Rumor or Reality

4 Ways to Maximize your Real Estate Investment NOW

In my 14 years as a Real Estate Agent here in the LC Valley, I have seen it all! I have had the pleasure of working in the fast paced market where prices escalated weekly, and I have also worked through flat market conditions where hearts ached over equity losses and lack of buyers.

In my opinion, today’s market does not fall in either extreme. We are in a stalled market which is loaded with positive potential.

We are actually in uncharted waters! Interest rates are at or near historic low s, under 6% on a 30 year mortgage. Home prices have declined to 2004 levels It is not a clear buyer or seller market. These 3 factors combined have placed us in a unique position which can benefit everyone.

What can YOU do to maximize your market position?
1. Budget for and complete home improvement projects! What is that project you have dreamed of for years? A second bath? A more functional kitchen? A shop? This may be the perfect time to make your dreams a reality, and ENJOY the fruits of your labor. Then, when the time comes to move, you have the best of both worlds!
2. Clean up your debt! There are now computer software products to help make the wisest financial decisions. These products range from helping pay down your current mortgage to simply paying off your consumer debt (cars, boat, credit cards.) By paying debts down now you are positioning yourself to afford more house later!
3. Do your HOME work. Investigate the newly reformulated 203K loan products designed to help you rehab a personal residence without moving!
4. If you DO have the bug to move….move on it! You may be surprised that you will come out ahead both as a seller and a buyer because of the unique convergence of events in the real estate market today! My team has done more business this year to date than any other past year.

Don’t believe the rumors that this is a dead market--- Now could be a great time for YOU to …..prepare to be moved!

Real Estate Market Update

The Lewiston Tribune published the following statistics Tuesday, September 23, 2008.
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There are 456 single-family houses on the market in the LC Valley, 67 more than in September 2007. Realtors sold 350 homes this past six months compared with 436 they sold during the same time last year. Still, the average sales price has increased slightly from $176,199 in 2007 to $176,473 this year.

The Higgins Team, Judy Higgins and Jamie Canning, recently moved to Coldwell Banker Tomlinson, 325 Main Street, Lewiston, Idaho.

Higgins Team Moves to Coldwell Banker Tomlinson

Area Realtors, Judy Higgins and Jamie Canning moved back "home" to Coldwell Banker in Lewiston, Idaho/Clarkston,Wa as of the first week in September. Our Team is now located at 325 Main Street, Lewiston, ID. We are licensed in both Washington and Idaho. We have moved over 55 families since 1-1-08, and our excellent service and working primarily by referral is the core of our business model. Our preferred lenders have continued to provide many buyers APR loan rates from 5-6%, making this the time to invest in real estate while gaining equity, as purchas prices have leveled out to 2004 averages, accourding to the LCAR statistics. Remember: the property you looked at today is the property someone else slept on last night! Guess who will own it next? Make it you!

Guess who is going to JAIL?

September 11, 2008, local realtor, Judy Higgins, along with other business people from the LC Valley area will be escorted from their offices to JAIL. Rumor has it that until each of them raises at least $1000 for the area March of Dimes coffers, they will remain under tight watch by local officials. They will be provided a telephone and will be calling friends and business associates for pledges, to BAIL them out. On Judy's behalf, email letters were previously sent and response was encouraging. "This community is generous and supportive of its business comrads, and we expect have her back in circulation by night fall", according to her husband, Jim Higgins.