How we helped Dale with her real estate needs by making sure she had a place to stay

"We had excellent results. Mike did a very good job for us. He really went out of his way to find us a place to stay after we sold our home. He found a house that had been on the market for a long time and called the people to ask if they would let us rent it from them before we moved into our new house. He arranged everything which we really appreciated!"

-Dale Fleischman, Home Buyer

How we helped first time home buyer Mandi by knowing exactly what she needed

"Because of Mike’s experience and help, we were able to buy our first home. We were very inexperienced and really didn’t know what we were doing but Mike helped us along in the whole process. He kept us informed the entire time and overall it was just really great to work with him. We had some communication issues with our builder and Mike was able to take care of the situation and be the intermediate between us and the builder. He knew exactly what to be asking for and what we needed."

-Mandi Beard, Home Buyer

How we helped Richard sell his home by giving him good advice

"I was very satisfied with our results when working with Mike. One thing that really stood out to us was that he gave us an indication of something when we wanted to close on our house.  He suggested that we got a little higher and it got us some extra money so we appreciated his advice!"

-Richard Harward, Home Seller

How we helped Tom with his real estate transaction paying attention to his needs

"We had positive results! Ultimately, Mike got us into a house that we’re very happy with and he got us the best price we could get for our old house. He worked very hard on our behalf and really paid attention to what we wanted. He knew how badly we wanted to get out of the last house and gave us good advice along the way."

-Tom Lenderink, Home Buyer

How we helped Wendy sell her home by bringing in a specialist when needed

"Mike was able to sell my house! We had a couple that wanted to buy the house but the guy was hesitant because we had said that 8 years prior we had some water come in.  He thought that there was mold so he had a service come in and do an inspection. They guy said that there wasn’t any but there was one more step to the process so they sent it over to Washington DC. It came back that the spore count was off so Mike got on the horn and had a mold specialist come in. He did an inspection and said that there was no mold in the home. That’s just what Mike does! He knows how to dig down and get the right person for the job!"

-Wendy Cavan, Home Seller

Why Are Current Market Conditions Perfect for Selling?

The Idaho Falls real estate market is diverse with both buyers and sellers alike seeking a variety of different properties. As a prospective seller, you can find out the market value of your property with a free home value report right here, or if you're looking to purchase in the Idaho Falls click here for full MLS access. Always feel free to reach out to us for any questions regarding the current market conditions, or the value of your property at 208.227.5320.

In our last video we brought up the issue of inventory and the fact that we have a shortage in the Idaho Falls area. In fact, the entire market has only 656 homes available. That's typically a level we see in January and February, so it's pretty uncommon to see such low inventory levels right now. If you're thinking about selling, now is the time to get top dollar for your home, as there are fewer homeowners to compete with. 

There are a couple myths in the current marketplace that we hope to dispel. The first is that homes don't sell during the winter months. But they actually do. Last year, our sales were off a little bit in December and January, but they saw an increase in February before really accelerating in March. 

From a buyer's standpoint, you're going to find that sellers are more prepared during this time. Sellers are very serious about getting their home sold in a timely manner. Negotiating contracts and finding a middle ground that benefits both sides is simply easier to do in the wintertime. This gives the Idaho Falls market a year-round balance.

If you get your home ready for the market (what we call "HGTV condition") and properly price it, you will find a buyer. Your home should be able to sell in 30 to 60 days if you do these simple things. If your home doesn't sell, you have probably missed the market with your pricing. To avoid this, give a local real estate professional a call for help. We have the data and resources necessary to ensure an efficient home sale.

The Idaho Falls market is active year round. Interest rates are still very low, making now a great time for buyers to buy. These conditions are perfect for sellers and buyers to get what they want from a real estate transaction.

If you have any questions about current conditions, or would simply like to discuss your options, don't hesitate to give me a call or shoot me an email. We would love to hear from you!

Are Your Mortgage Rates likely to Rise in 2015?

The Idaho Falls real estate market is diverse with both buyers and sellers alike seeking a variety of different properties. As a prospective seller, you can find out the market value of your property with a free home value report right here, or if you're looking to purchase in the Idaho Falls click here for full MLS access. Always feel free to reach out to us for any questions regarding the current market conditions, or the value of your property at 208.227.5320.

When I'm running around town and I run into past clients, I often get the question: "Hows the market?" Since that's not always an easy question to answer, I thought I would try do so in today's blog.

We are currently very low on inventory. Only 656 homes are on the market, which isn't much. For instance, in 2008 we had 1,078 homes on the market and 1,025 in 2010! Because we have such a lack of inventory, we're seeing some pressure on certain price ranges. 

If you're thinking about selling, now might be the time. Contrary to popular opinion, homes do sell in the winter months. For the first half of 2014, sales were down 7% as compared to 2013. However, the last three months have been quite strong, as sales are up over 16% over the same three months a year ago. This increase in sales has effectively reduced inventory levels. 

We've been watching interest rates closely, as they play a huge role in how the market operates as a whole. Just yesterday I was quoted a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rate with only 3.75% interest. Obviously, rates remain incredibly low at the moment. However, I recently read an article that said average mortgage rates are likely to rise by mid-2015, and climb as high as 6% by 2016! A 1% change in interest rates is the equivalent of an 11% change in buying power. For example, if you're borrowing $200,000 at today's rate, your principal and interest payment would be $925. If rates go up 1%, in order to have that same $925 payment, you would only be able to borrow $178,000! The type of home you can get for $200,000 is radically different than one you would have to settle for at $178,000. 

These are just some things to think about. The market moves in cycles and we are currently seeing favorable conditions for buyers and sellers alike. If you would like more information on current market conditions, or would like to discuss your options, please give us a call or shoot us an email. We would love to hear from you!