Two Duplexes, One Lot!! Great Boise location!
Two great duplexes on one lot. The two story was built in 2005 with 3 bedrooms and 1.5 baths and double car garages. Units renting for $750-$825.00. The two story could get $850.00 to $900.00 and the single level could get $950.00 – $1000.00. Great investment opportunity.
Esential Tips to Sell Your Home TODAY
Sellers HONEY DO list, Sell it TODAY
When you are ready to place your property on the market, we will go through your house together. In the meantime, here are some “handy hints” for you to consider. If you follow the guidelines below, you will have an advantage over the competition already on the market. It is very important that your home “shows” well for the buyer’s first impression. Here are some suggestions to help make that happen.
INSIDE:
1) Clear out all unnecessary objects from the furniture, throughout the house. Keep decorative items located on the furniture, to a minimum.
2) Remove all unnecessary objects from the kitchen countertops. If something hasn’t been used in a few weeks put it away! Clear the refrigerator fronts of messages, pictures, magnets, etc. If the rooms are clear of clutter, then the prospective buyers will mentally begin to move their own things into your home.
3) The bathrooms need to be as uncluttered as possible. Clear countertops, tub & shower areas and commode tops, leaving only necessary items for daily grooming. Coordinating towels are a nice touch.
4) Rearrange or remove some of the furniture if the room seems full. When it comes to selling, we need to make the rooms appear larger by having a balanced amount of furniture.
5) Take down or rearrange certain pictures or objects on the walls. Patch and paint if necessary.
6) Review the house inside, room by room:
a) Paint any room needing attention.
b) Clean carpets and drapes, if necessary.
c) Clean windows and baseboards.
7) Leave lights on during the day. During “showings” turn on all the lights and lamps.
8) Have your FM stereo on during the day, playing soft music, for all showings.
9) Have a lock box installed by your agent. Most agents showing a property will not take the time to show a property that does not have a lock box.
OUTSIDE:
1) Walk around the perimeter of the house and move all garbage cans, discarded wood scraps, extra building materials, etc into a storage area or the garage.
2) Check the roof for the dry rot. Make sure the gutters are free of debris.
3) Walk around the yard, check out the plants, prune the bushes away from windows and make them appear “landscaped”.
4) Weed all planted areas. Keep the lawn freshly cut. Remove any dead plants or shrubs.
5) Clear patios and/or decks of all small items, such as planters, flower pot, charcoal, barbecues, toys, etc. (Store them in a storage area or the garage.)
6) Check the paint condition of the house, especially the front trim. Curb appeal is very important!
IN GENERAL:
Try to look at your home “through the buyer’s eyes”, as though you’ve never seen it or been there before. Any time or money spent on the above items will bring you more money in return and result in a faster sale.
Moving Check List
Moving Check List
Give Address Change to:
- Post Office
- Subscriptions (notice usually requires several weeks.)
- Friends and relatives
Bank:
- Transfer funds, arrange check-cashing innew city
- Arrange credit references.
Insurance:
- Notify company of new location for all your insurance needs.
Utilities:
- Contact Gas, Light, Water, Telephone, Fuel and Cable Companies.
- Request refunds on any deposits made.
Medical, Dental & Prescriptions:
- Ask your Doctor & Dentist for referrals.
- Transfer needed prescriptions, eyeglasses and other pertinent information.
- Obtain birth records, medical records, etc.
Also, Don’t Forget to:
- Defrost and empty freezer. Clean refrigerator. Place deodorizing agent to dispel odors.
- Have appliances serviced for moving.
- Clean throw rugs and clothing and have them wrapped for moving.
- Check with your moving counselor re: Insurance coverage, packing & unpacking labor charges, arrival day, various shipping papers, method and time of expected payment.
- Plan for special travel needs of small children and elderly travelers.
- Leave all old keys, needed by new tenant or owner with Realtor or neighbor.
ON MOVING DAY:
- Carry enough cash or travelers checks to cover cost of moving services and expenses, until you make banking connections innew city.
- Carry precious items such as jewelry and documents yourself, or ship them certified/registered mail.
- Plan for transporting your pets, they are poor travelling companions if unhappy.
AT YOUR NEW ADDRESS:
- Check closets, drawers and shelves to make sure they are empty.
- Have the gas company make sure that all pilot lights are in proper working order, where applicable.
- Advise the local Department of Motor Vehicles of your address change and register all vehicles within five (5) days.
- Contact new Doctor, Dentist and Optometrist and advise them of the referral from your various physicians.
- Register children in school.
First Service Group Agents Worth Their Weight
Why Use a REALTOR®?
All real estate licensees are not the same. Only real estate licensees who are members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® are properly called REALTORS®. They proudly display the REALTOR “®” logo on the business card or other marketing and sales literature. REALTORS® are committed to treat all parties to a transaction honestly. REALTORS® subscribe to a strict code of ethics and are expected to maintain a higher level of knowledge of the process of buying and selling real estate. An independent survey reports that 84% of home buyers would use the same REALTOR® again.
Real estate transactions involve one of the biggest financial investments most people experience in their lifetime. Transactions today usually exceed $100,000. If you had a $100,000 income tax problem, would you attempt to deal with it without the help of a CPA? If you had a $100,000 legal question, would you deal with it without the help of an attorney? Considering the small upside cost and the large downside risk, it would be foolish to consider a deal in real estate without the professional assistance of a REALTOR®.
But if you’re still not convinced of the value of a REALTOR®, here are a dozen more reasons to use one:
1. Your REALTOR® can help you determine your buying power – that is, your financial reserves plus your borrowing capacity. If you give a REALTOR® some basic information about your available savings, income and current debt, he or she can refer you to lenders best qualified to help you. Most lenders — banks and mortgage companies — offer limited choices.
2. Your REALTOR® has many resources to assist you in your home search. Sometimes the property you are seeking is available but not actively advertised in the market, and it will take some investigation by your agent to find all available properties.
3. Your REALTOR® can assist you in the selection process by providing objective information about each property. Agents who are REALTORS® have access to a variety of informational resources. REALTORS® can provide local community information on utilities, zoning. schools, etc. There are two things you’ll want to know. First, will the property provide the environment I want for a home or investment? Second, will the property have resale value when I am ready to sell?
4. Your REALTOR® can help you negotiate. There are myriad negotiating factors, including but not limited to price, financing, terms, date of possession and often the inclusion or exclusion of repairs and furnishings or equipment. The purchase agreement should provide a period of time for you to complete appropriate inspections and investigations of the property before you are bound to complete the purchase. Your agent can advise you as to which investigations and inspections are recommended or required.
5. Your REALTOR® provides due diligence during the evaluation of the property. Depending on the area and property, this could include inspections for termites, dry rot, asbestos, faulty structure, roof condition, septic tank and well tests, just to name a few. Your REALTOR® can assist you in finding qualified responsible professionals to do most of these investigations and provide you with written reports. You will also want to see a preliminary report on the title of the property. Title indicates ownership of property and can be mired in confusing status of past owners or rights of access. The title to most properties will have some limitations; for example, easements (access rights) for utilities. Your REALTOR®, title company or attorney can help you resolve issues that might cause problems at a later date.
6. Your REALTOR® can help you in understanding different financing options and in identifying qualified lenders.
7. Your REALTOR® can guide you through the closing process and make sure everything flows together smoothly.
8. When selling your home, your REALTOR® can give you up-to-date information on what is happening in the marketplace and the price, financing, terms and condition of competing properties. These are key factors in getting your property sold at the best price, quickly and with minimum hassle.
9. Your REALTOR® markets your property to other real estate agents and the public. Often, your REALTOR® can recommend repairs or cosmetic work that will significantly enhance the salability of your property. Your REALTOR® markets your property to other real estate agents and the public. In many markets across the country, over 50% of real estate sales are cooperative sales; that is, a real estate agent other than yours brings in the buyer. Your REALTOR® acts as the marketing coordinator, disbursing information about your property to other real estate agents through a Multiple Listing Service or other cooperative marketing networks, open houses for agents, etc. The REALTOR® Code of Ethics requires REALTORS® to utilize these cooperative relationships when they benefit their clients.
10. Your REALTOR® will know when, where and how to advertise your property. There is a misconception that advertising sells real estate. The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® studies show that 82% of real estate sales are the result of agent contacts through previous clients, referrals, friends, family and personal contacts. When a property is marketed with the help of your REALTOR®, you do not have to allow strangers into your home. Your REALTOR® will generally prescreen and accompany qualified prospects through your property.
11. Your REALTOR® can help you objectively evaluate every buyer’s proposal without compromising your marketing position. This initial agreement is only the beginning of a process of appraisals, inspections and financing — a lot of possible pitfalls. Your REALTOR® can help you write a legally binding, win-win agreement that will be more likely to make it through the process.
12. Your REALTOR® can help close the sale of your home. Between the initial sales agreement and closing (or settlement), questions may arise. For example, unexpected repairs are required to obtain financing or a cloud in the title is discovered. The required paperwork alone is overwhelming for most sellers. Your REALTOR® is the best person to objectively help you resolve these issues and move the transaction to closing (or settlement).
Our 3-Stage Selling System Ensures the Highest Possible Price in the Shortest Amount of Time.
Three Steps to Selling Your Home in a Buyer’s Market
You have probably heard over and over “It’s a buyer’s market out there.” But, in hearing that, many are left wondering what does that really mean, and how will it affect me if I want to sell my home?
WHAT IS A BUYER’S MARKET?
Put simply, the term “a buyer’s market” means that right now, that’s who has the advantage in the real estate market. Because of these three factors: inventory is high, astoundingly low interest rates, and record-high availability of foreclosed homes; buyers are looking for nothing less than (and can certainly find) what they deem “a steal.”
YOU CAN STILL SELL YOUR HOME!
However, this certainly does not mean you will be unable to sell your home! In fact, a buyer’s market is a great time to sell your home – since there are so many buyers out there! But, just putting a sign in your yard and waiting for the buyers to stampede won’t get the job done! Now – more than ever, you have to have a solid strategy to get your home sold.
STEP ONE: PRICING YOUR HOME RIGHT – THE FIRST TIME!
The homes that are selling right now fall into one of two categories: Perfect, move-in condition at a fantastic price; or Needs work, and is priced well below the neighborhood’s “market value.” Therefore, you need to make a decision before ever listing your home for sale: Spend some time and money to fit your home in the “Perfect” category, or show your house as-is, and price it in the “Steal” category (which means taking more money off the price than it would cost a buyer to “fix it up”). No matter which route you choose – use homes comparable to yours, in or near your neighborhood, that have sold in the last three months to help you establish the asking price for your home. These are not the days where a seller can risk pricing high to “see what they can get.” Pricing your home effectively the first time will help you avoid extended periods of time on the market before a sale, and lost money at the closing table.
STEP TWO: YOUR HOME MUST SHOW WELL – EVERY TIME!
It is imperative that the buyers who see your home get a great first impression. This means don’t show your house before it’s ready! Listing your home with a disclaimer that “some work still in progress” is a terrible idea. A buyer cannot envision the work that “will be done”, nor are they likely to come back later to see what you’ve done. There are too many homes on the market right now to risk letting your buyers leave your home with a less-than impression. Among the most important factors to ensure your home sells well are: great smells, no clutter, and clean, clean, clean!
STEP THREE: EXCELLENT MARKETING IS KEY!
No matter where your home fits on the “price scale,” you MUST get the word out! It is imperative to use all available resources in marketing your home – in order to reach the highest possible number of “ready-to-act” buyers. This means that you (or your agent!) must utilize the latest, cutting edge technology to syndicate information about your home via the internet – to reach buyers both in & out of town, within real estate offices throughout the city (as 97% of buyers work with professional Realtors), and to your neighborhood and to your entire circle of friends and family (leaving no stone unturned!).
While it’s true that there is a lot of “competition” out there – if you follow the above three rules – there is no reason your house can’t sell! If you would like more information about buying or selling a home in your area, please don’t hesitate to contact me! We are always available to answer your questions – and ready to serve your real estate needs. Your complete satisfaction is out goal – because we want to be your Realtor for life! Call us today for a free market analysis of your property 208-343-9393.
Starter Home Styles in Seattle – Part 1
Los Angeles Times - Kobe Bryant has received a reported $6.7-million offer from an Italian team, but it was far from certain Bryant would play there, according to a person familiar with Bryant’s thought process. The lucrative offers, most of them real, keep rolling in for Kobe Bryant. He got a contract offer this week from an Italian pro team, though it was far from certain Bryant would play there, according to a person familiar with Bryant’s thought process.
The new offer is for a reported $6.7 million from Italian team Virtus Bologna, which begins its season Oct. 9 and would have to come up with a huge insurance policy to land Bryant, not to mention the actual cash to get the 13-time all-star to play on the perennially underachieving team.
Bryant, 33, is under contract with the Lakers for three more years and $83.5 million. He has several contract options from the Italian team, according to its general manager, including a shorter per-game deal that would work out to about $740,000 a game. All options are non-binding, allowing Bryant to return to the Lakers if the NBA lockout ends.
"I think the fact that he’s lived in Italy makes this appealing to him," Virtus Bologna executive Massimo Faraoni told the Associated Press. Bryant’s father, Joe, played professionally in Italy when the Lakers star was younger. Virtus Bologna hasn’t won its league since 2001.
Even if Bryant doesn’t take the offer seriously, he continues to be a man in motion since having a non-invasive procedure on his bothersome right knee in Germany three months ago.
He made promotional appearances this summer in the Philippines, China and Singapore, scored 43 points in a pro-am game in Los Angeles, played in a celebrity soccer game in Washington, talked briefly with teams in Turkey and China about playing pro basketball there, and was headed to Europe for more paid appearances next week.
The league also canceled 43 exhibition games, three of them involving the Lakers: Oct. 9 vs. Golden State in Fresno, Oct. 12 vs. Atlanta in Ontario and Oct. 15 vs. Atlanta at Staples Center.
The Lakers were scheduled to open camp Oct. 4, with their annual media day taking place Oct. 3. Both events have been postponed indefinitely because of the lack of progress in NBA labor negotiations.
Twisted Table by Erwin Zwiers
Los Angeles Times - Kobe Bryant has received a reported $6.7-million offer from an Italian team, but it was far from certain Bryant would play there, according to a person familiar with Bryant’s thought process. The lucrative offers, most of them real, keep rolling in for Kobe Bryant. He got a contract offer this week from an Italian pro team, though it was far from certain Bryant would play there, according to a person familiar with Bryant’s thought process.
The new offer is for a reported $6.7 million from Italian team Virtus Bologna, which begins its season Oct. 9 and would have to come up with a huge insurance policy to land Bryant, not to mention the actual cash to get the 13-time all-star to play on the perennially underachieving team.
Bryant, 33, is under contract with the Lakers for three more years and $83.5 million. He has several contract options from the Italian team, according to its general manager, including a shorter per-game deal that would work out to about $740,000 a game. All options are non-binding, allowing Bryant to return to the Lakers if the NBA lockout ends.
"I think the fact that he’s lived in Italy makes this appealing to him," Virtus Bologna executive Massimo Faraoni told the Associated Press. Bryant’s father, Joe, played professionally in Italy when the Lakers star was younger. Virtus Bologna hasn’t won its league since 2001.
Even if Bryant doesn’t take the offer seriously, he continues to be a man in motion since having a non-invasive procedure on his bothersome right knee in Germany three months ago.
He made promotional appearances this summer in the Philippines, China and Singapore, scored 43 points in a pro-am game in Los Angeles, played in a celebrity soccer game in Washington, talked briefly with teams in Turkey and China about playing pro basketball there, and was headed to Europe for more paid appearances next week.
The league also canceled 43 exhibition games, three of them involving the Lakers: Oct. 9 vs. Golden State in Fresno, Oct. 12 vs. Atlanta in Ontario and Oct. 15 vs. Atlanta at Staples Center.
The Lakers were scheduled to open camp Oct. 4, with their annual media day taking place Oct. 3. Both events have been postponed indefinitely because of the lack of progress in NBA labor negotiations.
First Steps to Home Buying
What are the steps to finance and buy a home?
After deciding to buy a home and hiring your real estate agent (it is best if they are an exclusive buyers agent), you will need to think about financing if you haven’t already.
It is best to do this before you spend time looking at homes so that you are ready to make an offer when you find the perfect one! Don’t worry, you don’t always have to put 20% down to qualify for a loan, there are a lot of programs available that require as little as 3%, sometimes less!
Be sure your credit history is as clean as possible, it is best to get copies of your credit report a few months before you start house hunting. It is free to do so and can be done online. If you’d like advice on how to raise your credit please contact me.
- First, you will need to choose a loan officer or mortgage specialist in the area
- You will fill out a loan application and get pre-approved. (don’t confuse this with pre-qualification - pre-approval from a lender is based on your actual credit, income and debt.)
- After you decide what you would like to pay for a home you can select a loan option. You usually have the option of paying additional points – part of the interest you pay at closing – in exchange for a lower interest rate. A lower interest rate will save you money in the long run if you are planning on staying in the house (Although interest rates right now are very low already!)
- Now when you find a home, you will be ready to submit an offer along with an earnest money deposit (usually 1-2% of purchase price) (Don’t worry your real estate agent will help negotiate the offer!) A copy of the accepted purchase contract goes to the lender.
- Next, your lender requires you to get an appraisal on the property. You will also want to hire your own home inspector during this time. Your final loan will still need to be approved for the property, and your credit will be run again. When you are in escrow you don’t want to put anything on credit!
It usually takes around 30 days to close after getting an accepted offer for a traditional sale. Don’t forget, you still have to pay cash for the down payment and any closing costs before you get the keys!
Need more advice or have a question? Contact us today at 208-343-9393!
First Service Group Educates you on Short Sales
| What is a Short Sale?REO/Foreclosure on a home can be very traumatic on a family, the community, the housing market, and the economy. However, the option for a short sale provides a way for homeowners who are in trouble to prevent foreclosure and many of its repercussions.
What is a Short Sale? A short sale is an agreement in where your mortgage lender agrees to accept a payoff on the loan for less than the balance of the home. Lenders may agree to a short sale because they receive more of the loan balance in comparison to the amount they would get from selling the property following a foreclosure. This process also help the community maintain its property values and helps the homeowner maintain a better level of credit compared to going into foreclosure. Most of the time, homeowners considering a doing a short sale must meet strict guidelines to qualify: you must be behind in your mortgage payments, provide evidence of economic hardship, and have little or no equity in the property. A short sale is not a normal real estate transaction. A typical real estate transaction involves the seller of the home and their real estate agent, the buyer of the home and their lender, and their real estate agent. During a short sale situation, all of those parties in addition to the seller’s loan servicer, a housing counselor, any junior lien holders, mortgage investors, and insurers may be involved too. Because there are so many parties involved in a short sale, the process can be confusing to complete without a Realtor to help you. You will want to get the advise and knowledge of a Realtor who has your wellbeing in mind and will accelerate the short sale transaction. It is very important to have a Realtor who won’t miss a detail that could holdup closing the transaction in a timely manner and to the needs required by all parties involved. A qualified Realtor with experience and familiarity in a short sale will also be able to find a qualified buyer to complete the transaction successfully. Homeowners agreeing to a short sale will also be able to consult a tax expert and attain the services of a attorney to help protect themselves from any future claims by the lender. |
HAFA: Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives
The Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives (HAFA) Program is a government-sponsored initiative overseen by the US Treasury Department and administered by Fannie Mae assisting all Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP)-eligible homeowners in avoiding foreclosure, specifically through short sales or deeds-in-lieu of foreclosure. HAFA was announced on November 30, 2009 in a HAMP Update titled Introducing the Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program.
HAFA directs lenders to assist eligible homeowners in quickly and effectively implementing short sales or deeds-in-lieu by providing financial incentives to lenders that carry out foreclosure alternatives through the program’s guidelines set forth in Supplemental Directive 09-09 Revised (revised March 26, 2010). The program was introduced in part with the intent to remove the stigma from short sales and help keep communities from being destroyed through massive foreclosures. HAFA in its current state is only applicable to conventional-type, non-Governmental Serviced Enterprises (non-GSE) mortgages and therefore does not apply to loans owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.4 These organizations may have plans to release their own versions of HAFA.
If you’re a homeowner looking for answers, if you would like to determine if you qualify for HAFA, or if you need an experienced realtor call First Service Group Real Estate at 208-343-9393 or fill out the form below and we will call you. We are locally owned and operated in the Boise, Area.
First Service Group Helps Boise Home Sellers
Selling Your Home In Today’s Market
Selling your home involves much more than just placing a “For Sale” sign in your yard and going to the closing. First Service Group is here to help you prepare your home for sale, market your home, and guide you through the sale process to ensure you sell your home within your time frame and get the best price possible.
We will determine the correct price range for your home, point out things you should do to make your home more appealing to buyers, and devise the most effective plan of action. Here are some of the steps we will take with you to sell your home:
- Go over the selling process, without the technical jargon.
- Perform a comparative market analysis.
- Determine the list and target prices.
- Market your property.
- Keep communication open.
- Present the purchase agreement.
Factors That Affect Your Home’s Sale
There are three main factors that determine how marketable your home is–price, financing, and time:
- Price - If your home is priced too high, you must be willing to wait much longer for your home to sell. Either it will take that much longer to find someone to pay more than the home is worth, or the market will eventually catch up to the asking price of the home through inflation.
- Financing - You may not realize it, but the financing of your buyer can have a tremendous impact on the success of selling your home. Try to offer very attractive financing options. Consider carrying the financing yourself at a below-market interest rate or preparing your home for government financing. This could open the door for many buyers that otherwise wouldn’t even consider your home.
- Time - If your time frame is important then you must be willing to lower the price.
How Much Should You Ask for Your Home?
Of course you want to get the full market value for your home. The first step to getting the best price is to determine the home’s value. We can help you set an asking price by taking the following factors into consideration:
- Your home’s value may depend on recent selling prices of comparable homes in your area. After reviewing the selling prices for such homes, the price is adjusted according to current market trends.
- Buyers most likely look in the price range determined by their monthly payment ability and down payment. Buyers are often very knowledgeable in their price range and purchase by comparison. Unreasonable asking prices are an immediate turn-off.
- Inviting a potential buyer to make an offer shows that you are willing to bargain. But if your asking price is outrageous, the buyer’s offer will most likely also be unreasonable.
- It’s necessary to offer pricing, terms and conditions that are competitive in your market. This will help you sell faster and get the full market value.
Contact us today and we will give you a free comparative market analysis using the factors above to give you an accurate market value. For a limited time we will also create a free marketing plan for your property that will show you why listing with us will make your home sell faster.
