The state of Idaho provides one of the most beautiful landscapes in the entire country.The state borders several states including Washington, Oregon, and Nevada. Covered mostly by mountains, Idaho is a blend of scenic outlooks, smalltime towns, and ski resorts. Idahoans boast that the surroundings provide the best opportunities for outdoor activities. The state is known as one of the top places for many different outdoor sports including: skiing, whitewater rafting, rock climbing, mountain biking, and fishing. The Idahoan community is centered behind the strong outdoor-oriented influence. Most of the state remains rural and open. The majority of the towns have a population of less than 50,000. Rapid growth in the Boise and Nampa areas has brought a lot more people into the state, expanding the urban areas, and bringing more opportunities for Idahoans. However, the state as a whole has remained fairly laid back and cut off from the busy life of the big cities.

The lure of a laid back, less crowded environment has ironically brought tons of people from all over to the state. People from bigger, western cities want to get away from the city life and move to a more relaxed atmosphere. Boise provides a mix of both city and country life to new residents. Newcomers can enjoy a smaller, less populated city without losing many of the “necessities” of urban life. Other factors like the low cost of living and low crime rate attract new residents. Read more »

The housing market in the city has done very well as interest has increased. The state as a whole is the 6th fastest growing state in the nation. Boise has played a large part of this with the creation of thousands of jobs for new residents. Micron Technologies and Hewlett-Packard are headquartered in the city and have created around 35,000 jobs in the last three years. Known as “High Flying Boise”, the city has had large developmental changes as more people move in. The urban area has also expanded greatly in recent years. To this day, the city remains smaller than most other major cities in the country. With a population of 205,314; Boise still maintains its laid back, rural atmosphere that attracts so many home buyers.
Tourism from outdoor sports enthusiasts is another factor in the recent growth of the state. Enthusiasts are moving into towns throughout the state to be closer to sporting accommodations. Ski towns like Sun Valley have transformed into full-scale resorts with fulltime residents. Other small towns have had an increase in population as new residents find places that fit what they are looking for.
Sales Trends
The Idaho housing market, although smaller than most markets, has experienced some exciting increases in sales for recent years. Boise had an impressive 11,549 homes sold in 2005, the largest it has seen to date. Builders have taken the 2005 year as a sign that the market will become a hotbed for activity in the years to come. With the creation of new jobs, Boise hopes to pick up steam and produce sales numbers similar to what they saw in the past.  « Close »