Boise Idaho Real Estate Blog - Lisa Kohl

Home Prices Bounce Back: Ada County Prices Rise $53,000 in Just Two Months

Treasure Valley home prices witnessed another surge in May. The ongoing scarcity of available homes intensified competition among buyers, particularly for the lowest-priced properties.

Home prices in Ada County jumped by $36,000 between March and April, followed by an additional increase of $17,000 in May. That's a remarkable $53,000 increase in just two months.

Over the past year, the number of resale listings has fallen. Homeowners are reluctant to let go of low mortgage rates and have hesitated to sell. Additionally, a slowdown in new construction activity last fall means fewer new homes are available.

While demand is notably lower this summer than we have seen in recent years, low supply is more than offsetting the reduced demand.

In…

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A Hot Spring Market: Ada County Home Prices on the Rise as Inventory Dwindles

The Ada County real estate market is heating up this spring as home prices jump to their highest point in five months. Limited inventory has sparked intense competition among buyers, fueling the price surge.

The median home price in Ada County soared by $35,600 from the previous month, settling at $517,500—the highest point since November 2022. Despite this increase, prices are still down 13% compared to last April. Boise experienced a similar surge, with home prices climbing $32,505 to $500,000 from the previous month.

Canyon County prices finished April at $389,990, down 18.2% year over year, roughly in line with March.

As the number of available homes for sale continues to decline in 2023, buyers face a significant increase in…

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Treasure Valley Housing Market Stabilizes Amidst Low Inventory and Reduced Rates

The combination of reduced mortgage rates, limited inventory, and robust demand for low-cost homes has helped stabilize Treasure Valley home prices.

Ada County's median home price in March reached a two-year low, dropping to $481,900, representing a 16.2% decline from the previous year. In neighboring Canyon County, home prices fell to $395,000, marking a yearly drop of 12.8%.

Despite these declines, however, prices in both counties have remained relatively steady since the beginning of the year, signaling a potential end to the downward trend.

Between late January and early February, there was a significant decrease in mortgage rates, bringing them to their lowest point since September. This scenario, along with the drop in home prices,…

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21 Value-Building Home Improvements to Make Before Selling

Looking to sell your home? Then you’ve probably heard how sweat-equity can bring higher profit to your final sale. Yet, knowing exactly what home improvements are worth your time, money, and effort can get a little tricky.

Every house is different, and what’s best for your property depends on time, funding, the other homes in your area, and if your efforts will bring value to buyers.

The good news? You don’t need to take on a major remodel to increase resale value. These simple updates spark interest, help maximize profit, and go a long way towards wowing everyone who enters your home.

Don’t Make the #1 Home Improvement Mistake

Before you start any project, remember that there is such a thing as over-improving a home—you never want to put…

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Early Demand Boost Helps Stabilize Boise-Area Home Prices

As the spring selling season begins, Treasure Valley home prices display glimmers of stability following year-over-year declines.

In Ada County, the median single-family home price declined 10.7% from the previous year, finishing February at $491,057. Canyon County prices dipped to $389,945, down 10.2% from the year before.

While prices rose slightly in Ada County and declined somewhat in Canyon County, their combined prices are essentially unchanged from January, marking the first month without a decline since October.

Star and Middleton emerged as the only two cities in the Treasure Valley to record a yearly increase in prices. Star saw a gain of 11.7%, while Middleton's prices rose by 2.6%. Conversely, Kuna showed the biggest decline, with…

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How to Choose a Home Builder for Your New Home: A Step-by-Step Guide

So, you’ve been perusing homes online, considering floorplans, contemplating kitchen cabinet colors, and imagining the perfect wood floor. Maybe you’ve even toured a few homes to get an idea of what feels best.

You want to buy or build a new home, and you’re ready to commit and ensure that, from stud to Sunday dinner, your new home is perfect. After all, this will be your home. It’s the place where love and laughter will sound for years and years, and whether it’s kids, grandkids, friends, family, toys, or tools, your new home needs to reflect the things that matter most to you.

Your Boise home builder options are nearly endless, and who you choose matters.

You and your builder will spend countless hours together, and with something as…

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Lower Home Prices & Rates Point to Spring Recovery in Treasure Valley Market

The Treasure Valley housing market saw home prices and sales decline in January, as rising interest rates and a typical seasonal slowdown ahead of the holidays took their toll.

In Ada County, home prices fell 10.2% year-over-year to $485,000—the lowest level since April 2021. Canyon County saw a 6.9% yearly price decrease, settling at $395,445, a slight increase from December but also in line with the beginning of 2021.

The slowdown in the market can be partly attributed to the seasonal trend of fewer sales and lower appreciation in January; it also reflects purchase decisions made months earlier when mortgage rates were at a 20-year high.

Decreasing affordability and increasing economic uncertainty caused many buyers to retreat from the…

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Treasure Valley Home Prices Head Lower Despite Dwindling Supply

Treasure Valley home prices remain on a downward trend despite a rapidly shrinking supply of homes for sale.

Median home prices declined 5.7% in Ada County and 7% in Canyon County for the year ending in December.

In 2022, home prices remained positive on a year-over-year basis until November before ultimately finishing the year lower than where they had begun. This marked the first time since 2010 that home prices ended the year lower than where they started.

In January, the average 30-year mortgage rate was just over 3%. However, by the end of December, it had risen to 6.42%. This represents the largest increase for any calendar year on record.

The dramatic rise in rates shocked the system, ending the pandemic-driven housing boom. For…

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Boise’s Best Trail Hikes for All Skill Levels

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…

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Ada County Home Prices See First Annual Decline in 8 Years

In November, Ada County home prices recorded their first year-over-year price decline since 2014.

On a month-to-month basis, home prices began falling in June but remained higher annually until now. The median home price in Ada County declined by 2.5% from last November. Prices in Canyon County eked out an annual gain of 1.4%.

Home prices have been under pressure this year as moves by the Federal Reserve to tame inflation have sent mortgage rates soaring.

Prices can rise and fall monthly, even when the overall price trend is higher (or lower). Many economists and real estate professionals focus on yearly comparisons to help smooth out that monthly volatility.

In the past few years, buyers saw the fall and winter months as an opportunity to…

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