Real Estate Relocation Guide To Idaho

Relocating from Chicago to Idaho is a major move. You’re crossing state lines and heading 1,600 miles to find a new home in a different community. By familiarizing yourself with the local real estate market, whether your destination is Boise or Twin Falls you can get a good idea of the Idaho landscape and locate the best area for you and your family.

We’ll start with the big picture… Idaho has an estimated population of 1.4 million* and around 82,000 square miles of land. The total number of housing units is 615,703, of which about 391,000 are owner-occupied and 157,500 are inhabited by renters. Roughly 67,000, or 11 percent, of the residences in the state are vacant. The median home value in Idaho is $163,900 and the median household income is $42,865. For an idea of how this sizes up with national averages – the median home value in the U.S. is $185,200 and the median household income is $48,451.

Statewide figures provide a good overview of Idaho, but when you’re planning to relocate to the region, knowing what types of housing are available is the most important thing. So here’s a breakdown of what Idaho real estate has to offer…

About 20,000 homes in Idaho are new construction, developed in 2005 or after (another 77,850 were put up between 2000 and 2004). Idaho has its share of vintage charm as well with 60,000 residences built prior to 1940. The total number of detached, single-family houses across the state is 445,000, and there’s also a good selection of multi-unit residences and condos. Most homes have 3 bedrooms, but size varies greatly depending on where you look. And, in case you’re wondering about how your budget will pan out in The Gem State, monthly mortgage costs in [Alabama] generally hover between $500 and 2,000+.

Relocation Resources

Mark Hall real estate, Sandpoint Idaho property
Mark Hall Real Estate has been serving the Sandpoint area since 1978. Site includes waterfront, view, and large acreages properties. Site features Sandpoint Idaho info and area links as well as featured properties for sale.Search entire Sandpoint MLS from our site.

Sandpoint Home Search
Sandpoint and North Idaho real estate for sale

*All statistics are from the 2006 American Community Survey as shown on the U.S. Census Bureau website.
Sources: factfinder.census.gov and www.city-data.com