Taunya Fagan Bozeman Real Estate Blog: Montana Real Estate Blogs

7 Ranges Ranch - Bozeman Ranch Land Montana Horse Property - Seven Ranges Ranch

Just outside of Bozeman's hustle and bustle, 7 Ranges is quietly located on the foothills of the Hyalite Mountain Range. World class fly fishing, skiing and sporting activities are the backdrop to 7 Range's historic fence lines. A stone's throw away nightlife and commercial amenities can also be found in charming Gallatin Gateway with it's rustic charm and local small town flavor. With all that 7 Ranges has to offer, it has been well worth the wait.

7Ranges is a private, gated, luxury land community offering 18 home sites on over 1300 acres. Secluded setting in the Gallatin Valley foothills between Bozeman and Big Sky with miles of trails for enjoyment and access to thousands of acres of Forest Service. Stunning, 360 degree views of the valley at large and 7 mountain ranges. Utilities to every tract and covenants allow for private residence, guest house, barn and outbuildings. Horses are very welcome at Seven Ranges.

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Click for More Info - Taunya Fagan 7 Ranges Bozeman - Montana Ranches

Montana Log Homes - Helena Log Homes 

Home Mortgage Foreclosure Heat Map 2008

Unfortunately, California and Florida's home mortgage foreclosure rates have heated up since late 2007... 

 Heat map from RealtyTrac.com/ForeClosurePlus.com

Below is important information - Tips from the HUD website - to forestall home foreclosure. If you follow rule #1 you will be on your way to proactively addressing the problem. Never ignore your home payment; seek assistance immediately...

 1. Don't ignore the problem.

The further behind you become, the harder it will be to reinstate your loan and the more likely that you will lose your house.

2. Contact your lender as soon as you realize that you have a problem.

Lenders do not want your house. They have options to help borrowers through difficult financial times.  

3. Open and respond to all mail from your lender.

The first notices you receive will offer good information about foreclosure prevention options that can help you weather financial problems.  Later mail may include important notice of pending legal action.  Your failure to open the mail will not be an excuse in foreclosure court.

4. Know your mortgage rights.

Find your loan documents and read them so you know what your lender may do if you can't make your payments.  Learn about the foreclosure laws and timeframes in your state (as every state is different) by contacting the State Government Housing Office.  

5. Understand foreclosure prevention options.

Valuable information about foreclosure prevention (also called loss mitigation) options can be found on the internet at portal.hud.gov/portal/page?_pageid=33,717348&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL .

6. Contact a HUD-approved housing counselor.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds free or very low cost housing counseling nationwide.  Housing counselors can help you understand the law and your options, organize your finances and represent you in negotiations with your lender if you need this assistance. Find a HUD-approved housing counselor near you or call (800) 569-4287 or TTY (800) 877-8339.

7. Prioritize your spending.

After healthcare, keeping your house should be your first priority.  Review your finances and see where you can cut spending in order to make your mortgage payment.  Look for optional expenses-cable TV, memberships, entertainment-that you can eliminate. Delay payments on credit cards and other "unsecured" debt until you have paid your mortgage.

8. Use your assets.  

Do you have assets-a second car, jewelry, a whole life insurance policy-that you can sell for cash to help reinstate your loan? Can anyone in your household get an extra job to bring in additional income?  Even if these efforts don't significantly increase your available cash or your income, they demonstrate to your lender that you are willing to make sacrifices to keep your home.  

9. Avoid foreclosure prevention companies.

You don't need to pay fees for foreclosure prevention help-use that money to pay the mortgage instead. Many for-profit companies will contact you promising to negotiate with your lender.  While these may be legitimate businesses, they will charge you a hefty fee (often two or three month's mortgage payment) for information and services your lender or a HUD approved housing counselor will provide free if you contact them.

10. Don't lose your house to foreclosure recovery scams!

If any firm claims they can stop your foreclosure immediately if you sign a document appointing them to act on your behalf, you may well be signing over the title to your property and becoming a renter in your own home!  Never sign a legal document without reading and understanding all the terms and getting professional advice from an attorney, a trusted real estate professional, or a HUD approved housing counselor.

Thanks to HUD for the italicized information above.

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Taunya Fagan Bozeman Real Estate Mortgage Information

From: bizjournals - July 21, 2008 by G. Scott Thomas

Bozeman, Montana Ranked #2 Dream Town in America...AGAIN!

Bozeman, Montana Dream Town #1 in 2006 - Best Quality of Life

Helena, Montana Ranked #5

America may be a metropolitan nation, but most of us don't seem very happy about it.

A total of 252 million people -- 83.5 percent of all Americans -- live in metropolitan areas. That includes 164 million in the 51 biggest metros, the ones with populations above 1 million.

Yet a substantial number of these residents of big cities and inner-ring suburbs don't have their hearts in it. They would prefer to live on the suburban fringe or in small-town America, as repeatedly shown by surveys during the past decade.

Here are the top five small towns:

1. Torrington, Conn.

2. Bozeman, Mont.

3. Lexington Park, Md.

4. Lebanon, N.H.-Vt.

5. Helena, Mont.

Read More at Biz Journals  

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Taunya Fagan Bozeman Real Estate    Bozeman School Information     

Learn About Bozeman Montana     Learn About Helena Montana

I thought you would find this information interesting...

Immigrants - Immigrants comprised 40% of new households from 2000 to 2005, and

 Immigrants allocate more income for housing, offering 39% on average to 28% for Americans.
 14% of recent buyers are immigrants.
 20% of the 25-to-34 age group population is foreign-born.
 Immigrants put more down, averaging 7% down versus 4% down by native-born Americans.

Hispanics - Hispanic home ownership only rose 5%, from 44.7% to 49.7%, in the last decade, and

 72% of the Hispanics living in the US are US citizens.
 The largest and fastest-growing minority group in the US.
 Hispanic homeownership rates lag significantly behind non-Hispanic whites at ~49% to ~76%.
 by 2010, Hispanic purchasing power will equal the third largest economy in the western hemisphere, rivaling Brazil's economy.

Women - From 1980 to 2000, households headed by unmarried women rose by ~10 million, and

 Female home ownership is just 23%.
 Single women represent 20% of recent home buyers, which is a ~50% increase from 2000.
 83% of single female home buyers choose single-family homes over condominiums.
 Women will head 28% of households by 2010.

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Bozeman's Regional Housing Data and Statistics     Find Your Bozeman Home

Often in the shadow of Bozeman, Belgrade, Montana has established itself as a unique and independent family-oriented community with excellent services and a highly respected school system, all the while retaining the feel of a small, western town. From Belgrade it's a short trip to visit Lewis and Clark State Park, explore Lewis and Clark Caverns, drive to Yellowstone National Park, fish the Gallatin, Madison, or Jefferson Rivers, hunt on open land, and partake of many more Gallatin Valley recreational opportunites.

Now, at the turn of the 21st century, Belgrade, with an excellent school system, is one of the fastest growing communities in Montana. The town welcomes families looking for permanence. You will find easy access to a regional airport, a major railroad line, the U.S. Interstate Highway System, and manufacturing, agricultural, retail, and bio-tech businesses. The City offers a Revolving Loan Fund program, with low cost loan programs for new and relocating businesses.  More on Belgrade, Montana

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        Need The Value of Your Belgrade, MT Home?      Taunya Fagan Belgrade Homes & Land

 2008 GALLATIN COUNTY FAIR JULY 16-20 "Fun for the Whole Herd!"

Daily Events, Wednesday - Sunday

All Day Pass $15 In Advance

FREE - Super Science Company "Fun with Physics"
FREE - The Comedy & Juggling of  Paul Isaak
FREE - Kid's Fun Zone with Curly the Clown (Big B Jamboree)
FREE - Matt Sorensen's Can Art (Beautiful Spray Can Art)
FREE - Penelope the Clown
FREE - Lou's Travelling Petting Zoo

Wednesday, July 16th

Bozeman Classic PBR Professional Bull Riding

$35 at Murdochs  or at Arena Gate
FREE - Music by "Sweet Adelines"
FREE - Dog Agility Show
  
Thursday, July 17th

FREE - Music by "Ringling 5"
FREE - Short Dock Dog Diving Contest
FREE - FFA Mutton Bustin' Contest

Friday, July 18th

FREE - Heart of the Valley Shelter Dog Train-Off
FREE - Team Ranch Cutting & Yearling Branding Competition
FREE - Southwest Montana Rodeo Queen Contest
FREE - Classic Rock & Roll & Swing Music by "Clambelly" Heroes Behind the Badge Blood Drive 

Saturday, July 19th

Mandatory Contestants' Meeting 4:00pm
Rodeo Gates Open  5:00pm
Cowboy Calcutta  6:00pm at the Arena
Bozeman Roundup Ranch Rodeo 7:00pm

$5 - MAIN EVENT - Bozeman Roundup Ranch Rodeo & Saddle Bronc Riding - 10 Years & Under FREE

It's Exciting - It's Entertaining - It's Educational - IT'S THE REAL WEST AT ITS BEST!

The events held at this rodeo depict actual jobs the working cowboys of today may perform on the ranch.

RODEO TEAM EVENTS:
1. Wild Cow Milking
2.  Team Branding
3.  Team Penning
4.  Team Doctoring

SPECIAL EVENT: Ranch Saddle Bronc Riding

Saturday, July 19th Events also include

 $5 at Mud Bog Gate - Mountaineers 4x4 Mud Bog
 FREE - Heart of the Valley Shelter Dog Train-Off
 FREE - XL Country/Colgate Country Showdown
 FREE - Music by "Western Skies"
 FREE - Super Grasshopper Contest
 FREE - Ranch Horse Contest Heroes Behind the Badge Blood Drive

Sunday, July 20th 

Cowboy Church
FREE - Doxie Derby Contest
FREE - Heart of the Valley Animal Shelter Pet Show
FREE - George Eddie Memorial 4-H Rodeo

Click For More Gallatin County Fair Information

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Taunya Fagan Search For Gallatin Valley Homes - Montana Real Estate

Join Habitat for Humanity of Gallatin Valley (HfHGV) for the Ride for Homes, a special fundraising event with a scenic motorcycle ride followed by a BBQ dinner and rock concert at Bogert Park in Bozeman, Montana, on Saturday July 12, 2008, beginning at 10:30 am.

Registration is at 9:00 am in Belgrade, MT...more information below.

Registration begins at 9:00 am, Saturday, July 12 at Yellowstone Harley-Davidson, 540 Alaska Frontage Road, Belgrade, Montana. Phone: 406.388.7684 - Yellowstone Harley-Davidson

BBQ, Auction, & Rock Concert with "Comstock Lode" is at Bozeman's Bogert Park, on East Main Street, from 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm.

Doing The Ridge?

Bozeman, Montana's "Bridger Ridge Run" takes place along a good portion of the distinctive and prominent scree-strewn ridge line of Bozeman's Bridger Mountain Range and is billed as possibly the most rugged, technical 20 mile trail race in existence.

For the hard-core trail runner or city marathoner-cum-weekend trail runner, "The Ridge," as locals call it, is a breath-takingly beautiful ankle-twisting, knee-wrenching challenging traverse across a mix of of limestone, sandstone, volcanics, shale, and conglomerates.

The brutal, almost 20 miles long (19.65 miles "direct way" or 20.55 miles “easy” way) race begun by Ed Anacker in 1985, offers 6800' of ascent and 9500' of descent, all the while forcing you to scramble over knife edge talus and shale, baby-headed sandstone boulders....

The views from the course, but don't take your eyes off the trail to look, are extraordinary....

More at Bozeman's Ed Anaker Bridger Ridge Run, sponsored by Bozeman's Big Sky Winddrinkers Running Club.

The entry date is May 31st, or simply come watch about 300 mountain trail runners push themselves to the limit on "The Ridge" this August, in Bozeman, Montana.

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Taunya Fagan Bozeman Montana Real Estate

Affiliate Listings Now Display on Nine Real Estate and Search Sites

IRVINE, Calif. - Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a Prudential Financial, Inc. [NYSE: PRU] company, today flowed at least 140,000 for-sale property listings to Internet hot spots Cyberhomes.com, Google Base^TM and Oodle. The move positions Prudential Real Estate affiliates' listings in front of the growing ranks of consumers who shop online for real estate and related services and information.

"We're sending our affiliate listings to Cyberhomes, Google Base and Oodle for a couple of simple reasons: The sites are very popular among consumers, and each offers a rich search experience with a lot of useful information," said Laurie Keenan, president of Prudential Real Estate. "Our listings as well as our services and resources are now readily available to the millions of consumers who frequent these great Internet sites."

Prudential Real Estate teamed with Cyberhomes earlier this month to offer "Value Range Estimates" and "Property Profiles," free consumer services now available on Prudential.com/realestate. Through Cyberhomes, Prudential Real Estate listings also will appear on AOL.com.

Moreover, Prudential Real Estate's marketing plans include display and banner advertising on Cyberhomes and Oodle. "Our mission is to drive significant consumer traffic to our affiliates' listings," said Keenan. "Aligning with Cyberhomes, Google Base and Oodle will help us get that job done." Said Marty Frame, Cyberhomes general manager: "We are excited to add Prudential Real Estate affiliates' listings to our powerful search capability on Cyberhomes.com. Consumers appreciate the breadth of listings on Cyberhomes, as well as the depth of home-evaluation and homeownership information available on our site."

"We are thrilled to be working with Prudential Real Estate," added Faith Sedlin, Oodle founder and vice president. "As a classifieds site with a broad partner network, Oodle provides a great local venue to feature real estate listings." Online listings include property descriptions, photos and affiliate- and listing-agent contact information. In addition to Cyberhomes, Google Base and Oodle, Prudential Real Estate affiliate listings also appear on FrontDoor.com, Propsmart.com, Trulia.com, Yahoo! Real Estate and Zillow.com.

Cyberhomes valuations provide access to most of the same information from Fidelity National Information Services, the leader in property information, services and technology for REALTORS®, appraisers and lenders, to create detailed, proprietary analysis of a property and the surrounding community. Cyberhomes enables the exploration of real estate data ranging from property facts, value estimates and a variety of important indicators of local and national changes in the housing market.

Google Base enables structured data such as real estate listings to better surface on the Google search engine improving the quality of search results. Real estate listings from Google Base are available on Google Maps^TM. Google, Google Base and Google Maps are trademarks of Google Inc.

Oodle allows consumers to buy and sell through online classifieds. Bringing together more than 40 million listings from over 80,000 sites, Oodle improves the way people buy and sell locally. Oodle offers the most comprehensive search, convenient email alerts and information to empower consumers to make better buying decisions. Read More at Prudential.com 

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Taunya Fagan Bozeman Homes & Land     The Bozeman Real Estate Report    

The Bozeman Homes     The Bozeman Real Estate Blog   

Bozeman, Montana's Sweet Pea Festival - A Festival Of The Arts. The Festival was founded to celebrate the arts in Bozeman and the surrounding region. Sweet Pea continues because Bozeman desires to continue  celebrating the arts and the fact that art adds so much to the life of a community.

From The Sweet Pea website:

Founders. The Sweet Pea Festival had its humble beginnings in 1978. It was established to be a community event that celebrates, cultivates and promotes the arts in Bozeman". The founders of this event wrote on April 13, 1977; "a working committee took shape from an amorphous group of Bozemanites dedicating themselves to staging a three day "celebration of creativity" among the community ....".

Volunteer run. Sweet Pea has always been run and organized by volunteers. It has grown from a group of 17 organizers to 35 committees, 50 year-round Board members and up to 2,000 volunteers by the time all is accomplished for the current year.

Giving back to the community. Sweet Pea is the definition of community in its purest form. The original founders desired that the festival support and encourage cultural activities beyond the annual celebration.

To this end, the Sweet Pea Festival has a proud tradition of returning any funds gathered beyond expenses back to the Bozeman community.

Any profits realized above and beyond the year's expenses are given back to the community, each year, in the form of grants for arts, arts education and special projects, such as taking care of the beautiful park that hosts the Festival.

Funding. Sweet Pea is funded primarily by the sale of the admissions. The first organizers purchased two button making machines and five committee members created 1,000 buttons each. In 2004 over 19,000 buttons were sold.

You can volunteer. Sweet Pea has been an important part of the arts and the artistic and cultural life of Bozeman for nearly 30 years. It is the hope of all of the dedicated volunteers, past and present that Sweet Pea will continue on in the exciting and important tradition it has established and continue to remain the most cherished celebration that it is.

Premier Sweet Pea Festival Events include:

Sweet Pea Ball: Friday, July 31
Chalk on the Walk: Tuesday, August 4
Bite of Bozeman: Wednesday, August 5
Art Show Opening: Thursday, August 6
Children's Run: Saturday, August 8
Sweet Pea Parade: Saturday, August 8

Things To Do:

 ARTS & CRAFTS
 ART SHOW
 THE BALL
 BITE OF BOZEMAN
 CHALK ON THE WALK
 CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES
 CHILDREN'S RUN
 CHURCH IN THE PARK
 COLLABORATIVE
 DANCE
 FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT
 FLOWER SHOW
 FOOD CONCESSIONS
 MUSIC
 PARADE
 POSTER
 THEATRE

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Taunya Fagan Bozeman Real Estate - Montana Real Estate 

In the contentious, months-long struggle for control of Big Sky, Montana's Yellowstone Club, Edra Blixseth appears to have secured control of the Club from her husband, Tim Blixseth. 

Edra Blixseth, who started the Mountain playground for the wealthy with her husband, Tim Blixseth, will receive Mr. Blixseth's 50% ownership interest and become Yellowstone's lone owner. The agreement is part of the Blixseths' divorce settlement, expected to be finalized in the coming weeks.

The arrangement may prove to be the denouement of the recent battle for the future of the Yellowstone Club.

Bozeman Real Estate Blog