How has the Hirst ruling effected getting water on a land parcel or using water already on a land parcel?
There is not a short answer for this! WA Dept of Ecology, county planning, water rights attorneys, state and local action groups keep battling each other and interpretations keep changing. What I can say for sure is that Okanogan County strives to say how you CAN get water versus how you CANNOT get water. There are many variables based on the individual parcel you are looking at. You tell me the piece and I will outline the certainties and unknowns for you. Most parcels can still get water.
Can I use my home as a nightly rental?
You can legally rent out your home IF your home falls into one of the following categories: In Twisp city limits, in Winthrop city limits in an area zoned for nightly rental, or in a Planned Development whose CCRs allow nightly rentals. Unfortunately there is no easy search criteria for this online. But I can tell you immediately which homes are legal nightly rentals if you call or e-mail me.
Why are there so many Day On Market (DOM)? Is there something wrong with the house/land parcel?
Homes and land move slower in the Methow Valley than they do in Seattle! Much slower. This is because there is less foot traffic through the properties. And most people do not have to sell and most people do not have to buy. We also have seasonality to deal with. Almost no one buys land when there is snow on the ground. Most homes are taken off the market in winter months because they do not show well. For these reasons and more, our median DOM for homes is close to 180 days and just over a year for land.
Can I get bank loan on land?
YES! But probably not from your current bank. I have some land loan options I can share with from local eastern WA banks. It is more common to buy land on this side of the mountains and build than it is on the coast. I can give you lenders and a summary of their current lending packages.
What is a seller contract and why should I consider one?
If a seller owns a home or land parcel outright, they may offer seller financing. You typically have to put more down and pay a higher interest rate to get this option. Why do it then? Some homes, land, or commercial property may have a characteristic that disqualifies it from bank lending. Maybe there is no water on the land parcel yet. Maybe the foundation of the home is in need of work. More commonly though you get a seller contract if a bank finds YOU to be unlendable. This is often the case with self employed people. If you don’t want the IRS to know how much money you make, a bank can’t know either! It can be a terrific option in the right circumstances.
