Moving to Boise

[urbanhermit]

Hi all,

I just found out on Friday that I have a new job and that I'll be based in Boise. I'm interested in finding out the more affordable and hopefully blue areas of town. Or if any DUers have an extra room to rent out to a guy who would be on the road 75% of the time I'd be interested in that too.

Mike

[IDemo]

1. The "North End" is your best bet for blueness

http://www.northend.org/

It's a charming part of town with a lot of older Victorian houses, a few outdoor eateries, and if you're up to mingling with hippies once a year, the Hyde Park Festival. You are also within walking or biking distance to downtown from much of the "near" North End. I lived there many years ago and loved it, and that was before any of the improvements were made to the area.

[urbanhermit]

2. Thanks

That looks like an area in which I'd be interested. I keep seeing Bench, what's that?

[IDemo]

3. It's the area above and west of the main river valley that defines Boise

There are three rough areas defining Boise: the foothills ($$$), the valley (where the Boise River, downtown and BSU are), and "the Bench", which would look a lot like a bus bench on a topo map. It covers a very wide range of ground clear out to West Boise (:hi:) and a range of real estate choices. Some of the older areas close in actually have a lot of the 'Olde Boise' charm that the North End and Hyde Park do; Kootenai Street comes to mind. There is a general hodge-podge of houses from WWII onwards, though, and a lot of the area isn't real appealing.

I don't know what your financial situation is, but if money were no object I would stick to North and East Boise or Eagle if you're "comfortable", or even the foothills. I would stay away from the West, Northwest and the Bench areas if I had the choice to make again. Then again, if you are a mall addict, it's located in West Boise.

[urbanhermit]

4. Nampa

I'm a little upside down with 2 mortgages on my condo. I'm hoping to rent mine out to cover the 2nd mortgage. That being said, I'm trying to keep my expenses down until I figure out how much I'm going to be making. I've been checking craigslist and roommate.com and there seem to be people that will share their home but a lot seem to be in Nampa. What are the pros/cons of living there? I have a traveling financial services job and my territory will cover MT, ID, E OR and E WA so not too concerned with being in Boise because I will be on the road so much.

Just noticed I'm one of your myspace friends. I'm Hiking Mike on there.

Mike

[IDemo]

5. Nampa would definitely be moving you away from the blue area

It would not be on my short list of places to own or rent in Southwest Idaho. The rent should be cheaper, though. If you were making the morning commute to Boise (~20 miles), the freeway can get pretty bad, but it doesn't sound like you will be.

Another place to consider for sharing a room may be around the BSU area, which would also put you close to downtown.

I put the MySpace page up for the Constitution kind of as a spur of the moment thing. I have to admit I'm not a 'power user', other than posting an occasional blog. It's become kind of an orphan lately.

[urbuddha]

6. Boise link

http://www.city-data.com/forum/boise-area /
Try this link. A lot of good info here.
I have a home in the North End. It's a great neighborhood.

[urbanhermit]

7. Update

I just got back from ID. I got caught when the interstate closed down at the UT/ID border. I knew I wanted to spend more time camping when I moved but I didn't expect it to be my first night in my new state :-)

I ended up renting half a house from a guy in Nampa. It's a month to month lease so I'll have some time to get my bearings and figure out where I want to be.

Are there any DU meetups?

Mike

[CabalPowered]

8. Just stay away from Eagle Road and you should be fine

:scared:

[Left Is Write]

14. Why?

[Left Is Write]

13. It's six months later...are you still here?

I live not far from you.

[urbanhermit]

15. Here and loving it

I'm still here and loving it. It has all the things I love about Colorado, like mountains,trails and outdoor activities with less traffic. The meetin.org group is really active here so I've socialized fast. I know there's a drinking liberally Boise group but haven't attended. If there's a ID DU meetup I'd happily go to that.

[Left Is Write]

16. I would too.

Maybe we'll have to be the ones to organize it!

[Vet31203]

9. Alright!

The more Dem support we have the better chance we can win Idaho!

William J Meyers for House 2008

[Obamaman2008]

10. Boise is Blue

It is most of the rest of the state that is Red.

The best place to find affortable housing in the area and roommates is Craigslist. Also Wikipedia Boise, it has some good information too.

[Vet31203]

11. It would be something if we could turn it blue though

Dont you think?

William J Meyers for House 2008

[evolvingsteve]

12. Yes....

it will be something, something that most think can't happen but will. I have a plan and lots of ideas to make that happen....and if your running for office, well, I'm going to do everything in my power to get a majority for the Democrats in Idaho this election season.
It's going to be an exciting year, I promise you that! Much will get accomplished.