“It was the best of time, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness” a quote from Charles Dickens novel a ‘Tale of two cities’ seems appropriate for the Boise, Idaho real estate market.  The anxiety and suffering in what is being called the ‘Great Recession’ is all to real and painful to the tens of thousands of Boise, Idaho residents whose lives have forever changed with job losses, housing foreclosures, reduced wages, and minimized benefits. Many real estate agents were caught up in the ‘tidal wave’ of the rising market as real estate schools popped up on every corner to graduate real estate agents faster than they could say “flip that house”. But as the ‘wave’ receded it turned into a ‘rip tide’ and many real estate agents have fallen victim to the economic ills that plague America.  Those remaining Treasure Valley agents including those practicing real estate in not only Boise but Meridian, Nampa, Caldwell, Star, and Eagle are constantly barraged with negativity from their client’s disappointment over negative equity in their homes or the lengthy time to close escrow.  The real estate agents who are able to withstand these tumultuous times are growing fewer by the month.  With over 6,000 agents at the peak in the Fall of  2006 that number has dropped almost in half to 3,000 agents by December 2009.

      As Boise, Idaho real estate hovers at what many experts predict as the bottom of the market the time is perfect to become a real estate agent and/or increase your real estate investment portfolio.  Boise short sales and Boise foreclosures blanket the market of properties for sale.  Estimated yearly single family residential sales of approximately 8,000 units are far from anemic.  First time home buyers, investors and upper end buyers are scavenging Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Caldwell and surrounding areas for unbelievable prices on homes.  Throw in tax incentives and low interest rates and it is obvious that it is a great time to invest in or have a career in real estate.  As difficult as it seems from many perspectives it really is the ‘best of times’ for real estate investors.