So where do we start?

At Silvercreek Realty Group, it starts with the Agent. We believe in providing the most up to date, sophisticated, and yet easy to use tools in the real estate industry.

These tools make it easier for agents to find and use data, function in a large office environment, and increase their ability to maximize the use of their time for Clients. We provide services for:

• Database management (Silvercreek M-Files)
• Forms and Tools (Silvercreek Toolbox)
• Digital Fax Services (Silvercreek Fax)
• Website Personal Pages (SilvercreekRealty.net)
• Message Board (CreeksideForum.net)
• Video Messages from the Broker
• A building full of servers, advanced business printers, and workstations specifically designed with the agent in mind.

And the list goes on. We are constantly developing systems for the agent with no end in sight. With availability of Tablets and Pads for document review, the need for mobile support is greater now than it has ever been. All of our mobile services work on the popular devices and we hope to soon be unveiling new and exciting features.

Stay tuned for more announcements and advice on how to better equip yourself with the most advanced Real Estate tools in the business.

George

1. Don’t buy if you can’t stay put.

If you can’t commit to remaining in one place for at least a few years, then owning is probably not for you, at least not yet. With the transaction costs of buying and selling a home, you may end up losing money if you sell any sooner – even in a rising market. When prices are falling, it’s an even worse proposition.

2. Start by shoring up your credit.

Since you most likely will need to get a mortgage to buy a house, you must make sure your credit history is as clean as possible. A few months before you start house hunting, get copies of your credit report. Make sure the facts are correct, and fix any problems you discover.

3. Aim for a home you can really afford.

The rule of thumb is that you can buy housing that runs about two-and-one-half times your annual salary. But you’ll do better to use one of many calculators available online to get a better handle on how your income, debts, and expenses affect what you can afford.

4. If you can’t put down the usual 20 percent, you may still qualify for a loan.

There are a variety of public and private lenders who, if you qualify, offer low-interest mortgages that require a down payment as small as 3 percent of the purchase price.

5. Buy in a district with good schools.

In most areas, this advice applies even if you don’t have school-age children. Reason: When it comes time to sell, you’ll learn that strong school districts are a top priority for many home buyers, thus helping to boost property values.

6. Get professional help.

Even though the Internet gives buyers unprecedented access to home listings, most new buyers (and many more experienced ones) are better off using a professional agent. Look for an exclusive buyer agent, if possible, who will have your interests at heart and can help you with strategies during the bidding process.

7. Choose carefully between points and rate.

When picking a mortgage, you usually have the option of paying additional points — a portion of the interest that you pay at closing — in exchange for a lower interest rate. If you stay in the house for a long time — say three to five years or more — it’s usually a better deal to take the points. The lower interest rate will save you more in the long run.

8. Before house hunting, get pre-approved.

Getting pre-approved will you save yourself the grief of looking at houses you can’t afford and put you in a better position to make a serious offer when you do find the right house. Not to be confused with pre-qualification, which is based on a cursory review of your finances, pre-approval from a lender is based on your actual income, debt and credit history.

9. Do your homework before bidding.

Your opening bid should be based on the sales trend of similar homes in the neighborhood. So before making it, consider sales of similar homes in the last three months. If homes have recently sold at 5 percent less than the asking price, you should make a bid that’s about eight to 10 percent lower than what the seller is asking.

10. Hire a home inspector.

Sure, your lender will require a home appraisal anyway. But that’s just the bank’s way of determining whether the house is worth the price you’ve agreed to pay. Separately, you should hire your own home inspector, preferably an engineer with experience in doing home surveys in the area where you are buying. His or her job will be to point out potential problems that could require costly repairs down the road.

Finding the best homes for sale in Boise Idaho

Boise is a city, but each section of the real estate market in Boise is different with homes of various ages, construction types, and there are some areas of Boise that are more desirable than others.  It really depends on what you are looking for when it comes to the type of home and the area and amenities you are looking for.  You need to know the market before making the decision on where to buy.  This is where an experienced buyer’s agent comes into place.

With an experience real estate buyers agent you can really zero in on the best homes for sale in Boise Idaho and feel good with the decisions you have made.  Your home is a big investment anyone make sure that you make the right decisions when you buy.

The local Boise real estate market is changing everyday, so you need someone on your side that is involved with the market on a day to day basis and stays up with the local market trends. we stay on top of the average days on market, sold prices for the month, and the current amount of inventory on the market so we can pass the information along to our buyers and help them get the best house for the best price.

Make sure you check out the SilverCreek Realty home search page where you can use our interactive home search map and zero in on the perfect homes and also be notified if any new homes that match your criteria. Our interactive home search will give you the edge on anyone else who is looking for a home with similar specs to yours. So again, to search for homes for sale in Boise Idaho, make sure to use our Boise home search page.

Here are some recent home listings in Boise

Showing properties 1 - 5 of 500+. See more city of Boise real estate.
(all data current as of 2/22/2012)

1. $149,900 : 10280 W Kingsbriar Drive, Boise
   
   3 beds, 2.5 baths

   Home size: 2,187 sq ft
2. $135,000 : 12441 W Dalrymple St., Boise
   
   3 beds, 2 baths

   Home size: 1,374 sq ft

   Lot size: 9,583 sq ft
3. $99,900 : 2309 W Judith, Boise
   
   3 beds, 2 baths

   Home size: 1,707 sq ft

   Lot size: 9,583 sq ft
4. $221,000 : 2528 Cisco, Boise
   
   3 beds, 2.5 baths

   Home size: 1,526 sq ft

   Lot size: 3,484 sq ft
5. $104,900 : 4220 S Five Mile, Boise
   
   4 beds, 1.5 baths

   Home size: 2,060 sq ft

   Lot size: 1.18 ac

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

Before you begin your home search for Meridian Idaho homes, it important that you have the best professionals and the best home search tools on your side.

Step One To Searching Meridian Idaho Homes For Sale

The best thing to do upfront is to meet with a professional buyers agent.  This is a foundational step that will get you through the rest of the home buying process.

A buyer agent can answer questions that you might have about the local Meridian housing market.  You need to know the process of buying Meridian short sale and foreclosure properties as each property type has a particular strategy that you should follow.  There are also HUD homes to understand and also owner occupied vs investor homes and rules.

Your buyer agent can also give you the best recommendations for a mortgage officer, inspector, and escrow company.

The best Meridian Idaho homes for sale are moving pretty fast so it is good to get on a notification system that will automatically notify you via email of new matching properties.  This way you can jump on the best homes before the competition does.

Make sure to check out our Idaho home search page to get started.

See the new homes on the market in Meridian.

Showing properties 1 - 10 of 500+. See more city of Meridian real estate.
(all data current as of 2/22/2012)

1. $197,000 : 695 E Whitehall Street, Meridian
   
   4 beds, 3.5 baths

   Home size: 2,750 sq ft

   Lot size: 13,068 sq ft

   Year built: 1998

   Parking spots: 3

   Days on market: 1
2. $111,000 : 1620 E Cougar Creek Drive, Meridian
   
   3 beds, 2 baths

   Home size: 1,429 sq ft

   Lot size: 12,632 sq ft

   Year built: 1997

   Parking spots: 2

   Days on market: 1
3. $165,000 : 5375 N Linder Rd., Meridian
   
   3 beds, 2 baths

   Home size: 2,176 sq ft

   Lot size: 2.33 ac

   Year built: 1942

   Parking spots: 2

   Days on market: 1
4. $114,400 : 2208 N West 14th St., Meridian
   
   3 beds, 2 baths

   Home size: 1,568 sq ft

   Lot size: 8,712 sq ft

   Year built: 1976

   Parking spots: 2

   Days on market: 1
5. $229,500 : 2176 W Grassy Branch, Meridian
   
   5 beds, 3 baths

   Home size: 2,848 sq ft

   Lot size: 8,276 sq ft

   Year built: 2003

   Parking spots: 3

   Days on market: 2
6. $178,900 : MLS # 98488170 in Meridian
   
   5 beds, 2.5 baths

   Home size: 2,821 sq ft

   Lot size: 6,969 sq ft

   Year built: 2006

   Parking spots: 2

   Days on market: 2
7. $119,900 : 1990 E Deerhill St., Meridian
   
   3 beds, 2 baths

   Home size: 1,160 sq ft

   Lot size: 7,840 sq ft

   Year built: 2009

   Parking spots: 2

   Days on market: 2
8. $145,900 : 2496 N Tangent, Meridian
   
   3 beds, 2.5 baths

   Home size: 1,588 sq ft

   Lot size: 8,276 sq ft

   Year built: 1998

   Parking spots: 3

   Days on market: 2
9. $181,900 : 5087 W Mcmurtrey, Meridian
   
   4 beds, 2.5 baths

   Home size: 2,623 sq ft

   Lot size: 10,018 sq ft

   Year built: 2004

   Parking spots: 3

   Days on market: 2
10. $229,900 : 1768 E Summerheights, Meridian
    
    4 beds, 2.5 baths

    Home size: 2,332 sq ft

    Lot size: 13,068 sq ft

    Year built: 1995

    Parking spots: 3

    Days on market: 3

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.