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July 10, 2009

North Idaho Real Estate Analysis - June

The North Idaho Real Estate Market has seen an increase in sales the last couple of months – which is not surprising – North Idaho is a wonderful place to be in the summer. 282 units sold in June. The average days on market increased to 137 days and we are sitting on 29 months of inventory (8340 listings). If we compare ourselves with June 08’ we will see a 13% decrease in total unit sales and a 4% decrease in price (221K vs 212K). Not bad considering the nature of current economic conditions. Please see the enclosed PDF files which include a 2 year trend line of real estate inventory, sales and activity, average sold prices for the last two years, asking vs sold prices, ect. Also, included is the Keller Williams Total Market Overview. This gives all listing, pending and sales activity in every price range. Notice the pick up in activity in the $200-250K price range. I also have Market Overviews for each area and segment in our market (Condos, Post Falls, Sandpoint, Waterfront, Multi-Family, 1 Mil Plus), just let me know what you want and I will send it to you immediately.

REO LIST (84 Active, 8 Pending – 23 sold last month)

Foreclosures and Real Estate Owned by banks continue to keep downward pricing pressure on our active listings. The availability of foreclosures continues to increase every month, with more than a 20% pending ratio! See the list below:

http://www.flexmls.com/link.html?ot50u7tjy8e,7,1

Short Sale List (188 Active, 21 Pending – 19 sold last month)
I ran all the short sales sold in the last year. 70 total. Sellers ON AVERAGE reduced their prices 10% since initially offering their property. Then they averaged a 3.55% price reduction from the bank while in negotiations. This tells me that agents are getting the prices on the short sales below appraised value and close to what the banks will accept. View the list of short sales here:
http://www.flexmls.com/link.html?ot50ucmw7aj,7,1

Waterfront Listings (84 North Idaho Waterfront Listings)
Summer is a great time to be in North Idaho. Here is the latest in waterfront listings.

http://www.flexmls.com/link.html?ot512zgi5s8,7,1

The commercial market is engaging a record $480 BILLION in debt coming due. This is a large number (up to 10X) compared to the residential market!
“…thousands of office complexes, hotels, shopping centers and other commercial buildings are headed into defaults, foreclosures and bankruptcies. The reason: according to research firm Foresight Analytics LCC, $530 billion of commercial mortgages will be coming due for refinancing in the next three years — with about $160 billion maturing in the next year. Credit, meanwhile, is practically nonexistent and cash flows from commercial property are siphoning off.”

Why, you ask, does this affect the market? Well, if you own a commercial property, and you have a balloon payment coming up, traditionally you would refinance, and start the process again. The availability of funds to refinance has dried up and terms have gotten tougher. Understand the issue? It is going to put a strain on banks ability to fund not only commercial but residential, credit lines, ect… This may present some distressed sales/foreclosures in the commercial arena. STAY TUNED. To view the available commercial inventory now, visit my site updated nightly with newest listings:

http://www.NorthIdahoCommercial.com

Total Market Overview CDA

June 6, 2009

Idaho in top 5 in Nation for Lower Unemployment

This is a great snippet about Idaho being a state that may show employment numbers that actually improve. This is good for housing. In North Idaho, we are better off than the average national unemployment rate. See the article below.

5 States Moving on to LOWER Unemployment

In a report from Moody’s, projections are that 5 states expect an increase in private employment by the fourth quarter 2009. Due to the density of high tech jobs in the northwest, the region is well positioned to spark the rise in employment.

Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Texas and Washington are all expected to show improved employment. Texas jobs will improve due to the oil industry but the other states will benefit from their technology industries. Another factor adding to better conditions in these states is the fact that residents have better than average household credit ratings. Analysts expect the housing market to improve in these states first.

May 20, 2009

Kootenai County Economic Data

I am a very visual person, and I wish a video came with this report (LOL).  A visual guide to the state of the economy county by county.  Using this chart, you can see what real estate market areas are improving and which are being hit the hardest in almost real time.

The population of Kootenai County is 137,475.  According to this report, 1.16% of property is in foreclosure in Kootenai County.  Not bad, considering parts of California and WA are over 5 times that amount.  See the link here:

AP Economic Stress Index:

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/files/specials/interactives/_national/stress_index/index.html?SITE=YAHOO&SECTION=HOME

March 26, 2009

3 Bedroom Home in Coeur d’ Alene, North Idaho

3 Bedroom 2 Bath California Split, 1478 SQ/FT Home in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho ~ The Real Listing Minute

I listed this house yesterday, it is primed and ready to sell.  In this video you see a quick tour of this magnificent home on over 1/4 acre.  Priced aggresively at only $176,500.  Check out the video above, you will love the dual hot tubs in the fenced backyard.

March 3, 2009

North Idaho Real Estate Analysis - March

Hello All! I hope the current economic conditions are treating you gently. This edition of my NI Real Estate Analysis I want to cover 1. Market Activity, 2. Opportunities/Deals in Foreclosure/Short Sale 3. Buyer “Perfect Storm” and 4. “Retreat/Remote” Self Sufficient Properties. Also, please see my site redesign at http://www.LiveCDA.com and let me know your comments.

January and February have been tough months in sales with total unit sales at 117 and 110 respectively (according to MLS data). Sold volume has been very low at $34M & $20M. This would account for our average monthly sale price dropping from $294K to $188K! However, the property price ranges between 125K-175K are producing double digit pending ratios! This makes sense as it is the first time homebuyer market. Upper level properties Days on Market (DOM) continue to climb, currently at 182 days to sell. Once they do sell, we are getting within 93% of ask price. Of course, to sell, they have to offer best quality, or best price. Occasionally both. I get the question often, when do you think the right time to buy is? I think if you’re a first time homebuyer the time is now. If you’re in the residential upper level (300k+) buying mode, I think property prices may come down a little more, it may pay to wait, however, it is hard to tell if interest rates will stay this low. If you have a property you like, go for it. Call me if you want to “present” an offer to purchase. See the attached documents for more in-depth analysis.

Regarding anyone that has not owned a home in 36 months, I think now is a “perfect storm” for buying. Congress passed an $8,000 tax credit that purchasers get with their taxes if they buy before Dec. 1. Further, prices are low. The good houses (best price, best quality under 175K), we are getting multiple offers on. Current interest rates are dating back to 1969 levels. We have the right buyer incentives, low prices, low interest rates. If buyers have a job and descent credit, they can probably get a loan.

REO/FORECLOSURE PROPERTIES

http://www.flexmls.com/link.html?op5gf6yzhd6,7,1

SHORT SALES

http://www.flexmls.com/link.html?op5gf8nuf12,7,1

Black Rock Lot for $75,000 (Does not include membership)!

http://www.flexmls.com/link.html?op5gerq9rzv,7,1

There has been talk that Idaho is a great place to “rebound” to if world frenzy continues to get livelier. With “back-up” alternative energy retrofits getting more reasonably priced w/ incentives (wind, solar, biomass), and property prices at low levels, inventory up, I think now is great time to secure a piece of that “getaway” property. Here is a list of North Idaho properties (in all price ranges) that I generated that include trees, multiple acres, private well or water source, ect…

http://www.flexmls.com/link.html?op5gk5b3f7w,7,1

Thank you for your referrals “in advance”! I will take care of you, your friends and family, neighbors, and more. I have knowledge in all aspects real estate: residential (www.livecda.com), commercial (northidahocommercial.com), waterfront (idahowaterfrontproperties.com), land (landcda.com), multifamily (idahomultifam.com) ect… Have a great March, and let me know if you have comments, questions.

Copyright 2009 - T.J. Barnhart, Keller Williams Coeur d'Alene. Equal Housing Opportunity Provider.
  All information on this website is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.