IDAHO FALLS — The Gem State Housing Alliance convened a housing panel Monday at The Waterfront at Snake River Landing, where participants discussed expanding the regional housing supply to improve affordability and stabilize costs.
Panelists included Hollie Conde, the alliance’s advocacy director; Todd Webb, president of the Idaho Home Builders Association; Trina Batte, a loan officer with Idaho Central Credit Union; Julie Anglesey, broker owner of Berkshire Hathaway Silver Hawk East Idaho; and Erin Bingham, the state representative for Republican District 32.
Conde said demand has increased sharply and contributed to higher home prices across Idaho. Bingham said the average Bonneville County home sells for about $430,000, while the average individual currently qualifies for a mortgage between $300,000 and $320,000.
“Yet in Bonneville County, our average sales price of a home is about $430,000. So, as you can see, we have a gap,” Bingham said.
First-time buyers may need to revise their purchasing expectations, panelists said. Anglesey said first-time buyers account for 25 percent of her business this year and that four additional prospective buyers stopped pursuing purchases and continued renting.
The alliance supports adding more middle-housing choices, including duplexes, townhomes, fourplexes, fiveplexes and cottage courts. Panelists also discussed local changes involving zoning, minimum lot sizes, setbacks, parking requirements and sprinkler rules.
Other proposals included property-tax changes and indexing Idaho’s homeowners exemption to home prices. The panel also discussed the role of government permits, which were estimated to represent 25% to 40% of a home’s price.
The alliance cited an approximate statewide shortage of 60,000 homes. It also referenced a 2025 affordability poll in which 72% of Idahoans said legislators should pursue solutions to housing affordability.
Trina Batte offered a market outlook covering the next five years. The alliance is conducting community conversations statewide to compile and advocate for policy reforms.