Parade of Homes

MAY 1st - 16th
FREE - No Ticket Required

Monday - Thursdays: 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Fridays: 3 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Weekends: 12 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Parade of Homes is a showcase of home designs in new construction by some of the Associations builders. "A Tradition of Building Excellence". This annual Spring tour of homes has been a tradition since 1956! The association was founded in order to bring this event to Boise over 50 years ago. Member involvement includes judging, awards, publicity, realtors and banquet committees. (click on the parade of homes link for maps and information).

Have the Banks got it Right Yet?

When working with your buyers, they all have their own way of viewing bank owned and short sale properties. Many will work out in their mind what amount the lien holder will save if they take our offered price. Days on market is the first comment that clients would make when making an offer.

It seemed that in the early days of the mass distribution of the sellers wanting to list their properties, the banks were very much flying by the seat of their pants. They wouldn’t work with the Realtors as a partner and make it very difficult to communicate. Even though the Tax credits are expiring, there will still be a glut of homes for possibly years to come.

In the past several months many of the large lenders have begun a gentler kinder position and have strived to work with the real estate agents and Realtors. Wells Fargo has recently communicated they would like to cut down the contract time for their Bank Owned properties. This is a good step foreword.

While most of what our clients were thinking the bank would be considering was probably wrong, maybe now the thinking is on the same page. It is easier with the new communication and all of the learning curves being resolved. It will certainly help to provide a more timely response considering this is going to go on for a while yet to come..

Boise River Recreation Park

The Ray Neef MD Recreation Park has begun phase 1, work is underway! The river park is an effort from several community groups and private supporters. The park will include world class white water rapids, the Esther Simplot Park, parking areas and picnic shelters.

The area is located in the 36th street wave. The Boise River Park will enhance the Boise Greenbelt and promote usage of the Boise River. You can follow or contribute to the park by clicking on the link above or on Facebook.

Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure!

Keller Williams Realty and the Boise Fire Department have teamed up to form Team Hope. The race is Saturday May 8th and there is still time to sign up by clicking the link above.

Garden Valley Spring Fling

Heading up to Crouch and Garden Valley this weekend, Saturday April 24th to join in on the fun of the Spring Fling. The festivities will include breakfast, fun run and many other activities including food booths and arts and crafts fair.

Have not been in a couple of years but it is always enjoyable to get out of the valley and head to the mountains….

Allumbaugh House Opens in Boise

Terry Reilly health services will operate the new Detoxification and mental health crisis center located in Boise Idaho. Ribbon cutting means that now there will be a place that people can go to sober up from alcohol and drugs, when they will then go to ongoing treatment.

The Allumbaugh house is the alternative to going to jail or to the mental health units of our local hospitals. The center can house up to 16 clients currently with room to expand. It is a joint venture between Boise, Meridian and Ada County. St. Alphonsus and St. Luke’s health systems are also partners. The facility opens in early May 2010.

Visit My New Website

Take some time and visit my newest website located at BoiseHouseandHome.com. You will find it very easy to navigate and very pleasing to the eye. We now have the ability to deliver instant electronic Relocation information to your email and you can now click on subdivisions and neighborhood to find homes for sale...

Idaho Mountain Living

Imagine your little portion of heaven with timber lined views of Natures Mountains. Historic Idaho City offers the amenities you will enjoy for years to come. Scenic landscape and quiet pleasure await you when you arrive.

Short sale or foreclosure?

Depending upon the seller situation, the type of sale they choose to pursue my have a greater affect on their credit score.

 

Foreclosure is a legal name given to describe a process of the lien holder taking control of the property.  Depending on the area you live, the timelines could take from 30 days up to months.

 

Short sales are properties being sold were the seller attempts to dispose of the property with the third party lien holder having to agree to the terms of the contract prior to sale.  The bank my may or may not choose to agree to a lesser amount recovery and let the seller off the hook. 

 

I will talk of the ways the lien holder may resolve the mortgage in a future post. 

 

What is the possible affect in a foreclosure and short sale when pertaining to your credit?

a)      Being foreclosed could cause up to a 200 point drop in your credit score and it may be difficult to purchase property or anything on credit in the future.

b)      Short sale may cause as little drop as 50 points in your credit score and could keep the door open for buying in the future.

 

There are many reasons for homeowners distress in the current times, life changes, job changes and health problems may lead to these situations.  Not all can be helped. My advice would be for the owner to seek the advice of your attorney and accountant if your situation is dire. Consult a realtor to assist and give guidance through short sale questions.

 

 

 

Tax Day also Homeowner exemption day

Today is not only tax day, but it is also the deadline to file for your tax exemption through your county assessor…

 

 

Team Work

It is the best thing in the world to know that you have helped to make a family’s dream come true.  Closing time for my client meant lots of work by several individuals. First of all it takes a client that is able and willing to go through the work of the transaction and then the other professionals to assist with the flow of timelines and deadlines.

 

It is the many hours of time from contract to signing.  The out come is the culmination of the lender, title and transactions services.  Then there is the seller and agent that knows what it takes in today’s market to give and take.  The final result is a family that made the effort and will now move in to their new home next week!

 

The Month After

If you have been looking for a home anytime within the last 2 years, you realize that the market prices are probably the lowest in recent years.  What happens after the tax credit and first time buyer incentives are gone?

 

First of all let’s consider the final days of April, is there still time to have a contract in place before the 30^th?  There is time, the key is to have your lender and financing in place, a letter of qualification is needed for all contracts submitted to the short sale or bank owned handlers.  Next, realize that most home prices are probably at bottom line.  Don’t waist time trying to under bid or low ball at this point.  Doing so will add to days to the approval if it is accepted at all.  Then move fast and watch your timelines.  Have a realtor that you can depend to work full time.

 

Now we know there are still lots of homes to come on the market in the future as short sales and bank repossessions.  The fed has indicated that interest rates will likely hold for at least a while.  It will take some time for the inventories of homes on market to come down.  Prices will probably bottom out and begin a slow climb out.

 

Bottom line, take action now, don’t sit on the fence, have professionals working for you that know how the process works and home ownership will still be the American Dream.  

 

 

 

18 Days left

Only eighteen days left to place a home under contract to get the tax advantage!
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Idaho City's Warm Springs Resort could re-open

Good News for Idaho City!