buyers: I entered a contest at work and won a computer!
- 03/10/21 06:02 AM
Yesterday I won the 30 days to success challenge at work. I won a computer, marketing package and social media help. I would like to say I entered the contest to improve my business but I did it for the computer. That being said by partispating in the contest my business improved. I have a couple of buyers I am trying to qualify. I have a listing or two in my future. I have made contact with people. I have a pet project with affordable housing (one of my passions) that I am researching. I am much more focused on my business. Next … (6 comments)
The other day my lead generating service sent me people with a strong accent. I assumed they spoke Spanish even though the name was not Hispanic. I printed my flyers in Spanish and found a house buying guide in Spanish. Then I went to meet them. They were late but they arrived. While I was trying to talk to them before they arrived I kept using my translator to Spanish with no good results. Eventually the English speaking child came on the phone and asked me to wait. They were refugees and they asked me if I spoke Swahili or French. I … (5 comments)
buyers: I am back
- 02/10/21 06:33 AM
I was posting regurally until the lockdown. Then I just stopped and isolated. I was a 58 overweight diabetic lady. Now I am a slightly skinnier 59 year old diabetic lady. (I lost 15 pounds). I went back to work and went to the hospital with Covid but I am better now. It was very scary. I got it from a co-worker who wouldn't mask. Then I gave it to my family. My coworkers and family all lost a month of work. Now I am working again. I listed and sold two homes and I am rehabbing a home I own … (6 comments)
buyers: The market is rising and I need to think outside the box
- 02/19/20 06:53 AM
Here in the Treasure Valley of Idaho we have a scarcity of homes. In Ada county we have a 15 day supply of homes. The prices our rising quickly. Many of my buyers are being priced out of the market. They are being squeezed for rent and do not make enough to qualify for a home. I have always liked getting people into their first homes. I have two buyers who are older. Last year it would have been easy this year it is not. I have lived here since 1991. Homes have always been affordable now I realize I could not … (11 comments)
buyers: The quiet time
- 12/20/19 06:26 AM
I have sold homes during the holidays. Of course at the time there were more homes on the market. One year I actually sold a home on Christmas Eve. I call it the miracle on Fry St. It does happen if you are willing to work. And I am!
This year seems quiet. I have no active buyers or sellers. Everyone wants to wait until the new year. For those buyers I have, there is not much on the market to inspire them.
I have my son and his wife coming for the holidays. Perhaps I should just enjoy them. Times with your adult … (5 comments)
buyers: I am now an agent at John L. Scott
- 11/18/19 07:40 PM
After 14 years with the same agency my broker decided to close up shop. I was not happy but I have to admit I have become stagnent. I interviewed at 2 places. John L. Scott and where my broker set us up at. The other agency was good and big. Really really big. 1/8 of the agents in Idaho belong there.
Well I have known the broker at John L Scott for 25 years. I have great respect for him. He got all of my really strange real estate questions over the years. I decided to talk to him too. I … (6 comments)
$15,000 Reduction in Price! This home is in pristine condition and designed to impress as you enter through the front door. The great room flows into the gourmet kitchen and the custom tile work that connects both rooms contrasts beautifully with the granite counters. The double oven & gas cook top give the kitchen an impressive feel. The over sized master suite will pamper you with the comfort of luxury. When entering the garage you will notice the added upstairs … (4 comments)
buyers: Routine is good
- 08/05/16 11:58 PM
Routine is what makes a good agent successful. A lot of things we do is fun. Others (such as seeking new clients) is not so fun. I do not know many agents who love prospecting.
I do best with a routine. When I wake up I blog and try for a walk. Then I look at my day. I need to add prospecting to my routine. Just like I need my first cup of coffee I need to prospect.
Routines can be easily broken. I spent time being a caretaker this summer. I could have tried to keep my routine but I failed. … (8 comments)
buyers: Affordable housing in Boise
- 08/05/16 01:46 AM
In Boise we know their is not enough inventory. For fun I decided to look for 3 bedroom, 2 bath homes between $150,000 - $200,000. This is a good starting point for a lot of Boisians who are looking for their first home. It also compares favorably to what the same house would cost to rent. I found 136 of these homes. Some of them new listings others that have sat a while. If you are afraid to get your feet wet call me. Between you me and the loan officer we will figure out what you can afford. Then we … (2 comments)
buyers: Horse property for sale!
- 08/01/16 08:32 AM
Horse property with single level ranch home.Offered at: $244,900.00 City: Caldwell Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 2.00 Garage: 2 Sq Ft: 1920 Lot Size: 1.97 Acres MLS No: 98629848
Bring your toys, farm animals and family to this easy living, well laid out mini farm on Old Hwy 30. Single level newer home with lg. country kitchen, family and living rooms. Hay loft barn and separate feeding trough, 2 wooden sheds & 1 metal. Completely fenced yard and pasture! Sprinklers throughout as well as irrigation water for the pasture. Yard has beautiful mature trees including English Walnut, apple and grape vines. Huge garden … (0 comments)
buyers: Walking the land
- 07/25/16 10:51 PM
My husband looked at me funny as I dressed yesterday. He said I thought you were going to a listing appointment. I told him my clients had acreage and I might be walking the land. So I dressed in sturdy shoes and pants with a hat to keep off the sun. We took the papers to list the property. Our clients wish to sell their home and buy something for cash from the sale that also has land. My partner had found them something they liked. As we were talking about what to offer they expressed a desire to see the home. We … (3 comments)
buyers: Lets talk about home warranties
- 07/20/16 03:29 AM
When I list a home I place a home warranty on it. It's free for the listing. I usually leave it up to the buyers on whether they wish to continue.
The first thing to consider is the obvious. Not all home warranties are created equal. Recently I have been using Summer Sweeny of Landmark Home Warranty. She has really cute ads but that is not why I use her. I use her because she seems to know the contractors doing the work. I have had other home warranties from other companies but I decided they were not worth the hassle.
For 10 … (1 comments)
buyers: Paperwork Monday
- 02/09/15 06:19 AM
We all have it. Paperwork. Our profession generates vast amounts of paperwork. It gets worse if you do property management. We have contracts to deal with. Deals to keep straight. Loan officers, title officers, buyers, sellers and inspectors to deal with. Tenants and landlords. Bills to pay. Repairs to keep track of. Year end staements. Plus when it is early February you know taxes are right around the courner. I am ADHD. I think in real estate it helps. I can go from project to project and back again. So today I have done most of my paperwork. I am taking … (0 comments)
buyers: Single level townhouse! Easy living
- 11/10/14 01:20 AM
This is a wonderful townhome centrally located. All the updates have been done. New cabinets, redone bathroom, tile floors and laminate throughout. Vinyl windows with a beautiful side yard and covered patio. Floor to ceiling bookshelves in second bedroom. Small Gas heat and air conditioning. Small office. Split bedroom design. Lots of storage. Catherdral ceilings. Just a great home! See the Tour
… (2 comments)
buyers: Real Estate Agent Seeking Clients
- 02/18/14 08:53 AM
Every so often it happens. I settle all my buyers and all my sellers. This is actually a really good thing. After a bit I realize that all my clients are pending. That is when this real estate agent is seeking clients. I am pretty sure I could handle 4 transactions a month without needing assistance. I haven't quite figured out how to keep the pipeline full. So at this moment clients wanted! Really great real estate agent seeking clients! I will get the job done! … (4 comments)
buyers: Couple reminds me of us when we bought our first home
- 02/11/14 10:19 AM
I talked to them a couple of years ago at a math party when prices were very low. They could qualify but they were not ready yet. Fast forward to December 2013. John works with my hubby. I am in DC for my brother's 50th birthday party when John calls. They want to buy a home. We talk about what they want. I ask them a few financial questions and tell them I am out of town and I send John to my loan officer. I ask if I can share the information with the loan officer and he says sure. … (1 comments)
buyers: The right lender is important!
- 02/02/14 11:00 PM
I sell many homes a year. Many of them are financed. There are a lot of good lenders out there. There are also lenders that are not so good. I recommend one lender in particular because if she is involved I know exactly how the deal is going to go. I know that if she tells me that the deal is fund-able, it is. She takes the time to make sure my client understands the process. I know my lender, Dona Jeka, dona.jeka@pacresmortgage.com, is not unique. I know there are other great lenders in the Treasure Valley. I have even … (1 comments)
buyers: I feel prices are about to rise in Boise
- 02/01/14 12:08 AM
Call it a gut instinct. Maybe it is a little more then an instinct. I have some buyers and each day their search shrinks by one or two houses a day. I am getting a little nervous. This reduction of homes at the low end of the market signals a price rise. The less homes available the more they will be bid up. As the selling price rises we all price our listings just a little higher. This happened last year. Eventually people got greedy and the prices dropped a bit. But a search that started with 90 houses … (2 comments)
buyers: We are closing today. The water heater sprayed during the walk through
- 01/30/14 05:03 AM
It's a cash deal without an inspection. My sellers signed on Sunday. The buyers were supposed to sign at 11 AM. When the call came from the buyers agent I was sure that she was calling to tell me her people signed. What she called to tell me was that something was wrong with the lights upstairs..... Not what I wanted to hear. I called the owner (who had the contractor at his personal home) and explained that something was wrong and I headed over there. When I got there the other agent was standing in the laundry/water heater … (1 comments)
buyers: Try not to run yourself ragged or else you might lose clients...
- 01/27/14 01:10 AM
I was showing houses so much they were running into each other. I was going all over the valley with my clients. They wanted to see everything in every community. I was also handling another client. By Wed I was exhausted. I had worked the whole weekend. They asked a question before 7 AM in the morning via email. Like an idiot I answered their question before my morning cup of coffee. I forgot to mention the word earnest money. I emailed them back about 10 minuets later. They sent an email back that indicated they were … (5 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.
Yesterday I won the 30 days to success challenge at work. I won a computer, marketing package and social media help. I would like to say I entered the contest to improve my business but I did it for the computer. 
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