SUNSETS IN WALLA WALLA….

I wonder how many residents of the Walla Walla Valley sit and enjoy our sunsets, especially in the fall. Several times this past month or so I have looked out my office window or been sitting on my patio earlier to see some of the most magnificent sunsets in the world. What is the expression; “we do not see the forests for the trees”. I really feel it is true in so many ways for the families in Walla Walla. Everyone is so busy with work and family that they do not always reflect on the beauty of the Walla Walla Valley. What a place to live.

Twenty years ago, I was showing property to a professor coming to Walla Walla for a short tenure at Whitman College. I was driving him around the valley and our community, listening to his comments and I really started to understand what a man from New York City saw in Walla Walla that was so special. He said the following to me and I have never forgotten it, “Dennis”, he said, “you just do not know what a special gift you have, living here in Walla Walla”. Since them I have really started to take time to enjoy all we have. Every time I return from traveling across the west , and come over cabbage hill and see our valley, I turn to my wife Donna, and say, “I do not if I have seen a more beautiful spot as Walla Walla in our 3000 mile of travel.”

We have another business sunset coming, November 30th. All sales must be closed for the first time homebuyer tax credit. If it has not closed you will not receive the credit. If you are just entering into a sales contract and hope to close by that date you need to check with your lender first to and see if the process can accommodate your needs. Do not enter into a transaction, needing the credit, until you have discussed it with your Realtor and lender.

Please check out our company website: coldwellbankerfirstrealtors.com. Comment on its use. We have really made a sincere attempt to make easy and comfortable to use. We don’t demand names or contact information. We want you to feel comfortable to do your searching and hopefully contact us when you are ready. We hope you will enjoy our new feature for the tour of Walla Walla. It will have photos of parks, schools, downtown, hospitals, buildings, the Blue Mts & more. Everything we could think of. If you have photos you feel would add something to our tour, you can submit them on our website. The tour should be up and running by the 10th of November.

Enjoy some of the sunsets and take more time understand the beauty of the Walla Walla Valley.

DM Ledford, Broker/Owner

Coldwell Banker First Realtors

RESULTS OF THE REALTOR FOOD DRIVE…

Well it did not turn out well.    At this point we are down about 50% from last year’s total which is very disappointing and a big blow to the local food bank and our local families in need of help.    I am suggesting we donate money or take food to one of the several grocery stores where we have our collection barrels.    We need everyone’s help.  The effort is greatly appreciated and the Walla Walla families that did participate I applaud you for the help you provided.   If you can afford to do more I encourage you to do it.

 We were presented a program by the general manager of the new Walla Walla summer baseball team opening this summer June 6^th.    They will be playing at Borleske Stadium with college scholarship players in a league basically the size and scope of a class A.   The players cannot receive any pay except for food out of town and lodging.   They will need family housing from host families in our area.    If you have interest give Zachary Fraser a call, 801-360-8391.  It will be great to have baseball back in Walla Walla.   Did you know Ozzie Smith and Tony Gwinn started their professional baseball careers in Walla Walla.   Zachary feels we are one of the few small markets that have had two hall of fame players begin their careers.

 The market is still strong but there is growing fears on rising interest rates.  Last week, the core consumer price index (cpi) was reported higher than expected, indicating that inflationary forces may already be underway.   Remember, inflation erodes the value of the fixed return that a bond provides; therefore, inflation is harmful to bonds and home loan rates.   Just the hint of inflation can cause home loan rates to worsen, which is what, we saw last week.

 There are lots of other indicators out there, but the bottom line is that the heat is on.   We could see rates increase in the very near future.   Take action and lock in.   First time homebuyers your time line is falling away fast.   November 30^th, and it has to be closed.  That takes some time to accomplish in our current underwriting environment.   Altogether it is time to make your move.  

 Contact one of my associates or take a look at our site:  coldwellbankerfirstrealtors.com.

 Thanks for reading…

 DM Ledford, Broker/Owner

Coldwell Banker First Realtors

SMART REAL ESTATE INVESTORS ARE BUYING NOW

Why would Warren Buffett be purchasing real estate companies and large home builder companies??? Well I know. Because he feels real estate is going to rebound in a big way. So do I. We are seeing strong real estate investors coming back into the market here in Walla Walla. We are selling commercial, residential, and condo properties and getting more and more inquiries. We had 5,800 visits to our web site in the past 30 days from 28 different countries. If you are a first time buyer homebuyer you have even more reasons to purchase your first home. Do not wait for the prices to hit bottom. You cannot pick that date. Why???? Do we throw a parade or have a day from school when that time comes??? No!!! Waiting will find you changing from a buyer’s to a seller’s market. In a seller’s market their motivation to accept an offer might change to a more wait and see attitude.

As I have written before, this is the perfect storm for the buyer. Lowest interest rates in over 50 years, great inventory, and a strong motivation in sellers to make something happen to sell their properties. Call one of my associates today to take some action. Log on to coldwellbankerfirstrealtors.com for a list of my associates and to look at the properties currently available in our local mls.

We are still making improvements to our marketing of our rental inventory. We will soon have our new Coldwell Banker First Realtor property management site up and running. In talking with my business consultant, Chris Saffer of Solutions 5, we should be up and running in less than three weeks. We are also starting to use Craig’s list to present some of our large sites and special rental opportunities. This week we are featuring The Washington Apartments which is a very special complex with beautiful turn of the century charm, close to town for easy walking to a variety of shops, restaurants, etc.  All is well.

We are selling homes and listing beautiful properties. Call us if you need professionals to assist in finding a new home or selling and moving up. We are fortunate to have two great home builders working with us, Sullivan Rowell and Thad Sirmon Construction. They represent quality and professional assistance in the construction of your new home.

If I can be of assistance to talk about real estate or any other area I know something about contact me and we will talk.

DM Ledford, Owner/Broker

Coldwell Banker First Realtors

 

What Beautiful Fall Weather…

Crisp and clean in the morning and Indian summer weather in the afternoon. I just really enjoy the fall. It is another reason Walla Walla is so special.

We had another great month in written business with forty offers agreed to, which matched our production in September of last year and keeps us operating at a strong level. In September closings we closed 42% of the homes in the local mls which keeps us again in the top position in our community. I could not be prouder of the agents which represent Coldwell Banker First Realtors. They are true professionals and it is so enjoyable to work with them on a daily basis.

On the national level, our franchise, Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, ranked highest among real estate companies in satisfying home sellers according to the recently released J.D. Power and Associates 2009 home buyer/seller study. The independently administered study measured customer satisfaction of homebuyers and sellers among the largest national real estate firms. We are proud of our national affiliation because we are associated with the strongest worldwide organization in real estate.

We had our annual Coldwell Banker First Realtors golf tournament this past Saturday. It was fun but it was cold and wet. The winning team was made up of Cindy Waliser, George Kaup, Josh Ledford, Byron Burris, and Dee Balmer. We really had fun even though we had to give up after 12 holes. The rain and cold just took its toll, so we retreated to the café and had a wonderful meal and warmed up before we headed home.

We have started our fourth quarter of the year and so far it is going very well. Interest rates are below 5%. Hard to believe, but it is true, and it couldn’t be a better time to make a move into a new home or your first home with the advantage of the low rates, the good inventory, buyer’s market, and the first time homebuyer’s tax credit.

Hope all is well in your community. We are seeing very positive developments headed our way this fall and next spring. Call if I can assist or answer any questions. Thanks for taking time to read and hopefully enjoy some of the data.

DM Ledford

Rates are Low!!!

Unbelievable low rates are out there. We were told by Bobbie Jo, our Coldwell Banker mortgage representative that almost all the loan programs are under 5% at this point. Assuming you have an adequate credit score, now is the time to make your move to purchase your new residence with the low rates, large inventory, and a softer buyers market. First time homebuyers. You need to close your transaction by November 30th to take advantage of the $8,000 gift from Uncle Sam. It is hard to pass up. Make the change from renting and buy your home. Do not continue to pay rent to your landlord so he can pay for his home you are living in.

We have a lot of sickness in our organization, but I am so proud of the way they circle the wagons around the families in our organization which need help. My agents and employees never cease to amaze me with the way they step up to the task they are asked to assist in. What a great group of people.

Our annual golf tournament is set for October 3. We will be playing at the Milton Freewater golf course with our tee times starting at about 1 pm. We use the scramble format to help everyone feel comfortable in just going out to have fun and play golf. Some have never played golf but they just enjoy the time out in the beautiful fall weather laughing with their friends. I will try to have photos available in the next couple of weeks.

Sales are going great and a lot of new families are moving to our area. Megan our agent marketing consultant tracked our activity on ColdwellBankerFirstRealtors.com and we had 2400+ hits with over 2000 new inquiries from 26 different countries. We are seeing more and more buyers use our site. Electronic communications continue to grow and grow. If you have any questions about how to find a home go to our site and find one of my associates to assist you in the search and the financing of your new home.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. Walla Walla real estate is doing well.

 DM Ledford

What a Vacation!

My wife Donna and I, along with a few other couples, spent a week at Coastal Springs Float Lodge in British Columbia, near Knights Inlet.    The lodge is a wonderful place to stay.  Each couple had a suite of their own, we had a wonderful cook named Heather who prepares all our meals, plus a deck to sit and enjoy the scenery.    It is so peaceful, great view of wildlife and the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets you could ask for.    It clears and freshens my mind.   No cell phones, no e-mails, no issues at all.   All you do it relax, fish, eat, and sleep.

We caught the two biggest king salmon of the season for the lodge.  My sister-in-law, Sharie Ledford, reeled in the largest at 50 inches and 50 lbs.   What a huge fish and what a fun time Sharie had reeling it in.   I am planning a trip next year with my sons if they can work it in with their vacation schedules.   Donna and I love being there together.

Back to business.   What a month we had in August.   50 written and accepted offers for the month compared to the 30 we had last year in August.    We are seeing a lot of families out looking for housing and with the tax credit expiring it is becoming more urgent for the first time home buyers.    The rates are down again to at or below five per cent.   What an opportunity with low rates, great inventory, and soft pricing.   It is a great opportunity to take advantage of.    I am hoping this push will go into November and December to create a carry over into 2010.    I am still pushing for the extension of the first time purchaser’s tax credit and to extend to all buyers in a certain income level to push them more into the market which would provide more inventories for the entry level home buyers.

School is back and the college students are coming in by the hundreds looking for rentals.    We welcome them here at Coldwell Banker First Realtors.  In that search to help them we are in the process of building  a new rental web site for their use with interactive applications and pay pal for their submission of the application deposit.   We know it will create convenience for them.    We are again using Chris Saffer for his incite on the building of the site, along with the knowledge of Alan Raguso, Rick Phillips and Lisa Baxter to help make the process function for us.    It will be up and running shortly and would look for your opinions.

Frontier Days are in full swing.  We will again have our parade event in front of our office with a covered viewing area with and chairs, cold beverages, cookies, balloons, and bags for the children to pick up their candy thrown from the riders and the floats.

I hope you enjoy the photos of the fishing trip in Canada, unfortunately, or may fortunately, I seem to have avoided the camera all week.  Maybe next year I’ll be the one to catch the big fish and will be able to post that.    It is a pleasure to share them with you and if you are interested in a trip next year let me know and I will put you in contact with Steve, the owner of Coastal Springs Float Lodge.   It is a trip you will never forget.   Thanks for spending time reading my blog.  I hope it was refreshing at points and interesting at the same time.

DM Ledford

Vacation at Twin Lakes was great.

I spent one week with friends and family fishing, water skiing, jet skiing, volleyball, table games, and most of all relaxation.   Donna and I have been renting this cabin for over twenty years and I have been staying at the lake for over forty years.    It is my time to clean my mind and have fun with family.    It is a special time.

We have seen a definite upswing in the market the last sixty days.     I feel it is directly driven by the First Time Home Buyer market.    It is my opinion that if the program is not extended into 2010 the real estate market will suffer.    I feel it is just as important to include a program for the move up buyer with some type of tax incentive program. This would help drive them into the market, which would have a much larger impact on the housing market as they would look at new construction more so than the first timers.   With the move up group investing again we have more homes and better homes available to the first time buyers as well.    Without an extension and a new program for the move up buyers I feel we would see a definite downward movement in the housing market here in Walla Walla.

Still, the factors which are not changing at this point are the following; decent inventories, interest rates, and availability of funds.   All of these factors make this the time to look at purchasing a new home.   Call one of our very qualified sales associates at Coldwell Banker First Realtors for your appointment to talk and start your process if you feel the time is right for you and your family.    The time could not be better based on my almost 40 years of experience in the Walla Walla market.

Rentals are moving at a good pace with the schools opening in the next few weeks; Walla Walla public schools start on August 25^th, Whitman College on September 1^st, Walla Walla Community College on September 21^st, and Walla Walla University on September 28^th.    The students are calling in panic to find rentals and my staff is pressed to the limit to meet their needs.  So far we are holding our heads above water.   We are making progress on our new property management website and hopefully we will see it go active in September.    One great feature will be our interactive forms which will include rental applications and the ability to use pay pal for paying their application fees.  This will help speed up the application process, especially for our out of town applicants.    Most of all I want to be easy to navigate.   I think our customers and clients will be happy with it.

Fair time is fast approaching.   We will again be holding our Walla Walla Frontier Days parade party in front of our office on Saturday, September 5^th.   We will have chairs setup and offer our guests cool and hot drinks, cookies and balloons for the kids.   Join us if you have time.

Thanks for the time.   I hope it was informative and inviting to read.

DM Ledford

RAIN, RAIN, RAIN. HOW GOOD IT FEELS…

We have had one of the hottest and driest July’s in my memory.   We had a long hot spell with temperatures over 100 degrees for several days.  The heat and dry spell makes the rain even more important to the valley.    The air is so fresh and clean, it is just like a new day.

Sales have been great for July.   We had the best month of the year for written business.   Lenders are having the same rush with the first time homebuyer tax credit and the low, low mortgage rates.   Homes priced under $225,000.00 are moving well and we are seeing a large number of multiple offers in this segment of our market.   On the other end of our market, above $400k, the market has slowed and the absorption of the inventory with the pace of sales, might take as long as two years.   Prices will have to drive the inventory down at a faster pace as long as mortgage rates remain low.

My week has been devoted to my new passion,  Shakespeare Uncorked with the production of Taming of the Shrew at the Fort Walla Walla Amphitheater.   The opening night was just great.   We had almost 700 attend our opening night.   Great comments for the exit polling of the guests attending.    We had a rain out on Thursday night but fired up again Friday and finished strongly on Saturday and Sunday.

I have replaced two key positions in the operation of the office.  Megan is now handling the agent production and marketing.   Patrick, the reception coordinator, is running our front area.  Both individuals are a wonderful addition to the office and tremendous addition to the firm.

I’m off to Twin Lakes to enjoy a week of well deserved relaxation with my family.  Have a great week.  Get out there and check out available homes.  Who knows, maybe this is the week you find the perfect home for you.

DM Ledford

What a Busy Couple of Months

We have had a very busy May and June.    We participated in the Friends Breakfast on May 27^th with a financial sponsorship and several attending associates.    The speaker and the program was stunning and very emotional.   What a strong benefit the program is to our local young people looking for adult friends.    The other wonderful gift of the program was meeting Mark Brown the executive director of Friends.    He is the perfect person to work with the adult friends and the children that are selected to participate in the program.   He brings all of his talents to the area with the FRIENDS PROGRAM, music, and his wonderful warm and calm personality.   “Glad to have you here in Walla Walla, Mark.”  If you are interested in becoming for familure with the Friends program click on the logo above.

This was the first year we participated as on office in the RELAY FOR LIFE, to help raise money for the fight against cancer.   There were 36 teams overall with 471 individuals. Coldwell Banker First Realtors sponsored 2 teams with about ½ of our agents & spouses participating.  Our teams raised just over $8,000.00 for the program and at last glance it looks like the entire event raised over $96,000.00.    Our very own Carol Gatewood spoke to the entire group about her battle with cancer.  What a moving story.  Carol, Pat Richmond, Jim Thornton & his wife Mary then walked with me in the SURVIVORS LAP to kick off the event.   The entire night was a moving experience.  It was emotionally charging to watch all the people who have fought the battle with cancer.   I know we will be participating again next year.  We have set a goal to raise more donations and have a higher percentage of the associates participate.    If you would like more information on the event click on agove Rely for Life logo. If you are interested in participating next year I highly recommend it.  It was a great experience.  Thank you for all that helped.

We had our first ever pavement party on our back parking lot on July 3^rd to celebrate the 4^th of July holiday.   BOY WAS IT HOT.   We had Wing and a Prayer cater the bar-b-q chicken and it was fantastic.   The rest of the food was provided by the employees and associates for a pot luck event.    We had wonderful live entertainment from Rick Phillips, our very own property manager and Mark Brown.   They were fantastic.   We might have to pick a more comfortable day next year.

First time homebuyers have another wonderful process available through FHA which will help access the $8,000.00 tax credit for early availability; for down payment and other opportunities.    This will help stimulate the use of the actual funds made available through the government stimulus program.   Also, other FHA programs are available.  If you need help finding out what might be available, you should contact a lender you are comfortable with.   We are fortunate to have Bobbie Jo with Coldwell Mortgage located in our office.  You can reach her at our office number 509-525-0820 to set up an appointment.   Please get pre-qualified before you start to look at homes.   It will give you a clear idea of what you can afford and what your cash commitments will be. 

In conjunction for a successful search for a home find a Realtor you can trust to represent you in the process.   Interview a few agents you have heard good reports about whether from family, friends or acquaintances.   They will help you find a home and also assist in your search to find the best mortgage funds available.   Try not to bounce around with several different agents.   You will get the best service by committing to a strong real estate professional and sticking with them.  If for some reason the agent you chose does not work out, cancel your agreement and look again.   The top associates devote a lot of time for their clients and they expect to have loyalty from you as you would expect to have from them.

I have not seen a time that would compare to the opportunities that exist in today’s real estate market in the Walla Walla Valley during my 38 years as a real estate broker or agent.  Rates, inventory, and pricing and great.   Take advantage of the opportunity today.

Thanks

DM Ledford

Walla Walla Real Estate Round Table Discussion

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