Pearl Realty | Pacific Northwest Real Estate Blog

This month, we enjoyed our sponsorship of the Coeur d'Alene Crossing race!

Coeur d’Alene Crossing is a yearly event held in August on the banks of Lake Coeur d'Alene.  It is a 2.4 or 1.2 Mile Open Water Swim to benefit 3 local non-profits: Union Gospel Mission, North Idaho College Booster Club and the Coeur d'Alene Area Swim Team.

The competition is a point to point open water swim. Participants can choose between 2.4 or 1.2 mile distance. The start is at Arrow Point and the finish is at the Hagadone Event Center. 

There are three ways to participate:

  1. Come, swim and enjoy.
  2. Compete and help raise money for either the North Idaho College Booster Club, The Union Gospel Mission, or the Coeur d' Alene Area Swim Team (CAST). Be a part of the…

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WE LOVE LITTLE LEAGUE!

It was our absolute pleasure to donate to the Coeur d'Alene Little League All-Star Team for their adventure to San Bernadino, CA for the 2019 Little League World Series regional finals.

Although their tour is over for this year, the team gave it their all and represented our area tremendously well!  It was really fun to watch these talented players on ESPN, what a fun way to represent our Hometown!  Congratulations CDALL on an amazing 2019 season!

~ The Pearl Team

 Conference Rd Baseball   

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CONGRATULATIONS Lake City Academy on your new building!

Education has been a large part of Pearl Realty's focus when giving back to the community, and the Lake City Academy's vision of education makes a positive impact on so many people in our local area.  It was our pleasure to donate to this school.

Information from their website, lakecityacademy.org:

"Education is not about forcing kids to learn a list of facts. We know that we can’t “force” kids to learn anything; they are not programmable robots. As educators, what we can do is create the environment in which learning is most likely to be successful for the individual student. As a Christian school with smaller class sizes we can better personalize our program for each student."

 "Lake…

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Price It Right

This is no time to put your emotions in the driver’s seat. If you really want to move the needle, you’ve got to price your home to sell. It doesn’t matter how much you paid for it eight years ago or what you owe on your mortgage. Your home is worth what buyers will pay, plain and simple.

Price it too high, and buyers will pass it up without ever stepping through the door. Price it too low, and you’ll give it away to the first taker. Work with an experienced real estate agent to find a happy medium so you don’t lose time or money. Your agent can help you set a competitive price by comparing recent sales of homes in your area.

Hire a Mover and Shaker

Don’t waste your time on an agent who only sells a handful of homes a year. It…

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should-i-sell-my-house

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Fantasista/iStock

No matter how many fond memories you’ve accumulated in your home, there may come a time when you start wondering: Should I sell my place? Maybe it’s because your local real estate market is booming and you stand to score a sweet payout. Maybe you’re relocating. Or your expanding family has outgrown your space. Or you’re just looking for a change of scenery. But questioning is easy; deciding to put your house on the market is tough.

Here are some steps to help you pinpoint when the time is right.

How…

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housing-bubble-blue                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 juliannafunk/iStock


It’s 2016, and home prices are rising near the levels of the housing market just before the crash. Many are asking—and wondering — if we are in some kind of housing bubble. But are we? Here are a few things to consider if you’re worried about another housing bubble.

1. The overall economy

Unemployment is low, wage growth is strong and the tech sector is hiring in droves. The Federal Reserve raised interest rates last December, and they’re likely to raise rates again in the near future as the economy…

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Do You Have Equity on Your Side?

 

When the housing bubble burst, home values plummeted, sending many mortgages underwater. Thankfully, the tide has turned: According to RealtyTrac, negative equity rates are at their lowest level since peaking in 2012.

• As of the end of the third quarter, 16.9 percent of U.S. homeowners with a mortgage are underwater, down from a peak of 31.4 percent in 2012 Q1.
• The negative equity rate is less than half of its peak value in 23 of the largest 35 metro areas.
• Negative equity is forecasted to fall further, projected to be 15.2 percent in 2015 Q3.
• 1.9 percent of homeowners with a mortgage remain significantly underwater, owing more than twice their homes’ value.

A word of advice: Don’t try to figure out…

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Two Great Reasons to Buy not Rent

There are many people debating whether they should renew the lease on their apartment or sign a contract to purchase their first home. Based on a recent study, here are two reasons buying a home might make more sense:

Two Great Reasons to Buy not Rent | Keeping Current Matters

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5 Reasons to Sell Your Home Before Spring

No Matter What The Groundhog Says... You Should Sell Before Spring!

Is spring closer than we think? Depending on which Groundhog you witnessed, you may have less time than you think to get your home on the market before the busy spring season. Many sellers feel that the spring is the best time to place their home on the market as buyer demand traditionally increases at that time of year. However, the next six weeks before spring hits also have their own advantages.

5 Reasons to Sell Now

1. Demand is Strong

Foot traffic refers to the number of people out actually physically looking at homes right now. The latest foot traffic numbers show that there are currently more prospective purchasers looking at homes than at any other time in the last 12 months, which includes…

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