North Idaho Janna

Janna Rankin Scharf, CLHMS, SFR, GRI - Coeur d'Alene Lake Waterfront Homes For Sale

The year 2011 saw 179 property listings of waterfront homes for sale on Coeur d'Alene Lake.  Of these, 29 were successfully sold over the course of the year.  The sold prices ranged from a low of $300,000 to a high of $2,200,000.   

The year ended with 47 waterfront homes actively listed for sale on Coeur d'Alene Lake.  I'm pleased to claim one of these beautiful Coeur d'Alene Lake waterfront homes as a listing of mine.  It is located at 5265 S. Catamaran Court at exclusive Arrow Point and you can click here for more information.  Of the Coeur d'Alene Lake waterfront homes actively listed on December 31, the lowest priced home was listed at $299,900 with the highest being listed at $5,900,000.

Four Coeur d'Alene Lake waterfront homes were in escrow with sales pending at year's end.  List prices were $180,000 to $650,000.  Of course, we won't know the final sales price of these homes until the sales are closed in 2012.

That leaves 99 Coeur d'Alene Lake waterfront homes that were rejected by the market in 2011 and either expired or were canceled or withdrawn from the market.  The homes in this category ranged in price from $199,900 to $7,995,000.  I would expect to see many of these homes back on the market once spring makes an appearance in beautiful north Idaho.

Click here for complete details of each of the 111 Coeur d'Alene Lake waterfront homes on the market in 2011.

This link will remain active for 30 days.  After that, please give me a call or visit my website for current market information on Coeur d'Alene Lake waterfront homes for sale.

View 2011 Coeur d'Alene Area Waterfront Market Activity Reports for other area bodies of water:

• Coeur d'Alene Lake
• Hayden Lake
• Spokane River
• Avondale Lake
• Fernan Lake
• Spirit Lake
• Hauser Lake
• Twin Lakes

Janna Rankin Scharf, CLHMS, SFR, GRI - Coeur d'Alene Area Waterfront Homes For Sale: Spokane River

A look at the market activity for waterfront homes for sale on the Spokane River in 2011 shows 111 listings over the course of the year.  Of those, there were just 15 waterfront homes on the Spokane River that sold. They ranged in price from $225,000 to $1,800,000. 

As we rang out the old year, there were 29 homes actively on the market for sale on the Spokane River.  They ranged in price from $299,000 to $5,900,000.  Two Spokane River waterfront home sales were pending in escrow at year's end.  One at $315,000 and one at $997,000.  We won't know until they close how much the final sales price was.

Sixty-three Spokane River waterfront homes for sale either expired or were canceled in 2011.  These homes ranged in price from $329,000 to $10,795,000.

Click here for complete information on all 111 Spokane River waterfront homes that were on the market in 2011.

This link will remain active for 30 days.  After that, give me a call or visit my website for the latest market activity on the Spokane River or any other beautiful body of water in the Coeur d'Alene area.

View 2011 Coeur d'Alene Area Waterfront Market Activity Reports for other area bodies of water:

• Coeur d'Alene Lake
• Hayden Lake
• Spokane River
• Avondale Lake
• Fernan Lake
• Spirit Lake
• Hauser Lake
• Twin Lakes

Janna Rankin Scharf, CLHMS, SFR, GRI - Coeur d'Alene Area Waterfront Homes For Sale

Waterfront homes for sale on Hayden Lake in north Idaho saw light activity in 2011 compared to previous years.  Inventory is relatively low and buyers are scarce for the higher priced waterfront homes on Hayden Lake. 

At the end of the year there were just 17 actively listed waterfront homes for sale on Hayden Lake.  They ranged in price from $449,000 to $1,895,000.  Twelve waterfront homes on Hayden Lake sold in 2011, with purchase prices ranging from $134,000 to $1,750,000. 

Take a look at how many waterfront homes for sale on Hayden Lake expired or were canceled by the end of the year: 49!  These Hayden Lake waterfront properties that were rejected by our depressed market ranged in price from $299,000 to $2,385,000. 

Click here to see information on all 78 waterfront homes for sale on Hayden Lake in 2011.

This link will remain active for 30 days.  If you stumble upon this post after that, just call or email me for current market activity information for waterfront homes on Hayden Lake, or any other lake in beautiful North Idaho.

View 2011 Coeur d'Alene Area Waterfront Market Activity Reports for other area bodies of water:

• Coeur d'Alene Lake
• Hayden Lake
• Spokane River
• Avondale Lake
• Fernan Lake
• Spirit Lake
• Hauser Lake
• Twin Lakes

Janna Rankin Scharf, CLHMS, SFR, GRI - Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Waterfront Homes For Sale: Spirit Lake

Market activity with waterfront homes for sale on Spirit Lake in northern Idaho in 2011 was light.  There was just one Spirit Lake waterfront home that sold, at $400,000.  Another Spirit Lake waterfront home had a sale pending at $250,000 as the year ended, and three more were actively listed for sale.

Those three waterfront homes for sale on Spirit Lake at the end of 2011 ranged in price from $114,500 to $1,499,000.

Four more Spirit Lake waterfront homes expired in 2011 while one Spirit Lake waterfront home listing was canceled.  These five homes ranged in sales price from $299,000 to $899,000.

Click here for information on all waterfront homes listed for sale on Spirit Lake in north Idaho in 2011.

This link will remain active for 30 days.  After that, please call me or visit my website for information current market activity on Spirit Lake in beautiful north Idaho.

View 2011 Coeur d'Alene Area Waterfront Market Activity Reports for other area bodies of water:

• Coeur d'Alene Lake
• Hayden Lake
• Spokane River
• Avondale Lake
• Fernan Lake
• Spirit Lake
• Hauser Lake
• Twin Lakes

Janna Rankin Scharf, CLHMS, SFR, GRI - Coeur d'Alene Area Waterfront Homes Market Report: Avondale Lake

2011 did see some activity with waterfront homes for sale on Avondale Lake in Hayden, Idaho.  This beautiful private lake sits beside Avondale Golf Club and is renowned for wonderful fishing and abundant wildlife.

As the year 2011 ended, there had been three waterfront home sales recorded on Avondale Lake, and two homes were actively listed for sale.  Over the course of the year, one Avondale Lake waterfront home listing had expired and another was canceled.  As with waterfront homes for sale on other bodies of water in the Coeur d'Alene, Idaho area, inventory as well as activity is down considerably over past years. 

The three waterfront homes that sold on Avondale Lake in 2011 ranged in price from $235,000 to $465,000.  On the low end, it was a 2,492 square foot home built in 1976 with 80' of water frontage.  On the high end, I'm happy to report that it was my Avondale Lake waterfront listing that sold for $465,000.  It was a lovely new home built in 2006 that had never been occupied.  It had 3,394 square feet and sat on 120' of water frontage.

There were just two active Avondale Lake waterfront homes for sale at the end of 2011.  Listed at $599,000 and $695,000, I'm proud to claim the latter one as my current active listing.  It is located at 11557 N. Eastshore Drive.  You can click here for more information, it is an incredible home and value in an area of estate homes that rarely come on the market. 

Just one Avondale Lake waterfront home for sale expired in 2011, and one waterfront listing was canceled.

Click here for information on all of the waterfront homes for sale on Avondale Lake in Hayden, Idaho in 2011.

This link will remain active for 30 days.  If you come across this blog post after that, simply call me or visit my website for current information on waterfront homes for sale on Avondale Lake in Hayden Idaho.

View 2011 Coeur d'Alene Area Waterfront Market Activity Reports for other area bodies of water:

• Coeur d'Alene Lake
• Hayden Lake
• Spokane River
• Avondale Lake
• Fernan Lake
• Spirit Lake
• Hauser Lake
• Twin Lakes

Janna Rankin Scharf, CLHMS, SFR, GRI - Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Waterfront Homes For Sale: Twin Lakes

A look at Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Waterfront Real Estate market activity for Twin Lakes in 2011 shows six waterfront homes sold on Twin Lakes.

Sales prices of the waterfront homes that sold on Twin Lakes ranged from $77,000 to $365,000.  On the low end, the home had boat access only.  It was a bank owned foreclosure that was built in 1918, had 814 square feet and 50' of water frontage. 

At the other end of the spectrum was the home that sold on Twin Lakes for $350,000.  It was built in 1976 and had 2,486 square feet.  It came furnished and had 100' of water frontage.

In addition, there were eight homes actively listed for sale at the end of the year.  Seven homes for sale on Twin Lakes had expired listings in 2011, and another five Twin Lakes waterfront homes for sale were either canceled or withdrawn from the market in 2011.

Cllick here for information on all waterfront homes listed for sale on Twin Lakes last year. 

This link will remain active for 30 days.  After that, please call me or visit my website for current market activity report for waterfront homes for sale on Twin Lakes, Idaho.

View 2011 Coeur d'Alene Area Waterfront Market Activity Reports for other area bodies of water:

• Coeur d'Alene Lake
• Hayden Lake
• Spokane River
• Avondale Lake
• Fernan Lake
• Spirit Lake
• Hauser Lake
• Twin Lakes

Janna Rankin Scharf, CLHMS, SFR, GRI - Coeur d'Alene Area Waterfront Homes For Sale

What Hauser Lake had in common with Fernan Lake is that there were just two waterfront homes for sale at any time in all of 2011.  And just like Fernan Lake, on Hauser Lake there were no waterfront homes that sold in 2011.  At the end of the year, each of the two lakes saw just one active waterfront home for sale, with a second that had expired.  Hauser Lake's waterfront home listed for sale at year end was $299,900.  Hauser Lake's expired waterfront home for sale had been listed at $595,000.

Click here to view the Hauser Lake Market Activity Report for 2011.

This link will remain active for 30 days.  If you stumble upon this blog post after that, call me or visit my website for current Coeur d'Alene waterfront real estate market activity for Hauser Lake.

View 2011 Coeur d'Alene Area Waterfront Market Activity Reports for other area bodies of water:

• Coeur d'Alene Lake
• Hayden Lake
• Spokane River
• Avondale Lake
• Fernan Lake
• Spirit Lake
• Hauser Lake
• Twin Lakes

Janna Rankin Scharf, CLHMS, SFR, GRI - Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Waterfront Homes For Sale

A look at the activity for Coeur d'Alene area waterfront home sales in 2011 shows very little activity of any kind at Fernan Lake.  Only two waterfront homes were listed for sale on Fernan Lake at any time in all of 2011.  There were no sales.

Fernan Lake is just a stone's throw from Coeur d'Alene Lake at the eastern end of Sherman Avenue.  Fernan Lake Village, on the northern shore of Fernan Lake, is a charming enclave that is actually its own incorporated city within Coeur d'Alene. 

One home for sale on Fernan Lake in 2011 expired without selling.  It was listed at $725,000.  It's the lovely white home that sits adjacent to the public boat launch.  I have admired that beautiful home in its picture pretty setting for years. 

The other home is still actively on the market at $995,000. 

Click here for information on both of these homes. 

The link will remain active for 30 days.  If you stumble upon this blog post after that, give me a call or visit my website for current statistics for Coeur d'Alene, Idaho waterfront homes for sale on Fernan Lake.

View 2011 Coeur d'Alene Area Waterfront Market Activity Reports for other bodies of water:

• Coeur d'Alene Lake
• Hayden Lake
• Spokane River
• Avondale Lake
• Fernan Lake
• Spirit Lake
• Hauser Lake
• Twin Lakes

Janna Rankin Scharf, SFR, GRI, CLHMS – Coeur d’Alene Idaho Short Sale Realtor

Short sale success! I love to share Coeur d’Alene Idaho short sale success stories whenever I can.  One recent successful short sale closing came after 30 months of intense effort and an unimaginable list of obstacles flying out of left field.   

This Coeur d’Alene short sale far exceeds my previous record for
the longest and most difficult short sale to accomplish.  In fact, it’s off the charts!

It is truly mind blowing, and in all actuality I believe we received a bit of divine intervention to get ‘er done!  Because truly, it was going to take a miracle. 

I blogged about my frustrating experience few times over the course of those 30 months.  Here’s my blog post from February 2010.  Early on, it seemed clear to me that First Horizon had no intention of ever approving a short sale.  I still believe that to be true.

In the end, we had a triumphant closing and another short sale success in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.  My relieved clients have no resbonsibility for the deficiency between what they owed and what their home sold for, and were able to avoid foreclosure and the negative repercussions that brings.

I think the joy and relief we felt is readily
 apparent in this photo taken at closing. 
Oh happy day!

To Whom it May Concern,

We are writing this letter in reference to Janna Scharf, a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.  We called upon Janna to list our investment property as a short sale.  We knew Janna had experience in selling short sales, and that she had a reputation at working hard at her listings.

We found Janna to be very forthright and persistent time and time again, as she pushed through and tried to get answers from the varying departments.  She spent many frustrating hours on the phone, emails, faxes, responding to all requests sent by the lenders.

Not only did she make other agents aware of our listing, she personally showed the house herself to potential buyers. 

It took us 30 grueling months to finally close on our short sale property. She dealt with offers from ten different buyers over the course of two and a half years.  Our situation was difficult and taxing on all of us.  Our loan was transferred, resulting in more delays.  Janna ended up dealing with three different banks.  Several times the property was slated for foreclosure, and Janna successfully did all that she humanly could to prevent that from happening.  She never gave up, although she would have been justified.

We will always be grateful to Janna for her loyalty, perseverance, tenacious spirit, and her positive outlook.  She kept us current in her communications, and never conveyed to us that we were bothering her when we called.  

We highly recommend Janna for any real estate needs.  You will be blessed by her many talents, her work ethic, integrity, and her ability to see the problem through to the end.

Sincerely,

Charles and Candace Taranto

Janna Rankin Scharf, GRI, CLHMS, SFR

Coeur d’Alene Idaho Certified Short Sale Resource Specialist

Here’s a little well-earned comic relief I received.  We who work in the short sale trenches for our weary clients are always delighted to receive a message from our negotiators. 

It means things are moving along, progress is being made.  It means we have something constructive with which to update our clients as well as the buyers who are waiting for a response to their offer. 

One of the first things I do when I wake up in the morning is check for messages from negotiators.  I have found that many of them work at night, and most of the rest of them are in the Eastern time zone.  And they like to send out their messages first thing. 

90% of the messages I get from negotiators are sitting in my box when I wake up.

So imagine my confusion to get the following message when I first stumbled out of bed.  Was I seeing things, was I not quite awake, was my brain scrambled for some reason?  I eventually realized that the problem wasn’t my lack of mental acuity, but the message was pure jibberish.  I can’t help but smile when I read it.  I imagine a poor, overworked and underpaid negotiator who has just surpassed his ability to deal with his stack of hundreds of short sale files for one more minute…

“assisted for all the doc by mistake did not updated the buyer company comments in equator for proof of funds”

Janna Rankin Scharf, GRI, CLHMS, SFR

Short Selling can be a good option to

avoid foreclosure in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

Feeling as if you are about to lose your home to foreclosure, with nothing you can do about it, is a devastating experience.  Unfortunately it's one that thousands of homeowners encounter every single day in the current housing market.  If you have found yourself in this situation, I CAN HELP YOU!

My name is Janna Scharf, and I'm a Certified Short Sale and Foreclosure Resource Specialist. I've successfully helped many homeowners avoid foreclosure and save their credit by obtaining their lender's permission to sell their property for less than the amount owed on the mortgage.  The agent you hire ABSOLUTELY makes a difference in your odds of a successful outcome, and my success rating for my clients is 100%!

Among other benefits, a short sale has far less impact on your credit rating than a foreclosure.  I’ve succeeded in getting my client’s lenders to agree to forgive the difference between the amount due on the loan and the property's short sale price.  Most likely you can walk away from the transaction debt-free!  And since your lender will usually cover ALL closing costs and fees, a short sale likely won't cost you a dime.

You don't have to lose your home to foreclosure, and you do not have to go through this alone.  I will explain the process, negotiate with your lender on your behalf, find a buyer for your home, and be there for you through the entire short sale process from start to finish.  There is no downside for you as a Seller to attempt to short sell your home if you are facing possible foreclosure.  It is the way to bring about the best possible outcome in a truly unfortunate situation.  At the end of the day there is peace that comes with knowing you did everything within your power to do.  

Please give me a call or email me today.  I would love to visit with you in complete confidence, answer your questions and give you the info you need to decide if short selling is a the right option for you.

My December Short Sale Success Stories!

7601 N. Winter View Drive, Coeur d’Alene

What a Christmas blessing it was for this little family to avoid foreclosure and be released from liability for the deficiency between what their home sold for and their mortgage balance.  At closing, their lender, Bank of America, paid their outstanding utility bills and their delinquent property taxes.  They were thrilled to actually receive a big check from Bank of America at closing for moving and relocation expenses!

6554 W. Majestic, Rathdrum  

This was the most difficult short sale I have completed, and for a while I thought it would be the downfall of my 100% success rate.  It took tracking down executives at First Horizon, Nationstar and 1^st Tennessee to eventually get to a successful closing.  In the end, my investor client was able to short sale without any cash contribution or promissory note, while his lender paid off his back taxes and several years of delinquent HOA fees. 

2433 N. Partridge Loop, PostFalls

Friday afternoon, the day before Christmas Eve, we received official approval from Bank of America of the offer we had earlier submitted for review.  What a Merry Christmas it was for these Sellers!  Their approval letter informed them that they would not be liable for any deficiency, their delinquent taxes and utility bills will be paid, and they will receive the maximum allowed at closing for moving and relocation expenses. 

Call today and let me help YOU write your own short sale success story!

Janna Rankin Scharf, GRI, CLHMS, SFR - Coeur d'Alene Idaho Homes for Sale

I just love, love, love this photo of a beautiful barn on Lancaster Road in Hayden, Idaho.  Isn't it just as pretty as a picture?  I think it would make a great Christmas card!  It was taken by my client's son, he's a wonderful photographer!  The barn, and its house, are currently listed for sale.  Some lucky buyer is in for a treat, this landmark historic property is absolutly DELIGHTFUL!

Janna Rankin Scharf, GRI, SFR, CLHMS - Coeur d'Alene Idaho Short Sale Specialist

Nothing is better than having a short sale success story to share, and today was a wonderful Coeur d'Alene, Idaho short sale success!  We successfully closed a short sale transaction for a wonderful little family.

What an early Christmas gift it was for my clients to gain closure to an unfortunate chapter of their life.  After a long fought and futile attempt for a loan modification or refinance, they were left with the option of short selling or losing their home to foreclosure.

Although challenging, our attempts to avoid foreclosure with a short sale were successful.  Christmas will be a little brighter for this family, today they became the recipients of some wonderful gifts:

• No recourse for the deficiency between what they owed and what their lender netted in the sale.
• No cash contribution or promissory note required of them.
• Their past due property tax bill and utility bills were paid off.
• They received a generous check from their lender for relocation assistance.

Perhaps the best gift they received today with this successful Coeur d'Alene short sale was knowing they achieved the very best outcome possible in a very distressing situation.  Now they can close this chapter of their life and begin rebuilding, with the least amount of damage possible to their credit.  They have peace of mind in knowing that they did everything that was within their power to do.

Congratulations Robyn and Alan!

Janna Rankin Scharf, GRI, SLHMS, SFR, AB - Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Homes For Sale

I recently was out by Mica Bay visiting a spectauclar lake view home I have listed there. 

It was a beautiful autumn day and I was thoroughly enjoying the beautiful colors and sights of the season.

What a treat it was to come upon some duck hunters, hunkered in near their decoys. 

It was pretty as a picture, and fortunately I had my camera with me and could capture the moment to share with you.

Hardly a day goes by that I don't marvel at the realization of the blessing of living in a place that is pretty as a postcard!

Click here to take a look at the beautiful home I have listed that overlooks Mica Bay on coeur d'Alene Lake. 

These views will
literally knock your socks off!

Janna Rankin Scharf, GRI, CLHMS, SFR, AB - Coeur d'alene Idaho Real Estate Homes for Sale

Today was a crisp, clear day here in beautiful North Idaho.  I took the opportunity to get outside this afternoon to go for a hike on the English Point Trail with my husband. 

Driving home we spotted a flock of wild turkeys along the road.  We stopped to take their picture but they turned and headed down a side road at a brisk turkey trot. 

It made me smile to think of our recent Thanksgiving Thursday, which started out with my family's participation in the Fort Collins, Colorado annual Turkey Trot.  All the while, here close to home, turkey trot down the road all the time, Thanksgiving or not!  No entry fee required, and no t-shirts, but they sure are fun to watch!