It is a question faced by all prospective homeowners, by the most sophisticated and those with the least experience alike: "should we purchase a newer home or an older home?" This question may come across as a "necessary nuisance", a pesky errand on top of an already immense pile of other tasks and considerations. After all, buyers have plenty to worry about when scouting for property: financial matters, the neighborhood, the local culture, the local economy, and various other issues and concerns. Ultimately, settling the issue of selecting a newer home or older home will hinge on one query: ‘which type of home best meets our needs of taste, function, and long-term investment?’

When Older Properties are Better

An older home is the best choice…

House hunting can be hard, but in the great state of Idaho it is hard to go wrong. This is because houses for sale in Idaho are centered in beautiful landscapes, great communities, numerous opportunities for adventure. As you search for your next home, take a look at the houses for sale in Idaho.

Scenery

Now that you have purchased your home in Idaho, moved in, and met the neighbors, there are plenty of other things for you to do when you want to explore your new area.  Boise is waiting for you to find out how wonderful it really is!  Much will depend on the season and the timing, but keep in mind these essential places to visit in Idaho when you live in or visit the Boise-Nampa Metropolitan area:   

 1.  Roaring Springs waterpark--Endless river, water slides, wave pool, and rides.  Makes for an unforgettable experience when you are in Idaho for the summer.

2.  Firebird International Raceway--Exhibitions and races in the spring, summer, and fall.  Most popular car races in Idaho.

Anyone interested in relocating to Eagle, Idaho will discover loads of fun.

We had to narrow a long list to just the top five great events for you to check out. There are many more new and exciting things happening all the time making this a prime time place to buy a home or business.

#1 – Western Idaho Fair – Glenwood, Boise

Less than 15 minutes away from most Eagle homes, the annual Western Idaho Fair on Glenwood in Boise offers fun for the whole everyone. Carnival wristbands allow unlimited rides for the day, and on Promo Day, are only $25 each. Entertainment includes contests, exhibits, ground acts, concerts, carnival rides and games, and, of course, standard and unique concession fare.

#2 – The Arts West School's Annual…

In a survey performed by thumbtack.com in partnership with the Kauffman Foundation, Boise, Idaho received a network of A+'s and A-'s in their second annual Small Business Survey. Boise received top rankings in all categories, including:

• Overall friendliness
• Ease of starting a business
• Ease of hiring
• Regulations
• Health & safety
• Employment, labor & hiring
• Tax code
• Licensing
• Environmental
• Zoning
• Training & networking programs

The Thumbtak.com Small Business Survey looks at small businesses nationwide in an effort to learn what small businesses believe makes a healthy political and regulatory atmosphere. They are asked to rate how it is they do business in their specific location along various metrics.

Boise,…

 According to information taken from the National Fire Incident Reporting System, each year over 75 percent of all fire fatalities occurred as a result of fires in our homes. Fires that affect our homes are often the most tragic and the most preventable. In the latest Topical Fire Report Series for the years 2009 to 2011, fire fatalities in our homes accounted for 82 percent of all those who died from fire.

Significant Findings

Findings from the report indicate that the overwhelming majority of victims suffered from thermal burns and smoke inhalation.

Just over half of all house fire deaths occurred in bedrooms.

Just over half of fire fatalities in the home occurred between 11pm and 7am. This time period was also responsible for 48…

You've likely heard many different things as a homeowner, and much of what's out there is passed along as truth, when it's anything but. Here, we'll examine a few different household beliefs that simply aren't true.

The Bathroom Exhaust Fan

You may have heard that an exhaust fan is only needed in a bathroom that doesn't have a window. While building code in the past may or may not have allowed bathrooms to be built without exhaust fans, it's still a tremendously good idea to have one. Simply put, bathrooms need exhaust fans to help prevent moisture problems.

The biggest problem is that most people don't open their windows while bathing, or they don't keep them open long enough to remove the condensation.

As people take showers and baths,…

New homes are selling again but the features that were once hot have drastically shifted with the evolving needs of the new home buyer. Since the housing market crisis, home buyers have become more practical with the things they want and need, including a short drive to their job and savings on projected utility costs.  Short commutes and smart use of energy resources Ada County and Canyon County, Idaho are thriving places to be and live.

In the past, buyers were raging about wine cellars, sun rooms, and expansive media rooms. But shaped by today's economy and buyer's wish-lists, builders have made some fundamental changes.

Drawing upon a new study released by the National Association of Home Builders titled, “What Home Buyers Really…

The Patio

You've spent all morning tending your garden, or you've just finished a long overdue maintenance project. It's warm out, and it's time to kick back and have a long, well deserved break. A crisp iced tea sounds heavenly, particularly with that famous ever-present cool breeze wafting past you as you enjoy the sight and sounds in your own backyard.

This is one of the reasons why the patio is such a popular feature with homeowners and home buyers. The patio is not only the place where you can entertain your friends over a tasty meal of barbecued chicken or steak, or sip wine on a warm, summer evening; the patio also adds appeal to your home, and value. When looking for great patio space to entertain friends, new homes in Idaho has…

When you hear the words, net zero energy home, a few ideas automatically pop into your head. Right?

But what does it really mean?

For the best answer, we turned to the Net Zero Energy Home Coalition, which defines a net zero energy home as one that produces at least as much energy on site from a renewable source as it uses on an annual basis. These super-extreme-energy-efficient homes balance their energy needs with the use of renewable technologies. In terms of energy, it's a home that sustains itself.

You'll find that there are different degrees of these net zero homes and buildings around the world. Some buildings even supply a surplus of energy while others consume a bit more energy than they produce. These “near-zero energy…