Vanguard Realty

Vanguard Realty Debbie Richards & David Phinney | Your Guide to the World of Real Estate

Merging 360° mortgage & KW Leadership strategies with Marine Corps precision.

Experts in relocation, ROI, and de-escalating high-stakes Idaho real estate transactions. Debbie is a responsible Realtor®, specializing in the VIP Experience. Skilled in negotiating and contracts, she will be your strongest advocate along the path to realizing your real estate dreams. For a free valuation or to discuss your buying needs, JUST CALL DEBBIE!

04/10/2026

Wondering if you're made for a career in Real Estate? There's a free TEST for that!!

Hit me up and let's get started!

Who’s leading the way in homeownership?Did you know that the median age for single female homeowners is 63? These women ...
04/02/2026

Who’s leading the way in homeownership?

Did you know that the median age for single female homeowners is 63? These women are proving that it’s never the wrong time to invest in yourself.
In our local market, I’m seeing more women than ever taking the lead on their property goals. Despite the income gap shown in these stats, the "ownership rate" for women is officially leading the pack.

Thinking about making a move? Let’s look at the numbers together and find a home that fits your life and your budget.
Call to Action: Send me a DM if you're ready to start your home search!


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NOTICE: Idaho Falls agents, landlords & neighbors!!!Looks like the "Airbnb war" in Idaho may be officially ending.The Se...
03/12/2026

NOTICE: Idaho Falls agents, landlords & neighbors!!!

Looks like the "Airbnb war" in Idaho may be officially ending.
The Senate just passed HB 583 on Monday and it’s sitting on the Governor's desk right now. If you’ve been following the drama in Boise, this is the big one. Essentially, it strips cities (like IF and Ammon) of the power to put heavy restrictions on short-term rentals.

If you own a property, you basically have a green light starting July 1st. Cities can’t hit you with special business licenses, "caps" on how many rentals are allowed on your street, or those annoying extra parking requirements that don't apply to normal houses.

If you’re an investor or want to house-hack your basement, your property rights just got a huge shield. No more worrying about the city council changing the rules on you next month. If you live in a quiet area like the Numbered Streets, you might be seeing more "vacationers" and less "neighbors" soon. The city’s hands are officially tied on everything except noise and trash.

___NOW WHAT?___

1. The Veto Power
Governor Little has 5 days (excluding Sundays) to act while the Legislature is still in session. He has three choices:
Sign it: It becomes law and goes into effect July 1, 2026.
Do nothing: In Idaho, if the Governor doesn't sign or veto a bill within the 5-day window, it automatically becomes law without his signature.
Veto it: He can send it back to the House with his objections.

2. Is a Veto likely?
Probably not. Here’s why:
Trifecta Control: Idaho currently has a Republican "trifecta" (Governor, House, and Senate are all the same party).
Realtor Support: This bill is heavily backed by the Idaho Association of Realtors, a group the Governor typically aligns with on property rights issues.
Safety Compromises: Unlike previous versions of this bill that failed in 2024 and 2025, this 2026 version (HB 583) added specific "safety" allowances for cities. This was the "olive branch" designed to prevent a veto.

3. The "Veto-Proof" Factor
Even if he did veto it, the bill passed with huge margins:
House Vote: 54–16
Senate Vote: 23–12
In Idaho, it takes a two-thirds majority to override a veto. The House vote is already well above that threshold. The Senate is exactly on the line. If the Governor vetoed it, the Legislature could likely force it through anyway.

Let’s hear it—is this a win for owners or a loss for neighborhoods?


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The Farmers Who Built New Sweden (and the canal company)While the east side of Idaho Falls was being platted with grid-s...
03/09/2026

The Farmers Who Built New Sweden (and the canal company)

While the east side of Idaho Falls was being platted with grid-style city streets, the area across the river to the west was being shaped by a different vision. Known as New Sweden, this community was settled starting in 1894 by Swedish immigrants and Swedish-Americans who saw potential in the high-desert sagebrush.

The neighborhood's existence was made possible by the Great Western Canal. Settlers like the Peterson family were among the first to arrive, recruited for their experience with tough agricultural conditions. Before the water arrived, this land was considered "worthless," but these families formed the New Sweden Irrigation District in 1900—one of the first of its kind in Idaho—to take control of their own water rights.

This grit turned the desert into a powerhouse for potato and grain farming. The settlers didn't just build farms; they built a self-sustaining ecosystem anchored by the New Sweden School (built in 1927) and the local Mission Church. You can still see the original lava rock foundations and white-framed farmhouses that characterize the area's roots.

Today, the legacy of these founding families remains strong. Descendants of the original settlers still return to the area for reunions, maintaining a connection to land that has been in their families for over 125 years. Even as Idaho Falls expands westward in 2026, New Sweden stands as a reminder of the specific immigrant groups who built the local economy from the ground up.


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Real Estate Market Update: March 2026 Jobs ReportAccording to the latest analysis from National Association of REALTORS®...
03/06/2026

Real Estate Market Update: March 2026 Jobs Report

According to the latest analysis from National Association of REALTORS® Chief Economist Dr. Lawrence Yun, the February employment data presents a complex picture for the housing market.

While private sector jobs and reductions in federal staffing have led to lower overall payroll employment, the unemployment rate remains low. This is largely attributed to the southern border shutdown, which has helped maintain healthy wage growth at 3.8%.

What This Means for Homebuyers and Sellers
The primary concern moving forward is the potential for stagflation—a combination of low economic growth and elevated inflation driven by rising oil prices. If this trend continues, we may see upward pressure on mortgage rates.

However, there is a path toward lower rates. Dr. Yun notes that a significant ramp-up in U.S. oil production and liquefied natural gas exports could stabilize inflation. If this happens, mortgage rates could potentially reach multiyear lows despite current geopolitical uncertainty.

Staying informed on these macroeconomic trends is essential for making strategic real estate decisions in 2026.





Read the full report at the link below.
Graphic created from NAR article information

A Local Landmark: The History of St. John Lutheran Church I’m so proud to share a bit of local history that is also very...
03/06/2026

A Local Landmark: The History of St. John Lutheran Church

I’m so proud to share a bit of local history that is also very personal to me. My great-grandfather, Clinton A. Sundberg, was the architect who designed the beautiful St. John Lutheran Church right here in Idaho Falls!.

A Legacy in Architecture My great-grandfather’s firm, C.A. Sundberg Associates, was incredibly influential in Eastern Idaho, designing over 400 buildings—from churches and schools to courthouses—between 1919 and 1967. St. John is considered one of his firm's key works, representing a unique transition from traditional Gothic styles to more modern mid-century designs.

Some of the church highlights are listed below.

Completed in 1950, the church features a 42-foot bell tower, striking red brick, and his signature use of light-colored terra cotta accents.

In a clever feat of planning, the new church was actually built around the original "Little White Church" so that services could continue uninterrupted during construction!

The building is home to 23 unique, neo-Gothic stained-glass windows and hand-carved maple interior furnishings that are still original to his 1950 design.

My great-grandfather even attended the building's dedication in 1950 and provided a "liberal discount" on his design fee to support the congregation.

It’s amazing to see his work still standing as such a vibrant and "inspirational" part of our community more than 70 years later. Next time you pass by 7th Street, I hope you’ll take a look and think of the history—and the family—behind it.



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The Buzz is back for March 6–8! 🐝
03/06/2026

The Buzz is back for March 6–8! 🐝

The Vanguard Ledger - Home by Amazon (scratch that), Sears!Did you know you could once order an entire house out of a ca...
03/04/2026

The Vanguard Ledger - Home by Amazon (scratch that), Sears!

Did you know you could once order an entire house out of a catalog, have it shipped by train to the Idaho Falls station, and build it yourself?

Long before modern "prefabs," Sears, Roebuck & Co. revolutionized American housing. From 1908 to 1942, they sold over 370 different "Modern Homes" designs, providing nearly everything needed to build a new home.

A Special Delivery: The Mail-Order Kit Home
These weren't just simple blueprints. Sears provided a complete "kit" that included:

1) Pre-cut lumber: All the wood for framing, ready to assemble.
2) Numbered materials: Every piece was marked for rapid and straightforward construction, like a giant puzzle.
3) Complete components: Your shipment included doors, windows, paint, cabinetry, lath, shingles, and even the nails!
4). Convenience: These kits were shipped directly by railroad, making affordable, quality housing accessible to people across the country.

How to verify your Sears home:
*Check the Plumbing: Look at the back of the sink or the underside of the bathtub for a "SR" (Sears Roebuck) stamp.
*The Basement Beams: Look for a letter followed by three numbers (e.g., A124) stenciled in ink on the floor joists.
*Find Original Documents: Sometimes homeowners are lucky enough to still have the original shipping manifests or instruction booklets!

🕰️ The Heritage of Local Real Estate
This era of home building brought accessible, standardized quality to a growing nation. The history of real estate is full of fascinating disruptions like this!

Do you think you live in a Sears kit home? Or have you seen a house in your neighborhood that looks like it could have come from a catalog? Snap a photo and share it in the comments!👇


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The Historic O.E. Bell BuildingThey just don’t build them like this anymore! Have you ever paused to admire the stunning...
03/01/2026

The Historic O.E. Bell Building

They just don’t build them like this anymore! Have you ever paused to admire the stunning details on the O.E. Bell building here in Idaho Falls?

I don’t just look at houses—I look at the soul of our community through its architecture. This building is a premier example of Collegiate Gothic style, designed to give schools a sense of prestige, history, and "Ivy League" character.

The "Junior High" Inscription: Look above the main entrance! That beautiful stone carving has greeted students for nearly a century.

See that creamy-colored trim around the windows and doors? That’s ornate terra cotta, which provides that classic, sharp contrast against the deep red brickwork.

The tall columns (pilasters) stretching toward the roofline are a hallmark of Gothic design, meant to draw the eye upward and represent high aspirations.

🕰️ Then & Now:
Originally opened in 1927 as O.E. Bell Junior High, this building was the heart of education for generations of Idaho Falls residents. After the school closed, it famously spent years as an office complex (and even housed a deli - I was sad to see Arugula Café go!).

But today, it has come full circle! It has been beautifully restored and is now home to Alturas International Academy. It’s so inspiring to see a historic landmark preserved and filled with the sound of students once again. It truly proves that great architecture is timeless!

What are your memories of O.E. Bell? Did you walk these halls as a student, or do you remember grabbing a sandwich there when it was offices? Let me know in the comments! 👇



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Idaho Falls, ID
83404

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