Looking to Tighten up your budget a bit more??  You might be interested in a FREE CLASS  on couponing! Don't miss out.. Class to be held on Thursday February 10th at 7:00 pm!  Sleep Inn in Nampa 1315 Industrial Road (Exit 36) This class promises to help you stock your pantry and save $150.00 or more! To register for the class email couponteach@hotmail.com or call 208 739-5526 Sponsored by the Idaho Press Tribune Hurry and Register for this great class that will teach you how to maximize your grocery dollars! Who doesn't want to save money?? 02/04/2011

Dear Deborah, Remember us...we bought our home through you in 2009!   We got the tax credit already after we bought our home.    Now circumstances have changed.    I am getting married and we want to sell the home!   I think we got a letter from the IRS stating we couldn't .    Is that true?  Please Help Home Seller who needs to Sell to buy another home   Dear Home Seller,    Congratulations on your upcoming wedding plans!     Yes you did get a letter from the IRS outlining the criteria for receiving the Tax Credit.    Because you bought your home in 2009 or if you had bought in 2010 there was a caveat.    You have to keep the home as your primary residence for at least 3 years.    What does this mean?     If you sell the home, convert the home to a rental or let the home foreclose........ 02/03/2011

I found this place not long after moving into the area.  Of course, I just HAD to go in to see what they offered at a place called "Saggy Drawers".  No, it's not an old folks home or a day care.  It's a second hand furniture shop.  Very cute!   Heather Chavez, Real Estate Virtual Assistant - Second Self Virtual Assistance: When There Isn't Enough of You to Go Around! If you like this, take a gander at these: Fun February Holidays Thank you, Connie Harvey Check Your Keyword Density The Importance of About Me Pages Check the Age of a Website Northern Lights Cinema Grill Wordless Wednesday (Almost): Sunrise Over Idaho How Do You Keep Your WordPress Site Secure? Caldwell Train Depot Holidays and Events for January Martin Luther King Jr Quotes How Much is Too Much? Tell Me Your Love Story Be... 02/02/2011

What a nice surprise today Went to Metro Car Wash to give the Truck a badly needed bath this morning! The attendant informed me that their $6.00 wash was free today in honor of their One Year Anniversary! If you wanted to a premium wash you could do that as well...for $4.00 or $6.00!! So go on down and support Metro Car Wash today!  They have done numerous fundraisers for different local charities this past year! And they do a great job on washing the vehicle.... If that isn't enough you can use the free vacuums as well!!!  Metro Car Wash is located on the Corner of Caldwell Boulevard and Karcher Road (By Karcher Mall and behind the Golden Coral) 02/01/2011

Dear Deborah, As you know we recently listed our home with you to sell in Nampa Idaho.    We have looked and looked in the Idaho Press Tribune and the Idaho Statesman as well as the other Real Estate Magazenes and we can't find our home.    Why aren't you advertising our house?    How do you expect it to sell if it isn't advertised?   Sincerely Anxious to Sell Seller   Dear Anxious to Sell, I am very excited to have your beautiful home listed for sale.   Just to refresh your memory a little bit...I wanted to go over my advertising strategy to get your home sold.     Remember the chart that I showed you that showed where buyers come from according to the National Association of Realtors?     On that chart it showed that most Nampa Idaho buyers find their home in 3 places...from their Rea... 01/31/2011

Earlier this month, our Realtor® Association was privileged to host Founder & CEO of LEEADERSHIP 1st, Derrick Boles as a guest speaker for our January General Membership Luncheon.   I had the opportunity to visit with Mr. Boles for a short while after the presentation.  I was impressed by this man!   He has a heart for what is right and a heart to help kids in our society.   His organization, LEADERSHIP 1st, is headquartered here in Nampa, Idaho. They provide training & mentorship for troubled teens as well as business education and inspiration.   Derrick’s acronym for Leadership is:   L.      Loyalty E.     Education A.    Accountability D.    Discipline E.      Empowerment R.    Respect S.     Service H.    Honesty I.        Integrity P.     Perseverance 1st   I encourage you to take ... 01/30/2011

I met Fern when I was a little girl at First Christian Church in Nampa Idaho many years ago....probably about 40 actually.   I don't really remember a lot about her!  But I know she was a very special lady! I moved away when I was 17 and had a bit of time to explore Southern California.   When I moved back to Idaho in 1993 I didn't go back to First Christian Church.....I can't really say why...but I didn't! When I did decide to go back about 6 or 7 years ago...it was just as if I had never left.   So many of the folks I had known since I was in Kindergarten still attend the church!    Sadly many are gone.    One who really went out of her way to make me feel welcome was Fern!    She led a Purpose Driven Life group that I attended when I first went back to Nampa First Christian Church!  ... 01/29/2011

Dear Deborah, I know that you have said that it is important for us to have a lock box on our home while it is listed in Nampa Idaho? We aren't sure that we feel comfortable with this. Can some one come in at any time? Anxious Seller Selling a house Dear Anxious Seller, When you have your home on the market for sale it is very important that we work together to make your home easily accessible for potential buyers. Having a lockbox is actually safer for you as a home seller. Our lock-boxes are very high tech! As your Realtor I will have to opportunity to download a list of who has shown your home. With this list I will be able to call the Realtor to get feedback. If a door is left open or lights are left on I will be able to follow up with that agent to prevent this from happening in th... 01/28/2011

Dear Deborah... We have less than perfect credit scores....can we still buy a home in Nampa Idaho?   Anxious Buyer   Dear Anxious Buyer, Credit is very important.   With lower credit scores you may have to have a larger down payment or pay a higher interest rate.  But it is still very feasible to purchase a home.    I just got an email from Angie Castillo of Wells Fargo in Nampa,  She reported great news!  Here is her email:   Just received an update that effective immediately we are allowed to offer financing for those customers with scores under  600. Changes are as follows:  Loan score lower than 500 = not allowed Loan score 500-579 allowed with 10% down payment Loan score 580-599 allowed with 5% down payment  Maximum debt to income ratios for these new updates are 31/43% Seller cont... 01/27/2011

I am a MAJOR movie hound.  I love comedies, dramas, horror (my favorite), independent films, big budget action flicks, those little foreign numbers, musicals...you name it, I will probably watch it.  I've even watched bad movies hoping they'll get better (Hey, 'Howard the Duck' actually wasn't that bad).  So, imagine my delight when I found Northern Lights Cinema Grill in Nampa, ID. The owner of this wonderful two-theater cinema tore out every other row of seats and added a table in their place.  They don't show first-run movies.  If you're willing to wait and you still want that "movie theater feel", for $3 a ticket, you can watch a movie and have food and drinks delivered right to your seat while you watch.  Their inventory changes every couple of weeks.  On Tuesday nights, they offer... 01/27/2011

Are you going to walk this year?    The Race is scheduled for the morning of Saturday May 7th, 2011 We have had a team for the past several years with First Christian Church  as well as with our Keller Williams Boise Office.     This is such a great organization to support!   Registrations for teams open up on February 1st!    The Boise Komen Race online registration form is a bit different this year.    Each registrant will need to register individually!    If you have participated in the past they should have sent you a member name and password already!  By registering online you save $5.00 off of your registration.  Cost will be announced on February 1st!  IF you can not walk you might want to register as a "Sleep in Registrant"   Those who participate in this manner will still get ... 01/25/2011

It is nearly time to celebrate Valentines Day!!!  One of the best ideas I have thought for years is the Valentines for Vets program!!! I was reading the Annies Mailbox column in our local Idaho Press Tribune today.  They had their annual plea for Valentines in the column.  A few of the stats they quoted were: VA staff of 239,000 and volenteers of 85,000 at 1400 sites VA is projected to treat 6.1 million patients  in 2011.   Of these 6.1 million 439,000 are veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan The 2011 salute to Veterans will be from February 13-19, 2011 FOr more information on the program you can go to www.volunteer.va.gov to find out if your local VA home is participating in the program!    I think I will be gathering my nieces and nephews together for a craft day to make Valentines!    T... 01/23/2011

Looking for a good Laugh? This may be your chance.   Thursday January 27th at 7:30 pm Idaho Center 16200 Idaho Center Boulevard, Nampa, ID Tickets are $43.50 Available by phone 208 442-3232 or www.ictickets.com or in person at the Idaho Center Jeff Dunham was recently named in the top 100 list of most powerful entertainers in the world by Forbes magazine as well as being named the top touring live comedy act in North America....and he is coming to Nampa Idaho with his "Identity Crisis Tour".    In addition to being a comedian Jeff Dunham is also a ventriloquist.   He has four DVD's from his award winnng record setting Comedy Central specials.  What a treat to have a comedian of this caliber travel to Nampa Idaho!    This is sure to be worth your money to attend! 01/22/2011

Nampa Idaho Market Summary for Fall River Estates   From January 1, 2010 through January 1, 2011   5 homes are currently for sale      Average Price $244,760      Average price per SF $89      Average Days on Market 265    23 homes have sold in 2010      Average price $177,726      Average price per SF $71      Average Days on Market 119   1 home is currently pending sale      Average asking price $192,500      Average price per SF $63      Average Days on Market 21   Great buy on 2982 SF Home at 548 Bayhill Dr.   Contact Don Wixom with RE/MAX Advantage for a market update for your Treasure Valley Subdivisions!   Call or Text (208) 880-5039   Your Idaho Real Estate Certified Residential Specialist       Nampa Area Weather   Search Nampa Idaho Homes for sale   Search Boise Idaho Homes fo... 01/22/2011

Are you tired of Winter or do you have the Winter Blues? Come on down to the Nampa Civic Center for a FREE EVENT 9 am to 4 pm on January 22, 2011 The Nampa Civic Center is located at 311 3rd Street South in Nampa Idaho All day long there will be live performances from: MacKayla Hunter....a Country Western Singer/Songwriter Tiernan Irish Dancers Hispanic Forkloric Dancers of Idaho Students of the Pat Harris School of Dance Students of the The Limelight Kids Students of Studio C Many businesses, Non Profits and Organizations  from the Treasure Valley will have booths set up with exhibits! You won't want to miss the Treasure Valley Food Court with plenty of Samples Also many craft vendors will be set up. A special exhibit from teh Idaho Herpetological Society will have snakes and lizards, ... 01/21/2011

Dear Deborah We want to buy a home ....but where do we start?   Are there any First Time Home Buyer programs out there?    Sincerely, Anxious First Time Home Buyer   Dear Anxious... I love to work with First Time Home Buyers.   Now is a great time to be a First Time Home Buyer in Idaho.   The prices are low and the interest rates are at an all time low.   I work with several lenders who have many programs available for First Time Home Buyers.     They work in conjunction with Idaho Housing to offer loan programs that you may be eligible for.   Some will help you with your down payment as well as a lower interest rate. If you are interested I can have my lender call you.    They will ask you questions about your job history and income.   They will need your Social Security Number to run ... 01/19/2011

Nampa Idaho Market Summary for Carriage Hill     From January 1, 2010 through January 1, 2011   8 homes are currently for sale      Average Price $272,187      Average price per SF $95      Average Days on Market 156   7 homes have sold in 2010      Average price $245,409      Average price per SF $77      Average Days on Market 82   1 home is currently pending sale      Average asking price $375,000      Average price per SF $109      Average Days on Market 113   Great buy on 2982 SF Home at 548 Bayhill Dr.   Contact Don Wixom with RE/MAX Advantage for a market update for your Treasure Valley Subdivisions!   Call or Text (208) 880-5039 Your Idaho Real Estate Certified Residential Specialist    Nampa Area Weather Search Nampa Idaho Homes for sale Search Boise Idaho Homes for sale Idaho ... 01/18/2011

Nampa Idaho Market Summary for Sunset Oaks     From January 1, 2010 through January 1, 2011   13 homes are currently for sale      Average Price $98,569      Average price per SF $58      Average Days on Market 95   14 homes have sold in 2010      Average price $96,990      Average price per SF $67      Average Days on Market 72   2 homes are currently pending sale      Average asking price $70,025      Average price per SF $54      Average Days on Market 46   Great buy on 2029 SF Home at 7431 Bay Meadows Dr.   Contact Don Wixom with RE/MAX Advantage for a market update for your Treasure Valley Subdivisions!   Call or Text (208) 880-5039 Your Idaho Real Estate Certified Residential Specialist Nampa Area Weather Search Nampa Idaho Homes for sale Search Boise Idaho Homes for sale Idaho Sh... 01/15/2011

    Just in time for your sugar fix!    The Silver Sage Girl Scouts are going to be starting the pre-orders of their annual cookie sales on January 14th, 2011 !  Who can resist the Thin Mints, Tag a Longs, Samoas, Shortbreads .....and any of the other cookies that the Girl Scouts sell every year! (just as we are all working on getting off the Christmas weight!!!  LOL) My niece is a Brownie this year and I know that she really enjoys all that Girl Scouts offers to her....The above picture is of her and the girls in her troop when they sold the cookies last year at our local Albertsons Grocery store!   Money raised from the profits of selling the cookies help to provide funding for the local troop's activities. According the the National Girl Scout website about 25% of the cookies sold a... 01/08/2011

I am very proud to say that Season 11 of NBC's Biggest Loser has a Nampa Idaho Local team!   Team KiniKini.....Moses and Kaylee...a Father Daughter team have Nampa Idaho Roots!    I actually went to school with Moses...back in the early 80's!    He graduated a couple years a head of me from Nampa Senior High School.... Moses is currently living in Shelley Idaho and his Daughter is attending Brigham Young University!   His first weigh in was 440 lbs Kaylee weighed in at 233 lbs!   How exciting to complete this program as a team!   Kaylee wants to lose weight as well as support her Dad and to prevent future health problems that her Dad suffers from!  If you want to follow their progress you can go to their Facebook Fan Page and LIKE it!   Also with nearby roots is former Olympic athlete, ... 01/06/2011