Good suburbs of Boise? (Nampa, Meridian: real estate, buying a house, buying)

[LiveinPA]

My wife and I have been looking at moving to either Coeur d'alene or Twin Falls. We had initially ruled out Boise but I keep getting this nagging feeling that those two cities might be too isolated for us.

What areas near Boise should we consider and are there any other reasons we might want to consider Boise area over the two others mentioned?

[idahomama]

Depending what you are looking for in climate, you will see a milder winter climate in Boise than you will in the other two.
You will also see more days of sunshine in the winter. Jobs might play into your decision as well.
Boise also being a larger city obviously has more to offer to offer in terms of arts, culture, restaurants, clubs, whatever you may bne looking for.
If you have children you will have more choices in schooling whether it be public, private, focus, charter.
Is airport travel a concern for you? Obviously you have more choices from Boise than other mentioned cities.
From Boise you still have great wilderness access, as well as skiing up at Bogus Basin.

I can't really offer you suggestions in terms of suburbs as I live close to downtown Boise. The commute from west of Boise is getting worse as the sprawl continues. I certainly would suggest getting a smaller house, close to the city core. It will provide you with greater resale value, less traffic, and great amenities right at your finger tips. Boise public schools are also less crowded than the areas to the west.

Good luck in your decision.

[Crew Chief]

Mountain Home might be a possibility. Weather, like Idahomama says, is like Twin Falls. It's about 50 miles to downtown Boise from Mountain Home. Mountain Home Air Force Base is about 10 miles south of the town and noise from the base, which has several fighter squadrons, is not a problem in town. It's a growing town and the largest employer is the base. We lived in Boise when I was stationed at MHAFB from '94-'96 and found it a reasonable commute (I even car-pooled) Not sure housing prices are any cheaper than Boise, though. At least that seemed to be the case when I was stationed there. Northern Idaho is more scenic but I'd give Boise a serious look. We enjoyed our time there immensely.

[LiveinPA]

Thanks for the responses. I'm self-employed so distance to the city is not something I have to worry about as far as a commute. Of course being close to the city is important for other reasons (social outlets, doctors, shopping etc.) but it is not a trip I need to make everyday if not needed.

I'm just not really familiar with Boise and the surrounding area although I've been told to avoid Nampa.

[Crew Chief]

Originally Posted by LiveinPA

Thanks for the responses. I'm self-employed so distance to the city is not something I have to worry about as far as a commute. Of course being close to the city is important for other reasons (social outlets, doctors, shopping etc.) but it is not a trip I need to make everyday if not needed.

I'm just not really familiar with Boise and the surrounding area although I've been told to avoid Nampa.

Certainly, the commute in from Mountain Home would normally be a lot easier than from any of the suburbs West of Boise (Nampa, Caldwell, etc.) Granted, I haven't lived in ID since '97 but have been back thru the area several times since. The "high desert plateau" starts immediately as you leave Boise's city limits on I-84 and there hasn't been as much development between Boise and Mountain Home. (There's a great truck stop/restaurant about halfway between, though ) We really enjoyed SW Idaho! We loved the social amenities Boise had to offer and the very nearby wilderness. Although Idahoans tend to be somewhat conservative, all of the outsiders that have come, for all of the growth they've caused in the Treasure Valley, have resulted in pockets of more liberal thinking. For better or worse.

[leo_075]

Hi,

Nampa is really cleaning up. When we first moved to Nampa from So Cal we were very skeptical too. But the housing costs is what made us move here. We really like it in Nampa and are glad that we made the move to Nampa. Unless you plan to live in the crap part (which EVERY city has one) then you are fine. I work and live in Nampa for three years, my husband makes the 25 minute communute to Boise every day and the school that my 2 children attend are great. They are just finishing up the outdoor mall here with many new stores. Costco, Target, Petco, Kohls, Olive Garden, Footwharehouse, Micheals, and a ton more. On the way to Meridian from Nampa they are building another outdoor outlet type mall. Not to mention... the police have really cleaned Nampa up big time in the last 2-3 years. As was mentioned in a previous post about Nampa, unless you are walking outside at 3AM, in the wrong side of town, you'll be just fine. Every city has it's bad side to it, I have lived in many, but I constantly hear people ripping Nampa, it's really not bad here. And too note, I have been out in the wee hours of the morning, making a late night trip to walmart when one of my children were sick and I did not feel unsafe at all. Hope this helps a litte!

[ktg]

Nampa is not a place you want to be. plain and simple. I grew up in west boise and yes, the commute is getting awful to downtown but, if you work at home then I think you should consider it. It is a bit pricey to live in a large home but, if you do not need the room then the homes from 1500sf to 2000 sf
are not bad priced and all are relatively new.
good luck! I wish I could be back in boise...you will LOVE it there!

[adicus75]

Do you still live in Idaho or just remembering what you used to hear about Nampa? We came from CA and heard the same thing. Been here for a couple years in Nampa and we really like it. I have a family, I work in Boise and so does my husband. The commute isn't bad, especially compared to CA traffic. Unless you do some REAL research don't start posting things that you may not know everything about. Yes, I am sure you have some articles that you or someone else may start spouting out...then you need to compare it with Boise...there are some very grey areas there too. Every city has issues, there is no promise land anymore....

[indraman]

Originally Posted by LiveinPA

My wife and I have been looking at moving to either Coeur d'alene or Twin Falls. We had initially ruled out Boise but I keep getting this nagging feeling that those two cities might be too isolated for us.

What areas near Boise should we consider and are there any other reasons we might want to consider Boise area over the two others mentioned?

Live in PA,

Coeur d'alene would be my choice!! (and I'm a Boise native, by the way) It is beautiful there and not as isolated as you might think. C d'alene and Post Falls have practically melted into the outskirts of Spokane, which is just over the border in WA. I lived there for 4 years while I was in college and it's a great city for night life and eating!! You should spend some time in all of the smaller towns recommended by everyone (though not Mt. Home, yuck)

[Torrie]

Boise is the best choice for you and your family, hands down. Other cities to consider in the Boise area are Eagle and Meridian. Along with Boise they offer a higher resale value than other cities in the state. Coming from PA you should have no problem with the price of housing here, it is extremely affordable. I am a real estate agent for Holland Realty, the largest real estate company in Idaho. I work in the Boise Metropolitan area. I have lived in California, Oregon, Washington, and Colorado and by far this has been the best place to live. Boise is constantly in the forefront of the media as being one of the best places to retire/live and now was just voted the safest in the USA. I think you would enjoy living here very much. With only 1.2 million people in the whole state there is plenty of room to grow. My husband and I tried snowshowing up at Tamarack Idaho a month back... we were on a trail for 3 hours and we did not bump into one single person! It was like having the whole mountain to yourself, it was wonderful. There are so many great things about this state I think you would be quite pleased; too many for me to list. Please contact me and I'd be happy to help you out. I can send you info from the Chamber of Commerce on the city and surrounding area of Boise. You can email me through this website or look me up at www.holland-realty.com. I'm in the Eagle office and the only Torrie who works for the company. Something else important to point out, you will have better access to travel to more areas if you move to Boise. The airport is a breeze to fly in and out of and much more accessible to other destinations as opposed to Twin Falls not to mention the flights are more affordable for both you and anyone coming to visit. Buying a house is an investment, you will not go wrong if you buy here. There are many years of growth left and if you buy smart you will do very well!