The Boise Valley: Idaho

This will be the first of a new series of blogs we're calling the "5". The "5" will highlight five specific properties in any number of classes, price points, or neighborhoods in one of the markets that we specialize in here in The Boise Valley!

Located in the beautiful "Lakeharbor" subdivision. Enjoy strolls along the Boise River or find adventure in any number of Lake activities; fishing, canoeing, sailing, or just a wonderful picnic in a beautiful setting. Plantation Country Club is just up the road and The Idaho Athletic Club is within walking distance. A wonderful example of an Executive home that is available NOW!

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This beautiful home is located in the Boise Foothills with magnificent views overlooking the Dry Creek Valley. Enjoy the setting sun and views from your home that very few ANYWHERE enjoy. If you must have the quiet and peace of the "mountains" but require proximity to The Boise Valley, then you have got to take a look at this wonderful Executive Home!

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Calling all golfers! This example of the wonderful properties now available in the North West Boise market. Lush landscaping that runs right to the Par 3 12th tee box of Plantation Country Club. Enjoy your summer evenings watching the duffers go by or join em!

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After a long hard day spent chasing paper from one file to another, come home to this beautiful coastal styled home and escape to sea! This home will help you envision and plan your next vacation to the coast. Located in the Hidden Springs community in the foothills; let this be your escape from daily drudgery!

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For those of you who have water running through their veins. Boise River, Silver Lake, and Greenbelt access are the jewels in the crown of this wonderful property in the North West of Boise.

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The January data is in and I've updated the "Local Market Reports" page on my website, TheBoiseValley.com.  Below i've put together some "average" data of Canyon and Ada counties.  There are big differences between the two so keep that in mind as you go over the data...remember "All Real Estate is LOCAL"!  If you require further filtering by area or some other criteria you can download the full reports from the "Local Market Reports" page or contact me and I can put something together with as much or little detail as needed.  I will post updated data around the middle of each month and will post "quarterly" data as it comes in.

• Average rolling Monthly sold Price: -.95%
• Average sold Price: $191,707 Ada/$107,322 Canyon
• Monthly sold Volume: 428 (282 Ada/146 Canyon)
• Inventory (12 months): 8.75 months

Coldwell Banker kicked has just kicked off a national ad campaign to keep the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit on the radar of those who want to make the move to home ownership this year.  Many prospective buyers do not know the details of this program such as you must have something in contract by April 30th, you will not be able to file electronically if claiming this credit, or even that current owners are elegible for a tax credit as well.  Please visit my website at TheBoiseValley.com for more details or simple drop me a line and I'll be happy to shed light on this wonderful opportunity!

The Home Down Payment Assistance program from the Idaho Housing and Finance Association has just been extended through March 31, 2010.  A "zero" percent interest, due upon sale, deferred loan program that is available for borrowers with less than 80% of the AMI (Area Median Income).  Visit the IFHA's webpage for a more detailed explaination of the assistance levels and requirements.  Please visit TheBoiseValley.com for all of your real estate needs!

My colleague, Craig Zuber, has written a book called "In The Trenches - Do or Die Lessons from the Business Battlefield".  Craig has a talent for lighting fires and watching him work on this project over the last several months has motivated me to light a little fire under my self as well.  This seems to be a gift that Craig has and it seems he has found the perfect vehicle to put his motivational talents and business skills to good use.  Watching this project start to gain momentum I can see that it is turning into a grass roots movement to actually help transform our 500K or so exiting military personnel into entrepreneurs and small business owners.  This is a concept I have never seen and I think it could catch on and only help America.  In these times of economic turmoil, who might have the skills, mindset, and intestinal fortitude to not only survive but strive?...Our Soldiers!  His website is SoldiersImpact.com ...check it out!

The "Local Market Reports" page on TheBoiseValley.com has just been updated to include the December data for Ada, Boise, Canyon, and Valley counties.  I've also added the 4th Quarter reports for each of these as well and will continue to update those as I've had good response on that view of the market data.  Again remember that "all Real Estate is LOCAL!" (click the link for a good article explaining this phenomenon) and if you need some more specific data I can get that for you in just about any shape or form you can imagine...contact me I'd love to get that put together for you!  Look for the monthly updates around the middle of the following month.  Here is a quick break down of the two counties that make up The Boise Valley. The data is for existing as well has "new Construction"...

ADA County

CANYON County

 HIDDEN SPRINGS  $180K--$600K

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Welcome to Hidden Springs!  Idaho's first "planned community" was established in 1998 and is thriving today with over seven hundred homes and a mix of residents ranging from young renters to families to empty nest retirees.  Hidden Springs boasts it's own mercantile, library, fire station, two pools, barn/community center, and even a dental office.  All of the feeling of "out of town" but only minutes from downtown.

Boise State vs. TCU ... An epic and suprising defensive struggle ...WE'LL TAKE IT!!  What a game.  Hats off to the young men on both teams who waged this battle and gave us a great last game of the 2009 season.  Where Boise State finishes in the rankings and if they deserve a co-championship, i'll leave to those who know better.  What I do know is this is one great team and we get it done when it counts.  If you live in the area and want to welcome home the team you can meet them at the staduium at 2:30pm.  There will also be a ceremony at Boise State Allen Noble Hall of Fame Plaza at 2:45pm.  CONGRATS BOYS!!!

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I've just updated the "Local Market Reports" page on my website, TheBoiseValley.com.  Below i've put together some "average" data of Canyon and Ada counties.  Please keep in mind that this is not very "specific" data and there can be some significant differences between the two counties, various cities, areas, neighborhoods, price points, ect...remember "All Real Estate is LOCAL"!  If you need a better breakdown you can download the reports from the "Local Market Reports" page or just contact me and I can put together a report with as much or little specificity as required.  I will post updated data around the middle of each month and will post "quarterly" data as it comes in.

• Average rolling Monthly sold Price: -1.65%
• Monthly sold Volume (6 months): 374
• Inventory (12 months): 9.8 months

Applications for Home mortgages fell sharply last week to the lowest level in 9 years.  I think this was mostly due to buyers waiting out the eventual extension of the "Tax Credit".  Now that it has been extended and expanded, I suspect we'll see the mortgage activity begin to climb.  With the expansion including existing home owners we should actually see the application activity rise above anything we saw over the summer.  For a full explanation of the new criteria go HERE to see an excellent chart from the National Association of REALTORS.  There is also some excellent FAQs HERE.  If anyone out there is contemplating moving to The Boise Valley, or you already live here and have questions...give me a call, we'll chat!