OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017
Spooky History "Tombstone Tourism" is Real Best Ever Apple Pie Add This Recipe to Your Family Favorites Get in the Spirit Easy Halloween Decorations Easy-Care Cabinets How to Get Them 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! DOWNTOWN BOISE 208.343.3393 | MERIDIAN 208.336.3393 | EAGLE 208.939.3363 | NAMPA 208.467.5272
Did you know that the top children's costumes last year were superheroes, princesses, and animals? Any ideas on what adults preferred? Witches took first prize, followed by pirates and Batman characters. For pets, pumpkins, hot dogs, and bumblebees were the favorites. Will you be one of the 171+ million Americans to celebrate Halloween this year? What's your go-to costume? Let us know! And if you have comments or suggestions for us, please email us at REAL@coldwellbankertg.com.
“
The thing under my bed waiting to grab my ankle isn't real. I know that, and I also know that if I'm careful to keep my foot under the covers, it will never be able to grab my ankle." ~ Stephen King
contents Spooky History Cemeteries can tell you much more than you might think.
Best Ever Apple Pie The best apple pie you've ever tasted isn't even round!
Get in the Spirit! Easy and affordable decorations for Halloween.
Low Maintenance Nine tips for easy-care cabinets.
Market Stats What's happening in the real estate market this fall?
Ada County Homes Many stunning homes are available for sale in Ada County.
Canyon County Homes Take a peek at just a few homes on the market in Canyon County.
Things to Do Celebrate fall and Halloween by taking part in some fun events!
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OCTOBER/NOVEMBER, 2017
Spooky History
Exploring Local Cemeteries
Taphophile: one who has a passion for exploring cemeteries. Many of these "tombstone tourists" are interested in ancient symbolism, photography, and art, as well as the historical significance of those buried within.
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sculpture that the statue had to be moved to the Telfair Museum to protect it, as well as the cemetery's privacy.
What you might not know—and what might seem a bit creepy— is that "tombstone tourism" is a popular pasttime. Books have helped. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, for instance, brought so many tourists to Savannah, Georgia's Bonaventure Cemetery to see the book cover's "Bird Girl"
The Boise Parks and Recreation Department offers tours of Morris Hill and Pioneer Cemeteries guided by a local expert on ancient cemetery symbolism and customs. You'll learn about some of the people who helped form the Boise we know today. Tours are scheduled for Saturday, October
cbboise.com
So, what about Boise's cemeteries? What historical relevance lies buried here? And what better time than Halloween to begin your education?
28th, are approximately 90 minutes long, and are free. Register for the 9:00 a.m. Morris Hill tour HERE, and the noon tour at Pioneer Cemetery HERE. For those of you interested in striking out on your own, Morris Hill Cemetery offers a self-guided tour with a map to the graves of famous (and infamous) residents. Be sure to refer to the website before you go so you'll know a bit about the people whose graves you'll see. Please take care to be respectful at all times, including bypassing any area that might have a funeral in progress.
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ave you ever wandered around an old cemetery reading the headstones? Perhaps you've traveled to visit an ancestor's gravesite as a supplement to some genealogical research. For centuries, people of all faiths have made pilgrimages to the burial sites of family members and religious icons.
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER, 2017
Best-Ever Apple Pie
Seasonal Goodness
Favorite recipes are meant to be passed from one generation to the next. And, sometimes when we're lucky, the finest ones are shared beyond the family. Get ready for a treat. We think you'll discover that the best apple pie you will ever try isn't even round! David & Tara Marine Coldwell Banker Blue Matter
I
t's that time of year for all things apple: apple cider, apple butter, apple pie, cinnamon apple scones, pork roast with apples, Waldorf salad. You get the picture. It’s fall! It’s apple time. A quick word of caution: this recipe can be challenging. The hardest part is transferring the crust from the pastry cloth to the sheet cake pan. If it’s your first try, give yourself plenty of time. It will be well with the effort. Part of what makes this pie so great is the homemade crust, so roll up your sleeves and commit! COLDWELL BANKER TOMLINSON GROUP
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Mom's Sheetcake Apple Pie
11 c. sliced & peeled Granny Smith apples 11/2 c. sugar 3 Tbsp. flour mixed with 21/4 tsp. cinnamon
FILLING: 1/4 tsp. nutmeg 1/8 tsp. mace 1/2 tsp. salt
DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Divide Perfect Pie Dough recipe (below) into two large rectangular patties and roll the first to fit the bottom of the jellyroll pan, with a little at each side to flute later.* Store in the fridge while you make your filling. Spread some softened butter (2-3 T) on the bottom crust so that it doesn’t get soggy. Fill with the apple mixture, dot the apple layer with butter (2T) and gently cover with the second rolled crust. Press the crusts together to keep the juices from coming out. Cut vents in top crust. Brush with an egg wash and sprinkle with sugar. Bake 40-45 min. Cool and frost with a confectioner’s sugar and water drizzle. (6 T powdered sugar and 2 T hot water). *Don’t stress if crusts tear. Just patch together with cold water and flour and move on. No one sees the bottom crust, and the top crust will be covered with frosting. If your jelly roll pan is small, you may not need all the Perfect Pie Dough recipe. If it’s your first time making this recipe, just use all 4 balls. Better to have extra for patching than to run short. 4 c. flour 1 Tbsp. sugar 2 tsp. salt 13/4 c. butter-flavored Crisco
PERFECT PIE DOUGH: 1 Tbsp. white vinegar 1 large egg 1/2 c. cold water
DIRECTIONS: Mix first 3 ingredients in large bowl. Add shortening and cut in until pea-sized. In small bowl beat together with fork: water, egg, vinegar. Combine 2 mixtures with fork until all is moistened. Divide into 4-5 balls & form into patties. Wrap each ball & chill for ½ hour. Can refrigerate 3 days or can be frozen. cbboise.com
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER, 2017
In 2016, Americans spent a whopping $8.4 billion on Halloween, a $1.5 billion increase over 2015. SOURCE: fortune.com
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Get in the Spirit
Easy Halloween Decor
It doesn’t take much to get your house ready for Halloween. Keep it simple, and you’ll be ready in no time. Amy Freeman Coldwell Banker Blue Matter
L
et trick-or-treaters know that they are welcome to your home this year by sprucing up your house with Halloween decor. You can go all out and line a walkway with multiple jack-o’-lanterns, tombstones, or solar-powered holiday lights, or consider suspending a witch on a broomstick from a tree. If you are short on time, just keep it simple by focusing on one area of the house. Pumpkins and Gourds A few strategically placed pumpkins and gourds might be all the Halloween decor your home needs. You can carve the pumpkins or leave them whole so that they last through fall. If you carve the pumpkins, for safety reasons, use an LED tea light instead of a real candle, especially if you are going to put the pumpkin out on the front porch. Use a selection of three differentlysized pumpkins to make a Halloween-themed version of a topiary. Cut the stems off the two largest pumpkins. Set the largest pumpkin on top of a planter, cbboise.com
and then place the next-largest pumpkin on top of it. Place the smallest pumpkin on the very top to finish it off. You can leave the pumpkins as they are or spray paint them a metallic color or black. Set the topiary outside, just next to your front door. Lots of places sell fresh pumpkins and gourds in the fall. Stop by your local supermarket or gardening center. Don’t wait until the last minute so you’ll have a good selection. Window Decor Depending on your home’s design, the front window might be the main attraction when it comes to Halloween decor. Though some people go all out with their decorations, a simple way to get in the spirit of things is to hang a string of orange or purple lights around the edge of the window. You can also use the window as the backdrop for a Halloween scene. For example, create a spider web that stretches across the window. A simple way to make a web is to stretch pieces of yarn across the
width and height of the window, forming a plus sign and an “X.” Tie another piece of yarn around the vertical piece in the plus sign, then weave it around the other pieces, as if you were weaving a web. You can also stretch polyester stuffing or cheesecloth across the window to create a web-like effect. Table Decor There is always the subtle route when decorating for Halloween. If you don’t want to put pumpkins outside or don’t have a big front window, use your kitchen or dining table as the focal point for your decor. Set a large bowl in the middle of the table, and fill it with gourds of varying shapes and sizes for a simple centerpiece. If you can get your hands on a small bale of hay from a craft store or gardening center, use that as the base of your centerpiece. Simply pile the gourds around the hay. You can also push the stems of silk flowers into the bale itself. Another option is to place LED tea lights around the pile of gourds.
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER, 2017
Low-Maintenance
9 Must-Haves for Kitchen Cabinets Save valuable elbow grease and time with these ideas for easy-to-maintain cabinets so you can spend more time on things you really love. Victoria Keichinger Coldwell Banker Blue Matter
T
he heart of the home may also be the toughest room to keep clean. Every surface in your kitchen is susceptible to crumbs, dirt, stains, and splatters. This is especially true of cabinets. Fortunately, there are practical ways to keep your cabinet maintenance on the lighter side. With ideas like choosing fewer decorative details and picking the right color, these nine tips will make your cabinets easier to maintain. 1. Choose a door style with minimal detail. Raised-panel door styles have nooks and crannies that are magnets for dust and dirt. Shakerstyle and slab door fronts don’t, so you won’t have to spend time scrubbing every recess of your door fronts. If you’re designing a traditional kitchen and want a more decorative door style, select a stain or paint that has a glaze. The glaze will fill the doors’ cracks and
corners and better hide the dust and dirt that your cabinet doors will collect. 2. Opt for flush cabinet ends. You normally have two options for finishing the ends of your cabinets: flush ends or matching ends. Flush ends are plywood ends that match the color of your cabinets. They are smooth and sleek, which means you can run a cloth over them with a few swipes. They can certainly speed up cleaning. Matching ends feature a panel with the same style as the door fronts, and while they can bring elegance and character to your kitchen, you face the same maintenance issues with matching ends as you do with raised-panel doors. There’s simply more to scrub. 3. Cut the trimmings. Designer details like crown molding, corbels, decorative legs and light rail molding add more to love but also more to clean, especially ornate styles. There are other designer touches you can
use that require less maintenance. Try a colorful cabinet paint, eccentric lighting or colored bar stools to add style. 4. Pick a stain instead of a paint. Stains and paints have pros and cons. They can both show crumbs and fingerprints, and paint definitely shows food stains and splatters. That said, a stain is easier to touch up than paint. You can give a scratched cabinet stain a quick spruce-up with a matching permanent marker. It’s often harder with paint for two reasons. First, it’s hard to find a marker that closely matches a specific paint. Often a touch-up kit from the cabinet manufacturer is needed. Second, paint doesn’t take touchups the same way that stains do. You’re more likely to notice a touch-up on paint. 5. Go for a grain with a dark stain. If you’re set on a dark cabinet stain, select a wood species that features
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PAGE 11 the grain, such as oak or hickory. Grains don’t show scratches, stains and crumbs as much as a clean wood species like maple does. It’s also harder to tell that a cabinet stain has been touched up when the surface has grains. 6. Invest in hardware. If you want fewer fingerprints and less wear and tear on your door fronts, purchase door pulls and knobs for all of your cabinets. They help preserve the integrity of your cabinets’ surfaces. Steer clear of stainless steel and chrome hardware. They show fingerprints and water spots and are harder to clean. Oil-rubbed bronze, satin bronze, polished nickel, brushed nickel, and white hardware are the cream of the crop as far as easy maintenance goes. Choose the look that best suits the style of your kitchen. 7. Avoid glass door fronts. They may be windows to your kitchen’s soul, but they’re also extra surfaces to clean. They manage to attract their fair share of dust, dirt, and smudges. Dirt can build up easily on glass door fronts that feature mullions. You also have to keep whatever is behind those glass doors tidy. One benefit to glass door fronts is how inviting they can make your kitchen space feel. Luckily, there’s more than one way to design a warm and welcoming kitchen. If you want a low-maintenance alternative to glass door fronts, cbboise.com
stick with lighter cabinet stains like golden browns. They can make your guests feel just as cozy as glass door fronts do. 8. Reduce open shelving. Open shelving is a great canvas for displaying your favorite decor and cookware, whether it’s on a wall, on an island, or at the end of cabinets. But it takes more time and effort to ensure that these spaces are dusted and organized. The upkeep can become overwhelming along with your daily tasks. To shorten your to-do list, place your decor on necessary surfaces like dining tables and countertops instead of unnecessary cabinet shelves. You can also use pillows, chairs, bar stools and lighting as decorative touches. 9. Protect your sink cabinet from moisture. This is more of a preventative measure — it will help you avoid issues down the road. There are a couple of ways to help protect your sink cabinet from moisture. You can order the cabinet with an all-plywood construction (most semicustom and prefabricated cabinets are constructed of a mixture of pressed wood and plywood). An all-plywood construction makes the cabinet less penetrable. You can also purchase a cabinet mat, which looks like a tray and is placed at the base of the sink cabinet. It will serve as a moisture barrier and catch any liquid leaks or spills.
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER, 2017
Monthly Market Stats
The Fast-Moving Housing Market Continues
The market in both Ada and Canyon Counties is being driven by demand.
D
espite rising home prices, today’s housing market doesn’t have much else in common with the market we saw prior to the recession. The Boise Region’s housing market is being driven by real home buyer demand, not speculation, which was common a decade ago. And as we’ve mentioned before, the increase in demand and lack of inventory has pushed up home prices. That demand for housing can be seen in the data (real or speculative) by looking at the Days on Market. Days on Market metric (or DOM) counts the average number of days between when a property was listed and when an offer was accepted. For example, in Ada County, home sales that closed in September spent an average of 32 days on the market before going under contract, 23.8% faster than in September 2016. DOM doesn’t factor in the time between accepting an offer and closing (which can vary based on the time it takes to complete home inspections, repairs, financing, etc.), so it is a good indicator of
the demand for housing, and how quickly sellers find buyers. DOM is seasonal, meaning homes generally go under contract faster in the spring and summer and slower in the fall and winter. To see the overall trend, we used a 12-month rolling average to remove seasonality. Based on those figures, DOM for Ada County has been trending down since 2009, and since 2014, DOM has been tracking closely with falling inventory. The very low DOM of 32 days on average, between February 2006 and January 2007, shows just how quickly buyers were snatching up homes, despite having plenty of inventory to choose from. In the past year or so we’ve experienced quite the opposite — low DOM and very low inventory. Prior to the recession, Canyon County saw a similar trend with shorter average DOM despite plenty of inventory to meet demand. Since late 2013, DOM has been tracking closely with inventory, indicating increasing demand as inventory drops.
While that historical comparison is another helpful distinction between today’s market and the pre-recession market, it’s not much consolation for today’s buyers who are often required to make quick decisions because of limited inventory. Unless there is a sudden influx of inventory or a quick drop in demand, we expect the market to continue to move quickly, even if we see some slight increases in Days on Market through the winter. Additional information about trends within each county, by price point, by existing and new construction, and by neighborhood, are now available in the September 2017 Market Report. This report includes an explanation of the metrics and notes on data sources and methodology.
Breanna Vanstrom Chief Executive Officer Boise Regional Realtors
Get in touch if you'd like to know how all of this information affects your situation!
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$274,700
HOMES SOLD SEPTEMBER 2017*
Ada County
32
AVERAGE DAYS ON MARKET*
MEDIAN SALES PRICE*
1,985
HOMES CURRENTLY ON MARKET* * Numbers reflect year-over-year comparisons.
$182,000
440
HOMES SOLD SEPTEMBER 2017*
32
AVERAGE DAYS ON MARKET*
cbboise.com
Canyon County
MEDIAN SALES PRICE*
942
HOMES CURRENTLY ON MARKET*
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1,022
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER, 2017
Ada County
Featured Homes
1254 S. Cameron Boise Bench Location, location, location! Highly desired Randolph-Robertson neighborhood with quick & easy access to schools, shopping, I-84 & Boise Towne Square. A wealth of windows provides lots of natural light. Spacious owner's suite with soaker tub, tile shower, & large walkin closet. Huge patio area ideal for BBQs & gatherings.
2312 N. Wildwood W Boise Freshly-updated brick & frame home with no CC&Rs & plenty of space for your toys. Two garages & .41 acre property. Home is newly remodeled & freshly painted throughout. Two living areas, hardwood flooring, fireplace, fullyfenced yard, RV parking. You really need to see this home!
4588 W. Miners Farm Dr. NW Boise Incredible views toward Dry Creek & the foothills. No back neighbors & north-facing back yard to enjoy the patio, views, & summer BBQs! Kitchen boasts granite, dual drawer dishwasher, upgraded lighting, white oak hardwood. Great room with built-ins & speakers. Upstairs master with extensive tile, walk-in shower, dual vanities, & HUGE closet.
7668 N. Waterlilly Ave. NW Boise Walk into this beautiful single-level home (bonus room upstairs) & be amazed at the peaceful, large, open flow throughout. Fabulous kitchen with granite & stainless appliances. Formal dining or living space. Split bedroom design. North-facing back yard with a beautiful gazebo, great for entertaining. Minutes from the foothills, schools, shopping, & downtown. COLDWELL BANKER TOMLINSON GROUP
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Ada County
Featured Homes
2720 N. Haven Eagle Horse owners dream home! The arena is set up for night riding. This amazing home has separate living areas & was remodeled in 2001. Hay barn is 2200 sf with a loft. All outbuildings are insulated & have electric. Hoskins waterers at every corral, oversized stalls, 3- to 6-ton hay produced can be stored. Plumbed for generator. The list goes on & on!
553 E. Riverchase Way Eagle This one-of-a-kind home sits on a corner & is on the water with a full lake view from the stunning patio. Travertine tile floors throughout the main level hallway & all baths. Granite counters, upgraded appliances, & large center isle appoint the kitchen, which opens to the oversized great room adorned with large windows to take in morning sunlight & pristine views.
5411 N. Rosa Springs Ave. NE Meridian Stunning custom built 2008 Parade home! Room for all the toys in this 1520 sf garage including a 45ft RV bay & RV parking on the side of the home. Featuring 3074 sf, 4 beds, 2.5 baths, office/5th bed, & loft area. Gorgeous kitchen with custom cabinetry, island, pantry, SS appliances, slab granite, gas cook top, & double ovens. Beautiful .25-acre corner lot.
3887 W. Magic Spruce Dr. NW Meridian Flowing single-level with dramatic finishes throughout, including marble, granite, durable tile "hardwood" flooring, high coved ceilings, beamed great room, Viking appliances & more. True guest suite, media/5th bedroom, huge pantry. Room for all your toys in the cavernous 1400sf+ garage with attic storage. Covered patio, water feature, & fire pit.
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OCTOBER/NOVEMBER, 2017
Canyon County
Featured Homes
820 Arrowhead S Nampa No CCRs, no homeowners association or dues! Tri-level home with large open living room & updated kitchen. Master suite has tile floors & countertops, soaker tub & separate shower plus a private deck. One smaller master bedroom downstairs with its own bath. Small lane between the property & Lake Lowell belongs to this property.
632 S. Almond St. S Nampa Charming home in great location! Recent remodel includes fresh interior/exterior paint, refinished oak hardwood floors, bathroom/ kitchen upgrades, newer cabinets in kitchen, & new flooring. Full finished basement includes huge family room, large utility room, bedroom, & bath. East-facing back yard with large covered patio, full fencing, & storage shed.
5409 S. Fujii Ct. S Nampa Enjoy the country quiet from this amazing wrap-around porch while you are just a short drive from shopping, restaurants, & schools. This well-maintained 2-story home has stylish granite kitchen counters, large walk-in closets in each of the 4 bedrooms plus an office, a huge laundry room with lots of storage, & 3 full bathrooms!
439 W. Island Ct. S Nampa Top-quality custom residence nestled in Bayhill on large, well-manicured/landscaped lot with gorgeous views of the valley & Boise mountains. Welcome your guests into the 20ft. entry with curved staircase. High-end finishes throughout including coffered ceiling in library, slab granite gourmet kitchen with top-end appliances, custom cabinets, wood floors, etc. COLDWELL BANKER TOMLINSON GROUP
Featured Homes
14415 N. Presidio NW Nampa This beautiful home has been well maintained and is move-in ready! Stone entry, office/ den, vaulted ceilings & plenty of natural light throughout. The oversized master suite boasts a large soaker tub, separate shower, & walk-in closet. Kitchen has a breakfast bar & pantry. The spacious great room has a gas fireplace to keep you cozy on those cold winter days.
10563 Pipevine Dr. NW Caldwell Beautiful home with soaring entry. Wonderful kitchen features 5-burner gas stove, quiet dishwasher, breakfast bar, pantry, tons of counter space, & upgraded lighting. Master with separate soaker tub with tile surround, separate shower, & walk-in closet. Covered back patio with pulldown shades for summer & wired with 220v for hot tub.
14982 Burger Lane NW Caldwell Fantastic property with No CC&Rs. 30'x32' insulated shop with 200 amp service & RV parking awning. Custom-built home on large lot with awesome views. Great floor plan with vaulted ceilings, large master suite, living room, family room with gas fireplace. Upstairs bonus room could be 4th bedroom. Beautiful country kitchen with stainless steel appliances.
4605 Autumn Leaf SW Caldwell Beautiful single level home with plenty of natural light. The open floor plan features a large kitchen island with stained concrete counters surrounded by plenty of dark wood cabinets & a custom wine rack. Stamped concrete drive and walkway lead you to an inviting entry with luxurious dark engineered wood flooring. Flex room can be a den or extra bedroom. Large fenced yard.
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Canyon County
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER, 2017
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Things to Do Get Out and Spook Up a Great Time! FARMERS’ MARKETS
Halloween Trolley Tours Nightly through October 31; 8:00 p.m.
Boise Farmers’ Market Each Saturday through October 28
The Haunted World Through October 31, times vary
9:00a.m.-1:00p.m. 10th and Grove, downtown Boise www.theboisefarmersmarket.com
Capital City Public Market Each Saturday through December 16 9:30a.m.-1:30p.m. 8th and Idaho, downtown Boise www.capitalcitypublicmarket.com
Nampa Farmers’ Market Saturdays thorugh October 28
9:00a.m.-1:00p.m. Front & 13th, Nampa www.nampafarmersmarket.com
October is Adopt-A-Shelter Pet Month Visit a shelter today! Idaho Humane Society
Meridian Canine Rescue West Valley Humane Society
Scarecrow Stroll October 1-31, times vary
Idaho Botanical Gardens 2355 Old Penitentiary Rd., Boise idahobotanicalgarden.org
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Visit the website for more information www.boisetrolleytour.com
20031 Northside Blvd., Caldwell www.hauntedworld.org
Meridian Trunk or Treat Thursday, October 26, 6:00-9:00 p.m.
Downtown Meridian meridiancityspecialevents.org
Frightened Felons at the Old Pen Friday, October 27, 7:00-11:00 p.m.
Old Idaho Penitentiary 2445 Old Penitentiary Rd., Boise Tickets & info
Boo at the Zoo Saturday, October 28, 10:00a.m.-5:00p.m. ZooBoise 355 Julia Davis Dr., Boise www.zooboise.org
Howl-o-Woof Pooch Parade/Costume Contest Saturday, October 28, noon
Storey Bark Park 430 E. Watertower, Meridian Information
DOWNTOWN BOISE 208.343.3393 | MERIDIAN 208.336.3393 | EAGLE 208.939.3363 | NAMPA 208.467.5272