Southeast Meridian is probably the smallest of the 4 quadrants of the city. Nonetheless, it is not short on options for the mid-range homebuyer. There are quite a few subdivisions that offer more than a starter home, but less than a mansion, and would appeal to young families as well as those with junior high and high-school children. Brand new neighborhoods populated with the latest home styles, well-established family subdivisions, and large, older properties figure prominently in this area. There are even a neighborhoods aimed at attracting empty nesters an featuring single level builds that include attached RV garages.

Caren Ridge Estates, part of an expansive new build development off of Victory Lane between Meridian Road and Locust Grove, offers luxury mid-size homes in three basic styles: modern farm house (think the “Magnolia” look of Chip and Joanna Gaines), Tuscan, and modern Craftsmen. Many of these homes come with two car garages as well as an attached RV garage that reflect the current desire of families and empty nesters to be able to live well but simply, and to take off on a road trip when the notion strikes them. Sweeping views of the Boise Range to the east of this subdivision provide all the inspiration a traveler needs to jump behind the RV wheel and get going. Attached to this neighborhood and included in the larger development are more modest, but no less attractive mid-size family homes as well as several streets of urban “row houses” with alley parking and garages.

Just up the road on the edge of the southeast Meridian boundary, the Red Tail subdivision hosts both single family dwellings and luxury apartments with a Tuscan feel. One of the signatures of this neighborhood is the high number of single family homes with RV garages.

Across the street from Red Tail, Victory Greens and Legacy Feed and Fuel remind residents both new and old that Meridian was once a very rural enclave and still maintains hearty vestiges of that way of life. Victory Greens has been in operation for nearly 30 years and supplies all the landscaping supplies – trees, shrubs, turf, bark, rock, decorative ground cover, and garden wall and patio pavers -- that a new home owner could need!

Southeast Meridian, though mostly developed is still dotted with the occasional horse pasture and charmingly overgrown stand-alone property. Evidence of the once sprawling nature of property ownership in this area can be seen in the neighborhood on San Ramon Loop. 40-50 year old ranch style homes that ramble over the lot, grazing horses and plentiful tall pines give off a northern California in the 1960’s vibe. Observation Point is another interesting subdivision. A pocket neighborhood of more established homes uniquely situated on a small ridge facing south over Victory Rd., it is populated with larger family homes, 10-20 years old, on more traditionally sized tree-lined lots.

Southeast Meridian is also home to a very large, but contained and thoughtfully landscaped business complex called El Dorado Business Campus. The businesses here range from restaurants like Jimmy John’s, Mo Joe’s Eatery (a local breakfast favorite!), and Gramercy Park Pizza and Grill (interestingly located across the street from one of the area’s last remaining corn fields) to mortgage companies, spas and Meridian’s newest indoor shooting range. Mountain Pharmacy, Northwest Neurobehavioral, and Rocky Mountain Foot and Ankle are also located here and continue Meridian’s well-established plan for becoming a health and wellness corridor in the Treasure Valley. Several hotels, two schools, and a dance academy are also part of, or close to the business campus.

If you are looking to make a career change as well as a move, you could attend Idaho’s only lineman school also located in Southeast Meridian. Northwest Lineman College, just east of Meridian Rd., is easily recognized by the several dozen telephone poles that are its training ground.

But if all of this is still not enough to tempt you to check out this portion of Meridian, consider this: where else could you potentially end up living on a street with the name Moon Dipper, Easy Jet or Time Zone?