The Buzz About Boise: March 2021

Buzz About Boise: March 2021

Happy Spring, friends! Part of keeping our finger on the pulse of our local real estate market involves monitoring the happenings and changes across the Treasure Valley. Here's our monthly snapshot of some of the stories that caught our eye this month. Intended for life-long Boiseans, newcomers, potential relocators and out-of-state investors alike - there's something for everyone.

If you'd like to receive the full monthly e-newsletter, click here, otherwise keep reading to get a quick highlight of what's happening across our community...

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Best-Performing Cities 2021: Foundations for Growth and Recovery
Source: Milken Institute

When it comes to overall economic performance, Boise was listed as being among the nation's top 10 metro areas. "The top-performing metros have cohesive strategies allowing them to weather economic storms and leverage their assets more effectively. The experience of these metros also provides a benchmark for leaders in other regions seeking to promote sustainable growth and prosperity." Read the full article here.

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Treasure Valley's Workplace: Remote or In-Person
Source: Idaho Business Review

Are you working in-person or remotely? With more people working from home than ever, office vacancy rates across the nation have increased. According to recently released reports by Colliers and TOK Commercial Real Estate, in downtown Boise office vacancy rates have ticked up by about 2.4%. It is worth noting that this increase is substantially lower than the national increase of 5%. And (just food for thought) Manhattan's rate is said to be up 15.2% and Chicago's by 12.4%. Check out Idaho Business Review's full take on this here.

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Changes coming to Eagle Road, ID-44 Crossroads
Source: Meridian Press

The Idaho Transportation Department has kicked off the state's first half continuous flow intersection at the Eagle Rd and ID-44 crossroads. Tyler Coy, ITD Project Manager is quoted in this Meridian Press article as saying "The new design does require drivers to pay attention and think ahead, especially on Idaho Highway 44. I encourage everyone to learn more about how it works by watching the video during and after construction. When we’re done, there will be overhead signs guiding traffic to the right place.” For more information, check out the full article here.

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Idaho's Lower Percentage of Union Workers (But Notable Annual Membership Increase)
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

According to recently released findings by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statics, Idaho has a significantly lower percentage of union workers than the national average. As a Right-to-Work-state, which means employees cannot be forced to join a union or pay union dues, this isn't overly surprising. With that said, membership across the state increased over the past year (which likely correlates to the pandemic's unprecedented conditions). Read the full press release here.

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Newly Listed Restaurants & Bars in the Boise Area
Source: BoiseDev

For many, the past year has undeniably been a challenging one. And unfortunately this is also true for a number of restaurants and bars around the valley. Hopefully both ends of these real estate transactions will be met with success. If you're interested in hoping into the food and beverage game, here is a great roundup of some local dining spots looking for new owners.

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Crime Report: Boise Saw Overall Crime in 2020
Source: KTVB

While a perceived increase in crime seems to currently be a common topic of discussion around the valley, according to this KTVB news article, that perception is not accurate. While it certainly is true that Boise Police Department (right along with the rest of us) experienced new challenges and situations throughout 2020 - overall crime rate actually decreased. Check out the full article here to learn the details (and be sure to note the referenced interactive neighborhood map, which provides an interesting visual of incidents responded to by the Boise Police Department.

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Work, Cost of Living and Politics Driving People to Move to Smaller Cities, like Boise
Source: The Denver Channel

Here's another article that touches upon some of the high-level reasons many are relocating to the Boise area (spoiler: quality of life, politics, ability to work remotely and the cost of living are noted). “I realize [Boise] isn’t a hidden gem anymore. The secret is out, and this place is thriving and booming." Read the full article here.

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Priced out of the Treasure Valley: Housing Prices Skyrocket
Source: KTVB

It is no secret that our local housing market is hot! Fueled by low mortgage rates, limited supply and heightened demand - many homes are being sold for above asking price (leaving some potential buyers frustrated). Check out KTVB's coverage here (and/or view the video below) and then reach out to us to discuss how it potentially impacts your unique situation and goals. We're currently working with a competitive and fast-paced market - be sure you are working with an experienced team you can trust.

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The Toast of the Town: Boise Artist Ashley Dreyfus is the Grand-Prize Winner of the PBR Can Contest
Source: Boise Weekly

Local artist Ashley Dreyfus was recently announced as the winner of the 2020 Pabst Art Can Contest. And we have to say, we're loving the simplicity the saying "There's No Place Like Home". Check out her winning design here and then follow her on Instagram here. Well done, Ashley!

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What's Happening In and Around Boise: Calendar of Events
Source: Boise Convention and Visitors Bureau

As we forge into spring 2021, the community's events continue to be reformatted to adhere to social distancing guidelines. Check out the variety of fun (and safe) events that our wonderful city continues to provide by visiting this great calendar that outlines a number of events that are currently planned for the month of March (and beyond).

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