All Blog Entries by Kevin Hughes

The rush of the wind in your face and the pavement flying by bring back that familiar passion and contentment. Nothing but you, your bike, and the Idaho highway ahead of you will make the perfect combination. The most important part of your journey, is your safe return home. In order to keep you safe and to allow you to keep riding Idaho has establish laws for cyclists. So, before you head out onto the road, be sure to review bike safety basics.

Safety Equipment 101
Lights- Bikes are required to be equipped with a light on the front. This light must be able to illuminate up to 500 feet. It is to be turned on when the bike is in use between sunset and sunrise and when the day is cloudy enough that visibility is impaired.

Reflectors-A reflector is required for…

If one of the first things you think of when you think of Idaho is its incredible natural wildlife, you’d be spot on.  When you settle in Idaho and make it your home, you’ll be sharing your home with hundreds of species of mammals, plants, and birds native to Idaho and famous throughout the North and Midwest.  Idaho is a haven for a huge range of unique wildlife you’ve only seen in movies or in pictures, with many reserves to visit and observe the amazing animals. The diverse landscape provides many opportunities to view animals and birds in their natural habitat, as well.

Go on a wild adventure at Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge.  This waterfowl refuge is located at the marshy north shore of scenic Bear Lake in Montpelier, Idaho.  It represents an…

You’ve done your research, you’ve explored Idaho Real Estate options, and you’ve decided to move to your new home in Boise.  It’s a great choice—a beautiful, historic city where you will be welcomed with open arms.  You can’t wait to move.  You’re excited about the majesty of the views and the welcoming nature of the city.  It’s going to be a great new chapter in the lives of you.

But you might be wondering…what's the weather like in Boise?

All weather reports – and city dwellers – claim and experience very mild weather in Boise.  There are four distinct seasons, which are marked by the changing of leaves and the growing and flourishing of flora and fauna.  Boise is truly a beautiful city, and is not subject to the constant rain or coldness in the…

Nothing quite compares to the emotions during your first purchase of a home, it's exciting, suspenseful, nerve racking, and sometimes stressful. Hopefully, your first experience is a great one, but just to make sure we are offering some key pointers to get you started on the right track.

For first-time home buyers looking into purchasing a home, here is a list of things to consider before signing on the dotted line. We want to make sure that you are getting into a home that fits your needs as closely as possible.

Standard Details

There are, of course, all of the basic details that a buyer wants in a home.  That includes the number of bedrooms and baths.  Does it have a fireplace; how large is the lot; is there a rec or a family room; is there a…

When you’re in the market for a new home, you’ll have a whole host of possibilities for layout, choices for amenities, and decisions for you to make together about what you want to include in your home.  You’re starting from scratch, so you should aim to get everything you’ve been wanting.  Go ahead! is a beautiful place and you’ll want a beautiful home to fit right in.

The weather can get chilly sometimes, and what better way to survive the cold than snuggled up in front of a roaring fireplace?  In fact, there’s not really a good reason why you shouldn’t get a fireplace in your home– it just makes sense!  You’ll be surrounded by the lush greenery and woodlands of the American west. 

But then you need to decide what kind of fireplace—gas or…

Do you want a backyard where your son can practice football…with his whole team?  Do you want to be able to throw a ball and have your dog run out of energy on the first “fetch”?  Do you want to have your own garden and grow your own vegetables, fruits, berries, herbs, and anything else you can think of to cook?  If you've dreamed of a yard like this, look no further.

Whether you’re interested in a certain area for your newest home, you’ll have no problem finding the expansive yard you've always dreamed of.  A beautiful, majestic yard full of natural wonders and immense greenery, even the most inexperienced thumb will turn green at the sight of the grass and acreage their yard offers. 

Are You Prepared For A Large Yard 

With real estate…

So, you have finally done it-- you have decided to sell your home. You probably are relieved that you have finally gotten to this point, but you may be asking yourself, ‘what now?’. Well, once you have found a real estate agent, it’s time to prepare your home to be shown. Your home can be shown to prospective buyers in many ways, but the one that needs the most preparation and the most work is an open house. Like the name suggests, your home will be open for the public to tour and see. This can be a great opportunity to advertise your home, but there are some key things that need to be done before you start inflating balloons and setting up signs. 

Go in with a plan 

Like most ventures, an open house is an event that takes a great amount of…

The sun is just rising, peaking through the green forest. It has not yet burned away the morning mist. Moose, deer, and other wildlife, are drinking from the river. Just feet away, the water drops away, plummeting over 110 feet, and crashing into a brilliant rainbow spray. The thundering roar of the waterfall can almost be felt. After all, you’re only a few feet from the top of the waterfall yourself, safe on the viewing deck. It’s an awesome experience. Tucked away from civilization, this part of the Henry’s Fork of Snake River is almost pristine. It’s virtually untouched; a hidden gem. So here you are, feeling the awesome power of unbridled nature. But don’t get settled in just yet. This is only one waterfall. There’s still another one just down the…

If you’ve been thinking about buying a house in Boise, there’s never been a better time. Or, if you already have a house in or around the city, consider yourself lucky! A big draw of living in Idaho is the amount of outdoor activities you can do, and Boise has no shortage of activities to keep you occupied. In fact, there’s a relatively new feature being built along the Boise River. A part of this new water feature is already complete, and they’ve recently started construction on phase II. If you love the water and whitewater, you won’t want to miss the Boise River Park.

Phase I- Completed

The first phase of the park was completed in June 2012. Phase I consisted of rebuilding the existing dam, the Thurman Mill Diversion Dam, and they added a Wave…

It’s early. The sun hasn't quite started peaking over the mountains to the east. Fish are splashing in the creek, and the birds have started singing and dipping over the water to eat the bugs. You smile, relaxed in the comfortable chair on the deck of your cabin. The warmth from the cup of coffee you’re sipping on throws steam into the morning air. As the sun peaks over the horizon, it paints the scene with light. Beautiful evergreens, grass swaying in the breeze, and rivers and creeks burst into existence as the sun officially rises. Breakfast is cooking in the kitchen, and as the wildlife and nature really start to wake up, you remember your plans for the day. You were going to go to Yellowstone National Park.

Island Park might be right off of Highway…