Local military members impacted by Idaho’s soaring housing market at Mountain Home Air Force Base...

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."“I have never seen anything like this, I never expected it to increase our rent, some of the highest has been right here at Mountain Home Air Force Base over the last 4 years,” said Tim Farmer, the housing manager for MHAFB. “The wing’s number one priority, short of keeping the planes in the air, is housing.”

However, available homes on the market in Mountain Home have been few and far between lately. Even fewer affordable homes.

“We have seen rents increase probably around 4 or 5 years ago from 800 dollars a month for a two, three-bedroom house to now it’s going for $1,800, $1,900 up to $2,200 a month for that type of house,” Farmer said. “And our housing allowance for our military members just can't keep up with that growth.”

Rena Kerfoot, a realtor for Mountain Home Pro Real Estate, said the sharp increase is caused by an imbalance of supply and demand.

“Our prices, with the Treasure Valley, we are getting those buyers over here as well because they can’t afford Ada and Canyon County,” Kerfoot said. “Young couples and senior citizens as well, you know the retirees are coming back too, they’re in the same boat too.”

Col. Jamaal Mays, the deputy commander for support, explained why service members and their families simply cannot live on the base.

“About 100 airmen living downtown, should be on base but we just don't have the capacity,” said Mays.

The base is 98% full, and building more homes on the base is not possible. Right now there are 98 airmen on the waitlist, and the number continues to grow. The price for homes on the base matches what the airmen are given in their basic housing allowance, but the allowance is not enough to cover living outside the base."...