Mortgage broker hangs on in decimated industry 
POSTED: Wednesday, September 8, 2010 at 09:26 AM PTBY: Simon Shifrin
Tags: Clearwater Mortgage, Columbia Mortgage, Flagstar Bank, Idaho Association of Mortgage Brokers, Idaho Department of Finance, mortgages, Real Estate
Boise-based Columbia Mortgage has cut staff, outsourced loan processing, concentrated on marketing and spent less time shuffling paper in order to survive.
The mortgage brokering firm has capitalized on a mix of innovation and good timing even while dozens of its Idaho competitors have folded, said president and majority owner Tyler Porter.
For example, the firm built up [...]
Commentary: Want to invest in commercial real estate?
POSTED: Tuesday, September 7, 2010 at 10:21 AM PTBY: Dolan Media Newswires
Tags: Commercial Real Estate, Financial Services
By Michael S. Mallaber
Have you been thinking about investing in commercial real estate?
There are many ways in which investors can get started but, first and foremost, the many risks involved in owning and managing commercial real estate should be understood.
Some investors begin by purchasing small projects - for instance, a five-unit or larger residential apartment [...]
Commentary: Home ownership past, present and future
POSTED: Tuesday, September 7, 2010 at 10:08 AM PTBY: Dolan Media Newswires
Tags: Real Estate
By Phil Hardwick
It has been said that for there to be fundamental change in any industry there must be chaos or disruption. The housing industry is in disruption. So what fundamental changes are in store for housing, especially home ownership? Let us take a look at home ownership in the United States and consider its [...]
Seller financing - an option that requires careful review
POSTED: Monday, August 30, 2010 at 03:06 PM PTBY: Dolan Media Newswires
Tags: financing, Real Estate
Real estate prices today are historically low because there are far fewer buyers than sellers. Foreclosures continue to flood the market with bargains. But people seeking to buy real estate during a severe recession often are unable to qualify for financing even though interest rates are enticingly low.
In such times, seller financing can be used [...]
Short-sale scam means losses for lenders
POSTED: Monday, August 30, 2010 at 02:58 PM PTBY: Dolan Media Newswires
Tags: financing, Real Estate
Since the homebuyer tax credit expired earlier this year, short sales have been one of the only tactics enticing people to buy a home in an otherwise grim market. And with any good thing in real estate, investors are looking to take advantage of it.
CoreLogic, a California-based real-estate data company, released data yesterday that showed [...]
Commentary: Pendulum has swung too far on underwriting
POSTED: Monday, August 30, 2010 at 02:44 PM PTBY: Dolan Media Newswires
Tags: Real Estate
As summer comes to a close, there’s still plenty of sunshine, but it seems few rays of optimism in the housing market.
Existing home sales in July were horrible. New home sales were also down. Unemployment remains stubbornly high as companies are seemingly content with staging a jobless recovery.
Foreclosures and short sales continue to depress values [...]
Idaho commercial market may be spared number of foreclosures
POSTED: Friday, August 27, 2010 at 01:04 PM PTBY: Jennifer Gonzalez
Tags: foreclosures, Michael Ballantyne, NAI Pinnacle, Ray Frechette, Real Estate, state of Idaho, Thornton Oliver Keller
Recently, Idaho ranked as one of the top states nationwide when it comes to the number of foreclosure filings for single-family homes. However, some local real estate experts say the Treasure Valley’s commercial real estate market might not be affected to the same extent. In fact, they say now is a prime time to buy [...]
Idaho ranks high in foreclosure filings
POSTED: Monday, August 23, 2010 at 09:44 AM PTBY: Jennifer Gonzalez
Tags: Ada County, Coeur d'Alene, Foreclosure, Multiple Listing Service
Historically low interest rates, combined with a large inventory of homes on the market priced to sell are three reasons why now is the time to buy a home.
George Tallabas, an associate broker with Re/Max Advantage in Nampa, said those incentives are lucrative for perspective buyers. However, for some current homeowners facing the possibility of [...]
Boise-area home prices decline in second quarter
POSTED: Thursday, August 19, 2010 at 10:39 AM PTBY: Jennifer Gonzalez
Tags: Ada County, home prices, Intermountain Multiple Listing Service, Re/Max, Real Estate
Now is either the best or worst time to buy or sell a home in the Treasure Valley, depending on whether you’re a buyer looking for a bargain or a seller who’s been forced to list your home well below its value.
“If you’re a homeowner wanting to sell, it’s not a good thing. But if [...]
High vacancy rates positive draw to downtown Boise
POSTED: Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 02:37 PM PTBY: Jennifer Gonzalez
Tags: Downtown Boise, Retail Vacancy
It took only hours for Kacey Montgomery to find the ideal location to open a restaurant. It took two years before the space became available.
“The location is huge,” Montgomery said. At 215 North Eighth St., Matador joins a handful of other restaurants and retail outlets in downtown. “It was Eighth Street or nothing [...]
