With tax day quickly approaching, it makes sense to take a look at how home ownership makes “cents”!

1.       Homeownership builds wealth over time.

The number one rule of course is to buy a home you can actually afford!

2.       Homeowners build equity every month.

Simply put, the amount you can sell your home for - the amount you owe= Equity. 

When you make a mortgage payment the amount you owe on your home goes down. Thus, as the years go by, your equity grows.

3.       Multiple Mortgage Tax benefits.

At tax time your benefits include: mortgage deduction, closing cost deductions (1st year) and property tax deduction.

4.        Home Equity line benefits.

Shift your higher interest rate debt to a lower interest rate home equity loan PLUS get a deduction on the interest as well.

5.       Homeowners get Capital Gains Exclusions.

After two years you can keep the profits up to $250,000 (single) or $500,000 (married).

This can be relevant in today’s rapidly appreciating market.

6.        A Mortgage is like a forced savings plan.

Paying your mortgage every month and reducing the amount of your principal is like a forced savings plan. Each month you are building up more valuable equity in your home.

 

7.       Buying makes more financial sense than renting.

In the first few years, it may be cheaper to rent. But over time, as the interest portion of your mortgage payment decreases, the interest that you pay will eventually be lower than the rent you would have been paying. Why pay off your landlord’s property when you can pay off your own?!

Buyers Shop on LOGIC and Buy on EMOTION?

I am constantly experiencing this phenomenon. People are always coming to me with a detailed criteria list of their “must haves” and then a home that feels good sends that criteria right out the window! 
This dynamic brings into focus how vital it is to properly prepare your home for sale. Buyers form an opinion within the first 7-10 seconds of arrival. There is no second chance to make a great first impression. The presentation of your home must capture the buyers’ attention. When they emotionally (and mentally) connect to the space they will start to move right in!
Top 4 ways to hook the top buyers?
• Elbow Grease:
Deep cleaning prior to listing and keeping it that way while on the market lends attention to the details we all occasionally overlook in our busy day to day lives.
• Removal of personal items: 
Buyers want to picture themselves in a home surrounded by their vision of comfort and style. A clean slate allows them to imagine their future selves settling in.
• Define a room and its purpose: 
Buyers want to be led visually. How you set the room will add perceived value and maximize the use of your home’s square footage.
• Neutral paint: 
The hot pink walls that were the perfect complement to your daughter’s personality may turn off perspective buyers with a house full of boys. Neutral colors will give them flexibility and appeal to the majority of folks who want a blank canvas as a backdrop for their personal design flair.
Ready to take it up a notch? 
Have your home professionally staged. Staging defines the purpose of rooms, assists buyers to see the potential of awkward spaces and helps buyers emotionally connect to your home. Given that people make snap decisions when presented with your listing creating a great first impression is paramount. Key statistics show that staged homes spend 83% less time on the market and staging returns up to 600% of the money invested! 
At the Buckley Group we are fanatics when it comes to presentation. Vignette staging of our listings on both the sales and leasing sides is a baseline standard. Time is money in our world so the quick turnaround puts money right back into our clients pockets!

It's been no secret to us here at Buckley Group, but the word is out.......
Boise is a great place to invest in real estate!!

The latest news is that Forbes Magazine has ranked Boise #10 on it's list of 2014 Best Buy Cities.

Boise's healthy economy, relatively low home prices, and increasing inventory, make it full of great opportunities for both the first time home buyer and the seasoned investor.


With rates still very low, affordable home prices, and less competition due to increased inventory, now is the perfect time to pick up a Boise property at a great price.

Buckley Group is here to help!  Real estate sales and leasing in the Boise area is our passion and expertise. Give us a call today!

Are you on the fence about whether to purchase a new home in the Boise, Idaho area? Consider these important factors..............
Interest rates directly affect the price of the home a buyer can afford.  With interest rates continuing to hold at all time lows, and the predictions of higher rates in 2014 looming, now may be the perfect time to jump off the fence and take advantage of this increased buying power.
How significant is the buying power of lower rates?       Take the example of a buyer qualified to purchase a home for $200,000 at 4.5%. If the interest rate increases to 5%, the same buyer only qualifies for approximately $188,000. When rates jump to 5.5%, the buying power drops to approximately $178,000.  The difference is much more significant than most people think!
With interest rates over the last 30 years averaging close to 9%, and rates as of October 30th, 2013 at 4.125%, why wait?  NOW is the time to make your move!!!!

Are you a “Newbie” to shopping the Boise,Idaho housing market?
While the search for a new home can be fun, it can also feel like a daunting process.  Before deciding to move forward into homeownership, you will definitely want to consider the following factors.

PRICE
Knowing what you can handle financially is the first step toward understanding the commitment of home ownership. This means being clear on what monthly payment you can afford, what funds you will
need for closing costs and how much you will need as a down payment on the home.

TYPE OF PROPERTY
Are you looking for a single family home, townhome, or condominium? 
Consider the amount of space and privacy you are looking for and how much time and effort
you are willing to put into your home and landscape. Also, take into consideration any extra costs like lawn maintenance and HOA fees.
     
CONDITION OF THE PROPERTY
NEW or OLD?  Do you want a home that is move in ready or are you looking to put in some sweat equity?  
As an example, while properties in areas like the Boise North End have character and charm, you will be putting in time, effort, and money to update and maintain the home?

LOCATION, LOCATION , LOCATION!
Where is your ideal neighborhood?  In my opinion, this is BY FAR the most important to factor to consider. People who love where they live and what surrounds them are most happy with their purchase for the long term. Are you attracted to quiet and peaceful like East Boise’s Surprise Valley, or vibrant and lively like the new urban development of Mill Station, near Lucky 13?  Is proximity to work, family and friends important?  What about access outdoor recreation? If you love the Boise Greenbelt and Foothills, then a community like Harris Ranch might be a great fit for you. Some other points to consider are school district, neighborhood amenities and the overall vibe of the neighborhood.

MUST HAVE VS. LIKE TO HAVE
Prioritizing what you MUST have helps you to sort through the emotional process quickly and easily, assisting you in focusing on the real contenders. Is the floor plan and size of the home most important, or are the bells and whistles like granite countertops and fancy tile work your "must haves"? Be honest with yourself. Based on your budget, what are the necessities and what are the extras?

THE Lesson? 
Taking the time to prepare before you rush out the door to look at homes can make all of the difference. By doing your homework and surrounding yourself with a experience team of realtors and lenders, purchasing a home can be an enjoyable experience!  Contact Kim or Merrill at Buckley Group Boise.  We are here to help you find the perfect home for YOU !!


 

As we come off of the high of the long Fourth of July weekend, I have been thinking about how grateful I am to live where I do.  We all know Boise rocks, but specifically I love SE Boise for SO many reasons. Here are my top two!!

The location is FANTASTIC!  When plans unexpectedly changed for my family on the 4th, we were left wondering …..so what do we do now?  Enter my super fun neighbors (who I will admit I handpicked since I sold them their home!) with a last minute invite to float the Boise River. Yes please!!!  So off we go for some fun in the sun….just 10 minutes from our homes too!   SE Boise offers so many wonderful opportunities for outdoor enjoyment. The Boise River, Lucky Peak Reservoir, the Greenbelt and Foothills access for hiking, biking and running, the Shakespeare Festival, Lucky 13 and Bown Crossing just to name a few.  All this only steps from your back door.  It just doesn’t get better than that!!

The people are AWESOME!   While floating down the river, Merrill and I decide that a BBQ sounds fun, so we contact some previous clients and friends  who live in our hood and pull together a small last minute Fourth of July BBQ at the Trailside Place II common area.   Or so we thought small……Turns out when you provide delicious food (my neighbors can cook!) drinks, fireworks and music, the SE Boise fun crowd comes out to play!!  By the end of the evening, we had made at least 30 new friends, not just from Trailside Place II, but from the surrounding neighborhoods of Solaire and Trailside Place I!! We watched as our kids had a blast setting off fireworks, dancing  to the music and stuffing themselves on hot dogs and cupcakes with blue frosting.  At the end of the night old friends and new friends enjoyed watching a fantastic fireworks show from our perch overlooking the downtown area. This is just an example of the sense of community in SE Boise that is unlike anywhere else in the valley. We love where we live and we love those around us.

I can’t sign off without a special shout out to Amber and Dana Hawkins, Megan and Aaron Brown, Katie and Cale Marthens, Jessica and JC Porter and Jaci Natoniewski for helping to make our Fourth of July shindig a smashing success!  Here’s to many more neighborhood gatherings and fun times in SE Boise!!!!

If living the SE Boise lifestyle is something that you appeals to you, we are here to assist. Many of our neighbors and friends were previous clients. In fact, one of my favorite things about being a realtor is the opportunity to help families find a community where they can create friendships and a life with many happy memories. Isn’t that what it’s all about anyway??

~ Kim Lindow