Archive for the 'Garden Valley Buyers' Category
Garden Valley Friday Favorites
May 30th, 2008 Categories: Castle Mountain Creeks, Garden Valley Buyers, Garden Valley Events, Garden Valley Friday Favorites, Garden Valley Real Estate
“Log Cabin in the Woods”
Have you ever marveled at Thomas Kinkade’s interpretation of the log cabin in the woods? Tucked away, by itself, in the timber, chinked logs, a cozy covered porch, breathtaking views, a little pond outside the front door, the warm light from the fireplace glow visible through the paned windows?
The magic does exist. It has come to life in the form of a very special property in Garden Valley, Idaho.
Visit this home at the Garden Valley Parade of Homes on May 31st. Parade hours are from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Collect Parade route maps at the Garden Valley Properties office.
For more information contact Garden Valley Properties 208-462-4620.
Follow this link to learn more about the “Log Cabin In The Woods”
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Come To The Garden Valley Parade
May 28th, 2008 Categories: Garden Valley Buyers, Garden Valley Events, Garden Valley Real Estate
Garden Valley Parade Of Homes - May 31st
Twice each year Garden Valley Properties hosts a Parade of Homes extravaganza. Homes in the Garden Valley Properties “for sale” inventory are open to the public. This years parade will be no exception, with a wide variety of fabulous properties to visit.
Stop by the Garden Valley office to pick up your parade route map. From there you are on your own to preview the homes at your own pace. Agents, lenders and title officers will be available to answer questions. There will be lots of promotional giveaways. Don’t forget to sign up for the door prize.
Mark Your Calendar
Saturday May 31st 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Garden Valley Properties
609 S. Middlefork Road
Garden Valley, Idaho
208-462-4620
See You At The Parade!
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Garden Valley Friday Favorites
May 23rd, 2008 Categories: Garden Valley Buyers, Garden Valley Friday Favorites, Garden Valley Real Estate
Crosstimber Trails of Garden Valley
Sounds like a western movie name doesn’t it. You’re not likely to run into Robert Duvall here,but he would fit into the setting perfectly. Crosstimber’s rolling hills, swaying natural grasses and wild flowers and expansive panoramas remind me of riding the range. In the movies, anyway. Just as on the trail, you’ll wander upon streams, ponds and foot paths. As you near the stream the landscape changes from wild grasses to willows and aspens. 
The wildlife likes it here, too. Don’t be surprised to flush a grouse, see elk and deer in the early hours or a red tail hawk overhead.
Sure, there is some Crosstimber land to be had, but not like this parcel. Visit this link to learn more.
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Garden Valley Friday Favorites
May 17th, 2008 Categories: Garden Valley Buyers, Garden Valley Friday Favorites, Garden Valley Real Estate
You Could Live In This Happy River Front Neighborhood
Somehow the subject always comes up. Whenever I am visiting with a resident of the Garden Valley Scott Mountain area they always mention how much they love the neighborhood. Some folks have even sold their homes only to build a new place down the street. It’s true that the area is very well maintained. Scott Mountain Road runs along the Middle Fork of the Payette. There is plenty of water for irrigating. The area just looks like a park. However, there seems to be more to the comments than the beautiful environment. The folks in this neighborhood are just so happy to live there.
It’s not often that one of these homes comes on the market in Garden Valley. Now is your opportunity to enjoy the Scott Mountain neighborhood. There are so many special features in this home. Here are just a few:
- 1400 sq ft deck overlooking the Middle Fork of the Payette River
- Great Room concept - perfect for family, friends or entertainment
- River Rock Fireplace
- Impressive construction quality
- 3 Bedroom with 3.5 Bath on a single Level
- Studio Apartment, with separate entrance and river front deck
- 5 Car Garage
I’m at a loss to describe this home effectively. The pictures don’t even tell the whole story.
You should just come look for yourself. On May 31st Garden Valley Properties will be hosting the annual Parade of Homes. The Scott Mountain home will be one of the features properties. The Parade will be held from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm or you can contact me here to see the home at any other time.
Visit this link to learn more about 14 Scott Mountain Road
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Garden Valley Idaho Business Scene
May 9th, 2008 Categories: Garden Valley Business Scene, Garden Valley Buyers, Garden Valley Living, Garden Valley Real Estate
Taking Care of Business - 4 Legged Style
Gosh! It must be 10 or 11 years now since Dr. Keith Ruble bought the Cascade Veterinary Clinic in Cascade Idaho. The Veterinary Clinic had a small satellite office in Garden Valley. We were all thrilled to have the convenience of veterinarian service in Garden Valley. The alternative was a 45 minute drive to Cascade. The satellite office was small and offered limited services. The drive to Cascade was still necessary for surgery and x-ray or any overnight procedure.
Dr. Keith’s reputation spread through our small town very quickly (as most news does). The most difficult animals were calmed by his touch, he proved to be very knowledgeable, thorough and had a great bed side manner with the animal owners, as well. Soon, just about every local was moving their veterinary care to Dr. Keith.
As his veterinary business grew, Dr. Keith was able to build a full service veterinary clinic in Garden Valley. The building is handsome, functional and always immaculate. Dr. Keith’s staff is wonderful. They are always friendly and helpful.
Over the years, Dr. Keith has taken care of our horses, dogs, cats, birds, turtles, rats, hamsters, you name it. He’s seen sore feet, ear infections, wounds, coughs and colds and some real serious stuff, too. He has even been open to working with non-traditional pet care. Building a partnership with other care providers.
No longer just a convenience, the Garden Valley, Cascade Veterinary Clinic has become part of our lives. Dr. Keith a trusted friend and adviser.
Whether your menagerie includes pampered pets or working teams, cranky cats or fishes, Dr. Keith is the man (or should I say doc.)
You can find Dr. Keith, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, at
15 Veterinary Way
Garden Valley Idaho 83622
208-462-3064
or
Call him at the Cascade Animal Hospital
208-382-4590
By the way, Dr. Keith has some great 2 acre lots available for sale. Clickity Click here to find out more about that.
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Garden Valley Friday Favorites
May 2nd, 2008 Categories: Garden Valley Buyers, Garden Valley Friday Favorites, Garden Valley Real Estate
Living on the South Fork of the Payette
Anyone who visits the Garden Valley area is fully aware that properties on the South Fork of the Payette River, in Garden Valley, are very difficult to come by. Much of the South Fork frontage is either public land or includes large, undeveloped, tracks owned by ranchers and pioneer families.
Well then! Here is your opportunity. A full acre of South Fork frontage property. The 1400+ Square Foot house, originally built in the ’80’s, has been completely redone. Not just a handsome update, this reconstruction job includes a new foundation, roof and siding. All this topped off with wood floors, granite and stainless.
No cliff hangers here, either. The land is level and gently sloped to the rivers edge. Boaters, you won’t need a launch ramp.
Too good to be true? Not at all! This place is definitely a Garden Valley, Idaho gem.
To learn more about this property, click here.
For a guided tour of this property, contact Kathy.
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Garden Valley Friday Favorites
April 25th, 2008 Categories: Garden Valley Buyers, Garden Valley Friday Favorites, Garden Valley Real Estate
Looking For A Gem In The Gem State?
Located in one of Garden Valley Idaho’s premier neighborhoods, you’ll find the cut and clarity of this home to be exquisite. The brilliant vistas seen from the expansive front patio extend for miles.
It’s not every day you can find a subject that reflects the light of true grandness. Make an appointments to visit this rare gem today!
See more details and photographs here.
3.50 Acres
3760 Sq. Ft.
Main Master
Formal Dining
Built 2004
Available for $699,000
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Get a CLUE! Getting Insurance on a New Home
April 25th, 2008 Categories: Garden Valley Buyers, Garden Valley Real Estate, Garden Valley Sellers
Picture it! You are all packed and ready to move in.
You can’t wait. You have finally sold your house in the suburbs and have found the home, in the mountains, that you have always dreamed of.
AhOh! The insurance company calls to let you know that the premiums will be double what you expected. The higher insurance premiums where not calculated into your budget for the new house. This is going to crimp your style.
How can this happen?
Have you ever heard of the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (CLUE) database? All claims filed against a property are captured in the CLUE database. The CLUE database report provides insurers with an insurance claim history. This report is one tool used by insurers to perform a risk assessment. A look at claims on the property is valuable in identifying damage history. The data may even be indicative of probable future claims activity.
A CLUE report on the Buyer is also used as one benchmark to determine insurance risk.
Hypothetically, a CLUE report that shows a claim paid for flood damage, on a particular property, could result in higher premium payment for a future home owner. Should the new home owner have a CLUE history that reflects frequent insurance claims, the combination could lead to insurance sticker shock.
Insurance companies will also evaluate a Buyer’s credit score to way in on payment risk. Factors in the credit score history may be an indication of the likelihood that premiums will be paid on time.
How to Avoid Surprises.
- When preparing to purchase a new home, contact your insurance company to inquire about your insurance health. Some companies may refer to this as your insurance score.
- Know your credit score, or FICO score. Take steps to increase your credit score, if necessary. This might help in your insurance costs. Higher credit scores may also earn you better loan terms when financing a new home. Get your free, annual, credit report at www.annualcreditreport.com.
- Once you’ve chosen a home to purchase, ask the Sellers to provide you with the homes CLUE report. Property owners are entitled to one free CLUE report each year. They can find their CLUE report at www.choicetrust.com.
- Talk to your Realtor about insurance contingencies when offering to purchase a home. A guarantee of affordable insurance may be an important factor to you.
- Apply for insurance immediately after an offer to purchase is accepted. If you wait until the last minute, the insurance company will offer initial coverage pending a review of the property. You don’t want to discover, after the fact, that they cannot insure the home for some reason.
Surely, you know the Girl Scout motto. “BE PREPARED“.
Part of your fiscal responsibility includes being aware of your financial health. Know your credit score. Consider your credit health when making major purchases or applying for credit. Talk to your insurance agent about your insurability. Find out what the company policies are for reporting to the CLUE database. Do they only report claims or will an inquiry about a possible claim appear on the database?
Take care of yourself. Schedule a fiscal checkup each year when you schedule your physical checkup.
Related Articles:
Is Your Eye On The Right Financial Target. Healthy Credit Is Not Just For Borrowers Anymore.
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Is Your Eye On the Right Financial Target?
April 20th, 2008 Categories: Garden Valley Buyers, Garden Valley Real Estate, Garden Valley Sellers
Don’t Change The Channel. Healthy Credit Is Not Just For Borrowers Anymore.
How important is your FICO score or credit score? As financial institutions swing hard away from the liberal lending policies of the past few years, they are scrutinizing borrows more closely. Lenders use your credit score as an indication of your credit risk.
The higher your score, the more likely you are to make your payments and make them on time. Higher scores will receive preferential treatment in the form of lower interest rates. Paying attention to your credit score can save you more than money. It’s important to understand that it’s not just the lenders that use FICO to judge you as an investment. Car dealers, utility companies, landlords, insurance companies and even hospitals all use the same measuring stick. Any entity that is considering investing in you is using FICO. You may be surprised to learn that most employers will check FICO scores before making a hiring decision. Many avenues of your life are impacted by the health of your FICO rating.
According to our neighbors at Les Bois Federal Credit Union:
FICO or Credit Score is a 3 digit number ranging from 300 - 850.
720, or above, are considered good scores.
FICO scores are based on:
35% - Payment History
30% - Amounts Owed
15% - Length of Credit History
10% - Types of Credit Used
10% - New Credit
Credit Scores to US Population:
350 to 499 1%
500 to 549 5%
550 to 599 7%
600 to 649 11%
650 to 699 16%
700 to 749 20%
750 to 799 29%
Over 800 11%
How can you find your FICO score?
At annualcreditreport.com you can request a free credit report once a year.
How can you keep you good credit score healthy?
- Pay on time - Keep your payments current
- Keep debt to a minimum.
- Keep you credit card balances to 30%, or less, of approved limit.
- Ask your credit card company to increase your limit if you owe over 30% of your approved limit.
- Don’t open new accounts you don’t need.
- Don’t close zero balance accounts.
- Credit check inquiries can add 5 points to your score, so don’t open several new accounts in a short period.
- If you are shopping for a mortgage and several mortgage companies check your credit, it will count as one inquiry.
- Checking your own score will not count as an inquiry.
- If you find an error on your credit report dispute it. The Federal Trade Commission tells you how.
How can you build credit if you have none?
- Establish credit and maintain good credit for at least 6 months
- Apply for a credit card and manage it responsibly
- Develop a mix of credit types. Include installment credit, such as car loans, and revolving credit, such as credit cards.
- Keep debt to a minimum.
- Keep credit card balances low
- Don’t open new accounts you don’t need.
Get an annual checkup. Make your credit score health a priority just as you do your physical health.
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Know Your Strenghts and Weaknesses
April 18th, 2008 Categories: Garden Valley Buyers, Garden Valley Real Estate, Garden Valley Sellers
Is Your Realtor a Mountain Property Specialist?
I love the mountains. I understand them. Mountain property is a unique character. Living in the mountains has it’s own idiosyncrasies. There is snow load, planting seasons, septics, wells, surveys, emergency services, road grading, zoning laws, building codes and on and on.
If a client wanted to hire me to assist them with property in, lets say, the Boise North End. I would have to admit that I am not an expert in the unique characteristics of that neighborhood. Certainly, I can investigate the market. I have many tools available to me for that purpose. But I could never truly know the nuances of the area. It would be in the best interest of the client for me to refer them to an agent who has that particular knowledge.
Buyers and Sellers alike are best serviced when their agent is suited to their needs. Find out if your agent has the expertise you require. Often a client has a great relationship with a particular agent. That agent has done a great job earning your trust and deserves your business. When you need a service that extends beyond your agent’s area of expertise, you can still include them in the transaction. Ask them to find a better suited agent to help you. Most Real Estate companies will agree to offer a generous referral fee to your agent.
After all, would you hire the landscaper to take out your tonsils?
Give your agent my number. Have them ask me about my referral fee.
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