43 North Magazine_2017 Spring

of open space. Simple
things that we take for
granted, like sidewalks,
can have a significant affect on the total
cost of a project, but these elements all
add up to a more livable environment.
Walking paths and parks encourage
residents to get outside and interact
with each other, and they foster a sense
of belonging. By adding such amenities,
a developer may bring fewer home sites
to market, but creating these elements
enhances the overall quality and value of
the community being created.
Equally important to the overall quality
of a community are the homes the
builders offer. NOT ALL HOMES ARE
CREATED EQUAL. Are the builders Registered Master Builders with the BCA, and
do they hold themselves to a higher standard? Yes, there are building codes that
must be followed, but these are the minimum standard to create safety, and not a
guarantee of quality. When you tour a community, you must ask yourself, “Do the
homes being built here have character, and do they look like they are quality homes?”
The look and feel of the homes that the builders are creating can have a significant
affect on the overall quality of a community. Do the builders do the minimum to the
elevation to meet the requirements of the CC&R’s, or do they go beyond? Are they
just building “Boise beige” craftsman-style homes, or are they creating unique, oneof-a
kind homes of distinct quality and value? Will you feel that your home is uniquely
yours and that the community you live in is vibrant and alive?
The next time you get in the car to go “look at houses,” be sure to take a step back
and “look for communities.” Notice the difference between a well thought out
community and a typical subdivision. Look for all the elements and amenities that the
developer and the builders are creating and consider their value. A true community
may not be the least expensive option, but it will offer a better lifestyle for you, and
will ultimately have more value five to ten years last than a typical subdivision.
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
As Broker of Better Homes and Gardens Real
Estate | 43°North, I’m often asked about the
origins of our company’s name. Most folks
with a passing familiarity with maps are quick
to grasp the geographic significance of our
name: Boise is located on the circle of latitude
43 degrees north of the Earth’s equatorial
plane. As a coincidence, Idaho also happens to
have been the 43rd state in the USA.
I believe that our choice of name wraps our
identity around one of the world’s most livable
communities in a way that tells you what you
really need to know about us. Our locality is
our passion. It’s our expertise. More than just
a happy accident of geography, it reflects our
dedication to a quality of life that Boise and
the larger Treasure Valley community embody
like no other place we know.
Our sense of identity with Boise and the Gem
State go well beyond our name, however. We
like to think that our company and culture reflect
the experience of what our community is
all about. Like the overall lifestyle of Boise, we
take a fun, energetic, and creative approach
to all that we do. Like the West as a whole, we
value independence and innovation in a way
that honors the pioneer spirit of our place.
We’re proud of our local roots. And while our
name may seem a somewhat oblique reference
to a place we feel so passionately about,
we think it’s a sign of respect. After all, we
could more shamelessly trade on the reputation
of the City of Trees, but we’d rather add
to that reputation through those attributes we
have most in common with it.
Now that you know what our name means, we
invite you to experience what it stands for.
Jeff Martel,
Broker
SPRING 2017 | 7