North Idaho Janna

The latest hot topic in the real estate business is Loan Modifications.  Homeowners need to be very cautious because a lot of unscrupulous businesses are springing up that offer consumers help with their loan modifications.  They charge homeowners a pricy fee of $3,000 or even more to do what you can do for yourself.

I've heard some folks claim that lenders are intentionally making loan modifications confusing.  Some think it's an effort to discourage applications.  If you're considering a loan modification, the first thing you should do is pick up the phone and call your lender to find out if you qualify. If you do not qualify, and can no longer afford to make your monthly mortgage payments, then perhaps you could consider a short sale, which is something I can help you with.  Give me a call and we can see if ti is a good solution for you.  Many lenders are placing a moratorium on foreclosures, so this will give us some extra time to get your home sold.

The criteria for a loan modification is tight. Many banks insist on the following qualifications:

• Existing loan origination date prior to Dec. 31, 2007
  
• Existing subprime loan (fixed or adjustable) or Option ARM
• Loan-to-value ratio above 75%
  
• Owner occupied as primary residence
  
• Employed homeowner
• Existing mortgage payments exceed 31% of gross monthly income.

If you qualify for a loan modification, here is a list of the typical documentation you need to provide to your lender:

• 2 years of W2's
• 2 years of tax returns
• Financial Statement that lists assets and liabilities
• Last 2 pay stubs
• Hardship letter

Don't pay a company to do for you what you can easily do for yourself!

If you are successful, a loan modification may give you:

• A lower mortgage balance.
• An interest rate between 2% and 4%.
• A loan term of 30 to 40 years.
• A low monthly mortgage payment.
• Elimination of negative amortization and a waiver of prepayment penalties and fees.

If you have any questions please give me a call.  I will do whatever I can to give you the information and support you need to achieve the best possible outcome.

Janna Rankin Scharf, AB, GRI, CSP, CNS, 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

Mortgage Interest Rates as of November 27, 2008
 
Owner Occupied      With 1% Origination Fee        With No Origination Fee
30 yr Fixed                     5.250%                               5.625%
15 yr fixed                      4.875%                               5.625%
Government Loans
FHA - 30 yr Fixed            5.375%                                5.875%
VA - 30 yr Fixed              5.500%                                6.000%

Annual Percentage Rate will vary depending on loan amount and fees paid.   APR calculation available upon request.

Equal Housing Lender. Interest Rates subject to change with market conditions without notice. Rates shown assume full loan approval with good credit and fully documented income and assets. Variations may be acceptable but may cause adjustments in rates and/or terms. Approval is subject to satisfactory appraisal and title review and no change in financial condition. If your rate is not locked or rate protection expires, any  rate increase may lower your approved loam amount. Some products may not be available in all states. Refinancing or taking out a home equity loan or line of credit may increase the total number of monthly payments and the total amount paid when comparing to your current situation. This is not an offer to extend credit. State Licensing. Privacy & Security.

Janna Rankin Scharf, AB, GRI, CSP, CNS, 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

Kelly Kilpatrick tagged me this evening for the what-the-heck-are-you-reading Bookworm/Book Club Meme.  I didn't know there WAS such a thing, but I'm a good sport so I will accept her tag.  Here are the rules:

1. Grab the nearest book.

2. Open the book to page 56.

3. Find the fifth sentence.

4. Post the text of the next two to five sentences.

5. Don't dig for your favorite book, the cool book or the intellectual one. Pick the CLOSEST.

6. Tag five people to do the same

*The one book that this cannot be is the Bible*

So, I grabbed the nearest book, right here beside me, turned to page 56, looked for the fifth sentence... oops, there are only 4 sentences on page 56 of my little daily devotional book, Stand a Little Taller by Gordon B. Hinkley.  Strike ONE!  So expanding my search from my keyboard, the next book was a BPO Manual.  BORING, but let's see what's on page 56.  Hmmmm.  NO sentences, just examples of acceptable interior photos. Strike TWO! Right beside that book, I picked up the next one.  The Impossible Just Takes a Little Longer by Art Berg.  OK, there is bound to be some good stuff on page 56!  What?  Page 56 is BLANK!  Page 55 is the last page of Part Two.  Page 56 is Blank.  Page 57 begins Part Three.  Strike THREE!  Since the rules don't specify how many strikes I get, I leaned back to grab the next closest book.  The Millionaire Real Estate Investor by Gary Keller.  Page 56, HOME RUN!  Here goes:

"What these individuals don't realize is that most big things start small.  They mistakenly believe that big success at anything requires big and mysterious things they don't have, such as the following:

~ Special natural abilities versus a little of some acquired abilities
~ Lots of free time versus a little bit of well-spent time
~ Massive amounts of money versus a little well-placed money

In the end, what you really need to become a successful investor is a lot less than what you think you need."

I would highly recommend the rest of this book to you!  A great resource and a real model for success that works in the real world. 

Moving on to rule number 6.  Here are the five suckers lucky fellow bloggers to whom I'm passing this Bookworm baton:

Susan Neal, Real Estate broker in Fari Oaks, CA
Sasha Miletic - Windsor Real Estate (RE/MAX Preferred Realty Ltd.)
Julie Chapman Realty Homes Brunswick Georgia
Harlod (Hal) Place (A1 Connection Realty, Inc.)
Greg Knowles Santa Barbara Ca. (Lawyers Title company)

'Tis the season to be working on our 2009 business plans!

In real estate, it's a numbers game.  If you have tracked your number of transactions, average commission per transaction, conversion rates, % of contracts that close, etc., then you can do the math and determine how many transactions you need to achieve the income you need.  Then, you can calculate how many contacts you need to create the number of appointments you need to create the successful closings you need, and so forth.  Not really rocket science, but most Realtors I know don't like to spend so much time behind a calculator!

I wonder if we have been over-thinking it?

A while back I noticed a great business plan in the comments on another post, and I wrote it down because I liked it so much.  I wanted to make sure to include it in my plan for  2009.  Now I wonder, do we really need anything else?

World's Best Uncomplicated Business Plan for 2009

1.  Make a little more money
2.  Spend a little less money
3.  Put a little more money aside
4.  Say a little prayer of gratitude that you lived to see another day!

Here's an interesting site that let's you calculate the Walkability of a property.  A home can be scored based on how walkable it is - that is, how accessible desired public amenities are by foot.

For fun, go to www.walkscore.com to find the Walk Score for your home.  If your listed properties score high, this would be a great piece of information to highlight along with the other features!

Walkabilty is something that is gaining in popularity as a search criteria for homebuyers.  The higher the ratings, the bigger the benefit for health, social and green living. 

Some home building councils are beginning to include using Walk Score to aide in site selection. One council recommends not building within the 100 year flood plain “unless part of an existing historic community core developed prior to 1945, or a location classified by Walk Score with a minimum rating of 70.”

We’ve also had a number of people mention to us that Walk Score might be an easy way to calculate the Community Connectivity Credit in the LEED Green Building Rating System.

Some real estate search sites are also allowing consumers to calculate Walk Scores with their property searches.

I still don't know my Sleep Number, but the Walk Score of the home I live in is 0.  Oh well, it sure is pretty way out here under the tall timbers!

Ronald Reagan’s advisers recall that he frequently told this story:

A man had two sons.  One was a pessimist, and the other was an optimist. The father placed the pessimist in a room full of new toys. He placed the optimist in a room with a pile of manure. When he returned, the pessimist was crying and throwing a fit, complaining about the toys he had to play with.  In the other room, he found the optimist digging  through the pile of manure. When the father asked the optimist why he was doing that, the boy replied: “I know there’s a pony in here somewhere!”

I’m going to keep digging until I find the pony!

The storm clouds have been massing on the economical horizon for some time, and the sun is having a hard time breaking through.  More tough times ahead.  As the storm rolls in more fierce, our correct natural instinct is to kick into survival mode. 

I plan on surviving this storm, will you join me?

Depending on who you talk to, we are either already in a recession or will be soon. The writing is on the wall.

According to Bill Bartman, said to be the 27th richest man in the country, here's what we ALL need to do to ride out the storm - get lean, get focused, and expand marketing like never before.

 Mr. Bateman says there are five things we need to understand about recessions:

1. They regularly happen, usually about every 8 or 9 years.
2. More than 500,000 businesses fail during a recession.
3. They are ultimately healthy - they weed out the crowd and level the playing field.
4. They reward the nimble and the flexible.
5. All of them come to an end within 1 to 2 years.

Bartman points to six ways that smart survivors not only ride out the storm, but also find themselves in control of their market areas once the storm has blown over.  OK, I'm ready to listen, because I plan to survive, and eventually thrive! 

1.  Get Lean! 
Paring down operating expenses is a must.  Some examples: employee cuts may be needed; if you have two product lines and one is failing, sell or discontinue that division and concentrate on core markets; ratchet down inventory; cut or eliminate travel expenses, meals and entertainment; renegotiate contracts for materials, equipment and services.

2.  Expand Financing. 
Borrowing power tightens with the economy.  Line up dollars and terms NOW for the long haul.  Knowing it's there when you need it will free you up to make smart decisions. For me, the best advice I ever got for my real estate business was to LEAD WITH REVENUE.  If I don't have the cash, I don't buy it.  ALWAYS a good plan.

3.  INCREASE Marketing. 
Why?  While your competitors are cutting back or ceasing their presence in the marketplace, you'll be positioning yourself to capture their lost market share.  How?  Revise your promotions to make buying from you easy for you customers; put systems in place to get in touch with your past clients and stay in touch with them every 21 to 30 days; create referral reward programs (note to Realtors, don't violate RESPA!)  implement direct mail and drip marketing campaigns; focus on high-end and economic buyers for highest response rates; match your message to your market segment; FINE TUNE AND AGGRESSIVELY PROMOTE YOUR UNIQUE SELLING PROPOSITION!

4.  Maintain Prices.
Business analysts and recession survivors all tell us it's a mistake to slash prices to increase cash flow.  If anything, some products may need to increase in price.  Deep discounts and services weakens brand value, dilutes your profit margin and when the economy shifts your customers will still expect similar discounts.  Instead, offer extras or freebies that incent loyal clients without damaging your brand or the bottom line.

5.  Adopt Cutting Edge Solutions.
Technology can be the key  when competition grows and the economy wanes.  Customer relationship management software, email marketing systems, drip campaign programs and admin management software allow you to know your business is running smoothly and allows you to keep your eye on the ball.

As I said before, I am in this for the long haul. I love the real estate business, helping people be successful when their hopes and dreams involve buying or selling real estate.  I'm good at it.  It makes me happy.  I make my clients happy.  Now, more than ever, people need EXCELLENT real estate advice and representation.  I plan to ride out this storm and come out stronger on the other side.

May God continue to bless America, where we are free to choose how we will react to circumstances beyond our control.

Photography credit goes to my amazing sister, Kerri Thoreson; and to Don Sausser for the rainbow photo.

Janna Rankin Scharf, AB, GRI, CSP, CNS, 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

Some more statistics to help bring the overall real estate market picture into better focus for you.  For us in North Idaho, the grim market in California has had a direct effect because it is considered a "feeder" state to North Idaho.  When they can't sell their California properties, they can't buy property in Idaho.  Which slows down certain segments or our local market compared to what we saw a few short years ago. 

Take a minute to look at these statistics.  They will help bring the national real estate market picture into a little better focus for you.  Keep in mind, however, that real estate markets are LOCAL and will vary greatly from state to state, city to city, and even neighborhood to neighborhood. 

As I've said here before, in spite of sluggish sales here in North Idaho, our silver lining is that real estate values have remained essentially stable. 

If you are buying or selling luxury real estate in Hayden or Hayden Lake, Idaho, here is some valuable information for you.  Let me know if you would like me to email these graphs to you full size so they will be easier for you to read.  The graphs might be easier to read at http://activerain.com/blogs/jscharf

My graphs for the Hayden MLS area show where the market activity is in specific price bands from $400K and above.  I like to take the stats for the whole market area and break them down into different price bands and specific communities.  If you check out my separate but identical grafts for Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls and North Idaho, you will see that the activity varies by town.  Proving that yes, all markets are LOCAL!  Home values and market activity will vary from town to town, and also from neighborhood to neighborhood within any given town.

Please give me a call if I can help you interpret this information.  I can also take an analytical look at other price bands or other criteria.  Just let me know what information would be helpful to you.

An interesting bit of trivia is that that Hayden Lake WINS for the HIGHEST priced area listing at $3,950,000.  Lagging behind, the highest priced listing in the Coeur d'Alene MLS search area is $3,695,000.  A Post Falls river city real estate MLS search shows $2,950,000 to be its highest priced listing.  Eclipsing them all is North Idaho's priciest residential listing in Sagle at $11,000,000! (To be fair, its actually a 27 acre SUBDIVISION on Lake Pend Orielle with 3 newly constructed custom homes and 4 more lots.)

If there is anything at all I can do for you, just say the word.  If you need to sell in this real Buyers market, KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!  I can arm you with the information you need to decide the best strategic way for you to proceed.

Janna Rankin Scharf, AB, GRI, CSP, CNS, 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

If you are buying or selling luxury real estate in the beautiful River City of Post Falls, Idaho, here is some valuable information for you.  Let me know if you would like me to email these graphs to you full size so they will be easier for you to read.  The graphs might be easier to read at http://activerain.com/blogs/jscharf

Here are my Post Falls Real Estate Market Graphs for 2008 through October 31.  I included all properties priced $400K and above, and isolated properties in the Post Falls area.  This will give you a better understanding of the local Post falls market than you can get when the statistics are lumped with other towns.  Remember, all real estate markets are LOCAL. 

One interesting bit of info that isn't on the graphs is the price per square foot that the sold properties went for.  It ranged from $154 in the $400K to $500K price band, up to $569 in the price band over $1M.  If you would like my assistance in interpreting the info on the graph, or info in other price bands, just give me a call or shoot me an email.

I have included separate but identical graphs in my blog for the communities of Coeur d'Alene, Hayden and North Idaho.  It's interesting to see how the different towns stack up against each other, as well as the North Idaho market as a whole. 

Janna Rankin Scharf, AB, GRI, CSP, CNS, 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

If you are buying or selling luxury real estate in North Idaho, here is some valuable information for you.  Let me know if you would like me to email these graphs to you full size so they will be easier for you to read.  The graphs might be easier to read at http://activerain.com/blogs/jscharf

Here is a visual of the current state of the North Idaho real estate market.  I broke the market down into price bands so you can better see how the market is performing in a specific price range.  I prepared the graphs for properties priced at $400K and above, and used all properties entered in Flex MLS for North Idaho.  I excluded properties in Eastern Washington and Western Montana.  I have made seperate posts with identical graphs for the specific market areas of Post Falls, Coeur d'Alene and Hayden/Hayden Lake.  It's quite interesting to see how the areas within our market stack up against each other.

The MOST EXPENSIVE property currently listed for sale in North Idaho is actually the entire gated community of Stillwater Point, on Lake Pend Oreille in Sagle.  There are 27 acres with a private sandy beach, 3 spectacular new, custom homes and 4 additional building lots.  It's comes with a whopping $11,000,000 price tag and a bonus of $100,000 to the Realtor who brings a buyer by the end of the year!  If you think you'd like to snap up this spectacular property, give me a call.  I would love to represent you as your Buyers Agent!

Don't hesitate to give me a call or shoot me an email if you would like me to help interpret the info on these graphs.  Or for that matter, give me a call for any reason at all! (970)231-9700

Janna Rankin Scharf, AB, GRI, CSP, CNS, 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

If you are buying or selling luxury real estate in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, here is some valuable information for you.  Let me know if you would like me to email these graphs to you full size so they will be easier for you to read.  The graphs might be easier to read at http://activerain.com/blogs/jscharf

I have spent the day crunching numbers and gathering data to build these market graphs.  It's a breakdown of all the activity of homes in the MLS search area of Coeur d'Alene. I included all single family homes from $400K and above.  I would be happy to share with you the search criteria that I used, and help you interpret the information on the graphs, just give me a call or fire off an email.

I am also posting identical market report graphs for Post Falls, Hayden/Hayden Lake and North Idaho in separate posts. 

The graphs show that the homes that sold closed from 87% on the low end to 95% on the high end, of the listed price, depending on the price band. Generally, the higher the selling price, the lower the percentage of the listed price it sold for.

Average selling price per square food ranged from $139.25/sq. ft. to $398.47/sq. ft., again depending on the price band. 

Please call me if you would like to talk about what this information means for buyers and sellers in this market.  There is no question that this is A GREAT TIME TO BE A BUYER!  If you are a SELLER, it means the competition is keen and you need to pull out all the stops to snag one of the few buyers that will comes along in the next few months!

Janna Rankin Scharf, AB, GRI, CSP, CNS, 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

My spectacular 18 year old daughter, Kristen, left home in Colorado last June to start her college career in Utah.  In July, my shrinking family and I pulled up stakes and moved to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. 

Because I am one of those "creepy, stalking parents" on Facebook, I am able to see for myself that she is managing to have some good times as she gets a good education. Did I mention what a great kid she is?  Her good times include group dumpster diving at Krispy Kreme and 80's parties where they dress up like we used to, and make fun of us! (Can you blame them?)

A few weeks ago Kristen texted me to ask if her mail-in ballot had found its way to Idaho instead of to her dorm in Utah.  Nope.  Hmmmm.  That poses an interesting question.  Her PERMANENT residence WAS Colorado, where she WAS registered to vote.  Her parents hit the road to Idaho, leaving her....  where?  Our county was BIG on mail-in ballots and most elections that was our only voting option. She had been patiently waiting for her mail-in ballot to appear in her mail box.

Wise Aunt Ronna informed us that in Utah you can register and vote in the same day.  Just go register, vote, The End. 

Well, Kristen was sad.  Because between studying and dumpster diving and 80's parties and a real job 4 days a week, she had realized that according to the polls, Utah is solidly red.  Done deal.  Colorado, on the other hand, is hanging in the balance between red & blue.  Kristen wanted to vote red in the place she grew up and where she believed her vote WOULD make a difference.  I was sad for her, too.  That was a few days ago.

Fast forward to yesterday.  She texted her brother about her secret plan to make a 16 hour round trip road trip with four buddies after classes ended at 3:00, to Fort Collins, to vote.  I am happy to report that they arrived safely in Colorado late last night.

Today, Kristen will have to cast a provisional ballot on her first trip to the voting booth.  In the end, I suspect that her ballot will be disqualified. 

I couldn't be more proud of Kristen, her pure heart and the lengths she went to to make her 18 year old voice heard.  I'll be there with her in spirit as she casts her vote, and for the first time hears the poll worker announce to the universe, "Kristen Scharf has voted!"

Janna R. Scharf, AB, GRI, CSP, CLHMS, CNS

What's with that long line of letters, anyway?  Most people don't know what they stand for, does anybody care?  Well, research has shown that while most DON'T know what the specific designations mean, most people DO respect and understand they represent advanced training and competency.

Let me tell you how all those letters will help you if you are buying or selling real estate!

Earning these professional designations took a tremendous amount of TIME, MONEY & EFFORT.  NONE were required.  ALL were earned with the intent of providing my clients with a superior level of skill and competency.  Only a tiny % of all Realtors hold any combination of these designations.

AB ~ Associate Broker.  In order to be licensed as a broker rather than a salesperson, I had to submit documentation of several years of FULL TIME real estate experience with no disciplinary problems, proof of a HIGH LEVEL of production and number of transactions, and additional education.  The Associate part means that I am not the managing or employing broker at my firm, but the real estate commission believes I am qualified to operate my own brokerage if I chose to do so.  YOU win by being assured that you are represented by someone who is skilled, ethical and has a track record of success. 

GRI ~ Graduate, Realtor Institute.   This took nearly a year of study, dozens of tests, and 96 credit hours to accomplish.  Taught through the National Association of Realtors, it covers a broad range of real estate topics and provided a strong and solid foundation of knowledge for my real estate business.  To carry the designation I must maintain my membership in NAR and adhere to it's Code of Ethics. YOU win by being represented by an ethical Realtor with the depth of knowledge and skill to get the job done for you.

CSP ~ Certified New Home Sales Professional.  Taken through the National Association of Homebuilders.  I took this course when I was representing a custom homebuilder so I could be sure I was doing all I could to effectively market his homes.  As a result of that experience I have a unique understanding of new construction and the process involved from design to a successful close.  The skills I learned helped me earn the award Rookie New Home Salesperson of the Year.  YOU win if you are purchasing or selling new construction because I know how to avoid common pitfalls that can break the budget or delay the progress. 

CLHMS ~ Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist (with Million Dollar Guild Status.)  This fantastic course is offered through The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing.  I attended training in Canada with a small group of world class luxury agents from all over North America.  We learned how selling upper-tier properties and working with affluent clients differs from more median-priced listings. After training, attendees can claim membership in the institute.  To be a CLHMS I had to document the sale of at least 2 personal listings in the upper 5% of my market within the past 12 month period. To obtain Guild Status, I had to document the sale of at least 2 personal property listings above $1MM in a 12 month period.  YOU win if you are buying or selling in the upper-tier because I can meet your expectation of a higher level of performance and competency.

CNS ~ Certified Negotiation Specialist.  Few people realize that a Realtor REALLY earns her fee once an offer comes in!  That's when a working knowledge in negotiation techniques can make the difference in whether or not an agreement can be worked out to everyone's satisfaction.  Many transactions fall apart when a buyer and seller can't come to terms, and end up in a stalemate, or WORSE.  YOU win because earning this designation has given me the tools and techniques to manage the negotiations of your transaction to a smooth and successful conclusion.

My business goals for 2009include obtaining a professional designation that will bring even more value to my clients in these uncertain times.  ABR, Accredited Buyer Representative.  

So there you have it!  I just hope I don't run out of room on my business card for all those letters!

Janna Rankin Scharf, AB, GRI, CSP, CNS, 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.comto search for homes in the Coeur d'Alene MLS for anywhere in spectacular North Idaho.

Janna Rankin Scharf, 208.651.9700  NorthIdahoJanna@gmail.com

Life Care of Coeur d'Alene is heading off Operation Christmas Child again this year.  Pack a LITTLE shoebox to make a BIG difference for a child.

With so many people down on their luck and beaten up by a troubled economy, this is a community service project that practically EVERYONE can participate in, regardless of financial circumstance.

This can be a fun and meaningful activity for the whole family.  Even the youngest kids can use their creativity to fill a shoebox and make a difference this Christmas in the life of a child less fortunate .

1. Use an empty shoebox or any small plastic container.
2. Determine the approximate age and whether your gift will be for a boy or girl.
3. Be creative and fill your box with gifts to delight a child

Ideas for contents are toys, school supplies, hygiene items, candy and personal items.  If you'd rather, monetary donations are being accepted.  You can wrap the boxes (lid separately) but wrapping is not required.

Bring your shoe boxes no later than November 24th to Life Care of Coeur d'Alene at 500 W. Aqua Ave.  208-762-1122. 

Janna Rankin Scharf, AB, GRI, CSP, CNS, 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

Some of my happiest childhood memories involve huge piles of leaves under the ancient poplar trees that framed our house at 9th and Sherman.  They're all gone now, our home and those trees.  But each fall as the leaves pile up around town they live on in my memories.

The city's annual leaf pick-up program begins on November 12. Residents are asked to rake their leaves and pine needles into the streets, about a foot out from the gutter line to allow for water drainage.  Please do not put bagged leaves, branches, rubble or refuse in the street.  There is no cost to you.

City crews will be moving fast, beginning south of Sherman and working their way north.  Once an area has been cleared they won't return, so if you're too late you're just out of luck.  City crews are unable to provide an exact schedule but there will be morning updates on the KVNI 1080 radio morning show. 

Please note that there is no charge to residents to haul leaves, pine needles, limbs, branches, or debris to the landfill.  Waste Management WILL charge to haul bagged leaves.

For more info you can contact the Street Maintenance Department at 769-2233.

The other day I took a spin through the At Home in North Idaho Home Expo at The Coeur d'Alene Resort.  Having never been before I wanted to see what it was all about.  About 50 vendors were there with information, handshakes, and answers to consumer questions about building, remodeling, and home improvement.  I found myself having a good time as I made the rounds.

Let me lead you on a VIRTUAL Home Expo tour here in my blog.  Take a minute to scan these resources for great ideas.  Some of these folks will give you a Realtor Referral discount, so be sure to tell them I sent you!

I keep list of resources for my clients, so if there is a service you don't find here and would like a referral, just give me a call and I will provide you with some local resources for whatever it is you need.

Homescapes, the Best in Built-ins.  THE COOLEST THING AT THE EXPO was their permanent outdoor lighing system - Channel Bright!  Lance Shew is an authorized dealer for Bose and Polk audio systems and BEAM Central Vaccuum..  Great products to enhance your living to the next level.  Give Lance a call (509)481-0876

If you want to just start over and trade your old house in for a new one, Tom Messina of Messina Construction is your ticket to a beautiful custom home of distinction.  He's amassed a long list of awards and accomplishments in the 20 years he's been building in the area.  Tell him Janna sent you!  (208)765-5714  (Be sure to read the comments below..)

Jae Enos of Victory Homes is practically a legend for his contributions to our community. Recently he decided to keep building rather than sit back and wait for the market to turn around.  Why? To keep his subs employed, and provide an entry level home with a house payment comparable to rent. Call me to find out how to be in your new home in beautiful Montrose in 45 days for just $144,900! REALLY!

Jason Giddings operates "Your One Stop Garage Shop", Excell Garage Interiors, LLC.  Jason has some pretty cool stuff to turn your garage into a masterpiece of functionality.  I'd be doing good just to get my garage cleared out so I could SEE it!  If you aspire to a higher level of garage function, let Jason show you what he's got! 233 W. Dalton Avenue, Suite B. (208)704-6440

Re-Bath Bathtubs & Wall Systems fit perfectly over old tubs and walls and install in one day. The system installs OVER your existing tub and/or shower at a fraction of the cost.  Give them a call at (509) 838-3882

I was very impressed with N-Hance and will call them first if I ever need cabinets refinished.  I saw the before/after samples with my own eyes and was very impressed.  They are Eco-friendly and can complete most jobs in one day with no dust, no mess, no odor.  (509)328-9663

For a different type of custom home, Jeff Shewbert is a distributor of Lindal Cedar Homes.  There are several styles of impressive cedar homes they customize and build for you on your land.  Call Jeff at (208)687-8000, and call me at (208)651-9700 to find you beautiful piece of North Idaho real estate to build on. 

Tim Elder of Garage Town can get you into a private storage CONDOMINIUM. With GarageTown, you OWN your storage - that's an investment for the future as well as a solution for now. Give him a call at (208)659-5042

Lisa Ellison of Mountain West Bank was very eager to talk about mortgage loans. She and I both know that this REALLY is a great time to be buying a home!  Lisa was about the friendliest person at the Expo and will give you some good advice if you want to proceed towards a home mortgage.  Call her at (208)755-2361

Pat Gorman at Northwest Fence Co. would like to fence you in!  Whether the fence of your dreams is wood, ornamental iron, chain link or poly-vinyl, he would love to build you a corral for your kiddos or critters.  Give him a call at (208)772-8547

Making all of your heating, air conditioning and sheetmetal dreams come true is Kevin Hansen of JB Heating & Sheetmetal.  I thought it was kind of funny - Heating, Air conditioning and SHEETMETAL?  They explained they do custom duct work, flashings, etc.  Now THAT makes perfect sense!  Call Kevin at (208)661-5936

If you're feeling insecure these days, David Burger would like to make you sleep easier.  As a Residential Sales Representative for ADT Security Serivces, he can assess YOUR security situation and meet your needs there.  This weekend ONLY they are giving away FREE equipment and installation, something they NEVER do! Better call David QUICK! (509)893-3155

Is there a big, tough, steel structure in your future?  If so than Rick Peak is the man for you!  Steel Structures America, Inc. is Building Across America.  Rick covers Idaho, Washington, Montana and Oregon. (208)964-3461

Now here's a Revolution in Countertop Refacing!  Mark Jeffrey of Granite Transformations can create new countertops for you with no demolition.  Heat resistant, scratch resistant, stain resistant and BEAUTIFUL!  Give him a call at (877)465-9136

Allan and Lisa Gwaltney of Window World offer "Simply the Best for Less" in vinyl replacement windows, siding and doors.  Window World is the nation's largest window replacement company. To enhance your view of beautiful North Idaho, give them a call at (208)664-2032

Can you spell  B-I-G  T-A-X  C-R-E-D-I-T? Justin McLane of The Solar Stone, LLC can help you with renewable energy solutions.  Whether it is solar, wind or hydro, he can help you.  He serves North Idaho & Washington.  Give him a call at (208)755-9828

Now you're ready to dress up those new windows!  Call Carin Baker of Trimmings for your fine draperies and window fashions.  Trimmings is a division of Budget Blinds of North Idaho.  Let Carin add some pizazz to the windows on your world! (208)664-2656

Ashley Johnson is your local Natural Stone Distributor with Montana Stone Gallery.  Incorporate natural stone into your home finishes, and turn it into a work of art!  Call Ashley for more information at (208)777-8900.

Here's a shout out for Habitat for Humanity of North Idaho.  Visit their impressive ReStore in Hayden for some great deals on all sorts of items for home. Many area builders and businesses donate their unused or leftover supplies to the ReStore.  Proceeds support Habitat for Humanity making it a Win-Win, which is my favorite kind of deal to make!  They're located south of Ziggy's at 176 W. Wyoming in Hayden, open Monday - Saturday 9 to 5.

Janna Rankin Scharf, AB, GRI, CSP, CNS, 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