CityBurb.com’s Boise, Eagle and Meridian Homes and Real Estate Blog

I’ve been looking for a way to explain to my buyers that now is a great time to buy (I know - does a real estate agent ever stop saying this?), but I’ve held back for a few reasons.  First, I don’t actually know what is going to happen to the economy in the next month, year or decade.  And second, I didn’t live through the Great Depression and I wasn’t really paying much attention during the past few recessions.  Basically, my prediction skills are lacking.  So, as with anything else that I don’t know much about, I’ve done some research.

As I was reading through the real estate blogs that I read everyday (see column on the right), I came across Greg from BlueRoof.com’s blog entry about Warren Buffett’s opinion article in The New York Times.  Basically, Buffett tells us what we all know - buy low, sell high.  But he puts it in a way that makes it easier to understand during these times of confusion. He also talks about the stock market specifically, but his advice can be useful in real estate as well. From the article:

“What is likely, however, is that the market will move higher, perhaps substantially so, well before either sentiment or the economy turns up. So if you wait for the robins, spring will be over.”

What is the lesson here? Right now, prices are low (hint: that is when you buy).

Photo Credit:  woodleywonderworks via Flickr

Tags: Boise Real Estate, Foreclosure, Industry, Meridian Real estate, Real Estate, Treasure Valley // Add Comment »

For weeks we have all sat around listening to talk of a 700 billion dollar “Wall Street Bailout.”  Why Wall Street and why $700 billion, we all asked.  Nobody seemed to know.  The plan wasn’t passed…then it was…but it was different…the Dow is down 777 points…up almost 1000 points within a few days.  What is going on?

I didn’t know either.  In fact, I was very much against the bailout plan when I first heard about it and somewhat relieved when it didn’t pass the first time.  Then the second version passed and I didn’t know what to think.  None of the news sites or other trusted resources had any answers.  Then Ira Glass came in and explained everything.

Remember my blog post about the mortgage crisis?  Well, the “This American Life” radio show has done another episode in which they explain the bailout plan - what it is, why we need it, and how we got in to this mess in the first place.  You can  listen to the show here.

It is about an hour long show and it is definitely worth listening to.

Tags: Boise Real Estate, Foreclosure, Industry, Meridian Real estate, Real Estate, Treasure Valley // 1 Comment »

Are you waiting until we hit the bottom of the market before you buy a home?  Well, a local builder, Brighton Homes, is guaranteeing you purchased at the bottom if you buy one of their homes or lots.  Brighton Homes is offering a rebate on your purchase if they lower the price of the same model home in the next two years according to a Statesman article.  The article did not contain any other details of the program and the Brighton Homes website doesn’t even mention the program, but I’m sure there are some pretty strict qualifications in order to get a rebate check.

I’m usually pretty skeptical when builders use unique marketing ideas to sell their homes, but I like this one.  Although still a marketing ploy, the rebate program is based on the builder guaranteeing the value of their product, which, in the end, is beneficial to the homeowner.  Of course, if this isn’t the bottom, Brighton will have a much harder time selling their homes in the future because any price reductions will cost them that much more because of the rebates.

Tags: Boise Real Estate, Industry, Meridian Real estate, Real Estate, Treasure Valley // 3 Comments »

As I wrote about last week, we had a little party on Sunday night to celebrate Labor Day, the end of summer and all of our faithful clients and endorsers.  The theme revolved around mojitos, a Cuban drink made popular by Hemingway.  Everyone seemed to have a great time even as the temperature dropped significantly through the evening.  If you didn’t make it, you missed out on ribs, chicken, corn on the cob, and a selection of different salads.  Oh, and of course, those fabulous mojitos.  Check out some of the pictures below.  If you want to be invited to the next CityBurb party, make sure you are subscribed to our newsletter.

Tags: Boise Real Estate, Real Estate // 1 Comment »

CityBurb.com Real Estate is having a party! I’ve talked about it for some time now and although my real estate life here in Boise is still busy, life outside of real estate has settled down some. So, what better time to throw a party! And since we have so many loyal clients, who better to invite than all of you?

If you currently receive our monthly newsletter, you’ll be getting an evite invitation shortly after this month’s edition. If you don’t currently get the newsletter, then I probably don’t have your email address and so you won’t be getting an invite. But alas, if you’d like to come, just send me your email address and I’ll get you on the list (you can use the Meebo chat feature or any of the forms on our site to send me your info).

The party will be on Sunday (Labor Day Weekend), August 31, 2008 in Eagle Idaho. More details on the invite. Hope to see you all then!

***Update*** Evites have been sent and the date changed to Sunday, August 31st.

Photo Credit: Infidelic via Flickr

Tags: Boise Real Estate, Real Estate, Treasure Valley // 1 Comment »

Green, environmentally friendly, eco-conscious , biodegradable, natural, carbon offsetting, organic, hybrid, sustainable and recycled. We’ve been hearing a lot of these terms lately, but how do you distinguish the good green from the bad?

Well, in real estate it’s easy. Just look for a Certified EcoBroker. Actually, it’s even easier than that…just call me.

LOCAL REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL CERTIFIED TO ADDRESS AND ENCOURAGE THE BENEFITS OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND GREEN FEATURES IN HOMES

Boise, Idaho – August 7, 2008 — Alfie La Peter, of CityBurb.com Real Estate in Boise has earned the EcoBroker Certified® designation, having successfully completed a unique and informative training program on the energy and environmental issues that affect real estate transactions. Alfie joins the movement of professionals pushing the real estate market toward energy-efficient, sustainable, and healthier design/features in homes and buildings. The “performance home” movement is getting a boost thanks to this type of high quality real estate professional earning the EcoBroker designation. EcoBrokers®, like Alfie, throughout the country are forging this market and creating competitive advantages for their customers. With national surveys indicating that 80% of consumers consider themselves “green-minded,” real estate professionals with the EcoBroker designation are in a better position to serve the real estate consumer. “I’m always looking for the best ways to offer my clients the best value. My EcoBroker training helps me ensure customer satisfaction, my number one priority,” Alfie explains. “From windows to moisture control to energy savings, I now have more resources at my disposal to help my buyers and sellers make better real estate decisions. The EcoBroker designation doesn’t make me an energy and environmental expert, but it allows me to better understand the issues and to convey this understanding to my buyers and sellers.”

EcoBroker International’s education and designation program is designed exclusively for real estate professionals who care about the environment and want to help their clients benefit from the energy-efficiency, “green,” and healthier features of homes and buildings. EcoBroker provides a complete curriculum of energy and environmental training to licensed real estate agents. Real estate professionals must complete the extensive EcoBroker curriculum and training and fulfill additional program requirements to become Certified EcoBrokers®. “Alfie La Peter is an example of the quality real estate professional the EcoBroker designation continues to attract,” explains EcoBroker International’s CEO, Dr. John Beldock. “These real estate professionals are not only distinguishing themselves in a competitive market place, but they are really giving back to the community in very constructive and meaningful ways. Boise needs more contributors like Alfie. The planet and our grandchildren need them too,” Dr. Beldock said.

From his Boise office, Alfie explains, “With EcoBroker® training, I have broadened the range of real estate opportunities I offer my clients. Whether the transaction involves environmental assessment and mitigation (mold, radon, etc.) or the opportunity to reduce utility bills, I’m in a position to help. The real estate industry is changing, and to best serve my clients I need to understand the newest designs, technologies, and environmental issues. My EcoBroker designation helps me stay ahead of the game.”

Alfie earned his EcoBroker Certified® designation in August and is wasting no time in putting the tools and additional expertise to work. Alfie has already found that being a Certified EcoBroker® creates added value and customer satisfaction that sets him apart from other agents. For example, at a recent listing presentation, Alfie was able to show the prospective sellers how he can highlight the benefits of their 2×6 framing construction, energy efficient glazing as well as the tankless hot water heater. His innovative energy and environmental perspective gave him an edge in winning the listing. Alfie says he’s looking forward to continuing to positively impacting the quality, durability, comfort, safety, and cost-effectiveness of homes and commercial buildings.

For additional information please contact: Alfie La Peter
Phone: 208-424-0313
Cell: 208-631-3545
<Real Estate Professional/Certified EcoBroker® Bio>

EcoBroker International provides a unique energy and environmental curriculum to licensed real estate professionals, leading to the EcoBroker Designation. EcoBroker’s mission is to broaden and improve the base of training and continuing education for real estate professionals and in doing so, encourage improvements to the quality of buildings, while reducing their impact on natural resources and the environment. EcoBroker is a Building® America and Built Green® Colorado Education Partner; the most successful green-building program in the United States. EcoBroker provides state-approved continuing education courses to licensed real estate professionals in states throughout the U.S. EcoBroker can be reached by phone at 1-800-706-4321, online at www.ecobroker.com, and by email at customerservice@ecobroker.com.

Tags: Boise Real Estate, Industry, Real Estate, Treasure Valley // Add Comment »

Well, maybe not squeaky clean, but significantly cleaner than it has ever been. Thanks to Jim and Suzanne Holl, Susan and Conor Thompson, Nick Miller and John West (John West Lending Team 208-321-4161) for all their help in cleaning the CityBurb.com section of highway. Now, as you pass the Wal-Mart on State St. heading west, you’ll notice two miles of trash-free highway.

We filled ten bags of trash in about three hours along our two mile stretch of highway and best of all: nobody was hit by a passing vehicle! That’s a victory if you ask me.

If you missed out this time, don’t worry, we have to do this twice a year so there will be plenty of opportunities to join us again. And of course, I’ll let you know the next time around.

Thanks again gang!

Tags: Boise Real Estate, Treasure Valley // Add Comment »

You may have driven past this sign a few times if you travel on State St. between Glenwood and Hwy. 55. Well, it’s not just a pretty sign; we actually have to clean up that section of highway.

We are scheduled to clean up our two mile stretch of highway on Saturday, August 9th. I’ll be out there for most of the day, starting around 8am. If you have any interest in helping me, I will gladly accept volunteers (and buy them lunch). However, I do need to know ahead of time as ITD requires volunteers to sign waivers in case you are struck down by a passing vehicle (really, it rarely happens).

Call me if you are interested (or have a high school kid that you want out of the house on a Saturday).

Tags: Boise Real Estate, Treasure Valley // Add Comment »

I rarely talk about the disadvantages of owning real estate as I am a major proponent of real estate ownership. However, there are some expenses you’ll have as a property owner that you wouldn’t have as a renter, mainly property taxes.

If you own a home here in the Treasure Valley, you probably saw your taxes increase significantly over the last two years as property values climbed to double digit appreciation. Now that much of that appreciation has receded, you’ll notice your taxes and assessed values are still quite high. What do you do?

Fight it! In Ada County, your property value is assessed on January 1st every year. You’ll get a letter from the Assessor’s office and it will give you a date by which you must appeal if you choose to do so. It’s too late for 2008, but if you want help for 2009, I’ve got all the forms you need. And if you think your time will be wasted, check out this article in the Statesman that shows how many people were successful in receiving a reduction in their property tax bill. Of course, even if you can’t get a reduction in your property taxes, you can still get a deduction on your personal taxes every year.

Photo Credit: pfala via Flickr

Tags: Boise Real Estate, Real Estate, Treasure Valley // Add Comment »

The general public (not you, the educated readers of this blog) have always struggled to understand how the real estate industry works. I still get calls from buyers that want to know how much we charge (buyer’s agents are paid by the seller) and sellers that wonder if they have to pay up front for marketing services (they don’t). With the way the media tells stories about the industry, it is no wonder that this confusion exists.

A recent story about the merger between two large real estate companies here is Boise continues to spread misleading information:

“[Home sellers] know right then that we’re not just going to expose them to the Treasure Valley. We’re going to expose them to a thousand agents in the whole state of Idaho. We’re going to expose them into Washington and we’re going to expose them to 100,000 agents across the U.S. We’re going to expose them to 47 countries so the exposure for the customer selling their house is tremendous”

Sounds magical right? The above quote is from the owner of one of the merging companies explaining the so-called advantages of a larger real estate company. What I believe to be misleading is as follows: The advantages of a larger real estate company are that they have more resources for advertising and marketing in order to gain new clients, not to sell their listings. All of their agents are still independent contractors that work for themselves under the umbrella of a responsible broker. This means that the agent you hire to sell your home is the only person who will be trying to sell your home. That agent’s 1000 co-workers don’t necessarily care about your home. They may listen to your agent’s spiel during an office meeting and they may even tour your home with the entire office, but they aren’t working to sell your home. That is, unless they have a buyer that is interested in your home. But guess what? If any licensed real estate agent has a buyer interested in your home, they are going to find it in the same place: the MLS, even if they missed the “office tour.”

Real estate is a co-operative industry. I can sell your home to any buyer, no matter what company they are working with. Those 1000 agents in a big office are just as likely to sell one of my listings as their own office’s listings. A bigger office is not better; a better agent is better.

The moral of the story, in the word’s of Public Enemy: Don’t believe the hype (warning: links to a video that starts automatically).

Photo Credit: Franco Folini via Flickr

Tags: Boise Real Estate, Industry, Real Estate, Treasure Valley // Add Comment »