One might think Bozeman High School seniors – recipients of a get-out-of-school-early card Wednesday — might have spent the afternoon lolling about with the friends they're about to leave behind after graduation. Or perhaps the more studious among them would use it to prepare for finals. Not so for more than 60 seniors who opted instead to donate four hours of their time to a variety of nonprofits in the area. In the lobby of the Museum of the Rockies on Wednesday afternoon, Susan Dickerson, director of visitor and volunteer services, helped outfit about 16 students with rubber gloves and large black trash bags. "Wander around the museum property and pick up anything that's not grass or flowers," she told them. "Rocks you can leave," she added. As they picked up a variety of small item... 05/19/2011

  Home Buying Questions   How many bedrooms? How many bathrooms? How large does my home need to be? How big of a yard do I want? Where do I want my home to be located? What will I sacrifice for location, size, etc? Will I be willing to drive a little farther for more home amenities? What schools will my children go to? Are there sexual offenders nearby? Where are the closest parks? How many dogs am I allowed to have in this subdivision? What will I give up in order to compromise with my spouse if we do not agree? How much can I afford? Am I being wise with my financing? Have I checked my credit report? Should I pay down my debt a little more before I purchase to get a better interest rate?   When you are purchasing a home there are many factors that need to be considered.  Many times sp... 04/04/2011

Here is a suggested checklist for proceeding with your new home or land purchase:   •1.                  Check with a few lenders for financing options and a prequalification letter.  Enclosed are a few we work with regularly and provide tremendous service for us and you.   •2.                  Discuss your home needs then view a number of them, think about •a.                   Price Range •b.                  Geographic area •c.                   Square footage needs •d.                  Style of home and interior finishes •e.                   Lot size   •3.                  Prepare an offer.  Earnest money check always accompanies an offer and is deposited at the time the offer is accepted.  These monies are applied to your purchase price at closing, or refunded to you if any of the... 04/01/2011

  Questions to ask lenders before you get a loan When working with a lender you should keep several important things in mind... How much will it cost to close the loan?  When do I receive a GOOD FAITH ESTIMATE? http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/ramh/res/gfestimate.pdf  This link is an example "Good Faith Estimate Form". Does the lender charge discount points or an origination fee?  (This could be important for tax purposes) What is my interest rate? Does my interest rate fluctuate over time (fixed)?  Is there a penalty for paying off the loan sooner than the pay-off date?  How long is that penalty enforced? Do my payments go to principle and interest? Do I have the option to pay more principle if I choose What methods of payments are accepted (Check, Internet, Phone, Are there fee’s) Are P... 03/31/2011

Calendar of Upcoming Classes at The HRDC's Homeownership Center The Road to Home April - May - June 2011 Homeownership Education Join me and discover if you are ready to own a home and what the benefits are of home ownership.  As a first time homebuyer you will discover how lenders decide to make loans. What you need to know •·          9 hour homeownership education course •·          Discover the Advantages and Disadvantages of Homeownership •·          Assessing Homeownership Readiness •·          Understanding Credit •·          Managing your Finances •·          The Mortgage Process •·          Special Programs for First Time Buyers •·          Shopping for a Home, a Lender, and a Realtor •·          Closing Your Deal •·          Maintaining Your Home and Your Finances after you pu... 03/17/2011

Daily Montana properties listings from the MLS - All real estate for sale from cities and towns in Southwest Montana is listed as new property hits the SW Montana MLS. March 13 - 19, 2011 - Today's Montana property listings from the SW Montana Real Estate MLS. Just listed: daily Bozeman MT real estate listings from SW Montana's real estate MLS. The newest listings each morning detailing all basic MLS info on every current SW Montana home for sale. Please see Bozeman Montana Real Estate Listings for all today's new listings from some of these Montana towns and cities: Alder, Amsterdam, Anaconda, Argenta, Bainville, Basin, Belfry, Belgrade, Big Sky, Big Timber, Bigfork, Bozeman, Boulder, Butte, Cameron, Canyon Creek, Cardwell, Cascade, Choteau, Churchill, Clancy, Clarkston, Clyde Park, Co... 03/15/2011

Bozeman Montana Real Estate .net Home Ownership Matters Article From HouseLogic.com   Published: February 11, 2011   Home ownership hasa significant impact on net worth, educational achievement, civic participation, health, and overall quality of life. And, home ownership helps create jobs--lots of them--right here at home.   Home Ownership matters...to people, to communities, and to America. Why?             •Every additional 1,000 home sales this year over last year create 500 new private-sector jobs in the U.S.             •Every home sale touches 80occupations. America needs jobs, and a strong housing market can provide them.             •Each purchase generates as much as$60,000 in economic activity. The home ownership debate Some who care about creating jobs also argue that home o... 02/25/2011

  The media is all abuzz with news of the economy these days.  Be it the Internet, television, radio, or any source, all are talking about the economy.  However, there is one phrase in particular that tends to permeate the conversation: "economic growth."  What is economic growth?  What drives it?  What hinders it?  What can we do to increase it?  These questions are especially relevant to the Bozeman area, as well as to Gallatin County as a whole.             First, let's take a look at a couple of the indicators of economic growth and how they have been faring for our valley.  Three in particular seem to stand out: population growth, number of bank deposits, and resiliency to economic change.  Positive population growth and increases in the number of bank deposits are typically constr... 01/29/2011

For More Tax Tips Visit http://BozemanMontanaRealEstate.net 10 Common Errors Home Owners Make When Filing Taxes Article From HouseLogic.com   By: G. M. FiliskoPublished: January 25, 2011   Don't rouse the IRS or pay more taxes than necessary--know the score on each home tax deduction and credit.   As you calculate your tax returns (http://www.houselogic.com/articles/tax-tips-homeowners-looking-ahead-2010-returns/), consider each home tax deduction and credit you are-and are not-entitled to. Running afoul of any of these 10 home-related tax mistakes-which tax pros say are especially common-can cost you money or draw the IRS to your doorstep. Sin #1: Deducting the wrong year for property taxes You take a tax deduction for property taxes (http://www.houselogic.com/articles/common-property-... 01/26/2011

For More Real Estate Tools Visit My Website! http://BozemanMontanaRealEstate.net Common Buyer Real Estate Forms   Agency relationships can certainly be confusing.  Every state has different laws and regulations regarding the capacity of an agent to represent a buyer and/or seller in every transaction.  I felt like some clarification might be in order. Relationship in Real Estate   The first real estate document in the state of Montana for a consumer might be the Relationships in Real Estate.  The Relationship in Real Estate form will describe in detail the possible relationships and what they mean to each party involved in the transaction.  You can review, for example, exactly what responsibilities the sellers' agent has to the seller and what responsibilities they have towards the buye... 01/26/2011

31 Photo Challenge - Day 3 "Nature" - Go step into it..... Peeking through the trees to Fairy Lake, Bozeman, MT Day 3 of the challenge is "Nature", a great topic.  We are all surrounded by it in one way shape or form.  Country or city, sod hut or penthouse, one thing we can all enjoy regardless of tax bracket or social status is the natural world that we live in.  It provides, for each of us something different but it provides.  Some rely on it for recreation, some for sustenance and others for solace...truth be told, it can provide all three at once.  It takes many forms, some animal, some vegetable, even some mineral and can be found anywhere you look.  It is ever changing, always adapting, trying to remain wild, untethered and natural. I am a believer in the natural balance of things... 01/18/2011

The Right Selling Price Affects Your Bottom Line When you're selling your home, the price you set is a critical factor in the return you'll receive. That's why you need a professional evaluation from an experienced realtor. This person can provide you with an honest assessment of your home, based on several factors including: Market conditions Condition of your home Repairs or improvements Time frame In real estate terms, market value is the price at which a particular house, in its current condition, will sell within 30 to 90 days. If the price of your home is too high, several things could happen: Limits buyers. Potential buyers may not view your home, because it would be out of their buying range. Limits showings. Other salespeople may be less reluctant to view your home. Used as le... 01/17/2011

Just Listed Montana realty, includes new real estate listings for Belgrade, Big Sky, Bozeman, Lima, and all cities in the southwest Montana region. Week 2, January 9 - 16, 2011 - Get detailed information on ALL our region's Montana real estate listings. Locate the latest Montana properties every day on the Bozeman MT Real Estate Blog as recently listed properties get posted to the Montana MLS. SOLD!Bozeman Luxury Estate Please see Bozeman Montana Real Estate Listings for all today's new listings from some of these Montana towns and cities: Alder, Amsterdam, Anaconda, Argenta, Bainville, Basin, Belfry, Belgrade, Big Sky, Big Timber, Bigfork, Bozeman, Boulder, Butte, Cameron, Canyon Creek, Cardwell, Cascade, Choteau, Churchill, Clancy, Clarkston, Clyde Park, Cohagen, Columbus, Condon, Coo... 01/10/2011

January's Back in Bozeman, MT People often think of winter in the mountains of Montana as stark, frigid and unforgiving...that couldn't be farther from the truth.  Bozeman enjoys a powerful winter sun, fairly mild temperatures when compared with other locales in the Rocky Mountains and snowfall that makes for some fantastic skiing.  Case in point, we have enjoyed temperatures in the mid-40's over the past few days, without the benefit of direct sunlight.  This "January thaw" is common and since moving to Bozeman I can recall a hand full of January days that have peaked at over 60*...an exception to the rule but a bright mountain day with new snowfall and balmy temps can't be beat. Today we returned to more common weather, in the 20's, light snow and calm.  Those of us who live here real... 01/08/2011

Pricing Your Home Visit as may Open Houses of comparable homes as possible.  List what sets your home a part both bad and good.  Be realistic.  If you test the waters first by listing at a higher price you may be hurting your homes ability to sell. Contact a Realtor- Request a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) from a real estate agent.  Be upfront and let the agent know that you are trying to sell your home FSBO.  If your home does not get much activity as a FSBO then maybe consider forming a business relationship with the agent that was willing to reach out to you, but get their credentials before you list your home.   (If you get very little activity your home may be overpriced) Selling Tools If you do not use pictures you will be drastically reducing your homes exposure.  People love... 01/04/2011

BozemanMontanaRealEstate.net Website Resources for Foreclosure Help Article From HouseLogic.com   Published: July 27, 2010   Here are some legitimate resources to help you fight the foreclosure crisis.   You've been warned about foreclosure scams. But sometimes it's really hard to tell if something is a scam or not. Some less-than-reliable outfits have even taken to including "hud" or "gov" in their URLs to fool you into thinking they are legitimate foreclosure counselors. It pays to be wary. Below are some websites from government and non-profit agencies that can help you with foreclosure. Some are seeking volunteers and donations to help stop the foreclosure crisis. HOPENOW.COMResearch your options with this web form (http://www.hopenow.com/homeowner-options.php)Find your mortgage len... 12/27/2010

New Listings in Big Sky, Bozeman, Belgrade, Gallatin Gateway, and any other southwestern Montana city: Just Listed Realty updates for all other southwest MT cities as properties are listed. ~ HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011!~ Get property updates every day right here on the Bozeman Real Estate Blog as new listings are posted on the regional Bozeman MLS. Week 5 December 26, 2010 - January 1, 2011 - Detailed information on ALL SW Montana real estate listings now. Bozeman Montana Log Homes     Bozeman Montana Horse Properties       Please see Bozeman Montana Real Estate Listings for all today's new listings from some of these Montana towns and cities: Alder, Amsterdam, Anaconda, Argenta, Bainville, Basin, Belfry, Belgrade, Big Sky, Big Timber, Bigfork, Bozeman, Boulder, Butte, Cameron, Canyon Creek, C... 12/27/2010

This particular winter could be considered opportunity knocking for many potential buyers of homes.  With interest rates being so low, and housing prices still at the lowest point in nearly 10 years, there are many reasons to begin your search now rather than waiting on spring.  Most sellers have an incorrect notion that real estate is slow in the winter months, so those on the market are usually serious sellers and just hoping for an offer.  Combine that with the previous two reasons and you have one of the most affordable markets you could hope for between now and April of 2011!   For more info about the market visit http://BozemanMontanaRealEstate.net 12/23/2010

    I had the opportunity this past weekend to take a morning and enjoy it with my family, which is something we do not get to do as often as I would like.  My wife and I currently have two children, our son is almost 4, our daughter is 18 months, and we are expecting #3 in December.  We are not crazy but, if the family continues to expand at this rate, we may be soon.  Spare time is at a premium and enjoying it all together is rarer still. So when the opportunity arose for a family hike we were all excited.  As I have said previously, the most difficult part of recreating in the Bozeman area is choosing what to do and where to do it.  The possibilities are as near endless as it gets.  My wife and I are stealing an idea from my cousin Seth and his wife Brooke, we are taking 52 hikes in... 12/17/2010

Southwestern Montana is dotted with a plethora of clear mountain stream and crystal lakes, and many of them are located a short distance the recreation centers ofBozeman and Big Sky.  The trouble lies not in the decision to visit these natural wonders but in which one to choose as the days destination.  A couple weeks back, my wife and I loaded up kids, car seats, stroller and camera and headed to Fairy Lake which is located in a mountain cirque in the Bridger Range north of Bozeman.  After exiting the asphalt we followed the Forest Service road approximately 7 miles to the campground, trailhead and parking lot.  The parking lot also services hikes for the North and Middle Forks of the Brackett Creek hikes as well as the trails to Sacagawea Peak, Hardscrabble Peak and the Bridger Footh... 12/17/2010