Negative Equity Soars In Bosie Metro Area

In the Boise metro area, 34 percent of homes are now worth less than what is owed on the mortgage.

Homes in this category are referred to as “underwater” or “upside down” properties, and their ranks have been growing as home values have declined.

The Boise area’s performance has been worse than both the national average and the state average, according to national research firm First American CoreLogic. Nationally, 24 percent of all residential properties with mortgages were in negative equity at the end of the fourth quarter of 2009. In Idaho, 23 percent of residential mortgages (53,663 homes) were under water in that quarter.

“Negative equity is a significant drag on both the housing market and on economic growth. It is driving foreclosures and decreasing mobility for millions of homeowners,” said Mark Fleming, chief economist with First American CoreLogic. “Since we expect home prices to slightly increase during 2010, negative equity will remain the dominant issue in the housing and mortgage markets for some time to come.”

If you are having trouble making your house payment or want to know if your home is “underwater” please go to www.homeswithjosh.com or idshortsale.com

Source: IBR

Boise Idaho Quick Facts

*  The greater Boise Valley is comprised of the following fast-growing communities: Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Eagle, Star, Emmett, Garden City, and Caldwell.
* Total Population within a 45-minute draw area: 632,000
* Average Age: 33.1 years
* Average Commute Time: 18 minutes
* Forbes, Wall Street Journal and Inc. Magazine rate Boise as one of the best places in the US to live and work.
* Money magazine rates the Boise Valley as one of the best places to live in the U.S.
* National Geographic Adventure says the Boise Valley is one of the Top 31 Best Live & Play Towns.
* The Boise Valley has a workforce of more than 280,000. Nearly 110,000 of the workforce are degreed workers.
* Workforce within a 45-minute draw area: 330,000
* The overall cost of doing business is nearly a third lower than in California or Washington.
* The cost of living is 96 percent of the national average, and the average cost of a home in the boise Valley is approximately $170,000 compared to a national average of $226,000.
* The Boise Valley is located 430 miles from the seaport terminal of Portland, Oregon; 384 miles south of Spokane, Washington; and 360 miles northwest of Salt Lake City, Utah.
* The airport serves more than 3 million people a year and is less than five miles from downtown Boise.
* Idaho Northern & Pacific Railroad (INPR) provides freight service over four branch lines in southwestern Idaho and northeastern Oregon.
* There have been more patents generated in the Boise Valley than any other region in the country
* Boise and Nampa, Idaho, are ranked as the most secure locations to live in the United States among large metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or greater. (Source: Third Annual Most Secure U.S. Places to Live rankings from Farmers Insurance Group of Companies)
* According to the National Census Bureau, Idaho is among the top five fastest growing states in the nation.

First Time Home Buyers Time To Buy?

Several upcoming changes will soon increase the cost of buying a home.

Fed will stop buying mortgage back securities on March 31st, 2010

The Fed has purchased $1.25 TRILLION (yes, Martha, that’s a “T”) of MBS in a successful effort to keep mortgage interest rates low and thereby “stimulate” the economy.

No one knows for sure, but removing this “liquidity” from the mortgage market is forecast to result in mortgage interest rates rising to as high as 6% by the end of 2010.

For example $200,000 mortgage, going from a 5% to a 6% interest rate increases your monthly payment by $125, which totals a stunning $45,000 over the term of a 30-year mortgage.

But, if you only keep your home for the typical 7 years, that 1% increase in your interest rate will only cost you $10,500.

First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit ends April 30th , 2010

This incredible (free money to first-time homebuyers!) program has helped thousands of Boise first-time homebuyers, with roughly 65% of all Ada County home sales occurring in the under-$200,000 price range.

Upfront Mortgage Insurance Will increase FHA on April 5, 2010

It will rise from the current 1.75% to 2.25% of the loan amount, which will increase the buyer’s closing costs by $1,000 on a $200,000 loan.

FHA Monthly Mortgage Insurance Will Rise April 5, 2010

This will also increase the borrower’s monthly payment.

Looking For The Bottom

Waiting for “the bottom” could end up costing you dearly because your increased financing costs could easily exceed what you (might) save by waiting for a lower price.

If you’re buying a home for the long term as your personal residence, this may be as good as it gets.

Source:RE News

Idaho Living

A statewide magazine of the highest quality, Explore Idaho encompasses everything exceptional about the state of Idaho: history and legend, hardworking people, dramatic vistas, recreational opportunities and enduring values.

The magazine is designed to appeal to a broad audience of outdoor, recreation and lifestyle enthusiasts. It speaks to everyone – from those who reside and work here to those who simply come for a visit.

Explore Idaho is more than just a list of outdoor activities, it’s about the people themselves who live here, many being descendents of those who settled here over the years in search of a better life – and found it.

The magazine reflects all the values that have long put the Gem State on a path of enduring grace and beauty. The pages personify an ever-growing number of people who regard Idaho as not merely a geographic locale, but also a state of mind and a way of life.

Explore Idaho is a hike in the Sawtooths, a wine tasting in Sunnyslope, a skiing or snowmobiling excursion to resort areas such as Sun Valley, Bogus or Brundage Mountain, or a rafting trip down the breathtaking Payette or Snake rivers.

Along the way, you’ll find out where to dine and where to stay, discover the state’s diverse arts, dining and culture scenes, and – most importantly – meet the people who shape Idaho’s identity.

source:IBR — Explore Idaho

Home Buyer Tax Credit

1. In some cases, you can use it as a down payment or for closing costs. For the most part, home buyers can’t use the tax credit as an automatic down payment, although “tax credit funds can be used for the basic down-payment requirement (3.5 percent) on an FHA-insured loan only when it’s handled through a state housing finance agency (HFA),” says Lemar Wooley, a spokesman for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

If the home loan is handled through an FHA lender (and not an HFA), the tax credit can be “used to add to the down payment above the 3.5 percent required amount. It can also be used for closing costs,” says Wooley.

Many state HFAs are running or sponsoring programs that will use a tax credit for a down payment. These programs often place a second lien on the home as collateral to secure the eventual repayment of the tax credit funds. Some HFAs lend directly to home buyers while others work through networks of state-approved lenders. For a list of what state HFAs are doing, go to www.ncsha.org.

2. You don’t get a check at closing. Many homebuyers assume that the $8,000 is given to them at closing. Not true, says Winter Park, Fla.-based accountant David Keeler.

“Taxpayers need to wait until they’ve actually filed their income tax return to receive the tax credit,” says Keeler. “The homebuyer credit reduces one’s tax liability on a dollar-for-dollar basis, and if the credit is more than the tax you owe, the difference is paid to you as a tax refund.”

The IRS says first-time home buyers who purchased a home in 2009 can claim the tax credit on either a 2008 return, due April 15, 2009, or a 2009 return, due April 15, 2010. The credit may not be claimed before the closing date. But, if the closing occurs after April 15, 2009, a taxpayer can still claim it on a 2008 tax return by requesting a filing extension or by filing an amended return.

3. You don’t always get the full credit. “This is one of the biggest misconceptions out there,” says Maynor Perez, a real estate sales associate with Positive Realty in Doral, Fla. “If you pay $50,000 for a home, you will not get the full $8,000 tax credit.”
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In fact, the top credit for homes bought in 2009 is $8,000 ($4,000 for a married individual filing separately) or 10 percent of the residence’s purchase price — whichever is less. So, for a $50,000 home, the home buyer would receive a $5,000 tax credit. And, if you buy a house for $800,000 or more, you’re not eligible for the tax credit.

List Your Home Now

Timing is very important when you are looking to list and sell your home. My advice is get your home ready to list now and catch what many experts are expecting to help a large number of home sales this year-Home Buyer Tax Credits-  Buyer’s are needed to have their home under contract by April 30th 2010 to get the much desirable tax credit which is available to First Time Home Buyer’s and Repeat Home Buyer’s if eligible. For more information about selling your home or buying a home please feel free to contact Joshua Groesbeck 208-353-7131

Boise Homes

The Boise real estate market is always on the move. Use my premium Boise home finder tool on this page to search for homes, save your favorite mls listings, and research the areas that you want to live in.
With my premium home search tool, you can find all of the Boise homes for sale and it is updated daily so you never have to wonder if the home is really available. You can even search for Boise lots and land and Boise commercial property as well.

Make sure to save your search so that you can be automatically notified of any changes to your desired market.

If you have any questions, contact me at Josh@homeswithjosh.com or give me a call at 208-353-7131. I would be happy to help.