With more than 200 miles of trails surrounding the city, it’s no exaggeration to say that Boise is a haven for hikers. It’s also a great way for families to explore the rugged beauty of our high-desert ecosystem. Below, we highlight some of the best trails in and around Boise, from easy paths that double as great nature walks for kids, to challenging day hikes. All you’ll need to pack is your sense of adventure, sunscreen, and plenty of water.

Mountain Cove

Difficulty: Easy
Length: 2 miles, 175’ elevation gain
Estimated time: 45 to 60 minutes (location)

Mountain Cove is the most accessible trail in the Military Reserve trail complex, which is located in Boise’s East End neighborhood. The mostly flat trail parallels a creek and culminates in a

A plunge in new listings sent Ada County home prices to near-record highs in November.

Across the Treasure Valley, supply is shrinking fast due to continued strong demand from buyers and a sharp drop in new listings.

The median home price in Ada County rose to $538,450, just $1,500 shy of the all-time record set in July. Over the last 12 months, prices have risen $111,000, or 26%.

In neighboring Canyon County, the median home price rose to $409,450, up $84,000, also a 26% increase from the year prior. Prices in the county are down 3.4% from the record high set in June–in line with the seasonal trends we typically see this time of year.

In recent months, we have seen a return to the seasonal trends of slowing home price gains in the fall.

What you don’t know about Idaho VA Home Loans can hurt you–and your wallet.

Respect and appreciation for the military is a cornerstone of American life, and the Department of Veterans Affairs exists, in large part, to facilitate ongoing programs and care for veterans following their service. One of the most valuable perks of military service is the VA Home Loan, a mortgage product that helps members of the military and veterans purchase their homes with favorable terms and no down payment.

Originally an outgrowth of G.I. Bill, VA Loans were created to help returning World War Two soldiers readjust to civilian life by offering them the opportunity to buy a home with no money down and easier financing. The housing boom (and Baby Boom) that

Home prices in both Ada and Canyon Counties remained virtually unchanged from September. Continued strong demand from buyers and a decline in the supply of homes for sale is keeping upward pressure on prices.

In Ada County, the median single-family home price rose to $533,950, up $124,000, or 30%, from October of 2020. In lower-cost Canyon County, prices rose to $423,445, up just over $102,000, or 32%, notably just missing a new record by $550. In both counties, home prices are below the highs set over the summer, but both finished the month higher than August.

Most years, the local housing market follows a seasonal trend: Prices and inventory tend to rise in the spring and summer months before falling in autumn. Of course, as with many other

One of the best ways to celebrate winter is curling up on the couch with a hot drink and a good book. One of the worst ways is frantically calling an HVAC maintenance specialist during the first snowstorm of the year because your heat has suddenly stopped working. Yet many Treasure Valley homeowners still skip basic maintenance and home checks each season until they have an emergency on their hands.

That’s a hard and expensive lesson to learn–and one you can avoid with a few easy steps each fall. Below, we’ve outlined everything you need to keep in mind to get your Boise-area home ready for a cozy, emergency-free winter.

Inspect Your Roof

You may not be thinking of selling your home at the moment, but simple annual maintenance will save you a

Driven by a short supply of new listings, Treasure Valley home prices continue to hover at near-record levels. The Ada County median single-family home price rose to $534,950 in September, up 31% from last year and $4,450 from just last month. Homebuyers in Canyon County faced a median home price of $422,000 – a 36% annual increase and up $11,500 from August. Both counties finished September with their second-highest price to date.

Let’s take a closer look at data from several of our local markets.

• Boise’s median single-family home price was $495,000 in September, a $100,000 jump (up 26%) from last year.
• Meridian set a new median sales record with $546,000. That’s $146,000 over last September’s sales price, or a 37% increase.
• Hitting

Celebrating Fall in the Treasure Valley: Pumpkin Patches, Hayrides, and Corn Mazes

There are many ways to mark the arrival of fall – like sipping that first hot cider or steaming pumpkin spiced latte of the season – but nothing beats the tradition of visiting a local, family-owned pumpkin patch and selecting the perfect pumpkin to adorn your porch.

Fortunately, we’ve made it even easier to do so. Below you’ll find a list of Boise pumpkin patches, corn mazes and even a sunflower field to explore with your family. What better way to embrace fall than by making lasting memories with the people you love most?

Lowe Family Farmstead

2500 S Eagle Rd, Kuna, ID 83634
(208) 922-5678 | Website
Open: Mon-Thurs 4-9 p.m., Fri-Sat 10 a.m.-10 p.m.

Boise-area homebuyers have slightly more room to breathe as we transition into fall, thanks to a small influx of inventory in August, coupled with a bit less demand for housing. But don’t breathe too deeply – this isn’t to say that the market is balanced. It’s still very much a seller’s market and will likely remain that way for the foreseeable future, for reasons we’ll outline below.

But first, let’s dive into last month’s data. The median single-family house price in Ada County was $530,500 in August, which represents a 33% increase (or $130,000) from a year ago. While the median home price slightly declined from the month prior – marking the first price decrease we’ve seen since May of 2020 – it’s still the second-highest price on record for the

If there’s one thing Boise has an abundance of, it’s sun. Our fair city gets an average of 210 sunny days per year, which is a boon if you love the great outdoors – or if you’re thinking of making the switch to solar power. Google’s Project Sunroof, which helps communities explore their solar potential, estimates that 86% of Boise’s rooftops are solar viable.

There are other great reasons more homeowners in the Treasure Valley are considering solar energy – it’s a green, renewable energy source that can save you money on your monthly power bill. But since residential solar is still fairly rare in Boise, we’re here to walk you through the other factors you should take into account before you start putting up panels – like local installation costs,

Treasure Valley buyers can finally come up for a breath of air, as housing inventory rose to its highest level in more than a year in both Ada and Canyon counties. Canyon County listings hit 607 in July, a 76% increase over last year’s 344 listings. Ada County saw active listings rise to 1,014 last month, up from 768 the year prior – or a 32% increase.

Also for the first time in over a year, both counties boasted more than one month’s supply of current inventory. The sudden influx of homes for sale is partly due to seasonal factors. It’s also thanks to the rush of homeowners who put off selling last year but are now ready to list.

While one month of inventory is still a far cry from the four to six months typically seen in a balanced market, the