Realtor Thursday

A conversation with Deborah Byron Leffler, Keller Williams Realty Boise, Located in Nampa Idaho

Nampa Idaho located in the Southwest quadrant of the State of Idaho is about 18 miles West of Boise.   The area that Nampa is located in is called the Treasure Valley.   Most in Nampa don’t really call Nampa a bedroom community of the Boise area as Nampa is pretty self-sufficient with shopping and entertainment all on its own.  Over the past 10-15 years Nampa Idaho has really come into its own, boasting a population of about 81,000 per the most recent census.  Although we are located in the Northern part of the United States Nampa Idaho enjoys a moderate climate!   It is typical to have 4 distinct seasons.   Nampa doesn’t get a lot of precipitation….on an average 12 inches per year.   Snow fall is mild…and enjoyed typically as mostly it is melted before it hits the ground.   If Nampa gets 6 inches of snow the town is somewhat shut down…schools are closed etc.    In the summer Nampa has average temperatures of high 80’s to mid 90’s.   But it is a nice heat…..without humidity!    Many from the South or Midwest really appreciate that fact.   Nampa is located right off of I84 making it an easy commute into Boise for those who choose to do so.

The People The people of Nampa are quite a wide variety….we have many who have grown up in the area and lived here all their lives….and we have a lot of transplants from our surrounding states.   Many have moved up from California to enjoy a quieter pace of life.  We have many from the Midwest who have relocated to take advantage of the wonderful weather we have here in the Treasure Valley.   We have many ages in our town…ranging from young families to retired folks.

Schools Education is important to Nampa folks. Nampa’s School District has 14 elementary schools, 4 middle schools and 3 High Schools as well as a few specialty campuses for elementary.   In addition Nampa has 3 Charter Schools…including an Arts Charter, as well as several Parochial schools. The schools have embraced the No Child Left Behind measures and have had continuing accolades toward those goals.

Taxes As with many municipalities Nampa has struggled a bit with property taxes. Nampa has a stronger business foundation than it did in recent years. The City of Nampa has worked hard with the Canyon County Commissioners to keep our taxes lowered. Due to the decrease in property values in recent years taxes have lowered. The properties in Nampa have had recent assessment adjustments. The tax levies have increased but due to the lower valuations on most homes the taxes have remained steady. Our sales tax in Nampa is 6%.

Real Estate and the Economy The economy has affected Nampa positively in 2005-2006 when we had many investors come from California to purchase homes.  Many enjoyed a huge spike in prices as they sold their homes. When 2007 and 2008 came the prices lowered and have continued to lower. Many have lost jobs in construction and other industries and have had to short sale or even have had their homes foreclosed upon. It is estimated that about 60% of the housing inventory is distressed….meaning homes are either in a Short Sale or REO (bank owned) status. Needless to say there are many good bargains in the market for investors.

Has Nampa’s prices bottomed out? That is hard to say. Many of us wonder if the prices can go any lower. They might ….due to all the shadow inventory of foreclosure homes. While many are in a distressed situation….many others are in a comfortable position and are investing in real estate in Nampa Idaho. It is a perfect time to be a buyer or a seller…..a buyer gets to enjoy a real bargain.    Sellers are still selling their homes…and moving into bigger homes at a lower price.

 

Going Green The City of Nampa has embraced recycling in the past few years. Residents are provided with blue recycling totes to recycle their waste. It is asked that residents separate their waste with brown paper bags….tin cans, aluminum cans; cardboard boxes and plastic are all recycled with this program.

 

Realtors and Technology The number of Realtors is decreasing in our market. A lot who are specializing in Short Sales and or REO’s are still doing well….and gaining market share. In Nampa the Realtors tend to be a bit more tech savvy than in some other areas.However many have not truly embraced the amount of technology out there that will help their businesses thrive. A lot have accounts in Social Media but they are not utilized. This is a shame. So much business is done via Facebook, Twitter, Active Rain and Linked in.    Personally I have built my business on Relationships!  I have a lot of repeat business as well referrals from Facebook and Active Rain. I have embraced and will continue to leave a web footprint for my business.

Words of Wisdom Some words of Wisdom I would offer to homebuyers and home-sellers:  don’t be naive in this market.    But instead be realistic and in a state of curiosity.   Buyers should ask for comparable homes that have recently sold to know what they should offer in an asking price.    Even though the property you love may be in a distressed situation ….that doesn’t mean that the seller will accept any offer.  The offer still must be pretty close to Fair Market Value.   Be an informed buyer.   Know your market.   And realize that if you hesitate that the perfectly priced home may be gone before you have a chance to offer on it.   If the home is a good deal…and priced well…it will not last on the market.   Buyers should call a Realtor and ask for recommendations as to who they should call to see if they qualify for a home.    Most Realtors have relationships with Lenders and other tradesman that have the same set of values as the Realtor.    Being pre-qualified puts you as the buyer, in a stronger negotiating position.    Listen to your Realtor….they have helped many buyers purchase homes…they know the proper strategies…and how to help you accomplish your home buying goals.

Sellers need to price their home aggressively….and price it right at the time of listing.    It is a phenomenon that I don’t fully understand but I have seen over and over and over….if a home is priced a bit…even a tiny bit over the market value …it will not get an offer.    It is better to price it right at market value…maybe a bit under and have several offers or an offer to negotiate to the price you want than to not have any offers at all.    Pricing a home at the right price is more important today than it has ever been in any market.   Bottom line…be educated about what homes are selling for that are your comparables….look at the homes that your Realtor sends you that are similar….then you will know how to price your home.   The days of “hoping” for the best are over.

About Deborah Byron-Leffler Deborah Byron-Leffler has spent over 27 years in Real Estate, Fashion, and Tourism sales and management.  She has been licensed to sell Real Estate since 1994 and has a degree in Fashion Merchandising from the Brooks College of Fashion and Design (Long Beach California).  In tune with the economic trends at all times, Deborah is a master negotiator who pays attention to every detail.  Deborah’s honesty, integrity, experience, and determination allow her to approach the Treasure Valley Real Estate Market with a unique and often refreshing style that ensures her clients’ purchase and/or sale is a smooth, stress-free experience.

In her prior career Deborah acquired the ability to connect with people and build long lasting relationships.  These skills have transferred into the area of selling homes.  Having relocated from Southern California herself, Deborah’s insight is invaluable particularly for people who are moving from one city to another.  Relaxed in her approach, but serious about her responsibilities, Deborah instills confidence in her clients through the use of her real estate knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm. 

Being involved in her Local and State Realtor Associations has been very important to Deborah.   She has been awarded many honors from her fellow Realtors including:

2009   Entrepreneur of the Year – Canyon County Women’s Council of Realtors (WCR)
2005   Member of the Year – Canyon County WCR

2004   Member of the Year – Idaho State WCR
2002   Realtor of the Year – Nampa Association of Realtors

Deborah’s fresh approach and understanding of her various clients’ lifestyles make her the ideal partner for buying or selling your next home.  She is guaranteed to stand beside you every step of the way, developing a relationship built on trust through knowledge, patience, and good humor.  While licensed in all of Idaho, Deborah regularly covers both Canyon County as well as Ada County and has a thorough knowledge plus honest insight into the neighborhoods available within each of these two areas.  Committed to quality service, working with Deborah is a pleasure.  Insisting that the real estate process remain a positive experience for her clients, Deborah works on your behalf to negotiate the logistical, emotional, and financial hurdles of home buying and selling.

Your move is important to Deborah! She is able to assist you with moving up to a larger home as well as assist you in downsizing to meet a changing lifestyle or even Investing to improve your personal portfolio.  For Superior Real Estate representation in finding the home of your dreams in the Southwestern Idaho area, call (208) 703-1433 or email Deborah@Move2Nampa.com today

Contact Deb:

Website: www.Move2Nampa.com
Facebook Page: Things to do In and Around Nampa Idaho
Facebook Page: Deborah Byron Leffler the BzyBee Real Estate Lady
Main Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/deborahbyronleffler
ActiveRain: http://activerain.com/deborahbyron
Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=43138277&trk=tab_pro
Twitter:  @DebByronLeffler

 

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This guest post is part of our Realtor Thursday Series. We invite realtors from towns and cities all over the country, big or small, to participate. Our goal is to “travel” to as many towns as we can in every state. Every town is unique and wonderful to our readers. If you would like to showcase your town, your neighbors and your talents as a realtor, please contact us at liz@dalesiegel.com