REAL Magazine, October-November, 2015

OCTOBER-NOVEMBER, 2015

Ghoulish Game Plan DIY Yard Art for Halloween Best Ever!

Perfect Pumpkin Soup Prepare Now for Winter 6 Energy Conservation Tips Protecting Your Home The Modern Security System September Market Report Halloween Happenings With 4 offices to serve you, Coldwell Banker Tomlinson Group is YOUR SOURCE for real estate in the Treasure Valley!

D O W N T O W N B O I S E 3 4 3 .3 3 9 3 | M E R I D I A N 336.3393 | E A G L E 939.3363 | N A M PA 467.5272

Halloween is almost here! Did you know that Americans will spend over $7.5 billion on the holiday this year? And over $300 million of that will be spent on costumes for our furry family members. Do you dress up your pup or kitty?

According to the National Retail Federation, 70% of households will hand out candy, with 65-70% of adults donning costumes, 36% visiting haunted houses, and 52% either throwing or attending parties. In other words, Halloween is a big deal!

What do you do for Halloween? Email us your plans, and if you have comments, questions, or story ideas, let us know: REAL@coldwellbankertg.com.

“

No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace as I have seen in one autumnal face.� ~ John Donne

contents Ghoulish Game Plan Make your yard a graveyard smash with these great ideas.

Best Ever Pumpkin Soup Fire up your stove and fill your cauldron with this hearty soup everyone will enjoy.

Prepare Now for Winter Here's how to turn up the heat without breaking the bank.

Protecting Your Home What should you expect from a modern security system?

September Market Stats Why fall might be the perfect time to sell your home.

Halloween Happenings Eerie entertainment and frightening fun for the whole family.

Ada County Homes Ada County homes ready for you!

Canyon County Homes Take a look at the great homes for sale in Canyon County.

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OCTOBER/NOVEMBER, 2015

Ghoulish Game Plan

Halloween Yard Art Debbie Webb Coldwell Banker Blue Matter

H

alloween is bigger than ever, so join the fun, and make your yard one that will be the talk of the neighborhood!

With a little imagination and effort, your ordinary yard can be transformed into a ghostly site.

Chicken wire shaped to form empty ball dresses and sprayed

with luminary paint become ghostly figures that hover over gravestones made of cardboard.

The gravestones can be easily cut from sturdy cardboard, painted black, and placed strategically to create the perfect graveyard.

If you want to go a little further, you could paint an epitaph on each “stone” with glow in the dark

paint. A few portable yard lights will reflect the writing and give everything that eerie graveyard feel.

Illuminated “eyes” hung from the trees or placed around the yard are easily created with empty toilet paper rolls. Simply cut almond shaped slits in the cardboard roll to represent the eyes. Spray paint the

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The thrill of Halloween begins at the entry of your yard, so spook it up!

Make your yard a graveyard smash with these great DIY ideas.

rolls and when dry, place a string through each end if you choose to hang them. Finally, place a glowin-the-dark stick inside each roll.

Once the lights go out, the eyes will be upon each trick or treater.

No Halloween graveyard would be complete without a skeleton.

Everyone knows that the best way to view a skeleton is in a coffin, preferably near a grave. To set the stage, use an old suit bag and paint it black or dark gray.

Purchase a life-sized, inexpensive plastic skeleton from a party store. cbboise.com

When the suit bag is dry, place the skeleton in it and zip it just enough to see the face of the skeleton peeking out. Elevate the coffin with a cardboard box near the top so that the face can be clearly seen. Try to place the elevation box so it is not visible from the front of the coffin or paint it the color of the coffin. The placement of this ghoulish scene can create a thrill even for the strong at heart.

Remember, Halloween isn’t all about the candy. After the holiday is over, no one will think about the

sweets. It’s the setting that will linger in a child’s memory for years to come, and the experience could become a family tale that is told each year on Halloween about the spooky house down the street.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER, 2015

The grill is covered, and there's not much left to harvest from the garden. It's time to fire up the stove for a hearty meal that will warm the bones. Try this amazing pumpkin soup. We promise you'll love it!

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Best Ever!

The Perfect Pumpkin Soup Lindsay Listanski Coldwell Banker Blue Matter

INGREDIENTS 3 cups chicken broth 2 cups pumpkin puree 1 small onion, chopped ½ tsp. fresh thyme, chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced ½ tsp. freshly ground ginger ¼ tsp. ground cinnamon 1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg ½ cup heavy whipping cream 4 pieces cooked bacon, chopped (optional) Sour cream or plain greek yogurt (optional) In large pot, combine the first 8 ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes, uncovered. Using a food processor or blender, puree soup in small batches. Return soup to pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for another 30 minutes, uncovered. Remove from heat and stir in heavy cream. Pour into serving bowls, and, if desired, garnish with bacon and/or sour cream/yogurt. cbboise.com

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER, 2015

Prepare Now for Winter

6 Tips for Energy Conservation Lindsay Listanski Coldwell Banker Blue Matter

Have you noticed that the acorns are falling like never before? Some say this is a sign of a harsh winter ahead. Old wive's tale or not, winter is coming, and there are some things you can do to stay warm without breaking the bank.

H

ere in Southern Idaho, we’ve enjoyed a wonderfully warm fall, but the cold can’t be far off. It will soon be time to turn up the heat in your home. As much as you want to keep your home toasty, you don’t want the utility bill that comes with having the heat turn on every five to ten minutes. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to keep the warm air from escaping and the cold air from coming in.

furnace filters on a monthly basis.

Dirty furnace filters prevent warm air from flowing through the ducts and vents into your house, which makes your furnace work harder and increases your utility bill.

Here are some tips to increase your energy efficiency and insulation while keeping your house warm and cozy:

You can also replace your temporary filters with a permanent filter. Electrostatic or HEPA filters trap around 90 to 100 percent of debris — and they control bacteria, mold and pollen from getting into the air where they may cause illness or irritation. While these filters can cost anywhere from $50

1. Clean or replace your furnace filters.

According to HVAC experts, you should clean and replace your

By cleaning and replacing your furnace filters on a monthly basis, you will save a little money on your bill and a lot of money in simply preventing the need for a furnace replacement.

to $1,000, they’re a worthwhile investment that offers long-term benefits.

2. Get your furnace serviced.

You should have your furnace maintained and repaired as needed. Having your furnace serviced annually can cut its fuel usage by almost 10 percent, which can save you more money on your heating bill. If you didn’t have your furnace maintained by a heating professional in the early autumn, call one now to inspect your furnace and filters for any issues.

A professional will inspect for any dust, breaks and other problems and fix them as necessary. Having this done could save you from spending $3,300 to $4,600 on a new furnace or finding yourself in

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PAGE 9 a freezing cold home in the dead of winter.

3. Fix drafts and leaks.

Leaks and drafts in windows and doors significantly compromise the insulation and energy efficiency of your home. Escaping air forces your furnace to work overtime to keep your home warm, which causes it to turn on every five to ten minutes. To solve this problem, a professional can caulk and install weather-stripping around your windows and doors for around $460. You should also identify and seal leaks around your chimney and any pipes leading into or out of your home.

4. Install additional insulation.

Your attic’s insulation should be six to 13 inches of loose fill or seven to 19 inches of fiberglass. Measure how much insulation you have; if it’s below the minimum for the material used, add more to keep your home well-insulated and keep your utility bills down. It’s easier to go with loose fill insulation, as it’s made of a flexible material that can fill crevices and between joists. You can rent a blower to lay down loose fill insulation, but it’s cbboise.com

complicated, and you run the risk of stepping through your attic.

It’s probably easier to have an insulation professional come in to do the work.

5. Lower your thermostat.

To conserve energy and save money on your utility bill, you should always turn down the heat when you leave the house. You can save up to 5 percent on your utility bill for every degree your heat is reduced. A programmable thermostat can also help regulate the temperature inside your home, which can save you as much as $200. Talk to your utility company about smart meters to help save money on your utility bills.

6. Call a home energy auditor.

If you make changes to improve your home’s energy efficiency and insulation and are still seeing expensive utility bills every month, you can

call a home energy auditor to go through your home and identify any problems you may have. A professional will know how much energy your home consumes, where your insulation is lacking and what you can do to increase your energy efficiency. Look for an auditor that is sponsored by the government and may therefore charge less for an audit than others. After you perform a complete audit with the help of a professional, you can choose which projects to complete to increase your home’s efficiency.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER, 2015

Protecting Your Home

Four Features to Consider

Lindsay Listanski Coldwell Banker Blue Matter

W

hen you think about a home security system, do you picture the old, push-button security panel from your childhood home? Or the one that came with your home and still lurks, permanently disarmed, in your hallway?

It’s time to take a fresh look. Home security systems have made huge advances in recent years.

With better technology, mobile apps, and the ability to power a complete smart home, they’re more secure, reliable, and useful than ever before.

Here are four important features that you should look for in a modern home security system if you’re considering one.

1. Control from Anywhere There’s only one way to interact with a traditional security system: stand in front of it and push a confusing array of buttons. A modern system comes with a smartphone app to control it from home or away.

This lets you use the system in new ways, like securing your home from your bedroom, checking your video cameras from work, and controlling other devices. In fact, a modern security system can be the basis of an entire smart home, with devices like smart thermostats, locks and lights all controlled through your app.

Tip: check out the App Store rating for any system you’re considering.

It’s a good way to find out how reliable the entire system is, and whether people enjoy using the app.

2. Better Protection Traditional security systems are surprisingly easy for an intruder to disable, because they rely on phone lines which can cut from the outside of the house. You’ll also find the same vulnerability in more recent systems which use a cable connection.

Today’s state-of-the-art systems use a wireless cellular connection to communicate in and out of the

home. The connection is dedicated to your security and smart home signaling and are not shared with any other service like Internet, phone or TV that could impact performance.

It’s always on, communicates when the line is cut or WiFi is down, and will continue to signal through a power outage.

3. Activity Alerts and Awareness That smartphone app doesn’t just control your security system—it’s also your system’s way of letting you know what’s up.

It can tell you if your kids arrived home safely, when the dog walker showed up, the instant your video camera captured a new clip, or if your office drawer was opened. It can even remind you if you leave your garage door open on your way to work—and then let you close it with the tap of a button.

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Today's home security system uses a wireless cellular connection to communicate in and out of the home. It's always on, even when the line is cut or WIFI is down.

Your system doesn’t have to be armed to do this – these features are always on, armed or not.

4. Proactive Protection Thanks to connected devices like smoke alarms, CO sensors, and water sensors, a modern system can warn you and your family cbboise.com

about other home emergencies like a fire, a carbon monoxide leak, and even an impending flood caused by a cracked water pipe.

It can also take action to protect you. In the event of a fire or carbon monoxide leak, it can automatically trigger a smart

thermostat to shut down your home’s air conditioning, slowing the spread of smoke and gas through your home and giving you valuable extra time to evacuate.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER, 2015

Monthly Market Stats J

What’s Happening in Treasure Valley Real Estate

ust as we’ve been enjoying an unusually long transition into cooler weather this fall, the real estate market continues to stay heated.

Sales last month were up 27% over the same month last year in Ada County, and up 20% in Canyon.

Considering that the same numbers of homes are coming on the market as in recent years past, this indicates that the inventory continues to turn over faster than usual.

Additionally, while the median sales prices didn’t change significantly month-over-month, we still continue to track at an annual increase in prices of about 12%.

Inventory levels are generally flat compared to last month, but significantly down from last year at this time. In most price points, this still indicates a strong seller’s market.

this time of year, yet the buyer demand tends to stay strong.

As always, real estate is hyper-local.

Don’t rely on inaccurate websites and generic If you've been considering a information If you’ve been move, there are a number of to make considering important great reasons to list your home a move, real estate in the fall. See page 14 for just d e c i s i o n s . there are a number of a few!

Call or email great reasons today to get to list your home in the fall and a customized analysis for your own avoid waiting until spring as so property and situation. many people tend to do. One of the secrets of the 4th quarter is that a HIGHER percentage of the available home supply will sell during this time of year as compared to other times of year.

Fewer sellers are on the market COLDWELL BANKER TOMLINSON GROUP

$231,000

HOMES SOLD SEPTEMBER 2015*

MEDIAN SALES PRICE

24

Ada County

AVERAGE DAYS ON MARKET

2,455 HOMES CURRENTLY ON MARKET*

* Numbers reflect year-over-year comparisons.

378

$142,500

HOMES SOLD SEPTEMBER 2015*

MEDIAN SALES PRICE

22 AVERAGE DAYS ON MARKET cbboise.com

Canyon County

1,124 HOMES CURRENTLY ON MARKET*

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842

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER, 2015

Top 10 Reasons to Sell Your Home this Fall

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Frightening Fun for the Whole Family Halloween Trolley Tours Fridays/Saturdays through October 24th

Frightened Felons at the Old Pen Oct 30 - Family Night; Oct 31 - Adult night

Nightly through October 31; 8:00 p.m.

Tours leave from Joe's Crab Shack 2288 N. Garden St., Boise www.boisetrolleytour.com

Zombie Hunt Fridays/Saturdays through October 31st

Starting at 7:00p.m.

3131 W. Harvard St., Boise www.truepaintball.com

Scarecrow Stroll Through October 31st; all day

Idaho Botanical Gardens 2355 Old Penitentiary Rd, Boise www.idahobotanicalgarden.org

The Haunted Woods Eagle Volunteer Firefighters

October 16-17, 23-24, 30, 31

Merrill Park, dusk-11:00p.m.

500 E. Shore Dr., Eagle www.eaglefire.org

Trunk or Treat / Pumpkin Painting Contest October 24, 1:00-4:00 p.m.

Peterson Stampede Dodge 5801 East Gate Blvd., Nampa Reservations & info

Boo at the Zoo October 31, 10:00a.m.-5:00p.m.

355 Julia Davis Dr., Boise www.zooboise.org

Halloween Fun at the Nampa Rec Center October 31, 10:00 a.m.-noon

Nampa Rec Center 131 Constitution Way, Nampa Details

CORN MAZES & MORE Linder Farms Corn Maze & Zombie Acres Through October 31, times vary

7165 S. Linder Rd., Meridian www.linderfarms.com

The Farmstead Through October 31, times vary

1020 S. Rackham Way, Meridian www.farmsteadfestival.com

The Haunted World Through October 31, times vary

cbboise.com

Old Idaho Penitentiary; 7:00-11:00p.m.

2445 Old Penitentiary Rd., Boise Tickets & info

20031 Northside Blvd., Caldwell www.hauntedworld.org

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Halloween Happenings

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER, 2015

Ada County

Featured Homes

1246 E. Gettysburg St. SE Boise Absolutely gorgeous 4 bedroom home with rare RV garage and extended shop with tons of overhead storage. Private back yard with mature landscaping, paver patio, covered deck, water fountain, large garden area, & plenty of room to play. Prime location close to the Greenbelt, Boise River, & Bown Crossing. 2056 sq.ft., 3 baths, updated kitchen with granite counters.

2064 E. Oakridge SE Boise This split bedroom home has had a total makeover! New interior & exterior paint, flooring, counter tops, sinks, & faucets. Professionally cleaned inside & out. Open floor plan, living room with fireplace, office with glass French doors or 4th bedroom. Master has dual vanity, soaking tub & separate shower. Beautiful north-facing back yard with large deck.

9724 W. Linstock Ln. W. Boise This cute 4 bedroom, 3 bath home is in the perfect location. 1766 sq.ft., living AND family rooms, & an open & bright kitchen perfect for entertaining and family gatherings. Great yard with deck off the kitchen & another deck off the upper-level master suite. Spacious laundry room with storage galore. 3-car garage with room for all your toys.

7482 N. Misty Cove Ave. NW Boise Wonderful custom home with 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, & 2642 sq.ft. Main-level master, formal dining, & chef's kitchen with stainless appliances, gas stove, pot-filler, 65" built-in fridge, granite, & tile. East-facing back yard with no back neighbors and terrific views of the Boise front. Huge 4-car garage with drive-through bay. Beautiful landscaping with curbing & covered patio.

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Ada County

Featured Homes

1572 W. Par Ct. Eagle Great location adjacent to Banbury Golf Course!

Lovely split-bedroom design with 2323 sq.ft. and a 3-car garage. Open plan with a gorgeous kitchen featuring custom cabinets, granite, stainless appliances, & hardwood floors. Dual control HVAC, 74-gallon water heater, beautiful back yard with covered patio.

659 E. Fallingbranch Dr. SE Meridian Exquisite quality on a 1/3-acre homesite.

Scraped hardwood & travertine flooring, granite & travertine counters, distressed knotty alder cabinets, & intricate trimwork & crown moldings.

Huge bonus room with surround sound & great views. Great room with gas fireplace. Full stucco exterior, covered patio, giant garage with shop.

239 E. Indian Rocks Ct. NE Meridian Lovingly maintained 3 bedroom, 2 bath home on quiet cul-de-sac. Vaulted ceilings, terrific kitchen with granite counters, stone backsplash, pantry, breakfast bar, & stainless appliances. Covered patio, low-maintenance yard with garden space, & great location near downtown Meridian & Settler's Park.

2078 E. Clarene St. NE Meridian Fantastic central location & private back yard are great bonuses when you own this lovely home.

Fresh paint & new carpet invite you into its cheery kitchen & family room. Tile entry. Family room boasts a gas fireplace. Private, north-facing back yard with mature landscaping. Enjoy your morning coffee on your large front deck, too.

And you can pick your own apples in the fall!

cbboise.com

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER, 2015

Canyon County

Featured Homes

17304 Copper Spur Ave. NE Nampa There is no water bill as this home is on a shared well. Knotty alder throughout, hardwood floors, beautiful tile counters & backsplash in the charming kitchen that has stunning built-in cabinetry with storage galore & a built-in work station off kitchen. Spacious mud room & large pantry. Ralph Lauren suede painted walls.

11142 W. Silver River Loop S Nampa Wonderful home with lots of room for everyone!

Gas fireplace, separate living & family rooms, den/ office could be used as a 5th bedroom. Spacious kitchen with island, lots of cabinets & counter space, new refrigerator is included. New carpets upstairs, very large 16x20 master suite with dual vanities, separate tub & shower & a huge 9x11 walk-in closet.

2933 Laurel Way S Nampa So much space here to live & play! Inside, kitchen & dining feature a huge, comfortable area to enjoy making & eating meals around the beautiful fireplace & built-in cabinetry.

Upstairs master has walk-in closet. 3 generous bedrooms upstairs, downstairs bedroom would make a great office/den/game room.

Huge .34 acre lot with giant wood deck.

740 W. Heather Woods Dr. S Nampa Lovely custom 2260 sq.ft. home with open floor plan concept, split bedroom layout, front office & upstairs bonus room with full bath. Impressive 10' ceilings, large windows & corner fireplace.

Attractive kitchen with slab granite island, beautiful cabinetry, built in oven/microwave, 5 burner gas top. Master suite with walk-in tiled shower, soaker tub & dual vanities.

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Featured Homes

2319 W. Lake Pointe Ct. NW Nampa A beautiful home for those who enjoy entertaining. The oversized living room invites you in, leading to the vast great room/kitchen/ dining space. Kitchen offers plenty of counter space, storage & large center island. 4 generous bedrooms are located upstairs, including a HUGE master suite. Upstairs laundry room & at the top of the stairs you'll find a cozy office nook.

2715 Polk St. NW Caldwell Secluded Standout! 3.42 acres, 3667 sq.ft., 4 beds, 3 baths, 2 kitchens & guest quarters. Gorgeous gourmet kitchen with slab granite counter tops, Bosch SS appliances, double ovens, built-in gas cooktop, SS fridge & 2 pantries. Honey oak floors. Main-level master suite with walk or rollin tile shower. Giant walk-in closet, sitting area with door to 2 separate decks.

1060 N. Buffalo Way Middleton New carpet, security system, fresh paint, new AC in July 2015. If you appreciate a great floor plan, nice quiet neighborhood with good sized yards & private space then this home is right for you.

Relax & enjoy the large front porch. Full three car garage, 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, hardwood floors, large kitchen & pantry. Complete vinyl fencing in the back.

24398 Tombstone Ridge Ct. Middleton Peaceful & quiet east-facing 1.07 acre homesite with amazing views across the valley to the Boise front. Open floor plan with 12' ceilings & floor-to-ceiling fireplace in the great room, kitchen island with quartz counters, many large windows to let the views in. Tile & hardwood finishes throughout. 4th bedroom is perfectly situated for an office. Covered patio & shop.

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Canyon County

Don't forget to FALL BACK November 1st.

D O W N T O W N B O I S E 343.3393 | M E R I D I A N 336.3393 | E A G L E 939.3363 | N A M PA 467.5 2 7 2