Columns
Searching for opinion based articles? Below we'll share opinion news articles on a wide variety of topics.
Marty and Max: Market Segments
In today’s column, we are NOT going to discuss the market. Rather, we ARE discussing how to read and interpret t...
MY TURN: Shoshone County BOCC blaming others, working less
This letter is to express my own opinion, and no one else’s. The new commissioners are pointing fingers and blaming us for overspending for the last four years, but not saying what we overspent on. Why?
Marty and Max (and TaylorAnne): IS THE REAL ESTATE MARKET UP IN SMOKE?
Selling a home is a stressful, personal, and emotional process. This is why it is crucial to partner with a trusted professional who takes the time to unders...
Marty and Max: How To Ensure You Are Insured
Home values and building costs are rising. How can I ensure my home is protected so if my home burned to the ground I can afford to rebuild?
OPINION: Leadership choices as bad as they can get
Idaho Congressman Russ Fulcher is a self-described optimist, but he has trouble putting a smiley face to what he’s seeing on the national level.
Marty and Max: Where is the market going?
Where is the market going and how will the year-end? Is the market going to crash? How will the market react to 7.25% rates or perhaps 8% rates? Will invento...
OPINION: Don’t be fooled by low jobless rate
An unemployment rate of anything under 3 percent is like music to a politician’s ear, especially to those lucky enough to sit in the Oval Office or a governo...
Marty and Max: Discussing housing shortages and potential solutions
Estimates for housing supply shortage range from 4-6 million homes. Other data suggests that only 23% of listings were affordable to households earning a med...
Marty and Max: Mid-August market report
It’s mid-August and our team’s analysis is that since interest rates have remained at or above 7% for over two months, the data suggests that potential buyer...
OPINION: Dam breaching: A debate without an end
When I came to the Idaho Statesman as opinion page editor in 1999, it was suggested that I read a special section that the editorial department did on dam br...
Marty and Max: Unintended Consequences
Some would say there are three categories of unintended consequences. The unexpected benefit, which is a positive but unplanned outcome, The unexpected drawb...
OPINION: Risch breaks with Trump on Ukraine
Don’t get Idaho Sen. Jim Risch started on Ukraine. On second thought, do. That is, if you want to see energy, passion and a dose of common sense. Risch, the ...
Marty and Max: Facetious real estate terms
An amusing translation of real estate's many buzzwords and catchphrases.
Marty and Max: How's the market doing?
The housing data reflects that the housing market is surprisingly resilient. Our crisis, however, is that there is not enough inventory, rather than not enou...
Plant Notes: Snowberry
Waxy-white berries bunched on the ends of twiggy stems make winter the most conspicuous season for Snowberry, a deciduous North American native.