Mark Don McInnes Sandpoint Realty 208-255-6227

Blog

  • Keller Williams Realty #1 – 2017

    Keller Williams Coeur D’ Alene – Sandpoint announced a special meeting recently.  Upon arriving, to the Coeur D’ Alene training room, champagne was being served.  It is official.  Keller Williams Realty #1 in 2017.  All 3 categories.  Agent Count.  Volume.  Units Sold.

    Keller Williams Realty #1

    Keller William’s recent Vision Breakfast, in Coeur D’ Alene was full of excitement for good reason.  New operating principles Dennis and Pam Ranch revealed plans for a new Keller Williams Coeur D’ Alene office building to be completed by March 2019.

    The Coeur D’ Alene – Sandpoint office has moved to the #2 spot in North Idaho market.  This, while being impressive is but a stepping stone to future goals.  #1 in view and sought after with commitment and passion.

    Keller Williams Realty #1

    Coming next week is the Keller Williams Family Reunion 2018.  Being held in Anaheim California, agents from across the country will be there to be educated, given future plans for Keller Williams Realty, and network with one another.

    Keller Williams Realty #1 does not happen by accident.  It is planned with appropriate actions taken to accomplish.  I am grateful to be associated with Keller Williams Realty.  For not only the opportunities made possible, but the education provided, along with a culture that promotes family, personal growth and business to walk hand in hand.

  • North Idaho Winter Snow

    Warmer temperatures have helped clearing of snow from valley floors but only minimally.  And the beautiful scenes are not to be spoiled by only a few days of marginally warmer weather.  The reality to North Idaho winter storms as in any snow state, is that there are two sides to the coin, scales always kept even, or what ever phrase you care to use.  North Idaho Winter Snow brings forth unique serene beauty everywhere, and it also adds work and obstacles for all.

    The above picture showing the harsh cold and at the same time beauty found early morning at Windbag Marina in Sandpoint Idaho.  Docks filled with sailboats, during the summer and fall months, are surrounded by ice and snow as well as deserted. Wind swept Lake Pend Oreille sits empty.  Turning the opposite direction will show Schweitzer Ski Resort to be hidden by low dark ominous clouds.

    In contrast to this beauty North Idaho Winter Snow brings obstacles for all. Difficult driving conditions, additional work, freezing pipes, snow removal of all kinds, roofs for business, or personal being extremely important.  The 2nd picture is at Bonners Mall in Ponderay.  Snow removal for parking being plowed and piled as far out of the way as possible, and yet still obstructing drive ways and parking.

    Yet to a person I am guessing we all agree the beauty far outweighs the inconveniences of the latter.

  • Sagle Idaho 3 bedroom Home For Sale – $79,000.00

    While it is argued there are no longer good values to be found in North Idaho housing, this Sagle Idaho 3 bedroom Home For Sale gives proof to just the opposite.  At $82,000 (Improved price as of January 22, 2018 – $79,000) it would be difficult to find rent less expensive,at this time, than the mortgage payment of this home.

    Sagle Idaho 3 bedroom home for sale

    Three bedrooms, 2 baths, and 1,096 sq. ft.  with community water and private septic.  Real property manufactured home located on .34 acres and less than 9 miles to Highway 95 with either Dufort or Sagle Roads.  Minutes to beautiful Garfield Bay boat launch, marina, camp ground and park.

    Located at 135 Cedar Hill in Sagle Idaho this home and 10X16 storage shed, situated on .34 acres, allows room for garage / shop and or garden area.  2 of the 3 bedrooms separated from the master bedroom and bath by open living area.  User friendly kitchen with plenty of cupboard space and peninsula counter to separate kitchen from living room.  Separate rear entrance combines for mud room and laundry room with washer and dryer.  Small open deck off the main entrance.  Season creek.

    While there are no bells and whistles with this Sagle Idaho 3 bedroom home for sale, it is clean, good bones, ready to move in, and at a price confirming the fact there is a motivated seller.

  • Sagle Idaho Home for Sale

    2,352 sq. ft. 5 bedroom, 2.5 bath home sitting on .5 acres.  This Sagle Idaho Home for Sale offers a unique layout.  All 5 bedroom are on the upper level including the Master Bedroom and bath.  Central to all bedrooms is a common area that can be utilized in any fashion that fits your needs.

    The lower level has a large kitchen and dining area with windows/and rear door opening to open deck area.  Connecting to the kitchen/dining area is the large living room with south facing window welcoming the sun and light.

    The wood burning stove sits just off the living room, and near the stairs, allowing for wood heat to be dispersed through out the home nicely.  A larger than normal mud room off the front entrance makes keeping winter time clean up much easier.  The separate laundry room conveniently located on main level as well.  Storage area, with separate entrance, off the laundry room gives  protected access to additional freezers, tools, cleaning items etc.

    Located less than a mile from County maintained road and less than 9 miles, via two different main roads, to Highway 95.  Enjoy the short distance to Garfield Bay boat launch, park, and camp ground, as well as Bottle Bay, Lake Pend Oreille, Sandpoint, and Schweitzer Ski Resort.

    Consider this Sagle Idaho Home for Sale when searching for your new home.  Listing price at $189,000.00  Selkirk Listing # 20173178.

  • Christmas Lights Decorations 2017

    A Christmas tradition over the past decade I always enjoy a nice dinner and movie in Coeur D’Alene.  With us already middle of January 2018 I wanted to bring up a couple things.  Riverstone Plaza is just down the street from the Coeur D’Alene Resort yet many people miss the wonderful Christmas lights displayed there.  Whether having seen before or not make it a point to enjoy the Coeur D’ Alene Christmas Lights Decorations this December 2018.

    Christmas Lights Decorations

    Coldwell Banker at Riverstone has a beautiful display.  With the blue lights showing off fresh fallen snow always very impressive.  This post being mainly written to bring that to peoples attention who have not been to Riverstone Plaza to enjoy the Christmas Lights Decorations

    I also want to mention my feelings on Christmas Lights Decorations 2017.  It seemed an odd year to me.  Many rushing, trying to bring in the season even before Halloween had passed.  Yet as the season arrived it seemed far fewer had decorated than usual.

    And now as we move to the 3rd week of January it seems of those many  having decorated, businesses and personal alike, have left the decorations up as well as leaving Christmas lights on.  While the spirit was wished for, it just did not seem to materialize as it normally does.  It will be interesting to me what spirit will show itself with Christmas Lights Decorations 2018.

  • Sold Sandpoint Home on 10 acres – Congratulations Ron and Brandy

    We met in late fall and began our search.  Two extended weekends and over 40 homes viewed gave way to an offer in Selle Valley Sandpoint.  As luck would have it another buyer was also interested and submitted an offer.  Best and last was a success for Ron and Brandy and so began the process of Title and Lender requirements.  With many outside obstacles, we finally reached the goal of a Sold Sandpoint Home on 10 Acres.

    A transaction is more than just a buyers agent working with the buyers.  Lenders, listing agent, title and many more come into play as one moves through the process.  Ron and Brandy were great.  Hung in there through all the obstacles.  Erik Envik of Realty Plus made a huge difference as well as Lynnette Miller of North Idaho Title.  Thank you to all.

    Sold Sandpoint Home on 10 AcresUsually closing and recording are the big relief.  A moment to sit back and enjoy your new home.  Unfortunately Ron and Brandy have not had much luck with weather.  Large snow storms have interfered with moving.

    Sold Sandpoint Home on 10 acresOn top of that propane supplier was unable to get to the house due to snow accumulation on the 200 yard driveway.   With the tank extremely low and single digit temperatures I loaded my snow blower and worked clearing the driveway so propane could be delivered early the next morning.

    Through all this Ron and Brandy have remained positive.  Good people that I feel fortunate to consider friends.  Congratulations again on your Sold Sandpoint Home on 10 Acres !

  • Freedom of Speech and NFL

    I want to pass along a thank you to the NFL players who chose to kneel this year during the National Anthem.  Even knowing my Patriot’s ‘ice man’ and Coach Belichick’s careers were at the closing years, I boycotted all football games.  Freedom of Speech right?  That included watching even games at home, enjoying a draft and a ball game, or eating at a restaurant to watch a game.

    Two very interesting realizations after having done so.  One is that football scores, stats, Superbowl participants, and anything else to do with football did not change.  Collectively with others that choose the same course, as myself, maybe some revenue was lost but nothing that will change the future of the game or how the players are treated by owners and coaches, or the media for that fact.  I feel good with my choice.

    Two, and most importantly to me, is how much time I saved over this past football season.  How much I was able to get accomplished while in the past I would have easily spent 1 maybe 2 games a week in front of a screen watching.  That amounts to a lot of hours and possible dollars saved while watching something that I had absolutely no control over the end outcome.

    Do know I am a big proponent of Freedom of Speech.  I do however very much question the intelligence of disrespecting the very icons at the core of what represents this country’s Freedom of Speech.   What brave women, men and families have sacrificed, in the past and present, to insure our rights as Americans to that privilege.  I do not argue our country to be perfect, as is not any other country, or individual for that matter.  I believe it is one helluva country to live in though.

    You might enjoy this short You-Tube video to gain a better insight as to just what our Anthem and Flag represent.  “Freedom of Speech” along with all our other Freedom’s through out history have come at no small cost.

  • Sagle Cabin Accepted Offer

    Congratulations to Marcus and Amanda !  A real estate transaction is like any journey.  Destinations are reached by taking one step at a time.  The first step of an accepted offer is very exciting and rewarding.  With their Sagle Cabin Accepted Offer we will move through the transaction process one step at a time to see the finish line.

    I received a late evening call that Marcus and Amanda were leaving the next morning and would like to see a Sagle Idaho Cabin before leaving.  I was able to make arrangements with the listing agent to see it that evening and met Marcus and Amanda at the cabin.  They liked the cabin and wanted to discuss it before making any decisions.

    A hidden gem in Sagle situated on 5 private acres.  A wonderful enclosed/screened patio to enjoy those special North Idaho late afternoons and sunsets.  Cute inside with completely redone kitchen.  Cozy living room area with wood burning stove.  Easy access to Highway 95 with short commute to all that North Idaho has to offer in outdoor activities.  A perfect North Idaho getaway for sure.

    Later that night I received a call that after discussing they wanted to make an offer.  We met next morning at the office and the offer was submitted before they left town.Sagle Cabin Accepted Offer

    After some negotiations with the sellers, and both parties working together, an agreement was made resulting in the Sagle Cabin Accepted Offer.  I am looking forward to working with Marcus and Amanda.  The listing agent and seller show themselves to communicate well and I am trusting this transaction to move forward smoothly.

    Congratulations again to Marcus and Amanda on the Sagle Cabin Accepted Offer!

  • North Idaho 3 bedroom 2 bath Homes for Sale – January 2018

    The most popular searched home is the 3 bedroom 2 bath.  Currently, as of January 23, 2018, there are 20 available in Boundary County and 72 available in Bonner County.  Figures are based on Selkirk MLS search results.  A wide variety of styles, pricing, size, and accompanying acreage are available for these North Idaho 3 bedroom 2 bath Homes for Sale.

    List prices vary from both the low and high extremes.  A low price of $79,000.00 to be found for a Sagle home.  A Clark Fork home shows current high price, for 3 bedrooms 2 bath homes, $2,350,000.00

    North Idaho 3 bedroom 2 bath homesSquare Feet and acreage is just as varied.  924 Square Feet being the low and 4,371 square feet being the high with neither coming from the high or low listed prices above.  Same being true of the acreage low of .17 acres and high acreage at 320 acres.

    Of the 92 homes presently available, 84 are priced below $750,000.00.  15 are priced below $200,000.00.  This little fact again confirms home prices have climbed steadily over the past few years, and the under $200,000.00 inventory restricted, not in just 3 bedroom 2 bath homes, but all categories.

  • North Idaho Sellers Beware!

    By now we are all aware of, and comfortable with the fact the real estate market is healthy and strong.  There are no signs indicating that is going to change anytime in the near future.  Sellers across the nation are pricing their homes at higher and higher prices.  North Idaho Sellers Beware… relates to any sellers, not just those in North Idaho.

    A seller will often state one, maybe even two or three, reasons why they need price their home far above the market price.  I am not talking about 5%, 10% above market, but more like 20% to 25%.  They will justify it with the same statements.  So much so, that Keller Williams has put together a template flyer, for sellers, showing the exact statements that should not be used  when deciding on a home price.

    As seen there are six basic statements with variations to all those:

    “What you paid”    “What you need”North Idaho Sellers Beware

    “What you Want”

    “What your Neighbor Says”

    “What another agent Says”

    “Cost to rebuild today”

    A good agent should be showing you comparable homes that have sold in the past 6 months, one year at most.  Expired homes in the past 6 months, as well as current active homes.  The most weight being put on the sold homes.

    While a guide to what your competition will be, one must be careful not to put too much weight on active listing prices.  Someone can ASK whatever they want for a home.  That does not make it a legitimate market price.  Expired listings tend to show what potential buyers are not willing to pay for a home.

    A good agent will work with you.  They will want to get you the most money for your home as possible.  They will take into consideration all factors that affect the price of your home.  Do not let yourself, as a seller, get caught up in the “I have to haves’.  It will cost you money in the long run.

Powered by CookieAdmin