Bozeman Real Estate Blog: Montana Real Estate Blogs

Drive Your Own Montana Dog Sled Big Sky Montana

2010-01-07T13:28:55Z

Have you ever imagined driving a team of sled dogs? Spirit of the North sled dog trips at Big Sky, Montana's Moonlight Basin Resort allows you to do so...

And, it's not as hard as you may think because the dogs know the trail; you just need to keep your balance, apply drag or brakes, and move your body like a skier.

The Huskies used for these eight mile trips come from Montana's sled dog racer Jessie Royer's vast kennel of Alaska-Siberian mixed dogs (greyhound and other breeds mixed in).

As we (five-year old boy included) helped hitch the teams up, these lean, work-loving canines began yipping, then yapping, and finally jumping and howling, filling the air to a fever-pitch of canine cacophony.

My husband drove ours and as soon as he released the brake the dogs shot down the hill and away into the trees, hot on the trail of the lead team.

Over hills and hummocks we raced, never sure what was around the next bend in the trees...exciting, exhilirating...and the vistas of the snow-covered Madison Mountain Range and the northwest side of Big Sky's Lone Peak...well, you'll just have to try it for yourself!

According to the International Federation of Sleddog Sports, "sled dog activities may have existed for almost as long as the relationship between dogs and humans, in the regions where snow was a seasonal probability."

In the 1920's gold miners returning to New England brought sled dog racing where its popularity soared.

And into the 1930's, sled dogs were the primary means for the Post Office to reach remote places to deliver Alaska's mail.

For information on Montana Sled dog trips, make the call (406) 955-3424

Taunya Fagan Prudential Big Sky Montana Real Estate,

giving you the advantage...®

351 Majestic View Drive Montana Luxury Real Estate - Montana Horse Property

2010-01-27T11:39:55Z

Gorgeous, custom Manhattan Montana Luxury Real Estate on 20 acres in the Churchill-Amsterdam area. Be wowed the minute you walk in to this rustic Montana beauty.

Soaring ceilings, fir beams, massive stone fireplace, and a wall of glass to display the magnificent Bridger Mountain range.

This Manhattan home contains 6792 +/- sq ft finished, with approximately 3396 +/- sq ft finished on the main floor with great room, dining area, kitchen, game room, combo laundry-mud room, luxury master wing, powder room, two guest suites with full baths and extra storage space.

Enjoy the Chef's Kitchen replete with Monogram stainless steel appliance package: double ovens, over-sized refrigerator, six-burner range, granite counters, over-sized walk-in pantry, built in wine bar.

Luxury master wing includes private office, deck, fireplace, and bathroom with double vanity, soaker tub and walk-in tiled shower with triple shower heads.

The walk-out lower level is 3396 +/- sf unfinished but framed, insulated, plumbed for a bathroom, and wired.

This southwest Montana luxury real estate has a gorgeous stone fireplace, family room, two bedrooms, bathroom, game room, extra storage, and the mechanical room. Enjoy the incredible concrete patio highlighted by boulder retaining walls, beautiful unobstructed mountain and valley views.

For all the toys, enjoy the oversized 3-car garage, with work station, and bonus room above.

Offered at $929,000 - MLS 166661

Discover the History - Manhattan, Montana

Taunya Fagan Prudential Montana Luxury Real Estate 406.579.9683 taunya.fagan@prumt.com

giving you the advantage...®

Bozeman Real Estate Homes Sales Trending Up Third Quarter 2009

2009-10-28T16:30:16Z

According to the National Association of Realtors...

NAR says, so far in 2009, the trend is: First-time Home Buyers have pushed 45% of all US home sales.

In concert with this national trend upward in US home sales, which was 13.0% for existing home sales in the Western part of the United States, interest in the Bozeman, Montana Real Estate Residential Home Market, including interest in the Bozeman Luxury Real Estate Market, had been trending upward in the last few weeks of the third quarter of 2009.

Bozeman and the Surrounding Area's Sold Data For Years 2003 Through 2009

Year	# Homes Sold	$ Total Sales Volume	$ Average	$ Median	*DOM

2003	703	$185,483,838	$263,846	$217,000	69
2004	731	$225,186,403	$308,053	$257,500	64
2005	816	$295,215,066	$361,783	$300,000	62
2006	650	$280,571,095	$431,648	$340,851	62
2007	556	$233,759,262	$420,430	$327,250	83
2008	502	$206,974,405	$412,300	$308,850	108
2009	338	$113,569,803	$336,005	$271,500	115

* DOM: Days on Market

The Year 2009 Pending Bozeman Home Sales Breakdown Through September 2009:

Bozeman - 111
Belgrade - 42
Big Sky - 17

The total number of homes sold in 2009 in the Bozeman real estate market appears to be trending toward 2008's sold total but with a trend downward in Bozeman area home sales prices, which is good for Bozeman home buyers.

Good News Update: with the October 28, 2009 Congressional (Senate) action on the distinct possibility of extending the Home Buyer Tax Credit, Bozeman home sales for 2009 may end up being higher than the number of Bozeman homes sold in 2008. After Senate approval, the Bill would have to go to the House and on to President Obama, who, along with some key Democrats, is a bit reluctant to extend the tax credit because of the additional cost to tax payers.

Taunya Fagan Prudential Montana Real Estate

giving you the advantage...®

Montana Real Estate 2009 And Montana Realty Predictions 2010

2009-12-18T14:51:04Z

Bozeman Real Estate Prices, Values, Statistics 2008 Through 2009

Includes Southwest Montana Real Estate Market - Gallatin County Montana Real Estate Volume

Earlier this year, Housing Predictor (a housing forecasting website) had ranked the 25 top US cities for home value appreciation in 2009. The Housing Predictor Montana Rankings had five Montana cities in the top 25 and two within the top 10 (you may recall that in January 2009, Billings ranked 3rd and Bozeman ranked 9th, placing both cities in the top 10 for appreciation in 2009: excellent rankings for any state).

Apparently, based on US housing data received during 2009, Housing Predictor has published a revised, or more accurately, a final tally of the top 25 US Housing Market appreciation results for 2009. Again, five Montana cities have placed in the top 25 for 2009, but the revised ranking now places Bozeman 14th, Billings 18th, Livingston 20th, Great Falls 22nd, and Missoula 25th, still far better 2009 housing sales results than ANY other state in the US, and a fairly accurate prediction on the part of Housing Predictor for, at least, Bozeman, MT.

Housing Predictor will be coming out with its 2010 predictions in the next month or so. The independent real estate market forecaster has made some early predictions as to US housing prices in 2010.

Pertaining to Montana real estate prices for 2010, the housing forecaster has Montana real estate prices dropping from 2.5% to 3.6% across the five, aforementioned Montana cities.

Below is a comparison chart for regional, Gallatin County and Bozeman Real Estate Prices, January through December 2008 and January through November 2009:

*SOUTHWEST MONTANA REAL ESTATE ACTIVITY 2008-2009*	#	*Total Volume*	*Average*	*Median*	DOM*
FINAL RESULTS YEAR 2008 VOLUME
All Gallatin County Montana	Over 950	Over $700M	Over $725K	Over $400K	Over 150
Bozeman Real Estate Area	Over 550	Over $350M	Over $650K	Over $400K	Over 150
Belgrade Real Estate Area	Over 150	Over $50M	Over $325K	Over $225K	Over 125
Manhattan Real Estate Area	Over 35	Over $20M	Over $550K	Over $350K	Over 130
Three Forks Real Estate Area	Over 30	Over $950K	Over $225K	Over $175K	Over 150
Gallatin Canyon, West Yellowstone, Big Sky Real Estate	Over 125	Over $225M	Over $1.5M	Over $125K	Over 225
CURRENT ACTIVITY YEAR 2009 VOLUME
All Gallatin County Montana	Over 875	Over $700M	Over $800K	Over $400K	Over 175
Bozeman Area Real Estate	Over 525	Over $375M	Over $700K	Over $400K	Over 175
Belgrade Area Real Estate	Over 125	Over $50M	Over $400K	Over $225K	Over 150
Manhattan Area Real Estate	Over 40	Over $20M	Over $500K	Over $250K	Over 200
Three Forks Area Real Estate	Over 40	Over $12M	Over $300K	Over $250K	Over 125
Gallatin Canyon, West Yellowstone, Big Sky Real Estate	Over 125	Over $225M	Over $1.5M	Over $1.1M	Over 500

* DOM = "Days On Market"

giving you the advantage...®

Taunya Fagan Bozeman Montana Real Estate

406.579.9683 - taunya at taunyafagan dot com

Bozeman Airport Gallatin Field Expansion 2009

2009-11-24T16:22:39Z

Already in 2009, the number of people departing Bozeman Airport - Gallatin Field (BZN), Belgrade, Montana, has surpassed all previous records...

...so the present 28,000 sf, $30 million, Phase III expansion of the Gallatin Valley's airport, designed by Bozeman's Prugh and Lenon Architects, comes at the perfect time to accommodate the apt projection that Bozeman's yearly air traffic will continue increasing at the rate of 5 percent each year well into the next decade.

Gallatin Field, services Bozeman, Belgrade, Big Sky, and a good portion of the southwest Montana region. Presently, Montana's Gallatin Valley region continues to grow and, according to October 2009 figures, Gallatin Valley and Bozeman's unemployment hovers around 5.5%.

In 2008, two carriers into Bozeman, Allegiant Air and Frontier Airlines, increased the number of travelers to Bozeman and southwest Montana with their Las Vegas and Denver flights. Beginning Dec. 17, 2009 United begins seasonal non-stop service to San Francisco's International Airport (this seasonal service will end March 27, 2010.) United Express has also added a nonstop, service to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD).

Gallatin Field's constant flow of corporate and cargo planes, four air flight schools (including a helicopter flight school), and rising private jet traffic are what keeps Bozeman's regional airport, and a large number of Bozeman area residents, employed. Gallatin Airport employs over 400 people through almost 30 companies whose offices reside right at Gallatin Field.

According to the Gallatin Airport Authority, which oversees Bozeman's airport operations, the new expansion will add four gates to the existing five, for a total of 9 gates, which will still leave additional space for future population growth in and increased tourism into the Bozeman region.

Question: Whose plane was the first and only 747 ever to land at Bozeman's Gallatin Field Airport?

Taunya Fagan Prudential Montana Real Estate, giving you the advantage...®

Cutting The Montana Christmas Tree

2009-12-08T10:16:31Z

'Tis the time of year to harvest the Montana Christmas tree, with, of course, your $5 permit, which you may purchase at a Ranger District office of the Gallatin National Forest.

You may also get your permit at some other Bozeman area businesses, including Murdoch's Ranch and Home Supply Company, the Gateway Exxon Station, Lee and Dad's Grocery Store, and Owenhouse-Ace Hardware Store.

In ten degree, snowy weather, my husband, son, and I, in our 4x4, convoyed with some others up Bozeman's Hyalite Canyon Road, which has winter plowing.

When heading up, don't forget your shovel (a grain scoop works great), and it's always good to have four-wheel drive, chains, jumper cables, and a tow rope--hopefully only to pull others out.

We hiked in the requisite 100 feet away from the road (50 feet from streams), found and cut decent little fir trees, strapped them to our roofs, and headed home.

We hope you have a Merry Christmas!

Taunya Fagan

Prudential Bozeman Montana Real Estate,

giving you the advantage...®

Residential Montana Real Estate Statistics 2009

2009-11-03T12:47:50Z

Builders of Residential Montana Real Estate...

And builders of homes in the rest of the Northwest region of the US in 2009 began building residential properties, including condominiums and town houses, at a rate of between 8 and 9 percent.

Fifty-nine percent of year 2009 home sales throughout the United States have been incumbent upon FHA, VA, or USDA home loan programs.

In the Northwest Region of the US the rate of the use of these government loan programs has been fifty-one percent:

1. Veteran's Administration (VA) loans, eleven percent.
2. Federal Housing Administration (FHA), thirty-four percent.
3. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), six percent home financing programs

Throughout the United States in 2009, the use of one of these three government home mortgage loan programs was through a No-Equity high home Loan-To-Value (LTV) rate of between ninety-six and a half and one hundred percent, which basically means home buyers were able to secure a home loan almost equal to, or in some cases equal to or greater than, the home's value at the time of purchase. Some LTV loans surpass a home's assesed value by as much as 25 percent!

Taunya Fagan Prudential Montana Real Estate,

giving you the advantage...®

Blog Catalog Bozeman Real Estate Blog

Beautiful Bozeman Home For Sale - Lush Landscaping - Close to Bozeman Schools

2008-08-05T19:44:30Z

Taunya Fagan | Taunya Fagan Bozeman Homes & Real Estate - Prudential | taunya.fagan@prumt.com | (406) 579-9683

Secor Street, Bozeman, MT

Beautiful Bozeman Home - Near Schools - Lush Landscaping

3BR/1.5BA Single Family House

offered at $SOLD

Year Built	1986
Sq Footage	1,779
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	1 full, 3/4 partial
Floors	1
Parking	Unspecified
Lot Size	8,400 sqft
HOA/Maint	$tbd

DESCRIPTION

Fabulous, one level house on Bozeman's southside. Close to schools, walking trails, and downtown Bozeman. Pride of ownership is apparant throughout. Very clean, neat interior and exterior grounds. Upgrades include; slate entry, hardwood and cork flooring, window coverings, new interior paint, and newer roof. Fully fenced backyard and side yard with access gates. Oversized 2-car garage with ample storage space. Lush landscaping and close to schools.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Walk-in closet	Hardwood floor	Tile floor
Living room	Bonus/Rec room	Dining room
Dishwasher	Refrigerator	Stove/Oven
Washer	Dryer	Laundry area - inside
Yard

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Taunya Fagan

Taunya Fagan Bozeman Homes & Real Estate - Prudential

taunya.fagan@prumt.com

(406) 579-9683

For sale by agent/broker

Taunya Fagan Bozeman Homes - Bozeman Real Estate

Posted: Aug 5, 2008, 2:34pm PDT

Hospital, Medical Campus, Resort Village Planned in Bozeman, Montana

2008-04-21T19:45:25Z

A new Bozeman healthcare complex, with a new hospital coupled to a medical campus, is slated for Bozeman's west side, with "boutique doctors," a "life stream and healing garden," and a walkable, resort to be named, Spring Creek Village Resort, with shops, more than 40 restaurants, a hotel, offices, and loft condominiums surrounding a glass square with ice-skating in the winter and movie venue in the summer.

Though no formal application has been submitted, approximately 50-acres will be developed on Huffine Lane between Cottonwood Road and Ferguson Avenue. The rezoning, from Business Park District (BP) to Urban Mixed Use District (UMU), of 31 acres within the 50-acre area that will become Spring Creek Village Resort, was approved this week by the City of Bozeman, Montana Commission.

This potential Bozeman Medical Complex project requires further review by the Bozeman City Commission.

giving you the advantage...®

Taunya Fagan Bozeman Real Estate 406.579.9683 taunya.fagan@prumt.com

They're Quietly Cutting Into Your Real Estate Market!

2008-05-07T15:57:01Z

My husband predicts that in the next 2 or so years, companies like Trulia, GetMyHomesValue, HomeGain, Zillow, RealEstate123XYZ, etc., will push themselves to the top of local real estate markets by optimizing their websites for keyword searches in just about every local and/or regional real estate market in the U.S.

Then these major companies, with substantial capital for SEO work, will send the local Realtors--you--Buyer leads for substantial referral fees, which will force you, the Realtor to work harder than you do. Soon, every web-based real estate entity out there will be muscling into your real estate market for a simple, but costly referral fee.

Try a keyword search for "Bozeman real estate," "your city homes," etc. and you may very well see Trulia, and the like come up on the first page. A quick Google search for "San Diego Real Estate" finds Trulia in the #2 spot on page one; "bozeman homes for sale" finds Trulia in the #1 position on page one; "St. Louis Real Estate" finds Yahoo in the #3 position on page one; "Miami Homes" finds Trulia in the #4 spot on page one; "abilene land for sale" finds Trulia in the #4 position on page one, etc., etc. Realtors will still remain Seller Agents (for now) but we very well may lose a portion of the Buyer Agent commission...

Taunya Fagan Prudential Montana Real Estate, giving you the advantage...®

406.579.9683 taunya.fagan@prumt.com

Montana Exports 2007: Second-highest annual growth rate in U.S.

2008-05-24T16:39:04Z

Recently, Montana's Governor Brian Schweitzer, stated "Over the past five years, Montana has had the second-highest annual growth rate in export value in the nation."

Montana Department of Commerce records show that in 2007, Montana's commodity exports increased almost 35% to a new high of $1.74 billion. Wheat ranked #1 at $613.4 million, which is a $203 million increase from the previous year. The Montana Wheat and Barley Committee puts the majority of the 107.8 million bushels of wheat as exported to Japan.

Except for wheat exports, Canada, which has enough wheat for itself and many more countries, is Montana's top commodity export market; Japan remains second; then Germany, Taiwan, and China round out Montana's top five International export partners. In this same timefram, exports of dried legumes revenue increased from about $8.5 million to $17.6 million.

Montana"s noncommodity exports to Canada were $221.4 million in 2003, growing to $584.7 million in 2007. Noncommodity exports to Japan came in at $27.2 million in 2003, rising to $101.7 million in 2007, and our exports to Germany increased from $7 million in 2003 to $58.9 million in 2007.

Other Montana exports consist of medical instruments, vehicle parts, ores, industrial machinery, fuel, aircraft equipment, wood products, electrical machinery, prepared cereals, and pharmaceuticals.

Weak US currency increases the price Montanans pay for imported goods. Expanding export markets do make US goods cheaper, though, and thus, more attractive to our foreign customers. Montana has made between a 20% and 37% gain in exports since 2006. Gov. Schweitzer, says, "We have seen an increase in both our exports and in manufacturing employment, and Montana is one of only 22 states to see this growth."

giving you the advantage...®

Taunya Fagan - Real Estate - Bozeman Montana

406.579.9683 taunya.fagan@prumt.com

Bozeman Real Estate MLS Listings

Montana Economy and Housing Strong Against National Trend

2008-05-13T08:13:08Z

Montana Department of Revenue Director, Dan Bucks has good news about Montana's economy and housing sector in 2008: Montana's strong economy has served as a buffer, helping Montana housing prices remain fairly strong against the rest of the country. "On the whole, Montana's economy, Bozeman's economy are strong, and that helps to weather the effects of national trends," Bucks stated to a group of Bozeman real estate agents recently.

Buck's Montana Dept. of Revenue office is poised at the edge of a reappraisal of all Montana property values, done every 6 years. Bucks, said, "the governor is committed ... there will be no property tax increases due to reappraisal on a statewide basis."

Bozeman Montana's Real Estate Report

2008-06-02T14:28:06Z

The BozemanRealEstateReport.com in southwest Montana

If you would like to know more about the Bozeman, Montana real estate market and beyond, the Bozeman, Montana Real Estate Report is an ever-expanding repository of southwest Montana real estate information, offering in-depth facts on and data about building lots and homes for sale in Bozeman and beyond; land sales statistics for Gallatin County, MT and Park County, MT; Gallatin Valley regional demographics; Belgrade, MT land use issues; future growth; affordable Bozeman, MT homes and housing, and a wealth of detailed information you won't find at any other real estate site in the southwest Montana region.

The Bozeman Real estate report staff will prepare you specific real estate data, send realty statistics, discuss Montana real estate history, or help you with anything real estate-related in southwest Montana.

Spectacular Mountaintop Retreat - Luxury Montana Log Home in Helena, MT

2008-06-11T19:26:17Z

Taunya Fagan | Taunya Fagan Bozeman Montana Real Estate - Prudential | (406) 579-9683

8344 Whisperwood Trail, Helena, MT

Spectacular Mountaintop Retreat - Luxury Log Estate

5BR/4.5BA Single Family House

REDUCED TO $2,250,000

Year Built	2005
Sq Footage	6,572
Bedrooms	5
Bathrooms	4 full, 1 partial
Floors	2
Parking	3 Car garage
Lot Size	43 acres
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

This exquisitely designed, furnished, 5 bedroom, 5 bathroom masterpiece of log architecture takes log home construction to a magnificent height.

Elegant and perfectly proportioned, Whisperwood sits atop its own private, 43 acre summit, offering breathtaking views of the City of Helena and its lakes and mountains.

This spectacular Helena Montana real estate offering at 8344 Whisperwood Trail is constructed of the finest materials and was built with painstaking precision and dedication to detail.

Enjoy the gourmet kitchen replete with Blue Pine cabinetry, stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, double ovens, central island, and additional four-person unique, wood and stone pedestal table.

Enjoy the magnificent stone fireplace or take in the views while lounging in the grand living room. Retire to the guest suite to read beside its own fireplace. Retreat to the private office for business or quite time.

see additional photos below

Take the central elevator to the cozy upper reading-sitting area. Workout in the lower recreation room. Transport your groceries or guests' bags by elevator from the heated 3-car garage to the upper floors.

Enjoy the stunning landscaping with a mix of conifers, aspens, and flowers watered by underground sprinklers.

Main and majority of second floor offer radiant in-floor ("Warmboard") heat with Hand-scraped Hickory Flooring. Lower-level offers radiant in-floor heat as well.

Furnishings and Window Coverings convey. Central Elevator services every floor.

This Montana log home's interior and exterior log walls are constructed of alternating 8" and 10" Hand-peeled Lodgepole Pine logs, which were split lengthwise to sandwich a six-inch wall between, increasing R-value.

Kuboto tractor with plow conveys.

Step outside to the Massive Decking, with side Covered Porch and Outdoor Hearth to enjoy spectacular 270 degree views of Gates of the Mountains Wilderness, Lake Helena, The Elkhorn Mountains, Helena National Forest, and The Big Belt Mountains.

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central heat	Fireplace	High/Vaulted ceiling
Walk-in closet	Hardwood floor	Tile floor
Family room	Living room	Bonus/Rec room
Office/Den	Dining room	Breakfast nook
Dishwasher	Refrigerator	Stove/Oven
Microwave	Granite countertop	Stainless steel appliances
Basement	Washer	Dryer
Laundry area - inside	Balcony, Deck, or Patio	Yard

COMMUNITY FEATURES

Garage parking

Laundry on-site

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

Spectacular Mountaintop Retreat in Helena, Montana

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Taunya Fagan

Taunya Fagan Bozeman Montana Real Estate - Prudential

(406) 579-9683

For sale by agent/broker

Taunya Fagan Montana Log Homes

Beautfiful 3B/3B Bozeman Home - Rustic Highlights - Access to Open Space

2008-06-14T22:33:58Z

Taunya Fagan | Taunya Fagan Bozeman Montana Real Estate - Prudential | (406) 579-9683

3144 Blackbird Drive, Bozeman, MT

Must See - beautiful home, close to park and walking trails!

3BR/2.5BA Single Family Bozeman, Montana House

Offered at $Call

Year Built	2004
Sq Footage	2,601
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2 full, 1 partial
Floors	2
Parking	2 Car garage
Lot Size	12,905 sqft
HOA/Maint	$tbd

DESCRIPTION

This is an exceptional, 3 bedroom, 2 3/4 bathroom Cattail Creek Subdivision home with an office. This Bozeman home with big Bridger Mountain views, backs to a pond and open space, with walking trails and community park across the street.

Entertain in either the large kitchen, opening to nook and family room with cobblestone fireplace, or in the formal dining room, offering it's ownfireplace. Enjoy luxury finishes throughout: circle sawn wood floors, slate and travertine tiles, granite counter, and hand-peeled log accents.

This open floorplan of this, another on of the great Bozeman real estate listings, is sure to please. Put this one on your tour list!!

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central heat	Fireplace	High/Vaulted ceiling
Hardwood floor	Tile floor	Family room
Living room	Office/Den	Dining room
Breakfast nook	Dishwasher	Stove/Oven
Microwave	Granite countertop	Laundry area - inside
Balcony, Deck, or Patio

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Taunya Fagan

Taunya Fagan Bozeman Montana Real Estate - Prudential

(406) 579-9683

For sale by agent/broker

Taunya Fagan Bozeman Homes