About Spokane County, WA

Summer in Spokane Wa. is Summer at it's BEST!

With sparkling lakes and Rivers to enjoy, hot days, and everything from the great Downtown Spokane too camping, hiking, and fishing in God's country!

Variety is the spice of Spokane Wa. There is so much to do here in the good old summertime.

Our Spokane Parks are fantastic !

In fact just visit www.SummerinSpokane.com for all kinds of great ideas !

BethAnn Long, Realtor

Tomlinson South Inc. 509-362-4607

www.bethannhomes.com

Spokane For Sale By Owner Expert - Ross Quintana

Well, If you haven't heard the Real Estate Market is not at its best I am not sure where you have been. It's not all doom and gloom as it is in different cities, but Spokane has had it bumps in the road. Increased inventory is good for buyers, and with the loss of the down payment assistance programs and much of the 100% financing, there are not as any buyers as we used to have.

What this means is that in high competition markets where the MLS is full of more homes than buyers, For Sale By Owners are feeing the pain. People have so many choices they aren't driving around looking for other homes. Not only that, but unless your FSBO (For Sale By Owner Home in Spokane) isn't priced better than what is now twice as many homes, then you simply do not exist as a choice like you did 3 years ago.

Bottom line, now is not the time to try selling For Sale By Owner. If full time proffessionals with a marketing plan are getting out of th business, then guess what, the little sign in th front yard and flyers is not going to get the job done. Now it isn't a matter of whether you should hire an agent... It's how do Ipick the right agent so the home actually sells. For help with that feel free to call us and find out how we are still getting homes sold in Spokane in this tough market. 509-362-1966

Bittersweet Goodbye

It is almost unreal to think my youngest children, Colin and Meghan are leaving grade school. They have had 7 wonderful years at Hamblen Elementary K-6. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly time goes by. I see them blossoming into tweenager's and it is exciting and sad all at once.

The world changes at lightening speed, technology is becoming a central part of our moment to moment living, and I sometimes long for simpler days when, as a former stay at home mother of five, I changed diapers for what seemed like decades. I remember at times longingly looking forward to the days when all of my kids would be fully independent. Now I look back with an even deeper longing wondering where time went. The challenge is to enjoy the present and rejoice in the ages and stages that make up the here and now. When our children start sporting cell phones instead of blankies, and laptops instead of lego's, it is truly a bittersweet goodbye. And so it is with tears and giggles, we move on and beyond , away from primary school and into the new challenges of Jr. High years. Meghan and Colin, congratulations !

This is a photo of Meghan and Colin, age 2 ...time goes by so fast!!! Here they are now:

June 2009 6th grade promotion ceremony ~

posted by BethAnn Long, Realtor, Tomlinson South Inc.

We live in Staycation Paradise here in Spokane Wa. With over 70 lakes within a short distance, you can snap your fingers and be relaxing in Pacific Northwest rustic wooded small lakes, or the grand and awesome larger lakes that make this area near famous.

Just this weekend, we jotted over to Couer d Alene lake for a staycation and all though I have seen this lake my entire life, it is still a jaw dropping experience.

The stunning mountain lake, the quant city, and great shopping makes me glad I love nearby.

Another favorite is a trip to Sandpoint Idaho to the majestic Lake Pend Orielle. You have to see it to believe it!

In general I am bragging about the livability of the Spokane Wa. area. I highly recommend researching the area if you are considering relocating. As a lifelong resident, I can honestly say I love living here. Our real estate market has proven to be quite stable when compared to many other parts of the country. We have 4 very distinct seasons, and as far as I am concerned, there is no place like Spokane!

BethAnn Long, Realtor Tomlinson South Inc. 509-362-4607

It was a wild and crazy ride. You hear that it is a slow market these days. I have been in 3 multiple offer situations lately.

This past weekend was a real nail biter. I was representing a buyer in a multiple offer situation...it was especially tense because they live out of town , and I have to relay everything long distance,- 3 hours time difference. It was like a good movie. Suspense, surprise, mystery, missed connections, high emotions, multiple high spirited personalities, and for me...and especially my buyers, a HAPPY ENDING! I think it is good to report that the market is alive and well in many respects.

It was a total adrenaline rush for 48 hours. I have been on the other end before too, when my buyer has not gotten the house and that is a real let down.

I advise my buyers to use escalation clauses when in a multiple offer situation. In this case, the seller chose to counter rather than use the escalation. It became very tense and confusing. Now that we got the house, all is good and I am believing that they will live there happily ever after!

BethAnn Long ~ Tomlinson Real Estate 509-362-4607

Spokane Wa Real Estate www.spokanerealestatevoice.com

Search Spokane Homes for sale at : www.bethannhomes.com