What’s The Tea with 4D? 🍵

Hello friends!

As we step into September and settle back into our late summer routines—kids are back in school, Labor Day weekend has passed, and life is returning to its usual rhythm.

As late summer continues to warm our days, there’s still ample opportunity to soak up the sun and enjoy some local fun before fall officially arrives on the 22nd.

I’m excited to share five fantastic local events happening around the valley this month. Explore the list below to discover exciting activities to help you make the most of these final sunny days and keep the enjoyment going strong!

Art In The Park In Downtown Boise

• Dates: September 6th through 8th

• Location: Julia Davis Park in Boise

• Admission: Free; All Ages Welcome

• Boise Art Museum’s Art in the Park is a premier Northwest cultural event, taking place the weekend after Labor Day. This open-air festival features over 200 artists, contemporary arts and crafts, delicious food, live music, and fun activities for all ages.

Hyde Park Street Fair in Boise’s North End

• Dates: September 13th through 15th

• Location: Camel's Back Park; 1200 W Heron Street, Boise, Idaho 83702

• Admission: Free; All Ages Welcome

• The Hyde Park Street Fair is a beloved Boise tradition, held at Camel's Back Park in the historic North End neighborhood. Since 1979, this free event has welcomed a diverse array of participants, including non-profits, craft and commercial vendors, and food and beverage stalls. With two stages offering a lineup of music and entertainment, this will be a vibrant celebration of local culture and community spirit.

21st Annual Indian Creek Festival in Caldwell

• Dates: September 13th and 14th

• Location: Indian Creek Plaza in Caldwell

• Admission: Free; All Ages Welcome

• The fun starts Friday night with live music by JR and the Stingrays on the ICCU Main Stage, along with a Classic Car Show in downtown Caldwell. On Saturday, the day begins with a Fireman’s Breakfast from 7:00–10:00 am, followed by an exotic car show. Enjoy a full schedule of family-friendly activities, including a dancing competition by Dirt Road Dancing, the classic Tug-of-War over Indian Creek, and the ever-popular Cardboard Kayak Race. Don’t miss this exciting and fun-filled weekend!

Potato Days in Meridian

• Dates: September 20th through 22nd

• Location: Kleiner Memorial Park in Meridian

• Admission: Free; All Ages Welcome

• Dive into the spud-tacular fun at Potato Days! Held at Kleiner Memorial Park behind The Village at Meridian, this free event features a massive potato art installation, a french fry competition, live performances, carnival games, a bubble garden, and bouncy houses. Celebrate Idaho’s agricultural heritage with delicious potato-based dishes and engaging activities all weekend long!

Idaho Rennisance Faire

• Dates: September 28th and 29th

• Location: Expo Idaho in Garden City

• Admission: Children (ages 0-8): Free, Attendees (9 years and older): $10.00 per person

• Step back in time at the Idaho Renaissance Faire at Expo Idaho! This exciting event features immersive medieval-themed fun with live entertainment, artisan vendors, food and drinks, and engaging activities for all ages. Enjoy thrilling jousting tournaments, enchanting performances, and unique crafts in a vibrant, family-friendly atmosphere. Don’t miss this chance to experience a magical day full of history and entertainment!

Are We Heading into a Balanced Market?

If you’ve been keeping an eye on the housing market over the past couple of years, you know sellers have had the upper hand. But is that going to shift now that inventory is growing? Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know.

What Is a Balanced Market?

A balanced market is generally defined as a market with about a five-to-seven-month supply of homes available for sale. In this type of market, neither buyers nor sellers have a clear advantage. Prices tend to stabilize, and there’s a healthier number of homes to choose from. And after many years when sellers had all the leverage, a more balanced market would be a welcome sight for people looking to move. The question is – is that really where the market is headed?

After starting the year with a three-month supply of homes nationally, inventory has increased to four months. That may not sound like a lot, but it means the market is getting closer to balanced – even though it’s not quite there yet. It’s important to note this increase in inventory is not leading to an oversupply that would cause a crash. Even with the growth lately, there’s still nowhere near enough supply for that to happen.

The graph below uses data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) to give you an idea of where inventory has been in the past, and where it’s at today:

For now, this is still seller’s market territory – it’s just not as frenzied of a seller’s market as it’s been over the past few years. As Mark Fleming, Chief Economist at First American, says:

What This Means for You and Your Move

Here's how this shift impacts you and the market conditions you'll face when you move. Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at NAR, explains:

The graphs below use the latest data from NAR and Realtor.com to help show examples of these changes:

Homes Are Sitting on the Market Longer: Since more homes are on the market, they’re not selling quite as fast. For buyers, this means you may have more time to find the right home. For sellers, it’s important to price your house right if you want it to sell. If you don’t, buyers might choose better-priced options.

Sellers Are Receiving Fewer Offers: As a seller, you might need to be more flexible and willing to compromise on price or terms to close the deal. For buyers, you could start to face less intense competition since you have more options to choose from.

Fewer Buyers Are Waiving Inspections: As a buyer, you have more negotiation power now. And that’s why fewer buyers are waiving inspections. For sellers, this means you need to be ready to negotiate and address repair requests to keep the sale moving forward.

How a Real Estate Agent Can Help

But this is just the national picture. The type of market you’re in is going to vary a lot based on how much inventory is available. So, lean on a local real estate agent for insight into how your area stacks up.

Whether you’re buying or selling, understanding how the market is changing gives you a big advantage. Your agent has the latest data and local insights, so you know exactly what’s happening and how to navigate it.

Interested in the local real estate market? Let’s chat about your plans and questions over coffee or tea—my treat!

Click the button below to pick a time that works for you. Once booked, I’ll reach out to confirm the details. Don’t wait—reserve your spot now and let’s get your real estate journey started together. 😊