We gathered on the occassion of Derek's 16th birthday for a big family dinner. My sister Kerri is a professional photographer. As a result, she is never without her camera. Our family benefits from having her snapping fabulous photos as a routine course of action. Whenever she's over, she loves to capture photos of the food I cook for her file of stock photos. Who knows where they might appear someday! When I saw this one posted on Facebook with the birthday album, it inspired me to share the recipe. This was what Derek requested I cook for him, and it was enjoyed by all.
Balsamic Chicken
1 tsp olive oil
3/4 C coarsely chopped onion
4 garlic cloves sliced
4 4oz chicken breast halves
1 C sliced bell pepper
1/4 C sliced mushrooms
1/2 C Balsamic vinegar
1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add onion & garlic and saute for 3 minutes. Add chicken; cook 4 minutes on each side or until browned. Add bell pepper and next 4 ingredients. Reduce heat to medium and cook 20 minutes or until chicken is done. Serve over rice or pasta.
Now, if cooking up a real estate deal is on your menu, just give me a call and let's get started!
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If you have followed my blog for the past 14 months, you will know that I relocated from Colorado to Idaho in August of 2008. Coeur d'Alene, Idaho is where I was raised, married, bought my first home and had my first three children. But my little family moved away in 1981 and we are just now returning to settle in for the long haul.
We spent 17 years in beautiful Fort Collins, Colorado. We built a nice life there, raised five children, added a daughter-in-law and two granddaughters, and made many wonderful friendships that will last a lifetime. We came back to Idaho with just our "baby" as he started high school. Life is different now. Quiet. What has been hardest getting used to is having a quiet house, mostly empty. My son, husband and I pass each other coming and going for the most part.
I miss a lot of things, but mostly having my house full of people, hustling and bustling, active and alive!
Last night, we hosted my son's Coeur d'Alene High School Vikings cross country team for their weekly team dinner. It was fun to have my house full for the first time in a long time. At one point I walked past the entry and did a double take. There was an old familiar sight, one I hadn't seen for as long as I can remember. SHOES! Lots and lots of shoes!
That funny, wonderful sight touched my heart. That was the moment that the house I live in finally felt like home!
On ongoing controversy in our beautiful Lake City of Coeur d'Alene Idaho is the operations of the Lake City Development Corporation (LCDC). What has many area residents up in arms is the manner in which LCDC uses tax increment funding in accordance with Chapter 29, Title 50, Local Economic Development Act of 1988.
As our city council elections approach, a new controversy has arisin and reached hysterical proportions. It is the firing of Jim Brannon, the executive director of our local Habitat for Humanity organization. Minutes before the televised taping of his live debate with council incumbent Mike Kennedy who is charged with overseeing LCDC, Brannon, who is an outspoken opponent of LCDC, was fired.
I have watched the histrionics on both sides of the LCDC fence for over a year as I have tried to understand the issue and take a position.
I see value for Coeur d'Alene in the beautiful projects that have been developed through Lake City Development Corporation. Coeur d'Alene is a beautiful town and tourist destination. Tourists bring big bucks to our economy, as well as fuel sales of vacation homes. Many of those tourists eventually relocate, and feed sales of homes in the area.
But with the way it is structured, I also see the potential for corruption, and the power of special interests, in the way LCDC operates and the unfair shifting of the tax burden for services onto taxpayers OUTSIDE the 729-acre Lake District and 363-acre River District. It just doesn't seem fair.
Today I had the privilege of participating in the happy ending of another Coeur d'Alene short sale success story with an $8000 bonus. It was a good day!
I have been on a journey with my wonderful first time homebuyers David and Rebecca since Memorial Day weekend. They fell in love with one of the first homes we looked at, but unfortunately it was a short sale. That meant months of waiting with an uncertain outcome, which just didn't work for them. They needed a home ASAP! We put in an offer on that short sale, but kept looking while we waited. Which, by the way, is acceptable practice in Idaho. Nothing else measured up for the price, and frustration mounted.
After a couple months, and dozens of houses, I took them back to their short sale, to see if it still held the same appeal. As soon as we walked in, you could see it written all over their faces. This was their house! She loved it! He loved it! Still, after all this time and so many houses.
No other house of all that we looked at had made both their faces light up like this one.
Yet they didn't have time to wait. And wait. And wait... They had an accelerated schedule for closing to obtain the $8000 tax credit for their October 15th tax filing due date!
We looked some more, did some soul searching and made some hard decisions. I explained that although there were no guarantees they would get the house at the price they offered, in time for their deadline, there were good reasons why I believed the odds were very good. I encouraged them to hang in. In the end they decided that they would wait it out for their house. Unless you have been through this process of buying or selling a short sale, it's hard to understand just how emotionally traumatic it is.
Today, their determination and patience paid off. They have the best home of all we looked at, at the best price, with all the features they wanted, in their favorite neighborhood! I am so happy for their little family to finally be able to settle in to start the next chapter of their lives. May they live happily ever after!
This is the best part of my job!
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I'm a full time, full service real estate broker in my spectacular hometown of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. I specialize in GETTING RESULTS while delivering world class service to both Buyers and Sellers.
As your real estate agent, my philosophy is simple: to assist YOU in achieving YOUR goals. Your priorities become my priorities.
On a personal level, as well as professionally, I understand the challenges involved in moving. Whether you're moving across town or across the country, I will provide the resources you need for a seamless relocation.
Communication is key. Based on an honest, straightforward approach, I will work to exceed your expectations and guide you successsfully through the buying and relocation process.
The smarter I work, the luckier you get!
Give me a call so I can get to work for you!
Janna R. Scharf, Associate Broker, GRI, CLHMS, CSP 
Both buyers and sellers benefit from my competency in the traditional residential resale market, as well as expertise in two specialty areas. I have advanced training and success that benefits buyers involved in the process of new home construction, and also in the marketing of upper-tier homes and estates. I continue to take advantage of educational opportunities that enhance my ability to provide world-class service to my clients. I am proud to have achieved the following professional designations:
GRI Graduate, Realtor Institute Realtors who hold the GRI designation have taken at least 90 credit hours of specialized real estate education and are up to date on the latest real estate trends and issues. They have dedicated their time and resources on extensive real estate education to bring you quality service. The designation is awarded by the state association to members of the National Association of Realtors who subscribe to their Code of Ethics. Designees must maintain that membership to retain the designation.
CLHMS Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist - Million Dollar Guild Status, Awarded by The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing. Members of The Institute have undergone training in analyzing the luxury home market, providing quality service and achieving effective results in the high-end residential market. Members of The Institute who have been awarded the Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist designation have successfully demonstrated their expertise in the luxury home and estate market by meeting strict performance requirements. Million Dollar Guild members are specialists who have met production requirements and have certified success in the million-dollar and above market. Your exceptional property demands an exceptional professional. Guild Members have established their expertise and abilities in helping buy or sell the world's most exclusive residential homes and estates.
CNS The Certified Negotiation Specialist (CNS™) designation is awarded to agents who have successfully completed specialized training in contract negotiations. I have earned the Certified Negotiation Specialist designation to help negotiate the best possible price and terms for my clients when buying and selling a home. Research shows that those with the knowledge and training to conduct skilled negotions will will deliver a smoother transaction and provide thier clients with increased value. 
CSP Certified New Home Sales Professional The CSP designation is a must-have credential required by many builders for their sales staff. It is a professional-level designation for those who specify in new home sales. The CSP designation is earned through an industry-recognized program through the National Association of Home Builders. The comprehensive program provides in-depth knowledge of the home building process and teaches skills to provide exceptional customer service to the builders and purchasers of newly constructed homes.
John and Sherri Morton ~
We listed our property with Janna after nine months with another agent. We were very pleased with the extra effort Janna put forth in every aspect of getting our home sold. She had some creative ideas and angles that targeted different market groups. Janna made us feel like she was really there for us, keeping us informed with regular updates. She went the extra mile, taking care of a variety of details after we moved out of state. Janna's high level of professionalism, her positive attitude and friendly nature make her a true asset to the community. We felt Janna really cared about us and our needs. We would highly recommend Janna to anyone who is seeking a qualified agent.Rulon Stacey ~
Janna brings a level of diversification that really separates her from the rest. She has demonstrated an extraordinary ability in everything from buying to selling. At every step of the process she is there to help you and guide you through the challenges that always come up. And, she is able to do this while keeping her infectious positive attitude. When you interact with Janna, you will not only get first class service, but you will always leave feeling better for the interaction. You really can't go wrong working with Janna!The Hubbard Family ~
We were so pleased with Janna and her services. She helped us through every step of our home process. She began as our Realtor and she has become our friend.Wes and Trinity ~
I recently received a promotion and had to move out of state before our home sold. We were comfortable trusting Janna to handle all the details of our closing. She thought of everything and was very thorough and professional. We were grateful to have her looking out for our interests.Mike and Kristi Manuel ~
Janna is the best! She has gone above and beyond in every way to help us with selling our house. She has watched over us every step of the way and always took the time to explain and re-explain until we felt good about things. She is personal and professional - really a great representative for Keller Williams.
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