2027 Treasure Valley Cost-to-Build Guide

Plan the whole budget,
not just the house.

Step one of our process is identifying your budget, and it shapes everything after it: the size of the home, the design, the finishes and the land. The guide helps you get that step right, with dated numbers from NAHB, the U.S. Census Bureau, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and each city and health district's own fee schedules. Inside:

• Key numbers for 2027, from the $5,803 impact fee every new Ada County home pays for roads to the 7.5% mortgage rate Fannie Mae forecasts for 2027.
• Impact fees by city for Boise, Eagle and Star, and which fees to ask Meridian, Nampa, Caldwell, Kuna and the rest about.
• Well, septic and power on acreage: the permits, the health districts and what to quote before you buy land.
• A step-by-step method for working out what size home your budget builds, plus a fill-in budget worksheet.
• How construction loans, allowances, change orders and contingency change the final price.
• Build vs buy, Idaho's occupancy tax on new homes, and a balanced look at whether to wait for 2027 prices.
• Eleven questions to ask any builder about pricing before you sign.