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The Blog

Notes from the Treasure Valley

Straight answers on buying, selling, and moving to Meridian, Boise and the rest of the Treasure Valley.

A craftsman-style home with a front lawn in a Treasure Valley neighborhood Market Insights

The $500,000 problem: why Boise’s move-up buyers are staying put

Trading a 3% mortgage for today’s 7.40% rate can add $2,000+ a month. What the lock-in effect means for Treasure Valley homeowners, and when moving still makes sense.

By Josh Roy · October 19, 2026 · 5 min read Read the post → Illustration of a husband and wife studying a rising mortgage-rate chart on a phone outside a home for sale at sunset Buying

Why waiting for lower mortgage rates could backfire — or pay off

Rates are at 7.40% and forecasters see little relief through 2027. What waiting really saves, where Treasure Valley buyers have leverage, and when holding off is the smart call.

By Josh Roy · October 16, 2026 · 8 min read Read the post → Illustration of a family walking from a smaller house with a sold sign toward a bigger two-story home, with coins dropping out of the moving box behind them Selling

Thinking about moving up in Boise? Your next house could cost more than you think

Selling fees, moving costs, giving up a 3% mortgage, and what you could have by staying put. The true cost of moving up in Boise and Meridian.

By Josh Roy · October 14, 2026 · 8 min read Read the post → Free rent vs. buy calculator: illustration of a couple using it at their kitchen table Buying

Rent or buy in Boise? How to run the numbers on a real house

A worked $450,000 Meridian example at today’s rates, what actually changes the answer, FHA, VA and ARM scenarios, and a free calculator you can use right in the post.

By Josh Roy · October 13, 2026 · 9 min read Read the post → Illustration of a frustrated driver gritting his teeth and gripping the steering wheel in evening rush-hour traffic, with a clock reading 5:47 Neighborhoods

The real cost of the commute to Southeast Boise

Rush-hour drive times by area, what a long commute costs per hour, and whether paying more to live closer is worth it.

By Josh Roy · October 12, 2026 · 7 min read Read the post → Illustration of a worried homeowner beside his for-sale sign while buyers walk past toward brand-new builder homes with balloons, an incentive billboard and a construction crane Selling

Is new construction hurting resale home values in Kuna, Nampa and Meridian?

Your biggest competition isn’t the house down the street. It’s the one that isn’t finished yet. Here’s what sellers need to know.

By Josh Roy · October 9, 2026 · 10 min read Read the post → Illustration of a confused person scratching their head at a fork in the sidewalk, with a house for sale on one side and an apartment building on the other Buying

When you shouldn’t buy a house in Boise: an honest look at today’s market

Seven situations where renting or waiting may be the smarter move, and how to tell when buying actually makes sense.

By Josh Roy · October 9, 2026 · 9 min read Read the post → East and Southeast Boise neighborhood near the Micron campus with Boise foothills in the distance Buying

How to compete for an entry-level home in East & Southeast Boise

Why the best affordable homes can still draw competition—and how financing, escalation clauses, smart terms and the Micron effect can shape your strategy.

By Josh Roy · October 6, 2026 · 8 min read Read the post → Trees along the Boise River Neighborhoods

Southeast Boise neighborhoods explained: from Bown Crossing to Barber Valley

Four distinct sections of Southeast Boise, with an interactive map of home prices and drive times to downtown, Micron and the airport.

By Josh Roy · September 30, 2026 · 9 min read Read the post → A hand holding a house key at a front door Buying

First-time homebuyer programs in Idaho: what’s actually available in 2026

Low-down-payment loans, Idaho Housing assistance of up to 8% of the price, and a state tax break most first-time buyers have never heard of.

By Josh Roy · September 30, 2026 · 7 min read Read the post →

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