Check out Phil’s Business Directory right here (over here -> -> ->) for some of the best in their respective businesses!

These businesses have been proven to be reliable because I, or my clients, have personally done business with them and recommend them.

Due to the popularity of this blog, I am often approached by other businesses seeking to be included in this directory.

In fact, I have even had some businesses offer to pay me to be included.

Money won’t get you into my business directory, but solid, reliable performance will!

Check out my handy business directory for yourself!

• It’s encouraging to note the positive increase of sales in all categories!
• It’s positive to note the lower rates of price declines  in all categories.  It wasn’t that long ago when those numbers were hovering in the 20-30% range.
• It will be fascinating to see what happens to our market when the $8,000 First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit expires. Buyers must be “under contract” by April 30^th and close by June 30^th to get the credit.
• The upfront FHA mortgage insurance premium will rise from 1.75% to 2.25% on April 5^th. This will result in an extra $1,000 of buyer closing costs on a $200,000 loan.
• It’s positive to see sticks (new homes) starting to go up throughout the Treasure Valley!
• It’s positive to see people buying homes for the right reason (to live in them!) instead of speculating on them and using them as their personal ATM.
• 63.9% of all 2010 year-to-date Ada County closed residential sales have been below $200,000.
• 1.33692% of all 2010 year-to-date Ada County sales occurred between 10:14.56 a.m. and 1:33.21 p.m. on cloudy Thursdays. (I just made that up to see if you’re really paying attention!)

Ever wished you could be on a pristine stretch of whitewater, rafting or kayaking for the afternoon?

The Boise area is a mecca for whitewater enthusiasts with the Main, North, and South forks of the Payette River draining more than 3,000 square miles of the Sawtooth Range and Salmon River Basin.

You can choose from the calmer waters of the Main Fork for a leisurely float trip, or you can tackle the challenging Class 5 rapids just above the Banks area is you are brave (or foolhardy).

My favorite run is the Cabarton Area, which offers a combination of calm to moderate water, punctuated by five attention-getting rapids, including a 20-foot plunge just before the take-out point at Smiths Ferry.

Best of all, this spectacular, beautiful scenery and fun is only an hour North of Boise!

Avimor, located 8 minutes North of Eagle on Hwy 55, was named Idaho’s 2009 Energy Star Builder Of The Year in an award ceremony held at Avimor on Saturday, June 6th.

Avimor is a 23,000 acre planned community offering foothill living with 80 miles of foothill trails and 60% open space.

All homes built in Avimor meet stringent Energy Star requirements.

Avimor homes start at just $138,900 and for a limited time, include seller-paid buyer closing costs and a FREE upgrade to slab granite kitchen counters OR a Whirlpool appliance package.

Check out my Tour Of Avimor for more information!

For your own personal tour of Avimor, give me a call at (208)938-5533 or e-mail me.

Experts say that when the economy recovers, don’t expect things to be the same. The housing and job markets are changing. So are key industries – from real estate and lending, to energy, automobiles and healthcare. Government regulations and tax laws may also be changing in major ways. The bottom line? The one thing that’s certain is change!

So the big question is: How should we handle change – not just to get through it, but to come out a winner!

We can deal with change better by focusing on a few key ideas:

Change Is Nothing New

From growing up, to making friends, to expanding career paths, everyone’s life story is one of change. The same is true of virtually all industries, thanks to developing markets, growing populations and advancing technologies. Of course, the more changes we experience in a short time period, the bigger they seem.

Change Can Be Complex

Changes can happen at the same time in multiple areas, such as how we conduct our business, the tools we employ, the processes we follow. When many things change at the same time, the situation quickly gets complex.

Change Can Be Confusing

Not surprisingly, complexity can create confusion. Bewildered by all the changes, we conclude there’s nothing we can do. Not true! All of us CAN master new products, services or skills – AND find the right path to take us forward. The key is to deal with each change on its own, starting with the easiest.

Change Still Leaves Plenty Of Choices

In an evolving scenario. there are always options and alternatives. Every challenge has more than one solution. You just need to commit to finding it, focus on the task, take the time you need and then – take action! Failure usually comes from barriers we impose on ourselves.

Change Demands Courage

In the face of change, it pays to be brave. Instead of trying to avoid change – embrace it! Figure out how change can work for you. Find something you’re doing now that you can take into the future. Build on what you know, adding new knowledge and skill sets. Look to expand you horizons. Champion innovation – and instead of fighting change, use it to help shape the future!

Follow these ideas and you’ll stay well ahead of the ever-changing business environment.

Reprinted with permission from Monica Davis, Branch Manager of Guild Mortgage ~ (208)489-2822.

This month’s featured business is my own personal dentist, Dr. Michael Shipp.

Dr. Shipp recently took over Richard Galloway’s practice and renamed it Bristol Heights Dental.

He’s located at 6085 N. Eagle Road, just South of the Eagle Road/Chinden intersection.

Mention my “Phriends Of Phil” special offer when you call Dr. Shipp at (208)938-9912 and get a free cleaning (a $78 value) when combined with patient exam/x-rays.

Check out “Phil’s Business Directory” (rotate your eyeballs to the right of this page) for other trusted, recommend businesses!

Have you seen “Phil’s Business Directory”? (rotate your eyeballs to the right of this screen)

This directory includes my recommended service providers.

I have personally done business with all of them and recommend them.

Please mention my name when you talk with them and let them know I sent you their way!

I will be featuring one of these business in each month with a special “Phriends of Phil” offer in my monthly Phil’s Straight Talk About Real Estate” newsletter.

If you would like to receive my newsletter, please e-mail me your mailing address.

Trey’s article says only 93 Treasure Valley builders pulled more than one permit in 2008.

Even more interesting is the fact that the pace of permits they pulled dwindled by 50% in the 2nd half of 2008.

Check out the article here.

As we approach our Winter season, here are a few tips you may find helpful:

Downspout Extensions

I have dealt with three home inspections this week and two of them revealed water in crawlspaces.

Both properties would have benefited from the installation of downspout extensions that would have directed water away from the foundations.

If you have downspouts that are dumping rain water alongside your foundation, you could easily end up with water in your crawlspace.

I recommend the 3-4′ flexible extensions available at Lowe’s or Home Depot

Disconnect Your Hoses

Don’t forget to disconnect your hoses from your outside faucets to prevent freezing damage to your faucets and expensive plumbing repairs.

Close Your Foundation Vents

Remember to close your foundation vents now and reopen them next Spring.

Blow Out Your Sprinklers

If you haven’t already done so, have your sprinkler system blown out to remove water from the underground lines and the above-ground manifold valve.

Replacing a manifold valve can cost upwards of $500.

Check Your Interior Plumbing Connections

I recommend checking the connections of your interior plumbing to avoid water damage.

One of my clients just moved into a beautiful home in Eagle immediately after the hardwood floors were refinished.

They heard a funny noise in the middle of the night, went downstairs to check things out, and stepped into an inch of water covering most of the downstairs.

The culprit was a loose fitting under the kitchen sink that popped loose.

Now, they must endure the mess and disruption of replacing the hardwood floors and carpeting (fortunately covered by their homeowners’ insurance).

P.S.  I also recommend you consider replacing your existing copper or clear plastic icemaker water supply hose with a sturdier braided hose to avoid potential leaks and water damage.

One of my favorite things to do on a Sunday is to walk the Boise River Greenbelt.

After showing a few homes earlier this afternoon, I discovered this stretch of the greenbelt just West of the Eagle Road bridge over the North Channel of the river.

Best of all, it’s just five minutes from my home in Eagle!