Leslie Hampton Realtor Boise and Eagle Idaho Homes

Congratulations to the track and field team from Eagle High School! The Eagle High School girls won the state track and field championship for 5A girls; while the Eagle High School boys took 2nd. Excellent work, Eagle! The boys from Capital High School in Boise took 1st place for 5A boys. Great job, Capital!

I spent Thursday and Friday afternoons/evenings at the BSU stadium, watching my 2 high-school age children compete in the state finals, for which they qualified the previous week at districts. My son Nick is a senior at Eagle High School, while my daughter Gina, a freshman, goes to Rocky Mountain High School in Meridian. Nick competed in the 4x800 relay, the 800 meter open and the 4X400 relay. Nick took second in the state in the 800 meter race. Gina pole vaulted; this was her first year as a high school track and field athlete and I'm so proud of her for making it to the state championships as a freshman! Great job, Gina! I'm so proud of my kids and all of their friends for putting in the work that's required to compete as track and field athletes. They work out in all kinds of weather, when they're sick and still able, when they may not want to and when they could be out running around with their friends instead. My children also run in cross country in the fall, so they are running year 'round. Keep up the focus and great work, kids!

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Todays's Idaho Statesman delivered numbers I was expecting, but am still dismayed at seeing in black and white: Idaho ranks #8 in real estate foreclosure filings in the nation, based on April 2009 numbers.

Additional points:

• Nationally, foreclosure filings spiked 32% last month over April of 2008
• California, Nevada and Florida still have the highest foreclosure rates
• According to RealtyTrac, over 342,000 households nationally received some sort of foreclosure related notice
• In Idaho, 1 in every 147 households was at some stage of the foreclosure process
• RealtyTrac predicts that, because much of the foreclosure activity in April was early in the foreclosure process, the coming months will bring more repossessions

* I would like to know how many of these foreclosures are due to real estate speculation. I say that because of the states that are in the most distress. It seems to me that speculators flocked to several states during the "boom" and now those areas are especially hard hit. Non-owner occupied stats would be very interesting to see

In my opinion, the silver lining in this news, at least in Idaho, is that we have several positive things happening right now that will help real estate on a local level absorb what will be a new influx of bank owned properties. From my blog post yesterday:

1. Good weather is here and we're out of the winter doldrums
2. Prices have been slashed
3. Rates are good and banks are lending
4. Activity is up! Buyers are "pulling the trigger", the steady drum beat of bad real estate news (locally) has eased up and I think that has given many buyers more confidence in their decision to buy
5. The 2009 First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit will remain in place for several more months

I've got great news for Boise area buyers and sellers.

1. Good weather is here and there's more around the corner! We all know that it's much more pleasant to look at homes when we're not slipping on ice, being rained on or climbing back into freezing cars after looking at each home. Inclement weather can make for unpleasant house shopping!

2. With the good weather, comes flowers, green grass and trees with leaves. This may sound like a small point, but it's huge. Homes are more appealing with deep green grass and cheery flowers than with yellow, dormant lawns and barren landscaping beds. It's much easier as a seller to put your best foot forward when your home is appealing from the street.

3. Prices are LOW, LOW, LOW. This is good for buyers AND sellers. Buyers benefit, of course, from lower prices and sellers do, too if they purchase another home in a buyer's market. Sellers may take a hit on price on the selling side, but they will more than make up for it when they buy, especially when they move up.

4. Rates are great! Not only are rates great, but banks are freeing up money, plus there are some great programs available to help with downpayment and closing cost assistance.

5. Homes are selling! We are seeing an increase in sales activity in Boise area home sales. Intermountain MLS says that the number of homes sold in Ada County (Boise, Meridian, Kuna, Eagle) rose 12% last month, that's the second-largest increase from March to April in over 10 years. Intermountain Multiple Listing Service also says that sales in Canyon County (Nampa, Caldwell, Middleton) rose a whopping 16%!

6. The 2009 First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit is in place and buyers are taking advantage of it. As I've said before, the United States Government is giving first time homebuyers and buyers that haven't owned a primary residence in at least 3 years a credit of up to $8000. That's a huge incentive- especially when coupled with great rates and low prices.

Real estate in the Boise area is on an upswing right now. Buyers and sellers, take note!

The Idaho Housing and Finance Association has made the American dream of homeownership a little easier for first-time homebuyers in Idaho.

IHFA is offering a new first-time homebuyer tax credit loan for qualified homebuyers in Idaho. This loan can be used along with the Good Credit Rewards 2nd Mortgage to help with buyer's closing costs and down payments.

NOW is a terrific time to take advantage of the 2009 housing tax credit and with this tax credit 2nd loan, buyers can purchase their new home now, rather than wait for their tax refund. Buyers can learn more about the tax credit 2nd loan at www.IdaMortgage.com.

On Saturday, May 14, 2009, Keller Williams Realty Boise will Renew Energize and Donate!

On Saturday, May 2nd, Keller Williams agents and staff will be loading backpacks loaded with essential items to give to children that have been displaced from their homes and have been placed in foster care. Items in the backpacks will include necessary toiletry items, as well as new soft blankets, stuffed toys and pajamas. The backpacks will be presented to the Idaho Health and Welfare System on May 14th, 2009.

This event is part of a larger company wide initiative called RED DAY. This will be Keller Williams Realty International's single largest community service event to date. Keller Williams has a heart for those in need!

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