Special offer

Coeur d'Alene, ID Real Estate News

By Janna Scharf, Coeur d'Alene Idaho Real Estate Expert
(Keller Williams Realty Coeur d'Alene)
An interesting article in this morning's Coeur d'Alene Press points out a safety precaution I hadn't ever considered. A woman reported the theft of a new big screen TV from her home the other night.  It was stolen during the night while her teenage son slept on a couch just 10 feet from the TV!  The interesting thing to note was that she admitted that the box the new TV had come in was sitting on the porch right outside the door she thinks may have been unlocked. It stands to reason that an empty big screen TV box outside your door is communicating to everyone who passes by - HEY! THERE IS A BRAND NEW BIG SCREEN TV AT MY HOUSE! Now if one of those passersby is a thief it shouldn't come as a surprise that your new TV turns up missing! Another article today tells the story of a woman who ...
Comments 6
By Janna Scharf, Coeur d'Alene Idaho Real Estate Expert
(Keller Williams Realty Coeur d'Alene)
I love cooking for a crowd, and this past weekend I gathered the troops for my son's 16th birthday celebration.  My talented sister Kerri snapped photos of the food I prepared, which inspired me to share the recipes.   A variation of this beautiful salad anchors the meal at just about every family function.  There are a few non-negotiable ingredients, but they vary with the season and what's in the refrigerator. For us, the non-negotiables are mandarin oranges, grapefruit, sliced red onion, avocado and some kind of berry.  You can see from the picture, there are no strawberries here, in spite of the name - Strawberry Salad!  The key is the dressing which is whipped up in the blender.  It's sweet, but as you can see, the salad is more fruit than vegetable.  The dressing has a SECRET INGR...
Comments 1
By Janna Scharf, Coeur d'Alene Idaho Real Estate Expert
(Keller Williams Realty Coeur d'Alene)
We gathered on the occassion of my son Derek's birthday for a big family dinner.  My sister Kerri is a professional photographer.  As a result, she is never without her camera.   Our family benefits from having her snapping fabulous photos as a routine course of action.  Whenever she's over, I get such a kick out of how she loves to capture photos of the food I cook for her file of stock photos.  Who knows where they might appear someday!  When I saw this one posted on Facebook with the birthday album, it inspired me to share the recipe.  This was what Derek requested I cook for him, one of his favorite meals.  An one of mine, as well!Balsamic Chicken 1 tsp olive oil3/4 C coarsely chopped onion4 garlic cloves sliced4 4oz chicken breast halves1 C sliced bell pepper1/4 C sliced mushrooms1...
Comments 1
By Janna Scharf, Coeur d'Alene Idaho Real Estate Expert
(Keller Williams Realty Coeur d'Alene)
Photo GalleryDescriptionHere is an opportunity to purchase an iidyllic 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 high functioning 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 the story of just what a treasure you have found!FeaturesBedrooms: 4Bathrooms: 3.5Year Built: 1996Lot Size: 10.18 AcresSchool District: CDA-271Square Fo...
Comments 3
By Janna Scharf, Coeur d'Alene Idaho Real Estate Expert
(Keller Williams Realty Coeur d'Alene)
If you have followed my blog for the past 14 months, you will know that I relocated from Colorado to Idaho in August of 2008.  Coeur d'Alene, Idaho is where I was raised, married, bought my first home and had my first three children.  But my little family moved away in 1981 and we are just now returning to settle in for the long haul. We spent 17 years in beautiful Fort Collins, Colorado.  We built a nice life there, raised five children, added a daughter-in-law and two granddaughters, and made many wonderful friendships that will last a lifetime.  We came back to Idaho with just our "baby" as he started high school.  Life is different now.  Quiet.  What has been hardest getting used to is having a quiet house, mostly empty.  My son, husband and I pass each other coming and going for th...
Comments 7
By Janna Scharf, Coeur d'Alene Idaho Real Estate Expert
(Keller Williams Realty Coeur d'Alene)
On ongoing controversy in our beautiful Lake City of Coeur d'Alene Idaho is the operations of the Lake City Development Corporation (LCDC).  What has many area residents up in arms is the manner in which LCDC uses tax increment funding in accordance with Chapter 29, Title 50, Local Economic Development Act of 1988. As our city council elections approach, a new controversy has arisin and reached hysterical proportions.  It is the firing of Jim Brannon, the executive director of our local Habitat for Humanity organization.  Minutes before the televised taping of his live debate with council incumbent  Mike Kennedy who is charged with overseeing LCDC, Brannon, who is an outspoken opponent of LCDC, was fired.  I have watched the histrionics on both sides of the LCDC fence for over a year as...
Comments 2
By Jim Paulson, Owner,Broker
(Progressive Realty (Boise Idaho) www.Progressive-Realty.info)
    I will be hosting another EPRO Workshop Monday, October 26, 2009 Time: 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM Location: Coeur D Alene Association Of REALTORS® Address: 409 W Neiber, Coeur D Alene, ID 83815 Register Now! Seating is Limited! To register, simply visit http://ePROworkshop.InternetCrusade.com or call toll free 1-866-ePRONAR (1-866-377-6627). If you would like me to do a presentation for your association or office, contact me directly.  Thank you!
Comments 1
By Janna Scharf, Coeur d'Alene Idaho Real Estate Expert
(Keller Williams Realty Coeur d'Alene)
Today I had the privilege of participating in the happy ending of another Coeur d'Alene short sale success story with an $8000 bonus.  It was a good day! I have been on a journey with my wonderful first time homebuyers David and Rebecca since Memorial Day weekend.  They fell in love with one of the first homes we looked at, but unfortunately it was a short sale.  That meant months of waiting with an uncertain outcome, which just didn't work for them.  They needed a home ASAP!  We put in an offer on that short sale, but kept looking while we waited.  Which, by the way, is acceptable practice in Idaho.  Nothing else measured up for the price, and frustration mounted.  After a couple months, and dozens of houses, I took them back to their short sale, to see if it still held the same appeal...
Comments 12
By Janna Scharf, Coeur d'Alene Idaho Real Estate Expert
(Keller Williams Realty Coeur d'Alene)
If you haven't already, time is running out to prepare your home for the winter and hunker in.  A story in the Coeur d'Alene Press stated the obvious - Anything left in the garden Friday night might as well be considered a write-off, as temperatures hit a record low overnight. The 19 degrees recorded at 6:43 a.m. Saturday by climatologist Cliff Harris broke a record for the day of 26 degrees set in 1954. By 2:56 p.m. the high for the day only reached 45 degrees, beating by 1 degree the record low high temperature set for the date in 1946."We broke records on both sides," said Harris, who fielded phone calls all day about broken sprinklers and water pipes.Temperatures in Kootenai County reached as low as 12 degrees northwest of Garwood and 14 degrees near Athol, he said. That means the e...
Comments 3
By Janna Scharf, Coeur d'Alene Idaho Real Estate Expert
(Keller Williams Realty Coeur d'Alene)
Room for EVERYONE with 4 bedrooms, a living room, family room PLUS a den!Location: HeartlandThis is a great home and has only had one owner who has lovingly cared for it. It's a short sale, so plan to be patient while the process plays out. This is a classic split entry home with lots of room for everyone. The big back yard is completely fenced, and there is even a fun above ground swimming pool that will stay. If you have an RV, there is room to park it beside the garage. Give me a call if you want the details about purchasing a home that is in a short sale situation. Short sales can be more complicated than traditional resales, but these days the very best values for buyers are being found in short sales just like this one!InformationContact InformationJanna Rankin Scharf208.651.9700C...
Comments 1
By Janna Scharf, Coeur d'Alene Idaho Real Estate Expert
(Keller Williams Realty Coeur d'Alene)
I know, this is supposed to be speechless... My friend Dale Olesberg captured this stunning picture with his cell phone!  It's taken from south of town, looking towards downtown Coeur d'alene.  The bright lights in the distance are those of the Coeur d'alene Resort.  I still marvel everyday that I LIVE IN A POSTCARD!
Comments 18
By Janna Scharf, Coeur d'Alene Idaho Real Estate Expert
(Keller Williams Realty Coeur d'Alene)
My Facebook friend, Stephanie Cowden Smith, is an amazing local graphic designer.  I have fun reading the notes she posts on Facebook of outrageous and often hilarious mistakes in our local print media. This morning's latest post is an ABSOLUTE SCREAM! This is a colorful reminder to us all to exercise some skill and care in the proofreading of our marketing materials, blog posts, correspondence and emails. Here is Stephanie's Facebook note.  Stephanie, thanks for the comic releif!  It really does leave one scratching one's head....  Once again, the Coeur d'Alene Chamber of Commerce sent out one of their high quality, well written emails to their entire database. This one offers a FREE webinar which will help miximize Chamber Membership. A quick look at the Urban Dictionary shows to mixi...
Comments 10
By Janna Scharf, Coeur d'Alene Idaho Real Estate Expert
(Keller Williams Realty Coeur d'Alene)
I was driving down 7th Street in Coeur d'Alene on my way to the post office yesterday.  It was a glorious day full of sunshine and happiness.  As I passed Reid Street I did a double take.  Was that what I think it is up in that window?  I circled the block and came back around to find that I WASN'T seeing things, it really was a dog and a cat, sitting in an opened second story window, basking in the sunshine and watching the cars drive by. They watched intently as I parked, got my camera, and zoomed in on them.  They posed politely, I got my picture and continued on my way. What a sweet and unlikely pair of comrades.  Certainly not something I am used to seeing everyday!  It put a smile on my face, and I hope it does yours, too.  
Comments 13
By Janna Scharf, Coeur d'Alene Idaho Real Estate Expert
(Keller Williams Realty Coeur d'Alene)
Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course Ranked No. 4 in the Nation! It's always fun to see Coeur d'Alene get a new national ranking for one reason or another.  It's no secret to those of us fortunate enough to live here that this place is spectacular in more ways than we can count! This morning, the Coeur d'Alene Press gives a shout out to the Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course and it's recent ranking in Golf World Magazine's second annual Readers' Choice Awards.  The poll attracted 46,000 votes.  The Resort course rated among the top 10 in other categories as well.  The Readers' Choice poll ranks courses in more than a dozen categories, including overall quality and value, condition, reputation, practice facilities, speed of play, clubhouse, hotel accommodations, pro shop, food and dining, off-...
Comments 4
By Janna Scharf, Coeur d'Alene Idaho Real Estate Expert
(Keller Williams Realty Coeur d'Alene)
Coeur d'Alene Idaho short sale SUCCESS! Today, my awesome first time homebuyers Henry-Scott and Sherry closed on their first home.  Their saga began on February 18 when they submitted an offer to purchase a home they loved, which was a short sale.  They loved the golf course neighborhood, and they loved the home on the golf course.  Then came the delays, and the seller's bankruptcy.  I explained to them that it would be long and drawn out, but if that was the house they wanted, they could have it.  It would take the patience of Job, but I would make it happen for them.  After a few months, I took them to look at other homes.  They always came back around to "their" short sale.  The waiting was excruciating, especially when their lease ran out.  They weren't expecting when they started, ...
Comments 4
By Janna Scharf, Coeur d'Alene Idaho Real Estate Expert
(Keller Williams Realty Coeur d'Alene)
The Joy of Short Sales in Coeur d'Alen Idaho! I can think of no better way to start the week than to log onto my computer and see an Approval Letter sitting in my inbox!  Someday, when the dust has settled, I will go into detail.  But for now, suffice it to say that my seller has been in a living hell.  The buyers are running out of time to wait.  The approval was declined by the mortgage insurer since June 7th.  My client set out to prove that they had made a mistake.  She provided all the documents requested as well as her CPA's contact information.  The PMI loss mitigator then stopped answering her calls and emails and never contacted the CPA.  On Thursday I tracked down email addresses for all of PMIs executives, and the board of directors,and sent them all a strongly worded email w...
Comments 7
By Janna Scharf, Coeur d'Alene Idaho Real Estate Expert
(Keller Williams Realty Coeur d'Alene)
Just about a year ago, my husband and I left Colorado and returned to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.  It was where we started out, in 1974, and moved away from, in 1981.  In 2008 we came "home."  Starting over in a new place was a challenge, and lonely. I had time on my hands to do what I simply had not managed to find time for before - learn what blogging was all about. My friend Marcus Valdez in Colorado recommended ActiveRain, so I decide to join and see what it was all about. There were just three others in town who were active on ActiveRain: Christina Ethridge, Maryellen Garasky and Pam Jank. Pam and Maryellen started commenting on my posts. Pam has Localism sewn up for my town, I still haven't figured out how I can ever beat her out of sponsorship of Coeur d'Alene.  Christina was featured ...
Comments 4
By Janna Scharf, Coeur d'Alene Idaho Real Estate Expert
(Keller Williams Realty Coeur d'Alene)
This Thursday, September 3, my office is sponsoring a blood drive. My heart was touched by the photo and statement I saw from the grateful recipient of the gift of blood through the Inland Northwest Blood Center. "If I could give you all a gift in return, it would be to give you a peak into my kitchen window about 6pm any weeknight - to witness the chaos, hear the voices and laughter, and see the bountiful life in our home - because of you and your incredible gift." I would like to invite all of my friends to join me in making a difference by making a donatation.    Keller Williams Realty Coeur d'Alene1044 Northwest Boulevard Thursday, September 3rd, 20099 am to 11 am Call 208-667-2399 to schedule an appointment
Comments 3
By Janna Scharf, Coeur d'Alene Idaho Real Estate Expert
(Keller Williams Realty Coeur d'Alene)
Janna Scharf, GRI, CSP, CLHMS     Coeur d'Alene Home Sellers Motivated to Offer Incentives to Buy The other day I got a call from a reporter at The Coeur d'Alene Press.  He was working on a story about the climate of our local real estate market.  He asked me what it was that was motivating my sellers to sell, and some of the buyer's incentives that were being offered. 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 in April 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 listin...
Comments 6
By Janna Scharf, Coeur d'Alene Idaho Real Estate Expert
(Keller Williams Realty Coeur d'Alene)
As a Realtor actively working short sales in Coeur d'Alene, I am finding no shortage of interesting stories to write about.  Here is my latest.  Really, I couldn't make this stuff up! - The Joy of Short Sales ~ It was gonna take a MIRACLE, and he got one! Maybe... A couple of months ago I met a great guy in Coeur d'Alene who was in a pickle.  He bought three homes new, as an investment, 3 years ago. A year or two ago, when the market started turning south, he decided to unload them.  Got two sold, and one under a lease option for a year.  He told me how those folks were getting ready to exercise their option.  Were approved to buy, but the appraisal came in about $10K less than the option price, which was what the seller paid for the house, and still owed.  Seems the optionee, doing res...
Comments 0
Explore Coeur d'Alene, ID