I recently earned an SRES® designation. SRES is a program designed to enable REALTORS® to assist seniors through major financial and lifestyle transitions. Please note that the "seniors" in this situation refers to anyone 50 years old and above. For all my peers who fit into that 50+ category, being included as a "senior" doesn't mean we're old! SRES® stands for Seniors Real Estate Specialist designation. An SRES® REALTOR® has obtained special training, gets regular updates, and is prepared to provide options and information that might be needed in making life changing decisions. So why do I want to assist "seniors?" Because when I went through the following personal experiences, I would have liked to have had a guide to help me along the way. And I'd like to be that guide for others. S... 03/20/2020

Rural living in the Flathead Valley of Montana can be amazing. Beautiful starlight nights. Sights or signs of wildlife including grouse, rabbits, squirrels, turkeys, fox, coyote, deer, elk, bear and more. Peace and quiet. There are also practical considerations. If you are thinking of moving to a rural area, you need to consider purchasing decisions, access issues, service delivery, agriculture and the right to farm, mother nature and wildlife. The first four posts can be accessed by clicking the links above. Part five of the series regarding living in rural areas of the Flathead County in Montana focuses on Mother Nature. Flathead County Planning and Zoning prepared an excellent document for both natives and newcomers to the area. They've given me their thumbs up to share here. The fiv... 03/14/2020

This is part four of the series regarding living in rural areas of the Flathead County in Montana. If you are considering moving to a rural area, you need to consider purchasing decisions, access issues, service delivery, agriculture and the right to farm, mother nature and wildlife. The first three posts can be accessed by clicking the links above. This post about rural living in Flathead County covers the topic of agriculture and farming. Flathead County Planning and Zoning prepared an excellent document for both natives and newcomers to the area. They've given me their thumbs up to share here. The fourth chapter deals with farming and agriculture topics. And I quote: Agriculture and the Right to Farm Agriculture is still an important part of the Flathead County economy, even as subdi... 03/09/2020

Following is an overview of the Kalispell Montana real estate results for the residential market as of February 2020. This report covers the entire residential market, which includes single family homes, townhouses, condominiums and manufactured homes.  In February 2020, Kalispell Montana sales and median prices remained healthy. Following is an overview of the monthly results. Sales VolumeIn the month of February 2020, there were 49 residential sales. These results are slightly lower than January and 14% lower than February of last year but this is no cause for concern. The average sales per month for the first quarter of the year have been in the low to mid 50s, so February is tracking in the normal range. As can be seen below in the inventory section, sales continue to move forward! ... 03/06/2020

Moving to a rural area is a decision that encompasses many factors. If you are thinking about living in rural areas of Flathead County, you will need to consider purchasing decisions, access issues, service delivery, agriculture and the right to farm, mother nature and wildlife. The first two posts can be accessed by clicking the links above. This third post about rural living in Flathead County covers potential service delivery issues. Flathead County Planning and Zoning prepared an excellent document for both natives and newcomers to the area. They've given me their thumbs up to share here. The third chapter deals with service delivery to your property. Also, just a note, this chapter refers to DVDs by mail - it was written a few years ago! And I quote: Service Delivery Living in a ru... 03/03/2020

Are you moving to the rural Kalispell Montana area? Or do you already live in the Flathead Valley but are interested in moving to a less crowded area? Do you want privacy and wildlife? If yes, there are many things to consider, including purchasing decisions, access issues, service delivery, agriculture and the right to farm, mother nature and wildlife. This second post about rural living in Flathead County covers potential land access issues. Flathead County Planning and Zoning prepared a very good document for both natives and newcomers to the area. They've given me approval to share here. The second chapter deals with access to your property. And I quote: Access The fact that you can drive to your property today doesn't necessarily mean that you, your guests, and emergency service pr... 02/25/2020

Many home buyers in Kalispell and the rest of Flathead Valley choose to live in cities or towns. Those that select this type of living can easily walk or drive to nearby stores, medical facilities, movie theaters and restaurants. They have access to utilities, Internet, garbage pickup and more. On the other hand, there are some buyers who decide to purchase rural property. This should not be done without knowing what your life might look like after you own your new home. Accordingly, Flathead County Planning and Zoning prepared a very good document for both natives and newcomers to the area. It defines many different aspects of rural living, from making the decision to purchase land, to potential issues with property access, service delivery, agriculture and farming, mother nature and w... 02/22/2020

Following is an overview of the Kalispell Montana real estate results for the residential market as of January 2020. This report covers the entire residential market, which includes single family homes, townhouses, condominiums and manufactured homes.  In January 2020, Kalispell Montana sales and median prices remained healthy. Following is an overview of the monthly results. Sales VolumeIn the month of January 2020, there were 52 residential sales which was 2% higher than the same month last year and 15 less than December of 2019. As you can tell from the chart below, sales in the area tend to start out lower at the beginning of the year, surge to a high in June or July and then hit lower levels in the later months. January 2020 is aligned with the same time last year, so nothing unexp... 02/06/2020

Yesterday I had the good fortune to be able to host a small get-together at my Kalispell home. I wanted to be able to get to know some of my neighbors a little better, and of course to be able to cook for company. Two things that I love to do! We've been in our home for a month and we finally got our dining room table a week ago, so it was time to entertain.  I did not take a photo of the food and drink layout but wish I had. What I found yesterday is that the kitchen is perfect for hosting parties. I used an end counter top for the "entertainment nook." That's where the wine, bourbon, bottle openers and glasses went. On the center island went the plates and food: hummus, butternut squash "salad", pulled pork sandwich fixings, pita, chips and salsa. Except for the pita, chips and salsa,... 01/27/2020

As I've mentioned in previous posts, I'm finally living in my new Kalispell home. The home is located at the far end of a nearly 30 acre parcel of property. Behind us are several miles of wilderness, which means two things. First, we have a relatively long driveway and second, animals abound in our area. Since it is now the middle of winter, I've given up my habit of running down the road four days a week. The ice and snow encrusted roads are just too dangerous for running so I'm currently walking up and down the driveway several times a day. It's more than a mile round trip, so it does provide a bit of a stretch for now. But my morning walk down the driveway is not just for exercise; it is for exploring. First thing in the morning, there is usually a light dusting of snow which makes c... 01/19/2020

If you are looking to build a new home in the Flathead Valley, especially a custom one, then you must call or visit Greg Bain & Company. They are located at 3577 Highway 93 North in Kalispell, Montana and can be reached at 406-752-2886. And here's why you need to contact them. My husband and I purchased land in Kalispell several years ago. We needed to find a builder who would help our dream of a custom home come true. We interviewed several building contractors, arriving at each with our hand drawn house proposal and with a ton of questions. When we got to the Greg Bain & Company offices, we were greeted by Matt Bain. He listened, answered all our questions, came with us to check out our property, and left us feeling excited that our dream was possible. Once we made the decision to use... 01/06/2020

Following is an overview of the Kalispell Montana real estate results for the residential market as of December 2019. This report covers the entire residential market, which includes single family homes, townhouses, condominiums and manufactured homes. The Kalispell market remains healthy! During 2019, sales remained strong with median prices higher than 2018 in all months except one. Sales VolumeIn the month of December 2019, there were 67 residential sales which was 14% higher than the same month last year and 21 less than November of 2019. As you can tell from the chart below, sales in the area tend to start out lower at the beginning of the year, surge to a high in June or July and then hit lower levels in the later months. This year followed that same trend. Total sales in 2019 wer... 01/03/2020

Do you want to live at the base of the Swan mountains? Where the traffic is nearly non-existent? With lots of space to breath? And only be about twenty minutes from the center of Kalispell, and just as close to Bigfork? If yes, read on! Whitetail Meadows is located east of Kalispell. Specifically, if you take Route 35 east for approximately 6 miles, make a left on Lake Blaine Road, continue about two miles, make a right on Creston Hatchery, you're nearly there. The entire community has only 23 currently built or future homes. Each lot has five acres of space and most have at least 400' of road frontage. The community does have an HOA as well as CCRs (Conditions, Covenants, and Restrictions). For example, some of the area rules include the following. The area does permit livestock and fo... 01/02/2020

Village Greens is a community in Kalispell MT that provides golf-course living. Homes in this area are located at the Village Greens Golf Club property. The homes range in size from ~940 to ~6,000 square feet, and include both single family homes (many are ranch style) and townhouses. Some of the homes are located on the edge of the Whitefish River and others are located by the greens and fairways. There are still some lots available for new construction. In terms of location, Village Greens is only minutes to both Route 2 and Route 93. That means it is close to all major Kalispell shopping, Glacier National airport, restaurants and more. Village Greens has amenities including biking/walking paths, a picnic area and an event center. The community holds an annual Social Activities Commit... 01/01/2020

Quite a few developments in Kalispell MT include single family homes. Meadows at Four Mile, however, is a condominium community. It is located on the western side of Route 93, on Meadow Vista Loop off of Four Mile Road. The community has amazing mountain views, and is close to most everything Kalispell offers. The homes are only minutes from all the major shopping centers, Flathead Valley Community College, Kalispell's medical center and the Glacier International Airport. In terms of amenities, Meadows at Four Mile includes a clubhouse, 4,000 square foot putting green and patio with BBQ and fire pit. There is also an exercise facility, pool table and event area. Monthly HOA fees are approximately $250 per month, as of late 2019. Condos range in size from nearly 1,300 square feet to over... 12/30/2019

In August 2019, work began in earnest on the building of our new home in Kalispell, Montana. While the ground had been cleared for our custom home prior to then, no actual building had been done. There was no well, septic or electric. So in mid-August the footings were installed and from that moment on, work sped along. On December 21, 2019, we moved into our home! How did it happen so fast?Stories abound about how custom homes can take years to build. Contractors might not show up. Material doesn't arrive as expected. Weather necessitates long delays. And on and on. So we thought our home would probably not be done until the Springtime, especially since we are in Montana where winters can be cold, snowy and long. We lucked out. We had an amazing building contractor who dealt with issue... 12/26/2019

Following is an overview of the Kalispell Montana real estate results for the residential market as of November 2019. This report covers the entire residential market, which includes single family homes, townhouses, condominiums and manufactured homes. In summary, sales and median prices were both higher than the same time last year. See below for more information. During 2019, sales have remained healthy and median prices continue to be higher than 2018 - in every month so far this year. Following is an overview of the November 2019 Kalispell results. Sales VolumeIn the month of November 2019, there were 87 residential sales which was 36% higher than the same month last year and only 8 less than October of 2019. As you can tell from the chart below, sales in the area do tend to start o... 12/04/2019

A few days ago, I shared information regarding the West View Estates in Kalispell. On the east side of town is another amazing subdivision.  The East Valley Estates development is located east of Kalispell, approximately 4 miles down Route 35 past the Route 2 and 35 interchange. As you drive towards the community, you can't help but notice the absolutely amazing views of the Swan Mountainsin front of you. The location is not only beautiful but also provides easy access to Kalispell, the town of Bigfork and all the hiking available in the Jewel Basin. The first phase of development in East Valley included 17 homes which were built beginning in the 2005-6 timeframe. These homes were built on lots between 1 to nearly 2 acres in size. For the most part, the homes are ranch styled homes with... 11/20/2019

Another new community in the Kalispell MT area is West View Estates. There is still time to purchase land and have a new home built! West View Estates is a community of single family homes located in the north valley of Kalispell. Some homes have mountain views. They are located to the west of Route 93 north and are accessible from either Old Reserve Drive or Stillwater Road. Homes are situated along Taelor Road, Ali Loop, Gucci Way and Owens Court. As with many of the other northern-situated developments, this one is close to everything Kalispell has to offer. For example, it's just minutes to shopping at stores such as Walmart, Costco, Home Depot, Target and Lowe's. In addition, Krispy Kreme and Sable Coffee are nearby, as are Kalispell Regional Healthcare, Flathead Valley Community C... 11/18/2019

Silverbrook Estates is a new community located on the western side of Route 93, on the north side of Kalispell near Stillwater River. It is easily accessible to both Whitefish and Kalispell. Most of the community has views of the Swan mountains in the east and the Salish mountains in the west. Silverbrook is only minutes from all the major shopping stores, Flathead Valley Community College, Kalispell's medical center and the Glacier International Airport.  Silverbrook Estates is still being developed as of late 2019. The property includes more than 50 acres of land. It will eventually be the site of more than 300 homes in the Silverbrook communities of Riverside, Creekside and the Cottages. In addition to all the homes, this area will have plenty of amenities! A clubhouse, pool, fitness... 11/14/2019