Find your Home in Boise

A Washington Post article by
John Briley answers the question: You’re going where? Boise

Briley has been writing professionally since 1993. He has published dozens of travel, health and lifestyle pieces in numerous publications. His website is johnbriley.com

John comments on Idaho’s capital city, saying:

there is so much more than potatoes, blooming with artsy and independent delights. Plus, a river runs through it.

Of course those of us who live in the beautiful city of trees are very much aware of the value of the Treasure Valley and how special it is to live in the scenic Gem State. We are happy you enjoyed your visit to Boise, John. Follow this link to John’s Washington Post Article about Boise where John writes a monthly series “You’re going where?” highlighting the best vacation destinations you’ve probably never considered.

The article includes places here in Boise you will definitely want to visit:

• The Idaho Sate Capitol building – our state’s most-treasured building.
• JUMP (Jack’s Urban Meeting Place) – J. R. (Jack) Simplot, an Idaho entrepreneur was a model of the pioneering spirit. After passing away in 2008, he left behind his legacy and astounding collection of vintage tractors. Instead of building a typical tractor museum, his family decided to build JUMP to honor Jack by giving our community opportunities to continue to inspire, grow, and innovate.
• Freak Alley Gallery – Freak Alley Gallery was born on Dec 15th of 2002. What began as a line on a door has grown to be “The largest outdoor gallery in the Northwest”.
• Boise Contemporary Theater – inspires our community to examine our perspectives and better understand ourselves, each other, and the world around us by creating thought-provoking stories of the human experience.
• Fork Restaurant – creative, farm-to-table American dishes and craft cocktails served in a vibrant, brick-and-wood space.
• Bardenay – as the nation’s first restaurant distillery, Bardenay set an industry precedent by combining a full service restaurant and bar with a distillery.
• Goldy’s Breakfast Bistro – located in the heart of downtown Boise, Idaho. Goldy’s takes pride in its made to order breakfast using as many fresh local ingredients as possible to provide a variety of choices.
• The STIL (Sweetest Things in Life) – create high quality, locally based, hand-crafted artisanal ice cream.
• The Record Exchange – a family-owned independent music store.
• Basque Market – serving Spanish-style pintxos (Basque for tapas) and meat & seafood paella.
• Crazy Neighbor – retail accessory shop with an eclectic product line.
  Offering a broad mix of fashion accessories for both men and women, as well as a complete line of stage makeup, wigs and specialty products for individuals, performers and stylists.
• Dunia Marketplace – Idaho’s only nonprofit fair-trade store selling hand-made items from local and global artisan families.
• Inn at 500 Capitol – Centered in the heart of downtown Boise, Idaho.
• The Modern Hotel and Bar– a re-animated Travelodge located in downtown Boise’s Linen District.
• Hyde Park – an older neighborhood with tree-lined streets is on the National Register of Historic Places.
• Boise River Greenbelt – a 25-mile path that runs along the river next to parks and the famous blue turf of Boise State University.

Home Selling Tips From Boise Realtor, Cristina Pescaru

It’s the end of another year, and we are still enjoying a seller’s market in our area (Boise, Idaho and the Treasure Valley).  If you are on the fence regarding selling, maybe you should give it serious consideration. There are advantages to listing this time of year, the major one being that competition is very limited.

Photo by Mike Wilson on Unsplash

Some tips for preparing your house for sale:

• Trim bushes and branches so they don’t block windows or architectural details.
• Set a pot of bright flowers (or a small evergreen in winter) on your porch or front walkway.
• Install new, matching locks and knobs on your front door.
• Repair any cracks or holes in the driveway, and clean oil spots with degreaser and a steel brush.
• Edge the grass around walkways and trees.
• Stow your garden tools and hoses out of sight, and clear kids’ toys from the lawn.
• Buy a new mailbox.
• Upgrade your outdoor lighting.
• Purchase a new doormat for outside your front door.
• Clean your windows, inside and out.
• Polish or replace your house numbers.
• Mow your lawn. Also, turning on the sprinklers for 30 minutes before the showing will make
  the whole yard sparkle.
• In Winter, clear the snow and ice from the walks.

Now that your house is showroom ready, give me a call to start the process.

Contact Boise Realtor, Cristina Pescaru, to find your Boise, Idaho home.

Pledge to Clients: Experience * Loyalty * Commitment * Care

Website: FindYourHomeinBoise.com
Facebook: facebook.com/FindYourHomeinBoise
Twitter: twitter.com/FindHomeinBoise

Photo Credit: Forbes – Best Places to Retire – Meridian Idaho

One of the fastest growing cities – why is Meridian such a great place to live?

From one who has lived in the Treasure Valley all her life, there are several reasons. The first perspective that has never changed.

1. Right between two of Idaho’s largest cities; Nampa & Boise
2. Friendly people
3. Some of the best schools

From a real estate and Investment perspective;

1. Nice neighborhoods
2. Great family activities year round
3. New parks and great older parks
4. Shopping galore including the country’s most  beautiful upscale family oriented “Village Shopping Center“
5. Tasty restaurant choices.

Truly a wonderful place to call home.

So contact Ava, your Treasure Valley go to real estate agent. For her first-hand expertise on area growth & demand, selling or buying or other questions and advice when you are facing your real estate dilemma. Don’t hesitate. Now is one of the best times to sell or buy.

More Proof – From Market Watch:

These are the fastest-growing cities in America

Here are WalletHub’s 10 fastest-growing cities in America:

Boise, Idaho By Patrick R.

One thing in Boise & Treasure Valley that will never change is:

The consistent popularity of the area year round which has been leading to a high demand for not only rentals but homes for sale as well. Boise has become the THE GETAWAY place for the Pacific Northwest. Whether you are a seller or a buyer. Contact us for the latest on market conditions to help you make the right decision when you are thinking about making a change.

Contact Boise Realtor, Ava Tong, to find or sell your Boise, Idaho home.

Website:   FindYourHomeinBoise.com
Facebook: facebook.com/FindYourHomeinBoise
Twitter:    twitter.com/FindHomeinBoise

Attention Buyers and Sellers! The market is still going strong, and steadily climbing upwards. The very good news is that the reasons the prices are going up are legitimate ones, like consumer demand, lack of inventory and the higher prices of new construction. That shelters us from a strong downward spiral correction in the future, since the higher prices aren’t driven by speculation as it was the case 10 years ago.

Some June stats: the median sales price in Ada County grew by 8.7% over last year, and by 12.4% in Canyon County. The average time the properties spend on the market is lower as well, by 13.2% in Ada County and by 9.4% in Canyon County. Homes are selling quickly, and that means less time for the sellers to have the inconvenience of buyers coming through and keep the property in showing-room condition all the time. It’s exhausting

All this is good news for sellers, as we are in a strong seller’s market, that doesn’t show any signs of changing soon, and good information for the buyers to keep in mind: if you are serious about a property, don’t wait, don’t think you will have a few days to think about it, because you won’t, it will go before you know it! Also, make your stronger offer from the beginning, even if it’s not at the asking price, and document that offer to the best of your and your agent’s ability. Make sure that your have the funds available, and present that proof to the seller with your offer, if you are making a cash offer, or that you are pre-qualified if you are getting a mortgage. The more proof of your solidity as a buyer you can offer, and the better you make the offer look, the better your chance to getting the house of your dreams. Good luck to all the buyers out there, and if Ava or I can help in any way, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Contact Boise Realtor, Cristina Pescaru, to find your Boise, Idaho home.

Pledge to Clients: Experience * Loyalty * Commitment * Care

Website: FindYourHomeinBoise.com
Facebook: facebook.com/FindYourHomeinBoise
Twitter: twitter.com/FindHomeinBoise

Boise Real Estate Advice in a Sellers Market

Boise Real Estate Agent, Cristina Pescaru, shares information from Realtor Mag – Making an Offer – 5 Mistakes to Avoid

We are facing a seller’s market, by now, everybody knows it. It is great if you have property to sell, but if you turn around and become a buyer, here are some things to keep in mind and mistakes to avoid in dealing with the reality of a market favoring sellers:

Delaying.

If you wait too long the result may be you end up paying more because you have to deal with a bidding war or you may miss out on the purchase. When you do find the home you love, act quickly and be ready with your paperwork:

• Bank Statements
• Preapproval Letter
• Proof of Funds Documents

Make an offer for your preapproved amount.

Be a smart buyer – get preapproved.  This shows the seller you are financially able to purchase a home.

But using that preapproval document to come up with an offer amount can cause problems. “Many buyers come in with a preapproval for the exact offer price, but when you’re competing against other offers, including cash offers, you want to show financial strength,” Chuck Silverston, principal at Unlimited Sotheby’s International Realty in Brookline, Mass. “An exact preapproval could make a listing agent nervous because not only does the buyer not have any wiggle room to negotiate, but they might no longer qualify if interest rates rise.”

Should you submit a lowball offer?

Real Estate Magazine indicates that lowballing a seller often backfires, particularly in a seller’s market.  “A lowball offer that isn’t backed up with math or comparable sales data is disrespectful and could turn off the seller and possibly mean you will miss out on the property completely.”

Should you waive inspection contingencies?

The simple answer is NO. “I don’t care whether it’s new construction or even your mom’s house you’re buying from her – get it inspected,” urges Joshua Jarvis of Jarvis Team Realty in Duluth, Ga. Further, if you waive the inspection contingency in your offer, you may lose the earnest money if you later back out of the deal.

Make a good presentation of yourself.

As we said before, this is a seller’s market, so buyers need to look good in the eyes of the seller.

“In today’s highly competitive environment, the listing agent is trying to determine which buyer will be the easiest to deal with,” Silverston says. Buyers may want to avoid pointing out every defect, making nitpicky queries, or questioning the seller’s tastes.

“Basically buyers who act less than enthusiastic will see themselves at a competitive disadvantage when sellers are comparing multiple offers,” he says.

GeekWire reports interesting news about one of our favorite Northwest cities, Seattle, Washington. LinkedIn created a study of hiring and employment trends in 20 major U.S. cities. The LinkedIn study found that “for every 10,000 people with a LinkedIn account in the Seattle area, approximately nine people came from the San Francisco Bay Area some time in the last year. The other most frequent sources of migration are the nation’s largest cities, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.”

Maps show cities that Seattle has gained the most workers from and cities with the most migration with Seattle.

The article goes on to say: “Believe it or not, some people actually leave Seattle as well. The most popular destination for people skipping town: Boise.” Possibly people are moving to Boise for the quality of life as well as the comparatively affordable housing market.

When you are planning your move to the City of Trees, find your home in Boise by contacting Ava or Cristina. FindYourHomeinBoise.com

Do you have cracked or damaged curbs or sidewalks?

You may qualify for funds if your sidewalk has the following issues:

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• Cracks from tree roots that are planted between street and  sidewalk
• Heaving concrete
• Sunken sidewalk behind a curb
• Sunken sidewalk over utility ditch
• Tree that was removed due to expansive roots has left a hole where sidewalk was

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You may have another unique circumstance; each case is looked into & carefully reviewed.

You could save thousands and improve your property surroundings. Contact Boise Realtors Ava Tong or Cristina Pescaru  about how you can get on the list for possible concrete repair at no cost to you.

1. Single family residences; including townhouses & condominiums ~ Boise Valley consistently in Top 10
2. Duplexes ~ live in one half/rent the other side
3. 1031 exchanges ~ great tax advantages
4. 2nd Homes ~ who doesn’t want to live here?
5. Rehabilitation homes ~ 203K loans; for that house that needs remediated, gutted, updated or remodeled.

Contact Ava or Cristina for more details on any or all of the above.

Contact Boise Realtor, Ava Tong, to find your Boise, Idaho home.

Website: FindYourHomeinBoise.com
Facebook: facebook.com/FindYourHomeinBoise
Twitter: twitter.com/FindHomeinBoise

Contact Boise Realtor, Cristina Pescaru, to find your Boise, Idaho home.

Pledge to Clients: Experience * Loyalty * Commitment * Care

Website: FindYourHomeinBoise.com
Facebook: facebook.com/FindYourHomeinBoise
Twitter: twitter.com/FindHomeinBoise

Western Subterranean Termite

2 out of 5 homes in the Treasure Valley; Boise, Nampa, Caldwell, Meridian, Kuna, Star, Eagle are being infested by these destructive creatures.

Spring is active time for the “alates” as they fly over a wide range to search for their mate, then quickly find a warm moist home with plenty of food, (your wood) to feed their fast growing multiplying family.

All it takes for them to enter your home is a tiny crack or opening in your siding or around foundations. They are voracious eaters that can quickly eat through the center of wood leaving only an outer shell that will crumble.

If you have areas of high moisture and warmth or where water enters siding, be aware these critters could have infested your home. They love humidity and temperatures of 75-95 degrees. If you see long mud tubes anywhere on your walls these are their travel tunnels.

IMPORTANT!  If you find signs of these pests DO NOT disturb them.  For they will secretly find another area to invade, thus making it even more difficult to get rid of them.

Call your pest control company right away.   Image credit: Termite.com

Powder Post Beetle

These nasty critters have a very appropriate name; Powder Post Beetle because they leave powdered wood at the base of their destruction; the wood they are feasting on.  Late winter and early spring is when they start their cycle of destruction.

They lay eggs in cracks, pores, holes and crevices of wood.  Especially vulnerable is untreated wood; like hardwood flooring and timber that has been unfinished. Basement support timbers, unfinished walls and wood are widely affected.

Painted, stained polished and finished/treated wood does not attract these destructive pests.  Be sure you have no raw wood laying around or in your crawlspace. If you see evidence of their activity; wood powder, take action right away.

Call your pest control company as soon as possible.   Image credit Wikipedia

Be sure to contact Ava or Cristina regarding all your other real estate concerns.