Home prices up, sales times down, for first seven months of 2017

Source: Snake River MLS

Here’s a little snapshot of the real estate market for the first seven months of this year. The numbers show a little bit of a slowdown from last year in terms of homes sold and new listings. That said, homes are selling faster and for significantly more.

From the investment standpoint, real estate is looking really good — depending of course on when you got in. The Federal Housing Finance Agency’s HPI-Calculator shows that if you bought a $100,000 home in Idaho Falls in Q2 1987 — 30 years ago — that property would be worth $247,505 today. That’s a climb back from the dip it took in 2011, when it went down to $193,564 in the second quarter, from its previous high in Q2 2008 of $232,923. The good news is that you were never underwater, provided that you didn’t do anything silly.

If you bought a $100,000 home in Q2 2007, it would be worth $109,554 in Q2 2017, according to the calculator. If you bought it in Q2 2012, it would be worth $126,374.

Good news for everyone. Just remember, however, numbers are numbers, and real worth depends completely on the money someone is willing to hand you.

To look at the HPI-Calculator, here's the link: https://www.fhfa.gov/DataTools/Tools/Pages/HPI-Calculator.aspx

INL accepting applications for community giving, economic development grants

Battelle Energy Alliance, which manages Idaho National Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy, announced Monday that it is accepting applications for the fiscal year 2018 Community Giving and Technology-based Economic Development campaigns. Each program focuses on a distinct audience and purpose. Applications for charitable or philanthropic donations for both programs will be accepted through Oct. 16.

Fiscal Year 2018 Community Giving Campaign


The INL Community Giving program provides BEA corporate-funded donations in select areas, such as human services, health, environment, arts and civic projects.


“The Community Giving program is focused on eastern Idaho, where INL’s employees live and work, and prioritizes organizations that support children and people in need,” said Lori Priest, contributions administrator. “That includes efforts to feed the hungry, provide basic shelter to those without, and improve quality of life."

Since 2005, the program has provided support for a variety of outreach efforts.


“It is our responsibility to be good neighbors and make a positive contribution to our community,” said Amy Lientz, director of INL’s Partnerships team. “It’s also a privilege for those of us fortunate enough to work at INL to help our friends and neighbors in need.”


Fiscal Year 2018 Technology-based Economic Development Campaign

The INL Technology-based Economic Development program targets projects aimed at spurring regional economic development, technology-based economic development, talent pipeline and entrepreneurship in the area.


“We enjoyed great success in 2017, supporting projects throughout Idaho: in the Panhandle, Sun Valley, north-central Idaho, and Butte County,” said Stephanie Cook of INL’s Economic and Workforce Development team. “Our goal is to continue investing in creative projects that support INL’s research priorities, grow the talent pipeline, and enhance the regional and state economies.”

Eligibility criteria: Organizations must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit entities. A copy of the IRS tax-exempt letter must accompany the form. INL’s charitable donation program does not fund political or religious organizations, emergency response, courtesy advertisements, athletic programs or events, individuals, contests or extracurricular school activities. This funding does not include requests for K-12 education donations.


For further information on K-12 science, technology, engineering and math educational funding requests and grant cycles, contact Brenda Greenhalgh (brenda.greenhalgh@inl.gov).

Applications submitted after the Oct. 16 deadline will not be included in the review process. Decisions about 2018 contributions will be made by Dec. 15. Notifications will be sent to requesting organizations informing them of funding awards. Funds will be for projects for the period of Oct. 1, 2017, to Sept. 30, 2018.

For full details on both programs, or to download the 2018 request for donation form, visit INL’s website at www.inl.gov. From there, select Menu on the top right, then choose Partner with INL, then choose either Community and Education Outreach or Economic and Workforce Development.

INL names two new distinguished postdoctoral appointees

Dr. Thomas V. Holschuh II

Idaho National Laboratory has named Dr. Thomas V. Holschuh II and Abdalla Abou Jaoude as its first two Deslonde de Boisblanc Distinguished Postdoctoral appointees.

The appointments are designed for early career scientists and engineers to perform leading-edge research and development for advanced power reactor design and development, and to support ongoing studies at INL research reactor facilities. It is named in honor of Deslonde de Boisblanc, best known for designing the Advanced Test Reactor’s famous clover-leaf core, which allows multiple nuclear fuels and materials to be tested at the same time in the same reactor at different power levels.

“The arrival of the first two Deslonde de Boisblanc Distinguished Postdoctoral appointments will help inspire our research and bring fresh perspectives to INL – something that will leave a lasting impact,” said Dr. Kelly Beierschmitt, INL deputy laboratory director for science and technology and chief research officer. “Without de Boisblanc’s inspiration, we wouldn’t be where we are today.”

Holschuh graduated from Oregon State University with a doctorate in nuclear engineering in June 2017. His doctoral research evaluated using a new detecting method, the Cherenkov Radiation Assay for Nuclear Kinetics (CRANK) system, to accurately determine reactor kinetics parameters. Holschuh will be using the same technique to perform observations of INL’s Transient Reactor Test Facility (TREAT) under the guidance of his future mentor, Dan Wachs, who leads the transient testing experimental program.

Abdalla Abou Jaoude

“We've been working with Tommy for several years and are looking forward to his return to INL,” said Dr. David Chichester, an INL directorate fellow and Holschuh’s mentor during his graduate internship. “With key skills in reactor physics and radiation science, he's going to be making important contributions to our nuclear energy and nuclear nonproliferation research programs.”

The second appointee, Abdalla Abou Jaoude, is scheduled to begin his appointment in January 2018, following the completion of his doctorate in December 2017. Abou Jaoude is currently a postdoctoral candidate in nuclear and radiological engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. His postdoctoral research focus is neutronics, core design, simulation methods and nuclear nonproliferation. When his appointment begins, he will work with mentor Gilles Youinou on the design and evaluation of a mixed-spectrum molten chloride test reactor.


"Abdalla has an exceptional ability to see the big picture when it comes to a reactor design. He has all it takes – motivation, scholarship and talent – to become a leader in advanced reactor development," said Dr. Anna Erickson, Abou Jaoude’s supervising professor at GIT.

INL’s first distinguished postdoctoral appointee, Dr. Cheng Sun, was named to the Russell L. Heath distinguished postdoctoral appointment in October 2016.

“Appointing two excellent researchers to the first de Boisblanc postdoc positions reflects on the high caliber of the applicants in a very competitive selection process. These individuals will help define a new standard of excellence in advanced reactor design and application at INL,” said Dr. Sean O’Kelly, associate laboratory director for the Advanced Test Reactor.

Ground broken on new development at Memorial and Broadway

An artist's representation of what The Broadway will look like

With the ceremonial spading of dirt by city officials and business leaders, work got underway Monday on The Broadway on the site of the old Saving Center at Broadway and Memorial Drive.

The complex will consist of a 9,600-square-foot single story retail building and a three-story mixed-used building incorporating retail, restaurant and office space, with residential condominiums on the third story. Spaces are divisible up to 1,200 square feet. Between the two buildings there will be a plaza for food, music and entertainment.

The property was bought in 2015 by the Idaho Falls Redevelopment Agency, which had conducted a study analyzing demand for downtown housing estimating demand for housing units between 455 to 502 units. The board also approved the purchase of an option on the Bonneville Hotel at Constitution Way and Park Avenue.

In February 2016, the Oppenheimer Development Corp. responded to the IFRA’s request for proposals on the .95-acre property.

Bank of Idaho, Parsons, Beahle & Latimer, Smokin Fins (a Colorado-based seafood restaurant chain), and Lucy’s Pizzeria have been listed as prospective tenants. Leasing arrangements are being handled by Thornton Oliver Keller. For more information, follow this link: The Broadway.

City of Idaho Falls building permit applications

Here is a list of building permit applications filed with the Idaho Falls Building Department since July 1. These are the ones we found significant. If you want every sink replacement remodel, visit the Building Department’s site using this link: https://trakit.idahofallsidaho.gov/etrakit3/Search/permit.aspx

COM17-108
Commercial Building (Remodel)
Site: 2188 Channing Way
Applicant: Morgan Construction
Owner: Channing Square Properties, Hayden, Idaho
Job Value: $73,974
Applied Date: Aug. 4
Description: Home Care Medical, 2,773 sf

COM17-107
Commercial Building (New Construction)
Site: 344 Memorial Drive
Applicant: Rory Heggie Architecture
Owner: 1F1 LLC
Job Value: $370,000
Applied Date: Aug. 4
Description: The Broadway Garage, 22,255 sf

COM17-105
Commercial Building (New Construction)
Site: 3340 S. 25th East
Applicant: 33Z Builders
Owner: Washington Federal
Job Value: $85,000
Applied Date: July 31
Description: Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt, 49,604 sf

COM17-104
Commercial Building (Addition)
Site: 1255 N. Holmes Avenue
Applicant: Ron’s Tire
Owner: SLS1 LLP
Job Value: $14,000
Applied Date: July 27
Description: Ron’s Tire Entry Canopy

COM17-101
Commercial Building (Roof)
Site: 290 Constitution Way
Applicant: V and R Roofing
Owner: Mountain States Telephone Co. (QWEST Corp.)
Job Value: $590,000
Applied Date: July 27
Description: Roof replacement

COM17-0099
Commercial Building (New Construction)
Site: 1055 Foote Drive
Applicant: Evergreen Holding (Farmington, Utah)
Owner: Evergreen Holding (Farmington, Utah)
Job Value: $650,000
Applied Date: July 19
Description: Grandview Mini Storage, 87,367 sf

COM17-0097
Commercial Building (New Construction)
Site: 1601 Antler Drive
Applicant: Roth Properties
Owner: Steve Fransen
Job Value: $500,000
Applied Date: July 12
Description: Alpine Castle Lake Insurance, 8,270 sf

COM17-0095
Commercial Building (Remodel)
Site: 3100 Channing Way
Applicant: ALC Architecture
Owner: EIRMC
Job Value: $25,000
Applied Date: July 6
Description: EIRMC Dialysis remodel