Kent Anderson

The good news? I finally closed on a condo up here at Schweitzer Mountain! It's a GREAT condo, spectacular views and priced perfectly. My buyer put some equity in his pocket and he and his wife are absolutely thrilled! Below is the view from their front door.

Getting a condo closed in this market in no small chore. If the complex is not over 50% occupied (which was the case in this purchase since it is new construction) and/or, if there has been ANY rental history in the complex, major banks will not consider traditional financing of any kind. It is a long story how we finally put together financing, but that is for another post. This post is about the "closing gift" that I was so anxious to give...

The closing finally ended in the afternoon. I GLADLY offered my services to help clear out their storage unit and load their Budget moving van. Furthermore, I was happy to drive with them up the mountain and help unload the van. The problem?...by the time we had finally finished loading the van, we had experienced a fairly sizable rain shower in town (beautiful Sandpoint, Idaho...but not quite so beautiful today) and I, with all of my "mountain experience", failed to consider what a "sizable rain shower in town" translated to on the mountain. Furthermore, their condo was located at the top village on the mountain and it was now 8:30 at night...details ...they were just so EXCITED!

Anyway, off we went and, of course, with all of my "mountain experience", they asked me to drive. The drive was great all the way through switchback # 6. It got a little hairy after that, but we were still chugging along without incident through the last switchback (#9). Unfortunately, switchback #9 is near Schweitzer Village but still a good 1.5 miles from the top of The Ridge where their condo was awaiting our arrival. Why I felt the last 1.5 miles was navigatable is beyond me, but that was the thinking process.

To make a long story short, I made the 1.5 mile steep and winding journey and got to within 30 yards of the turn-off to The Ridge before the ice and (the now massive) blizzard brought our excursion to a halt. The icy, steep road had made it impossible to continue. We sat in the van for awhile contemplating our options when the van began sliding backwards. Pumping the brakes did nothing and the speed was picking up. It was pitch black up there and I was running out of time to make a decision. After a 50 yard slide, we somehow slowed to safety in the ditch along the road. My vision of going over the side and sliding down the mountain was unfounded, thank God.

We finally made it to a safe flat area about a 1/4 mile from the condo (11:00 p.m. by this time). The next 2 days were spent transporting their belongings via a borrowed pick-up from the van to their new home. That was my closing gift. It worked out... my clients were thrilled, the memories will last forever and I'm thinking I'll be their realtor for a long time. ...and, it only cost me a few years of my life.

(By the way, real estate is picking up here and I'm not just saying that!)

YOU GOTTA' LOVE THE MOUNTAINS!

You know, the economy is tough on everyone. The stimulus plan is questionable. Almost 10% of America is officially unemployed. Life is a downer. NOT!

Guess what? Life goes on and we can defeat the pessimissim. What really matters is what goes on in our heads. I just finished a day of phenominal skiing at Schweitzer Mountain and there is no way life can get any better. It's not just about skiing...skiing is just MY motivational tool. Find that tool and use it!

Skiing does take a financial commitment, but the benefits far outweigh the expense. ...but it is not just about skiing for a day. Right now, the opportunities to own your own place on the mountain can be a reality to those who never could entertain the concept. The current bad economy may be the only open window certain buyers will see for awhile. I have no idea how long these great prices and rates will last, but I do know they are here now.

Buying a vacation ski home, obviously, is not for everyone...I'm talking expendable income here. ...but I'm not talking about the type of income required two years ago for the same investment. You "ski-bums" out there who never thought this was attainable, please, take another look! This is a fleeting window and the time is now.

It is the people with a little money, a secure job and with good credit who can get remarkable deals RIGHT NOW! They will improve their investment portfolios and help stimulate the economy at the same time.

Why is it that some people pounce on these opportunites while most people, who could, don't? I guess I'm just taking on the responsibility of "getting it out there". We need to all save money and build up the economy, but when prices are like this, saving via the the vehicle of a strong "real estate investment" is a very good way to go.

Plus, I'm coming off an endorphine skiers' high, so thanks for bearing with me. Totally natural, that's me. Oh, and one more plug...take a look at www.salishanpoint.com Here in Sandpoint, Idaho, your investment opportunity does not end at Schweitzer Mountain. We've got a lake "to die for".

The Australian Open just ended...OMG! The finals may have been the best final ever between the best two players ever. Nadal finally bested Federer in five sets...7-5, 3-6, 7-6, 3-6, 6-2. The emotional awards ceremony was as great as the match!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFHbGCgx4jI

This brings me to tennis in Sandpoint, Idaho...yet another reason to look at Sandpoint for retirement, 2nd home or a career move. I can't wait for the weather to cooperate and start the new season. We have a very active tennis community and a long season to enjoy the sport. It is not rare to head up to SCHWEITZER MOUNTAIN to ski in the morning sunshine and then return to the Sandpoint valley for tennis in the afternoon. It just doesn't get better.

We have a very active tennis association (The Sandpoint Tennis Association) with about 85 members. The association runs a summer-long singles and doubles league 4 days a week from 5:00 p.m. to nightfall. The outdoor season can run from early March to Thanksgiving. We do not currenly have a public indoor club, but there are constant rumors of this happening.

The Sandpoint Tennis Association also sponsors clinics and lessons for kids and adults throughout the summer. The Tennis Association works in conjunction with the Sandpoint Parks & Rec. department to maintain the Sandpoint City courts with wind screens, top quality nets (including center straps) and resurfacing when needed. We have three tennis parks: 1) Traverse Park - 6 courts; 2) Memorial Park - 3 courts and: 3) City Beach - 2 courts...all impeccably maintained. Tennis is considered a VITAL part of the recreational health of the community.

You haven't lived until you have hit on the newly resurfaced City Beach Courts! The two courts are situated on the Sandpoint City Beach peninsula with panoramic views of the spectacular Cabinet Mountains dropping into Lake Pend O'reille on the east vista, The Selkirk Crest (one of the largest wilderness areas in the U.S and Canada) on the north vista, Schweitzer Mountain to the west /northwest and the famous Sandpoint Long Bridge crossing the Lake to the south.

Sandpoint is truly a 4-season paradise. It is a pleasure to sell real estate here and we invite tennis players to live and play here and help grow our tennis community!

NOTHING. All the realtors on our mountain MLS tour agreed..."GREAT CONDO" they wrote on their evaluation cards..."PRICED RIGHT"...."NICE LISTING!" So what's up? I know the economy is trashed, the real estate market is down but, hey, this is Schweitzer Mountain Resort...This is Sandpoint, Idaho! This place rocks! My wife and I decided to switch it up.

We decided to follow the rules of Feng Shui and "redecorate" the condo (we did get the clients approval, by the way). We needed to cure what was wrong. We didn't go too nuts but we did try to utilize a few principles of balance (Yin/Yang) to create a more welcoming atmosphere.

It is a small condo, so we really only needed to attack one room...the family room. It is a square room but within the room was a rectangular table. The table had leafs, so we extended those to create a round table...it now reflected the shape of the room.

We changed the placement of the sofa so that it faced the door and windows...this offers more of a feeling of security. We brought in a basket of fresh, colorful fruit - a symbol of wealth and prosperity...yang colored fruits (red pomegranites, oranges and pineapples).

Basically, we rearranged the place as best we could following my wife's suggestions (an accomplished Feng Shui practicer). It felt good. I actually noticed the difference.

One week after the Feng Shui make-over, we had a clean Purchase & Sale Agreement to present the client. Question...is this just a conincidence? I know this, my next listing will have some elements of Feng Shui implemented from the start!

LISTING AGENTS! Please help us all out and be prepared to sell your listings!

I met a very excited client at the top of a mountain to preview a great listing. (We drove seperately). After a 22 mile drive, we ventured up the winding driveway approach to a spectacular butte overlooking a gorge peppered with bull elk and their herds. You could not have had a more perfect beginning to a home preview.

After a 25 minute search for the key to the front door (it wasn't where I was told it would be) we finally made it inside. It wasn't too cold out...maybe 15 degrees F...but cold enough after 1/2 hour to look forward to a little "home warmth".

THE FURNACE WAS TURNED OFF.

The place had great potential and we were able to form a bond, of sorts, as we struggled to maintain decorum against the onslaught of the COLD. (Kind of like the bond mountaineers develop climbing Everest).

It was a cool (pardon the pun) place and we did persevere for over an hour. Finally, I pulled out the "Blue Agency Brochure" for him to sign and we briefly discussed the importance of agency, etc. With a modicum of difficulty, he was able and willing to sign. The "Buyer's Rep Form" was out of the question. I know the desire and willingness was there, but neither of us could control our trembling fingers. After the ordeal, we both just wanted to go home...which we did...seperately.

Maybe these adverse conditions were a good thing. The bond remained and several days later he not only signed the "Buyer's Rep" but also a "Purchase Agreement".

IN A PERFECT WORLD...I THINK WE BOTH WOULD HAVE DONE BETTER IN A HOME ABOVE 60 DEGREES.