ALLEN THAYER athayer@postregister.com
A regional homebuilder based in Logan, Utah, made its official entry into the Idaho Falls housing market with a recent ribbon-cutting ceremony for the grand opening of Fairway Estates.
Japan-based Misawa Homes Co. acquired a 51 percent majority interest in Visionary Homes in July 2024, making them the majority owner. The company was founded in 2004 by Jeff Jackson and Justin Cooper, who continue to operate the company in partnership with Misawa.
The company started by merging two custom building businesses in northern Utah’s Cache Valley. It has since grown into one of the largest residential developers in Utah, operating everywhere from Logan down to St. George, and extending into Idaho.
Company officials said moving into the Idaho Falls market represents a natural progression.
“It made sense,” said Ken Brown, Visionary Homes senior director of production. “Our headquarters is in Logan. We have built some scatterbot homes in Idaho before, down in the Preston area. It just made sense to grow in this direction.”
Scatterbot homes refers to scattered lot homes, which are new, often quick-move-in homes built by developers on isolated plots of land rather than within a single, cohesive subdivision.
This development is much more than that.
“This is an exciting milestone for us,” said Allison Flippence, Visionary Homes marketing director. “Fairway Estates is Visionary Homes’ first community in Idaho. This is a perfect opportunity for us.”
According to Flippence, Visionary Homes closed on approximately 750 homes last year. Fairway Estates reflects that continued growth as the company expands into Idaho.
“Quite a bit of our executive and leadership team has Idaho roots,” Flippence said. “I’m from Idaho. Quite a few of us are. So Idaho seemed like a natural fit. Idaho Falls is such a great community and with the economic growth who wouldn’t want to be part of that?”
Fairway Estates is a residential neighborhood and new home community located in the northern part of Idaho Falls, specifically built around the Sage Lakes Golf Course. The area is centered around major streets like Rockland Drive and Sage Lakes Boulevard.
It offers a unique blend of scenic views, open space and a quiet, established feel, Flippence said, while still being conveniently close to everyday amenities, schools and major roadways.
According to Brown, Phase One of the development has 33 lots.
The recent ribbon cutting took place in front of the model home at 5316 Rockland Drive.
“We’ve gotten quite a few people in here this morning from the neighboring community,” Flippence said. “This neighborhood has been quite curious.”
“We finished this model home about a week ago,” Brown said. “We’ve got five houses in here now.”
The single-family homes range from approximately 1,555 square feet to 2,800 square feet, Flippence said. Homes are anticipated to start in the low $500,000s.
The company hasn’t started Phase Two in which another 33 lots would be developed.
“We don’t own that land yet, but I believe the acquisition team is negotiating to get that,” Brown said.
A unique aspect of Fairway Estates is the addition of a new bridge, Flippence said.
The bridge covers a canal that flows by the intersection of North Fifth East and Sage Lakes Boulevard and significantly improves access for surrounding residents by connecting the area more directly to main roads.
According to Brown, the bridge was already there but without any entrance onto it.
“We finished the bridge by making it so that you could drive onto the bridge,” Brown said.