It’s no secret that the Boise area, aka the Treasure Valley, has been growing in popularity over the last few years. This includes the city of Boise and its surrounding suburbs like Meridian, Eagle, Star, Middleton, Caldwell, Nampa, and Kuna. The Treasure Valley has experienced a high amount of growth in a short amount of time. In 2020, Boise was #20 on the list of best places to live as well as #2 for the best U.S. cities to buy a house. But what makes Boise and the Treasure Valley so appealing?
1) Affordable Home Prices
Even though you will hear locals complain about the cost of housing, it’s relatively affordable compared to other US cities. This is one of the reasons the area is so hot for relocation! Often times you’ll find a bigger, nicer house in the Boise area for less than half of the cost in areas like Southern California or Seattle. The median home price in Ada County hovers around $500,000 which is only 26% of that of San Francisco! Our relocation clients find that they can sell their property, buy a house for cash in Boise (or have a minimum loan amount), and pocket the rest of their proceeds to enjoy a better quality of life or buy a few lower cost investment properties.
2) Active Lifestyle
The Treasure Valley is an outdoor lovers paradise. The mountain landscape provides miles of trail for hiking, riding ATV’s, and horseback riding. The rivers in Idaho have several different class rapids for adventurous kayaking and rafting. Plus, Boise River Park is a haven for stand-up paddle boarding. In the winter, the hiking trails turn into trails for snow shoeing and cross country skiing. And if shredding fresh powder is more your scene, you’ll find a handful of ski resorts within a few hours of the Boise area, like Bogus Basin and Tamarack.
If the outdoors aren’t for you, Boise also has a rich art and music scene, and cultural attractions like the Basque Block. Pair this with Ballet of Idaho, the opera, the symphony, a zoo, and a couple of museums and you’ll never be bored.
3) Good Eats
From burgers to fries, and ice cream to donuts, Boise’s culinary scene has something for everyone. Guru Donuts brings a Voodoo donuts vibe to downtown Boise featuring their hipster berry donut flavored with blueberry, blackberry, and lavender. Fork is definitely the most Googled restaurant in Boise, and bacon lovers can rejoice in their personal heaven at BACON as they munch on bacon sampler shots. There’s no reason to eat at a chain restaurant when you’re in the Treasure Valley!
4) Good Drinks
Idaho itself is home to more than 50 wineries and local brewing companies are beginning to flood the Boise area. In fact, Idaho had the third highest employment growth in breweries between 2006 and 2016. The Boise area is very supportive of beer and cider makers, and beer lovers can walk or bike to several along the city’s Greenbelt. In downtown Boise, you’ll find breweries like Woodland Empire, 10 Barrel Brewing, and Payette Brewing.
Enjoy a glass of wine, or two, out on the riverside patio at Telaya Wine Company in Boise or in the industrial warehouse of Cinder Wines. You can also take a short drive from the heart of Boise out towards areas like Caldwell and Kuna to experience the farm-like atmosphere of wineries like Ste. Chapelle, Koenig Distillery and Winery, and Indian Creek Winery. The wine connoisseur in you will thank you.
5) Four Seasons
The climate in the Treasure Valley is truly a four season climate. The winters are cold, but bearable, and it’s rare that the valley sees more than an inch or two of snowfall on a given day. Even when it does snow in Boise and the surrounding towns, chances are you’ll enjoy it in the morning and it will be melted by the afternoon. If you want to experience more than a few inches here and there, multiple feet of snow is only a short drive up the mountains. Spring and fall exist beautifully in the City of Trees, and summers aren’t too hot (minus a few weeks in August).
There you have it – the top 5 reasons to move to Boise!
Although there are several reasons why people are choosing to move to the Treasure Valley, but the first phrase out of people’s mouths tends to be “quality of life.” It’s another world out here. The Treasure Valley is family friendly, and has been quoted as being the next Austin, Texas or Portland, Oregon. There’s something to do here for just about everyone!
If you are ready to make a move to the Treasure Valley, it’s important to have a REALTOR® who knows the area and most importantly, the ins & outs of the real estate market. Even if you’re planning on buying new construction, you want a real estate agent who is dedicated to serving your best interests. That’s where Data Driven Real Estate comes in. Gabriel Gutierrez is your go-to Treasure Valley REALTOR® with a proven track record of 5-Star customer service!
If you’re interested in learning more about the housing market in the Treasure Valley, check out our market reports on the blog.
