We’ve seen many new records set – and subsequently broken – in the Treasure Valley real estate market in 2020, and the last month is no exception

In October, we saw housing prices surge to new records once again as feverish buyers competed for a dwindling supply of homes. This caused the length of time houses spent on the market to drop to a median of 5 days, a new record in both Ada and Canyon counties.

Even in the hottest spring markets the Treasure Valley has experienced, homes have not sold this fast.

Let’s look at October’s numbers before taking a step back to reflect on how the month caps off what has been an extraordinary year in Treasure Valley real estate:

• In the past year, the number of homes for sale in Ada County dropped

A guide to the places and activities that make Boise one-of-a-kind

When you think about what makes Boise unique, what springs to mind? Every Boisean has a beloved checklist of unique, only-found-in-Boise things that they treasure. Call them the greats or call them the classics, we’re talking about the places and activities that you’re eager to introduce out-of-town visitors to, or that convinced newcomers to make Boise their new home – the things that speak to the heart of Boise and give our city its soul.

In the interest of celebrating these classics – and maybe reminding you of a few you haven’t hit in awhile – we’ve compiled a list of our favorites. In order to narrow down our list (it turns out we have a lot of favorites!), we set a few

Traveling to Boise for work or pleasure? You’re in for a treat. It’s not only the stunning vistas, whitewater rafting, incomparable hiking, vibrant cultural scene, and novel cuisine that will delight you. You’ll also get a chance to experience the best that Boise’s hospitality industry has to offer.

Whether you’re visiting Boise for a weekend getaway, exploring neighborhoods looking for a new home, or just eager for a staycation, our local hotels deliver.

Some of our favorite local hotels offer comfort in style, with incredible locations that will show you the heart of Boise and leave you feeling pampered. We’ve rounded up a shortlist of the cream of the crop; the hotels offering experiences you won’t get elsewhere. Get ready to grab your

Amid critical housing shortages and record demand, bidding wars continue to drive up Boise area home prices.

Treasure Valley homebuyers in the 1980s had more housing stock to choose from than buyers today, thanks to the unprecedented shortage of listed homes we are currently experiencing. As a result, homebuyers can end up facing a gauntlet: bidding wars, forfeiting basic protections to make their offer more attractive, and paying record-high prices in order to land a home.

How did we get here? A few primary factors spring to mind: the Treasure Valley’s decades-long population boom, coupled with the fact that new construction has lagged behind demand for at least the past seven years in the valley.

Those factors are predictable (and were

Your guide to exploring Boise's best neighborhoods – and what makes them top notch.

When hunting for a new home, people often forget to look beyond the four walls in front of them to think about how the neighborhood would support their lifestyle. But your neighborhood can be more than just a place to commute to and from – it can be the place you take long runs to unwind after work, or the home of your favorite brunch spot. It can be where you find community.

Neighborhoods are like people, full of quirks and strengths and weaknesses that are wholly unique. Picking the best one for your lifestyle and needs is important. That’s why we’re here to help.

Below, you’ll find the best neighborhoods in Boise hand-picked by us for their strengths,

Home prices in the Treasure Valley continue to break new records. No better example of that is Ada County, where home prices have hit a median of $400,000 for the first time in August. This represents a 12.7% increase in price over the previous year. It also means home prices have officially doubled in Ada County since late 2013.

Ada County is not an outlier – Canyon County and the cities of Boise, Meridian and Nampa all set new record sales prices last month. For instance, Boise’s price hit $379,900, beating last year’s median sales price of $337,767. In Canyon County, the median sales price hit $309,900 in August, whereas last year it was $250,000 – that’s a nearly $60,000 increase in one year.

To further put record prices in perspective,

If you’re shopping for a home in the Boise area, you already know your decision hinges on a lot more than updated appliances or square footage; you’re vetting more than just four walls to sleep in.

You’re also examining how the particular neighborhood, community, and school district fits your family’s needs, and that’s a bigger task than taking a quick home tour. When you choose a new home, you’re also selecting a broader community to be a part of, including your child’s future school. If you plan to stay in an area for several years, you could be determining their access to every school they’ll attend throughout their K-12 education.

This means home shopping is also school shopping, and it’s time to do some homework. As with looking for a new

For decades, Boise and the surrounding suburbs were the Northwest's best-kept secret, however, with the area's population growth projected to hit one million residents by 2040, it's clear the secret is out. Whether you crave expansive desert solitude, big-city bustle, tranquil farmlands, sleepy suburbs, or rolling foothills, there's a home in Boise, or a nearby suburb, waiting for you.

The Boise metro area, also known as the Treasure Valley, includes small towns and big cities. Each offers unique strengths and vastly different housing options (and prices). Whether you're relocating from another state or considering a local move, the biggest question on your plate is likely, "where is the best place to live in the Boise area for me?"

You're in

A family-friendly guide to the City of Trees.

Boise may have a national reputation as an outdoor recreation city with a flourishing craft brewery scene, in other words, an adult's paradise. As you probably already know, it's also one of the best places to raise a family. Kid-friendly trails, acres of parks, and a healthy array of science centers and museums designed to spark curiosity and inspire young minds are just a few of the reasons families plant roots in the Treasure Valley.

And it must be said: one of the best ways to explore a city is through a child's eyes. So whether you're a Boise native or just visiting for the weekend, we've compiled a list of the best activities for families with kids, as recommended by the locals who love them.

July brought continued great news for home sellers in the Treasure Valley: record-high home prices in both Ada and Canyon Counties, combined with record-low inventory, is making home buying in these markets more competitive than your favorite extreme sport.

While we are seeing the strongest seller’s market ever recorded in the Treasure Valley, there is a silver lining for home buyers. Thirty-year mortgage rates continue to hit new lows, most recently 2.88%, offsetting some of the record high selling prices we’re seeing.

Let’s take a closer look at the numbers before we jump into what is driving this current market:

• The biggest gains we’re seeing is in Canyon County, which hit a median sales price of $300,000 for the first time ever,