Jim Paulson (Owner/Broker)

The "C" word used to be almost unspeakable. People used to really be uneasy around others with cancer as if they had Leprocy or wondering if they could catch it on toilet seats like people used to think about AIDS.

Thanks to people going public with this disease and great works from various organizations we are making some headway, but have a long way to go.

Here are a few commendable sites that I have liked:

• Susan G. Koman www.koman.org
• Lance Armstrong Foundation www.LiveStrong.com
• Look Good Feel Better Program (provides free education and makeup) www.lookgoodfeelbetter.org
• Caring Bridge Foundation www.CaringBridge.com
• many others

When I saw the advertising this year for the Susan G. Koman Boise Race for the Cure, I loved their bold approach. It shows cancer patients from Boise with "pink" hair drawn in. This ad was created by the Stoltz Group. www.stoltzgroup.com

This inspired me to create a shirt for the team that is running on behalf of my wife (even though she has a different form of cancer)

Here is a link to their team on the Susan G. Koman website:

http://race.komenboise.org/site/TR?pg=team&fr_id=1060&team_id=13640

Recently, my wife was diagnosed with Stage 4 Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma. On the first day of Chemo, I saw a fellow Realtor in the lobby of the Mountain States Tumor Institute with the "tell tale scarf of baldness". She informed me she had just received her last chemo treatment for breast cancer.

When I was doing some research online, I ran across a link on Facebook called I bet I can find 1,000,000 people who have been affected by cancer. I posted an anonymous photo on there only to have another Realtor in another part of my state recognize me and wonder who I was kissing in the photo. Turns out she is a breast cancer survivor herself.

Today, I was at the Ada County Association of Realtors office when a lady wearing a scarf asked me: "You don't recognize me without my long hair do you?" I felt horrible as I said, "no not really". I used to work in the same office as her, and had talked to her just a few months ago prior to her chemo. Now she proudly wears her "tell tale scarf of baldness".

When my wife started loosing her hair, we decided to make an event out of it.

She went from this great look...

to this. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . .to this

Then, out with the old

in with the new!

Cancer effects not only the person that contracted it, but each and every one of us! The next time you see someone that asks for your donate to the American Cancer Society, the Susan Komen Foundation, etc., I hope consider it. As Realtors, we touch a lot of people in our community, so better yet, take an active role in spreading the need for a cure.

I have seen some websites with some incredible tattoos in memory of those that lost their battle. I have seen my twelve year old son's basketball team mates wear pink shirts in support of my wife. I have seen my 86 year old father cry when he heard the news. I have seen posters in the hospital saying "help protect second base" to support breast cancer patients. I have seen Lance Armstrong in person talking about his battle with cancer. I have read about some of his programs via the Live Strong Foundation to help with cancer patients and their families.

As you look around and see friends and family members stricken with this horrible disease, ask yourself what people have seen you doing about it?

A few suggestions for those of you that are immediately impacted by a major illness like this:

1. Create an email group of people you want to keep informed. Write a single letter and broadcast it to the group to keep from having to go through the emotional trauma each time. This also helps get everyone on the same page at the same time.
2. Consider creating a website / blog about it so friends and family can stay up to date. One site I just started using yesterday is called www.CaringBridge.com I uploaded these photos and more on the site that I did for my wife at www.CaringBridge.com/visit/ValiantMom
3. Realize some days you're the "windsheild" and some days your the "bug". It isn't our choice. It is not a punishment, it just is.
4. Deal with the emotions, don't keep them bottled up inside. If you don't your stress will kill you before the cancer tries to kill your loved one! Then, they will have to deal with that stress and their cancer/illness.
5. There are lots of different types of support groups available. Thanks for being one of mine!

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provided a federal income tax credit for first-time homebuyers of 10% of the sales price, up to a maximum of $8,000. This tax credit is available to qualified home buyers who purchase a home by December 1, 2009. In order to help buyers monetize this tax credit for down payment and closing costs when they purchase a home, I know of a great new strategy for qualified borrowers that are looking here in Idaho! We still have a few legal hoops to jump through; however essentially, a subordinate loan will be offered to qualified borrowers of up to $7,000, not to exceed 100% CLTV at 3.0% interest and with a due date of July 1, 2010. The Tax Credit 2nd loan is expected to be paid off from the borrowers tax refund obtained through the application of the federal tax credit. Borrower qualifications are; 1) the borrower is a first time homebuyer, 2) a FICO score of no less than 640, and a total debt ratio of no more than 45% is required, 3) a completed certification from the home buyer and a qualified tax preparer that he/she expects a tax refund of at least the amount of the loan, and 4) the home buyer qualifies for an special loan. First time homebuyers with credit scores of 700+ will not be required to produce a certification.

I have just researched the market in the MLS for Meridian Idaho. With the new tax credits and incentives, it is a great time to consider real estate again. It is still a buyer's market with lots of choices, for example, there are 1,184 single family residential choices in Meridian alone right now! Of those homes, the median price is $214,900. The median price of the 210 homes that have closed in Meridian so far in 2009 is $179,199. There are currently 214 home pending in the MLS and another 62 that have contingent offers on them. 322 of the active listings are new construction homes with a median price of $199,900. Of the 73 new homes that have closed in Meridian this year, their median price was $179,398 (almost identical to resale). Based on the year to date closings we are finally under a year of standing inventory in new home construction again. Considering the fact that January and February are typically two of the slowest closing months of the year, and the 3-4 month delay in building new inventory, I expect the inventory to be in balance this summer again. Most economists I talk to believe a 3 - 6 month inventory of new homes is healthy. There are great new loan options available to make better use of the tax credits that were just rolled out so call me if you are looking to buy or sell so we can put this data to work for you! Jim Paulson, CRS, GRI Owner/Broker - Progressive Realty Corporation

I am a Realtor in Meridian, Idaho (suburb of Boise). For years, I have used an "Alternate of Choice" counter offer process but am surprised it isn't used more often.

Say for example, you have a home listed for $250,000 and an offer comes in at $250,000 asking for $10,000 in financial incentives so the net to the seller is effectively an offer of $240,000. In my scenerio, I might prepare two simultaneous counter offers:

• Counter offer #1 = Raise price from $250,000 to $255,000 including the concession;
• Counter offer #A = Drop the concession and sell the home for $245,000.