The quality of a school district is an important determinant of the market value of a house. For homebuyers with children, the quality and reputation of the local school system may be as critical to their decision as the appeal of the home. The desire to give their children a quality education usually causes parents who are in the market for a home to ask questions about the local school district. What is the annual expenditure per pupil and the average class size? How do the district's standardized test scores compare with the national mean? Are special education programs available? What percentage of high school graduates go on to college? What is the physical condition of the schools and the district's record in handling school bond proposals? Parents may also want to know the school... 04/11/2007

Most houses have a few "little" problems, like leaking faucets, a stove burner that won't light, or electrical outlets with too much "spark". These defects may not seem very important--unless your house is about to go on the market.We rarely have difficulty getting sellers to agree to paint, replace worn carpets or plant a few flowers in the front yard. These kinds of repairs obviously increase the overall appeal of the property. However, if any of the major systems in your home need maintenance, it is also prudent to have the necessary repairs made. Have your furnace, central air-conditioning system, plumbing and wiring checked as part of your pre-marketing efforts. The best rule is--if it's broken, fix it!The purchase agreement requires that a house be conveyed with all the systems in... 04/11/2007

Many sellers think that the price of their home is determined solely by what they are willing to accept and what the buyer is willing to pay. However, there is one more variable that can affect the sale of a home assuming that a bank loan is involved -- the lender's appraisal. To protect the interest of their investors, the buyer's mortgage lender hires a licensed appraiser to give an independent, objective opinion of what the property is worth. The appraiser compares the house with similar homes in the neighborhood that have recently sold. Square footage, amenities and the condition of the home are taken into account. Renovations and home improvements made by the seller usually add value to the home, while defects such as needed repairs or code violations decrease the property's value.... 04/04/2007

What is the best price for a piece of real estate? Mortgage lenders, appraisers, and real estate brokers use what is called the "fair market value" (FMV). FMV has been defined as "the price that a buyer is willing to pay and the seller is willing to accept, when both parties are knowledgeable about the property and neither is under any time pressure to buy or sell". Sounds great, but how is this price determined? The starting point for determining a fair price may be an opinion of the value or "comparative market analysis". Such an analysis uses information on similar properties which are: 1) currently for sale, 2) already sold, or 3) expired properties (those which did not sell). Local, national and international trends and market conditions must also be evaluated.By comparing similar ... 04/04/2007

When a seller lists a home with a real estate agent, a lot of brainstorming follows. Who are the potential buyers, where do they live and work? How can they be reached effectively with information that will attract them to this particular property?In addition to advertising each home on the widely used Multiple Listing Service, professional real estate agents employ marketing techniques tailored to the individual home they are selling. An agent will review various buyer lists to find potential purchasers. They will use telephone and direct mail marketing, produce property flyers and advertise on the Internet, in the newspaper, in community publications and in real estate magazines. Contacts will be made to other agents who sell homes in the area to encourage them to show the home to pro... 04/04/2007

In the real estate world, a large group of people are looking to buy homes at any given time. These are the seller's best prospects. This ready group of buyers is wasted, however, if your house is overpriced.People who have been shopping around and are accustomed to comparing properties will probably refuse to look at your home with an unrealistic price tag. You and your real estate agent may know that you would sell for $10,000 less, but the buyers do not know this. As a result, your overpriced property receives little attention.Don't be fooled into thinking that your house is worth more than someone is willing to pay for it, or that it's just a matter of waiting for the "right" buyer to show up. Surveys show that the longer a house is on the market before being sold, the greater the d... 04/04/2007

WHAT IS EIFS?EIFS stands for Exterior Insulated Finish Systems, also known as synthetic stucco. This system was introduced into the United States in 1969 by Dryvit Corporation, and is principally a marriage of two modern materials, polymers and polystyrene.WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EIFS AND STUCCO? The typical EIFS installation is comprised of:Expanded Polystyrene (EPS)                        MeshBasecoatFinish CoatStucco is a Portland cement based plaster, which is usually applied in two steps, the basecoat and hard coat finish.Both systems have advantages and disadvantages.IS EIFS REALLY A PROBLEM?It certainly can be! The EIFS system has had problems just about any place that it has been used in residential construction and some commercial applications. The problem is improper in... 04/04/2007

SOLDI have your first home here16115 NE 2nd St, Vancouver WA Asking Price: $207,000Property DetailsBeds 3Baths 2Stories 1SQFT 1084Covered Parking 2Year Built 1992MLS Number 7007454DescriptionGreat investment or starter home. Newer siding and flooring. Fresh paint in current colors. Move in ready! New fenced yard corner lot, double car garage. Call Tesha for your showing. Washer/dryer stay and fridge, oven and dishwasher too.Must sell!! Price Reduced again! This one is SOLD, but click on the link belowTO SEARCH ALL VANCOUVER HOMES FOR SALE  03/22/2007

10 Steps to Prepare for Homeownership1. Decide how much home you can afford. Generally, you can afford a home equal in value to between two and three times your gross income.2. Develop a wish list of what you'd like your home to have. Then prioritize the features on your list.3. Select three or four neighborhoods you'd like to live in. Consider items such as schools, recreational facilities, area expansion plans, and safety.4. Determine if you have enough saved to cover your downpayment and closing costs. Closing costs, including taxes, attorney's fee, and transfer fees average between 2 percent and 7 percent of the home price.5. Get your credit in order. Obtain a copy of your credit report.6. Determine how large a mortgage you can qualify for. Also explore different loans options and d... 03/14/2007

SOLDNew Construction in Vancouver9112 NE 81st Loop, Vancouver WA Asking Price: $263,500Property DetailsBeds 3Baths 2.50Stories 2SQFT 1750Covered Parking 2Year Built 2006MLS Number 6105403DescriptionNEW Home offered by Rockford Homes. 3 bed 2.5 bath plus Den Home yours; Upgrades throughout include: Hickory Cabinets, upgraded hardware, AC ready, vaulted master suite, laundry upstairs and a fully fenced landscaped yard w/ sprinkelers. Builders warrenty and GREAT Builder incentives Start your VANCOUVER NEW CONSTRUCTION Home Search HEREThis one has SOLD,  but we have more! 03/11/2007

Have you ever wished that you could get straight up advise about purchasing a home?  Washington state offers just such a class and taking the class meets one requirement for getting a home loan from the Washington State House Key program.  That program offers borrowers who have not owned a home in the last three years a thirty year fixed interest rate that is often about a point lower than the regular market.Find out more about the house key program and check their current rates here!The best news for you!  Lynn Posselt from Eagle Home Mortgage and I are not allowed to sell our services in the class.  You can request more information about us, and we want to assist you in getting the perfect home but we are not allowed to solicit your business while teaching.That means that the quality ... 02/13/2007

I think many sellers find the advice they get regarding preparing their home for sale confusing.  Some agents will tell you to just leave your home as it is, and some seem to tell you that you must put in a completely new kitchen if you have any hope at all of selling your home.  Well I hope that I am not here to add to the confusion.  My hope here is to give you as a seller a framework from which you can make your own decisions about how to improve the positive feedback on your showings.  If you have read the first two articles in this series you might have some idea of what I am about to say. (Article 1, Article 2)  In the first article, I argued that the only reliable way to price your home is to compare it to other similar homes which have already closed, not to homes currently on t... 02/09/2007

I am a local Real Estate agent and I provide full personalized customer service to both buyers and sellers located in Vancouver and Clark County Washington.  I am a REALTOR that specializes in technology based, internet mass marketing for my clients.  As a Real Estate technology marketing expert, 100% of my listing have the highest quality, maximum number of descriptive pictures and virtual tours.  Combining traditional advertising with high technology based web marketing, provides my clients with the competitive advantage to get their home seen on over 80% of the Real Estate websites in the entire United States!  As a life long local resident of Clark County I know every area and also stay on top of all the best values the market will bear for my buyers.  I go the extra mile because th... 01/29/2007

Here's a great article by a local marketing coach who will be the guest speaker at the Young Professionals of Vancouver's 1st "Breakfast of Champions" networking seminar in March.  Details will be posted on the website soon. Marketing Brand YOU:How to Set Yourself Apart from the CrowdBy Veronika (Ronnie) Noize, the Marketing Coach Looking for a gig as an employee or a contractor these days requires more than just an error-free resume or a killer project list; you need to establish a personal brand to set yourself apart from the crowded marketplace of others who have the same or similar qualifications.What is personal branding? Personal branding is the way you clarify and communicate what is special about you, so that you don't have to talk so hard (or hope for the right question) to exp... 01/21/2007

In my first post on selling your home in a buyer's market I examined three different pricing strategies I have been taught over my career as a REALTOR®.  I argued that the one reliable strategy for pricing a home is to find comparable homes which have already sold and base your pricing upon these comps.  If you didn't get a chance to see that article you can find it here.In this post I have two points which I want to make in relationship to location and selling your home in a Buyer's market.  First, your improvements must be in line with your neighborhood if you expect to get full value for them.  Second, your neighborhood may not earn you extra money in a buyer's market but it still adds value to your property.  Let me begin writing about improvements with an obvious example.  A granit... 01/16/2007

There are all sorts of methods for pricing a home and they all work during a boom market.  But not now.....Now it is time to find out which methods for pricing actually attract buyers, which actually attract listings and which are just plain funny.  I have heard at least three different ways to price homes and I like one of them because it works.  It has never failed me in selling a home or piece of land when the seller has been willing to take my advice about price.Method Number 1:  Pricing for a Dark AgeOne popular method listing agents use to generate a price for your home is to price your home based upon where your current active competition has priced their homes.  I first heard of this method in a class taught by a very old school agent who was retired but still teaching the state... 01/10/2007

Well after sitting on the sidelines all summer the first time buyers are back in the Vancouver Washington real estate market.  Suddenly they have been coming out of the woodwork this fall.  I have seen several multiple offer situations in the starter home market and the best priced starter homes seem to be disappearing quite quickly.  Sometimes they are disappearing within a month of being on the market.  Considering that the average time on market right now in our are is over 70 days, this is quite fast.  Beyond this, both the lenders I know and the other agents I know who work with first time buyers are saying that they are quite busy.What does this mean for prospective buyers?  Well some of the leverage they had with sellers early in the fall seems to be disappearing this winter.  I ... 01/07/2007

Washington State offers qualified first time home buyers a great deal on their mortgage. Their current rates are between 5.375 and 5.875 on a 30 year fixed mortgage. They offer zero down home assistance programs allowing you to get into a home for right around 1000 dollars. In order to qualify for these rates you need to take a first time buyers class. It will be held on January 20th from 8 AM to 1 PM. If you are interested in learning more about the house key program you can go to http://www.wshfc.org/buyers/key.htm and to sign up for the class call me. (Erik Wecks - Windermere Real Estate/Stellar Group) at 360-624-3674. Erik Wecks Providing the information you need to make great decisions http://erikwecks.com/ 01/06/2007

It was reported, mid year, that the housing market in SW Washington cooled about 28% as compared to 2005.  One would expect to see something similar in the amount of inspections performed.  However, it seems that this is largely dependent on what home inspection firm you are referring to.We know Realtors that are busier this year than they were last year, but these are well established Realtors.  The same is true with our own Company, Nickelsen Home Inspections, LLC based out of Vancouver, Washington and Puyallup.  Compared to a year ago, we are not down 28% but up almost 12%--not counting the addition of any new inspectors that have joined the Company.While it seems logical that some inspectors are bearing the brunt of the cooling market, it appears that the cooling market had actually... 12/21/2006

Integrity first!  Service before self!  Excellence in all I do!  I'm a 24 year USAF Veteran w/experience in sales, contract negotiation, and marketing strategies.  Global Sales & AIDA Certified, Occupational Instructor Certified, MBA, BS, TS-BI/NAC.   On arrival to Vancouver Washington my family and I did not find government leased housing acceptable, so we built our own home and then decided to do something to help the other service members detached from their bases.  We started buying nice new homes under 5 years old and leasing them to the local military troops.  Since my retirement and needless to say with four children and a huge cut in my income I needed to do somthing, I knew I liked real estate and helping other families.  I decided as an agent I could do both and that would kee... 12/17/2006