Boise Idaho Real Estate Blog - Lisa Kohl

Bown Crossing: Southeast Boise's Hidden Gem

Boise’s Bown Crossing, a live-where-you-work neighborhood, rests against the iconic foothills and just below the scenic Table Rock plateau. As one of Southeast Boise’s greatest treasures, Bown Crossing takes Boise’s best attributes and packs them into a small-scale community. Your ease of life flows as gently as the nearby Boise River.

Known for its charming shops, quaint restaurants, and intimate streets, Bown Crossing teems with small-town friendliness and next-door neighbor comfort. At around eight city blocks, it’s comparatively smaller than other Boise subdivisions and neighborhoods. Still, its size doesn’t mean it lacks any charm or amenities. In fact, Bown Crossing’s modest area is one of its premiere qualities.

With South Bown Way…

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5 Perfect Day (and Weekend) Winter Getaways From Boise

As the capital of the “Gem State,” it’s only fair that Boise would hold the crown for winter adventures. Destinations, vacations, fresh air, long weekends, family memories—whatever you’re after, there’s always something new to discover in Southwest Idaho.

The best part? Most of these extraordinary journeys are only a quick car ride away from Boise. It sounds surprising, but trust us—winter is actually the perfect time to pack the car and head into Idaho’s beauty.

Snow transforms the state into a destination dreamland, giving you exclusive access to winter getaways, family fun, and lifelong memories.

This is our list of the best winter day trips, scenic stops, and weekend getaways only a short drive from Boise.

1. Sun Valley: …

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New Records As Boise-Area Home Prices Surge Over 20% in 2021

Relentless demand, combined with a seasonal slowdown in new listings, sent Ada County home prices to a new record in December.

The median single-family home price in Ada County rose to $546,000 in December. Climbing nearly $114,000, or 26%, from the previous year, it marks a new peak.

Idaho’s most populous county is not alone. Home prices have made double-digit jumps throughout the Treasure Valley.

• Canyon County home prices rose $80,000 through 2021, ending at $419,480. That’s a 23% year-over-year leap and just $4,000 below the record.
• Boise home prices tied August’s record of $510,000, an increase of nearly $90,000 (21%) from just twelve months ago.
• Meridian’s prices rose to their second record in as many months, finishing December…

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Sharp Drop in New Listings Sends Ada County Home Prices Higher

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.…

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Idaho VA Home Loans: 4 Common Myths That Can Cost You

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…

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Treasure Valley Home Prices Flat on Sudden Drop in Supply

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…

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Boise-Area Home Prices Hover Near-Record Levels; Seasonality Returns

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…

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The Best Pumpkin Patches in and Around Boise This Fall

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.

…

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Inventory Grows, But Not Enough To Reign in Boise Home Prices

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…

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Are Solar Panels Right for Your Boise Home?

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,…

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