Boise City VA Loan Rates, Closing Costs & Stats

BOISE CITY, ID

A VA loan is a mortgage loan that’s backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for those who have served or are presently serving in the U.S. military. The VA does not directly lend, it guarantees the loans made by private lenders to veterans, active military personnel, and qualifying military spouses.

The most obvious benefit of VA loans is that no downpayment is necessary to purchase a home. They will also typically have significantly lower fees-- meaning that if you're eligible to receive a VA loan, it will likely be the most favorable option. VA loans come in 3 varities: purchase, refinance and cash out refis.

For additional benefits of VA loans, click here.

Boise City's 122 lenders originated 1,789 VA loans during 2024. The total origination value was $814,755,000, with an average VA loan value of $455,425.

Boise City VA Loans, 30 Year Fixed Rates

30 Year VA mortgages in Boise City averaged 6.1% for the week of 2025-04-04, compared to the national average (all VA variants) of 6.06% for the same period.

Boise City's average VA mortgage closing costs are $7,943.

The average rate for the prior week (2025-03-28) was 6.42% and one month ago for the week of 2025-02-28, the average rate was 6.29%.

The average rate one year ago was 6.4%.

For refis of the same type during the week of 2025-04-04, the average rate was 5.85%.

Click on whitespace and scroll within the chart to zoom in/out. Larger bubbles equate with more originations.

Boise City VA Loan Lenders by Rates & Fees

The below table looks at the average fees/closing costs and rates for VA 30 Year Fixed Rate (purchase, first lien) mortgages originated by each lender at the Boise City level.

Name # of Loans 2024 Avg. 30yFix Rate 2024 Avg. Closing Costs
UNITED WHOLESALE MORTGAGE, LLC 249 5.81% $7,859
Mortgage Research Center, LLC 121 6.13% $7,543
QUICKEN LOANS, LLC 110 5.92% $11,540
PREMIER MORTGAGE RESOURCES, L.L.C. 67 5.72% $12,028
GUILD MORTGAGE COMPANY 63 5.95% $12,056
AMERICAN PACIFIC MORTGAGE CORPORATION 52 6.07% $13,252
FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION 52 6.05% $13,060
MOVEMENT MORTGAGE, LLC 48 6.29% $13,359
FAIRWAY INDEPENDENT MORTGAGE CORPORATION 44 6.24% $10,262
TBI MORTGAGE COMPANY 42 5.75% $5,212
IDAHO CENTRAL 42 5.88% $9,950
PENNYMAC LOAN SERVICES, LLC 41 5.67% $8,913
LOANDEPOT.COM, LLC 40 5.95% $16,049
S1L, Inc. 39 5.95% $14,603
GUARANTEED RATE, INC. 32 6.07% $7,450
CROSSCOUNTRY MORTGAGE, LLC 27 5.81% $9,654
Sunflower Bank 27 6.15% $13,761
NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION 27 5.83% $4,730
ARK-LA-TEX FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC. 25 6.22% $11,255
CMG MORTGAGE, INC. 24 5.90% $13,958
CLM MORTGAGE, INC 20 5.50% $4,557
Waterstone Mortgage Corporation 19 6.24% $10,669
USAA Federal Savings Bank 19 6.14% $9,481
HOMEAMERICAN MORTGAGE CORPORATION 18 4.86% $3,869
PRIMELENDING, A PLAINSCAPITAL COMPANY 18 6.47% $12,929
NATIONS DIRECT MORTGAGE, LLC 18 6.06% $11,992
VILLAGE CAPITAL MORTGAGE 15 5.66% $10,490
EVERGREEN MONEYSOURCE MORTGAGE COMPANY 15 6.32% $18,203
MUTUAL OF OMAHA MORTGAGE, INC. 14 6.08% $11,261
Century Mortgage Company DBA Century Lending Company 13 5.72% $9,728
NEWREZ LLC 13 5.93% $9,773
EAGLE HOME MORTGAGE, LLC 13 5.26% $4,577
LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVICING, LLC 13 6.08% $6,554
MY MOVE MORTGAGE, LLC 12 5.78% $14,546
The Federal Savings Bank 12 6.10% $17,301
The Loan Store, Inc. 11 5.82% $9,586
Plains Commerce Bank 11 5.69% $13,645
PLANET HOME LENDING, LLC 11 5.54% $4,539
CHURCHILL MORTGAGE CORPORATION 11 6.16% $13,353
JMJ FINANCIAL GROUP 11 5.81% $15,925
FIRST COLONY MORTGAGE CORPORATION 9 6.21% $10,086
BROKER SOLUTIONS, INC. 9 6.14% $11,742
SUMMIT FUNDING, INC. 8 6.36% $8,224
NEW DAY FINANCIAL, LLC 7 7.10% $14,541
U.S. Bank 7 5.82% $12,383
CASTLE & COOKE MORTGAGE, LLC 7 6.30% $10,286
Mr. Cooper ( Nationstar Mortgage ) 7 6.29% $15,545
Willamette Valley Bank 6 5.79% $13,074
Bank of England 6 5.88% $13,610
NBKC BANK 6 5.65% $4,527
Magnolia Bank 5 5.93% $11,238
CLEARPATH LENDING 5 5.70% $12,571
KBHS HOME LOANS, LLC 5 5.33% $5,209
AXIA FINANCIAL, LLC 5 6.27% $6,363
CANOPY MORTGAGE, LLC 5 6.48% $20,521
MOUNTAIN AMERICA 4 5.38% $11,913
Barrington Bank & Trust Company, N.A. 4 6.50% $7,784
ENVOY MORTGAGE, LTD 4 6.78% $9,338
JMAC LENDING, INC. 4 5.84% $11,234
MORTGAGE SOLUTIONS OF COLORADO, LLC 4 6.88% $21,971
Paramount Residential Mortgage Group, Inc. 4 6.28% $9,897
SUN WEST MORTGAGE COMPANY, INC. 4 6.05% $12,141
Carrington Mortgage Services, LLC 3 6.08% $20,022
Equity Prime Mortgage LLC 3 6.88% $14,757
NFM, INC. 3 6.08% $8,698
AMERICAN NEIGHBORHOOD MORTGAGE ACCEPTANCE COMPANY LLC 3 6.33% $8,177
Sierra Pacific Mortgage Company, Inc. 3 6.08% $5,439
JPMorgan Chase Bank 3 5.46% $10,784
PACIFIC RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE, LLC 2 6.38% $16,121
First Federal Savings Bank of Twin Falls 2 5.94% $25,438
Gateway First Bank 2 6.50% $9,652
CORNERSTONE HOME LENDING, INC. 2 5.62% $12,301
First Federal Bank 2 6.44% $5,188
PRIMARY RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE, INC. 2 6.50% $12,614
FIRST COMMUNITY MORTGAGE, INC. 2 6.50% $14,894
LAND HOME FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. 2 6.56% $15,223
Encompass Lending Group, LP 2 6.25% $11,642
Summit Mortgage Corporation 2 5.75% $17,005
BAY EQUITY LLC 2 4.31% $7,227
D. L. Evans Bank 2 5.88% $6,181
INTERCAP LENDING INC. 2 5.63% $10,400
Umpqua Bank 2 6.19% $9,149
UNION HOME MORTGAGE CORP. 2 6.13% $14,601
AMERISAVE MORTGAGE CORPORATION 2 6.13% $28,752
VANDERBILT MORTGAGE AND FINANCE, INC. 2 6.75% $3,787
American Mortgage & Equity Consultants, Inc. 2 6.19% $7,819
AMERICAN FINANCIAL NETWORK, INC. 2 6.50% $16,299
HOMESIDE FINANCIAL, LLC 2 6.63% $23,281
Truist 1 6.20% $5,394
HORIZON 1 6.13% $5,529
HOMEOWNERS FINANCIAL GROUP USA, LLC 1 5.75% $2,279
GOLD STAR MORTGAGE FINANCIAL GROUP, CORPORATION 1 6.50% $10,065
KeyBank 1 5.75% $4,080
LADERA LENDING, INC. 1 7.13% $14,447
Lakeview Community Capital, LLC 1 5.25% $4,424
Franklin Loan Corporation 1 5.25% $13,911
LOANPAL, LLC 1 4.75% $11,091
MORTGAGE ACCESS CORP. 1 5.50% $13,801
MORTGAGE EXPRESS, LLC 1 5.25% $20,078
MORTGAGEONE, INC. 1 6.25% $10,265
M&T Bank 1 6.25% $13,652
Nations Lending Corporation 1 6.25% $27,268
EMBRACE HOME LOANS, INC. 1 6.75% $4,822
ALLIANT CREDIT UNION 1 5.50% $8,513
CREDIT UNION MORTGAGE ASSOCIATION, INC. 1 6.13% $20,630
NOVA FINANCIAL & INVESTMENT CORPORATION 1 6.63% $1,132
Credence Funding Corporation 1 5.50% $5,927
PENTAGON FEDERAL CREDIT UNION 1 6.00% $0
Cornerstone First Mortgage, Inc 1 7.13% $24,688
POLARIS HOME FUNDING CORP. 1 6.75% $22,261
Commerce Home Mortgage, Inc. 1 5.50% $6,031
CITY FIRST MORTGAGE SERVICES, L.L.C. 1 6.63% $7,701
RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE, LLC 1 5.75% $9,811
ROGUE 1 6.38% $9,552
SAMMAMISH MORTGAGE COMPANY 1 6.13% $2,374
SECURITYNATIONAL MORTGAGE COMPANY 1 6.75% $6,498
Shea Mortgage Inc. 1 5.99% $0
Strong Home Mortgage, LLC 1 5.25% $17,313
BELEM SERVICING LLC 1 5.50% $12,342
Texana Bank 1 5.75% $28,599
HomeStreet Bank 1 6.63% $3,395
AMERITRUST MORTGAGE CORPORATION 1 5.49% $8,576

The top Boise City VA lender as defined by loan originations is UNITED WHOLESALE MORTGAGE, LLC, with 249 VA loans originated. Their average total fees are $7,859, which is $317 higher than the next largest lender, Mortgage Research Center, LLC.

The lowest fee Boise City VA lenders (with over 10 loans originated) are HOMEAMERICAN MORTGAGE CORPORATION ($3,869), PLANET HOME LENDING, LLC ($4,539), CLM MORTGAGE, INC ($4,557), EAGLE HOME MORTGAGE, LLC ($4,577) and NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION ($4,730).

The lowest rate Boise City VA lenders (with over 10 loans originated) are HOMEAMERICAN MORTGAGE CORPORATION (4.86%), EAGLE HOME MORTGAGE, LLC (5.26%), CLM MORTGAGE, INC (5.50%), PLANET HOME LENDING, LLC (5.54%) and VILLAGE CAPITAL MORTGAGE (5.66%).


Market Conditions (Median, Average Prices & Listing Count)

Realtor.com - Boise City (CBSA) retrieved from FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Date Median Listing Price (YoY Change) Average Listing Price (YoY) MSA/US Median Price Ratio Active Listings
2018-01-01 $299,495 (15.3%) $375,872 (15.2%) 1.11 2,217
2018-02-01 $313,000 (17.3%) $392,118 (17.8%) 1.14 1,945
2018-03-01 $318,995 (15.8%) $399,375 (14.4%) 1.12 1,934
2018-04-01 $329,950 (14.3%) $413,893 (14.5%) 1.12 1,956
2018-05-01 $341,240 (17.1%) $427,721 (14.8%) 1.14 2,032
2018-06-01 $343,990 (18.6%) $424,251 (14.1%) 1.15 2,227
2018-07-01 $342,945 (19.9%) $423,902 (15.8%) 1.15 2,335
2018-08-01 $344,195 (21.6%) $419,033 (14.9%) 1.15 2,462
2018-09-01 $339,000 (19.0%) $410,548 (11.7%) 1.14 2,742
2018-10-01 $333,400 (15.0%) $412,357 (10.5%) 1.13 2,929
2018-11-01 $334,450 (13.2%) $417,975 (10.6%) 1.13 2,833
2018-12-01 $336,990 (12.7%) $420,301 (10.8%) 1.16 2,525
2019-01-01 $339,000 (13.2%) $423,886 (12.8%) 1.17 2,305
2019-02-01 $339,945 (8.6%) $430,836 (9.9%) 1.15 2,233
2019-03-01 $346,575 (8.7%) $434,484 (8.8%) 1.13 2,259
2019-04-01 $357,673 (8.4%) $443,942 (7.3%) 1.14 2,268
2019-05-01 $368,950 (8.1%) $453,707 (6.1%) 1.15 2,389
2019-06-01 $373,337 (8.5%) $458,888 (8.2%) 1.17 2,590
2019-07-01 $374,275 (9.1%) $459,679 (8.4%) 1.17 2,737
2019-08-01 $367,862 (6.9%) $454,404 (8.4%) 1.16 2,806
2019-09-01 $363,383 (7.2%) $447,923 (9.1%) 1.16 2,911
2019-10-01 $359,900 (8.0%) $443,603 (7.6%) 1.16 2,967
2019-11-01 $364,957 (9.1%) $446,377 (6.8%) 1.20 2,717
2019-12-01 $367,204 (9.0%) $447,678 (6.5%) 1.22 2,394
2020-01-01 $369,900 (9.1%) $449,125 (6.0%) 1.24 2,126
2020-02-01 $378,900 (11.5%) $459,449 (6.6%) 1.24 1,911
2020-03-01 $384,223 (10.9%) $478,372 (10.1%) 1.20 1,856
2020-04-01 $386,450 (8.1%) $478,070 (7.7%) 1.21 2,283
2020-05-01 $389,900 (5.7%) $487,392 (7.4%) 1.19 2,313
2020-06-01 $394,368 (5.6%) $494,584 (7.8%) 1.16 1,898
2020-07-01 $399,950 (6.9%) $512,743 (11.5%) 1.16 1,475
2020-08-01 $399,995 (8.7%) $523,247 (15.2%) 1.15 1,171
2020-09-01 $407,990 (12.3%) $535,775 (19.6%) 1.17 973
2020-10-01 $425,000 (18.1%) $546,599 (23.2%) 1.22 869
2020-11-01 $441,828 (21.1%) $572,633 (28.3%) 1.29 766
2020-12-01 $436,500 (18.9%) $556,074 (24.2%) 1.30 670
2021-01-01 $444,995 (20.3%) $584,527 (30.2%) 1.33 560
2021-02-01 $469,316 (23.9%) $607,164 (32.2%) 1.37 523
2021-03-01 $477,500 (24.3%) $620,704 (29.8%) 1.35 630
2021-04-01 $487,378 (26.1%) $644,492 (34.8%) 1.32 733
2021-05-01 $519,000 (33.1%) $691,614 (41.9%) 1.38 916
2021-06-01 $535,858 (35.9%) $692,916 (40.1%) 1.41 1,247
2021-07-01 $539,900 (35.0%) $685,192 (33.6%) 1.42 1,571
2021-08-01 $533,675 (33.4%) $672,196 (28.5%) 1.42 1,958
2021-09-01 $527,000 (29.2%) $661,304 (23.4%) 1.41 2,213
2021-10-01 $529,990 (24.7%) $662,101 (21.1%) 1.41 2,199
2021-11-01 $529,950 (20.0%) $674,225 (17.7%) 1.42 1,936
2021-12-01 $541,968 (24.2%) $678,126 (22.0%) 1.47 1,488
2022-01-01 $559,900 (25.8%) $697,559 (19.3%) 1.51 1,086
2022-02-01 $586,900 (25.1%) $738,218 (21.6%) 1.53 903
2022-03-01 $592,495 (24.1%) $758,477 (22.2%) 1.48 1,019
2022-04-01 $610,990 (25.4%) $774,367 (20.2%) 1.46 1,246
2022-05-01 $618,450 (19.2%) $785,536 (13.6%) 1.41 1,994
2022-06-01 $585,995 (9.4%) $737,112 (6.4%) 1.31 2,927
2022-07-01 $569,900 (5.6%) $707,053 (3.2%) 1.28 3,732
2022-08-01 $552,500 (3.5%) $688,012 (2.4%) 1.28 4,002
2022-09-01 $549,450 (4.3%) $680,749 (2.9%) 1.28 4,055
2022-10-01 $539,500 (1.8%) $675,458 (2.0%) 1.27 3,965
2022-11-01 $522,400 (-1.4%) $665,201 (-1.3%) 1.26 3,625
2022-12-01 $515,000 (-5.0%) $661,578 (-2.4%) 1.27 3,102
2023-01-01 $524,900 (-6.3%) $661,222 (-5.2%) 1.30 2,490
2023-02-01 $552,495 (-5.9%) $696,121 (-5.7%) 1.33 2,045
2023-03-01 $574,900 (-3.0%) $725,453 (-4.4%) 1.36 1,943
2023-04-01 $584,900 (-4.3%) $752,477 (-2.8%) 1.36 1,951
2023-05-01 $609,850 (-1.4%) $765,029 (-2.6%) 1.38 2,051
2023-06-01 $599,950 (2.4%) $762,356 (3.4%) 1.35 2,242
2023-07-01 $599,900 (5.3%) $750,807 (6.2%) 1.36 2,394
2023-08-01 $584,950 (5.9%) $742,946 (8.0%) 1.34 2,552
2023-09-01 $575,000 (4.7%) $737,434 (8.3%) 1.34 2,616
2023-10-01 $555,995 (3.1%) $727,750 (7.7%) 1.31 2,619
2023-11-01 $587,400 (12.4%) $757,569 (13.9%) 1.40 2,236
2023-12-01 $578,800 (12.4%) $749,691 (13.3%) 1.41 1,889
2024-01-01 $589,448 (12.3%) $753,094 (13.9%) 1.44 1,576
2024-02-01 $589,900 (6.8%) $763,319 (9.7%) 1.42 1,547
2024-03-01 $580,000 (0.9%) $750,508 (3.5%) 1.37 1,741
2024-04-01 $577,125 (-1.3%) $762,557 (1.3%) 1.34 1,996
2024-05-01 $598,450 (-1.9%) $792,036 (3.5%) 1.36 2,302
2024-06-01 $585,000 (-2.5%) $759,399 (-0.4%) 1.33 2,634
2024-07-01 $574,950 (-4.2%) $748,842 (-0.3%) 1.31 2,749
2024-08-01 $579,948 (-0.9%) $754,748 (1.6%) 1.35 2,802
2024-09-01 $574,700 (-0.1%) $753,264 (2.2%) 1.35 2,829
2024-10-01 $574,950 (3.4%) $755,913 (3.9%) 1.35 2,677
2024-11-01 $579,900 (-1.3%) $761,772 (0.6%) 1.39 2,491
2024-12-01 $574,950 (-0.7%) $754,573 (0.7%) 1.43 2,083
2025-01-01 $570,000 (-3.3%) $750,549 (-0.3%) 1.42 1,922
2025-02-01 $579,999 (-1.7%) $753,743 (-1.3%) 1.41 1,903
2025-03-01 $591,700 (2.0%) $776,540 (3.5%) 0.00 2,155
Boise City's median listing price for 2025-03-01 was $591,700, a difference of $11,700 (2.0%) versus the prior year and $11,701 versus the prior month.

Boise City's median listing price comes in at 0% of the national average.

Boise City's average listing price for 2025-03-01 was $776,540, a difference of $26,032 (3.5%) versus the prior year and $22,797 versus the prior month.

For the 2025-03-01 period, Boise City had 2,155 MLS listings, a difference of 252 listings (13%) versus the prior month and 414 listings (24%) versus the prior year.

Median Listing Time on Market & Square Footage

Realtor.com - Boise City (CBSA) retrieved from FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Date Median Listing Time on Market Median Square Footage
2018-01-01 60 days 2,239 sqft
2018-02-01 42 days 2,278 sqft
2018-03-01 28 days 2,228 sqft
2018-04-01 25 days 2,196 sqft
2018-05-01 23 days 2,224 sqft
2018-06-01 25 days 2,224 sqft
2018-07-01 29 days 2,220 sqft
2018-08-01 31 days 2,195 sqft
2018-09-01 32 days 2,141 sqft
2018-10-01 38 days 2,127 sqft
2018-11-01 44 days 2,119 sqft
2018-12-01 52 days 2,120 sqft
2019-01-01 56 days 2,127 sqft
2019-02-01 41 days 2,117 sqft
2019-03-01 36 days 2,120 sqft
2019-04-01 32 days 2,146 sqft
2019-05-01 30 days 2,213 sqft
2019-06-01 32 days 2,245 sqft
2019-07-01 37 days 2,235 sqft
2019-08-01 38 days 2,190 sqft
2019-09-01 39 days 2,158 sqft
2019-10-01 39 days 2,133 sqft
2019-11-01 50 days 2,136 sqft
2019-12-01 59 days 2,153 sqft
2020-01-01 59 days 2,134 sqft
2020-02-01 43 days 2,114 sqft
2020-03-01 32 days 2,139 sqft
2020-04-01 32 days 2,160 sqft
2020-05-01 52 days 2,176 sqft
2020-06-01 57 days 2,180 sqft
2020-07-01 55 days 2,188 sqft
2020-08-01 50 days 2,113 sqft
2020-09-01 53 days 2,040 sqft
2020-10-01 57 days 2,025 sqft
2020-11-01 51 days 2,024 sqft
2020-12-01 54 days 1,970 sqft
2021-01-01 47 days 1,970 sqft
2021-02-01 35 days 1,979 sqft
2021-03-01 32 days 2,020 sqft
2021-04-01 33 days 2,008 sqft
2021-05-01 32 days 2,025 sqft
2021-06-01 26 days 2,025 sqft
2021-07-01 28 days 2,046 sqft
2021-08-01 29 days 2,024 sqft
2021-09-01 33 days 2,023 sqft
2021-10-01 41 days 2,025 sqft
2021-11-01 47 days 2,038 sqft
2021-12-01 49 days 2,054 sqft
2022-01-01 53 days 2,085 sqft
2022-02-01 30 days 2,120 sqft
2022-03-01 26 days 2,127 sqft
2022-04-01 29 days 2,144 sqft
2022-05-01 23 days 2,168 sqft
2022-06-01 26 days 2,100 sqft
2022-07-01 36 days 2,098 sqft
2022-08-01 46 days 2,096 sqft
2022-09-01 55 days 2,101 sqft
2022-10-01 61 days 2,110 sqft
2022-11-01 69 days 2,110 sqft
2022-12-01 78 days 2,107 sqft
2023-01-01 81 days 2,124 sqft
2023-02-01 65 days 2,168 sqft
2023-03-01 44 days 2,215 sqft
2023-04-01 43 days 2,269 sqft
2023-05-01 38 days 2,310 sqft
2023-06-01 38 days 2,297 sqft
2023-07-01 43 days 2,266 sqft
2023-08-01 44 days 2,228 sqft
2023-09-01 46 days 2,186 sqft
2023-10-01 51 days 2,127 sqft
2023-11-01 53 days 2,169 sqft
2023-12-01 59 days 2,160 sqft
2024-01-01 66 days 2,188 sqft
2024-02-01 50 days 2,201 sqft
2024-03-01 37 days 2,163 sqft
2024-04-01 36 days 2,179 sqft
2024-05-01 33 days 2,233 sqft
2024-06-01 38 days 2,178 sqft
2024-07-01 44 days 2,146 sqft
2024-08-01 50 days 2,171 sqft
2024-09-01 49 days 2,137 sqft
2024-10-01 52 days 2,144 sqft
2024-11-01 57 days 2,158 sqft
2024-12-01 60 days 2,147 sqft
2025-01-01 61 days 2,147 sqft
2025-02-01 42 days 2,162 sqft
2025-03-01 0 days 2,192 sqft
Boise City's median listing age (time on market) for 2025-03-01 was 0 days. This is -100% shorter than the same period one year ago.

Boise City's median square footage for active listings during the 2025-03-01 period was 2,192 sqft. One year prior, the average listing was 2,163 sqft.

VA Loan Features

  • No down payment required
  • Negotiable and competitive interest rate.
  • Ability to finance the VA funding fee (plus reduced funding fees with a down payment of at least 5 percent and exemption for veterans receiving VA compensation).
  • VA rules limit the amount you can be charged for closing costs.
  • Closing costs are comparable with other financing types (and may be lower).
  • Closing costs may be paid by the seller.
  • No private mortgage insurance premiums are required.
  • An assumable mortgage.
  • Right to prepay your mortgage without penalty.
  • For homes inspected by VA during construction, a warranty from builder and assistance from VA to obtain cooperation of builder.
  • VA assistance to veteran borrowers in default due to temporary financial difficulty.