Are you considering a move to Boise, Idaho?** Before you make the decision, it's essential to understand the pros and cons of living in the Boise area. In today’s post, I’ll walk you through the top advantages and potential drawbacks of relocating to Boise, Idaho. My name is Curtis Chisum. I moved from San Diego, California, as a third-generation San Diegan, to Boise, Idaho, for a better life: lower overall cost of living, more conservative values, and access to outdoor activities. I absolutely love it here and want to share my insights to help you make an informed decision. Top Pros of Moving to Boise, Idaho 1. Access to Outdoor Activities For me, the number one pro of living in Boise is the access to outdoor activities. When I was planning my move from California, I considered several states, including Texas, Tennessee, and Florida. While each had its merits, none offered the outdoor lifestyle I was seeking. Boise, Idaho, offers easy access to nature, with the Boise River flowing right through the city and several suburbs, including Eagle and Star. The river is a refreshing escape during the summer, perfect for floating, fishing, and enjoying the outdoors. Additionally, the local foothills provide excellent hiking opportunities, and the nearby mountains, just a couple of hours away, offer incredible camping and water activities. 2. Easy Access to Major Cities Another advantage of living in Boise is the easy access to other states, especially California. Many of my clients move here from Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and Texas. Boise’s small airport offers direct flights to many cities, making it easy to travel for business or to visit family. For example, I can fly to San Diego in just under two hours. 3. Slower Pace of Life Boise offers a slower pace of life, which is appealing to many people, especially those looking to escape the fast-paced environment of larger cities. The area is very family-oriented, and life tends to move at a more relaxed pace, particularly as you move out of the city and into the surrounding countryside. 4. Conservative Values Idaho is a conservative state, which may be a pro or a con depending on your personal views. For those who value conservative-related freedoms and policies, Idaho offers a like-minded community, lower business taxes, and fewer regulations compared to states like California. 5. More Affordable Living Boise is significantly more affordable than many major cities in California. Although home prices have risen in recent years, they are still much lower than in places like San Diego. Utilities, insurance, and other living expenses are also more affordable in Idaho, making it an attractive option for those looking to reduce their cost of living. 6. Favorable Gun Laws Idaho has much more lenient gun laws compared to California. As a constitutional carry state, residents can open carry or conceal carry without a permit. The state also offers an enhanced concealed carry permit that provides reciprocity in other states. Hunting and fishing are popular activities in Idaho, contributing to the local culture. 7. No Major Natural Disasters Idaho is relatively free from major natural disasters. While California is prone to earthquakes, Idaho experiences very few, and those that do occur are minor. The state is also free from tornadoes and hurricanes, making it a safer environment in terms of natural disasters. Top Cons of Moving to Boise, Idaho 1. Wildfire Smoke Although Boise itself doesn’t experience wildfires, the surrounding mountains can be prone to fires, particularly in the summer. The smoke from these fires can drift into the Treasure Valley, affecting air quality. The valley’s bowl-like shape can trap this smoke, leading to poor air conditions at times. 2. Unpredictable Weather Boise’s weather can be challenging, especially for those used to the mild climate of San Diego. Winters can be cold, with temperatures below freezing for several months, while summers can be very hot, with stretches of 100-degree days. The weather varies year by year, making it unpredictable. 3. Rising Traffic Boise has seen significant population growth in recent years, leading to increased traffic. The area’s infrastructure, including roads, was not designed to handle this level of growth. As a result, traffic can be heavy, particularly on main thoroughfares like Eagle Road and I-84. 4. Increasing Cost of Living The cost of living in Boise has been rising due to inflation and the influx of new residents. While still more affordable than many parts of California, the increasing home prices and other living expenses are a concern for locals. The job market, while improving, still offers lower wages compared to larger metropolitan areas. 5. Strong Winds Boise can experience strong winds, particularly from December through June. Wind speeds can reach 25-30 mph, with gusts up to 60 mph, which can cause damage and create challenges for outdoor activities. Boise, Idaho, offers a unique blend of outdoor activities, a slower pace of life, and conservative values, all within a more affordable living environment. However, potential drawbacks include wildfire smoke, unpredictable weather, rising traffic, and an increasing cost of living. If you’re considering a move to Boise, it’s important to weigh these pros and cons to determine if it’s the right fit for you.  

    You're looking at moving to Boise, Idaho, and Meridian keeps popping up as one of the top areas that you should be checking out. In this video, we're going to be covering all things Meridian, Idaho. I love living here in the Boise area, and Meridian is my top spot for where I like to spend my time. We spend a ton of time here. My daughter goes to a homeschool hybrid program here in Meridian, and we go to church in Meridian. Why Meridian? We have a ton of friends that live here as well, and we do a lot of our shopping in Meridian. If you're looking for somewhere that is very central, Meridian is certainly going to be the top spot for you. We're going to be covering the types of homes you can get in Meridian, the types of shopping that are here, how centrally located it is, and some of the top communities and builders if you're looking for new construction in Meridian, Idaho. My name is Curtis Chism, and I help people just like you make the move here to Idaho. I absolutely love it! If you're looking to make the move to Idaho, just give me a phone call, text, or email, and I'll help you make that smooth move here to Idaho. Location and Accessibility Meridian, Idaho, is so centrally located—it actually means "the center"—and it's located just to the west of Boise, Idaho. We pull up the map here, and you can see Boise and then Meridian. As you can see, it's really right in the heart of everything. You've got Eagle just to the north of it, Kuna to the south, and then out as you head west, Nampa, Caldwell, and Star, Middleton. If you're trying to get to any of these communities, you're going to generally be between 15 to 25 minutes, with 20 minutes being the average.  Living in Meridian A lot of folks that live in Meridian tend not to leave it too much because everything is right there for you. Again, you've got the shopping, schools, churches, parks, and great recreational activities. It's so close to much of the outdoor nature that we all love when we're looking to move here to Idaho. It's a big reason why I moved here—for the outdoor nature. Meridian Neighborhoods I want to give you a quick lay of the land of Meridian so you understand the different parts of Meridian. There really are three distinct areas of Meridian: Central Meridian, North Meridian, and South Meridian. Central Meridian is north of I-84 up to Ustick Road. North Meridian is north of Ustick up to Chinden. Beyond Chinden, you get into Eagle. Then, dropping back south, you've got I-84, the main freeway through here. Essentially, anything south of that is going to be Meridian before you hit Kuna. Shopping in Meridian Some of the top shopping that you've got here in Meridian is The Village. The Village is probably the number one most talked about shopping mall in the Boise, Idaho area. I really love spending time at The Village. There's a great theater here, a water fountain timed to music with cool lights during the winter, Santa, and ice rinks—great for the kids.  Corbin Maxey, a local celebrity from Caldwell, sometimes does shows at The Village with his rescue reptiles or reindeer during winter. There are also great restaurants, such as Sid's Garage, a taco place, and a good coffee shop. The Village has high-end boutique stores like Lululemon, Anthropologie, GAP Factory Outlet, Buckle, Lush, Sephora, and more—all in an outdoor environment.  Dining in Meridian In-N-Out finally came to Idaho, and they chose to go into The Village. It was bonkers when it first opened—people were camped out overnight, waiting in line for eight hours at a time. It has started to calm down finally. Californians, in particular, are super happy that In-N-Out is finally here, and you'll find it in Meridian at The Village. They are building a couple more In-N-Outs, one in Nampa and one in Boise itself. Grocery Shopping in Meridian Not far from The Village, you've got the Boise Co-op, a Whole Foods alternative with all kinds of natural and organic foods. Trader Joe's is also just up the street from The Village. If you're looking to stay within 5-15 minutes of a Trader Joe's, this is a great option. The only other Trader Joe's is in Boise.  Costco in Meridian Costco is in Meridian now, located in the north, almost northwest part of Meridian. If you're living in central or north Meridian, this will be the most convenient Costco for you. If you're more in south Meridian, it might be more convenient to go to the Boise Costco. Comparing Meridian with Other Areas Meridian is far newer than Boise, which has 275,000 people and is an older, more established city. Boise has beautiful Craftsman homes in the North End, with homes around a million dollars plus. Boise also has the Boise Bench with mid-century homes, some renovated with a modern touch. High-end areas in Boise include Harris Ranch and the Warm Springs area. Meridian, on the other hand, has homes generally in the 20-25 year range, although there are older homes too. The village mentioned before helped put Meridian on the map. You'll find homes from the 2010s onwards, with many newer options. Meridian's Established Neighborhoods If you're looking for more established neighborhoods, you'll find a lot of those in Meridian with homes built 10-15+ years ago. These neighborhoods have tree-lined streets with fully grown trees, beautiful in the fall, blossoming in spring, and green in summer. Comparing with Star and Nampa Star is growing rapidly with many newer homes, but not as many established neighborhoods. Nampa and Caldwell have older homes and many new communities. Eagle, Idaho, offers more established neighborhoods with mid-century homes and newer homes, but at higher price points. School System A big selling point for Meridian is its schools, some of the best in the Treasure Valley, in the West Ada School District. On niche.com and greatschools.org, you'll find many A-rated public, charter, and private schools. This is a big reason people move to Meridian, even if it costs more than in Nampa or Caldwell. Population and Traffic With about 130,000 people, Meridian has gotten busier, feeling a bit like Southern California. Eagle Road and Meridian Road are very busy during rush hour. Many Californians live in Meridian, so if you're concerned about "don't California my Idaho" comments, you'll feel safe in Meridian.  Parks and Recreation Meridian has many great parks, such as Settlers Park, Kleiner Park, and Discovery Park, offering tons of recreational activities like baseball, pickleball, football, wide-open grassy fields, playgrounds, splash pads, and fishing ponds. It's easy to access the Boise River, just 5-20 minutes away. The Boise River is a great place to cool off in the summer. Proximity to Mountains You're also not far from the local foothills and mountains, about 1.5 to 2 hours away, reaching Cascade and McCall, a huge attraction for people with cabins or for camping trips. We love camping in Cascade and experiencing outdoor activities in the mountains. Home Prices in Meridian As of early 2024, the median price of homes in Meridian ranges from $550,000 to $590,000. A 2,400 square foot home on a 6,500 to 8,000 square foot lot with four bedrooms averages about $650,000. A 2,000 square foot home on the same size lot averages about $530,000. Smaller homes at 1,700 square feet on a smaller lot with three bedrooms average about $450,000. The average price per square foot is about $264. Comparison with Eagle In Eagle, the median price is pushing a million dollars. You'll find a mix of builders in Meridian, such as Brighton, Pinnacle, Alturas Homes, Tresidio, Berkeley Homes, Toll Brothers, CBH Homes, and Hubble Homes. Top Subdivisions in Meridian Some popular subdivisions in Meridian are SpurWing, with a golf and social club, and homes ranging from multi-million dollar estates to smaller, million-dollar homes. Lochsa Falls, Century Farms in South Meridian, Fairbourne in Northwest Meridian, and the upcoming Prescott Ridge by Hubble Homes are other notable subdivisions. If you're looking to make the move to Idaho, reach out to me via phone, text, or email. We'll set up a Zoom call to find the right neighborhood and home for you. I moved from California and absolutely love it here.

  I made the move to Boise, Idaho, from San Diego, California, and I get asked all the time if I'm actually glad that I made the move here. Do I have any regrets? What are the biggest things that I miss about California? In this video, I'm going to dive into whether or not I'm actually glad that I made the move here and what those biggest things that I miss about California are. If you're thinking about making the move to Idaho, I, a local real estate agent, run one of the top relocation teams here in the Boise, Idaho area, especially helping people move from California to Idaho. If that's you, all you got to do is reach out via phone, text, or email, or you can book an appointment directly on my calendar. We'll sit down, have a consultation, and work out the timeline and the plan for you to make the move here to Idaho. Am I Actually Happy About Moving to Idaho? Well, I think just the fact I'm making this video for you to dissect whether or not I'm happy about Idaho probably indicates to you that yes, I am very, very glad that I made the move to Idaho with my family. A lot of people say, "Hey, why would you move from San Diego? I mean, that's a super conservative city. Why would you ever leave that? Plus, the weather is amazing." Well, I remind them that San Diego was conservative. San Diego is a military town heavily dominated, of course, by Navy bases, etc. However, the entire culture in the military is also moving rather liberal, if you haven't noticed. Very progressive. It's kind of an experimentation for a lot of the liberal policies going on. Not to say that's driving the culture in San Diego, but what is happening is that there are nine city council members on the San Diego City Council, and eight of those nine are Democrats with very liberal policies, including the Democrat mayor. The County Board of Supervisors is three to two Democrats that controlled the policies during 2020 through 2023 when the state of emergency was still in effect in California. So, it certainly has shifted much more liberal even within San Diego, and of course, the entire state of California is just going crazy. Idaho is certainly much more conservative. Of course, there are liberal elements here in Idaho. Boise itself is a blue city, a blue dot in the middle of the red state. It's about 55% Democrat, 45% Republican, so there is some concern among Idahoans that the mayor of Boise wants to basically turn Boise into Portland. A lot of people are trying to prevent that and stop that, but she did just get reelected, so that's a little bit of a concern. However, Boise itself has the more liberal contingent, but the rest of the cities around Boise, around the Treasure Valley, right outside of it, like Meridian, Eagle, and Star, are much more conservative. So, I am certainly happy that I moved here. I just feel a lot more comfortable. I have no problem discussing and debating with people that disagree with me. I've done this my entire life. I'm very even-keeled. I'm easy to get along with, and I'm happy to have meaningful conversations with people. Unfortunately, as we know, that's not usually how it goes, and the government likes to ramrod all kinds of things down our throats back in California. So, I certainly am glad that I made the move here purely for that. Plus, there are just so many other freedoms. You don't feel oppressed like so many people feel like in California. It's so much more free here, and I absolutely love it. What Do I Miss About California? What are the biggest things that I miss about moving from San Diego? Well, certainly a big factor is some of the family that I still have in San Diego: my parents, my sister and her family, and some of my aunts and uncles still live there as well. So, I certainly miss them, but I do still travel back and see them. It's a short flight away. A direct flight, you're in San Diego in less than two hours. Right now, you've got Alaska Airlines and Southwest Airlines that typically have direct flights. Alaska is more consistent; Southwest really just in the summertime. So, you can get back and forth very quickly. I certainly miss my family, but they now come up and visit. I have relatives in North Idaho, so my parents make it a trip to visit us and then visit my dad's sister, my aunt, up in North Idaho. But certainly, the big thing is the weather. You just cannot beat the weather in San Diego. It's relatively dry, although compared to Boise, San Diego feels humid, believe it or not, because it's so dry in Boise, Idaho. But certainly amazing weather. You know, San Diego is 70 and sunny all year round. If you're in Southern California, similar weather. Of course, the more inland you get, the warmer it gets. So, if you're moving from more of an inland area of Southern California or California in general, the weather up here may be somewhat similar to what you're used to. Obviously, inland areas of California get very hot in the summer, 90 to 100 plus degrees. That's going to be like Boise. It is going to be in the '90s most of the summertime, potentially in the low 100s as well, but very, very dry heat because it is high desert in Boise, Idaho. I certainly miss the beach in San Diego. I love going to the beach. In fact, we love going to the bay in San Diego. We have inflatable kayaks. We brought those with us, and we would take those on the bay. They weren't ocean-worthy, but certainly in the bay, we could paddle around. Absolutely beautiful and gorgeous. Yes, I miss those things. I've replaced that with hanging out on the Boise River during the spring, summer, and early fall. You can float on the Boise River. In fact, during the summertime, that is the big activity. You start up at Barber Park, float down the river, it takes about three hours. You can stop, have lunch, eat a snack along the way, whatever it might be, jump in the water to cool off. When you're done, you pay about three bucks for a shuttle to take you back up to your car. The whole process is about five or six hours. Between renting the raft, or if you have your own like we do, then it might be a little bit faster. Plan about that. So, we've replaced the beach with the river. Certainly, there's a lot of great camping in San Diego and in California as well, but there is absolutely amazing camping and outdoor activities here in Idaho that we are transitioning over to and love. We love going up into our local mountains here in the Boise area. From where I live down in Nampa, to get into the mountains, you're looking at about two hours. Now, you can get to other spots closer than that, about an hour, hour and a half away, but the spots that we like to go to so far are really about two, two and a half, to maybe three hours if you're pulling a trailer. We have a camper trailer that we absolutely love camping in. It's this old camper trailer we renovated the interior on, and we love pulling that and going camping. There are a number of lakes around the Boise, Idaho area. Now, you do have Lake Lowell in South Nampa. However, I would not recommend swimming in that. It's kind of a big drainage area for the whole Treasure Valley. Now, we have a number of other lakes around the Boise, Idaho area, including Black Canyon Reservoir in Gem County near Emmett, Lucky Peak Reservoir, and we also have Arrowrock Reservoir, all just a short drive away from the Boise, Idaho area. Much better options for you than Lake Lowell, but great options for fishing, boating, swimming, whatever kind of water recreational activities you want to do. Embracing Freedom in Idaho I would be remiss if I didn't talk about the freedom around the Second Amendment and gun control here. It's so awesome to be able to go into a gun store and simply purchase a handgun with an instant background check and walk out with it. I just recently did that over Christmas time 2023. I went in and wanted to purchase a concealed carry handgun. I'd done my research on it, bought a P365, and I was able to check them out there in the store. I'd already gone to a local shooting range with some friends and shot a number of different concealed carry style weapons and went ahead and purchased this. I was able to walk out with it the same day. No 10-day wait period. Ammo is very easy to get here, a little bit cheaper than what you're going to find in California as well. A lot of my clients that move here are moving here with some pretty big gun stockpiles. It's pretty crazy what I see sometimes. Final Thoughts Those are the big reasons why I made the move here to Idaho. I'm still very happy I made the move here. If you're looking to make the move here to Idaho, all you got to do is reach out to me via phone, text, or email, or you can schedule a call with me on my calendar right down below in my contact information here. We'll jump on a Zoom call and figure out the best timeline and plan for you to make the move here to the Boise, Idaho area. If you're looking to make the move in one to three months, then there are certainly options for you, whether that's resale or new construction homes or spec homes. You can purchase new construction, or if you're looking maybe a year out, two years out, then we can plan for build options with a local builder where we can plan a semi-custom build or maybe even a full custom build for you. \