This summer has been filled with several camping trips with family and friends.  We mostly stuck to our favorite spots in Idaho, although we did go on one longer excursion to the Oregon coast.  Though it takes a fair amount of prep, several hours of cleanup, and a ridiculous amount of gas money, I am always so thankful for the opportunity to get away from cell service and the hustle and bustle of the day-to-day to just rest and play outdoors.  I relish the beauty of the cold mountain streams, clear lakes, towering mountains, beautiful trees, relaxing hot springs, scenic trails, dazzling stars, tumbling rivers, dancing campfires, expansive ocean, and abundant wildlife.  I also revel in the people I get to enjoy all those things with.  And, most of all, I delight in my God who created it all and made it all possible!  There are few things that whet my appetite more for being with Him in heaven and experiencing the wonders He has prepared for me and for all those who love Him than times away in His creation—resting in Him and growing in relationship with the incredible people He formed and purposefully placed in my life.

Below are some pictures from our adventures.  If you have time and are willing to share, I would love to hear about the things that have brought you joy this summer.  You can email me at katie@triplecordrealestate.com!

*Milkyway photo is credited to Camp Perkins*

"You, Lord, are the only God. You created the heavens, the highest heavens with all their stars, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to all of them, and all the stars of heaven worship you" (Nehemiah 9:6).  

By Katie Miller

For more blog posts by Katie Miller, click HERE 

Higher mortgage rates on top of already high home prices led to a significant slowdown in buyer activity and home sales this past month.  After getting so used to our overly hot and accelerating market these past two years, this cooling-off period has felt a bit more like a shocking and unwelcome freeze to some, especially to sellers who may have recently listed their homes with expectations of them flying off the market the first day at prices higher than their predecessors.  But, I believe for many, including myself, this is a welcome change and necessary movement toward a more normalized and balanced market.

If you are a buyer who jumped out of the market due to the ridiculous heat of the competition and accelerating prices, this may be the right time to jump back in.  As stated by Boise Regional Realtors, “Cooling demand has given inventory a chance to catch up a bit… There were 2,135 homes available for sale at the end of June, a 192.9% increase from June 2021, and the highest inventory we’ve seen since September 2016.”  This change has afforded buyers more options, less competition, the ability to slowdown and process how best to move forward, and greater opportunities to negotiate on price and terms when they find the right house.  

If you are a seller who feels you’ve missed the best window for listing your home and are disheartened, I hope you will be encouraged to know the market is still strong.  Though prices have dipped a bit from the craziness of a few months ago, the median sales price last month was $592,090—a 12.8% increase from June of last year. When compared with other investments, this is an incredible return on your money and something to be excited about!  Additionally, although the average number of days on market (currently 14 days) is steadily increasing, it is still well below the average days on market for single-family homes over the past 10 years, which is 67 days.  And, our months supply of inventory in June was 2.4 months.  Since a “balanced” market is considered to be one with 4-6 months supply, we are still in a market tipped toward favoring sellers.  

Whether you are considering buying or selling or are just curious to know more about our current market and how it might affect you, we would love the opportunity to meet and share more.  The information we can provide may help you determine how best to move forward as well as how to set appropriate expectations for the road ahead. 

For a quick snapshot of the Boise housing market for June 2022, see Boise Regional REALTORS® housing market summary for Ada County below:

See more monthly Boise housing market updates HERE!

A couple of months ago, we had the joy and delight of having Brooks’ birth mother, affectionately known as Mama Amber, come stay with us a for a few days. One evening, we stayed up late, as she shared more about her life and the difficult circumstances surrounding her pregnancy and decision to place Brooks for adoption. The violation against her that led to her pregnancy made it difficult from the start.  Additionally, the pain, abuse, loss, depression, and addiction that lined her past caused great despair as Brooks grew within her and she considered the future.  Although she never would have thought she could contemplate abortion, she found herself in a place of desperation and hopelessness where it seemed the only option.  My heart broke at the gravity of her situation, and I began to understand how one might become convinced abortion is the only or best way forward.  

Fortunately though, by God’s grace, this was not the end of Brooks’ story, nor was it the end of Amber’s.  The Lord strengthened her to choose life for this child.  He gave her people to love, support, encourage, and pray for her and connected her to an adoption agency that did the same. Then, by His grace, He crossed our paths and knitted our lives together through the life of this incredible boy.  I wish I could say the process was easy, but adoption is never easy.  There is always pain and loss amidst the joy of every adoption story, and that pain and loss are often felt most acutely by the birth mother.  Amber is no stranger to this truth.  But, as we sat talking in our living room that night while Brooks peacefully slept upstairs, we found ourselves in awe of the beauty of the relationship God gave us, the wonder of the work He has done in us, and the joy of the gift He gave us in Brooks.  We can’t imagine the world without him and are so thankful to the Lord for making his life possible!  

If you once found yourself in that difficult place where abortion seemed your only or best option, I pray you would experience the Lord’s compassion for your circumstances, His deep love and care for your soul,  and His complete healing of the heartbreak such a decision can cause.  For those who may find themselves in this situation in the future, I pray the Lord would encourage you by this story to choose life for your unborn child and that He’d help you trust Him to provide for both you and your baby’s needs.  And, may the Lord help us all to value the lives of unborn children as well as the lives of the women who carry them and the men who were part of their creation.  May we be the hands and feet of Jesus--loving and caring for all of them as He would, helping provide for their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, and encouraging them in the beautiful story the Lord has written for their lives and the lives of every person their stories touch in the future!

By Katie Miller

For more blog posts by Katie Miller, click HERE 

Though still strong, rising interest rates, economic uncertainty, and increased inventory are causing a definite shift in the Boise housing market.  This shift has caused some buyers and sellers to pump the breaks on moving plans as they evaluate costs and wait to see where things might be headed.  Although it's impossible to predict the future, we wanted to share a few things that national housing market experts say we can expect in the coming months:

1. The number of homes available for sale will grow.  We are definitely experiencing that here.  In May, there were 1,520 homes available for sale, which is an increase of 166.7% from the same time last year. This means prospective buyers have more options and less competition, allowing them to slow down and process their decisions before they purchase.  This has also led to homes staying on the market a bit longer.  The average days on market in May was 14 days, which is still low but up 22.7% from last year.  We anticipate this number will only continue to increase throughout the year.  

2. Mortgage rates will likely continue to respond to inflationary pressures. On May 12^th, the nationwide average interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage peaked at 5.3%.  This was nearly double the average of 2.65% on January 7^th.  Though rates are still at historic lows, this increase has greatly impacted home affordability and played a major role in the demand for mortgages sinking to its lowest level in 22 years. 

3. Home prices are projected to continue to climb.  In May, the Boise housing market hit a new record high with a median sales price of $602,250. It’s possible that prices could drop slightly in the coming months, but as we shared in last month’s update, prices are anticipated to stay on an overall upward trajectory.  View various nationwide price appreciation projections for the coming year HERE. 

We know there is much to consider in making decisions about real estate.  Please know we are always eager to talk with you about your questions and concerns and to be a trusted advisor as you navigate the best steps forward.  Don’t hesitate to reach out!  Having the opportunity to help our friends, family, and clients is a joy for us! 

See more monthly Boise housing market updates HERE!

The Boise housing market saw another new record this month with the median sales price reaching $595,000.  This is a 23.9% increase from last year.  The biggest price increases were found in the new construction segment where the median sales price has jumped 36.7% from last year to $645,000.  In the existing/resale segment, the median price was $570,000, which is a gain of 16.9% over last year.  The median sales price in both these segments set new record highs.     

Mortgage interest rates increased last month as well, with the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage reaching 5.1% at the close of April.  Because most of the homes that sold last month went into contract in February or March, before the interest rate hikes, it’s hard to say exactly how increased mortgage costs will affect prices.  This will become more evident over the next two months.  

Recently, I have heard a few people comment that they believe we are headed for a market correction, and they expect housing prices to go down.  I’m not so sure.  While I do believe higher interest rates will decrease buyer pressure on the market and cause the rate of appreciation to return to more normal levels, the demand for housing in our area remains strong and inventory is still relatively tight.  Both of these factors, I believe, will continue to keep home prices on an upward trajectory in the coming years.  The latest home price forecasts indicate that housing experts believe the same.  You can see their various price appreciation projections for the coming year HERE.  

No matter where the market is headed, we know that decisions about buying, selling, or investing in real estate will remain important to many and that each person’s situation is unique.  If you have questions about how current market trends may impact you, we’d love to hear them and to help you make decisions about when and how it might be best to move forward given the factors that affect you most.  

For a quick snapshot of the Boise housing market for April 2022, see Boise Regional REALTORS® housing market summary for Ada County below:

See more monthly Boise housing market updates HERE!

This past weekend, I was once again reminded of the power of prayer, and more than that—the power of our God.  Last Tuesday, my friend’s mother’s heart stopped, and she collapsed.  911 was called, resuscitation work was done, and she was rushed to the hospital.  The outlook was bleak, but the doctors and nurses worked to do everything they could for her.  My friend reached out for prayer. Specifically, she asked for prayer for a miracle—prayer that God might bring her mom back to her full capacities.  Our church body was contacted, and prayers for a miracle were lifted.  With no meaningful responsiveness or recovery by Saturday morning and with the knowledge that her mom would rather go home to be with Jesus than remain in a state like she was, the family prepared to say goodbye. But, just as they were coming to peace with this new reality, God did something different—He started bringing her back to life.  On Mother’s Day, instead of mourning their loss as expected, the family and hospital staff watched in amazement as her capacities returned, one after another.  As one hospital worker put it, “This could only be the hand of God.”  And, indeed, it was! 

I wanted to share this story not only because it brought me great joy this week and caused me to stand in awe at the power of God, but also because it reminded me of what an incredibly kind and loving gift prayer is and encouraged me to seek God in prayer more fervently.  Our God is not a distant God who cares little of us or who does whatever He pleases with no consideration of us. Rather, our God is a personal, relational God, who invites us to come and talk with him—to share the desires of our hearts, our needs, our wants, our frustrations, our sadness, our confusion, our hopes, and our cries for a miracle!  Psalm 37:4-5 says, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act” (Psalm37:4-5).  I loved watching my friend seek the Lord in this.  I loved the faith the Lord gave her to believe He COULD do a miracle and the assurance He gave that it was safe for her to come to Him and ask for it!  I loved that He gave her peace and prepared her heart to let her mom go if that is what would be best for her mom.  And, I love that right after He gave her that peace and she committed her ways to Him, He acted, and delivered the Mother’s Day miracle she’d been asking for.  

May you be encouraged today, as I was, to talk to God—to lift up whatever requests or burdens or hopes you have on your heart.  May you find yourself in your Father’s loving arms, seeking Him and the good He has for you.  And, as you lift your heart to Him, may you be assured by the truth of Jesus’ words: “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”  Indeed, may you experience added joy, peace, and assurance as you spend time talking to Him today! 

By Katie Miller

For more blog posts by Katie Miller, click HERE 

The median sales prices for homes in the Boise housing market hit another new record last month at $575,000.  This is an increase of 4.5% from the previous month and 22.6% from the same month last year.  This jump was primarily stimulated by price increases in new construction.  New construction accounted for nearly 1/3 of all sales last month, and the median price came in at $606,050.  This is an increase of 31.5% year-over-year, which is a lot, especially in comparison to the price of existing homes which was up 16.7%. 

Though the housing market may see a slight tempering due to the recent increases in mortgage rates, inventory remains a primary factor in home prices.  And, despite a marked 103.1% increase from last year in the number of homes for sale in our area, inventory is still not keeping up with demand. This is evidenced by homes only remaining on the market for an average of 20 days and selling an average of 100.8% of the list price.  

We know housing market news can always be encouraging to some while simultaneously being discouraging to others.  No matter your goals, questions, or concerns regarding your future real estate decisions, we would love the opportunity to help you navigate them.  If you are considering buying or selling, please give us a call so we can hear more about your specific situation and work together toward a plan for how best to move forward.   

For a quick snapshot of the Boise housing market for March 2022, see Boise Regional REALTORS® housing market summary for Ada County below:

Over time, I’ve become increasingly aware of the crazy number of misunderstandings there are about the God of the Bible.  I see them in the media, I hear them in conversations and questions, and I experience them in my own thinking too.   I believe that many times, these misunderstandings spring from the fact that we form opinions about God based on faulty sources--what people have told us about Him, the actions people have done in His name, Bible verses taken out of context, and our own uninformed assumptions just to name a few.  Knowing these misunderstandings exist in myself and in each person who may read this, I am writing for two reasons:  to encourage us to care enough to want to correct our misunderstandings and to point us to Jesus as the best person to help with that.   

A friend recently told me, “I believe there is a God, but I don’t know what God is or how to find out.” I may have misheard it, but the tone of the comment expressed a sense of contentment with not knowing and indifference toward pursuing answers.  This made me sad because, not only do I believe God has given us a way to know Him, but in my personal pursuit of Him, I have experienced ever-increasing amazement and delight at who God is and ever-growing peace and joy in the relationship He has made possible for me to have with Him.  I don’t want my friend—or anyone for that matter—to miss out on that!

So, how do we clear up our misunderstandings about the God of the Bible and get to know who He is?  Answer: Jesus!  In Jesus, “God’s word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1: 14).  Jesus was not just a great teacher or a person to be emulated, but the Bible states, “He is the image of the invisible God…and in Him, all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell” (Colossians 1:15, 19).  Thus, by getting to know Jesus, you are getting to know God!  Did you know Jesus—God in the flesh—welcomed outcasts, valued women, befriended enemies, rebuked self-righteous religious leaders, identified with no political party, yielded his power, walked humbly, served sacrificially, sought justice, healed the sick, cared for the poor, rejoiced with the rejoicing, wept with the sorrowful, and ultimately laid His life down for our sake?  He is a God like no other! So, whether you know little more about Jesus than His name and bits and pieces of why He’s celebrated at Christmas and Easter or if you’ve been soaking in His Word for many years, I want to encourage and challenge you this Easter season to seek to clear up some misunderstandings you may have about God by learning more about Jesus!  

There are many ways to do this.  For me, I am reading through the Gospels again (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John).  These four books of the Bible tell of Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection.  They reveal what He said and did while He was on the earth and show how He responded to others and how they responded to Him.  As John says at the end of his gospel, they were written “so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31).   I know I’ve mentioned this before, but another great thing to do would be to watch The Chosen series.  If you are a visual person like me, this TV series does a beautiful job of bringing the Gospel stories to life.  Whether or not you believe what is shared in the Gospels after reading them, I hope you would walk away having a better understanding of those who do believe and why they would.  If you decide to read the Gospels or watch The Chosen, I’d love to hear any thoughts, corrected misunderstandings, or new perspectives you walked away with.

By Katie Miller

For more blog posts by Katie Miller, click HERE 

Last weekend was a busy one!  I was going from appointment to appointment all day Saturday, and I was pretty exhausted by the end of it.  Thankfully, I had a date night out with my husband to look forward to when I was done working.  I met a new client, and after our initial appointment, we decided to go look at a couple houses. 

I have a habit of locking the front door when I am showing houses.  In this crazy, hot market, there is often an agent or two right behind me waiting to show the same house.  I lock the door to keep them out and to give my client the time they need in the house.  So, my client and I stepped inside, and I locked the front door behind us.  We looked around the house and then headed toward the back of the house to take a look at the yard and detached garage.  As we stepped into the yard, the back door closed behind us.  And you guessed it, it was locked!

So, I had successfully locked myself and my brand new client out of this house.  I tried calling the listing agent to see if she had a spare key and she didn't answer my calls or texts.  We tried the windows and the sliding glass door to no avail.  So I decided to run really fast to show my client the second house she wanted to see.  While I am showing the other house, I get a text from the agent... that is the ONLY key to the house.  Of course it is.  She begs me to go back to try to break in somehow.

I finish up with my client and head back to the locked house.  I go from window to window trying to pry off the screens with my keys and pull as hard as I can on each window.  Nothing.  I try climbing up by the kitchen window to see if I can somehow shake it loose and open.  Nothing.  I try a trick I saw on youtube to get the slider open.  Nothing.  Meanwhile, the neighbors have let out their two enormous dogs who are barking at me right at the fence.  I'm sure they will eat me.  I'm also sure the cops will show up any minute wondering why I'm trying to break into this house.

I finally decide that there's no breaking into this house.  As I'm trying to figure out how the heck I'm going to get that dumb key out of the living room, it dawns on me that I can call a locksmith.  Locksmith is sure he can help but he needs permission from the owner of the house with proof that it's her house.  So, I reach back out to the listing agent (who probably wants to kill me at this point) to get her client's permission.  Easier said than done because she lives out of state and not in this house.  So she has to go digging for something that has her name and the address of this house on it.  Finally, she finds something and the locksmith heads my way.  

The 12 year old locksmith pulls up in his van and in about two minutes opens up the house for me.  THANK YOU!  He then asks for my credit card for payment, so I go to my car to grab it.  It's not there.  I have somehow managed to leave my entire wallet at home.  I ask him if takes checks and of course he probably doesn't even know what checks are.  So, we stand there awkwardly for a while.  

Two hours I was there at that house trying to break in and waiting to rescue the ONLY key.  But, finally, I was on my way to meet my husband for a nice dinner out--covered in dirt and dust from trying to break into a house!

Written by Becka Marston

See more posts by Becka Marston HERE!

Despite seasonal slow down this winter, the median sales price for the Boise housing market hit a new record high this past month at $549,900.  This 21.6% increase from February 2021 is largely due to insufficient supply to meet Boise’s growing housing demand.  In addition to rising prices, two other factors indicate another competitive buying season may be in store for us this spring:  the number of days a home is on the market before it goes under contract and the percent of original list price received.  Last month, the average Days on Market (DOM) was 23 days.  While this number is 14 days more than February of 2021, it is 10 days less than last month and still well below historical averages.  As stated by Boise Regional REALTORS®, “Buyers may have a bit more time to shop than they did last year, but they will still likely need to make quick decisions once they find a home they’d like to purchase.” 

The percent of original list price received for existing homes in February was 99.6%.  This is down from the 105.5% of list price received last year, but it is still significant.  BRR explains: “Buyers may be unable or unwilling to spend over list prices to win a listing, as was common a year ago, or we’re seeing sellers pricing homes more in line with the market comparables.  Overall, we are seeing fewer bidding wars than last year, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t still happening in some instances. It just depends on the particular property, the list price, and what buyers are willing to pay.”

If you have questions about the market and how it may affect your individual buying, selling, or investment decisions, please give us a call.  We would love to meet to help you think through your options!

For a quick snapshot of the Boise housing market for February 2022, see Boise Regional REALTORS® housing market summary for Ada County below:

See more monthly Boise housing market updates HERE!