Most Active Cities in America

Julie Peirano | February 20, 2018

Cultural Cheatsheet lists the most active cities in America that will keep you fit in 2019 They listed Boise, Idaho with the following stats.

What makes a city healthy? According to WalletHub, it’s a combination of 38 factors, including affordable fitness memberships, many physically active citizens, and a lot of swimming pools, tennis courts, and basketball hoops. These are the 15 healthiest cities in America. Where does your town rank?

• Score: 49.56/100
• Best category: 2nd best city for “budget and participation”
• Also known as: 3rd best-run city in America, 10th safest city

These U.S. Cities Are the Safest Places to Live, Work, and Play

Ali Harrison | January 23, 2019

Money and Career Cheatsheet listed Boise Idaho as one of the safest places to live, work, and play.

Life involves hazards. Traffic accidents, natural disasters, and other setbacks occur everywhere, but some regions are much safer than others. If you hope to have a safe, healthy life, you’ll want to pack up and head to one of these U.S. cities, the safest places to live, work, and play.

Boise, Idaho loves to be first. It’s the No. 1 most financially safe city in the U.S., and it ties for first with a few others for the lowest unemployment rate. Things seem pretty idyllic in Boise; the town has a “greenbelt” of beautiful trails and parks along its river, and residents enjoy vibrant arts and outdoor scenes.

2018’s Best-Run & Worst-Run Cities in America

Jul 9, 2018  |  Adam McCann, Financial Writer

Wallethub includes two cities in the Treasure Valley area as the best run cities for 2018. Nampa, Idaho was ranked first and Boise, Idaho was ranked 3rd best.

How do we measure the effectiveness of local leadership? One way is by determining a city’s operating efficiency. In other words, we can learn how well city officials manage and spend public funds by comparing the quality of services residents receive against the city’s total budget.
Using that approach, WalletHub compared the operating efficiency of 150 of the largest U.S. cities to reveal which among them are managed best. We constructed a “Quality of Services” score made up of 35 metrics grouped into six service categories, which we then measured against the city’s per-capita budget. Read on for our findings, expert insight and a full description of our methodology.

Source: WalletHub

In addition to beautiful scenery, fresh air, open spaces, and friendly people, Idaho has the fourth-cheapest cost of living in the country. So, we have noticed our population growing. Here in Boise, we are seeing a boom. Newcomers are settling in around our capital city.

According to a Washington Post article “Why people really want to move to Idaho but are fleeing our neighbor, Wyoming” by Andrew Van Dam, the Gem State is no longer a home for coal miners, we have moved into agriculture, forestry, manufacturing, technology and services.

He says there are a few differences between Idaho and our neighbor, Wyoming. One of those differences has to do with the fact that Wyoming has a powerful coal industry and has left the state’s economy at the mercy of the boom-and-bust cycles.

Read Mr. Van Dam’s article found in the Idaho Statesman – Why people really want to move to Idaho but are fleeing our neighbor, Wyoming.

Why people really want to move to Idaho but are fleeing our neighbor, Wyoming

A Washington Post article by
John Briley answers the question: You’re going where? Boise

Briley has been writing professionally since 1993. He has published dozens of travel, health and lifestyle pieces in numerous publications. His website is johnbriley.com

John comments on Idaho’s capital city, saying:

there is so much more than potatoes, blooming with artsy and independent delights. Plus, a river runs through it.

Of course those of us who live in the beautiful city of trees are very much aware of the value of the Treasure Valley and how special it is to live in the scenic Gem State. We are happy you enjoyed your visit to Boise, John. Follow this link to John’s Washington Post Article about Boise where John writes a monthly series “You’re going where?” highlighting the best vacation destinations you’ve probably never considered.

The article includes places here in Boise you will definitely want to visit:

• The Idaho Sate Capitol building – our state’s most-treasured building.
• JUMP (Jack’s Urban Meeting Place) – J. R. (Jack) Simplot, an Idaho entrepreneur was a model of the pioneering spirit. After passing away in 2008, he left behind his legacy and astounding collection of vintage tractors. Instead of building a typical tractor museum, his family decided to build JUMP to honor Jack by giving our community opportunities to continue to inspire, grow, and innovate.
• Freak Alley Gallery – Freak Alley Gallery was born on Dec 15th of 2002. What began as a line on a door has grown to be “The largest outdoor gallery in the Northwest”.
• Boise Contemporary Theater – inspires our community to examine our perspectives and better understand ourselves, each other, and the world around us by creating thought-provoking stories of the human experience.
• Fork Restaurant – creative, farm-to-table American dishes and craft cocktails served in a vibrant, brick-and-wood space.
• Bardenay – as the nation’s first restaurant distillery, Bardenay set an industry precedent by combining a full service restaurant and bar with a distillery.
• Goldy’s Breakfast Bistro – located in the heart of downtown Boise, Idaho. Goldy’s takes pride in its made to order breakfast using as many fresh local ingredients as possible to provide a variety of choices.
• The STIL (Sweetest Things in Life) – create high quality, locally based, hand-crafted artisanal ice cream.
• The Record Exchange – a family-owned independent music store.
• Basque Market – serving Spanish-style pintxos (Basque for tapas) and meat & seafood paella.
• Crazy Neighbor – retail accessory shop with an eclectic product line.
  Offering a broad mix of fashion accessories for both men and women, as well as a complete line of stage makeup, wigs and specialty products for individuals, performers and stylists.
• Dunia Marketplace – Idaho’s only nonprofit fair-trade store selling hand-made items from local and global artisan families.
• Inn at 500 Capitol – Centered in the heart of downtown Boise, Idaho.
• The Modern Hotel and Bar– a re-animated Travelodge located in downtown Boise’s Linen District.
• Hyde Park – an older neighborhood with tree-lined streets is on the National Register of Historic Places.
• Boise River Greenbelt – a 25-mile path that runs along the river next to parks and the famous blue turf of Boise State University.

Photo Credit: Forbes – Best Places to Retire – Meridian Idaho

One of the fastest growing cities – why is Meridian such a great place to live?

From one who has lived in the Treasure Valley all her life, there are several reasons. The first perspective that has never changed.

1. Right between two of Idaho’s largest cities; Nampa & Boise
2. Friendly people
3. Some of the best schools

From a real estate and Investment perspective;

1. Nice neighborhoods
2. Great family activities year round
3. New parks and great older parks
4. Shopping galore including the country’s most  beautiful upscale family oriented “Village Shopping Center“
5. Tasty restaurant choices.

Truly a wonderful place to call home.

So contact Ava, your Treasure Valley go to real estate agent. For her first-hand expertise on area growth & demand, selling or buying or other questions and advice when you are facing your real estate dilemma. Don’t hesitate. Now is one of the best times to sell or buy.

More Proof – From Market Watch:

These are the fastest-growing cities in America

Here are WalletHub’s 10 fastest-growing cities in America:

Western Subterranean Termite

2 out of 5 homes in the Treasure Valley; Boise, Nampa, Caldwell, Meridian, Kuna, Star, Eagle are being infested by these destructive creatures.

Spring is active time for the “alates” as they fly over a wide range to search for their mate, then quickly find a warm moist home with plenty of food, (your wood) to feed their fast growing multiplying family.

All it takes for them to enter your home is a tiny crack or opening in your siding or around foundations. They are voracious eaters that can quickly eat through the center of wood leaving only an outer shell that will crumble.

If you have areas of high moisture and warmth or where water enters siding, be aware these critters could have infested your home. They love humidity and temperatures of 75-95 degrees. If you see long mud tubes anywhere on your walls these are their travel tunnels.

IMPORTANT!  If you find signs of these pests DO NOT disturb them.  For they will secretly find another area to invade, thus making it even more difficult to get rid of them.

Call your pest control company right away.   Image credit: Termite.com

Powder Post Beetle

These nasty critters have a very appropriate name; Powder Post Beetle because they leave powdered wood at the base of their destruction; the wood they are feasting on.  Late winter and early spring is when they start their cycle of destruction.

They lay eggs in cracks, pores, holes and crevices of wood.  Especially vulnerable is untreated wood; like hardwood flooring and timber that has been unfinished. Basement support timbers, unfinished walls and wood are widely affected.

Painted, stained polished and finished/treated wood does not attract these destructive pests.  Be sure you have no raw wood laying around or in your crawlspace. If you see evidence of their activity; wood powder, take action right away.

Call your pest control company as soon as possible.   Image credit Wikipedia

Be sure to contact Ava or Cristina regarding all your other real estate concerns.

As I recently returned from a short trip to my native country, Romania, I thought I should share some things that impressed me positively there.  Maybe there are Romanians here that haven’t been back for a while, and would like to hear how things are going,  and sometimes we can all benefit from looking at how other people do things…

Romanians seem to be happily adapting to being part of the European Union. Highways are being built, and the natives are taking to them like ducks to water. Roads are improving, stores are full of beautiful things, you can’t go a few paces without stumbling over a restaurant or café, or terrace…the food, I could write a whole book about it, but others have already done it better than I could. Anyone who has visited Romania would agree that the food  is plentiful and very tasty, and by our standards, not very expensive.

A couple of things I noticed in the houses I visited: one is a little device that people can attach to their faucets and save water; especially in houses with  young children, that’s  great to have, because even if the children forget to turn off the faucet, the water won’t run…it’s of course motion activated. Similar devices exist here, of course, but I haven’t seen them widely used in residences, and that may be a good idea to implement, or to start asking builders about…

The other improvement that I noticed was the windows opening two ways, like a regular window to the side, or the same window could be tilted and opened only on top. I believe it’s a question of double hinges, but I am no expert. I am sure builders would understand how that is done. Great safety feature for children or pets, especially on higher floors, and a wonderful way of enjoying the last warm and sunny days of Indian Summer…

It was great seeing how Romania has changed, and visiting family and friends that I haven’t seen in a long while. It is even better coming back to my wonderful friends and the place I’m proud to call my home: Boise, Idaho, the United States of America.

~ Cristina Pescaru

FindYourHomeinBoise.com came across an interesting article for those interested in finding a good place to retire. Idaho is listed in the top 10 Best States For Retirement.

 

BankRate.com Article: 10 Best States For Retirement

If cost of living, safety and weather are important to you, you’ll want to consider Idaho as a good state for retirement.

It’s one of the most affordable states in the U.S. Idaho also is one of the safest. The FBI recorded 1,984 property crimes and 208 violent crimes per 100,000 people in the Gem State in 2012. That’s the lowest crime rate in the country.

And then there’s the relatively pleasant weather. Yes, you’ll still need a winter coat in Idaho. But there’s a lot more to weather than just the temperature. For example, Boise, Idaho, gets more sunshine than Atlanta. And with an average annual humidity of about 58 percent, Idaho is naturally comfortable.

 

 

 

Where To Travel In 2015: Top Countries, Cities For Travel Across The World

Boise, Idaho is listed number 4 in an International Business Times article by Cristina Silva. She suggests that this year instead of the usual tourist destinations of Paris, London and Rome you consider visiting one of more of these seven top cities and countries.

1. Vilnius, Lithuania
2. Kanazawa, Japan,
3. Edinburgh, Scotland,
4. Boise, Idaho,
5. Cartagena, Colombia
6. Montevideo, Uruguay
7. Atacama Desert, Chile

Travel guides are encouraging people to travel to off-the-beaten path locales which offer new opportunities to taste unusual foods and try out basic foreign language skills.

” Boise, Idaho. You don’t have to travel all the way to Spain to revel in the colors and gastronomic delights of the country’s Basque region. Boise’s Jaialdi 2015 is one of the largest Basque festivals in the world, and includes jai alai and dancing, according to CNN.  Idaho is also a popular skiing destination and offers various cultural attractions, including wildlife photography workshops.  “

According to the new research by the  National Association of Realtors®, metro areas with a lower cost of living and sunnier weather are poised to see an increased number of baby boomers moving in and buying a home as some delay retirement and remain participants in the labor market.

Boise, Idaho and Raleigh, North Carolina were identified as top standouts for baby boomers for their solid job growth, share of self-employed workers and affordable home prices.

The top markets positioned to see an influx of baby boomer homebuyers are (listed alphabetically):

• Albuquerque, New Mexico
• Boise, Idaho
• Denver, Colorado
• Fort Myers, Florida
• Greenville, South Carolina
• Orlando, Florida
• Phoenix, Arizona
• Raleigh, North Carolina
• Sarasota, Florida
• Tucson, Arizona

Visit the NAR website to read more about the Top Metro Areas Poised for Uptick in Baby Boomer Home Sales.
Resource: NAR Identified Top Metro Areas Poised for Uptick in Baby Boomer Home Sales
Media Contact: Adam DeSanctis

Money Magazine announced their rankings of the ‘Best Places to Live in America 2014.’ The magazine analyzed data trying to find the best places for “great jobs, strong economies, affordable homes, excellent schools, and much more.”

From Money Magazine:

Idaho native and three-time “Mayor Tammy” de Weerd says her favorite part of Meridian is the people. There was the anonymous donor who bought a new location for the food bank in 2012, for example.  And the local philanthropist who donated a $25 million park to the city in honor of his father. “We have a community that gives back,” De Weerd says.

Read the Money Magazine Article – Best Places to Live 2014