It seems there are only two schools of thought existing in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, right now.  (1) you LOVE the fact that winter seems to have flown right by us, (2) you HATE the fact that winter seems to have flown right by us.  I'll let you read this poem to figure out which school I go to. An Ode to Snow... Elusive snow, where have you been?Though I have fond memories of you in my dreams,you stay aloof of my wandering schemes. Before now, when just a girl,I laughed and scoffed at your blustery world. But now, tis January and I just want to know,excuse me - if you will - but where in the HELL did you go? I look out my window and sigh at what I see:brown, wet and certainly ugly.Where are your tender arms, to wrap around me? Please come back, it's just not the same.Without you, winter is... 01/23/2010

Sometimes, it isn't the place but the people who live in it that makes a city shine. Coeur d'Alene is one such place. Along with the world's most beautiful Lake Coeur d'Alene, the friendly atmosphere of this city has brought many retirees to its shores. If you enjoy water sports, golf, biking and other outdoor recreations, this is the ideal place for you. With a wide variety of arts and culture, including performing and visual arts, Coeur d'Alene is one city that does not lack talent. In addition, their galleries and artists enrich the city with their crafts and enhance the city's culture. In addition, if you are a history buff you will love to participate in the many research opportunities offered here. This city offers festivals, fairs, concerts, bistros, and much more. As a nature an... 01/19/2010

This Week In Coeur d'Alene, Idaho - January 15th, 2010 - January 22nd, 2010 January 15th -- Murder Mystery at the Roosevelt Enjoy a thrilling murder mystery game with other guests as you try to solve the age old question -- Who dun it? The Murder Mystery package has become one of our most popular events. It's great for office parties or simply book a reservation and play with other guests. Check out these great photos of our guests! Mystery Package Includes: An authentic Sherlock Holmes mystery, Hors d'oeuvres, Five-course gourmet dinner. Rates: $49.00 per person Dinner only. Call now for reservations: 208-765-5200, toll free 800-290-3358 or visit www.therooseveltinn.com    January 15th thru February 27th -- The Art Spirit Gallery The Art Spirit Gallery at 415 Sherman Avenue in downtown... 01/15/2010

WARNING! If you are serious about buying a home in 2010, you might not have much time left! With recession of 2007-2009 fading into history, buyers are returning to the real estate market in droves. However, what most of the buyers don't realize is that there are many forces working against them that might make it difficult to find real bargains comes spring and summer. Here are five main forces shaping up the market early this year, and you better pay attention to them: 1. Under the provisions of the massive stimulus package designed to support the housing market, the Fed has been buying mortgage securities for over a year in order to maintain liquidity in the housing market, which also artificially supported the rates at sub-5% level. However, this part of the stimulus ER is winding d... 01/14/2010

If you have spent any time and pa-roozed the many sites about Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, you have noticed (like me) the many, many calendars of "Things to do" that all claim to be "the one place" where you can find it all. Hog wash. There are so many interesting things to do in and around our community that I find it hard to believe any "one" site can claim to have it all. Even this one. I mean, come on! ilovecda.com is my personal blog. If you dig me and my sarcastic tone, you'll come back. If you don't, you won't. I'm ok with that. But, what I think you will appreciate is the "Things To Do" tab that I have just finished updating. I have included the websites about our beautiful Coeur d'Alene that help me the most when creating my calendar to entertain my family and friends.  I hope you fi... 01/13/2010

Although buying a home is one of the most exciting events in a person's life, it can also be one of the most stressful. This is particularly true for first time home buyers who have never been through the process before. Here are three things you should know if you're in the process of looking for your first piece of real estate: Just because you were pre approved for $400,000 doesn't mean you have to spend it: People with good credit and decent incomes are often approved for shockingly large mortgages. But remember, that doesn't mean you have to (or should) spend it all. Find out what the monthly payments will work out to (don't forget property taxes, home insurance, and life insurance). If the number seems high, look for houses that are a little cheaper. You don't want to buy a gorgeo... 01/12/2010

Spice up your January doldrums with the outrageous fun of a bonafide Murder Mystery Dinner at the Roosevelt Inn Bed and Breakfastin downtown Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. On January 15th, I will be joining the cast of eclectic characters for an interactive Sherlock Holmes Murder Mystery Dinner.  I am eagerly anticipating receiving a character assignment, and at the appointed time, 6:30, I will arrive in character at the Inn.  The game begins with the character introductions in the parlor over Hors d'oeuvres.  From there, the mystery unfolds over a four course dinner in the Victorian dining room.  Following dinner, guests wander the massive, historic Roosevelt Inn in search of clues.  The evening concludes with dessert and prizes for whoever solves the mystery.  Who done it?  Elementary, my dear... 01/05/2010

Dubai May Have the World's Tallest Skyscraper, but Coeur d'Alene Has the World's Tallest Christmas Tree! There was a lot of hoopla today surrounding the opening of the world's tallest building in Dubai.  It rises a half mile above the desert at 2,717 feet high.  The $1.5 billion "vertical city" of luxury apartments and offices and a hotel designed by Giorgio Armani also plans to have the world's highest mosque (158th floor) and swimming pool (76th floor). I decided to do a little research to find Coeur d'Alene's tallest building.  There aren't many contenders in our small town.  For years it was indisputably The Coeur d'Alene Resort.  Now, I'm not so sure.  At 18 stories high, The Coeur d'Alene Resort towers above the north shore of Lake Coeur d'Alene.  It provides stunning views of the... 01/04/2010

Photo Gallery Description Here is an opportunity to purchase an idyllic country estate in a prime location for a SONG! Sellers loss is truly your gain here. Located in highly desired Cougar Gulch, it offers privacy and seclusion that is just a hop skip and jump from beautiful Lake Coeur d'Alene and town. The home is large and well appointed, with room for everyone. A high functioning well provides the home's water, and an underground spring keeps the pond and irrigation cistern full year round! The pond is permitted and the property has senior water rights recorded with the state. You better hurry on this one. Take time to scroll through the photos and they will tell you the story of just what a treasure you have found here! An offer has been submitted to the lender for approval, but I... 12/22/2009

Taking Time to Remember What's Really Important Several of you have noticed my absence from the rain - I thank you all for your e-mails and inquiries on Facebook.  Allow me to write from the heart... I've been taking some time. Time to evaluate what's really important in my life.  Like: Time to spend with my lovely daughter who will be 4 years old at the end of March. Time to spend with my lovely husband who works like a fool so I can spend most of my days with our daughter. Time with my Mum and Dad who recently relocated to North Idaho in order to be near us (it only took several years and the birth of their first grand-child to do it)! Time to spend with my lovely mother-in-law (loveliest woman on the planet, without question) as her health fades and time with her only grand-child bec... 12/18/2009

New local blog taking Coeur d'Alene by storm! There's a new local blog called ilovecda.com and in it's short time on the web, it has managed to collect quite a following.  In a few short months it has managed to amass almost 500 fans on Facebook (without any paid advertising) and has regular visitors that peruse (aka: pa-rooze) the site and it's many photos of people, places and dogs around Coeur d'Alene.   The author likes to mention that ilovecda.com is written by a local, for locals and is about "Life in Coeur d'Alene".  She's witty, sarcastic and doesn't refer to her family by name?  Why?  Paranoia. How do I know all this?  Because it's mine and I'm having a blast!  Activerain was a catalyst for ilovecda.com when I started to write about local going-on's and traffic to our mortgage ... 12/15/2009

Luxury Condos at The Villiage at Riverstone to Hit the Auction Block on December 12th After two previous false starts - auction dates that were postponed for lack of buyer interest - it looks as though these condos are finally going to be auctioned off.  I posted the original Press Release about the condo auction on my blog back in May, then that date was postponed.  I then posted the rescheduled auction announcement on my blog in June.  After that auction was cancelled, the condos were removed from the market and the phones at the sales office went unanswered for months.   (Today, I noticed that if you Google: riverstone auction, the top paid spot on the search page has been bought by the competition, Mill River Condos, another nice development just down the street river.  Pretty cleve... 12/01/2009

A Coeur d'Alene Idaho Short Sale VICTORY ~ but no smiling photos this time.... On my drive home to North Idaho from a spring break trip to Colorado I began a journey I couldn't have even imagined.  Somewhere along I-25 in the middle of Wyoming I received a call from Boise agent Brian Brumpton.  "How do you feel about short sales?" he asked.  That call lead to a referral of a California woman who had two investment properties in Coeur d'Alene Idaho that she needed to short sale.  She was wiped out financially - every dime she had saved for retirement.  And thus my incredible journey began.  In my wildest dreams I couldn't have imagined what would unfold over the next 8 months.  Like layers of an onion, one bit at a time, a story unraveled of a con artist and scammers.  I went about my bu... 11/18/2009

Coeur d'Alene Idaho Real Estate Short Sale Q&A: If it sells for full price, does the seller still make a little money? I regularly feature my blog posts on my Facebook page, and sometimes the comments they bring come in the form of questions.  Last week I posted a link to my post, Coeur d'Alene Real Estate Short Sale Heart Warming Moment.  It was a story about some of my current clients who had just received an approval from their lender to short sale their house.  I mentioned that we got their house under contract at full listing price.  Then came the question as to whether or not those sellers would then make a little money since it sold for full price. The answer, no.  The home price was set at its value today in the Coeur d'Alene real estate market, not at what the sellers needed to... 11/15/2009

Coeur d'Alene Real Estate Short Sale Heart Warming Moment - It's not often I have a chance to use the terms "heart warming" and "short sale" in the same sentence!   There are so many distressed homeowners right now.  They are embarrassed, ashamed and they tend to suffer in silence.  Frozen in fear.  Not knowing what they can do, not realizing how many others there are that are living the same financial nightmare.  Afraid of their friends finding out.  Wondering what the neighbors will think.  In many cases a short sale is a good solution to get you onto the next chapter of your life. On September 17th I opened my email and found this message: You've received a contact message from your Contact Form on the ActiveRain network.  Message details: From: xxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxEmail: xxxxxxxxx@aol... 11/12/2009

Coeur d'Alene Lake Bank Repo REO Success Story! On Labor Day I received a call from a wonderful family who wanted to look at a couple of bank repo homes for sale on Coeur d'Alene Lake.  They had decided the timing was right to purchase a vacation home on Coeur d'Alene Lake and it was my privilege to assist them in getting a great value on a stellar property.  Inventory is high and buyers are scarce.  There has NEVER been a better time than right now to be a buyer on Coeur d'Alene Lake!This has been a long distance closing, they live out of state and I am in Colorado at the moment on a working vacation with my son's family.  The call just came in that the transaction has funded and has been recorded.  We're closed! No Success Story photo with my smiling clients this time, but imagine the... 11/05/2009

My son took this picture this morning  in downtown Coeur d'Alene for a school photography project.  I got a big kick out of it.  I have had days that feel like this! I think we all have.  Dreary days of indecision.  Days where no matter how determined we are to stay positive, we just can't seem to find that silver lining.  Sometimes, we all come to a fork in the road of our lives where none of our options appear to be good ones.  Especially when circumstances beyond our control seem to be forcing us down a road we don't want to travel. If you find yourself wondering which way to turn for sound real estate advice, please give me a call.  Sometimes just talking about it can bring a better course of action into focus.  11/04/2009

Welcome to the Finest Fully Accredited  Idaho  Online Real Estate School with the best prices available. Check out our website www.RowlettCareerSchool.com. Our passing rate meets or exceeds any other online course provider.  Get your Idaho  Real Estate License here.  Captain Wayne Rowlett and the Rowlett Career School offer the finest online real estate school in the Industry. Please take a few moments to explore our site where you will find detailed information on our full service online Idaho real estate school and live classes.  http://www.rowlettcareerschool.com/id-idaho.htm                                               Home        FAQs       Career Info      Bookstore      General Info      About Us     Contact Us           Select a state below for approved courses    Online Real E... 11/04/2009

Coeur d'Alene Short Sale Q&A ~ Can I short sale my house to avoid foreclosure if I have an IRS tax lien? I received this question from someone who was trying to decide what their best course of action was to avoid foreclosure: Our small business failed and as a result we had a lot of business bills that we were personally responsible for.  Now we have an IRS tax lien and a judgment filed against our house.  We can't afford to pay those debts off right now.  We owe more than our house is worth.  Is short selling our house to avoid foreclosure even an option?    First of all, let me say that I am not an attorney and can't give legal advice.  But I can tell you what has been my experience with this situation. In general, creditors who have placed a lien against your home will release that ... 11/03/2009

Today is a GOOD DAY!  Back in June I received an email from a woman who had stumbled in cyberspace upon a story I had just posted to my blog.  It was about REALLY BAD photos I had just come across when doing a search of high end homes.  Those awful photos are a pet peeve of mine, they leave me scratching my head in amazement.  From time to time I post them on my blog so you can be amazed and astonished, too!    In her email, Jennifer asked me if I could recommend a good real estate agent to sell her LOW end home, since I prefer HIGH end homes.  Holy Moses!  I quickly convinced her that I love to market homes of ANY price that are well cared for and priced correctly!  (ESPECIALLY in a market where 68% of homes sold last month were under $200K, and just 12% were above $300K...) We set out... 10/27/2009