Scott May

Dec. 1 - 31, 2010. Spokane Association of REALTORS MLS Data:

• Average Sold Price: $179,516.00
• Medium Sold Price:
  $157,750.00
• Inventory: 2,593 (less than one acre, built on site, includes condos)
• Average Market Days: 142
• Mean Market Days: 107
• Homes Sold: 336
• Inventory rate: 8 months.

336 closed residential sales were reported in December. This number is up from the 279 sales reported last month but down slightly from December last year when 347 closed sales were reported. The average sales price in December was $179,516 and the median sales price was $157,750

Year end closed sales totaled 4,249 down 8.9% from 2009 when 4,666 homes were reported sold. The average sales price for the year was $183,483 down 2.2% from last year while the median sales price for the year was $163,400 down 3.3%

Inventory continues to mirror the last couple of years. Current inventory, while down 12.1% from last month begins the year similar to this time last year. Current inventory stands at 2,593 properties. Sales of newly constructed homes reported to the SARMLS totaled 553 for 2010 compared to 568 sales last year, down 2.6%.

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More in depth information relative to your local neighborhood where you currently own, or neighborhood where you plan to buy, based on comparables recently sold and those active on the market is available. I provide numbers and research for my exclusive clients. If you would like a free comparable market analysis on your home to see roughly what the market value is on it please email or give me a call so we can set up a no obligation appointment. I'll come take a look at your home, then do the research for you. Of course I want to be your REALTOR and I work hard for my clients. A satisfied client means good word of mouth and repeat business. Honesty and hard work mean everything!

All day long today everybody I've talked with in spokane, the first topic of discussion has been last nights game and stunning comeback by the Eastern Washington University football team and league championship win against Delaware. Everyone has a story to tell and for me I was working out at the gym watching the game on the screen and noticed that by half time we were behind 12-0. Well I am a Chief's Hockey fan, and not as big into football, so I thought "...and they were doing so good"...so by the end of the fourth quarter, I was at the arena with friends watching hockey (Spokane vs Lethbridge) and in front of 5,423 hockey fans the final score of the game was announced (20 - 19) the arena burst out into a roar of cheers. Spokane did it! Congratulations Eastern!!! Go Eags!

It's funny, because this picture is from a Wall St. Journal article that ran last September when Eastern installed this red turf, and the article went on to say that they were no football powerhouse like Boise State University's Broncos are. Nobody could imagine they would go on to finish undefeated all the way to the top of their league! Not that the Wall St. Journal has ever been wrong before, but wow, did they ever underestimate Eastern!

Pretty cool. The Vice President was there at the game and congratulated us. The governor of Delaware is sending our Governor food products from his state, having lost the bet with our governor. It's been all over the news as well.

I transferred to Eastern from University of Idaho back in the 1990's, where I completed a BA in Business Administration, Marketing, then went back to study Psychology at the post-baccalaureate level and finally completed a Master of Science in Psychology a few years ago. My master's thesis is on file at JFK library at the central campus, Cheney Washington. It's a proud day to be Eastern Washington University Alumni! Go Eags!

Although nobody knew when the first snow flake fell early Wednesday morning, by a quarter of 5am I noticed already more than several new inches outside my bedroom window.

By 7:30am with my new pair of gloves from HICO off Regal and the new set of chains on both tires, I like most others in 4 wheel drives, proceeded to brave the neighborhood roadways with little effort.

With each passing hour, another inch of snow fell and this continued way into the night later that day as a massive low pressure system parked over the Inland Northwest dropping around a foot and a half of new snow.

Everything in downtown Spokane appeared to be business as usualearly Thursday morning. Roads were clear with few berms, stores and business looked like they were getting along as usual.

No problems at all for my friend Pete Menke on getting down to Madeleine's for that nice warm cup of morning brew either.

Further up on the South Hill it was just another day of clearing sidewalks and driveways and enjoying the great outdoors.

For many residents, the snow actually was a welcomed sight as it was for this young woman and dog near Manito park. She was one of at least a half dozen folks I saw out cross country skiing and enjoying the fresh air and beautiful scenery.

At the Manito Fire department, firefighters were busy clearing sidewalks and keeping the drive ways clear for personal vehicles and emergency equipment.

Snow plows kept busy having been on around the clock dutiesmaking all of the road ways drivable for area motorists. I noted that by 10am or so, pretty much the South Hill was in a terrific state despite a tight budget, in terms of plow coverage.

Plows from the City Parks and Recreation department were busy all morning getting trails and walk ways clear for visitors out for a stroll in the park.

One thing on the minds of many, however, was just how powerfull and sometimes unpredictable mother nature can be (circa Ice Storm 96').

Heavy snow build up, particularly this snow with it's higher content of moisture, mixed with freezing temperatures can cause branches to snap and fall on lines.

Duringthe height of the storm on Wednesday afternoon to late evening, Avista reported some 7,000 customers out of power in it's entire service area. Crews, worked diligently at getting that power restored as quickly as possible and by today less than 900 were without power.

Anna Scarlett from Avista Utilities told me that what can happen after a storm that sometimes will cause minor outages, is "snow unloading". This is when branches, heavy with snow, break, or suddenly drop snow to lower branches and so on where it can ultimately fall on lines creating sparks and what not that can cause localized outages. Avista actually has an amazing web site where you can track area outages: https://www.avistautilities.com/safety/_layouts/avista/transactions/viewoutages.aspx?map=1 Of course if you have an outage to report they would love to hear from you at: 1-800-227-9187.

At Manito center I ran into a US Postal Service carrier who reported good road conditions, but hinted at some difficulty still being encountered by carriers trying to deliver the mail on sidewalks still covered in un-shoveled snow. Still, he seemed like most folks I talked to today, to be in great spirits and overall enjoying the beautiful day.

It was business as usual for this City Bus passenger and driver at the corner of 37th and Arthur. Officials with Spokane Transit Authority reported no significant weather related delays. One bus driver I spoke to said "they're doing good".

City garbage removal went about their day as usual, as did Matt who drives the recycling truck. He told me today was pretty good getting around, of course I immediately noticed the chains and extra big tires, but that earlier in the week he and other drivers had encountered some difficulties getting around mainly in area ally ways, and said that Friday was the worst. I hadn't put two and two together at that point, or I might have realized it was Christmas on Friday, but he may have meant the day after where so much wrapping paper and boxes were put out for pick up?

All and all, Spokane being "near nature, near perfect" coped quite well with 2010's final snow storm. Of course we must remember Winter started just 9 days ago (at the time of this article) and 2011 may indeed bring several more layers of snow storm on top of what we already have, but we are all settled in now and ready for whatever in store for us.

It's also good to know that the Internet is working, and even if I miss the evening news and weather report, I still get updates and weather related warnings periodically from Chris Croker of KXLY and Tom Sherry of KHQ on the Facebook.

Sunny Winter related Cheers Spokane, and Happy New Year everybody!

"Scott, thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping us navigate the home buying adventure! We have been singing your praises to everyone we know. If you ever need a testimonial, let us know" --Gail Hammer, Ph.D. December 23, 2010. Text message received at 11:07am, 12/23/10.

These are my happy clients and proud owners of a beautiful new home in Spokane Washington. You can't see me because I'm taking the picture, but if you could I'd have a huge smile because not only did I work hard for them through the entire process, but was fortunate enough to have made some new friends as well. I knew that as a REALTOR working full time that I would meet some wonderful people along the way, and this couple is one of the nicest I've ever met and had the great pleasure of working with. Of course I want my business to grow and to have super satisfied clients, so I constantly strive for this, but to me, having made some new friends is something to really treasure in life.

Whether I am helping folks sell their home or helping people find a suitable place to live, knowing that a client trusted in and counted on me to manage, what for many is one of the single biggest transactions in their lifetime, is a terrific feeling and something I don't take lightly. For me it's an honor to see the results of hard work and dedicated effort throughout the entire process and being there at the final moments when people realise that they have accomplished their goal is an amazing feeling!

Thank you Dr. Hammer and Dr. White! It has truley been my pleasure helping you with your purchase and wish you both the very best in your new home.

Earlier this year I had the opportunity to be a part of this amazing community event along with a whole bunch of my colleagues here at Coldwell Bannker Tomlinson, and all together a total of 21,219 coats were collected in 2010 for Spokane area children in need of warm coats! Thank you! In addition to the coats I collected in our community, and from donations that came in from my blog, I worked with two area schools, and here are their total counts:

Every little bit helps, and so thanks to the students, teachers and office staff who helped out this year.