Should I cancel my trip?

[pinkpalace]

It really depends on what you're going to do for employment.

In general, it'll be easier to find a place to work in Boise or Idaho Falls/Pocatello than in other places in the state. I've never lived in Twin Falls, so I can't say what the employment situation is there, but been through places like Burley, Buhl, and Filer quite a bit -- you'd be pretty hard pressed to find a good job in these places.

If it was me, and the Boise/Nampa/Meridian area was too expensive, then I'd look at Idaho Falls and Pocatello. If those places are too expensive, then maybe look for a job first and find a rental until wages go up or house prices come down.

(They've got to come down eventually, right? Boise home prices seem over priced to me.)

[izzy]

the list from bandi seems high. I live in CA...but have been checking the MLS a lot for Idaho. There are brand new homes in Kuna for 210,000. Homes in Merdian in the 190,000. - 210,000. Even saw one home in Eagle for 210,000. I cap out at 210,000. So I've been looking at a range of $175,000. - 210,000. Their are quite a few in the Boise and surrounding areas. I've ruled out Nampa, Caldwell, and Garden City because of what I have read here. But still there is a nice size list of homes to look at.

Izzy

[Nirky]

New housing and low house prices are great, but be sure you like the area first, otherwise having a nice house in an area you don't like will be a burden.

Kuna? Ever driven through there?

[izzy]

No never been there. But haven't heard any negative stuff here about it. Is there some info. you can share with us?

Izzy

[Idaho]

Winters have gotten much milder over the years. It is getting rather UNCOMMON to need to shovel snow at all - You just need a good broom.

It tends to stay "gray" - that is little to no sunshine peeking through for all those months & in January it's dark at 3 PM. The gray winter skies are what really gets to most folks, if anything will, in the northern region.

Home prices are high in areas of 3,000 + population. Small towns still have a few bargains - especially away from Sandpoint and Coeur d'Alene. Get 20-40 miles away from them, east especially of CdA, and you'll find your $125K housing market - google Silver Valley. They will be small homes, as you've noted earlier.

There's my two cents from the northern perspective.

[twinprism]

There are still many home available for 125k in Pocatello. You won't find many new homes for that price, and you don't say what size of home you are looking for, but you can easily find a 1500 sq. foot home for that price. So far in Pocatello, the average price this year is $152,058 which isn't too much more than your price range.

Here's some stats for Pocatello..

In 2006, January through October, there were 1,003 homes sold, an average home price of $142,767, and 89 days was the average homes stayed on the market until sold.
In 2007, January through October, there were 1,022 homes sold, an average home price of $152,058, and a 99 day average.

and for comparison Idaho Falls which is a little higher.

In Bonneville County in 2006, according to numbers obtained from the Greater Idaho Falls Association of Realtors, from January through October, there were 1,399 homes sold, a $145,000 median price, a $160,664 average home price, total volume sales of $224 million, and an average of 99 days that a home stayed on the market before being sold.
In 2007, January through October, there were 1,429 homes sold, a $157,000 median price, a $177,062 average home price, total volume sales of $253 million, and an average of 99 days that a home stays on the market before being sold.

[nwgrandma]

read the housing rates online, for kootenai county
(coeur d alene) or look on craigs list
or view the local paper. Coeur d'Alene Press Newspaper - Local and National News - Kootenai County, Idaho
or check out spokane, washingtons paper.. SpokesmanReview.com

deb

im in coeur d alene, idaho, have been for 15 yrs
it will either make you or break you here. cant live on beauty
we also have the ONLY floating golf green in the nation,
the longest gondola ride, and more.