There’s only one thing to do when summer temperatures hit triple digits and you feel yourself wilting faster than a wildflower: slather on the sunscreen, grab a few friends and float the Boise River.

Floating the six-mile stretch of the Boise River from Barber Park to Ann Morrison Park is a uniquely thrilling yet tranquil pastime. Where else can you spot wild mink, deer and bald eagles’ nests, or watch teenagers jumping from bridges, or even stop to picnic or fish on a quiet stretch of beach before floating on to the heart of the city?

No one is quite sure when the tradition started, but now each year more than 125,000 people take the two-hour trip downstream. If you’ve never tried this local rite of passage, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

Discover the Wineries and Tasting Rooms of Boise’s Urban Wine Region

The wineries of downtown Boise and the surrounding communities are home to some of the most unique and exquisite local wines. The "Boise Urban" wine region is quickly becoming a hot spot for diverse cuisine, art, culture, and outdoor recreation, making it the perfect place to sip and sample with your friends. Some wine-lovers even hop on their bikes and hit the Boise River Greenbelt to tour and taste these local wineries.

As Boise continues to grow and thrive, so do the many locally-owned and operated restaurants and wineries. Today, locals and visitors can sip their way through downtown and the surrounding cities. The wineries and tasting rooms in Boise's urban core make up

COVID-19 required stay-at-home orders did little to slow the Treasure Valley's real estate market in May as demand rose.

In Ada County, the median home price rose to $362,00, up 5.6% from the year prior. The time it takes for the typical home to sell remained unchanged at 11 days. In addition, the available supply of homes on the market declined to 1,353 – a drop of more than 200 new listings compared to last year. This means that available inventory is down to a 1.48 months supply in the county.

As is typical for this time of year, we had more available inventory in May than the previous two months. That said, there are now fewer homes for sale than any month of last year except December (a slow month for new listings despite soaring demand).

Spend a few days in Boise and it’s easy to understand why it has topped lists for the past few years as one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation. The city’s low cost of living, an impressive array of breweries and restaurants, and diverse recreation activities are just a handful of reasons Boise has dominated national “best of” lists for the last decade. They’re also why people of all ages are choosing to call Boise home.

And with the Boise metro population projected to surpass one million residents by 2040, it’s worth taking a look at who’s migrating to the area. Where are they moving from, and what can our projected population growth tell us about the Treasure Valley’s future?

Metro Boise, Idaho Population

Boise

236,310

We may be in the midst of a once-a-century global pandemic, but you’d never guess it by looking at local housing data.

Despite statewide social distancing rules and nationwide uncertainty, both Ada and Canyon counties reported new record-high home prices for the month of April.

This is encouraging news for potential sellers who hit the “pause” button on listing their homes over the past few months. The housing market is still strong in the Treasure Valley – in some ways, perhaps even stronger than usual, thanks to our unique, local circumstances.

Urgency among homebuyers

There are a number of factors that play into the sales records we’re currently seeing. Over the past year, tight inventory in the Treasure Valley – around 1.5 months – has

It may feel like months have passed since Idaho Governor Brad Little issued a March 25 statewide “stay at home” order to slow the spread of the coronavirus, or COVID-19, in our state. While we safely weather out the pandemic in relative seclusion, many potential buyers and sellers are wondering: what impact will this have on the Boise real estate market?

The short answer is: it’s too soon to tell, but we can look at history to get an idea of how stable the market will perform in the coming months and years. The important thing to keep in mind is that homes are still being listed, they’re still pending, and most importantly, they’re still selling – even in this new era of video-chat home tours and social distancing.

What the Treasure Valley

The Treasure Valley fulfilled national expectations of being the hottest real estate market in the country – in March, at least.

Both Ada and Canyon counties boasted record-high sales prices last month, just as coronavirus concerns began to impact the Boise housing market.

In Ada County, the median single-family home sold for a record-setting of $365,645 in March. Compare it to a median price of $336,110 during the same period in 2019 and you’ll see an 8% growth in prices. Not surprising given the healthy market forecasts for the Treasure Valley.

New record-setting prices were helped by a few factors: mortgage interest rates fell to all-time lows in February, which helped buyers funds go further. Yet there were fewer homes than ever on the

For first-time and seasoned homeowners alike, Idaho property taxes can be confusing. For instance, what’s the difference between a home’s market value and assessed value – and which one is used to calculate property taxes? And why can two very similar houses in the same neighborhood have drastically different property taxes?

If you have a home mortgage, chances are your property tax payments are rolled into your mortgage payment each month. But it’s still helpful to know what you’re paying as a homeowner and why. Below, we break down how rates are set, how you can estimate your property tax rate, and how to appeal if you believe your property taxes are too high.

What Are Idaho Property Taxing Districts and Why Do They Matter?

Property taxes

Boise home price increases lead the nation; mortgage costs plummet.

It's official. When compared to the top 100 U.S. metro areas, Boise was the fastest appreciating city in the nation in the fourth quarter of 2019. According to the same report from the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Idaho was also the fastest appreciating state in the county. What's more, both Boise and the state have held these titles for three consecutive quarters now.

It's no surprise that we're seeing housing records shattered throughout the Treasure Valley. In February, Canyon County home prices hit a new record, as did prices in Nampa, Eagle and Boise.

The median price of a house sold in Canyon County in February was $264,990, which is up 16.74 percent or close to

Every city worth its salt has a music festival, and lucky for us, Boise is no different.

Each spring, Boise hosts Treefort Music Fest, a five-day, all-ages festival featuring more than 400 local, national and international bands playing at venues small and large throughout downtown.

But Treefort 2020 is much more than just a music festival. Since its inception in 2012, the grassroots festival has grown in size, popularity and scope to include a number of other “forts,” each with diverse programming, including Yogafort, Foodfort, Alefort, Comedyfort, Hackfort (the festival’s tech-themed fort), Storyfort and Filmfort, to name a few.

With the Treefort schedule running almost around the clock at bars, churches, restaurants, even the local