It may come as a surprise then that those who were satisfied with owning a home, only 24% said it was because the value of their home went up. The majority had many other reasons they were happy with owning a home like: it proves the American Dream is still alive, pride of ownership,and the freedom to control their home environment.

On the bright side, most – three out of four – are very happy with home ownership even in spite of such rocky real estate times where declines in home values have devastated some homeowners.

Maybe you wonder if these results effect your area? The survey shows that the highest percentage of satisfied homeowners came from the Northeast where there is a 77% satisfaction rate according to real estate data provider HomeGain. Pulling in close behind is the Southeast with 73% with the West and Midwest following at 71% and 68%.

Unfortunately, it looks as though those who purchased their homes within a time frame of the past three to eight years were the least satisfied. If they bought more than eight years ago, they tended to be more satisfied. No doubt this is a direct reflection of the real estate bubble popping.

Does price matter?

Turns out the high-end market buyers were the least satisfied with owning a home, especially if they paid over $800k. The luxury homes buyers dissatisfaction rate was up around 59%.  Of course, a lot of homes have been sold through foreclosure and short sale; those purchasing a foreclosed or short sale had the highest satisfaction ratings; 79 percent and 83 percent, respectively.

What has been the biggest factor in being satisfied with a home purchase? For many it’s just the fact of owning it. Many have rented homes off and on and are fed up with the hassles of landlords; regardless of market conditions there’s nothing quite like the pride of ownership that comes with a home.

Recently the economy has begun to show it’s first signs of a definite turn around; as such home prices have begun to go up. That considered there really is no better time to buy a home in Idaho than right now! Idaho Properties can help you find the homes in Idaho that you want easily – visit our main website to begin searching for homes.

According to the latest Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report, the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR):  “Nine of the top 10 most cost-effective projects nationally in terms of value recouped are exterior replacement projects.”

With these exterior projects outperforming their remodeling counterparts, adding a little curb appeal to your home on the market may not only be a good idea but could make all the difference in attracting a buyer and the return on your home.

This is not to say that needed interior updates should be forgotten, as a good second impression within your home may be what seals the deal and can make you stand out from the competition in your area. It is simply that in today’s economy, even according to the National Association of REALTORS: “remodeling projects, particularly higher cost upscale projects, have been losing resale value in recent years because of weak economic conditions.”

The appeal of curb appeal projects, really is that a little money can go a long way. Topping the list? Steel entry doors are returning 102.1 percent of their cost upon resale, these more sturdy exterior doors lending a stability to the homes entrance as well as better insulation value.

While most projects don’t bring the profit returns of steel entry doors, sellers have some other great options for attracting buyers. Here are a few exterior updates that might be worth a look:

Siding and window replacements – 70 or more percent of costs recouped

Midrange garage door replacement – 83.9 percent of costs recouped

Upscale fiber-cement siding replacement – 80 percent of cost recouped

Wood deck additions – 72.8 percent of costs recouped

“It’s important to remember that the resale value of a particular improvement project depends on several factors,” says National Association of Realtors® President Ron Phipps. “Things such as the home’s overall condition, availability and condition of surrounding properties, location and the regional economic climate contribute to an estimated resale value.”

With curb appeal once again reigning supreme it may be a good idea to take a look into what you can do to amp up the outside of your home – what you invest could end up making all the difference in your returns.

Do you need to sell your home in Idaho? Don’t let current market conditions keep you from getting the most on your investment – contact the Idaho real estate professionals at Idaho Properties today to find out how working with a qualified Idaho REALTOR® can help you sell your home or find your next one!

This money is intended to provided zero interest loans of up to $50,000 for Idaho home owners in danger of losing their homes to foreclosure because of job loss, lack of employment, or medical conditions.

The director of the IHFA is speculating that many Idaho homeowners in financial trouble didn’t apply for the money because they thought it would already be gone. Those in the know find it highly more likely there were not more applications simply because no one even knew the money was available.

What leads one to think most Idahoans have NO idea the money even exists? Just 25 applications have been approved since the program was unveiled in April — committing just $993,185 of the $13 million.

Besides that the application process apparently is not an expedient one: IHFA spokeswoman Katrina Thompson said about 300 applications are still being reviewed. Reviewing them is no small task; unfortunately most of the 38 applications that have been rejected were because of incomplete documentation.

For Idaho homeowners that qualify, the program lends them enough money to get their mortgage current. If the amount is less than the $50,000 cap, the balance can be used to help pay the mortgage for up to 24 months.

The IHFA notes that HUD will forgive 20 percent of the loan per year if homeowners remain current on their mortgage for the next five years.The size of the loan is based on a needs assessed and approved by IHFA.

Idaho homeowners that are rejected for the program aren’t completely out of luck: they can still receive IHFA counseling on what other options exist for staying out of foreclosure. Idaho is full of homeowners in need of this kind of assistance as the Gem State has ranked among the top 10 states for per-capita foreclosures for over 2 years straight. Overall fewer foreclosures on the market will help move out the stagnant inventory and bolster home prices.

Are you looking for just the right Boise home for sale or property in Idaho? Idaho properties can help you find exactly the real estate you are looking for! Visit our website for the best Boise homes for sale and more!

It doesn’t take years in the real estate business to see that home prices aren’t what they were even just a few years ago. The latest statistics show Idaho leading a national decline in statewide home prices at a rate of over 15% between this year and last, with the Treasure Valley itself actually being about 5% less than that.

The Ada County Association of REALTORS says that while that is still a large decline there are some things which could be an indication of a stablizing market.

Right now Ada County has the lowest inventory of homes since 2005 and a larger population – this degree of low supply, high demand has helped to stimulate sales; many valley agents are seeing a small increase in property movement.

What’s keeping the inventory low and the demand high? It could be investors. According to one Treasure Valley Real Estate Investment specialist, more and more investors are coming to the Treasure Valley for it’s prime real estate deals. Those investors are here for deals and they are literally buying up the bottom first. With over 50% of foreclosed homes in Boise being priced below $120,000 that’s no surprise!

On the opposite side of the coin however this same low inventory high demand sweet spot could be good news for those still looking to sell their homes in Idaho. With the number of available properties decreasing it is only a matter of time before the price for those remaining properties values will increase.

Is is the right time to sell your home? Maybe you are looking for a home but not sure where to even start? The Boise real estate professionals at Idaho Properties can help you no matter what your real estate needs may be!

These factors have some predicting home sales to go as much as 10% higher than last year.

It’s an interesting relationship that we find between the employment rate and real estate. Few people realize over 2.5 million jobs are created every year from the real estate industry alone. Currently the unemployment rate stands at about 9% but many feel if the real estate market continues its recovery we could see as many as 1.5 million new job in 2011 – which would doubtless be a great boon to the economy overall.

Based on the National Association of REALTORS Housing Affordability Index housing prices are still the most affordable that they’ve been in recent history. According to this Index those who earn the national median incom have 170% of the income needed to purchase a home priced at the current nation wide median cost. 2011 marks the fourth year of little price change in homes and many experts expect median home prices to stay around $170,000 for the next couple of years.

Part of this great home affordability can be attributed to the low interest rates. Combined with a large surplus of distressed homes it’s not hard to see why the market is ripe with so many great deals!

Despite both of those facts however some lending experts worry that new overly strict standards may be cause for the present lack of more robust home sales figures.

The best plan for success is to work with a qualified Idaho REALTOR that knows the current real estate market conditions and can advise you of changes that might impact you. By using the services of an experienced real estate agent you can insure your best interests are taken care of. Contact Idaho Properties today for the best Boise Idaho real estate services!

Sooner or later, no matter how well you know the people living around you a dispute can and will arise. Though it may be difficult to reach amicable decisions when it comes to neighborly disputes, finding a solution to these issues is well worth it, as no one wants to make an enemy of the people they live next to. When you share a property line with another person there will come a time when you will have to be involved in joint decisions. Should your fence be replaced? Who is responsible for sidewalk maintenance?

Here are three of the most common causes of neighbor disputes, and how to handle them in a “neighborly” way.

1. Trees:
For the most part you are allowed to trim branches that overhang into your property, but no more. The actual owner of the tree is whoever’s property contains the trunk of said tree. Should you damage or destroy a tree that is no your own you become liable for thoe damages which may well exceed the value of the tree itself (replacement of the tree, uprooting sod etc). If there is some danger of the tree falling onto a structure on your property or your home, then you may have some recourse through local or city ordinances, and of course any HOA bylaws.

2. Good Neighbors, Good Fences:
An ugly fence might not be to your liking but unless your HOA has specific rules regarding what kind of fence is allowed (and they likely do) you may have some trouble trying to argue aesthetical taste with your next door neighbor. Should the fence be in disrepair however it becomes the responsibilty of the land owners on both sides to act accordingly – unless both owners have a prior agreement or have paid for their fencing separately. The best course of action is to talk with your neighbor first, as any changes to the fence may effect their property and many states have harsh penalties for crossing these boundaries.

3. If it’s too loud you’re too old:
Well, not quite. Almost every town has a noise orginance which generally outline reasonable times and decibel levels at which residents can make noise. If you end up having recurring issues with a neighbor about the amount of noise they are making, or regarding the time it is being made, it may be best to allow local authorities to enforce their own ordinances and make a “courtesy” call to resolve the issue.

Whenever any issue arises, take it upon yourself to talk to your neighbor one on one, don’t be the neighborhood tattle-tale and call the HOA or police to come pounding down their door. Approach the situation gingerly. Be conscious that for every viewpoint of your own, there are 10 other, and equally valid, points. By working with some tolerance for the rights and priveleges of others (even if they are not respecting your own) you can often come to a much more peaceful, and even mutually beneficial resolution to any situation.

Don’t go over if when you are angry or emotional. This will only hurt your chances of finding a good solution and likely lead to more strife with your neighbors.

Don’t be afraid to be truthful. You are worried that a tree will fall, yes, but you also hate the way it blocks the sun from your porch. State your issues calmly, and honestly, without stepping on toes if possible.

Unless it’s a city law or HOA ordinance, be willing to make a compromise, as well as to offer concessions to a neighbor. Everything in life is a bit of give and take, problems with the neighbors are no different.

Should your calm and direct approach backfire, or your neighbor becomes irate by no means should you tolerate abuse.Hand off this issue to the appropriate authorities like your HOA, or local city police.

As a last resort you may have to seek legal action and while this may break an already stressed relationship with the people around you sometimes it is the only way to come to a resolution. If you must go to court, be prepared, gather evidence by taking photos of the issue and document any interaction you have with your neighbor about the problem in question.

If a legal decision is rendered that is not in your favor, be sure to accept it and to move on. There is no need for harassment or childish behavior — it will surely only make the problem worse.

The services of great Boise Realtors doesn’t stop when the house is sold. By offering helpful Idaho home owner tips we hope to provide useful information to you and build a relationship for years to come. Remember, whenever you need the help of real estate professionals in Boise, you can come to Idaho Properties to get the very best Realtor Services in Idaho!