Fewel to be keynote speaker at Real Estate Market Forum

COEUR d'ALENE - The Spokane-Kootenai Real Estate Research Committee announced the 24th annual Real Estate Market Forum, featuring keynote speaker Randall L. Fewel of Inland Northwest Bank.

The event will be held at the Spokane Convention Center from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24. The convention center is at 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.

Fewel, the president and chief executive officer for Inland Northwest Bank, will address the changing role of the banking industry in today's economic environment.

The luncheon presentation is titled: "Why 'Bank' should not be considered a four-letter swear word any longer."

The forum, itself, will again focus on regional employment, economic development and real estate activity.

There will be special emphasis this year on changes in employment and re-education. A wide range of local industry experts also will provide their insights into Kootenai, Bonner and Spokane county residential and commercial real estate and development.

Dale Strom, the administrative officer for the Spokane-Kootenai Real Estate Research Committee, said, "We anticipate a crowd of around 500 persons representing many sectors of the community to be in attendance, and to leave with a strong understanding of where the region is heading. Realtors in Washington and appraisers in both Idaho and Washington typically receive continuing education credit for attending this premier market event."

Advanced registration is $40, which includes lunch. The price goes to $60 after noon on Feb. 18.

The registration fee includes a market trends forecast by local economic, development and real estate experts; handout materials; five hours of continuing education credit for appraisers in Washington and Idaho (approval pending); three hours of continuing education credit for Washington real estate licensees (approval pending); hosted coffee breaks and luncheon.

For registration information: Debbie Crowder, at the Spokane Association of Realtors, at (509) 326-9222.