There has been a lot of buzz around town about the big auction of luxury condos at the beautiful Riverstone  development.  Last month I posted the first press release about the auction.  The original date set for earlier this month was pushed back, and I just received a email flyer that announced the starting bids have been drastically reduced.  If you or someone you know would like a great investment property at fire sale prices, please give me a call.  This is an unfortunate sign of the times, and of bad timing and over-building.  Nevertheless, Riverstone is a class development in a stellar location and A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE! 

I would like to put a shout out for North Idaho College's Really BIG Raffle.  I blogged  about this great charitable event several months ago.  With just a few days remaining to purchase tickets, they are about 600 short of selling out their 5000 tickets. 

Here's a YouTube Video

For just $100 you can have a 1 in 5000 chance to win a beautiful new home, while making a donation to a great cause!  There are other fabulous prizes as well, which, among other things, include a new car and a new boat! Check out the website  for more information about the house, the prizes and the NIC Charitable Foundation.      

Really BIG Raffle Drawing
July 8, 2009
7 p.m.
NIC Campus - Ft. Sherman Park

 The drawing for the 16th annual Really BIG Raffle takes place outdoors on the lawn of the Ft. Sherman park on campus.  Bring your lawn chairs and possibly your umbrellas as this is a rain or shine event.  Live music begins at 5:30 p.m. and food and beverage will be available for purchase at the NIC Foodservices concessions at the event.  We typically have over 2,000 people in attendance, please keep in mind you may experience delays finding parking and leaving the event.  The only prizes ticketholders need to be present at the drawing for are Bonus Prizes, all other winners not in attendance will be called the night of the drawing.

BONUS ENTRY 5 p.m. - 7p.m.
Ticket holders will need to bring their ticket stubs to the drawing to enter in for BONUS PRIZES.  Drop your stubs in the entry near the START HERE banner anytime between 5:00 and 7:00. 
The drawing starts promptly at 7:00 p.m. and late entries are not accepted. 

This year's Bonus Prizes include:
Two Night Bed and Breakfast Stay with any North Idaho Bed and Breakfast Association Member
Clearwater River Co. Guided Day Fishing Trip
Full Auto Detail at Lake City Ford
Taryn Hecker Photography Family Portrait Package
Dinner for Four at Wolf Lodge Steakhouse

There are also some great DOOR PRIZES available to all who attend.  This year's Door Prizes include:

DeWalt XRP Heavy Duty 18V Cordless Drill Driver
Live Plant from Northland Nursery
GW Hunters Restaurant $25 Gift Card
Ciao Mambo Italian Restaurant $25 Gift Card and T-Shirt
MacKenzie River Pizza Company $25 Gift Card and Sports Bottle
Michael D's Eatery $25 Gift Certificate

A couple weeks ago an email popped into my mailbox.  The subject said Low-end listing.  I was intrigued, and started reading what I thought would be just a piece of spam.  It turned out to be a very sincere and intelligent Email.  The writer stated that she knew I specialized in high-end listings but wanted to know if I could recommend someone who would do a good job of marketing her low-end listing. 

Immediately I knew that she had to have stumbled upon this post I had recently written.  For starters, although I have achieved Million Dollar Guild status with the Institute For Luxury Home Marketing, I have made it a point since relocating to Idaho last year NOT to position myself as a luxury broker.  Last I checked there was over 10 years inventory in those high-end listings!  Our local stats show 70% of sales are under $200,000 at the present time.  I had found in the past that when ordinary folks perceive me as a luxury broker, they mistakenly believe that I wouldn't be interested in selling their ordinary property.  

Yes, I confess, I LOVE THOSE HIGH-END LISTINGS, but I just as enthusiastically love ANY listing that is priced right, affordable and shows well.  Because after all, the point to taking ANY listing is to sell it!

I was able to convince the owner of that low-end listing to meet with me.  I was then able to convince her that I would be honored to list her beautiful, well-kept home with a lovely yard and tons of curb appeal.  She was so sweet and so concerned that because of the low listing price of $114,800 it wouldn't be worth my while!  We have it listed now, and I am enjoying working with my first-time home seller who has proven to be simply delightful.  I LOVE my low-end listing!  (I would never have described it that way, but it's how she refers to it, so I do so too, affectionately, with tongue in cheek.)

Today, I listed a beautiful home in the historical neighborhood of The Fort Grounds near Coeur d'Alene City Beach, for $1,200,000.  Almost TEN TIMES the price of my low-end listing! I confess that I am thrilled to have that high-end listing, and that those sophisticated sellers have enough confidence in my abilities to select me to work for them.  But I can honestly say that not one more bit of energy or enthusiasm will be spent on marketing that beautiful restored classic Craftsman near the lake.  Oh, don't get me wrong, I will be a marketing maniac with that listing.  THAT is the benefit to people hiring me to market their ordinary homes.  I put everything I have into all of my listings.  I am used to sophisticated sellers holding me to a high standard and requiring accountability. 

I don't shift gears and slack off proportionately to the listed price!

So whether a home is selling for $114,800 or $1,200,000, I will not rest until I have done everything I can to get it in front of the likely buyer.

There you have it, the fun story of my favorite low-end listing.  And another validation of the value of time spent blogging! 

Janna Rankin Scharf provides a superior level of real estate services to home buyers and sellers in Coeur d'Alene and Kootenai County, Idaho. Visit www.JannaScharf.com to search for homes in the Coeur d'Alene MLS for anywhere in spectacular North Idaho.

No matter how grand or modest your real estate dreams may be, you can turn to me in confidence.  Give me a call today and let me know what I can do to be of service to you!

Janna Rankin Scharf, AB, GRI, CSP, CNS, CLHMS  208.651.9700  NorthIdahoJanna@gmail.com   

WOW!  I set out this morning around 6:00 am to watch the swimmers take off from City Beach.  Of course, roads were blocked, closed, traffic diverted, throngs of people...  By the time I found somewhere to park, walked for several blocks, went under barricades, I got to Independence Point after the last of the swimmers had taken the plunge. The skies were gloomy and it was chilly.  But there was excitement in the air.  And, what's that in the air, too? At least there were no crowds blocking my view straight UP!

I was finally able to infiltrate the crowd on the banks of the lake to catch a glimpse of the last wave of swimmers as they headed out. 

Pretty awesome sight.  Then then the announcer announced that the first pro swimmer was just about to finish.  He is the guy in a charcoal colored wet suit, a blur in the photo right where the water hists the sand, in front of a big orange inflatable triangle.  The crowd roared as a man from Hawaii climbed out of the water and headed for the transition area.  This was the first time of hundreds in the next few hours that I realized these guys are MOVING FASTER than my camera can keep up with!

I moved through the crowds to the transition area, where the swimmers have their wetsuits peeled off by volunteers, then race to their bikes, put on their shoes and head out for their 112 mile bike ride through the lovely scenery of North Idaho.  I realized two things - #1, I am too short to get good pictures because I can barely see over the barricades.  #2, I need to figure out how to get a Press Pass next year!  But, as always, I am able to get great views of the helicopters above!

I took about a zillion of pictures like the one above, trying to capture the bikers in my frame as they sped past!  Oops, too late!  Again, and again, and again.  Eventually I got it figured out. Get in front of them!

I took a break and maneuvered the diverted streets to go get some pictures at two of my newest listings.  I have been waiting for pretty blue skies all week, and had no choice but to go get pictures with gray skies.  Geesh.....

As I found a road that was open that would eventually lead to my office, I found another vantage point for a few more photos.  By this time these riders heading towards the left of the photo had already finished almost half of their 112 mile bike ride!  I loved being able to see their expressions.  Some were focused and oblivious to all of the spectators.  Others would smile as they passed by.

I am off to find my son Derek at the CHS Cross Country Team's aid station at Blackwell Hill.  Check back for the next installment of the Coeur d'Alene Ford Ironman Triathlon!

It seems lately that I often find myself driving along past incredible scenery on my way here and there, to and fro.  Sometimes, like yesterday, I just have to stop the car and take a picture!  I'm not sure what this body of water is, but it is somewhere near Cataldo, Idaho, just north of I-90.  My teenage son Derek and I were taking a little day trip to Mullan and back, to take photos for a BPO.  It seemed like a good excuse for a pleasant afternoon in the mountains, seeing some touristy sights.  That's how I happened to be driving along this beautiful spot. 

I am going to go back later this summer when the gazillions of pussy willows are in bloom, or whatever it is you call what pussy willows do.  What a beautiful world we live in, and how blessed I am to call North Idaho home!

Janna Rankin Scharf provides a superior level of real estate services to home buyers and sellers in Coeur d'Alene and Kootenai County, Idaho. Visit www.JannaScharf.com to search for homes in the Coeur d'Alene MLS for anywhere in spectacular North Idaho.

No matter how grand or modest your real estate dreams may be, you can turn to me in confidence.  Give me a call today and let me know what I can do to be of service to you!

Janna Rankin Scharf, AB, GRI, CSP, CNS, CLHMS  208.651.9700  NorthIdahoJanna@gmail.com   

Janna Rankin Scharf provides a superior level of real estate services to home buyers and sellers in Coeur d'Alene and Kootenai County, Idaho. Visit www.JannaScharf.com to search for homes in the Coeur d'Alene MLS for anywhere in spectacular North Idaho.

No matter how grand or modest your real estate dreams may be, you can turn to me in confidence.  Give me a call today and let me know what I can do to be of service to you!

Janna Rankin Scharf, AB, GRI, CSP, CNS, CLHMS  208.651.9700  NorthIdahoJanna@gmail.com   

Last night's Car d'Lane cruise was spectacular!  Click on the link for the full story in today's paper.  It's another magnificent day in beautiful Coeur d'Alene, and the fun continues with a classic car show and other activities downtown from 8:00 to 4:00.  Good times! 

 Janna Rankin Scharf provides a superior level of real estate services to home buyers and sellers in Coeur d'Alene and Kootenai County, Idaho. Visit www.JannaScharf.com to search for homes in the Coeur d'Alene MLS for anywhere in spectacular North Idaho.

No matter how grand or modest your real estate dreams may be, you can turn to me in confidence.  Give me a call today and let me know what I can do to be of service to you!

Janna Rankin Scharf, AB, GRI, CSP, CNS, CLHMS  208.651.9700  NorthIdahoJanna@gmail.com   

Janna Rankin Scharf provides a superior level of real estate services to home buyers and sellers in Coeur d'Alene and Kootenai County, Idaho. Visit www.JannaScharf.com to search for homes in the Coeur d'Alene MLS for anywhere in spectacular North Idaho.

No matter how grand or modest your real estate dreams may be, you can turn to me in confidence.  Give me a call today and let me know what I can do to be of service to you!

Janna Rankin Scharf, AB, GRI, CSP, CNS, CLHMS  208.651.9700  NorthIdahoJanna@gmail.com  

This past week I have been in the process of moving across town.  I have found that something interesting happens during a move - things surface that I haven't seen for years!  The other day I was sifting through books, and came across a paperback with interest rates and mortgage payment tables.

A blast from the past in general, because nowadays we just get online to a quick mortgage calculator and plug in your numbers, click, and there is your 30 year amortization table as quick as a wink. 

I did a double take as I checked out this book that had been my handy resource in the past.  It contained interest rate tables with the LOWEST interest rate of 10%, all the way up to 22%! It stunned me for a minute, and my mind went back to those good old days. 

When we bought our first house in 1979, a friend of mind commented that he was going to wait until the rates went down before buying.  I thought of him often over the next few years as rates soared up to 20%. 

The thought that struck me was that we are infinitely better off today than when we were in a period of interest rates approaching 20%, while doing business with paper back loan tables instead of efficient high tech resources.

I have recently heard grumblings and warnings about interest rates rising above (GASP!) 6%.  Come on, let's put things in perspective! I'll even loan you my old paperback for a quick reality check. This REALLY is a great time to be a home buyer.  Historically low interest rates and market-adjusted home prices make for great values.  Give me a call if I can help you obtain your piece of the American Dream!

Janna Rankin Scharf provides a superior level of real estate services to home buyers and sellers in Coeur d'Alene and Kootenai County, Idaho. Visit www.JannaScharf.com to search for homes in the Coeur d'Alene MLS for anywhere in spectacular North Idaho.

No matter how grand or modest your real estate dreams may be, you can turn to me in confidence.  Give me a call today and let me know what I can do to be of service to you!

Janna Rankin Scharf, AB, GRI, CSP, CNS, CLHMS  208.651.9700  NorthIdahoJanna@gmail.com