I've always been taught, "a penny saved is a penny earned", and that everyone has their own "2 cents" to add to how we ought to go through this journey we call life. Imagine if we were to save all those insightful "2 cents", imagine how "rich" our lives would become! I hope this blog will not only inspire, but allow for knowledge and growth in the Treasure Valley Real Estate Market. And PLEASE, share this blog with your friends! When we all add our "2 cents" together, their value truly has no limits!
I wanted to share with you 3 reasons it's a
benefit to purchase a home here in the Boise area by the end of March.
(The 1st quarter of the year)
1. Many buyers are still holding off till spring, when their children get out
of school. Less eyes on the market now.
2. Interest Rates are still low. If you could see how much a mere 1% in
interest affects your monthly payment, you’d be motivated to take advantage of
these rates.
3. Tax season hits hard the first part of the 2nd quarter of the year. Again, a
lot more people will have funds to purchase once tax returns come back, and a lot more eyes will be on the market at that time. Take advantage now while not as many people are looking. Inventory is STILL LOW in Boise, less people
looking is an advantage to you. So in closing, if you are in the market, ready to buy but something has you on the fence....I would highly recommend taking action during the first quarter. I can help you or any of your friends get on the ball and make this happen before the 2nd quarter hits. Call me, 208-631-8775.
reliance on the integrity,
strength, ability, surety,
etc., of a person or thing;
confidence.
I wanted to express myself today, on a topic I believe reaches far beyond the
scopes of just Real Estate, and speak to the concept of “sticking your neck out
there a little bit”, to the notion really allowing yourself to TRUST the Real Estate professionals that you work
with every day in your voyage to purchasing or selling a home.
(Something I believe as a culture we have numbed ourselves to the ability
to offer Trust to just about anyone, and many live their lives with a certainty
that the world is out to somehow screw them.)
I want to first say that to have “TRUST”, or displaying trust in an expert (in
any line of profession) is not a sign of being naïve, nor is it an excuse to
act or be naïve!You, as the buyer or
seller, need to be EDUCATED and understand what is going on. And when working
with the Professional in that field (in this instance Real Estate), that
professional ought to be able to help further educate you.
So as I stated before, being educated and not NAÏVE,
is not what this blog is about. This article is about that moment of
uncertainty where you are no longer in the divers seats, when all your “learned
reasoning” is no longer aiding you in your purchase process, rather creating walls
due to a lack of TRUST. It’s about that moment, that happens oh so many times in
Real Estate, where a buyer or seller can push a deal to “fall”, or they can
trust in the professionals around them and “JUMP”!!!!!
I love this scene from Aladdin, and as I watched it again today, I realized how simalar this can be to a Real Estate transaction!
In the scene Jasmine (The Client) is far outside her comfort
zone of the "palace" and has placed herself into the world of Aladdin (The Agent).
In the beginning of the scene everything is going great!!!
It’s going perfect; in fact Aladdin almost has a kiss (you almost have the
house). And then the bad guys show up waiving their swords (and then the lender,
or Title Company, or the bank you are buying the house from shows up waiving
addendums or additional documents that need to be signed).
I can honestly say in that moment the Buyer AND the Agent
both feel like the bad guys are “After them”. There is nothing worse.
This is obviously a situation neither had saw coming , but
the thing that the guards and Jasmine lack the most is KNOWLEDGE OF THE FIELD.
Aladdin, although not expecting this surprise, is a PRO in that FIELD!! And
although Aladdin may not be able in “BLACK AND WHITE” to PROVE to Jasmine in that moment that he can save her, he with out a doubt gives Jasmine the
best chance of survival. (Sometimes in
Real Estate all parties have to have a little TRUST in the others involved. So
many times you hear “I need that in writing” when really, a little trust would
go along way. Obviously there are MANY aspects of a purchasing process the NEED
to be in “BLACK AND WHITE” but there are others that if left at the value of
ones words or at the value of one’s hand shake would actually hold more BOND
than a piece of paper.)
And finally in the scene Aladdin has to be BLUNT, and he
just asks the question “DO YOU TRUST ME?”
I would counsel both Aladdin (the agents) and Jasmine (the
Client) to invest in TRUST.As an AGENT
and a PROFESSIONAL in this industry, you need to establish MANY , MANY trust
worthy relationships with other PROFESSIONALS in the industry (from title, to
lenders, etc., etc.), you have to be educated and skilled and have a passion for what you do, so that when you have to ask the client, “DO YOU TRUST
ME?” you know that you actually have the backing to extend forth the request
for one’s trust!
And finally as “the Client”, I would advise one to be educated, choose
to work with some of character and experience, AND THEN allow yourself to TRUST
that individual when the time comes to do so.
I leave you with this:
Do not trust all men, but trust men of worth; the former course is
silly, the latter a mark of prudence. Democritus
Being born on a leap year (turning 28 this year) I have always found an interesting significance to "February 29th". I've always looked at it as a gift of a day. Something that only happens once every four years. Something special.... the Winter Olympics, Summer Olympics, World Cup.... also only happen once every four years. And all are things I look forward to regularly. Tomorrow will be my 6th Feb 29th. How many have you experianced?
I would like to set forth a challange to anyone that might read this. Treat tomorrow like a gift. Go out of your way to do something rare and extra ordinary. (not that you shouldn't strive to live every day like this) but really take advantage of such a truely rare opportunity we have tomorrow. I always think of the below classic song by Chicago on any Feb. 29th, because it is so true... "I've been waiting such a long time,..for today!" :)
And please, let me know about your experiance that you do have tomorrow! Either below in a comment, or on my facebook page. :) Enjoy it! And , "DO WORK"!!!
On this very special day, we look back to the past and give thanks to the wonderful men that have lead this country. I found a old quote from President Herber Hoover from 1931 on home ownership in contrast to renting. The words are actually powerful, and moving even today some 81 years later:
“Next to food and clothing, the housing of a nation is its most vital problem. . . . The sentiment for home ownership is embedded in the American heart [of] millions of people who dwell in tenements, apartments and rented rows of solid brick. . . . This aspiration penetrates the heart of our national wellbeing. It makes for happier married life. It makes for better children. It makes for courage to meet the battle of life. . . . There is a wide distinction between homes and mere housing. Those immortal ballads, ‘Home, Sweet Home,’ ‘My Old Kentucky Home’ and ‘The Little Grey Home in the West’ were not written about tenements or apartments. . . . They were written about an individual abode, alive with tender associations of childhood, the family life at the fireside, the free out-of-doors, the independence, the security and the pride in possession of the family’s own home. . . . Many of our people must live under other conditions. But they never sing songs about a pile of rent receipts. . . .”
May the American dream never die of home OWNERSHIP! Please know that as a realtor I along with every other realtor are fighting in your behalf to make sure that opportunity continues and never goes away. :)
In case you don't read any farther then this, let me just inform you that currently the Treasure Valley Real Estate market is indeed a SELLER'S Market.
The numbers for the first month just came out for both Ada and Canyon county, and the numbers are pretty amazing.
First of all, in any market a "6 months supply of homes" is a STABLE market. Now what does "months supply" mean.??.....
Currently there are 1,976 Single Family units on the market in Ada county. If starting today not a single home more was allowed to be put on the market "months supply" would tell us how long we'd have homes to sell before they were all gone. (It's kind of like NASCAR.... if you watch NASCAR some times it shows how many seconds behind a particular car is from the leader. Basically if the leader car were to come to a complete stop, how many seconds would it take for the trailing car to catch up. Same idea..:) hope that helped)
In the January we just had, there were 381 homes sold. And now there are only 1,976 left. So lets do the math:
1976 ÷ 381 = 5.1 or 5.1 month supply of homes.
Now remember 6 months supply is STABLE. More than 6 is buyers market... however less that 6 is a Sellers market.
Not only is this evidence of a SELLERS market, but you can also look at the number of homes on that market as of Jan. the past 4 years and see a very shocking number!!
Total number of homes on the Ada Market in :
January 2008 - 4,307
January 2009 - 3,764
Januray 2010 - 2,991
January 2011 - 2,232
January 2012 - 1,976
As you can tell that number continues to drop, and with the number of homes shrinking, and the number of buyers increasing, it really is as simple as SUPPLY vs DEMAND!
Why so many buyers?:
1. Interest rates are still below 4%. If you are going to buy, rates have never been better.
2. Renters are tired of renting and hearing about their friends paying less on a mortgage.
3. Treasure Valley rental Vacancy at a 5 year low! Lots of renters, no place to rent = high rent.
4. Investors!!! With vacancy rates low, investors can buy a home and charge double the mortgage to instantly cash flow on a property.
The Boise market is unique! It doesn't follow what you, your parents, your barber, your yoga instructor, read and see everyday in the New York Times or on CNN.
As a licensed Realtor with experiance in the Treasure Valley Market, I am here to help you either buy or sell and make sure you get the best deal possible in THIS market!
Congrats to all you Boise, ID love birds that are either just getting engaged today, or are renewing your love for one another on this Valentines Day! .....BUT....
If you did just get engaged, what are you plans for once the two of you move in together? Or maybe you already live together and will be combining your finances for the first time.... Where are you planning on starting out this new journy together?? Renting...or Buying???
I bet that RING you just bought wasn't cheap, and probably was the majority if not all of your tax return. So now if you even wanted to think about putting a down payment down, you're going to have to wait at least 6-8 months to save up right....??????
NOPE!! There are actually quite a few options depending on your credit score and the location where you are wanting to buy, that you can actually get 100% financing (aka $0 down) and walk into a brand new home with nothing out of pocket!
But why buy just starting out? Why not!! In our local market in Boise, rental vacancies are extremely low, meaning it is hard to find something nice that is going to be pushing $1,000 dollars a month.(and that's just an apartment!)
However, with the interest rates still below 4% on 30 year fixed loans... you can easily be living in a very nice home, that is YOURS, that you are putting money away on to build equity and have a mortage closer to $800 or $850! If you don't believe me, just give me a call! 208-631-8775.
So once again, congrats on the new steps you are about to take!! And although like the oldie song by the Beatles says, " Can't buy me love"... if you are wise and don't though it away early on in your new relationship, you may just end up having more of it at the end! Com Muito Amor Jeff
With Boise State moving to the Mountain West Conference this year, there has been a lot of confusion on which programmers will be showing the games? Will you or will you not have to run to the local sports bar to check out the games? And what will it cost extra to get the the Boise State football games?
The Mountain West has it's own television deal, so now KTVB channel 7 will not be able to broadcast the games that ESPN does not pick up this year. When calling your cable companies keep in mind the channel you are wanting to get is the "Mountain Channel"
Out of my love for my blog readers and my love for the BLUE AND ORANGE i went a head and called all the networks today and here is what I found out.
1. Direct TV -
If you have Direct TV you have the ability to receive every single BSU game this year! I was told that the channel package that has the " Mountain Channel" is an extra $7.00 dollars per month to receive. A very small price to pay to watch excellence!
2. Dish Network -
Dish does not carry the "Mountain Channel" however, the news isn't that bad over all! Dish will only miss airing 3 of the BSU games this year. One away game against Colorado St., and two home games against Wyoming and New Mexico. You have to upgrade your sports package to get the "Versus" channel and also the "CBS Sports Channel" in order to miss only the 3 games. * The CBS Sports Channel IS NOT the local channel 2 station. You will need to upgrade to this channel.
3. Cable One -
Cable one customers will be able watch ALL BSU games this year. If you do not already have Cable One, plan on paying $75 dollars a month for the appropriate package to receive all the BSU games.
4. Bronco Vision -
An alternative option for those that do not have a cable service is Bronco Vision. Bronco Vision usually does not have anyone announcing the game (at least I don't believe so) and is shot by their own crew. In years past they have had every regular season game. However I was not able to find a schedule for this years live events on their website. Their year package costs $79.95 and you can register for that at the following link: https://www.nmnathletics.com/PremiumVideo.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=9900
I hope this info. has been helpful for all you BSU fans out there! Please share this blog and link with your friends! Well, unless they are Vandal fans! :) Just playing! Enjoy the season! And GO BIG BLUE!!! Here is a little video I just came across to get you PUMPED for the Georgia game on Sept 3rd!! Let me know if you'll be in Atlanta! I will be there for sure!!
I remember being about 12 years old one summer and helping my mom dig a ditch on our two acre lot in Nampa, Idaho. It was the "WORST THING IN THE WORLD" at the time! :) And for those of you that don't know about the terrain of the Treasure Valley area, you can't dig much deeper than 1 or 2 feet in some areas due to hard pan, and lava rock!! But the one thing I remember even more is how good the water tasted coming out of that hose attached to the house, best water I had ever tasted!!
Yep you heard right, it wasn't filtered, or from FIJI, nor was it sparkling, but it was the reward of HARD WORK and the mere APPRECIATION of having water there to drink that made it taste so amazing!!
So many people work hard everyday across this great country, but some how we lose sight of APPRECIATING all that we have! From the simple things to the technologically advanced complex things, we truly have so much to be appreciative of. I litearlly heard this song this morning....makes you think just how good we have it:
The future is here! The things we use, the entertainment we share, the conveniences we love, we ought to be thankful for all of them! Imagine what our great grandparents would have given to have even half of the time saving, heartache saving devises that we have today! So here is to being the generation of APPRECITATION, and not the generation of "Spoiled idiots" like this video says below! Enjoy!
My life experiance, though I am only 27, has taught me many times over that those that are prepared...those that truly put in the time, energy, hard work, sacrifice...those are the ones that will cross the path of "luck" most often in life. It's not just about crossing your fingers and hoping for the best!
Benjamin Franklin said, "Diligence is the mother of good luck"
One of the best examples of this I believe is in this Tiger Woods clip below. (And though things have come out now about his personal life, no one can argue that he was diligent when it came to his golf) Watch for the very last second........
The ball literally STOPS just before the hole! But yet, somehow "luck", or "fate", or Tigers "will" makes the ball drop in! Like i said above, those that prepare will cross the road of luck!
I don't care what you do in life, what your profession is, being prepared will put lifes ball in the hole for use when we need it to if we will just do our part!
The other thing I love about this clip is Tigers willingess to "take a chance". He didn't two putt to be safe!
Irish music artist Bono wrote, "when you stop taking chances you'll stay where you sit, you won't live any longer, but it'll feel like it".
Stop "feeling like it" and do it already!
My reason for this post is to challenge you, as well as myself, to "Capre Diem" or seize the day more often! And in doing so do it with a mind of preparation.
Like this last video here... we will all end up as dandelion fertilizer... what matters is what we do before that day...CARPE DIEM!!!!
What do you do with it? Our time is valuable, so short, and yet we waste so much of it! NO THIS IS NOT A WORK MOTIVATION BLOG! :) This is a LOVE LIFE AND ENJOY IT BLOG today! To many times we forget to enjoy everything we have.
Lyrics make my life more meaningful everyday, and thanks to some pretty amazing lyrics and music videos, my prospective on life has been altered. Today I only want to share a couple quotes, lyrics and videos that make me a better person!
Please let me know how they effect you! :) Enjoy it!
"One is responsible for one's own life. Passivity provides no protection."
Madeleine Kunin(1933- )
"we only got 86,400 seconds in a day to
turn it all around or throw it all away
we gotta tell 'em that we love 'em
while we got the chance to say
gotta live like we're dying"
And finally, this video crosses my mind more then you would imagine. What would happen if we did know when it would end for us!?
Or better yet, maybe it's better we don't know and just live each day like our clock is about to run out! If we all did that, and used our individual talents, careers, gifts, etc. imagine the quality of life we would experiance!
Today I switched it up a bit today I know! I love "Real Estate", but it by far is not the most "Real" thing that is important!
There are a couple misconceptions out there today in the Treasure Valley Market, and they can have a negative effect on your buying experience if you are not aware and ready for the true nature of today’s local market. For example:
The meaning of "buyers market":
What many buyers "assume" Buyers Market means: ( and you know what assuming does) "Everyone tells me this is a buyers market, that means I call the shots. It also means that time is on my side, and that I'm in the negotiating seat. It also means that there are so many homes on the market, that I can take my time, worry about financing down the road when I find the right house, and then because I'm the only one looking at it, I'll offer extremely low and work my way up till we find a middle ground."
THE ABOVE ASSUMPTION CAN NOT BE FARTHER FROM THE TRUTH!!!
If you or anyone you know has this mentality, there is a good chance that when they do find the "perfect house", by the time the act on it, it will already be gone!
What Buyers Market "REALLY" means in the Treasure Valley Market:
1. There are a lot of homes to look at on the market, BUT "the 'GOOD STUFF' on this market does not last,and is gone fast!
2. It is very common that when something new comes on the market and is in even remotely good shape, there will be multiple offers on it instantly. THERE ARE LOTS OF BUYERS OUT THERE, and also lots of INVERSTORS (rental vacancies are at an all-time low, investors know how profitable rentals are right now) and they all want the some great deal you do!
3. Many REO and Short Sale homes will not even look at an offer without a "letter of loan commitment" from your lender or "proof of funds" from your bank. So if you wait to have your financing ducks in a row before you find the "right house" there is a very good chance that property will go pending in the amount of time it takes you do organize your financing.
4. The buyers negotiating "drivers seat" is instantly lost once there are multiple offers on a property. In fact, most listing agents will give all parties a shot at coming in with their "highest and best" offer. And if you are not at the top among all the offers, plan on continue looking at more homes....again.
In short, as a buyer you need to be PREPARED! Plan on what you want in a home, know what that is before going in. Have all your financial ducks in a row a head of time. And then when you find something that fits your criteria, MOVE ON IT! The longer you wait the less likely you will get the "deal" and the home that is going to fit you and your family the best.
As i said before " The 'good stuff' on the market, DOES NOT LAST, and is GONE FAST"
As an experienced realtor in the Treasure Valley Market, I'm here to help you or your friends know what a good deal is, and then help them feel comfortable to act on it once they do!
With interest rates here in Boise below 5%, heck below even 4.5% I have had lots of clients looking at funding and getting approved, and it isn't rare to see them a handful of points away from being able to be approved, or get a better rate!
In my two years of real estate experience, the FASTEST and most EFFECTIVE way to raise your score up to 25 points in short amount of time is " optoutprescreen.com "
Most of us receive pre-approved emails in the mail all the time. The credit bureaus know that you receive these, and this does have an effect on your credit score! When you go to optoutprescreen.com, you can opt out of receiving these types of mailers for up to 5 years, and it will have an immediate POSITIVE effect on your credit!!
If you or someone you know here in the Boise area needs a little help getting there scores up, please let them know about this! And then let know to give me a call as well! I have a couple other tricks that can help significantly improve your credit score! 208-631-8775.
Surveys that were just recently done on over 4,000 rental units shows that the Vacancy Rate on Rentals has dipped below the 3%!!! (Ok Jeffrey, but what in the world does that mean for me, you may be asking..?..)
If you are an investor or even thinking about investing your money in rentals, there literally has never been a better time!!! You will more than likely have no problem finding a renter and a good one at that! And if bought at the right price (which of course all you investor savy people are!) you will have no problem cash flowing instantly!
And second, for all you RENTERS out there! Lets go back to a very simple economic lesson that may be familiar to most.... What happens the price of product when you have a large amount of people demanding that product but a low supply of that product? PRICES GO UP!!!! If you are renting , there is a VERY real possibility that you could be OWNING a home for the price or less expensive then you are renting!!!
If you are a investor that has questions on the possiblites that are out there right now, or if you are a RENTER that literally can't take another month of your LANDLORD please give me a call and lets see if we can figure out something for you. 208-631-8775
Here at CBH HOMES we are so excited to kick-off the Parade of homes this week! Well it’s official, our Parade home, the Catalina is a winner in everyone’s book! Here are the awards we cleaned up with…
* BEST KITHEN * BEST INTERIOR DESIGN AND FINISH * BEST MASTER SUITE
And finally!!!!!!
* BEST OVERALL!!!!! Click here to check out all of the parade homes and most importantly, our CBH home (#40) in the online magazine & be sure to stop by for a visit!
“Let us endeavor so to live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry. ” Mark Twain (1835–1910) American writer Do your prospects and customers know
they're important to you?
Sales thanks...
Do your people (customers, prospects, team, colleagues) know they're important to you? Always? Sometimes? Rarely?
Remember... It's your occasional words and continual actions that'll help them know best.
To be sure it's a closer to always thing, consider implementing a personal appreciation audit each month or quarter for your most important people - remembering that actions speak louder than words (but words are important too).
Sales thanks...
Do your people (customers, prospects, team, colleagues) know they're important to you? Always? Sometimes? Rarely?
Remember... It's your occasional words and continual actions that'll help them know best.
To be sure it's a closer to always thing, consider implementing a personal appreciation audit each month or quarter for your most important people - remembering that actions speak louder than words (but words are important too).
As we enter the month of March, there is always an amazing energy around the game of basketball.... and as i sat and pondered today the future brackets I would be feeling out (by the way my basketball team is UNC!...what about you!?) I realized how similar basketball and real estate really are!
I hope you enjoy my attempt below to draw very interesting comparisons between the two.
1. Both have a leader (Head Coach, or Broker). Both of which have it great when times are good, but always get the heat when things go wrong.
2. 10 players on the same 94 x 50 foot court. ( I bet sometimes it can feel like there are even more agents in your area per square foot doesn’t it!) But the well prepared, in shape, and hard working always rise above the others. Preparation is key to both successes.
3. There are people that go under the radar and don't always get the lime light, but it could not happen with out them. (Assistant coaches, physical trainers, weight coaches, physical therapist: Underwriters, Loan officers, Title officers, Appraisers, etc etc) How grateful we are for them! (well, unless the
appraisal comes back low! :)
4. The basketball is very similar to our clients, as much as we pass them around to touch and deal with all our teammates, (lenders, title companies etc), we must take extra special care of them, as not to "turn them over to our competitors.
5. And finally making a jump shot is just under pressure with the game on the line is just like closing the deal with our clients (the ball). The balls home is the hoop, and we hope to do the same by sending our clients to their new "home" as well. And unless we are able to perform and close under pressure, everything else is for not!
So as we enter the craziness of March Madness I hope you not only take a second to fill out a bracket, but also reflect on the great comparisons between real estate and basketball!
Oh, and finally, GO TAR HEELS!!! :)
Enjoy the below video! It's March Baby!! Magic is in the air!!!!
With a 109% projected increase for building permits for the year, with CBH Homes leading the way,
2011 is shaping up to be a year in which if you are currently a fence sitter, you might want to "JUMP OFF" before you're left with a sliver in your bum!!! (Unless of course it's a Vinyl fence...haha... "building humor")
You think that sign is silly don't you!!! Who would be crazy enough to sit on "that fence"...... what I'm telling you is I'm asking you the same question!
2011 is the year! Call me and I'll help you through it! 208-631-8775
BELIVE ME! I know the feeling of having that fat IRS check burn in your pocket! CARS, TV's, NEW FURNITURE, ETC ETC, so many things you could do with it! However........
NONE of those will ever give you a return on investment! (now, for all you "naysayers" I know a home is not always 100 percent on this) But I'm willing to bet on it over any of the other options any day!
RENTERS! PAY ATTENTION HERE! Most don't realize that with a traditional FHA loan (most common loan on homes) that you ONLY NEED 3.5 % down payment! And with the average american getting around $3,200 back from the IRS, (and the average 3.5% down payment for a single family home being $2,000- $5,000) AND the majority of sellers paying ALL closing cost fees, it would be very possible to get into a NEW HOME and finally kick your landlord to the curb! (Not to mention all the other tax benefits that come as being a home owner).
PLEASE, check out my friend, Terry Heffner's blog (Guild Mortage), and for more information on this!
Attention Homebuyers! Interest rates just dropped again ever so slightly! And now would be the time to take advantage of those rates! According to mortgage expert Terry Heffner with Guild Mortgage, interest rates are only going to trend upward through out 2011. See his video below for a better explanation.
