Thinking of relocating to Idaho (Pocatello, Idaho Falls: real estate, apartment, condo)

[naturelover17]

My name is Emily and my family and I are currently researching different areas of the country, as we plan on moving out of state in two years. We live in the bay area, but are sick of the high prices, pollution, crowds, and living in a liberal area. I've heard that Idaho is beautiful, so am looking into it. We're looking for a small town of around 10,000 people, or a smaller community near a town of that size. We'd like a quiet, quaint town, not too hot (<90 degrees), in the mountains or near them, no more than 40 inches or so of snow, and near some source of water (lake, creek, etc.). We love the outdoors, so we'd prefer to live in an area where there are lots of hiking opportunities. We're conservative, so we're not interested in a completely liberal and "progressive" sort of town. Affordable real estate would also be nice (hopefully <$250,000). I'd love to hear from some people from Idaho (Idahoans?). Does such a place exist?? Thanks in advance!

[cleosmom]

Sounds like you might be interested in southeast Idaho. Our summer temps run in the 90's for a few days, nothing too bad. Average snowfall according to statistics at the Idaho Falls airport reads about 35" There are plenty of smaller towns not far from larger places like Idaho Falls & Pocatello.

[Trace_Rinaldi]

Northern Idaho is the place to be.. Towns like St. Maries, Plummer, Worely etc would all fit your bill with BIG lake CDA and St. Joe River, Trail of the Couer D Alenes, etc..
You are also just a hop skip and a jump away from Spokane and CDA for big city stuff. The area is simply amazing. I dont live there YET but have spent quite a bit of time there. It wont be long till we are finally there. Also for $250K you can have a very nice home on some land, no prob. Same money in the bay area might get you a 1000sf condo;-)

[naturelover17]

Haha. I don't think that $250,000 can even get a 1000sf condo....those go for more around $500,000. 0_0 It's really ridiculous...You'd be very fortunate to find an apartment for under $1200 a month around here. In other places that's equivalent to a mortgage payment.

[Sage of Sagle]

My only concern about NID is the 40" of snow issue...60-70" is more common, and this last year it was 120"-plus...but to echo Trace's post, once you get out of the Sandpoint or CDA areas, there are $250K places you can score in some very nice areas with land around you...

[naturelover17]

What areas of Idaho typically get less than 40 or so inches of snow?