Boise Idaho Blog

Saving for a down payment is one of the biggest hurdles these days when trying to buy a home. There used to be very little trouble in obtaining a home with no or very little down payment, however that has changed. New mortgage restrictions and the economic crisis have made it slightly more difficult.

It is a well-known fact that the best mortgage interest rates are available to buyers with down payments of 20% or more. By paying less you may end up with a higher interest rate and have to pay for private mortgage insurance. Both of which will reduce your buying power.

If you currently own a home you can use the equity to help with the down payment, however you will need to sell the home first. You should also do some long-term planning and if you think you may want to purchase a home in the future start saving. Look for other avenues of financial assistance, especially if you are a first-time home buyer. There are many good deals on Boise real estate right now so be sure to shop for the right home as well. You can save a lot of money that way as well.

Looking for an affordable night out?  A lot of people go and spend, what to me, is an outrageous amount of money at the movie theatre.  But did you know that just down the street from Edwards on Overland that there is another theatre?  For just $4 you can watch a movie and get 2 food items.  NO JOKE!  Of course there isn’t as many options as the bigger theatres but if you keep your eye out you can find something for the whole family or even for a date night.  Check out Overland Park Cinemas.

A. Every person, regardless of age, who operates a bicycle upon a roadway, public parking lot,
sidewalk, bike path, bike lane or other public vehicular right-of-way in the City of Boise shall be
granted the same rights and shall be subject to the same responsibilities applicable to a motor
vehicle operator by the laws of the State of Idaho, and the provisions of Title 10 of the Boise City
Code not in conflict with and as authorized under Title 49, Idaho Code; except where provisions
of those laws and ordinances by their very nature can have no application to bicycles, or where
portions of this Ordinance direct otherwise.

B. 1. Any peace officer of jurisdiction as defined in I.C. 19-5101 (d), operating a bicycle
during the course of his or her duties is exempt from the requirements of section A. if the
bicycle is being operated under any of the following circumstances:

a. In response to an emergency call.
b. While engaged in rescue operations.
c. In the immediate pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law.

2. This section does not relieve a peace officer from the duty to operate a bicycle with due
regard for the safety of all persons.

Taking a quick glance at the numbers for unemployment and foreclosures things don’t look much better. Boise home sales for the past 3 months have been fairly consistent but low compared to previous years. Foreclosures in ADA county tend to run 1 out of every 200 homes with southwest Boise real estate taking the biggest hit. Likely due to many new subdivisions and home sales in that area over the past couple years.

Unemployment in the Boise-Nampa area has reached over 8% almost doubling from this time last year. Nationally, we don’t look too bad, some states are worse some are better. Unfortunately there is rumors of the unemployment rate reaching above 14%. How this will affect Boise will likely mean more foreclosures and more businesses closing their doors. It is hard to imagine the economy improving with the unemployment rate set to double again.

With spring comes the opportunity to head up to Hulls Gulch for some peaceful hikes.  Of course this time of year the trails are buzzing with activity so watch out for those mountain bikers and vice versa.  Last year there was a big stink about the dogs leaving behind land mines for others to step.  This year things have been done about it and from what I can tell people are being responsible.  If you don’t have  leash you can grab one when you get up there, just remember to return it.  There are also bags provided to pick up after your pet, plus you could always bring your own.  I even saw people picking up after others pets.  Here are some pictures I took while up there.  Enjoy.

There are a lot of health conscious people in the Boise area and most likely you have heard about yoga and the benefits of doing it.  However, some yoga classes can be intimidating and leave you feeling stressed.  I have some hangups about yoga, for one I don’t like to do that chanting crap.  To me that is a complete waste of time so I have taken a long time to look around to find a yoga class that really works the body and takes the time to relax towards the end.  I found a Boise Yoga Class at Yoga for Life that is not only what I want but very, VERY affordable.  It has helped me achieve a better nights sleep and more energy than I have had in years and that is only after 4 sessions.  Check it out - Yoga for Life - Boise ID

You can recognize several benefits.

You can build equity and wealth. Equity refers to the value of the home minus what is still owed on the home loan. As the loan is paid down the value increases. When you get enough equity in your home you can borrow against it for many purposes. This is a popular way to get cash when needed because the interest rates are typically low. Over the years Boise real estate traditionally increases in value so owning a home is considered to be a long-term investment. Once your Boise home loan is paid in full the home is yours!

Since mortgage interest and property taxes are deductible, home ownership may reduce the amount of income tax that you owe.

• You don’t own the home.
• Your rent could increase after your lease is up.
• You may not be able to renew your lease when it expires and have to find a new place to live.
• You are essentially paying your landlord’s mortgage.
• There are certain tax benefits for homeowners that allow them to take a tax deduction on the interest they pay for owning a Boise home.

Yes, believe it or not, there are advantages to renting. Some people simply don’t want the hassle of owning a Boise home. Here are some advantages of renting:

• You don’t need to worry about property maintenance. If the water heater goes out it is the landlord’s responsibility.
• You only have to stay for a specified period of time depending on how long you signed your lease for.
• You don’t have the addition cost burden of owning a home such as insurance and property taxes.

Obviously there is more to Boise than Boise real estate. One of my favorite things is when the Boise Parks and Rec release their new activity guide. Well the summer 2009 activity guide is out and packed full of all sorts of programs for toddlers to adults. Now is a great time to be heading outdoors by learning to mountain bike or go on a hike. Take up dancing or pottery, whatever it is the 2009 activity guide has it.

The best way to get one of these when they come out is to contact the Boise Parks and Recreation Department at 384-4240. You may also be able to get on the mailing list by sending your address to:

Activity Guide
700 Robins Road
Boise, Id 83702