Happy Halloween Rainers! - 10/31/09 05:53 PM
I couldn't resist posting this picture of my little vampire.  At just over a year old he already looks as fearsome as any.  He's sure to make the strongest of men weep when they see him. That is if he doesn't fall asleep before dark.

 
Have a happy Halloween and be safe.
 
… (9 comments)

What's 418 feet long and moves at 52 mph across the water? - 10/25/09 09:25 PM
Every once in a while I run across a feat in modern technology that amazes me.  I had to share this one.  It seems the U.S. Navy has a new toy and if you're a pirate trying hijack a ship, you might want to think twice. 
One of two new designs vying to be selected for production.
You can get the full story here:
Navy's newest warships top out at more than 50 mph
… (8 comments)

Boise State Broncos do it again and this time convincingly! - 10/25/09 08:57 PM
Congrats to Boise State Broncos for a convincing win over Hawaii!
In case you've missed it, I like to congratulate the Boise State Broncos every Sunday.  They put up another big "W" up Saturday.
Despite TCU getting by them in the rankings, I still have faith they will make it again this year. 
Usually I have nothing but good things to say about them but if I were to mention one thing they could improve on, get rid of the terrible announcers that handle the local broadcast.  It's really takes away from the game.
And if channel 7 wanted to get … (0 comments)

Idaho loan modification help - Knowing which offers to help are legitmate. - 10/25/09 08:25 PM
Idaho homeowners behind on the mortgage should exercise caution when reviewing offers to help.  Knowing which offers of help are legitimate and which are designed to take your money, could save you thousands of dollars, and your home. 
When faced with prospect of foreclosure in Idaho a loan modification may be an option.  Chances are your bank is not going to offer this willingly.  I encourage homeowners to contact their lenders directly.  In fact paying someone to do a loan modification in Idaho won't give you any more chance of success.
Loan modification letters that various companies are sending Idaho homeowners … (0 comments)

VA Compromise Sales - A guide for Idaho homeowners facing foreclosure with VA loans - 10/25/09 08:04 PM
VA compromise sale - A guide for Idaho homeowners facing foreclosure with VA loans Is a VA compromise sale in Idaho the same as short sale? 
Yes and no. 
Yes, it is like a short sale in that the proceeds from the sales will not cover the balance owed. 
No, in that there is a standard process to follow in order to obtain approval for the VA compromise sale, and they can usually be accomplished much faster than your standard short sale.
VA compromise sales in Idaho have very specific requirements and you will want to work with a real estate … (0 comments)

Hidden Springs home for sale - 12165 N Humphreys, Boise, ID 83714 - 10/22/09 12:32 PM
Short Sale has already been approved on this Beautiful Hidden Springs Home in Boise, Idaho 12165 N Humphreys MLS #98418278

Beautiful home nestled in the heart of Boise’s rolling foothills. Upgrades abound in this gorgeous Hidden Springs home. From the Hickory floors to the slab granite counter tops, anyone would be proud to call this home. Some features include built-in cabinetry, a designer kitchen, full surround sound/structured wiring upgrades, a main-level master suite, office, formal dining room, jetted tubs, upstairs bonus room with a Jack'n'Jill bathroom, and a 3 car garage. Too much to list here so call for a … (14 comments)

Top 5 Reasons why I love living in Idaho - A little humor. - 10/18/09 11:57 PM
Top five reasons why I love living in Idaho
1. People who are Born and raised here (yes I’m one of them) think that God has granted them exclusive rights to the land and resources of this great state and get perturbed when those ‘out-of-starters try to infringe on those rights.
2. There really in no ‘fast lane’ on the freeway. Apparently here in Idaho you just pick a lane and commit to it for better or worse.
3. It is completely acceptable to complain about how long the journey is from south Boise to Eagle. I’ve even run into a … (9 comments)

Just Sold - 48 Black Cat Road, Kuna, ID 83634 - 10/18/09 09:54 PM
Just Sold - 48 Black Cat Road, Kuna, ID 83634
After 270 days on the market with another agent, we were able to get this on closed for out clients.  Both buyer and seller couldn't be happier with the outcome.  The buyers got the perfect home to start their new lives and Idaho.  The sale gave the sellers the opportunity to take the next step in living out their dream of building a new home where they plan to retire.
This is what it's all about, helping people achieve their dreams.
… (1 comments)

Congrats to the Boise State Broncos for making it to 4th in the BCS rankings - 10/18/09 09:26 PM
Congrats to the Boise State Broncos for making it to 4th in the BCS rankings!
You can't throw a stone in Boise, Idaho without hitting a couple of Boise State Broncos fans.  When college football season rolls around, everyone starts flying their Broncos flags.
If you're wearing anything but blue and orange on game day, you're in the minority around Boise.
I'm not one to just jump on the band wagon like everyone else but how can you not? I love to see these guys so far up there in the rankings.  They are hands down one of the most intelligent … (0 comments)

Short Sales - MHA guidelines will allow the lender/servicer to set the list price - 10/13/09 04:13 PM
Short Sales - MHA guidelines will allow the lender/servicer to set the list price
Are you familiar with the MHA guidelines regarding short sales and deeds in lieu of foreclosure?  You'd better be. 
As the Treasury Department works to streamline the short sale and deed in lieu process, lenders will begin implementing them as they bring trained loss mitigators online. 
You can review the guidelines by clicking here.
The following raised an eyebrow:
"Property Valuation: The servicer will independently establish both property value and the minimum acceptable net return in accordance with investor guidance and will provide instruction to the borrower … (8 comments)

Eagle, ID home for sale - Coming soon 2218 Burns Street, Eagle, Idaho 83616 - 10/11/09 11:50 PM

Eagle, ID home for sale - Coming soon 2218 Burns Street, Eagle, Idaho 83616
This Eagle, Idaho home is nearly 4000 Square feet and sits on over 2 acres of park like property.  Privacy and possibilities abound in this updated home.  The home has a large deck for outdoor fun, a full basketball court, play house, and storage shed.  Tastefully updated with designer carpet and hardwood throughout, this home is move-in ready.
Call for more details (208) 407-3265
… (0 comments)

Ada county - September's real estate market wrap up. - 10/11/09 10:53 PM
Ada county, Idaho Home sales:
September 2009 numbers are in and there's some some good and some bad.  It looks like existing home sales have continued to rise.  The total number of homes sold was 433, with approximately a 25% increase over September of last year.
Average sale price of an existing home came in at $189,284, down 19% over September of 2008.  
Average days on market came in at 89.
That's a snap shot of September 2009 real estate market in Ada county, Idaho.
 
… (3 comments)

Taylor Bean and Whitaker - Bouncing checks to Boise's local residents - 10/11/09 10:21 PM
Taylor Bean and Whitaker - Bouncing checks to Boise's local residents
It's seems Taylor Bean and Whitaker a lender headquartered in Florida gave one Boise couple some false hope.  A few weeks after receiving a check for $1500.00 dollars in the mail the money disappeared from there account. 
The verdict? A bounced check.  It seems Taylor Bean and Whitaker has been taken over by the FDIC and joined the long list of failed banks in the US. 
I really hope they do end up getting their money back.
You can read the original article by clicking here.
… (3 comments)

How to link icons to your profile - 10/11/09 10:00 PM
In a recentl blog post I offered up some social media icons for use that were Active Rain themed.  There were some people who weren't quite sure how to use them.  So here's  a quick tutorial.
First you need to download the images to your computer.  Right click on the icon that you want and click save image as.  Name it something you will remember and save it somewhere you can find it. (I like using the desktop as a temporary place for images I'm going to work with quickly).
Next you will need to link the icon.  AR makes this … (5 comments)

Real estate investing - probably not a course I would recommend - 10/10/09 04:20 PM
I always get a chuckle when I pass this sign sitting on on a lonely street corner.  Something about it just screams successful real estate investor (that's sarcasm in case you didn't pick up on it). 
If you were really serious about real estate investing I'm doubtful that this is the avenue you should pursue.  Chances are this investor bought into a "get rich quick" scheme and found out that the most lucrative means of making money the course taught was selling it to others.
Like most multilevel marketing practices there's probably far more money made selling the system to family, … (10 comments)

Social media icons for Active Rain users - Raindrops - 10/09/09 05:45 PM
I decided to take a stab at creating some social media icons.  I like the bottle caps that Jeremy and Bob have been using but wanted to do something more specific to Active Rain.  So without further ado here they are:
You can link this as a blog subscription button or to your active rain profile.  It's pretty much universal.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Here's one for Facebook.  You can use it to link to your profile or fan pages.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Here's a Flickr icon for you.
 
 
 
 
 
… (137 comments)

If you want new clients, give this a try. - 10/08/09 07:09 PM
I took two new listings this week from brand new clients.  I always like to ask how they found me and why they decided to go with me vs. any of the other thousands of real estate agents active in Boise, Idaho?  In doing so I've discovered, re-discovered, and confirmed the largest return on investment of all the things I do to generate new clients. 
The answer to the first part of the question is somewhat predictable, they found me on the internet, usually Google.  That's to be expected, it means what I'm doing online with my websites and Active Rain … (157 comments)

Hope For Idaho - Free help for homeowners with questions about short sales, foreclosure, and loan modifications. - 10/04/09 11:24 PM
Hope For Idaho - Free help for homeowners with questions about short sales, foreclosure, and loan modifications.
Understanding Foreclosure, short sales, and loan modifications in Idaho can be difficult.   Knowing what your options are can where to turn for trusted advice is more important that ever when faced with the losing your home. 
I reccomend starting here: www.HopeForIdaho.com.  Hope for Idaho will help you to understand the foreclosure process and you can get free advice on what options are available to you, including short sales and loan modifications.  
There's nothing to buy and the information is free to anyone facing … (1 comments)

Boise Bench Listing Preview - Coming soon - 120 Vinson, Boise, Idaho - 10/04/09 11:08 PM
Boise Bench Listing Preview - Coming soon - 120 Vinson, Boise, Idaho

If you're looking for a Boise bench property that can close in time to meet the $8000 dollar tax credit dealine we've got this one coming up soon.  This little charmer's detached garage and corner lot give it North end feel at an affordable price.
 
Call for details (208) 407-3265
… (0 comments)

Hallow’s Eve Carnival at Lake Hazel Bible Church - 10/04/09 11:00 PM
Apparently my wife has volunteered me to work one of the rooms for this event.  If you're looking a fun and safe place to bring the kids and want to crack jokes about my costume please stop by. 
 
I'm not sure what I'm going to be yet so any ideas are welcome.
 
All Welcome!
 
Hallow’s Eve Carnival at Lake Hazel Bible Church
 
Where:  Lake Hazel Bible Church Boise, ID
Lake Hazel Road between Cloverdale and Fivemile
When:   5-8 pm October 31, 2009
 
This is going to be a great night of fun, food, and festivities.  … (2 comments)

Coming soon - First time buyer's dream - 2892 Kandice, Meridian, Idaho - 10/04/09 10:55 PM
First time buyer's dream - 2892 Kandice, Meridian, Idaho

No need to wait for a short sale to close.  Well I guess you have to wait a little, just until we get it done in time to qualify for the tax credit.  When this goes live it will be ready for a quick close with new interior paint and carpet.  This will be ready for a quick close and you're going to need that if you want to close in time to get the $8000.00 tax credit.  It should be ready by the end of the week. 
 
Call for … (0 comments)

Congrats to the Boise State Broncos on their win over UC Davis. - 10/04/09 10:23 PM
Congrats to the Boise State Broncos on their win over UC Davis.
Yes, it wasn't the blow out that everyone said it was going to be.  US Davis came ready to play and it showed.  I'm sure they were pumped to go up against a school ranked number 5 in the nation.
It was a point of contention in our house because my wife is a UC Davis grad and rarely roots against the Broncos.  Even though they weren't firing on all cylinders they showed class by sticking it out and coming back in the 4th quarter.
They may have slipped … (0 comments)

Jobs are said to be the link to a recovery in the housing market - Here are three categories with postions left unfilled. - 10/04/09 10:12 PM
As unemployment remains a sticking point in the rebound of the economy and the housing market there are some job openings recruiters are having a hard time filling. 
There is a large consensus that jobs will lead us out of the current housing crisis so I wanted to do my part and point out some areas that many of the unemployed going back to school may want to focus on.
Yahoo did an article on this and you can get the full details by clicking here.
Three categories with job openings hard pressed to find qualified candidates are:
Health care Energy … (4 comments)

Short sale market snap shot for Ada County, Idaho - 10/04/09 09:47 PM
Short sale market snap shot for Ada County, Idaho
There's no shortage of these not so aptly named types of sales in Ada county - Idaho.  Of the approximately 4400 active listings showing in the MLS, 1100 are short sales.
The current absorption rate for short sales in Ada county, Idaho stands at approximately 16 months.  Compared to an overall absorption rate for Ada county of 10 months, the scales are still tipped to toward a buyers market despite pending home sales being on the rise.
A contributing factor to the large amount of short sale inventory in Ada county, Idaho … (4 comments)

Hobbs Herder - Yet another reason not hire Hobbs Herder to build your website - 10/04/09 09:02 PM
Hobbs Herder - Yet another reason not hire Hobbs Herder to build your website I received a call from a frantic SEO company who had been hired by their client to optimize their Hobbs/Herder website for better placement on Google.  It seems Hobbs/Herder was unwilling to return calls and he was desperate to know exactly what the story was and wondering if I could provide some insight.
Here's about all you need to know if considering Hobbs/Herder to design your website.  You, or anyone else, you might hire to work on your website besides Hobbs/Herder will not be allowed to do … (9 comments)

 

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