The 7 Regions of Idaho

Photo Credit: Visit Idaho Idaho’s landscapes and attractions vary widely within the state, and there is no better way to understand which part of Idaho is perfect for your next trip or even to live in than to explore each of the 7 regions in this post! Northern: Photo Credit: Idaho Tourism Northern Idaho is home to Coeur d’Alene, Sandpoint, and Wallace and borders Canada. It is known for its lucious and abundant forests and stunning lakes.This region has three ski resorts, big, meandering, trout-filled rivers and hundreds of miles of biking and hiking trails to explore! North Central: Photo Credit: Idaho Tourism Grangeville, Moscow, Lewiston, and Riggens are all located in north central Idaho. This region has landscapes of wilderness, rolling hills, farmland and flower-filled meadows, and is rich in cultural importance and outdoor activities. It is also home to the University of Idaho in Moscow! This region also is home to the Nez Perce National Historical Park, which celebrates the history of the Nez Perce tribe. Southwest: Photo Credit: Idaho Tourism The southwest region is home to Idaho’s capital, Boise, as well as Mccall and Mountain Home. With plenty of stunning hiking and biking trails, winding rivers and sand dunes as well as historical sites, top-notch wineries, local craft breweries and entertainment, this region has a whole lot to offer. McCall is a popular vacation destination for Boiseans and has multiple lakes to recreate on, as well as ski resorts for wintertime South Central:  Photo Credit: Idaho Tourism Twin Falls, Hagerman and Burley are the major towns in this region. The landscape here includes deep canyons, high bluffs, unusual rock formations and lava flows. The Snake River twists through this area, as well as many large waterfalls. Southeast:  Photo Credit: Idaho Tourism The southeast region contains Pocatello, Lava Hot Springs and Montpelier and features an abundance of outdoor recreation opportunities from hikes to bike rides.This region also contains sites and museums connected to the Oregon Trail for the history buffs. Eastern: Photo Credit: Visit Idaho Island Park, Idaho Falls, and Rexburg all reside in this region. This region offers a gateway to Yellowstone National Park as well as blue-ribbon trout streams. Central: Photo Credit: Idaho Tourism Home to Sun Valley, Stanley, and Salmon, this region contains some of Idaho’s most dramatic scenery. With the Salmon river’s thrilling whitewater, alpine lakes, the jagged mountain peaks of the Sawtooths, wildflower-filled meadows and historic mountain towns, there is no shortage of sights to see. Stanley comes alive in the summer with raft companies chartering single and multi day trips down the Salmon river, and Sun Valley is known for its five star resort skiing in the winter.          

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4 Easy Ways to Modernize a Dated Home

  Photo Credit: Blu Fish Photography Does your home make you feel like you're living in another era, and not in a good way? Whether you are sprucing up your home to sell, or just want to give it an update without doing a full blown remodel, this short list is full of affordable things to do to modernize the look and feel of your home! Most you can do yourself! 1. Update light fixtures: Think of light fixtures as the crown of the room. They can make quite the statement, so it is important to be mindful of the style and size you select to top your favorite rooms with. Start with light fixtures in big impact rooms, such as entryways, dining rooms, and living rooms to make the biggest difference, and then move onto bedrooms and bathrooms. Switching your light switch plates from the once popular ivory to a modern white is another easy task that you do not need an electrician to do. Photo Credit: Young House Love 2. Paint: Paint can completely change the look of a room. A home may feel dated when there are outdated color palettes or wood cabinets with a yellow or red stain. Freshen up dated wood cabinets with a few coats of neutral paint. Popular colors include classic white, light gray, and beige. Further modernize with new hardware. Avoid trendy colors like navy blue, emerald green or dark grays on cabinets since these are more labor-intensive projects. For a fun pop of color, paint a smaller space (like a powder room) or nook for a focal point. Tile is also able to be painted using special tile paint (try Rustoleum Tub and Tile) to give even the most dated print a new look in white or another color. You can even paint a linoleum floor, and there is a plethora of stencils online if you want to add a interesting design. Photo Credit: Wayfair 3. Replace plumbing fixtures: Most plumbing fixtures do not require a plumber to install and can really change the feel of a kitchen or bathroom. Just make sure the faucet you buy has the same hole configuration as your existing faucet. If you have gold plumbing fixtures from homes of the 80’s-90’s era, a quick way to modernize is to update to a brushed finish like a satin nickel or brushed brass. Photo Credit: The Handyman's Daughter 4. Change window treatments:  Changing old and dated window treatment out with a fresh, trendy set is another way to completely change the feel of a room. Whether you choose shades, drapery, shutters or blinds, changing out window treatments is a major step to making your home feel modern and new. Photo Credit: Jeanne Canto          

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3 Reasons to Buy instead of Rent a Home

Credit:  Ketut Subiyanto - Pexels Buying a home can feel like a big, scary decision when compared with renting. However, it is crucial to consider the long term financial consequences of renting as well as the benefits of buying a home when weighing both options. This article outlines the 3 major reasons why buying a home may be a better choice for you than renting.   Establish wealth: Credit:  RDNE Stock project - Unsplash Buying a home is almost always a better long term financial decision then renting. A major reason for this is that owning a home allows your payments to go towards building equity, as opposed to paying rent. Renters receive typically no return on their costs, while a homeowner will receive a large return if they choose to sell their home. Homes also have the possibility to appreciate in value (around 3.5% per year nationally), making them a very good investment. There are also tax breaks available to make owning a home more affordable.   Personalization: Credit:  Anastasia Shuraeva - Unsplash While renting, you most likely will have to follow a lot of rules about what you can and cannot do with your living space. Painting a room, changing some tile, or even transforming an office into a nursery are all things you will likely not be able to do in a space you are renting. With owning a home comes the freedom to do whatever you want to personalize and make your home perfect for your lifestyle and preferences.   Privacy and Autonomy: Credit:  Karolina Grabowska  - Unsplash Owning a home comes with much more privacy autonomy then renting. No more sharing a wall with a loud neighbor, and the ability to do whatever you want in the privacy of your own home are major pros to homeownership. 

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