So it recently occurred to me that Boise may in fact have the highest number of *hipsters* per capita of any US city. I have no scientific evidence to support this feeling whatsoever, but when you see the number of tattoos - sleeves in particular (something i myself am guilty of) - in addition to the bikes (very heavy in: fixies, single-speeds, geared roadies, cruiser catagories), bars, skate boards, hashers, greenies, LEED APs, home brewers, coop shoppers and the like, it starts to feel like you’re in Seattle or San Francisco on steroids. Not to say this is a bad thing but I wonder if there is any direct correlation between the suppression of living in idaho (real or imagined) and the need to express oneself through counter-culture??? 07/20/2008

Legend Community Profile Link Community Building Community Golf Course Community Park Community Pool Community Walking Path Fiber Optics Lots by Water Pressurized Irrigation   Gated Community North Boise Subdivisons Available for New Construction ( 16 ) New North Boise Subdivisions HomeValues(Starting) Lot Sizes (Approx. Acres) Boise Home Builders Arrowhead CanyonNorth of State St. from 36th, to Bison  $459k 0.20+ Homes by PJ SmithParamount PropertiesShiloh DevelopmentDoug Lasher Const The Aspen LoftsS. 8th Street & W Front St    N/A  Scott Kimball Developer Boise Place CondosN 8th St & W Main $400k  N/A   Cascara Ranch/ GrassyW of Bogus Basin Rd, N of Hill  $549k 1+  Cascara Cityside Lofts CondosS 13th Street & W Grand Ave  $219k N/A  Petra Eyrie Canyon North on 36th, East on Bison, So... 07/20/2008

Two additions:  We added a column to dispaly lot sizes by community Icons to display community amenities for subs with profiles. Each community also includes a links to listings if available for communities. Originally only subs with profiles had links. Tables still include North Boise Home Builders. Not every subdivision includes listings because BC is required to have an authorization from the Boise Real Estate Broker. If you would like a listing added, have the broker call us. Legend Community Profile Link Community Building Community Golf Course Community Park Community Pool Community Walking Path Fiber Optics Lots by Water Pressurized Irrigation   Gated Community North Boise Subdivisons Available for New Construction ( 16 ) New North Boise Subdivisions HomeValues(Starting) Lot Size... 07/20/2008

The latest inmigration report shows that fewer people moved to Idaho in 2007 compared to 2006. California and surrounding states continue to be the driving force of new residents in Idaho. The following charts are derived by the Idaho Transportation Departements In-Migration #'s. Although the report is based on drivers license submissions it should be a good indicatior of who is moving to the area. When someone turns in their current drivers license for an Idaho License the state records that data and compiles is by year. Full report includes specific charts that details where new residents in Ada and Canyon County are from. View Trey Langfordwww.BuildingCredibility.com 07/15/2008

Boise Homes for Sale Are you considering a new home in Boise, ID? Wondering where alll the new communities are and who the builders are in them? There is only one source that can help you- BuildingCredibility.com. By MLS area, find the name of communities with open lots and spec homes for sale including lot sizes, community ammenities and starting home values. For may subdivsions there are profiles that include more information about the comunity. Each link includes a view of Boise homes and lots for sale. Boise New Subdivisions   North Boise   Northeast Boise   Southeast Boise   Boise Bench   Southwest Boise   Southwest Boise/ Meridian   West Boise   West Boise/ Meridian   Garden City    Northwest Boise Trey Langfordwww.BuildingCredibility.com Boise New Homes for Sale 07/14/2008

This post is dedicated to Gary Woltal from Texas, one of my greatest encouragers, here on the Active Rain Community!  He was impressed with our upcoming speaker for our 2008 NAWBO July Meeting here in Boise, Idaho.  He asked me to give a report so this is what I learned from our recent meeting.  We were honored this week to have Dr. Cheryl Schrader, the Dean of College of Engineering at Boise State University at our Monthly NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners) Meeting.  It was our yearly installation of our 2008 Board for the Boise Area and Southwest Idaho Chapter.  I have been involved with this group for over three and a half years and I enjoy it because there is something I learn every time I attend.  It is also very enriching to meet a variety of women business owne... 07/13/2008

BuildingCredibility.com has a feature called a Credibility Score which is similiar to the eBay concept of a Power Score, where buyer rate builders. Here is a rent reveiw from a client of Scott Flynn- great read if you are looking for a Boise Builders.  After we selected Scott to be our builder we met with him to sign our contracts and finalize our paperwork. I remember clearly at the end out our conversations Scott saying to us there will be challenges but lets have fun building our dream home. I held on to that thought through the whole process and although he was right , we did have challenges, we still maintained a great working relationship which allowed us to still enjoy the process. I would like to share a few emails we shared as an example of what its like to work with Scott. Fro... 07/12/2008

Sunday's issue of the Boston Globe featured cities with notable parks systems.  Among them was the Boise River Greenbelt which we have enjoyed for many years. The Boston Globe commented: "Once the dumping ground for trash, industrial waste, and raw sewage, this riverfront park was reclaimed in the 1960s and transformed into a haven for outdoor lovers, with 25 miles of pathways geared to walkers, runners, skaters, bikers. If you don't have your own, there are vendors who rent equipment along the way. Float, tube, kayak, or canoe along the Boise River, or just relax and watch the critters, which include ducks, geese, great blue heron, beaver, grey fox, muskrat, and the occasional eagle." For more information search Boise River Greenbelt online. Fly fishing in the middle of Boise! 07/08/2008

The numbers are in for the June 2008 Boise Idaho Metro Real Estate Market, and things are looking up in the Gem State!  You can go to my website for detailed market reports for Boise Meridian   Nampa and Eagle Idaho. Overall, the average Days on Market was 80 days, and the sales price as a percentage of asking price was 93.5%.  The number of pending homes is higher than the number of sold homes in all 4 major markets in the Boise metro area.  This shows that next months numbers will be even higher!  The average sold price was higher in all 4 cities as well.  If you have been waiting for the market to bottom out, you may want to start looking to buy before the prices go up even more.  If you are thinking of buying or selling a home in the Boise Idaho metro area, please give me a call or ... 07/07/2008

BEING AN EFFECTIVE LEADER  - NAWBO - BASIC* July Meeting Are you a Women Business Owner, Manager or Lead Team Staff person?  Would you like to learn what it takes to be an Effective Leader?  We would like to extend a Special Invitation to you for our upcoming NAWBO BASIC* Meeting. Our distinguished speaker, Cheryl Schrader, Dean of the College of Engineering at Boise State, & learn more about being an effective leader! *(National Association of Women Business Owners Boise And Southern Idaho Chapter) . We are also wrapping up the 2007-2008 year and have the installation of the new officers and an awards ceremony to recognize those individuals who contributed to making NAWBO a success this past year. We are ready to install and introduce the new officers at the event. NAWBO Board of Direc... 07/02/2008

Many people ask what the difference is between BuildingCredibility.com(BC) and the BBB. BC offers a Credibility Score  and BBB offers a Reliability Report . The BBB is one source that should not be overlooked for a business report card. The problem is that a business on the BBB radar is at best satisfactory. They will share if there are any complaints against a company and if that issue was resolved? Question- what if there are none? There is not a conclusion that you can draw form this information. We can only determine that one has complained. We don't actually know if there have not been any unsatisfied clients nor do we know if there any satisfied clients? What consumers really need to know is does a company consistently deliver what its clients expected? Every company has had a cli... 07/02/2008

Boise is once again near the top of a national Top 10 list. This time it's Kiplinger's Personal Finance "Best Cities to Live, Work, and Play" where we landed comfortably at #4. Kiplinger noticed the abundance of activities both outdoor and cultural, the modest cost of living and low commute time, plus the natural beauty of the area. A population with above average educational level is great for employers, as well as a cost of doing business that is reported as a third less than Washington or California. Boise ranks well in many other lists including Forbes, Wall Street Journal, Money Magazine, etc. What is not mentioned in the Kiplinger article is the weather. It is a mostly sunny four season area, and I find the changes refreshing. Winters are cool with a touch of frost and an occasion... 06/24/2008

Yesterday's article in the statesman about  Treasure Valley home builders "right" sizing their company to stay afloat (Read entire article) is a reminder that the consumer must do their homework. . There is a difference between builders that are a business and others that  are opportunists. 2005 was proof that anyone could become a homebuilder. 2006 and 2007 started to weed out the opportunists and in 2008 its all about business. Creating the right product  at the right price, following business practices including marketing and customer service, and establishing credibility that the company can perform and deliver. Most every builder in town has cut back to be lean but if you are shopping for a builder what can you do to find a credible builder? Let me first assure you that it is not b... 06/20/2008

Check out this great feature on BuildingCredibility.com. I call it Build Idaho. - multi media builder profiles. Over the coursof 5 to 7 minutes we ask builders What are your Credentials and Qualifications What makes your company different from other builders Why should someone buy a home from you This is the first of its kind in the market. A new idea that is sure to catch on. In today's market, the consumer wants information. Not only that , but great information. Information they are not finding elsewhere and information that is actually helpful and valuable. Visitors really appreciate www.BuildingCredibility.com. 06/17/2008

The numbers are in for May 2008 Boise Real Estate Market. These numbers include all Single Family, Single family with Acreage, Townhomes, and Manufacutured Homes on Owned Lot listings in the Boise areas. Active listings   2666 Pending             236 Sold                   298 Average sales price $233,408 Average Days on Market  68 Sales price as percentage of Asking price  92% Sales per area  North Boise 29 North East Boise 12 South East Boise 51 Boise Bench 36, South Boise 12  South West Boise (Merdian School Dist)  62 West Boise 23 North West Boise 27 Garden City 46 These numbers look promising with the low days on market, and the high sales price as a percentage of asking price.  Boise Idaho is a great place to own property!  Read about Nampa, Meridian and Eagle Idaho Real Estate t... 06/03/2008

Boise Idaho recognized as 4th best in 2008 Something takes place every year like clockwork.  What I am referring to is Boise Idaho.  Yes, every year some national publication or organization writes something wonderful about the little city of Boise Idaho tucked away at the base of beautiful majestic mountains with the Boise River running through the heart of the city. Amy Bicker from the Kiplinger news letter visited Idaho and came away amazed. Amy ranked Boise Idaho as the 4th best city in the Nation for 2008.  Amy wrote she doesn't understand how anyone gets any work done in Boise with the skiing, snowboarding, fishing, biking and kayaking which is all available in and around Boise.  Susan Thayer, who relocated to Boise four years ago from Albany Oregon states "Boise Idaho has evolved... 05/30/2008

Welcome to Idaho and the Surprise Valley Community located between Warm Springs Ave and Highway 21 -near the Old Oregon Trail and along the black basalt cliffs this area is known for.  This is east Boise living at it's finest.   Ideal for the recreationist - minutes from Lucky Peak Reservoir.  Also boasting easy access to boating, swimming, camping and  fishing in the Boise River.  The area also overlooks the beautiful Boise Foothills, the Barber Park Nature Reserve and the Boise River plus the cultural ammentiy; the Idaho Shakespear Festival outdoor theatre. Additonal ammentities include tennis courts, walking paths and a community center and pool. Excellent schools;  Riverside Elemenary, Le Bois Jr High School and Timberline High are all ranked high academically.  Private schools are ... 05/20/2008

I have been studying the stats for Boise and find them interesting.  Our inventory is up and Median Price (Approximately $210,000) is down - as are sales (36%) from 2007.  However, certain pockets are starting to recover.  We have about 11-12 months worth of inventory on an average.  However, in certain price ranges, that drops to 6% (which is indicative of a "normal" market).  These are the low price homes in Ada County - there are other price ranges with 30 months inventory - but to see the bottom end leveling out is exciting! I would say if you are a first time buyer - it's safe to buy here NOW!  Prices are stable, rates are low and inventory is normal in the under $240,000 price range. Buying a new home is a major decision and I know questions will arise, when they do, call me:  Shi... 05/20/2008

If you are looking for a "Golf Course Community" - this is the ultimate!   SpurWing is the only planned country club community in the Greater Boise Valley and is definitely the Ultimate Boise Golf Community. A divided boulevard leads you through SpurWing's massive stone arches and takes you through the beautiful landscaped club and golf course grounds, ultimately arriving at SpurWing's magnificent clubhouse. SpurWing boasts a superb practice range, allowing you to work on your game after work, right there. You have always dreamed of living at a place like this and you know that there is nothing else like it! Life at SpurWing truly offers you all the attendant amenities literally at your doorstep. What a wonderful place to live, raise a family, enjoy all of SpurWing's facilities, and mee... 05/20/2008

So you're thinking about coming to Boise, Idaho to visit!  We would love to have you!  There are many wonderful sites to see (like actual Oregon Trail ruts), and fun things to do (Idaho Shakespeare Festival).  The summer before I was a Sophmore in High School I went to visit my cousins in Oakland, California.  In Boise, Idaho it is hot in the summer, so all I would wear was shorts.  When I arrived in Oakland at my cousins house, they informed me that I looked like a tourist!  They were embarrased to be seen with me the next few days as we saw the sites.  So to help you avoid the stigma of being a "tourist", here are a few pointers to blend in with the locals. Say Boise correctly!  Saying it the wrong way is  the surest ways to stand out like a "tourist".  The correct way to say it is BO... 05/12/2008