genius of the partnership- I just do sales and marketing) hosted the first ever espresso bar at the Panida Theatre last night, and will continue to do so through the rest of the week.

It has been fun for us to be involved in this event and we look forward to doing our part to help this and other cultural events thrive in the Sandpoint community. The Lakedance Festival is one of many events unique to our town that really make it special. Of course we have the amazing natural amenities with Lake Pend Oreille and Schweitzer Mountain. But the artistic, musical, and cultural offerings make us a complete destination in my book.

For more information on Sandpoint events, visit www.SandpointResortRealty.com.

Tomlinson Sandpoint Sothebys Intl Realty cornering the high-end market

Sandpoint Sothebys Intl Realty — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:26:29 -0500

The Sotheby's name has always been synonymous with luxury, and in most every location these offices have the lion's share of the luxury listings. This was certainly the case in Southern California when I lived there, and its definitely the case in Sandpoint and North Idaho.

Here are some interesting stats, showing year to date numbers in the Selkirk MLS through Sept 09.

% of all closed transactions:

Tomlinson Sothebys (TSSIR) $66 million 30%

Century 21 $47 million 21%

Evergreen Realty $19 million 9%

Coldwell Banker $16 million 7%

All Other $73 million 33%

Pretty good numbers for Tomlinson, and these figures seem to have held pretty true in the 25-35% market share year in and year out. However in the high end this dominance is even more pronounced.

All sales greater than $500,0000- TSSIR has almost HALF!

TSSIR $36 mil 47%

C21 $15 mil 19%

Sales greater than $1 million (TSSIR has 77% of the market year to date)

TSSIR $24 million 77% of luxury market closed sales

C21 $15 million

Another impressive stat is in vacant land over $1 million, where TSSIR has 100% of the market year to date.

So in summary, its clear that our office is the best choice for listing or buying high end property. We have a core group of top producing agents who all communicate regularly, work together to get our office listings sold, and who make it easy to quickly find the best values in the market.

As a specialist in waterfront, Schweitzer, and resort properties, my personal average sale has been in the $600s range. While I put the same hard work into helping all of my clients, regardless of price range, I believe that I am in the right position to help this niche of buyers and sellers. To discuss listing your property or to search for properties at Schweitzer, Lake Pend Oreille, Dover Bay, or others, visit www.SandpointResortRealty.com or email me at Rick@SandpointResortRealty.com.

Sunday Afternoon in Fall at Faragut State Park

Sandpoint Sothebys Intl Realty — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 22:20:11 -0500

Mandy, Trace, Bentley and I were looking for something to do on Sunday in this in-between Fall season...meaning in-between being able to go swimming in the lake or playing in the snow. So we took the short drive to Faragut State Park just a half hour or so south of Sandpoint.

I had been mountain biking a few times and had a blast on all the fast single track that lines Lake Pend Oreille but had never really taken the time to just walk around and explore. Faragut is really an amazingly beautiful spot on the south end of Lake Pend Oreille, near Bayview. This area is near where the lake hits about 1150 feet deep, and the mountains just shoot up from the water.

With the water level a bit low we were really able to enjoy hanging on the beach, feeding ducks, and my boy's favorite pasttime... throwing rocks in the water!

We did a bit of swinging at the kids park.

And we took a nice family hike on one of the many trails along the shoreline.

Next time we plan to campout in one of the great campgrounds they have set up at the park. Even better we'll make sure to have a boat there for the weekend, along with our bikes. Definitely another cool spot in North Idaho for the whole family!

American Falls mountain bike ride near Priest Lake

Sandpoint Sothebys Intl Realty — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 19:47:46 -0500

A group of 13 of us went mountain biking last weekend at American Falls trail, about an hour north of Priest Lake along the Canadian Border. This was absolutely one of the top 2 or 3 rides of my life, and is one that should be added to the list of every mountain biker in the Inland Northwest!

This is a really fast ride, similar to Mineral Point near Garfield Bay, in that its like a roller coaster, up and down, rather than a sustained climb and descent. The condition of the trail is amazing- super smooth and your tires just stick to the track, especially after the recent rain. There are all kinds of bridges and different features like you'll find at some of the Schweitzer trails. This trail has the perfect combination of fast easy riding, and focused more technical aspects that challenge even the best bikers.

It was our buddy Scott's birthday and so we really had a blast, basically partying and biking all day. The trail takes you to a stunning waterfall is deep in a canyon. We all climbed up the side of the rocks in order to sit in the warm sliver of sun that was making it through. This was definitely not the kind of day where everyone races to the end, so there was probably an hour gap between the first and last of the group. Those of us who pulled back into the parking area built a nice fire where we all hung out for several hours as the sun set.

Another great day enjoying the outdoors in our beautiful countryside of North Idaho!

www.SandpointResortRealty.com

Farmers Market at Sandpoint

Sandpoint Sothebys Intl Realty — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 23:08:35 -0500

The Sandpoint Farmers Market takes place every Wednesday from 300-530pm and on Saturdays from 9a-330p. For our size community to support two weekly markets from May into October is pretty cool in and of itself. But this one always seems to have solid support from both the farmers and vendors, to the locals who make it a habit to buy their groceries at the market.

My wife and I only recently started going to most of the Markets, and we're really hooked now. Since we have been at the Market over the past few weeks, we've gotten to know most of the farmers who are just awesome additions to Sandpoint and the North Idaho community. Most of these people are smaller scale family businesses. You'll usually see all the kids chipping in to help out, talking to customers about the fantastic family potatoes, vegetables, or goat cheese. The markets become a real family and neighborhood event if you participate regularly, as there are so many regulars in attendance each time.

The Market has been able to line up some nice entertainment every week as well, usually very entertaining and engaging. Its fun to see all the kids dancing and chasing each other around while parents visit with each other and buy groceries. Certainly a better experience than the standard trip to the grocery store! And the food is really something else- a great way to stock up on the essentials.

With the last Market taking place this Saturday Oct 10th, there is already a plan in place for a Winter Farmers Market in the Cedar Street Bridge. Hopefully this will be able to get off the ground. Regardless of this, the new online Six Rivers Marketplace is bound to catch on as a great year round alternative to these farmers markets. Local farmers and other 'producers' pay a small fee to sell their product through this website and post their offering online. Then consumers can shop online and pick everything they want, having it bagged and ready for pickup at the Sandpoint Events Center every Wed afternoon. This is a concept that has been huge in towns like Bend, Oregon and is certain to catch on. The basic concept of supporting local business and sustainable living just resonates well around here in these times.

So this final weekend of Harvest Fest is the last Farmers Market of the season. With OctoberFest following immediately afterwards in the Sothebys parking lot, there are sure to be tons of people out enjoying the peak of Fall and talking about another epic ski season on the horizon.

Aerial Photographs of Sandpoint's Sandcreek Bypass Project

Sandpoint Sothebys Intl Realty — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 14:05:47 -0500

A photographer that I sometimes use for aerial photography of larger listings is taking ongoing aerial shots of the Sandcreek Byway Project in Sandpoint Idaho. This gives a really clear picture, for better or worse, of where the new highway is going and how it will fit into the current Downtown Sandpoint picture.

Here is the link: http://calljerry.biz/BywayProgress8-09/

My personal opinion on the Sandpoint Bypass is that it is needed, but that we really missed an opportunity to have a much better and less obtrusive routing of this new highway bypass. I think everyone in town agrees that there were more preferable routes that would have allowed us to retain the smaller town feel along Sandcreek, including the famous rope swing. There will definitely be some negative impact from this location.

Having said this however, I think there will still be a net gain for the community and businesses of Downtown Sandpoint. The current situation having semi trucks driving through the heart of Downtown Sandpoint is definitely unsatisfactory. I've heard some people argue that bypassing downtown will hurt merchants, but I think it is the opposite. Our downtown will become much more pedestrian and bicycle friendly, encouraging even more people to make it a destination for shopping, eating, and just strolling. The trucks that are cruising through aren't what is supporting the downtown businesses; rather its the locals and the tourists here for vacation.

I also have seen some of the plans surrounding additional park space along Sandcreek, and a connection from the Cedar Street Bridge allowing another way to cross over to the City Beach and other amenities. All in all our town will ultimately be better off.

For more information you can visit the Cedar Street Bridge where a model is available, or continue to watch the web link shown.

Rick Evans

www.SandpointResortRealty.com

208-304-5665

rick@sandpointresortrealty.com

Dover Bay Resort offering Special Finance Incentives

Sandpoint Sothebys Intl Realty — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 16:07:30 -0500

Dover Bay Resort is now offering incredible finance incentives for standing inventory, to anyone who initiates a Purchase offer before October 1. Dover Bay has worked with Mountain West Bank to create this opportunity, with rates that really provide an exceptional savings. However this is a short term offer that applies to any Purchase & Sale agreements that are initiated by October 1.

For conforming loans (up to $417,000) the following rates are being offered: 3% Interest Rate for year 1, 4% Interest Rate for year 2, and 5% for years 3 through 30. This is based on excellent credit, 10% down, and a primary residence purchase. Second home purchases however should be much the same, except for potentially requiring 5-10% additional down payment. For a Bayside South condo priced at $388,000, your payments would be as follows: $1472/month in year 1, $1667/month in year 2, and $1875/month for the balance. No funny business with these loans- simple 30 yr fixed, but with Dover Bay negotiating what amounts to a 'rate buydown' for its purchasers.

Special finance packages at Dover Bay are also being offered on Jumbo loans (loan amount over $417,000) as well as Home Site Loans. The Jumbo mortgage market has been particularly challenging in the past year because of the lack of a secondary market to purchase these loan funds, and rates have typically been at least 7%. Dover Bay's offer will provide a 5% rate for year 1, 6% for year 2, and 7% thereafter with just 10 to 20% down. Home site loans will be offered with 25% down on a 20 year loan with 5 year call, at 7.5%. Of course all of these rates are subject to change based on market conditions.

For those people who have been sitting on the fence waiting for the right time to purchase the perfect home, this should provide the motivation for many to jump! Coupled with new pricing on the Cabins in the Woods, new floor plans and aggressive pricing for the Cottages and Parkside Bungalows, this is probably the best buying opportunity in the history of Dover Bay.

Signs have been pointing to a real estate market recovery, both nationally and locally in the Sandpoint area. Many don't realize that our market in Bonner County has actually been trending downward going into its 5th year, which is typically the longer end of down market cycles. The price per unit is definitely stabilized, with inventory leveled off in most submarkets. Our office of Tomlinson Sandpoint Sothebys Intl Realty, which accounts for roughly 1/3 of all transactions in the county, has been experiencing incredible volume in closings and pendings over the past couple of months.

To discuss the real estate market and buying opportunities in Dover Bay or the Sandpoint area, please email me at rick@sandpointresortrealty.com, call 208-304-5665, or visit my website at www.SandpointResortRealty.com where you can search the entire MLS and find more detail on Dover and other area developments.

Family Campout at Smith Creek in North Idaho

Sandpoint Sothebys Intl Realty — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:58:33 -0500

My wife and I have always wanted our kids to have a well-rounded upbringing, with the experiences of camping being a part of this. North Idaho has so many amazing spots, with all the wilderness and public lands available to us.

This past weekend we drove to a spot called Smitch Creek, located a few minutes north of Bonners Ferry near the Canadian border. Its only about 65 miles from Sandpoint but you are certainly 'away from it all'.

We met up with several friends and their kids, with four boys ranging in age from 2 to 4, another girl age 3, and an infant of about 4 months. (Sidenote: its amazing how you learn to tune out other people's screaming kids once you have one of your own). In any case these kids were great for the most part and our little guy who just turned 1, did his best to jump right in there. It was probably the first time I really saw Trace as a little boy rather than a baby, as he was waddling around the campsite, tripping over everything, pushing dump trucks thru the dirt, throwing rocks, and just having a blast!

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Our camping spot was right on the creek, and there were natural water slides and rocks to jump off, along with all kinds of trails for biking and hiking. I had my mountain bike with me and was able to explore some amazing scenery. On Saturday we hiked to an alpine lake called Hidden Lake, where we spent a couple hours in the sun playing in the water, throwing more rocks, and having lunch. The water was cold but the setting was unreal, and we had a really nice relaxing time. The return hike back to camp knocked Trace out...

What a great weekend! These trips are so much more rewarding now that we have a son to experience them with! Our next venture will be Priest Lake sometime in September we hope.

For more photos of our trip and others visit my Facebook page, or www.SandpointResortRealty.com.

Seasons at Sandpoint adding eight luxury lakefront townhomes

Sandpoint Sothebys Intl Realty — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:47:53 -0500

Seasons at Sandpoint has announced that they will be moving forward with construction of eight luxury lakefront townhomes to complement the 72 existing condominium residences, all of which are waterfront with wide open views over Lake Pend Oreille.

This news comes on the heels of Seasons recent announcement that they have retired all outstanding bank debt on the property. This is great news for the resort real estate business in North Idaho, as it provides a stable environment and the means to move forward with a very high profile resort condominium development located in downtown Sandpoint. Seasons occupies a nice niche in the marketplace, that of a full-service luxury condo hotel, in town and on Lake Pend Oreille.

With the troubles that the Idaho Club has had of late its nice to see another development coming out with positive news. Dover Bay Waterfront Resort is another nearby resort community that is very stable financially and continuing to move forward with construction projects. The Marina Town condominiums at Dover are probably the closest offering to what Seasons of Sandpoint has, yet one or the other typically appeals to a particular buyer as they are each unique products.

The general contractor for the new Seasons townhomes will be Spokane-based Bison Builders. They will begin building these three-story townhomes, approximately 4000 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 3.5 baths, 3 balconies, and private interior elevators. Buyers have the option of a pre-selected luxury finish or can complete their own finish package after closing. These townhomes will not only be the creme of the crop at Seasons but really will become some of the most luxurious residences in the region. All Seasons owners benefit from a full time concierge, destination spa and fitness, private beach and pool, and a personal boat slip at the Seasons marina.

The first four townhomes are expected to be complete by Spring of 2010, however they are available now from the high one millions with some nice sales incentives offered.

Real estate sales at The Seasons have actually picked up lately, however some of these deals have been resales at aggressively low prices. Buyers right now have a great opportunity here if this is the right product for them. There is currently a resale unit, with 1400 square feet and 2 bedrooms, directly lakefront, priced at $499,000. There have been 7 closed and pending sales this year at Seasons, which isn't bad at all. Prices range from the low point in Feb 09 of $450,000, to a 4000 square foot penthouse pending at $2.2 million. Prices seem to have stabilized as the same type unit that sold at $450k in Feb just went for $550k in August.

If you are interested in learning more about Seasons at Sandpoint, or Marina Town at Dover Bay, or perhaps lower price waterfront condos in Hope or Sandpoint, visit www.SandpointResortRealty.com or contact Rick at 208-304-5665, rick@sandpointresortrealty.com

2009 Festival at Sandpoint- Another Great Community Event

Sandpoint Sothebys Intl Realty — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:16:29 -0500

The two week Festival at Sandpoint ended with a bang (literally, with fireworks) on Sunday evening after the Spokane Symphony's Benny Goodman tribute. Once again this Festival proved to be an amazing time with friends and family, listening to some great music.

As a member of the Sandpoint community, I feel obligated to support the Festival with season passes each year (even though I don't always get excited about every show). I think this is one aspect that makes our Festival so unique. There is a wide variety of music each year, from 70s rock, to reggae, to country, to alternative, you name it. My wife and I go to every night's event and end up enjoying most of them.

For example I have never been a big country music fan, other than classic Cash or Nelson. But Mandy, my wife, is a HUGE country fan. So I begrudgingly went to the Clint Black concert on Saturday night....and I LOVED IT! The opening act, GYPSY, was phenomenal. They had more of a punk rock look to them and played a combination of gypsy jazz (ala Django Rhinehart) and bluegrass. Instrumentally they were incredible.

For Clint Black I really expected a 'yawner', but the show was high energy all the way through. There is a reason that Clint is one of the top country music stars of all time, and we really are fortunate to get high caliber performances in little Sandpoint Idaho. His band was amazing, particularly the fiddler and his lead guitarist. Clint even hopped on the drums himself for one song. They played a wide variety of music, including an incredible Willie Nelson tune, some bluegrass, classics like 'Nothing But the Taillights', and probably my favorite was his encore with the Eagles song, 'Desperado'. He ended up getting the entire audience to stand up and sing along to several of his songs...including my wife Mandy who can't sing at all and almost never lets me hear her. :)

The Festival at Sandpoint is such a unique festival not only because of the caliber of musical acts, but because of the real neighborhood feel that you get. The venue is Memorial Field in downtown Sandpoint, under the stars on Lake Pend Oreille. You can bring your own blanket, picnic basket, or booze and just do your own thing. Babies and kids are running around, you run into all your friends, and it truly feels like a private party in the backyard. Memorial Field holds about 3000 people, which in a town of about 8000 is pretty good. But somehow it always feels more like 300 people.

Sandpoint is a town of festivals and community events, but The Festival at Sandpoint is certainly the top dog. Its another reminder of just how special of a place we have here.

Schweitzer Mountain Resort Breaks Ground on Fractional Ownership Residence Club

Sandpoint Sothebys Intl Realty — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 11:55:39 -0500

Schweitzer Mountain has begun construction on four luxury residences at Trappers Creek, the ski-in/ski-out neighborhood located above the Schweitzer Village adjacent to the Basin Express chair. This will serve as the first real introduction to Fractional Ownership in the North Idaho resort market, a real estate sales model that has served other ski destinations very well.

Schweitzer has hired Brent Baker of Baker Construction here in Sandpoint Idaho as the general contractor. This was a great selection in my opinion, as Brent is very much a Sandpoint local with extensive experience building at Schweitzer over the years. Jim Ruscitto, a prominent Seattle architect, has been working with Schweitzer on the design, which can be described as ‘rustic contemporary' or ‘modern mountain', with a nice balance of woods and stone, large balconies to enjoy the summer, and orientations that will maximize views of Lake Pend Oreille. The full ownership home is slated for Lot 8 and will be approximately 3400 square feet, while the three fractional ownership homes will offer 3 bedrooms and approximately 2400 square feet.

Fractional Ownership, or Private Residence Clubs, are a new offering in the Inland Northwest, but offer a model that has been very successful in other resort and ski destinations around the country. Current plans at Schweitzer call for 1/8 shares that would include club amenities yet to be determined. Michael Burns, an experienced Fractional Ownership Consultant has been working with Schweitzer's ownership to develop this plan.

The beauty of Fractional Ownership is that owners are given a deed to property (unlike a timeshare), providing the benefits of equity and appreciation, yet without the hassles of having to be responsible for a home that is only part-time. If someone is spending $350,000 (as a random example), they could stay in a fractional residence that might cost $1.5 million rather than buy an older, smaller condo on their own for the same price.

So what is the catch? Perhaps the biggest impediment is in securing good financing for fractional ownership, at least in today's financial market. Schweitzer may be addressing this issue by helping with some of these finance options, which would be a very smart move on their part. The other challenge is that the dues structure tends to be relatively high for residence clubs, in order to pay for not only the amenities of the club but also the increased administration that it takes to effectively run one of these.

All in all I believe this is a very smart move for Schweitzer. A big goal for ownership is obviously to bring more bodies to the slopes, to spend money on ancillary services and support a vibrant village. Fractional Ownership makes this happen, while also opening up a price point that will be significantly lower than a full ownership offering in the same location. If all goes to plan, Schweitzer will be able to launch this sales effort in time for the 2009 Christmas Holiday, with the first model fast-tracked and ready for occupancy as soon as February 15, 2010. The other units would then be completed near the end of the upcoming ski season and ready to close by late Spring 2010.

If you'd like to learn more about Fractional Ownership opportunities at Schweitzer, or other possibilities in the Sandpoint market, please send an email to Rick@SandpointResortRealty.com, or call my direct line at 208-304-5665. You might also visit my website at http://www.SandpointResortRealty.com to stay up to date on the latest resort real estate offerings in North Idaho.

Competitive Instincts Bike Shop in Sandpoint Idaho

Sandpoint Sothebys Intl Realty — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 23:29:36 -0500

Larry with Competitive Instincts Bike Shop in Sandpoint Idaho is THE person to see for any bike repairs in the area, whether road or mountain. His business is one of those 1-man places that just adds value to a town like Sandpoint.

Larry is the kind of guy that knows pretty much everyone in town. He is extremely honest and is always concerned first and foremost with saving the customer money and in getting him on the road as soon as possible.

I became sold on using Competitive Instincts for all my bicycle repairs after buying an old Torelli road bike, which is a classic bike with a handmade Italian frame and parts that just aren't made anymore. I started having problems immediately with the shifting and all the tweaking did nothing but make it worse. I visited several area bike shops and was looking at spending $500 minimum for the new parts I would need.

After learning about Larry from a buddy (referrals are probably the only source of business as Larry keeps costs low and doesn't do any advertising to speak of), I visited him with my bike problem. He spent a great deal of time researching the options and was able to find rebuilt parts from an Italian company. At the end of the day he completely fixed my bike for about $100.

I have since taken my mountain bike in a couple of times. No matter how busy he seems to be, Larry always is concerned with getting my bike ready for the weekend or whenever I plan on riding next. The turnaround is typically a day or two no matter the repair. Last time I took the bike I mentioned wanting fatter tires and he happened to have a very slightly used pair. He gave them to me for $10 - tires that were $200 new.

You can visit Larry's small shop located just off Hwy 2 and Ontario, on 448 So Ella or call him at 208-255-2986. Just be prepared to visit for a few minutes because he'll definitely want to tell you stories and loves to talk. :)

15th Annual Long Bridge Swim, Sandpoint, Idaho

Sandpoint Sothebys Intl Realty — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 12:54:59 -0500

I swam across Lake Pend Oreille in the Long Bridge Swim yesterday! What a cool event! This swim race is probably the premier swimming event in the Northwest, and is truly one of Sandpoint Idaho's quintessential events.

In its 15th year the Sandpoint Long Bridge Swim sets a new record for participation every year. This year I believe there were close to 900 swimmers, ranging in age from 88 to 5 years old. That's right, 5! We all gathered at City Beach prior to the race and were bussed over to the south side of the Long Bridge. The race is 1.76 miles across Lake Pend Oreille, running parallel to the bridge, and finishing at 'Dog Beach' on the Sandpoint side. What's really unique about this race is that it is so great for spectators, because they can literally walk the Long Bridge and cheer on their favorite swimmers from above.

Pretty much the entire town of Sandpoint comes out to either participate or watch this event. More than anything this is a fun event that makes for a great morning and afternoon for participants as well as spectators.

This was my first time doing the Long Bridge Swim, and 1.76 miles is definitely the furthers I've ever swam. Last year I was registered and ready to go, however my son Trace was actually born on the day of the swim so I ended up in the hospital all afternoon waiting for my wife to hurry up and give birth. :) This year it was fantastic having Mandy and Trace follow along and watch me from the Bridge. Afterwards Trace and I swam around at Dog Beach and enjoyed the afternoon.

The conditions for the swim this year were excellent. The air temp was probably 95 degrees by the end, and the water must have been high 70s or 80, with almost glassy conditions and no current to speak of. The water was super clear and it definitely made the distance much easier having 900 people swimming with you!

Waterfront Property in Hope Idaho

Sandpoint Sothebys Intl Realty — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 03:03:20 -0500

Waterfront property in Hope Idaho offers some of the finest homes and parcels on Lake Pend Oreille. This is due in large part because much of the water frontage offers huge views of 2-4 mile wide portions of Lake Pend Oreille with the majestic Green Monarch Mountains in the background. There are some elaborate and large estate homes, many of which are perched on sandy beaches with crystal clear, deep water ideal for swimming and boating.

The town of Hope Idaho is just 20 minutes drive from Sandpoint, and approximately 30 minutes by boat. Its essentially a bedroom community, with a couple smaller resorts such as Holiday Shores Resort & Marina, and Beyond Hope Resort. There are several good restaurants, and a local favorite boating destination is The Floating Restaurant, or 'The Floater'.

Our real estate office of Tomlinson Sandpoint Sothebys had its annual boating tour of Waterfront Property Listings on Lake Pend Oreille and Pend Oreille River. This included river frontage at Dover Bay and beyond, and lake front properties in Hope, Sunnyside, Oden Bay, Kootenai Bay, South Sandpoint, Comeback Bay, Bottle Bay, Garfield Bay, and Warren Island. With around half of the total waterfront and luxury real estate listings held by our office, we saw quite a bit of property this afternoon.

Several waterfront homes in Hope really stood out as being quite spectacular. This included Jeff Bond's house on Kienholz Drive, with 400 feet of gorgeous lake frontage, a 5600 square foot deluxe home, in a gated exclusive community on the Hope Peninsula. The list price for this home is around $3.9 million, down from an original price of $4.9.

There were other amazing estate homes on the Hope Peninsula, including a gorgeous French Country home on Pringle Drive, and another 6000 square foot home near the Beyond Hope Resort listed at $2.6 million.

Of course there are also some really nice waterfront properties in Hope that are somewhat more affordable, with lakefront homes from just under 1 million and lakefront homesites from the high $400s. THe most affordable waterfront option in Hope would probably be the Holiday Shores Resort, offering condos from as low as $345,000. These are direct lakefront homes located near the Marina and the Beyond Hope Resort.

To search for property in Hope, please follow this link, select 'waterfront' and type 'Hope' for city: http://www.sandpointresortrealty.com/all.html. Or contact me directly at 208-304-5665, rick@sandpointresortrealty.com.

Waterfront Condos in South Sandpoint Idaho

Sandpoint Sothebys Intl Realty — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 00:01:37 -0500

Prices have certainly come down for Waterfront Condos in South Sandpoint. There are really only a few options for condominiums on the water in the heart of downtown, or 'South Sandpoint'.

For luxury waterfront condos on Lake Pend Oreille a great option is Seasons at Sandpoint. These south facing luxury condominiums are located steps from the Sandpoint City Beach and just across the inlet from the heart of Downtown Sandpoint. Seasons offers a private sandy beach, an elegant lakefront pool and jacuzzis, a private marina, and a luxurious Spa and Fitness Center that is often a destination for Sandpoint visitors. Seasons is set up as a condominium resort hotel, complete with concierge services, bell service, property management and a rental program. Shuttle service is also provided to Schweitzer Mountain.

These waterfront condos were selling quickly when they were first released a few years ago, with prices starting above 1 million. Recently a number of resale units have come onto the market with substantially lower prices. Because of its unique nature as one of South Sandpoint's only luxury waterfront condos, this product is sure to take off again as the real estate market improves. There are currently two pending sales for the smaller floor plan (2 bedroom, 1400 sft), both in the $500s range. In May there was an absolutely incredible purchase made at a price of $450,000. There is also a larger plan that has sod recently for $742k, a condo that originally listed at $900k last year.

The lowest priced Waterfront Condos in South Sandpoint can be found at either Condo Del Sol or Driftwood. Condo Del Sol is an older complex that obviously doesnt offer the amenities of Seasons, but does have several outdoor pools, tennis courts, volleyball and basketball courts, and a nice lawn area that includes brick barbeques. These units are located on the west side of the Long Bridge along a portion of Lake Pend Oreille that is gorgeous in the summer but where the water level subsides significantly by the Fall leaving lesser views. There are no boat slips, however the Sandpoint City Marina is just across the highway. Condo Del Sol offers 1, 2, or 3 bedroom condos from 560 to 1200 square feet. The lowest price is currently $209,000 for a 1 bedroom or $249,000 for a 3 bedroom, all of which are waterfront. There have been some lower priced units on the market that were put back into a vacation rental program for the summer months. I personally know of a 1bedroom condo that would likely sell for under $200k.

Another nice option are the Driftwood Condos located in Downtown Sandpoint on North 3rd Avenue. The location is fantastic for walking to restaurants and shops, although the waterfront isn't quite as nice as being on the 'big lake'. Driftwood is accessed from the Slough that passes the Sandpoint City Marina, bypassing the beach and downtown. So it takes maybe 5-10 minutes to boat to your condo, however these units all come with a private boat slip which works fantastically in the summer. The slough is probably 1/4 mile across giving you nice views but not quite the swimming beach you'd have from Seasons or Condo Del Sol. Driftwood condos were built in the 60s, however some of these have been renovated very nicely. There are 1 and 2 bedroom plans ranging from 670 to 840 square feet. The most recent sale was a 2 bedroom that sold for $205k in Dec 08. Currently there is a 2bdr on the market for $189,500.

For those people that cannot find quite what they are looking for at Seasons at Sandpoint, Condo Del Sol, or Driftwood, I recommend checking out the resort communities of both Westwood and Dover Bay. Westwood is located 1/2 mile west of Sandpoint along hwy 2, while Dover Bay is another 1.5 miles, both of which have a fantastic bike path connecting them to Downtown Sandpoint. Each of these communities has incredible access to Lake Pend Oreille for swimming or boating. Prices at Westwood start in the low $300s for townhomes that are not direct waterfront. Dover Bay offers a number of different neighborhoods and more amenities than Westwood, with prices ranging from $198,000 for a 1bdr Parkside Bungalow to $1 million plus for waterfront condos and homes. I have many more posts about Dover Bay, or visit my website at http://www.SandpointResortRealty.com.

Surprising Waterfront Sales Data for Lake Pend Oreille and Pend Oreille River

Sandpoint Sothebys Intl Realty — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 13:32:21 -0500

Waterfront property on Lake Pend Oreille and the Pend Oreille River has continued to hold its value, with sales figures actually showing improvement from 2008. Year to date in 2009 we have seen $7,528,750 in closed and pending sales on the Pend Oreille, compared to only $2,406,500 from January through July in 2008. This is sure to be a shock to most people!

Most of my clients looking for waterfront property are interested primarily in 'Class A waterfront', meaning deep water property on the Pend Oreille- Lake or River. So for this market research I decided to leave out all the tributaries, smaller waterways, and the smaller lakes in the area (although these represent some good value right now).

Over the years this type of waterfront property has always maintained its value, with significant reductions in price being rare. However keep in mind that 2008 was a soft market as well, so there have been some diamonds in the rough (great buys) in both 08 and 09.

Most people have a preference for either Lake Pend Oreille or the Pend Oreille River, so I searched the MLS data separately for each. I should also point out that the MLS considers the 'River' anything west of the Long Bridge, which includes much of South Sandpoint.

Pend Oreille Lake: YTD Jan-July 2009

15 closed and pending sales for total sales volume of $5,508,750.

Average list price $808,000, avg sold price $688,000 = buyers paying 85% of list price on average

235 Days on Market

Ranged from $205k sale of Driftwood condo to $1.25 million home.

Lake: Jan-July 2008

10 sales, volume of $1,345,000

Avg list price $699k, avg sale $448k = 64%

$182k condo on low end to $680k home on high end

Pend Oreille River: YTD Jan-July 2009

7 closed and pending totalling $2,020,000

Avg list $661k, avg sale $505k = 76%

72 Days on Market

$319k low end for 1400 sft home in Wrenco, $895k high end for 3700 sft older home in town

River: Jan-July 08

5 closed at $1,061,500

598k avg list, 530k avg sold, 88%, 39 Days on Market

Range 363k to 698k

All of the above considers only residential property on the water, not vacant land which I will comment on in another post. Land has indeed dropped further in the past year, with sales volume way down for all land in the county. This is likely because the prices for finished homes are often lower than the cost of land plus construction at the moment.

Another important component is that there are indeed some very good values. For example I just helped a client find a nice home in Garfield Bay with phenomenal views to the Green Monarch, a dock, with 100 front feet for just $475,000. The key is being ready to move when the right property does come along, and working with an agent that is willing to put in the time to find these values. On the other hand, the data shows that prospective Buyers should not necessarily expect to find crazy rock bottom prices for the best waterfront in this area, just because the rest of the market is soft.

To search for waterfront property in the Sandpoint area: http://www.sandpointresortrealty.com/all.html

I look forward to discussing the waterfront market with you, and better yet hopping in the boat to go on tour. Contact me at 208-304-5665.

Yappy Hour at Dover Bay Resort on July 30

Sandpoint Sothebys Intl Realty — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 12:13:21 -0500

Yappy Hour is a new Sandpoint event which is essentially a happy hour where you can bring your dog with you. This is a concept that was started by my wife when we lived in Santa Barbara, CA and that really took off. There are too few places where dogs are allowed and even welcomed. The first event here in Sandpoint was hosted by the Ponderay Vet Clinic at the Dog Park. This second event will take place at Dover Bay Resort from 4-7p on July 30, in the lawn between the Cafe and Pool.

Admission is free with a cash bar and other refreshments available. Donations are welcome, with all monies going to the Panhandle Animal Shelter, our local no-kill shelter.

The concept of Yappy Hour was inspired by our paralyzed pug named Molly, who very sadly passed away last week at the age of 8. The original events were fundraisers for the Molly Inspires Foundation, which provided character education in elementary schools and a resource for owners of special needs dogs like Molly.

Our dog Molly was born with a twisted spine that caused paralysis in her bottom half from about 3 months old. Vets told us that she would not live past 1 year due to the bladder problems and infections that would result, and they recommended putting her to sleep. We kept her anyway and basically did whatever it took and spent big dollars to keep her plugging along.

Molly's spirit will be with us forever. She changed our outlook on many things in life, teaching my wife, myself and countless others the meaning of gratitude, acceptance, and courage. Tough to imagine a dog doing all this, but our relationship with Molly led to many things and truly changed our world. Mandy and I would not be the parents we are today or the friends we are today without having experienced this.