Blogging about Boise and Idaho in General: Idaho

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
by any other name would smell as sweet."  Romeo & Juliet

Well, some people may not think that a name is such a big deal: however, other folks will answer that question with a loud and clear, “EVERYTHING.”  So, how did we get our nickname for this little piece of heaven that we call TREASURE VALLEY, IDAHO?

First of all, let me explain where the Treasure Valley is located. The Treasure Valley is the area in Idaho where the Payette, Boise, Weiser, Malhuer, and Burnt rivers drain into the Snake River. Treasure Valley includes all the lowland areas from Vale, Oregon on to Boise, Idaho on the east.  Yes, Meridian, Idaho is considered a part of the beautiful Treasure Valley! Along with Boise, Nampa, Kuna, Middleton, Caldwell and Eagle to name a few more cities. 

Now let me continue with how we got this name. Believe it or not, it was purely a marketing decision.  Idaho is a land of many valleys: Magic, Wood River, and Sun Valley just to name a few.  Wouldn’t you agree that these names are pretty descriptive and unique?  Before 1950 our area in Meridian/Boise was called the Boise Valley – and seriously, how boring is that? The local Chamber of Commerce was on the same page as I am with this train of thought and a local gentleman, a chamber member, came up with the name, Treasure Valley and it didn’t take long for this nickname to stick! 

Here is a quote by our founder of our nickname, Pete Olesen: “This valley is a virtual treasure chest of natural resources, an abundant recreational and cultural opportunities, agricultural diversification, and commercial potentials.”

The nickname worked and yes, it is as sweet as a rose. It didn’t come by anything as dramatic as the story of Romeo and Juliet but it is OUR story.  Now we have many local businesses enjoying this beautiful name and area: The Treasure Valley Community College, Treasure Valley Coffee, Treasure Valley Pediatrics, Treasure Valley Voices ...  Please feel free to comment below with another Treasure Valley names – thanks!

www.homesinboiseidaho.com

Julie Cendejas, Associate Broker/REALTOR

Keller Williams Realty ~ 1065 S. Allante Pl ~ Boise, ID 83709

Listen ~ Respect ~ Respond

Search for Treasure Valley homes here!

Halloween is almost here.  I see load of candy at the grocery store, costumes in almost every parent’s cart at the Halloween Store, people outside their homes hanging up ghosts and goblins in their front yards, and children running around asking other kids “what are you going to be for Halloween?”  Halloween is in the air!

What are you going to do?  There is one week left and still a lot of great activities for all ages.  Do you want scary?  Do you want something fun with plenty of photo opps for your young ones?  Well, in Boise Idaho and surrounding areas (Meridian, Eagle, Nampa, Kuna, Star) there are lots to do still!

(Please see my recent post on one of our local corn mazes)

Meridian, Idaho Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze - Fun for the whole family!

  Here are a few suggestions:

1.      Halloween Spooktacular

The Meridian Symphony Orchestra:  www.meridiansymphony.org

On Friday October 28^th at the Jewett Auditorium or Saturday, October 29^th, at The Centennial Performing Arts Center enjoy an evening of orchestra music for the whole family to enjoy in a family friendly setting.

2.       The Scarecrow Stroll

The Idaho Botanical Gardens:  www.idahobotanicalgarden.org

From October 1-31, scarecrows can be found peeping out around the trees and shrubs welcoming guests to the Garden this fall for the Fourth Annual Scarecrow Stroll! Members and guests of all ages can join in on the fun by voting on their favorite.

3.      3^RD Annual Frightened Felons

At the Old Idaho Penitentiary: more information on Facebook

Friday, October 28^th from 7pm to 11pm

Frightened Felons” features live music, The Fool Squad, actors portraying inmates of the past, games, exhibits, lectures, snacks & beverages for sale, a special performance of the “Thriller” dance, and a creepy, fun venue at night!

4.      Haunted World

Now here is scary fun: www.hauntedworld.org

“The dead have risen again to bring a new nightmare of freakish fun...fun for the whole family or for you and that special ghoulish creature you hang with. This year we have a new awesome lightshow, more spine-tingling movies, nerve-shattering scares and spine-wrenching scenes to satisfy your hunger for the dimension of the dead and decaying.”

5.      Boo At The Zoo

Probably not so scary but a huge amount of fun at the Boise Zoo:  www.zooboise.org

On Saturday, October 29^th from 10 to 5 come with your kids or not and enjoy the Halloween Theme at the Zoo.  Complete with costumes, candy, games, photos, face painting, and of course the awesome exhibits.

Enjoy your Halloween week and please contact me if you have any other suggestions or if you need any information about our great area – Meridian, Idaho!

www.homesinboiseidaho.com

Julie Cendejas, Associate Broker/REALTOR

Keller Williams Realty ~ 1065 S. Allante Pl ~ Boise, ID 83709

Listen ~ Respect ~ Respond

Search for Treasure Valley homes here! 

One of my favorite local events in Meridian, Idaho AND can’t wait for every year besides football… is the Farmstead Corn Maze and Pumpkin Festival.  If it were up to me it would called Awesome Family Fun – mazes, pumpkin patch, pony rides, pig racing, hay rides, photo opportunity, good food + so much more!

Ok, seriously, this is a great family destination and something we all look forward to every year.  “Kids” of all ages come and if you really liked to be scared make sure you come when you can do the Field of Screams! (Open at dark on Fri & Saturdays) 

For most folks this is a family tradition and one I wouldn’t miss year after year.  There is such a warm and friendly sense of community when you arrive.  It is a whole lot of fun.

Be sure to check out the Donut Shack - they have the BEST donuts of the season here and always have some fun flavor of the day! Maple mini's with bacon bits anyone? 

Some fun facts about this corn maize:

* 18 acres of corn

* It takes the average person 45 min- one hour to make their way thru the maize. (But there is a short path too for the little ones) 

* The corn is harvested after the season for cattle feed. 

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Here is some basic information and a link to the website for everything else you might need:

THE FARMSTEAD Corn Maze & Pumpkin Festival

1020 South Rackham Way

Meridian, Idaho 83642

208-922-LOST (5678)

maize@farmsteadfestival.com

Mailing Address: PO Box 445, Meridian, ID 83680

Driving Directions:

Take I-84 to Eagle Road Exit #46.

Turn South on Eagle Road.

Turn LEFT on Overland Road and immediately turn LEFT again on Rackham Way.

Drive past the Park & Ride.

Rackham Way leads directly to The Farmstead.

Hours

Opening Date: September 23rd 2011

Closing Date: October 31st 2011

Hours of Operation

Mon-Thurs - 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Friday - 4:00 pm to 11:00 pm

Saturday - 10:00am to 11:00pm

Sunday - CLOSED

Tickets will be sold up to 1/2 hour before closing.

www.farmsteadfestival.com

HGTV was recently in the Boise area and filmed a episode of their 'Showhouse, Showdown' here! The took two identical homes built by Tahoe Homes - gave two professional designers the identical budget and had a competition to see who could create the best interior decor. 

The public could view them over the weekend and the Real Estate community was invited this week to view them also. 

Wow - what a neat thing to see. Both homes are beautiful, both have some interesting design concepts to them also. I definitely have a favorite - as did many of the agents that I saw there and overheard as we were walking back and forth to see them. These partiuliar homes were both patio type homes, with rear alley garages. Spacious homes, small patio/yards and all the storage of a 3 car garage even! 

Both homes are in Harris Ranch - a wonderful section of SE Boise that sits right up against the foothills and is close to the greenbelt, Lucky Peak Resevoir and right down the road from Idaho Shakesphere outdoor theatre! Amazing location - you can bike, hike and explore with all the beautiful paths through out the area. 

Idaho's Botantical Garden is also right down the road. An amazing place to see a concert or in the winter wander the garden that is lite up with thousands of tiny lights for the Garden a Glow. 

So much to do in beautiful Boise - no wonder HGTV chose to film an episode here! Be sure to watch for it coming up in their fall line up! 

www.homesinboiseidaho.com

Julie Cendejas, Associate Broker/REALTOR

Prudential Idaho Realty ~ 9628 W. State St ~ Star, ID 83669

Listen ~ Respect ~ Respond

Search for Treasure Valley homes here!

My FAVORITE time of year - it's Art in the Park weekend! It's going to be a nice weekend too - sunny and warm! There are over 50 NEW artists this year! 

  September 9th -11th  Fri&Sat 10-8  Sun 10-5 in Julia Davis Park

For more info you can go to the Boise Art Museum website. So enjoy the weekend, get out and walk around, people watch, buy some really groovy crafts, eat some wonderful food and enjoy the beautiful Boise Life! 

www.homesinboiseidaho.com

Julie Cendejas, Associate Broker/REALTOR

Prudential Idaho Realty ~ 9628 W. State St ~ Star, ID 83669

Listen ~ Respect ~ Respond

Search for Treasure Valley homes here!

Boise State Football is right around the corner!! Go BSU! Here is their schedule so you can be sure to watch them! 

9 days till the action starts!!!

Sat, Sep 03	Georgia	at Georgia Dome	8:00 p.m. (ET)		ESPN
Fri, Sep 16	Toledo	at Toledo, OH	8:00 p.m. (ET)		ESPN or ESPN2
Sat, Sep 24	Tulsa	Boise, ID (Bronco Stadium)	6:00 p.m. (MT)		CBS Sports Network
Sat, Oct 01	Nevada	Boise, ID	12:30 p.m. (MT)		VERSUS
Fri, Oct 07	Fresno State	at Fresno, CA	6:00 p.m. (PT)		ESPN
Sat, Oct 15	Colorado State *	at Fort Collins, CO	4:00 p.m. (MT)		The Mtn.
Homecoming
Sat, Oct 22	Air Force *	Boise, ID	1:30 p.m. (MT)		VERSUS
Sat, Nov 05	UNLV *	at Las Vegas, NV	7:30 p.m. (PT)		CBS Sports Network
Sat, Nov 12	TCU *	Boise, ID	1:30 p.m. (MT)		VERSUS
Sat, Nov 19	San Diego State *	at San Diego, CA	5:00 p.m. (PT)		CBS Sports Network
Sat, Nov 26	Wyoming *	Boise, ID	Noon (MT)		The Mtn.
Sat, Dec 03	New Mexico *	Boise, ID	4:00 p.m. (MT)		The Mtn.

As I was driving to show a client a home tonight - at 5:30pm on a rainy Friday night - I was thinking to myself how busy it seems - already! And I'm not complaining! But it hit me that all that I seem to hear is how bad it still is 'out there'! 

It's only 21 days into the New Year and already I have written 2 buyer offers and had them accepted (REO's), I've gotten 3 short sale approvals on offers we have had in for about 2 months, and I've received 2 offers on listings I have. 

That's pretty busy for the first 3 weeks of the year. And I know I am not alone. 

But each day I read or hear on the news how we haven't hit bottom yet. Well, we probably have not, I agree there - but people are buying and looking and selling. Even in Idaho where we are in the top 10 of the 'foreclosure states'. Besides, do we ever really know when we hit bottom - except when we can look back and say - 'Oh, that was the bottom'

I am AMAZED almost daily at the prices that are being accepted on short sales and/or REO's - boy is it a Buyers market - and rates are still amazingly low! 

So if you are considering putting your toes in the water, I suggest you wade on it! Give me a call, I'd be glad to help you out! 

Do you have hometending in our area? We do and I have 2 of my previously vacant short sale listings being cared for by home tenders. 

The property is cared for, the utilities are on and paid for by the home-tenders and the home tending company goes by WEEKLY to check in and make sure the property is cared for and up to standards for showing. 

The home tending companies in my area offer a staging service that the home tender pays for. They have even gone so far as having the home tender 'rent' furniture if their own pieces are not up to snuff. 

Although it's available to any vacant home - I find it ESPECIALLY good for short sales if my seller has already moved on for whatever reason. It costs the sellers nothing (FREE) - they receive none of the 'occupancy fees' that are paid to the home tending company - but the property is cared for and the sellers tend to feel a bit better about not just leaving the house and walking away. Since the short sales are taking so long - the home tenders tend to stay in the property for quite a few months - so it's normally a great deal for them too - as once the offer is in place - the showings go down considerably. 

I find it interesting that so many agents (in my area at least) either don't know about it or are not interested in presenting it to their sellers. I agree that it's not for every seller. But it's a great alternative to suggest. One of my sellers of a short sale was not interested at all when I first suggested it, however after 4 months of up keeping the property - she is pretty happy to not have to pay the utilities or cut the yard anymore - while we continue to await an offer on the property. She is happy the property is being taken care of as she is no longer able to. 

I would love to hear feedback as to whether you have this service available to you and if you use it or what you think about it.