August 2011 RSS Feed

The Boise real estate market is climbing the charts again, coming in at #4 for the top real estate markets in the U.S. based on the latest Fiserve® Case-Shiller® indexes for 2011.* The indexes track more than 375 U.S. markets with a population of 500,000 or more.

Rankings are based on the projected changes in home prices from the fourth quarter of 2010 through the fourth quarter of 2011.

As any Hughes Real Estate Group team member can attest, we have been seeing a steadily increasing number of multiple offer scenarios across all price ranges recently. Between a significantly reduced inventory of homes for sale from 2010 to 2011, and pent up demand from buyers waiting for "just the right time" to invest in a home- we have experienced a somewhat hectic…

For those who love music, the Boise, Idaho area is full of oppurtunities- the Meridian Symphony Orchestra offers quality entertainment for all ages. The 2010-2011 season for the Meridian Symphony Orchestra was packed full of musical goodies for everyone.
  Concerts on Broadway
The season got a jump start in August at the Meridian City Hall Amphitheater with an array of music from beloved Broadway classics. The orchestra played selections from “Guys and Dolls”, “The King and I”, “Fiddler on The Roof”, and “West Side Story”.
  Season Opener
The official season began in November at College of Idaho’s Jewett Auditorium. The program included Gray’s “A Celtic Overture” and Dvorák’s Symphony #9 - “New World Symphony”. Flautist Jennifer Rhees, and Idaho native,…

One of the gems in the center of Treasure Valley is the City of Meridian. This lively and growing community in southwest Idaho is perfect for individuals looking to purchase their first home in Idaho. Something that makes Meridian so special is its focus on the arts. In fact, the Meridian Arts Commission's mission is to promote and encourage all facets of the arts in order to make Meridian a premier place to live and work.   To that end, the Meridian Arts Commission is in charge of administering the Initial Point Gallery. This art gallery is on the 3rd floor of Meridian City Hall which is located at 33 East Broadway Avenue in Downtown Meridian. This gallery is open to the public and is free of charge. The hours of operation are Monday through Friday,…

If you move to Boise, what will you do first? Hiking? Camping? Skiing? Golfing? Fishing?  Horseback Riding? Or do the performing arts top your list?  
  Located on the campus of Boise State University, The Morrison Center is the premier performance center in Idaho, and is nationally ranked among the top performance halls in the country. The Morrison Center accommodates major touring productions and performers on the international concert circuit.     
The Morrison Center also focuses on providing exceptional performance space for local artists and on providing a place where artistic growth and experimentation is encouraged. The 2,037 seat Morrison Center is also an educational facility and is vital to the education of students in the Boise State…

Horseback riding is part of Idaho's old west tradition. Even close in Boise homes sometimes have enough acreage and come with facilities for horses. There are many horse properties also available in nearby Eagle, Meridian & Nampa. Horse friendly areas include Spring Tree estates in the Eagle-Meridian area where two plus acre lots with large homes are zoned for horse ownership. Maple Grove acres is another section in Boise where one-acre lots with homes and barns are for sale. 
Many people prefer to rent horses or board them at special horse farms where they can take the horse on a ride nearby. There are several equine facilities in the foothills northwest of Boise that offer boarding along with riding lessons and horse training.
NEARBY TRAILS
The Boise…

With over 16,000 miles of rivers and more than 2,000 lakes, Idaho is a veritable haven for water-sport enthusiasts. There are quite a few companies in the Boise area that rent out all manner of personal watercraft (including Jet Skis and WaveRunners) during the summer months.

Personal watercraft are a great way to get some sun and explore the local scenery, or (for the more adventurous) to satisfy the need for speed. While most marinas rent their watercraft on a specific lake or waterway, some companies offer their equipment for an extended period of time and allow it to be taken off the premises.

Destinations Both Near and Far
Living in the Boise, Idaho area, there are many beautiful lakes and reservoirs that are just waiting to be explored! These…

At least twenty-five percent of Idaho household's energy bills are attributed to electric lighting.  That can add up to quite a bit when one stops to consider the demand and the rising cost of energy.  So what can Idaho residents do to save on their electric bills?  What is the most energy efficient way to provide lighting for an Idaho home?
Energy Efficient Light Bulbs
There are two kinds of energy efficient light bulbs available for homes: Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs) or Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs).
  CFLs last ten times longer than incandescent light bulbs and are four times more efficient.  In addition CFLs use only 1/3 of the electricity enabling Idaho residents to save money.
  Manufacturers have expanded the use of LEDs by clustering them…

There is something special about Boise, Idaho. With all that this city has to offer it just keeps giving, making life exciting and fresh. It doesn't seem to get any fresher than the Boise State University Garden. Hopefully your search for a new home includes a space for a garden. And if so, you must be sure to visit the Community Garden at Boise State University.  

The University’s Sustainability Club has created an incredible community garden. This garden is a sustainable space that functions both as a source of food and an educational (and edible) outreach tool. It is a community setting for networking and education regarding sustainability in gardening and food production.  

The garden was planted by Sustainability Club student members, club board…

General Information
The Boise Idaho School District, is officially known as the Independent School District of Boise City.  For in-depth information about the school district, see their website.  To briefly overview, the Boise School Distrcit is the second largest school district in the state after the Meridian School District.  The school district serves 25,000 students in just under 50 schools.

The high schools offer 12 athletic programs.  The high schools also offer a handful of athletic activities, including lacrosse, ice hockey, skiing, and swimming.

In addition to athletics, the Boise District offers cheerleading, speech, dance, and orchestra.  

The Boise District provides bus transportation to all students who live within 1.5 miles of their nearest…

This post was provided by our friends at Realty Austin, an Austin real estate agency.

Whether you are test-driving a new car or sampling ice cream flavors, sometimes it is nice to try before you buy.  Making a move to a new city is definitely one of those situations.  You’ve probably heard that Boise, ID  is a fun city with lots to offer, but truth be told, only you can decide if it is a good fit for you.  

One of the best ways to test the waters before making the big plunge is by spending a few days visiting the city while you explore and meet locals.  Think of it as research!  You’ll get the most out of your experience when you rent a room or house in a Boise neighborhood you might be interested in living in rather than choosing a hotel. There are…