Idaho’s Housing Crisis: A Builder’s Perspective You Need To Hear - Steve Martinez

Idaho’s Housing Crisis: A Builder’s Perspective You Need to Hear - Steve Martinez | Ever Onward - Ep. 72

2M ago 50:29

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When Steve Martinez talks housing, people listen—and for good reason. With nearly three decades of experience and a front-row seat to the booms, busts, and battles shaping Idaho’s growth, the Tradewinds owner delivers an unfiltered look at what’s really driving the state’s housing crisis.

In this episode, Steve shares his personal journey from working in his father’s construction company to building a business that weathered the 2008 recession and continues to adapt to today’s pressures.

You’ll learn:

•Why Idaho’s rapid growth isn’t all good news—and what’s fueling it

•The shocking impact of a $1,000 home price increase on buyers

•Why starter homes are disappearing, and what needs to replace them

•How permits, regulations, and politics are slowing everything down

•The disconnect between anti-growth sentiment and the push for affordability

•Why labor shortages and policy decisions are hitting builders hard

•What industry leaders are watching now: interest rates, tariffs, and buyer behavior

If you care about where Idaho is headed—and who gets to live there—this is a must-listen conversation. Hit play for a candid, boots-on-the-ground perspective you won’t get from the headlines.

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Chapters

1. Introducing Steve Martinez (00:00:00)

2. Growing Up in Building Industry (00:02:47)

3. Surviving the 2008 Recession (00:07:48)

4. Idaho's Housing Growth Explosion (00:16:07)

5. Supply and Demand Crisis (00:21:44)

6. Housing Types and Affordability Options (00:29:03)

7. Regulatory Barriers to Home Building (00:37:40)

8. Understanding Anti-Growth Sentiment (00:43:15)

9. Political Challenges in Housing Policy (00:48:52)

147 episodes