How Zach Matson of Matson Homes Turns Overlooked Boise Lots Into Six-Figure Equity

Boise buyers keep asking the same defeated question: “How do you compete in a market where a $900-a-month rental sells for almost $2 million?” The answer might already be sitting in your own zoning code. On my podcast, I sat down with Zach Matson of Matson Homes to break down how ordinary lot splits and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are quietly creating six-figure equity for the people paying attention, and why he's one of only a dozen developers in the Treasure Valley who do this full-time. Why I Had This Conversation: I've sold real estate in Boise long enough to watch the same story play out over and over: a modest, decades-old house sells for an outrageous price, and nobody stops to ask why the empty side yard next to it might be worth more than the house itself. That's exactly the gap Zach lives in. He's the CEO of Matson Homes and one of the only people working in infill development in Boise full time, alongside Garden City and Meridian. Reading a Listing Like Zach Matson Does: Most agents and buyers look at an old house and see, well, an old house. Zach looks at the same listing and sees square footage, lot width, and setback math. He calls it his superpower, and after listening to him work through a deal in real time, I believe him. Turning One Lot Split Into Six-Figure Equity: Here's the part that changed how I look at every wide, old lot in town. Zach explained that a single lot split can create six figures of equity almost overnight, simply because a buyer is purchasing one property but walking away with two. Why Boise's New Two-ADU Rule Is a Bigger Deal Than It Sounds: A few weeks before we recorded, Boise quietly passed an ordinance letting property owners add ADUs to a single-family home. Zach walked me through what that actually means on the ground, and it's more flexible than I expected. What Changed for Me After This Conversation: I came into my conversation with Zach thinking infill development was a niche most agents didn't need to understand. I left it convinced it's one of the more overlooked paths to building wealth through real estate, not just for seasoned investors, but for regular buyers, too.