From Spokane to Sandpoint: August 3-13 it will be worth the drive!

It's a short drive from Spokane to Sandpoint, Idaho and this weekend it will be well worth the trip!

August 3 marks the beginning of Festival of Sandpoint, an impressive summer concert series that's enjoying its 24th year.

This year's lineup includes Nickel Creek, David Gray, Tanya Tucker, and Etta James.

Not interested in contemporary fare?

Drive over Thursday, August 3 for the opening night pops concert with the Spokane Symphony Orchestra conducted by Maestro Gary Sheldon. "The all-star musical evening features soundtrack favorites from Steiner, Hermann and Strauss to Bernstein and Williams, with music from memorable movies over the years including Casablanca, Gone with the Wind, Psycho, 2001 A Space Odyssey, Harry Potter, Star Wars, Schindler's List, Raiders of the Lost Ark and West Side Story."

Return Sunday, August 13 for the Grand Finale, where the Spokane Symphony Orchestra performs again, this time with a tribute to Mozart. A complimentary wine-tasting for concert-goers over the age of 21 precedes the Finale.

The Festival bills itself as "audience friendly...a customized concert experience without equal." You're invited to purchase food at the event or bring your own picnic basket or cooler and something to sit on.

Season passes (reasonably priced at $159.00) are sold out, but you can buy tickets to individual events online.

Investing in Spokane Real Estate: Is Now the Right Time for YOU?

Now, Money Magazine has named Spokane one of the Top 10 Real Estate Hot Spots citing low median home prices and an average job growth rate of 3%, twice the national average.

"After surveying 380 metro markets around the country, Money predicted Spokane’s median home price will grow at a rate of 12.4% from June 2006 to June 2007, placing Spokane’s growth rate at #9 in the country,"according to the Spokane Area Economic Development Council.

Another reason, according to the Council, are home prices. Spokane’s median home price in the 4th quarter 2005 was $168,600. The median home price from the same quarter was $360,000 for Seattle.

Don't wait to start investing in a market that has as much potential as the Spokane area. If you're a seasoned real estate investor or ready to start, let our experienced investment team guide you.

We can help you ask your lender the right questions, find homes that are appropriate to your needs and goals and guide you through escrow.

Think about it, then call us for a complimentary investor consultation.

But don't think about it too long.

Understand Your Home's Value

RIS Media has an article in a recent issue aimed at advising seller's who have questions about their home's value.

"Request a copy of the appraisal. When you bought your house, you paid for an appraisal. If you didn't request a copy of the appraisal at the time, go back and request it from your lender now. It is your right under federal law to obtain a copy of the appraisal report. Make sure you get one from your lender."

This is excellent advice. Don't confuse the tax assessment on your home with the appraisal. And although we can run comparables on your property (to compare it to recent sales in the area) that is not equal to your home's appraisal either.

The article also suggests appraising your home before you list it for sale. Obviously this is your prerogative, but keep in a mind an appraisal will be ordered by the buyer's lender anyway. We can help you set a reasonable price so you're not surprised or disappointed by the appraiser's results.

Read the full article here.