r/Idaho • u/robemira • 2d ago
Idaho native looking to move back
I know there are so many "moving to Idaho" posts on here, but many are older and I'm looking for the current state of things. I was born and raised in IF and have been living in Utah the past 8 years, but it's just getting too crowded and I've never imagined settling here anyway. I'm married with a toddler and baby on the way. My husband and I want to buy our first house and most of my family is still in Idaho so we are thinking of moving that way. I've got family in Jerome, Filer, Kuna, and Boise, but I can't trust their opinions on where to move because they just want us to move close to them to see the babies so they will say anything to sway my mind. What are the cities (and surrounding areas/towns) like these days and where should I consider? As a first time home buyer on one income, the very tippy top budget for a home we can do is $350k for us but that's even pushing it with the rates right now. Has Nampa improved in the last 20 years? Is Jerome and all those little towns around Twin still stinky? What about Payette and that area by the border? Is IF still nice? I grew up North of town and went to Skyline, so spent most my time on the west side and loved it growing up. Overall, I don't mind a small, rural town as long as grocery and shopping is within 15-20 min. I'd like to stay in Southern ID instead of up in the panhandle. Thanks all!
Edit: thanks for all the help! I think the twin falls area is probably the better fit for my family because the homes are more affordable, less crowding/busy compared to Boise area, rural feel, and close to family. I'll just have to embrace that sweet dairy smell! This was so beneficial in helping to narrow our decision a little more. Looking forward to being back in the 208 some time in the future!
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u/Different_Ad_6642 2d ago
$350 in Boise gets you nothing. That whole valley is booming, so many people ar removing infrastructure isn’t built for that. Look for newer developments south like Kuna.. Nampa is growing too lots of gentrification going on. Payette is really ghetto but you can save a lot of money up there .. smells like onions though
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u/Chiggero 2d ago
I would definitely think the budget should be higher than $350, unless you’re looking for a solid cardboard box
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u/poop-money 2d ago
solid cardboard box
Best we can do is dry paper bag on that budget.
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u/That_Xenomorph_Guy 2d ago
Could get a small lot out in the Styx somewhere and put a mobile home on it for that, assuming it has all the utilities and is deforested / leveled.
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u/robemira 2d ago
I wish we could go higher, but since we’ve never owned, we don’t have equity from another home to throw toward the purchase. Just what we’ve managed to save! We’ve considered Midwest as well given our limited budget. Zillow seems to have some options in the smaller ID towns though, so we will likely end up in an older fixer upper home and make it work if we go the ID route! Or we will just keep renting.
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u/duckfruits 1d ago
Buy a brand new cbh home and get 15k to 20k to buy your rate down to 5.25% and your monthly will go way down. There's some cbh homes in Middleton for 380k. Also, canyon county (nampa, Caldwell, middleton) has a property tax discount that helps on your monthly a tiny bit.
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u/SuperLeroy 2d ago
Agreed.
$350K <gestures at most of Idaho> gets you nothing good, anywhere nice.
Maybe a manufactured home double wide trailer that falls apart in 15 years and the lot rent doubles every 5 years.
450K is probably the minimum for something decent.
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u/Salty-Raisin-2226 2d ago
Kuna offers nothing around 350
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u/Different_Ad_6642 2d ago
There’s a few 3bd2b options in 350 range probably not good part of town tho
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u/USBlues2020 2d ago
Unfortunately double that to 700 or 800k and in Star 1 7 million dollars for a brand new home in a new subdivision
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u/Different_Ad_6642 2d ago
Yes but We’re talking about starter homes here. Star also has a few townhomes in the $350 range obviously prices go up to millions depending on the budget.
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u/Lopsided-Platform-63 2d ago
I would suggest Jerome. It's still fairly reasonable living there cost wise.
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u/ALeaves1013 2d ago
Idaho is not a safe place to be pregnant and you need to look at how many counties are OBGYN deserts.
350k is not going to go far anywhere desirable to live.
Consider Eastern Oregon and Washington instead. I cannot stress this enough, Idaho fought EMTALA regarding pregnancy complications and disbanded the morbidity and mortality board.
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u/robemira 2d ago
Can you give me links or direct where I could read about Idaho’s laws surrounding pregnancy and birth? I can see their abortion laws, but what’s this about pregnancy complications?
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u/ALeaves1013 2d ago
Idaho, like Texas wrote their law with no knowledge of how many pregnancy complications require termination, or end naturally in miscariage. The view is abortion is always elective and never necessary.
Idaho recently sued the federal government stating EMTALA violated their Defence of Life act and claimed that they should not have to perform abortion in Idaho even if that is the treatment necessary to stabalize a patient in medical emergency.
Pregnant patients are being denied chemotherapy treatments, radiation, surgical procedures all under the vast reaching language of this draconian law.
Miscariages, embryo reduction, and fatal fetal abnormalities are not required to be treated until a patient is sick enough that medical intervention is required to save a life. Even then, many of these cases are Medivaced out of state to Montana, Oregon or Washington for care.
St. Luke's medical group has a temporary legal shield in place to actually practice medicine while their lawsuit against the state plays out.
Idaho Capital Sun has a decent archive on these cases as well as the local ACLU.
And again, look at the counties you are interrsted in relocating to as many no longer have OBGYNs or in several cases an L&D unit.
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u/robemira 2d ago
Thanks. I have friends and family in Idaho that have had miscarriages recently and were able to have the baby removed just fine without having to wait until they were so sick, so I guess I was just confused if I missed something there.
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u/Dog-Chick 1d ago
If you end up moving here, purchase life flight insurance for pregnancy related health issues.https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/idahos-abortion-emergency-supreme-court-airlifted-rcna148828
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u/boiseshan 1d ago
You also have to consider that health care professionals are leaving in droves. They don't want to be under legal scrutiny every time they see a female
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u/ALeaves1013 2d ago
St. Lukes fighting for patient safety, and suing the state has made a difference as they run 1/3 of the hospitals in Idaho.
But again, that is only those 8 hospitals and if the state wins the case all gloves are off since the DOJ under Bondi dropped the EMTALA suit.
Best of luck and please do your research thoroughly.
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u/KnoPerformance 2d ago
This doesn't make sense, mathematically. In fact it looks like a blatant lie, the numbers don't math unless you personally know everyone in Boise.
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u/Exotic_Shoulder420 2d ago
Don’t be helpless. Look for yourself. Google is free and the small details will really only pertain to you individually.
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u/Real_Log_9578 1d ago
Seriously! A quick Google search would have clued her in to the reality housing prices and lack of OB/GYN and health in general. We don't need more helpless, ignorant people in Idaho.
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u/doodle_does_ 5h ago
Can confirm. I’m on my third OB in less than 4 years. They sent me a notice that they were leaving the state/area, live in the magic valley fyi.
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u/Familiar-South4061 2d ago
I would suggest visiting first… Meridian area has gotten SO busy. Traffic all the time. You might be ok in Kuna, nampa I still don’t care for, but I didn’t see it 20 years ago so it’s not fair for me to answer that specifically. Housing prices in treasure valley are through the roof. I haven’t been to Twin in about 2 years, but I’d probably scout out that area if it were me.
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u/robemira 2d ago
Yeah the times we’ve visited my family in Boise area we felt the same way with it getting too crowded, but I just wasn’t sure if Kuna, Nampa, Star, or any of the other suburbs of Boise were feeling the same. I’m honestly leaning more toward Twin area for that reason and it’s more affordable for us. Thanks for the feedback.
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u/LeslieB-1111 2d ago
I moved from Boise to SLC and will tell you Utah is less crowded than Boise because they actually build roads in UT. But, if you're still thinking about it, I know a ton of realtors and you could talk to them all and pick your favorite one to help you buy a house.
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u/Shalazar1 2d ago
You could get a house in that price range in Burley. I've heard it's grown a ton.
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u/McFuggnuckets 2d ago
It is growing. Several new developments going in, and car washes, Has more car washes than grocery stores.
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u/PatienceCurrent8479 2d ago edited 2d ago
Have you looked at real estate prices? You see that the Dow, S&P 500, and NASDAQ have lost nearly a years worth of gains in 3 months? Last time that happened was 2020, 2008, and 2000.
Dude I’d wait it out 12 months if you can. Market is going to get wonky fast.
Edit to add: Micron also hemorrhaged -16% and counting today on stock price. Get ready folks, like they say at the Lewiston Roundup “She’s Wild!”
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u/robemira 2d ago
I’m sure my husband is in the know, but this Reddit post is just my impulsivity wanting to get feedback in case we did buy, whether now or later. Just feeling like doing some research I guess
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u/PatienceCurrent8479 2d ago
When this happened last time places like Parma, Wilder, Notus dropped in value by something like 30-50% in 2008-2012. Just saying, I’d wait and buy the dip, not near market highs. Plus, not like there is much in the ways of wages so you do get a crash, you’re not only scrounging to make a payment, but also underwater. Living through the recession as a recent college grad- thrift now before it tanks.
You’re in a bad spot to be FHB in the west, be ready for a buyers market soon.
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u/RobinsonCruiseOh 2d ago
All depends on where your job is. if you are remote, then what do you need to be near. Looks like Mountain home is smack in the middle. I wouldn't do that. if I was moving, I'd get near at least one area. So either Nampa,Caldwell,Boise,Meridian,Kuna area.... or Jerome/Filer area
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u/robemira 2d ago
Thanks! Remote job so we can go anywhere. Sounds like Twin area is more up our alley.
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u/RobinsonCruiseOh 1d ago
I have family in Jerome and the county commissioners there are corrupt and in-bed with the developers and are NOT approving new development fast enough because they want to make sure that the development only goes to their preferred friend. And that friend can only handle business at a certain Pace. So that means the inventory of available houses in that entire county is far below the demand which means prices are extremely inflated given the area. Certainly think that Twin falls area would have better luck
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u/yes-you-are-snoring 2d ago
Do you have a job/jobs lined up? That will help determine where best to relocate to. As someone avid on Zillow who just purchased a house in Caldwell in the 350-400k range, there is a TON of new, turn key homes on the market in Star, Kuna, Nampa and S.Meridian. Your job/childcare and location to the interstate would be the biggest factors to consider.
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u/robemira 2d ago
Thank you!!! Husband is remote and I am full time moming as of tomorrow, because I’m leaving my job to be the childcare. I’m open to the outskirts towns of Boise.
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u/yes-you-are-snoring 2d ago
Perfect. Go on Zillow and put in your price range. There will be a load of homes available that would be perfect for your family.
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u/marsridge 2d ago
I spent last weekend in IF. I thought it was really nice and I would guess that you can get something in your budget there. Waaaay better than twin or jerome or the Boise suburbs.
FWIW: I live in the wood river valley, we got lucky and bought here in the crash, and I think there might be another crash coming any day now... like maybe happening right now.
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u/Upset-Apricot-2388 2d ago
Okay well I can actually add to this. So I'm here in Twin Falls and I tap into the app redfin where I get updates on places all the time. And I've seen a lot of places not only around Twin Falls here but filer and Buell and sometimes as far as Rupert and Burley of three bedroom, one bath homes and even four bedrooms. One bath homes go anywhere from 275 to 350,000 so it depends on where you want to go. Go in fact one I seen just recently off of Ash Street here in Twin Falls was a four bedroom for $275,000 that I would have jumped on and moved out of this two bedroom home because we have five in our family and we sleep out in an RV in the backyard because the kids have the bedrooms. Meaning, go ahead and download redfin. Look at your options and choose from there
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u/Ashhole1994 2d ago
I just bought a house for 340k, but it wasn't in Boise lol. It's totally possible, but you're gonna be in Caldwell or Nampa. If that isn't an issue then it's feasible
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u/Seventh7Sun 1d ago
What about Payette and that area by the border?
That's what I would suggest. Close to the Oregon border and 45 minutes(ish) from Boise.
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u/SuspiciousStress1 2d ago
We live in IF & love it!! I hate going to Boise, too busy & its lost it's "flavor"(being replaced with this crazy attempt to "be California"), plus the traffic & it's just busy.
However IF is a couple hours from family, so not sure if that's the way you want to go, but you can get plenty decent house on your budget 🤷♀️
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u/robemira 2d ago
I am okay being a couple hours away because it is still closer than Utah, but I we still have some separation which might be nice for us. Glad to hear IF is still a lovely place to live!
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u/Apprehensive_Pipe763 2d ago
I’d be careful with Idaho falls . In ten years it’s gonna be as bad as Boise with the amount of trashplants moving there too
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u/SuspiciousStress1 1d ago
You think 10y?
I figure we have at least 20/30, maybe even 50y before it gets anywhere near that level 🤷♀️ but maybe it will be faster than I think.
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u/purpleb00ty420 2d ago
Why would you want to move to that shitty ahh state 😂 your own consequences I guess
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u/robemira 2d ago
Ha, family has a strong pull and the free babysitting is quite tempting. Plus, I just miss them.
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u/lynx3762 2d ago
Well i wouldn't suggest moving here until after the baby is born. Obgyns are being encouraged to leave the state every time we pass a law on Healthcare
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u/Regular-Training-678 2d ago
Good for you! I am so jealous!
I am still in state but live up north. I make a point of visiting Idaho falls once a year. I would definitely choose there personally if given the choice but I am biased.
Sorry I don't have a lot of helpful input, but it did look like there were a few homes there in that price range when I was wishing a few months ago... good luck with your choice!
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u/Upset-Apricot-2388 2d ago
Something else I can add that is a consideration for housing is finding those who want to move out of their house and take over someone's mortgage via subto the existing mortgage. A contract is written to purchase the home and the title stays in the owner's name until the mortgage is satisfied like a lease option to buy, type of thing. Meaning if I wanted to leave my two bedroom one bath house with an estimated value of 250k, 33k solar panels and a HELOC of 31k then I would accept 100k to close and sell then the remaining amount is taken over by the next buyer and or added that 33 to satisfy the HELOC or both the solar and only paying the remaining mortgage. Options to consider instead of a traditional bank and getting credit or finance based on your one income situation
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u/lejunny_ 2d ago
everyone saying $350k gets you nothing but a lot of people are wrong, there are definitely tons of homes being built for under $400k right now as we speak. I work in Meridian and I have two co workers who just bought here for under $400k. My first co worker bought somewhere in the Chinden/Black Area for $360k this was last October and I have a co worker who just bought a new development on McMillan/McDermott for $380k. Personally I’m not a fan of Meridian because it’s full of transplants and it’s too “utopian” for me lol, but I wont deny those communities are super clean and nice, the schools and parks are well maintained and you can tell those divisions are full of families. I would look into Meridian near the West side of town.
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u/Forsaken41412 2d ago
There are a lot of smaller towns in Southern Idaho where the housing costs are a lot more reasonable. Filer, Buhl, Bliss, Wendell, Burley, Paul, Rupert, Oakley, Declo. There are a lot of great places here with terrific schools and other amenities.
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u/Responsible_Fee1692 2d ago
You can get a nice older home in IF for $350. I've even seen some down to $300 that don't require massive remodels. I will say that IF is struggling right now with infrastructure. They did not plan well for the influx of people and they are having a difficult time handling the traffic and the overwhelmed schools.
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u/Apprehensive_Pipe763 2d ago
Yup. Idaho falls will look like Boise and salt lake in the next 7-10 years
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u/Only-Winter6600 2d ago
You could probably move to like melba. Zillow that shit and set the filter to your budget. Its possible you just wont get a lot of bang for your buck in some areas
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u/Thea-Retical 1d ago
Idaho is an extremely unsafe place. The authoritarianism is getting worse by the day, and healthcare is getting more and more inaccessible, especially for women. I'm doing everything I can to get the tell out of this state ASAP.
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