Case in point – article in the local Coeur d’Alene Press – ‘Safe’ to buy (read article in full here)

and I quote “the local market continues to be “balanced” with a nice mix of prices and has about six months of inventory as has been the case for nearly a year.”

WRONG.  WRONG.  Wrong.  What is being quoted is flat out wrong.

Try as I might, every scenario I can figure out – there are ZERO facts in this quote.

Want proof?

1st – Months of Inventory (for Kootenai County Residential)

Months of Inventory for Kootenai County

Yep – just as I thought – we are not at 6 months of inventory

2nd – Months of Inventory (for Coeur d’Alene Residential)

Months of Inventory for Coeur d'Alene

Yep – just as I thought – we are not at 6 months of inventory

We haven’t been at 6 months of inventory in ANY of the past 12 months – in fact – the LOWEST we’ve been is within Coeur d’Alene itself and it’s currently at 9.75 months.  Kootenai County is standing at 10.93 months.

PLEASE seek out FACTS and make whoever gives you the facts PROVE the facts.

Want FACTS? Call us.  Chuck & Christina – 208-819-2964

The length of time it would take to sell every home that is currently available for sale, as long as no one else puts their home up for sale.

I’ve been hearing a bunch of rumbling in the real estate market.  What I’ve been hearing is so normal for this time period of the year.  I hear this every year, around this time.

What do I hear?  ”Buyers are coming out of the wood work!” … “I’m busy!” … “The market is improving” … etc. etc. etc.

For the most part, while I will listen to my colleagues talk about this, I take it all with a grain of salt.  Frankly, “busy-ness” doesn’t matter – at – all.  Busy-ness is just busy-ness.

I also take it with a grain of salt because frankly, if someone doesn’t actually track what’s going on, all they have is perception.  There is no way to make good decisions and take action on “perception.

What matters is watching true numbers.  Watching stats.  Tracking what’s going on.  Here’s what’s going on:

#1 Solds are up. 6.5% more properties sold in January 2012 vs. January 2011.  This is a good thing.

#2 Pendings are up. A lot.  33.3% more properties had accepted offers on them in January 2012 vs. January 2011.  That’s a BIG jump.

#3 Active listings are down.  This is a good thing.  It means a more balanced market.  More buyers, fewer sellers.  Let’s balance out this ‘buyers’ market.

#4 New listings are down.  Fewer sellers are putting their homes on the market so far this year.  Yet another good thing.  A balancing act for the health of the real estate market.

#5 Absorption rate is dropping.  VERY nice.  From a peak  of 20 months in July 2011 to a low of 13 months January 2012.  This is good.  A health, balance market will have an absorption rate of 5-7 months.

#6 Sold to List ratio is low.  This is not a good thing.  It means that sellers are still over pricing their homes.  By an average of 11%.

#7 Days on market is high. This is not good either.   It’s running about 130 days from the day you put your home on the market until the day it changes hands (closes).  That means, if your home is priced right, you would have an offer you accept about 80-100 days after it goes on the market.  That’s too long.

What does all of this mean?  It means that if you own a home and want to make your next move in this crazy real estate market – CALL US.  Just make your move.  We’ll show you how you can take advantage of all of this.

Call Chuck 208-819-2964

Post Falls Homes for Sale

Coeur d’Alene Homes for Sale

Chuck & Christina Ethridge
208-819-2964

Tuesday’s and Friday’s are the days each week I have dedicated to provide YOU with something spicy, interesting, transparent, realistic, etc. about real estate in the Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls markets.

Perhaps I’m just not feeling spicy or interesting today.  I’m always transparent and realistic (sometimes WAAYYYY too much so), so those aren’t issues.

It’s a stunningly beautiful day today.  This winter has been exceptionally beautiful – and by beautiful, I mean our ‘unfair share’ of crystal clear sunny days.  Cold, yes.  Sun – lots of it.  This has been perhaps my favorite winter in years.  I don’t care if we have lots of snow or little snow, I just care about Sun.  I . LOVE . SUN .

I’m looking out my office window, enjoying the pine trees moving around against the bright blue sky.  Just realized it’s probably pretty windy out there – which means cold.  Wrap up if you are going outside today.

My cat is sitting directly in the sun light from the window, basking in the warmth.  That’s typical of her.

What I love is that sometimes things are unpredictable.  This winter has been unpredictable.  So much so that meteorologists have been all over the place in their predictions of storms and their affects on our area.  It’s actually been pretty funny to observe.

What it really reminds me of is real estate.  I don’t care what the media says, they are out to SELL their news.  With fewer and fewer people actually paying for news now days (since it’s so easily accessible for free), the media has gotten more and more sensational and polarizing.

Real Estate is unpredictable, for the most part.  Unpredictable in that there are ZERO guarantees.  There is no guarantee the home you purchase will rise in value.  There is no guarantee that the home you purchase will not decrease in value after you purchase.  There is no guarantee that interest rates will rise, fall or hold steady – no matter what is reported.

No one has a crystal ball.  No one.

So.  How does anyone  make real estate decisions?   Who do you listen to?  Who do you allow to advise you?  Should you listen to anyone?  Is it the right time to buy?  What about selling, should you sell?

See, that’s the thing.  No one can answer these questions generally for you.  Every person and every situation is uniquely different.  That’s why you need to talk to someone you trust.  Someone that you KNOW will be transparent and realistic with you.  Someone you know that won’t tell you what to do, but who will share with you all of the elements and factors and then HELP  you make your decision, without influencing you in the their desired direction.

No one can make you buy, or make you sell.  No one.  It’s your choice.  But you can definitely access resources that will help you make an informed decision, based on ALL of the factors involved.

Transparent and realistic.  Help, not force.  That’s us.  Call to talk: 208-906-3370

The listing you requested is no longer available.

To see any of these homes offline and in-person, just call (208-906-3370), text (208-906-3370) or email (team@northidahodreamteam.com) Chuck.

The listing you requested is no longer available.

To see any of these homes offline and in-person, just call (208-906-3370), text (208-906-3370) or email (team@northidahodreamteam.com) Chuck.

The listing you requested is no longer available.

To see any of these homes offline and in-person, just call (208-906-3370), text (208-906-3370) or email (team@northidahodreamteam.com) Chuck.

The listing you requested is no longer available.

To see any of these homes offline and in-person, just call (208-906-3370), text (208-906-3370) or email (team@northidahodreamteam.com) Chuck.

The listing you requested is no longer available.

To see any of these homes offline and in-person, just call (208-906-3370), text (208-906-3370) or email (team@northidahodreamteam.com) Chuck.

The listing you requested is no longer available.

To see any of these homes offline and in-person, just call (208-906-3370), text (208-906-3370) or email (team@northidahodreamteam.com) Chuck.