At HiLine Homes, we believe in empowering families with the knowledge they need to build their future on a strong foundation. Our mission has always been to provide high-quality, affordable homes, giving families a strong equity position from the moment they get their keys. Understanding the current economic and housing landscape is a big part of that journey.
That’s why we’ve taken a close look at recent housing reports. We want to provide you with a straightforward, easy-to-understand overview of what’s happening in our communities across the Pacific Northwest and what it means for your family as you consider building a custom home on your lot.
As of early 2025, the economic outlook across the Pacific Northwest is showing some interesting and positive trends, especially when compared to other parts of the West Coast. The Northwest region is experiencing strong, steady job growth and is welcoming new families at an impressive rate. This creates vibrant, stable communities perfect for putting down roots.
Idaho, in particular, stands out as a true leader. It has the fastest job growth in the entire country, driven by a wave of families choosing to build their lives there. This has created a wonderful cycle of opportunity, with strong demand for new homes and a thriving construction sector ready to meet that need. At HiLine Homes, we see this as a fantastic sign for families looking to build an affordable custom home and start gaining equity right away.
This report is designed to be your guide. We’ll walk you through the trends in the Northwest, with a special focus on the incredible opportunities in Idaho. We’ll use the Pacific region as a comparison to show why we’re so confident about the future of the communities we serve. We’re here to help you understand the market so you can make the best decision for your family.
Regional Scorecard (Q1 2025)
The table below offers a quick, at-a-glance snapshot of the key differences between the regions as of the first quarter of 2025.
Metric | Northwest Region | Pacific Region | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
Job Growth (YoY) | 1.5% | 0.2% | 1.3% |
Unemployment Rate | 4.8% | 5.2% | 4.4% |
Population Growth (YoY, as of July 2024) | 1.0% | 0.8% | 1.0% |
Avg. Home Sales Price Growth (YoY) | 7% | 6% | 7% |
Home Sales Volume Change (YoY) | 1% | 0% | -5% |
Single-Family Permits Change (YoY) | -6% | -4% | -5% |
Apartment & Investment Home Permits Change (YoY) | -15% | -22% | -5% |
Notes: Payroll, unemployment, and permit data are for Q1 2025. Population data is for the 12 months ending July 1, 2024. Home sales and price data are for the 12 months ending February 2025. All data is sourced from the respective regional reports.
A Closer Look at the Northwest Region in 2025
Our Local Economies Grow Stronger Together
We’re happy to report that the economy across the Northwest is showing great strength and momentum. In the first quarter of 2025, our region added over 102,200 non-farm jobs, a 1.5% increase from last year (Tubridy, 2025, pp. 1). This growth is faster than the national average, which is a reassuring sign for families building their lives here.
This growth is happening in stable, family-focused sectors. The education and health services sector, which includes the schools and healthcare facilities our families rely on, was the main driver, adding over 47,300 jobs (Tubridy, 2025, pp. 2). This one area accounted for nearly half of all new jobs in the region, showing that our communities are growing in ways that support families.
This kind of stable growth is different from what’s happening in other areas, like the Pacific region, where the economy has slowed due to changes in the high-tech industry. Here in the Northwest, our growth is built on a solid foundation of essential services, making our communities more resilient and a reliable place to invest in your future.
Of course, each state has its own unique story. Washington saw the most new jobs, with its information sector showing surprising strength. Oregon also saw positive growth, though its manufacturing sector faced some challenges. You can learn more about the specific areas we build in on our locations page.
Even with all this job creation, our region’s unemployment rate was 4.8% in the first quarter of 2025. This is a bit higher than the national average, which suggests that our communities are so attractive that new people are moving in to join the workforce even faster than jobs are being created.
Join the Idaho Opportunity to Lead the Nation
Within our family of communities, Idaho is truly shining. The state’s job growth of 2.9% isn’t just the best in the Northwest—it’s the fastest in the entire country (Tubridy, 2025, pp. 3). This incredible performance is a testament to the state’s welcoming environment for families and businesses. The unemployment rate of 4.2% is also lower than the national average, which is great news for homeowners (pp. 2).
A key part of this success story is the construction industry. As more families choose Idaho, the need for quality homes has created a boom in construction, with the sector growing by an amazing 11.6% and adding 8,200 jobs (Tubridy, 2025, pp. 2). In fact, the growth in Idaho’s construction sector was so strong that it single-handedly lifted the average for the entire Northwest region. At HiLine Homes, our Star office is proud to be a part of this growth, helping families and contributing to the state’s incredible economic strength.
Our Growing Communities Welcoming New Neighbors
The vibrant economy in the Northwest is attracting more and more families. As of July 2024, our region’s population grew by 1.0% from the year before, keeping pace with the national average and picking up speed from the previous year (Tubridy, 2025, pp. 2).
What’s really exciting is why our communities are growing. After a brief period of seeing more people move away, the trend has completely turned around. We are now welcoming thousands of families from other parts of the U.S. who are choosing the Northwest to build their future. This domestic in-migration, combined with a steady flow of international new arrivals, is making our communities more diverse and dynamic.
Washington’s population growth was impressive at 1.3%, largely thanks to new residents from around the world (Tubridy, 2025, pp. 4). Oregon’s growth also bounced back to 0.4%, a great sign of the state’s enduring appeal.
Why Families Are Choosing Idaho
Idaho is the star of the show when it comes to population growth. The state’s population expanded by 1.5% last year, making it one of the fastest-growing states in the nation (Tubridy, 2025, pp. 4). The reason is clear: families from across the United States are choosing to make Idaho their home. More than half of Idaho’s growth came from people moving from other states—a higher share than anywhere else in the Northwest.
This isn’t just a number; it’s the engine of Idaho’s success. New families create immediate and lasting demand for housing. This demand is what fuels the state’s amazing 11.6% job growth in construction (Tubridy, 2025, pp. 2). Those great construction jobs, in turn, power Idaho’s nation-leading overall job growth. It’s a powerful, positive cycle: people move to Idaho, which creates a need for quality homes, which creates great jobs, which makes the state an even better place to live. This is the story of Idaho’s success, and at HiLine Homes, we are thrilled to help families become a part of it by building the affordable, custom home they’ve always wanted.
Idaho's Market: Stable and Ready for Growth
Idaho’s home sales market has been a picture of stability. The number of homes sold was steady with 0% growth, and the average price saw a moderate increase of 3% to $453,600 (Tubridy, 2025, pp. 4). In the Boise area, sales were up a healthy 4%, with a modest price increase of 2%.
With a 2.8-month supply of homes, Idaho offers a bit more choice than neighboring states, but it’s still a market that favors sellers (Tubridy, 2025, pp. 5). Looking at new construction, the number of single-family home permits was down just 1% in early 2025. This small dip is important because it followed a massive 51% surge the year before. This tells us that while the initial, explosive growth in home building is leveling off, activity remains very high as builders work to meet the needs of new families. This sustained level of single-family home building shows the long-term confidence we all have in Idaho’s future.
Why Building New Construction Is a Great Choice
For families looking to buy an existing home, the market in the Northwest has gotten a little tighter over the past year. As of early 2025, there’s a healthy demand for homes, but not quite enough available for sale to meet it.
The number of homes sold has stabilized, which is a good sign after a period of slowdown. Sales were up 1% in the year ending February 2025, a big improvement from the 20% decline seen the year before (Tubridy, 2025, pp. 4). At the same time, the average home price in the region grew by a strong 7% to $572,900, matching the national average and showing a solid recovery in home values.
One of the main reasons prices are strong is that there simply aren’t many existing homes on the market. As of March 2025, there was only a 2.3-month supply of homes for sale (Tubridy, 2025, pp. 2). A balanced market usually has 4 to 6 months of supply, so this tells us that there are more buyers than available homes (Rushforth, 2024). This is why building a new, custom home on your lot with HiLine Homes can be such a smart and rewarding choice. Instead of competing for a limited number of existing homes, you can create a home that fits your family’s needs and budget perfectly, on your own terms.
Washington saw the biggest jump in prices, up 9% to an average of $682,600, with the tightest inventory in the region at just 1.9 months of supply (Tubridy, 2025, pp. 4). Families looking to build in the Puget Sound area can connect with our teams at our Puyallup, Satsop, Poulsbo, or Marysville offices.
A Tale of Two Regions: Why the Northwest Shines
To fully appreciate the strength and stability of the communities where we build, it’s helpful to look at what’s happening in the neighboring Pacific region (California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii). While we’re seeing steady growth, they are on a very different path.
- A Slowdown to the South
As of early 2025, the Pacific region’s economy grew by only 0.2% (Urbas, 2025, pp. 1). This is a major slowdown from the 1.4% growth Urbas (pp.2) saw a year earlier and is much slower than both the Northwest (1.5%) and the nation (1.3%), according to Tubridy (2025, pp. 2).
Their slowdown is mainly happening in the high-tech and business service sectors, which have been affected by higher interest rates and less venture capital funding. This highlights a key difference: our growth in the Northwest is built on stable, family-focused sectors like healthcare and education, which are less affected by these kinds of economic shifts. It’s a key reason why our communities feel so reliable and secure right now.
- Different Paths in Housing
The housing markets also show some important differences. While the Pacific region’s for-sale market is also described as slightly tight, Urbas (2025, pp. 4) reported they have a larger supply of homes for sale (3.3 months) compared to our much tighter market in the Northwest (2.3 months). This means families there may have more existing homes to choose from, but it also suggests that the demand isn’t as strong as it is here.
This shows two very different approaches to the future. In the Northwest, and especially in Idaho, we have a “build-to-meet-demand” spirit. We’re confident in our future growth and are building the homes our new neighbors will need. In the Pacific, a more cautious “pull-back-and-wait” approach has taken over. By cutting back on future construction now, they are setting themselves up for a potential housing shortage down the road. This contrast makes us even more confident that the Northwest is the right place to be for families who want to build a home in a growing, forward-looking community, whether it’s with our team in Redding or any of our other convenient locations.
What This Means for Your Family's Future Home
A Clear Difference with The Northwest Advantage for Future Homeowners
Our review of the market in early 2025 shows two neighboring regions heading in very different directions. We see this as a great advantage for families looking to build in the Pacific Northwest.
First, our local economies are built on a more stable foundation. The Northwest’s growth is driven by reliable, family-supporting sectors like healthcare and education, making our communities less prone to the ups and downs of the wider economy.
Second, families are choosing to move here. The Northwest is welcoming new residents from other parts of the country, especially in Idaho, which is a wonderful sign of a healthy, growing community.
Finally, these trends have created a spirit of confidence. The “build-to-meet-demand” approach we see in Idaho is a perfect example. At HiLine Homes, we share this confidence. We believe in building high-quality, affordable homes that allow families to build equity and create a better future.
Idaho’s Cycle of Demand, Growth, and Success
Idaho’s performance is more than just a regional highlight; it’s a national success story. The state’s growth is built on a powerful, positive cycle: families move to Idaho, which creates demand for new homes. This fuels a boom in construction, which in turn powers the nation’s strongest job growth, making Idaho an even more attractive place for families to live. This is the kind of environment where building a new home is not just a dream, but a smart investment in your family’s future.
While this rapid growth requires experienced and reliable partners to navigate, it creates incredible opportunities. The confidence shown by the surge in new home construction is a clear sign that Idaho is a place where families can thrive for generations to come. At HiLine Homes, we have nearly 30 years of experience helping families through every step of the building process, ensuring their home is built right, on time, and on budget, no matter the market conditions.
A Closer Look at the Idaho Opportunity (Q1 2025)
The table below gives a closer look at the key numbers that make the Idaho opportunity so special.
Metric | Idaho / Boise Value | Northwest Region Avg. | U.S. Avg. |
|---|---|---|---|
Population Growth (YoY) | 1.5% | 1.0% | 1.0% |
% of Growth from New U.S. Neighbors | 54% | N/A | N/A |
Job Growth (YoY) | 2.9% | 1.5% | 1.3% |
Construction Job Growth (YoY) | 11.6% | -0.5% | N/A |
Single-Family Permits Change (YoY) | -1% | -6% | -5% |
Apartment & Investment Home Permits Change (YoY) | 73% | -15% | -5% |
Boise Apt. Vacancy Rate | 10.0% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
Boise Apt. Inventory Expansion (YoY) | 8.1% | N/A | N/A |
Notes: All data is for Q1 2025 or the most recent period available, as cited in the Northwest regional report.
HiLine Homes’ Commitment to You in the Pacific Northwest
As we look toward the rest of 2025, we are confident and optimistic about the future of the communities we serve across the Pacific Northwest.
- For the Northwest: We expect to see continued, healthy growth. The housing market will continue to adjust to new supply, which should keep conditions stable for families looking to build.
- For the Pacific: Our neighbors to the south face a more cautious outlook. Their housing market is likely to face renewed affordability challenges in the future due to the current pullback in new construction.
- For Idaho: The state will continue to be one of the most exciting markets in the country. The key will be for the pace of new home construction to meet the needs of the families moving in. This is where having a trustworthy and experienced partner makes all the difference.
At HiLine Homes, we are committed to helping you navigate your home-building journey with confidence. We understand that building a home is a big step, and we’ll be there to guide you through our straightforward process, from choosing a home plan to handing you the keys. We’re here to help you build a high-quality, affordable home that will be a source of pride and a strong investment for your family for generations to come. Visit our locations page to find the office nearest you and start your journey today.
