When a global pandemic makes your planned events impossible, you adapt!

We all watched COVID-19 bring many businesses to a standstill and leave countless people struggling with basic needs. In addition to feeling extremely grateful that we were still busy and working, we felt a desire and responsibility to help our community that was struggling. The Boise Rescue Mission Ministries, who does amazing work throughout the entire Boise area and has a facility a few blocks from our office, had additional needs for their residents and reached out for help. Their typical style of getting companies involved was not possible with the realities of COVID-19, just as our typical style of connecting with our clients, vendors and friends was not possible. So when they asked if we would be willing to try a different type of event, we were up for it.

On July 28^th we hosted one of the very first “Donation Drive Thru” events in our parking lot and invited everyone we knew to help. Although the event was organized in a way that would keep everyone safe and healthy, we were unsure what the response would be. Many were still tentative about leaving home for non-essential errands. Our agents and staff promoted the event, giving everyone an opportunity to contribute and we are happy to say that the event was a success! Even our mail carrier stocked her van and donated when she delivered our mail.

The next day we received this note and it is with full hearts we thank the Boise Rescue Mission Ministries for all the work they do and for inviting us to be involved.

“On behalf of Boise Rescue Mission Ministries we just wanted to thank you and Windermere Powerhouse Group so much for hosting yesterday’s drive thru drive. Because of you and your team, your clients, and even a neighborhood mail lady we received over 700lbs of summer needs items, clothing, and back to school supplies.  This will certainly help us meet the needs of the many men, women, and children staying in our emergency shelters.  I look forward to offering your team a tour of our shelters so you can directly see how your donations impact lives for the good and are a piece of the puzzle to help break the cycle of homelessness, drug and alcohol addictions, and hopelessness.  Thank you all again so much. You have blessed us!” Ricky Alseth

We are proud to be part of Windermere, a company that is all in, for community. To learn more about Boise Rescue Mission Ministries and how you can get involved, please visit their website BoiseRM.org

Tuesday, July 28th from 9 am to 2 pm
Windermere Powerhouse Group at 621 S. 17th Street, Boise

Windermere, a premier real estate company in the Western US, understands the importance of home and has made tackling homelessness a priority for many years. Windermere Powerhouse Group is located in Midtown Boise and our staff and agents see challenges facing our homeless population daily.  During the COVID-19 pandemic there are more needs than ever. Our team is grateful that our industry  has remained strong and realize more than ever the importance of supporting our community.

Our brokerage we donated to the Idaho Foodbank, providing 3000 meals to local families. Many agents have donated and volunteered and contributed on an individual level and now we are inviting you, our family, friends, clients and business partners, to help. We will be collecting donations for the Boise Rescue Mission on Tuesday, July 28^th from 9 am-2 pm. There will be a Drive Thru Donation at our office, 621 South 17^th Street where you can drop off needed supplies in a safe and healthy way.

How can you help?

“Every little bit helps” is the consistent statement we hear from the Rescue Mission staff. Everything is appreciated. Below is a list of various items from canned food, to summer and school supplies and clothing. Did you know that in addition to a food pantry and meals they also have a clothing room for residents to “shop”? Your gently used clothing gives children the chance to wear clothing that fits or gives an adult the opportunity to have professional clothing for a job interview. 

We look forward to your support and your help promoting this event. If you are not available to drive thru on the 28^th, feel free to drop supplies off to Gretchen Bolton at Windermere Powerhouse Group. For more information or questions, contact Gretchen at 208-920-5966 or at gbolton@windermere.com.

Ongoing Needs:
Adult and children’s clothing – Gently used or new
Non perishable food items
Batteries – all sizes

Summer Needs
Spray sunscreen
Clorox wipes bottled
Water/juice boxes
Bottled water
Healthy lunch items (string cheese, yogurts, lunchmeat, individually packaged healthy snack items)
9V batteries.
Razors
Socks
Men’s underwear
Hand sanitizer wipes
Tylenol
Lysol/disinfectants
Masks

Back to School Needs:
Alcohol-free hand sanitizer
Facial tissue
Sanitizing wipes
Zip lock bags (gallon & quart)
Mechanical pencils (0.7 mm)
0.7 mm lead
Colored pencils
Multi-color highlighters
Sharpies
Dry erase markers / erasers
Watercolors
Pencil boxes
Pencil sharpeners
Glue sticks
2-Pocket folders
Zipper binders (3” or larger)
Subject dividers
Composition notebooks (wide ruled)
Composition notebooks (college ruled)
Lined loose-leaf paper (wide ruled)
Lined loose-leaf paper (college ruled)
Spiral notebooks (wide ruled)
Graph paper
Book covers (XL)
Flashcards: Addition
Flashcards: Multiplication
Ear buds
Flash Drives (2 to 8 GB)

About the Boise Rescue Mission

The Boise Rescue Mission started in 1958 as a small soup kitchen with a few cots to feed and shelter homeless people. Fast forward 50+ years and the Rescue Mission has expanded to 5 ministry centers in Boise and Nampa providing not just meals and shelter, but clothing, household items, career development, veteran services and recovery programs. Read more about the ministry here. Boise Rescue Mission Ministries

Posted in Idaho Real Estate Market Update by Matthew Gardner, Chief Economist, Windermere Real Estate

The following analysis of select counties of the Idaho real estate market is provided by Windermere Real Estate Chief Economist, Matthew Gardner. We hope that this information may assist you with making better-informed real estate decisions. For further information about the housing market in your area, please don’t hesitate to contact your Windermere agent.

Please join us to hear Matthew’s Economic and Real Estate Forecast for Idaho in 2020. January 30th, 10 am -12 pm at JUMP in Downtown Boise. Click here to reserve your spot. 

ECONOMIC OVERVIEW

The job market in Idaho has picked up again, adding 19,700 new jobs over the past 12 months — an annual growth rate of an impressive 2.7%. That said, growth levels are still off the frenetic pace of 2018.

In November, the state unemployment rate was 2.9%, marginally higher than the 2.8% rate of a year ago. It cannot be disputed that the state remains at full employment. It is also interesting to note that the employment rate remained below 3% even as the labor force rose 2.8%, suggesting that the economy remains very strong and new entrants to the labor force are finding jobs with relative ease.

HOME SALES

• 5,691 homes were sold during the final quarter of 2019, representing a 3.7% increase compared to the fourth quarter of 2018.
• In Northern Idaho, Bonner County experienced a significant increase in sales — up 28.3% over the third quarter of 2018. However, Bonner is a small county so significant swings are not unusual. In Southern Idaho, sales also jumped in Payette County. The declines in total sales in three counties are, again, a function of the small number of transactions that took place in those markets.
• Year-over-year sales growth was positive in two Northern Idaho counties and four Southern Idaho counties relative to the same period a year ago.
• Pending sales dropped 32.5% over the third quarter of 2019, suggesting that closed sales in the first quarter of 2020 are likely to be lower than current figures.

HOME PRICES

• The average home price in the region rose 11.7% year-over-year to $377,011 and sale prices were 2.5% higher than in the third quarter of 2019.
• In Northern Idaho, Shoshone County led the market with the strongest annual price growth, but it is worth noting that the other two counties also saw double-digit price appreciation. In Southern Idaho, Boise County home prices leapt by more than 37%, and there were notable increases in Canyon, Gem, and Ada counties.
• Year-over-year sales growth was positive in two Northern Idaho counties and four Southern Idaho counties relative to the same period a year ago.
• Pending sales dropped 32.5% over the third quarter of 2019, suggesting that closed sales in the first quarter of 2020 are likely to be lower than current figures.

DAYS ON MARKET

• It took an average of 117 days to sell a home in Northern Idaho and 60 days in the southern part of the state.
• The average number of days it took to sell a home in the region dropped 9 days compared to the fourth quarter of 2018, but it took 11 days longer to sell a home compared to the third quarter of 2019.
• In Northern Idaho, days on market rose in Bonner and Kootenai counties, but dropped in Shoshone County. In Southern Idaho, market time dropped in Payette, Gem, Boise, and Blaine counties, but rose in Valley, Canyon, and Ada counties.
• Homes sold the fastest in Payette, Canyon, and Ada counties.

CONCLUSIONS

The speedometer reflects the state of the region’s housing market using housing inventory, price gains, home sales, interest rates, and larger economic factors.

Job growth is impressive and, as we all know, economic/job growth drives demand for housing, which continues to bode well for the Idaho market. Price growth remains impressive, but one must wonder how long this rapid trend in price growth can continue.

Even though I do expect to see slower price appreciation at some point in the future, it is unlikely to happen any time soon. As such, it remains staunchly a seller’s market so I have moved the needle a little more in their direction.

ABOUT MATTHEW GARDNER

As Chief Economist for Windermere Real Estate, Matthew Gardner is responsible for analyzing and interpreting economic data and its impact on the real estate market on both a local and national level. Matthew has over 30 years of professional experience both in the U.S. and U.K.

In addition to his day-to-day responsibilities, Matthew sits on the Washington State Governors Council of Economic Advisors; chairs the Board of Trustees at the Washington Center for Real Estate Research at the University of Washington; and is an Advisory Board Member at the Runstad Center for Real Estate Studies at the University of Washington where he also lectures in real estate economics.

Windermere Chief Economist, Matthew Gardner, answers the most pressing question on everyone’s minds: Will there be a recession in 2020? Here’s what he expects to see.

If you are interested in learning more about the Idaho’s economic and real estate market forecast for 2020 from Matthew Gardner live, please join us on January 30th at JUMP in Boise from 10:00 am-12:00 pm. To reserve your spot or if you have any questions, please contact Gretchen Bolton at gbolton@windermere.com.

Save the Date

January 30, 2020 10 am- 12 pm

You are invited to join us as Matthew Gardner, Chief Economist for Windermere, presents a 2020 Economic and Housing Forecast for Idaho on January 30, 2020, 10 am – 12 pm at JUMP in Downtown Boise.

Matthew is responsible for analyzing and interpreting economic data and its impact on the real estate market on both a local and national level. regularly speaks at events around the country, is frequently quoted in the media in stories and publishes the Gardner Report, which highlights market conditions in regions throughout the Western U.S. View the 3rd Quarter 2019 Idaho Report here.

Please contact us if you are interested in attending or learning more about the upcoming event. PowerhouseGroup@Windermere.com or 208-920-5966.