Is This the Best Custom Home in Idaho Falls? 2026 Parade of Homes Tour

Watch on YouTube: Is This the Best Custom Home in Idaho Falls? 2026 Parade Tour

Short answer: after walking the 2026 Eastern Idaho Parade of Homes, my top three were a roughly 6,000 square foot MDS Builders home in Shelley, a Valhalla Homes house with a pool, and a Hapco Construction home with standout bookcases. Almost 20 homes were in the Parade this year, and these three are the ones I toured on camera. Here is what stood out in each one.

I'm Jacob Marcovitz, a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty East Idaho. I'm independent and not affiliated with MDS Builders, Hapco Construction or Valhalla Homes. These are my own opinions from walking the homes.

What is the Parade of Homes in Eastern Idaho?

Every year, local builders open some of their best new homes for a two-week public tour. It's one of the easiest ways to compare floor plans, finishes, kitchens, primary suites and outdoor living spaces in one place. Not every builder takes part. Some very popular builders skip it because their clients don't want strangers walking through a home. I gave out about 400 tickets this year, and I'm happy to get you into next year's tour.

MDS Builders: the most unique home of the Parade

MDS has been building in our area since about 2020, and I think they build the most unique homes in the Parade. They go over the top to show what is possible, even on spec homes.

The basics

• Size: about 6,000 square feet.
• Location: Shelley, on roughly seven acres (with cows for neighbors).

What I liked

• Kitchen: bold tile, lit cabinets, a different ceiling treatment and a butler's pantry off the kitchen. I'd have liked the pantry a little bigger.
• Office: up a short flight of stairs to an elevated landing that looks over the property and down into the family room.
• Bathrooms: each upstairs guest bedroom has its own ensuite, with granite around the tub insert. I haven't seen another local builder do that.
• Basement: a bedroom with 14 to 16 foot ceilings, made possible because the office sits above it. The basement ceilings are about 10 feet. It also has a wet bar, a gym and a movie room with wallpaper.
• Exterior: lots of stonework.

My take

This was my number one. The colors are a lot, and the purples weren't for me, but the ideas are great.

Valhalla Homes: comfortable, with a pool and a gym

This was my second favorite. It felt comfortable rather than flashy, with no crazy colors. I believe it was going to be the builder's own residence, though I could not confirm whether it is for sale.

Highlights

• Kitchen: gas fireplace, a good-sized butler's pantry, cabinet lighting and a rock backsplash that matches the front of the house.
• Outdoors: a covered patio with another gas fireplace, plus a pool. A main-floor bath with a shower opens to the outside, so swimmers can rinse off without tracking water upstairs.
• Primary suite: split so the bath is on one side and the bedroom is on the other, with a heavy precast tub and a stackable washer and dryer in the suite.
• Upstairs: a loft for homework or play and a built-in bunk room with custom cabinetry.
• Downstairs: a theater room with wood-paneled beams, a home gym with a sauna and a spot for a cold plunge, and a golf simulator room.

My take

I only wish it had more land. The lots in that subdivision are smaller, up to about half an acre.

Hapco Construction: bookcases, blue tile and a smart layout

Hapco's home was my third favorite. The kitchen wasn't too in-your-face, with nice cabinet color and a gas range.

Highlights

• Bookcases: my favorite part of the house.
• Butler's pantry: a blue finish I liked, with wallpaper on the ceiling.
• Primary suite: a freestanding tub, a large glass shower and a closet with drop-down racks. The closet loops into the laundry room.
• Lower level: a small movie area with a sit-up bar and a wet bar.
• Jack and Jill bath: each bedroom gets its own vanity area before you enter the shared bathroom.

My take

The blue tile wasn't my choice, but that's the point of custom. At this price point you pick your own colors.

Design trends I noticed

• Cabinet lighting: nearly every builder is doing it.
• Butler's pantries: common off the kitchen.
• Wallpaper: back in, including on ceilings and in movie rooms.
• Wellness rooms: home gyms, saunas and cold plunges.
• Built-in bunk rooms: cabinet-company builds look more professional.

FAQ

What is the difference between a custom home and a production home in East Idaho?

Production (track) builders here build roughly 200 to 300 homes a year. The next biggest builder does about 40 to 50 a year, then it drops to around 30. Custom builders like the ones in the Parade often build only two to five homes a year, so you get more design control and a different pace. If you are comparing production builds, see my guides to Fall Creek and Copper Creek.

Are all the best builders in the Parade of Homes?

No. Some popular builders skip it because their clients don't want a home toured. Many builders who weren't in it this year are worth a look before you buy or build.

How many homes are in the Parade?

Almost 20 this year, spread across eastern Idaho, over about two weeks.

Can I get tickets?

Yes. I gave out about 400 this year, so message me before next year's tour.

Are the homes in the video for sale?

Some are. The MDS home was listed. Availability and prices change, so ask me for current details.

Thinking about building a custom home or buying new construction in East Idaho? Call or text me at 208-821-6217 or reach out at eastidahojacob.com/connect. Jacob Marcovitz, Keller Williams Realty East Idaho, 3525 Merlin Dr, Idaho Falls, ID 83404.