I've got great news for Boise area buyers and sellers.

1. Good weather is here and there's more around the corner! We all know that it's much more pleasant to look at homes when we're not slipping on ice, being rained on or climbing back into freezing cars after looking at each home. Inclement weather can make for unpleasant house shopping!

2. With the good weather, comes flowers, green grass and trees with leaves. This may sound like a small point, but it's huge. Homes are more appealing with deep green grass and cheery flowers than with yellow, dormant lawns and barren landscaping beds. It's much easier as a seller to put your best foot forward when your home is appealing from the street.

3. Prices are LOW, LOW, LOW. This is good for buyers AND sellers. Buyers benefit, of course, from lower prices and sellers do, too if they purchase another home in a buyer's market. Sellers may take a hit on price on the selling side, but they will more than make up for it when they buy, especially when they move up.

4. Rates are great! Not only are rates great, but banks are freeing up money, plus there are some great programs available to help with downpayment and closing cost assistance.

5. Homes are selling! We are seeing an increase in sales activity in Boise area home sales. Intermountain MLS says that the number of homes sold in Ada County (Boise, Meridian, Kuna, Eagle) rose 12% last month, that's the second-largest increase from March to April in over 10 years. Intermountain Multiple Listing Service also says that sales in Canyon County (Nampa, Caldwell, Middleton) rose a whopping 16%!

6. The 2009 First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit is in place and buyers are taking advantage of it. As I've said before, the United States Government is giving first time homebuyers and buyers that haven't owned a primary residence in at least 3 years a credit of up to $8000. That's a huge incentive- especially when coupled with great rates and low prices.

Real estate in the Boise area is on an upswing right now. Buyers and sellers, take note!