There is so much that goes into buying a home, and we know that process can be daunting – especially when you’ve never done it before! So we interviewed first-time home buyer, Breanna, to get her perspective on the buying process. As you read, you’ll probably share some of her fears and preconceived notions about buying a home. However, just like Breanna, you can learn how to navigate the process and feel empowered when making one of the biggest investments of your life!
Prior to purchasing your home, what were some of the preconceived notions you had about the home buying process?
I had no idea what buying a home actually entailed. I read so many articles, how-tos, advice experts on lending and mortgage rates and refinancing- i felt so overwhelmed and under-qualified. I thought i had to have 20% down, cash in hand to even enter the market. I thought my credit could be better, my bank statements could be cleaner, my investment account could be bigger. I always felt a day late and a dollar short. I felt crushed when i would read about agents selling homes for thousands and thousands over asking prices, I thought the odds were stacked against me. I felt foolish to enter the market without California cash. I felt panicky and afraid – which no one should ever feel.
What did you feel were some of the obstacles you had to overcome in order to buy your home? What were some of your fears?
One obstacle I overcame, and never saw it coming, was being honest about my financial health – and also, stopping obsessing. Nothing makes you more aware of what you spend and how you treat your income like a lending office going through every financial transaction you’ve had for the last 3 months. I had to give it to God, and say, “here it all is.” My situation was better than I expected, and in a few short months, I was handed keys to my very first home. I’m still in awe.
How did Gabriel and Data Driven Real Estate help you with overcoming some of your preconceived notions or obstacles?
Gabriel’s patience and professionalism in every step of the home buying process gave me the confidence i needed to buy a house. I never had a concern or question that Gabriel didn’t already consider. I never felt nagging when I would run ideas, scenarios, and what-if’s by him via text in the middle of our work days. He was always there to bounce ideas back, and had a contact in each department I needed help with (i.e. handy-man, garage door installation, inspector).
I was never making decisions alone, or signing a document i didn’t understand, and that gave me a sense of power I’ve never had before. Gabriel recognized my fears and walked me out of them; he even let me complain about my opinions on the real estate market (as if he isn’t the professional here! HA!)!
Were you pleased with your experience and the process?
Gabriel helped me accomplish my dream, and I am so grateful! I am so happy to have an expert in real estate in my corner for the rest of my life.
What does buying your own home mean for you personally and financially?
I am so proud to own a home! Financially, this is the best (and biggest) investment I’ve ever made – which leveled me up into a whole different operation. I have never felt so secure in my life. In my 20’s, I was living paycheck to paycheck , being disorganized with my money and always coming up short to pay rent. That anxiety and instability breeds fear and shame. Finally, I can look at my financial health and feel security. Excitement. Pride. I have never had that feeling before.
On a deeply personal level – the fact I am able to provide a home for my baby daughter brings tears to my eyes. I can finally take a deep breath, look into her eyes, and tell her, “Baby girl, we are finally home.” My grandmothers and grandfathers are smiling from above, I feel it in my bones. I can finally unpack – both figuratively and literally, and that sense of relief ripples to my soul. I can relax. I can breathe. I can plan for our future and know we will always be taken care of.
This isn’t just a home, it’s a valuable lesson I am able to give to my daughter – and there is no price on that. She will know that investing in ourselves is the best investment we can ever make, and she will never have to worry about living under someone else’s roof. I am so proud.
Is there anything you wish would have gone differently?
My only regret is that i didn’t begin the process sooner! But, as someone in finance, i don’t believe in looking back – the best investment we can make for ourselves is to begin RIGHT NOW!
Would you buy a home again in the future or rent instead?
I will never rent again! Buying a house gave me the freedom to invest in my family’s future!
If you would buy a home again in the future, would you use Gabriel as your Realtor?
Gabriel was hands down the most genuine, kind, hardworking realtor I could have ever asked for. He was ALWAYS in my corner and worked behind the scenes for me. We encountered some realtors who didn’t tell the truth and who were rude and condescending – I was reminded again and again why Gabriel is so outstanding. I look forward to our next real estate investment opportunity!
What advice would you give to another first-time home buyer?
Take a deep breath, and know that you’re not alone. This is a big commitment and a game-changer. Do it despite being terrified. Be brave. Imagine what you want and find a path to take you there, and let people help you. The strongest people i know have demonstrated how to ask for help. I am so glad I did.
Are you ready to make your move? Contact us today for yourfree, no obligationbuyer consult!
Reality Check: Even if you are currently renting, you’re paying a mortgage – your landlords mortgage! Monthly rents have shot up throughout the entire Treasure Valley and now more than ever, renters are realizing that the amount they are paying every month could easily be paying an actual mortgage – for a home you own. There are many programs that can help you make that dream a reality.
National Programs & Grants
FHA
A significant portion of first time home buyers will utilize an FHA (Federal Housing Administration) loan. An Idaho FHA loan is a loan that is backed by the government and buyers are required to put down at least 3.5% of the loan amount in order to purchase a home. What most people don’t know is that there are Idaho first time home buyer programs out there to help first time buyers buy a home with little money down. Some Data Driven Real Estate clients have purchased their first home with as little as $500 down.
Fact: Nearly two-thirds of recent home buyers put down less than 20%. 26% put down just 1%-5% and 10% put down 0%.
USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Designed to help with homeownership in rural areas, Rural Development provides 100% financing with lower fees than most of the other programs. Unfortunately, most parts of Ada and Canyon counties don’t currently qualify. However, one popular qualifying area is Kuna! So if you’re willing to be “out in the country” that is Kuna, an RD loan is worth looking into.
Idaho State and Local Programs & Grants
The Idaho Housing and Finance Association or (IHFA) can help when it comes to helping you get the keys to your first home. These home buyer programs can vary by lender and have various requirements, but here is a quick overview.
IHFA FIRST PLUS GIFT PROGRAM
IHFA provides up to a 2% gift towards your down payment and can be combined with your Idaho FHA loan. So if you need 3.5% down payment, IHFA can help with 2% of that, leaving only 1.5% to put down.
Minimum credit score 620.
Income must be less than $74,800 in ADA County and $89,760 in Canyon County.
Minimum Borrower needs to bring to closing: $500.
IHFA FIRST PLUS 2ND MORTGAGE
The word 2nd mortgage can sound scary, but essentially, you would have your primary mortgage and a small second to pay monthly.
Minimum credit score 680. First loan credit score minimum is 640.
Income limits apply when used with an FHA loan.
Minimum Buyer needs to bring to closing: 0.5% of Loan Amount.
DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE
Just as it sounds, this is a program that helps provide up to 3% of your down payment on your loanor closing costs.
Minimum credit score 680.
Income limits up to $110,000. Can be used with FHA.
Minimum Buyer needs to bring to closing: 0.5% of Loan Amount.
CITY OF BOISE LOAN PROGRAMS
The city of Boise offers home loan programs to buyers, as well as affordable “pocket” neighborhoods. The city may provide up to 25% for your down payment. This loan comes in the form of a 2nd mortgage and you must be purchasing a home within the Boise City Limits.
Minimum credit score 620.
Income must be less than $41,250 to $77,750 depending on the household size.
Minimum Buyer needs to bring to closing: 0.5% of Loan Amount.
These are just a few of the programs available to first time home buyers in Idaho. Hopefully, the thought of financing your home purchase doesn’t seem as scary now that you know there are options. And although home prices are on the rise in the Treasure Valley, now is still a great time to buy a home. Mortgage rates are at historic lows and lenders are more than willing to help you get into the home of your dreams.
So stop making a monthly deposit into your landlord’s bank account and start investing in yourself and your future!If you’re ready to get started, we are here for you.
**Please note: this home has cancelled off the market**Data Driven Real Estate’s newest listing is located at 14326 Sedona Drive in Boise. The home close to the Meridian/Boise line in the highly acclaimed subdivision of Austin Creek.
Photo by: 350 Modern Tours
A well maintained charmer! This three bedroom, two bath home has an open floor plan with vaulted ceilings and suspended plant shelves in the kitchen. Upstairs you’ll find the master bedroom with a sitting room area and ensuite, along with a large bonus room. The 19×11 bonus room has endless possibilities: media room, play room, office, exercise room, or even a master bedroom adjacent nursery! The backyard is fully fenced and the patio is perfect for enjoying shady evenings outside. Fresh exterior paint and new flooring. 14326 Sedona Drive is also extremely close to just about everything you can imagine – local schools, Target, The Village at Meridian, and the Charles McDevitt Youth Sports Complex.Listed for $359,900.
3D Virtual Tour Available – Click here to walk through this home virtually!
Austin Creek Subdivision
Austin Creek is located in the heart of West Boise just off Eagle Road. It’s quiet, quaint, and surrounded by beautiful parks and walking paths. It is just minutes away from key retailers, schools, and highways that will quickly take you to one end of the Treasure Valley to the other.Find out more about Austin Creek on their HOA website.
Local Schools
This home is located within the West Ada School District. There are also several nearby private and charter schools available. Rocky Mountain High School – 2.5 mi Heritage Middle – 0.8 mi Discovery Elementary – 0.8 mi
If you are interested in learning more about this home, or to schedule an in-person viewing, please contact Gabriel Gutierrez directly at (208)972-6240.
To see other listings in Idaho, please use our website to search for homes. For more information, such as market reports and home tips, please visit our blog.
There’s a common home buying myth that if you are purchasing new construction, you don’t need a realtor – you can just work directly with the builder. While that is an option, working with a realtor can save you thousands of dollars and it’s important to know why!
Who Does a Realtor Represent?
When buying a new construction home, the builder will be represented by a real estate agent 100% time. Interesting that even builders choose to have a realtor represent them, isn’t it? That’s because a realtor has a fiduciary, moral and legal duty to represent their client, aka the builder. That means the person in charge of negotiation and processing the transaction is working to get the builder the best possible sales price and contract terms.
When you decide to work directly with the builder and their real estate agent, you will most likely be categorized as an “unrepresented buyer.” This means that the builder’s realtor still has a fiduciary responsibility to the seller (the builder) and not to representing you in any shape or form. They essentially will explain elements of the contract, if asked, and will direct you where to sign.
But I Will Save Money Buying From a Builder!
Actually, you won’t! The idea that you will somehow save without using a real estate agent to buy a new construction home is the best, worst kept secret in real estate. Here’s why:
When selling their homes, it’s the builders top priority to retain the value of their community – which means getting top dollar for their homes. Builders hate cutting prices as it sets a precedence for each following sale.
Builders already have a pre-set marketing budget when planning out their communities. The commissions that get paid to a buyer’s real estate agent is included in that budget. If a buyer forgoes their own representation, the builder themselves will keep that money.
The builder may be counting on the fact that some people won’t have their own representation. They have figured it into their marketing costs and home prices. Their bottom line is counting on it.
The agreement the builder has with their employee, the agent, is for a set commission amount whether the agent procures the buyer or another agent does. The seller’s agent may make double the commission but from the builders perspective, the cost is the same.
As a home buyer, 90% of the time your real estate agent is actually free. The sellers (the builder in this case) is actually the one that pays the commission fee of a buyer’s agent. Sure, you may have to cover the cost of your agent’s transaction coordinator (commonly known as a TC fee or Admin Fee), but that 3% commission comes out of the seller’s pocket.
New Home Prices Are Non-Negotiable Anyways.
One of the most common things you hear when looking at buying a new construction home is that the price is non-negotiable. This is one of the biggest misconceptions that unfortunately, many people believe. This usually originates from the builder’s sales representative at a model home. Either because they insinuated or flat out said it. The surprising thing is many people go along with it. If the home wasn’t new construction, and the agent representing the seller told you that would you believe it? Of course not! You know home prices are negotiated all the time.
Home builders are running a business. They don’t make decisions, including pricing decisions, the way a typical seller does. If they are a large builder, the price you pay may have to do with the fact their bosses boss said they have to hit a certain profit margin or a total number of homes sold by a specific date. For smaller builders it may have to do with the fact the interest rate on their bank loan increases if they haven’t sold the home by a specific date, i.e. repaid the loan by the end of the month.
Even if the builder “doesn’t budge” on their list price, there are several ways to get a good deal with buying new construction. A real estate agent whose loyalty is to you, their client, and not to the builder knows how to negotiate these “deals” into the contract. This can be things like taking advantage of special promotions or including things that would have otherwise been upgrades.
Even in a hot real estate market it’s not uncommon to see the builder offering a discount of $3,000, $5,000 or $10,000+ if the buyer goes under contract on a home by a certain date. Sometimes the builder will make the discount public, but the majority of the time the discount is only listed in the private MLS remarks which is accessible only by real estate agents. Many buyers will never be aware of it. If you are not already aware of it, the builder, or their realtor, is under no obligation tell you about it. Because frankly, why would they? Again, the builder’s real estate agent has a fiduciary responsibility to the builder not to you.
A home builder, like any other business, is out to make a profit and what you don’t know won’t hurt them. That’s where the value of a real estate agent that knows the local market and is experienced in new construction comes in. A home purchase is one of the biggest purchases you will ever make – don’t you want to get the best home possible, for the deal possible? Of course! So you want a real estate agent in your corner.
Refinancing your mortgage is something most homeowners consider at least once throughout the lifespan of their home loan. It allows you to pay off your previous loan by applying for a new one that has better financial advantages. While there are many good reasons to refinance, here are five common ones.
Lower Interest Rates The number one reason homeowners decide to refinance is to secure a lower interest rate on their mortgage. Not only does this save you money in the long run, it also can decrease your monthly payment. Plus having that lower interest rate means you can start building true equity in your home sooner.
Improved Credit Score Even if interest rates haven’t dropped enough to make refinancing seem worth it, a higher credit score might. If you’ve greatly improved your credit score from the time you purchased your home, you may be able to reduce your mortgage rate.
Shortening the Term If interest rates are decreasing, there is a chance you may be able to get a shorter loan term with little to no change in your monthly payment. Decreasing the term of your loan allows you to pay off your loan sooner.
Switching Rate Types If you chose an adjustable-rate mortgage when purchasing your home, the rate may have increased slightly over the years. By switching to a fixed-rate mortgage, while interest rates are low, can protect yourself from future increases.
Cashing Out If you didn’t already know, owning a home opens up a lending option to you for big purchases. You can use the equity you’ve built in your home to obtain a HELOC or Home Equity Line of Credit. You can use this money to consolidate consumer debt, pay for a wedding, buy a car, education expenses, and more. Lower interest rates mean you can obtain these loans at a lower cost.
TIP: Current interest rates should be at least one percent lower than your current rate before you decide to refinance.
IN THE END – A loan officer or mortgage broker can help run multiple scenarios to show you the cost and potential savings of refinancing. However, it’s important to remember that refinancing costs money upfront. With most companies you will have to pay origination fees and an appraisal cost. If you are interested in refinancing, get in touch with us. Data Driven Real Estate partners with Keller Mortgage who has several cost-savings in place for refinancing!
Did you find this blog post helpful? Check out some of our other posts here.
It’s no secret that the Boise area, aka the Treasure Valley, has been growing in popularity over the last few years. This includes the city of Boise and its surrounding suburbs like Meridian, Eagle, Star, Middleton, Caldwell, Nampa, and Kuna. The Treasure Valley has experienced a high amount of growth in a short amount of time. In 2020, Boise was #20 on the list of best places to live as well as #2 for the best U.S. cities to buy a house. But what makes Boise and the Treasure Valley so appealing?
1) Affordable Home Prices
Even though you will hear locals complain about the cost of housing, it’s relatively affordable compared to other US cities. This is one of the reasons the area is so hot for relocation! Often times you’ll find a bigger, nicer house in the Boise area for less than half of the cost in areas like Southern California or Seattle. The median home price in Ada County hovers around $500,000 which is only 26% of that of San Francisco! Our relocation clients find that they can sell their property, buy a house for cash in Boise (or have a minimum loan amount), and pocket the rest of their proceeds to enjoy a better quality of life or buy a few lower cost investment properties.
2) Active Lifestyle
The Treasure Valley is an outdoor lovers paradise. The mountain landscape provides miles of trail for hiking, riding ATV’s, and horseback riding. The rivers in Idaho have several different class rapids for adventurous kayaking and rafting. Plus, Boise River Park is a haven for stand-up paddle boarding. In the winter, the hiking trails turn into trails for snow shoeing and cross country skiing. And if shredding fresh powder is more your scene, you’ll find a handful of ski resorts within a few hours of the Boise area, like Bogus Basin and Tamarack.
If the outdoors aren’t for you, Boise also has a rich art and music scene, and cultural attractions like the Basque Block. Pair this with Ballet of Idaho, the opera, the symphony, a zoo, and a couple of museums and you’ll never be bored.
3) Good Eats
From burgers to fries, and ice cream to donuts, Boise’s culinary scene has something for everyone. Guru Donutsbrings a Voodoo donuts vibe to downtown Boise featuring their hipster berry donut flavored with blueberry, blackberry, and lavender. Fork is definitely the most Googled restaurant in Boise, and bacon lovers can rejoice in their personal heaven at BACON as they munch on bacon sampler shots. There’s no reason to eat at a chain restaurant when you’re in the Treasure Valley!
4) Good Drinks
St. Chapelle Winery located in the Snake River Valley in Caldwell, Idaho
Idaho itself is home to more than 50 wineries and local brewing companies are beginning to flood the Boise area. In fact, Idaho had the third highest employment growth in breweries between 2006 and 2016. The Boise area is very supportive of beer and cider makers, and beer lovers can walk or bike to several along the city’s Greenbelt. In downtown Boise, you’ll find breweries like Woodland Empire,10 Barrel Brewing, and Payette Brewing.
Enjoy a glass of wine, or two, out on the riverside patio at Telaya Wine Company in Boise or in the industrial warehouse of Cinder Wines. You can also take a short drive from the heart of Boise out towards areas like Caldwell and Kuna to experience the farm-like atmosphere of wineries like Ste. Chapelle, Koenig Distillery and Winery, and Indian Creek Winery. The wine connoisseur in you will thank you.
5) Four Seasons
The climate in the Treasure Valley is truly a four season climate. The winters are cold, but bearable, and it’s rare that the valley sees more than an inch or two of snowfall on a given day. Even when it does snow in Boise and the surrounding towns, chances are you’ll enjoy it in the morning and it will be melted by the afternoon. If you want to experience more than a few inches here and there, multiple feet of snow is only a short drive up the mountains. Spring and fall exist beautifully in the City of Trees, and summers aren’t too hot (minus a few weeks in August).
There you have it – the top 5 reasons to move to Boise!
Although there are several reasons why people are choosing to move to the Treasure Valley, but the first phrase out of people’s mouths tends to be “quality of life.” It’s another world out here. The Treasure Valley is family friendly, and has been quoted as being the next Austin, Texas or Portland, Oregon. There’s something to do here for just about everyone!
If you are ready to make a move to the Treasure Valley, it’s important to have a REALTOR® who knows the area and most importantly, the ins & outs of the real estate market. Even if you’re planning on buying new construction, you want a real estate agent who is dedicated to serving your best interests. That’s where Data Driven Real Estate comes in. Gabriel Gutierrez is your go-to Treasure Valley REALTOR® with a proven track record of 5-Star customer service!
If you’re interested in learning more about the housing market in the Treasure Valley, check out our market reports on the blog.
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