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        <title>Pacific Northwest Real Estate Blog</title>
        <link>https://www.pearlrealty.com/blog/</link>
        <description>A real estate blog dedicated to providing current details on all Kootenai &amp; Spokane County Real Estate market trends, communities, schools, parks, and much more!</description>
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    <guid>https://www.pearlrealty.com/blog/crossing-for-a-cause.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.pearlrealty.com/blog/crossing-for-a-cause.html</link>
        <author>info@pearlrealty.com (Pearl Realty)</author>
        <title>Crossing for a cause</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
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:




Come, swim and enjoy.


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 Continental Breakfast buffet at the Hagadone Event Center for you and your guest (extra tickets available), and compete for awards and prizes. 




Check out their website for more information HERE



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    <pubDate>Mon, 12 Aug 2019 13:14:00 -0700</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.pearlrealty.com/blog/coeur-dalene-little-league-all-stars.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.pearlrealty.com/blog/coeur-dalene-little-league-all-stars.html</link>
        <author>info@pearlrealty.com (Pearl Realty)</author>
        <title> 2019 Little League All-Stars</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
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


    
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Mon, 12 Aug 2019 11:25:00 -0700</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.pearlrealty.com/blog/lake-city-academy.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.pearlrealty.com/blog/lake-city-academy.html</link>
        <author>info@pearlrealty.com (Pearl Realty)</author>
        <title>Lake City Academy</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
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:


&quot;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.&quot;


 &quot;Lake City Junior Academy wants to develop in students the aptitude for every kind of learning, being well informed and quick to understand; healthy in mind, body and soul; leaders that have deep moral and ethical convictions; faithfulness without fear; a passion for serving others; so that they can function in the “real world” and be prepared for the future that is to come.&quot;


 Thank you for the shout-out at the end of your Facebook Video - Featured HERE


 
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 09 Aug 2019 12:22:00 -0700</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.pearlrealty.com/blog/two-major-factors-to-consider-when-selling-your-home.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.pearlrealty.com/blog/two-major-factors-to-consider-when-selling-your-home.html</link>
        <author>info@pearlrealty.com (Pearl Realty)</author>
        <title>Two Major Factors to Consider When Selling Your Home </title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
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 takes more than a sign in your yard to sell your home fast. You need a pro with a plan, and a short deadline calls for the best in the business


A true pro knows there’s strength in numbers and brings a creative mind and a mile-long contacts list to expose your home to as many buyers as possible. Look for a high-octane agent who closes a minimum of 35 home transactions per year and has at least four years of real estate experience.


With the right agent, you can get top dollar for your home even when time is short.  (from Dave Ramsey website) 
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Tue, 10 Jan 2017 09:43:00 -0800</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.pearlrealty.com/blog/should-i-sell-my-house-how-to-tell-if-the-time-is-right.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.pearlrealty.com/blog/should-i-sell-my-house-how-to-tell-if-the-time-is-right.html</link>
        <author>info@pearlrealty.com (Pearl Realty)</author>
        <title>Should I Sell My House? How to Tell If the Time Is Right</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    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 to calculate your home equity


A key variable in the decision on whether to sell your home is how much equity you’ve built up over the years. Home equity is the amount of money tied up in your house—what you’d receive if you sold it, minus what you owe on your mortgage.


So how do you calculate your home equity? You’ll need two numbers: the remaining balance on your mortgage and what your home is currently worth. You can get a ballpark of the latter by typing your address into realtor.com®’s home value estimator. For a more in-depth assessment, ask your real estate agent, who will do an analysis by checking comparables, or comps (the prices of recently sold, similar homes in your area), as well as other aspects of your home.


Here’s how this calculation looks with actual numbers: Let’s say you purchased your home for $300,000, but its market value has risen to $325,000. Let’s also assume that you’ve whittled down your mortgage over the years so that all you owe is $75,000. To get your home equity, subtract $75,000 from $325,000 and you have $250,000 in home equity, which is pretty sweet


Of course, the more you owe on your mortgage and/or the more your home’s price has plummeted, the less home equity you have. If that number is much smaller or even negative (which can happen if housing prices plummet), consider holding off on selling until conditions improve.


Is it a seller’s or buyer’s market? Here’s how to tell


Another factor in deciding if it’s time to sell is whether you’re in a seller’s market. This essentially means that the demand for homes is outpacing the supply, which gives sellers more leverage during negotiations. To figure out if you’re in a seller’s market, browse through some listings and look for these two signs: houses are selling for over asking price, and homes aren’t sitting on the market for long (generally less than six months). If that describes your area, then it’s a great time to sell. (Just don’t forget that if you sell, you may also have to buy, which may present problems unless you’re leaving the area.)


On the other hand, if homes in your area are selling for under asking price and sitting over six months, that means you’re in a buyer’s market and that market forces aren’t working in your favor. This means if you want top dollar you may want to wait.


What’s up with interest rates on mortgages?


If you’re planning to sell your home and buy a new one, you should definitely consider interest rates on mortgages. Fortunately, right now, interest rates are at historic lows, hovering around 4. That’s an astounding deal In the ’80s, they were a whopping 17.48—and while they probably won’t shoot up quite as high in the near future, we’re expecting them to move up by next year. Homeowners eager to upgrade to their dream home might want to grab them while they can.


Have your housing needs changed?


Market forces and interest rates aren’t the only things to keep in mind when deciding if you should sell your home. A lot has to do with you, and whether the house suits your space requirements. For instance: Is your current place too small now that you’ve been joined by a couple of kids—or is it too big now that your grown children have moved out on their own? Both scenarios are fine reasons to find a home that better suits your needs, so be sure to consider all of these factors in weighing whether the time is right to sell.


This article was written by   Jamie Wiebe and originally published on realtor.com
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Thu, 10 Nov 2016 11:51:00 -0800</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.pearlrealty.com/blog/4-things-home-buyers-worried-about-a-housing-bubble-should-consider.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.pearlrealty.com/blog/4-things-home-buyers-worried-about-a-housing-bubble-should-consider.html</link>
        <author>info@pearlrealty.com (Pearl Realty)</author>
        <title>4 Things Home Buyers Worried About a Housing Bubble Should Consider</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 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 continues to grow and evolve.


2. Mortgage requirements


Despite what many will tell you, getting a mortgage can be intense. It requires full documentation, including tax returns, pay stubs, letters of explanation and thorough due diligence. As long as strong requirements remain in place to secure financing, one thing is for sure: A financial collapse, if it does happen, likely won’t spawn from abusive lending practices.


3. Housing risks


Let’s say you’re putting off buying a home because you’re worried about another financial crisis. If that’s the case, you need to define what it is that you are most concerned about. If you’re concerned about your job and the future of your income, that should play a bigger role in whether you buy a home.


If your financial house is in order, but you are still not sure about buying a home because you’re worried about the market being in a bubble, you should ask yourself, “Why am I buying a house to begin with?” If your intention is to buy a house to capitalize on some market appreciation and then quickly turn around and sell, well, then, yes, you should be concerned about not being able to recoup your investment, as real estate is a long-term hold vehicle.


If, however, you are looking to purchase a home to have a roof over your head, enjoy the home, and live there for the next five to seven years, at a minimum. You may do very well for yourself. This also includes the additional tax benefit you’ll have that you wouldn’t with renting.


4. The market itself


Ultra-low mortgage rates have been around for the last few years, so at some point interest rates have to go up. The question is when. If you’re trying to purchase a home and you are qualified at a 3.625 30-year fixed rate, for example, and interest rates rise to 4.375, you may not be able to qualify for as much house.


Rising rates also means fewer mortgage loan originations, which means profitability in the secondary market diminishes. The only way to keep profitability going is to keep the engine running with new loan originations, and the only way to do that in a higher interest rate environment is with less restrictive underwriting.


Looser credit to the degree of the financial crisis is unlikely, given regulations that were introduced in its aftermath, but it may lead lenders to extend mortgages to applicants with slightly higher debt-to-income ratios on conventional loans or to show a bit more leniency to self-employed borrowers, for example. That’s the only practical way to offset rising rates while supporting the housing market.


So, should you buy a house or not? That depends on whether you are comfortable with the interest rate and the payment that you’re getting, and whether you feel that you can afford that payment for the long haul. If you can afford the payment and your estimated property hold time is for a while, you’re likely in a safe position. If you’re unsure about the future of your finances, perhaps buying a home right now is not in the cards.


Remember, too, purchasing a home requires a credit check, so it’s important to know where yours stands before starting the process. You can view two of your free credit scores, updated every 14 days, on Credit.com.


 


 


This article was written by Scott Sheldon and originally published on Credit.com.
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Tue, 08 Nov 2016 11:36:00 -0800</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.pearlrealty.com/blog/buying-a-home-in-plain-english.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.pearlrealty.com/blog/buying-a-home-in-plain-english.html</link>
        <author>info@pearlrealty.com (Pearl Realty)</author>
        <title>The Home-Buying Process in Plain English</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 

 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Tue, 22 Sep 2015 08:41:00 -0700</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.pearlrealty.com/blog/do-you-have-equity-on-your-side.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.pearlrealty.com/blog/do-you-have-equity-on-your-side.html</link>
        <author>info@pearlrealty.com (Pearl Realty)</author>
        <title>Do you have equity on your side?</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
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 what your home is worth on your own. This job calls for a pro who knows firsthand what buyers are paying for similar homes in your area. Give us a call to ensure you’re working with accurate numbers. 208.762.5500
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Wed, 18 Mar 2015 14:11:09 -0700</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.pearlrealty.com/blog/two-great-reasons-to-buy-not-rent.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.pearlrealty.com/blog/two-great-reasons-to-buy-not-rent.html</link>
        <author>info@pearlrealty.com (Pearl Realty)</author>
        <title>Two Great Reasons to Buy not Rent</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
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:






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    <pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2015 14:37:00 -0700</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.pearlrealty.com/blog/5-reasons-to-sell-now.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.pearlrealty.com/blog/5-reasons-to-sell-now.html</link>
        <author>info@pearlrealty.com (Pearl Realty)</author>
        <title>5 Reasons to Sell Before Spring</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
5 Reasons to Sell Your Home 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 last spring’s buyers’ market. These buyers are ready, willing and able to purchase… and are in the market right now Take advantage of the buyer activity currently in the market.


2. There Is Less Competition Now


In many areas, there are not enough homes for sale to satisfy the number of buyers in that market. This is good news for home prices However, additional inventory is about to come to market. Many homeowners are wanting to move but were unable to sell over the last few years because of a negative equity situation. Homeowners are now seeing a return to positive equity as real estate values have increased over the last two years. Many of these homes will be coming to the market in the near future. Also, new construction of single-family homes is again beginning to increase. A recent study by Harris Poll revealed that 41 of buyers would prefer to buy a new home while only 21 prefer an existing home (38 had no preference). The choices buyers have will increase in the spring. Don’t wait until all this other inventory of homes comes to market before you sell. 


3. The Process Will Be Quicker


One of the biggest challenges of the housing market has been the length of time it takes from contract (an accepted offer) to closing. Banks are requiring more and more paperwork before approving a mortgage. There is less overall business done in the winter. Therefore, the process will easier than it will be in the spring. Getting your house sold and closed before the spring delays begin will lend itself to a smoother transaction.


4. There Will Never Be a Better Time to Move-Up


If you are moving up to a larger, more expensive home, consider doing it now. Prices are projected to appreciate by over 23.5 from now to 2019. If you are moving to a higher priced home, it will wind-up costing you more in raw dollars (both in down payment and mortgage payment) if you wait. You can also lock-in your 30-year housing expense with an interest rate below 4 right now. Rates are projected to be a full point higher by the end of 2015.


5. It’s Time to Move On with Your Life


Look at the reason you decided to sell in the first place and determine whether it is worth waiting. Is money more important than being with family? Is money more important than your health? Is money more important than having the freedom to go on with your life the way you think you should? Only you know the answers to the questions above. You have the power to take back control of the situation by putting your home on the market. Perhaps, the time has come for you and your family to move on and start living the life you desire.


Provided by The KCM Crew
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    <pubDate>Thu, 05 Mar 2015 11:42:00 -0800</pubDate>
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