Hi Kathy,
I moved back to Boise 18 years ago. I have lived in east, south, and north west Boise. I have lived in the North End for 11 years now and there is no other place I would rather live an raise my family. I have three children 18,12, and 6. The community is very involved in the public and private schools. The elementary schools are small and close enough to walk or ride bikes. Boise High consistently gets high marks locally and nationally. You can not get the diversity of the North End in a newer subdivision . True, I do not have central vacuum system or a three car garage or CC&Rs , but there are some things money can not buy. Location, Location, Location. There will never be another North End.
Please contact me for more information on a great investment. Anne

Hi Kathy, I just joined Trulia so I hope I'm not too late to help you out.
My family moved to Boise five years ago from Austin, Texas and not one of us has any regrets. Before settling in Meridian, we too looked at the North End, Downtown Boise areas. Our decision to move to Meridian was based on square footage, price, and future growth. Meridian has met all those needs and we continue to growth ie. restaurants, businesses, shopping and we are patiently awaiting the new and biggest outdoor shopping village to be on the corners of Eagle Rd. and Fairview. If you children are interested outdoor activities Meridian has plenty to offer. We all are concerned about commuting to work, my husband especially. He commutes to Gowen Rd. from Meridian everyday and its not as bad as it was in Texas. We all know that growth comes with growing pains but nothing good comes easy. The market in Meridian is well saturated with homes and there are great buys. I would love to visit with you personally so please feel free to call me at 208-695-4626 or send an email to annette@onestopre.com. Visting my website at http://www.onestopre.com will provide you many links to the amenities in Meridian and the Treasure Valley.

Looking forward to talking with you.....Annette

Hi, I realize my answer is a bit belated, but I have only recently become a member. I felt compelled to respond to your question, because I noticed that you and the other responses didn't mention some of the other neighborhoods that are close to down town Boise, and that often get overlooked. I, too, am a California transplant, although from the Los Angeles area. I feel you need to ask yourself what is important to your lifestyle....being in Meridian certainly has its benefits, but for me, nothing beats being close to the heart of the city, its parks, theatre, mountain trails, and the core down town schools are all great, consistently being the leaders in the public reports. Visit http://www.boiseschools.org to view the report cards for the schools in the district. There is also the commute issue, as I used to commute one hour each way in Los Angeles traffic, and did not want to do so once I moved. My job is in down town Boise, and Meridian is anywhere from a 30-45 minute commute each way. If those issues are important to you, but you want more house than the North End has to offer, I would recommend looking at Boise's East End, the Foothills East subdivision, and the Highlands. The East End of Boise is a smaller version of the North End, and has a good mix of older and renovated homes. It is within walking distance of down town Boise, and close to all down town area schools. Further up the hill is Foothills East. Depending upon your budget, you can find new homes for sale that are 2800-4000 square feet (or more), and definitely not "cookie cutter," but the sacrifice there is that you are up on a hill and it is harder for children to simply "go outside" and play in the neighborhood. The homes are a bit more private making neighborly interaction also more of an effort versus the North End. The existing homes for sale in the Foothills East area are an interesting mix, also not cookie cutter at all, and are about 20 to 30 years old. Then, over in the North part of town, there's the Highlands neighborhood. Again, a great mix of homes, but you are on a hill so the same drawback applies as with Foothills East. You would definitely get more home for your dollar there, and be within a five minute drive of all the amenities of the North End with a bit more effort. If its charm you are looking for, and the neighborhood qualities of the North End, then there simply isn't anything else quite like it. For the creative at heart, there are ways of getting a new home in the North and East Ends, but it's a bit messy and involves extensive renovations. Not for the faint at heart. Please visit my website for some ideas of what you can do with a North End property if that's truly where you want to be, but want more "house". As for safety, I think that's a toss up, being that Boise has a relatively low violent crime rate to begin with. See Boise City's crime stats report for more information. http://www.cityofboise.org/Departments/Police/CrimeStatsAndM…
I think once you ask some important lifestyle questions, and open up your geographical area more than just the North End, you will be better able to compare with Meridian in terms of the house size and price/value issues. I'd be happy to answer any other questions you have about living in Boise. I have certainly never regretted my choice, and hope you find it a wonderful place to live.

Hi Kathy,
I would recommend you visit a few of the schools like North Jr. High and Boise High before school lets out for the summer. I'm originally from California too but have lived in Boise since Jr. High school. I live in the north end on 23rd Street. I have lived in several areas of the valley and living in the north end is my favorite. I love being a few minutes to downtown, the YMCA (great for your whole family), BODO, the greenbelt, and if you snow ski you have about a 25 minute drive (or shuttle bus) up Bogus Basin Road off of Harrison Blvd. I think there are more opportunities to keep your kids occupied living in the north end. I have three new north end listings coming on the market by May 15th. Please feel free to call me to discuss. Marilyn Van Dorne, Windermere Capital Group.

Kathy-
Hi. I'm a transplant from California too. My husband and I moved to Boise in 1990 with our two children (then 1 and 3 years old). We have lived in the Northend since 1991 and, for us, it was absolutely the right choice. My kids got an excellent education. Parental envolvement in the schools was high, and I always knew they were safe and well looked after.
Boise's Northend and Meridian are really worlds apart. I'd love to talk with you about exactly what you are hoping to find. I'm sure, with more information, the choice will become apparent to you.
Most of my business is in the Northend, and I would love to show you all it has to offer. I do sell in Meridian as well, but know other agents who are better acquainted with all the different subdivisions. You can check out a bit more about the Northend on my lens at the address below. Please feel free to call or send me a note if you have any other questions.
Sue

Kathy,

You can see everyone in the Treasure Valley has their opinion on the best area to live. I’m an area Native however I spent 4 years in the Seattle area. The thing about Boise is you're not far from anything no matter where you live.

The trails, hiking, and parks are easily accessible and you don't have to pay North End prices to enjoy them. I love the North End just as much as everyone else although most the properties suitable for a family with 3 children are going to get expensive quick. The other downside is there are many rentals in the North End that are run down. Most of the newer subdivisions here have strong Home Owners Associations to mandate that your neighbors keep their properties up.

Meridian has some really great subdivisions. I would suggest either North Meridian or SW Boise/Meridian areas. The upside to Meridian is you are going to get way more house for the money. I also have 2 kids with a 3rd on the way and when it comes to space we can always use a little more. Meridian has its faults as well. The biggest in my opinion is the traffic. They just haven't been able to keep up with the growth. That is why I suggest looking at subs on the outskirts.

As for schools there are many charter and public schools to choose from. Finding a school with a curriculum that agrees with your standards shouldn't be difficult. There are some great websites for checking a schools performance. If you're interested email me and I'll forward you the links.

The Boise area regardless of where you live is a great place to raise a family. That is why my wife and I came back. It's grown considerably and still hasn't lost the small town atmosphere. If I can answer anymore questions please let me know. Obviously there is not shortage of real estate professionals here willing to help.

Kathy, My son Dan, who is 26 yrs old. lives in Meridian in a small subdivison off of Ustick, It is close to the elementary, middle schools and a new high school is coming in 2009. There is a wonderful park just down the road ( Ustick) and it has easy access to grocery stores and great shopping. His home by the way is on the market, it has a large fenced yard, about 1800 sq ft. 3 large bedrooms, a living room and a bonus room. If you would like more information or would just like to talk to him about the area let me know. He wants to return to North Idaho to attend college. It is a great house, would be glad to provide you the MLS# so you can view on line. Jeanne

Kathy,
Welcome to the Treasure Valley. I know you will love it here. I have lived here my entire life and have raised 4 boys here. I think you will find it is great for your family.

North end or subdivision in Meridian? Well there are definitely pros and cons for both areas. As Anna said, the north end gives you things you cannot get in other areas of the valley. You are close to the foothills for biking, hiking, shopping with great old trees and a real mixture of styles of homes. Prices in that area are higher and you will get less square footage for the money. Some people in our area would not live anywhere else.

Subdivisions in Meridian are your other choice. This choice is good for many families looking for an area where there will be families with the same age of children, etc. A lot of the newer subdivisions have schools close by or in the subdivision. There are a lot of communities that have club houses with swimming pools for the enjoyment of the whole family. Granted, the houses may not have the personalities of the north end but my experience has been that people get out and work in their yards and there is space for the neighborhood children to ride bikes, go from house to house, etc. A home in a subdivision on a culdesac would be ideal with young children because of the area they can have to learn to ride bikes.

Just know that whatever you choose, you will have a great city to live in. I would love to help you and your family call the Treasure Valley home and can show you around the area so that you can see what appeals to you.

Give me a call for your personal tour of the area. I can be reached at 208-484-8384 Sharon Walker

Hi, Kathy, I am a realtor in Sun Valley area, but had a property in North End in Boise and happen to have three kids! We loved living in North End. First of all you are close to all the parks and playgrounds, hiking/recreation area and city pools. It is hot there in summer so there are trees in North End and shade from the brutal sun, shopping is nearby (Boise coop) and elementary school downtown (I think it is on the 8th street) is very nice. Property values are often higher in North End, but it has been a good investment for my family. There are nice subdivisions in Boise too, but very generic. The properties in North End vary between old homes and renovated/remodeled ones. Then it is up to how much you are willing to spend and whether they are up to your taste. Whether you like a new house with modern amenities or willing to compromise a bit. Call me if you have more questions, Anna Svidgal, Windermere RE (208)309-2081.