Where to live near Boise? Ca resident (Meridian, Twin Falls: house, buyers)

[izzy]

Thanks for giving me the figures. I can see Idaho is much cheaper living. Not just homes but other things too.

Okay we have been looking outside of boise. I just checked horseshoe bend and didn't find much. The one thing I haven't done is ask about Boise. Are there any great areas of the city to live with good schools?

[pinkpalace]

That's a toughie. My kids went to Vallivue school district in Nampa, so I can't share any first-hand experiences.

Boise has two school districts -- the Boise school district, and the Meridian school district. There are others on this forum that sing Meridian school district's praises, but I disagree... Meridian school district has some new schools -- true, but there's such a huge amount of unchecked growth in the Meridian area, that most of those schools are immediately overcrowded. In general, you won't have this problem in the Boise school district.

For what it's worth, my brother-in-law is a teacher in the Meridian school district, and his wife is a teacher in the Boise school district. Both of them hate Meridian and love Boise. I know others have different opinions though.

Both Boise and Meridian school districts have good areas and bad areas, but any realtor worth their pay will be able to steer you towards the good schools and away from the bad schools.

The Boise bench area is a good area, with good schools. The north end of Boise has good schools too, but the house prices can be a little steep. (By Boise standards, anyway.)

[izzy]

Hi,

I just posted and it didn't show up. So I will do this again.

I checked out the IF area yesterday. The houses are really cheap. But it just doesn't feel right. I think the resale value will be better in the Boise area. Also it is closer to CA for visiting relatives. Plus if our adult kids decide to follow us...I think there will be more job options for them.

Since you lived in the Nampa area...What do you think of the neighborhoods? Are they small and have hometown feel to them? Or are they one big sub division after another and more of a big city feel? How did you like the schools? Is the landscape nice, trees, or bare hills, or flat land?

I'm noticing a lot of homes don't have fireplaces. That is unusal here. Is Boise a valley with air polution issues in the winter from fireplaces? Do you have no burn days? Have they stopped putting fireplaces in a lot of the homes? I don't know if I could go without a toasty fire at xmas time

Thanks for all your help. I'm going to check out the north Boise area.

[pinkpalace]

Nampa has some good parts and some bad parts. Unfortunately, all of the good parts of Nampa are also where all the cookie-cutter neighborhoods are. The older part of Nampa, with houses built in 30's and later, is not as good.

Boise and Nampa are both pretty flat and bare. There are trees, but most of them were either planted, or follow a river. Boise is not barren (like Nevada or most of Wyoming), but it's not lush with trees like PA either... it's in the middle. Not too different from CA, I believe.

I'm not sure why there aren't fireplaces. Boise doesn't really have a pollution problem... HOWEVER, Boise (and Nampa, and all of the other small towns I mentioned earlier) sit in a valley. In the winter, it's common for cold air to be trapped in the valley by an area of high pressure. The local weatherguys call this "the inversion". When it happens, all of the car exhaust, etc.. gets trapped, and the air can get quite dirty/hazy. The inversion will typically hang around for a few days (or up to a few weeks) before the high pressure is finally blown away and blue skies return. If the inversion hangs around too long, a burn ban will be put into effect until the inversion blows away. Unless you have respiratory issues, the inversion will just be a nuisance. If you do have respiratory issues, then it could be a bigger problem for you. It's normal for this to happen once or twice a month during the winter.

[geo]

The town of Mountain Home, Idaho wasn't mentioned as being close to Boise. Many people commute from there to jobs in Boise. I thought you mentioned being LDS. There was/is a nice LDS community/church there (on North 9th Street or North 8th Street). I would think that homes and land would still be cheaper in Mtn. Home than other surrounding areas of Boise. The population is under 12,000, but there is a military base 10 miles away with a population of around 8,000, I think. There is less crime there than around the Boise/Nampa/Caldwell/Meridian areas. I have lived in both Boise and Mtn. Home. I prefer the smaller town of Mtn. Home, but would not prefer to live in either place again. IF I was Mormon, however, I'd probably STRONGLY consider a move back to Mtn. Home after visiting with the church there and checking it out to see if it's still the way it was. When I was there, that particular church denomination was pretty impressive--friendly & tightknit, would help you to feel a part of the community and like family--no matter where you're from. Lots of activities within the church there for you and your kids would keep you all from being the Mtn. Home complainers who can be found repeating over and over, "I can't wait to get out of Mtn. Home. There's nothing to do here."

[unplugthephone]

some things to think about. Idaho is cold and windy in the winter and hot and dusty and windy in the summer. their taxes have been going up and they are not protected by property tax relief to any great extent. as an outsider coming in, you will be resented as someone who has raised the cost of living in idaho. idaho charges sales tax on food, too. it's already been mentioned the lack of trees. if you are already used to high taxes, no trees, grit in your teeth from the wind and long flat stretches of land, then go for it. otherwise, you might be sorry you left and have a hard time coming back.

[izzy]

Hi unplug,

How far out does the green belt extended does it go as far as Meridian and Kuna? How about Mountain Home or Eagle? As far as the weather. Where we are at now is Dry, hot (115 this summer), no wind. Winter is cold enough for hail, lots of rain, some wind. Brown grassy hills in the summer with oak trees.

I wish for some wind in the heat. Lots of rattle snakes and other critters. But our move is more about retirement plans. We have kids at home but we are an older couple. My husband would make good money in your area...well good by Idaho standards not CA. He is specialized in his field. We have already checked the wages...about $18. an hour in Idaho...$22. an hour in CA.

If we are resented then we won't be alone. I understand there are many CA folks coming to Idaho. My kids usually make friends quickly and kids help break the ice with new neighbors. Being LDS will but a plus in most neighborhoods I think. We would have the support of our ward and CA is only a 10 hour drive and a little over an hour plane.

We have friends that have lived and worked in Idaho and loved it.

Izzy

[izzy]

Hi geo,
Just saw your post. I will go check out Mountain home right now. Thanks for the idea. Our choices right now, based on our research are Eagle, Kuna, Meridian in that order. Wards can be different in personalty so I'm glad to hear about Mountain Ranch ward. Type of wards are a consideration I also want to check out Boise itself. But it might be too expensive and deciding good neighborhood/schools might be tricky.

I do like a small community feel. Although, I like shopping, plays, and fine arts too.

Thanks again,
Izzy

[izzy]

Hi Geo,

Just checked out Mountain home. It is to far from Boise. My hubby doesn't want to commute more than a half hour. But does look like a nice place to live Thanks again.

Izzy

[Pineboy]

Originally Posted by unplugthephone

some things to think about. Idaho is cold and windy in the winter and hot and dusty and windy in the summer. their taxes have been going up and they are not protected by property tax relief to any great extent. as an outsider coming in, you will be resented as someone who has raised the cost of living in idaho. idaho charges sales tax on food, too. it's already been mentioned the lack of trees. if you are already used to high taxes, no trees, grit in your teeth from the wind and long flat stretches of land, then go for it. otherwise, you might be sorry you left and have a hard time coming back.

Depends on which part of Idaho you live in. If you are in Eastern Idaho you will deal with the wind, if you live in a small agricultural comminuty on the Snake River Plain you will deal with wind and dust. The Snake Plain in southern idaho is somewhat flat but mountains are always in view. But the plain does have many interesting areas to visit like the Snake River Canyon--but like I said anywhere you are on the plain you can see mountains. If you have been all over this state you would know that what you say in your post is a flat out lie. Idaho is one of the most mountainess states in the country so it is far from flat. Also the desert is treeless (just like the desert in any other state in the western US including Oregon and Washington which are each about half flat desert). You paint a pretty negative picture of Idaho which is silly. There are many forests and mountains nearby any Idaho town or city. For instance, Boise is situated where the desert , which is magnificant with the deep canyonlands south of the city ,meets the forests and mountians. From Boise north, east and west, the land is forested all of the way up Idaho to Canada. Look at a map--there are forests over half of Idaho and Mountains everywhere.
You must be a NIMBY who does not want anyone to move here, is that correct? I don't think people who live here are as negative as you portray them. Are you a happy person? Idaho has a very diverse landscape and some of the most beautiful scenery anywhere. We have the largest forested wilderness areas in the lower 48 and the most miles of wild whitewater rivers in the lower 48. We also have some of this nations most productive farmland which does feed your negative mouth and belly. IF you have dust in your teeth, then close your mouth. There are many, many Idaho cities that are in forested areas. The Snake Plain is not what Idaho is all about.
Get a clue idiot.