March 2013 RSS Feed

People looking for a new home in Boise are often looking for new construction homes; something to suit their specific housing needs. This is often the case for the surrounding areas as well, such as Meridian, Eagle, and Nampa. When considering a new construction home, there are many upgrades that need to be added even before the foundation cement is poured. Below are five upgrades many prefer to consider when building a home.

Whole House Internet Wiring

While wireless is always an option after a home is built, it is not as secure as wiring down the entire house for Internet usage. Unsecured wireless (unencrypted) can be “piggybacked” by outside users, and hacked by advanced users. Secured “wired down” Internet ensures that your connection is solely…

Both resale and new construction homes have advantages and disadvantages, and when it comes to deciding which one is right for you, it's a matter of looking at your individual needs and desires.

With so many important considerations to make over such a big decision, it can be helpful to make a list of the things you want and need in your new home and stack it up against the specs offered by both resale and new construction homes. You might be surprised by what you find. Here we'll take a look at the benefits of both resale homes and new construction homes:

Benefits of a Resale Home

Today's buyers, whether they're in the market for a new or resale home, expect to buy a home that's in good shape and one that will continue to cater to their needs…

 
Spring Home Buying and Selling Season

The beautiful spring weather has been slowly moving its way in, and it looks like its going to stay. But with spring comes more than just pleasant weather, especially for the real estate market. Spring tends to be a frenzy of buying and selling in the housing market, when buyers and sellers move from the sidelines. As more and more people see reports of rising home prices, worries of slipping home values take a backseat. We've seen some the country's highest rise in home prices, which makes this spring's buying season the best time to hit the market and buy the home you've been holding out for.

According to Fannie Mae's monthly national consumer attitudinal survey report from February of this year, Americans…

Nothing quite compares to the emotions during your first purchase of a home, it's exciting, suspenseful, nerve racking, and sometimes stressful. Hopefully your first experience is a great one, but just to make sure we are offering some key pointers to get you started on the right track.

For first-time home buyers looking into purchasing a home, here is a list of things to consider before signing on the dotted line. We want to make sure that you are getting into a home that fits your needs as closely as possible.

Standard Details

There are, of course, all of the basic details that a buyer wants in a home.  That includes the number of bedrooms and baths.  Does it have a fireplace; how large is the lot; is there a rec or a great room; is there a garage…

Maybe you're looking to buy property from out-of-state, whether a second home, vacation home, or investment property. Perhaps you've recently received a job promotion that requires you to sell the home you currently have and buy a home in a new, unfamiliar area. Whatever the reason is, there are a number of strategies you can implement to ensure you experience success as you buy real estate-from wherever you are.

There are several considerations that need to be made when moving zip codes, and you won't have the same luxuries that local buyers have. Instead of being able to drive by houses and through neighborhoods, you'll have to invest all your trust in the Internet and a buyer's agent you can trust.

The Cost to Thrive

What are the differences in…

Bidding wars have returned to many real estate markets across the nation, and some buyers may find themselves competing for the home they want. While not all markets are created equal, several are experiencing a reduced home inventory which results in homes receiving up to 10 to 15 offers the day they hit the market.

Bidding wars are becominng the norm across the United States as housing inventories lower, particularly for lower priced homes.

The good news is that you can prepare to enter into a war and get the home you want with some financial preparedness to help you gain the advantage. Knowledge is definitely power in this game, and the more you know the better off you're going to be. Get ready to familiarize yourself with property values in the…

Anyone looking to purchase should secure their mortgage pre-approval before searching for properties. Like going to the grocery store, you need to know just how much money you will have available to spend before you start to put things into the cart.

Three Good Reasons Why This Is An Important first Step:

• Knowing what the bank will lend lets a potential buyer know what price range to look at
• With an approval already completed, the buyer can move quickly to secure the home
• The approved buyer is already a step ahead if there are other buyers interested in the same home

Know in Advance

Whether a buyer is looking to know in advance what price range they can qualify for eliminates that dreadful experience when a potential home buyer locates…

Burglary is the most common threat to our homes, and it usually happens during the day while many are away at work and other activities.

Because not everyone can fit a home security system in their budget, we decided to put together a list that doesn't require a huge up-front cost. You don't necessarily have to arm your home with a system to make it less attractive to thieves.

Stop the Everyday Home Burglary

We're luckier than most people around the country because we live in a metro area that experiences significantly less crime than other areas. According to FBI statistics, Idaho's state crime rate is the lowest in the West. Serious crime rates 21.3 percent lower than the national average. However, no area is immune to crime, and there are…

There's a new market out there for 2013. And in the ever changing world of real estate, this comes as no surprise. You've likely noticed how Boise Idaho real estate has been changing over the course of 2012 and into 2013, and how these positive trends have completely changed what our market is doing. Fewer foreclosures, rising house prices, and shrinking inventories of homes have all played significant roles throughout the Treasure Valley. Much of the same is occurring throughout many of our nation's real estate markets, and it all means one very important thing: Home buyers need to be more prepared than ever before.

One thing experts say hasn't changed, is that today's home buyers need to have a real solid understanding of the things they want and need…

An aesthetic and tastefully landscaped yard does more for your property than just making it look good. Landscaping can increase your home's value significantly, so whether you're just looking to come home to something fabulous everyday or you're thinking of the time when you may sell, great landscaping is definitely the way to go.

But there's one problem. It can be painfully expensive, and you're on a budget. Professional landscaping can cost thousands of dollars. According to Money Magazine, a high-end landscape contractor will charge at least $5,000 to remodel a typical compact suburban front yard. But there are plenty of ways you can successfully get the job done without compromising your bank account. All you need is some patience, a little time and…