What Is Rural Residential In Ada County?

May 16th, 2008 categories: Down to Earth Information, Real Estate News

I love to sell dirt!  There is something about helping clients that are looking for a little land to play with that I can relate to. 

I grew up on my Dad’s hobby farm.  He was a farmer’s son and it was in his blood to raise his food and spend his free time tilling the soil and feeding his family. The hard, back breaking work was never discussed, it was just part of our lives.

But it does get in your blood.  I love the smell of fresh turned dirt. And I’m always sneaking my husband’s truck to fill up with good rich well composted cow manure.

So it’s easy for me to connect when people call looking for a house with a little land too.

But what is rural living in this neck of the woods?

My definition of rural is defined as a community (that could include a city) of less than 20,000 where the majority of the local income is agricultural. So Kuna  and Star are the only towns in Ada county that I would considered rural and they will probably outgrow that definition in 10 years.

Suzie Benkstein from Emmett Idaho, defines rural as an area with no bright lights, not a lot of traffic, quiet, where you can ride bikes and you can see the stars.  I like her definition.

There are still plenty of larger acreage lots within Ada county that are not located in a defined rural community. You may have more road traffic, can’t see the stars all the time or have to put up with more noise, but they definitely meet the requirements for most people that want to raise animals, gardens, or numerous other reasons people need more land.

Rural living  is completely different from urban living. You deal with different issues, it’s easy to get involved in the community, entertainment is very different, and it’s easier to give.     Community Giving

Of course that’s only if you like that social interaction. You can be isolated and private in the country if that is what you need.

I think people get discouraged when they move to a rural community for the cheap land or housing, build or buy their dream home and then decide they don’t like driving all the time into the city to do the things they were use to doing with their free time or to conduct business.

My office is in Boise but I like being here in Kuna. I like dealing with people that like rural communities and know what that means. And if they are relocating, I make sure I understand what kind of community fits their needs before I start showing them homes.

This is my envision of someone that would enjoy living in a rural community. They enjoy quietness, don’t care for crowds, are OK with a slower pace, only go to the mall if necessary, they lift their heads to take in the smells of the country and they can’t wait for the weather to straighten around to venture out to do yard chores. Then rural living is probably something you would enjoy.

 

 

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Looking For A Home With Acreage In the Kuna School District?

May 12th, 2008 categories: Community Events, Real Estate News

So you’re searching for a home with a little bit of land for your horses, kids or for your peace of mind.  And you really want to keep the kids in the Kuna Schools.

So you look in the Kuna area right? 

You could be missing lots of great properties if you limit your search to a Kuna address.  The Kuna School District is very large and covers property with a Nampa, Meridian and even Boise addresses.

As a matter of fact some of the nicest subdivisions with 1–4 acre lots are not in Kuna. 

 Map of School Boundary

Larger acre lots tend to be West of Kuna into the Nampa area. Some great equestrian subdivisions, like Aram Estates, Belmont Heights, and Lexington Meadows are in the Kuna School District but are in Canyon county with a Nampa address.

Some areas north of Columbia Rd as far as Lake Hazel and in some areas even further north, have a Meridian address but the kids attend Kuna.  Danskin, Chisum Valley, Saddle Ridge and numerous small subdivisions with 1 acre or larger properties are scattered north of Kuna.

Around the Boise Ranch Golf course you will find various properties within the city of Boise but the kids attend Kuna Schools. 

So if you really want to be sure you are seeing all your options, start with an agent that is familiar with this area.

When you search for your piece of Idaho, be sure you use criteria that is most important. If it is the school district, leave the city names out of the search.  If you don’t want to live in a subdivision, there are ways to eliminate those in your search too. That way you will be seeing all the options that are important to you.

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April Statistics For Kuna: Surprise, Surprise!

May 7th, 2008 categories: Real Estate News

Total Active Listings: 285  up 14%

Pending Sales=36  (That’s good news, last month there were only 10)

Sold Listings= 32

Sold listings for March 2007= 41

Average Sold Price= $170,220

Average Sold Price in 2007= $192,741

Most Active price category= $150K-$200

Changes= More homes are selling for less this year. People who need to sell are competing for fewer buyers and are pricing their homes to sell. Builders are also trying to reduce their inventory by slashing prices. That is being reflected in the average sold prices.

Absorption Rate 8.9 months (Down slightly)

Kuna is offering some wonderful home prices for first time home buyers.  

But the opportunity is the greatest for those that what to move into a bigger home. If they have equity in their present home and can price it according to what is selling, they should be able to buy a lot more for less in the higher price categories.

Happy Home Buying!

 

 

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The Smart Growth Award For Ten Mile Interchange

May 5th, 2008 categories: Community Events, Real Estate News

A new interchange is needed at Ten Mile Road to access the Interstate, relieve traffic congestion, improve emergency response times to the area, and provide an additional north-south arterial through western Ada County

The City of Meridian has some very exciting plans for the Ten Mile Interchange that not only involves traffic but the entire scope of the community development.

The City of Meridian’s comprehensive plan for the area surrounding the future Ten Mile Interchange has been awarded a 2007 Grow Smart Idaho award for Policy and Planning by Idaho Smart Growth. This annual competition recognizes projects that use smart growth principles to encourage vibrant communities .

Map of comprehensive plan for Ten Mile area

The City’s hope is that this plan will allow for all the intricate parts of a community, including recreation,green spaces, commercial, and residential to work together and shape the outcome of this area. Hopefully resulting in an end product that will benefit its property owners and residents, and the community as a whole.

Of course this will involve change to an area that has been able to avoid change for quite sometime. The quiet country side will now be a outlet for the increase in traffic and I’m sure the citizens are not looking to be part of that solution. With this smart growth plan there is hope that this area will increase in value and not just increase in problems.

So many times these road improvements goals are just to solve a traffic problem. I think the City of Meridian did a good job of looking at the potential for development and capturing that issue before it became a unplanned hodge podge. Requiring developers to fit into their plan instead of the city having to work around the developers plans. Smart!

Tags: Ten+Mile+Interchange, Traffic, Ada+county

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Vacant Homes in Kuna

May 2nd, 2008 categories: Community Events, Real Estate News

There will always be a certain amount of homes for sale that are vacant, including resale and new construction. 

Right now there are 285 homes for sale in Kuna, 48% of those are empty!  Wow 78 new homes and 59 used residential for a total of 137 vacant homes.  That is not something we are use to seeing in Kuna.

Luckily for Kuna, these homes are  spread out over all of Kuna and not concentrated in one area.  According to the Kuna Police Dept they are not having problems with these vacant homes.  The best thing neighbors can do is watch for trouble.  If you see kids congregating around a vacant house especially after curfew, just give them a call and they will check it out.

So why is this important to know? 

• We need to help by keeping an eye on empty homes for our neighbors and community
• If you are selling, you need to price your home to sell.

1. There are lots of vacant homes which have owners that really motivated to sell!
2. Don’t make it difficult for buyers to see your home. Putting any restrictions on showings will kill your chance to sell.
3. Don’t have your house on the market unless you are ready to beat the competition.

• If you are buying, there are lots of homes to choose from with
1. easy accessibility
2. quick closing dates and
3. great prices.

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Market Analysis For Denali Heights

April 28th, 2008 categories: Neighborhood Reviews, Real Estate News

This is the one of the few luxury subdivisions in the Kuna area and has been a very popular place to buy a new home. This subdivision is ten acre with 83 homes situated in the open country north of Kuna. The lots are larger( up to 1/2acre) and has more amenities than the norm in Kuna.  Besides being close to schools, you have easy access to the interstate, a community pool and clubhouse,plus a ten acre city park across the street. 

The greatest attribute is the type of homes going into this subdivision.  No cookie cutters here, yet all the homes seems to harmonize with the rest.  The average price is $300,000–$500,000. And the homeowners are quickly getting their yards and landscaping in with great personalization and creativity. 

Even in the slowing market, the homes are still selling here.  You can capitalize on the market slow down and get some great incentives with your new home.  There are presently 9 homes for sale on the MLS with an average price per sq ft at $127.

Three homes sold this year with an average price being $412,000. 

I just love walking this neighborhood because of the variety of landscaping and home designs. It has truly become a place of distinction in the Kuna Market.

Earlier Review

 

 

 

 

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One More Reason To Love The Treasure Valley

April 26th, 2008 categories: Community Events

Award Winning Golf Courses

A great amenity to our community is the Falcon Crest Golf Course. Ranked #5 in Idaho in Golf Weeks 2007 Best Courses You Can Play

Falcon Ridge Added to Idaho’s Golf Trail

Why do so many people love the Boise area? Maybe because residents get to enjoy four distinct seasons but also have weather moderate enough to allow an average of 325 golfing days a year. Because of this perfect golf weather there are plenty of golf courses to choose from in the area.

Complete List Of Area Golf Courses

People also make the trek west because of our low crime rate, reasonable cost of living, low unemployment rates and wonderful opportunities for the outdoor enthusiasts. range from hiking and biking in the foot hills, to challenging dirt bike trails in the Owyhee’s. Enjoy a short trip to area ski resorts for all types of winter fun. Or just enjoy the surrounding public lands for snowmobiling, cross country skiing,fishing or nature viewing.

Outdoor fun can be as simply as enjoying the Boise greenbelt, miles of paved pathways along the river’s edge, provides glimpses of the beautiful scenery and wildlife in the area.

Be sure to check out the golf courses if you are a golf enthusiast and moving into the Treasure valley.

Tags: golf, courses, Boise, Kuna

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For Sale By Owner, Beautiful Sub, Beautiful Home in Kuna Idaho

April 23rd, 2008 categories: For Sale By Owner

Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity for a lovely home at a great price. Quality built home for only $100 per sq ft.

Feel free to call me to help you find the best home to meet your needs and help you navigate through the buying process.

See more info about this house File Attachment: 516 E RED BUD.pdf (109 KB)

              File Attachment: 516 E RED BUD 2.pdf (174 KB)

Tags: for+sale+by+owner, real+estate, kuna

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2nd Thing Not On My Bucket List!

April 20th, 2008 categories: 3 Legged Horses, Down to Earth Information

 

This is Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, Africa. The falls are about 416 feet high. The pool at the top of the falls is known as ‘The Devil’s Swimming Pool.’ During September and December, people can swim in the pool as close as possible to the edge of the falls without falling over! The pool and the falls are becoming well known amongst the ‘radical tourist’ industry as more and more people search for the ultimate experience.

 

  

 

Care for a dip?

 

   Indian Creek Adventures In Kuna 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

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Mother’s Day Gift Ideas: Treasure Valley Baskets and Gift Shop, Kuna Idaho

April 18th, 2008 categories: Community Events, Some Of My Favorite Things

Do you need to send your Mom something special for Mother’s Day? My mother loves flowers, but they don’t last long ( of course that’s what some people like about them!).   But if you are longing to send something special and unique and you need it delivered, call Treasure Valley Baskets and Gift Shop.

This great gift shop features wonderful basket ideas and products plus unique gifts ideas for the whole family.  They have  recently expanded and  moved to 173 4^th St.(the building behind Vic’s Pharmacy)

This shop has something to fit everyone’s gift essentials including your pets.  They carry baby clothes, gifts  for the gardener on your list, gourmet foods and an assortment of whimsical, decorative and practical ideas. Renee is also carrying some local artisan work in her shop.  

Treasure Valley Baskets will deliver to anywhere in Kuna for free! That is a big plus if you forgot your wife’s birthday, or you have family here in Kuna and can’t be there to celebrate their special day.

They will handle your gift with the same love and care that you would. They have some great inventive ways to present your wishes, from baskets to cute and crazy or just ordinary gift wrapping. Simply let Renee know what you need and she’ll come up with a great idea for you.

Visit their website at TVGiftandBaskets.com  or call  (208)922–4823.

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