homes.wenatcheeworld.com
North Central Washington
Homefinder’s WEEKEND Realtor’s Corner VikkiGildenRealEstate.com www.PremierOne.biz
REALTORS® Nationwide Open House
Where were you born and where did you grow up? I was born in Long Beach, WA and lived in the rain forest north of Hoquiam, WA until I was nine when my family moved to Wenatchee. It was quite a change moving from the rain forest to the desert....a welcome one! It was great growing up in Wenatchee with 300 days of sunshine a year and things to do year-round!
Paul Mares Premier One Properties (509) 670-2119
What got you into Real Estate and what keeps you in it? After being a UPS driver in Seattle for 12 years I was ready for a career change and began taking appraisal courses before deciding working in real estate sales was more to my liking. The real estate industry is constantly changing which makes it an interesting career! I like working with people to help them solve their real estate related needs.
What do you enjoy most about life in the Wenatchee Valley? The recreational opportunities are limitless here in the Valley! I enjoy the great parks that we have here where you can walk or bike for miles and enjoy the varied wildlife and incredible weather our area offers. In the winter time I like to snowshoe at Mission Ridge or Leavenworth which are both just a few minutes drive from home. The fishing and boating aren’t bad either!
What is the most interesting property you have ever listed or sold? I currently have an airplane hangar at Pangborn Airport listed for sale. I would say that’s one of the most interesting properties.
Looking into your crystal ball, what do you see as the future for Real Estate in 2012? The year has started off with a huge increase in sales over last year. Buyers have realized that the great prices on homes coupled with some historically low interest rates is making owning real estate the best investment they could possibly make. I see sales continuing to be strong through the year as long as interest rates remain low.
What historical person do you most admire and why? Leonardo da Vinci because he was talented in so many different areas, from inventor and scientist to artist. He had a hunger for knowledge and never stopped learning.
April 28th and 29th 2012 Join the Biggest 2-Day Housing Event in the world! And it started right here in Washington State! With an improving housing market, record low interest rates, home prices more affordable than they have been for a decade, and reports of diminishing inventory, thousands of homes throughout Washington state will open their doors April 28-29 as part of the annual Nationwide Open House sponsored by the Washington Association of Realtors®. The weekend has the support also of the National Association of Realtors® and its more than one million members resulting in hundreds of thousands of open houses throughout the country. “From Long Island, N.Y. to Tucson, AZ, from Massachusetts all the way to Jefferson County right here in Washington, Realtors® from coast to coast are participating in this year’s Nationwide Open House,” says Washington Realtor® President Faye Nelson. “The event is a real kick-off to a home buying season that is already heating up. We see consumers’ confidence building. The only downside is they may be competing with other buyers.” “In most places in Washington, active listing inventory is lower than it’s been in years; wise buyers are taking advantage of the healthy savings and potential for return on their investment,” says Nelson, a real estate broker for more than 18 years. “If they don’t act now, I think people will be kicking themselves in a year or two when they realize they will have missed some incredible opportunities.” The event was an idea that started with the Snohomish Realtors® in 2007 and a county-wide open house, which eventually sparked interest across the state. After the success of the first Washington Statewide Open House in 2009 drew much public attention and more than 5,000 open houses, Realtor® organizations across the country joined in for a nationwide effort in 2010. This year marks the fourth year for the national event.
What is the “perfect meal” for you? Hmmm....difficult question since I like every kind of food! There’s nothing better than a ceasar salad, filet mignon, and baked potato (with sour cream, bacon bits and chives, of course!), a glass of good cabernet or merlot, and marionberry pie for dessert.
What tip would you offer home buyers and/or sellers in this market? For buyers, I would say if you’re not in the market now you should definitely jump in! This is one of those amazing times in history to buy real estate! For sellers, if you’re currently on the market hang in there, the market is turning! If you’re thinking about entering the market, consult a Realtor to help you with pricing your home effectively and navigating the myriad of issues facing home sellers in today’s market.
Laura Mounter Cell: 509-670-3303 Office: 509-665-9200 Laura@LauraMounter.com • www.LauraMounter.com
Bringing Your Dream Home
Tell us about your special designations, award, etc and how they help your clients?
175 E. Penny Rd. ~ Wenatchee, WA 98801
My rookie of the year award in 2002 made me realize how much there was to learn in real estate. The following year I attended the Graduate of Realtor Institute and Accredited Buyer Representative courses which taught me a lot about market trends, negotiating, buyer and seller styles, etc. My more recent classes have focused more on changes in technology, contract issues and current trends in real estate. In 2010 and 2011 my colleagues honored me with the Realtor Achievement award for my involvement in our local Realtor Association. As President of North Central Washington Association of Realtors in 2012 it has been my privilege to work with my colleagues and our staff to advance and defend the rights of private property owners throughout the State. As Realtors, we continue to fight for the interests of our clients and the public as a whole.
Over 21 Years of Real Estate expertise partnered with the National Exposure of !
Melissa Kiser Search Every Wenatchee Real Estate Listing at www.NCWhomes.com
509.668.8800 Melissa@MelissaKiser.com
Featured
Rebecca Hackworth
Agents
509-421-2007 (Direct) 509-662-2100 (Office) Rebeccahackworth@ymail.com Rebeccahackworth@century21.com
Century 21 Exclusively • 135 N. Mission, Wenatchee, WA 98801
Bringing Buyers & Sellers Together
Coldwell Banker LaVigne
Sharon Shaw Broker Associate
1 S. Chelan St., Wenatchee • 509-888-8887
R E A L E S TAT E
Residential and Commercial Real Estate Specialists
509-670-5459 Connect to johnlscott.com/wenatcheeofice • 662-4772 • 1201 N. Wenatchee Ave.
People are “Our Business”
This Office independently Owned & Operated
Lorre Stimac Realtor
www.wenatcheepremierhomes.com
cell: 509 670-7653 fax: 509 662-2164
Stephen Office: 662-3491 Bishop fax: 664-3897
679-7004
lorrestimac@hotmail.com
Get your home loan from the home team.
Sharon Moreland
670-0075
If you’re in the market for a home loan in the Wenatchee area, connect with Brette Sangster and Cori Bautista. They can help you with any type of loan package, including purchase, refinance, first time home buyers, FHA/VA, custom construction, Guaranteed Rural Housing, manufactured home loans, reverse mortgages, and more. And no one is more connected to the Valley we call home. So call or stop by and pay Brette and Cori a visit. Your home team would love to help.
Brette Sangster, VP and Cori Bautista, CME Residential Loan Officers 501 N. Mission St. Wenatchee, WA 98801 Brette (509) 886-8282 Cori (509) 886-8285
www.bannerbank.com
Member FDIC