REAL Magazine, June-July, 2014

JUNE/JULY, 2014

Get away to the Idaho Botanical Garden Boise-Based My Family Tradition Isn’t Your Ordinary BBQ Sauce Keeping Yourself AND Your Pets Cool this Summer May 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! w. b o i s e 336.3393 | d o w n t o w n b o i s e 343.3393 | e a g l e 939.3363 | n a m pa 467.5272

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“

Then followed that beautiful season... Summer...

Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood.” ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

w. b o i s e 336.3393 | d o w n t o w n b o i s e 343.3393 | e a g l e 939.3363 | n a m pa 467.5272

contents Idaho Botanical Garden Bring your friends and family to explore the Idaho Botanical Garden

Boise-Based BBQ My Family Tradition (MFT) BBQ Sauce and Rub will get you outside and grilling!

Ada County Homes A mere sampling of the great homes for sale in Ada County. Price ranges to fit every budget.

Keeping Your Pet Cool As temperatures soar, your 4-legged familiy members need to stay cool, too.

Home Insulation Tips Easy and affordable ways to ensure your home - and your power bill - stay cool.

Canyon County Homes Homes of all shapes & sizes are available in Canyon County. We’ve included just a few here.

May Market Stats A quick look at home prices and market trends.

Events A fast-view calendar of some events throughout the Treasure Valley.

4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18

JUNE/JULY, 2014

Athena Snow Coldwell Banker Blue Matter

Fun for All N

at the Idaho Botanical Garden

estled in the east Boise foothills, the Idaho Botanical Garden offers all ages a respite from the outside

world. Whether your preference is Tai Chi in the morning, a visit with the kids in the afternoon, or a datenight concert at Outlaw Field, the Garden and its staff, including an army of volunteers, are at your service.

According to their website, the Garden’s mission is to provide a full garden experience for all ages that enhances community quality of life through plant collections, education programs, and entertainment, cultural, and community events.

The Garden began as the vision of Christopher Davidson, Ph.D. in Botany, who brought together the Garden’s first Board of Directors in 1984.

Situated on land once known as #2 Yard of what was once Idaho’s Territorial Prison and later the first Idaho State Penitentiary, the Garden leases 33 acres from the State.

Approximately 15 acres are currently under cultivation.

Educational programs and cultural events for all ages occur year ‘round.

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PAGE 5

The Idaho Botanical Garden has blossomed into numerous specialty gardens including a contemporary English Garden, a Children’s Adventure Garden, and a Lewis and Clark Native Plant Garden.

Completely dependent on taxdeductible contributions from the community, the Garden is a private, non-profit corporation existing without state or federal funding.

Their success is made possible by the support of its robust volunteer program and supportive Garden members.

The Garden is open to the public from 9:00 a.m. to dusk. Admission is free to members. General admission is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and youth 5-12. Children under 4 are free. Special event admission prices vary. For more info, visit the website by clicking HERE. cbboise.com

JUNE/JULY, 2014

MFT (My Family Tradition) BBQ Sauce originated as a base sauce created by Scott Tharp’s grandmother who passed it on to his mom. The rest, as they say, is history.

Watch our future magazines for easy, creative, and healthy recipes!

COLDWELL BANKER TOMLINSON GROUP

with Boise-Made BBQ Sauces

S

cott Tharp learned how to cook from his mother, Cynthia, as soon as he could reach the counter. It was love at first bite, so to speak, and he couldn’t learn fast enough.

“I was the kid hovering around the kitchen as my mom prepared the meals, tagging along to the store and helping her in the garden,” Scott says. “Of course, ‘helping’ could mean eating everything I picked!”

He learned early on how to pair foods to enhance their natural flavors and traveled the world tasting everything in his path.

“Even in all my travels, I never found anything that compared to my mom’s cooking sauce. She’d use it on barbeque, noodles, her famous meatballs, crockpot recipes, you name it.”

Scott’s mom passed away in 2006, and it became his vision to keep her recipe — and her longstanding tradition of bringing

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family together — alive and thriving by providing a product that “facilitates homecooked creations with natural ingredients. It seems the demand for better options is endless,” he states.

“People have started to avoid barbeque sauces and ketchups because of the unhealthy ingredients.” As a result, My Family Tradition BBQ and Cooking Sauce was created.

The products, including a dry rub developed by close family friends and partners, Jeff and Steve Bittick, are made in Boise

and are gluten free and all natural with no high fructose corn syrup.

MFT sauces include some interesting flavors. “Chocolate Raspberry is our best seller. It’s amazing on chicken and ribs and also as a pizza sauce for barbeque chicken pizza.”

You can buy MFT at Whole Foods, Rosauers, the Boise Co-op and Natural Grocers.

For more information, visit their website at mftsauceandrub.com

Smoked Pork Shoulder • • • • • • •

Coat entire surface of shoulder with MFT Seasoning and rub it in.

Smoke at 250°F until internal temperature of shoulder is between 140°F - 150°F. Apply honey on surface of shoulder, wrap in foil, & continue smoking at 250°F. Remove shoulder from smoker when internal temp is between 200°F - 205°F. Rest shoulder for one hour at room temp.

Remove excess fat, shred pork & place in serving dish Drizzle MFT sauce over pulled pork & serve.

Ingredients: • •

5-7 lbs pork shoulder 1/4 c. MFT Seasoning

• •

1/2 c. honey 1/2 c. MFT BBQ & Cooking Sauce (flavor of your choice)

(flavor of your choice)

PAGE 7

Good Summer Eats

JUNE/JULY, 2014

Ada County

Featured Homes

1068 E. Shadow Creek Ln. Eagle Stunning patio home in the heart of Eagle.

Quality construction & amenities throughout.

3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 1947 square feet.

Gorgeous, open kitchen with stainless steel appliances, granite counters & plenty of cabinet space. Open great room with gas fireplace.

Main-level master with soaker tub. Lot of windows, large 3-car garage.

3524 E. Quin Dr. SW Boise/Meridian Terrific, easy-living patio home in Sutherland Downs. North-facing, covered patio with Boise Foothills views, close to 3-acre park & pathways galore. 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1779 square feet.

Hardwood flooring in entry, kitchen & eating area. Granite with tile backsplash in kitchen.

Stainless appliances, spacious laundry room with sink, cute front porch.

653 W. Kingsley NW Meridian If you like handcrafted details coupled with old world finishes, you’re going to love this home.

The result of the attention to detail is emanated in the fine cabinetry, aged bronze fixtures, earthtoned tile & rigid granite countertops found in the master bath & kitchen. This open yet intimate design is ever so inviting. 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2207 square feet.

2332 N. Old Lace Ave. Kuna The Casabella is a brand new home with some of the newest design concepts available. Spacious, split-bedroom design with 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2270 square feet & a roomy 3-car garage.

This plan is perfect for entertaining with its open kitchen & covered patio. Located in Ruby Creek with a great community atmosphere & community pool.

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Ada County

Featured Homes

1245 W. Hempstead Dr. Eagle One acre of lush landscaping in desirable Banbury & a single level home ready for a new owner. Freshly painted exterior & interior, new carpeting throughout, tiled entry & kitchen/ eating area & newly tiled master shower. New HVAC system w/air filter system installed, new kitchen stove & dishwasher give the feel of a brand new home.

5195 N. Fox Run Way NW Meridian Welcome to the new & enlarged “Sedona” plan with 3 main-level bedrooms plus 2 more upstairs, 4 baths & 3558 square feet. Large bonus room, spacious great room, cook’s kitchen with large island & lots of counter space. Luscious main-level master with dual vanities, tiled walk-in shower & spacious closet.

Covered patio, 3-car garage.

12809 N. Town Ridge Rd. NW Boise An Entertainer’s delight! Excellent floor plan loaded with upgrades & designed for proper feng shui. Great room, family room, rec room with pool table & bar/kitchenette, formal dining, huge upgraded kitchen, multiple patios & 360° foothill views - perfect for gatherings. No back neighbors! Soak in the hot tub or relax in the sauna after a long day on nearby trails.

1925 S. Travertine NE Boise Amazing custom home in premier Boise location.

Enjoy incredible views across the valley & the city lights on your covered patio. Walk down to the Boise River/Greenbelt & golf course or hike Table Rock right out your front door. Huge .47 acre lot next to a common area for added privacy & enough room to add a swimming pool. Custom finishes throughout. Oversized garage.

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JUNE/JULY, 2014

Keeping Your Pet Cool

When Temperatures Soar Compliments of The Humane Society of the United States humanesociety.org

P

ets are family, and, as such, we like to have them along when we hike, bike, or even run errands. The summer months, though, can become dangerous quickly for both pets and people if precautions aren’t taken.

Following a few simple tips can keep everyone safe:

NEVER leave your pets in a parked car. Ever.

Not even for a minute. Not even with the car running and air conditioner on. On a warm day, temperatures inside a vehicle can rise rapidly to dangerous levels. On an 85-degree day, for example, the temperature inside a car with the windows cracked can reach 102 degrees within 10 minutes. After 30 minutes, the temperature will reach 120 degrees. Your pet may suffer irreversible organ damage or die. Learn how to help a pet left inside a hot car.

Limit exercise on hot days.

Take care when exercising your pet. Adjust intensity and duration of exercise in accordance with the temperature. On very hot days,

limit exercise to early morning or evening hours, and be especially careful with pets with whitecolored ears, who are more susceptible to skin cancer, and short-nosed pets, who typically have difficulty breathing. Asphalt gets very hot and can burn your pet’s paws, so walk your dog on the grass if possible. Always carry water with you to keep your dog from dehydrating.

Cool your pet inside and out.

Whip up a batch of quick and easy DIY peanut butter popsicles for dogs. (You can use peanut butter or another favorite food.) And always provide water, whether your pets are inside or out with you.

Don’t rely on a fan.

Pets respond differently to heat than humans do. (Dogs, for instance, sweat primarily through their feet.) And fans don’t cool off pets as effectively as they do people.

Provide ample shade and water.

Any time your pet is outside, make sure he or she has protection from heat and sun and plenty of fresh, cold water. In heat waves, add ice to water when possible.

Tree shade and tarps are ideal because they don’t obstruct air flow. A doghouse does not provide relief from heat—in fact, it makes it worse.

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PAGE 11

Your companions are as vulnerable to sunburn and skin cancer as you are and may require sunscreen on their noses and ears. Light-colored animals are particularly sensitive to the sun.

Keep your pet from overheating indoors or out with a cooling body wrap, vest, or mat (such as the Keep Cool Mat). Soak these products in cool water, and they’ll stay cool (but usually dry) for up to three days. If your dog doesn’t find baths stressful, see if she enjoys a cooling soak.

Watch for signs of heatstroke.

Extreme temperatures can cause heatstroke. Some signs of heatstroke are heavy panting,

glazed eyes, a rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, excessive thirst, lethargy, fever, dizziness, lack of coordination, profuse salivation, vomiting, a deep red or purple tongue, seizure, and unconsciousness.

Animals are at particular risk for heat stroke if they are very old, very young, overweight, not conditioned to prolonged exercise, or have heart or respiratory disease.

Some breeds of dogs—like boxers,

pugs, shih tzus, and other dogs and cats with short muzzles—will have a much harder time breathing in extreme heat.

Treating heatstroke.

Move your pet into the shade or an air-conditioned area. Apply ice packs or cold towels to her head, neck, and chest or run cool (not cold) water over her. Let her drink small amounts of cool water or lick ice cubes. Take her to a veterinarian immediately.

How long does it take for a car to get hot?

OUTSIDE TEMP

TEMP IN CAR

TIME IT TAKES

75

100

10 minutes

75

120

30 minutes

85

90

5 minutes

85

100

7-10 minutes

85

120

30 minutes

100

140

15 minutes

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JUNE/JULY, 2014

Keep Yourself Cool

with Easy Home Insulation Tips Jennifer A. Digiovanni, Coldwell Banker Blue Matter

By following these home insulation tips, not only will you benefit from cooler interior temperatures during the hot summer months, you’ll also decrease your utility bills and overall energy consumption.

S

ummer is here, and it’s time to start thinking about how to keep cool as temperatures rise. If you live in an older home, weatherproofing for both hot and cold weather can be challenging and expensive, but there are many relatively easy, low-cost home insulation tips you can try first.

Plant Shade Trees Shade trees not only add beauty to your yard — they can also block the sun’s rays during warm days and help your home maintain a cooler temperature. Strategically shading the area around your central air conditioning unit helps prevent overheating and allows the system to run more efficiently.

A shaded air conditioner uses as much as 10 percent less electricity than one exposed to sun. If you’re unsure what to plant and where, a landscape designer can assist you.

Insulate Your Windows When choosing window treatments, look for those with insulating properties. For example, double cellular shades block out

a greater percentage of sun rays than single cells and may be worth the higher price. To maximize natural light while minimizing heat, window films or the newer low-e window coatings are great choices. Films block solar heat but are not typically insulating, while low-e coating provides some insulation properties for yearround efficiency.

Sealing is also important. Make sure windows close tightly. For larger openings around window frames, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Saver Guide recommends foam sealant (also known as foam-in-place insulation, available in small pressurized spray cans). Caulk around cracks and small openings and install weather strips to seal around doorways.

Size Up Your Attic Don’t overlook your attic: Warm or cold air circulating up there can drastically affect the temperature of the rest of the house. Invest in proper ventilation (such as attic fans to blow out hot air) and

insulation. If you have a finished attic, make sure it’s properly sealed and insulated behind kneewalls.

Replace Your HVAC Filter One of the easiest, most affordable home insulation tips is to replace your HVAC filter regularly.

Replacement HVAC filters can cost less than $5 at home improvement stores, but changing them frequently removes clogged dirt from your air conditioning unit and allows the system to run more efficiently. Reusable HVAC filters are more expensive, but you can simply rinse them off, rather than throwing them out.

Generate Less Heat Indoors Another way to keep your house cool when temperatures rise is to avoid using appliances that emit heat. Air dry dishes rather than running the dishwasher.

Hang your laundry on drying racks or clotheslines instead of using your dryer. Grill outside rather than heating up your oven.

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PAGE 13

A shaded air conditioner uses as much as 10% less electricity than one exposed to sun.

Download the US Department of Energy’s “Energy Saver Guide” HERE.

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JUNE/JULY, 2014

Canyon County

Featured Homes

6432 Brimley NE Nampa Beautiful home! Extensive updating has been done. New fixtures, hardware, carpet, tile floors in baths, bathroom vanity, sinks. New hardwood flooring under the carpet on the main floor. Open & airy plan with master suite on the 2nd floor. Redwood deck & garden shed in the rear yard & fully fenced. New utility sink, new hot water heater & furnace heat exchanger.

1106 S. Spring Valley Dr. S Nampa This is a fabulous, 1934 square foot, single-story home with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, a 3-car garage & an RV pad. The beautiful master suite features coved ceilings, a large soaker tub & a tiled walkin shower. The large, elegant kitchen showcases granite counters, travertine backsplash, undercabinet lighting, a built-in desk & cabinets galore!

2616 Toma Ct. S Nampa Quiet, low traffic cul-de-sac on a .32 acre lot!

Single level home that shows true pride in ownership. Abundant windows allow natural light throughout. 9’ walls, open great room featuring gas fireplace. Expansive kitchen with granite slab countertops, island with cooktop, built-in oven & breakfast bar. Spacious master suite with private access to deck.

1229 W. Sandcrest Ct. S Nampa 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths & 2340 square feet of living space. The open kitchen has great storage & is perfect for entertaining. The dining room offers a door onto the back patio for a relaxing summer evening. This home features a office/ den along with a master bedroom on the main level. The remaining bedrooms are upstairs with the utility room for great convenience.

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Featured Homes

458 E. Sunrise Rim Rd. S Nampa This stunning custom home is a rare find!

Maintained to perfection, the home includes 5 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2916 square feet & a 3-car garage. Custom chef’s kitchen with granite counters, dovetail cabinetry & island with separate prep sink. Custom staircase with iron & wood accents. Huge master retreat with fireplace & private, covered patio.

15593 Eclipse Dr. SW Caldwell Enjoy life in this wonderful 4 bedroom, 3 bath home with 3011 square feet on .82 acre. Open living area with a gas fireplace, bayed dining & stunning kitchen with beautiful cabinetry, hardwood floors, granite counters, walk-in pantry & double ovens. Private master with trayed ceiling, double sinks, corner soaker tub, separate shower & walk-in closet.

9444 Ridgeview St. SW Caldwell Elegantly set on just over 2 acres, this home welcomes the tranquility that country living brings! The interior beams with natural light & features a lovely sunken living room.

Great family room with floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace. Fully loaded gourmet kitchen with custom walk-in pantry, large center island, gas cooktop & fridge.

17130 Stiehl Creek Dr. NE Nampa .65 acre of absolute perfection! You will not find another house with the amenities, quality, appeal & price to match this house. 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 3845 square feet, 3-car garage & an open design. 2nd-level entertainment area that will blow you away! Full wet bar with granite, tile & a full theater room with stadium seating & state-of-the-art technology.

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Canyon County

JUNE/JULY, 2014

May Market Stats

What’s Happening in the Treasure Valley

T

he spring selling season has up a respectable 6% year-overbeen in full force in both Ada year. Like much of the country, we and Canyon Counties for are firmly in recovered, pre-bust the past couple of months. April territory with regard to average and median sales and May of 2013 were particularly Ada County home prices prices. strong months are up 13% over 2013; with regard to The number of Canyon County is up 6%. available homes sales activity, so listed for sale is it’s been tough up, as it usually is this time of year. to compete with that metric yearover-year. However, there is still Not since 2011 have we seen this much encouraging to report with kind of an inventory. our local market.

Buyer demand is keeping pace, Most notably, median sales prices though, as interest rates have in Ada County have increased remained low, and the market, over 13% since May of last year. with less than 4 months’ supply of Canyon County’s prices are also homes available, is still favoring

sellers. (A “balanced market is 6 months’ of inventory. We call it a “seller’s market” with less than 6 months’, while a “buyer’s market” is more.)

Sellers are also discounting their asking prices less than they had to in previous months. Right now, we’re seeing average sales prices at over 99% of average listing prices.

Translation: The timing may be good if you’re considering selling your property.

Real estate is most definitely local. Call to find out what all of this means for you in your own neighborhood.

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PAGE 17

800

$209,200

HOMES SOLD MAY 2014

MEDIAN SALES PRICE

44

Ada County

2,654

AVERAGE DAYS ON MARKET

HOMES CURRENTLY ON MARKET

372

$130,500

HOMES SOLD MAY 2014

MEDIAN SALES PRICE

24 AVERAGE DAYS ON MARKET cbboise.com

Canyon County

1,419 HOMES CURRENTLY ON MARKET

JUNE/JULY, 2014

FARMERS’ MARKETS Capital City Public Market Saturdays; 9:30a.m.-1:30p.m.

8th & Idaho, downtown Boise www.capitalcitypublicmarket.com

Boise Farmers’ Market Saturdays; 9:00a.m.-1:00p.m.

1080 Front St., downtown Boise www.theboisefarmersmarket.com

East End Market Sundays; 10:00a.m.-2:00p.m.

Bown Way, SE Boise

www.facebook.com/eastendmarketatbowncrossing

Eagle Saturday Market Saturdays; 9:00a.m.-1:00p.m.

185 E. State St., Eagle www.facebook.com/eaglesaturdaymarket

Kuna Farmers’ Market Saturdays; 9:00a.m.-noon

Kuna City Park, Main St., Kuna www.kunafarmersmarket.com

Nampa Farmers’ Market Saturdays; 9:00a.m.-1:00p.m.

1350 Front St., Lloyd Square, Nampa www.nampafarmersmarket.com

Caldwell Farmers’ Market Wednesdays; 3:00-7:00 p.m.

Blaine & 7th, Caldwell www.caldwellidfarmersmarket.com COLDWELL BANKER TOMLINSON GROUP

PAGE 19

Events Stay busy this summer with some fun valley events!

Alive After Five Summer Concert Series Every Wednesday, 5:00-8:00 p.m.

Grove Plaza, downtown Boise www.downtownboise.org

Idaho Shakespeare Festival “Deathtrap” - May 30-July 25

“As You Like It” - June 6-27 5657 Warm Springs Ave., Boise www.idahoshakespeare.org

Great Garden Escape Thursdays, June 12-September 18

Check times & schedule online Idaho Botanical Garden 2355 Old Penitentiary Road, Boise www.idahobotanicalgarden.org

Meridian Dairy Days June 16-21

Parade, June 20, 6:45 p.m.

Main St., Meridian www.dairydays.org

Movies Under the Stars June 21, 7:00 p.m.; “Despicable Me 2”

Julia Davis Bandshell Julia Davis Drive, Boise www.boiseschoolsfoundation.com

Boise Music Festival June 28, 10:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.

Expo Idaho, 5610 Glenwood, Boise www.boisemusicfestival.com

cbboise.com

July 4th Activities Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast

8:00-11:00 a.m.; Julia Davis Park, Boise Information

City of Boise Events all day; Ann Morrison Park, Boise Check schedule online http://parks.cityofboise.org/

City of Meridian Events starting at 3:00 p.m.; Storey Park 205 E. Franklin Rd., Meridian Check schedule online

City of Caldwell Events 10:00 a.m.; Parade & events; Memorial Park 618 Irving St., Caldwell dusk; Fireworks; Brothers Park Corner of Ustick Rd. & S. Indiana Ave. http://www.cityofcaldwell.com/

Boise Liberty Day Parade 11:00 a.m.; downtown Boise http://boiseparade.blogspot.com/

http://www.meridiancity.org/independenceday/

Eagle Fun Days July 11-12

all day; downtown Eagle www.eaglechamber.com

Boise Twilight Criterium July 12, 1:00 p.m.; downtown Boise

http://boisetwilightcriterium.com

Canyon County Fair July 24-27

111 22nd St, Caldwell http://www.canyoncountyfair.org/

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