Janna Rankin Scharf, GRI, CLHMS, SFR, AG - Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Real Estate Professional Just this week I have had three different homeowners tell me that they don't want a sign in their yard while their house is for sale.  "Will that be a problem," they asked? Well, it's not a problem, but it's usually not to their advantage in getting their home sold as quickly as possible.  In one case, it really won't make a difference.  These sellers live in a remote area on a private gated road with only 6 other homes.  Other than these close neighbors, there is absolutely zero drive-by traffic or sign visibility from the main road.  Not having a sign in their yard won't make a bit of difference.  (Although, because it's a waterfront home, a sign at the dock visible to boat traffic WOULD provide g... 10/04/2011

Janna Rankin Scharf, GRI, CLHMS, SFR - Coeur d'Alene Idaho Ful- Time Full-Service Real Estate Pro Yesterday was a beautiful fall Saturday in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.  I took the opportunity to hike around Tubbs Hill on a "field trip" with my fellow exercise boot campers.  It was a lovely morning for a hike in our own urban forest.  Tubbs Hill is located in downtown Coeur d'Alene.  The natural trail winds along through the forest, overlooking beautiful Coeur d'Alene Lake.  Hiking the circular main trail will take you along just under two miles of breathtaking scenery.  The trail begins at the 3rd Street docks on the Western side of Tubbs Hill.  About 2/3 of the way around, hikers are treated to a pretty peek-a-boo view throught the trees of the stunning estate homes at Sanders Beach on the ... 10/02/2011

 Pam Jank  Receives New “Certified Negotiation Expert (CNE®)” Designation  Professional negotiation skills are a must for all real estate agents helping home buyers and sellers, especially in the current market Pam Jank has been awarded the Certified Negotiation Expert designation by the Real Estate Negotiation Institute (RENI).  The CNE® is earned by real estate professionals after successfully completing formal negotiation training.  Agents who receive this certification are in the top 1% of all agents nationally. With professional negotiation skills, agents are able to help clients obtain better results in the sale or purchase of their home.  CNE® agents have a powerful competitive edge because of their ability to 1) communicate effectively to uncover more information, 2) help client... 10/01/2011

Coeur d'Alene Lake Waterfront Homes For SaleThis beautiful September morning I had an opportunity to get out of the office and head out to the eastern side of Coeur d'Alene Lake for a listing appointment at a lovely Coeur d'Alene Lake waterfront home for sale.I snapped a few photos along my way with my cell phone.  I still marvel at what a spectacular place this is that I call home.  How amazing that all of this pristine scenic beauty is within 30 minutes from my office!  It's officially autumn here in beautiful north Idaho, but no matter the season, there just isn't a more picture postcard perfect spot on earth!Currently there are 105 active Coeur d'Alene Lake waterfront homes for sale ranging in price from $199,900 to $6,995,000.  There are 6 pending Coeur d'Alene Lake waterfront home... 09/29/2011

Janna Rankin Scharf, GRI, CLHMS, SFR I had the privilege of congratulating some wonderful clients of mine on the successful conclusion to their real estate journey.  This time last year we were looking for a retirement home for them to buy.  They wanted to downsize, find the last home they would ever live in.  We found exactly what they were looking for last fall and closed on that home in December.  Early this year, they had finished moving and it was time to put their former home on the market.  Selling proved to be more more of a challenge, but this week we closed and they have closed the door on that chapter of their lives.  What I loved about this closing is that it wasn't a distressed sale.  No short sale here.  Everybody was happy and it was celebratory and exciting.  They buyers... 09/28/2011

Fall Tips for getting the Inside of your home ready for winter. Have a heating professional check your heating system every year. Replace your furnace filter. Woodburning stove connector pipes and chimneys should be inspected by a certified chimney sweep at least annually. Make sure you have proper insulation in both your attic and basement. While checking your insulation, if you see any dark, dirty spots, it may indicate you have air leaks coming into your home. Remove hair from drains in sinks, tubs, and showers. Test all smoke alarms. Replace batteries as necessary. Check your home around windows and doors for air leaks. An easy way to check for leaks is to move a lighter around the window or door frame and see if the flame moves with a breeze. If you find a leak, you can caulk it or... 09/28/2011

  Fall is the time to get the Outside of your home ready for winter. Clear debris out of window wells, gutters, downspouts, and storm drains. Remove garden hoses from spouts. Drain and store for the winter. Wrap spouts in insulation. Drain in-ground sprinkler systems. Check windows, doors, and siding for holes and cracks. Caulk as necessary. Check weather stripping on windows and doors for fit and condition. Replace as necessary. Inspect all soffit vents and other venting systems to make sure they're clear of debris. Check painted surfaces for paint failure, water damage, or mildew. Repair or repaint if necessary. Check caulking where two different materials meet, where wood siding joins the foundation wall, at inside corners, and where the window and door trim meets the siding. Check f... 09/28/2011

Photo Gallery Description Here is an opportunity to purchase an idyllic country estate in a prime location for a SONG! Sellers loss is truly your gain here. Located in highly desired Cougar Gulch, it offers privacy and seclusion that is just a hop skip and jump from beautiful Lake Coeur d'Alene and town. The home is large and well appointed, with room for everyone. A well provides the home's water, and an underground spring keeps the pond and irrigation cistern full year round! The pond is permitted and the property has senior water rights recorded with the state. Take time to scroll through the photos and they will tell you the story of just what a treasure you have found here! Features Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 3.5 Year Built: 1996 Lot Size: 10.18 Acres School District: CDA-271 Square F... 09/27/2011

Steps to prevent your pipes from freeze Before the cold hits   Insulate pipes in your home's crawl spaces and attic. These exposed pipes are most susceptible to freezing. Remember - the more insulation you use, the better protected your pipes will be. Heat tape or thermostatically-controlled heat cables can be used to wrap pipes. Closely follow all manufacturers' installation and operation instructions. Seal leaks that allow cold air inside near where pipes are located. Look for air leaks around electrical wiring, dryer vents and pipes. Use caulk or insulation to keep the cold out and the heat in. With severe cold, even a tiny opening can let in enough cold air to cause a pipe to freeze. Disconnect garden hoses and, if practical, use an indoor valve to shut off and drain water from pipe... 09/25/2011

Janna Rankin Scharf, GRI, CLHMS, SFR, AB - Coeur d'Alene Idaho Short Sale Specialist A buyer I am working with sent me an email asking me to write up an offer on a short sale we hadn't looked at.  She said she didn't need to see it, she had been watching it closely for a long time and just wanted me to write up her offer and submit it.  It is in a tiny little town about an hour from Coeur d'Alene and really down in the boondocks. Before I did anything I wanted to talk to the listing agent and find out what the short sale situation was.  We had a long talk, he told me about the sellers situation, and confessed he didn't know anything about short sales.  And I'm here to tell you, he was right.  He didn't know ANYTHING!  I spent at least a half hour talking with him, and he agreed to visit... 09/24/2011

Fall Home Maintenance Tip #4   Clean and Inspect Your Chimney.   Haveyour chimney professionally cleaned and inspected before using your fireplace. It’s important to remove built up soot, nests, and other materials that could present a fire hazard. Repairing your chimney can prevent heat loss and keep your fireplace working as efficiently as possible.     FREE MLS Listings Search at: http://www.SellingNorthIdaho.com 09/24/2011

Janna Rankin Scharf, CLHMS, GRI, SFR, AB - Coeur d'Alene Idaho Luxury Homes for Sale  This week I had the opportunity to attend a Keller Williams Realty gathering of 10,600 people in Austin, Texas.  I was privileged to attend a Luxury Homes mastermind session with agents from around the country who specialize in marketing luxury homes in the top 10% of their local markets. A couple hundred of us spent several hours brainstorming and sharing examples of what is working for getting our luxury properties sold in this challenging market. There is a big difference between Coeur d'Alene and more metropolitan real estate markets.  Looking at the statistics for homes that have sold in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho in the past year, the top 10% of sales, which is considered the benchmark for luxury homes... 09/23/2011

Janna Scharf, GRI, CSP, CLHMS - Coeur d'Alene Idaho Real Estate Specialist Someone asked me what it was that was motivating my sellers to sell right now. The next part of the question was what were some of the buyer's incentives that were being offered by anxious sellers to get their homes sold faster. I quickly went down a mental list of my sellers.  A woman is getting married, and a man is getting divorced.  A retiree on 11 acres has bones that hurt and can't keep up the property any longer.  A builder has a spec home to sell.  One seller has a tax bill to pay and needs to sell an investment property.  I have a fellow who sells a parcel of land when he needs a cash infusion, and he's there. Three of my listings are investment properties that went south, and are now in short sale situa... 09/20/2011

Janna Rankin Scharf, AB, GRI, CLHMS, SFR - Coeur d'Alene Idaho Real Estate Specialist Last week I had an opportunity to participate in a fun evening of food and friends at the spectacular Spokane River home of Ron and Pam Nilsen in the lovely Edgewater community.  The event was a fundraiser for the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce.  It was casual and laid back, what else do you expect when dinner is being cooked in a trash can!?  The twenty four people who had the winning bids gathered to celebrate summer and the best of all that Coeur d'Alene and Post Falls have to offer.  I still marvel at this magnificent place I call home.  It's as if I spend my days in a picture post card! It's just a bonus that my world contains so many wonderful people that I am honored to call friend. Scroll your ... 09/18/2011

  Janna Rankin Scharf, AB, GRI, CLHMS, SFR - Coeur d'Alene Idaho For the most part, home sellers in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho have come to grips with the reality of the current market conditions and for the most part are pricing their homes accordingly.  Many home buyers in the Coeur d'Alene area, on the other hand, still seem convinced that all sellers should be grateful for any lowball offer that comes their way.  I still see buyers who are convinced they can get their dream home at much less than whatever a seller is asking.  They have been surprised to find competitive conditions in the under $200,000 price ranges, and many have lost out in multiple-bid situations before finally getting a home under contract.  One case in point is this listing of mine that was under contract at full pri... 09/17/2011

Janna Rankin Scharf, AB, GRI, CLHMS, SFR - Coeur d'Alene Idaho Short Sale Specialist Yesterday, within an hour of posting this Coeur d'Alene Idaho short sale in the MLS and on my Facebook wall, I received a full price cash offer with a quick closing, sight unseen.  After a few phone calls, the offer was accepted and the rest is history. The Sellers, and others, have been asking why anyone would buy a property they hadn't seen yet.  That is a great question and here's the answer. The buyer's agent, from a competing brokerage, trusts me.  He trusted me to know what I was doing and to give him straight answers to his questions.  He knew what his buyer was looking for, and knew that this house had it after speaking with me.  He knew that it is competitive in this price range and he needed t... 09/16/2011

Janna Rankin Scharf, GRI, CLHMS, AB, SFR - Coeur d'Alene Idaho Local Real Estate Expert Once again I am posting some photos that I took in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho last week.  These were taken along the dike Road behind North Idaho College.   I spent many hours as a teenager in this spot.  I have lots of fond memories of time spent here, one being at a bonfire beside the water with my future husband, the day after I first met him! It's worth a drive to explore this pretty area for picnic and beach activities along the spokane River as it joins the northwestern part of Coeur d'Alene Lake.  It's long been a favorite recreational spot for locals out to beat the heat of the summer and avoid the tourists that pack the more visible and popular beaches. 09/14/2011

Janna Rankin Scharf, Coeur d'Alene Idaho Short Sale Specialist Both of these homes were listed for sale in the Coeur d'Alene Multiple Listing Service.  These two homes have more in common than you might think based on outward appearances.    Behind the four walls at each home are distressed homeowners underwater on their mortgages.  Upside down is another tag for their situation.  They owed more on their mortgages than they could sell their homes for in our current market.  The size of the home and means of the owners may be worlds apart, but they are essentially in the same situation.  One size fits all.  Some turn of events has made it impossible to continue with their house payments. One was offered for sale as a short sale for $59,000.  The other at $1,150,000.  Their lifestyles may... 09/12/2011

HUD Home in Coeur d'Alene - The Landings HUD Home in Coeur d'Alene - The Landings is a great place to purchase your first HUD home. If your looking for a tremendous value then look no further.  One of my specialties is helping home buyers purchase that HUD home at the best possible price. A HUD home in Coeur d'Alene is not like any other purchase. An experienced agent knows that there are unique steps with required paperwork that must be filled out exactly ... all under strict time frames. If you miss a deadline your file can be rejected and the home that you thought you had locked up ends up back on the market.   With the experience of having assisted many HUD Home purchasers both in Idaho and in Texas ... I am confident that I can help you with your HUD Home purchase in Coeur d'Alene ... 09/09/2011

Janna Rankin Scharf, GRI, CLHMS, SFR - Coeur d'Alene Idaho Homes for Sale If you are trying to sell your house, one of the pieces of information that should be factored into your pricing strategy is the absorption rate for homes in your specific community and PRICE RANGE.  Absorption rates vary WIDELY from town to town and neighborhood to neighborhood, and also from price range to price range within those communities. An absorption rate will tell you, based on current market activity, how many months, or in some cases years, it could take to get your house sold in our current market.  The formula is really very simple if you have the statistical info that you need. Let's say you have a home to sell for $250,000.  And let's say that there were 5 homes that sold for $250,000 in the past y... 09/06/2011