Bev Boeck

Clients frustrated? Feel ripped off and can't call the police to file a report? For starters, go HERE. Read up on the "Notice and Opportunity to Repair Act" in Idaho; it is constructed in a way that is similar to an inspection contingency in a Purchase and Sale Contract, with sensitive time-limits (so that your or your clients' problem does not go on, and on, and on--part of the original problem, right?)--Just read through it, and you get the idea that there is help for you or your clients, on the shiny side of the badge (law).

We all know that sometimes construction defects, major and minor, just never get fixed by the builder because it is supposedly "expensive" for that builder, and enforcing what is right for the new construction buyer is major-league expensive too, right? Well, someone working for the State of Idaho, perhaps following other States' lead (California has laws like this, and takes it a step further: if you are a senior citizen homeowner with this problem and the builder blows you off, watch out! And maybe that is "coming soon" to Idaho...stay tuned) put this law into place, thereby potentially making "enforcement"/legal costs less expensive for consumers.

Contractors in Idaho must register with the Idaho State Contractors Board, as provided by Idaho Law. There is a short pdf handbook entitled, "Residential Construction" that you can download, and it tells you how to check out the contractor ahead of time, how to file a complaint if necessary (which goes on the contractor's registration--not good), and supplies phone numbers and links for your clients to get help.
Here's a link to the Idaho Consumer Protection Manual, and it even includes info for problems when a contractor repairs or remodels your home.

Great resources, right under our Idaho noses, right?

"Is it here? Have we reached the bottom, Bev?"

Hey, I don't know about the "bottom," but I do know that things have picked up tremendously here in the Treasure Valley, and I'll just attribute it all to extremely cheap money/low interest rates, loads of great properties to choose from, motivated sellers, and outstanding, well-qualified, highly communicative real estate agents to work with.

I also know that the only time you really recognize the magic bottom is, after things truly bottom out and you start working your way back up. Seems like we're doing that now, don't you think?

Yep, everything's going to come up roses... :)

Below is a market report grid for Ada County. Data pulled from Intermountain MLS. If you would like additional information on a specific city within the county, please write Bev@AccentIdaho.com and I'll gladly oblige. Boise and Meridian both are great examples of areas so large that they are broken into several pieces, such as "NE Boise" or "Boise Bench," etc., so if you're interested in info for a specific area, please just let me know! Eagle's average price decreased once again, but you'll notice, not quite as much as from February to March. NW Boise on the other hand, stayed nearly the same in average price, while chocking up nearly the same amount of sales; 20. Of the 20, 3 were new construction, and 17 existing homes. Similarly, Eagle's break down of their 27 solds was 4 new construction and 23 existing.

Check out the site here. I went to Eagle, ID where it says, "Try it now. Enter your city:" And then I clicked the button/link "More Info..." and captured graphs for price trends in the area, price per square foot, and even the number of homes for sale for Eagle on that given day.

Here's Boise, ID

Meridian, ID

Star, ID

See how you like it; I checked it against our Intermountain MLS data and it does appear to be pretty accurate. Might even link it on my Active Rain forum here, and would appreciate your feedback in the comments section below.

Below is a market report grid for Ada County. Below that is the February + January grid, I've left on here for ease of comparison. Data pulled from Intermountain MLS. If you would like additional information on a specific city within the county, please write Bev@AccentIdaho.com and I'll gladly oblige.

As yet, IMLS does not break out the foreclosure/short sale/REO data in their monthly/quarterly reports, but perhaps that is coming soon; our local listings just began utilizing these classifications for ease of searching. Boise and Meridian both are great examples of areas so large that they are broken into several pieces, such as "NE Boise" or "Boise Bench," etc., so if you're interested in info for a specific area, please just let me know!

Could "Spring-Springing" explain the large jump in total SOLD single family homes since last month? Meanwhile, notice the larger increase in the number of SOLD new construction single family homes. Eagle's average price took a hit, while the number of Ada County single family homes actively for sale rises steadily from the beginning of this year...