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Idaho Politics — Housing in Idaho: Problems and Real Solutions. By Nichols for Idaho, Senator Tammy Nichols (11/10/25)
…the best housing solution isn’t more regulation, it’s more freedom, innovation, and opportunity for Idaho families and future generations who want to call Idaho home. — Idaho Sen. Tammy Nichols
Idaho Senator Tammy Nichols discusses housing challenges Idaho faces due to rapid growth, rising construction costs, and government regulations. We’ll summarize below, then offer our take.
Summary (Grok ai, edited)
In Idaho, as in many parts of the country, homeownership is difficult for families, especially young residents. Subdivision development has surged over the last seven years, with median home prices at $500,000 to $550,000 and average rent at $1,681.
Sen. Nichols describes the problems and offers solutions such as reducing red tape and promoting solutions such as manufactured and tiny homes.
Housing Challenges
Idaho's housing issues arise from rapid population growth from higher-cost states, outpacing supply and raising prices.
Many residents worry about fast community changes, disappearing farmland, and altered small-town character.
Young Idahoans, educated and working locally, often cannot afford homes in their home state.
Causes of the Problem
The permitting and approval process is too time consuming, which contributes to a lack of affordable housing. — County official at Idaho’s Land Use and Housing Study Committee
Government interference including outdated zoning laws, lengthy permitting, and excessive restrictions slow construction and increase costs.
Time-consuming approval processes add expense.
Federal barriers: HUD regulations, lending classifications, and financing limits for manufactured or modular homes.
Sen. Nichols Proposed Solutions
Emphasize freedom, innovation, and responsible growth.
Manufactured homes: Recent facility tour showed modern, high-quality homes with prices around $108,000 for single-section and $166,200 for multi-section models.
Tiny homes: Often under $100,000, provide affordable, energy-efficient options but face zoning and permitting blocks.
Cut red tape, reform regulations, and empower free market to improve affordability while managing growth wisely and balancing opportunity with Idaho's way of life.
Call for Input Sen. Nichols invites comments on ideas to help Idaho families, especially younger generations, achieve affordable homeownership while ensuring responsible and sustainable growth.
ED NOTE
We encourage Idahoans to read the comments and add your own to Sen. Nichols Substack.__________
Our Take
🪙🪙 Just a few cents from our two-cents worth.
Solutions that come from government likely will be wrong for Idaho and ultimately will lead to sprawl and regret.
We've seen the push to higher density and manufactured homes locally. Tiny homes are fine if situated in properly designated zones and not near "regular" residential developments.
Try this search to see the dark side of tiny homes: startpage.com/do/search…
Sen. Nichols proposed solutions may put more people into homes, but they likely will not positively affect existing property owners, home values, tax collection, and esthetics.
We must proceed cautiously with any "solutions" — especially government solutions.
Also, we must ensure that those needing homes are here legally.
The [Colony Ridge] development appears to be attracting and enabling illegal alien settlement in the state of Texas and distressing neighboring cities and school districts. — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton
See these stories about “Colony Ridge” subdivision near Houston, Texas, for examples of what could happen if we ignore this warning:
Houston-area development has become a right-wing lightning rod on immigration (10/05/23): tinyurl.com/ydjxhf2t
Attorney General Ken Paxton Sues Colony Ridge for Fraudulent Practices That Enabled Major Problematic Real Estate Development to Flourish (03/14/24, scroll down for link):
California has been a pioneer in the “affordable housing” push, as have other blue states. The results have NOT been beneficial overall. (We lived in several blue states and have relatives still stuck there.) Please, Idaho, let's not repeat any blue state mistakes or use their models.
Please don’t fall into the trap of thinking Idaho government can do it better just because we’re a “red” state. We’re seen massive spending and bad solutions at every level of Idaho government, and, honestly, we don’t want any more of it in our adopted state.
