SperlingViews - Bigfork, Montana

Artist village drawing pre-retirement and retirement individuals to the valley surrounded by the Swan Mountain Range. Provides boating on the largest fresh water lake west of the Mississippi. World class cherry orchards. World class golfing. Large horse community with abundant pature lands. Enormous wildlife opportunities. The banana belt of Montana.[read more...]

With the 2008 statistics in from our MLS, now is a good time for a recap of 2008. Though we are not suffering the identical market conditions of the large metropolitan cities in California, Nevada, Arizona, Florida and others throughout our nation, the greater Bigfork market is certainly feeling the effects. Looking back, I can best describe the 2008 market as a time of “denial”. Many sellers were simply caught blindsided by the impact of depressed markets in other states and the tsunami soon to affect housing prices. Buyers made offers based on the markets they came from. Sellers countered at what they felt were “reasonable”. Many offers never came together. The local real estate market relies heavily upon visitors from other states as, over the years, the Flathead Valley has become a strong second home market. Typically, we have two shifts of visitors during our summer months. The first shift consists of mostly younger families travelling by road setting their sights on visiting Glacier National Park and the many forested areas and lakes of the Northwest. With 2008’s fuel cost increases, many of them elected to closer to home. Some of this decline has been offset by an influx of Canadians enjoying the benefits of the exchange rates with the devalued US dollar. This first shift is long gone by September 1st as they get their children back home for school. The second shift of visitors are more mature and are interested in getting away from the 100 plus degree temperatures of their home states. They are more likely to be golfers than camping enthusiasts; more likely to be seriously interested in seeking second homes in the Bigfork area. The 2008 real estate market for the Greater Bigfork area shows significant drops in sales over 2007. Overall, non-waterfront residential sales in numbers are down 31% with total dollar volume down 41% and the average sale price down 14% over last year’s figures to date. More significant are the dismal figures for residential land sales at 50% down in numbers sold with 57% down in dollar volume over the same period last year. In 2006, I sensed we were heading toward a land glut with the seemingly unstoppable approvals of so many new subdivisions throughout the valley. Developers are seeing increases in impact fees and infrastructure costs while being forced to lower prices for home sites to be competitive in a down- spiraling market. The good news is that Montana is in the lowest 10 states in terms of foreclosures. The bad news is that our buyers come from the top 10 foreclosure states. Why, you ask? We simply do not have mega-builders who have built hundreds of spec homes that are now sitting empty, and subject to vandals, or are now owned by the banks. This is not to say that we will not see a rise in the foreclosure rate, but it will be more closely tied to our overall current economic downturn and not so much due to overbuilt spec homes and high inventories. Another important note is that Montana banks tend to be more conservative, probably from a history dating back to the earlier agricultural and logging days when one would lend with caution due to variables such as droughts, floods, hail, pest infestations and fires. Though the State of Montana can boast, at this writing, an unemployment rate of 5.4%, well below the current national rate of 7.5%, the Flathead Valley, however, is harder hit due to its dependency on the second home market and related businesses. Depressing as all this may sound (this certainly is not coming to you as shocking news) you should know one of many things that I love about Montana. Its people have true grit. They are the rugged individuals, the pioneers, the loggers, the miners, the farmers and the cowboys who have labored in the worst of weather and circumstances and have the guts and strength to come back stronger than ever. While our country is being tested, I am happy to be in a state where people take care of their neighbors; look you square in the eye, and say “hang on tight, my friend….we are going to get through this!” [read more...]

With the 2008 statistics in from our MLS, now is a good time for a recap of 2008. Though we are not suffering the identical market conditions of the large metropolitan cities in California, Nevada, Arizona, Florida and others throughout our nation, the greater Bigfork market is certainly feeling the effects. Looking back, I can best describe the 2008 market as a time of “denial”. Many sellers were simply caught blindsided by the impact of depressed markets in other states and the tsunami soon to affect housing prices. Buyers made offers based on the markets they came from. Sellers countered at what they felt were “reasonable”. Many offers never came together. The local real estate market relies heavily upon visitors from other states as, over the years, the Flathead Valley has become a strong second home market. Typically, we have two shifts of visitors during our summer months. The first shift consists of mostly younger families travelling by road setting their sights on visiting Glacier National Park and the many forested areas and lakes of the Northwest. With 2008’s fuel cost increases, many of them elected to closer to home. Some of this decline has been offset by an influx of Canadians enjoying the benefits of the exchange rates with the devalued US dollar. This first shift is long gone by September 1st as they get their children back home for school. The second shift of visitors are more mature and are interested in getting away from the 100 plus degree temperatures of their home states. They are more likely to be golfers than camping enthusiasts; more likely to be seriously interested in seeking second homes in the Bigfork area. The 2008 real estate market for the Greater Bigfork area shows significant drops in sales over 2007. Overall, non-waterfront residential sales in numbers are down 31% with total dollar volume down 41% and the average sale price down 14% over last year’s figures to date. More significant are the dismal figures for residential land sales at 50% down in numbers sold with 57% down in dollar volume over the same period last year. In 2006, I sensed we were heading toward a land glut with the seemingly unstoppable approvals of so many new subdivisions throughout the valley. Developers are seeing increases in impact fees and infrastructure costs while being forced to lower prices for home sites to be competitive in a down- spiraling market. The good news is that Montana is in the lowest 10 states in terms of foreclosures. The bad news is that our buyers come from the top 10 foreclosure states. Why, you ask? We simply do not have mega-builders who have built hundreds of spec homes that are now sitting empty, and subject to vandals, or are now owned by the banks. This is not to say that we will not see a rise in the foreclosure rate, but it will be more closely tied to our overall current economic downturn and not so much due to overbuilt spec homes and high inventories. Another important note is that Montana banks tend to be more conservative, probably from a history dating back to the earlier agricultural and logging days when one would lend with caution due to variables such as droughts, floods, hail, pest infestations and fires. Though the State of Montana can boast, at this writing, an unemployment rate of 5.4%, well below the current national rate of 7.5%, the Flathead Valley, however, is harder hit due to its dependency on the second home market and related businesses. Depressing as all this may sound (this certainly is not coming to you as shocking news) you should know one of many things that I love about Montana. Its people have true grit. They are the rugged individuals, the pioneers, the loggers, the miners, the farmers and the cowboys who have labored in the worst of weather and circumstances and have the guts and strength to come back stronger than ever. While our country is being tested, I am happy to be in a state where people take care of their neighbors; look you square in the eye, and say “hang on tight, my friend….we are going to get through this!” [read more...]

Big Fork is a quaint little community about 30 minutes from Kalispell, MT...nestled in a valley with a population of about 90,000...It is located and over looks one of the largest fresh water Lakes in the United States,Flathead Lake...we call it our "Ocean" in Montana. Just minutes from Glacier National Park, 10 golf courses within 1 hour, many other smaller area lakes are all around this area. Downtown Big Fork is a place you want to come to and take your time wandering down it's main street called "Electric Avenue"...many cute little resort like shopping, yummy food through out this little community, a Community Art Center and Theater, with golf and water activities only minutes away. It's a place people come to and do not want to leave...so we also have several Real Estate professionals as well. My husband and I bought our first Place in the Valley in 2002 on Echo Lake, after vacationing here for over 15 years camping. We now have our second home in the Valley in Kalispell, where we live and work...but are now only 30 minutes away from our Lake Home. Two years ago in July we bought a business here and sold our business in another Montana community to live here. Our thoughts, why not live where you like to vacation!!! Big Fork and the Flathead Valley are beautiful year around...Our Cherry trees will be blooming shortly...much much to do in the summer here, September and October are absolutely beautiful...who needs Maine or Vermont...and with 2 ski resorts within 1 hour...what else could you ask for. One of my favorite moments in Big Fork was this last Christmas Eve, after going to Mass we decided to stop downtown for a bit of "Christmas Cheer", this little community looks like a "Hallmark Christmas Card", decorated from "Head to Toe" with small evergreen Christmas trees, with little red bows dancing on their limbs...garland hanging throughout on all the local shops brightened by multi-colored Christmas lights and a soft dusting of snow!! The restaurants are open and willing to cheerfully serve us...next year, I will only be doing a dinner on Christmas Day...come join us, we will be nestled in one of the many restaurants downtown, enjoying a "New" Christmas Tradition!![read more...]

Bigfork is a charming village wrapped around a small bay on the northeast corner of Flathead Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi. It's attraction as an artist village ties in with the many art galleries, the Bigfork Summer Playhouse, and the arts and cultural events scheduled heavily throughout the summer months. The setting is charming with the white waters of the Swan River splitting and dropping down to meet the Bay of Bigfork on its way as one of the tributaries of Flathead Lake, hence the name "Big Fork". Boat fishing, flyfishing and ice fishing is abundant in the pristine waters of the lakes and rivers. Hiking paths are everywhere and the Jewel Basin Hiking Area is just minutes away. Glacier National Park is about an hour's drive. In May, there is the Whitewater Festival, a class 5 kayaking event, which draws the brave daredevels from national and international regions. Recreational boating, both sail and power, is very popular though marina boat slips can be a challenge to obtain. Eagle Bend Golf Community offers 27 holes of championship golf. There are nine other great golf courses throughout the Flathead Valley. [read more...]