Boise, Idaho has attracted its fair share of national press recently, and native Boiseans find it more than a little amusing when out-of-towners make assumptions about the city and its vibe.

Read this otherwise excellent travel article about Boise to understand what we're talking about.

The New York Times writer calls Boise a city "once ruled by the bait-and-bullet crowd" and a "mining and farming town at heart."

It's been a long time since Boise was ruled by the so-called bait and bullet crowd, (though we are still proud of our appreciation of and access to the outdoors) and even longer since it was a mining town. In fact, when exactly was it a mining town? During the Gold Rush of the 1860's?

True, the City is bounded by farm or ranch land on every side--though both are disappearing in a sea of starter homes; we know we're a short drive from "the country." But calling it a mining town at heart betrays a lack of knowledge about the region.

The writer also refers to Boise's "rejuvenated downtown and a budding arts community."

Downtown Boise has been resurrected, but for a long time. And the arts community is far from budding; thriving would be a more fitting word choice.

The Idaho Shakespeare Festival, which was highlighted in the July 21 edition of the Wall Street Journal, just turned 30.

The Boise Art Museum has occupied its space on Julia Davis Drive and Capitol Boulevard for almost two decades. Its founding association is much, much older. The Morrison Center for the Performing Arts is 22 years old.

Even "newer" arts organizations are staking their claim and consistently offering powerful and meaningful performances. The New Heritage Theatre Company is an eight year-old local professional theatre with a resident repertory company and a theatrical training conservatory(yes, you read that correctly) that boasts Sir Anthony Hopkins as its honorary patron--and pays its actors!

Boise Contemporary Theater, about the same age, is producing unforgettable contemporary works at its permanent location on Fulton Street.

The list goes on.

We're thrilled the Times writer was here to discover for himself what a rare jewel of a city Boise is--and have some fun while he was here.

But the cliches are tiresome.

Labels: Boise, Idaho, News, Random

We're pleased to see construction moving along on the new Cabela's in the Franklin Towne Plaza that has suffered since Costco relocated to South Cole. Reports are of an August 25th launch.

Cabela's announced at the end of 2005 that it would open a retail store in Boise, Idaho where a robust economy, relatively low cost of living and a growing consumer base continue to attract national retailers. Boise is one of a handful of cities welcoming the huge outdoor retailer, where, according to this article, "a customer's average length of stay is a remarkable 3 1/2 hours, with half of the visitors coming from outside of 100 miles."

This should make Christmas shopping around the area very, very interesting.

Labels: Boise, Growth, News

Boise's newest cinema offering: Edward's Theatres nine-screen cinema. In October, it celebrates its first year!

This just in: Levis Strauss to unveil a Boise store in BoDo in October. Said developer Mark Rivers, "We're getting all of the young, hip brands that recognize Boise as a great consumer market."


8th Street on a hot summer evening.


Miss Molly, a local women's boutique and gift shop, after hours.

As BoDo expands its offering of businesses and retail stores, we'll be reading the Skyscraper Forum for insider information.

We promised photo blogging from in and around the Boise area. Our intrepid marketing director (oh hey, that's me) took the camera out last weekend to capture some local hot spots.


Boaters at Lucky Peak Reservoir fleeing triple-digit weather on Saturday.

Labels: Blogging, Boise, Idaho

We knew it, but Money Magazine has figured it out.

Boise is a great place to live.

"Boise boasts 2,700 acres of green space and trails, with the foothills of the Rocky Mountains serving as a backdrop. The downtown is stocked with boutiques and restaurants, and a three-block-long farmers' market comes to town every Saturday in the summer. The economy is booming, and it's the state capital, which means plenty of government jobs. Unemployment is just 3.1%. While Boise can feel isolated, an expanded airport now means easy access to the West Coast (though getting east is still tough)."

Every year Money selects ten US Cities as the Best Places to Live. Selection criteria include jobs, low crime, quality educational opportunities, open space, "rational" home prices and "lots to do."

It's easy to see why Boise made the list.

If you're considering relocating to Boise or Nampa or Eagle--or any of the surrounding communities, we can help you. We know Boise.

Up next: Boise photo blogging!

RIS Media has an article in a recent issue aimed at advising seller's who have questions about their home's value.

"Request a copy of the appraisal. When you bought your house, you paid for an appraisal. If you didn't request a copy of the appraisal at the time, go back and request it from your lender now. It is your right under federal law to obtain a copy of the appraisal report. Make sure you get one from your lender."

This is excellent advice. Don't confuse the tax assessment on your home with the appraisal. And although we can run comparables on your property (to compare it to recent sales in the area) that number is not equal to your home's appraisal either.

The article also suggests appraising your home before you list it for sale. Obviously this is your prerogative, but keep in a mind an appraisal will be ordered by the buyer's lender anyway. We can help you set a reasonable price so you're not surprised or disappointed by the appraiser's results.

Read the full article here.

Labels: Home Values