Idahoans Buying More Homes, but Minorities Face Challenges

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Housing data collected by banks and mortgage companies show an increase in home loan applications submitted in Idaho for a second year in a row as the state continues to recover from the Great Recession.

More construction coupled with more confidence in the housing economy has economists and regulators pointing to more activity throughout the Gem State. Home construction is up, signaling that the excess of new homes that sat vacant during the economic downturn is waning.

In 2014, banks and mortgage companies received roughly 69,200 loan applications for Idaho. Many of those sought to buy a home, but others wanted to refinance while some sought more money for home repairs