How hot? According to the firm Porch, over half of all homes sold in Spokane closed above the asking price last year. In fact, out of all midsize metro areas, Spokane had the fifth highest sale-to-list ratio. And Coeur d’Alene? Currently, the average time on market for a single-family home in the lake city is four days. 

By now, we’re all familiar with the reasons why the housing market is on fire—a growing work-from-home economy coupled with historically low interest rates have boosted demand for homes while the national housing stock has dwindled. 

To figure out why there aren’t enough homes look no further than new construction. New home building didn’t regain its pre-pandemic pace until this past fall, and ongoing supply chain challenges have continued to impact housing completions. Add into the mix the demand for single family homes created by millennials looking to become first-time homeowners in order to escape rising rental rates, and it becomes obvious why demand currently outpaces supply.  

Unfortunately for those younger homebuyers, Baby Boomers aren’t downsizing to condos and retirement communities; to the contrary, they’re upsizing, and they have the capital to pay top dollar for choice real estate. In Spokane as elsewhere, buyers aged 65 years or older accounted for nearly 10 percent of home purchase loans in 2020. How can the average working- or middle-class young family get into a home of its own?

Of all the times to utilize the services of a Realtor, it’s now. Going it alone without an ally in your corner who can negotiate and problem solve on your behalf would be foolhardy. 

From a buyer’s perspective, the advantages may seem obvious. The home-seeker needs someone who can get in there and make the right offer at that right time on his or her behalf. But it’s more than just offering to buy the desired piece of property. 

While the typical buyer sees a future home, “most buyer’s Realtors will view a property from a long-term and short-term perspective,” explains Tom Clark, a licensed Realtor with Kestell Company. 

“An experienced Realtor will notice red flags or areas of concern, whether it’s energy inefficiency, deferred maintenance or poor workmanship, and whether the equipment is aged or any other features of a house that might be concerning,” he notes.

Realtors live and breathe real estate. Would you purchase a half-million-dollar sports car without having the assistance of a seasoned auto mechanic?  

It can be a harder sell, no pun intended, in convincing a home-seller as to why putting up a photo on Zillow and going it alone isn’t sufficient, no matter how hot the market it is. 

“As a seller, you need an experienced Realtor to assist you with the best pricing strategy; someone who truly knows the value of the area, one who is knowledgeable with the details of your neighborhood, and most importantly a professional to walk you through the multiple-offer situation so many sellers are working with,” says Realtor Connie Smith of Kelly Right Real Estate. “It’s also very important to know how to prepare your home for sale.”

First impressions are key to a successful sale, she adds. “It’s important to have the home staged, professionally cleaned, professionally photographed, decluttered. I always tell my sellers, less is more.”

Smith and all of the Realtors interviewed shared the same sentiment, that their job is to have the client’s best interest at heart.

Take it from one of the region’s most experienced real estate professionals. Nancy Wynia has been helping buyers and sellers since 1979. 

“Homes are the largest purchases and sales that most people make. We are there to represent them and explain each step as it comes along. I tell clients that we sell a home three times: sale price, home inspection and appraisal.”

It’s a lot of work, real work, but Wynia emphasizes what matters most for those in her field, “It’s a pleasure and a privilege to work both buyers and sellers.”

Suzette Alfonso

Windermere Real Estate

suzyrealtor.com

[email protected]

(509) 710-4900

———–

Marianne Bornhoft

Windermere Real Estate

spokanehouse.com

[email protected]

(509) 879-3779

———–

Tom Clark 

Kestell Company

kestell.com

[email protected]

(509) 499-9999

———–

Crystal Delaney

4 Degrees Real Estate

4degrees.com/crystaldelaney/

[email protected]

(509) 934-0909

———–

Gayle Earling

Windermere Real Estate

gaylesellsspokane.com

[email protected] 

(509) 981-4152

———–

Joel Elgee

Avalon 24 Real Estate

joelelgee.com

[email protected]

(208) 953-1414

———–

Denise Fox

Century 21 Beutler & Associates

Denisefox.com

[email protected]

(509) 321-1123

———–

Pam Fredrick

John L. Scott

Pamfredrick.com

[email protected]

(509) 370-5944 

———–

Mary Frances Gence

Windermere Real Estate

maryfrancesgence.com

[email protected]

(509) 990-1993

———–

Pam Hansen

Professional Realty Services

professionalrealtyservices.com

[email protected]

(509) 435-1560

———–

Jill Klinke

Windermere Real Estate

homesforsaleinspokane.org

[email protected]

(509) 994-8273

———–

Kathy Amistoso Main

REMAX of Spokane

kathymainrealtor.com

[email protected]

(509) 998-7544

———–

Patricia O’Callaghan

Century 21 Beutler & Associates

SpokaneREAL.com

[email protected]

(509) 701-0856

———–

Tracy Penna

Windermere Real Estate

tracypenna.com

[email protected]

(509) 953-6561 

———–

Connie Smith 

Kelly Right Real Estate

ConnieSellsSpokane.com

[email protected]

(509) 953-3839

———–

Gayle Terry

Windermere Real Estate

gayleterry.com

[email protected]

(509) 389-2069 

———–

Todd Spencer

Windermere Real Estate

spencersellsspokane.net

[email protected]

(509) 869-5885

———–

Tony Vaughn

Windermere Real Estate

tonyvaughn.withwre.com

[email protected]

(509) 230-3922

———–

Amber Vietzke 

Windermere Real Estate

SpokaneRealtorAmber.com

[email protected]

(509) 220-7271

———–

Maria Walker

Windermere Real Estate

Mariawalkerhomes.com

[email protected] 

Cell: (509) 747-1051 

———–

Nancy Wynia 

Windermere Real Estate

nancywynia.com

[email protected]

(509) 990-2742

———–

Jeci Adams

Suzette Alfonso

Jesse Allen

Michelle Allen

Zak Allen

Kathy Amistoso-Main

Anna Anderson

Beth Anderson

Mark Anderson

Nichole Andreasen

Kevin Appleton

Kari, Aquino-Hayes

Arnold Lee

Trevor Austin

Miranda Bales

Michael Balogh

Shane Bangle

Alicia Bani

Romi Banna

Ken Barcus

McKenzie Bartle

Kristina Bartlett

Russ Barton

Bass Mike

Nathalie Batty

Chase Baxter

Mark Beardslee

Michelle Becker

Samara Behler

Traci Bemis

Elizabeth Bendinelli

Justin Bennett

Khalil Beznaiguia

Jonathan Bich

Cammie Bigham

Jon Biron

Kathy Bixler

Jim Bjorklund

Melissa Blaine

Toby Blodgett

Richard Bockemueh

Ella Boitano

Heidi Bollum

Ashley Bond

Cynthia Bond

Nicole Bond

Kathy Bonnett

Josiah Boone

Marianne Bornhoft

Brad Boswell

Elizabeth Boykin

Shanann Bragg

Leonard Brandt

Ben Brast

Luke Brown

Rust Brown

Todd Bunger

Brenda Burk

Ryan Buth

Stephanie Butler

Chris Canning

Lynsey Cantlon

Kyleigh Carbon

Kristina Carlson

Eva Carper

Cindy Carrigan

Micheal Chappell

Chester Joelle

Dayna Chisum

Ronda Church

Li Ciavola

Jessica Clark

Tom Clark

Marcus Clause-Geston

Jennifer Clemens

Molly O Cline

Bart Cloninger

Molly Cole

Michelle Collins

Chris Connelly

Susan Conner

Bob Cooke

Julie Cope

Garry Cozza

Bryan Crabbe

Tina Craig

Shauna Crandall

Jeff Crane

Mike Crowley

Alyssa Curnutt

Lindsay Dahm

Kimberly Dailey

Bill Davis

Courtney Davis

Dyer Davis

Jeaninne Dawson

Shannon Dayton

Katie DeBill

Nichole Decker

Billy Deese

Jamie DeHaven

Crystal Delaney

Shane Delaney

Melinda Denton

Dan Dhaenens

Chris Di Cicco

Pollianna Dickinson-Jones

Taylor Dimov

Joe Dinnison

Suzy Dix

Perry Domini

Erik Dordal

Michael Dorsey

Sherri Dotts

Lou Dunham

Gayle Earling

Eric Eden

Christopher Edwards

Jon Ehrlich

Jonas Elber

Joel Elgee

Kylene Emery

Ashley Emtman

Jared English

Peter Enkema

Chris Ennis

Daniel Estelle

Eric Etzel

Susan Evans

Michelle Eyraud-Mendez

Aaron Farr

James Faucett

Taelor Fayette

Tiffany Ferraro

Laura Fifield

Katie Finch

Sandi Fisher

Chad Flett

Angela Foote

Bobbi Fowler Greenland

Ryan Fowler

Denise Fox

Pam Fredrick

Jessica Friedland

Ken Fry

Barbara Frye

Patty Gaines

Darryl Gardner

Mary Frances Gence

Rick Gerety

Lacie Gimeno

Shannon Grady

Brandi Graham-Snow

Andrew Graham

Hayley Graham

Mike Graham

Jessica Granly

Gary Grant

Chelsey Graves

Kristi Green

Hal Greene

Stacy Gregory

Kerry Grimes

Nick Grishko

Todd Grubb

John Guarisco

Cynthia Gustafson

Alexxis Guthrie

Behrouz Hadi

Kim Hagel

Peter Hagen

Steve Hagen

Haydn Halsted

Connie Hamblen

Kristy Hamby

Ross Hamilton

Alicia Haney

Pamelle Hansen

Ron Hansen

Karilynn Hardan

Rick Harter

Don Hay

Joel Haywood

Chris Heftel

Amanda Helm

Mike Helmberger

Wendi Helmick

Cambria Henry

Mark Hensley

Kelly Hewson

Audrey Hiatt

Jeff Hickethier

Jeff Hinton

Justin Hocking

Jodi Hoffman

Mikayla Hoffman

Sarah Hoiland

Tom Hormel

Denay Hornberger

Jeff Hornberger

Jerry Hornberger

Craig Hudkins

Rob Hudkins

Wendy Hughes

Kim Hynes

Cody Irons

Kathryn Isaak

Robert Jacobs II

Sidney Jacobsen

Micaela Jaime

Fred Jakubek

Steve James

Jay Janssen

Teresa Jaynes

Dale Johnson

Kelli Johnson

Yolande Johnson

Sabrina Jones-Schroeder

David Jones

Kevin Jones

Mark Jones

Sharla Jones

Sharon Jones

Steve Jones

Nate Juarez

Jennifer Kaiser

Jeannette Karis

Karin Kasinger

Patrick Kendrick

Chad Kennedy

Karl Kennedy

Sara Kennedy

Wendy Kennedy

Steven Kepler

Kristi Kerkuta

Cody Kerr

Jack Kestell

Amy Khosravi

Rich King

John Kirsch

Judy Klier

Jill Klinke

Sarah Knight

Doug Koenig

Sara Koenig

Phil Konynenbelt

Pat Kostecka

Alisha Krause

Rachel Krouse

Kyle Krug

Nikki Kubas

Monica Kullman

Andrew Kusuda

Isaac Lanctot

Camela Lathrop

David Lawrence

Darren Lawson

Julianne Lease

Kimberly Leavell

Jody Lee

Meaghan Leech

Stacey Leech

John Leland

Lisa Lembeck

Jeremy Lemm

Aaron Lennon

Shawn Lewis

Patrick Libey

Amy Lightbody

Dallas Lightner

Joyce Lingo

Jim Lister

Travis Litras

Karene Loman

BethAnn Long

Christina Lotton

Scott Lovinger

James Luster

Corrie MacAllister

Jacob Mack

Hunter Mackay

Jed Maclaurin

Seth Maefsky

Tom Maine

Andrea Malone

Jason Malone

Nicole Malubay

Jamie Mann

Brandon Marchand

Patti Marcotte

Mary Marr

Deanna Martin

Marcy Martin

Christy Mattson

Emily Maximus

Paula Maynard

Melissa Mayther

Peggy McCartney

Keri McCombs

Chelsea McFarland

Dan McGuire

Patrick McHenry-Kroetch

Kevin McInnerney

Ronald McIntire

Kathryn McInturff

Dawn McKenna

Brenda McKinley

Dan McLaughlin

Darcy McMurray

Matt Mehring

Carrie Meyer

Mike Meyer

Rachael Meyer

Robyn Miller

Robert Milliron

Spencer Millsap

Luke Mischke

Shelly Monahan Cain

Marcy Mongan

Brian Monk

Chris Montgomery

Tami Montoya

Kathy Moore

Rachel Moore

Marcos Morales

Nick Morelli

Robin Morrow

Jack Morse

Jodi Mouchett

Beth Mulligan

Christine Mundel

Melissa Murphy

Rori Murphy

Sean Ness

Phil Neumann

Angela Newcomb

Becky Newman

Jeremy Nichols

Marc Nilson

Jenna Norris

Kristina Northcutt

Pamela Novell

Chris Nye

Melissa O’Bannon

Miranda O’Callaghan

Patricia O’Callaghan

Bill O’Dea

Karen O’Donnell

Ryan Oberg

Skylar Oberst

Tim Olsen

Jim Palmer Jr.

Amy Parrish

Thomas Parrish

Abbey Parsons

Dan Pasby

Kathi Pate

Anthony Patterson

Gregg Patterson

Joel Pearl

Marie Pence

Tracy Penna

Joe Penny

Lisa Peters

Eric Peterson

Stephanie Peterson

Joanne Pettit

Bernadette Pillar

Alan Plese

Vic Plese

Jim Powers

Richard Prasser

Aryn Presta

Stuart Prey

Riley Price

Tom Price

Kelly Quinn

Matt Raby

Ripley Ramsey

Jennifer Randolph

Lauren Rasmussen

Timothy Ray

Erika Rayburn

Brynn Rea

McKenzie Rearrick

Pam Reilly

Robert Renecker

Desiree Renshaw

David Reynolds

John Rice

Bill Richard

Rick Richard

Tammy Ringer

Debra Rowe

Rebecca Ruark

Adam Salas

Manny Salinas

Jacquelynne Sandoval

Steve Schalock

Heather Schelling

Warren Schick

Kolby Schoenrock

Heather Schulz

Whitney Schumacher

Zac Scott

Natalia Seefeldt

Jake Senescall

Jessica Shaeffer

Jennifer Shorts

Gaye Shumaker

Jessica Side

Steven Silbar

Marcy Singleton

Christine Sitton

Brian Smith

Connie Smith

Jessica Smith

Ron Snyder

Sandi Snyder

Elizabeth Sorensen

Brad Spears

Todd Spencer

Tony Spinnell

Tanya Starkel

Patrick Stevers

Julian Stewart

Michael Stinger

Kelly Stratton

Brian Strobel

Toby Sullard

Todd Sullivan

Bryan Swanson

Mollie Sweat

Lisa Sweeney

Brenda Tampien

Jordan Tampien

Vitaliy Tanchin

Leif Tangvald

Lisa Tawney

Gayle Terry

Melissa Tetreault

Jeff Thomas

Lisa Thome

Lenae Thornton

Sara Throckmorton

Sheri Tilton

BranDen Tipton

Mike Tobeck

Sean Tobin

Scott Tollefsen

Tim Tonani

Judith Torok

Bob Travis

Eric Tucker

Cynthia Upp

Teresa Van Dyke

Taci VanLeuven

Laura vanZwol

Vanessa Varona

Tony Vaughn

Konstantin Velikodnyy

Amber Vietzke

Jason Walker

Jonathan Walker

Maria Walker

Natalie Ward

Kevin Warner

Brent Watson

Julie Weaver

Shelly Weiland

Randy Wells

Robin Wendel

Paige Wheelhouse

William White

Megan Wiks

Doc Williams

John Williams

Latrice Williams

Steve Williams

Tanner Williams

Roger Williamson

Rachel Wilson

Trevor Windhorst

Labrina Winfrey

Susan Wolford

Joy Wood

Nancy Wynia

Dorothy Yeaw

Brian Zapotocky

Kristopher Zarek

Debbie Zimmerman

Kristi Zorb

JoAnn Zyph

Tyler Zyph