Boise Idaho Real Estate Blog - Lisa Kohl

Idaho Homeowners Exemption: Save On Your Property Taxes

Have you applied for your Idaho Homeowners Exemption for the 2020 tax year yet?

If you’ve recently purchased a house or moved to Idaho, you may be eligible for a property tax exemption. You’ll likely spend more money on owning a home than any other one thing in your life, so a tax break is a welcome relief.

A property tax exemption reduces the net taxable value of your home and up to one acre of your property. Instead of calculating your property tax percentage based on the full value of your home, the Idaho Homeowners Exemption subtracts $100,000 and determines your tax rate based on the resulting amount.

In 2019, the legislature set the exemption reduction at an even $100,000 (up to a maximum of 50% of the properties value), to remain in…

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Exploring the Best of Boise: Idaho State Capitol

The Idaho State Capitol building is a popular spot for both locals and visitors alike to tour and experience art, architecture, and history.

When you see photos of downtown Boise with its picturesque skyline and surrounding foothills, a common sight is the Idaho State Capitol building. It’s no wonder that this iconic structure is featured prominently in many pictures of Boise considering its striking architecture and beautiful grounds.

As impressive as it is from the outside, the inside of the building is even more breathtaking, with multi-colored marble from around the world, sandstone from Table Rock, floods of natural light, and a large collection of art and statuary.

Whether you’re visiting for the first time or the tenth, we have all the…

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5 of the Best Downtown Boise Hotels

Downtown Boise is home to several incredible luxury hotels to fit every occasion and budget.

Whether you’re coming into town to check out Boise and the Treasure Valley for the first time, or you’re a resident and want to take a relaxing staycation, there’s a Downtown Boise hotel for you. We’ve put together this list with a variety of options in mind, from boutique and modern to cozy and traditional.

Many of these hotels have added perks like rooftop balconies and evening events to enjoy, and all of them call the bustling center of arts, culture, and food that is downtown Boise their home. Before you book, read on to find the perfect hotel for your needs.

Best Downtown Boise Hotels

Hotel 43 | 981 W Grove St, Boise, ID 83702 | Hotel43.com

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Barber Valley: Living the East Boise Lifestyle

The Barber Valley is one of the most unique areas in Boise, with a rich spirit of history and a sense of excitement for the future.

Barber Valley residents and city planners have worked carefully to preserve natural wonders while making room for expansion, and there’s a shared understanding that even while Boise booms, the Barber Valley will never become a haphazard suburbia.

With big skies, backyard access to the foothills, and a growing community, neighborhood residents know they’re putting down roots in an uncommonly beautiful area.

Situated just southeast of downtown Boise, the Barber Valley is a substantial neighborhood of over 1,700 acres. Despite its location on the Boise map, the neighborhood is technically located in the southern…

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Boise Spring Selling Season Kicks Off in January With Double-Digit Appreciation

Over the last five years, the winter season has brought new highs and this one isn’t any different.

The Boise area real estate market had a banner year in 2018; it looks like 2019 is starting the same.

The median single-family home price in Ada County rose 12.45 percent to $314,739 over the previous 12 months. Up nearly $35,000 from the then record high set last January of $279,900.

In Canyon County, prices jumped 20 percent to a new all-time record high of $235,000. Up nearly $40,000 from the year prior, also a previous record.

Boise’s median price rose 15.23 percent to $295,000.

The lack of homes for sale continues to push Treasure Valley home prices to new highs.

While we continue to see a small uptick in new construction…

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36 Boise Winter Activities to Keep You Busy All Season Long

Clear, cold days, shimmering frosty mornings, and a backdrop of foothills blanketed in snow: these are the defining sights of a winter in Boise.

Despite a belief that Idaho turns into a frozen tundra during the winter, Boise and the Treasure Valley often don’t see much snow, and instead, enjoy a relatively dry and clear cold season.

As a Boise local, I’ve experienced all the goodness that a valley winter has to offer, and it’s not a short list. Here’s just the beginning of a few things you can do every winter in Boise and the surrounding areas.

Best Winter Activities in Boise

Winter Sports and Outdoor Recreation

1. Bogus Basin: Bogus Basin has more than skiing to offer: there’s snowboarding, tubing (for the uncoordinated and younger…

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BoDo: Old Town Boise, New Town Style

With the perfect mixture of quaint old-town charm and a modern urban vibe, BoDo offers a city lifestyle with all the perks.

In the heart of Downtown Boise, you will find a shopping, dining, and commercial district locals affectionately refer to a BoDo.

This vibrant part of the Boise city center combines work and leisure, and residents of the nearby condos enjoy a short commute to downtown offices and easy walks to events and amenities.

BoDo’s natural boundaries are Myrtle to Front Street and 9th to Capitol Boulevard. Many offices, shops, restaurants, and attractions call BoDo home, and the area also neighbors Trader Joe’s, JUMP Boise, and the Boise Centre on the Grove.

BoDo residents can walk less than a mile from their doorstep to the…

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Here’s What to Expect in the Boise Real Estate Market Right Now

The median single-family home price finished the year at $324,000 in Ada County, up 17 percent from last December.

Missing the all-time high we saw in August, but still the second highest on record.

Thanks to new construction, the total number of homes for sale rose by 6.8 percent to 1,493. While notable for being only the second increase in inventory in more than four years, it will do little to put downward pressure on prices in the next few months.

Over the last 12 months, Boise house prices rose 11.79 percent to $292,400. In Canyon County, the median cost of a home increased by 18.09 percent to $225,495.

Total sales in Ada County declined to 709 from 829 twelve months prior, mainly due to the fact there is so little on the market.…

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Boise's Best Local Coffee Shops

As Boise continues to grow and gain a vibrant local personality, craft beverages are making their mark on the city’s food scene. In downtown Boise alone, there are over 13 locally-owned, craft coffee shops with every vibe you can imagine—from Instagram-worthy aesthetic to eclectic, cozy to bustling, breakfast spot to late-night study haunt. Coffee has almost undeniably become a part of Boise’s identity, and we have a feeling the coffee slinging crew is just getting started.

Dawson’s Downtown Coffee House

Wintery Spiced Latte photo courtesy of Dawson Taylor Coffee Roasters

Dawson Taylor Coffee Roasting Company has its roots in Idaho since its founding in 1995. This specialty coffee roasting company has expanded over the years, growing its…

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Boise Housing Market Forecast 2019: Five Trends to Watch

Where is the Boise real estate market headed in 2019? In a nutshell - a move to a more balanced market.

First a quick recap of what’s happened over the last twelve months:

• Boise area home prices jumped nearly 20%, with most neighborhoods showing flat or declining inventory.
• Construction of new homes increased a bit but not enough to offset the high demand we saw from buyers.
• Mortgage rates have risen from 3.92% to 4.87%, an eight-year high.

Price Appreciation Slows

Home values in the Boise area have been outpacing the national average since 2011. The double-digit appreciation we have seen over the last year will be a thing of the past in 2019.

The combined effect of higher home prices and higher mortgage rates pushed Boise…

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