How do I buy a house in Boise from out of state?

How do I buy a house in Boise from out of state?

Buying a Boise home remotely follows the same steps as buying in person. The difference is that you see the homes, sign the documents, and send the money from somewhere else, so each step needs a plan. An out of state home purchase in Idaho runs in this order:

1. 1 Get pre-approved with your lender, so you know your budget before you look.
2. 2 Narrow the areas. The Boise neighborhoods guide compares 14 areas on one map, with drive times and the trade-offs.
3. 3 See the homes, in person or on a live video walkthrough.
4. 4 Make an offer and sign the purchase agreement.
5. 5 Review the seller's property condition disclosure and your inspection.
6. 6 Close with the title company, in person, by mail, or remotely if it offers remote notarization.
7. 7 After you close, apply for the homeowner's exemption.

Can I buy a home in Idaho without visiting?

Yes, and the same Idaho protections apply whether you visit or not. Two of them matter more when you can't walk through the house yourself.

The property condition disclosure. Idaho requires the seller of a home with one to four units to fill out the state's property condition disclosure form, per Idaho Code 55-2504. The seller has to give you a signed copy within 10 days of accepting your offer, per Idaho Code 55-2509. If you receive it after you sign the purchase agreement, you can rescind in writing within 3 business days of receiving it, per Idaho Code 55-2515. Read it the day it arrives.

Remote notarization. Idaho law lets a notary located in Idaho notarize documents for someone who is not in the room, using live audio and video, per Idaho Code 51-114A. The notary's certificate states that the act used communication technology, and the session is recorded and kept for at least 10 years. Whether you can close this way depends on your title company and your lender, so ask both early.

What does the remote home buying process need from you?

The remote home buying process works best when you plan for what a listing can't show you. Ask for a live video walkthrough that includes the street and the view from the yard, not just the rooms. Hire your own inspector, and ask to join the inspection by video or to get a walkthrough of the report. If you're relocating for a job, check the drive from each area to your work, because the commute is the part photos can't show.

How do you protect your down payment from wire fraud?

Wire fraud is a real risk when more of the deal happens by email. The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center says scammers who break into email accounts target everyone in a real estate deal, including buyers, sellers, agents, and title companies. From 2020 to 2022, victim reports of these scams tied to real estate rose 27% and losses rose 72%, per the IC3. Before you wire money, confirm the instructions through a second channel, such as a phone call to the title company at a number you already have. Treat any email that changes where to send the money as a warning sign.

What should you do after you close?

If the Boise home is your primary residence, apply for Idaho's homeowner's exemption with your county assessor. It exempts 50% of the value of your home and up to one acre of land from property tax, up to a maximum of $125,000, per the Idaho State Tax Commission. It isn't automatic. Our post on Idaho taxes for Micron movers covers property tax rates and the rest of the tax picture.

Should you make one trip anyway?

If you can make one trip, use it to see your top two or three homes and to drive the areas at the times you would use them. Clients can book one of my furnished rentals in Boise at a client rate during a house-hunting visit.