Below are 20 images of houses from the city of Spokane, Washington.  Can you guess their styles? The option of historic architectural styles are listed below the pictures.  The answers are listed below that. 5 points for each correct answer.  10 point bonus if you do not look at the options of styles posted below the picture.  I specifically chose pictures of houses that I was not sure about (or necessarily agreed with), so this might be tricky. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Take the quiz.... ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++  1)      2)    3)     4)  5)    6)    7)      8)    9)   10) 11)   12) 13)  14) 15)  16) 17)  18) 19)  20)     +++++++++++++++++++++++++++   Remember if you look at the house styles listed below first, you lose your chance for 10 bonus points....   ++++++++++++++... 01/06/2008

  I marvel at the FOUR DISTINCT SEASON'S we experience here in Spokane,WA. Spring...magical. We experience so many incredible spring celebrations! Spokane is the "lilac city" where parks and home yards are bursting with the arrays of lilacs. Summeris amazing...HOT, SUNNY and it's head for the literally dozens of pristine lakes in the area. From world class resorts to quiet woody cabin's...the lakes withing 10-45 minutes of Spokane are sought by people worldwide. (Priest Lake, Idaho, Hadyn Lake, Couer d'Alene lake...and so many more!) A day trip to a sandy beach, great fishing, what more could you ask for? A second home? Many here have lake cabins they can drive to in minutes! Or cool off downtown at the Riverfront Park Fountain!     Fall ...Autumn...crispy colors of gold, reds, auburn l... 01/06/2008

I would like to start by wishing everyone a very happy new year!2007 was a great year for us in Spokane Washington- the real estate market kept moving forward despite what you were all hearing on the national news! I believe 2008 will be a great year as well and our market will continue to move forward- intrest rates are still very low and there are still alot of options out there for the buyer!"Your Spokane Area Realtor"Providing a superior level of real estate services, Serving Spokane,Spokane valley,Liberty lake,Cheney,and the rest of Spokane county.Let my KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE work for you ! My professional competence will let you buy or sell with confidence!GET A FREE GIFT CARD UP TO $1000.00 WHEN YOU USE ME TO PURCHASE ANY SPOKANE AREA REAL ESTATE THAT IS LISTED BY ANY SPOKANE AR... 01/04/2008

Could you imagine having a magic wand in real es?  Wow, the fun I could have!!!  "Ugly knee high green shag carpet....(poof)  beautiful mahogany teak aged plank flooring."  "Sagging, peeling, 78 year old rotten wallpaper on moldy plater walls (poof) custom rounded edged faux painted textured Sheetrock painted the tasteful hues of Starbuck coffeehouses everywhere!  How about you?  Could you use a magic wand in your job?Anyway, I saw Stardust and really enjoyed it.  It was surprisingly wonderful and I loved the creative plot and characters.  My daughters are 3 and 5, and I will be the first to admit the sin of Disneyification.  I have seen ALL the princess movies more times than would ever be polite to mention in public, polite company.  So, for me to sit down to watch a "fairytale" on pu... 01/02/2008

Soooo, what do you get when you cross a X Gen groupie who grew up idolizing Harrison Ford, with lots of money and Disney????  National Treasure...Book of Secrets (lame name BTW).  Now, I will say that Nicholas Cage is great in his role.  And, I have to admit it was fun to watch all the rolling rocks.  However, the Disney script writers made the plot too "tidy".  Now, I don't want Blade, but Bambie....Come on!  The car chase was cool and the special effects were big and splashy (quite literally).  Overall, this was a fun movie to go to for the purpose of unplugging your brain.  I did just that and enjoyed myself.  You will too  :)  01/02/2008

An open letter to all of my friendsA very close friend of mine and I were chatting about challenges we face daily. Some are almost inconsequential but others real monsters. Overcoming can be hard and, sadly, it is easy to hear a negative attitude coming out of our mouth. We really wish that weren't so.What to do? Is it just a fact of life or ‘a guy thing' - or is it something else? In other words, can we change?  Of course we can. If you're in need of a New Attitude for the New Year, here are some thoughts my friend and I try to keep in mind:•·         Attitudes are not something we're born with - they're created, which means they can be re-created as well. My wife has told me, less often lately, that to wake up in a bad mood is life - to stay in a bad mood is a choice. Ouch!•·         ... 12/15/2007

Come join us, Friendship Based Real Estate TM, at Northtown Mall from December 13th through December 23rd for a chance to win one of three wonderful prizes.  Come fill out an entry form and meet Sarah Reinhart!  She will be there passing our candy-canes and lots of smiles!!!  The odds of winning are great and someone will walk away with a wonderful prize.  Please call us at (509) 230-4253 if you'd like any other information, or have any questions.  We are looking forward to seeing you there!  Have a great day! 12/13/2007

Title Insurance"Title" is the right to own, possess, use, control, and dispose of property. When you buy a home, you are actually buying the seller's title to the home. A deed is the written legal evidence that the seller has conveyed his or her ownership rights to you. Prior to "closing" on a property, when the actual transfer of ownership occurs, an attorney or title specialist will conduct a title examination. The purpose of the title examination is to discover any problems that might prevent you from getting clear title to the home. Title problems can usually be cleared up however, in some cases, severe title problems can delay settlement, or even cause you to consider voiding your contract with the seller.What are some common title problems?Title problems, or "clouds" happen for va... 12/12/2007

Hello Everyone! Visit www.TeamQuintana.com for more info. I thought I would take a moment to give my thoughts on the Spokane Washington Market right now. Spokane Real Estate does not always line up with what is happening on the national scene. There is alot of talk all over the nation on changes in the mortgage and real estate market and the funny thing is that these will all have different effects on different markets. We just went through a little growth spurt in our insulated market. When the national markets are all over the place Spokane is pretty steady. Under valued and a great place to live. Recreation and great hospitals and schools the only thing it lacks here is industry besides the service industry. Ths is probably part of the reason it's still a great place to raise a fami... 12/11/2007

You finally found it, the home of your dreams...or perhaps the first home to the home of your dreams...Nevertheless, you found a place to call home so let's talk about what the next step is before you can call it your own.Negotiate a contract. The next step is to write up an offer, also known as a contract. Your Realtor should go over every detail with you but be sure to review it carefully so that it states your terms exactly; how much you want to offer, and any applicable contingencies such as the ability to obtain financing, and satisfaction of a Home Inspection.  If you have any questions about the contract please, please, please ask! Sometimes an offer is accepted just as received.  Sometimes the offer is rejected.  However, in many cases there will be a counter offer from the sell... 12/05/2007

The housing market in Spokane is doing well.  Our homes are still selling for 98% of asking price, and buyers are especially happy at the amount of inventory to choose from.  Sellers with great real estate agents who market well are still moving their properties in an average of 40 days.  The days of the LAZY agent have ended.  A well presented product combined with a cohesive and effective marketing plan will work to sell your home.  I can help you with that  :)  I am even good at it.  Truly.So, if you want to sell, need to sell, or are interested in finding out how to sell your home.  Please, call me.  Also, if you are renting and think that buying a home is unrealistic....Call me too.  I would be honored to meet with you over coffee and help you take control if the market to benefit ... 11/29/2007

Hello Friends, Many people measure success by fortune, fame, or a HUGE shiny corner office.  I measure it by my plants.  Yep, that's right.  See, I have had some of my house plants for years.  We have a love-hate relationship that includes frequent drought and rain cycles.  However, since I have been crazy busy in the Spokane real estate market...the drought cycles have lengthened (really, really lengthened).  Sadly, the rain came too late and my house plants have passed into the after-life.  God bless Walmart.  I have replaced them with shiny plastic versions that need no care but one-a-year dusting.  (I hope that isn't an omen) Just Kidding  :)   [Plastic people don't buy houses, they live in doll-houses and wear Barbie clothes.  They haunt the mall and movie screen looking like they ... 11/29/2007

The Spokane residential real estate market continues to buck the national trend of declining values. Several factors are combining in the Spokane region, including positive in-migration, dwindling inventory in new construction, rising rental rates, and lack of supply of buildable land. The following statistics back up these facts:Forbes ranked Spokane 9th in the nation for housing appreciation, with a year-to-date increase in prices through June 2007 of 10.4%.Spokane is still a bargain. The median home price is $197,700 - less than a quarter of those in San Francisco and a third of those in Los Angeles.Apartment vacancy rates are extremely low, at approximately 4.2% in Spokane County.  The last time we had a vacancy rate this low was during the housing boom of the early 90's.40% fewer r... 11/27/2007

My partner at GMAC Real Estate Northwest, Michele Webler, has decided to join the Active Rain community. Licensed in Both Washington and Idaho, she works with both buyers and sellers in the Coeur d'Alene and Spokane areas. She uses her talents to help miltary families relocate as well as having tremendous knowledge in "real" horse properties.Michele is an energetic and knowledgable Realtor. She has recently earned the distinquished GRI designationI very much look forward to what she will be contributing to Active Rain.   Search North Idaho Real Estate 11/21/2007

I have just read a wonderful article about a couple who celebrated their Diamond Wedding anniversary a day or two ago. It is a fantastic life of love, loyalty and devotion to each other under extraordinary circumstances.It got me thinking.There has been much to distract or hurt them but it is the way they responded which is the measure of who they are, truly. I am not suggesting they are perfect but I admire and respect these people as parents and leaders. There are millions of others who feel the same way - and who ARE the same way.I am thankful for their example & choices. I am grateful for the reminder to take care of my own choices.Rarely are we judged by our intentions - almost always it is our words and deeds.Alan Millslicence: 510-LO-36016your Personal Mortgage Consultant for Lif... 11/19/2007

While home prices nationwide continue to sag - there are still some very bright spots in the housing market, and Spokane, Washington is one of them!  A recent article, Ten Rising-In-Value Real Estate Markets by Deborah Orr of Forbes.com listed 10 markets that are bucking the trend:Salt Lake City, UtahMedian Home Price: $233,100; One-Year Increase: 21.9%Binghamton, N.Y.Median Home Price: $111,200; One-Year Increase: 19.8%Salem, Ore.Median Home Price: $227,900; One-Year Increase: 16.7%Farmington, N.M.Median Home Price: 201,900; One-Year Increase: 14.0%Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, Pa.-N.J.Median Home Price: $274,500; One-Year Increase: 12.8%Beaumont-Port Arthur, TexasMedian Home Price: $127,700; One-Year Increase: 11.8%Reading, Pa.Median Home Price: $157,800; One-Year Increase: 11.2%Glens F... 11/10/2007

 Modern cleaning products are super-charged; they clean faster and are stronger and more concentrated than ever before. But cleaning products are bringing more toxic chemicals into homes and the environment unnecessarily. For those wanting green cleaning products, many are widely available in grocery stores. And, with just a few everyday ingredients, you can make your own non-toxic cleaners at home. First, here are a few reasons why your cleaning products should go green. Why Clean Green?· Avoid Unhealthy Air: Traditional cleaning products can often make the air toxic. If your house, apartment or workplace does not have good ventilation, the toxins can remain in the air. This is particularly dangerous for people with allergies or asthma.· Stop Supergerms: Antibacterial soaps are everywh... 11/07/2007

 What harm could a little furniture do the environment?  As it turns out, plenty.  The process of manufacturing furniture releases harmful emissions into the atmosphere and depletes natural resources.  With this in mind, manufacturers have started to produce green furniture-furniture that is produced with low emissions, recycled materials, and with sustainability in mind.  You can also go green simply by reusing old furniture, or by buying locally-produced furniture.  Conventional Furniture's Environmental ImpactTraditional furniture manufacturing processes require a lot of glues, finishes, flame-retardant chemicals, paints and stains, all of which contribute to harmful emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at the factory and in your home.  There are claims that VOCs can cause ... 11/07/2007

This is Sarah writing to you from Spokane, WA:I love to live here!  It is exciting to be in a city large enough to get "lost" in, but small enough to enjoy.  Speaking of enjoyment.... I was deeply and profoundly moved by the story of Nick.  What an amazing man he is!!!  I am going to follow his life from now on in the media and online.  There really isn't anything to say but....YOU MUST SEE THIS.  Truly.  There are videos, UTube clips, and onfo on http://lifewithoutlimbs.org/I will never view life the same.  What an amazing life.  What an amazing man.  Wow, my problems look tiny.  Truly...Check this out!  You won't regret it  :) He is the real deal.  I am hoping to get him here to speak at some of the area youth centers and high schools.  We have contacted him and the process is started... 11/06/2007

It's all over the news, on the front page of the newspaper and staring you in the face on your home page when you go to search the web.  The doom and gloom of real estate.  Everywhere.  Foreclosures are up, housing prices are down, and the market is saturated with inventory.Sure, it's true, some markets are struggling.  And I don't in any way want to minimize what is happening in those markets, but if you live in Spokane you need to ask what is happening in the Spokane market.Here are the facts: As of the end of September, year-to-date closed sales were down 6.9% when compared to the first 3 quarters of 2006.  Average sales price is $212,107 - up 9.4%.  Active listings are at 3,273 - up 662 from the same time last year.What does all this mean?  Simply that the right now, in Spokane, we ... 11/06/2007