REAL Magazine, April-May, 2020

APRIL-MAY, 2020

Thanking Our

HOMETOWN HEROES With 4 offices to serve you, Coldwell Banker Tomlinson will GUIDE YOU HOME. BOISE 208.343.3393 | MERIDIAN 208.336.3393 | EAGLE 208.939.3363 | NAMPA 208.467.5272

We're doing things a bit differently this month (aren't we all?). Though we have some information for you, we're really focusing on pictures that honor our local heroes - not only those on the front lines at hospitals, but those at clinics, in grocery stores, gas stations, and more.

Likewise, we are including photos of our families at home and recapping our "21 Days of Positivity" that we featured during Governor Little's first stay-home order. There might be a gem in there you could use.

Additionally, we're showing you a few of the encouraging reader boards from businesses around our towns. Stay safe. Stay home. We are in this together.

“

"I shall pass this way but once; any good that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being; let me do it now."

~ Etienne de Grellet

Quaker missionary

CONTENTS Features

4

Thanking our Local Heroes

8

Practicing Positivity

12

We owe a debt of gratitude to those on the front lines. The doctors, nurses, therapists, grocery store workers, and more.

We are recapping our "21 Days of Positivity" that we posted on Facebook and Instagram.

Messages of Hope and Home An extended spring break is not what any of us had in mind, yet we are flexible and will make the best of it!

In Every Issue

14 18

Market Stats An update to keep you informed.

Treasure Valley Homes There are some beautiful homes for sale in our valley.

MARCH-APRIL, 2020

Our local heroes

Thank You. Thank You. Thank You.

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we salute you

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MARCH-APRIL, 2020

we salute you

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thanks for all you do

Not Just Today, but Every Day

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MARCH-APRIL, 2020

practicing positivity

A Recap of Our 21 Days of Positivity

When Governor Little's original stay-home order was enacted, we put together a list of things we could all do to stay busy and help with keeping a positive attitude. Need a little boost? Read on!

T

his time in our lives is certainly something none of us could have predicted or practiced for. How are you coping? Take it one day at a time and use this guide to practice positivity.

SHOUT OUT TO THE HEROES Thank those who are helping us keep going. Buy them a meal, draw a picture, or just say thanks.

GO OUTSIDE Spending at least 20 minutes outside (especially in the sun) is proven to lighten your mood!

Take a break from whatever you’re doing and get a breath COLDWELL BANKER TOMLINSON

of fresh air. Be sure to maintain social distance CHECK IN Call an elderly relative just to chat, a cousin you haven’t connected with in a while, a mentor or friend to thank them for being them. Don’t forget to call your kids or parents. We all need to connect now, more than ever!

SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH YOUR PET You’re probably getting more time than ever with your pets as you work from home. Take a few minutes to play and appreciate them for being there for you.

According to the CDC, health benefits include an increase in happiness, a reduction in stress and blood pressure, and decreased loneliness.

SUPPORT YOUR FAVORITE LOCAL ESTABLISHMENTS Just about every business is experiencing hardships right now.

Make an attempt to patronize them online or with takeout/delivery, or if that’s not possible, let them know you are thankful for them and will continue to support them when this is over. For a list of Boise restaurants offering takeout and curbside service, visit BoiseDev. com.

PAGE 9 TAKE TIME TO REFLECT This is like nothing we’ve ever experienced. Take some quiet time to reflect on the situation, how you are reacting to it, and how you’re keeping yourself and your family safe. If you’ve never tried it, meditation is a timetested way to clear your mind.

There are several websites that can help you learn, including a beginner’s guide from shape. com.

PRACTICE DEVICE DISTANCING It's more important now than ever to control the amount of time you spend on social media or watching YouTube or Netflix.

The World Health Organization also recommends only checking the news once or twice daily.

START A GRATITUDE JOURNAL There are scientifically proven benefits to incorporating a daily gratitude practice. There’s good all around you, from neighbors helping neighbors to strangers forming drive-by birthday parades for kids who are missing their party.

PLAN A VIRTUAL GAME NIGHT Challenge your pals or family to a game of cards, or Yahtzee, Monopoly, or other common board game everyone has in their closet via a video chat or conferencing software/app such as Zoom. This is a great way to connect long-distance family members too! Be sure to read how to keep your Zoom meetings safe.

ORGANIZE A CHALK WALK Encourage children in your neighborhood to use sidewalk chalk to decorate their driveways, and then stroll through the neighborhood to see everyone’s creations!

BONUS, share messages of goodwill and inspiration with your design! Join NextDoor to get the message out.

HOST A NETFLIX PARTY Netflix Party adds group chat to movies and shows while synchronizing your viewing experience with friends. Make your popcorn and have movie night together apart Continued on following pages... cbboise.com

MARCH-APRIL, 2020

COLOR YOUR WORLD Get out that coloring book you received a few years ago and spend 30 minutes escaping the news. According to a study a few years ago by The Cleveland Clinic, coloring actually relaxes the brain. For those with kids, make it a group effort! No coloring book? Grab some paper and markers and get creative!

is out there. Take a deep breath and LISTEN, too.

WATCH A SUNSET or SUNRISE Then close your eyes and listen to the birdsong. Mother Nature

GET DOWNRIGHT SILLY That’s right. Get your silly on.

Turn up the music and dance like nobody’s watching!

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BRUSH UP ON A SKILL OR LEARN A NEW ONE Wishing you had time to get back to knitting or woodworking?

Maybe you’ve always wanted to write a short story. What are you waiting for! YouTube has some great how-to videos on just about everything.

GIVE BLOOD There’s a serious shortage right now. Contact your local Red Cross and make an appointment to give.

SPRING CLEAN YOUR CLOSET Ugh. OK, this doesn’t sound like a great time, but why not dive in?

Work as a team with the kids to get things clean and organized.

Need some inspiration? The Coldwell Banker Blue Matter blog has a plethora of posts to help!

PAGE 11 HANDMAKE A CARD AND TO SEND TO A NEIGHBOR OR RELATIVE It can be a simple folded paper with a simple message or get the kids involved and get crafty.

Stickers, crayons, cardstock, maybe even glitter! Have fun with it. When you are finished, make sure to mail it!

START A DAILY PHOTO PROJECT Take one meaningful photo per day. You can use your smartphone or digital camera.

Try it with a friend or create a

Facebook group and come up with one-word themes for the day. Share them with each other each day.

READ AN AWESOME BLOG Visit 1000awesomethings.com and read one or two of Neil Pasricha's blog posts. There are fun, silly and yet totally relatable stories to put a smile on your face.

better. Practice patience, take a walk, breathe, then help.

While you are doing your grocery shopping, is there something you can pick up for someone who cannot leave the house?

Leave a bag on their porch, ring the bell, and run back to the side of the road to wave!

PRACTICE COMPASSION It's a stressful time for everyone.

This is new and scary, so do what you can to make things

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MARCH-APRIL, 2020

messages of hope & home Photos & Signs of Community & Family

Through this unprecedented time, our communties and families have come together while staying apart. Here are a few photos to remind you that hope lives, love reigns, & we will get through this together.

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MARCH-APRIL, 2020

Monthly Market Report March Housing Data Reflects Pre-Covid Activity 70% of the homes that closed in March went under contract before any of the social distancing and stay-home restrictions were in place.

Breanna Vanstrom, Chief Executive Officer Boise Regional REALTORS®

A

t Boise Regional REALTORS®, we have received a lot of questions as to how the housing market might be affected by Idaho’s stayhome order, which went into effect on March 25th. Before jumping into the March numbers, we felt it important to provide some context.

Real estate was deemed essential under the statewide stay-home order, allowing many home sales that were in process to close as scheduled. This minimized the short-term impact on sales that we might have otherwise had.

compared to the same month last year, which may impact the number of sales in future months; however, much of that can be attributed to record low inventory in January and February, down 19.7% and 23.4% respectively year-over-year, not necessarily a decrease in homebuyer demand.

We will continue to watch the market regularly, but until we are a bit further out from the stay-home order going into effect, we cannot say what impact this may or may not have on our local housing market.

When looking at the monthly statistics for March, it’s important to keep in mind that 70% of the homes that closed last month went under contract between November and March, well before any of the restrictions went into place. With that said, March 2020 showed an increase in sales, median sales price, and some improvement in inventory (typical for the spring selling season) compared to March of 2019.

In Ada County, there were 899 home sales in March 2020 — up 7.9% compared to March 2019.

With new construction continuing to make up a large portion of the total sales, the overall median sales price reached a new high of $367,000, an increase of 9.6% compared to the same month last year. New homes typically sell at overall higher prices due to land, labor, and material costs, and the higher share of sales pushed up the county’s median sales price.

Pending sales, or the number of homes under contract, were down

In addition to a larger share of new construction sales, the median

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sales price also continued to be driven by a lack of existing/ resale inventory compared to demand. This was particularly true for home sales last month as there were record low numbers of existing/resale homes for sale in January and February. In March, however, there was a significant improvement in inventory for the segment with 652 existing/resale homes available for sale in Ada County, an increase of 10.1% compared to last year. Of those homes, an estimated 69.8% were listed in March, a quarter of which were listed on or after March 25th.

While the local real estate market has not come to a full stop as some had feared, now more than ever, it is important for consumers to understand their financial and housing options based their own personal and unique circumstances.

Next month, in our April Market Report, we’ll have more data reflecting market activity under the statewide stay-home order. For a more up-to-date pulse of the local market, visit our Weekly Market Snapshot page.

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By the Numbers Ada County

899

$367,000

HOMES SOLD MARCH 2020*

MEDIAN SALES PRICE*

43

AVERAGE DAYS ON MARKET*

1,390

HOMES CURRENTLY ON MARKET*

* Numbers reflect year-over-year comparisons. Statistics provided by Boise Regional REALTORS® Single arrow denotes change of less than 10%; double arrows denote 10%+.

Canyon County

515

$272,490

50

651

HOMES SOLD MARCH 2020*

AVERAGE DAYS ON MARKET*

MEDIAN SALES PRICE*

HOMES CURRENTLY ON MARKET* cbboise.com

MARCH-APRIL, 2020

Treasure Valley

Featured Homes

6811 E. Warm Springs Ave NE Boise Beautifully appointed residence offering spectacular views of greenbelt & the Boise River basin. Enjoy direct access to Greenbelt & close to foothills. Chef’s kitchen features large granite island, Thermador cooktop, wine cooler & entertainment bar. Great room offers 10’ ceilings & stone fireplace. Phenomenal sunsets accented by a wall of windows.

6002 S. Red Crest Ave. SW Boise Charming, low maintenance home with abundant living space! Gather in living room around a cozy gas fireplace or mingle in the open living/kitchen areas. Play games or watch movies in the bonus room loft. Mainlevel master suite with private patio access, soaker tub, 2 sinks, walk-in closet & separate shower.

8087 W. Madronawood Ct. SW Boise Elegant yet functional, this home is sure to please! The inviting open concept floor plan has room for everyone. The spacious master suite features a dual-sided gas fireplace, spa-like bath, & large walk-in closet. Hosting gatherings will be a breeze in the formal dining room, or gather around the cozy fireplace in the family room.

5275 N. Brookfield Pl. W Boise One of the finest homes in coveted Brookdale Meadows. Once inside you'll be amazed by the soaring 20 ft. ceilings, angular roof lines & high-end finishes. The gourmet kitchen has SS appliances, island, dual sinks, & custom granite/stone. 5 bedrooms (3 w/ en-suite bathrooms) a bonus room, office & formal dining room.

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Featured Homes

476 E. Shafer View Dr. SE Meridian Stunning home with incredible upgrades!

Large kitchen with butler's pantry, NEW appliances, 2 main floor masters, theater room, dining+office. Oversized garage & shop (with HVAC) + RV parking. East-facing backyard oasis with covered patio/outdoor kitchen, sparkling saltwater pool, pool house shower, gas firepit, & more.

2541 E. Nakano Dr. NE Meridian 4-car garage plus RV parking! Don't miss this fantastic house! New carpet in March 2020, freshly painted interior, stained fence in 2019, water filtration system with water softener, new powder vanity, newer faucet fixtures, new light fixtures & fans, new fire alarms, new stainless fridge & dishwasher, new blinds.

2888 E. Falcon Dr. SE Meridian High quality upgrades & immaculate throughout! 4 beds, 2.5 baths, 2,594 sq.ft., & a 3-car garage. Stunning gourmet kitchen with a 10-ft. island/breakfast bar that has pendant lighting. Kitchen dining & family room steps out to a wonderful covered patio overlooking a groomed yard & big hot tub. Located in Tuscany subdivision.

548 E. Havasupai St. NE Meridian Lovely, one-owner home in coveted Copper Basin community. Open floor plan with privacy for all. Upstairs bonus room could make 5th bedroom or enormous office.

Abundant kitchen cabinetry, extensive genuine hardwood flooring, & an office nook. Two gas fireplaces. Storage galore.

Oversized lot with mature landscaping. cbboise.com

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Treasure Valley

MARCH-APRIL, 2020

Treasure Valley

Featured Homes

2246 W. Root Creek St. NW Meridian Welcoming & warm. Large office or 4th bedroom. Formal dining & living room.

Chef's kitchen with double ovens, top-ofthe-line appliances, granite countertops, corner pantry, gas range, & large breakfast bar. Family room boasts beautiful corner gas fireplace. Private back yard. Walk-in tiled shower & soaking tub in master.

73 S. Grandean Way Eagle Nestled in the quiet community of Alderwood Village, this beautiful home will not disappoint! Proud to boast a master ensuite, spacious office suite, huge gathering rooms, & private outdoor living, all on main level! French doors from all main level rooms open to the immense & private front courtyard. Outdoor gas fireplace!

1521 N. Lake Placid Ave. Eagle Builder's own custom-built home with every possible upgrade you can imagine!

Rich custom cabinetry, pro-style black stainless appliance package includes a unique convection cooktop. Master ensuite boasts coiffered ceilings, soaking tub, abundant storage. LED lighting throughout & large window package.

2831 Timber Dr. Eagle Situated on 1.1 acres, this 5 bedroom home has high-end finishes, formal dining & living, gourmet kitchen with large island, informal eating area, & open concept family room.

Large master suite has walk out to the patio, enviable closet space, jetted tub & walk in shower. Huge bonus/game room on main level. Full size tennis court, too!

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Featured Homes

2602 N. Munger Rd. Star Feels like living in the country, yet minutes from town. New exterior paint, expansive wrap-around, covered hardwood deck, new vinyl fencing, freshly stained rear deck, new sod, new exterior light fixtures. Modern light fixtures throughout. Gourmet kitchen with painted cabinetry, tile backsplash, top quality appliances.

12499 W. Deep Canyon Dr. Star Breathtaking views of rolling hills & mountains!

Step out front to BLM land,perfect for horseback riding or hiking! Inside the home, step in to a generous open-concept floor plan & plenty of space for gatherings around the stacked-stone fireplace. Dine & entertain in the beautiful chef's kitchen. 5 beds, 3.5 baths, 3,114 sq.ft., 3-car garage.

1712 W. Plum Ct. NW Nampa Updated single-level in great, convenient location! Home sits on a large .21 acre lot in a cul-de-sac & includes a beautiful yard, garden area, mature trees, covered patio, & potential for RV parking. 3 beds, 2 baths, 1,132 sq.ft., vaulted ceilings, plant shelves, & updates throughout.

15060 Willis Rd. Caldwell 25x25 shop! Spacious home sits at the rise of the hill to capture the views. Easy freeway access but no freeway traffic. 4 huge bedrooms, 2.5 baths, spacious kitchen & dining areas, main floor master. Yard has fire pit, fruit trees, sprinklers, irrigation, room for RV parking, fenced. Beautiful mature landscaping, plenty of outdoor space. cbboise.com

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Treasure Valley

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