boise: I listed a FSBO yesterday...
- 11/05/13 11:11 PM
On 10/27 I went to my friends birthday party. I noticed that there was a FSBO. I took down the address and telephone number and went to the party. I asked my friend about the home and she said they were trying to sell for about 1 month. That clicked in my memory banks. They have already proven to themselves that they couldn't sell it. I called them up and was honest. I told them I was a great agent and would like to list their home. I asked if I could meet with them and see it. The home was … (1 comments)
boise: VOTE TODAY
- 11/05/13 12:40 AM
Today is election day and it is time to VOTE! Your VOTE does make a difference.... As someone who has run for Congress the saddest thing I found was when people are so disillusioned that they don't VOTE. Many Americans have died in the past to protect your right to VOTE. If you do not VOTE please do not complain about the government.
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boise: What works for me.
- 11/03/13 01:33 AM
Every day some person calls me on a sure fire way for me to increase my business. It almost always has me spending about $100 per month. Once in a while it has me spending more money. They are either selling me leads or zipcode imprints. Once in a while I bite. I have a small account on Trulia, Zillow and market leader. I know that leads often don't work. I know I need to spend money to make money. But at this time of year I like to evaluate what has worked! So the question is where do I get … (3 comments)
Happy Halloween! This is my baby's Halloween costume. He is the other Josh! Fortunately he shouldn't be giving any little kids nightmares since He is a junior in college. He might give his professors shivers. Remember to watch out for kids trick or treating tonight. Tonight can be fun if we all are careful.
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boise: Wow I am a deck of cards old.....
- 10/29/13 11:40 PM
Today I am a deck of cards old. What I want for my birthday is some of my nibbles turn into clients. It is funny because 2 years ago I ended up sitting an open house because the paper made a mistake and advertised last weeks open house. I had a very good summer but things sort of stopped cold when the Government closed down. It seemed that no one was interested in buying a home when the news was of self inflicted wounds on the economy. Over the weekend I started getting calls. If one of them would become a … (4 comments)
boise: Sometimes a seller has to cut their losses. Dad's house has to sell.
- 09/04/13 12:37 AM
Yesterday I was called by a former client's mother (Jane)(I love referrals!). I knew this lady for 15 years since she used to work at Eyemart Express in Boise. We have 4 out of 5 of us in glasses. One starting at 5 years old and the other at 8 years old. Eyemart has a good warranty and prices so that is where we went. Everybody knew the me and the Holmes' boys. Jane's dad died a year ago in May. At first they had a friend live there. All he had to do is pay for the utilities. His wierd … (1 comments)
boise: Seller thinks that inspector caused surge that killed her computer
- 07/16/13 12:53 AM
My client has a very old computer. Apparently when the inspector flipped the circuit breaker the power supply died. Now I need to approach the inspector. I want to wait until after the inspection report is in. I think I will call my computer specialist and find out how much a power supply would cost to install. What have you done when the inspector might have broken something in the home. This is complicated by the fact that my seller is moving in 2 days and needs her computer. Just one of those things. … (4 comments)
boise: I am firing my client.
- 07/04/13 11:51 PM
I have worked with the client before. I thought we were friends. I knew he was a bit difficult. The first time I wrote 10 contracts, 2 on the same home. I connected him with all my people. Some of them wont work with him after the first buy. My favorite loan officer asked me not to recommend her. Eventually the last contract closed and I became friends with he and his wife.
After a period of unemployment he got a job out of town. I became their property manager. The tenant was perfect but they wanted out of … (7 comments)
boise: A feel good story..... My tenants are buying a home!
- 03/26/13 11:22 PM
In the spring of 2007 a 35 year old man got sick. When he woke up from the coma he was in complete organ failure and had some brain damage and hearing loss from the virus. The man and his wife and children were in shock. This was a 2 career family living in a nice home in Seattle. They had done everything right. They had good health insurance. They had good jobs. They were taking care of themselves and their family. When all was said in done the man was unable to work. He had medical bills over the million … (6 comments)
boise: Sometimes I seem to put parts of my life into boxes....
- 02/01/13 12:48 AM
I know I did this when I ran for Congress.... I had some health concerns that popped up while I ran and I really didn't think of them until after the election. I had some medical tests to make sure I could put off my action until after the election and ran for office. I spent the next year having several operations to prevent breast and ovarian cancer. After the election it had seemed as if someone else had ran for office. Someone else had traveled all over the state. Given those speeches. Debated Congressman Mike Simpson. Raised money. Put … (2 comments)
boise: Has anyone done a short sale with Greentree recently?
- 01/31/13 08:39 AM
I am negotiating a short sale contract and the seller countered with a committment for a 60 day wait before the buyer can terminate the contract. This makes me very nervous since the prices are rising quickly in my area and I am afraid my buyers could be priced out of the market if we fail to settle. Has anyone worked with Greentree recently? What would be the wait time with them. I would like my buyers to have the ability to walk if I found something they could buy. I would love to hear that they are settling reasonably quickly … (4 comments)
boise: In the ER without insurance.... The care can be different...
- 01/10/13 10:18 PM
Medically we are definitely a country of haves and have nots. My friend, who has no health insurance or job, slipped and fell on the ice. Some wonderful people took her to the ER. I was called because I was in the phone book and I am her friend. I went to the hospital and was at first told her bone was not broken. Then the doctor came in and he ordered more xrays. Turns out the bone was broken. When a person with insurance has a broken bone they almost always seem to be told that they need to have … (5 comments)
boise: It's cold outside...
- 01/03/13 09:54 PM
Boise actually has a reasonably good climate. In the summer it is hot and dry but always cools off at night. In the winter it is mild compared to the mountains that surround us. We rarely get snow in the valley. But every once in a while, about 1 or 2 times a winte, we get a real cold snap. We are in it today. When I woke up the radio announced that it was 4 degrees Farenheit. At that temperture you start worrying about pipes freezing.... Unheated, unwinterized homes sometimes have trouble. Now I am from upstate New York … (2 comments)
boise: It is good to have the right equipment in the mountains.
- 12/22/12 01:42 PM
Today I took a day off to take my friend and her guest (first time in Idaho) to the mountains. I drive sedans. Nothing fancy like a four wheel drive but I figured I would be careful. I took the precaution of making sure my hubby knew my route. I was thinking of going on some back roads if they were OK. We loaded the people up and the young dog into my rear real drive Lincoln Town car and went to beautiful Idaho City. Just one hour from downtown Boise. The drive up was beautiful. As we went higher the … (6 comments)
boise: Bogus Basin open for skiing this Friday!!!!!
- 12/18/12 06:38 AM
Here in Boise, Idaho we are very civilized! We had several really wet and dreary days.... But in out mountains we have SNOW!!!! Bogus Basin is a ski resort just 16 miles from Boise. I don't ski but most of my friends do. Bogus Basin is so named because they thought they found the mother load but it was fools gold. We also have Brundage mountain in McCall and Sun Valley resort in Ketchum. If you like winter sports Boise is the place for you! Our beautiful mountains become a winter wonderland... We also have a wonderful quality of life. My … (0 comments)
boise: Client doesn't seem to want to sign the inspection contingency...
- 12/16/12 10:29 PM
Everything is going great…. The buyer loves the house…. The inspection shows a great home…. The seller/listing agent was at the inspection…. Everyone got along great… The future tenants like the former tenant…It looks like a friendly deal…. Then….
The relatively mild inspection report comes out. I look at it at the report and smile. This should be easy. We should as the seller to fix a few things because his daughter and friends will be living there until school ends and he is a good dad and just didn’t know these little issues. But…
My buyer is … (12 comments)
boise: I am on the hamster wheel and not earning any money.....
- 07/16/12 12:03 AM
This has been an interesting summer so far....Personally it has been going great! A trip to China! I took care of my brother after he had a kidney removed because of cancer (not great but neccesary). We are planning a famiy reunion at the end of the summer. My kids are doing well. Even the animals seem fine. Professionnly I am in a quandry. The last house I sold by myself closed in May. The maarket has turned and it is really getting difficult for me find homes for the buyers in Boise, Idaho. The buyers cannot beleive the market turned. … (6 comments)
This spring has been tough for me… The market seems to be a sellers market… The prices at the low end of the market have gone up and there are multiple offers… I am having trouble locating property for my first time homebuyers. I am looking into special city programs… Last year when I pulled up homes under $120K there were 40 or 50 of them with the 3 bed. 1.5 bath… Today there are 4… Since I seem to specialize in that market it is hard but I am working hard … (6 comments)
boise: I am still here trying to sell real estate.....
- 03/08/12 12:16 AM
Hi! I am mostly posting this because I seem to have taken a break from blogging.... I was blogging about everything and I sort of stopped for a few weeks... Maybe I needed the break.... I have been doing a bunch of stuff. Some real estate, some politics and some spreadsheet work. I have had a tough start of the year with many random events hurting my business.... I had the suitcase full of cash, a buyer with heart surgery, a bad inspection,dad's small stroke, dad's research project .... Those type of things... Normally I do great but I guess after … (7 comments)
boise: Found a great investment but can't interest anyone.....
- 01/28/12 10:38 AM
Sometimes as an agent we find a cash cow..... A property that has significant extra value in price or a great rental value.... I found one such property.... It is 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bath 1152 sq ft. in Boise at a negotiated shortsale of $73000 plus closing costs. It is even possible that the owner would like to stay at the home and rent it. Whether you are looking for a home or an investment this is it. The value is $100,000 today if you turned around and sold it. I have been in it and wrote an offer on it … (10 comments)
This is a blog about all things real estate (and a few extras). I blog about my buyers, sellers, listings, short sales, the real estate market. I am internet savvy and am trying to learn more skills. I like blogging because I get to share information with other real estate professionals and my clients. I can find you a great home in the Treasure Valley. I was the Democratic Nominee for CD2, Idaho for the US Congress. I have two website: http://www.debbieholmes.net.
On 10/27 I went to my friends birthday party. I noticed that there was a FSBO. I took down the address and telephone number and went to the party. I asked my friend about the home and she said they were trying to sell for about 1 month. That clicked in my memory banks. They have already proven to themselves that they couldn't sell it. I called them up and was honest. I told them I was a great agent and would like to list their home. I asked if I could meet with them and see it. The home was … (1 comments)
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