Last modified: Sunday, June 4, 2006 2:57 AM PDT ANDREW CUTLER | Argus Observer A new house out in the country is a dream of many people and Malheur County is attracting individuals who want to enjoy country living according to at least one area realtor. Rural Malheur County attracts residents Larry Meyer Argus Observer ONTARIO A modest boost in building combined with a spike in interest for land has descended on rural portions of Malheur County. Development pressures in other areas and less expensive land are two key reasons for the moderate increase of people moving, or wanting to move, into the county. However, there is not as much activity in Malheur County as there is across the border in Idaho, Richard Beck, Nyssa realtor said. “There is some property selling out in the county,” he said. Beck said mainly people from out of the local area - including Ada and Canyon counties - seek the rural land. People are selling out to developers and, when they try to replace the land, there is nothing for sale, so they move toward Malheur County. “We are still less expensive. We have the amenities of the Boise Valley,” Beck said. The major caveat is because of the state's land use rules, there is not enough land available for buyers, Beck said. A lot of people want just a few acres, he said, not the 100-plus acres required in some zones. Malheur County realtor Carol Eldred said there is a lot of interest to buy in Malheur County from around the western region, as well as from across the border. She said her out-of-area clients include people from Nevada, Washington and California. She said she also sees people coming from the Boise and Meridian areas. “There was more activity last year,” Eldred said, but added there is still interest. Eldred also noted there are some people or groups of investors buying on speculation. “This year is up quite a bit from last year,” Ron LaBrousse, owner of Inspections Inc., which issues building permits for Malheur County under contract said. He put the increase in residential building permits at 100 percent, and said there have been 16 permits issued so far this year - double what had been issued by the end of May 2005. In comparing statistics from 2005 to 2006 for the first four months of the year, the figures were almost even, with seven permits - five in March and two in April - issued for 2005 and nine permits, including six in April issued in 2006, leaving the balance for May. In May 2005 only one residential permit for construction was issued. These figures exclude the five incorporated cities. While permits have been issued to people from out of the county, LaBrousse said he can not say the increase in building is tied entirely to outside influences. In what could be a possible sign of activity to come, the Malheur County Planning Commission has approved eight non-farm dwellings in agricultural zones so far this year.