So, you gave her the RING.... but now.. WHAT ABOUT THE HOUSE??

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.

Or better yet, register on my website to start looking at homes now! www.jeff.househuntersofidaho.com

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

Where can I watch the BOISE STATE Football Games this year? I did the research for you!

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!!

2011 First Quarter Renter Vacancy Rates hit ALL TIME LOW!!! ( RENTING vs BUYING)

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

MARCH MADNESS!!! As a Realtor, are you a #1 seed, or a #16 seed?

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!!!!

Don't throw your TAX RETURN AWAY! Invest it in your NEW HOME!

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!

Terry Heffner's Blog

WHY SPEND YOUR TAX RETURN ONCE!? Make that money work for you, invest! And enjoy being a Home Owner!!!