Which areas are dominated by distressed properties and which areas have the fewest?  Distressed properties are either bank-owned properties, after the banks have foreclosed on them, or short sales, when the selling price is below the amount owed on the property.

 The table below shows the percentage of properties in each area that have been sold for the first six months of the year.  Notice that the areas are ranked from lowest to highest in percentage of distressed property closings. 

 The areas closest to the population center of Boise seem to have done the best while those further away and further west have had the highest percentage of distressed sales.

Give Unconditionally, but more importantly, Receive Graciously!

We all know how fulfilling it is to be generous; with our time, our love, food, gifts or compliments.  And more than likely, the more generous you are, the harder it is for you to receive.  Well here’s something to think about:  being a gracious and grateful recipient may be the best gift you ever give.

I have a young niece who is helpful, kind, generous and humble (she’s a teenager, so of course she’s also aloof, moody, childish, wise, and often contradictory across the board).  She is also extremely conscious of the cost of things and much more of a saver than a spender.  So giving this young woman a gift is always a bit of a battle.  “No no, that costs too much; I don’t need it; give it to someone else; I can’t accept it” are common responses. 

This got me thinking about how I receive a gift or a compliment and I realized I too could be better at it.  So my niece and I talked about the joy I get when I am able to do something nice for her, whether it is buying a crepe at the Saturday Farmer’s Market, taking her to a movie, buying her a cute pair of shoes, or just taking her along for a bike ride.  We talked about how it makes you feel when you give someone something they really love and appreciate and how that feeling is even better than receiving something.  I explained that hearing about how her friends loved her shoes, or sharing the yummy crepe, or talking about the movie, was the way my gift to her kept on giving back to me and that really, she was giving me a far greater gift.

It takes some skill and consideration to be a great gift receiver.  Sure, that sweater may not be what you’d pick out, but to let Aunt June know how it kept you warm on a hike, or that someone complimented you on how “unique” it is, will definitely make Aunt June’s day.  Go ahead and rave, thank them profusely, even for the smallest of gifts or favors.  And then thank them again, later, when they think you’ve forgotten about that little gift.  And realize that you’ve just given them the best gift ever – you’ve let them know they are very special to you and very appreciated. 

My niece told me 3 days later that the Nutella crepe was the best she’d ever had in her whole entire life!  I must be the best Aunt in the world!

Check out the Huffington Post article which reported that in a recent study by the Brookings Institution, Boise had a 92% increase in people aged 55 to 64 between 2000 and 2010, the third fastest growth in that age catagory in the nation. So Boise has been an attractive destination for baby boomers.

I’ve often thought that golf is like life – and like selling real estate.

In their new book Play Your Best Golf Now by Pia Nilsson and Lynn Marriott with Ron Sirak, the authors talk about three things that are important to every golf game..

1. BALANCE: To be a good ball-striker, you must be able to maintain your balance…  A wild swing in golf gets you off balance and creates poor results.  Being off balance in real estate can lead to poor results as well.  We all need to be good at operations (client service), finance (making sure our income exceeds our expenditures) and marketing (having systems in place that put your creative energy out into the world every day).

2. TEMPO.  Every player has a tempo that works best.  Tempo is something you borrow rather than own. It constantly changes depending on how your body and swing feel on any particular day.

I think of tempo in real estate as having a healthy blend of “doing” the business and “getting” the business.  We can’t get so wrapped up in a short sale or a buyer demanding to see 120 houses that we ignore our sphere-of-influence marketing.  Nor can we be so intent on meeting new people and attracting new clients that we don’t pay attention to our friends and former clients.

3. TENSION.  Nothing puts balance and tempo out of whack quicker than tension. This is the demon that comes between you and your golf swing. Two keys are to first understand where in your swing tension is likely to reside, and then to develop the skills to manage it. It’s important to have the right amount of tension in the real estate business as well.  We need to have enough tension that we want to perform well, to make a good listing presentation, to pay attention to our clients’ needs and to strive for a successful and rewarding career in real estate.  And yet it’s also important that we are at ease in life, that we are comfortable with ourselves and that we have spiritual, mental and physical practices that support a healthy, passionate life. 

Some golfers ease tension simply by taking a few deep breaths. Fuzzy Zoeller used to whistle while he walked. Lee Trevino would talk to anyone who would listen.

Working on balance, tempo and tension can improve your golf game, and can improve your real estate business.

Top Ten Reasons to Love Group One Sellers

1.      Group One sellers hold themselves to a higher standard!
2.      Group One sellers stage their homes and clear out the clutter.
3.       Group One sellers make their homes easily available for showing.
4.       Group One sellers use the Group One preferred service provider list for repairs prior to listing.
5.       Group One doesn’t  install “coming soon” signs.  If a home is available, it will be in MLS.
6.       Group One sellers price their homes based on market data, not on emotions.
7.       Group One sellers leave for showings so that potential buyers can feel at home.
8.        Group One sellers love serious buyers.
9.        Group One sellers appreciate all offers.
10.     Group One sellers and their agent want a win-win for everyone.

Though it’s looking like we might actually have a summer here in the valley, don’t bust out those inner tubes quite yet.  Water flows on the Boise River have been reduced enough for dive teams to begin clearing debris, but the River is not yet officially open to floaters.  No opening date has been set, but with temperatures attempting to reach the 90′s and cleanup in full swing, expect to see the announcement soon. With water temperature in the mid 50′s it can be a CHILLY adventure in an inner tube, so remember to float safe! Check out the safety, park and rental information here before you head out for a fun afternoon.