The Real Idaho Blog

Top 10 turnaround towns

2012-02-08T07:51:00.000-07:00

Boise's economy is an offbeat combination of old and new. The logging industry still pays a lot of the bills in town, but tech jobs have also become increasingly prevalent.

In fact, chip maker Micron Technology is Boise's biggest employer, according to the Boise Valley Economic Partnership. And lately, the food industry has heated up, enabling many of the area's agricultural-based companies to pump out increased profits, according to Clark Krause, the organization's executive director.

"We're hopeful that things are turning around," he said. "Even during the bad times, we had a net immigration of people and now there's a lot of new investment in construction and other industries."

That diversity of employers -- and the growing number of jobs they're offering -- is a prime reason this town is starting to stage a comeback.

According to Realtor.com, the number of homes for sale during the fourth quarter fell by 40% compared with a year earlier. That shrinking inventory should help drive home prices higher. Fiserv is forecasting annual home-price appreciation averaging 6.3% over the next five years.

2012 Home buying is back!

2012-01-21T06:51:00.002-07:00

If you made it through the last couple of years without complete loss of your fortune, you will probably make it through the rest of the storm. What does this mean if you want to be a home owner? It means that the current data shows the economy are picking up slightly and the inventory of listed home are selling at a faster pace.

Now I am one of the biggest skeptics when it comes to following the experts that are trying to make lemons look like lemonade. There is no doubt however those things are better than the last two years. I can now see some real time data that provides a much better than normal increase in home sales. Are we out of the mess? Probably not, But I see light ahead.

Buyers now have still low interest rates and all time low home prices. 2012 is probably a flux year for the economy, but home sellers aren’t going to keep prices down forever!

Happy New Year 2012

2011-12-30T10:03:00.000-07:00

Merry Christmas Everyone!

2011-12-24T08:52:00.000-07:00

Flawed Appraisals Killing Home Sales, Hampering Housing Recovery

2011-12-09T15:05:00.000-07:00

December 8, 2011 - One out of three builders are reporting losing signed sales contracts during the preceding six months because appraisals on their homes are less than the contract sales price, according to a recent nationwide survey conducted by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

“The inappropriate use of distressed and foreclosed sales as comparables in determining new home values is needlessly driving down home prices, killing home sales, causing more workers to lose their jobs and delaying a housing and economic recovery,” said NAHB Chairman Bob Nielsen, a home builder from Reno, Nev.

Too often, due to faulty appraisal practices, brand new homes with sparkling appliances and interior upgrades get compared to a distressed property that has been sitting vacant and in disrepair. The result, in many cases has been that the new house winds up getting appraised at less than the cost of construction. (read more)

Holiday Home Decorating

2011-12-02T09:01:00.000-07:00

Get out the ladder and lights; it’s that time of year again to show the neighborhood your holiday and Christmas spirit!

The plan would be to make it safe and make it look good. Make sure you have the right lighting and plugins for the outside weather. Use the new LED lights; they are cheap, look good and easy to place. Using outside extension cords need to be GFI capable either with the cord or the plug receptacle.

Using the ladder on level ground and watch the icy conditions. Here is a list of what you will need.

v LED Lights

v Light Hangers

v Extension cords

v Wire and tape

v Ladder

v Hammer

v GFI Plugs

Have a very good time and enjoy the family times together.

Market Changes?

2011-12-01T08:06:00.000-07:00

It is always exciting to be able to give good news with the real estate business. The numbers for the past few weeks are certainly better than they were couple months.

We need to have caution when dealing with any changes one way or another. Just like the stock market, the real estate market is subject to ups and downs of everything. The other fact is that we are still listening to the same outlets for all of the data.

What we know now is this is still a good time to buy and interest rates are still low. Beyond that only time passing though the hour glass will reveal any sustainable changes.

Pending home sales soared more than 10% in October

2011-11-30T09:54:00.000-07:00

Pending home sales soared more than 10% in October and remain above year-ago levels, in a hopeful sign for the nation's housing market, according to the National Association of Realtors.

NAR's pending home sales index, a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, surged 10.4% to 93.3 in October from 84.5 in September. The index is 9.2% above October 2010 when it stood at 85.5. (read more)

Happy Thanksgiving and safe travels

2011-11-23T08:01:00.003-07:00

Have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving! From all of us at Boise House and Home, enjoy your time with family and friends.

Celebrate our Veterans

2011-11-11T08:55:00.000-07:00

Have a wonderful day to all of the Veterans and their families!

Homes for Military

2011-10-31T08:48:00.001-06:00

We are dedicated to provide our real estate expertise to you, the members of our Military. Providing all of the heroes the service they deserve. Whether you are active military or retired for over 10 years we give you the knowledge and ability to work through the red tape of Government programs. (More)

Check instant weather and ski information for Idaho!

2011-10-28T07:23:00.000-06:00

Keep track of all the winter weather and travel updated information instantly with our links. Ski conditions updated regularly visit your favorite area and have a fun and safe travel and play season.

See the cities where Americans are hitting the jackpot and the ones where their luck has run out

2011-10-17T09:48:00.000-06:00

Luck is like that dark matter stuff scientists have spent billions of dollars trying to find with the Large Hadron Collider—a powerful presence that people surmise exists but no one has actually seen. The difference is that we found luck. Using statistics instead of protons, we pinpointed the location of a large supply in, of all places, San Diego. (read more)

The Meaning of Statistics

2011-10-09T08:40:00.005-06:00

Every day I research the MLS to get the current listing statistics for the previous day. I display them in my blog and website. What the statistics show are all how listing and selling is a weekday affair. You will see more listings on Monday and Tuesday than on the mid-week days, and then Friday will handle a greater majority.

My own findings by manual research shows that about half of the homes placed on the market are private sellers without using the short sales or foreclosure process. What does this mean to the buyers out there? It means that a home for sale where the owner has the power to make the sale is pricing their homes correctly and that buyers looking for a good deal don’t have to go along with bank owned or short sales.

The down side is that my statistics show that half of the homes coming on the market are in jeopardy of short sale or foreclosure.

Help My Neighbor Raise Money for the Idaho Humane Society

2011-09-25T11:38:00.002-06:00

Thanks to your support, we shelter over 14,000 lost, homeless, and sometimes abused pets each year at our animal shelter. We are Idaho's largest humane law enforcement agency and each day we investigate and pursue cases of abuse or neglect perpetrated against animals.http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/colleen-patterson/seespotwalk2011

25 Best Places to Retire

2011-09-23T10:37:00.000-06:00

If you're the type who can't survive without your symphony, art, and theater fix, you may have resigned yourself to staying in some pricey coastal burg during retirement. Take a look at Idaho's capital city instead.

Granted, Boise is no Manhattan. But its thriving cultural scene includes an opera company, a philharmonic orchestra, and a ballet. At Boise Art Museum, which focuses on contemporary American art, you'll see works by Ansel Adams and Chuck Close. (Read More)

Ensure Clients Have Access to Affordable Mortgages

2011-09-19T07:39:00.000-06:00

On September 30, the cost of a mortgage could rise significantly. If this happens, many of your clients run the risk of being priced out of the American Dream of home ownership. Even worse, this could hold back the housing recovery.

We need you to share your market expertise with Congress. Send the letter below urging them to make the current mortgage loan limits for FHA and GSEs permanent. Well-qualified buyers don't need another hurdle to access affordable mortgage financing.

To find out how these projected FHA loan limits will impact your market use the drop down box below.If you don't find your state and/or county, it means your FHA loan limit will remain unchanged.

What is Normal?

2011-09-16T05:54:00.000-06:00

It wasn’t until this year that I really found the meaning of “the old days”. Listing homes in this day and age is probably one of the most confusing issues a realtor can face. When I was tasked with listing and marketing my parents’ home, I set out to do everything by the book. The difference this time is the times. Prices down, buyer pool short, money not as available.

I took many pictures, the lawn manicured and ad taken out in the local marketing book. Stating with a price that was to market conditions I quickly changed the price to reflect the ever changing conditions.

Low and behold we received a contract two months into the listing period. Now comes the hard part, right? Within two weeks the inspection and appraisal were done without any problems. Then three weeks ahead of closing date we are all ready to sign and close.

Wow it is nice to see the old days. Also it is great to have agents that know how to sell and buy homes to smooth the process.

Remembering September 11 2001

2011-09-11T07:21:00.001-06:00

Remember all that were lost on 9-11, Remember all our service men and women that continue to give their lives for our Country. God Bless the USA

Art in the Park

2011-09-10T08:16:00.001-06:00

Friday, Sept. 11 and Saturday, Sept. 12 from 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Sunday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., FREE, Julia Davis Park.

Though Art in the Park has reached the ripe, old age of 55, the annual event is back with its party pants on and ready to get down this weekend. With 270 artists scheduled to set up their wares in Julia Davis Park this year, including 43 newbies, Art in the Park will turn downtown into a Petri dish of art lovers, baby strollers and street food vendors. Last year alone, Boise Art Museum estimates that the event drew in 250,000 attendees over the course of the weekend. (Read More)

TEXAS BBQ Garden Valley Fire Dept Auxiliary Fundraiser

2011-09-09T10:20:00.000-06:00

Saturday, September 10 · 5:00pm - 8:00pm

BBQ beef/pork/shrimp! Great entertainment !!! Fire dancers at dusk !!!
$20/adult $10/age 8-12 $3/ age 7 and under Contact Diane Caughlin, Toni Palmiotto or Deb Drake for tickets

Fall Home Maintenance Series!

2011-09-08T07:30:00.000-06:00

8 Easy Ways to Seal Air Leaks Around the House

By: Jeanne Huber

Published: September 16, 2009

For what the typical family wastes every year on air leaks--about $350--you can plug energy-robbing gaps, start saving money, and enjoy a more comfortable home.

1. Insulate around recessed lights

Most recessed lights have vents that open into the attic, a direct route for heated or cooled air to escape. When you consider that many homes have 30 or 40 of these fixtures, it's easy to see why researchers at the Pennsylvania Housing Research/Resource Center pinpointed them as a leading cause of household air leaks. Lights labeled ICAT, for "insulation contact and air tight," are already sealed; look for the label next to the bulb. If you don't see it, assume yours leaks. An airtight baffle ($8-$30 at the home center) is a quick fix. Remove the bulb, push the baffle up into the housing, then replace the bulb.

2. Plug open stud cavities

Most of your house probably has an inner skin of drywall or plaster between living space and unheated areas. But builders in the past often skipped this cover behind knee walls (partial-height walls where the roof angles down into the top floor), above dropped ceilings or soffits, and above angled ceilings over stairs.

Up in the attic, you may need to push insulation away to see if the stud cavities are open. If they are, seal them with unfaced fiberglass insulation ($1.30 a square foot) stuffed into plastic garbage bags; the bag is key to blocking air flow. Close large gaps with scraps of drywall or pieces of reflective foil insulation ($2 a square foot). Once you've covered the openings, smooth the insulation back into place. To see these repairs in action, consult Energy Star's DIY guide to air sealing.

3. Close gaps around flues and chimneys

Building codes require that wood framing be kept at least one inch from metal flues and two inches from brick chimneys. But that creates gaps where air can flow through. Cover the gaps with aluminum flashing ($12) cut to fit and sealed into place with high-temperature silicone caulk ($20). To keep insulation away from the hot flue pipe, form a barrier by wrapping a cylinder of flashing around the flue, leaving a one-inch space in between. To maintain the spacing, cut and bend a series of inch-deep tabs in the cylinder's top and bottom edges.

4. Weatherstrip the attic access door

A quarter-inch gap around pull-down attic stairs or an attic hatch lets through the same amount of air as a bedroom heating duct. Seal it by caulking between the stair frame and the rough opening, or by installing foam weatherstripping around the perimeter of the hatch opening. Or you can buy a pre-insulated hatch cover kit, such as the Energy Guardian from ESS Energy Products ($150).

5. Squirt foam in the medium-size gaps

Once the biggest attic gaps are plugged, move on to the medium-size ones. Low-expansion polyurethane foam in a can is great for plugging openings 1/4-inch to three inches wide, such as those around plumbing pipes and vents. A standard 12-ounce can ($5) is good for 250 feet of bead about half an inch thick. The plastic straw applicator seals shut within two hours of the first use, so to get the most mileage out of a can, squirt a lubricant such as WD-40 onto a pipe cleaner and stuff that into the applicator tube between uses.

6. Caulk the skinny gaps

Caulk makes the best gap-filler for openings less than 1/4-inch wide, such as those cut around electrical boxes. Silicone costs the most ($8 a tube) but works better next to nonporous materials, such as metal flashing, or where there are temperature extremes, as in attics. Acrylic latex caulk ($2 a tube) is less messy to work with and cleans up with water.

7. Plug gaps in the basement

Gaps low on a foundation wall matter if you're trying to fix a wet basement, but only those above the outside soil level let air in. Seal those with the same materials you'd use in an attic: caulk for gaps up to 1/4-inch wide and spray foam for wider ones. Use high-temperature caulk around vent pipes that get hot, such as those for the furnace or water heater. Shoot foam around wider holes for wires, pipes, and ducts that pass through basement walls to the outside.

In most older houses with basements, air seeps in where the house framing sits on the foundation. Spread a bead of caulk between the foundation and the sill plate (the wood immediately above the foundation), and along the top and bottom edges of the rim joist (the piece that sits atop the sill plate).

8. Tighten up around windows and doors

In the main living areas of your home, the most significant drafts tend to occur around windows and doors. If you have old windows, caulking and adding new weatherstripping goes a long way toward tightening them up. Bronze weatherstripping ($12 for 17 feet) lasts for decades but is time-consuming to install, while some self-stick plastic types are easy to put on but don't last very long. Adhesive-backed EPDM rubber ($8 for 10 feet) is a good compromise, rated to last at least 10 years. Nifty gadgets called pulley seals ($9 a pair) block air from streaming though the holes where cords disappear into the frames.

Weatherstripping also works wonders on doors. If a draft comes in at the bottom, install a new door sweep ($9).

Before working in the attic, take some precautions

Try to do attic work on a cool day. Wear protective gear: disposable clothes, gloves, and a double-elastic mask or half-face respirator. Bring along a droplight with a fluorescent bulb, plus at least two pieces of plywood big enough to span two or three joists to support you as you work. To save trips up and down a ladder, try to move up all of the materials you need before you get started. One warning: If you find vermiculite insulation, hold off until you've had it checked for asbestos; your health department or air-quality agency can recommend a lab.

Jeanne Huber writes a home-repair column for the Washington Post and has commissioned three new roofs on various houses over the years.

Fall Home Maintenance Series!

2011-09-07T05:46:00.001-06:00

Essential Heating System Maintenance

By: Oliver Marks

Published: September 24, 2009

Getting your home's heating system professionally serviced every year will keep it running smoothly and help keep heating costs under control.

Who does the job?

The simplest way to get the work done is to hire your fuel company to do it. Oil companies and gas utilities usually provide this service, or you can hire the contractor who installed the equipment. Also, some plumbers handle heating systems.

What is involved?

The technician will clean soot and corrosion out of the combustion chamber where the fuel is burned, and check it for leaks or damage. He'll inspect the flue pipe for open seams, clogs, or corrosion that could cause carbon monoxide to backdraft into the house. He'll replace the filters on oil and forced-air systems. Finally, he'll test the exhaust from your cleaned machine and use the information to adjust the burner for maximum efficiency.

How much will it cost?

You'll pay between $100 and $180 for the service, depending largely on whether you have a gas system, which is easier to maintain, or oil, which requires a fair amount of soot removal. Usually the cost is covered by an annual maintenance contract that also provides 24-hour emergency service. While the technician is there, he should also service your water heater, assuming it has a separate oil or gas burner.

When is the best time to do the work?

Ideally, have your system tuned up in the fall so it's in top shape for the start of the heating season. Of course, that's when technicians are the busiest, so if you can't do it when you want, do it when you can—as long as your system is serviced once a year. And don't expect your provider to call to remind you that it's time. Even if you subscribe to an annual service plan, you still need to call to make an appointment. Call in the spring or summer to be sure of getting on the schedule in the fall.

A former carpenter and newspaper reporter, Oliver Marks has been writing about home improvements for 16 years. He's currently restoring his second fixer-upper with a mix of big hired projects and small do-it-himself jobs.

Fall Home Maintenance Series!

2011-09-06T08:08:00.000-06:00

Repair Sagging and Leaking Rain Gutters to Save Money

By: Pat Curry

Published: October 8, 2010

Repairing sagging and leaking gutters is a simple task and can be tackled in a day.

How to fix leaky gutters

Seal leaky gutter joints and small holes using gutter sealant applied from the inside the gutter. A tube of sealant costs about $5.

Repair larger holes using a gutter patch kit or a scrap of metal flashing glued down with sealant. You’ll find patch kits at home improvement centers for about $10.

How to straighten sagging gutters

If you suspect a sag, get up on a ladder and sight down the length of the gutter. Gutters should be straight. Long gutters should have a peak in the middle to enable water to run toward downspouts at either end.

The problem area should be easy to spot. In most cases, you can simply reposition loose hangers, using a cordless drill or a hammer.

Here’s how to set stubborn sags straight:

From the ground, prop a long, straight 1x4 or 2x4 brace under the sag.

Get up on a ladder and remove a hanger or two near the sag.

Sighting along the gutter, adjust the brace until the sag disappears.

Replace the hangers. If needed, add one or two new hangers for extra support. They cost less than $3 each.

Serial remodeler Pat Curry is a former senior editor at BUILDER, the official magazine of the National Association of Home Builders, and a frequent contributor to real estate and home-building publications.

Fall Home Maintenance Series!

2011-09-05T13:30:00.002-06:00

The Value of Home Maintenance

By: John Riha

Published: March 9, 2010

Regular home maintenance is key to preserving the value of your house and property.

“It’s the little things that tend to trip up people,” says Frank Lesh, former president of the American Society of Home Inspectors and owner of Home Sweet Home Inspection Co. in Chicago. “Some cracked caulk around the windows, or maybe a furnace filter that hasn’t been changed in awhile. It may not seem like much, but behind that caulk, water could get into your sheathing, causing mold and rot. Before you know it, you’re looking at a $5,000 repair that could have been prevented by a $4 tube of caulk and a half hour of your time.”

Maintenance affects property value

Outright damage to your house is just one of the consequences of neglected maintenance. Without regular upkeep, overall property values are affected.

“If a house is in worn condition and shows a lack of preventative maintenance, the property could easily lose 10% of its appraised value,” says Mack Strickland, a professional appraiser and real estate agent in Chester, Va. “That could translate into a $15,000 or $20,000 adjustment.”

In addition, a house with chipped, fading paint, sagging gutters, and worn carpeting faces an uphill battle when it comes time to sell. Not only is it at a disadvantage in comparison with other similar homes that might be for sale in the neighborhood, but a shaggy appearance is bound to turn off prospective buyers and depress the selling price.

“It’s simple marketing principles,” says Strickland. “First impressions mean a lot to price support.”

Prolonging economic age

To a professional appraiser, diligent maintenance doesn’t translate into higher property valuations the way that improvements, upgrades, and appreciation all increase a home’s worth. But good maintenance does affect an appraiser’s estimate of a property’s economic age—the number of years that a house is expected to survive.

Economic age is a key factor in helping appraisers determine depreciation—the rate at which a house is losing value. A well-maintained house with a long, healthy economic age depreciates at a much slower rate than a poorly maintained house, helping to preserve value.

Estimating the value of maintenance

Although professional appraisers don’t assign a positive value to home maintenance, there are indications that maintenance is not just about preventing little problems from becoming larger. A study by researchers at the University of Connecticut and Syracuse University suggests that maintenance actually increases the value of a house by about 1% each year, meaning that getting off the couch and heading outside with a caulking gun is more than simply a chore—it actually makes money.

“It’s like going to the gym,” says Dr. John P. Harding, Professor of Finance & Real Estate at UConn’s School of Business and an author of the study. “You have to put in the effort to see the results. In that respect, people and houses are somewhat similar—the older (they are), the more work is needed.”

Harding notes that the 1% gain in valuation usually is offset by the ongoing cost of maintenance. “Simply put,” he says, “maintenance costs money, so it’s probably best to say that the net effect of regular maintenance is to slow the rate of depreciation.”

How much does maintenance cost?

How much money is required for annual maintenance varies. Some years, routine tasks, such as cleaning gutters and changing furnace filters, are all that’s needed, and your total expenditures may be a few hundred dollars. Other years may include major replacements, such as a new roof, at a cost of $10,000 or more.

Over time, annual maintenance costs average more than $3,300, according to data from the U.S. Census. Various lending institutions, such as Directors Credit Union and LendingTree.com, agree, placing maintenance costs at 1% to 3% of initial house price. That means owners of a $200,000 house should plan to budget $2,000 to $6,000 per year for ongoing upkeep and replacements.

Proactive maintenance strategies

Knowing these average costs can help homeowners be prepared, says Melanie McLane, a professional appraiser and real estate agent in Williamsport, Pa. “It’s called reserve for replacements,” says McLane. “Commercial real estate investors use it to make sure they have enough cash on hand for replacing systems and materials.”

McLane suggests a similar strategy for homeowners, setting aside a cash reserve that’s used strictly for home repair and maintenance. That way, routine upkeep is a snap and any significant replacements won’t blindside the family budget. McLane’s other strategies include:

Play offense, not defense. Proactive maintenance is key to preventing small problems from becoming big issues. Take the initiative with regular inspections. Create and faithfully follow a maintenance schedule. If you’re unsure of what needs to be done, a $200 to $300 visit from a professional inspector can be invaluable in pointing out quick fixes and potential problems.

Plan a room-per-year redo. “Pick a different room every year and go through it, fixing and improving as you go,” says McLane. “That helps keep maintenance fun and interesting.”

Keep track. “Having a notebook of all your maintenance and upgrades, along with receipts, is a powerful tool when it comes to sell your home,” advises McLane. “It gets rid of any doubts for the buyer, and it says you are a meticulous, caring homeowner.” A maintenance record also proves repairs and replacements for systems, such as wiring and plumbing, which might not be readily apparent.

John Riha has written six books on home improvement and hundreds of articles on home-related topics. He’s been a residential builder, the editorial director of the Black & Decker Home Improvement Library, and the executive editor of Better Homes and Gardens magazine. His standard 1968 suburban house has been an ongoing source of maintenance experience.

BSU wins in Chick Fill A Georgia Opener!

2011-09-03T23:36:00.000-06:00

Congratulations go out once again to the Boise State Broncos with their season opening win over SEC power Georgia Bulldogs. The final score 35 – 21, making the Broncos one of the few strong BCS contenders to survive the first game of the 2011 season.

Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic

2011-09-03T06:54:00.000-06:00

Saturday September 3, 2011
Governor's Cup Competition

6:30am - Pilot Briefing at Ann Morrison Pilot Briefing Tent

7:03am - Military A-10 Thunderbolt (Warthog) “Fly By”
Two A-10 Warthogs from Gowen Field will over fly the Park on cue at a specific moment during a musical salute to America. The jets and pilots are from the 190th Fighter Squadron based at Gowen Field here in Boise.

7:15am - Competition Day Launch
This is “Competition Day” at the Spirit of Boise-Balloon Classic. Pilots will be assigned a navigational task to challenge their flying skills and the winning pilot will be awarded the “Governor’s Cup for Aviation Excellence”. The community is encouraged to come to Ann Morrison Park to cheer on the balloon pilots as they compete.

Pilots will also have the opportunity to go “Balloon Bowling” again this year as they attempt to knock over six (6) strategically placed “porta potties” in the park. Porta Potty “Balloon Bowling” or “Outhouse Balloon Bowling” as it is sometimes called is unique to Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic (in the ballooning world) and one of the Balloon Classic’s most popular aspects.

See a sample of “Outhouse Balloon Bowling” at : http://www.lighterthanairamerica.com/coke/outhousebowling.html

Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic

2011-09-02T07:43:00.000-06:00

Friday September 2, 2011
V.I.P. Day & Night Glow

7:03am - Military A-10 Thunderbolt (Warthog) Fly ByTwo A-10 Warthogs from Gowen Field will over fly the Park on cue at a specific moment during a musical salute to America. The jets and pilots are from the 190th Fighter Squadron based at Gowen Field here in Boise.

7:05am - Tribute Launch to local businessman, Ernie CarrErnie Carr, founder of RE/MAX of Boise was the very first person to agree to sponsor the Ann Morrison Park based Boise River Festival balloon rally. He was a friend of ballooning and was responsible for giving Scott Spencer his start in Corporate Ballooning.

This special launch has become a traditional “salute” and “good-bye” to lost friends of the Boise and Northwest ballooning community.

7:15am - Inflation and lift off from Ann Morrison Park
Friday's Call to Inflate by Lt. Governor Brad Little
V.I.P. Day is the day that we honor those who make the Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic possible with their financial support by taking them aloft with us for a flight. Expect to see all 40 balloons at this launch.

Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic

2011-09-01T06:37:00.001-06:00

Thursday September 1, 2011
Jr. High School Day and Media Day

7:00am - Inflation and lift off from Ann Morrison Park
7:15am - Call to Inflate by Mayor David Beiter
In addition to this morning’s first competitive task of the 2011 Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic, the initial inflation process will cater to will cater to Jr. High School field trips to the Ann Morrison Park launch site.

A special, more detailed program designed to educate Boise’s Jr. High aged children on topics ranging from weather, decision making and ballooning to coordinating crew and chase teams will be presented. We expect about 20 balloons.

Thanks to a generous grant from the Micron Foundation, students, from math and science departments outside the Boise area, who otherwise would not have had an opportunity to attend the Balloon Classic, will be bussed in from outlying communities. Students will have an opportunity to learn (with Scott Spencer, Event Producer and Disney balloon pilot) about the history of ballooning and the equipment that makes up a modern hot air balloon. Students will also be taught (by Larry Gebert, Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic Official Meteorologist) what makes a “good weather day” for balloon pilots.

Thursday's messages to the students will be geared toward children grades 7 – 9.

Thursday's launch will carry members of the local print & electronic media in what has become a tradition at Balloon Classic.

Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic

2011-08-31T06:51:00.003-06:00

Wednesday August 31, 2011
Elementary School Visit Day

7:00am - Inflation and First Launch - Ann Morrison Park
This morning’s inflation will cater to elementary school field trips to the Ann Morrison Park launch site.

Thanks to a generous grant from the Micron Foundation, students living outside the Boise area, who would not have had an opportunity to attend the Balloon Classic, will be bussed in from outlying communities. Students will have an opportunity to learn (with Scott Spencer, Event Producer and Disney balloon pilot) about the history of ballooning and the equipment that makes up a modern hot air balloon.

Students will also be taught (by Larry Gebert, Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic Official Meteorologist) what makes a “good weather day” for balloon pilots.

Wednesday’s messages to the students will be geared toward children grades 4 – 6.

Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic

2011-08-30T07:01:00.000-06:00

August 31st - September 4
Welcome to the Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic online. Here you'll find all the information you will need to plan your visit to beautiful Ann Morrison Park to enjoy four fantastic mornings
with us as hot air balloons color the sky of our beloved Boise, Idaho.

Check out the schedule of events and don't miss the amazing Night Glow on Friday evening. It's a truly spectacular sight as over 30 balloons light the night sky, all choreographed to music. Plus, it's the best time to see your favorite specialty balloons like Mickey Mouse, the Coca-Cola bottle and more.

Admission to all events is free, so bring the family and have a great time.

Last day at the Western Idaho Fair!

2011-08-28T09:40:00.000-06:00

See a chicken come clean

It's hilarious! See a chicken come clean. This was an absolute hit in 2010. Come see what you missed! All events at the Kids Corral except the 8/22 show which will be held at the Western Town Stage.
Location:Kids Corral (8/22 Show at Western Town Stage)
Date/Time: Aug-20: 1:00 PM, 1:00 PM, 1:00 PM, 1:00 PM, 1:00 PM, 1:00 PM.

Western Idaho Fair!

2011-08-27T09:12:00.001-06:00

Stingray Encounter
Western Idaho Fair is proud to welcome back the Stingray Show. See, touch and feel, (barbs removed!), live stingrays in an aquatic environment - all barbs removed, of course - while learning about the life of these fascinating creatures.

All Day All Day All Day All Day All Day All Day All Day

Have Fun At the Fair! 2011 Western Idaho Fair.

2011-08-26T08:01:00.000-06:00

CHEAP TRICK may be one of the most covered bands of all time. Since the 1970s they’ve been blending elements of pop, punk and even metal in a way that is instantly catchy and recognizable. With timeless classics such as I Want You to Want Me, Surrender, and the late 80s, lighter-waving favorite, The Flame, CHEAP TRICK are a musical institution. (Any anyone familiar with Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report will note that CHEAP TRICK wrote and performed the theme song). With more than 5,000 performances, 20 million records sold, 29 movie soundtracks and 40 gold and platinum recording awards, the band was honored in October 2007 by the Chicago Chapter of NARAS (National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences) for their contributions to the music industry.

Have Fun At the Fair! 2011 Western Idaho Fair.

2011-08-25T07:56:00.000-06:00

Craig Morgan is one of country music’s most beloved performers. It doesn't matter if he's jumping out of airplanes or singing hits like Redneck Yacht Club, Almost Home and Tough—his honesty, humility and work ethic stand out as strongly as his talent. "That's Why", the long-awaited follow-up to 2006’s "Little Bit of Life", is Morgan’s fifth album and BNA Records debut. From the evocative and instantly familiar single Love Remembers to the rural rally cry of Sticks to the church-choir epic Ordinary Angels, it's the sound of an artist soaring to new heights as both a vocalist and songwriter, but with his steel-toed boots still firmly on the ground. As Music Row's Bob Oermann wrote, "Craig Morgan is country music’s champion of the Everyman—a loyal husband and father, unblushingly sentimental, tough enough to kick your butt if you cross him, and the kind of friend everyone would like to have."

Have Fun At the Fair! 2011 Western Idaho Fair.

2011-08-24T11:34:00.001-06:00

Wednesday August 24th 2011 in the grandstand!

Kool & The Gang's story starts over forty years ago in the Jersey City projects. They were teenagers, studying Miles Davis albums and James Brown singles, jamming in basements, partying for the people in a swirl of Black consciousness. In 1969 they made their first record. Still teenagers, and full of confidence, they named that first record after themselves. Their confidence and creativity produced a string of loose-but-tight, "fun" records, culminating in the Pop Chart smash Jungle Boogie. Kool & The Gang didn't need a singer then: the horns were the lead voice; the fans chanted along. Their music was featured in films like Rocky and Saturday Night Fever. Their hits also include Celebration, Get Down on It, and Fresh.

Have Fun At the Fair! 2011 Western Idaho Fair.

2011-08-23T08:36:00.000-06:00

Tuesday August 23 2011

12:00 PM All Day	Butterfly Adventures	Near C Gate
12:00 PM All Day	Habitat for Humanity	Near F Gate
12:00 PM All Day	Antique Tractor Display	Next to Ag Pavillion
12:00 PM All Day	Stingray Encounter	Near C Gate
12:00 PM All Day	Meet the Animals	Across From Kid's Corral
12:00 PM All Day	Simplot Ag Pavilion	North of Expo Building
12:00 PM All Day	Jeremy The Juggler	Spectra Stage
12:30 PM	Ham Bone Racing Pigs	Near F Gate
1:00 PM	Skip Banks the Balloon Man	Spectra Stage & Roaming the Grounds
1:00 PM	Timberworks Lumberjack Show	Near F Gate
1:30 PM	Sea Lion Show	Next to Bronco Motors
1:30 PM	Kids Pedal Tractor Pull	Kid's Corral
2:00 PM	Chris Gardner Band (Country)	KTRV 12 Stage
2:30 PM	Ham Bone Racing Pigs	Near F Gate
2:30 PM	What Goes Up (Juggling)	Spectra Stage
3:30 PM	Tyzen (Hypnotist)	KTRV 12 Stage
3:30 PM	Kids Pedal Tractor Pull	Kid's Corral
4:00 PM	Timberworks Lumberjack Show	Near F Gate
4:15 PM	Skip Banks the Balloon Man	Spectra Stage & Roaming the Grounds
4:30 PM	Sea Lion Show	Next to Bronco Motors
5:00 PM	Chris Gardner Band (Country)	KTRV 12 Stage
5:00 PM	Ham Bone Racing Pigs	Near F Gate
5:30 PM	Kids Pedal Tractor Pull	Kid's Corral
6:00 PM	What Goes Up (Juggling)	Spectra Stage
6:30 PM	Tyzen (Hypnotist)	KTRV 12 Stage
7:00 PM	Timberworks Lumberjack Show	Near F Gate
7:30 PM	Sea Lion Show	Next to Bronco Motors
7:30 PM	Kids Pedal Tractor Pull	Kid's Corral
7:45 PM	Skip Banks the Balloon Man	Spectra Stage & Roaming the Grounds
8:00 PM	Chris Gardner Band (Country)	KTRV 12 Stage
8:00 PM	Ham Bone Racing Pigs	Near F Gate
9:15 PM	What Goes Up (Juggling)	Spectra Stage
9:30 PM	Tyzen (Hypnotist)	KTRV 12 Stage

Have Fun At the Fair! 2011 Western Idaho Fair.

2011-08-22T09:07:00.001-06:00

Family Day Promo Monday Aug 22 - 1 gate admission and 1 carnival wristband all for just $25. Admission and wristband is good all day, so come early and stay late!

Have Fun At the Fair! 2011 Western Idaho Fair.

2011-08-20T07:45:00.000-06:00

The Western Idaho Fair held at Expo Idaho is one of a few Fairs in the Pacific Northwest that can boast about conducting an annual event in three different centuries!

Starting with the first Idaho Fair in 1897 and this, the 114th in 2011, the Western Idaho Fair at Expo Idaho still focuses on agriculture and family fun.

You can expect to see the finest Idaho livestock and competitive exhibits of any State Fair in the Pacific Northwest.

The Western Idaho State Fair livestock and competitive exhibit space fills up each year and this year will be no exception.

The Simplot Ag Pavilion, produced by the Food Producers of Idaho, is the envy of every State Fair in the country.

New Word Real Estate

2011-08-18T12:06:00.001-06:00

Headlines all over the country read the housing market is flat lined and moving in a direction that no one has seen before. It not only is occurring in the single family residential sales market, but is also widespread in investment and commercial holdings.

Being a Realtor in today’s world is having to wear many hats and you are expected to know the answers to questions that even the country’s best minds can’t figure out. Friends and clients ask on a daily basis what I think the market will do in the next year. My answer is the same that I give to myself. I have no idea! It may sound ignorant, but I can’t predict everything that affects house sales.

Many Realtors have left the profession and joined the world of other aspirations. I know that our market is not going to be like the market of the mid 2000s era. We are still going to have bank repossessions and buyers will still get a good buy probably for a few years to come. Short sales will be around for a little while and then they will have to be given only in dire conditions after the mess is cleaned up. We hopefully will never go back to the market of poor judgment!

Buying Better Times

2011-08-11T08:46:00.000-06:00

I know I am not the only one that has seen the television ads for buying your way into prosperity. Just watch at dinner time or almost all times during the day. Get your degree or certification. Now I ask you, how many veterinary assistant jobs are available in the market? What about massage positions.

I know that during the rough times you must make every effort to maximize your time and efforts. What do you have when you get out of these “College” programs? Sometimes certification, other times nothing.

You can always watch the times change by what is being advertised on TV. The biggest recipients of the hard times are the television and radio stations. Buy gold, call one number to sue all, not happy? Sue someone. Everyone is trying to separate you from what is left of your money. Just remember, it shouldn’t cost you your life savings to work.

Map search your real estate for sale

2011-08-10T07:46:00.001-06:00

Technology based dynamic website with instant relocation data and tools for both home buyers and sellers. Home Search tools with virtual picture tours, Bank owned REO Foreclosed and Short Sale listings with easy to use search. Real Estate in Boise ID, Contact information for your Boise Idaho realtor...

New Price $139,900.00

2011-08-09T08:42:00.000-06:00

For Sale, not a short sale. Located on the Boise Bench a home on 1/4 acre. 4 bedroom 2 bathrooms, 2 car garage. New Energy Windows, newer roof, includes a 1 year home warranty. Move in Ready.

Open House Friday July 29th from 1pm - 4pm

2011-07-28T08:20:00.000-06:00

Close to shopping and transportation, large quarter acre lot with room for the garden and relaxation. Well maintained one owner home with many updates. Nice large deck for entertaining on the summer evenings. Truly a family sized home with room to move. Fully automatic sprinkler system and 10x10 storage shed for the yard tools. 23x23 double car garage with abundant storage cabinets and work bench. Nice roomy kitchen with pantry cabinets. Central air and gas heat along with downstairs wood burning fireplace. New roof within the last 5 years, new windows and sliding door in 2010, includes a 1 year home warranty with purchase.

Lack of Class and Dignity!

2011-07-21T08:03:00.001-06:00

Our new political climate is showing through with both sides showing us the high school posturing and muscle flexing that I thought was gone. Watching the TV tabloids in the morning shows what a complete lack of respect they have for the American People.

It used to be that you would look up to the congress and senate, now it is the source of bickering and back stabbing along with calling names. Our nation is all in shock as we watch the idiotic ways that the people we elected handle a crisis.

The bad news is that these men and women have damaged our society to a point that it isn’t going to take genius to bring us back up; they have destroyed our ability to comprehend the real problems facing us in this crisis. The good news is all we have is the bottom of the barrel representation, with nowhere to go but up!

Back in the Saddle again!

2011-05-19T11:20:00.000-06:00

Getting back into the things that I need to do on a regular basis. After the death of my father last month, it is taking some time to get things going again.

This is my return to the real world. Nice to be back!

2722 S. Charlotte Boise ID short sale

2011-04-22T07:24:00.000-06:00

Short Sale, Wonderful well kept home with a fully fenced back yard full auto sprinklers set up with pressurized irrigation. Close to schools, shopping, and parks and airport.

3 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms, 2 Car garage 1443 Square Feet located in South Boise.

Features include: Split bedroom floor plan and a large kitchen/great room. The kitchen has breakfast bar, pantry, suspended soffits over counters, and a beautiful tiled backsplash. Floors in kitchen, eating area, and bathrooms are beautifully tiled. Large Master suite has soaker.

Social Benefits of Homeownership

2011-04-20T06:30:00.002-06:00

A recent report by the National Association of Realtors identifies homeownership's numerous social benefits. The report, "Social Benefits of Homeownership and Stable Housing," cites extensive research showing that homeownership increases civic participation, lowers crime rates and boosts children's educational performance.

Homeowners have a far lower move rate compared with renters. Nearly 30% of renters changed residential locations in 2008 to 2009, while only 5.2% of owner-occupied residents moved. Because homeowners remain in their homes longer, they add stability to their neighborhoods.

Homeowners have an incentive to improve the overall quality of their surrounding community. This incentive is evident in greater community involvement and awareness. Homeowners are twice as likely than renters to know the name of their local school board representative. One study found that 77% of homeowners voted in local elections compared with 52% of renters. Homeowners also had a higher incidence of membership in voluntary organizations.

Homeowners are more likely than renters to form voluntary crime prevention programs, making it easier to identify a perpetrator of crime. Crime, drug use and juvenile delinquency rates all decrease in stable neighborhoods with extensive social ties. Consequently, homeowners are far less likely to become crime victims.

Homeownership makes a significant positive impact on educational achievement. According to the "Journal of Urban Economics," teenage students of homeowners have a greater likelihood of graduating and young children of homeowners tend to have higher levels of achievement in math and reading. The positive effects on education may arise not from homeownership alone but from the combined social benefits of homeownership, namely a lower move rate, greater neighborhood stability, enhanced social ties and increased civic participation.

Click here to visit my website and apply on line:
http://www.myprospectmortgage.com/byoung

Statistics (Sold) – April 3 – April. 9th 2011

2011-04-10T07:14:00.003-06:00

• Single Family 118
• Single Family with acreage 9
• Condo’s 2
• Town Homes 7
• Building Lots 4
• Duplex income property 0
• Triplex income property 0
• Fourplex income property 3
• Apartment income property 0

• Commercial Sales 0
• Farm 1
• Ranch 0
• Dairy 0

These real estate statistics are taken from the Intermountain MLS for the week of April 3rd – April 9th 2011

New money will help Idahoans keep homes

2011-04-07T06:27:00.002-06:00

IHFA gets enough to help up to 600 homeowners, even if they’re out of work

BY JOE ESTRELLA - jestrella@idahostatesman.com

Copyright: © 2011 Idaho Statesman

Published: 04/07/11

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is throwing a lifeline to potentially hundreds of Idaho homeowners who are delinquent on their mortgage payments.

The Idaho Housing and Finance Association is getting $13 million to provide zero-interest bridge loans of up to $50,000 to Idahoans in danger of losing their homes to foreclosure.

To be eligible for the Emergency Homeowner Loan Program, owners must be behind in their mortgage payments because of job loss, underemployment or a medical condition, said HUD spokesman Lee Jones.

Read more:

Statistics (Sold) – Mar 27 – Apr. 2nd 2011

2011-04-04T05:50:00.003-06:00

• Single Family 219
• Single Family with acreage 26
• Condo’s 4
• Town Homes 14
• Building Lots 11
• Duplex income property 4
• Triplex income property 1
• Fourplex income property 2
• Apartment income property 0

• Commercial Sales 1
• Farm 0
• Ranch 1
• Dairy 0

These real estate statistics are taken from the Intermountain MLS for the week of March 27th – April 2nd 2011

Legislative waste 101

2011-04-02T08:59:00.002-06:00

In Idaho this year it is a picture that is quite embarrassing. Our legislative body gave a seminar on how to waste time while influencing people. Armed with what the republicans think was a mandate from their constituents, was actually a figment of personal and party line topics designed to provide the democrats with the gotcha factor.

Watching the childish behaviors of the elected officials this year on both side’s democrat and republican were lessons that you would want your small children to ignore. Sleeping and reading the news paper while our business was being conducted was embarrassing while news media covered the big events.

The constituents were not listened to this year. Most were against some form of the bills, but, they were rammed though into law. Just go home give us a break from wasting our money and maybe you will get some wisdom and probably realize how idiotic you behaved.

Yahoo! The unemployment numbers are out!

2011-04-01T20:16:00.002-06:00

These are the same numbers that come out once a month and supposedly tell how the economy is doing. The new numbers show that we had a modest gain evidently almost a percentage point.

Well if you are into percentage points and gambling then I guess it would give you some fodder for the morning water cooler if you have a job and a water cooler. What still always amazes me is the way that the jobs are counted and more than that, the jobs that aren’t counted.

We are now a country of bits and pieces; it’s like getting a tweet of information to hope for the serge of warm and fuzzies. If you just read the headlines then we are doing much better, but, if you get into the meat of the way that it is measured then we are probably doing maybe just a little better. Those that have given up trying to find a job for just one month are no longer counted and thus are taking away from unemployment. These types of paper maneuvers make up the changes in statistics.

It is a very good thing that the small businesses are beginning to hire; they are the lifeline of your local economy. Now we need the big business and corporations to do the same.

Sunnier Skies Are Likely on the Way

2011-03-30T08:44:00.002-06:00

By Lawrence Yun

March 2011

We faced a big hurdle in the early 1980s when interest rates rose to as high as 18 percent, and we faced another hurdle after the housing "bubble" burst. The number of home owners did not grow from 2005 to 2010, even though the U.S. population grew to 308 million people—13 million more than in 2005. Instead, during that period the home ownership rate dipped to 66 percent from 69 percent.

We know those bubble years were fueled by artificial demand, so the 69 percent home ownership rate we had in 2005 was likely artificial as well. Thus, today’s 66 percent home ownership rate brings us back to a sustainable level.

When you combine this healthy home ownership rate with our country’s projected growth to 340 million people by 2020 (and 420 million by 2050), you can bet our industry’s long-term prospects remain bright. It’s the short-term economic pressure we have to worry about, but even here the news is brightening.

Manufacturing output has been rising. The stock market has recovered nicely. Companies are flush with cash. Consumer confidence has rebounded from very low levels, and jobs are being created.

Against this improving picture, we can expect to see some release of the demand that’s been building up for the last three years. Rising rental costs will also likely tip more renters into home ownership.

Putting these and other factors together, existing-home sales are projected to rise 8 percent to nearly 5.3 million units nationwide this year and possibly to 5.5 million in 2012. At this level, home ownership is solid, but it’s also sustainable given our level of population growth.

Statistics (Sold) – Mar 20 – Mar. 26th 2011

2011-03-26T20:57:00.002-06:00

• Single Family 166
• Single Family with acreage 15
• Condo’s 5
• Town Homes 5
• Building Lots 17
• Duplex income property 1
• Fourplex income property 2
• Apartment income property 0

• Commercial Sales 3
• Farm 2
• Ranch 1
• Dairy 0

Spokane Company will build its first Treasure Valley store

2011-03-24T06:14:00.000-06:00

The store is slated to open in early spring 2012, according to Jeff Philipps, president and chief executive officer of Rosauers Supermarkets Inc. The company expects to hire about 120 employees for the new store.

Southern Idaho is “a market that we’ve looked at in the past, and it’s a market we think is underserved” by grocers of natural, organic, ethnic and specialty foods, which Rosauers will offer, Philipps said.

The Meridian Chamber of Commerce is “always happy to see new employers come to town, new businesses (to) bring more people into Meridian to shop,” said Teri Sackman, the chamber’s president and CEO. “Competition is good.”

Read more: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2011/03/24/1578266/rosauers-market-coming-to-meridian.html#ixzz1HWCPz2oI

Buying pitfalls for Condos

2011-03-21T23:25:00.003-06:00

While the market is good for deals of all makes and types, some caution should be taken when you are conducting your due diligence when your target home is a condominium.

Short sales and bank owned repossessions are plentiful and good bargains, but if you don’t research the rules and regulations of complexes that are grouped within a board of control you could be in for a rude awakening.

In the perfect world way back in the old times, lets call it pre 2005; condo units were built and sold rapidly. Now that we are in the time of lets say re-adjustment, regulations may have changed to accommodate the new owners of the community. When you write the contracts make sure you request a current non owner occupied percentage to owner occupied residences. Many lenders in today’s world my not load if the tenant occupied condo is above 10%. This would make it a cash deal only. Not only for the money side of the deal, but make sure that your buyers can qualify and be accepted to the closed condo system.

Finally make sure you research the insurance validity of the building as a whole. Just like the owners of the individual units have gone under, so may the board itself. Take a few extra steps when evaluating the property to save big headaches later.

Statistics (Sold) – Mar 13 – Mar. 19th 2011

2011-03-20T10:40:00.002-06:00

• Single Family 158
• Single Family with acreage 19
• Condo’s 10
• Town Homes 4
• Building Lots 9
• Duplex income property 0
• Fourplex income property 2
• Apartment income property 1

• Commercial Sales 4
• Farm 0
• Ranch 1
• Dairy 0

These real estate statistics are taken from the Intermountain MLS for the week of March 13th – Mar 19th 2011

First-Time Home Buyers Prepare for Best Buyer’s Market in Recent History

2011-03-18T06:02:00.002-06:00

RISMEDIA, March 18, 2011—While affordable housing prices, ample inventories, and historically low interest rates signal ‘buyer’s market’ for investors or move-up buyers in many U.S. markets, inexperienced first-time buyers may not know if the time is right to make a move into real estate.

“It’s not about timing the market. It’s about time in the market,” says Steve Berkowitz, chief executive officer at Move, Inc., a leader in online real estate. “Once you know how long you expect to own a home, look at the historical value performance of properties in the neighborhood. Be confident about your own job security, down payment resources and tolerance for upkeep, as well as the lifestyle you want today and in the near term. While homeownership may not be for everyone, it is the right choice for hundreds of thousands of people. Today’s housing market, especially for first-time buyers, makes it almost impossible not to think about the possibilities.” (Click the link to read the entire article).

Boise Spring Home Show

2011-03-17T06:17:00.000-06:00

If you need something to do, plan to attend the Boise Spring home show. Just follow the link on this blog to get directions and further information.

Spectra Productions presents the Boise Spring Home Show March 17-20, 2011 at Expo Idaho (formerly Western Idaho Fairgrounds), Boise, ID

BACKYARD MAKE-OVER, RAISING URBAN CHICKENS, PRODUCTS! Admission: Adults $5, seniors $4, Children 12 and under are Free.

Restaurant for Sale in Boise ID

2011-03-16T06:46:00.000-06:00

We have the January Sales Statistics available to view now. Give us a call for more information.

Steak House and Saloon. Lindy's is a popular destination bar and restaurant with a robust lunch trade in the bar along with a quiet white napkin dinner menu in the Steak House.

The bar has a warm friendly atmosphere with full Boise City Liquor License, pool tables, seven television sets and several different game tables plus dart competitions. The bar restaurant is open 7 days a week and the Steak House is opened 6 days. The clientele is mostly local and has been very stable.

Statistics (Sold) – Mar 6 – Mar. 12th 2011

2011-03-14T07:29:00.001-06:00

• Single Family 144
• Single Family with acreage 19
• Condo’s 3
• Town Home 5
• Building Lots 10
• Duplex income property 5
• Fourplex income property 2
• Apartment income property 0

These real estate statistics are taken from the Intermountain MLS for the week of March 6th – Mar 12th 2011

Hop off the fence!

2011-03-09T13:10:00.000-07:00

Most buyers that you talk to are getting edgy when you discuss signing on the dotted line or continue to wait. But hold it, what are they going to wait for? Most have said that they don’t trust the economy and are waiting out to see what transpires. Then there are those that are observing the prices of the market and hoping that it continues to go down.

The migration has begun the ready to buy now people are ready to buy now. Stabilization is not a factor now since no one knows when stabilization will occur. Real Estate is always going to be around, it is cyclic in nature and before you know it the current cycle will be done and those riding the fence will have missed out. Waiting out anything now days is a gamble. About the only thing that you can be sure of is the fact that everything will take some time to even out.

If you have the means to buy now and if you are willing to buy now then, now is the time. Don’t think back and tell yourself, I wish I had bought back when prices where low.

Statistics (Sold) – Feb 27 – Mar. 5th 2011-02-27

2011-03-06T08:00:00.001-07:00

• Single Family 189
• Single Family with acreage 19
• Condo’s 7
• Town Home 11
• Building Lots 17
• Duplex income property 3
• Fourplex income property 1
• Apartment income property 1
• Town Home 11

These real estate statistics are taken from the Intermountain MLS for the week of February 27th – Mar 5th 2011

But first, it’s today!

2011-03-05T08:09:00.001-07:00

While listening to the today show I was catching up on the Sheen saga. Barbara Corcoran, the Real Estate Guru was being interviewed about what helps homes sell. Now while I don’t agree with everything that ms. Corcoran has to say, mainly because of some differences in selling areas, I do agree with the fact that everyone is looking on the web for real estate deals.

She gave some good examples of what buyers are looking for in an online website. The topic comes down to pictures. Photos are the main reason that people go to the website. I have preached this many times on this blog and websites. If you don’t have good looking and explanatory pictures on your listings then you are going to do your properties an in justice. Photographs are what the clients log on to view properties. Besides the price being published photos are the second highest reasons to search real estate websites.

Give your clients a good chance of competition a place professional grade photographs that don’t miss lead the searching public. Make the pictures give a true and honest depiction of the property. Don’t publish photos that are old if the home is five years old. Photos will sell the property in areas that words can not express.

Is there a bank game?

2011-03-01T06:32:00.000-07:00

Last year I submitted an offer on a bank owned property that was quickly rejected by the bank without a counter offer. The bank is a local home grown bank that has lent to many builders and buyers in the area. This was a bit of an eye opener because we had talked to many of the bank decision makers and were told that we are in the ball park for the comps.

Now this property is vacant land and has grazing cattle that are obviously being fed well and taken care of. While discussing the offer with my client we decided that we would not submit another offer.

Four months later my client friend decided he would like for me to investigate the possibility of submitting another offer. I looked on the MLS for starters and found that the property had been re-listed after our offer with the same price. I then did another search to see how many properties the bank has listed. There were several in the same county that have been on the market for several months at higher than comp prices. There were none sold for the previous year, at least on the MLS.

My conclusion is that the bank is holding the properties and waiting for better real estate times. Is there some sort of ulterior motive for the non sale of the properties? I don’t have a clue...

Sale Statistics (Sold) – Feb 20 – 26th 2011-02-27

2011-02-27T10:30:00.003-07:00

• Single Family 140
• Single Family with acreage 21
• Condo’s 4
• Town Home 5
• Building Lots 7
• Four Plex income property 2
• Farm 1

These real estate statistics are taken from the Intermountain MLS for the week of February 20th – 26th 2011

The Cost of doing business

2011-02-26T07:35:00.003-07:00

You go to the local gas station now days and it is a matter of watching the attendant outside on a daily basis to raise the numbers as prices climb higher than can be remembered.

What do you do if it is your job to travel around and view properties and give your clients the best look at the homes that may be just what they are looking for? If a Realtor or Agent has made it this far with the recession, then it probably means that you have already figured out the key to survive the market conditions. It may be a little leaner but streamlining is the goal to make it now days.

Planning is the top priority; setting up scheduling for the home tours takes on a new and improved way to do business. First off, let your clients know that you are not going to show any properties that are not in their wish list. This saves the energy and will not lead to any foggy thinking. Get your smart phone maps or GPS units ready and use the shortest travel functions. Plan these trips well ahead of time and make use of your time and miles traveled.

In closing this week, we know that it only takes a hint of unrest for the price per barrel of oil to go up. Don’t contribute to the foreign oil dynasties and save yourself money and sanity.

Smooth as Molasses

2011-02-24T07:32:00.002-07:00

Marketing you home now days is a competition with the other short sales and bank homes that speckle the real estate. How do you go up against the many listings in your area that have the stigma of a good deal?

Begin with a good price evaluation of what is selling in your MLS area. These are obtained either on the web or with your favorite Realtor. Having a good price point is the key if you are serious about selling in a reasonable time period.

Buyers begin by looking on the webosphere and search for the items that they feel are what gives them the most boost for their buck. It is the easiest for Realtors to show the many vacant homes to their buyers, but it may not be the best deal when all things are considered.

With so many choices to search what are the factors that lead to a good deal.

• Look at the days on market. A long period may give you an indication of problems that face either the home or the process it will take to buy it. Market your home with a short close in mind.

• How many pictures are displayed in the listing. The lack of pictures could indicate problems with the condition of the home. Use multiple pictures with good quality.

• Look for good point of your home to describe and paint a picture for the buyers.

Finally, make the home available to view and much as possible, there is nothing worse than having a home for sale no one can see.

Spring Foreword

2011-02-22T12:01:00.001-07:00

In Idaho we still have a few more weeks of the winter weather to contend with, but now is the time to start planning you home shape up.

Get the yard in shape and put down the first of the spring mix of lawn fertilizer to wake it up and green up when the spring weather comes. Prune back all of your roses and iris to make them happy and ready to bud out. If you don’t have snow on the ground then you might even get the mower out to give a quick once over to pick up the winter leaves. Get the trees trimmed and ready to bud before they come out on their own. Clean out your rain gutters from the leaves and dirt that comes with the heavy snow.

Make the house look more presentable a sleek and clean looking. A couple of hours of clean up time now will make your yard happier this spring!

Let’s ask the studio audience!

2011-02-18T08:06:00.001-07:00

Ok, with all the new TV shows on that allow everyone in America vote on their favorite group, person or dance crew, why don’t we do the democratic system the same?

We could eliminate the wrangling and idiotic thinking of one person’s opinion and just ask everyone of voting age and qualification to pick up the phone and let them vote via the telephone for house bills and senate bills floating around. Just think of it, we would put many of the candidates out of business thus saving millions of dollars of waste and pork spending. What a concept this would be.

Now I know that this will never happen, but with today’s technology you would think that there is a better way to do business other than the complete breakdown that we have in Washington today. Let’s just ask the studio audience. Ha Ha. LOL

Two bits on QR Codes

2011-02-16T08:34:00.002-07:00

You see them all over the place now, in stores, in newspapers and now on Real Estate signage. I have been experimenting with QR codes for a little over a year now. They are a great way to get instant information if you have a smart phone that is equipped to handle it.

Using QR is kind of a hit and miss. If you have a website or several in my case, it doesn’t make much sense to use the codes inside of the website, after all are you going to scan a code if you can just click a link? The best area so far is in your advertising. Placing a code in say a craigslist ad or into newspaper advertising if you still do that, however most smart phone owners probably read online!

The answer is that it is going to be up to the agents using them to determine where they will get the most use, certainly on your yard signage and flyers. Wherever you use them, make sure it is easy to scan from your phone.

MLS#98459170 Short Sale 2722 Charlotte Boise, ID

2011-02-15T06:35:00.001-07:00

Short Sale, Wonderful well kept home in newer neighborhood with a fully fenced back yard full auto sprinklers set up with pressurized irrigation.

Close to schools, shopping, and parks and airport. Features include: Split bedroom floor plan and a large kitchen/great room. The kitchen has breakfast bar, pantry, suspended soffits over counters, and a beautiful tiled backsplash. Floors in kitchen, eating area, and bathrooms are beautifully tiled. Large Master suite has soaker.

Perfect for the investor with renters currently in place until September of 2011.

Mastering your craft

2011-02-11T06:30:00.000-07:00

Working Realtors now days must do the extra details of every aspect in dealing with your clients and customers in relation to real estate transactions. There is no rock that can go unturned.

This is especially true when you have out of town and out of State clients that buy in your area. If every Agent did the extra that it takes to make things easier for the average home buyer get the information they need it would not only sell the properties but would cut down time on the market for their listings.

Going the extra step means to have great detail of your property including many pictures and virtual tours. As a buyer agent it is my job to go and take more pictures if there are few or poor documentation. This may include taking video to post on YouTube! It simply doesn’t cut it any more to place information on the MLS and hope that it sells. Making it easy for out of area buying public to notice and get “feelings” about a property is the responsibility of the Realtors.

To me, full service means to give everything that I can to help the public visualize and dramatize the properties. Happy buying!

Home Sale Snapshot for January 2011

2011-02-08T07:13:00.001-07:00

It is always a good indicator of the housing market to see what the first month of the year is doing. So far it is on track to be a fair year in home sales. Let’s break down the market sales to see how we are faring. These statistics are from the intermountain multiple listing services for the month of January 2011.

• 659 Single family residential (Houses)
• 55 Condo or townhome
• 8 other category, includes recreational and mobile home

Now for the sold prices

• $940,500 the high price sold
• $7,000 the low price sold
• $140,855 average price sold

Average days on market where 99
These statistics only reflect the homes sold with the multiple listing services.

The Big Game

2011-02-07T10:20:00.001-07:00

As the weekend flew by, I did get to watch one of the best spectacles on TV, I am talking about of course the Super Bowl! I feel that I must go off topic for heartfelt congratulations to the Green Bay Packers, not just because I now work for a real estate company that is called Packers realty, but, I am a lifelong Packers fan.

The game itself was everything you could imagine a championship to be, the two best teams finally made the grade and didn’t disappoint anyone. Despite one of the worst halftime performances and the opening star spangled banner sung out of place, the game made up for everything.

When you look at the outcome it couldn’t have happened to a greater team. There was also class on the other side, the Pittsburg Steelers were a formidable opponent and played like a game should. In the end the Green bay Packers are a championship team that your kids can look up to.

Balanced Rock in Southern Idaho

2011-02-05T11:56:00.000-07:00

Balanced Rock State park is located in the Southern part of Idaho. It is a National Monument; the Rock is nearly 59 feet tall and only a little over 3 feet at the base. Just a short drive from Castleford and Buhl, you will find a very nice and quiet park across the road to have a picnic.

MLS# 98459170 - Income short sale for sale!

2011-02-03T07:26:00.000-07:00

Wonderful well kept home in newer neighborhood with a fully fenced back yard full auto sprinklers set up with pressurized irrigation. Close to schools, shopping, and parks and airport.

Features include: Split bedroom floor plan, 3 bedrooms 2 bathroom and a very large 3 car garage and a large kitchen/great room. The kitchen has breakfast bar, pantry, suspended soffits over counters, and a beautiful tiled backsplash. Floors in kitchen, eating area, and bathrooms are beautifully tiled. Large Master suite has soaker tub, separate shower and double doors to access private covered patio. Current tenants at $850 / mo $142,000.00

Click on Link to view the youtube video tour!

What Home Buyers are shopping for!

2011-02-01T08:01:00.001-07:00

With the glut of homes on the market home buyers are searching for bargains that can be found for reduced prices. Location used to be the term used by real estate professionals when describing the top list want of house buying clients. Now it has changed with market changes. Here are my top 5 wants of my buyers surveyed.

• Price (they like the low prices)

• Size (get as much as they can for the price)

• Number of bedrooms (more the better)

• Covenants and restrictions (they don’t want)

• Area (most have given in to get all of the above first)

As the market changes in the future the order of the wants and wishes of buyers looking will probably change again. For my recent buyers it is PRICE, PRICE, PRICE.

Online presence or presents!

2011-01-31T06:50:00.001-07:00

What do you tell the potential client how you sell their property? This is a question that all of the home sellers are going to ask. Many of them go to your local eatery and as they walk in grab one of the many fee real estate booklets at the entrance. They will then bring it to you and say they want to be in the book.

Selling your home now days is only as good as how you get your message out to the people who are buying, not as reading material for a quick lunch. The books are a good way to get a feeling of what is available, but many are usually outdated before they even go to printing. Yes they do bring phone calls to you, but when you tell them that the property is not available it turns them off.

Getting your listings out to those that are buying is a matter of presenting them professionally in the web world. Books and news paper print is ok for the few that still read them, but will probably be a big waste of your time and more importantly the marketing money available to your client. No matter if you are selling your home or if your realtor is sending you listings to view to purchase it is all about the computer, internet and email. Get your online real estate system correct to help your clients get what they need.

Hazy Smoke Signals!

2011-01-28T13:12:00.001-07:00

The word on the street is the housing market is getting much better! OOOPs wait a minute what I meant to say was the housing market is still very flat! Hold it I just read a different news paper, what they meant to say was that the housing market is all over the place.

Do you ever wonder where the information comes from when you hear the local and national news reporting on the state of the housing market in the United States? Well most of the information comes from outsiders and even insiders that have their own opinion about the current state of affairs. I just read in the paper last week that housing starts were expected to be up this year making for one of the best years in the last five. Then in our local news paper it was written that our house values are expected to fall during 2011, this from the experts in the field.

My first question is who the experts are and what if any information they have to make them state in writing what they prognosticate is going to occur. My thoughts on the current state of housing are that no one knows, if they did they would have fixed the problems by now. Housing prices only fall until they fix the appraisal system. Making a uniform system to appraise homes instead of the appraisers own opinion and findings, of course you can guess prices will fall.

Jobs are the big kink in the cog, no jobs no sales. I have been saying this from the start. Guessing the housing market is like our weather reporters this year, maybe ten percent right? I can tell you this, things will not change one way or the other until the individual human nature is taken out of the scenario. Change the appraisal system and fix the bank loan approval system. Welcome to our new and not improved world.

MLS # 98458593 Commercial Bar and Grill

2011-01-27T08:38:00.001-07:00

MLS # 98458593 Commercial Bar and Grill, Lindy's Steak House and Saloon. Lindy's is a popular destination bar and restaurant with a robust lunch trade in the bar along with a quiet white napkin dinner menu in the Steak House.

The bar has a warm friendly atmosphere with full Boise City Liquor License, pool tables, seven television sets and several different game tables plus dart competitions. The bar restaurant is open 7 days a week and the Steak House is opened 6 days. The clientele is mostly local and has been very stable.

Located in Boise, Idaho in the southwestern region of the State, points of interest include the Boise River Greenbelt, lucky Peak reservoir, Bogus Basin ski Resort, world center for birds of prey and the Boise State Bronco football team.

Pick up the Phone!

2011-01-25T08:40:00.003-07:00

Marketing for Realtors 101 is to get your phone to ring right? This was my thinking as I have moved through the years. If people don’t call your phone then you don’t make contacts to begin relationships with buyers and sellers. The most frustrating part of being a realtor is the inability to contact people when you need information on a property. It is equally frustrating when people call you and say are you one of those that don’t answer your phone.

Well the answer to that question is one that I have made a part of my real estate business for years. An agent can do all of the advertising in the world, can make dozens of new contacts and pay all kinds of companies to bring them leads but everything comes down to weather you are available to help your clients.

Many of the companies will stress that you as an agent should block your time and only call back during certain times during the day. Well as a buyer agent this doesn’t provide for the family that would like to look at a home today. If you call them back on your time you have sent them to the next agent. Providing good customer service means that you or someone from your office gives them a call at least to say that you have interest.

If I am going to place time and effort into my business by way of websites, blogs and other advertizing methods, then I am certainly going to pick up the phone when it rings as often as I can. Give me a call I will talk.

Attitudes About Homeownership

2011-01-24T07:36:00.000-07:00

This new study is interesting but not necessarily a surprise. Study provided by the National Association of Realtors, you can download the full article under “Reports for Buyers” on my document page by clicking the link.

Homeowners and renters have generally positive views about homeownership and the financial and non-financial benefits it provides to families and communities. A large share of renters aspire to homeownership, despite the financial obstacles of buying a home including accumulating a down payment and concerns about job security. The tax benefits of homeownership are valued by both homeowners and renters with large percentages noting that it is important to keep these benefits in place.

Homeowners and renters agree that owning a home is a positive choice. A majority of homeowners and a sizable percentage of renters agree or strongly agree that owning a home provides a healthy and stable environment for raising a family (87 percent among homeowners and 64 percent among renters), that it helps them meet long-term financial goals (77 percent among homeowners and 55 percent among renters) and it helps them realize the American Dream (70 percent among homeowners and 48 percent among renters).

Most homeowners (95 percent) and renters (72 percent) believe that over a period of several years, it makes more sense to own a home than to rent. More than 8 in 10 homeowners (82 percent) and half of renters (50 percent) would prefer to buy a home if they had to move in the next six months. Furthermore, 78 percent of homeowners consider now a good time to buy as do 58 percent of renters. (Read Full Article)

Good things happening in Boise!

2011-01-23T10:23:00.002-07:00

For the most part as a Real Estate professional, you try to write about things related to selling homes and property. This is your life blood and your way of living in the current times.

But you must stop and go back to what is really going to make the difference in our businesses and life styles. We can promote our City and State for everything that we hold dear to our hearts, but, when there is little change and economic problems that prevent a forward thinking attitude it makes words hard to place into action as we write.

Believing that many of a city’s problems begin with politics is probably a just beating a dead horse. But good news is coming from the city of Boise lately. It started with the changes in the planning and zoning board which paved the way for the beginning of the new Simplot facility in downtown and continued with the approval of the Whole Foods store plans.

With the encouraging new of the Micron expansion in the past week we are on the right track. Today the statesman published an article on the 30th street development plans for growth and recreation. I have to say kudos to the City of Boise for realizing the importance of not doing business as usual. This will make my job more exciting to promote a positive outlook for businesses moving to our great city.

Breaking down a short sale Part 3

2011-01-22T04:13:00.002-07:00

Bank short sales of course are where the seller of the property is requesting the bank to allow the sale of their home for much less than the original lien note was secured. Selling short is not a right of the seller, banks decide on individual basis weather or not to allow the sale. It is of the utmost importance to have the full cooperation of the home owners in order for the Realtor to ask for a short sale.

One of the most important pieces of documentation is the “Hardship Letter”, this is a gathering of all reasons the owners are not able to continue on the present course. In writing the letter included documentation must be any reasons for the current financial position of the seller. This would include job loss, medical bills, and poor sales in the case of being self employed.

Your Realtor will then write a proposal letter to the bank or lien holder giving reference to the hardship letter, but mostly documenting the current state of the loan such as what is owed how far behind etc. This letter will lay out the plan of action for the sale of the home which includes the listing price, marketing plan and any liens that may be or could be encountered.

The final area of the sale would be the actual listing of the property including all pertinent MLS documentation, market analysis or comparative sold prices and short sale listing addendums. Addendums are basically telling any buyers this is a short sale and probably will not have the same safety nets associated with a “normal sale”, such as the home being sold as is. Contact me with any further questions.

Breaking down a short sale Part 2

2011-01-21T06:18:00.001-07:00

As we discussed in the previous post yesterday, short sales are probably one of the most time consuming sales to deal with. The amount of energy before the home goes on the market probably takes more than half of the time constraints. Getting all of your information together ahead of time will make or break the deal.

Bank authorizations are a key piece of documentation that has got to be signed in order for the Realtor agent to communicate with the lean holder of the property. It allows communication back and forth and keeps the seller out of the negotiation process. This prevents any personal feelings from entering into the transaction.

The seller financial worksheet is what the home owner owes for all of the assets. This must be true to the best of the seller’s ability. Any asset such as cars, credit cards, medical, and including utilities etc. This worksheet places everything on paper that the lean holder can evaluate the current state of the seller’s financial situation.

Part three will be next!

Breaking down a short sale Part 1

2011-01-20T07:31:00.003-07:00

For the next few entries I am going to explain the process to sell your home as a short sale. Not going into what a short sale is, but what is involved to get your home on the market and take contracts.

A bank short sale is a different animal both to take as a listing and to negotiate prices and Earnest Money agreements. The Bank must agree to allow the sale and we need to gather certain documents prior to the sale.

We will discuss the following documents needed:

• The Bank Authorization
• Seller Proposal Letter
• Seller Hardship Letter
• Seller Financial Worksheet
• Listing Documents
• Comparative Market Analysi
• Short Sale Listing addendums

Our next few entries will include these breakdowns. We will also discuss why it is good to go with a Realtor that has Experience with these types of transactions!

Idaho Business Expansion

2011-01-19T10:55:00.001-07:00

When looking at the economic outlook for our county, it doesn’t look all that good, except in Idaho. Just this week Micron Technology Inc. announced that it is going to expand. From all of the job websites the number of new hires is going to be in the area of 165 new employment opportunities.

Micron is the State of Idaho’s second largest employer; the new expansion will involve building a new building of 50,000 square feet to house the wafers and microchips. 25,000 feet will be used to start and 25,000 feet will be used for future expansion.

This is good news for the Boise and treasure valley area.

Our Private Idaho

2011-01-17T06:51:00.001-07:00

What is it that attracts a person to an area that they would move the family and settle down? We all have that special place that we love to work, play and relax. For most of us it is a childhood area that we grew up or remember with fondness.

One of the biggest selling points when assisting people moving into Idaho is the vast open area with lots of choices when it comes to the play time. Our closeness of our largest city to being able to drive a short while into the mountains and return the same day is such a pleasing selling point. Many of the people I have talked to about our State of Idaho, is the fact they either visited here or grew up in Idaho and want to move back.

What makes it the business of a Realtor selling real estate to be in the Relocation and marketing of their State? First and foremost you must have a love for the area that you represent; it makes it a normal function of a Real Estate agent to sell the things they love.

Idaho has all things that people like to come home to. Four seasons with changes in the weather, activities for the sportsman and wonderful sites to remember are all things that make Idaho home. Idaho is the place to retire.

Rates that are great

2011-01-16T05:54:00.000-07:00

It is just amazing that we are into the New Year and find that interest rates are still on the decline. Just two months ago in November of 2010 the rates were at the lowest ever, this is still the fact today.

What does this mean and how does it correlate to home buyers? First time home buyers are still in a quandary, they must have almost perfect credit with corresponding credit scores and there can’t be any job changes in the last two years. If any buyers are thinking about purchasing a home this year, they need to start early getting their ducks in a row.

Having an all time low interest rate doesn’t do anyone a favor unless the banks determine that they want to start lending again. What are some options for the home buyers of today?

• Make sure your credit is in order; don’t make any new purchases unless it is necessary.

• Don’t make any job changes, unless it is within the same company and is a better position.

• Contact your local credit unions or mortgage brokers; they may be able to do a better job than the red tape mega banks.

• Listen to your real estate professionals they will guide you through the process.

Bottom line is to take advantage of the historically low rates and a great buyers market.

Going Mobile

2011-01-14T07:16:00.001-07:00

Boise Mobile Home Search

Ok we are doing it, making your home searches easier if you use smart phones! Tag Scan is the way to get the instant information that you need on any of our properties. If you use a smart phone or blackberry simply scan the box and the search page will come up on your phone with all the capabilities of your computer.

If you need to download the scanner then simply click on this URL: http://www.gettag.mobi/ this will download to your specific phone. Then scan the box and you are set.

Look for many more uses for BoiseHouseAndHome.com; you will be able to get property information from any mls listings that use the tag scanner. Imagine driving by a property and being able to obtain the information on the home right away on your phone.

From your phone you will be able to search for any listings that meet your needs.

Lead where they will follow!

2011-01-13T08:23:00.003-07:00

It is not the job of Realtors and Agents to do the job of the loan officer, but, it is the job of Realtors to guide your clients to what is best for their home purchase. Is it best for your future home buyers to get their loans though one of the nation leading banks? What are the options to the red tape and deal killer feet dragging?

According to RealtyTrac Inc. one in 45 homes was foreclosed last year, this is one of the highest percentages of home foreclosure in recent years. What this means for this year is that if you are in one of the States that were very active during the boom years is 2011 will produce one home in five will be repossessed.

What this means is that much of the energy that banks use to lend money for home loans is being tied up with the bank foreclosure red tape. A home buyer this year will not only be facing the lowest home prices and interest rates, but the toughest lending requirements in years.

We come back to the economy as a whole; jobs need to be created in order for home buyers to feel comfortable with home purchase in a buyer oriented world. What about all of the folks that had to move to a new job in order to continue with income to provide for their families? Most lending rules for most mortgage banks will not consider these people for a loan unless they have been at the new job for two years or more.

If buyers, no matter first time or move up, cant participate in the current market, then what do the banks place their energy into? The answer is probably to continue with the foreclosure portion of their business. Most of the banks do not look into the lending habits or credit scores of the potential buyers unless it is for a tie breaker as to weather they get the loan or not. They don’t take individual history as a good thing.

Our goal as Real Estate professionals is to provide the best service that we can for our clients, which means that you shop around for mortgage loans. Investigate the mortgage brokers as well as the banks and credit unions. Give your clients the best job and do the work.

Paying it Foreward

2011-01-12T04:05:00.000-07:00

Waking up on a fine winter’s day in Idaho is the best reason for living. Now its time to go out and make a buck. As the last year ended, it also brought about the entire end of year fees and bills to maintain my standing in the Real Estate community.

No one said that being a Realtor is cheap. Buyers and sellers are the end product of a career that is governed by Associations and commissions. What it takes to drive a client and show property is as complicated as working on your computer; for instance, the following groups have a hand in your pocketbook just to allow showing of property.

• The National Association of Realtors or NAR

• The Idaho Association of Realtors or IAR

• The Ada County Association of Realtor or ACAR

• The Intermountain MLS

• And finally the Idaho Real Estate Commission

Then along the way there are the fees associated with your electronic key and mandatory E and O (errors and omissions) insurance.

Yes, this is what it takes to be among the few now that can show homes and sell property in our great State. It all takes the money to keep it running. This is what the end of year means to those of us that have survived the market for the last couple of years.

P.S. Support your local Realtors!

MLS #: 98438468 - 8018 S Diego Way Boise ID 83709

2011-01-11T14:38:00.001-07:00

For Sale - Lovely 4 bedroom, 3 bath home on quiet culdesac in Carmichael Sub. Valuated ceiling in living area and master. Beautiful hardwood floors. Granite corner fireplace with painted mantle, plant shelves, interesting angles, deigner paint colors, upgraded white painted woodwork, ceiling fans, tile entry. elegant master with garden tub, dual vanities, separate shower & huge closet. Split bedrooms on main floor and full bath in upstairs bonus room. Covered front porch and back patio. Sand fire pit area in backyard!

Click the full link for details on property along with virtual picture tours, maps and neighborhood information!

Preserve Our Trails

2011-01-10T07:41:00.000-07:00

It is now available from your local DMV, the newest Idaho specialty license plate. The plate depicts biking and trail riding and trail preservation.

You can get either a personalized plate or regular registration plate. The push was on for the new mountain bike plate by the Idaho Mountain Bike Perseveration Association.

To view the details of pricing and how to order, just click on the link associated with this posting.

Investment Comeback in 2011

2011-01-08T05:46:00.002-07:00

The back bone of the American dream has always been Real Estate and land. A large portion of the dream is the Investment and Income homes and multi-family dwellings.

In the New Year great deals will abound, making the right buying decisions could make money for the investor buyer. With the abundant influx of all the short sale and even what are called normal home sellers, great deals could come from some of the least expected real estate listings.

Many of the homes that have not sold over the past two years now have been rented for the owners to try and recoup some of or a portion of their mortgage amount. These rented homes are available at current lowered prices and come with built in equity. The other side of the coin is the multi-family units were investors are moving or changing the loans or investments for deals that make more sense for their portfolios.

I am providing a list of current investment properties to view with the link here. Contact me and take advantage of the Real Estate climate and my years of experience with income deals.

The Business of Real Estate

2011-01-07T07:25:00.001-07:00

Looking at all of the latest employment figures that have come out this week, it brings back memories of the time when I had a job in the normal work force. Going to work every day and taking home the paycheck every two weeks. I used to grimace just like everyone at the deductions and glare at the final amount that would go into my bank account.

Having worked in the Real Estate business for the past ten years, it reminds me of the differences in the way I provide for myself now as opposed to the W2 years.

Realtors and agents are an entity by themselves; we are self employed and responsible for every aspect of where and when the money comes into our bank accounts. Yes, we work for a Brokerage, but by law there must be an entity to carry out the transactions. The brokerage gets almost a third of every dollar we make. So you see the brokerage does not pay the Realtors or agents, they are not our employer.

Yes, it would be nice to have the steady paycheck coming in every couple of weeks, but in our industry of providing services of Real Estate rendered, we depend upon the commissions paid by the home sellers. I love this work and it works for me. I am the business of Real Estate!

Tours with Flair

2011-01-06T08:06:00.001-07:00

Wow its cold outside but you still want to see houses that you have on the top of your list to view. What is the best way to do that without going out into the elements?

Take an online trip though the virtual reality of our MLS listings with virtual tours. These homes and property can be viewed from the privacy and comfort of your house via your computer or cell phone.

These virtual listings show homes with great pictures to see everything that is to offer on your prospective homes. I am providing you with a link to the home listings with nice virtual tours. If you wish to view any of the houses and homes then just email me off of the property information link. I will set up a real time to see it in person.

The Home Keys

2011-01-05T03:05:00.002-07:00

What are the keys to the game when it comes to purchasing a new home? There is a plan of dos and don’ts that come into play if you are considering either buying a house for the first time or up grading your current residence.

Many of the challenges to buyers today are the same for everyone, having the ability to pay. If you are planning to make a home move, you will want to make sure you don’t hinder your ability to qualify from the start.

First do not make any major purchases such as a new car or even to pay off large credit card bills. Go to your trusted local home mortgage professional to make sure you don’t fall into the money trap. Next don’t make any job changes that are going to affect your overall standing. For instance to make a move to a job that is commission based if you had employment that taxes were taken out. When going for a loan for a home the companies are looking for stability and changing jobs (even for the better) could be a short term detriment.

Keep things as they are if at all possible, any change in your credit history for the good or bad can raise some initial red flags. Steady as she goes is a good thought until you talk to your mortgage person.

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Remembering September 11 2001

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Fall Home Maintenance Series!

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BSU wins in Chick Fill A Georgia Opener!

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Have Fun At the Fair! 2011 Western Idaho Fair.

Have Fun At the Fair! 2011 Western Idaho Fair.

Have Fun At the Fair! 2011 Western Idaho Fair.

Have Fun At the Fair! 2011 Western Idaho Fair.

Have Fun At the Fair! 2011 Western Idaho Fair.

Have Fun At the Fair! 2011 Western Idaho Fair.

New Word Real Estate

Buying Better Times

Map search your real estate for sale

New Price $139,900.00

Open House Friday July 29th from 1pm - 4pm

Lack of Class and Dignity!

Back in the Saddle again!

2722 S. Charlotte Boise ID *short sale*

Social Benefits of Homeownership

Statistics (Sold) – April 3 – April. 9th 2011

New money will help Idahoans keep homes

Statistics (Sold) – Mar 27 – Apr. 2nd 2011

Legislative waste 101

Yahoo! The unemployment numbers are out!

Sunnier Skies Are Likely on the Way

Statistics (Sold) – Mar 20 – Mar. 26th 2011

Spokane Company will build its first Treasure Valley store

Buying pitfalls for Condos

Statistics (Sold) – Mar 13 – Mar. 19th 2011

First-Time Home Buyers Prepare for Best Buyer’s Market in Recent History

Boise Spring Home Show

Restaurant for Sale in Boise ID

Statistics (Sold) – Mar 6 – Mar. 12th 2011

Hop off the fence!

Statistics (Sold) – Feb 27 – Mar. 5th 2011-02-27

But first, it’s today!

Is there a bank game?

Sale Statistics (Sold) – Feb 20 – 26th 2011-02-27

The Cost of doing business

Smooth as Molasses

Spring Foreword

Let’s ask the studio audience!

Two bits on QR Codes

MLS#98459170 Short Sale 2722 Charlotte Boise, ID

Mastering your craft

Home Sale Snapshot for January 2011

The Big Game

Balanced Rock in Southern Idaho

MLS# 98459170 - Income short sale for sale!

What Home Buyers are shopping for!

2722 S. Charlotte Boise ID short sale