FEBRUARY/MARCH 2017
Celebrate National Chili Day We Share Our Favorite Recipes Don't Forget the Cornbread Recipes to Complete the Meal 50 Shades of Greige Make the Change to Grey Plumbing Problem? Is It Time to Call a Pro? Monthly Market Report Things to Do With 4 offices to serve you, Coldwell Banker Tomlinson Group is YOUR SOURCE for real estate in the Treasure Valley! D O W N T O W N B O I S E 3 4 3 .3 3 9 3 | M E R I D I A N 336.3393 | E A G L E 939.3363 | N A M PA 467.5272
Could it be? Is that greening grass we see? And daffodils beginning to poke their skeptical heads through the earth? We can probably agree that this winter has tested our patience, our back muscles, and maybe our budgets as we purchased shovels, ice melt, and even snow blowers. Have you ever looked forward to spring more than you have this year? What are your plans as the weather warms? Let us know at REAL@ coldwellbankertg.com.
“
I am going to try to pay attention to the spring. I am going to look around at all the flowers, and look up at the hectic trees. I am going to close my eyes and listen." ~ Anne Lamott
contents Celebrate! National Chili Day is the fourth Thursday in February. Give these recipes a try.
Complementary What's chili without cornbread? Our agents and staff share their faves.
50 Shades of Greige Give grey a chance in your home decorating.
Plumbing Problem? Some tips to determine whether you need a plunger or a plumber.
Market Stats We know the snow wreaked havoc. What did it do to the real estate market?
Ada County Homes A sampling of available homes in Ada County.
Canyon County Homes Is a Canyon County home right for you?
Things to Do We've seen some sun; the snow is melting. Get out and enjoy!
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FEBRUARY/MARCH, 2017
Celebrate!
National Chili Day is February 23 Celebrated each year on the fourth Thursday of February, National Chili Day honors all variations of this hearty dish. Check out a little chili history while enjoying one of the recipes shared by our agents and staff.
BLACK BEAN, CHIPOTLE, & SWEET POTATO CHILI 3 sweet potatoes 1 onion, chopped 3 cloves garlic, chopped 1 carrot, diced 3 canned chipotle peppers + 1 Tbsp liquid 2 cans black beans, rinsed & drained 1 can corn, drained 2 cans chopped tomatoes with liquid
1 can tomato sauce 1 Tbsp. chili powder 2 tsp. cumin 1 tsp. smokey paprika Salt & pepper Olive oil Chopped fresh cilantro Avocado slices
DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 400°. Peel & dice sweet potatoes. Transfer to cookie sheet, drizzle with olive oil, salt, & pepper, & roast in oven until just tender (about 35-40 minutes). In large pot, sautÊ onions, garlic, & carrots in a little bit of olive oil. After onions are translucent, add chili powder, cumin, & paprika. Stir frequently until spices release their oils & become fragrant. Add corn, beans, tomatoes, & tomato sauce. Continue simmering over medium heat. Add sweet potatoes, adjust seasonings to taste, top with chopped cilantro & sliced avocado.
GROUND BEEF CHILI 2 lb. ground beef 1-29 oz. can kidney beans 1-29 oz. can pinto beans 1-29 oz. can tomato sauce 1 green bell pepper, chopped small 1 c. diced onion 1 stalk celery, chopped
3 med. tomatoes, diced 3 tsp. cumin 3 Tbsp. chili powder 11/2 tsp. pepper 2 tsp. salt 2 cups water
DIRECTIONS: Brown ground beef, drain. Combine all ingredients in large pot, bring to a simmer over low heat, stirring every 15 minutes for 2-3 hours. COLDWELL BANKER TOMLINSON GROUP
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WHITE CHICKEN CHILI 2 (14.5-ounce) cans white beans 1 Tbsp. canola oil 1 med. jalapeno pepper, minced 2 med. poblano peppers, chopped 1 lg. onion, chopped 4 garlic cloves, minced Kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper 1 Tbso, ground cumin
11/2 tsp. ground coriander 1 tsp. ancho chili powder 4 c. chicken broth 2 limes, juiced, plus lime wedges, for serving 1 rotisserie chicken, skin removed & shredded 1/4 c. chopped cilantro leaves Sour cream for topping Tortilla chips, coarsely crushed, for topping
DIRECTIONS: Drain & rinse the canned white beans. In a medium bowl, mash half of the beans with a potato masher until chunky. Reserve the beans until needed. Add the canola oil to a large pot & heat over medium-high heat. Add the peppers, onions, & garlic & sautĂŠ until soft & fragrant, about 5 minutes. Season the vegetables with salt & pepper to taste. Add the cumin, coriander, & chili powder & continue to sautĂŠ for 1 more minute to toast the spices. Stir in the chicken stock & lime juice & bring to a simmer. Add the beans & continue to simmer for 20 more minutes. After 20 minutes of simmering, taste for seasoning & adjust if necessary. Stir in the shredded rotisserie chicken & cilantro & simmer until heated through, about 5 more minutes. Serve the chili in individual bowls topped with a dollop of sour cream, crushed tortilla chips, & lime wedges. Recipe courtesy of The Neelys from Food Network cbboise.com
FEBRUARY/MARCH, 2017
Complementary
Delicious Cornbread Recipes
What's chili without cornbread? We wouldn't leave you stranded! Shout out to our agents and staff, once again, for sharing their favorite recipes.
CHEESY CORNBREAD 1 c. butter 1 c. granulated sugar 4 eggs 1-14 oz. can California green chiles, seeded & chopped (optional) 1-16 oz. can creamed corn
1/2 c. or more shredded cheddar 1 c. sifted flour 1 c. sifted corn meal 4 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. salt
DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 350°. Cream butter & sugar, mixing well. Add eggs one at a time. Add chiles, corn, & cheese. Mix well. Sift flour & corn meal together with baking powder & salt, add to corn mixture. Blend well. Pour into greased & floured 9"x13" pan. Place in pre-heated oven & immediately reduce heat to 300°. Bake 1 hour; serve warm. COLDWELL BANKER TOMLINSON GROUP
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TRADITIONAL CORNBREAD 1 c. yellow or white corn meal 1 c. all-purpose flour 2-4 Tbsp. sugar 4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt 1 c. milk 1 egg, beaten 1/4 c. vegetable oil
DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 425° F. Grease 8-inch square pan with solid vegetable shortening or non-stick cooking spray. In large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder & salt. While oven is preheating, dry roast corn meal in a pan (preferably NOT Teflon coated) for 3-5 minutes. Stir frequently until you corn meal starts to get fragrant, but does not turn brown. Remove from heat & combine with dry ingredients. Let cool for 5 minutes before adding the wet ingredients. Beat until fairly smooth, about 1 minute. Pour batter into prepared pan & bake in preheated oven for 20 to 23 minutes, or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Serving Tips: Muffins or Corn Sticks - Pour corn bread batter into greased or paper-lined muffin cups OR hot, wellgreased corn stick pans. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes. YIELD: 12 muffins or about 14 corn sticks.
MEXICAN CORNBREAD 1 c. yellow corn meal 1/2 tsp. baking soda 3/4 tsp. salt 1 can creamed corn 2 eggs, beaten 1/2 lb. ground beef or chorizo 1 c. milk 1/2 lb. shredded cheese 1 sm. onion, chopped 2 jalapeno peppers, chopped DIRECTIONS: Brown ground beef, drain. Mix together corn meal, baking soda, & salt, then add eggs, creamed corn, & milk. Stir until well mixed. Add cheese, onion, peppers, & meat; blend into batter. Pour into one or two greased bread pans & bake at 350° for about 45 minutes. cbboise.com
FEBRUARY/MARCH, 2017
50 Shades of Greige
Letting Go of Beige
For a few years now home decorators have been moving away from beige and taupe to the modern alternative, grey. For those of us who are design-challenged, how do we embrace the new neutral? Christopher Williams Coldwell Banker Blue Matter
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Don’t think color, think tone and value,” says Dallas, Texas, designer Elaine Romero of Elaine Romero Designs. “Grey is a neutral so you can’t approach it like you would a color,” she explains. So, how do you approach it? Knowing what you want is key. Do you want to update or do a complete makeover? No matter what your goal is, you don’t always need a professional to help. Give It a Shot So how can we mere design mortals make the change to grey without going horribly wrong? Here are some simple tips. 1. Consider the entire room or house not just the walls. According to Romero this is the biggest mistake people make. Stop looking at the paint and start looking at the room. What do you
see? What do you like? Don’t forget to notice window treatments, the floors, and rugs. Notice contrasts. 2. Don’t go too light. If you are afraid of color, then you will be terrified of grey — but don’t dismay. In contrast to beige, when painting a room with grey it is better, as a general rule, to go with a medium grey like Kendall Charcoal, than a grey that is too light. And don’t be afraid to update your trim color. Think contrast. 3. Stick with what you know. Match the contrast and tone values you already have. The easiest way to do this is to go to the paint store and find a paint strip with your current color on it. Next, find a grey strip you like. If your existing color is number four from the bottom on its strip, then choose a grey that is also four or five samples up from the bottom on that strip. Although
grey is a neutral, it has an almost limitless variety of values, tones, and depth. Picking the right one will make your entire room or home fit together. 4. Warm equals darker and cool equals lighter. Let go of your old notions of warm and cold meaning red versus blue. Grey is a combination of two neutrals, so finding the right tone will mean the difference between a room feeling sterile and one that hugs you. Darker walls will need lighter trim and vice versa. 5. Out-muscle undesirable features you can’t afford to replace. You have to take what doesn’t seem to fit into a grey scheme and make it work. This is most notable in the kitchen, says Romero, where replacing countertops or cabinets can cost thousands of dollars. Let the counter tops be the accent
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Grey and gray are both accepted in the English language. However, gray is the more popular spelling in the US, while grey reigns supreme in the UK.
and then match the existing contrast that’s already working in the kitchen. The same goes for flooring. 6. If in doubt, PAINT! It might be a hassle to repaint a room if the tone is wrong, but it costs a lot less than replacing furniture or swapping out countertops. Staring at paint strips or painting small sections of the wall just doesn’t work. Start painting! Once a wall or room has been painted you can decide if you have the right tone. Following these steps will help you overcome your fear of grey and create a wonderful new look for your home! cbboise.com
FEBRUARY/MARCH, 2017
Plumbing Problem?
What to Watch For
A plumbing problem can be extremely disruptive. We expect fresh, clean water that’s available at a tap’s notice. Plumbing problems destroy those expectations. The following info can help you decide if you need a plunger or a plumber. Sakai Blue Coldwell Banker Blue Matter
A
plumbing problem can sneak up out of the blue, causing disruption in a life where you’ve come to expect that everything should always run as it should. Like losing electricity in a blackout, losing access to fresh, clean water can turn your life upside down as you rush to handle the issue, usually at substantial inconvenience and major cost to you. The best thing to do is to
attack plumbing issues before they become plumbing disasters. Leaky Pipes If you’ve ever opened the cabinet beneath your kitchen or bathroom sink and noticed drips coming from one of the pipes, you’re most likely dealing with a plumbing issue that can get progressively worse if it’s not dealt with right away. A leaky pipe often means that the pipe is
rusting, creating holes for water to seep through. You will need to replace the rotted section of the pipe at the very least and possibly the entire pipe. A plumber can let you know for sure. Frequent Toilet Back-Ups There is quite possibly nothing more “ew!”-inducing than a backed up toilet. A toilet that can’t flush is not only gross, but it can also
COLDWELL BANKER TOMLINSON GROUP
PAGE 11 quickly turn into a major sanitary issue. Plunging the bowl may take care of the problem temporarily, but if the issue keeps happening, the problem is probably deeper in the tank. You may have a septic tank that needs to be emptied. If you own a single-family home, call your plumber stat. If you own an apartment in a co-op or condo, alert the board ASAP as the issue could very quickly end up affecting other apartments in the building. Slow-Draining Sink If you’ve noticed that it’s taking a long time for your sink to empty of water, you’re most likely dealing with a blocked pipe. Some people try clearing the drain with gentle solutions like (blue) Dawn dishwashing soap and hot water. Dawn cuts grease quite cbboise.com
well, and the hot water helps melt and push through the blockage. If that doesn’t work, you’ll want to call a plumber. Commercial drain cleaners can be effective, but they’re also corrosive and can cause damage to fragile, compromised pipes. Sputtering Faucet You’ve most likely experienced a sputtering faucet at one point and simply attributed it to a moody faucet. That’s only true if it doesn’t happen that often. If it happens all the time or in more than one faucet in your house, it could mean there’s a cracked water pipe somewhere in the building’s plumbing system or the main water line. You’ll need a plumber to take a look and see if it is a local issue or if it’s centered on your home’s system alone. Waiting
to handle it could deal with more costly and disruptive repairs down the road. Dripping Faucet A constantly dripping faucet is annoying at best, while costly and evidence of a deeper hidden problem at worst. Your water bill can be driven up by hundreds of dollars a year by a seemingly light drip. The washers that prevent leaks from happening can become torn or loosen over time, causing a leak. Replacements can be found at your local hardware store. Many plumbing companies offer a low-cost “systems review” that might be just the ticket to alert you to potential issues before they become costly problems.
FEBRUARY/MARCH, 2017
Monthly Market Stats D
What’s Happening in Treasure Valley Real Estate
espite uncharacteristically extreme winter weather in the Treasure Valley over the last 60 days, home sales have remained strong. In fact, January residential sales in Ada County were at the highest level seen in the last several years at over 550 closed units. Canyon County closings, however, dropped by about 20% from January 2016. We continue to have a supply-anddemand challenge, however, as strong sales have been opposed by a limited inventory. We would likely have even higher sales activity if only we had more homes to sell to our buyers. We especially see an issue on the resale side of the supply. Remarkably, last year there were almost 900 resale homes on the
market in Ada County at this time. Now, we have just over 550 resale units on the market. This is a reduction in existing inventory by almost 40%!
sooner in the season have been holding off. We’re expecting that once the weather does finally turn (and we sure hope it does soon!), there will be a large amount of pent-up listing activity in the market. Which means . . .
In Canyon County, the resale inventory went down almost as If you’re considering a much – by spring move, you might 35% year- Over half the listings in want to get a head over-year Canyon County are new start on the process by – from 474 construction! getting in touch sooner listings down to 313 in January. Over half rather than later. Doing so will help of the listings in Canyon are new you get ahead of the anticipated spring rush and allow you to have construction! less competition on the market. This time of year, there are usually many prospective sellers So let’s get started! Your referrals preparing their homes for the and repeat business are so market in the spring. But because very greatly appreciated, and of the crazy January weather this professional advice is just a text, year, many homeowners who call, or email away. would have been ready to sell COLDWELL BANKER TOMLINSON GROUP
$240,000
HOMES SOLD JANUARY 2017*
MEDIAN SALES PRICE
29
Ada County
AVERAGE DAYS ON MARKET
1,393 HOMES CURRENTLY ON MARKET*
* Numbers reflect year-over-year comparisons.
197
$159,670
HOMES SOLD JANUARY 2017*
MEDIAN SALES PRICE
31 AVERAGE DAYS ON MARKET cbboise.com
Canyon County
687 HOMES CURRENTLY ON MARKET*
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FEBRUARY/MARCH, 2017
Ada County
Featured Homes
5951 S. Tallowtree SE Boise Immaculate home in the desirable Columbia Village subdivision. 4 bedroom, 3 bath, & 1,795 sq.ft. with a great floor plan. Beautiful water feature in the front, & pergolas in back accent the stunning landscape. Contemporary features make this unique home stand out from the others. Abundant natural light throughout. Close to amenities & recreation.
4390 N. Westview Pl. W Central Boise Immaculately maintained home has everything you want! The beautiful kitchen features imported stone flooring, slab granite, stainless steel appliances, & a center island. Plenty of room for entertaining in this 4 bedroom, 3 bath, 2,632 sq.ft. home. Master suite has jetted tub, tiled shower, & 2 closets. Private cul-de-sac location with mature landscaping.
6556 N. Moon Drummer Way NW Meridian Better than new! Single-level, 3 bedroom, 2 bath home with an open floor plan concept. Features large windows, custom Huntwood cabinetry, custom moldings, hardwood floors, rock fireplace, & tile floors. Home is HERS rated 64 & has an oversized 2.5-car garage. HOA includes a lifestyle membership to the club at Spurwing.
2576 Ariel Lane SW Meridian Exquisite home with views of the Boise front that can't be beat. Custom design by well-known architect Catherine Scott & builder Gary Beck. Elegant great room features 30' ceilings, fireplace, & domed formal dining area. Large bar/game room great for entertaining. Impressive kitchen recently remodeled, features Wolf stovetop, double ovens, Sub Zero refrigerator & more. COLDWELL BANKER TOMLINSON GROUP
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Ada County
Featured Homes
9412 W. Woodland Dr. W Boise Beautiful single-level home with stunning upgrades throughout! Features 3 bedrooms, 2 baths & 1,522 sq.ft. Granite counters in kitchen & master, custom tile back splash, stainless steel Whirpool appliances, & under-mount sink. Spacious main level master with dual sinks & walk-in closet. Fully landscaped yard & covered patio.
5946 N. Rio Lomas NE Meridian Carefree lifestyle with limited maintenance by HOA. Beautiful, custom-built 3 bedroom, 2 bath, & 1,927 sq.ft. home with extensive upgrades throughout. Gorgeous kitchen features stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, island, & plenty of storage. Close to shopping, restaurants, golf courses, & more.
2684 E. Brierfield Dr. Eagle Welcome home to tranquility in beautiful Lexington Hills. This 6 bedroom, 3 bath, 3-car garage beauty offers plenty of natural light & a neutral color palate. Kitchen has granite counters & stainless steel appliances. Beautiful hand carved wood floors, & a spacious rec room downstairs, perfect for entertaining. Close to school & park.
1567 S. River Grove Way Eagle Enjoy this beautiful home, situated next to common areas in the premier Island Woods community. Its windows showcase a relaxing wooded back yard off the living room & kitchen. Features high ceilings, elegant hardwood floors, a den off the main entrance, & an upstairs bonus room with a full bath. Close to restaurants, greenbelt, & shopping.
cbboise.com
FEBRUARY/MARCH, 2017
Canyon County
Featured Homes
17815 N. Armstead NE Nampa Immaculate 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath home with separate family room, bay window, & vaulted ceilings in the main living areas. Kitchen has plant shelves, pantry, & a large eating area. Upstairs master suite has built-in shelving & walk-in closet. Large, fully fenced back yard with plenty of trees, perfect for entertaining. Don't miss this opportunity.
14349 N. San Juan Ave. NW Nampa Wonderful single-level home in Nampa's Mission Pointe subdivision. Spacious & open, split bedroom floor plan. Includes 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, living room, & office/den. Vaulted ceilings in the kitchen & living room. Large master bedroom with walk-in closet. Well maintained house & yard. This is a must-see!
615 S. Davin Creek Loop S Nampa Stunning 3 bedroom, 2 bath home with beautiful upgrades throughout. Large kitchen features stainless steel appliances, quartz counters with full tile back splash, & custom cabinets with soft-close drawers. Master suite offers quartz counters, dual sinks, tower cabinet, tiled walk-in shower, & walk-in closet. Utility room with mud bench & much more!
1212 Torrey Ln. S Nampa Custom-built home located in Torrey Pines gated community. Sits on half an acre of waterfront property. Home features hardwood floors, granite countertops, premium cabinetry & molding throughout. Gourmet kitchen with built-in fridge, gas stovetop, island, stainless steel appliances, & butler's pantry. Master suite on main level with access to patio. Mature landscaping. COLDWELL BANKER TOMLINSON GROUP
Featured Homes
11236 W. Kipling Way NW Nampa Stunning property, maintained to perfection! Hardwood & marble floors throughout. Twostory bay windows open up the large master suite with walk-in closet, deep soaker tub, & dual sinks. Beautifully remodeled kitchen features stainless steel appliances, granite counters, island, & gorgeous cabinets. Perfect for entertaining.
2845 S. Avondale Ave. S Nampa Beautiful 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath, 2,577 sq.ft. home, located across from park & pathways. Offers living area, family room with gas fireplace, & kitchen with plenty of storage. Spacious master suite features walk-in shower, separate soaker tub, & huge walk-in closet. Fully fenced back yard.
21194 Ustick Rd. NW Caldwell 5 acres in prime country location. Near Timberstone golf course. Home features 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2,314 sq.ft., & detached 2-car garage. Lots of room for guests with a huge family room, formal dining room, & covered patio. Bring all your animals & enjoy the country life!
15475 Orchard Ave. SW Caldwell Fantastic location! 1.5 acres on Lake Lowell, with amazing park-like setting & fish pond. Lots of natural light and windows. Great room with vaulted ceiling opens to gourmet kitchen with granite counters, center island, custom cabinetry, dual oven, & more. Plenty of space for everyone in the 3 bedroom, 3 bath, 3,662 sq.ft. home.
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Canyon County
FEBRUARY/MARCH, 2017
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Things To Do Get up, get out, and enjoy! Idaho Business & Technology Expo Tuesday, February 21, 9:30 a.m.
Food Truck Rally Goes to the Dogs Saturday, March 18, 2:00-6:00 p.m.
Riverside Hotel 2900 W. Chinden Blvd., Garden City Info
A Streetcar Named Desire February 24-March 11, times vary
Boise Little Theater 100 E. Fort St., Boise boiselittletheater.org
BLM Wild Horse Corral Tour Saturday, February 25, 9:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Includes tour and lunch Nampa Rec Center 131 Constitution Way, Nampa nampaparksandrecreation.org
Ballet Idaho: Patsy, Elvis, and More Saturday, February 25, 7:00 p.m.
Nampa Civic Center 311 3rd St. S., Nampa Tickets and information
Spring Author Series: Angela Ruth Strong Wednesday, March 1, 12:00-1:00 p.m.
Boise Public Library, Cole/Ustick, Boise boisepubliclibrary.org
45th Annual Roadster Show March 10-12, hours vary
Expo Idaho, 5610 N. Glenwood St., Boise expoidaho.com
cbboise.com
Lloyd Square, 1 14th Ave. S., Nampa nampaparksandrecreation.org
Simply Cats "Catsino 2017" Friday, March 17, 5:45-10:00 p.m.
Boise State University Student Union Bldg. 1910 University Dr., Boise simplycats.org
Boise Spring Home Show March 16-19, hours vary
Expo Idaho, 5610 N. Glenwood St., Boise expoidaho.com
Treefort Music Fest March 22-26, times vary
Downtown Boise See website for lineup and information on other "Forts" treefortmusicfest.com
Idaho Steelheads 20th Anniversary Reunion Saturday, March 25, 7:10 p.m.
CenturyLink Arena 233 S. Capitol Blvd., Boise Info
SNIP Idaho's "Spay"ghetti No Balls Sunday, March 26, 5:00 p.m.
Riverside Hotel 2900 W. Chinden Blvd., Garden City snipidaho.org
D O W N T O W N B O I S E 343.3393 | M E R I D I A N 336.3393 | E A G L E 939.3363 | N A M PA 467.5 2 7 2