Boise Real Estate Is Moving On UP!

Real estate in Idaho continues to show signs of solid recovery; has become a major booster for a sluggish economy.

Median list prices in the second quarter of  2012 were 19.58% higher than the same quarter last year;  inventory decreased -29.59% compared to the same quarter in  2011.

Boise itself also has one of the fastest moving housing markets in the country, with homes moving 32.47% faster in 2012 compared to the same time last year. Not to mention, new home sales in Boise increased 52% in June 2012, while existing home sales increased 2%.

One reason for this is the drop in Boise’s unemployment rate – 7.3% which is down significantly from last year, and well below the national average. In addition, despite a rapidly clearing out of inventory, foreclosure rates remain steady. Boise was recently named the second best city for raising a family as well as one of the Best Places to Retire in America.

Are you ready to take advantage of historically low mortgage rates, and home prices in Idaho before they disappear? You can find homes in Boise and anywhere else in the Treasure Valley on my real estate website. I am also ALWAYS glad to help – so don’t hesitate to contact me if you are looking for an experienced Boise REALTOR®!

Boise: Get Your Home Ready for Winter

It seems like we were all sweating up a storm and praying for rain just a week ago, but believe it or not winter will quickly be on it’s way. That means it’s already time to start getting your home ready for winter. There are a number of things you can do to not only make your home more comfortable but to also help save you money over the cold months ahead. Here are some of the top ways to get your house ready for old man winter:

No Drafting.
Drafts in your home can waste up to 30% of your home energy use. Fixing this can be as easy as using a good old fashioned draft snake (you can even make them yourself) and placing it at the bottom of a drafty door.

Filters.
Air filters and furnace filters can be easy to forget about but they need to be changed at least once a month during your heating season. Dirty filters can restrict airflow and increase energy use. You may even want to consider switching to a permanent filter for your furnace which can help cut back on waste and hassle.

Turn it down.
If you are going to be out of the house for a long period of time consider turning down your heater. You won’t be home to miss it, and even a couple degree drop can help you save money on your monthly bill. For every degree you lower your thermostat during winter you can save between 1-3% of your heating costs.

Insulate pipes.
You’ll pay less for hot water by insulating the pipes in your home. This can also help keep the pipes from freezing, which can be truly disastrous. First, touch your pipes to see if they are warm to the touch, if so they are likely candidates for insulation. Pre-slit covers from the hardware store are cost effective and generally very easy to install.

Do you have any tips for winterizing your home? I’d love to hear about them! Visit my Facebook fan page and post your winter preparation home tips with me!

Looking for a home in Boise before the snow flies? I can help! Visit my website to search for homes, learn more about the area, and even get great free Idaho relocation info.

Avoid Home Closing Chaos

As it involves the precise alignment of many factors, your home transaction is a fragile thing; even a small item out of place can derail the whole process. Whether it be a clouded title, a bad home appraisal, credit issues, or a rapid change in interest rates – one or any number of these types of issues can turn your closing into a real hassle.

These bottlenecks aren’t just troublesome for the buyers, but also the sellers and of course the agent themselves. Moving plans get jumbled, contingency plans need to be thrown together to cover damage control and your stress levels can go through the roof. You aren’t the only one just ready to be done; your agent wants to help get you there.

80% of the problems in closing transactions fall into three basic areas. Here are some things to stay on the lookout for as steering away from these problems can save you much trouble:

Repairs
Good planning in advance can save a lot of hassle here. State clearly in writing that only lender-required repairs will be done. If this is left open as a seller you may risk the buyer coming back with a laundry list of items that will slow your closing to a crawl. A lender-required note usually limits repairs to structural, mechanical, or health/safety concerns; keeps the nit-picking about little chips in the paint or decor issues to a minimal.

Documentation/verification
Your lender has to assemble a large amount of paperwork, and complete dozens of documents based on the information in your loan application. This includes verfying all information for accuracy by checking the applicants employment status, funds, and income level. This complex process takes time, so make sure as the home buyer you are submitting all the information in a timely manner – returning info in a piecemeal manner is sure to slow this process.

Underwriting
This most tricky of all closing problem areas is tough because the underwriter has the power to approve the loan, approve it with additional conditions, or suspend the file until conditions are met — in which case the borrower starts the entire underwriting process from the beginning. Underwriters check to be certain the loan meets guidelines for debt to income ratio, loan to value ratio, credit score, and other qualifications. The process of underwriting can really be a choke point, especially if the home is in a high price range.

Whether you are buying or selling the best way to avoid any of these potential pitfalls is to work with a qualified REALTOR. Your real estate agent is your advocate in the process and can help make these technical issues a lot less of a problem, and also helps in shuffling the mountains of paperwork involved in a real estate transaction.

If you are buying, the first step is to start finding homes you like. Secondly, go ahead and talk to your REALTOR® about getting per-qualified and finding a lender.

If you are selling, get a FREE comparative home value analysis of your home so that you can price it competitively for the area market you live in. You can get your CMA on my website here.

New Homes in Boise

There are a variety of great homes for sale in the Treasure Valley these days! A lot of agents and news sources will tell you that the inventory is going down – which it is, there are fewer homes on the market right now – and that prices are going up (also true!), but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t still some really amazing deals on the market!

While I specialize in Boise Short Sales that doesn’t mean I can’t help you find all of the regular homes you’re looking for! Here are a few different links to help you find homes without having to search:

NEW Homes in Boise
NEW Homes in Eagle
NEW Homes in Meridian

No matter what kind of home or property you are looking for you don’t have to go far! Talk with me to see what working with a qualified Idaho REALTOR® can do to help you!

Home Remodeling: Cost vs Value

Remodeling can be a great way to add value to your home or real estate investment, but not all improvements are the same. Some definitely can provide more bang for your buck when it comes to overall value. For instance, exterior projects that add curb appeal routinely have been shown to be great investments for your home. 2012 is no different as REALTORS® have recently ranked exterior improvements among the most valuable home investment projects in their Remodeling Cost Vs Value Report.

“This year’s Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report shows the value of putting your home’s best façade forward, so to speak,” said National Association of REALTORS® President Moe Veissi. “Inexpensive exterior replacement projects are not only crucial to a home’s regular upkeep, but are also expected to recoup close to 70 percent of costs. Specific exterior projects such as siding, window and door replacements are part of regular home maintenance, so many homeowners are already undertaking them. These projects also do not require expensive materials and they have the added bonus of instantly adding curb appeal.”

According to the Cost vs. Value, 7 of the top 10 most cost-effective projects nationally in terms of value recouped are exterior replacement projects, with an estimated 78 percent of costs recouped upon resale.

A little work can go a long way toward adding value to your home and improving it for yourself as well! Read the Remodeling Cost VS Value report here or read up on 3 Remodeling mistakes to avoid!

Want to find out your homes current value? Visit my website for a FREE comparative market analysis of your home, or start searching for your next home in Idaho!

Boise Baby Boomers

In a new trend the Baby Boomer generation is entering retirement early and findings indicate they are bucking the very idea of what being a retiree means.Turns out Baby Boomers are no slouches when it comes to taking their retirement time and making the most of it, with Boomers being among the most active and social of recent retiree generations.

This could mean big changes in the housing industry in the years to come, including what new retirement communities will look like.

Today’s boomer retirees are still very active and adventurous as well as highly connected, a survey by Shea Homes shows. They want to travel and enjoy their family and friends and seek to be a vibrant part of the community. Understanding and taking care of the needs of this new generation of retiree’s is integral to offering a complete set of real estate skills to this growing market.

The survey mentioned has also  found that social media isn’t just for the younger set. Boomers say “they prefer collecting friends on social networks just as much as they do recipes – and even rank it slightly higher (37.28%) than collecting pictures of the grandkids (33.64%). This reinforces the impact of having a strong digital presence on social networks like Facebook and Twitter for today’s progressive real estate professional.

Among the most important factors to this boomer generation? Location, location, location of course! Being within driving distance to family and friends ranked as the most important factor of maintaining a balanced lifestyle for this active group.

Retirement is now focused on a new chapter of life, full of re-invention, instead of simply an “end phase.” Traveling, new hobbies, and being active rank high on the list of what retirees look forward to. Overall, boomers are interested in healthy relationships and strong mind-body balance. Thankfully Boise offers many of these amenities right at hand as it is centrally located within the state, which means not only being a hub for some of the best medical care in Idaho, but also being near outdoor activities and within easy traveling distance to friends and family. In addition outlying cities like Eagle and Meridian offer a wealth of 55+ communities perfect for the independent retiree.

Hello Boise Idaho Home Seekers!

Thank you for visiting my Boise Real Estate website and blog! On this blog you will be able to find information on the current Idaho real estate market, great available listings, and more!

Now is an excellent time to buy a home in Boise – home prices are still low and mortgage rates are at historic rates. Whether you want to live in the Northend or are looking for a home on the Boise Bench I can help you find the homes you want!