Boise Idaho Real Estate Blog - Buying A Home

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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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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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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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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Where to Live in Boise – Comparing the Cities and Suburbs

For decades, Boise and the surrounding suburbs were the Northwest's best-kept secret, however, with the area's population growth projected to hit one million residents by 2040, it's clear the secret is out. Whether you crave expansive desert solitude, big-city bustle, tranquil farmlands, sleepy suburbs, or rolling foothills, there's a home in Boise, or a nearby suburb, waiting for you.

The Boise metro area, also known as the Treasure Valley, includes small towns and big cities. Each offers unique strengths and vastly different housing options (and prices). Whether you're relocating from another state or considering a local move, the biggest question on your plate is likely, "where is the best place to live in the Boise area for me?"

You're in…

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Should You Buy a New Construction or Existing Idaho Home?

With inventory low in every Treasure Valley housing market, homebuyers are considering new builds more than ever before. But are they right for you?

If you love to watch HGTV, most of the houses you see people hunting are resales--homes that have been built by and owned by other families. Much of the drama in these shows (think House Hunters) derives from the terrible taste in home decor of the previous occupants and whether the new couple can overcome the "hardship" of an ugly paint color or unattractive carpet.

But with many markets across Idaho, and the country, experiencing inventory shortages, it’s becoming harder for buyers to find a home they love in many neighborhoods. That’s why more and more homeowners are turning to new construction.…

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An Insider’s Tour of Boise’s Most Walkable Neighborhoods

Ask a dozen Boiseans what makes their neighborhood “walkable” and you’ll likely get a variety of answers. That’s because walking is like meditation–while everyone might look similar doing it, their motivations can be vastly different. Some people want convenient access to great food and coffee; other people can’t live without a park nearby for their kids; while others just enjoy a serene sunset stroll as a way to unwind from a long day.

If you’re looking for a new home in Boise, you might already have a list of nearby must-haves in mind–and if not, it’s never too early to make one. To help you get off on the right foot, we’ve developed this insider’s guide to Boise’s most walkable neighborhoods. Our list includes something for every type of walker,…

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Housing Shortage and Rising Construction Costs Plague Boise Market

Boise area home prices hit new highs in April, thanks to strong demand from homebuyers and continued near record-low supply.

If you’ve spent any time online looking for homes, or have taken a drive looking for “For Sale” signs, you’ve noticed: we are suffering from a stark lack of inventory in the Treasure Valley. This continues to limit the number of homes for sale – and help drive prices up.

While the number of available homes is slowly recovering from the height of the pandemic, total home sales remain well below levels you’d expect to see. Especially when you take into consideration that Ada and Canyon counties added 23,890 residents in the past year.

The combination of record-high prices, record growth, and near record-low sales is…

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Boise's Best Schools: Guide to the Top Public & Charter Schools

Buying a new home is much more than comparing square footage and lot sizes. Buying a new home means planting roots in a new community, discovering new favorite coffee shops, and perhaps most importantly, enrolling your children in new schools. We understand that all parents want what’s best for their children. Paramount of that is helping children get the best education for their learning style and needs. In fact, for many clients, finding the right school(s) for their children is a top consideration when selecting a new place to call home.

As the saying goes, "knowledge is power," but sifting through multiple websites and educational rankings to find accurate, up-to-date information can be daunting. That’s where we come in. We've done that…

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What Treasure Valley Buyers Can Expect From This Scorching Market

Remember that spike in demand we saw right after the holidays? It’s now hitting buyers in their bank accounts. Both Ada and Canyon counties set another round of new sales price records in February. In fact, the median sales price actually jumped by $29,000 in Canyon County, reflecting the largest monthly increase ever recorded.

The median sales price in Ada County hit $452,750 in February, a 39% increase over last year’s median price of $324,950. In the past year, the number of available listings has also dropped from 1,347 to just 303 homes. For context, we’re talking about a county with more than a half-million residents, and growing.

In Canyon County, the new median sales price record hit $368,000. Not only does that represent a $29,000 jump…

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