So, you're thinking about building your Idaho dream home from the ground up? Whether you want more space, better views, or you're just tired of the bidding wars on existing homes, building new can be a total game changer. But—and this is a big one—it’s not as simple as picking paint colors and waiting for move-in day. There are a lot of moving parts to think through before breaking ground.

Let’s walk through what you really need to know if you’re planning to build a home here in Idaho—from financing to picking land, hiring a builder, and everything in between.

First Up: How New Construction Loans Work in Idaho

Getting a loan for new construction isn’t the same as a regular mortgage. Lenders are a bit pickier, and these loans often come with higher interest rates and shorter terms.

There are a couple of ways to finance your build:



Construction-only loan – You get money in phases as your builder hits certain milestones, t ...

There’s a bit of a pricing standoff happening in the Idaho housing market right now—and if you’re a homeowner or an educator trying to figure out what’s really going on, let’s break it down Idaho-style: plain talk, no fluff.
As of March, the typical home in the U.S. was listed at $469,729 but sold for just $431,057. That’s a gap of nearly $39,000—about 9%. It's the biggest difference we've seen since back in 2020, when pandemic-fueled bidding wars were making things wild. But this time, it’s not bidding wars driving the gap… it’s expectations.
Sellers are looking in the rearview mirror. A lot of folks listing their homes right now are setting prices based on what their neighbor got last summer—or even what they paid when the market was red-hot in 2021 or 2022. But buyers? They’re looking at today’s interest rates, tighter budgets, and way more options.
It’s a classic standoff:


Sellers want yest. ...

Home sellers across the country—and here in Idaho—are offering more concessions than ever to attract buyers. Rising housing costs, higher mortgage rates, and growing economic uncertainty are making buyers extra cautious. Meanwhile, the number of homes for sale has surged to a five-year high, giving buyers more options—and more negotiating power.
In Idaho, we’re feeling it too.
Nationwide, 44.4% of home sales in the first quarter of 2025 included concessions from the seller—up from 39.3% a year earlier, and just shy of the record 45.1% we saw in early 2023.

What are concessions? Concessions are anything a seller offers to help lower a buyer’s costs—like covering closing costs, paying for repairs, or buying down the buyer’s mortgage rate. (Note: price reductions are not counted as concessions in these stats.)


Why Sellers Are Offering More Concessions in Idaho
Several factors are combining to shift the power toward buyers:


Mo. ...

Spring and summer in Idaho are prime time for yard sales. Whether you're clearing out your garage in Boise, setting up shop in Eagle, or teaming up with your neighbors in Meridian, a good yard sale can help you declutter, make some extra cash, and meet a few neighbors along the way.
If you want to host a yard sale that people actually show up for — and one that leaves you with fewer boxes to haul back inside — here are some Idaho-tested tips to help you pull it off.

1. Pick the Right Date (and Pray for Good Weather)
Around here, Saturday mornings are your best bet. Idahoans love an early start, especially once the sun comes out after a long winter. Late spring and early summer are the sweet spots — before we all head for the mountains and lakes. Avoid holiday weekends and big events like Art in the Park or the Western Idaho Fair. You don’t want to compete for attention.
Pro Tip: Rally a few neighbors for a multi-family sale. Bigger sales = bigger crowds.
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If you're thinking about selling your home here in Idaho—whether it’s a cozy cabin up in McCall, a farmhouse in Emmett, or a place in one of Boise’s growing neighborhoods—you might be wondering what you’re legally required to tell buyers.

We all know sellers need to disclose the big stuff—think leaky roofs, faulty foundations, or that DIY plumbing job that maybe wasn’t up to code. But what about more sensitive things, like if someone passed away in the home?

Let’s break it down, Idaho-style.

?? So… Do You Have to Disclose a Death in an Idaho Home?

Here in Idaho, the law is actually pretty relaxed when it comes to this. If someone passed away peacefully in the home—natural causes, old age, etc.—you’re not required to disclose that.

But like many things in real estate, it gets a little trickier when you're dealing with more traumatic circumstances.

?? What About Violent Deaths Like Murders or Suici. ...