Best area for older homes?

It looks like my husband and I may be moving to Boise. I think it%26#39;s beautiful down there, but from what I can tell from real estate sites, it%26#39;s all subdivisions. We%26#39;re not really into the whole cul-de-sac lifestyle, and were hoping for something slightly different. Are there any areas with downtown condos/townhouses? Or any historic areas with older (i.e. 20s and 30s) homes? The newer subdivisions just don%26#39;t really fit our lifestyle. We%26#39;re willing to be in any of the surrounding towns - not just Boise proper.

Best area for older homes?

Crabelo, the North End is one of Boise%26#39;s older neighborhoods with the kind of houses you%26#39;re after. If you do a search on a Boise real estate site for ';North End'; you%26#39;ll see what there is. I used to live there and loved it. There%26#39;s a wonderful little area called Hyde Park with cozy restaurants and shops.

I love Boise and would move back in a minute, except I can%26#39;t budge my elderly parents from Twin Falls!

Good luck in your search,

Pug

Best area for older homes?

Hello

I also hate subdivisions. I live in downtown boise in what is called an in fill house they are usually 2 storys on small narrow lots like san fran row house%26#39;s. they are new but have victorian look. depends on your price range hard to find any thing in downtown for under 200,000. but lots of new townhomes and condo%26#39;s going up all the time find a good real estate agent you trust and let do all the leg work for you.

I also recommend Boise%26#39;s North End, as well as another Boise area called the Bench. The North End is a complete delight for walks and neighborhood feel, and the Bench is the %26#39;next North End%26#39; where prices aren%26#39;t quite as high. Both have a nice range of bungalows, built from early 1900s on. No homeowner%26#39;s associations, no ticky tacky bland mini castles, yeay.

If you can get your hands on %26#39;Cottage Living%26#39; magazine%26#39;s November issue, there%26#39;s a nice article on the North End.

Downtown would be a great place to live, because shopping and events are close at hand. There are downtown condos though prices tend to be pretty high.

the only place that I could live in Boise, would also be the North End or anywhere on Hill Rd. near the Bogus Basin Road...up those canyons, but not the bench eeekkk.

I lived in the north end, its amazing. Also the East end is great as well. The north end is bounded from state street on the south to hill road on the north from 1st street to about 28th street. Be careful because there are many people pushing houses in the north end that really arent. The housing costs are generally much higher as well. Hyde park is on 13th street and ressigue. That is the center of the north end with great restaurants, Lucky 13 is the hangout of choice for all northenders in the summer every night of the week. huge patio, great pizza and beer, but with 200 people on the patio having fun the food is secondary. There is Camlback park where the trails begin for all foothill activities, hiking mtn biking etc. The typical northender is athletic, outdorrsy and a democrat, a lot are artsy and it is the gay enclave. If I was to ever return to boise there would be no other choice but the northend, I cannot stand garage farms. Some of the houses are over 100 years old and the mansions are next to bungalows. very very cool.

Also, Nampa and Caldwell are college towns. Each has a section of older neighborhoods that might appeal to you.

I%26#39;m late chiming in here, but here goes. I%26#39;ve never lived in Boise, but I%26#39;ve spent some time there.

I don%26#39;t know what your budget is or how home prices in Idaho compare to where you%26#39;re coming from. That%26#39;s obviously a key factor.

I agree with everything written here. The North End is a great area, but that also can be reflected in home prices. I think Hyde Park particularly has a certain prestige which bumps up prices. There is a bastion of older, attractive homes near the Co-op (Fort and 8th) which is worth a look-see. You should take some time and just drive around in that area to determine what appeals to you and what you can afford.

There is a great deal of development going on around Bogus Basin Road and Hill Road. The Simplot mansion was recently donated to become the Governor%26#39;s mansion and I suspect it%26#39;s affecting home values.

As a personal preference, I would stay clear of the Bench (Vista?) and anything too close to Broadway, which is all around BSU.

Good luck!

Thanks for all the great info! My husband and I are from Seattle, and houses there that we liked were between $400K and $500K, so we%26#39;re aren%26#39;t too shocked by real estate prices in Boise. I%26#39;ll look into the North end. Thanks!