They found the ugliest house in a red-hot market

We talked about Boise with Tanice Myers, who runs Road Warrior Investors with her husband, Paul.

Average home price: $508,258 (up 0.9% YoY)
Homes that sell over list price: 35.1%
Homes that sell under list price: 38.7%
Average rent: $1,852/month

How she got started: The couple bought their first rental while both were working full-time. “We learned the business the way most investors do: one property, one problem, one lesson at a time,” Myers says. “Paul came from an engineering and construction background. I spent 23 years in corporate technology, including at Microsoft. These two backgrounds became a powerful combination in real estate, and what started as a side hustle eventually grew into a full-time business.”

Her market’s pros: Now that Meta and Micron have set up offices in Boise, Myers sees the makings of a new tech hub. “In Seattle, we saw how tech created jobs and demand for housing,” she explains. “We’re now seeing similar dynamics emerge in the suburb of Treasure Valley across a wide range of housing needs, from owner-occupied homes to long-term rentals, mid-term rentals, short-term housing, and workforce housing.”

The cons: Insurance costs, property taxes, and renovation expenses are rising. To find deals, Myers homes in on distressed properties; one of their acquisitions was even crowned 2025’s Ugliest House of the Year by HomeVestors, the company behind We Buy Ugly Houses. “It was the kind of house many buyers would overlook because of the amount of work required, but for us, it was also the kind of project where the right investor could create value,” Myers says. Purchased for $365,000, the house cleaned up so nicely that they ended up listing it for $624,000. However, she adds, “A good project is not just about the numbers. It can also improve housing stock, support local contractors and vendors, strengthen neighborhoods, and create a ripple effect in the community.”

Her advice: “Run your numbers based on today’s market, not the appreciation you hope might happen tomorrow,” Myers says. “During periods of rapid growth, it is easy for investors to rely on appreciation. We saw that happen in Seattle. But it can put you in a bad position when the market changes. Appreciation should be a bonus, not the reason the deal works.”

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