Mountain Realty, 7500 W. Crestwood Drive, Boise, Idaho
Thomson Reuters NEWS
Individuals fearing a looming, urban catastrophe are swapping city life for a fresh start.
By Carey. L. Biron
WASHINGTON, Jan 27 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Cheap housing, deep unease and intense resilience - all forces that are driving a clutch of Americans to swap city life for a fresh start off grid and far from civilisation.
Some are survivalists, among them high fliers who fear a looming, urban catastrophe and the mayhem that might follow.
Others want a greener, gentler life untainted by the malign forces of capitalism and uncertainty of mainstream politics.
Whichever camp, realtors say the new dropouts are not "crackpots" and often include affluent professionals including hedge fund managers and billionaires whose run for the hills has boosted rural land values and started to change their property market.
Most land purchases are in the mountains of the U.S. northwest, primarily Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.
Idaho in particular recorded a big influx. Read more here.
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KIVI Boise
Four Boise-area cities take top positions in “Best Places to Live” survey
MERIDIAN, Idaho — Meridian, Star, Kuna, and Eagle have taken the top four positions respectively as the best places to live in Idaho by the website HomeSnacks.
The site said it combined recent data from the Census Bureau, the FBI, and dozens of other sources into “bite-sized studies to help people understand what it’s like to live in different communities across the country.” Read more here.
KGO Channel 7
Californians are leaving the state at a rapid pace... and going to Idaho?
Goodbye Golden State! For the first time in almost a decade, more Californians have moved out of state, according to the Department of Finance.
A new study by United Van Lines shows California is ranked among the top 10 of "most moved from states" last year, coming in at number 7. One of the hot spots people are moving to? Boise, Idaho. Continue reading here.
Boise Leads nation In Housing Price Increases
KTVB News 7
Boise's annual housing price increases are the highest in the U.S., with an 11.1 percent jump in just one year, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency.
Boise's annual housing price increases are the highest in the U.S., with an 11.1 percent jump in just one year, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency.
That is more than double the nationwide increase of 4.9 percent from the third quarter of 2018 to the third quarter of 2019.
“House prices have risen every quarter for the last eight years,” said Dr. William Doerner, FHFA Supervisory Economist. “Relative to a year ago, market indices are still trending upward for the nation as a whole as well as in every census division, state, and the top 100 metro areas. Price gains, though, are continuing to slow their upward pace in a few cities with large housing markets.”
Idaho comes in at the No. 1 spot for states with housing price growth, with an 11.6 percent jump from 2018 to 2019. The Gem State is followed by Maine, Arizona, Utah, and Indiana to round out the top five.
Housing prices seem to be growing the most in the Mountain states, while the Middle Atlantic region had the smallest amount of growth, the study found.
The report marks the latest alarm sounding about the Treasure Valley housing market, where both home purchase and rental prices are rapidly outstripping wages. The median home sale price in Ada County jumped to a record-breaking $354,405 earlier this year, jumping 10 percent from the same time in 2018. A shortage of housing further exacerbates the issue, with the scarcity driving prices up. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development warned earlier this year that the Boise City Metropolitan Statistical Area - encompassing Ada, Canyon, Gem, Boise, and Owyhee counties - would need to add more than 19,000 new homes or apartment units by 2021 to keep pace with demand.
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The hottest housing markets of 2020 are far from the coast
Marketwatch
Forget Seattle, Denver and San Francisco. Boise, Idaho, is poised to be the hottest housing market at the start of the next decade.
A new report from Realtor.com identified the housing markets that are expected to see the most notable home sales and price growth in 2020. Boise ranked No. 1, a marked increase from No. 8 a year ago. Continue reading Here
real estate agent boise idaho boise state
Meridian, Idaho
time.com/money
"This Boise suburb is booming. Meridian has been the fastest-growing city in Idaho for over 20 years, and its community development department is planning for a 98% population increase over the next 30 years." Continue reading here.
New poll: Half of California voters have considered moving
Berkeley News
More than half of California’s registered voters have given “serious” or “some” recent consideration to moving out of the state, according to a new poll from UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies.
Twenty-four percent of the 4,527 registered voters surveyed in the Berkeley IGS Poll said they had given “serious” thought to leaving, while another 28% said they have given “some” thought. Continue reading here:
The Things That Draw People To Boise (And What Pushes Them
Boise State Public Radio
Editor’s note, June 2018: It’s been five years since this story was first published and it continues to be one of our most popular posts. Thanks to all who have read, shared and commented on this story.
More recently, we’ve heard from dozens of folks concerned about Boise’s rapid growth. Since 2013, about 10,000 people have moved to the City of Trees – and Idaho is the fastest-growing state in the country. We took a deep dive into the challenges facing Idahoans with a series called “Our Changing Idaho.” We hope to continue the conversation about what attracts people to Boise ... and what pushes them away. Continue reading here
3 Reasons to Sell Your Home in Winter
You’ve probably been told you should wait for spring or summer to sell your home.
That's when there’s a bigger pool of buyers, and your landscaping and foliage are at the top of their game, right?
Well, wait just a minute. There are actually some compelling reasons to go ahead and sell now.
Here’s a look at three ways selling in the off-season can work in your favor:
Less Competition
There’s typically lower inventory in winter. The basic economics of supply and demand now work for you, the seller. When there are a ton of properties for sale, even a great home can look common. But when there are fewer options on the market and a listing is in good condition, it suddenly gains an edge it may not have in the summer.
More Serious Buyers
People who are buying in the off-season are not your typical summertime browsers. These buyers are often more serious and motivated to make a move — and do it quickly. Maybe they had a sudden career or lifestyle change. Whatever it is, they typically need a new home now. If yours is ready and waiting, it can have added appeal.
Stress-Free Summers
Who wants to spend all summer packing and planning a move? Some buyers want to move before the school year ends to have summer free for travel and relaxation. When your home sale is already sorted during winter, it’s smooth sailing for summer fun.
Are you ready to sell? Get in touch today for a comprehensive review of your current home.
Tired of the madness? Take a look at Boise Real Estate!
usnews.com
BOISE, Idaho -- Brewing beer is part science, part feel, and when Dan Jordan was looking around the West for a second locale for his Montana-based White Dog Brewing he took a similar approach, finding the right mix in this capital city.
Idaho is, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the fastest growing state in the nation, with a net migration of nearly 19,000 people in 2016.
But more than that, Jordan says, was the type of people who were moving there. They were young professionals and tech sector employees with disposable income, fleeing the big city and drawn to Boise for its outdoor recreation and a livable lifestyle.
"This is Denver 30 years ago," says Jordan, a Colorado native. Continue reading here.
Idaho State Capitol building, Boise, Idaho
Jennifer Hernandez, photographer
Celebrate Winter -- McCall, Idaho
nwtravelmag.com
For the perfect snowy getaway, head to McCall, Idaho, a town that truly takes advantage of all the winter months have to offer. McCall and the surrounding Salmon River Mountains are home to countless opportunities for winter recreation, but this small town of just under 3,000 residents is perhaps best known for its annual Winter Carnival.
Inspired by the Payette Lake Winter Games in 1924, the McCall Winter Carnival began in the 1960s and now brings more than 60,000 people to the area each year. The carnival kicks off with the Children’s Torchlight Parade which marches through the streets of downtown McCall on the way to Payette Lake for a massive fireworks display. The remainder of the weekend features a snow and ice sculpture carving competition, live music, food and drink and a variety of winter games. Check mccallchamber.org/winter-carnival for dates and more details. Continue reading here.
The Most Beautiful College in Idaho
Travel + Leisure
The University of Idaho features an arboretum, a grove of trees planted by various figures including Teddy Roosevelt, a golf course, and more trees. Lovely views and gorgeous architecture make UI our pick for Idaho. See the full article here.
A Guide to Moving to Idaho (By Someone who's never visited)
trustedchoice.com
So you're considering moving to Idaho, but you feel like you're missing some of the pieces of the "Should I or Shouldn't I?" puzzle. Well, you've come to the right place, friend. Just for you, we've compiled a guide to some of the biggest points of consideration from people looking to move to a new state.
Often referred to as the Gem State because of the 72 precious stones produced here, Idaho also has other shiny gems for you to discover - such as several national and state parks, beautiful landscapes and prairies, a blue football field nicknamed the "Smurf Turf," and the brightest view of the stars in the country. This place is simply sparkling. Continue reading here.
Best Cities to Live in Every State
USA Today
There are nearly 20,000 villages, towns and cities across the 50 states, and not all of them are equally conducive to the well-being of those who live there.
While quality of life is subject to a range of factors – close relationships and personal health being among the most important – the local community and environment can also have a meaningful impact.
Number 12: Hailey, Idaho
Hailey is situated in Idaho's Wood River Valley in the Rocky Mountains. The city is surrounded by public land and forests where residents and visitors can hike, bike, ski, fish, and horseback ride, and is a short drive from Ketchum and Sun Valley, two resort towns. Continue reading here.
Idaho One of the Country's fastest Growing States -- Again
Idaho Statesman
For the second year in a row, Idaho has earned the title of fastest-growing state in the country, this time sharing the title with Nevada, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Last week, the Census Bureau released population growth estimates that found Idaho’s population had grown 2.1 percent in one year, tying for highest percentage growth with Nevada. Between July 2017 and July 2018, Idaho’s population grew by more than 35,000 people to 1,754,208, the Census Bureau estimated. Continue reading here.
Burgeoning Boise, best-kept secret in the Pacific Northwest
usatoday.com
"In a city with a row of downtown restaurants that source locally and boast picture-perfect patios, plus three new taco eateries, two acclaimed hotel restaurants and a slew of specialty food shops, there is one place where you might have to wait in line. It serves two things: ice cream and alcohol." Continue reading here.
36 Hours in Boise
New York Times
"Boise — derived from the French word for wooded, but a name that also reflects a confluence of frontier myth and speculation — sits below the Rocky Mountains on a verdant plain known as Treasure Valley. Boise (BOY-see, if you’re a local; BOY-zee if you’re not), once a gritty stop along the Oregon Trail, is Idaho’s capital and, with a population of 223,000, its most populous city." Continue reading here.