Labels: Boise, Listing, Real Estate

Can light bulbs and toilet paper change the world? Perhaps not. But they can help a bunch of junior high and high school students.

Our friends at Sheridan Academy, one of the only accredited non-profit schools in Boise that customizes its curriculum for each and every student, has some modest needs.

On their website, they include in their wishlist:

• Toilet paper
• Copier Paper
• Hand Soap
• Notebook Paper
• 60-Watt Light Bulbs
• Basic Tools
• Dry Erase Markers

Large Items:

• Vacuum Cleaner
• Cassette Player
• CD/DVD Player

Beyond these modest requests, Sheridan Academy has a much greater need: families willing to host foreign students who are waiting to enter the school.

According to the website, Sheridan Academy is part of a foreign exchange program and has more applicants than host families. If you would like to open up your home to one of these students who have selected Sheridan Academy as their preferred private school contact Greg Norton.

Sheridan Academy is a Treasure Valley gem. Let's help one of our own.

Contact Greg Norton now or click here to learn more about the school and its programs.

Labels: Boise, Community Events, Community Outreach, Sheridan Academy

Labels: BuildingCredibility, Real Estate, Remodeling

We've been playing around with usernames and emails in Blogger, and we added our marketing director, Katy, to the list of contributors.

While we were rearranging email addresses, one of our switches made it appear that Katy has written the lion's share of our archived posts.

Sigh. Rather than revert back to how we had the email accounts set up, we're going to leave it. But don't worry: Katy has not been giving real estate advice. The posts should be attributed to me or Leigh Wilson, both of whom are licensed real estate consultants.

Back to our regularly scheduled program...

Labels: Technology

Labels: Home Values, Real Estate

There are enough residential developments under construction downtown to make your head spin. (See Boise Condos and Loftsfor a comprehensive list.)

In a September 3 article, the Idaho Business Review explores each development and the price tag associated with an 83702 zip code.
Not surprisingly, Grand Avenue, about twenty townhome-style condos adjacent to the Linen District, are the most affordable options left (though others are being planned) and the lowest priced unit is a single level, 785 square-foot condo for around $197,000.

Still...

As with so many investments, it helps to get in on the ground floor. Riley, an office manager for the local Wendy’s franchise, was the first person to move into The Hosac Co.’s CitySide Lofts project and paid only $210,000 for her condo.

There are also big payoffs to living downtown (if you're a city lover). You're within walking distance to the greenbelt, a short drive from the area's most historic neighborhoods, close to the Boise River, nearer to Bogus Basin, and nightlife--including theatres, playhouses, restaurants, and clubs. If you spend a lot of time commuting downtown, buying a condo now could be a great investment.

Click here for mortage calculators that may help you determine whether or not downtown living is for you.

Labels: Downtown Boise, News, Real Estate

This article isn't exactly timely, but the Chief Engineer has an excellent piece on "green" building in the Boise area. It's short. Read it, and find out more about how you can get a LEED certification on your new home.

Oh, and at BuildingCredibility.com, Josh Bogle maintains a "Remodeling Green" blog. It's a funny, frank perspective--which is exactly what the topic needs.

Money line: "One of the reasons to build green is for the smug, self satisfaction of feeling like you've helped save the planet. But it's pointless to save a planet you're not enjoying, so get out there!"

Labels: BuildingCredibility, Green, Real Estate, Remodeling