2006 Wenatchee Valley Market Overview

The North Central Washington real estate market experienced a record setting year in 2006! Wenatchee's home prices in particular rose at the second fastest rate in the nation, second only to Bend, OR...and the 2007 forecast isn't too bad itself at 16.7% (http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_realestate/snapshots/359.html (CNN Money - 2007 Market Forecast).

For more intensive information regarding the 2006 year in review, we've composed the following special report on residential real estate sales in the Wenatchee Valley:

http://www.wenatcheehouses.com/pdf/Review%202006.pdf

For additional Buyer and Seller information, check out a variety of educational resources and articles at http://www.wenatcheehouses.com/buyersandsellers.php.

The Davidson Team Buyers Guide

Home buying and home ownership is not always easy, but most people agree that the rewards outweigh the challenges. The first challenge, of course, is to learn all the steps to buying a home. Our Buyers Guide will provide helpful tips and information you need to understand the process and get started on your path to home ownership. Click here http://www.wenatcheehouses.com/buyer_guide.pdf to review the guide.

For additional Buyer and Seller information, check out a variety of educational resources and articles at http://www.wenatcheehouses.com/buyersandsellers.php.

Blaine's Recipe of the Week - 4/28/07

Caesar Dressing


If you like a real Ceasar where the garlic and anchovies are very pronounced, here's a great one to compliment any meal.

5 anchovy fillets, finely chopped
1 tablespoon finely chopped capers
1.5 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 egg yolk
2 teaspoon minced garlic
3/4 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 cup heavy cream
Kosher salt to taste

Add pepper on top of salad and enjoy!

62 Helpful Hints for Maximizing Selling Profits: Transaction Closing & Possession

In the final discussion of the four-part series 62 Helpful Hints for Maximizing Selling Profits, we'll conclude with Transaction Closing and Possession Coordination.

TRANSACTION CLOSING

Once a buyer has been found for the property and the contract is completed, the activity transitions from the marketing process to the more technical process of closing the transaction. Follow the closing process very closely. It will help avoid being involved in a transaction that takes the home off the market for an extended period of time and fails to close. Find and use the services of the best possible service people.They will make the transaction move smoothly to a successful transfer of title.

1) Loan approval: It is wise to call the lender periodically to assure that the loan is being processed expeditiously and that all is going well.

2) Contingencies: Pay close attention to contingency removal dates. Are contingencies being removed on time?

3) Inspections: Are the needed inspections being done promptly? Are the inspection reports being provided on time and are you being kept abreast of any corrective work that may be required? Be sure the buyer is approving all inspections in writing unless silence deems his approval.

4) Closing agent: Call your closing agent at least weekly to assure that your file is progressing smoothly and that all required paperwork is being completed. Is the buyer completing and returning his paperwork promptly? If not, find out why he is not doing so.

5) Deposits: Has the buyer placed the required initial and other specified deposits into escrow?

6) Buyer remorse: It is very common for a buyer to suffer remorse after signing a home purchase agreement. Because of the nature of a real estate transaction, with 30 to 60 days often passing between the decision to buy and the actual closing, buyers have a lot of time to question whether or not they are doing the right thing by buying the home. A home seller needs to be aware of how common this problem is and have a plan to react to the potential problem.

7) Appraisal: If you did not price your property correctly, there is the possibility that it may not appraise at the value needed for the buyer to obtain the necessary financing. Encourage the bank to complete the appraisal process as quickly as possible. Have a list of comparable closed sales, ones that justify your selling price, on hand when the appraiser arrives. If the home does not appraise at the selling price, have a contingency plan in place to resolve the problem.

POSSESSION COORDINATION

Be very specific as to when the seller is to vacate the property and possession is to be delivered to the buyer.

SUMMARY

Hopefully, you have found this four-part series helpful. It is our goal to offer to you the finest service available in the real estate industry.

Please keep in mind that six determining factors will cause a home to sell, or to not sell. Once again, those factors are: Price, Terms, Condition, Location, Market conditions and Marketing. If a homeowner, who wishes to sell, focuses his attention on making as attractive as possible each of these factors, he should be successful in marketing his property.

Featured Listing: 4/26/07

Be sure to view this week's Featured Listing:

1034 Seventh Street
Wenatchee, WA 98801
Offered at $189,900
MLS#: 680073

http://www.wenatcheehouses.com/address.php?property_ID=7

62 Helpful Hints for Maximizing Selling Profits: Display & Negotiations/Contracts

In today's discussion of 62 Helpful Hints for Maximizing Selling Profits I'll talke about Display & Negotiations/Contracts. Tomorrow's discussion will conclude this four-part series with Transaction Closing and Posession Coordination.

DISPLAY

Because people buy a home based on its emotional appeal, it is important to create an emotional environment when the home is being shown. There are several very important rules for showing a home. Those rules are:

1) Clutter: Remove as much clutter as possible. When a home is cluttered, or when it is packed full of furniture, it will appear smaller and more cramped for space than it really is.

2) Excess noise: The TV and radio should be turned off. Let the buyers talk free of disturbances.

3) Children and pets: Send children and pets outdoors to play. This will eliminate confusion and keep the prospect's attention focused on your home.

4) Light: Leave all drapes open for light and airiness. All lights should be turned on to give the rooms a larger appearance and cheerful effect.

5) Scents: The way a home smells will create, or distract, from its emotional appeal. To give a home an attractive smell, a homeowner can bake cookies, burn scented candles, heat cinnamon water or put vanilla on light bulbs.

6) What to say: Be courteous but don't force conversation with the potential buyer. They want to inspect your house, not make a social call. Never try to over sell.

7) Apologies: Never apologize for the condition of your home.

8) Emotions: Do not get emotional if a buyer says something negative about your home. If you get defensive or try to argue the point, only bad things will happen.

9) Features: Stay with the buyer but don't point out every little feature of the home. Allow buyers to think their thoughts without being constantly interrupted. Have the property's features written on a presentation sheet that can be handed to the buyer.

10) Questions: Answer questions honestly and briefly.

11) Don't negotiate: Don't discuss or negotiate price while the buyer if viewing the home. Let them decide if it is the right home, the one they want to purchase, before you begin negotiations.

12) Don't seem overanxious: If you want to get horrible offers on you home, act like you can't wait to get it sold.

13) Why you are selling: Buyers will ask why you are selling. Give the buyer an honest, but not too lengthy, answer. They are most likely trying to discover how anxious you are to sell the property. Their line of thinking is that if you are extremely motivated, you may accept a low-ball offer.

14) What you paid: While viewing your home, buyers will ask you what you paid for it. This is information the potential buyer doesn't need because it has no effect on today's value.

NEGOTIATIONS/CONTRACTS

1) Emotions: Never allow emotions to get involved in the negotiation process. Once emotions are involved, the negotiating process usually comes to a screeching halt.

2) Pre-qualification: Do not start negotiations until the buyer has a written letter of pre-approval from a qualified lender.

3) Earnest deposit: How much of an initial deposit is enough to make you feel comfortable with the buyer? If the buyer fails to complete the transaction, be specific as to what will happen to the deposit.

4) Forms: Be sure you have all the contracts, disclosures, forms and addendums required by your state and local governments. Understand well, and complete with extreme care, every one of these contracts, disclosures, forms and addendums. Because the amount of paperwork required to close a transaction has increased dramatically over recent years, a seller and buyer are wise to seek professional help in completing it. A few dollars spent at this stage of the selling process can save thousands of dollars in attorney's fees later.

5) Contingency offers: Exercise care with contingency offers. If you accept a contingency offer, one contingent on the sale and close of the buyer's home, consider including a time limited first right of refusal in the contract.

6) Contingencies in the offer: Consider time limits on all contingencies. (IE: Transaction close is subject to the buyer's approval of a home inspection.) Be sure the contract is written to remove all contingencies in the shortest time possible.'

7) Disclosures: Be thorough with all required disclosures in the contract. (IE: environmental hazards, non-permitted structures, zoning conflicts, HOA issues, flood and earthquake, geologic conditions, etc.)

8) Closing and possession: Being very specific in the agreement about the closing date and time of possession will eliminate many problems that can occur.

9) Closing costs: Be specific as to who is responsible for closing costs.

10) Limiting expenses: A seller would be wise to put a ceiling on the costs of required expenditures on corrective work that may result from the home inspection, pest control and other reports.

11) Disclosures: Be thorough, honest and accurate when completing all disclosure statements.

12) Home inspection: Consider having the buyer do a home inspection. It may eliminate, or at least lessen the severity of, a nasty lawsuit after the closing.

13) Final verification of condition: A buyer walk-thru just days prior to the close to verify the property's condition is often advantageous. It should be worded so as not to be a contingency.

14) Exclusions: Any item in the home that may be considered a fixture but will not be included in the sale should be excluded in writing in the contract.

15) Prorations of property taxes and other items: Be specific in the contract as to what date items will be paid and how all items that need to be prorated will be handled.

16) Home warranty: A home warranty can be one of the most inexpensive, effective and tension reducing insurances policies available anywhere. Consider providing a home warranty for the buyer. Be sure you and the buyer understand what coverage is provided by these policies.

We hope you find this informatin helpful. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact The Davidson Team today!

62 Helpful Hints for Maximizing Selling Profits: Pricing & Marketing

In today's 62 Helpful Hints for Maximizing Selling Profits discussion, we'll focus on Pricing and Marketing.

PRICING

This is one of the most important determinants of how quickly a home will sell and of whether or not a seller will maximize his selling price. If a homeowner overprices his property, he will most likely, in the end, sell the home for less than fair market value. The key to maximizing a home's value is to price it correctly. Please, when it comes to pricing, do your research.

1) Comparable sold properties: Find out for how much homes comparable to yours have sold recently in your neighborhood. (Be sure to verify the actual selling price. What you hear a home sold for is often inaccurate information.) How do the sold properties compare to your house with regard to amenities and condition? Become familiar with what types of financing were used.

2) Competing properties available to buyers: Research the asking price of comparable properties currently competing with yours in the marketplace. Price your home to be competitive.

3) Expired properties: You will want to know the asking price of homes like yours that were on the market and did not sell. These "expired" properties will give you an indication of at what price you would be asking too much for your home. Once again, avoid overpricing. Asking too much could cost you thousands of dollars.

4) The bidding factor: In a very active market, homes priced at the bottom of the marketplace, with proper exposure, often sell for more than those properties that are priced at maximum market value. This happens because low priced homes often attract so many buyers that the sellers receive multiple offers. Multiple offers can create a bidding war that results in a selling price far above the asking price.

5) Ask too much, receive too little: On average, homes that are on the market for 4 weeks or less, actually sell for near or above full price. As the length of time a home is on the market increases, the difference between the asking price and the selling price also increases. A house that is on the market for 4 to 12 weeks, on average, sells for 5% less than the asking price. If a property is available for 13 to 24 weeks, the selling price, on average, is 6.5% less than the asking price. If a home is For Sale for more than 24 weeks, the owner can expect to receive only 90% or less of his asking price.

A homeowner, who prices his property competitively, at the beginning of the marketing process, usually receives a greater net profit. A property owner who wants to start high, to see what happens or to leave room for negotiating, often receives less than the property's actual market value.

6) The hazards of overpricing include:
- Lowers buyer response.
- Lengthens marketing time.
- Minimizes offers.
- Reduces net profits.
- Creates a "Reputation@ problem.
- Limits financing.
- Increases risk of appraisal problems.
- Causes frustration and inconvenience.

7) Your property's value: The value of a property is determined by the current marketplace, the competing properties available to buyers, available financing, the buyer's perception of the home's condition and appeal, the general economic condition in the area, what buyers have been willing to pay for like properties and, its location. The value of your property is not determined by what you have invested into the home, what you need or want out of the property, a bank or tax appraisal, what you heard your neighbor's home sold for, its insured value or the cost of the home you want to buy. Click here http://www.wenatcheehouses.com/home_worth.php if you'd like a Free Over-The-Net Home Evaluation or call us today at (509) 293-2214 for a thorough Comparative Market Analysis.

In summary, homes that are priced correctly at the beginning of the marketing process usually sell for the best possible price and with the fewest inconveniences.

MARKETING

There is a direct correlation between the price at which a home sells and the number of buyers who view the property. Generally, the more buyers a seller has view a home, the higher the final sales price.

If a seller wants to receive the highest possible sales price and endure the fewest inconveniences, he must initiate a marketing program designed to attract a maximum number of buyers. More buyers = higher sales price and fewer inconveniences. The following are the most effective exposure tools available for marketing homes:

1) The Internet: Nearly 80% of homebuyers make at least an initial inquiry on the Internet prior to purchasing a home, and that percentage is increasing daily. In the real estate community, web sites, like Realtor.com, HouseValues.com, JustListed.com and Househunt.com, have become incredibly powerful tools to attract buyers. Realtors are finding that Internet leads are producing the most qualified and best-informed buyers in the marketplace. Market your home on as many Internet sites as possible. Be sure to use the most effective techniques available. Include in your advertisements virtual tours, home tours, open house dates, price, available financing including down and monthly payments, etc. Prepare and mail a marketing package to anyone who inquires about the home through the Internet. Be careful not to include, on the site and in this package, information that might compromise your safety. Click here http://www.wenatcheehouses.com/marketing_plan.php to view The Davidson Team's Cutomer Marketing Plan and to learn the ways your home will be differentiated on the Internet and in multi-channel marketing approach.

2) TV and radio: These ad sources offer limited success in the private sector. Realtors find radio and TV ads to be effective because they have multiple properties to offer and, with a diversity of property types, they can generate leads. For the individual homeowner, with a single home advertised to create leads, the chances of finding a buyer are slim. However, if you do decide to advertise on TV, be sure to advertise on the real estate channel.

3) Direct mailers: By finding a group of existing homeowners, who live in an area that would be considered one step below a seller's price range and prestige level, and exposing his home to that group, a home seller can often generate buyer interest. This homeowner group would perceive the seller's property to be a move-up residence. The most effective method of exposing a property under these circumstances is to do a direct mail campaign. The mailer should include a thorough home description, photos, financial details, price, a home tour and contact information.

4) Door knocking: Realtors find it tremendously effective to knock on doors to introduce the availability of a property to neighboring homeowners. Often, a neighbor in the immediate area will know of someone who would be interested in buying a house in the neighborhood. Talk to at least 50-100 of your neighbors about your home being available. Ask them if they know of someone who might be interested in your property.

5) Open houses: Only 1% of the houses held open actually sell to someone who was introduced to the property at the open house. For an open house to have any chance of being effective, signs must be placed from high traffic areas all the way to the property, the open house should be advertised, invitations should be delivered or mailed to potential buyers and neighbors should be encouraged to tell anyone they know, who might be interested in the home, that the home is being held open. It also helps if the open house is unique in its presentation and held at a unique day and time.

6) Signs: For Sale signs are among the most powerful tools in a Realtor's arsenal. The more signs a real estate company has in an area, the more the phone will ring with inquiring buyers. The same is true for a homeowner selling a property. Place For Sale signs in as many high traffic areas as possible with directional arrows leading interested parties to your home. Be sure your signs are very professional in their quality and appearance.

7) Photo brochures: A professional photo brochure is an important tool for any home seller. These brochures should be very professional in appearance, very descriptive and very accurate. They work well when placed in a display box on the sign in front of the property for drive-bys. They should also be given to buyers who view the property and should be placed in all direct marketing handouts and mailers.

8) Written advertisements: To maximize price and minimize inconveniences, a seller should strive to access 100% of the pool of available buyers. To do so requires that the home be exposed in all available printed ad mediums. Local newspapers, magazines (IE: HomeFinders, Homes and Land, Home Seekers, etc.), convenience publications, newspaper real estate inserts, organizational and trade publications, etc. should all be used to expose the availability of a home. The ads should be very honest in their description, point out the property's best features and offer a photo of the property. A lot of nuisance calls will be eliminated if the price is included in the ad. Design the ad to make the phone ring.

9) Walk-in, name recognition, repeat and referral traffic: These are tools available only to the real estate community. This limitation does restrict the For Sale By Owner to less than 100% of the buyer pool.

Erin and I hope you've found this information helpful. In tomorrow's discussion, we'll talk about Display and Negotiations/Contracts.

Have a wonderful day!

62 Helpful Hints for Maximizing Selling Profits: Preparation & Financing

When a home is made available to the marketplace, there are six factors that will determine whether it will or will not sell. They are the asking price, the financing available to potential buyers, the condition of the home, its location, the marketing tools put in place to attract buyers and the market conditions in the area where the home is being sold. For a home to sell with the fewest inconveniences and for the best possible price, the majority of the above six factors must be in an advantageous position with regard to comparable properties available. If a home does not sell, the fault will lie with one or more of these six factors. In summary, these six determining factors are:

Price, Terms, Condition, Location, Marketing, Market Conditions

When a homeowner makes the decision to sell a home, their goal is, of course, to do so with the fewest inconveniences and for the best possible price. To accomplish this goal, the homeowner should divide the process into eight phases. They are preparation, pricing, financing, marketing, display, contract, transaction closing and possession coordination. Over the next few days, the discussion will offer guidelines and helpful hints in each of these eight phases.

Today, we'll focus on Preparation and Financing:

PREPARATION

1) Research: Selling a home should not be a process of experiencing first and learning later. Remember, experience is a tough teacher, first you get the test, and then you get the lesson. For most of us, a home is our most valuable asset. Selling that asset should not be taken lightly. Take the time to learn the intricate, and often confusing, details of selling a home. Study the subject by reading books, exploring the Internet and attending seminars.

2) Schedule events: Take a few hours to put together a marketing plan. Decide what activities you will implement to expose your home to as many buyers as possible, and plan those activities on a calendar of events. Schedule open houses, advertising, direct marketing mailers, handouts, showing times, etc. Create an action plan and follow your plan.

3) Preparing your home: People buy a home based on its emotional appeal. If the buyer walks in and falls in love, they will most likely buy the home, and at a fair price. Spend some time walking through your home. Look at it from a buyer's perspective. List the things that detract from its emotional appeal. Make the needed changes and repairs prior to putting the home on the market. (Call me for a copy of our Maximizing Your Home's Appeal checklist)

4) Know your loan: Call your bank and find out what your mortgage payoff will be. Do you have a prepayment penalty? Is your loan assumable? If so, under what terms? Don't forget, your mortgage interest is payable in arrears. If you were to close a transaction at the end of a month, your payoff would be more than the balance owed.

5) Prepare yourself mentally: You will have unaccompanied strangers coming through your home. Be ready to have your private and quiet time interrupted. People viewing your home will read your unspoken language. Your attitude toward them will affect their interest in your home. Above all, please be careful! There is no guarantee that everyone entering your home will have honest intentions.

6) Understand the buyer's mentality: Many buyers purchase a home being sold By Owner because they think they will be able to buy it for less than they could if it were available through the real estate community. Because you are not paying a brokerage, they will expect to subtract at least an amount equal to a brokerage fee from the selling price. As you know, both the buyer and seller cannot save the cost of the brokerage. Prior to putting your home on the market, know how you will handle this concern when it becomes an issue.

7) Instruct your children: Please instruct your children to never allow anyone in to view the property, especially when they are home alone.

8) Personal safety: It is wise to show the property only when more than one adult is at home.

FINANCING

Become a loan expert. Educate yourself regarding the various avenues of financing available to buyers. You will want to be able to pass this information on to a potential purchaser. A buyer's decision to purchase, or not to purchase, a home, and the price they are willing to pay is often dependent on the size of the payments and the required initial investment. Shop lenders and/or access various loan programs over the Internet. Know the buyer's options. Put informational sheets in the house that will tell the buyer what his payments will be with various amounts of down payment. If you can find a way to make the down payment and monthly payments reasonable, a buyer may be willing to pay a premium price for your home.

1) The following are just a few of the loan programs with which a seller may want to become familiar: 30 & 15 year fixed, jumbo 15 & 30, all of the VA & FHA programs, ARM, 3/1 5/1 7/1 & 10/1 ARM, 80-10-10, 80-15-5, convertible ARM, sub-prime mortgage, 95% & 97% LTV loans, alternative mortgages (IE: 7/23 & 5/25), roll-in loans, and first-time buyer programs.

Tomorrow we'll discuss Pricing and Marketing.

Home Selling Strategies

The key to selling a home for the best possible price, and with the fewest number of hassles, is to attract as many potential buyers to the property as possible. The following are tips that will help you reach your home selling goals:

- 1) It is critical that you make your home emotional and appealing. Home buyers purchase a residence based more on its emotional appeal than on any other single factor. To maximize your home selling profits, it must show very well. With the guidance of a real estate professional, your home should be made as emotionally appealing as possible.

- 2) To maximize your net selling proceeds; you must have an aggressive, well-organized marketing plan. Because there is a direct correlation between the number of potential buyers who view your home and its final selling price, you should do everything possible to access 100%+ of the available buyer pool. A great marketing plan is often designed to attract buyers from sources that most laymen don't even know exist. Click here http://www.wenatcheehouses.com/marketing_plan.php to view The Davidson Team's marketing strategy.

- 3) Quality advertising is critical to selling a home with minimal inconvenience and for the best possible price. Be sure your home is advertised in publications that maximize exposure and attract the greatest number of buyers. Finding these sources will require either experience or a substantial amount of research.

- 4) A well-recognized sign placed in front of a property can make a big difference in the benefits received by a home seller. The recognition and familiarity that come with a well-known real estate sign make a potential buyer more likely to view a property. And, as we have already discussed, more buyers usually mean a higher net for the seller. 17% of all homes that sell do so because of the sign in the front yard.

- 5) A unique and powerful strategy to help sell a home is to implement a Choose a Neighbor program. A neighboring homeowner may have a friend, relative or acquaintance that might be searching for a house. If these neighboring homeowners are made aware that a property is available, they often introduce the "For Sale" home to potential buyers.

- 6) An extremely professional informational and photo brochure should be created for your home. This brochure must feature top quality photos and an exclusive, detailed home description. A quality brochure is one of the most effective tools available to a home seller.

- 7) Open Houses should be held if the property is in a location that would make holding a home open appropriate, beneficial and convenient for the seller. The keys to a successful Open House are to display the home correctly, to have the proper signage and to market the event to as many potential buyers as possible. Follow-up with the people who attend the Open House is also critical.

- 8) Following-up with each potential buyer who has viewed a home is extremely important to home selling success. A homeowner must know what buyers and agents who have viewed the residence are thinking. When a seller becomes aware of problems that are keeping potential buyers from writing offers, he can make the needed corrections.

- 9) A home seller can increase the size of the buyer pool for his/her property by exposing it to as many worldwide referral networks as possible. These networks, usually established between professional real estate organizations, are an incredible source of potential buyers.

- 10) In today's world, where nearly 90%+ of all potential home buyers begin their property search on the Internet, it is important to have a "For Sale" property displayed on as many websites as possible. By doing so, a home will be exposed to many thousands of buyers; locally, nationally and internationally.

-11) Approximately 66% of all people who move from one home to another, do so within the same community in which they have been living. For this reason, it is often to a home seller's advantages to target market his property to homeowners who would view his home as a potential move-up residence. By doing so, the home seller can stimulate buyer interest from people who might otherwise never know the home is available.

- 12) The most important aspect of selling a home is to have it priced correctly. Homes that are priced correctly sell for the most money, with the fewest possible hassles. It is critical to thoroughly research what buyers have been willing to pay for like properties and to price the subject home accordingly. Overpriced homes, in the end, usually sell for less.

- 13) The majority of homes that sell do so through cooperation between two real estate agents. Because agents share information and expose their listings to other Realtors through the Multiple Listing Service, it is important that a home, to receive maximum buyer exposure, be listed in this cooperative system. Homes that are not listed in the MLS miss being exposed to thousands of buyers and, of course, fewer buyers usually mean a lower final sales price.

- 14) One of the keys to selling a home for the most profit is to make it convenient for potential buyers to view the property. Any access limitations discourage some buyers from viewing a home. It is critical that the residence be accessible at the times when buyers are available. Those times are daily from 9:00 AM to approximately 8:00 PM.

IN SUMMARY:

(A) A home seller cannot wait around hoping a buyer will discover his/her home and purchase it. Buyers must be aggressively sought through an efficient and effective marketing plan.

(B) Maximizing a home's exposure requires that a financial investment be made in quality marketing tools and systems.

(C) A step-by-step, organized, effective marketing plan, one that has proven itself to be the successful, must be implemented to maximize a home's exposure.

(D) The person who is marketing a home must know the real estate business! This knowledge comes from both formal real estate education and from hands-on experience.

(E) A home should be marketed with specific goals in mind. These goals should include getting the best possible price, in the shortest amount of time. It should be marketed with the fewest possible inconveniences to the homeowner.

(F) To maximize value and minimize inconveniences, a home seller must access 100%+ of the available Buyer Pool. Buyers must be attracted from as many sources as possible.

The Davidson Team's goal is to have you be amazed with the quality of my services. You have our personal guarantee that you will never find a more complete and satisfying real estate experience anywhere in the world. Your satisfaction is our only purpose.

If you would like a more thorough presentation of Home Selling Strategies, or if you would like to know the value of a property you own, please call us for an appointment. We would be happy to provide you with a no-cost, no-obligation professional property evaluation.

Questions to ask your Realtor

Just like in any industry, there are many different levels of professionalism, integrity and knowledge which Realtors provide their clients. Often times the general public assume that all agents are the same; that Realtors and their services are a commodity. This couldn't be farther from the the truth!

In fact, the best agents utilize an array of world-class systems and processes to differentiate them from the run of the mill Realtor down the street. To ensure you work with the best Realtor possible, consider asking the following questions:

1) Are you a full-time agent?
2) Do you work alone or with assistants?
3) How many homes have you sold in the last 12 months?
4) How will you attract buyers for my home?
5) Will you give me a marketing plan in writing?
6) How many buyers have you sold homes to this year?
7) How will you maximize the price I receive and minimize the inconveniences?
8) What is most important to you, my satisfaction or your commission check?
9) Will you give me a reference list?
10) How do you utilize technology and the Internet to market the homes you list and effectively communicate with your clients?

Click here http://www.wenatcheehouses.com/about.php to learn more about The Davidson Team.

Additionally, click here http://www.wenatcheehouses.com/marketing_plan.php for our Custom Marketing Plan.

We hope you find this information useful. Have a wonderful weekend!

Thought Provoking: 4/19/07

There was once a man who was walking down a deserted beach in a foreign country. As he slowly walked along, he saw a native of that country coming toward him. As they drew nearer, the visitor noticed that the local inhabitant would periodically stop, bend over, pick something up, and then throw it into the ocean.

As they drew closer, the visitor realized that it was a starfish he was picking up and throwing back into the water. When they were close enough to speak, the visitor asked the man what he was doing. The local inhabitant responded that, when the tide went out, it left small pools of water, which quickly evaporated. In each of those pools were starfish that quickly died when the water was gone. He explained that, when he found such a starfish, he threw it back into the ocean.

The visitor seemed surprised, and said, "Sir, don't you realize that, on this beach alone, there must be thousands of starfish caught like this. You can't possibly save all of them. There are just too many, and besides, this is probably happening on hundreds of beaches all up and down the coast. With so many starfish, you can't possibly be making a difference." The local citizen looked at the visitor for a moment, bent down, picked up a starfish, and, throwing it into the ocean, said, "I made a difference to that one."

Blaine's Recipe of the Week - 4/18/07

Staying with the Italian theme one more week, I can't resist sharing one of my family's longest and most treasured traditions...Banga Cauda! My mother's last name is Carulli and her parents were from a small town in Northern Italy. Her parents brought this wonderful fondu-like tradition over with them in the early 1900s, and we've celebrated this family gathering multiple times every year since I can remember. Imagine 20+ people gathered around several fondu pots, Italian music playing in the background, red wine flowing like the Wenatchee river, and loud boisterous people sharing stories left and right. Enjoy!

Banga Cauda: Serves 10-12 (5-6 people per pot)

•· 8 small flat anchovy tins w/capers: 4 tins per pot
•· Garlic: 1 cup smashed garlic or 2-3 heads per pot
•· Extra virgin olive oil: enough to cover garlic/anchovies and then some
•· 2 sticks unsalted butter per pot (skim off butter solids as they form)
•· Heavy cream for texture
•· Beef: 1/3 lb per person
•· Shrimp: 1 bag frozen 20-30 ct. from Costco
•· Scallops: 1 bag frozen large from Costco
•· Lots of bread for dipping
•· Mushrooms: cremini or buttons (at least 1 lb)
•· 1 head Napa/Chinese cabbage for scooping
•· Celery stalks for scooping
•· Red, yellow and orange peppers

Notes: Throw the anchovies, garlic, olive oil and butter into a pot and simmer on low 4-6 hours before serving, allowing the anchovies and garlic to melt. Watch very closely, do not let boil! One hour before serving, add heavy cream for texture. At serving, allow to bubble but not boil. Using fondu sticks, select your choice of meat, seafood, veggies, etc. and cook to your hearts desire. Now be prepared to sweat garlic and anchovies out of your pores for days!

Here's a Wikipedia link with a brief history of Banga Cauda:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagna_C%C3%A0uda

Shopping for the Best Mortgage

Mortgage rates are on the rise, but historically speaking they are still fairly low. As a result of the favorable mortgage market, lenders have produced several new creative financing options for purchasing or refinancing. Don't let the confusion of mortgage options keep you from a new home or lower interest rate. Here is an introductory lesson to the four most common types of home loans.


Fixed-rate Mortgages


Fixed-rate mortgages have a fixed interest rate over the lifetime of the loan, usually between 10 and 30 years (40-year fixed-rate mortgages are also slowly increasing in popularity). This means that the amount you pay each month is fixed, too. It's a great mortgage choice if you want the reassurance of predictable loan expenses for the life of your mortgage.


Adjustable-rate Mortgages


This type of mortgage usually starts out with a lower interest rate (and therefore lower payments) than with a fixed-rate loan. However, your interest rate and monthly payments are dependent on market interest rates. The interest rate is usually adjusted annually, but depending on your loan package the adjustment period on your ARM may be as low as one month.


Increases in the interest rate are capped for each year, and for the lifetime of the loan. For example, an ARM interest rate might have an annual cap of 1.5% and a cap over the lifetime of the loan of 6%.


Adjustable-rate mortgages are a good option if you're planning to own the property for only a few years, or if you expect your income to increase over the years so you can comfortably afford higher payments if interest rates should rise.


Balloon Mortgages


Balloon mortgages typically have a lower interest rate than fixed-rate mortgages (and hence may be easier to qualify for), however the loan is payable in full after five to seven years.
A balloon mortgage is a great option if you know you'll be selling the property before the balloon payment is due, and you're not comfortable with an adjustable-rate mortgage.

Jumbo Mortgages


A jumbo mortgage is simply one which is larger than a typical mortgage. The 2006 limit for a traditional (or conforming) loan is $417,000, and any amount over this figure is considered a jumbo (or non-conforming) mortgage. This type of mortgage usually has a higher interest rate than a conforming loan.


Getting Mortgage Quotes


To get the best possible rates, do your research and don't be afraid to to contact a mulitple lenders. Keep all your inquiries to within a 14-day period to prevent your credit score (also known as a FICO score) from being negatively impacted by too many credit inquiries. Most inquiries that take place within a 14-day stretch of time are counted as one inquiry.


It's wise to shop for a mortgage before you start house-hunting. Mortgage pre-approval is one of the best bargaining tools you can have when it comes to negotiating a sales price. Plus, it'll save you valuable time at closing.


The Davidson Team works with an outstanding preferred lender, Kevin Nelson at Discover NCW Mortgage. You can visit his website at http://www.kevinnelson.biz/. You can also reach him at (509) 663-9521 or info@kevinnelson.biz.

Luxury Home Trends

One of the best ways to update your home and ensure a good resale value is to adopt trends from the luxury home market. These cutting edge trends eventually find their way into the new construction market and become mainstream styles. While most households can't afford in-home elevators or a custom wine cellar, here are a few of the affordable latest luxury home must-haves that are well on their way to new homes across the nation.

In the Kitchen

Warming drawer - Better than the warm setting in your oven, warming drawers keep foods hot and moist until guests arrive or the rest of the meal is ready.

Refrigerating oven - Program it to refrigerate during the day then log on remotely to start the cooking and have your meal ready when you get home.

Multi-level islands - A raised portion of a kitchen island adds dimension, a comfortable eating surface and, if placed strategically, can mask the clutter around a sink or stovetop area.

Three-door refrigerator - Two French doors on the top and a large one-drawer freezer on the bottom make for easier access to the items you use most.

Food prep sink - An extra sink doesn't need to take up a lot of precious counter space but in a large kitchen it can improve the work flow and even encourage others to participate in the food preparation.

In the Bath

Vertical spas - One of the hottest trends in today's baths, these incorporate multiple showerheads, water diverters and sophisticated temperature control systems into your shower.

Heated tile floors - Add to the spa feeling with cozy radiant heat under tile flooring. If you're considering new flooring, this is easy to install and a big selling point.

Towel warming drawers - This luxury trend started in the kitchen and is taking electric towel bars to a new level by warming up your robe and slippers.

Stone countertops - Granite, marble and soapstone come in natural colors that complement most bathroom cabinets. They're also easier to keep clean compared to traditional tile.

In the Master Suite

Fireplace - Gas fireplaces are quickly becoming fixtures in luxury homes. Builders are maximizing their effect by constructing them into a wall adjacent to the master bathroom so they can be seen from both sides.

Walk-in closets - Walk-ins are almost required in new homes today, but the luxury market has taken them to a whole new level with the addition of extravagant cabinetry and center islands with storage drawers.

Outside

Outdoor kitchens - More and more homeowners are taking their cooking and entertaining out back with the addition of fully functional kitchens that include grills, custom cabinets and worktops, and even wood-fired ovens.

Heated patios - An emerging trend in cooler climates, radiant-heated patios and driveways melt snow and ice and keep walkways safe.

Whether you are thinking of selling soon, or simply want to enjoy the benefit of upgrading your home while you're still living there, these affordable luxury trends are certain to hold their appeal for years to come.

Consumer Tip: Home Mortgage Interest

You can save thousands of dollars in interest on your home, and pay it off in much less than the term of the loan, by just paying a little extra with each monthly payment. For example, if you had a home mortgage of $100,000, payable at 7% per annum interest, by paying just an extra $110 monthly toward the principal, you would save $53,439 in interest payments over the life of the loan. You would save thousands of dollars, and would own your home, free and clear, in just 20 years.

If you would like to pay a little extra on your loan principal monthly, and want to know how much you could save, call The Davidson Team. We will run an amortization schedule for you and/or refer you to our preferred mortgage specialist.

Have an outstanding weekend!

Blaine's Recipe of the Week - 4/12/07

Starting today, each week I'll feature a homemade recipe from my personal cookbook. Being half Italian and proud of it, I'll start with some Italian dishes.

Red Wine Risotto: Serves 8 if serving as main course and 10 party style
•· 5 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
•· 4 tablespoon minced garlic
•· 1.5 teaspoon ground black pepper
•· 1.5 cups shallots or small onions
•· 2 cups Arborio rice
•· Dry boletus mushrooms. If you don't have access to boleus, shitake will work.
•· Chicken stock, preferably home made
•· 2 cups merlot/pinot noir or dry red wine
•· 3 cups parmesan reggiano (2 cups stirred in at end, 1 cup carvings on top before serving for presentation)
•· Sea salt or kosher salt to taste
•· Butter at end for creamy texture
•· Heavy cream at end for texture and to even out taste

Notes: Soak mushrooms in a bowl of water for 60 minutes. Squeeze emaining juice in mushrooms back into the bowl and keep the mushroom juice. Separately, add chicken stock and wine into two small pots and heat at low. In large pot or pan, sauté olive oil, garlic, pepper and shallots/onions until golden brown. Add Arborio rice and continue sautéing until rice is lightly golden. Add mushrooms and mushroom water. Add all of the wine and keep at a simmer, stirring often. As the rice soaks up the wine, add chicken stock as needed until rice is 3 minutes from being cooked. Reduce heat to low and stir in 2 cups grated parmesan reggiano. Add salt to taste. Right before serving, add butter for texture and taste. Lastly, add heavy cream as desired; this will even out the flavor, and combined with the butter will bring out an extremely rich, cream flavor. For presentation, shave remaining parmesan reggiano and sprinkle on top...mmm, delish!

Now that's Italian cooking, enjoy!

Thought Provoking

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They weren't wealthy, but they could get by.

The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career.

When the carpenter finished his work and the builder came to inspect the house, the contractor handed the front door keys to the carpenter. "This is your house," he said, "my gift to you for your many years as a faithful employee."

What a shock! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. Now he had to live in a home he had built none too well.

So it is with us. We build our lives in a distracted way, reacting rather than acting, willing to accept less than the best. At important points we don't give the job our best effort. Then with a shock we look at the situation we have created and find that we are now living in a house we have built none too well. If we had only realized, we could have done it so differently.

Think of yourself as a carpenter. Think of life as a house. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Build wisely. It is the only life you will ever build. Even if you live it for only one more day, that day deserves to be lived graciously and with dignity. Without doubt, life is a do-it-yourself project.

Who could say it more clearly? Your life is a result of the attitudes you formed and choices you made in the past. Your life tomorrow will be the result of the attitudes you form and the choices you make today.

Determining the Initial Offer

Before making a purchase offer, home buyers with smart agents prepare their own written comparative market analysis (CMA). The seller's agent will have already prepared a CMA at the time the home was listed for sale. However, having a buyer's CMA provides you with updated information on sales (not asking prices) of comparable nearby homes, asking prices of similar neighborhood homes currently listed for sale, and the asking prices of competitive listings, which recently expired. Only after you have this important CMA, then adding or subtracting value for the pros and cons of the residence, can you offer a purchase price that is not too high.

How to I Determine the Initial Offer?

Having your own buyer's agent advocating your interests only (not the seller's) is key to getting the best deal possible. Listen to your real estate agent's advice, but follow your own instincts on deciding a fair price, and pay close attention to the data available. Calculating your offer should involve several factors: what homes sell for in the area, the home's condition, how long it's been on the market, financing terms, and the seller's situation. By the time you're ready to make an offer, you should have a good idea of what the home is worth and what you can afford. And be prepared for a give-and-take negotiation, which is very common when buying a home. The buyer and seller may often go back and forth until they can agree on a price.

We'd be happy to prepare a CMA or buyer's CMA and represent your interests when you are ready to make an offer on a home.

Click below for a free over-the-net CMA:

www.WenatcheeHouseValues.com

Sabey considers Quincy...

The title of this post refers to an article in today's Wenatchee World, sharing more news about the big business moving into North Central Washington because of the cheap power and land, and fast Internet connections. Sabey Corp. is just one of several multi-billion dollar companies (i.e. Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, Intuit) investing in the future of our areas.

Sabey considers Quincy; work to start in Douglas County

By Jay Patrick, World staff writer

Posted April 06, 2007

http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070406/NEWS04/704060350/0/FRONTPAGE

Have a wonderful weekend!

Home Inspection

Most clients ask for a home inspection of their potential new house. If you decided to list with The Davidson Team, we provide a free home inspection as a part of our services. Additionally, wealso provide tips on how to gain the most out of the inspections.

When deciding on a home inspector, first be sure they are experienced and reputable. Once the inspection is completed, we can review the results to understand the current condition of the property and how that may influence your interest in making an offer as well as determining an initial offer price. For example, you may discover that you'll need to replace or repair major systems and components, or that the property maintenance costs are more that you had in mind.

This is the added value a good agent can bring to your home buying process. There are so many things to consider when you shop for your new home. IWed be happy to share our expertise to ensure that this experience will be rewarding and hassle free.

Here's some additional tips:

1. Find out how much it will cost to maintain the property.

2. Obtain bids from certain contractors (plumber, roofer, electrician or drainage expert) who may need to look at the property before giving estimates.

3. Find out if the seller has had contractors work on the property. They may be able to provide you with information about future maintenance costs.

4. Discover from the previous owners what routine maintenance chores they took care of during their term of ownership.

5. When was the last time the roof gutters were cleaned?

6. Obtain names and numbers of craftsmen previous owners utilized.

We hope you find this info useful!

Land deal puts arena on track

Here's an interesting article from the Wenatchee World regarding the new $48 million dollar arena to be built on the Wenatchee waterfront.

Land deal puts arena on track

By Jay Patrick, World staff writer
Posted April 04, 2007

http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070404/NEWS04/704040334/0/FRONTPAGE

Vacation Homes

It may hit you every year about this time as you schedule your annual family trip to the coast or other favorite vacation spot. "Wouldn't it be great if we owned our own beach home (or condo or ski chalet)? Instead of paying rent to someone else, we'd be paying ourselves." Well, if you decide to refinance and spend the money on a vacation home, here are some tips to consider.

The 17-week formula

How do you know if you can afford a vacation home -- even with the help of renters? Estimate that one peak-week rental fee should be enough -- and hopefully more than enough -- to pay the home's monthly mortgage if you finance your purchase. For example, if you borrow $300,000 at 5.5 percent for 30 years on your beach cottage, your monthly house payment would be $1,703.36. That should be your minimum weekly peak-rate rental fee. If you don't think you can charge that much for rent, don't buy. However, if you can be reasonably sure of renting your home for at least 17 weeks a year, you should break even. Most owners can count on 12 peak rental weeks each year. Those 12 weeks each year should pay the annual mortgage. Five additional weeks of non-peak rental income usually enable owners to cover taxes, cleaning and maintenance expenses, and other incidentals.

Call The Davidson Team if you are looking to invest into a vacation home. We'd be happy to make sure you land the best deal possible!

Quincy: A town in transition

In today's Wenatchee World, there is a article about the up and coming city of Quincy, sharing some great info regarding the big business moving into the area, some projections regarding new home building in the near future, how the tech influx has increased the population of students at schools, and other helpful information that anybody owning a home in North Central Washington will be interested in.

A town in transition

By Christine Pratt, World staff writer

Posted April 01, 2007

http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070401/NEWS04/704010448/0/FRONTPAGE

Energy Costs and Tips

Even though North Central Washington, and the Wenatchee areas in particular, have the best energy prices in the nation, we thought it would be helpful to share some really helpful learnings that we've recently learned.

Tips for Managing Your Energy Costs

• One of the easiest ways to cut your heating and cooling bill is to make sure that your attic has 7 inches (R-22) or more (up to R-49) of fiberglass or rock wool insulation.

• A simple step we often ignore, replace or clean your AC vents once a month.

• Don,t leave your bathroom ventilator running longer than necessary, as it can drain your entire house of cooled or heated air in about an hour!

• During the summer keep your drapes closed in the heat of the day. In the winter keep the south facing window drapes open.

• Make sure all windows are caulked and weather-stripped to save 10% off your H/AC bill.

• Lower hot water costs by installing low-flow shower heads and faucets.

• Insulate your water heater and set its thermostat at 115 degrees F.

• You can cut up to 50% off your lighting costs by replacing 25% of the bulbs in your main-use areas with fluorescent lighting. Fluorescent lights are more expensive but also last 6-10 times longer than incandescent bulbs.

• Plant trees ASAP. Well-placed trees will not only lower your energy costs but will increase the curb-appeal of your home and make your yard a more enjoyable place to be.

We hope you find these tips as useful as we did. Have an outstanding week!