Coeur d'Alene Idaho Real Estate and North Idaho, including Hayden Lake, Dalton, Post Falls, Rathdrum, and Surrounding Communities

Be a BLESSING ON PURPOSE with ElderHelp ~join our annual Holiday Food Drive

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:41:52 -0600

For the second year, Keller Williams Realty Coeur d'Alene is teaming
up with ElderCare to collect tons of food for the elderly in our community!

The food drive is underway now and will continue through December 13th. Our agents are canvassing neighborhoods all over Kootenai County for donations. You may also drop off non-perishable food items to one of the bins at our office - 1044 Northwest Blvd. - in Coeur d'Alene.

Last year our Keller Williams office collected literally TONS of food for our area's elderly living on limited incomes without family nearby. This year we have set our goal even higher in order to bless the lives of our seniors.

The goal of ElderHelp is to help the elderly remain independent in the comfort and safety of their own homes. Volunteers give of their time to accomplish projects that affect the safety and health of those who qualify for ElderHelp. the needs of our elderly deserve to be tended to, first and foremost by relatives and friends. ElderHelp was designed to help out when there was a lack in these areas.

ElderHelp is funded by donations from individuals, businesses, and fund raising activities. Volunteers attend meetings where applicants and their needs are discussed and projects are chosen based on the most pressing safety issues receiving attention first.

Who qualifies for ElderHelp?

Own or rent the home you are living in and it's your only home.
Very limited income, without the resources to pay for the repairs that need to be done.
No nearby relatives or friends that can be of assistance
Work required consists of health or safety related issues.

The types of projects that ElderHelp does:

Installing handrails
Repair leaky roofs
Repair plumbing leaks
Repair floors that present a safety hazard
Locks on doors and windows
Maintenance and installation of smoke detectors
Furnace repairs
Providing firewood
Weather-stripping
Building handicap ramps
Elder companion

For more information:

ElderHelp of North Idaho
221 Sherman Avenue
Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814

Phone: 208-661-8870
E-mail: info@elderhelpofnorthidaho.org
www.ElderHelpofNorthIdaho.org

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 208.651.9700

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas
and a magical holiday season
filled with the true spirit of Christmas!

How 'bout those INTEREST RATES! Another record low this week!

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:45:48 -0600

Freddie Mac's weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) shows that average long-term interest rates have fallen again. 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.71 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending December 3, down from last week when it averaged 4.78 percent.

Last year at this time the average 30-year rate was 5.53%.

The 30-year has never been this low since Freddie Mac began its weekly survey in 1971!

If you have been sitting on the fence waiting for home prices to decline further to make your move, it's time to jump off and get moving! A rise in interest rates will more than offset any decline in value over the next few months, as it translates to your mortgage payment.

Read the full story here.

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 208.651.9700

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas
and a magical holiday season
filled with the true spirit of Christmas!

Upside down and can't sell your house? DON'T GIVE UP! Here's a Coeur d'Alene Short Sale Success Story!

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:04:04 -0600

In October I got a call from a woman who was less than a month away from foreclosure. She had been trying to sell her beautiful, high-end home for about a year. Initially, she had it listed with a Realtor as a traditional sale. Then, in order to drop her price and still be able to pay off her mortgage, she attempted to sell it FSBO in order to avoid paying a real estate commission. No offers, nothing. She was upside down on her mortgage and out of hope. Her home was worth far less than she owed her lender and couldn't afford to make the mortgage payments.

Now, she and her husband were resigned to losing their home, and their equity, which was substantial.

They were packing up to move on November 19th into a trailer on a little piece of land they owned to spend the winter. November 19th was the scheduled date of their foreclosure sale. Things looked bleak, and they were especially concerned about their teenage daughter's humiliation.

We discussed their situation and determined they were good candidates for a short sale. They had already been denied a loan modification. They appeared to meet the requirements that lenders are looking for in order to approve a short sale. But their foreclosure clock had been ticking for a long time and they were almost out of time.

Was it too late?

They authorized me to speak with their lender and I gathered information about their specific process and timelines. No, it wasn't too late. If I could quickly get an offer that they deemed reasonable, their lender would postpone the foreclosure to allow time to work through the purchase offer. We had no time to lose, it would take some time in review before a decision would be made to stall the foreclosure. And, they warned, be prepared for an offer to take 120 days in underwriting before a final approval and opening of escrow.

They had no idea that they could potentially stay in their home through the winter!
This was incredible news to the sellers!

They thought November 19th was the end of the line. Period. They didn't realize that lenders would MUCH rather have the homeowner stay in the home, maintaining it and keeping it secure, even if they can't make the payments, than have it sit vacant.

We listed the home at what my research determined was the current market value, and I went on a marketing blitz to find a buyer. More than anything, I wanted this good family to be able to spend Thanksgiving in their warm home. And Christmas. And the rest of the cold winter. I couldn't stand the thought of them huddled in a trailer in despair.

Not one, but two great offers were received and processed in time. Imagine the thanks that was given by this family, as they sat around the table in their warm home on Thanksgiving! Yes, they are still going to lose the home they love, but they now have time to put a transition plan into place. This is a wonderful example of success in making the best of a bad situation.

Many times, when a situation seems hopeless, it's difficult to see that there are ways to make a bad situation less traumatic. Yes, these folks are losing their home. But the short sale will be better for them, and their lender, than the foreclosure. Being in their beautiful, warm home during the winter is better for them, and their lender, than them being crammed into a cold trailer while the home sits vacant. But when paralyzed with fear, embarrassment and discouragement, it's often hard to see that there could be other courses of action.

If you are upside down on your mortgage and have questions about short selling your home, just pick up the phone and give me a call. Sometimes, just one conversation can help bring a better course of action into focus.

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 208.651.9700

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas
and a magical holiday season
filled with the true spirit of Christmas!

Coeur d'Alene Lake Waterfront Homes Real Estate Market Report for 12 Months - Active-Sold-Pending-Expired-Cancelled-Withdrawn

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 06:36:25 -0600

Coeur d'Alene Lake Waterfront Homes Real Estate Market Analysis for 12 Months
Active-Sold-Pending-Expired-Cancelled-Withdrawn

I was updating the link on my website to all waterfront homes for sale on Coeur d'Alene Lake. I thought you might be interested to see the TOTAL activity report rather than just the active listings. Below is a link that will take you to a Comparative Market Analysis of ALL Coeur d'Alene Lake Waterfront Home activity.

Looking at the past 12 months - December 1, 2008 to December 1, 2009 - there have been only 7 sales of waterfront homes on Coeur d'Alene Lake. Ranging from a low of $340,000 (I was the buyer's agent on that one and they got a SCREAMING DEAL!) to a high of $6,750,000 for a stunner near the Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course at the end of Sanders Beach.

With 70 currently active listings, and just 7 sold listings in the past 12 months, we have a 10 year inventory of Coeur d'Alene Lake waterfront homes for sale. 70 listings selling at a rate of 7 per year = 10 years to absorb the inventory at the current rate. What this means for potential buyers is a BUYER'S MARKET and an opportunity to purchase a Coeur d'Alene Lakefront dream home at values that were unheard of just a couple years ago!

Click here to view the Comparative Market Analysis of all Coeur d'Alene Lake Waterfront Real Estate Activity in the past 12 months. It's a long report full of good information. If you scroll down far enough you will come to a statistical chart with all the numbers.

Here's a link to detais and more photos of all the ACTIVE waterfront homes for sale on Coeur d'Alene Lake.

If you would like to explore making ownership of a waterfront home on Coeur d'Alene Lake a reality, call me today and let's get the ball rolling!

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 208.651.9700

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas
and a magical holiday season
filled with the true spirit of Christmas!

Coeur d'Alene Luxury Condos at The Villiage at Riverstone to Hit the Auction Block on December 12th

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 08:36:31 -0600

Luxury Condos at The Villiage at Riverstone to Hit the Auction Block on December 12th

After two previous false starts - auction dates that were postponed for lack of buyer interest - it looks as though these condos are finally going to be auctioned off. I posted the original Press Release about the condo auction on my blog back in May, then that date was postponed. I then posted the rescheduled auction announcement on my blog in June. After that auction was cancelled, the condos were removed from the market and the phones at the sales office went unanswered for months.

(Today, I noticed that if you Google: riverstone auction, the top paid spot on the search page has been bought by the competition, Mill River Condos, another nice development just down the street river. Pretty clever, and worth reading if you are a serious potential buyer....)

The Village at Riverstone is a beautiful community developed where the Spokane River meets Coeur d'Alene Lake, along Northwest Boulevard in Coeur d'Alene. It is home to upscale shops and businesses, stunning waterfront homes, beautiful features and a world-class setting. Timing is everything, and this stunning development came just after the peak in the selling frenzie here in north Idaho. As a result, it has been slow to sell out, and many homes and commercial spots remain unsold and vacant.

Up for auction are 1,2 & 3 bedroom luxyry condos, new construction with lovely views of the Spokane river and surrounding mountains.

Amenities include solid wood cabinetry, slab-granite countertops, electric fireplaces, vaulted ceilings, private terraces, laundry rooms, and heated underground garages.

Available units:

2 Bedroom/2 Bath.....1,209± Sq. Ft.
3 Bedroom/2 Bath.....1,767± Sq. Ft.
3 Bedroom/ 2 Bath....2,002± Sq. Ft. (with loft)
1 Bedroom/1 Bath........798± Sq. Ft.
2 Bedroom/2 Bath.....1,192± Sq. Ft.
2 Bedroom/2 Bath.....1,196± Sq. Ft.
2 Bedroom/1.5 Bath..1,199± Sq. Ft. (with den)

Minimum Selling Prices range from $99,900 to $285,500 on homes previously priced from $329,000 to $899,900.

Click here for floor plans and auction information. Give me a call if I can be of assistance.

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 208.651.9700

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas
and a magical holiday season
filled with the true spirit of Christmas!

A Perfect Storm Of Foreclosures May Be On The Way

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 06:52:21 -0600

Let's be realistic about the real estate market!

Whatever your situation, knowing the facts will help you determine YOUR best course of action, whether you are in the market to buy, or sell.

The other day I wrote about the wave of foreclosures coming around the corner due to the resetting of the Option-ARM mortgages from a few years ago. This blog post by John Mulkey expands on that theme. My intention is to inform you - and arm you with information to formulate your best strategy for success in your personal situation.

Via John Mulkey, Housing Guru (TheHousingGuru.com):

While many of the “talking heads” and financial experts talk about reaching the bottom of the housing crisis and a slowing of foreclosures, a perfect storm of foreclosures may be on the way. However this “third wave” of foreclosures won’t crash down on the market like a tsunami, but instead will inundate us more slowly like a flooding river.

A number of factors are contributing this flood which will, I believe, spread its damage over many years. Modification efforts and state moratoriums have served to slow the process, and some banks have allowed owners to remain in their homes as “guardians” of the banks declining asset. Other lenders have chosen to delay foreclosures in a struggle to keep the market from free-fall.

Elizabeth Warren, chair of the Congressional Oversight Panel expects the housing market to worsen, and has estimated that as many as 12 million homes could succumb to foreclosure. Here’s why I believe she is correct and why the “green shoots” crowd has it wrong.

● Deutsche Bank has predicted that nearly half of all U. S. homes with mortgages will be underwater by early 2011. Even if their numbers are exaggerated, all experts predict a significant increase in the number of homes with negative equity. As home prices decline, foreclosures increase. The millions who purchased between 2003 and 2008 are at the highest risk of negative equity. Currently, about 11 million homes with mortgages have negative equity with another 2.5 million near that point. The total value of mortgages at risk totals almost $3 trillion.

● Declining values will cause more homeowners to seek “strategic default” as a remedy for their financial problems. As more consumers choose to voluntarily abandon their mortgage, more will consider it an acceptable alternative. And as it becomes evident that some homes won’t recover their value for a decade or more, many who are able to pay their mortgage will choose not to.

● As long as unemployment increases, foreclosures will follow. The third quarter foreclosure numbers were at an all time high, with almost a million homeowners receiving a notice of foreclosure, a 23% increase over 2008. We are currently experiencing about 200,000 foreclosures per month.

● Unemployment will not return to pre-recession levels for at least a decade. How can this be possible? It’s simple math. There are currently more than 15 million unemployed, and hundreds of thousands continue to be added to that number each month; by the time job losses cease, we will have lost a few million more. With the normal growth of our population we add about 1.5 million workers each year. Absorbing that number, plus the millions already unemployed, will require extraordinary growth in the economy, something no experts are predicting. Even if the economy grows at a better than expected rate, a return to full employment (5% or less) is still many years away. If, for instance, we can experience job growth of about 3.5 million jobs per year, it will take a decade to return to previous employment levels; and that is assuming that we can stop the bleeding and begin creating jobs within the next year. Job growth fuels the formation of new households, a necessary component of a robust housing market.

● With unemployment not expected to peak until mid 2010, mortgage delinquencies may not decline until sometime in 2011. The ensuing stream of foreclosures will maintain its pressure on an erratic housing market, spoiling any hopes for recovery until unemployment and foreclosure activity both experience a downward trend.

● There are currently about 8 million delinquent mortgages. The Fannie Mae seriously delinquent rate is now at 4.5%, about three times the amount from only one year ago.

● We also face the Option Arm reset peak coming in 2011 and totaling more than a third of a trillion dollars. According to Goldman Sachs, as many as 50% of those borrowers will be unable to meet the higher payment associated with their loan reset; and a number of these loans are already in default.

● The move-up market, an important barometer of a healthy housing market, will be damaged for years, as those whose homes have lost value will have difficulty selling and will lack the equity required for a move up. The loss of equity also results in a loss of borrowing power. Banks have closed or dramatically reduced HELOCs, the personal ATM of many homeowners, closed some credit card accounts, and raised the interest rates of others. With consumer spending destined to remain sluggish, the ripple effect will ultimately reach back to the housing market.

● Loan modifications, as currently structured, cannot work. As Elizabeth Warren has pointed out, the modification program wasn’t created to deal with the issues we face today. Somewhere between thirty and fifty percent will fail to qualify because of job loss, reduced income, insufficient equity, or inability to document income. And, a great number of the home buyers who purchased during the last decade did so with two incomes; the earnings of both spouses were necessary to meet their obligations. Today, many of those same households have a single wage earner, some of whom are earning less than they did when their mortgage was originated. Unless the program is changed, these people will ultimately lose their homes.

While trial modifications have been extended to about 650,000 mortgage holders, less than 2,000 permanent loan modifications have received final approval. And, a significant number of those receiving mortgage modifications will ultimately re-default, especially those whose homes remain underwater.

Lenders are not making a realistic effort to deal with this problem. I believe some are “foot-dragging,” assuming they may yet receive another “bailout” to help them deal with the potential losses posed by foreclosures. Additionally, the looming danger of commercial defaults, expected to cost hundreds of billions, perhaps as much as a half trillion, is keeping some banks from taking a more aggressive stance towards residential loan modifications.

If the administration is serious about helping millions of homeowners avoid foreclosure, they need to stop talking and develop a plan that works; if they fail to act, a perfect storm of foreclosures may be on the way.

The Housing Guru: The one source for all your housing questions

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 208.651.9700

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas
and a magical holiday season
filled with the true spirit of Christmas!

How 'bout those INTERST RATES! 4.78% this week, down 4.83% from last week!

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 23:15:52 -0600

Area banks are reporting homeowners taking advantage of the near historic low rates to refinance their mortgages and get a little breathing room in their monthly payment. And we've all seen the first time homebuyers that have come into the market since the $8000 tax credit taking advantage of the low rates to get much more house for their money.

The 30-yar mortgage rate averaged just 4.78% this past week, and was down on average 4.83% from the previous week. This tied the record low rate set last April 30th. Last November at this time the interest rate ws almost 6%.

The lower interest rates make for a huge difference in the amount of house a buyer can qualify for. For instance, a first time homebuyer could buy a home for $150,000 with the same monthly payment as they would have had at $120,000 with the higher interest rate.

For homeowners who are refinancing, the low interest rate helps people shave about $100 off the monthly payment on a $200,000 mortgage. In fact, one local bank is reporting to be refinancing mortgages compared to new mortgages at a 2 to 1 rate. This is just opposite of the the ratio was just a few years ago.

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 208.651.9700

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas
and a magical holiday season
filled with the true spirit of Christmas!

Bankruptcy Filings Up, and Expected to Continue to Rise

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 11:05:22 -0600

Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

Are soaring bankruptcy rates a result of the housing market mess,
or is the housing market mess causing the soaring bankruptcies?

There have been 1.18 million personal bankruptcy filings through Oct 2009, and the American Bankruptcy Institute is predicting over 1.4 million new bankruptcy filings by year end. Yikes! Here is a chart from CalculatedRisk.com that shows bankruptcy filings by state. Idaho is 21st on the list.

It's a vicious cycle with no end in site.

Bankruptcies ~ Unemployment ~ Housing Crises ~ Home Value Decline

One feeds the other and round and round we go... Plan your housing strategy accordingly.

Knowledge is power, give me a call to discuss your best course of action based on YOUR circumstances!

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 208.651.9700

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas
and a magical holiday season
filled with the true spirit of Christmas!

Reality is making a comeback!

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 10:22:06 -0600

There was an interesting blurb in the paper The Coeur d'Alene Press this morning with a refreshing bit of information. Based on what his bank is experiencing, Michael Smith, vice president and real estate manager at Idaho Independent Bank, sees that reality is making a comeback!

Hooray, it's about time!

"Reality is coming back into the market," Smith said. "Housing (purchases) are going to be set on people's incomes, not on speculations. What you saw a few years ago was people bought a house expecting they could make a quick profit in a short time. Now, you're seeing people purchasing homes with the incomes that qualify them, basing decisions on the long term and affordability."

It is refreshing to see COMMON SENSE making a comeback! This trend will certainly help to stabilize the future housing market, once we get through this tsunami of defaults, short sales and foreclosures that resulted from several years of sub-prime craziness.

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 208.651.9700

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas
and a magical holiday season
filled with the true spirit of Christmas!

Here comes the next wave of foreclosures - Option-ARM Mortgage Delinquencies Continue to Climb

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 09:58:18 -0600

These past few years we have seen the housing market crumble as a result of the sub-prime lending frenzy. Just about anyone who had a pulse could get a mortgage based on "stated income" with no documentation of a paycheck or income level required.

For months I have been hearing about the next wave of foreclosures coming - the Option ARMs.

These are typically NOT sub-prime loans, meaning the borrower needed to document the information on their loan application. Option ARMs (Adjustable Rate Mortgages) are mortgages where the borrower has an option every month to pay the entire monthly payment including interest and principle, or just the interest, or an even less amount that doesn't cover all of that month's interest. In that case, the homeowner's mortgage balance actually INCREASES each month that they chose that option, until it reaches a predetermined point that it is required to reset with HIGHER payments.

Billions of dollars of option ARM mortgages are scheduled to reset in the next couple of years. And based on how many delinquencies and defaults there currently are on this group of mortgages, BEFORE the higher payments reset, we know that there is trouble ahead. Another wave tsunami of foreclosures coming around the corner!

I came across an interesting report from Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) with statistics on mortgage delinquencies that are driving foreclosures. The first thing that caught my eye was that the mortgage delinquency rate breaks the record set last quarter. The records are based on MBA data dating back to 1972.

The increases are being driven not by sub-prime loans,
but by prime and FHA loans, which have strict qualification standards:

"Prime fixed-rate loans continue to represent the largest share of foreclosures started and the biggest driver of the increase in foreclosures. 33 percent of foreclosures started in the third quarter were on prime fixed-rate and loans and those loans were 44 percent of the quarterly increase in foreclosures. The foreclosure numbers for prime fixed-rate loans will get worse because those loans represented 54 percent of the quarterly increase in loans 90 days or more past due but not yet in foreclosure.

"The performance of prime adjustable rate loans, which include pay-option ARMs in the MBA survey, continue to deteriorate with the foreclosure rate on those loans for the first time exceeding the rate for subprime fixed-rate loans. In contrast, both subprime fixed-rate and subprime adjustable rate loans saw decreases in foreclosures.

What does all of this mean for you?

It means that if you have a home to sell and are waiting for the housing market to turn around, you are going to be waiting for another year or two, at least. Although the first wave of sub-prime mortgage defaults and foreclosures is waning, the next wave is coming. And it is predicted to be even BIGGER than the last. You need to factor this in as you plan your strategy. All indications and forecasts are for the real estate market to get worse before it gets better, overall.

"The outlook is that delinquency rates and foreclosure rates will continue to worsen before they improve," according to Mortgage Bankers Association.

As you plan your best course of action over the next couple of years, your plan needs to be based on that piece of information. Home values decrease as foreclosure rates climb.

Read the entire Mortgage Bankers Association report here.

Now having said all that, remember all markets are local. In our Coeur d'Alene Idaho real estate market, some communities and price ranges are doing much better than others. If you would like the statistics for your community and price range, give me a call and I will send you the Total Market Overview report I receive every week.

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 208.651.9700

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas
and a magical holiday season
filled with the true spirit of Christmas!

Coeur d’Alene Idaho Real Estate Short Sale Opportunities

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 13:16:19 -0600

Coeur d'Alene Real Estate Short Sale Opportunities

If you are like many buyers today, you are looking for a SCREAMING deal. Every buyer and potential buyer I have spoken with this past year has been on the lookout for a KILLER deal. Whether looking for a starter home, a vacation home or a million dollar lake home, everyone is in search of that SMOKIN' HOT purchase price. The buyers I've worked with this year have found it!

Short sale opportunities in Coeur d'Alene Idaho are plentiful.

Remember, a short sale simply means that the seller owes more to their mortgage lender than the current market value of the home. They can't sell it for enough to pay off their mortgage. Their mortgage lender must agree to accept less for the payoff than they are owed. There are a lot of hoops for the seller to jump through in order to make that happen. Depending on where the seller is in the process, your short sale transaction can potentially drag on for months. Be sure you are working with a sharp real estate agent who is experienced in working with short sales.

A successful short sale transaction depends on a skilled short sale agent!

If you're looking for a short sale in Coeur d'Alene Idaho, check out the following link. It lists 258 short sale real estate opportunities in Coeur d'Alene and North Idaho that are currently listed in the Coeur d'Alene Multiple Listing Service. Prices range from $50,000 to $1,599,000. Often, short sales can be purchased for much less than the listed price. This link will update daily with status changes and new listings, and will remain active for 30 days.

Coeur d'Alene Idaho Short Sales

If you want to know more about how the short sale process works, as either a buyer or seller, just give me a call or email me with your questions. I would love to assist you in a successful short sale transaction.

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 208.651.9700

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas
and a magical holiday season
filled with the true spirit of Christmas!

Cooking up more than real estate deals in Coeur d'Alene Idaho! Roasted Vegetables

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 14:31:44 -0600

Thanksgiving was wonderful as family and friends gathered at my house for a traditional feast and giving of thanks for all of our blessings. My sister Kerri is a wonderful professional photographer and always on the lookout for photos for her file. I get such a kick of her snapping photos of the food I prepare for family functions! After my son's birthday party, I decided to post the recipes of the photos she takes. I always make these roasted vegetables when friends and family gather at Thanksgiving and Christmas. I found the resipe in a magazine years ago. They are always my favorite thing on the menu, as delicious as they are beautiful!

Roasted Vegetables
with Balsamic-Lemon Vinaigrette

12 baby beets, trimmed, peeled (I have never found fresh baby beets. I always use regular beets and cut them into chunks. Other than these roasted beets, I HATE BEETS and think they are disgusting. These are DELICIOUS!)
2 pounds red skinned sweet potatoes, cut into 1 inch pieces (about 3 yams)
2 3/4 pounds acorn squash, unpeeled, quartered lengthwise, seeded, cut crosswise into 1/2" thick slices
1 1/2 poounds brussels sprouts, trimmed, halfed lengthwise
2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary (I use a couple tablespoons) or 1 TBS dried
5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 whole garlic head, top 1/2 inch trimmed

1/4 C balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons grated lemon peel

Preheat oven to 450'F. Cook beets in medium pot of boiling salted water until almost tender. Drain. Transfer beets to large roasting pan. Add sweet potatoes, squash, brussels sprouts, and rosemary to pan. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Sprinkle generously with slat and pepper. Toss to coat. Place garlic head, cut side up on a small piece of foil and drizzle with 1 teaspoon oil. Wrap in foil and place in roasting pan with vegetables. Roast garlic and vegetables until tender and vegetables are brown in spots, turning occasionally, about 45 minutes.

Unwrap garlic. Peel and thinly slice garlic cloves. Transfer vegetables and garlic to large bowl. Whisk vinegar, lemon peel, and 3 tablespoons oil in small bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Pour dressing over vegetables and toss to coat. Serve warm.

I hope you enjoy this family favorite. And if cooking up a real estate deal is on your menu I hope you will give me a call!

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 208.651.9700

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas
and a magical holiday season
filled with the true spirit of Christmas!

New Short Sale Listing ~ 6554 Majestic Drive, Rathdrum, ID 83858 $155,000

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 13:50:39 -0600

Here is a wonderful one level Home For Sale in Skyline Meadows in Rathdrum Idaho.

This Craftsman, 3 bedroom, 2 bath rancher is within walking distance to Radiant Lake. Enjoy lovely mountain views from a big covered front porch.

Many nice amenities include a vaulted master suite with a walk-in closet, and an oversized garden tub. Spacious and separate living & family rooms with vaulted ceilings. The kitchen features Huntwood cabinets, a walk-in pantry and breakfast bar. The home is wired for surround sound & ready for central vacuum.

The purchase price is subject to lender's approval of a short sale.

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 208.651.9700

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas
and a magical holiday season
filled with the true spirit of Christmas!

Coeur d'Alene Idaho Short Sale Stories ~ I hate to say it, but I told you so!

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:26:09 -0600

As a Realtor actively working short sales in Coeur d'Alene, I am finding no shortage of interesting stories to write about. Here is my latest. Really, I couldn't make this stuff up!

Back in August I wrote a post entitled:

The Joy of Short Sales ~ It was gonna take a MIRACLE, and he got one! Maybe...

I had met a great guy in Coeur d'Alene who was in a pickle. He bought three homes new, as an investment, 3 years ago. A year or two ago, when the market started turning south, he decided to unload them. Got two sold, and one under a lease option for a year. He told me how those folks were getting ready to exercise their option. Were approved to buy, but the appraisal came in about $10K less than the option price, which was what the seller paid for the house, and still owed. The folks forfeited their deposit and skipped on down the road to a better house for less money.

Then, miracle of miracles, he found another sucker person to lease option the home. For about 175% of the normal market rent, with an option to purchase it for substantially more than we knew it would appraise for.

Think about it. Who in their right mind would put down a huge deposit to lease option a house for $192,000 that is currently listed for sale at $159,000? It would take a huge deposit because he was no longer able to make payments, and they would have to be caught up in order to avoid foreclosure and lease it out. I was skeptical of the miracle that came through for my distressed seller that seemed to save the day. This is what I said in my August blog post:

My guy got his miracle! Maybe. Or not. Only time will tell. I was on a criminal jury once, where the judge instructed us that we could find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, while still being fully aware that it was possible to be mistaken. This reminds me of that. I will believe in this miracle, while being fully aware of how wrong things could possibly go with this deal over the next few years.

As it turns out, I was right. Today, the tenant called my former client to tell him that he hasn't been able to make a go of it here, he has found work in Las Vegas and will be hitting the road on Tuesady. But what about the remaining lease for nine more months? Too bad, so sad. He is headed for bankruptcy anyway, so...

Unfortunately, my seller succeeded in simply delaying the inevitable. Prolonging the agony. Now he has a house to sell in the dead of winter. He will need to pay the heat bill and shovel the walks whenever it snows. And as he does, I'm sure that going through his mind will be the saying, "If it seems too good to be true, it probably is!"

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 208.651.9700

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas
and a magical holiday season
filled with the true spirit of Christmas!

An inquiry from Afghanistan

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:55:31 -0600

I awoke this morning to a surprise in my inbox. It was an inquiry on one of my listings, from a serviceman named Zac stationed in Afghanistan!

Zac said that in his spare time he has been searching for homes for sale in my area and he thought the home I had listed was beautiful. He politely asked a few questions about the home.

Wow! A serviceman stationed in Afghanistan. What a small world we live in. I had just posted that listing the day before on my blog. But I have also plastered it all over the web as I do all my listings. It was just amazing to me to get an inquiry all the way from Afghanistan.

I answered Zac's questions by email and thanked him for his service to our country. I sent my warm wishes that God would continue to bless him with all he stands in need of. I can only hope to have the honor of serving this polite young serviceman as he looks for the perfect home to come home to when his tour of duty is over.

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 208.651.9700

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas
and a magical holiday season
filled with the true spirit of Christmas!

Please join me in remembering an icon.

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:49:59 -0600

My blogging friend Alan May is always good for a fun read. I saw this on his blog today and thought my freinds might enjoy it too. Thanks for the smile, again, Alan!

Via Alan May, Coldwell Banker Evanston Realtor, North Shore Realtor (Evanston Real Estate, Evanston, IL):

Please me join me in remembering a great icon of the entertainment community.

The Pillsbury Doughboy died yesterday of a yeast infection and trauma complications from repeated pokes in the belly. He was 51.

Dough boy was buried in a lightly greased coffin.

Dozens of celebrities turned out to pay their respects, including Mrs. Butterworth, Hungry Jack, the California Raisins, Betty Crocker, the Hostess Twinkies, and Captain Crunch.

The grave site was piled high with flour.

Aunt Jemima delivered the eulogy and lovingly described Dough boy as a man who never knew how much he was kneaded.

Dough boy rose quickly and evenly through show business, but his later life was filled with turnovers. He was not considered a very smart cookie, wasting much of his dough on half- baked schemes. Despite being a little flaky at times, he still was a crusty old man and was considered a positive roll model for millions.

Dough boy is survived by his wife Play Dough, three children: John Dough, Jane Dough and Dosey Dough, plus they had one in the oven. He is also survived by his elderly father, Pop Tart.

The funeral was held at 3:50 for about 20 minutes
ALAN MAY, Realtor®
Specializing in Evanston Real Estate and North Shore Real Estate
-------------------------------
Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate, 2929 Central Street, Evanston, IL 60201
847.425.3779 Cell: 847.924.3313 Email: Almay@aol.com

Evanston Real Estate, Evanston Realtor, Evanston Buyers, Evanston Sellers
North Shore Real Estate, North Shore Realtor, North Shore Buyers, North Shore Sellers
Evanston Homes for Sale • Evanston Buyers • Evanston Sellers • North Shore Homes for Sale • North Shore Buyers • North Shore Sellers

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 208.651.9700

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas
and a magical holiday season
filled with the true spirit of Christmas!

Coeur d'Alene Idaho Real Estate - Avondale Golf Course Home DRASTICALLY REDUCED!

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:56:17 -0600

REDUCED AGAIN! Charmer on Avondale Golf Course!

Location: Avondale on Hayden

ANOTHER PRICE REDUCTION! Seller's loss is YOUR GAIN! This is a ridiculous price on a great home that is move-in ready and sits on the 6th fairway of one of the most beautiful golf courses in North Idaho! Your back yard is a 6,600 yard, 18 hole course known for its natural beauty and stunning water features! Hop on the cart path right at your property line and cruise to the club house or Avondale Lake. The best part for you is that there are NO HOA dues to pay, or membership fees required! Perfect for first time home buyers, out-of-state golfers looking for a vacation home in beautiful north Idaho, snowbirds, or locals looking to invest in a guest house for summer visitors. This great little home is filled with charm. It's surrounded by exclusive homes and gated neighborhoods. There are three bedrooms and two full baths. All appliances are included in the purchase, including the refrigerator and washer & dryer. The oversized double garage is heated and wired with 220 for use as a year 'round workshop. There's space for parking your RV or boat on a gravel pad beside the garage. The oversized deck is piped with a gas line for your grill! A back yard garden shed and inground sprinkler system make it a pleasure to putter in the flower beds. Topped off with a low maintenance metal roof and central air, this sweet & petite home is NOT a fixer-upper, it is move-in ready. It is by FAR the most affordable home on the golf course. Priced like a short sale, but its not - it's just a screaming deal.

Information

Contact Information

Janna Rankin Scharf

northidahojanna@gmail.com

208.651.9700

Forward to a Friend

View Other Flyers

Pricing

Price: $159,900

Additional Pricing Information: Price has been reduced to a fire sale price! It is by far the most affordable home on the golf course.

Property Location

11724 North Strahorn Road
Hayden, ID 83835
View Map

Links

Virtual Tour

Features

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 2

Year Built: 1988

Subdivision: Avondale on Hayden

Lot Size: .21 Acre

Garage Size: 2+ Car

School District: 271

Square Footage: 1236

Agent Name: Janna R. Scharf

Broker: Keller Williams Realty

MLS #: 09-12158

Attributes

Appliances

Range/Oven

Full Refrigerator

Washer/Dryer

Dishwasher

Sink Disposal

Microwave

Clothes Washer

Clothes Dryer

Interior Amenities

Attic

Central Air Conditioning

Exterior Amenities

Grass Lawn

Tool Shed

Abuts Golf Course

Inground Sprinkler System

Oversized Deck

BBQ Gas Line to Deck

Photo Gallery

View as Slideshow View Photo Gallery (25 Photos)

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

VFLYER ID: 2498872

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 208.651.9700

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas
and a magical holiday season
filled with the true spirit of Christmas!

Coeur d'Alene Idaho 5 Bedroom Home for Sale in Sunshine Meadows

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:52:00 -0600

Sunshine Meadows Coeur d'Alene 5 Bedroom Home PRICED TO SELL!

Location: Sunshine Meadows

Lovely home on one of Sunshine Meadow's premier park view estate lots. Perfectly situated across from stunning Sunshine Meadows Park, facing south to soak up the sun and let natural light filter through the big windows. The yard is beautifully landscaped with concrete bed edging, blooming shrubs & trees, and a lawn sprinkler system front and back. The back deck is the perfect spot to relax, with mountain views and picture-pretty rural vistas. This spacious home has a flowing and open floor plan and is designed for comfortable and efficient living. It has 4 bedrooms plus a den, although the den can serve as a conforming bedroom if need be. The Master Retreat is over 500 square feat and features a lovely fireplace as its focal point. You'll appreciate the warm Ralph Lauren paint colors and lovely architectural detailing throughout this home. Don't wait around for a short sale, this gracious home is FIRE SALE PRICED for much less than the Seller paid for it a few years ago!

Information

Contact Information

Janna Rankin Scharf

208.651.9700

Contact Reply Form

Forward to a Friend

View Other Flyers

Pricing

Price: $245,000.00

Additional Pricing Information: NOT a short sale, just priced like one!

Property Location

2627 W. Timberlake Loop
Coeur d'Alene, ID 83815
View Map

Features

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 3

Year Built: 2005

Subdivision: Sunshine Meadows

Lot Size: 0.22 Acres

Garage Size: 2 Car

School District: CDA-271

Square Footage: 2521

Agent Name: Janna Rankin Scharf

Broker: Keller Williams Realty

MLS #: 09-12245

Attributes

Appliances

Range/Oven

Full Refrigerator

Dishwasher

Sink Disposal

Microwave

Interior Amenities

Fireplace

Vaulted Ceilings

Basement

Kitchen Peninsula

Walk-in Pantry

Exterior Amenities

Fenced Yard

Grass Lawn

Deck

Lawn Sprinklers

Concrete Bed Edging

Photo Gallery

View as Slideshow View Photo Gallery (13 Photos)

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

VFLYER ID: 2885976

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 208.651.9700

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas
and a magical holiday season
filled with the true spirit of Christmas!

I'm STILL counting my blessings!

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 11:00:01 -0600

This morning I was the first one up, and headed to the front door to get the newspaper. I opened my door to the quiet white world of softly falling snow that made a surprise appearance overnight. I thought, "How pretty, it really is beginning to feel like Thanksgiving around here!" I found my camera and snapped a picture of the scene. This is what it looked like this morning in North Idaho.

As I walked back inside, I passed my dining room. Last night before bed I piled a couple loaves af bread on some cookie sheets to start drying out for their transformation into Thanksgiving stuffing, just the way my daddy used to make it. There was nothing special about it, but as I passed that bread on my dining room table, it added to the feeling of the upcoming holiday season. It looked kind of pretty there, and since I had my camera in hand, I snapped a picture of my future corn bread stuffing!

This will be the 36th Thanksgiving since I have been married! I can count the number of Thanksgivings that I HAVEN'T cooked and hosted the main event on one hand with fingers left over. It is something I enjoy doing very much.

Although I will have only two of my five children here, I will be happy knowing that my three absent children with my daughter-in-law and two beautiful granddaughters will be gathered together in Colorado - warm, happy, loved and safe.

If you are one of so many feeling beaten down by life's circumstances, I challenge you to get out a piece of paper and start writing down what you DO have to be thankful for. That is something I did last year at this time, with remarkable results, when I wrote I'm Counting My Blessings.

As the song says, "Count your many blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done!" And the age-old remedy for feeling better when you are down in the dumps? Help someone in need! This time of year there are countless opportunities for service. Be a blessing on purpose to someone!

I would like to take this opportunity to extend my warmest wish to all of you out there for a meaningful and blessed day. May you be warm, happy, loved and safe!

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 208.651.9700

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas
and a magical holiday season
filled with the true spirit of Christmas!

Coeur d'Alene Idaho MLS Real Estate 30 Day Municipality Stats

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:42:35 -0600

Here's a snapshot of the real estate market activity in different North Idaho municipalities. The first three columns are the stats as of November 21, 2009. The next twelve columns show the activity over the past 30 days. Exp is Expired, DOM is Days on Market, Pend is pending which means under contract and waiting to close, BOM is back on the market. Call me if you would like the stats for an area not included here. (208) 651-9700

As of 11/21/2009 10/21/2009 to 11/21/2009


City	Active	Volume	Average List Price	Active	Volume	Average List Price	New	Pend	Sold	Average Sold Price	Average Sold DOM	Expr	With- drawn	BOM
Athol	92	$ 27,522,585	$ 299,159	108	$ 31,600,870	$ 292,601	7	7	6	$ 211,000	139	11	0	1
Bayview	26	$ 8,761,000	$ 336,962	32	$ 9,888,500	$ 309,016	5	1	0	$ 0	0	5	0	0
Coeur d'Alene	858	$ 458,490,339	$ 534,371	1091	$ 565,917,127	$ 518,714	107	68	99	$ 219,787	141	96	5	21
Dalton Gardens	28	$ 12,665,400	$ 452,336	34	$ 15,292,300	$ 449,774	2	2	1	$ 255,000	41	3	0	0
Harrison	92	$ 108,428,299	$ 1,178,568	113	$ 132,763,499	$ 1,174,898	5	1	5	$ 449,000	277	16	1	0
Hayden	326	$ 119,281,860	$ 365,895	406	$ 151,110,430	$ 372,193	33	15	34	$ 217,895	127	46	1	4
Hayden Lake	16	$ 7,471,500	$ 466,969	21	$ 12,860,450	$ 612,402	1	0	1	$ 235,000	63	4	1	0
Post Falls	506	$ 178,085,786	$ 351,948	615	$ 210,698,270	$ 342,599	109	33	67	$ 193,335	119	61	2	11
Rathdrum	258	$ 82,510,339	$ 319,808	312	$ 98,987,199	$ 317,267	24	10	10	$ 172,552	132	26	0	2
Spirit Lake	88	$ 22,623,950	$ 257,090	107	$ 28,428,130	$ 265,683	9	2	6	$ 112,133	114	6	0	1
Subtotal	2,290	$ 1,025,841,058	$ 447,966	2839	$ 1,257,546,775	$ 442,954	302	139	229	$ 211,879	133	274	10	40

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 208.651.9700

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas
and a magical holiday season
filled with the true spirit of Christmas!

Twenty Four Months of Coeur d'Alene MLS Market Stats: New, Active, Sold, Sold ,DOM

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:24:41 -0600

Something to keep in mind when you look at DOM (Days on Market) stats is that a great number of Realtors will take their listing off the market periodically and relist it so as to set the counter of Days on Market back to zero. When the DOM are tabulated as of the Sold date, the DOM of the previous listing period aren't counted. So quite often, the DOM is significantly higher that the stats reflect for certain homes. But the fact remains, homes that are SOLD are the homes that are priced correctly, and those homes sell significantly FASTER than the average DOM. You can see that the average DOM of the SOLD homes is about 4 to 6 months. Call me if you would like to find out what the average DOM is for homes in your price range and town! (208)651-9700

New Units Active Units Sold Units Sold DOM

Oct/2009	853	8,390	363	151
Sep/2009	966	8,748	339	134
Aug/2009	1,050	8,871	313	119
Jul/2009	1,283	8,778	360	127
Jun/2009	1,540	8,448	303	133
May/2009	1,557	7,878	270	135
Apr/2009	1,445	7,338	237	130
Mar/2009	1,251	6,864	192	130
Feb/2009	1,093	6,500	135	131
Jan/2009	1,266	6,213	121	154
Dec/2008	569	7,483	200	135
Nov/2008	775	7,739	185	127
Oct/2008	1,026	8,365	291	123
Sep/2008	986	8,692	339	128
Aug/2008	1,265	8,809	345	132
Jul/2008	1,536	8,524	323	131
Jun/2008	1,513	7,992	327	119
May/2008	1,426	7,470	278	127
Apr/2008	1,680	6,727	305	122
Mar/2008	1,407	6,114	260	139
Feb/2008	1,035	5,878	205	147
Jan/2008	1,365	5,592	180	132
Dec/2007	556	6,399	253	145
Nov/2007	760	6,774	287	142

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 208.651.9700

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas
and a magical holiday season
filled with the true spirit of Christmas!

Twenty Four Months of Coeur d'Alene MLS Real Estate Stats: Volume/Average List & Sold Price

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:58:21 -0600

If you're a numbers person, here is the chart for you. The List to Sold Price ratio is always interesting. This chart shows the AVERAGE of the entire MLS area and all price ranges. The REAL story is when you see that ratio broken down by price range, and by town. The List to Sold price ratio is always very high, usually 98% or better, in the entry level priced homes. It also varies from town to town within the price ranges. It is usually much lower, mid-80's, for the high end homes over $1 million. Call me if you'd like me to email you a specific report for a particular town or price range!

(My goal for next month is to learn how to turn these stats into beautiful charts and graphs that look fabulous and hold their format on ActiveRain! Wish me luck!)

The column headings going from left to right are: New Volume; Active Volume; Sold Volume(list price);
Sold Volume(sale price); New Avg List; Active Avg List; Sold Avg List; Sold Avg Sale; SP/LP Ratio

Oct/2009	$261,861,924	$3,072,435,248	$78,136,394	$74,067,111	$306,989	$366,202	$215,251	$204,041	94.8
Sep/2009	$293,657,164	$3,216,738,932	$74,275,329	$69,131,923	$303,992	$367,711	$219,101	$203,928	93.1
Aug/2009	$351,331,545	$3,280,370,625	$67,209,293	$62,765,084	$334,601	$369,785	$214,726	$200,527	93.4
Jul/2009	$407,597,309	$3,212,199,997	$83,475,791	$77,949,116	$317,690	$365,937	$231,877	$216,525	93.4
Jun/2009	$522,746,663	$3,084,305,546	$69,175,752	$64,266,605	$339,445	$365,092	$228,302	$212,101	92.9
May/2009	$513,912,580	$2,863,069,614	$63,576,358	$59,150,633	$330,065	$363,425	$235,467	$219,076	93
Apr/2009	$459,253,643	$2,654,583,708	$49,456,619	$46,079,427	$317,822	$361,758	$208,677	$194,427	93.2
Mar/2009	$393,879,094	$2,512,367,921	$36,624,440	$34,759,865	$314,851	$366,020	$190,752	$181,040	94.9
Feb/2009	$359,319,400	$2,372,139,237	$26,977,771	$25,603,228	$328,746	$364,944	$199,835	$189,653	94.9
Jan/2009	$462,327,610	$2,253,871,795	$39,510,492	$35,246,133	$365,187	$362,767	$326,532	$291,290	89.2
Dec/2008	$186,849,759	$2,803,949,244	$48,671,338	$45,347,533	$328,382	$374,709	$243,356	$226,737	93.2
Nov/2008	$238,111,876	$2,981,449,373	$40,059,368	$37,351,532	$307,241	$385,249	$216,537	$201,900	93.2
Oct/2008	$356,024,410	$3,252,591,078	$63,793,152	$60,085,812	$347,002	$388,833	$219,220	$206,480	94.2
Sep/2008	$306,153,909	$3,427,366,173	$86,949,979	$83,447,738	$310,500	$394,312	$256,489	$246,158	96
Aug/2008	$507,612,510	$3,460,228,910	$99,063,629	$91,460,024	$401,274	$392,806	$287,140	$265,101	92.3
Jul/2008	$561,544,606	$3,322,554,192	$91,079,330	$86,143,081	$365,588	$389,788	$281,979	$266,696	94.6
Jun/2008	$573,132,394	$3,092,263,777	$75,214,304	$72,443,945	$378,805	$386,919	$230,013	$221,541	96.3
May/2008	$540,006,402	$2,861,630,940	$74,365,683	$70,895,509	$378,686	$383,083	$267,502	$255,019	95.3
Apr/2008	$626,863,570	$2,534,714,869	$77,267,857	$74,345,389	$373,133	$376,797	$253,337	$243,755	96.2
Mar/2008	$514,785,757	$2,325,079,568	$69,054,645	$65,348,363	$365,874	$380,287	$265,594	$251,339	94.6
Feb/2008	$377,431,095	$2,238,889,674	$57,674,740	$55,191,770	$364,667	$380,893	$281,340	$269,228	95.7
Jan/2008	$547,377,202	$2,123,503,637	$54,742,891	$52,712,682	$401,008	$379,739	$304,127	$292,848	96.3
Dec/2007	$208,669,235	$2,430,084,309	$65,832,715	$62,199,430	$375,304	$379,760	$260,208	$245,847	94.5
Nov/2007	$246,494,246	$2,583,867,626	$87,053,874	$80,841,508	$324,334	$381,438	$303,323	$281,677	92.9

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 208.651.9700

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas
and a magical holiday season
filled with the true spirit of Christmas!

Twenty Four Months of Coeur d'Alene Idaho MLS Real Estate Stats

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:26:05 -0600

These stats cover the entire Coeur d'Alene MLS which takes in all of Kootenai County and surrounding Counties. You can see that current inventory levels are significantly lower than last year. If you could see the break down by price range, you'd see clearly that it is the sales in the starter home price ranges that have fueled a lower inventory this October over last. It is interesting to me to see how similar this September was to last September.

And I happen to know that there were at least 364 homes that sold this October, because the listing agent for a home my Buyers purchased on October 12 still hasn't found time to change the status in the MLS from pending to SOLD!

If you'd like more information on the real estate market in Coeur d'Alene Idaho and the surrounding areas, just give me a call, I'd love to chat! (208)651-9700

New Listings Active Sold Months Inventory

Oct/2009	853	8,390	363	23.11
Sep/2009	966	8,748	339	25.81
Aug/2009	1,050	8,871	313	28.34
Jul/2009	1,283	8,778	360	24.38
Jun/2009	1,540	8,448	303	27.88
May/2009	1,557	7,878	270	29.18
Apr/2009	1,445	7,338	237	30.96
Mar/2009	1,251	6,864	192	35.75
Feb/2009	1,093	6,500	135	48.15
Jan/2009	1,266	6,213	121	51.35
Dec/2008	569	7,483	200	37.41
Nov/2008	775	7,739	185	41.83
Oct/2008	1,026	8,365	291	28.75
Sep/2008	986	8,692	339	25.64
Aug/2008	1,265	8,809	345	25.53
Jul/2008	1,536	8,524	323	26.39
Jun/2008	1,513	7,992	327	24.44
May/2008	1,426	7,470	278	26.87
Apr/2008	1,680	6,727	305	22.06
Mar/2008	1,407	6,114	260	23.52
Feb/2008	1,035	5,878	205	28.67
Jan/2008	1,365	5,592	180	31.07
Dec/2007	556	6,399	253	25.29
Nov/2007	760	6,774	287	23.60

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 208.651.9700

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas
and a magical holiday season
filled with the true spirit of Christmas!

A Coeur d'Alene Idaho Short Sale VICTORY ~ but no smiling photos this time....

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:47:33 -0600

A Coeur d'Alene Idaho Short Sale VICTORY ~ but no smiling photos this time....

On my drive home to North Idaho from a spring break trip to Colorado I began a journey I couldn't have even imagined. Somewhere along I-25 in the middle of Wyoming I received a call from Boise agent Brian Brumpton.

"How do you feel about short sales?" he asked.

That call lead to a referral of a California woman who had two investment properties in Coeur d'Alene Idaho that she needed to short sale. She was wiped out financially - every dime she had saved for retirement.

And thus my incredible journey began.

In my wildest dreams I couldn't have imagined what would unfold over the next 8 months. Like layers of an onion, one bit at a time, a story unraveled of a con artist and scammers. I went about my business of simply trying to get two homes sold for my client before they were lost to foreclosure. But people, details and circumstances would appear before me, unsolicited, and peel another layer off an onion that I never asked for and wasn't interested in peeling.

The houses were a mess. One had burst pipes and inoperable plumbing, the other no functional heating system. Yet she had paid top dollar for them in their undisclosed condition of disrepair, in 2008. In fact, it is unbelievable to me that they could have appraised for what she paid for them. Unbelievable that the real estate agent that did a lousy job of looking after her best interest didn't know what was going on. Unbelievable in that I simply don't believe it. (A strong claim, I know, and I stand by it.) This particular con artist is a master of what he does. My client is no dummy, she has a PHD.

I found buyers. Lots of them. We lost them to delays for one reason or another. I posted about one withdrawal here. I lost count of how many would-be buyers moved on down the road. Times two. And every time I would turn around another piece of onion skin would fall away and the bogus lease option scam would come more into focus. Ah ha! My client was just the patsy they needed to buy the houses so they could skim the equity from the Sellers!

As the months dragged on, the saga of these homes took on a life of its own. It drained me and emotionally exhausted my distraught client. Associates of mine would advise me to wash my hands of the whole mess. She should just let the houses go into foreclosure. It's not worth how much of my time and energy it was sucking up. Just not worth it. And maybe it wasn't.

But here's the deal. I had told my client that she would finally have someone she could trust to protect her interests. That I would be there for her and see her through to the end, come what may. She had her reasons for wanting a short sale and not a foreclosure. I also had an obligation to Brian, who had referred this client to me, to do everything in my power to get these homes closed and get a referral fee to his little family. If it were just ME, was it worth it? No question, no.

Today has been an emotional day as we closed on the first house. An incredible 8 month journey that has involved a really bad dude; a large cast of complicit characters; a judge; the sheriff; phone calls to the executive board at PMI Insurance Company; frivolous accusations against me to my broker; a request from my broker for me to cancel the listings; me defying my broker and not canceling the listings; a lis pendens; grand theft; tears behind closed doors; the sheriffs department; judicial eviction of squatters; a crumbling foundation; rotted sill plate & floor joists; failed septic inspection; last minute lien; threats; obsenities and protection order discussions. Honestly, I have just scratched the surface. It's big and ugly, and it's not over.

Finally, after a series of last minute delays out of left field, including a disapproval of the final HUD, we closed on the first house. This time, there won't be any happy pictures of my client at the closing table. Today was a huge victory against overwhelming odds, but it is really no cause to celebrate. Somehow, Congratulations just doesn't work. But she is one giant step closer to closure of this horrible chapter of her life, and for that I am grateful.

We hear daily the war stories and rants about the dreaded Third Party Creditors. This story wouldn't be complete without my mentioning just how fabulous it has been to work with Wells Fargo Loan Adjustor Specialist Monique Spenard. Monique was assigned as the negotiator of the first offer I submitted. Buyers and negotiators came and went as months dragged on. When we had reached a seemingly hopeless dead end, disapproval of a short sale by the mortgage insurer, I tracked down Monique with a plea for her help. She personally took on the files for both houses, kept in communication and I can only imagine all she has done behind the scenes to bring about the impossible.

Sandy Watts is our buyer's agent and I marvel at how she has kept these buyers in the game, one contract extension after another, and another, and another, and another.... I lost count. Sandy, you are my hero!

While I am giving credit where credit is due, Heidi Simon at Pioneer Title has been a trooper. How many estimated HUDs has she done for these houses? I don't know, I lost count! I called her the other day, for a new HUD to submit with a new offer on the other house and we both burst out laughing! How is it POSSIBLE to lose so many buyers? Well, it's kind of hard for a buyer to overcome an issue like an inoperable in-floor radiant heating system when trying to get loan approval. Just sayin... We have a good offer, I expect to hear a response from Monique tomorrow. I will keep beating this horse until it's dead. The funeral foreclosure sale date is December 15, but don't count us out yet!

Today was a good day.

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 208.651.9700

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas
and a magical holiday season
filled with the true spirit of Christmas!

Delayed Reaction! Local Business Challenge 4 months later...

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:07:16 -0600

I opened my email this morning and found a note that left me puzzled for a minute.

LOL you so had me freaked out that day!! I'm sorry i didn't get this until today. We just had our internet re-installed in our new house and we had actually been living in our camp trailer since July. I am so thankful and amazed about this. Please send me a stack of your cards. We meet over 1000 customers a year and would be more than happy to hand them out.

Matt Surplus
The Gutter Guys

What? Who? OH!

Back in August, I was participating in the Local Business Challenge on ActiveRain, writing a series of posts about local businesses. It was a great challenge, and I really had to scramble to get the required number of posts done according to schedule. I don't think I got them all done, but I had fun doing the ones I did complete, and met some great people in the process of promoting their businesses on my blog.

On August 7th, while stopped at a red light, I whipped out my camera and took a photo of The Gutter Guys Truck in the lane next to me. The guys in the cab had very puzzled looks on their faces and I got a chuckle thinking of them trying to figure out what I was up to! After I posted their story on my blog, I sent off this email:

Hey Matt,

Sorry I didn't have time to chat before the light turned green the other day! Check out my post, hope you like it. When I get back to town next week I'll add more and better photos, hopefully a nice one of your truck since the one I took stinks! If you Google gutter guys you come up on the first page out of all the gutter guys in the world! Not too bad. Haven't had time to see where you are on other phrases.....
http://activerain.com/blogsview/1185542/the-gutter-guys-for-rain-gutter-installation-and-service-in-hayden-idaho

Janna

Better late than never! Unfortunately, it's been more than four months since that post and The Gutter Guys in Hayden Idaho aren't still coming up on the first page out of all the gutter guys in the world for Matt to see and enjoy. I'll have to work on that for my new friend.

Hmmm. Do you think I really should send him 1000 cards to hand out?

The Gutter Guys

The Roosevelt Inn Bed & Breakfast

MJs Fresh Market

Valentinos

The Enaville Resort Snake Pit

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 208.651.9700

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas
and a magical holiday season
filled with the true spirit of Christmas!