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Spokane, WA Real Estate News

Spokane Home Buyers Build a Plan of Action and Get Ready Buying a home will probably rank as one of the biggest personal investments one can make. Being organized and in control will contribute significantly to getting the best home deal possible with the least amount of stress. It's important to anticipate the steps required to successfully achieve your housing goal and to build a plan of action that gets you there. Before you can build a plan of action, take the time to lay the groundwork for your decision-making process. First, ask yourself how much can you afford to pay for a home. If you're not sure on the price range, find a lender and get preapproved. Preapproval will let you know how much you can afford so that you can look for homes in your price range. Getting pre-approved hel...
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By Rick Callaham, Spokane Realtor
(Team Quintana Real Estate)
Hello Everyone, Anyone who has done a little Home Shopping in Spokane has probably had the experience of getting a bunch of calls from real estate agents . They may not know why but they seem to show up like sharks for a feeding. Let me give you a little info. When you pick up the Real Estate magazines at the store this is like spashing around off the coast of Australia. This signals all of the Realtors that you are a home buyer and meal for the sharks. These magazines are really bait to get you to call an agent. They usually leave out the price, or address so you will call and the Realtor will have a chance to sell you on thier services. Most buyers start calling and leaving messages on all of the different homes, not aware that the feeding frenzy is about to begin. It's the same on th...
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This afternoon President Bush will sign the Economic Stimulus package into law. Last week, Congress gave overwhelming final approval to the Economic Stimulus Package supported by NAR and REALTORS® across the country. As a result, the government will be sending payments to most American households and grant tax incentives for business investment.  The legislation includes the requested GSE and FHA limit increases strongly backed and lobbied by NAR. The increased GSE loan limits means borrowers will see immediate relief with new liquidity in the mortgage market and the nation will see an additional 300,000 home sales. The increased FHA loan limits means an additional 138,000 Americans will purchase homes, and with the needed FHA reforms means 200,000 families can refinance their homes saf...
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By Rick Callaham, Spokane Realtor
(Team Quintana Real Estate)
Hello Everyone, Maybe you've heard of the Northwest being God's Country, or the phrase 'Near Nature, Near Perfect'. Spokane Washington has a lot to offer just about everyone. With the congestion and crime of many large cities and the desire to find a place to raise a family or retire where home prices are still reasonable, Spokane is an Excellent choice. Living in Spokane you sometimes forget what you have, Golfing almost in every direction, 4-5 major Ski resorts for your winter time fun within about 1 hour drive, Housing costs where you can afford to sell your home where you are and take your equity and pay for a home cash. Schools with high standards and teachers that care.  Spokane still has a sense of community that many larger cities have lost. We are not spread out like Seattle an...
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By Ross Quintana, Real E Smarter Real Estate Coach - 509-362-1966
(Real E Smarter)
Hello Everyone,Click play to listen to this blog  Now that the worst of the snow storms are gone in Spokane we can get back to normal movement and enjoy our community. That being said there are things we can do when the snow is melting.    1. Clean up the Walkways. Rain turns to ice real quick so get some salt on the walkways and the stairs. 2. Clean rain gutters. There may be debris in the gutters that needs to be cleaned out. Some are sagging due to the weight of snow. Wait for a good day and get up there and check the condition of your rain gutters and clear them out so the water can drain right.   3. Wash your car. Cheicals they spray on the roadways can wear on your finish so stop by a car wash place and keep it clean.4. Check your roof. Never get on a roof when there is snow on it...
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By Ross Quintana, Real E Smarter Real Estate Coach - 509-362-1966
(Real E Smarter)
Hello Everyone,  There are a lot of choices when it comes to picking a Real Estate Agent in Spokane. There are agents from big companies, small companies, agents you have heard of and no name agents, New agents and old agents. The funny thing is there is a lot of misinformation on what is really important in hiring an agent. Here are 3 simple things to look for. 1. Is your agent an expert in Real Estate. If you just take the time to meet with the agent, it will reveal this better than anything else. If you can't or don't want to, then check out their website and google their name. If they don't take the time to build a nice website or they just have a company or template website with little custom work, this may indicate they are not an expert. Notice the clues they will be everywhere a...
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Spokane Realtor , Spokane Real Estate Agent, Spokane Homes, Spokane Relocation expert, Spokane Realtor, Spokane Information, Spokane Homes, Spokane Washington, Spokane Mls,    "Your Spokane Area Realtor"Providing a superior level of real estate services, Serving Spokane,Spokane valley,Liberty lake,Cheney,and the rest of Spokane county.Let my KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE work for you ! My professional competence will let you buy or sell Spokane Real Estate with confidence!GET A FREE GIFT CARD UPTO $1000Cory Clure (509)251-3489Tamarack Realty Northwest Inc.Spokane, WA 99206(509) 251-3489 Fax(509)443-3935 CALL SPOKANE REALTOR CORY CLURE AT TAMARACK REALTY 509-251-3489http://www.4salebycory.com/ I specialize in representing my clients in the purchases and sales any Spokane Real Estate listed by a...
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By Ross Quintana, Real E Smarter Real Estate Coach - 509-362-1966
(Real E Smarter)
Hello Everyone, I want to talk real quick about investing in Spokane Washington Real Estate. Spokane has some of the most affordable real estate in the northwest. This means besides it being a great place to live, it's also a great place to invest in real estate. Whether you're looking at flipping homes or buying Spokane Rentals , you can find many oppurtunities here. That being said. With all of the new investors in Spokane , there are a lot of mistakes being made. We have tools and information that can help Investors get the most out of every transaction. The biggest mistake Spokane Investors make is they don't assemble a team before they get started. They rely on themselves more than the ur professionals who have been doing it for much longer. Not using experts is one of the quickest...
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By Ross Quintana, Real E Smarter Real Estate Coach - 509-362-1966
(Real E Smarter)
Hello Everyone, With all of the news out there about the housing market and changes in the economy, what is the shape of the For Sale by Owner Market in Spokane. I have been working with FSBO's (For Sale By Owners) in Spokane for years and have a intimate knowledge of how it's going out there. I watch the numbers and talk with the people trying to sell the homes by themselves.The numbers for people trying to sell their homes themselves is up over last year but the number homes getting sold by owner is actually down. This trend follows the fact that the real estate market has both increased in competition with more home on the market and prices coming down a little, and with more realtors in the market. The market will drop some of these new realtors as they can't survive in the tougher ...
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By Ross Quintana, Real E Smarter Real Estate Coach - 509-362-1966
(Real E Smarter)
Hello Everyone, I want to just talk on a subject that I get calls on all of the time. People call asking me to find them the 40% under market value homes or foreclosures in Spokane. I want to set the bar for would be investors as the trend in Spokane is people wanting to invest in Spokane Real Estate. Real Estate nationwide is a great investment, but in Spokane our home values are still low for a city our size. Even though the market shot up 18% a few years ago we are still priced great for people who want to start investing in Real Estate. That being said we need to get rid of the hype behind real estate investing that is out there and talk about real numbers. Some people watch a late night infomercial anf figure they are going to get right buying homes with no money down. These progra...
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By Bryan Quinn
(Eagle Nationwide Mortgage Company)
This is my third time living in the Spokane area. The first time was back in the early 90's while stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base. Of course I moved here during one of many snow flurries we were to have that year. Although I had lived most of my life in the Pacific Northwest, Spokane was truely the first place in the Northwest that I was able to experience 4 true seasons. During the winter it was very cold and blistery, but we were able to get out and enjoy the snow filled mountains by skiing, snowboarding, and spending time in the lodge. Montana was not a far drive so I was able to visit the hot springs as well as Glacier National Park. In the spring time the weather was cool and brisk but warmed up as well. Of course, for some, this meant the St. Patricks Day Parade, training fo...
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By Ross Quintana, Real E Smarter Real Estate Coach - 509-362-1966
(Real E Smarter)
Hello Everyone, I just want to take a moment and talk about what may seem obvious but yet is so vital in many ways. I'm talking about the difference between a professional in their field and just a person in their field. We have all had experiences we can remember when we knew we picked the wrong thing. Whether it's the wrong product for the job, the wrong line at the store, or the wrong person to help us. I love the example we see in the show the amazing race. People race around the world for a million bucks and the first person to get to the place wins, and the one who doesn't goes home every week. Usually they are running around in a place they are not familiar with. They don't speak the Language and have to rely on the locals to help them.The kiss of death for many racers is getting...
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By Rick Callaham, Spokane Realtor
(Team Quintana Real Estate)
Hello Everyone,  I thought I would take a moment to explain why the most common practice for home buyers does the opposite of what they are trying to do. Most home buyers have a feeling of wanting to be left alone because they are 'Just Looking' and don't want to be bugged or pressured. So what do they do? They pick up a home magazine at the store. The problem is this is the biggest way to get bothered. Most ads in the magazines leave out some information on purpose, like the price, address, or bedroom/bath info. The reason is they are ads. Designed to get you to call so the agent can sell you on their services. So if you don't want to be pressured or sold on services don't start calling on the magazines. many times by the time they come out the ad was put in 3 to 5 weeks before it hits...
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By Ross Quintana, Real E Smarter Real Estate Coach - 509-362-1966
(Real E Smarter)
Hello Everyone, There is a great way to keep updated on your Spokane Home Values . Knowing your property value is an important part of home ownership. Keeping informed on what is happening in your neighborhood and in the Spokane market compared to national news is key.  As a Spokane Home Owner, you need up to date accurate information. We do free home value reports or updates with a simple phone call or email. If you would like an update every six months or once a year, just call us and we would be happy to put you on our home value update list to receive a call or email with your homes value and neighborhood trends.Having this is great if your thinking of refinancing or selling. Face it, things change and so do our housing needs. Having regular updates is important. it also lets you ge...
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By Ross Quintana, Real E Smarter Real Estate Coach - 509-362-1966
(Real E Smarter)
Hello Everyone, Many people are taking advantage of the lower rates right now, and there is one big mistake you will want to avoid that many buyers make. The mistake is thinking that 'just looking' isn't actual looking. What I mean is that most people start to pick up magazines (which are out of date and usually don't have all of the information you need), and they figure they will wander into some open houses and maybe search online. They still figure they are 'just looking' and aren't serious yet. The one thing the dont do is establish a relationship with a real estate professional. They figure we aren't serious so we don't want to include an agent yet. I have seen countless people go from just looking to buying in one afternoon. This shotgun approach then means they pick any old real...
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By Sarah Reinhart
(Brumback Residential)
Hello friends,Is anyone else out there craving the sun!???   I love few things in life more than to tilt my face to the sky with my eyes closed and have that elemental red warmth of the summer sun glow on my skin.  (Why the heck am I in love with Eastern Washington anyway?)  Now, being freckled and fair, I do have to slather on buckets of sunscreen, but I love warmth and brightness.  Showing houses is much better in the Summer too.  Right now we are in a record setting winter complete with drifts of snow that make me feel like an Arctic explorer simply getting the mail.  Business is great though and my clients are happy that I'm selling there homes!  (Maybe it's the free hat and gloves sets being given at open houses)  I suppose to be fair though, I do enjoy wood fires, hot cocoa and sl...
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By Ross Quintana, Real E Smarter Real Estate Coach - 509-362-1966
(Real E Smarter)
Hello Everyone, I just wanted to give home sellers a heads up for this Spring selling season. Many people say I'm going to wait until spring to put the home on the market. This usually turns into about June. The best strategy for home sellers now is to start the process now. What does this mean?  There are many things you can do before then to get your home ready, The best things to do is get a free consultation from a Realtor. This gives you time to pick the right Realtor and they can give you an idea what the home will be worth and can start getting the home ready for when you're ready to list. If there are needed repairs they can point you in the right direction early.This will save you time so your home can get on the market a little earlier than your competition. This is one of the...
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By Rick Callaham, Spokane Realtor
(Team Quintana Real Estate)
Hello Everyone, We have been getting a lot of snow in Spokane lately and this is a great time to examine your property and make sure your home is Ok to handle the increase weight and water fo the snow. Many people's carports have colapsed lately and this can present significant danger and damage for homeowners.Brush off snow on carports and other areas that could cause damage or collapse. Keep your walkways clear of snow to avoid liability. Slow down when driving, anticipate sliding. And When your looking at homes to buy in the winter ask a lot of questions about the roof condition and be cautious when buying sight unseen.Rick Callaham - Team Quintana Real EstateVisit ou website for Home Search tools, Home Buying advice and more. www.TeamQuintana.com Remember - Rick Can Help You Buy a H...
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By Ross Quintana, Real E Smarter Real Estate Coach - 509-362-1966
(Real E Smarter)
Hello Everyone, There is Snow on the ground and it just keeps coming. One thing to remember though besides the danger of driving in it, there is a danger of buying in it. Many time people buy homes in winter to get a spring surprise. It's hard to see what the neighborhood looks like in the snow. Your neighbor's yard and your yard may not be what you thought in the pristine looking snow covered neighborhood. The roof may be in bad shape and you don't know. It's like buying a house with one eye closed.   So how do you avoid your springtime surprises. You just have to be a little more diligent. Ask for photo's of the home in the summer or ask a lot of questions like what shape is the yard and landscaping. How is the roof, how long do you think it has left, when was it installed. If you buy...
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By Ross Quintana, Real E Smarter Real Estate Coach - 509-362-1966
(Real E Smarter)
Hello Everyone, I just wanted to throw out a quick post about your liability if someone falls on your sidewalk. With the snow and ice we get it's more than just for curb appeal that you might want to get out and shovel your walkway. Sidewalks are in a funny little zone as far as liability. They aren't yours but they are your responsibility. If someone slips and falls on your sidewalk you may be liable.  Keeping things shoveled and salted takes a little extra time but it's safer for you and safer for those who will walk by your beautiful home. When it comes time to sell that home, don't forget to call us at 509-362-1966 or visit our cutting edge Spokane Real Estate Website www.TeamQuintana.com Happy Shoveling - take advantage of local kids who would like to earn a few bucks and pay them ...
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