Armed with nothing more than a satchel full of door hangers and a few posters, we took to the streets of Downtown Vancouver Washington. The web page isn't completely up to speed but if I waited util everything was just perfect, we would never launch. It is better to get it launched and then make adjustments as we go. Ready. Fire! Aim.

We met a few folks and let them know what we were up to. (That keeps them from calling the cops on "the suspicious fellow who keeps go up to everyone's door!) A few dogs, no cops, the sun was shining, the people were great, and we got a bit of excercise.

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 Countyand 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 dream homes. We are dedicated to helping you make intelligent, informed decisions and to providing you with exceptional service.

Steel Head Fishing On The Washougal River, Washington Real

Here is a quick recap for fishing on the Washougal River. Of course, you should always check the latest pamphlet to make sure that you not violating any new regulations. BTW, we have an awesome deal on 10 riverfront acres for sale in the Washougal River. Bring all offers. This one needs to go quick!

Photos by Mark Hall. When you choose us to handle your Vancouver Washington real estateneeds, 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 BattleGround. 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. Steel Head Fishing On The Washougal River, Washington Real

Buying A Home In A Market That Is Saturated With Short Sales - Vancouver Wa Real Estate

In a normal market, our Free MLS Search Tools work perfectly. Anyone can log and check out the latest listings with minimal delay. Or system - www.Elite-MLS.com works great and gives everyone in the Vancouver Wa area a safe and secure way to search the net for homes.

Recently, there have been a few issues in our market that have given our clients trouble. Our Free MLS Search tool for the Vancouver Wa area doesn't allow people to see if the homes that they are looking at are short sales. Combine that with the fact that many agents who have short sale listings don't have a clue as to what they are doing, and you have a recipe for disaster.

"I Want This Home And I Will Pay Full Asking Price"

Unfortunately, when it comes to short sales in Vancouver Wa, full asking price may not be enough. Many agents don't have experience with negotiating short sales and list it at an unrealistic price that is well below the market value. They feel that they are safe in doing that because the bank has to give final approval before the sale can close. The problem is that many buyers look at the listing, have no way of knowing that it is a short sale, and believe that they can actually buy the home at the offered price. This doesn't really become a problem until the market reaches a ratio where there are more short sales than regular sales. Right now in Vancouver Washington, that has happened. There are far more short sales than regular sales in the area. Buyers search the internet and are confused as to why most of the homes that they find are unavailable. I want this home. Why can I buy it at its asking price?

An experienced buyer's agent can help you through this dilemma and save you countless hours on the internet searching for homes.  A few (very few) short sale homes are actually available at their asking prices. The trick is to find an agent who can guide you through the process and find homes that are good deals and available to close quickly.

Call us today for a buyer's appointment and let us show you where the real deals in real estate are!

When you choose us to handle your Vancouver WA 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 WA 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.  This post written by Mark Hall all rights reserved. Buying A Home In A Market That I Saturated With Short Sales - Vancouver Wa Real Estate

I found this excellent post by Jeff Dowler down in California and I wanted to share it with the people selling their homes in Vancouver Washington. These tips hold true in any market. If you are selling your home in Vancouver Washington,  you should read this and pay close attention.

Playing Hooky. Riverfront Properties On The Washougal River For Sale -Washington

Today I worked a little bit of over time. You see, one of the advantages of having riverfront properties on the Washougal River for sale is the ability to take a fishing rod with you whenever you need to visit your listing. Pictures for the MLS? Let's go fishing! Need to put up the directional signs? Let's go fishing! Hmmm... I wonder if the signs are still up? Better go check!

Today was a good day of work. Two small trout and a native steel head. I love this job!

Hey fisherman, are you thinking about buying your piece of fishing paradise?  We can help. Whether you are looking to buy a home or a lot to build on later, we can help. You can play hooky every day right in your own backyard. We understand what is important to you when looking for your riverfront property on the Washougal River for sale.

Riverfront Properties For Sale On The Washougal River

When you choose us to handle your Vancouver WA 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 WA 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.  This post written by Mark Hall all rights reserved. Playing Hooky. Riverfront Properties On The Washougal River For Sale -Washington

 I found this at a job site where I was volunteering. If it weren't so sad, it would be comical. This home has sat vacant for over 15 years. The owner has Alzheimer's disease and left the home to sit when her husband died in 1995. Yes, that IS a big spider!

This is what it looked like when I got there.

When you choose us to handle your Vancouver WA 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 WA 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.  This post written by Mark Hall all rights reserved.

"Sure, I do short sales!"

Short Sale Buyers, Be Sure To Hire The Right Agent To Represent You!

Currently, 32 of my 35 listings are short sales. This wasn't by design. We were some of the first agents to negotiate short sales in our area and I guess we got a good reputation. Lately, I have been noticing a disturbing trend with short sales. Buyers are hanging in with the transaction until the bank counters with a higher price and then they bail out of the deal. Sometimes the counter is astronomically high and other times it is just a few thousand bucks. When they rescind their offer, we put it back on the market as a "bank approved" short sale. We know the price that is acceptable to the lender and we can close quickly at that price.

What disturbs me is what often happens next. A buyer comes along and writes an offer on the "approved" short sale. Most of the time the offer is less than what was approved. This causes the file to be put back into negotiations and the process starts all over again. Sometimes this process can take months.

I recently had a condo short sale deal that was approved at $160,000. Nothing has sold in the complex for less than $180,000 since it was built. This was a smoking hot deal for who ever wanted to step in and take it. An agent showed up with qualified buyers and wrote an offer for $156,000.  ???

I spent the next 2 months re negotiating with the bank only to have them counter at the same $160,000. The buyer walked on the deal! I now have other agents calling and asking if the bank would accept lesser amounts.

Uh... NO!

Let's look at the facts:

1. It comps out all day long at $180,000. That is $20,000 more than the price that the bank is willing to accept. Take it!

2. The bank is willing to close quickly on the approved price. Take it!

3. Any offer that is lower than the approved price means that negotiations will need to be re opened and the possibility of a successful deal is lowered exponentially. Take the approved deal!

Buyers - Are you looking specifically for a short sale? If so, interview your agent and only pick an agent who is experienced with these types of deals. You need an agent who is experienced at navigating the mine field that we affectionately call short sales. Ask them a few tough questions: How many short sales have you closed this year? Please provide proof! Do you list short sales? Please provide proof! Have you ever negotiated a short sale to a successful close? Please provide proof! I think you can see where I am going with this...

Please make my life easier and hire a qualified agent to handle your purchase!

When you choose us to handle your Vancouver Washington real estateneeds, 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 BattleGround. 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. Short Sale Buyers, Be Sure To Hire The Right Agent To Represent You!

I Just Found Out That I Only Have 46 Years Left To Live!

I have a friend and client named Matt. He is a mortgage broker for Met Life Home Loans. He is so ADHD that he can barely hold a conversation. (He knows it and readily admits it, so I am not talking behind his back here.) Actually, HE can hold it. I just can't even come close to keeping up! A few weeks back, we were talking about a sub-division project that he has listed with us when he started talking about the value of knowing exactly when you are expected to die. (I told you he was ADHD!) He told me about the power that it had given him and how he had changed his life based on his new knowledge.

With his encouragement, I logged on and found that I only have 46 years left to live! At first I panicked. 46 years isn't nearly enough to get all of my plans completed. Then I realized that if  I am going to get my life's goals completed, then I better have a plan and I better get to work. So, how has this changed my life? (Hang with me here, I just found out about my mortality about 5 minutes ago!) I have realized several things:

1. There are many things that I want to do before I die that will have to be completed sooner rather than later. I am not sure that I will be able to surf 20' Tavarua at 80 years of age! Planning and priorities are important.

2. Procrastination is not an option! 46 years may seem like a long time, but I have some very big plans. Time is of the essence! I need to get started right away.

3. When looking at something as final as the end of your life, You realize that there is no room for excuses. You can have reasons or you can have results. You can't have both!

Jedi Master Yoda said it best with:

"Try not. Do, or do not. There is no try."

I started to imagine what my headstone might say. I can't even imagine a gravestone that is engraved with, "Oh well, he tried his best, Really!"

46 years is a long time. If you don't plan, your 46 years may look like only 23 in a blink of an eye. Next thing you know, it is almost over.

Love the people around you. Plan to have a fulfilling life. Live every day like you only have 46 years left!

When you choose us to handle your Vancouver Washington real estateneeds, 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 BattleGround. 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. 

MLK's Birthday. What Did You Do?

For most, today was a day off. An Extra day of vacation. A day to relax.  For a few, today was a day of service. A day to help. A day to make a difference.

Early this morning, a group of 300 , or so, people met at the Luepke Center in Vancouver Washington to volunteer their services for the surrounding community. We were all excited to be assigned to a project somewhere in Downtown Vancouver.

I already knew what my assignment would be, as I was recruited from a previous project that I did for the Fruit Valley Elementary School in which I built 15 raised vegetable gardens. The folks at Americans Build Communities Inc. asked me to replace a rotted wooden door with a nice new steel door. What I didn't know was that someone had ordered the wrong size door for my project and I was going to be part of a different project.

My new project was to demo a kitchen in a home that has been abandoned for about 15 years. The roof had started to leak about 5 years ago and the leaking water had ruined all of the cabinetry and floors. I knew we were in trouble when I pulled an upper cabinet out and was drenched in water. Not a good sign!

With a sledge hammer in one hand and a pry bar in the other, I plowed through the rotted wood and rat turds like a hot knife through butter. I ripped out the dishwasher. No problem. Yanked the sink. Not too bad. The oven?  Hmmm... my back is hurting a bit after that one. I bet that I am going to be sore in the morning!

It was a great experience. It felt great to help someone out. It felt great to know that I made a difference in the community.

Now, my challenge to all of you. How will you make a difference?

When you choose us to handle your Vancouver Washington real estateneeds, 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 BattleGround. 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. MLK's Birthday. What Did You Do?

Bank Owned Homes For Sale In Vancouver Washington

The current real estate environment has a large inventory of bank owned homes for sale in Vancouver Washington. These homes have proven to be an excellent source of housing for the first time home buyers in the Vancouver Washington area.

Advantages to targeting bank owned homes for sale in Vancouver Washington include the fact that they are generally 10 to 20% below market value, they are usually vacant and easy to see, banks are not afraid to negotiate offers where they will pay the buyer's closing costs, and once the deal is signed around they are usually quick to close. (Good for you first time buyers who are trying to get a home before the tax credit expires!) Many of these homes are in great condition or have just been repaired by the bank.

Some of the best deals on the market here in Vancouver Washington are bank owned. Janice and I specialize in finding and negotiating deals on these homes for our clients. Call today for your list of bank owned homes for sale in Vancouver Washington.

When you choose us to handle your Vancouver Washington real estateneeds, 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 BattleGround. 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. Bank Owned Homes For Sale In Vancouver Washington