January 25th, 2010

I don't spend much time on Face Book or Twitter  or other such sites for the simple reason that I don't have time.  However, someone just called my attention to a Face Book site that was developed for the sole purpose of holding up a person (who I will not name, but it is not me in case you are wondering) to ridicule, and I find that reprehensible and sad for so many reasons.  First of all, why would anyone go out of their way to hurt a person?  Did this person cause them some kind of harm and this is revenge?  Certainly not in this case.  Are the people participating in this prank simply bored?  My opinion is that they are thoughtless, mean-spirited individuals who desperately need to widen their perspective on the world and learn how to make the best use of their time.  Their little Face Book prank is right down there with the dregs of the Internet.

And yes, many of the comments I receive on this blog are also trash put their by people who do not use their time on earth wisely.  However, many people do read it for its content, and I am thankful to those people.

December 28th, 2009

I wonder how many zillions of blogs are starting out that way today? But, you know what - 2009 has been a really tough year for probably most Americans (not to mention people all over the world), so we really deserve a happier new year.  Everyone knows the real estate business took a big hit this year, but whenever I'm feeling a bit sorry for myself I think of people who lost their jobs entirely, people whose homes are under foreclosure, people who cannot afford health care, military people whose lives have been totally upended, people wondering how to pay their basic bills - the list goes on and on. 

Perhaps I sound a bit "Pollyanna-ish" (and why exactly is that a bad thing anyway?), but it truly does help to take time to recognize the good things in our lives, the things we can be grateful for.  If nothing else, it puts one in a better frame of mind and better able to tackle the challenges ahead with a positive outlook.

So here are a few pretty Door County images I hope will brighten your day.  Happy New Year!

February 20th, 2008

What is a Buyer's Agent and when and why might you want one?  A Buyer's Agent is a licensed real estate agent with whom you have signed a contract-a WB-36 Exclusive Buyer Agency Agreement.  In this agreement, the Buyer (you) agree pay the agent to find a property for you to buy.  In this agreement you agree to pay the agent, although in most cases the agent is actually paid a portion of the sales commission by the listing broker.  Also in the agreement you can specifically indicate what properties you want to find, be it Door County shore front, water view, condominiums, vacation homes, vacant land, price ranges, or any other criteria that you desire.

What is the difference between a Buyer's Agent and a Seller's Agent?  BOTH owe the following duties to BOTH buyers and sellers:

1. Provide fair and honest services and answer all questions fairly and honestly.

2. Disclosed any and all material adverse facts known to the agent.

3. Keep in confidence all information that a reasonable person would want to be kept confidential or any information that the buyer or seller instructs the agent to keep confidential (unless that information must be disclosed by law).

4. Provide buyers and sellers with accurate market information requested by them.

5.  The agent must make an objective and unbiased presentation of all offers, and indicate the advantages and disadvantages of each.

6. Every agent must be knowledgeable concerning real estate law, public policies, current market conditions, and the physical characteristics of the property being sold.  Because the agent is not an expert in every field, the agent should recommend you seek third-party advisers such as attorneys, home inspectors, contractors, accountants when appropriate.

So what else does a Buyer's Agent do for a buyer?

A Buyer's Agent helps you get the best possible price, negotiates for beneficial contract terms, and puts the buyer's interests ahead of any other party.  Only a Buyer's Agent can give you a negative opinion of a seller's property, give you an opinion of whether the property is priced too high or too low, structure the offer with the buyer's best interests in mind, and recommend negotiation strategies for price and terms.

By signing a Buyer Agency Agreement, you agree to work exclusively with that one agent. In return, that agent will work extra hard to find a property for you because the agent knows they have your loyalty just as you have theirs. 

Mary Jo Ehnert, an experienced member of our Wilson-Shaffer sales team, had earned the "ABR" designation- Accredited Buyer Representative - and can be reached to answer you questions about Buyer Agency or assist you as your Buyer Agent at maryjo@dcwis.com.

So remember, whatever type of real estate you want in Northern Door County--condominiums, inland homes, shore homes, inland vacant land, acreage, vacant shorefront, or commercial properties-a Buyer Agent can help you find it and help you negotiate your offer.

December 6th, 2009

This year, I'm making my Christmas gifts myself.  Baking cookies, knitting and crocheting scarves and hats, and making jewelry from glass beads I made myself are a few of my current projects.  This summer I took a lampworking (making glass beads) at the Clearing in Ellison Bay, so I'm making "wearable art"!  I love receiving gifts made just for me, and I hope my friends and family will feel the same! Yes, the economy does need the boost of holiday shopping, but don't feel you're not contributing to the national cause by making your gifts.  If that is a worry to you, clear your conscience because you are purchasing the materials for your hand-made gifts!

If you just can't make gifts yourself, look around Door County for gifts made by local craftspersons and artisans.  Door County is filled with talented people making a multitude of items.  There are potters, painters, leather-crafters, jewelers, beaders, cooks making jams, jellies, and pickles, cheese makers, knitters, clothing makers, weavers, sculptors, and wood carvers to be found throughout Door County all offering wonderful one-of-a-kind creations.  By buying from them, you not only purchase a wonderful gift, but you also support these local people.  Believe me, it's much more satisfying than dropping by your local Wal-Mart! 

So join me for Christmas, Hanukkah, birthdays-any time you are giving a gift-and make it yourself or buy directly from the person who made it!  Happy Holidays everyone!

The leaves have fallen, but there are lots of Door County apples available for making pies and applesauce! Those make delicious gifts!

October 14th, 2009

IT'S THERE - THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL!  I can't say that the Door County real estate market suffered the extreme collapse that we witnessed in other markets.  We all saw markets where property values plummeted 50% or more, sales came to a virtual standstill, and foreclosed homes could be found on almost every block.  We were lucky.  Values decreased, but 10% of value would be a worst case scenario.  Only a small percentage of the properties on the market are foreclosures.  The worst thing we experienced was a dramatic drop in the number of sales as compared to the peak years of 2004 - 2006. 

But now, slowly but surely, sales are picking up.  What is selling?  Moderately priced non-shorefront homes are selling; and in northern Door County, the majority sold this year in the $100,000 to $300,000 price range.  Shore home sales were relatively few and not clustered in any price range. Condominium sales are slow, but resale condos in the $150,000 to $300,000 range are selling.  Vacant land sales were down dramatically this year, and almost all sale prices have been under $100,000. 

If those price ranges seem low to you, they are; and it's good news and bad news.  The good news is that contrary to popular opinion, there are moderately-priced vacation properties to be found in Door County.  If there ever was a time to buy Door County property, it is now!  The bad news is for sellers of the high-end properties that are just not moving.  But again, that is good news for buyers who can now find some pretty fabulous properties - especially homes - at great prices.  So, there is light at the end of the tunnel.  It just shines brighter for some segments of this market than for others.  And it is definitely shining brightly for buyers!

August 11th, 2009

I live in Fish Creek.  My office is in Ephraim. My commute to work is ten miles.  One mile is on Juddville Road, a paved country road with no center-line.  Six miles are on a County Road A which is a bit wider and does have a painted center-line. The last three miles are on State Highway 42, a two-lane highway that is the main street in Ephraim. There are three stop signs on my way to work but no traffic lights because there are no traffic lights in northern Door County.  The drive takes about 15 minutes.

This morning . . .

On Juddville Road a wild hen turkey, her chicks following obediently behind, crossed the road in front of me.  I stopped and waited for them.  Wild turkeys are a familiar sight in Door County, with large flocks frequently trekking through the fields.  They do fly, although clumsily, and only when alarmed.  My neighbor raises beautiful horses, and I pause to look at her two young colts. My Boston Terrier, Oscar, trembles with excitement at the sight of the horses.  Oscar goes to work with me every day.

On County Trunk A, I spied two sand hill cranes in a field. I've seen as many as twelve at one time and sometimes stop to listen to their curious call which is something like castanets.  I met seven cars on "A" this morning-(I counted because I planned to write this blog today.  I also passed two joggers and a lone bicyclist.

At the driving range at the Peninsula State Park golf course, I saw an elderly woman taking a picture of her husband (I assume), golf club in mid-air, recording for posterity their vacation.  It's the height of the tourist season in Door County; so, as I drive through Ephraim (speed limit 25 mph), people are walking and jogging along side the highway (no sidewalks in Ephraim), some with their dogs, some with their morning coffee.  The outdoor tables at Leroy's coffee house are full.  Boaters are already at the docks preparing for a day on the lake.  The highway runs right along the shore, so I always glance at the boats moored in the harbor (somewhat longingly, I admit).  At one of the docks, sailing instructors are preparing their young charges for a morning on the water. 

Past the docks, up the hill a bit, and I'm at my office.

July 19th, 2009

July 19th, midsummer in Door County-a time of lazy days and peaceful nights.  And the nights have been peaceful, cool with no raucous thunder storms to wake us up in the middle of the night.  This is the time of year we wish would go on forever. 

Sometimes I roam the county just to observe.  I see the little children playing on the beaches in Ephraim and Fish Creek, still with shovels and buckets of sand-not much changes through the generations at that age.  Families spend afternoons playing mini-golf in Sister Bay and Egg Harbor in response to plaintive "What can we do today, Dad?"  Peninsula State Park is full of campers-some actually "camping" in tents and others enjoying the park in comfort from their motor homes and camping trailers.  The many other campgrounds throughout Door County are full as well.  We've had little rain so no campers at the laundromat drying their sleeping bags.  Happy campers!

One of the places I personally discovered this year is in Fish Creek, and it's called Hand's On Studio.  Apparently everyone else knew about it but me, but now I've found it and think it's magical.  It's a collection of old barns transformed into studios where anyone can go-children and adults-to participate in "art"-Hand's On.  They have studios for pottery, for jewelry making, for metal-smithing, for working withglass in various forms, for ceramics-all quite casual, slow-paced, and relaxing.  Adults become children and children discover their creativity.  And all the while exotic varieties of chickens delightfully wander free and roosters crow with regularity.  Quite an atmosphere! 

Almost every evening there is a free concert to be found somewhere-at the parks in Egg Harbor or Sister Bay or Baileys Harbor.  Laughter rings through the woods in the evenings from the nightly plays performed by the American Folklore Theater in Peninsula State Park.  Old-fashioned sing-a-longs draw people to the Ephraim Village Hall and afterwards to Wilson's for ice cream. 

And all leads to the end of the day and a wonderful midsummer's night dream.

June 30th, 2009

An unheard concept in the real estate business?  Maybe not unheard of, but rare, and that can be said of any business involving sales.  The one question that is almost always answered with at the very least a little bit of "fudge" is, "How's it going?"  Just about any salesperson on the planet will answer (with a huge smile), "Great!" - regardless of the fact that, in truth, they hadn't made a sale in six months!  Salespeople are trained to always put up a positive front, no matter what.

Do you know what?  I think you, the buyers and sellers of this world can handle the truth, so here is it.  Real estate sales here in Door County are not great.  In particular, sales in my little part of the world - that part of Door County north of "the bridges" - are down to a fraction of what they were just 3 years ago. This is my 30th year selling real estate in Door County, and I've never seen worse. 

So here is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.  In northern Door County we primarily sell vacation properties - second homes, shorefront properties, condominiums - properties intended for recreational use, luxury properties.  In hard times, people stop buying luxuries.  At the same time, many people find they can no longer afford their vacation property, so put it on the market.  The resulting high numbers of properties for sale drives down values.

Is is all bad news?  No.  First of all, real estate values probably rose too high too fast.  A market correction was in order, and that is what we are getting.  A dose of reality is a good thing, and the vast majority of Door County property owners will not lose money on their investments.   They just won't make quite as much.  It's good news that people who did invest in Door County real estate are finding it a more stable investment than many others.  It's good news for buyers right now because, if they buy now, they will be buying at yesterday's prices.  More good news for buyers is that the interest rates are still very low, making it an even better time to buy. 

So, if you are selling Door County property, you will not get the price you may have gotten three or four years ago; but, you will still receive a fair price.  If you are buying Door County property, you may find a real treasure at a great price.

And that's the truth.

June 13, 2009

This has nothing to do with real estate.  Nothing to do with Door County, Wisconsin.  Nothing to do with homes, condominiums, vacant land, shore properties, the waters of Green Bay, or any real estate for sale in Door County or anywhere else.  Nothing to do with Egg Harbor, Fish Creek, Ephraim, Sister Bay, Ellison Bay, Gills Rock, Baileys Harbor, or Jacksonport, Wisconsin.

I wish I could figure out how to post photos on this blog.  I've tried repeatedly, but only end up with boxes with an "X" in them where the photo should be.  I'd love to post some of the photos I've taken of the spring flowers which were especially beautiful this year.  In many areas, the forest floor was a solid white carpet of trillium, the lilacs flourished, and one crabapple tree in the yard here at my office was a solid ball of white blossoms.  We have a chestnut tree that looks like it is covered with candles.  If you've never seen that particular tree, the blossoms are Christmas tree-shaped stalks about a foot high covered with small orchid-like white flowers.  You can pick one, put it in a vase, and have an instant flower arrangement! 

Well, if anyone can tell enlighten me as to how to post photos, I'd welcome the help

April 27th, 2009

IF buying a home or condominium in Door County is one of your goals, why should you do it now?  It is really a no-brainer.  (1) There are sellers motivated to sell.  (2) Interest rates are low and loans are available to qualified buyers.  (3) Values overall have held fast and have a solid history of appreciation.  How could conditions be any better than that?  Even if what you buy now and trade up later, you will be ahead.  Homes are a great value and can be found at prices well below building cost.  Condominium values are readily available in every price range from the low $100K range to over a million.  Land, especially acreage that has future division potential, is a smart investment. 

But, you ask, how can there be such great values for sale while at the same time property values are holding strong?  It is an idiosyncrasy of a recreational property market.  Most sellers in this market are financially stable enough to hold out for the price they want, so they can wait out a bad market until someone buys at the price they want.  On the other hand, some sellers are not in such a good position, so in order to sell the property they are reducing asking prices to what is sometimes actually below market value.  They need buyers now. A good Realtor (such as those at my company) can help you find those properties.