The following is an entry in the Thanksgiving Challenge 2021. The challenge is simple. Post something you are thankful for, 10 days in a row. Anything at all. This post will focus on wildlife. I am so thankful that I live in a place where wildlife is so bountiful!  Why? Because wildlife is beautiful, free, wild and interesting. Are they really interesting? Yes! They manage, somehow, to live outside in freezing weather.  Have you ever thought about that? Deer are outside when it's 20 below zero. They also are fine at 90 above. And in both of those extremes they just wander around like everything is just fine. Apparently, they stay warm because their fur is hollow and it traps air which allows them to retain body heat in the winter. And in the summer, they are smart enough to relax under ... 11/20/2021

More than 31 acres of gorgeous Montana land just went under contract! But if you are interested in privacy, views, road maintenance, multiple choices for building sites, and abutment to Montana State Land, backup offers for this beautiful piece of land are being accepted! This parcel is part of the Granite Hill Estates, which is located in the western part of Kalispell. The covenants and HOA that cover the property are not onerous. They permit a home, guest houses, accessory buildings, garages and more. There are no specific restrictions on the numbers of animals and pets, as long as they meet county requirements. The only animals not allowed are pigs and swine. And the HOA does cover road maintenance, which is a huge advantage over other areas where this is not the case.  The road come... 11/13/2021

When mentioning the Flathead Valley Exchange Club, the question often arises, "What is that?" This post will hopefully answer that question. The NW Montana's Exchange Club is a relatively new chapter of the National Exchange Club. The National organization has been in existence over 110 years. The "exchange" part of the name refers to their mission of exchanging ideas to make communities a better place to live. Specifically, these clubs service their communities by focusing on three pillars: Americanism, Youth and Community. In addition, they support a national project which is the prevention of child abuse. Each year, the exchange clubs support their area by serving the under-privileged, mentoring youths, supporting the military and more. The Flathead Valley Exchange Club has only been... 11/10/2021

Following is an overview of the Kalispell Montana real estate results for the residential market as of October 2021. This report covers the entire residential market, including single family homes, townhouses, condominiums and manufactured homes.   The Kalispell residential market remains a sellers market. That being said, there are signs for the sixth month in a row that the market is slowing down slightly.   Sales VolumeIn the month of October 2021, there were 95 residential sales in Kalispell which is just slightly less than last month and 14% less than last year.  There are currently 211 homes under contract, which is slightly more than last month. As of the end of October 2021, there have been 1,002 year-to-date sales in Kalispell, which is 4% less than the same time last year. So ... 11/09/2021

One of the most wonderful aspects of the Kalispell Montana area is that there is almost always something interesting to do. In the last few weeks, I was able to go to a Wine 101 event which focused on wine tasting skills. I also went to a course on how to make butter and cheese and went home with a nice big roll of butter I churned with a partner (takes a lot of work!). What fun! And the most recent thing I found to do in Kalispell was a Charcuterie Board Making and Wine Tasting event. Charcuterie has been getting more press lately. You might think "charcuterie" is just a fancy way to say "cheese and meat board" but the word is actually focused on the meat. It's the culinary art of preparing meat products, specifically to preserve them. And charcuterie boards are the art of displaying t... 11/06/2021

This report covers the residential land market in Kalispell Montana as of the end of October 2021. Land sales, property under contract and the number of active listings have all decreased, as has total dollar value of land sold. The land market may be finally slowing down after the last few years of very strong sales.  INVENTORYAs of early November, there were 81 residential land parcels for sale in the Kalispell area which is slightly less than the previous month, for the third time in a row. Five or more acresOf the land currently for sale, more than half of the listings include five or more acres. I define rural as those properties in the 5+ acre category. Those are most likely to be parcels located on a gravel mountain road, agricultural farming land, or acreage adjacent to National... 11/05/2021

This is a post for the "Help us Fall in love with your area" challenge that Kathy Streib is hosting. The challenge is all about sharing what makes our area special in  Autumn. So here is an overview of Montana colors in the third season of the year. The Kalispell Montana area is an amazing place to be during Fall.  Having spent many years enjoying the gorgeous colors of the East Coast's Autumn, I thought I was leaving all that behind when coming to northwest Montana. I thought wrong! One of the most striking characteristics of Kalispell autumn views has to do with the coniferous tree, the Larch. Also called the Tamarack , this pine tree is unique because it is also deciduous, meaning the needles turn colors and fall off every Autumn. They grow back in the Spring, and are the softest pin... 10/25/2021

Meeting in the Rain or a beautiful sunny day.  It is always nice to be able to meet up with those Real Estate agents in other areas on Active Rain and it is even more fun to get to know them over dinner.      Last week Mark had set up a dinner with Kat Palmiotti and her husband for dinner at Jalapenos  and  I jumped at the chance to go.   Kat Palmiotti is a broker with EXP Realty in Kalispell Montana.  As an avid hiker she specializes in land and helping people make those dreams a reality.  First meetings can sometimes feel awkward, but not this time.  From the first moment it was a comfortable gathering of old friends.   Kat has a great sense of humor, a relaxing demeanor, good values and is just a joy to be around.  Her ideals on client care and stress free professionalism are very al... 10/21/2021

More than 31 acres of gorgeous Montana land just became available! If you are interested in privacy, views, road maintenance, multiple choices for building sites, and abutment to Montana State Land, you have got to look at this beautiful piece of land!  This parcel is part of the Granite Hill Estates, which means it is covered by CCRs (covenants) and an HOA. It's important to note, though, that the covenants are not onerous. They do permit a home, guest houses, accessory buildings, garages and more. There are no specific restrictions on the numbers of animals and pets, as long as they meet county requirements. The only animals not allowed are pigs and swine. And the HOA does cover road maintenance, which is a huge advantage over other areas where this is not the case. You will notice se... 10/14/2021

Following is an overview of the Kalispell Montana real estate results for the residential market as of September 2021. This report covers the entire residential market, including single family homes, townhouses, condominiums and manufactured homes.  The Kalispell residential market continues to be a sellers market. That being said, there are signs for the fifth month in a row that the market is slowing down slightly.    Sales VolumeIn the month of September 2021, there were 99 residential sales in Kalispell which is just slightly more than last month and 43% less than last year. There are currently close to 194 homes under contract, which is also just slightly more than last month. As of the end of September 2021, there have been 906 year-to-date sales in Kalispell, which is 3% less tha... 10/13/2021

This report covers the residential land market in Kalispell Montana as of the end of September 2021. The land market remains strong.   INVENTORYAs of early October, there were 85 residential land parcels for sale in the Kalispell area which is slightly less than the previous month, for the second time in a row. That being said, there are still choices for buyers. Five or more acresOf the land currently for sale, slightly more than half of the listings include five or more acres. I define rural as those properties in the 5+ acre category. Those are most likely to be parcels located on a gravel mountain road, agricultural farming land, or acreage adjacent to National Forest or lumber parcels. They are often not located in a development, but by themselves, and provide privacy and multiple ... 10/08/2021

If you are a first-time home buyer just starting out with a land or home search or are moving to our area from elsewhere, one of the questions you may ask is, "What are Covenants?" The simplest answer is, covenants are regulations that come with a particular parcel of land. The official document that contains the regulations is called CC&Rs, or Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions. In the Kalispell area, some properties have covenants and some don't. This blog post will provide an overview of both types of properties. Often, covenants are put in place when property is being subdivided for future new homes. The purpose is typically to make sure the development has a specific look and feel, and new home owners know what rules must be followed when living there. Sometimes covenants are put... 09/14/2021

Following is an overview of the Kalispell Montana real estate results for the residential market as of August 2021. This report covers the entire residential market, including single family homes, townhouses, condominiums and manufactured homes.  The Kalispell residential market continues to be a sellers market. That being said, there are signs for the fourth month in a row that the market is slowing down slightly.  Sales VolumeIn the month of August 2021, there were 93 residential sales in Kalispell which is 29% less than last month and 35% less than last year. There are currently close to 200 homes under contract, so homes are definitely still selling, but demand does seem to be slowing. As of the end of August 2021, there have been 808 sales in Kalispell, which is only 6% more than t... 09/10/2021

This nearly 20 acres of beautiful Montana land sold in August 2021!  Here's what kind of property the new owner has: Secluded and Great for Self-Sufficiency:With no electric or cell service, this property is the epitome of seclusion. At the same time, it is only about 20 minutes from the center of Kalispell. That means access to the town's four major grocery stores and many other options for food are nearby. The medical facilities, college, big box stores and smaller businesses in the area are all about the same distance from the property. And the bus stop is located at the end of Patrick Creek Road. Part of the Outdoors:In addition, this property is perfect for lovers of the outdoors. It abuts the Flathead National Forest on two sides. That makes hiking, cross-country skiing, horseback... 09/09/2021

This report covers the residential land market in Kalispell Montana as of the end of August 2021. The land market is still doing well, with sales and total sales prices setting records.  INVENTORYAs of early September, there were 88 residential land parcels for sale in the Kalispell area which is slightly less than last month. There are still choices for buyers. Five or more acresOf the land currently for sale, approximately half of the listings include five or more acres. I define rural as those properties in the 5+ acre category. Those are most likely to be parcels located on a gravel mountain road, agricultural farming land, or acreage adjacent to National Forest or lumber parcels. They are often not located in a development, but by themselves, and provide privacy and multiple buildi... 09/07/2021

If you are planning to purchase land for a future home or hunting cabin, you may want water! If your land is in the city of Kalispell, you will likely have access to city water. If, however, you are out of town on more rural land, you may need to dig a well. Often the question that is asked is, "How deep will my well be?" And here's the answer. The answer is, "There's no way to know for sure until it's drilled!"  You will need to contact a Montana drilling company. They will come out, assess access and a possible drilling location and set up an appointment. Once they start drilling, they will note the type of material that they drill through. They will also measure how deep the drill is when water is hit. Usually they will drill a little further and then measure the water flow. Then the... 09/06/2021

This report covers the residential land market (active listings and sales) in Kalispell Montana as of the end of July 2021. Similar to the housing market, there are signs that the market is slowing down from last year's highs. Available InventoryAs of early August, there were 92 residential land parcels for sale in the Kalispell area which is flat with the same time last month. That remains great news for buyers since higher inventory levels equate to more choices. Five or more acresOf the land currently for sale, half of the listings include five or more acres. While most of the land in Montana could be considered rural, I define rural as those properties in the 5+ acre category. Those are most likely to be parcels located on a gravel mountain road, agricultural farming land, or acreag... 08/11/2021

Following is an overview of the Kalispell Montana real estate results for the residential market as of July 2021. This report covers the entire residential market, including single family homes, townhouses, condominiums and manufactured homes.  The Kalispell residential market continues to be a strong sellers market. That being said, there are signs for the third month in a row that the market may be slowing down slightly. Sales VolumeIn the month of July 2021, there were 131 residential sales in Kalispell which is steady from last month and 10% less than last year. If you look at the chart below, it appears sales rates are similar to last year, but are occurring a month earlier. For example, sales started increasing in May last year (a late start due to Covid), compared to April this y... 08/05/2021

There are often challenges with selling or buying undeveloped acreage. Challenges can include lack of electric options, ground that would result in deep well depths, expensive driveway requirements, rocky ground which will make building difficult and more. The particular challenge being discussed in this post relates to access.  Specifically, there are two different types of access issues that could exist with a parcel of land, especially a larger parcel outside of town. One pertains to physical access, and one to legal access.    Physical AccessThe term physical access specifically refers to the actual road that is place and must be transversed to reach a specific parcel of land. In my area of Montana, there are many roads that are not maintained by the county. And while people in many... 07/26/2021

It's too late for other buyers... This twenty acre parcel of secluded mountain acreage with views of the Flathead Valley just 20 minutes from the center of Kalispell is sold!  The twenty acre property included beautiful Montana forest land with gorgeous views of the valley and mountains.  The land has no zoning, HOA or covenants so it is land the buyers can turn into whatever their dreams dictate.  Perhaps they will build a small off-the-grid hunting camp that allows them to walk out the back door and already be in fantastic hunting land. Deer and elk tracks abound!   Or maybe they will build a mountain side retreat with amazing views of the mountains and valleys.   Alternatively perhaps they will just use it as a never ending source of firewood and building materials.  Only the new buy... 07/23/2021