Coeur d'Alene Idaho Real Estate & Property Management

We are seeing a strong, healthy sales market in Fieldstone Post Falls, Idaho.  There are several reasons for this.  One, it's a newer community in an excellent location.  Two, the homes are well priced and within the price ranges that always sell, no matter what type of perceived market is out there.

We are sitting at a 3.5 month supply of home inventory with average sales prices around $214,000. 

A more in depth analysis can be found on our North Idaho Real Estate blog here.

Full report in adobe reader format available by emailing us and requesting the Fieldstone Q2 Market Report. 

I know agents get frustrated with the publics perception of real estate agents.  Our profession sits precariously perched just above used car salesmen.  There are obvious reasons why and until these change, we will always be considered 'monkeys' and not taken seriously, no matter how hard we rant and rave.

First and foremost - take a look at entry into the business.  How can anyone think that taking 90 hours of education makes you ready to handle the largest financial transaction in most peoples lives?  In California (until just recently) all it took was a 45 hour class and you were 'provisional' and could still help people with these transactions.  No wonder 1:50 people in California are licensed agents.  What a laughing stock.  What a joke. 

What should it be?  At minimum, we should have to go through 1000 hours of education.  After all, in order for that Super cuts or Great Clips person to even cut your hair, they had to go through 1000+ hours of education and apprenticeship.  How ridiculous is it that they go through more training and practice than someone handling hundreds of thousands of dollars of someone else's money?? 

I also feel that we should be required to go through an apprenticeship program - with specifically licensed trainers - for a certain number of transactions.  For some people, they could get this done in just a few months.  For others, it make take them longer.  There should be a time limit set.  If the apprenticeship is not completed within 12-18 months, you've failed and have to start over or you do not qualify for your license. 

Secondly, our continuing education requirements.  As it currently stands in the state of Idaho, 16 credits plus a 3-4 credit CORE are required every 2 years.  Our licenses renew every 2 years.  I feel continuing education requirements should be a minimum of 40 yours per year.  There is no earthly reason why this shouldn't be increased.  Of course, experience counts for something.  For each year you are in the business and for each transaction that you have under your belt, concessions should be made.  It's infinitely clear that someone in the business 15 years and averaging 120 transactions a year has more training simply from experience than someone who's been in the business 3 years and averages 4 transactions a year.  But, those concessions should be based on a minimum number of transactions per year and go up from there.  For example, if you are not averaging at least 12 transactions a year, you are required to go through the entire 40 hours.  Break downs could be something along the lines of 24 transactions a year drops to 32 hours of CE, etc.

Thirdly, the costs of entry and renewal.  I just renewed my license.  It cost me a whole $160 for a 2 year renewal.  When my MLS/CAR renewal comes up in December, that will run me just under $500.  These costs should be higher.  It should be costs that make us take a second look before even entering the profession.  Truly making it sink in that this is a business and we should treat it as such.  How much higher?  How about in the thousands?  $1000 per year just for your license and another $3000-$5000 for MLS/CAR.  I'm tired of the 'part-timers' and 'hobbiest's' that  make our professional look like a cake walk and that we are all monkeys.  

We can squawk and balk and rant and rave all we want.  Until these basic things are changed, we will forever be seen as monkeys in an easy to enter "exclusive" society out only to 'steal' away a % of the sale of someone's home.

There was an interesting article in the Coeur d'Alene Press today that brought to light just how global Coeur d'Alene really is.  It's interesting that we have cuisine that is desired by other cultures.  I wrote a bit more on our blog here.

Taiwan to get a taste of Idaho . . . Resort executive chef heads overseas to promote Idaho agriculture . . .

While there, Jessick will be involved in three seminars, will judge an iron chef competition and visit restaurants that will participate in the menu promotion -- meat and potatoes as he called it.

"My main job is to teach these people how to cook these dishes, because they're not used to it," Jessick said. "They're used to preparing Asian dishes, and suddenly you say pork prime rib, and they say 'what am I going to do with that?'"

Local Area Events:

September 14-October 6 - The Art Spirit Gallery features Harold Balazs/Mel McCuddin, mixed media & oil painting.  Opening reception/downtown art walk

September 14, downtown Coeur d'Alene.  Call (208) 765-6006 for more information.

September 14-October 6 - Lake City Playhouse is presenting "Man of La Mancha." For information and reservations please call (208) 667-1323.

October 1-5 - Classical Guitarist Brad Richter - Old Church Arts & Cultural Center.  For more information call (208) 457-8950.

October 4 - Cellist Viktor Uzur accompanied by guitarist Brad Richter in Concert - Old Church Arts & Cultural Center.  For more information call (208) 457-8950.

October 6 - Fall Festival in Harrison, ID.  For information call (208) 689-3711.

October 6-7 - Third Annual Festa Italiana - Bonaventura Lodge # 2814 - Kootenai County Fairgrounds.  Call (208) 773-8522 for more information.

October 11 - "Lunch Down Under" at the Outback Steakhouse.  This is a fundraiser for the youth residing at Children's Village.  Make your reservation by calling (208) 667-1189.

October 12-November 3 - The Art Spirit Gallery features Mary Farrell, Spokane printmaking and watercolor painting. Reception/Downtown ArtWalk is October 12.  Call (208) 765-6006 for details.

October 18-28 - Lake City Playhouse presents "The Rainmaker."  For information and reservations call (208) 667-1323.

October 19-21, 24-31 - Post Falls Lion's Club Haunted House.  Call (208) 660-8936 for more information.

October 20 - Everybody's Bazaar sponsored by the Spokesman Review - Kootenai County Fairgrounds.  For details call (509) 459-5051.

October 31 - Halloween Alternative Festival sponsored by North Country Chapel - Kootenai County Fairgrounds.  For more information call (208) 773-4250.

This is probably one of the best articles I've seen written about the so-called consumer friendly company's aka 'discounters'.  We won't even get into the whole 'it can't be a discount if there is no set price' concept.  Instead, take a gander at this article written by Blanche Evans at Realty Times.  It's pretty darn good, and brutally honest.  Gotta love it.

Foxton's just found out the hard way that undercutting other brokers' commissions as part of its business model is a good way to get whacked. Yet hope springs eternal among discounters as Iggy's House thinks it will go public and make lots of money ... for its founders, not for you.

The real truth is that the business model was laughable for a number of reasons, none of which require hindsight

the first pitch to Wall Street is that I'm-new-and-can't-make-it-without-your-money and-pretending-to-be-Realtors'-friendDOTCOM is going to be the ram that brings down the impervious real estate industry.

Stupid Wall Street just gobbles that stuff up and throws money at it in the arrogant hope that it will happen.

The aptly-named Foxes and their VC buddies will be laughing all the way to the bank, as Iggy's House leaves its shareholders devastated.

And you'll be left explaining to uncomprehending consumers why you charge so much in commissions.

It is not about the consumer, it's about the 'do-gooders' ability to start up a business based upon the perception that real estate is broken and greedy and to sell out and make their buck fast and furious, before investors realize doh! it's not so!

If it wasn't, many things would happen.  First and foremost, the various models would work, in all types of markets. As it is, so-called 'discounting' only works successfully in a sellers market.  Frankly, that is a no-brainer.  A big duh!  I'm looking forward to someone who actually has a new idea, that can honestly show a profit for a company and agent and a benefit for the consumer and just for the heck of it, let's have them take that test in a buyers market and demand longevity of the company.

Oh that's right, it hasn't happened because in it's current form, it can not happen. 

Let it fly everyone! 

Idaho’s education system is currently under evaluation.  The task set forth is to evaluate each school in order to identify what needs to be done to make it more secure.  Once that is done, the next step is to find potential grants from the US Department of Homeland Security and the US Department of Justice.

Read more on our blog here. 

I reported on the probability of this happening a couple months ago. Back then it was in strong talks. Now, the contract has been signed and production will begin in the early spring of 2008.

"Coeur d'Alene Tribe Chairman Chief Allan said the U.S. Army finalized a contract with the Tribe valued at up to $400 million. The contract will provide equipment for the Army and high-paying jobs for the region."

Read the rest on our blog here.