Boise Real Estate Source

April 2013 Market Report

Fri, 24 May 2013 22:10:42 -0700

I'm going to be honest - this drastic increase is good, but also seems a little frightening to me. We went through these appreciation rates back in 2005-2007 and I just don't want to see it happen again. I know that the market cycles, but wow. Check out the market report from our local association of Realtors for the month of April, 2013.

April Market Report for Ada County - Spring Is Natures Way Of Saying Let's Party Robin Williams

Kasey & John Boles

Jon Gosche Real Estate, Boise Idaho

kaseyboles@boiserealtystore.com / johnboles@boiserealtystore.com

Associate Broker, GRI, CRS, REALTOR®, ABR, ePRO, SRS, SFR

Search Like An Agent at kasey.BoiseMeridanRealEstate.com

This is not intended as solicitation if you are in contract with another real estate agent.

5 Absolute Do Not's When Purchasing A House

Wed, 15 May 2013 08:11:16 -0700

Yes, yes, yes, yes and yes. This is exactly right. I tell buyers this (though for years I've been meaning to put it on some document to give to them too) and they often thank me and say, "I wouldn't have ever thought of that." They mean no harm, they just don't know. Problem is it could cost them their dream home.

Via George Souto (George Souto NMLS# 65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages Connecticut):

As much as we blog about what not to do when purchasing a home, and as much as we warn and advice Borrower when they are applying for a mortgage on what not to do until they have Closed on their loan. Guess what, they still do it. There are several things that a Borrower/Buyer should not do while they are in the process of purchasing a house, But there are 5 Absolute Do Not's When Purchasing A House. The 5 Absolute Do Not's When Purchasing A House below are so important that anyone one of them can easily bring a Loan Approval and Closing to a screeching halt. The 5 Absolute Do Not's When Purchasing A House are:

DO NOT go out and buy a new car, or furniture or ANY other large purchase. The new payment could disqualify you from being able to qualify for the mortgage.

DO NOT stop making payments on your bills such as credit cards, student loans, car payments, rent, utilities, etc.

DO NOT apply for new credit cards while your mortgage is being approved. This could lower your credit score, and if your credit is checked again before the Closing you may no longer qualify.

DO NOT make large deposits or withdrawals that you can not document.

DO NOT quit your job, even if it is for a better one. A change in jobs will mean that you will have to produce 30 days worth of paystubs for the new job, and this could delay your Closing.

As I stated above, there are other Do Not's, but these are the BIG Do Not's, these are the 5 Absolute Do Not's When Purchasing A House. These can not be said enough, or blogged enough about. When a Borrower/Buyer is in the process of purchasing a house, they almost need to hear these 5 Absolute Do Not's When Purchasing A House on a daily bases.

I don't want to close this blog on a negative, so I am going to end it with one BIG "Do". When purchasing a home, if there is ANY doubt on whether to do something or not, CALL your Loan Originator and ASK. The few minutes that it takes to make a quick simple phone call, could save hours of delays and problems later on, or worst, the mortgage being denied.

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Info about the author:

George Souto is a Loan Officer who can assist you with all your FHA, CHFA, and Conventional mortgage needs in Connecticut. George resides in Middlesex County which includes Middletown, Middlefield, Durham, Cromwell, Portland, Higganum, Haddam, East Haddam, Chester, Deep River, and Essex. George can be contacted at (860) 573-1308 or gsouto@mccuemortgage.com

Kasey & John Boles

Jon Gosche Real Estate, Boise Idaho

kaseyboles@boiserealtystore.com / johnboles@boiserealtystore.com

Associate Broker, GRI, CRS, REALTOR®, ABR, ePRO, SRS, SFR

Search Like An Agent at kasey.BoiseMeridanRealEstate.com

This is not intended as solicitation if you are in contract with another real estate agent.

Would You Rather Be Mad or Negotiating?

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:01:05 -0700

This post that BLiz wrote is great. I couldn't have said this better myself. Nothing confuses me more in real estate than 1)When a real estate agent gets emotionally involved in the negotiating and gets mad over it and 2)When a buyer or seller want to quit before the negotiating has even started. As a seller you have been waiting for an offer on your home and then you get one and you are just going to flat out reject it without even attempting to come to an agreeable price? Buyers, you wrote a low offer and then the seller comes back with a full price counter offer? You were testing the waters, so maybe they are too. Keep the talks going people, you never know how it actually is going to turn out until you try. And your real estate agent should be able to guide you through it and help you keep those emotions in check..

Via Liz and Bill Spear RE/MAX Elite Warren County Ohio: Cincinnati to Dayton, Liz and Bill Spear (513.265.3004 www.LizTour.com):

Would You Rather Be Mad or Negotiating?

"Yeah, I'll show that blankety blank blanking low ballin' blankety blanker what I think about that LOW BALL OFFER!! I'll REFUSE to counter!!"

Or

"They didn't come down enough!! Shouldn't they have come down MORE? Ahhh, this probably won't come together anyway.....I quit!"

Emotions, we've all got them. We're not robots. Buyers, sellers, agents, each of us has ego, pride, a sense of fairness tailored to our own personal experiences. Now as agents it's our job to use our experience to protect the interests of our clients, to stay detached and focused on the ultimate goal: the exchange of property on the best possible terms for our client. We're the professionals, right? We do the negotiation tango dozens and dozens of times a year.

However, buyers and sellers are doing the negotiation tango once every few years, if even that often. It's easy to get insulted by that low offer or counteroffer.

"Doesn't the buyer know how much I've spent on upgrades on my home?" (Probably not). "Seriously, 80% of list price with the starting offer??" (They have to start somewhere).

We get it. The buyer doesn't respect YOUR HOME, right? But here's the thing, they DO respect your home. They wrote an offer on YOUR HOME vs. all the others they've seen. What we have here is just a disagreement on price, and frankly the ONLY price that matters is the FINAL price! Now we can get there in a single round of negotiations, or ten rounds....just as long as we keep talking! But when you slam the door shut with a refusal to counter, trying to teach the buyer a lesson, you killed ANY hope of completing a deal. The buyer had to satisfy the "I had to try" impulse and you flipped them the virtual finger with your lack of counter.

And for buyers, the same holds true in reverse. You can feel insulted by the lack of a response, or that they didn't come down enough, but the same rules apply. Write a better offer with a better starting point, or be okay with it and move on to the next house. If they don't come down enough initially, no worries. Keep the talks going. Patience may just get you the deal you're really after. Most likely at some point we'll get to "best and final" and we'll find out if we can swap money for keys!

Stay calm people! If we do, we may just be able to sell that house after all!

Serving Warren County's residential real estate needs,

Liz and Bill aka BLiz

REALTORS(S) Serving Warren County Ohio & Adjacent Areas

The Liz Spear Team of RE/MAX Elite
Elizabeth & William Spear
Ask for us by name if you visit the office!
Two locations: Lebanon & Mason, OH
Liz direct: 513-265-3004
Bill direct: 513-520-5305
Fax: 866-302-8418
MailTo: LizSpear@Go-Concepts.com
Our Website: www.LizTour.com

OUR SERVICE AREA:

View Liz Spear Team of RE/MAX Elite Primary Service Area in a larger map

Kasey & John Boles

Jon Gosche Real Estate, Boise Idaho

kaseyboles@boiserealtystore.com / johnboles@boiserealtystore.com

Associate Broker, GRI, CRS, REALTOR®, ABR, ePRO, SRS, SFR

Search Like An Agent at kasey.BoiseMeridanRealEstate.com

This is not intended as solicitation if you are in contract with another real estate agent.

What Buyers, Sellers & Agents Should Know - The Shifting Boise Market

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 21:58:17 -0700

In our market here in the Treasure Valley - Boise, Idaho and surrounding areas, the peak was 2006-2007. We have been declining pretty drastically and steadily since 2007. 2011 seemed to mark a changed market and in 2012 we had drastic appreciation - 25-35% in some areas!

Another marked difference is the amount of distressed properties. Distressed properties, whether short sale or REO/Bank Owned properties were a majority in the market - I believe at the peak the number was 56% of sold properties were distressed properties. Now it is down to 23%.

With the shift in the market in 2007 my husband began his specialization in short sales. He has been negotiating and selling short sales for many years now as a primary part of his business. While that is still a huge part of his business we have seen the decline in the number of listings he holds at any given time.

Now with distressed properties on the decline John is turning back to working with more buyers and more traditional sales as well. I have always been working with buyers so that isn't changing for me. However, we are back to the multiple offers and difficult climate for buyers so we have to shift back to educating buyers that it is not a buyers market as many think it is.

So, as buyer's agents, the top three things that a buyer's agent needs to do to be successful in this type of market are to:

1)Know the market. It is important to know the current statistics. It is important to know prices. It is important to know inventory. With everything moving so quickly, a buyer really needs an agent that is immersed in the market and who is knowledgeable enough to answer questions and help a buyer make a decision quickly. There is really no time to "sleep on it" in this market. Doing so, offering too little, not having financing together, etc. can all cause a buyer to lose the home that they want. The buyer's agent needs to be on top of their game.

2)Educate Buyers. A lot of buyers still think it's a buyer's market out there. I'm not sure if media is portraying that or if they just haven't been paying attention to the trends, but buyers need education. If a buyer' agent is up on the market (see #1 above) they will be able to better educate a buyer so there isn't disappointment after disappointment in losing the homes that they want.

3)Be Available & Work Hard. These markets are tough for both buyers and buyer's agents. Homes are selling in a matter of hours. What that means is that we have to be available to our clients to show them the homes and to get the offers written immediately. Not tomorrow. Immediately. If you are a buyer's agent and are too busy to be available to your clients, you need help. Hire a showing agent, get a partner; whatever will help you to be available for your clients or you will miss out on their homes and they will be frustrated that they chose an agent that isn't available to them. It's hard work and it's frustrating but it's the season of real estate that we are in, at least for the time being.

If you are looking to buy or sell in the Boise area, including Ada, Canyon, Gem & East Boise Counties we are here to help. Real estate is our business. Give us a call!

Kasey & John Boles

Jon Gosche Real Estate, Boise Idaho

kaseyboles@boiserealtystore.com / johnboles@boiserealtystore.com

Associate Broker, GRI, CRS, REALTOR®, ABR, ePRO, SRS, SFR

Search Like An Agent at kasey.BoiseMeridanRealEstate.com

This is not intended as solicitation if you are in contract with another real estate agent.

Sorry, All Home For Sale Listings Have Been Removed From My Website

Sun, 10 Mar 2013 22:51:23 -0700

Wow. Just wow. I haven't read all of the comments on this post, though I'd like to. This is something I never even considered. The internet just keeps getting messier and messier.

Via Jeff Launiere (Charles Rutenberg Realty):

As real estate agents, most of us have what is called an IDX feed which brings all listings for sale in an area onto our websites. Company websites use the same feed, as does Realtor.com and other big name home for sale search websites.

We as agents have absolutely no control over the listings that are on our websites. The feed comes directly from the Multiple Listings Service (MLS) and you either show all listings, or none.

An agent might have 10 listings, 20 listings, 100 listings, or no listings of their own. Yet all show the same listings on their websites. If there are 13,000 listings in the Tampa area, then if you go to my website you will find all 13,000 listings. If you go to a company website, whether Coldwell Banker, Keller Williams, Remax, Charles Rutenberg Realty, Realtor.com, or any number of websites, you will see the same 13,000 listings in the Tampa area.

When we as agents take a listing, we write up a description that the public will see on all of these websites. We and our broker can be responsible for any violations of rules, regulations, and laws in the listing language. For example Fair Housing Laws have protected groups such as racial, familial status, and more. Most of these laws are common sense.

There are what is called Fair Housing Testers, and these can be government employees, or what is called Independent Fair Housing Testers, which are actually regular citizens. These Fair Housing Testers may call an agent and ask questions to see if the real estate agent is willing to discriminate or break another law. Or they scan through real estate websites to find a listing that has illegal language in it. All real estate agents know they can be sued if they do not obey the law.

I have found an interesting question has arisen. Can a real estate agent who has an MLS feed, be sued for a listing with illegal language in the listing, even if that listing is not that agents? Up until recently I would have said no.

However, last year I had a Federal Lawsuit filed against me for violations of the Fair Housing Act. Apparently, an Independent Fair Housing Tester went to my website, scanned the listings and found one with illegal language in it, then filed a Federal Fair Housing Lawsuit against me.

The lawsuit claims I am the listing agent. I am not, but obviously the Independent Fair Housing Tester believed because all 13,000 plus listings are on my website it must mean they are my listings.

The lawsuit then gives the property address, and I quickly realize that I have never listed a home, or sold a home in that city. So I contact my Broker, and then the company attorney. I send all documentation showing that I have nothing to do with this listing, and forward the actual listing, which shows who the listing agent is.

I am told to ignore the lawsuit and they will handle everything, and will work to get the lawsuit against me dismissed.

It seemed that the lawsuit would be invalid, since the lawsuit says I am the listing agent, but I am not. It says that the wording in my listing, which said "Adults Only, No Children Under 16 Allowed," has caused the Independent Fair Housing Tester pain, suffering and she will have to live through a lifetime of embarrassment. Since it is not my listing, and I never used these words, obviously I am not liable.

Suddenly this week I get a call from the Company Attorney who tells me the lawsuit is being settled, and she will send me the documents for me to sign. So I ask some questions.

So my name has been removed from the lawsuit? No.

There must be something in there clearing me of responsibility? No.

There will be no fee to me, right? Well the attorney fee will be paid by the E&O Insurance Company, and the settlement will be $5,000.

I will not have to pay any of the $5,000 correct? She said you need to call your office to find out if you have to pay a deductible.

So I call my office and they tell me I will be responsible for a $5,000 deductible. How convenient. The settlement is for $5,000 and the amount I will be required to pay is $5,000 all for language in a listing that is not even mine. So I get a $5,000 penalty, but the listing agent gets off without any penalty, or even a violation.

So then I ask, will my name and violation be given to the states real estate commission, or any board or agency? Not sure.

Could I have my license suspended or some other penalty? Not sure.

Doesn't it matter that the information and accusations in the lawsuit are totally false? No.

Wow, it sure does not look good for me.

I have now called our Realtor Association, various legal sources, and many others, and am told that real estate agents can be held liable for anything that appears on their website, even if it is an MLS feed that we have no control over.

I have no plans on paying the $5,000 or signing any agreement that says I am guilty of Federal Discrimination Laws, since I am not guilty of any of the accusations. I will likely be in Federal Court, though with a Federal Lawsuit, my guess this whole process will take a long time.

I have been also told that this or any other Independent Fair Housing Tester may visit my website again, especially since I have already been accused of Federal Fair Housing Violations, and file another lawsuit if they can find another listing that is in violation. They also said all real estate agents can face the same lawsuits. Sounds like a profitable career path, for both the Testers and Attorney's who have no qualm with destroying peoples lives.

So now I have had to remove all listings from my website. Without listings my career will likely be ending soon, especially when you are fighting the federal government. Laws may be written with good intentions, but their unintended consequences can destroy lives and businesses. Guilt or innocence, it just does not matter to these people, and unfortunately, it also does not matter to those who are supposed to be representing us.

I have also written a new post which updates this one and can be read here.

Kasey & John Boles

Jon Gosche Real Estate, Boise Idaho

kaseyboles@boiserealtystore.com / johnboles@boiserealtystore.com

Associate Broker, GRI, CRS, REALTOR®, ABR, ePRO, SRS, SFR

Search Like An Agent at kasey.BoiseMeridanRealEstate.com

This is not intended as solicitation if you are in contract with another real estate agent.

2012 Turned Out to Be A Pretty Good Year in Ada County, Idaho

Sat, 02 Feb 2013 10:31:08 -0800

I would write a post like this myself, but our Ada County Association of Realtors Executive Director, Marc Lebowitz does such a good of breaking everything down himself that there really is no need for me to re-invent the wheel.

Here is the year end stats for December entitled That Was The Year That Was.....I Miss It Already

And here is the 2012 Market Report In Pictures

2012 was not a bad year for Ada County. Not a bad year and all. We will see what 2013 holds.

Kasey & John Boles

Jon Gosche Real Estate, Boise Idaho

kaseyboles@boiserealtystore.com / johnboles@boiserealtystore.com

Associate Broker, GRI, CRS, REALTOR®, ABR, ePRO, SRS, SFR

Search Like An Agent at kasey.BoiseMeridanRealEstate.com

This is not intended as solicitation if you are in contract with another real estate agent.

Government Controlled Nationwide Real Estate Price Fixing is Here

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 23:24:47 -0800

John has noticed this on several of his short sales and he even talked to an asset manager about it today - it's interesting to see other's experience and their thoughts on it too so I just had to re-blog this post.

Via Mike Linkenauger Short Sale Specialist Network:

     If you are a Realtor or short sale negotiator who has done a short sale with Fannie Mae as the investor during the last few months, this blog post will likely raise a question or two. For everyone else, it will definitely also raise an eyebrow or two. Government conspiracy theorists are certainly not a rarity in this day and age. Depending on who you speak to, many of our fellow citizens can come off as paranoid and irrational when speaking about all the secret plans they seem so sure our government and those in power are plotting and planning. While the theory I'm proposing on here is certainly not up to par with the New World Order, Illuminati, One World Government folks, it is certainly some concerning and valid food for thought, especially for those of us in the Real Estate and Mortgage industry. Take a few minutes to read this blog post, and you'll likely agree and come to find that this really isn't about a conspiracy theory, but a very real and disturbing trend that is happening in our housing market right now.
Want more short sale listings? Click Here to find out how...

     Lets take a step back here and set the stage. Over the last five to six years, we have seen real estate prices plummet in virtually every market across the country. This reality of the depressed housing market is certainly no secret. In many areas, prices have declined to as low as thirty cents on the dollar. Several years ago, As things became more and more depressed, our government stepped in. Both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, who back the majority of our residential mortgage loans, were completely bailed out by the US government. This forced overtaking was something that our government had to do, as the imminent collapse of Fannie and Freddie would have meant the complete collapse of the housing and finance industry, likely permanently. This was extremely important, as instead of giving bailout loans to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, like the auto industry or the banks, they actually took complete control of these organizations. Our government then established the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to "oversee" these organizations which are now referred to as Government Sponsored Enterprises, or GSE's. Since then, the FHFA consistently dictates policy to these Government Sponsored Enterprises that still back over 60% of residential mortgage loans and completely control the secondary mortgage market.

     Now back to the present. Fantasic news headlines in much of the country that in many of the markets that were hardest hit, prices now seem to get going up almost as quickly as they were once declining. Inventories are low, demand is high, properties are getting multiple offers from buyers paying over list prices the minute they come on the market. But for those in the industry such as myself who are active in the short sale and distressed property niche, an interesting and disturbing practice that has been taking place.

     In very recent times, just in the past few months, short sale agents across the country have been having difficulties with Fannie Mae short sales. To be more specific, the difficulty has been with wildly inflated appraised property values that Fannie Mae has been insisting on for short sale properties. For those who may not know, we are not talking about regular appraisals, traditionally ordered by a buyers lender in order to justify a purchase price. In this case, we are talking about appraised values that Fannie Mae places on properties, ordered by them and completed by their own appraisers, utilizing their own appraising and property valuation methods. Utilizing these over inflated appraised values, Fannie Mae then demands more money for these short sale properties from patient buyers. Anyone starting to smell the stink yet? Does this stink smell a little similar to the stink we all experienced several years ago with inflated buyer appraisals from before the housing market collapse?

     For the most active short sale agents across the country, the past few months have produced quiet a few headaches with Fannie Mae. It seems virtually every property valuation and appraisal done by Fannie Mae for a short sale is at least 10% or more above current market value. Values so inflated, that there are typically no comparable sales at all to come remotely close to justifying their prices. Prices so high, that it most cases it would be virtually impossible for a buyer to find a loan and get an appraisal that would match the property values and prices that Fannie Mae is demanding. The ironic part, is that these same buyers' loans who are purchasing these properties would of course eventually be sold off to... You guessed it, Fannie Mae! Because of the massive number of loans backed by Fannie Mae, this is widespread and is effecting a very high percentage of current sales. I manage a short sale broker network of over 12,000 agents and have directly assigned thousands of listings to agents in every State. This is happening everywhere, and is also happening with Fannie Mae bank owned properties as well, as many agents are also reporting. And when it comes to disputing these inflated values, it can be quiet a challenge for real estate agents and short sale processors to convince Fannie Mae to change their mind and sell the properties for actual market value. Even more frightening is the reality that after rejecting short sales by demainding their over inflated, false "values", when Fannie Mae does finally foreclosure on home owners, they are strongly encouraging buyers to use Fannie Mae HomePath financing, where an appaisal isn't even required!

Want direct short sale listings from FANNIE MAE? Click Here to find out how...

     Put two and two together, read between the lines, and it makes perfect sense that this is just Fannie Mae's and our policy dictating governments' valiant and likely effective attempt at mass, government controlled real estate price fixing. Control the supply (market inventory), control the demand (interest rates ect), and then control prices and force up property values by demanding more money. Fannie Mae and Government controlled real estate price fixing. The tail wags the dog, and the dog has no clue what is going on. A perfect example of the reality that housing has become completely socialized, but with the illusion that its just all part of the market cycle. Just my two cents, for what its worth.

_______________________________________________________

Here is a petition to the White House that you can sign online - http://wh.gov/VY24. Two minutes of your time to share this article and link will make a difference! Please help get the word out, we must stand for anything or we will fall for anything.

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Copyrighted Content - First Coast Realty Associates 2008-2012 - Please Do not copy!

Kasey & John Boles

Jon Gosche Real Estate, Boise Idaho

kaseyboles@boiserealtystore.com / johnboles@boiserealtystore.com

Associate Broker, GRI, CRS, REALTOR®, ABR, ePRO, SRS, SFR

Search Like An Agent at kasey.BoiseMeridanRealEstate.com

This is not intended as solicitation if you are in contract with another real estate agent.

Hey, Hey! I Made It To #1!

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 13:08:37 -0800

My Active Rain journey has been somewhat slower than it seems for a lot of other folks. I just have not been able to get myself into the routine of blogging every day (or even every week for that matter). I go in spurts. Lately I've been in a "Mission In Action" spurt.

However, I do have a success story coming up which I am excited to share, but will do so when it is all said and done.

AND, today I finally met my 2nd goal with regard to points. My first was to reach 200,000 (saves me $120/year!)....of course still waiting to get to that golden 500,000 and then platinum 1 Million. But, today I became Number One. In My county and city that is. I have been chasing another Active Rainer who isn't even currently a Rainmaker and hasn't posted in I think two years. But, he was just so far ahead of me that it seemed hard to reach. Finally today I noticed that I've done it!

I now rank:

#7 in my state of Idaho (not too shabby)

#1 in my county of Ada

#1 in my city of Boise

And I'm excited about that! Now, onward.

Kasey & John Boles

Jon Gosche Real Estate, Boise Idaho

kaseyboles@boiserealtystore.com / johnboles@boiserealtystore.com

Associate Broker, GRI, CRS, REALTOR®, ABR, ePRO, SRS, SFR

Search Like An Agent at kasey.BoiseMeridanRealEstate.com

This is not intended as solicitation if you are in contract with another real estate agent.

Ada & Canyon County Market Report 2012 - Year In Review

Sun, 13 Jan 2013 21:05:56 -0800

Year in Review 2012

Our very own ACAR Watercooler (Ada County Association of Realtors Blog) has done a very good job with 2012 Ada County Market Report in pictures.

Take a look at that market report here.

And here is a report NOT in pictures but with some really great information for Ada County.

That Was The Year That Was...I Miss It Already by Marc Lebowitz, ACAR Executive Director

The tides really did change in 2012. Check out the appreciation graphs.

We will see what happens in 2013.

Here is are the reports year over year for both Ada & Canyon County.

Ada County Year Over Year 2012

Canyon County Year Over Year 2012

And here are the reports year over year for both Ada & Canyon County in graphs.

Ada County in Graphs 2012

Canyon County in Graphs 2012

If you take a look at any of these numbers, pictures, graphs and blog posts and you have any questions at all, please let me know. I'd be happy to help.

Kasey & John Boles

Jon Gosche Real Estate, Boise Idaho

kaseyboles@boiserealtystore.com / johnboles@boiserealtystore.com

Associate Broker, GRI, CRS, REALTOR®, ABR, ePRO, SRS, SFR

Search Like An Agent at kasey.BoiseMeridanRealEstate.com

This is not intended as solicitation if you are in contract with another real estate agent.

Questions Out of State Buyers May (and do) Have - Ada County, Idaho

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 10:48:31 -0800

I had an out of state buyer send me an email with several questions on it and I wrote her a lengthy response. I figured if one buyer has these questions, others probably do as well and I might as well post them. Below are the questions in bold an my responses after:

In the description of each of these homes, what does the following terms mean:

Sprinkler System [auto, full, pressurized irrigation} - This is telling you if the house has a sprinkler system or not. If it says auto, it is an automatic sprinkler system. If it says manual, it means you will have to manually water or set up sprinklers with a hose. Full or partial indicates if the whole yard has a sprinkler system. There are a lot of builders around here who do front landscaping but not back on new construction, so if it indicates partial it likely means there are front sprinklers but not back sprinklers. Pressurized irrigation indicates if the sprinkler system is on irrigation (with pressurized auto sprinklers) as opposed to city water. I will explain the difference between that in your question below.

What is an Irrigation District? Is that your term for water company? - No, this isn't the term for water company. We have our water company which services the potable water in our homes and then many homes have a separate irrigation district that they are part of that services non-potable water to the home that is typically mainly used for sprinkling yards. If a home has an irrigation district and has the sprinklers on a pressurized irrigation system this is a good thing because your water bill for watering your yard throughout the summer is much less. Typically if you are part of an irrigation district you pay a low annual fee to the Irrigation Company (often around $100-$150/year) that allows you to water your yard at no additional cost than that for the year. The irrigation water is available from mid-April to mid-October and then the ditches are drained and unused for the rest of the year. Most people only water their lawns between April and October anyway and have a grass that goes dormant in the winter so there is no need to water beyond that. It is a much more effective way to water yards, as if you are on city water you have to pay for as much water as you use, so it can get much more expensive - instead of paying $150/year you could be paying that per month or water billing period depending how on how much water you are using. Again, this irrigation water is non-potable so you wouldn't drink it or use it for anything other than watering the lawn and plants or things like that. Most newer homes have irrigation available, which is great, but it is something you want to check for in subdivisions or homes, because if it doesn't have it then it does become an extra cost that you have to consider with the home.

On the following, I have not been able to locate a good web site with the below info.

What are the property taxes in Ada County? Here is Idaho Property Tax website - http://tax.idaho.gov/i-1051.cfm As far as Ada County goes, the tax levies vary from area to area, school district to district, city to city and also depends on what exemptions or non-exemptions are on the home. With that said a very, very broad generalization of taxes are about 1% of assessed value in Ada County. We have a homeowner's exemption if you live in a home as your primary residence. For 2012 that amount is $81,000. So, for example, if your home is assessed for $300,000 and you had the homeowner exemption on it, $81,000 would be automatically taken off the top of that if you had applied for the homeowner exemption and then you are only taxed on the remaining $219,000. There are also some other exemptions or tax breaks as well, and you can see those on the website that I linked above. Also, keep in mind when you are looking for properties online, the new construction homes will typically only be showing the land taxes, but if you are looking at properties with vastly different taxes on them and they aren't the land taxes the reasons could be in what the home is assessed at and whether or not the homeowner exemption is on it. So, don't throw out a home just because the taxes look to be high, if you send it to me I can explain to you why they are the way they are and if they would be different if you purchase the home and applied for the exemption.

I read that there is a 6% sales tax, is that state, city, county or combination there of? I believe that is state and that city and/or county have not added to it. Here is a breakdown of sales tax and other retail products - http://tax.idaho.gov/i-1109.cfm

I know that ID has a state income tax? Here is the Idaho income tax schedule - 2012 is the most recent http://tax.idaho.gov/i-1110.cfm

Is vehicle tax based on value? Here is the tax page for vehicles http://tax.idaho.gov/i-1097.cfm Here is the vehicle registration fee schedule - http://itd.idaho.gov/dmv/vehicleservices/registrationfees.htm

What is the cost of a drivers license? Here is the fee schedule for a drivers license https://itd.idaho.gov/dmv/driverservices/DLFees.htm A 4 year license is $30 and a 8 year is $55 according to the schedule.

And last but not least, where can I get some information on Boise and Meridian and surrounding areas? Check out the City and Chamber sites that I linked below. These are for Ada County cities.

http://www.boisechamber.org/

http://meridianchamber.org/

http://www.meridiancity.org/

http://www.eaglechamber.com/

http://www.cityofeagle.org/

http://kunachamber.com/

http://www.cityofuna.com/

http://staridaho.org/

http://staridahochamber.com/

Kasey & John Boles

Jon Gosche Real Estate, Boise Idaho

kaseyboles@boiserealtystore.com / johnboles@boiserealtystore.com

Associate Broker, GRI, CRS, REALTOR®, ABR, ePRO, SRS, SFR

Search Like An Agent at kasey.BoiseMeridanRealEstate.com

This is not intended as solicitation if you are in contract with another real estate agent.

Who Cares if the Bedspread is Ugly, You Buying It?? My Confession.

Sat, 05 Jan 2013 14:15:57 -0800

Kathy Streib writes a short but sweet and very compelling blog post about what buyers may or may not focus on in a home. Some people can look past messes, decor that doesn't appeal to them, clutter, family photos, etc. But, sellers also must remember that many CAN NOT!

Via Kathy Streib-Home Stager-Palm Bch County South Florida - 561-914-6224 (Room Service Home Staging):

Who Cares if the Bedspread is Ugly, You Buying It? My Confession.

I wasn’t always a stager.   The first time I saw a Staging show on Cable television,
the “buyers” were in the master bedroom and they were commenting on how awful the bedspread was. They went on and on about how old looking it was (and it was ), and what an ugly color it was (and it was.)

“Who cares if the bedspread is ugly! You’re not buying it, you’re buying the house.!”

That comment was made by ME as I shouted at the screen!   Yes.. can you believe it! This was in my pre-Stager days. I’d already bought and sold several houses and I could see beyond red walls and worn carpeting.

However that gave me my own “ah-ha” moment. The fact that the buyers were spending that much time talking about the ugly bedspread, meant that they weren’t looking at the room and the space.

In another move, my Realtor and I spent about 20 minutes on a beautiful grand staircase looking at the wall of personal photographs. Again... I was not looking at the house.

Preparing your house for sale isn’t about trying to make a fashion or design statement.

When your Stager or Realtor asks you to pack your personal photos, edit all of your extra items in your house, or suggests some updates, we’re not saying that we don’t like your design style.

But when buyers are more focused on critiquing your paint color or your “ugly” bedspread ….........
         they have now become distracted from seeing your house
and all of it’s possibilities.

Make sure your house doesn’t distract your buyers from really SEEING it.

Call your Home Stager and ask for a

Personalized Staging Consultation. Make sure

you’ve removed all the distractions.

Check out my about.me profile!

Room Service! Home Staging
Palm Beach County Home Stager

561-914-6224   Kathy@MrsHomeStaging.com
www.MrsHomeStaging.com

Kasey & John Boles

Jon Gosche Real Estate, Boise Idaho

kaseyboles@boiserealtystore.com / johnboles@boiserealtystore.com

Associate Broker, GRI, CRS, REALTOR®, ABR, ePRO, SRS, SFR

Search Like An Agent at kasey.BoiseMeridanRealEstate.com

This is not intended as solicitation if you are in contract with another real estate agent.

Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act and Debt Cancellation - Extended

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 21:21:57 -0800

The House and Senate Have both passed the “Fiscal Cliff” deal also called “The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012″. It is only waiting on the President’s signature. Politics and opinions aside; included in the Act is the extension of the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act as the bill currently reads(Section 202). Fiscal Cliff Bill

This will affect what our real estate market looks like this year. If you are considering selling your house through a short sale it sounds like the proposed extension will* give you some incentive to make sure that the short sale is completed this year.

*To determine if you qualify for Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act and Debt Cancellation you should seek the advice of a competent CPA or Tax Attorney.

Kasey & John Boles

Jon Gosche Real Estate, Boise Idaho

kaseyboles@boiserealtystore.com / johnboles@boiserealtystore.com

Associate Broker, GRI, CRS, REALTOR®, ABR, ePRO, SRS, SFR

Search Like An Agent at kasey.BoiseMeridanRealEstate.com

This is not intended as solicitation if you are in contract with another real estate agent.

Real Estate Just For Fun to Sell Your Home

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 19:47:10 -0800

Seriously, what WOULD you do if a bear is climbing up toward you? I might be a little frightened, but it's a cool video and a cute little blog post my broker, Jon Gosche of Jon Gosche Real Estate did.

Via Jon Gosche (Jon Gosche Real Estate):

We will do whatever to get your Home in Boise sold!

Real Estate just for Fun! www.BoiseRealtyStore.com www.BoiseMeridianRealEstate.com

Jon Gosche Broker, GRI e-Pro

Jon Gosche Real Estate

www.BoiseMeridianRealEstate.com

208-870-2115

Kasey & John Boles

Jon Gosche Real Estate, Boise Idaho

kaseyboles@boiserealtystore.com / johnboles@boiserealtystore.com

Associate Broker, GRI, CRS, REALTOR®, ABR, ePRO, SRS, SFR

Search Like An Agent at kasey.BoiseMeridanRealEstate.com

This is not intended as solicitation if you are in contract with another real estate agent.

Where are all of the Boise Foreclosures?

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 19:45:43 -0800

It's true - distressed properties are way down in the Boise area - not just in Ada County but in Canyon County too. Check out my broker's blog about it below.

Via Jon Gosche (Jon Gosche Real Estate):

Where are all the Boise foreclosures? I just looked in the MLS and there are only 41 Ada County bank owned homes listed. Ada County is the county Boise is in and the largest population in Idaho. I checked two of the busiest foreclosure agents in town and one has only 4 Boise Forclosure listings and the other only 2!

Click here to see all of the Ada County Bank owned homes. Where are they all? What about all the "shadow inventory." I wonder if we are going to see a bunch more after the first of the year.

I would like to hear any ideas about this both from Boise people and around the country.

Jon Gosche Broker, GRI e-Pro

Jon Gosche Real Estate

www.BoiseMeridianRealEstate.com

208-870-2115

Kasey & John Boles

Jon Gosche Real Estate, Boise Idaho

kaseyboles@boiserealtystore.com / johnboles@boiserealtystore.com

Associate Broker, GRI, CRS, REALTOR®, ABR, ePRO, SRS, SFR

Search Like An Agent at kasey.BoiseMeridanRealEstate.com

This is not intended as solicitation if you are in contract with another real estate agent.

AND...Boise, Idaho has a Best Downtown!

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 22:56:56 -0700

I feel like I keep telling you how wonderful of a place Boise, Idaho is. Probably because I have :-)

If you don't believe me see my previous posts:

Best States to Retire In = Idaho

And the Best Keeps Getting Better (Places to Raise a Family)

The Best of Boise, Idaho (Awesome Local Stuff)

Best of Boise 4.0

The latest and greatest is that Boise is #4 in Livability.com's Best Downtowns. And it's true. I've always been a big fan of Boise Downtown. I've often thought how quaint and accessible and wonderful it is for being the capital of a state and the largest city in the state to boot. Take a look at what Livability says about the Top 10 Downtowns 2012.

Kasey & John Boles

Jon Gosche Real Estate, Boise Idaho

kaseyboles@boiserealtystore.com / johnboles@boiserealtystore.com

Associate Broker, GRI, CRS, REALTOR®, ABR, ePRO, SRS, SFR

Search Like An Agent at kasey.BoiseMeridanRealEstate.com

This is not intended as solicitation if you are in contract with another real estate agent.

Best States to Retire In = Idaho

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 15:52:00 -0700

And speaking of the Best that Keeps Getting Better (I keep writing about how awesome Boise is, and how I'm not the only one who thinks so)...here we go again! This time a re-blog from my broker (who also happens to be my father).

The Best of Boise 3.0

Via Jon Gosche (Jon Gosche Real Estate):

I always new that Boise Idaho was one of the best states to retire in. I was a chiropractor in Hailey, near Sun Valley Idaho from the 70s until 1998. It was a great place to live through that period. Great cool summers with lots of snow and great sking but relatively mild winters, although it can get cold. Lot's of hunting, fishing, skiing, golf and other stuff to do. The years that I lived there were boom years after the 70s bust. I was fortunate both having two very successful practices, one in Ketchum Idaho and one in Hailey. I had multiple doctors with me through out that time and eventually sold both of them. I also started buying real estate when I was very young. I owned a commercial building, a motel gas station, a quarter of a downtown Hailey city block, part of which was my commercial building. My Hailey office was in part and Intermountain Gas rented from me the entire time I owned it.

I retired at the right time. But I was too you. I was only 46. Because I grew up in Idaho and my kids were gone to college and we were not sure where they would end up we looked all over out of Idaho where we may want to live for the rest of our lives. My wife was tired of the small town and resort atmosphere. On the other hand, although the rapid growth caused our success I longed for the early days before the Sun Valley Idaho Boom.

So we drove all over the west. We ended up in Boise where I graduated from High School. We just couldn't find anywhere better. Although Boise and the surrounding area have grown a lot since I was in High School it is still a small city compared to many places. It is still very close to all the things we like to do. There is a lot of cultural attraction, sports, football nuts, and easy to get to the wilderness. And Boise has very mild winters with very little snow except in the mountains around it where there is great sking in the winter, a large reservoir for water sports in the summer and more.

Today my idea that Idaho is a Best state to retire in was affirmed by Fox news. See http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2012/10/25/10-best-states-to-retire-2012. Then go to www.BoiseMeridianRealEstate.com and start looking for your new Idaho home. Great city, great state, great website with great Realtors. Fox says Boise is the second of the ten BEST states to retire in according to this article. I still think Idaho is the BEST state to retire in

Jon Gosche Broker, GRI e-Pro

Jon Gosche Real Estate

www.BoiseMeridianRealEstate.com

208-870-2115

Kasey & John Boles

Jon Gosche Real Estate, Boise Idaho

kaseyboles@boiserealtystore.com / johnboles@boiserealtystore.com

Associate Broker, GRI, CRS, REALTOR®, ABR, ePRO, SRS, SFR

Search Like An Agent at kasey.BoiseMeridanRealEstate.com

This is not intended as solicitation if you are in contract with another real estate agent.

And the Best Keeps Getting Better :-)

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 22:26:11 -0700

And speaking of Best of Boise (see my previously blog post on some of Boise's Best) - Forbes Magazine thinks we are the best too! Okay, I guess we got number 2, but that ain't to shabby when we are talking about the best place to raise a family. Check out what Forbes Magazine says about our area as one of the Best Cities for Raising A Family

BEST OF BOISE 2.0

But don't worry, if you don't have children and/or aren't currently raising a family, we've also gotten on the list for the one of the best places to retire, open a small business, and a host of other things. We are also in the top 10 for best housing recoveries currently too. I don't have those articles with me now, but if I find them I will come link those as well.

Boise, Idaho. It's a great place to live!

Kasey & John Boles

Jon Gosche Real Estate, Boise Idaho

kaseyboles@boiserealtystore.com / johnboles@boiserealtystore.com

Associate Broker, GRI, CRS, REALTOR®, ABR, ePRO, SRS, SFR

Search Like An Agent at kasey.BoiseMeridanRealEstate.com

This is not intended as solicitation if you are in contract with another real estate agent.

The Skinny on Getting Your Budget into Shape

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 21:20:27 -0700

Great advice from Cherimie if you are trying to save for a home or just get into a better financial position. Also, if you are having some tough times, check out Love Inc of the Treasure Valley or Love Inc of the Boise Community. These are great organizations that are helping hundreds of people with their financial and budgeting goals.

Via Cherimie Crane, www.BeaufortTime.com (Cherimie Crane & Associates, Ballenger Realty):

Recently an agent asked me how I help my clients with less than stellar credit. I have been teaching homebuyer seminars, finance classes and assisted hundreds of young families in reaching their financial goals. My ideas aren’t original, they aren’t brain surgery; they are effective.

Basic monetary responsibility is not taught in schools and in many cases, parents don’t emphasize the importance of mindful spending. This is a list that I give my clients to help them prepare for a home purchase. Encourage your clients to take responsibility for their finances, support them in their quest for conquering debt and gain a client for life.

1.Partner with a reputable, patient and experienced lender. Many lenders will take the time to develop a plan to help you get your credit in order. Those who won’t aren’t worth the time.

2.List all of your monthly expenses. Write down everything that is a fixed expense first, then list the occasional expenses such as dining out, entertainment etc...

3.Talk to your debtors and try to get all of your fixed payments scheduled around the same time. For example, the middle or the end of the month.

4.Find a box, place labeled envelopes of all of your fixed expenses, such as rent, car payment, loans, and credit cards. Place the box somewhere secure and easily accessible. The goal is to place cash in each marked envelope as often as possible and to commit to NEVER removing money once placed inside the envelopes. $1, $5, $10 always adds up. At the end of the month (or at payment time), use the money saved to pay the allotted bills. It may take a few months to get used to this method, but before you know it, you will be very proud of yourself and will often find money left over.

5.If there is any money left from the marked envelopes, immediately put it into savings. Do NOT spend; don’t pay extra on bills, set the remaining money aside for an emergency fund. You must save a minimum of three months of living expenses for emergency situations. This is much easier than it seems at first.

6.For one week, keep an expenditure journal. Write down everything, from candy bars to car repairs. It is imperative that you see your spending habits. With the ease of using debit/credit cards, we often pay no attention to how much is being spent.

7.USE CASH. However, archaic it may seem, it will help you be more mindful of spending. When the cash is gone, go home.

8.DO not close credit cards. Certainly do NOT open any new ones, but closing the ones you have will not help, in fact it could hinder you.

9.Pay off the smallest credit card bill first. This is the snowball method and it works. When labeling your envelopes with fixed expenses, make sure to write the balance of any credit card bills on the outside. Always pay the smaller balances off first. Once the smallest balance is paid, start putting that money (DO NOT spend it or save it) in the second lowest credit card balance. Continue to “snowball” these payments until your largest credit card balance is ZERO. You will be absolutely amazed how quickly this becomes something you look forward to doing, and the satisfaction of paying it off….priceless.

10.De-cluttering isn’t just for Sellers you know. Go room to room find any gently used items, décor, clothing etc. It is time to minimize your life to maximize your chance of home ownership. Have a garage sell, take items to consignment or hop on eBay. Any money gained through DE cluttering must immediately go to the envelope system. The very act of getting rid of items you don’t need and most likely should have never purchased will energize you and get you going in the right direction.

11.Review all utility bills. It is time to get competitive. You can beat yourself each month, if you and your family work hard at reducing household bills. Start a contest with your children, roommates or spouse. Each month have someone different be in charge of the electric, gas or water bill. See who is best at managing monthly usage. Unplug televisions when not in use, turn off the water during teeth brushing, caulk windows, etc. Do what you need to do to save even if just $5 a month. Make it count, and enjoy doing it.

12.Do you have room for a garden? Even some small apartments have areas for planting tomatoes, corn, lemon trees, peppers, cucumbers etc... Make this a family activity AND cut down on produce expenses at the grocery store. You will be shocked at how much you grow to enjoy this, and your wallet will thank you for it.

13.Reward yourself and your family. When you pay off your first credit card balance, celebrate!! Not with expensive dining out (major pitfall for most families), rather an activity with family, enjoy an outdoor activity, spend an afternoon house hunting by walking or driving through neighborhoods, there are many ways to celebrate and enjoy your success without setting yourself back!

14. Don't give up. Don't ever, ever give up.

Important Pitfalls

Dining out- If you MUST, at least share the already ridiculously large portions offered at most restaurants. Drink water (it is better for you anyway). But remember, dining out will extend the time it takes to reach your goal. Learn to cook, teach your spouse or kids to cook, make weekly menus and learn to stretch your money and your groceries.

Sodas/Snacks and Coffee- $3, $4 even $5 is easily spent on morning stops at a gas station, or lunch stops at mini-marts. Stop the madness!! When you see how much $3 actually affects your monthly budget, it will mean far more than a cola and chips! Make your coffee at home. Make a container of lemon water and keep handy (yes, kids will love it and so will you. Your skin and scales will love you for it!!)

Get to know a seamstress! Before throwing out those ripped pants, find a seamstress. They can often make clothes look like new, for a fraction of the cost. Fashion is in the eyes of the button holder!!! Don’t get caught up in the latest and greatest skinny jean. Wear classics, take care of them and take pride in forgoing expensive threads. Remember shoe polish? It works.

These are just a few of the important things you and your family can do, to whip your credit into shape. It is just like anything else in life, if you want it bad enough, you will be willing to work for it. Americans waste so much money each and every day then often find themselves depressed over mounting debt. Don’t be a victim, be active, be mindful and be in charge of your future, instead of charging your future away.

Whether you are buying or selling Real Estate in Beaufort South Carolina, We know Beaufort. Our little coastal town has something for everyone.

For more information visit our website today!

www.BeaufortTime.com

Kasey & John Boles

Jon Gosche Real Estate, Boise Idaho

kaseyboles@boiserealtystore.com / johnboles@boiserealtystore.com

Associate Broker, GRI, CRS, REALTOR®, ABR, ePRO, SRS, SFR

Search Like An Agent at kasey.BoiseMeridanRealEstate.com

This is not intended as solicitation if you are in contract with another real estate agent.

The Best of Boise, Idaho

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 23:17:29 -0700

I want some Paella from The Basque Market!

Check out Boise Weekly's Best of Boise. There are several of these places that I have been to and agree wholeheartedly with and so many that I have not tried that are now on my "To Do" list.

Best of Boise

I'm very interested in the Dining, but there is also the best of Public Eye, Arts & Entertainment, Goods & Services, Sports & Recreation and Bars & Nightlife. Check them all out, get to know our local town a bit better and then go have yourself some fun in Boise!

Kasey & John Boles

Jon Gosche Real Estate, Boise Idaho

kaseyboles@boiserealtystore.com / johnboles@boiserealtystore.com

Associate Broker, GRI, CRS, REALTOR®, ABR, ePRO, SRS, SFR

Search Like An Agent at kasey.BoiseMeridanRealEstate.com

This is not intended as solicitation if you are in contract with another real estate agent.

With Fall Comes Lots of Fun in Boise, Idaho

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 12:32:22 -0700

I love fall in Boise, Idaho. The weather cools, the leaves change and the holiday seasons begin. Memorial Day marks the beginning and typically is a busy work weekend for us. Halloween is on it's way and my 22 month old will be dressing up for the first time (she is going to be a lion - she picked it out herself).

This was last year at Farmstead

With fall comes fun local things to do like the Pumpkin Parches and Corn Mazes. Last year we went to The Farmstead in Meridian just off of Eagle Rd by I-84 and this year we are going to check out Linder Farms (Corn Maze of the Boise Broncos) in Meridian. It's a great local family event. Check it out and enjoy your fall!

Kasey & John Boles

Jon Gosche Real Estate, Boise Idaho

kaseyboles@boiserealtystore.com / johnboles@boiserealtystore.com

Associate Broker, GRI, CRS, REALTOR®, ABR, ePRO, SRS, SFR

Search Like An Agent at kasey.BoiseMeridanRealEstate.com

This is not intended as solicitation if you are in contract with another real estate agent.

Just How Accurate are Listings on Trulia and Zillow?

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 21:08:16 -0700

This is absolutely so true. Idaho is a non-disclosure state, so that makes sites like Zillow and Trula even less accurate and trustworthy than other states.

But, have no fear...that is why we are here. Give us a call and we will help you out with all your real estate needs.

-Kasey

Via Michael Kara, Central Florida Short Sale Expert (RE/MAX Exclusive Collection):

As reported by Inman, a recent study commissioned by Redfin has found that listing sites such as Zillow and Trulia have shown to be much less accurate in providing listing information than dedicated realtor sites.

Consulting firm WAV Group, who conducted the study, found that, in 11 major markets, listings were less timely, informative, and accurate than their respective counterparts on three broker-operated sites. The reason for this is because most broker-operated sites feature direct information pulled from MLS sites. Trulia and Zillow rely only partly on MLS sites, also receiving information from syndication and direct input from realtors. As a result, old listings and only partial information will sometimes be displayed.

In the parameters of the study, which featured randomly selected zip codes, it was found that 36% of the listings on Zillow and Trulia were actually no longer for sale, as compared to a less than two percent finding on broker sites. In addition, while 100% of the MLS listings were present on broker sites, only about 80% of MLS listings could be found on Zillow and Trulia.

While sites such as Trulia and Zillow are great for quick looks and basic statistics about communities and neighborhoods, when providing more in-depth analysis and accurate listings, they can be found lacking. This is part of the reason why we put so much time into creating our brand new site, ExclusiveCollection.com.

We provide in-depth articles about all the communities in the Central Florida area that go beyond what you’d find elsewhere. In addition, our neighborhood search offers accurate and up-to-date MLS listing and map data that make finding the perfect home an easy task. So give it a look, and tell us what you think!

- Michael Kara
RE/MAX Exclusive Collection
407-447-2829
marketing@exclusivecollection.com
www.karahomesorlando.com

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Kasey & John Boles

Jon Gosche Real Estate, Boise Idaho

kaseyboles@boiserealtystore.com / johnboles@boiserealtystore.com

Associate Broker, GRI, CRS, REALTOR®, ABR, ePRO, SRS, SFR

Search Like An Agent at kasey.BoiseMeridanRealEstate.com

This is not intended as solicitation if you are in contract with another real estate agent.

What Form of Communication do YOU Prefer?

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 13:18:30 -0700

What Form of Communication Do You Prefer?

Realtor Magazine published an article entitled More Americans Say" 'No Voicemail, Text Me"

I also know that there are classes out there discussing the differences between working with the older generations versus the younger generations and preferences in forms of communication being a big deal in those.

I know for myself I prefer email. I prefer email over text, over phone, over voice mail, pretty much over every form of communication. Text is a good second, although I more easily forget to respond to texts if I am unable to respond immediately.

It is an interesting discussion though, in my opinion. Everyone had different reasons for why they prefer what they prefer.

What about you? Do you prefer getting a text over listening to a voice mail? What about in normal everyday life communication. Do you prefer face to face, email, text, Facebook, Skype, Google+ hangout, Twitter, or insert any other form of communication? I'm interested to hear.

Kasey & John Boles

Jon Gosche Real Estate, Boise Idaho

kaseyboles@boiserealtystore.com / johnboles@boiserealtystore.com

Associate Broker, GRI, CRS, REALTOR®, ABR, ePRO, SRS, SFR

Search Like An Agent at kasey.BoiseMeridanRealEstate.com

This is not intended as solicitation if you are in contract with another real estate agent.

And Nearly Two Months Later it is STILL Hot, Hot, Hot

Mon, 03 Sep 2012 12:41:25 -0700

A few months again (and surprisingly my last post, I wrote a blog post entitled Man, it's HOT, HOT, HOT. Well, it was in part due to the weather (it has been a surprisingly hot summer for Boise, Idaho) but also about the real estate market in this area since the beginning of the year.

It hasn't stopped. We've been so busy that Active Rain and my blog have fallen by the wayside. My husband and I even jumped on the buying bandwagon and purchased a new home. All that said, things haven't slowed down much and Acar Watercooler has another great post showing July's market report in pictures. If you don't have time to read an entire article, surely you have time for a quick peak at numbers by pictures.

Check it out here - July Market Report in Pictures....The Fireworks Continue.

My question to you all - local or not. Do you think this is sustainable? What do you think will happen this last quarter, or 2013 after the elections are over? I have some thoughts, but I'd like yours.

Kasey & John Boles

Jon Gosche Real Estate, Boise Idaho

kaseyboles@boiserealtystore.com / johnboles@boiserealtystore.com

Associate Broker, GRI, CRS, REALTOR®, ABR, ePRO, SRS, SFR

Search Like An Agent at kasey.BoiseMeridanRealEstate.com

This is not intended as solicitation if you are in contract with another real estate agent.

Man, it's HOT, HOT, HOT!

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 20:43:13 -0700

What's hot you ask? Well, the weather for one. It's been a scorching 100+ degrees her in Boise this week. That is too hot for me. I'm happy in a good mid-70's all summer long.

But, besides the weather, Ada County Association of Realtors has a blog called ACAR Watercooler, and a new blog post came out today about summer activity. Now, I realize that Realtors can be all peaches and cream, and sugar and lollipops. But, so far 2012 has been a pretty darn good year in our market. I'm not saying that we are out of the woods. I'm very cautious. But, take a look at what our MLS numbers and our local board is saying is going on here in Ada County this year.

"Hot time. Summer in the city....

Kasey & John Boles

Jon Gosche Real Estate, Boise Idaho

kaseyboles@boiserealtystore.com / johnboles@boiserealtystore.com

Associate Broker, GRI, CRS, REALTOR®, ABR, ePRO, SRS, SFR

Search Like An Agent at kasey.BoiseMeridanRealEstate.com

This is not intended as solicitation if you are in contract with another real estate agent.

Locks of Love

Tue, 03 Jul 2012 21:11:46 -0700

Yesterday my hair was about 18 inches longer than it is today. Thanks to the Boise Great Clips (I went to the Overland store) I got a hair cut and was able to donate that hair to a great cause - Locks of Love. Pretty cool! And, because I donated my hair, I even got my cut for free!

And now, my hair is much shorter :-)

Kasey & John Boles

Jon Gosche Real Estate, Boise Idaho

kaseyboles@boiserealtystore.com / johnboles@boiserealtystore.com

Associate Broker, GRI, CRS, REALTOR®, ABR, ePRO, SRS, SFR

Search Like An Agent at kasey.BoiseMeridanRealEstate.com

This is not intended as solicitation if you are in contract with another real estate agent.