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.  Due to weather conditions, equipment... 11/02/2013

Coeur d'Alene Idaho Short Sales - Can I short sell with a federal tax lien? I received this question from someone who was trying to decide what their best course of action was to avoid foreclosure: Our small business failed and as a result we had a lot of business bills that we were personally responsible for.  Now we have an IRS tax lien and a judgment filed against our house.  We can't afford to pay those debts off right now.  We owe more than our house is worth.  Is short selling our house to avoid foreclosure even an option?    First of all, let me say that I am not an attorney and can't give legal advice.  But I can tell you what has been my personal experience with several homeowners in this very situation. In general, creditors who have placed a lien against your home will releas... 11/01/2013

Secondary Waterfront Property For Sale In Coeur d'Alene, Idaho SECONDARY WATERFRONT is a classification of waterfront property for sale in the Coeur d'Alene MLS, and I often get questioned about just what that term means. Quite simply, it means that a particular piece of property classified as secondary waterfront in the Coeur d'Alene area has no frontage on the water, but it does have rights to water access.  Often, we will see this in waterfront communities where some of the homes have frontage on the lake or river, while others in the neighborhood do not.  But those non-waterfront homes or lots are often granted access to the neighborhood beach, dock, boat ramp or park which does front the water. For many, secondary waterfront in Coeur d'Alene is desirable in that it gives them easy... 11/01/2013

If you are looking for waterfront homes for sale in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, your search is over.  I invite you to make short work of your search by simply clicking on the link below.   Waterfront Homes for Sale in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho This link will take you to every waterfront home for sale that has been listed in our Coeur d'Alene Multiple Listing Service. Please don't hesitate to contact me for more information about our Coeur d'Alene Waterfront Market or more information about any of the beautiful waterfront homes for sale that you come across in your search. You may be interested in SECONDARY waterfront property.  Click here to find out just what that is, and to see every Secondary Waterfront Home For Sale in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. 11/01/2013

Coeur d'Alene Idaho Real Estate Adventures - You can't make this stuff up!  I had a WEIRD encounter with a buyer recently.  I received a call from a guy I had spoken with on the phone a couple of times in the past few months.  He has had his eye on one of my vacant listings. A retiree, recently married, looking for a new nest. So about 1:00 I got a call from my guy. Could I meet him out at the house for another look?  He wanted to make a cash offer.  My mind raced through everything on my plate.  I told him I could meet him at 3:45.  He responded that I had better make it 3:00 because I was going to need to write up a cash offer and it was going to take more time. Huh?  Whether we start at 3:00 or 3:45, it will take the exact amount of time to write up an offer!  I quickly decided that ... 11/01/2013

North Idaho Property Search Phone App Finally, One of the coolest tools out there for smart phone users is the North Idaho Property Search Phone App ... a Keller Williams app designed to be used locally by home buyers. What most don't realize is to save searches and gain full benefit of the app you need a smart code. Here is my personal code: KW2BF2HGB You can also go here to download the app: click here for iPhone click here for Android Among the features that will assist you with your search are: - Mortgage Calculator - Search exactly where you are at instantly "NEARBY HOMES" feature - Save properties and searches This app is a great tool for when you are out driving around looking at homes before you contact an agent and then when you need quick information on a home! I love it! I th... 08/09/2013

SECONDARY WATERFRONT is a classification of waterfront property for sale in the Coeur d'Alene MLS, and I often get questioned about just what that term means. Quite simply, it means that a particular piece of property classified as secondary waterfront in the Coeur d'Alene area has no frontage on the water, but it does have rights to water access.  Often, we will see this in waterfront communities where some of the homes have frontage on the lake or river, while others in the neighborhood do not.  But those non-waterfront homes or lots are often granted access to the neighborhood beach, dock, boat ramp or park which does front the water. For many, secondary waterfront in Coeur d'Alene is desirable in that it gives them easy recreational access to our beautiful lakes and rivers, while it... 08/02/2013

Downtown Farmer's Market Wednesdays 4:00pm - 7:00pm  Stroll through two blocks along Fifth Street in downtown Coeur d'Alene and take your pick of the freshest produce available, plus an ever changing array of local products, from cheese to chairs, artisan bread to pickles. The Wednesday market  caters to the "What's for dinner?" crowd, as well as tourists in the summer months. It is a vibrant space, with a great downtown vibe and live music every week.For more information please call Gay at 208.415.0116 or visitwww.cdadowntown.com  06/28/2013

14th Annual Osprey Cruise on Lake Coeur d'Alene Saturday, July 13, 2013 The Chamber's Natural Resources Committee in partnership with the Idaho Department of Fish & Game, and the Bureau of Land Management, once again invite you to take part in one of the most outstanding wildlife viewing opportunities available anywhere. Witness Osprey families on their nests while touring Cougar Bay in a 2-story cruise boat with Captain Carl Fus of Coeur d'Alene Cruises. Renowned wildlife biologist Dr. Wayne Melquist will be banding Osprey chicks, give a talk about the Osprey, and be on hand to answer your questions.  Boarding: begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Independence Point docksDeparture: Cruise departs promptly at 9 a.m.Return: 11:00 a.m.Parking: Free parking beside Memorial Field just north of City P... 06/28/2013

The Poo Police - They're #1 in the #2 business in Coeur d'Alene Idaho! A few days ago I was visiting a friend who was caring for her daughter's dog, and not too happy about it.  The conversation turned to the bottom line of caring for a dog - someone has to clean up all that dog poo! Yesterday an associate of mine was venting about the neighbor adjacent to one of his listed properties.  The yard next door was FULL of disgusting piles of dog poo from multiple dogs.  Look out the window and it was staring you right in the face.  Step out in the back yard and well, run back inside to get away from it.  Ugh!  Whose American dream of home ownership includesliving with copious quantities of your neighbor's dog poo? I had to chuckle when this morning I was going through some papers and came ac... 06/13/2013

Car d'Lane Classic Car Show & Cruise Friday & Saturday, June 14-15 The annual Car d'Lane Classic Car Show and Cruise brings hundreds of pre-1975 vehicles to beautiful Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Around 850 cars cruise the downtown streets on the Friday night prior to the show.  The swap meet is back! Friday and Saturday, 8:00am-4:00pm located atthe grassy area just off 6th and Sherman.For more information please call Gay at 208-415-0116 or visitwww.cdadowntown.com    06/01/2013

5th Annual Dog d'Alene Saturday, May 18, 2013Price: FREE Registration: 8:30am - 9:30am   A day of everything dog!  Admission is free for dogs and their humans. Festivities take place on the green space at 6th and Sherman. Race day registration is available 8:30am - 9:30am, May 18, 2013. The 5k Dog Walk will begin at 10:00am, and the Doxie Dash at 2:00 pm. Vendors will be selling dog related items. See demonstrations from pet trainers. There will also be dogs available for adoption!   For information, please contact Gay Glasson at 208.415.0116 or Gay@CdAChamber.com 05/11/2013

Coeur d'Alene Marathon & Half Marathon Sunday, May 26, 2013   The 2013 Coeur d'Alene Marathon and Half Marathon is back with some fresh updates to the course. The 2013 athletes will experience running through the historic Garden District neighborhood which has spectacular views of Lake Coeur d'Alene, the Spokane River, and the verdant mountain surroundings.The MyHealth 5K Fun Run and Walk has a new and improved course that will take participants down to the Fort Grounds at North Idaho College before returning to Riverstone along the shores of the Spokane River on the Centennial Trail. Visitwww.cdamarathon.com. For more information please contact Charlie Miller, NICTF Manager,   208.292.1634 or Charlie@nictf.org  05/11/2013

Homes for sale in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho with a main level master bedroom suite.I recently celebrated another birthday. No getting around it, I'm getting older! But then so are you. And so are 80 million baby boomers approaching retirement age!My left knee hurts. My right foot hurts. But only when I walk! I need to schedule an eye appointment and face the music this time. Yes, I really DO need bifocals! My hairdresser keeps the gray at bay, and good genetics have blessed me with few wrinkles and an appearance years younger than my age.When it comes to homes, as we age we begin to rethink things a bit. Stairs! Recent years have seen a change in home designs to accommodate the desires of the aging population. One level living. Smaller homes but larger rooms and higher quality finishes. More... 05/09/2013

Janna Rankin Scharf, GRI, CLHMS, SFR - Coeur d'Alene Idaho Homes for Sale The other day I got out of the office for a little fun showing property out at Kidd Island Bay on Coeur d'Alene Lake. A very nice gentleman had come all the way from the Tri-Cities to get a close look at a great little secondary waterfront REO home for sale. It was within eyesight of another waterfront home I sold about a year and a half ago, also a bank repo, also a great deal. When we entered the home, I REALLY perked up. It was a GREAT home! Much more living space, and much more modern living space, than the one I had formerly sold, and for about exactly the same price. It had a shared lawn to the waterfront, and a shared dock with one other neighbor, but the setting was spectacular! You just don't find great, ... 05/08/2013

I just finished up with my fortunate Seller client who had the difficult task of deciding which one of three excellent offers to accept for the purchase of her home. That's right, three outstanding offers. I had a conversation with the agent for each potential buyer and explained the following to them: There will be three competing offers. The Seller is doing a HAFA approved short sale. There was no point in running the purchase price up above the fair market value that Wells Fargo is willing to accept, which is the listed price. Seller is not going to receive any of the sale proceeds. What would be the deciding factor for her is the strength of the buyer, and their willingness and ability to hang in for the duration. I suggested each of them do whatever they could to strengthen their o... 05/05/2013

May 5, 2013 A quick peek in the Coeur d'Alene MLS for homes for sale as short sales this morning turned up a list of 227, up from 192 just two months ago. They range in price from a high of $3,950,000 for a waterfront development property, to a low of $14,000 for a manufactured home on a rented lot.  The lowest priced piece of real property is a $20,000 condo at spectacular Twin Lakes Village waterfront golf community.  What makes that condo a hard sell is the monthly HOA fee of $507.  One thing's for sure, short sale distress is an equal opportunity condition. It's noteworthy that of those 227 homes, a whopping 137 have contracts pending, awaiting final review by the seller's lender. Ten of those pending short sale listings are mine! That leaves only 90 short sale properties available ... 05/05/2013

Janna Rankin Scharf, CHLMS, GRI, SFR - Coeur d'Alene Idaho Homes For Sale I had an interesting conversation with my friendly homeowners insurance agent. A few important points came up concerning vacant homes that I would like to pass along. Here in beautiful north Idaho, we have many second homes as well as investment properties, and it is very common to have vacant homes listed for sale. In recent years theft related claims have skyrocketed. Vacant homes are targets for break ins and theft - of everything from appliances to fixtures to copper pipes. This isn't a news flash to most of us. Underwriting for claims has become very stringent. Did you know that a vacant home triggers a vacancy exclusion in your insurance policy? As many homeowners are surprised to find out, once you get to y... 05/05/2013

Janna Rankin Scharf, GRI, CLHMS, SFR - Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Real Estate I thought it was interesting to learn that Coeur d'Alene has a forest of "street trees" managed by the Urban Forestry department of the Parks Department. Did you know that it is the responsibility of every property owner to assist in the care of our city's trees? Coeur d'Alene's Urban Forestry ordinance sets tree care standards and gives guidelines for the care and maintenance of all public trees and shrubs. Public trees include all those growing in the city rights of way such as the grassy area between the sidewalk and curb. On those streets without a sidewalk, the city could own a right of way of 4 to over 20 feet inside your property. The Urban Forestry department can check your address if you aren't sure where t... 05/05/2013

A homeowner asked me what my experience was with using incentives to attract buyers and sell homes more quickly. 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 Coeur d'Alene homes sold faster. I quickly went down a mental list of my seller clients. A couple selling to move up into their "forever" home.  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, ... 05/05/2013