North Idaho Janna

Saturday I attended a conference put on by the Idaho State Treasurers office called Smart Women, Smart Money.  I actually went to watch my sister receive the Hall of Fame inspirational recipient award for 2008. (Congrats, Kerri!)  But I ended up thoroughly enjoying the speakers and vendors displays, and went away EXTREMELY motivated to be smarter about my money!

One little pamphlet I picked up is titled 66 Ways to Save Money.  Scanning the contents, my Realtor-eyes honed in on the brief Housing section.  Tip #43 - "You can often negotiate a lower sale price by employing a buyer broker who works for you, not the seller..."  Alrighty, instant credibility with me!  I find very few people who realize they can save THOUSANDS by having their own buyers agent do the negotiating for them.  Lots of good money saving tips, 66 of them to be exact  Click here to access the guide online.

Next, I found a neat little newsletter, Debt-Proof Living.  It's purpose is to provide hope, help and realistic solutions for individuals who are committed to financially responsible and debt-free living.  Founder Mary Hart is actively looking for a couple or individual to coach through a year-long money makeover in 2009. You'll have to hurry though, the application period ends on October 31.  Apply at Mary's Web Desk.

I'm not sure of the source of a nifty little slide rule thingie I picked up.  If you set it at a certain amount per day, it will show you how much that daily amount accumulates to over the course of 1, 5, 10 or 20 years. When I set it at $1.50 I find that the amount I used to spend per day on Diet Coke will save me $548 each year.  Wooohooo!  (I haven't touched a drop since August 3.)  How much dumb stuff do we spend money on that could be better allocated to something better?  Not drinking soft drinks could pad my bank account by $30,000 in 20 years, not to mention how much healthier I will be by drinking water instead!

USbank handed out a little pamphlet, What's My Score?  Another nifty little pamphlet geared for young adults I picked up for my daughter in college, I found the link to their website.  It's an AWESOME resource for credit and financial matters and education, packed with cool stuff.  FICO score estimator, money guides and downloads.  How about a game of Financial Football, Road Trip to Savings or The Smart Money Quiz Show?

Like I said, I left motivated to be smarter about how I manage my money.  Now I just need to DO IT!

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Last spring I was showing property to a 30ish couple.  One property had a retractable clothesline on the side of the house near the deck.  You could see across the way to where you would fasten it to a fixture on the fence about 15 feet away.  It was actually pretty slick.  My buyer studied it for a moment and then gave up trying to guess what it was.  Huh?  It's a clothesline!  She shook her head and seemed amused by the thought that anyone would actually CHOOSE to use a contraption like that! 

The clothesline was once a common sight.  After WWII, when Americans embraced labor saving appliances, clotheslines eventually became somewhat of a stigma - associated with not being able to afford a dryer.  Nowadays, clotheslines are outlawed in most neighborhoods with an HOA for being an eyesore.  Clotheslines are now making a comeback as more of us embrace green living.  Using a clothesline to dry your clothing can save households about 6 percent of their annual energy usage. That equates to about $80 per year.

Being old enough to be my buyer's mother I had my own memories of using a clothesline, and actually preferred it for some things.  At the International Homebuilders Show in Orlando last year I stumbled across a cool, environmentally progressive "clothesline" that I would love to have, called a Breeze Dry Indoor Drying Cabinet. You can hang your clothes to dry in a built-in cabinet indoors, choosing to circulate air for drying from indoors or outdoors. Everything old is new again!

Here's a cute poem circulating online, which sure took me back to the day.  Enjoy!

A Clothesline Poem

A clothesline was a news forecast
To neighbors passing by.
There were no secrets you could keep
When clothes were hung to dry.

It also was a friendly link
For neighbors always knew
If company had stopped by
To spend a night or two.

For then you'd see the "fancy" sheets
And towels upon the line;
You'd see the "company" tablecloths
With intricate design.

The line announced a baby's birth
To folks who lived inside
As brand new infant clothes were hung
So carefully with pride.

The ages of the children could
So readily be known
By watching how the sizes changed
You'd know how much they'd grown.

It also told when illness struck,
As extra sheets were hung.
Then nightclothes, and a bathrobe, too,
Haphazardly were strung.

It said "Gone on vacation now"
When the line hung limp and bare.
It told "We're back!" when full lines sagged
With not an inch to spare.

New folks in town were scorned upon
If wash was dingy gray,
As neighbors carefully raised their brows,
And looked the other way.

But clotheslines now are of the past
For dryers make work less.
Now what goes on inside a home
Is anybody's guess.

I really miss that way of life.
It was a friendly sign
When neighbors knew each other best
By what hung on the line.

Janna Rankin Scharf, AB, GRI, CSP, CLHMS, 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.

Janna Rankin Scharf, 208.651.9700  NorthIdahoJanna@gmail.com

I LOVE the marketing of my listed properties and have spent a great deal of time studying just what it is that makes for successful ads.  I've taken classes, studied successful ads, and learned by trial and error.

I thought I would share some pearls of marketing wisdom that have proved successful in my business over the years.  As I observe what others are doing, I find that very few Realtors are savvy marketers.  I don't have a marketing degree or background, in hindsight that might have been a good field for me to have focused on.  But the good news is that I get ample opportunity to market my heart out with my listings. Let me add a disclaimer that in spite of the MLS copyright these are actually photographs that I personally took with my own camera.

The first pearl, and the first key thing I remember learning, is that your ad copy should LEAD OFF with the biggest and best feature or selling point about your property.  Sometimes it's a no-brainer, and sometimes it takes some brainstorming to uncover.  Either way, it should be your headline.  Remember, you are competing with dozens, hundreds even, of other property ads for the attention of your buyer.  You have a fraction of a second to catch his attention, you can't count on him noticing that shop behind the house, or reading down to the bottom of the ad copy.  Lead off with the best selling point!  HUGE 46x24 HEATED SHOP WITH 10x10 AND 14X14 DOORS AND RV PORT!  It did come with a cute little 3 bedroom rancher that was very ho-hum. Cute little ranchers like that were a dime a dozen.  I knew the buyer for that property would be someone who needed the RV set-up.  My PRIMARY MLS and marketing photo was of the shop, not the house. Everything I did lead off with the shop.  I also had a sign rider made that simply said HUGE SHOP! and attached it to a directional sign at the main road.  I figured out the profile of my most likely buyer and went after HIM!

My targeted advertising worked and we got nearly a full price offer from a retired couple who fit the profile that I was marketing to.  And we all lived happily ever after!

ALWAYS LEAD OFF YOUR MARKETING WITH THE BIGGEST SELLING POINT OF YOUR PROPERTY!

Janna Rankin Scharf, AB, GRI, CSP, CLHMS, 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 North Idaho.

I'd like to pass on what I think is a WONDERFUL resource for all homeowners, as well as prospective homeowners!  It's a FREE new consumer guide.  I was pleasantly surprised to see a lot of GREAT information, a lot of questions answered, and some really good advice.

Mortgage Fraud and Foreclosure is a new manual that has just been published by Idaho's Attorney General Lawrence Wasden.  In a press release today, Wasden said, "Idaho has certainly not been immune from the nationwide mortgage problems, and we have seen far too many foreclosures in our state.  We have also seen a number of deceptive mortgage rescue scams that offer false hope in order to cheat Idahoans out of their homes.  We've written this booklet to help Idahoans avoid these scams, take appropriate steps to avoid foreclosure and stay in their homes."

The 34 page manual is available for reading online, or downloading and printing, at the Attorney General's website.  If you have any questions or want additional information on any real estate issue, please don't hesitate to give me a call.  If you are in a tough spot, don't be paralized by fear, there may be something we can do.

Janna Rankin Scharf, GRI, CSP, CLHMS, 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 Northern Idaho.

Janna Rankin Scharf, Coldwell Banker Schneidmiller Realty, 208.651.9700  NorthIdahoJanna@gmail.com

One POSITIVE aspect of the current financial mess we are in is that many people pinched by hard economic times are realizing that they need to tighten their belts and limit their spending.  There is a shift from the free-spending ways of our recent history towards economizing and saving for a rainy day.  That's a GOOD thing, no matter the economy. 

Here's some great inspiration in a post I came across today about putting yourself on a financial diet.  I think I take him up on his challenge to see how low I can get my allowance to!

I have recently had several people outside of our area ask me to describe what there is do do here in Coeur d'Alene and North Idaho.  So here it is, Things to Do in Coeur d'Alene.  Where do I start?

In Kootenai County alone there are 87 parks and campgrounds, biking and hiking trails, swimming, fishing, golfing, hunting, tennis, horseback riding, softball, ski resorts, amusement parks and, always, magnificent scenery everywhere you turn.

Dining & Shopping

There is lots of great shopping variety in Coeur d'Alene.  The Silver Lake Mall, four large antique malls, the Coeur d'Alene Resort Plaza Shops, a vibrant downtown shopping area, the new Riverstone District and numerous national retailers provide shoppers with anything they could be looking for. 

Area menus boasts everything from award winning chefs to sidewalk hot dog vendors.  Regional fare might include huckleberry pancakes, Idaho potato pizza, Idaho trout or Priest river buffalo steak.  Cap your day with a Northwest microbrew, a selection from a world renowned wine cellar or a visit to one of our many charming coffee shops.

Arts & Culture

Performing and visual arts add to the texture of our community tapestry.  Coeur d'Alene is home to three theaters that provide community productions and professional troupe performances.  Thousands of visitors turn out for annual events such as Art Walk, Art from the Heart, mARTi Gras, Julyamsh Pow Wow, concerts in City Park and Riverstone.  Artists and galleries present the finest in sculpture, blown glass, painting, jewelry and hand-crafted furniture. 

The Coeur d'Alene Arts and Culture Alliance works with non-profit, volunteers,and professional arts organizations to create an artistic lifestyle in North Idaho.

Snowboarding & Skiing

There are three ski resorts in the area.  You can head north to Schweitzer Mountain resort.  Stella is the name of Schweitzer's 6-passenger high-speed chair lift that will transport you across 2,500 acres and 58 runs.  Also an easy drive is Silver Mountain in Kellogg, to the East.  It has two peaks, 50 runs and 2,200 feet of vertical fun. It also features the world's longest, single staged gondola.  Lookout Pass Ski Area area in Mullan  is nearby with 23 named runs on 540 skiable acres and a vertical drop of 1,150 feet.  It also contains two glade areas and acres of tree skiing.

The Lake

Lake Coeur d'Alene has earned the reputation as one of the world's most beautiful lakes.  Enjoy the friendly atmosphere of City Beach, Sanders Beach or along the river at the dike road behind North Idaho College.  Plunge into water activities like waterskiing, fishing, jet skiing, kayaking, boat cruises, river floating, parasailing, boat cruises and seaplane rides!

Golf

The spectacular scenery  of North Idaho golf courses rivals that found anywhere in the world.  There are 18 regional courses in gorgeous settings that accommodate any skill level.  Coeur d'Alene lake features the world's only floating green.  In a recent Golf Digest, three North Idaho golf courses were named to the list of top courses in the state. 

Amusement Parks

Silverwood, the Northwest's largest theme park, lies just 15 minutes north of Coeur d'Alene.  It contains over 60 rides and attractions, three roller coasters, boulder Beach waterpark, river raft ride, and a steam locomotive.  There are activities for kids of all ages.  There are also several family fun centers around the area for adventure, including Wild Waters, North Idaho's premiere water slide theme park, and Triple Play & Raptor Reef Indoor Water Park, the northwest's newest and largest family fun center. 

Outdoor Activities

North Idaho's plentiful waterways offer great canoeing, kayaking, rafting, and power boating opportunities.  With over 50 boater access sites there are lots of places to get on the water.  Bicyclists of all skills and abilities will find trails to ride.  The maintained and scenic Centennial Trail will take you all the way from the Washington border to the east end of Lake Coeur d'alene.  Other maintained trails are the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes, and the Route of Hiawatha.  Area ski resorts have incorporated rugged mountain biking trails. 

The outdoor adventure has access to world-class fishing and hunting.  the St. Joe and Coeur d'Alene Rivers provide outstanding fishing opportunities for native cutthroat trout, and the lakes yeild everything from pan fish to tryphy bass, trout and salmon.  Trophy elk, deer and other big game abound in North Idaho.  Outfitters are available to take you hunting or fishing, or explore thousands of acres of lakes, streams and National Forests on your own. Avid wildlife watchers can see the scores of migrating bald eagles that flock to Lake Coeur d'Alene to feed on Kokanee salmon each spring.

Janna Rankin Scharf, GRI, CSP, CLHMS
Associate Broker
Coldwell Banker Schneidmiller Realty
(208)651-9700

NorthIdahoJanna@gmail.com
www.JannaScharf.com

Word on the street today is that Capitol West Appraisers, based in Boise, has filed a class-action lawsuit in federal court in Seattle against Countrywide Financial, claiming the lender used intimidating tactics to obtain favorable reports. 

The lawsuit claims Countrywide forced appraisers to use improper methods designed to benefit the lender and punished by blacklisting those who didn't play by those rules.  The actions of the giant home mortgage lender caused damage to thousands of appraisers nationwide and distorted real estate prices in the marketplace. 

Apparently, Countrywide was asking appraisers to come with higher values to match loan amounts and Capitol West appraisers didn't believe the homes were worth that much.  Lawyers for Capitol West Appraisers contend the group suffered business losses of up to $8,000 per month because they refused to play by Countrywide's rules and were blacklisted.  They are hoping for class-action status because there are so many appraisers who have been similarly injured for adhering to ethical business practices. 

This is one scenario of the fraud that is THE major contributing factor in our current mortgage and economic mess.  I'd be surprised if there is a real estate professional out there that didn't personally run into someone who was encouraging or committing or looking the other way during fraudulent transactions and activities during the heyday several years ago. 

As a listing agent I personally held up a closing for 3 weeks by refusing to sign a settlement statement that specified that a lot trade was a cash down payment.  Sitting at the closing table with the buyers, sellers and lender, I pointed out the fact that they were calling a lot trade a $400,000 cash down payment, and I wasn't going to sign it.  It was Loan Fraud 101.  It would be an understatement to say that they were all upset.  Three weeks later, at our third attempt, we closed.  It took that long for the buyer to figure out how to structure the deal so that it could be accurately reflected on the HUD.  On another transaction I represented buyers who were using a lender that wanted to commit loan fraud and actually told me "everyone's doing it."  NO! Everyone's NOT doing it!  

I suspect as time goes by we will see more and more fallout like this lawsuit by Capital West Appraisers.  Because everyone WASN'T doing it.  Unfortunately, enough people WERE doing it that we are all going to pay a heavy cost for years to come. 

IDAHO may be best known for its potatoes - it produces, after all, a third of all the potatoes in the United States. But its economy is increasingly being driven by technology and green manufacturing companies, big and small.  A great article in New York Times reports that some 70% of Idaho's economy is high technology.  Who knew?  Here under the tall timbers in North Idaho, where we are closer to Seattle than we are to Boise, I haven't seen many signs of EITHER potatoes or technology....

Yet it was the potato, in a way, that started Idaho on a path to high technology industry. In 1978, the late Jack Simplot, founder of the J.R. Simplot Company, developer of Idaho russet potatoes and of freeze-dried French fries for McDonald's, invested in a start-up called Micron Technology, a maker of semiconductors.

Micron now has more than 20,000 employees and close to $6 billion in annual revenues. (Micron is not immune to the turmoil in global economic markets. It announced last week that it would lay off more than 3,000 employees in the next two years because of a glut in microchips.)

Idaho farmers have been backing technological start-ups ever since. Gerald R. Thompson, for example, said he raised $2 million from farmers near Boise in 2006 to start a company, Sky Detective. The company combines global positioning satellite technology with cellular phone technology from Qualcomm to produce a device capable of tracking people and cargoes anywhere in the world. 

Facinating article!

Janna Rankin Scharf, GRI, CSP, CLHMS
Associate Broker
Coldwell Banker Schneidmiller Realty
(208)651-9700
NorthIdahoJanna@gmail.com
www.JannaScharf.com

I came across this blog by a Texas Realtor and thought it was a good safety reminder for all of us.  Sellers, please be EXTREMELY careful about whom you allow into your house. 

I Love this beautiful photo of brilliant fall foliage reflected in the lake.  

Mother Nature's colorful display also ushers in the season of fall home maintenance chores.

You know: check windows, doors and locks, get the heating system inspected, check chimney or exhaust flues, and other such tasks most of us would rather not have to do. Nonetheless, if you want to have a safe trouble-free home this winter, now is the time to get started.

Here is a general list to get you going.  You can also check out some great tips at State Farm Insurance.

1) Furnace Inspection
•         Call an HVAC professional to inspect your furnace and clean ducts.
•         Stock up on furnace filters and change them monthly.
•         Consider switching out your thermostat for a programmable thermostat.
•         If your home is heated by a hot-water radiator, bleed the valves by opening them slightly and when water appears, close them.
•         Remove all flammable material from the area surrounding your furnace.

2) Get the Fireplace Ready
•         Cap or screen the top of the chimney to keep out rodents and birds.
•         If the chimney hasn't been cleaned for a while, call a chimney sweep to remove soot and creosote.
•         Buy firewood or chop wood. Store it in a dry place away from the exterior of your home.
•         Inspect the fireplace damper for proper opening and closing.
•         Check the mortar between bricks and tuckpoint, if necessary.

3) Check the Exterior, Doors and Windows
•         Inspect exterior for crevice cracks and exposed entry points around pipes; seal them.
•         Use weatherstripping around doors to prevent cold air from entering the home and caulk windows.
•         Replace cracked glass in windows and, if you end up replacing the entire window, prime and paint exposed wood.
•         If your home has a basement, consider protecting its window wells by covering them with plastic shields.
•         Switch out summer screens with glass replacements from storage. If you have storm windows, install them.

4) Inspect Roof, Gutters & Downspouts
•         If your weather temperature will fall below 32 degrees in the winter, adding extra insulation to the attic will prevent warm air from creeping to your roof and causing ice dams.
•         Check flashing to ensure water cannot enter the home.
•         Replace worn roof shingles or tiles.
•         Clean out the gutters and use a hose to spray water down the downspouts to clear away debris.
•         Consider installing leaf guards on the gutters or extensions on the downspouts to direct water away from the home.

5) Service Weather-Specific Equipment
•         Drain gas from lawnmowers.
•         Service or tune-up snow blowers.
•         Replace worn rakes and snow shovels.
•         Clean, dry and store summer gardening equipment.
•         Sharpen ice choppers and buy bags of ice-melt / sand.

6) Check Foundations
•         Rake away all debris and edible vegetation from the foundation.
•         Seal up entry points to keep small animals from crawling under the house.
•         Tuckpoint or seal foundation cracks. Mice can slip through space as thin as a dime.
•         Inspect sill plates for dry rot or pest infestation.
•         Secure crawlspace entrances.

7) Install Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
•         Some cities require a smoke detector in every room.
•         Buy extra smoke detector batteries and change them when daylight savings ends.
•         Install a carbon monoxide detector near your furnace and / or water heater.
•         Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they work.
•         Buy a fire extinguisher or replace an extinguisher older than 10 years.

8) Prevent Plumbing Freezes
•         Locate your water main in the event you need to shut it off in an emergency.
•         Drain all garden hoses.
•         Insulate exposed plumbing pipes.
•         Drain air conditioner pipes and, if your AC has a water shut-off valve, turn it off.
•         If you go on vacation, leave the heat on, set to at least 55 degrees.

9) Prepare Landscaping & Outdoor Surfaces
•         Trim trees if branches hang too close to the house or electrical wires.
•         Ask a gardener when your trees should be pruned to prevent winter injury.
•         Plant spring flower bulbs and lift bulbs that cannot winter over such as dahlias in areas where ground freezes.
•         Seal driveways, brick patios and wood decks.
•         Don't automatically remove dead vegetation from gardens as some provide attractive scenery in an otherwise dreary, snow-drenched yard.
•         Move sensitive potted plants indoors or to a sheltered area.
10) Prepare an Emergency Kit
•         Buy indoor candles and matches / lighter for use during a power shortage.
•         Find the phone numbers for your utility companies and tape them near your phone or inside the phone book.
•         Buy a battery back-up to protect your computer and sensitive electronic equipment.
•         Store extra bottled water and non-perishable food supplies (including pet food, if you have a pet), blankets and a first-aid kit in a dry and easy-to-access location.
•         Prepare an evacuation plan in the event of an emergency. 

Janna Rankin Scharf, GRI, CSP, CLHMS
Associate Broker
Coldwell Banker Schneidmiller Realty
(208)651-9700
NorthIdahoJanna@gmail.com
www.JannaScharf.com

From November 7 to December 20 the library will host "Between Fences," a traveling Smithsonian exhibit that looks at the history of fences and property ownership in the United States.

Here's a chance to have a little bit of creative family fun!  The Coeur d'Alene Public Library is inviting patron families to participate in an art display by adopting a picket to decorate on the theme of "This is Our Home."  The decorated pickets will be used to create a fence to be on display in the children's library while the exhibit is in Coeur d'Alene.

The unfinished pickets can be picked up at the Seagraves Children's Library on the library's parkside level at 702 E. Front.  Decorated pickets should be returned to the library by October 31. 

Other activities related to the Smithsonian exhibit's visit include a panel discussion, "Both Sides of the Fence - Balancing Land Use Issues," on December 3. There will also be photographic exhibit by local youths, and a multi-media presentation on November 20

For more information call (208) 769-2315.

Are underwater homeowners DROWNING?

This week The Wall Street Journal reported that the relentless slide in home prices has left nearly one in six homeowners owing more on a mortgage than the home is worth, which is termed being "underwater."  This raises the possibility of a rise in defaults - the very misfortune that touched off the credit crisis last year.

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, 9.16% of mortgages on one- to four-family homes were a month or more overdue in the second quarter this year.  That's compared to 6.52% a year before and was the highest level since the association began the surveys 39 years ago.

Having more homeowners underwater likely means more eventual foreclosures.  It's hard, if not impossible, for borrowers in financial trouble to refinance or sell their homes to pay off the mortgage.  There's a growing phenomenon called Jingle Mail - just walking away from your underwater mortgage and mailing the keys to the bank.

There is also great concern in the banking industry over what is called Buy and Bail.  In an alarming number of cases, underwater homeowners are first financing a similar but much lower priced home while they can still get a mortgage, and then simply abandoning their underwater home.  Just a few weeks ago, the FHA issued new quidelines to protect themselves from this phenomenon.  Here's a link to a piece I posted earlier. 

About 75.5 million U.S. households own the homes they live in.  Roughly 12 million households, or 16%, are underwater, owing more than their homes are worth.  For those that bought in the last five years, it's worse: 29% are underwater.  On the flip side, 64 million have equity in their homes, including 24 million who own their homes free and clear and, and 40 million whose homes remain worth more than is owed. Are underwater homeowners DROWNING?  Not necessarily. Many recent buyers might owe more than their house is currently worth, but will be just fine paying the mortgage and will be above water again in another few years. 

"If I can afford my monthly mortgage payments and don't have to sell, why does it really matter if my home is underwater or not?"

The concern with being underwater may lead some to conclude that their home is not a worthwhile investment and they may decide to stop investing - that is, to stop making monthly mortgage payments.  A Borrower with little or no equity is less likely to press and scrape and do everything they can to make their monthly mortgage payment.  They are more likely to give up.  This is a dangerous situation for lenders because if the homeowner no longer can, or is willing to, make the payments, the lender can't recover the loan by reselling the home.  Mortgage companies historically were so scared of this situation that they required 20% down payments.  The high number of defaults on underwater homes is what led to our current crisis in the banking industry.  But, if you can hold on and continue to make your mortgage payments, as most of us can, history has shown that home values WILL  rebound. 

Housing markets don't turn around quickly, but they do turn around.  The price slump in California in the early 1990's was a long grind.  Los Angeles prices peaked in June 1990 and didn't bottom out until March 1996.  They didn't get back to their 1990 peak until 2000.  This is a good time to remember what your mother taught you, patience is a virtue....

Janna Rankin Scharf, GRI, CSP, CLHMS
Associate Broker
Coldwell Banker Schneidmiller Realty
(208)651-9700
NorthIdahoJanna@gmail.com
www.JannaScharf.com

Anyone who has been out and about has certainly noticed that the pain at the pump is easing up a bit.  Here is a photo documentary by my sister Kerri of the price falling over three days earlier this week. 

Just this past Sunday, October 5, the price for a gallon of regular was at $3.14.  The next day was down to $3.09.  Tuesday, it dipped below $3.00 to $2.99  for the first time in I cant remember how long!  It is still stuck at that $2.99 mark at just about every station around Coeur d'Alene. 

These falling prices are good news for all of us who have been squeezed by hyper-inflated gas prices.  Yesterday, it cost me $17 dollars less than it did in August to fill my gas tank. Multiply that by AT LEAST four tanks a month and it adds up to $68 a month in expendable income that will stay in our local North Idaho economy. I can't help but think that lowering gas prices to reasonable levels will be as much of a boon to stabilizing our struggling economy as anything else that Congress schemes up. 

I never would have thought that gas at $2.99 would be cause to celebrate!  Let's hope that whoever it is that is manipulating the gas prices will keep cranking them down.  

UPDATE: October 12 prices are down a bit to $2.93
UPDATE: October 15 prices are down a bit to $2.89
UPDATE: October 22 prices are down a bit to $2.63
UPDATE: October 29 prices are down again to $2.39 

Janna Rankin Scharf, GRI, CSP, CLHMS
Associate Broker
Coldwell Banker Schneidmiller Realty
(208)651-9700
NorthIdahoJanna@gmail.com
www.JannaScharf.com

The new Prairie Trail is full of activity.  An asset for both tourists and local residents, here's a new opportunity to get out and enjoy our beautiful North Idaho autumn.  As you wander along, the personality of the trail changes with your views. Stride past stunning river and forest scenes, under the highway and along Ramsey Park where neighbors are cheering on their junior football teams. 

The Prairie Trail is the result of a cooperative venture between The Centennial Trail Foundation, The City of Coeur d'Alene and the Lake City Development Corporation.  It runs for five miles along the riverside route formerly held by the Union Pacific Railroad, from Huetter on the north to Riverstone on the south. 

To discover the new Prairie Trail, lace up your walking shoes or grab your bike.  Head to the Riverstone Park trailhead or hop on the trail at any point along its path.  You'll see lots of folks along your way, enjoying another magnificent autumn in North Idaho.  See you on the trail!

Janna Rankin Scharf, GRI, CSP, CLHMS
Associate Broker
Coldwell Banker Schneidmiller Realty
(208)651-9700
NorthIdahoJanna@gmail.com
www.JannaScharf.com

For $100 you can buy a 1 in 5000 chance to win a new home in this year's North Idaho College Foundation's Really Big Raffle!  Order early, these tickets sell out!  The drawing will take place July 8, 2009.

All proceeds from the Really BIG Raffle stay at North Idaho College.  Last year, with the help of our community supporters, the foundation was able to raise over $190,000 through the Really BIG Raffle fundraiser.  Proceeds are used for a wide variety of needs, including funding scholarships for students in need, upgrading technology equipment on campus, and capital improvements. 

Each year the foundation commits $50,000 of the Really BIG Raffle revenue to the NIC faculty and staff grant program.  Through this process, instructors and staff submit their most needed requests for their area of expertise.  A review board then looks over the grant submissions and selects the requests that they feel would be the most beneficial to the students and college as a whole.

Click this link for information on the raffle or to purchasing a raffle ticket - 

NIC Charitable Foundation and Really Big Raffle 

Even the consolation prizes are spectacular:

1st -    $20,000 Prize of Choice
2nd -   $10,000 Prize of Choice
3rd -    $3,500 Prize of Choice
4th-      $2,000 Prize of Choice

Early Bird Prizes (purchase by 5/31/09)
$500 Costco Cash Card
$250 Fuel Gift Card 

Here's a description of the 2008-2009 Really Big Raffle House at 1909 Teanaway Drive, Post Falls:

This beautiful rancher incorporates functionality and flair throughout.  The interior design feel of this home will be a contemporary lodge style.  Main level has 1,903 finished square feet with three bedrooms and two baths.  Set on a full unfinished basement, there is room to add two more bedrooms, a bath and a huge media room.  Total square footage of this home is 3,455.

• Open kitchen/living area
• Formal dining room with skylight
• Breakfast nook
• Media niche in living room with dual sided fireplace
• Silestone kitchen counter tops
• Built-in wine cabinet/serving station and desk
• Master bedroom suite with french doors to patio
• Master bath features dual sinks and tiled shower
• Recessed lighting
• Utility room with sink
• Large covered patio
• 3 car garage
• Full landscaping and sprinkler system
• Corner .21 acre lot

This home is located in Greenstone's Montrose neighborhood near the intersection of Chase and Poleline in Post Falls, Idaho.  The neighborhood features tree lined streets, walking paths and neigborhood parks.  The home is within walking distance to the brand new Westridge Elementary School.

Just about every kind of group has a component here in beautiful North Idaho.  If you are looking for a place to volunteer, serve, participate, contribute - here is a list to get you going.  I'm sure there are others, but these are ones I have come across as I look for places to get involved in my community.  Make some calls, get involved, make a difference and HAVE SOME FUN!

Civil Air Patrol Auxiliary 772-2531
Coeur d'Alene Art Association  659-0469             Cd'A Business Referral Group 664-6359 www.cdabrg.com
Business & Prof. Women  666-0594                    Audubon Society  664-5318
Coeurly Qs Square Dance  664-5692                   Cd'A Coin Club  667-5606
Cd'A Eagles Club  664-2218                                Coeur d'Alene Elks Lodge  772-4049
Coeur d'Alene Garden Club  772-7255                  Cd'A High School Boosters 667-4507
Rotary Club 664-3482                                        Daughters of American Revolution 765-4516
Duplicate Bridge  772-2356                                Embroiderer's Guild  772-2295
Idaho Character Council  664-4952                     IDFG Sportsmen  769-1414
Panhandle Kiwanis  659-3438                             Idaho Writer's League  762-4081
Jewett House Bridge  667-5194                          Jewett House Pinochle  667-5194
Kootenai Co. Democratic Club  777-1588             Republican Pachyderm Club  762-7091
Lake City Harmonizers  667-5813                       Lake City Striders Exercise Club  772-3417
Lake City Toastmasters  772-0374                      Log Cabin Spinners & Fiber Arts Guild  689-3109
Marine Corps League & Auxiliary  772-3705          NI Building Contractors Womens Council  765-5518
North Idaho College Booster Club 769-3348         North Idaho Computer Users Group  667-0855
North Idaho Road Runners Club                          Post Falls Leads Club  777-0128
Post Falls Rotary  661-1880                               Post falls Toastmasters Club  699-3719
Red Hat Ladies of Fun  773-9582                        Red Hot Mamas  772-7439
River City Gardeners  773-7577                          Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation  664-6076
Saturday Night Singles  765-8655                       Selling North Idaho Toastmasters  667-5577
Senior Social  765-8800                                     Sons of Italy  773-8522
Sons of Norway  772-2903                                 Soroptimist International  667-0644
Sweet Adelines  772-3379                                  Mothers of Preschoolers  666-6027

A 30 year old Chicago woman is in the news for being the highest of eight bidders for a house on eBay, at $1.75.  Holy cow! What a windfall!  She says she has no plans to move into it, she's going to try to sell it.  She's in Chicago, the house is 300 miles away in Saginaw. 

This silly woman should have signed me on as her buyer's agent before plunging ahead on this impulse purchase.  Even though she paid less than the cost of a Happy Meal, I would have told her to turn on her heels and RUN, DON'T WALK as fast as you can in the other direction!

Hmmmm.  Where did she go wrong?  Let's take a look at the house.

A little slice of the American Dream?  NOT!  Nightmare is more like it.  Not exactly a vine covered cottage with a white picket fence.  A few thoughts immediately come to mind.  Ramshackle, condemned, meth lab just to name a few.  Others are LIABILITY, demolition, back taxes, clean up costs, renovation...  I could go on and on. She admits that she hasn't yet visited Saginaw or seen the house. She isn't sure if the land is included in the purchase!  Huh?  Honey, you really should have called me!

The Arizona investment company that sold her the house isn't responding to her emails.  They are probably still rolling on the floor laughing their heads off at their good fortune in unloading this disaster.  The buyer is quoted as saying her plans are to sell the house when the market improves. 

Hmmmm.  An investment... Let's look at the purchase history.

What a checkered past this little baby has.  Quit Claims, foreclosure, tax sale, even a donation to a church!  Looks like the church gave it to the county rather than pay the taxes on it.  One investment company dumped it for $10 last year.  That buyer did see a big return on his investment when he sold it a year later for $26. 

It wouldn't have taken me five minutes of due diligence from thousands of miles away to have told this unsuspecting woman to to turn on her heels and RUN, DON'T WALK as fast as you can in the other direction! 

Janna Rankin Scharf, GRI, CSP, CLHMS
Associate Broker
(208)651-9700

NorthIdahoJanna@gmail.com
www.JannaScharf.com

Coldwell Banker Schneidmiller Realty
1924 Northwest Blvd.
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 83814

The nature of my job as a real estate agent takes me into literally hundreds of homes every year.  I participate in office tours, open houses, visit model homes, tour homes with buyers, work with sellers, preview properties and even visit FSBOs to add to my list of available inventory.  This is a critical part of my job - knowing the local market inside and out.  I get to see homes in all price ranges and conditions - from good to better and from bad to worse.  What I am seeing lately is a growing number of vacant homes on the market for various reasons. 

There are some good reasons why sellers and real estate agents don't like to leave a home vacant while it is on the market.  For starters, it's a target for vandalism.  Just yesterday I read about a Realtor walking in on thief while showing a home.  The thief was removing all the copper plumbing pipe in the basement.  Another agent reported showing a vacant house and the peephole fixture on the front door had been stolen, leaving a hole in the front door. 

Aside from theft and vandalism, a vacant house sends a signal to prospective buyers that the owner may be carrying two mortgages and is desperate for a lowball offer and quick sale.  This is never the best negotiating position for you as a seller to be in!

What can you do?  A vacant home presents certain challenges but it doesn't need to be difficult to sell and doesn't need to imply that the seller is desperate.  Here are some strategies to employ that will breathe some life into your vacant home - to hasten the sale and protect it during the process.

• Remember first impressions.  Its appeal from the street is critical in making a positive impact with potential buyers.  Don't underestimate how important this is!
• Consider hiring a professional home staging company. They will have a menu of services and can supply furniture, artwork and other decor to accentuate the positive features of your home. 
• Give the house a lived-in look.  Put lamps on timers and enlist a neighbor to park a car in the driveway and check the house regularly for junk mail.
• Hire someone to keep the grass and flowerbeds trimmed and the leaves raked.  In the winter make sure to have someone shovel snow from the driveway and walks so it won't be obvious every time it snows that no one is living there.
• If you've taken the furniture with you, have the house deep cleaned and freshly painted.  Furniture, rugs and decor hide or minimize imperfections.  Once removed, every blemish becomes accentuated.  Faded paint and wallpaper become more noticeable and nicks and scratches stand out.
• Repaint bright, bold colored rooms to a neutral.  What was an eye-popping room when fully finished may appear stark and small when empty.
• Make sure the thermostat is set to a comfortable temperature year round.  You don't want a potential buyer to be uncomfortable and rush through your home because it is too sweltering hot, or freezing cold.
• Arrange with a maid service to keep the home free of dust, cobwebs and dead bugs.  You don't want your home to look abandoned and tired.  (Translation: I give up, I'm desperate.)
• If possible, leave behind the window coverings and a few strategic pieces of furniture.  Empty rooms tend to look smaller than a furnished room.  A chair with a small table and a lamp will offer a sense of scale and help potential buyers gauge whether their furniture will fit the space. 
• Consider employing a house sitter, or home manager.  Having someone living on site discourages vandalism and may even reduce insurance costs.  (Talk to your insurance agent to review your homeowner's insurance policy to find out what the coverage is for your vacant home.)

Find a real estate professional with experience selling vacant homes.  If you're in the Coeur d'Alene or Kootenai County Idaho real estate market please call me if I can be of assistance.  I have successfully marketed and sold many vacant homes.  I can tell you from personal experience that they require significant more attention and willingness for hands on management than the typical listing with homeowners on site keeping the house in order.  Come to an agreement on how often your agent will check on the home and what will be done if a problem develops.  Good communication is crucial.

Properly presented, your vacant home can successfully compete with any other property on the market.

Janna Rankin Scharf, GRI, CSP, CLHMS
Associate Broker
(208)651-9700

NorthIdahoJanna@gmail.com
www.JannaScharf.com

Coldwell Banker Schneidmiller Realty
1924 Northwest Blvd.
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 83814