Fortune Magazine “Real Estate Survival guideR...
My new issue of Fortune came in the mail today. I’ve been a fan of the mag the last year or so. I don’t really have the energy to pour through the Economist like I used to, nor do I feel like I need to start each day with the WSJ or NYT. I tried Money, but was often dismayed by their lack of …
No permit, no well, no septic
Think this might be a problem for selling a house? Apparently not in today’s real estate market for Leavenworth Washington. Two homes recently popped on the market just outside of town. Nice little fixer upper cabins. Cabins without water, wired for generators and hooked up to sketchy homemade septic systems. Both received multiple offers in just a few days. A surprise to a number …
Market Review
The local Windermere offices in Wenatchee and Leavenworth have recently published a market review which has local real estate statistics for 2005. (I will mail you one for free if you ask.) Average prices for local towns (excluding new construction): Wenatchee $189,000 E. Wenatchee $188,000 Cashmere $182,000 Leavenworth $267,000 Those prices seem ridiculously low, don’t they. Yep, that was 2005. Old news. As of …
20%
20%. That’s the big number that just came out from the recent Real Estate “Snapshot” put out by Pacific Appraisal in Wenatchee. There has been an overall gain of 20% value in real estate in the Wenatchee Valley since last year. Not all properties appreciated at this rate. Some market sectors are hot and others less so. Ramblers and their convenient one story living …
Interest Rates
In my discussions with my favorite lender, Darel Ansley of People’s Bank, it sounds like interest rates are starting to nudge up again. (Around 6.5% +/-) Mortgage professionals are guessing it could reach 6.7% later this summer. The good news is that this is likely as high as it will get for a while. If rates stay under 7% for a few years it …
Office Exclusive Listings
As many of you know, we are generally in a “sellers” market in the Leavenworth area. There are very few homes on the market and little for a buyer to choose from. Real estate is very competitive here in our little valley and agents and real estate companies are trying new tactics to protect their business. One such tactic being used is “Office Exclusive” …
Cruise Ship Condos
Condominiums have been a popular seller here in Leavenworth and in Kahler Glen for some time. There are even four new condo projects being built here as I type. I just read that about a new cruise ship, Magellan that will be selling on board “condos.” The ship is at sea year round visiting exotic ports and units are priced between $1.8 million to …
Rain City Guide : Real Estate Blog
I was doing a little surfing to see what other real estate blogs are doing these days and ran into this http://www.raincityguide.com/2006/02/27/8-common-mistakes-made-by-real-estate-bloggers/ Wow! That really educated me. I’m guilty of so much. I have been using this blog as a marketing tool not really as a journal or weblog. The question really is can I spend enough time working on the blog to keep …
Mandatory Zillow Discussion
Will Zillow revolutionize the real estate industry? That’s the question that seems to have surpassed all the bubble babble these past few months. For those that don’t know, Zillow is a website that claims to help home owners price their home using sophisticated computerized pricing analysis. Really it’s just an attempt for the website to get their share of real estate agents marketing dollars. …
New Real Estate Partner
Allyson Zacharko has just joined me in my real estate business. Allyson has a degree in Forestry from Colorado State University and was recently employed as a wildland firefighter with the U.S. Forest Service. Allyson served with the Wenatchee Rapellers who attack fires by rappelling down to them from helicopters. Allyson also has worked as a bush pilot in Northern Ontario. Having a partner …