A renting young family in a new career wanted to start investing in Real Estate as part of their financial portfolio. Interest rates were on the rise but still a seller's market. Because out of pocket was the #1 concern, a new home builder fit the best, and we found a home with the most bedrooms and lowest price/sf. The buyers were very diligent in shopping for financing and found a Physicians loan 0% down. 

These clients were dreaming of their forever home: one story with land to do some adventuring. Because they wanted to stay near shopping and hospitals they walked several properties around the Treasure Valley. They ended on a landlocked property which was the challenge, but the payoff was miles and miles of bordering BLM land. They were able to buy an adjacent lot to add a bridge to get access to the land, and used a HELOC on a current property for short-term financing.

This family was looking for more space but wanted to stay in their school district. They were outbid on 3 different properties! They lost one property because the seller knew the other bidder. They lost on another because of a dishonest Listing Agent. They lost on the third because the competing offer was cash. They broadened their boundaries and found a beautiful 4-year old home on a level acre. Their offer was contingent on selling their departing home and they paid the difference in cash. 

This client had the gift of moving to Idaho to be near her family. The parameters were: looking within a specific subdivision and the primary suite on the main level. She liked the look of a newer home with a white kitchen and wanted it to be move-in ready. During our search, a house just a couple doors down from her son came on the market. It turned out that the proximity to the kids and grand kids was even more important than a brand new house. We negotiated below asking and both Grandma and the Grand Kids are thrilled.

As buyers were becoming more and more tentative to enter the market, this client put an offer on a new home contingent on the sale of their house. The sellers felt it was important that their home go pending quickly so they didn't lose their deal (not a strategy I recommend, buying before you sell is a very stressful situation). We listed the house on the first day of school (also not recommended but that's as quickly as they could do it). We listed $25K below comps in the neighborhood and within 4 days, it went pending in a bidding war well above asking and exceeding expectations. 

These clients were first-time home buyers, but were very financially savvy. They wanted to start their Real Estate investing very intentionally, and they have the formulas and spreadsheets to prove it. New home builders were assuring interest rate buydowns and more incentives than existing homes. When it came down to 2 different home builders, one in North Meridian and on in South Meridian, the clients had to sleep on it. Ultimately they believed their best returns would come from the house with walking proximity to a popular high school. Maximum concessions were awarded. 

These clients were always looking for properties. We think alike in loving an "ugly home". We found a home that was desperately in need of cosmetic work which left it on the market longer than other homes. We were able to negotiate 15% below asking price using a 1031 exchange and the buyers put in $15,000 in paint, flooring, new kitchen and light fixtures and found a great tenant to rent long term. 

An out-of-state client was looking to grow their rental portfolio in a smaller Idaho town. A four-plex went on the market and rents were well below market. It was a beautiful historic building. I traveled for this unique property, took videos and spoke with tenants and neighbors. The client was going to use a HELOC as financing but in the final hours, the interest rate came back at 10%, the client backed out and I supported it. 

This client had beautifully improved a property but the area of town was no longer serving them. Moving, despite a deficit was imperative for their quality of life. I created a website for their home with important details, knocked on neighbors doors and hosted record-breaking open houses. I boosted my walk through video and we found a great buyer (and the home ended up being featured on HGTV too!)

This client had purchased a lakefront property in 2020. It was a gorgeous lot that they were able to do a little bit of work improving the dock and the lot. In the process they found a cabin they fell in love with and decided to sell this property. We aimed high on the price which did cause it to sit on the market longer (land always does), but with drone video, social media engagement and great photography, we were able to find a great buyer. The clients were able to get over one hundred thousand dollars in equity in just one year.

The location of this lot was incredible, just a walk to the lake and a 3 mile car ride to the ski lift. The challenge was that the lot was wooded and sloped. The road to access the lot was overgrown and steep enough that it would be easy to get a car stuck there in the snow. We needed a buyer that wasn't afraid of a project! I started by marking the property lines and sharing a video on social media. I then decided the property might be the most valuable for the neighbors adjacent to the lot. I had great conversations with each of them, some out of state to see if they were interested in acquiring this lot to add to theirs. Ultimately the buyer came from outside of this pool but wanted to dry camp until they can build on the lot. They were cash buyers.

This one is not a cute story, because I did get fired from this listing. There's always something that can be learned here too! This was a high-demand client and had put an offer on a home contingent on selling this house (not my recommendation). The biggest hurdle in this listing was timing - it was the exact weeks that rates started to go up after the pandemic, putting a freeze on the market. All Listing Agents were having the same results: a standstill in the market. The second hurdle - the client was fired from their job during this process. My biggest detriment was not managing expectations in a declining market. A home is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it and the stressed client was unwilling to adjust the asking price.