Now is the time to buy a house in Boise, Idaho

Now is the time to buy a house in Boise, Idaho.

I've lived in Boise Idaho for almost twenty years. In my four years as a real estate appraiser and my sixteen years as a Realtor I have never seen a market like we have now.

If you can qualify for a loan and you are willing to look for what you want, I can help you find it. First, determine where you would like to live. Sometimes it has to do with where your family is or isn't. Sometimes it has to do with your job. Sometimes it has to do with how you practice your faith.

Once you have mapped where you want to live, now have your Realtor see if there is any housing that fits your budget there. I know people who would like to live in San Francisco, but they can't afford to live there. We have some neighborhoods here that not all people can afford.

Thirdly, once your have location, location, location in place and you can afford to live there, then determine what you need in a house. I marvel that when I was a child we had a family of five with three bedrooms, one bath and a one car garage with a total under 1,100 square feet in the house, and I turned out just fine.

If you live within your means you can take vacations, save for the children's education, allow your husband or wife to stay home with the children.

So, determine how many rooms you need and how you will use them. Determine how important it is to have a larger garage, or if you like a certain type of architecture that won't even have a garage, but you would be thrilled to live in that house.

Make that list. If you determine you need at least three bedrooms and two baths and a 2-car garage and at least 1,200 square feet, then don't look at homes that don't meet those criteria.

Take your time! Get addresses and drive to the homes and see if you like the neighborhoods, the entries on to busy streets. Is it easy to make a left turn to go towards your child's school or towards work. Where are the stores to go shopping for food and clothing? Look on-line and then look at only the ones that match your criteria.

Hire a good Realtor who can point out the good and bad of a home and who will be honest with you when you ask if this is a good deal, not just someone who wants a payday.

Let me know how I can help.