A Realistic Look at Boise (Nampa, Meridian: real estate, 2009, cheap home)

[boisefan88]

As per a warning I received about posting off topic "negative" information about Boise, I decided to start this thread.

This isn't a thread to complain about how horrible Boise is, as most of us, myself included, think it's a great place to live. However, I feel that often the information presented here is a little too purposefully rosy, shall we say.

Looking back through the threads in this forum it seems that a heavy majority of the topics focus only on the good and positive aspects of living here, whereas the negative news, especially on topics like traffic, employment, and culture, aren't posted at all.

Those looking to relocate to Boise, who aren't perhaps reading the local papers and news, but come to this forum looking for direct personal information are at a huge disadvantage, and aren't getting the full story, in my opinion.

So this thread is for those types of issues that would be considered "off-topic" in other threads that focus solely on the Chamber of Commerce news releases. Have a story about our recent unemployment woes, layoffs, traffic/congestion problems, state funding for education, the quality of the schools, the housing situation...go ahead and post it here.

Here was my post that was removed, and it's a good place to start. The NY Times did a piece specifically on Boise and the air quality problems that we're facing, as well as some of the federal guidelines we're coming dangerously close to missing.

View from afar: New York Times writes about Boise smog | News Updates | Idaho Statesman
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/23/us...q=boise&st=cse

[jwest09]

I find the cost of housing in Boise to be high, compared to the low saleries that workers are earning.
The traffic/congestion is realy bad for the low population. Nobody seems to car-pool like in other areas in the west.
Lots of people unemployed, and Boise has fewer major companies to hire people in bulk, than other major cities.

[boi2socal]

Originally Posted by jwest09

]
Lots of people unemployed, and Boise has fewer major companies to hire people in bulk, than other major cities.

I am seeing this a lot. People are choosing to ignore the fact that the area still has lower unemployment than other areas. There are a lot of unemployed people everywhere. Los Angeles County, a major population center, has unemployment at nearly 10%. Now that doesn't mean people should move to Boise expecting jobs. People shouldn't move anywhere without a job lined up.

[boisefan88]

Originally Posted by jwest09

I find the cost of housing in Boise to be high, compared to the low saleries that workers are earning.
The traffic/congestion is realy bad for the low population. Nobody seems to car-pool like in other areas in the west.
Lots of people unemployed, and Boise has fewer major companies to hire people in bulk, than other major cities.

I do find the price of housing in Boise proper to be quite high, unless you're looking in an extremely run down neighborhood, or somewhere extremely far from downtown.

On the other hand, housing in Meridian, Nampa, and Caldwell is quite cheap. Hence more commuting, and more traffic, congestion, and air pollution.

The wages are low for the cost of living, however. We have Intermountain living prices at midwest wages.

Good points.

[Sage of Sagle]

Since I only visit about every other month right now, my view is more limited, FWIW.

But I think the traffic around the Town Square Mall area to just be ridiculous given the spread of the population. Reminds me of Anaheim around Disneyland, but on a smaller scale of course. So while the traffic isn't bad overall in Boise compared to California, it's ENOUGH like driving in SoCal that I don't like it much. But to be fair, much of Boise has better flow it seems, so I'm mixed on that issue...

[LPerkins33]

Traffic isn't bad at all here and I came from a city of 65,000, I don't get all of the complaining. You can however complain about how slow construction on I-84 is and how **** poor Idaho drivers are. Keep right except to pass! Stay out of the damn left lane for crying out loud. Seriously it is NOT a difficult concept!

[Need2Leave]

Although trafic and real estate prices have gotten a bit out of hand in Boise. Nampa and surrounding not only have cheap homes, the area is big enough now that there are jobs right here in most any field, there is little need to drive to Boise anymore (abnormal ecnomic times excepted)... that comute is semi-optional.

[boi2socal]

Like most places traffic is relative. It depends where you live and work and how you get there... I do find Boise has some bad traffic sometimes for an area its size and can be difficult to get around in a timely manner due to a lack of freeways, highways, expressways, etc. But it isn't horrible for most people.

[boisefan88]

My problem with the Boise traffic is this: there are only a few major arteries and there really isn't any hope for expanding them any time soon.

You basically have:

-I84 (a two lane death trap from Mountain Home to Ontario, though they're expanding to 3 lanes from Meridian to Nampa now, which doesn't seem to be enough...why not 4?)

-the Connector (probably the busiest road, but also well designed and seems to flow well at all times, with a few very limited times on Front/Myrtle during afternoon rush hour).

-State Street (absolutely horrible situation, and is the primary road that serves NW Boise, Eagle, and Star, and with zero hope of expansion. It will forever be a two lane street).

-Eagle Road (busiest road in Idaho, and just a head to drive, being the primary north/south road).


These seem to be the primary routes for any N/S or E/W driving, though they're certainly not the only option. But then of course you deal with increased traffic lights, local traffic, and shopping traffic on the streets like Fairview, parts of 5 Mile, etc.

The savvy Boise drivers will utilize these streets and ignore Eagle, State, and i84 as much as possible.

[AlleyTD]

[quote=boi2socal;7167886]I am seeing this a lot. People are choosing to ignore the fact that the area still has lower unemployment than other areas. There are a lot of unemployed people everywhere. Los Angeles County, a major population center, has unemployment at nearly 10%. Now that doesn't mean people should move to Boise expecting jobs. People shouldn't move anywhere without a job lined up.[/QUOTE]

Man that says it all (the last line)
It took us 14 months to find a job here - from AZ.
Find a job - then move.

Yes, it maybe hard to do from afar, but the comfort of having a regular paycheck once you arrive is worth the wait.

I love it here.