BethAnn Long, Realtor, e-PRO Spokane Wa Real Estate

It is a touchy subject...pricing a home for sale. If you study the current absorption rates and understand your markets actual odds of selling, then perhaps what we really need to educate our sellers on is how to determine the VALUE of their home.

When you shop for a new outfit, you pass by all kinds of prices you are NOT willing to pay, until you find something of VALUE.

Realtors and Sellers do not determine home values. Appraisers do not determine home values. Only current market conditions and buyers determine actual value. Once a deal has been struck between a buyer and seller, that is where the value is determined. A home is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

I think showing several comparable properties is good, but how about getting in the car and actually taking your sellers through their competition? Information is POWER. In order for the market to loosen up and begin to have a better flow of properties selling, the issue of pricing and value must be addressed by all of us in this industry.

The longer I am in this business, the more I want my listings to sell, not sit. I want my seller's to be able to get where they want to go in their desired time frame. I welocme your comments and ideas.

It was a lazy Sunday afternoon May 18th 1980 and I was at my in laws home.

My husband went to the grocery store with his dad and I was in the kitchen awaiting their arrival to get dinner started.

They came in the door with several brown bags and this gray-white dusty stuff fell all over the counter.

I said what is that? They said it is VOLCANIC ASH! I am like... Oh sure. Then we walked out side to see a blackish gray sky, and low and behold, the entire ground, trees, homes, cars, roads, were covered with a layer of ...VOLCANIC ASH. It was an eerie site. The quiet afternoon suddenly felt like something out of a Sci-Fi movie. As far as the eye could see, all was covered with ash. We are several hundred miles from the Volcano, so this was just crazy.

The town shut down. It was a difficult undertaking to figure out how to clean up such a ubicutous mess.

Here, there and EVRYWHERE our world looked like a black and white photograph. So odd and yet so captivating.

For several days life slowed down for all, and we did not even drive anywhere. We were on a "Manacotti" kick and made this Itailian dish 3 times that week. First that night at my inlaws, then once at our house for friends, and then again at our friends home. It was as if the whole world stopped to make this historical event. It was really something amazing to live through. The ash stayed around for years. It is really hard to clean up, and does not disepate in water, so even when we would try to hose it off it would still be there. Evetually over the years it was absorbed. However, 20 years later you could still see it along the highway. At present, I am guessing there is still some to be found.

I could ask anyone where they were, what they were doing when the ash fell and covered Spokane Wa. like a felt blanket. Most will recall instantly.

What an incredible experience, 29 years ago TODAY!

329 closed sales were reported in April. This number is up from the 326 closed sales reported in March.

However, closed sales compared to April 2008 are down 26.1% when 445 closed sales were reported.

The average sales price in April was $197,339 and the median price was $172,500.

Year to date sales total 967 compared to 1,324 sales over the same period last year, down 27%. The average sales price through April is $199,408 compared to last year's average sales price through April of $201,317 down less than 1%. The median price through April is $174,735 down 2.9% from the year to date median sales price of $179,950 last year.

Inventory is still lower than last year by about 7%. Current inventory as of this report is 2,997 compared to 3,218

last year. New home sales total 158 this year compared to 233 sales over the same period last year.

From the Spokane Association of Realtor's

I am delighed to to announce my benefit concert this upcoming Sunday, May 17th at 3:00pt the Bing Crosby Theatre, downtown Spokane.

100% of the profit will go to HOPE CHEST MINISTRIES (www.hopechestministries.com ) which is a non profit organization that runs soley on private donations.

This organization provides both practical and professional services for women and children in need, crisis and transition.

There is a guest musician, Eddie Ramirez who will be openiong for me. He is awesome!

Tickets are only 10$ and you can buy them by calling 509-922-6767 ot at the door which opens at 2:30.

Hope to see you there!

BethAnn Long, Musician, Realtor

BethAnn Long www.bethannlong.com (music)

www.bethannhomes.com (real estate) 509-362-4607

I have five kids.

This day and age that is A LOT.

I have two sets of twins, identical and fraternal! (mind boggling isn't it?!)

So, I did not set out to have 5 kids, but I am blessed!

It is so hard to explain the love a mother has for her children. When I look at my kids, the love is so overwhelming and all encompassing. I believe it is like no other love. A human bond that is truly sacred.

I am so blessed to have 5 incredible, beautiful, interesting, talented children. That IS my mothers day gift!