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

Boise is well known for its below-average crime rate when compared to cities of similar size – it’s one important reason factoring into people’s decisions to move here. In fact, the crime rate in Boise has been steadily declining for 25 years.

Yet when moving to a new neighborhood, it’s natural to worry about the unknowns, and one of those unknowns is safety. What is the crime rate in Boise? How does it compare to nearby cities, like Eagle and Meridian? Where do you even begin finding that information? And how do you know if the data is current and reliable?

Below, we’ll give you the resources to help you do your due diligence and ensure that your next neighborhood is everything you want it to be, including safe.

Ada County Crime Map

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Boise’s skyline seems to get an update every few months as the city continues to boom. Some of the most impressive buildings have been around for decades, while others are new to the downtown city view. Boise’s tallest buildings include icons from the 20s and 30s with some stunning newcomers on the scene.

1. Eighth & Main

In 1987, a devastating fire destroyed the Eastman Building that had sat at 8th and Main Streets in Downtown Boise for 82 years. After decades of disuse, the lot became known as “the hole” to locals, gaining even more notoriety as a failed construction project

If January is any indicator, 2020 will not be the year of the Treasure Valley homebuyer.

With five new price records, 2019 marked the eighth consecutive year home prices have risen in the Boise Metro area. The first month of 2020 is showing a continuation of that trend with upward appreciation entering its ninth year.

The median single-family home price finished the month of January at $354,900 in Boise, up 20.31 percent from the year prior.

Over the last 12 months, house prices in Ada County rose 15.33 percent to a record $363,000. In 2011, the median home price was just $145,000.

For Treasure Valley home shoppers, there is little to choose from. The total supply of homes for sale in Boise dropped to an anemic 0.73 months. At 1.17 and

The weather may still be frigid outside in February in Boise, but there’s plenty going on to keep you busy until spring. The month of love has a whole slew of events lined up to fill your calendar, whether you’re looking for a steamy date night or a warm evening away from the winter cold. Check out these things to do in Boise this month!

Boise State Basketball Home Games | Taco Bell Arena

All Month

March Madness isn’t far away, so head over to Taco Bell Arena and catch a Bronco’s basketball game. Throughout the month of February, both the men’s and women’s basketball teams have home games you can catch. Men’s games schedule | Women’s games schedule.

Idaho Steelheads | CenturyLink Arena

February 1, 7, 8, 19, 21, 22, 26, 28, 29

It’s

Joe retired from a national technology company at the age of 44. Soon after that, he spent a year traveling around the world: Europe, the Grand Caymans, Asia, and South America.

See, when Joe was 22, he bought a fourplex. He lived in one of the units and rented out the other three. As part of his job, he was frequently transferred. Each time he moved to a new city he bought another fourplex, always keeping the last one and the previous ones he had purchased. By the time Joe was 44, he was a millionaire.

Before I tell you the amazing part, you should know Joe repaired ATMs for a living. He was in no way a jet-set executive. The most he made in any one year was $55,000, including overtime. So how did this average Joe become a millionaire real

Quaint wooden signs greet visitors to this charming neighborhood known for its mature trees, modest brick homes and 1950s bungalows.

Boise's Sunset Neighborhood signs feature a family in silhouette walking their dog into a colorful sunset. They are a promise that deliver: Sunset is full of outdoorsy families eager to take advantage of the diverse activities the area has to offer.

This is a small, tight-knit neighborhood of do-ers: hikers, walkers, runners, gardeners, golfers and most predominantly, bikers.

Nestled up against the foothills, the neighborhood has direct access to mountain biking trails via the Hillside to Hollow Reserve – a 260-acre protected open space in the central foothills. Serious road cyclists also have access to the

Miss the bidding wars of 2018? Based on current trends we may be headed for the hottest Boise real estate market in two years.

The Boise median single-family home price jumped $42,600 to $335,000 in the month of December, finishing out the year of 2019 with a 14.57 percent increase.

In Ada County and Canyon County, the cost for the typical home rose 8.02 percent and 13.08 percent, respectively.

While every city in the Treasure Valley is seeing higher prices, the lowest priced markets continue to appreciate the fastest. “Luxury” markets are seeing the smallest year-over-year price gains with Eagle up a relatively paltry 3.73 percent.

Compared to last year, total homes sales rose 18.76 percent in Ada County and 26.11 percent in Canyon