Boise Idaho Real Estate Blog - Lisa Kohl

Boise Median Home Price Sets New Record; Ada County Tops $600,000

Ada County home prices rose to a new record in May, with the cost of the typical home climbing above $600,000 for the first time.

With the supply still well below normal, homes across the valley are selling at breakneck speed. Half of all listings are on the market for less than a week, the second fastest pace for May in history.

The median single-family home sale price in Ada County finished the month at $602,250, increasing by $84,035 (16.22%) over the last 12 months. In Canyon County, the cost of the typical home rose by $52,735 (12.95%) to $459,990, the second-highest price ever recorded.

While spring is traditionally the busiest time of the year, rising home prices and mortgage rates have created a strong sense of urgency among would-be…

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Ada County Home Prices Approach $600,000 for the First Time

Treasure Valley home prices leaped to new records last month as buyers continue to outnumber sellers and listings remain elusive.

In another month for the record books, both Ada and Canyon Counties saw home prices rise over $20,000 from March to April.

Less than a year after crossing the half-million-dollar mark for the first time, the median home price in Ada County closed the month just $5,000 shy of the once unfathomable figure of $600,000.

The Boise metro area continues to see a fast-moving market, with half of all homes selling in less than 7 days, the second-fastest for any April on record. Open house activity remains strong, and multiple offers are typical on the most sought-after new listings.

We are in the heart of Spring Selling…

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The Inside Scoop on Boise’s Geothermal Heat

You’ve likely heard of geothermal energy or heat before, but how widely used it is in Boise may just be the city’s best kept secret. Not only does geothermal heat much of downtown, a few hundred homeowners benefit from it, too.

Imagine if you could have your own private hot springs in your backyard. Or better yet, your own private outdoor heated pool, for very little cost. Some East End residents are living this dream, thanks to geothermal heat.

What is Boise Geothermal Heat?

You’ve likely heard of geothermal energy before – the U.S. has many geothermal power plants, which use heat from deep within the Earth to produce steam that is converted into electricity.

Geothermal heat is similar but less complicated. In Boise, it simply involves…

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Best Restaurants in Boise: A Local's Guide to Gastronomic Greatness

Boise’s restaurant scene has flourished in the last few years, bringing the Treasure Valley a variety of incredible eateries to match its community-favorite stalwarts. The City of Trees has something delectable primed to appease even the most stubborn palates with a myriad of meat-free options, creative twists on the classics, and menu selections you’d expect to only see in Paris or Italy. From traditional Italian and tomahawk steaks to vegan barbeque and craft tacos, take off on a flavor-profile adventure with the best restaurants in Boise—your tastebuds will thank you.

Boise's Best Restaurants

1. Álavita

$$ - $$$ | Italian, Craft Cocktails, Idaho Wines | Website
807 W Idaho St, Boise, ID 83702 | (208) 780-1100

With…

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Buyers Ignore Soaring Mortgage Rates, Send Boise Prices to New Records

Home prices are soaring to new records amid fierce competition and rising mortgage rates as Ada and Canyon County entered the Spring Selling Season at a full sprint.

While appreciation had slowed for most of the past year, last month brought a staggering acceleration of median home prices never seen before.

Boise saw a $25,000 jump, marking the first time in history that prices have shifted that dramatically in just a month. Ada County also saw a $25,000 increase while Meridian’s month-over-month prices spiked by $47,000. In Canyon County’s “typically more affordable” market, prices rose $19,000.

Overwhelming demand continues to outpace the critically-low supply of available properties, pushing sales to new extremes as sellers enjoy multiple…

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Things to Do in Boise in April 2022

The days are longer, trees are budding, flowers are starting to show, and the jackets have been stowed for the season—Spring is finally here! In celebration, there’s a magnificent list of events blooming across the Treasure Valley all month long. Whether you’re hopping after an Easter egg or dancing through a night of live music, even April showers can’t stop you from enjoying Boise’s endless Spring activities.

Gene Harris Jazz Festival | Various Locations

March 31-April 1

It’s the 25th annual Gene Harris Jazz Festival! This incredible event brings over 1,500 students to Boise for two days of intense music clinics taught by jazz instructors from across the country. This year’s theme is Big-Band, and under the tutelage of the world-class…

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The Bench: Boise's Cultural and Historical Melting Pot

The Boise Bench—known as “The Bench” by locals—is a multicultural hub of character, diversity, and eclectic personality.

Spreading nearly 10 square miles, The Bench is a collection of eight centrally-located neighborhoods just up the hill from Downtown Boise. Individually unique, Bench communities date back to Boise’s first settlers, and they wear their deep-rooted history like a custom-made style. Spanning over 100 years, Boise Bench neighborhoods are a never-know-what-you’ll-find adventure of home designs, trends, culinary diversity, retail oddities, and architectural artistry.

The Bench is where traditional and contemporary converge. Here, forgotten properties find new life, and a home’s age is seen as personality. Down any street, you’ll…

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Treasure Valley Supply Strains as Spring Selling Season Arrives Early

The Treasure Valley’s severely-low housing supply continues to stoke a hyper-competitive real estate market, sprouting new sales prices records across Ada and Canyon County.

February’s frigid market is historically slow to thaw, but the new, widespread peaks—primarily caused by a lack of for-sale signs—point to a scorching Spring Selling Season.

Available home supply remains at a critical level, forcing price jumps as relentless demand continually outstrips resale listings. In new construction, supply bottlenecks, land shortages, material delays, and labor scarcity are combining to extend build timelines, further reducing home inventory.

As the Treasure Valley braces for a fast-approaching Spring, climbing mortgage rates and extraordinarily…

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Things to Do in Boise in March 2022

While Old Man Winter’s extended stay might have you thinking he’s as mad as a March hare, mid-50 temps are right around the corner, and Boise is primed to celebrate the coming warmth all month long. With a myriad of special events and family-friendly activities, the Treasure Valley is welcoming the first day of Spring in style. Take on a St. Patrick’s Day fun-run and put some spring in your step, or warm yourself up with an after-hours treat at a local winery. However you choose to enjoy the best things to do in Boise this March, just don’t let old Mr. Winter keep you from a month full of incredible experiences. He’ll be gone before we know it, and rain, snow, or glorious sunshine, nothing will get in the way of filling your calendar with all the…

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2022 Brings New Records & Critically Low Supply to Boise Market

Boise rang in the first month of the New Year with a median price record as the Treasure Valley's home supply retests all-time lows.

The supply shortage is squeezing home buyers from all sides as a severe lack of inventory pressures choices, pinches budgets, and pumps prices. Mortgage rate jumps are leading to brisk sales as rising interest rates reduce affordability.

Ada County finished January with a median single-family home price of $539,995, up $90,665 in the last twelve months.

To add a bit of perspective, from 2005 to 2021, we saw home prices rise at an annual rate of 6%. Ada County buyers started 2022 contending against a 20.18% year-over-year jump.

• Canyon County finished January with a median sale price of $424,900, a new…

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