Foothills vs. city limits (Boise, Eagle: fit in, HOA, how much)

[smiles]

We are looking at purchasing a home in a planned community in the foothills. Before we make the big leap I want to be sure we didn't miss something.

Can you compare Hidden Springs to the North End or the Bench?

I enjoy living where there are CC&R's and mostly owner occupied. I would like a little bit of space between my home and the neighbor. 5 ft is not enough. I can not live in tract housing. I have 2 children and a great husband. We will do anything for our neighbors. We would like to live in an area where you know your neighbors and they know you. No busy roads.

Thanks for your input...

[micrguy]

Really no comparision between Hidden Springs and the North End and the Bench. Hidden Springs is a huge subdivision tucked away in the foothills between Boise and Eagle.

Both the North End and the Bench are urban areas close to downtown. The North End is filled with lots of expensive older homes on tiny lots. The Bench was developed after WWII and is filled with homes built in the 40's, 50's and early 60's. Some of the Bench homes have huge lots with mature landscaping. One downside to the Bench right now is that some people are dividing up those huge lots and putting in 2-3 new houses that don't really fit in the neighborhood.

[fabforever]

A have a friend who lives at Hidden Springs and she loves it! The only complaint is the snow in the winter and how far of a drive it is from everything. Also, she mentioned that you don't have a post box in front of your house, so everyone gets their post in the post office built inside the subdivision - which is a pain in the winter. HOA dues are quite high to maintain the swimming pool, gym, cafe, library and post office up there. She also mentioned having to decorate for all of the holidays; it is part of the Subdivision rules. Houses there are very expensive, but most of them have an incredible view. It is an 'upper class community' and the house prices are high to keep certain buyers away. You can visit: Hidden Springs and see all that is planned for the community, I am not sure if they have built the new school yet, but there was one planned. Also, her and her husband were in their mid 20’s and most of the neighbors were older, they often asked what her husband did for a living because they were amazed that two 20+ year olds could afford a large house at Hidden Springs. Now this is just what she told me, so who knows. I visited the community several times and even used the swimming pool and it was all very nice and well maintained. Fab

[smiles]

Micrguy, thanks for the description. That answers my question. We have been to Boise a few times and I did not remember driving through those neighborhoods. We did find Hidden Springs on our own. The realtor we were with at the time would not take us up there. From what I could gather, the builders only want you to deal with their agents, so she didn't want the hassle.
Fab, when you say the neighbors were older, how much older? We are in our late 30's, but have a 9 year old and a 6 year old. We are coming from a neighborhood with mostly older (50 +) neighbors. There are no children to play with and it has been very hard on my 9 year old. One thing that impressed us about Hidden Springs was the children. It seemed very family oriented.
Thanks.

[fabforever]

You will be fine up there, they were mostly 30-40 year olds and the kids were also older, a lot of kids in Junior High. My friend had 2 babies and she felt a little odd living there as most of the moms had older kids. But your kids will be just fine! During the summer the swimming pool is full of kids jumping and playing. It is very family oriented and they designed the community for a certain type of family, so it is likely that your kids will make friends there and end up socializing and going to school with those same kids for years and years to come.

[rickers]

If I remember right, Boise has a neighborhood where the older houses are heated with hot water from hot mineral springs.

[Torrie]

This could be here-say, but I've heard that Hidden Springs is very clique-ish so you should be aware of that, people are kind of into one anothers business. I've also heard (because I have friends who have friends up there), that there are some "Swingers" up in them thar hills. Not trying to spread rumors, that is what I have heard also from other realtors.

[Anchorless]

There are swingers in the city and suburbs.

What is your point what that comment?

[smiles]

Swingers don't bother me...Gang bangers, pedofiles, rapist, tweekers...They bother me.

[idahomama]

The swingers comment made me laugh. I have a hard time believing in conservative Boise there is a huge "swinger" scene. I have an architect friend that moved from Hidden Springs last year (the commute downtown for work became too much) and he had a good laugh when I asked about the swingers. He said he obviously had been hanging out with the wrong neighbors!