Boise, Idaho relocation guide
Moving to Boise?
Start with someone who lives here.
Real costs, real neighborhoods, and a straight answer on whether Boise fits your life.
Justin Murillo, REALTOR® with Amherst Madison, serving the Treasure Valley.
Based in Boise is written for people moving from out of state: California, Washington, and Oregon buyers, retirees, and new Micron hires.
Start here
Three guides for moving to Boise
Read them in order, then call me when you want specific numbers.
The moving plan
Moving to Boise
What the move costs, how to buy from out of state, and a rental to land in while you house hunt. I manage rentals here, so you won't sign a lease sight unseen.
Read the guide
Where to live
Boise Neighborhoods
North End, the Bench, Meridian, Eagle, Star, Kuna. How each area feels, who it suits, and what a home there costs.
Read the guide
Day to day
Living in Boise
Seasons, commutes, schools, and the airport. The everyday trade-offs of life in the Treasure Valley, good and bad.
Read the guideGet oriented
The best neighborhoods in Boise and the valley
North End
Historic tree-lined streets and craftsman homes, a short walk or bike ride to downtown.
The Bench
Flat mid-century blocks with wide foothill views, close to the airport and the university.
Meridian
Idaho's second-largest city, with newer subdivisions, big parks, and shopping at The Village at Meridian.
Eagle
Ranch-country character along the river, bigger lots, and older established neighborhoods.
Star
The small-town option. Still farm country at heart, adding homes faster than the roads keep up.
Kuna
South-valley farmland and newer subdivisions, with some of the lowest prices in Ada County.
Boise lifestyles
Find your Boise
Pick what your weekends look like. I'll tell you which neighborhoods put you closest to it.
Hiking and trails
Ridge to Rivers foothills trails, minutes from most front doors.
Fishing
Trout in the Boise River right through town, and bigger water an hour out.
The river
Float from Barber Park to Ann Morrison Park on a summer afternoon.
Golf
Public courses across the valley, with a season from spring into fall.
Skiing
Bogus Basin, a nonprofit ski area about 40 minutes from downtown.
Dog life
Off-leash parks, dog-friendly trails, and patios that bring out the water bowl.
Shopping and food
Local shops and restaurants downtown, plus The Village at Meridian.
Schools and parks
Several school districts across the valley, with boundaries set by address, plus parks in every city.
Justin Murillo, REALTOR®
Amherst Madison · The guy who answers his own phone
Meet Justin
The guy who answers his phone.
I am Justin Murillo, a REALTOR® with Amherst Madison in Boise. Most of my buyers come from California, Washington, and Oregon, and nearly all of them start the search from far away. I know the questions you are asking because I hear them every week.
- Video walkthroughs before you ever book a flight
- Remote offers, inspections, and closing handled for you
- Straight talk on traffic, summer heat, and winter inversions
Moving from out of state?
Buying a home in Boise from out of state
Buying from 800 miles away is normal around here. Here is how we do it without wasted flights or surprises at closing.
Live video tours, not photo roulette
I will walk the whole house on a video call, open the closets, check the basement for you, and point out what the listing photos hide.
Close from your current city
Offers, inspections, and closing can all happen remotely. I have closed homes for buyers who met their neighborhood on FaceTime.
Help timing the sale of your current home
Sell the old house, buy the new one, or bridge between them. I will lay out the order and the costs so you are not camping out between moves.
Our guide to buying a Boise home from out of state walks through Idaho's disclosure deadlines, remote closings, and wire fraud protection.
Tell me your timeline
This is what your Thursday could look like.
Straight answers only
Boise is not a cheap city anymore, and not everyone should move here. I will tell you what I would do if it were my money.
For buyers moving to Boise
Your home base for house hunting in Boise.
When you come to Boise to look at homes, stay in one of my furnished rentals at a relocation rate. Each one is set up for a house-hunting trip, with a few Boise favorites waiting when you arrive: local coffee and snacks, a map of the neighborhoods worth seeing, and my list of places to eat nearby.
No obligation. We'll have a short meeting about your move, then you can enjoy the rest of your trip with my recommendations.
Prefer to talk now? Call or text (805) 720-9197 and skip the form.
From the Based in Boise blog
Short, sourced answers to the questions people ask before they move.
Moving to Boise: common questions
What areas does Justin serve?
Justin serves Boise and the Treasure Valley: Meridian, Eagle, Star, Kuna, and Nampa.
Who does Justin help move to Boise?
Most of Justin's buyers come from California, Washington, and Oregon, and he is set up for out-of-state buyers, retirees, and new Micron hires.
Can I buy a Boise home from out of state?
Yes. Justin does live video tours of homes, and offers, inspections, and closing can all happen remotely.
What neighborhoods are closest to Micron in Boise?
Southeast Boise, where Micron's headquarters is, and the Bench, about 15 minutes or less off-peak. Meridian is about 20 to 25 minutes away.