Archive for February, 2008
Garden Valley Friday Favorites
February 29th, 2008 Categories: Garden Valley Buyers, Garden Valley Friday Favorites, Garden Valley Real Estate, Mountain Shadows
Soar Like An Eagle
The views from this lot always make me feel like I’m flying.
Overlooking both the South Fork and the Middle Fork drainages, this property really gives you a birds eye view of the valley. Ah! But you ask “How steep is it?” That’s the beauty of this property. You won’t need wings to get to it.
It is located in Mountain Shadows. The Mountain Shadows neighborhood offers paved roads, underground power and phone to each lot. The density is low with average parcel sizes of 2 acres. For the perfect place to roost, build your nest on the level building site and watch the clouds go by.
Click here to learn more about this property.
To learn more about Garden Valley Real Estate visit the Real Estate Archives.
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Pep Hall Halo Youth Group Fund Raiser
February 28th, 2008 Categories: Garden Valley Events, Garden Valley Living, Garden Valley Real Estate
March 7th, Friday Night Dinner will Benefit Halo Youth Group
Come on out on Friday night, visit with neighbors, have a great meal and a movie at Pep Hall. Proceeds will benefit the St. Jude’s Youth Group mission trip to Obregon, Mexico.
The purpose of the mission trip is to help build a children’s refuge center.
Friday, March 7th
Pep Hall
Dinner 6:00 PM
Movie 8:00 PM (Facing the Giants)
The menu will be a Baked Potato and Salad Bar
Kids Under 10 $3.50
10 - Adult $7.00
Families $25.00
Please make reservations by contacting Cassie or Jake at 462-2224
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You Know You’re In Idaho When….
February 26th, 2008 Categories: Garden Valley Events, Garden Valley Living, Garden Valley Real Estate
… Fish and Game Feeds Wildlife at the Local Rifle Range
Yes! It’s true. Visiting the Garden Valley rifle range, binoculars in hand, I was able to get a really good look at the mule deer and elk coming into the Fish and Game Feeding Station.
I wondered why Idaho F&G chose such an unlikely spot to feed wild animals. About that time, Ben, our local Fish and Game officer, happened by. He shared some insight into the F&G strategy. Ben explained that it used to be the habit of the Fish and Game, local wildlife advocates and often, unsuspecting, ranchers to feed the local herds in the winter. Since elk often live to be over 15 years old, generations of animals learned that it was safe to stay in the mountains during severe weather. 
Certain food sources would always be available. For a variety of reasons, including road development and human encroachment, Fish and Game wildlife management thought it wise to encourage the herds to migrate away from the wintry mountains.
For the past eight years the winter feeding programs have been discontinued. More members of the wildlife herds now leave the mountains for the milder valley climate.
But if the plan has worked so well why are there feeding stations in Garden Valley this year? 
Ben pointed out that the feeding stations are all located on the north slopes. That is the south facing, sunny, side. The plan is to coax the wildlife to the north side of the South Fork of the Payette River, where, he explained, winter can be 6 weeks shorter. By now the animals are living entirely on what’s left of their body fat, built up before winter. After our record breaking winter, the fat reserves are running very low. Reducing their winter stress by several weeks could make a difference in the survival of some animals.
Now I know what the guy meant when he told me, “You appear to have wintered well”!
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Castle Mountain Creeks Real Estate Market Update
February 23rd, 2008 Categories: Castle Mountain Creeks, Garden Valley Buyers, Garden Valley Neighborhoods, Garden Valley Real Estate, Garden Valley Sellers
Since my last Castle Mountain market report, three months ago, the national news has been nothing if not discouraging. True, Garden Valley sales were down in 2007 from 2006. Land sales were hit especially hard. This has been aggravated by the continuing increase in vacant land inventory. Lenders have become extremely wary of investment lending which includes bare ground or speculative building. These loans have become very expensive. Construction loans can still be had for borrowers who intend to reside in the finished home.
On the other hand, home sales were down to a lesser degree, while the average sold price was higher compared to 2006. A lack of product mix in family starter and retirement homes is reflected in the low sales figures for modestly priced properties.
Here’s the Good News!
The reality is that current year-to-date sales are over $4,000,000 while the first six weeks of 2007 produced less than $800,000. In fact, the total sales for 2007 were just over 14,000,000. By my accounting that is not too shabby.
Yes I still think we have some hurdles to cross in the coming year. Garden Valley will not be totally immune to the national financial woes. However, if the current numbers are any reflection of the future, and I believe they are, buyers should be advised to move soon. When the national economy begins to improve it is likely Garden Valley momentum will move at warp speed.
How does this translate to Castle Mountain?
Castle Mountain has had one sale this calendar year. It was a residential property, sold for an undisclosed amount. The listing price was over $450,000. As a matter of fact, five of the eight residential transactions that occurred this year were over $400,000, an indication that the higher end buyer is dominating the market. Most of the 10 available Castle Mountain lots are priced below the average lot price for Garden Valley. We’ll continue to see land struggle as long as money is hard to get. However, Castle Mountain does offer the best inventory under $100,000.
Neighbors! The early indications are positive. The bulk of buyers seem to be looking for higher end homes with lots of attractive features. There are 40 homes on the market and 140 lots (not including the 164 lots in South Fork Landing). Now is the time to polish your properties by scrubbing , painting, trimming, planting, weeding. Look at your property from an objective view point. “Be the Buyer” Ask your agent for suggestions and review your pricing. Make the most of your assets.
I’m in the neighborhood and always available to help. Contact me or visit the Garden Valley Real Estate Blog at www.gardenvalleycurrents.com
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Garden Valley Friday Favorites
February 22nd, 2008 Categories: Garden Valley Buyers, Garden Valley Friday Favorites, Garden Valley Neighborhoods, Garden Valley Real Estate
Skyline Lane - What’s In A Name
The dictionary defines Skyline as an outline against the sky. It isn’t a giant leap then to imagine the open terrain, sunny skies and panoramic views of the Skyline location.
Offered for $575,000
Now broaden that image to include:
- 7 acres of fenced pasture
- A beautiful 2200 sq. ft., custom home
- Barn/Shop, hay storage, round pen
Bring the horses and the kids. The access is easy. Spring will come to this location early so don’t hesitate.
Click here to learn more and visit a virtual tour, or, contact Kathy for a personal tour.
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Jumbo Real Estate Signs - I Protest
February 18th, 2008 Categories: Garden Valley Real Estate, Garden Valley Sellers
Please Don’t Put That In My Back Yard!
Most municipalities have some kind of sign ordinance. Boise County is no exception.
I quote the ordinance:
“It is also the intent of this chapter to preserve the rural character by not allowing flashing, reader boards or outsized billboards but to encourage artistic design and creativity through simple effective signage. Therefore, the intent is to promote rural character and not a city center appearance in the county… Residents and tourists will notice the improvements this makes to the general appearance of Boise County.”
Most signage I see in Garden Valley meets the ordinance size and location requirements, except for a few direction signs. Most of those violators are out of area agents. Local agents seem to work hard to obey the laws and be courteous.
It’s true the ordinance allows for a maximum 32 square feet “for sale” sign. Sellers like the largest possible sign to insure that their property is not overlooked. Agents who offer these largest signs stand out as providing expanded services to sellers.
In my opinion the Jumbo sign is unnecessary and inappropriate. Statistics show that 80% of property buyers are shopping on the internet. Most internet savvy buyers are using Google Maps to focus in on property locations. These buyers need only a small, readable, obviously placed sign to confirm they have followed the map correctly. Granted this is often a clumsy solution in Garden Valley. This leads the unsuccessful navigator to stop by the Real Estate office to be guided to available properties. The result is the Realtor has the buyer in the car, as a captive audience, and is selling the property.
Is it really necessary? There is not a lot of visual competition for signs in Garden Valley. In the city there are signs everywhere. Advertisements, billboards, park benches, business signs, construction signs, so many that it’s hard to find the one you are looking for in the congestion. Even the small amount of drive-by shoppers in the Garden Valley market must be able to see well enough to pass the drivers test. So why do they need to read the sign from a mile away?
I wake up every morning to delight in the views of mountains, forest, streams, birds and all the panorama that Garden Valley has to offer. It would be reprehensible to wake some morning to find a “creative and artistic” 32 square foot sign replacing my current view.
Let me propose the ordinance be amended to modify the “for sale” sign maximum size to be 4 square feet. I believe this will better meet the intent of the ordinance, preserving the beauty that is Garden Valley.
Instead of listing their homes with the Brokerage with the biggest signs, sellers can hire the Brokerage with the most signs!
| Discussion: 12 Comments »
Garden Valley Friday Favorites
February 15th, 2008 Categories: Castle Mountain Creeks, Garden Valley Buyers, Garden Valley Friday Favorites, Garden Valley Neighborhoods, Garden Valley Real Estate
Garden Valley is a great place to enjoy natural hot water. Whether you like to hike into mountain, geothermal pools, or visit the Terrace Lakes hot pools, lots of warm water is accessible to all. However, few know that there are pockets of private property, in Garden Valley, where property owners can enjoy this natural feature right at home.
Castle Mountain is one of those areas. Some properties have proven hot water wells. This sweet lot has not had a well drilled yet but has geothermal wells around it. It doesn’t stop there. Add the great views, easy access, year round creek frontage and you’re on your way to a mountain paradise.
Available for Just $74,900.
Find out more here.
This is my neighborhood and I have geothermal heat in my home. Want to know more? Contact me!
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Garden Valley Plays in A1 Tourney
February 13th, 2008 Categories: Garden Valley Events, Garden Valley Living
The Garden Valley womens basketball team competes today in the A1 State Tournament. 16 teams will vie for a slot in the finals on Saturday at the Idaho Center.
After winning the title in 2006, Garden Valley is primed for a victory.
Go Wolverines!!!
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Garden Valley Friday Favorites
February 8th, 2008 Categories: City of Crouch, Garden Valley Buyers, Garden Valley Events, Garden Valley Friday Favorites, Garden Valley Living, Garden Valley Real Estate, Garden Valley Sellers
Rocky Mountain Elk Neighbors
This is every hunters dream property. Five, unrestricted, acres adjacent to Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation land in Garden Valley Idaho. The proximity to Crouch City services and the future city park, makes it a great spot for the rest of the family, as well. This property has a wonderful building site, with views of the Middle Fork of the Payette River. The perfect combination of privacy, seclusion, great hunting and accessibility.
Find out more here, or, to see this great property contact me for a grand tour.
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Record Breaking Snow Fall in Garden Valley, Idaho
February 8th, 2008 Categories: Castle Mountain Creeks, Garden Valley Events, Garden Valley Living, Garden Valley Neighborhoods, Garden Valley Real Estate
Real Estate Sales Start The Year Strong In Spite Of Snowy Weather.
It’s been more than 20 years since Garden Valley has seen this much snow! Idahoans have been hoping for a strong winter, heavy mountain snowpack and the promise of a healthy irrigation season. Well our wishes have come true. I love winter and can’t imagine having too much snow. My friends and co-workers have gotten quite tired of my cheery attitude while they struggle with cabin fever.
Yesterday came close to convincing me that there indeed could be an over abundance. While giggling about the beautiful snowy weather, I look up just as a roof full of snow slid onto the hood of my car. Looks like I’m getting a new hood for my birthday!
Oh well! I’m willing to take it all in stride after reviewing the year-to-date sales figures for Garden Valley. Even as the weather has convinced some buyers to delay planned trips to Garden Valley, total sales are at a very cheery $3,156,259. Compare this to total sales of $12,000,000 in 2007. I’d say we are starting the year out very nicely.
Bring your snowmobiles, snowshoes, sleds and hot chocolate. Enjoy the fantastic winter. It could be your last chance for another 20 years.
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