Always wanted to own a home? You’re in luck. Boise is selling homes for cheap.

Nick Rosenberger
·4 min read
1

A few lucky home buyers will have the chance to buy a house and three condos from the city of Boise for well below market prices.

The house is at 1250 W. Dundee St., in the South Boise Village neighborhood, a few blocks from Manitou Park and Garfield Elementary School.



The condos are at 2728, 2752 and 2952 W. Cherry Lane in the Boise Bench near Hawthorne Elementary School.

Each property was appraised for well over $300,000, but they’re now up for sale for $250,000 each for a buyer whose household income is at or below 80% of the area median income.

For a two-person household in 2023, 80% of the median income in Boise is $57,050 per year, according to the city. A one-person household would need to make no more than $49,950 to qualify for the homes.

The city is selling this house at 1250 W. Dundee St. for $250,000 for people making under 80% of the area median income.
The city is selling this house at 1250 W. Dundee St. for $250,000 for people making under 80% of the area median income.

The 960-square-foot, three-bedroom, one-and-a-half bathroom house on Dundee was built in 1994 and has central heating and attached parking, according to the Ada County assessor. The one-story house has a fenced backyard with a fire pit and easy access to Interstate 84, according to Boise real estate agency Do Work Realty.

The house at 1250 W. Dundee St. includes a spacious back yard with a fire pit.
The house at 1250 W. Dundee St. includes a spacious back yard with a fire pit.
The Dundee house features a full kitchen with a dishwasher, stove and refrigerator.
The Dundee house features a full kitchen with a dishwasher, stove and refrigerator.

The 1,381-square-foot, two-story condos were built in 1996. Each has three bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms, according to the assessor.

Each condo features an open-concept floor plan with a downstairs living room, pass-through kitchen and a fenced backyard, according to Do Work Realty. All three rooms and two full bathrooms are upstairs. Each condo has a detached garage and an additional parking spot.

Maureen Brewer, the city’s housing and community development senior manager, said in an email that Boise is selling the properties to increase affordable housing availability across income levels.

The city is selling this two-story condo at 2728 W. Cherry Lane for $250,000. The condo comes with three bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms.
The city is selling this two-story condo at 2728 W. Cherry Lane for $250,000. The condo comes with three bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms.

“This allows us to continue to work toward our goal of a home for everyone at every budget,” Brewer said.

Interested buyers don’t have to be Boise residents to apply. But Brewer said the buyer must plan to use the home as their primary residence — meaning the buyer would become a Boise resident if they’re not already.

How to make an offer

For those interested in making an offer on one of the homes, there are a few key requirements.

First, you need to include lender pre-approval or commitment letters for all financing and a primary loan application with your offer. The lender will need to verify your income, assets, debt and any other property details.

“The goal is to make sure that potential buyers are not overly burdened by housing costs and can manage their overall debt responsibly,” Brewer said.

You should submit offers through a real estate agent. The city is accepting offers now until 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 29 and is expecting to close on the homes by Nov. 30 — just in time for the holidays.

You will need to finish an approved Department of Housing and Urban Development home-ownership counseling course before submitting an offer to purchase. You will need to include proof they finished the course with the offer.

The Idaho Housing and Finance Association offers both online and in-person courses through Finally Home! Homebuyer Education. Applicants can take an online class for $50 at any time, while an in-person class costs $10 to $20, depending on location.

The next in-person course will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m on Saturday, Sept. 23, in Boise. Interested buyers can register online to in-person or online courses by going to idahohousing.com and clicking on “Homebuyer Education” under the “Homeownership” tab.

The condo at 2728 W. Cherry Lane features a large, open-concept floor plan on the first floor.
The condo at 2728 W. Cherry Lane features a large, open-concept floor plan on the first floor.

Buyers will also need a credit report and will need to submit verification of their income and financial resources, including two months of documentation. Incomes cannot exceed 80% of the area median income. The city of Boise provides income guidelines online by visiting cityofboise.org and searching for “income guidelines.”

If they receive multiple offers on the property, Brewer said they will select the winner at random rather than ranking candidates.

“The first offer that both meets the required eligibility criteria and is randomly selected will be the offer that is accepted,” Brewer said. “This ensures a fair and impartial selection process.”

New affordable apartments are coming to Meridian. Interested? Here’s what we know

These apartments are coming to site of popular former Boise shop. And they’re affordable

See the most expensive Boise mansion for sale now and the most expensive ever sold