We love Boise.

Every year some organization compiles the FBI's numbers on crime and ranks major metropolitan areas. Boise consistently ranks low. In fact, the City's first homocide is big news every year. Put another way, murder is still a shock.

This year Boise is ranked at 120, safer than Sioux Falls, SD, Fort Collins, CO, Spokane Valley, WA and Lincoln, NE, to name a few. This is higher than we'd like to see it (Bellevue Washington is ranked the safest city in the Pacific Northwest at 57th), but it's still good.

Surprisingly Brick, New Jersey is considered the safest city in the United States!

St. Louis, Missouri has the unfortunate distinction as being ranked the most dangerous city in the U.S.

A review of the list does make us want to dig a little further into the criteria used. New York City is ranked only 20 above Boise! Something doesn't seem right...

Labels: Boise, Idaho Statistics, Quality of Life

The Idaho Press Tribune is reporting that the Idaho Transportation Board has approved widening I-84 from Franklin Boulevard in Nampa through Meridian Road.

Additional improvements and expansions include the long-awaited design, right of way purchase and construction of the Ten Mile interchange and widening the Eagle off-ramp.

Click here for a PDF of the full article.

H/T Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho.

Labels: Boise, Growth, Nampa, News

Dear Anonymous:

Thanks for your comment on our "Has the Boise Real Estate Market Bubble Burst?" And heck no it wouldn't be deleted! The whole point of a blog is to generate discussion and share viewpoints.

As far as your take on "buyers being too stupid to recognize the times we are in," we beg to differ. We take pride in educating all of our clients and potential clients on what the market is doing so they know if a purchase or sale is the best thing for them and give them all the information to make an educated decision. And for the record, we never have nor ever will push someone to make a purchase or sale for the sake of a transaction. Our belief system and business is extremely integrity based and we take great pains to make sure what is right at the end of the day is done.

Now, whether this is a good or bad time to buy, there are several factors to consider. Interest rates are presently at an annual low and the savings over 30 years would be significant and the rates will go back up. Prices have and will continue to stabilize which has increased the time on market to allow buyers time to actually view and research homes. According to the National Association of Realtors, our real estate market, contrary to what you may be reading, is actually considered "healthy," with an inventory of 6 months or less.

Additionally, Boise historically has had a positive appreciation even when the nation was in a recession so although we do not expect to see the same wild increases (thankfully) in home prices, real estate continues to be a solid investment.

In conclusion, we do not agree with your assessment that property values are going to plummet $50,000-$100,000 over the next year. Do we think the market is adjusting? Absolutely, but not in an unhealthy way. We welcome the opportunity to meet with anyone to educate and evaluate whether a buy or sell at this time is the best decision for them.

Thank you for your time to find and read our blog and for your contribution.

Respectfully,

Ed and Leigh

Labels: Home Values, Idaho Statistics, Quality of Life

What can you recoup from a remodeling project?

Money magazine has an article about what not to expect a return on, like a swimming pool.

But what WILL buyers pay for? An extra bathroom is high on the list. So is adding siding to your home.

We have the full report (we expect to see it updated for 2006 in December). Click here to request a summary of the report.

H/T The Real Estate Blog.

Boise Contemporary Theater, one of our favorite local performing arts organizations and one of three we support, presents the Western US Premier of Love-Lies-Bleeding by Don DeLillo.

According to Wikipedia, "Love-Lies-Bleeding was first heard as a staged reading directed by the author at Boise Contemporary Theater in Boise, Idaho in May 2005. The World Premiere Production was presented at Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois in June 2006."

BCT's production is directed by Tracy Sunderland and runs Oct 11 - Nov 4, 2006.

Read a synopsis of the play here. Read more about DeLillo here or here (fan site).

Labels: Community Events, Community Outreach, Downtown Boise, News

"It's important for people to know that Fall maintenance will not only make their homes more energy efficient during the winter months, but will safeguard their homes against potential seasonal 'disasters' such as leaking roofs or home fires due to neglected chimneys," says Dan Steward, Pillar To Post president.

These 10 steps can help homeowners be prepared and safe this winter:

TIP #1 -- Check the heating system. Check the filter, pilot light and burners in a system fueled by gas or oil. Fireplaces, boilers, water heaters, space heaters and wood burning stoves should also be serviced every year.

TIP #2 -- Clean ducts in the heating system. Clean and vacuum dust from vents, baseboard heaters and cold air returns. Dust build-up in ducts is a major cause of indoor pollutants. In a home that is shut tight for the winter, dust increases the possibility of illness. Ducts should be professionally cleaned about every three years.

TIP #3 -- Test fire and smoke alarms as well as carbon monoxide detectors. Often alarms and detectors go unattended. Batteries should be checked every six months to ensure that they're working.

TIP #4 -- Remove excess leaves and damaged branches surrounding the house. Now that leaves have fallen off of trees, it's a good time to remove any dead branches. Dead branches have the potential to break and fall, ruining roofs or decks.

TIP #5 -- Maintain gutters. Remove all debris that can slow or impede the ability of the water to drain effectively from the roof. Trapped water can freeze then thaw, an action which could be destructive not only to the gutters themselves but to the adjoining roof as well.

TIP #6 -- Inspect the roof. Look for damaged or loose shingles, gaps in the flashing at joints with siding, vents and flues, as well as damaged mortar around the chimney. Proactive maintenance can prevent emergencies and expensive repairs.

TIP #7 -- Inspect exterior walls and window sills. Check walls and window sills for damage such as cracks, gaps, loose or crumbling mortar, along with splitting and decaying wood. Wood trim and siding can suffer from deterioration or loose paint. Caulk exterior joints around windows and doors, which helps keep the home weather tight and helps to lower heating bills .

TIP #8 -- Maintain steps and handrails. Repair broken steps and secure loose banisters. Broken steps are easily hidden beneath snow, which could cause a dangerous fall. Similarly, a person slipping on ice will grab a handrail for support.

TIP #9 -- Prepare storm windows for installation. Check all weather stripping and all fasteners. Well-maintained and properly fitted storm windows will help to save on energy costs during the winter months.

TIP #10 -- Pools, sprinkler systems and outside faucets should be shut down. Homeowners can shut down outside faucets, while the other tasks are best performed by industry professionals to prevent cracked pipes and pool bottoms.

Big Hat Tip to our friends at Pillar to Post.

Pittsburgh Homes Daily has listed Boise's Best Real Estate Blog as one of 500 real estate blogs to watch.

Thanks for the mention, guys.

Occasionally properties are made available to agents before they are listed on the MLS. Traditionally these are referred to as pocket listings.

In addition to having access to information about these listings, we are sometimes privy to information about properties for sale; information that the consumer may not be able to access, though the property is listed on the MLS.

For example, today in the Keller Williams team meeting, one of our colleagues presented two properties where the owner will finance. If this is something you need as a buyer, we can preview the homes and help you decide if they're a good "fit."

In either instance, we want to put the information we have to work for you. Let's get started.

Labels: Keller Williams Realty Boise, Listings, Real Estate

"You can't go anywhere without hearing people talk about "the real estate bubble." Such talk drives me to distraction, and I'll tell you why. It's because there is no real estate bubble. Bubbles are for bathtubs."

So begins a thoughtful article by former The Apprentice winner Kendra Todd.

She asserts, correctly, that, "Despite a thousand articles in Sunday newspaper real estate sections, the bubble is a myth. The real estate markets in many areas are going through a normal correction cycle."

She lists some basic signs of a correcting market: Inventory is high, houses are on the market longer and accurate pricing is key. Hmm...sounds suspiciously like Boise, Idaho!

(In fact, she lists Boise among five markets that are still healthy and good long-term investment opportunities.)

Ms. Todd concludes with an exhortation not to "panic sell." What have we been telling our clients for the past six months? Don't panic. The bottom has not dropped out of the Boise real estate market. Houses are still selling in a reasonable amount of time. And buyers can get back in the game!