Vancouver Wa Real Estate - Elite Realty NW

 
Daydreaming of Faraway Places!

When you choose us to handle your Vancouver Washington real estate needs, you choose a team of Realtors® who care about you and your family. Buying or selling a home is always more enjoyable when you work with professionals who will listen to your needs and who will work together with you to achieve your objective. We are very familiar with all types a real estate in Clark County and we specialize in Vancouver, Ridgefield and Battle Ground. We are also very experienced with new home and custom home construction having assisted several local builders in selling new neighborhoods in the Vancouver Washington area.  Additionally, we have helped numerous families build their ownVancouver Washington dream homes. We are dedicated to helping you make intelligent, informed decisions and to providing you with exceptional service. Go to www.ernw.org for more information. See our video here

Dear Builders, Maybe You Shouldn't Build On EVERY Available Lot!

I was out with a first time home buyer who is looking for newer construction homes in the lower price range of the market. Some of the homes that I found were interesting to say the least.

This one was literally built 25 feet off of SR 500 in Vancouver WA. I took this picture out of the window in the master bedroom of this new construction home.. It was so loud in this room that we could barely hold a conversation. Needless to say, my client wasn't interested in this one so we moved on to other homes in the area.

What would possess a builder to put a home here? I am sure that he got the lot cheap, but when is building not a good idea?


When you choose us to handle your Vancouver Washington real estate needs, you choose a team of Realtors® who care about you and your family. Buying or selling a home is always more enjoyable when you work with professionals who will listen to your needs and who will work together with you to achieve your objective. We are very familiar with all types a real estate in Clark County and we specialize in Vancouver, Ridgefield and Battle Ground. We are also very experienced with new home and custom home construction having assisted several local builders in selling new neighborhoods in the Vancouver Washington area.  Additionally, we have helped numerous families build their own Vancouver Washington dream homes. We are dedicated to helping you make intelligent, informed decisions and to providing you with exceptional service. Go to www.ernw.org for more information. See our video here.

2009 Clark County Parade of Homes. See it here first! (BOOTLEG photos!)

A few days ago, I had the opportunity to walk through the new 2009 Clark County Parade of Homes site and tour the homes that are currently being constructed. Security is tight and there are no public tours available. I managed to get invited to walk through each of the homes with the BIA's Parade of Homes marketing committee. This year's parde is being held at Camellia, Clark County's newest gated community. Camellia's parklike setting will be the perfect venue for this year's event.

I can tell you that these homes will be nothing short of fantastic and this year's parade should be awesome. Based on what I have seen so far, you will NOT want to miss this year's parade. Here are a few pics that I managed to sneak with my spy camera! Keep checking back and I will post more bootleg pics as they become available.

This is the home that Tamarack Homes is building for the parade. Rumors are flying about this gorgeous custom home. (No, it will not be Orange when it is finished!) It is slated to be a LEED Platinum certified home! More pics to come!

I will call this "The Home That Marta Built."  The design and decor is based on a European chateau. Currently, it is the closest to completion. It is full of surprises and beautiful details!

I am working on photos for the other parade entries. No time now. Check in later for updates and new photos!

BTW, if you want to see official pictures of the Clark County Parade of Homes and stay up to date on all of the latest parade developments, become a fan on FaceBook at:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Clark-County-Parade-of-Homes/201045595248?ref=ts



When you choose us to handle your Vancouver Washington real estate needs, you choose a team of Realtors® who care about you and your family. Buying or selling a home is always more enjoyable when you work with professionals who will listen to your needs and who will work together with you to achieve your objective. We are very familiar with all types a real estate in Clark County and we specialize in Vancouver, Ridgefield and Battle Ground. We are also very experienced with new home and custom home construction having assisted several local builders in selling new neighborhoods in the Vancouver Washington area.  Additionally, we have helped numerous families build their own Vancouver Washington dream homes. We are dedicated to helping you make intelligent, informed decisions and to providing you with exceptional service. Go to www.ernw.org for more information. See our video here.

 Planning On Moving Up?

I took this shot the other day and knew that I had to find a way to use it. This tree is in the middle of a round-about that is located in a new sub-division here in Vancouver WA. I applaud the builders who found a way to save this wonderful tree!

When you choose us to handle your Vancouver Washington real estate needs, you choose a team of Realtors® who care about you and your family. Buying or selling a home is always more enjoyable when you work with professionals who will listen to your needs and who will work together with you to achieve your objective. We are very familiar with all types a real estate in Clark County and we specialize in Vancouver, Ridgefield and Battle Ground. We are also very experienced with new home and custom home construction having assisted several local builders in selling new neighborhoods in the Vancouver Washington area.  Additionally, we have helped numerous families build their own Vancouver Washington dream homes. We are dedicated to helping you make intelligent, informed decisions and to providing you with exceptional service. Go to www.ernw.org for more information. See our video here.

Hey Guys, I just found this at Varbuzz.com. It was written by Andrew Kantor in Virginia. Do you think Paris will soon be here on Active Rain? What do you think she might blog about? Maybe she will share her thoughts on being a business woman. I, for one, can't wait!

Paris Hilton a Realtor?
Paris Hilton, famous for being famous, has told the British magazine Tatler that she is considering a career in real estate.

"I'm a brand. I'm a businesswoman," she said in an interview. "I do everything - I act, I sing, I design, I write books. What I love the most is the business part. I like what it is leading to. I eventually want to get involved in real estate."

Ms. Hilton is a resident of California, where she presumably would be licensed.
Andrew Kantor

When you choose us to handle your Vancouver Washington real estate needs, you choose a team of Realtors® who care about you and your family. Buying or selling a home is always more enjoyable when you work with professionals who will listen to your needs and who will work together with you to achieve your objective. We are very familiar with all types a real estate in Clark County and we specialize in Vancouver, Ridgefield and Battle Ground. We are also very experienced with new home and custom home construction having assisted several local builders in selling new neighborhoods in the Vancouver Washington area.  Additionally, we have helped numerous families build their own Vancouver Washington dream homes. We are dedicated to helping you make intelligent, informed decisions and to providing you with exceptional service. Go to www.ernw.org for more information. See our video here.

Starter Homes Are Drying Up In Vancouver Washington!

We have spent a huge amount of time on the MLS lately searching for those classic first time buyer starter homes.

Two months ago a search for homes up to $200,000 would have provided a list of 60 or 70 homes to comb through. We would filter out the junk and pass the remaining 20 to 25 homes to our clients for consideration.

Today, that same search is giving us a list of only 40 to 50 with the majority of them being major fixers or short sales which inexperienced agents are clearly under pricing them. A search this morning rendered only 5 homes in Clark County that were worth looking at and available to purchase today!

I am afraid that there are going to be large numbers of first time home buyers in this area who end up settling on something less than what they want or miss the boat all together.

Is it possible that we have bottomed out at the first time home buyer level of the market?

When you choose us to handle your Vancouver Washington real estate needs, you choose a team of Realtors® who care about you and your family. Buying or selling a home is always more enjoyable when you work with professionals who will listen to your needs and who will work together with you to achieve your objective. We are very familiar with all types a real estate in Clark County and we specialize in Vancouver, Ridgefield and Battle Ground. We are also very experienced with new home and custom home construction having assisted several local builders in selling new neighborhoods in the Vancouver Washington area.  Additionally, we have helped numerous families build their own Vancouver Washington dream homes. We are dedicated to helping you make intelligent, informed decisions and to providing you with exceptional service. Go to www.ernw.org for more information. See our video here.

If You Are Trying To Time The Bottom Of The Market, You Will End Up With The Junk!

I read an interesting article the other day in the LA Times in which a real estate investor made an interesting comment:

"If you are trying to time the bottom of the market, you will end up with the junk."

I would like to add to his comment by saying that you won't only end up with "the junk," but you will also overpay for it and not get the best mortgage rates that are available.

How can I say this with such authority? Here are a few simple real estate truths:

1. Homes are selling in our current market and, simply put, the best homes are always the ones that sell first.

2. Homes that are priced the best in this market are always the ones that sell first.

3. Homes that are in the best condition AND priced the best are usually snapped up in the first week. YES, even in this market!

Now consider that we will not know where the bottom of the market is until we have passed through it and we are trending back up.

Knowing that the best homes at the best prices sell first and also knowing that there will be a delay in us knowing that we have reached the bottom of the market means that the only homes that will be available will be either over priced or junk.

Photo by Nash C81
When you choose us to handle your Vancouver Washington real estate needs, you choose a team of Realtors® who care about you and your family. Buying or selling a home is always more enjoyable when you work with professionals who will listen to your needs and who will work together with you to achieve your objective. We are very familiar with all types a real estate in Clark County and we specialize in Vancouver, Ridgefield and Battle Ground. We are also very experienced with new home and custom home construction having assisted several local builders in selling new neighborhoods in the Vancouver Washington area.  Additionally, we have helped numerous families build their own Vancouver Washington dream homes. We are dedicated to helping you make intelligent, informed decisions and to providing you with exceptional service. Go to www.ernw.org for more information. See our video here.

Our next Vancouver Green Drinks event is fast approaching.  The details:

May 26th at Who Song & Larry's

Informal intros will start @ 6PM but feel free to gather earlier.

This month our 5 min spiel speaker is Jill Sughrue of Sustain-NW.  She is the chair of the newly established Lower Columbia Alliance for Living Sustainably.  LOCALS provides opportunities through marketing, education and networking for local businesses and interested individuals to work together in support of a vibrant and sustainable SW Washington.  Join LOCALS and get involved in one or more of the five program areas:  Think Local First, Sustainable Business Practices, Green Building & Smart Growth, Energy Efficiency & Renewables, and Food & Farm.

For more information, see www.discoverLOCALS.org.

Upcoming events

Block Foam Collection events
For Block Foam (Styrofoam^TM) Recycling:

Recycle your clean, dry block foam at one of the free events listed below.

August 1 and October 3
9 a.m - 1 p.m, Fisher's Landing Transit Center, 3510 SE 164th Avenue, Vancouver

June 6 and September 5
9 a.m. - 1 p.m, Clark College Yellow 1 Parking Lot, Fort Vancouver Way

Recycling-est Neighborhoods- May 27 & 28th

Every year, the City of Vancouver solid waste program teams up with the Office of Neighborhoods to put on the Recycling-est Neighborhood program.  To participate, each neighborhood sends a representative to one of three training sessions that last from 1.5-2 hours.  Some of the sessions include tours of the transfer station.  After the training, individuals write or use a pre-written recycling information article for their own neighborhood newsletter.  This year, the County neighborhood associations will be participating as well.

If your neighborhood association is interested in being involved in the Recycling-est Neighborhood Program this year, let your neighborhood chair know that you'd like to participate and make sure you register with Elsie Deatherage, City of Vancouver Solid Waste, 360-619-4122.

Clark County Habitat ReStore & CREAM are now open!

Go to the Habitat ReStore's website at www.clarkcountyrestore.org to learn more or to sign up to volunteer.

CREAM program information can be found here: http://www.upgradeyourcommunity.org/         

 The stores are open Tuesday thru Saturday, 9 a.m.-5. p.m.

When you choose us to handle your Vancouver Washington real estate needs, you choose a team of Realtors® who care about you and your family. Buying or selling a home is always more enjoyable when you work with professionals who will listen to your needs and who will work together with you to achieve your objective. We are very familiar with all types a real estate in Clark County and we specialize in Vancouver, Ridgefield and Battle Ground. We are also very experienced with new home and custom home construction having assisted several local builders in selling new neighborhoods in the Vancouver Washington area.  Additionally, we have helped numerous families build their own Vancouver Washington dream homes. We are dedicated to helping you make intelligent, informed decisions and to providing you with exceptional service. Go to www.ernw.org for more information. See our video here.

First Time Home Buyers - There Ain't No Nothing Left!

We picked up a new client this weekend who came to us out of sheer frustration. He had been searching for a new home in Vancouver Washington via the internet for the past several months. He had been finding homes here and there that peaked his interest. He said that in the past 2 weeks it seemed like the homes in his price range (up to $190,000) had just dried up. Laughing, he said in a fake hick twang, "There ain't no nothing left!"

I assured him that we would find him something and immediately performed a search on our MLS. Guess what? He might be right!

My search provided 55 results scattered throughout Vancouver Washington. More than half of them were short sales which were negotiating multiple offers. More than 20% were bank owned homes with offers that were waiting for bank approval before marking them pending. Of course there were the short sales with no offers but my first time home buyer wants to avoid those because he is afraid that a short sale might drag on and cause him to miss his $8000 First Time Home Buyer's Tax Credit. The homes that were left were all priced a bit on the high side and look like they need a bit of "sweat equity" to bring them up to par with their neighborhoods. There were only 5 homes listed that fit his needs!

How can that be?!

Are we seeing the bottom of this segment of our market? Market reports are showing that first time home buyers are buying homes at an furious pace. They have been on the sidelines but they have finally learned that this is a buyer's market! Or is it?

As these people slide off the fence and start making offers, the starter home level of the market will dry up. The smoking hot deals that are filling the headlines will go away and leave many first time buyers asking themselves how they missed out.

I am curious to know what you think. Are we at the bottom of our market? Will prices finally start to appreciate in the first time home buyer segment?

When you choose us to handle your Vancouver Washington real estate needs, you choose a team of Realtors® who care about you and your family. Buying or selling a home is always more enjoyable when you work with professionals who will listen to your needs and who will work together with you to achieve your objective. We are very familiar with all types a real estate in Clark County and we specialize in Vancouver, Ridgefield and Battle Ground. We are also very experienced with new home and custom home construction having assisted several local builders in selling new neighborhoods in the Vancouver Washington area.  Additionally, we have helped numerous families build their own Vancouver Washington dream homes. We are dedicated to helping you make intelligent, informed decisions and to providing you with exceptional service. Go to www.ernw.org for more information. See our video here.