Bozeman gets to boast one more accolade. As dubbed by National Geographic, Bozeman Montana is one of the top 25 Ski Towns in the WORLD!

“Just what makes a classic ski town? It starts, naturally, with skiing and snowboarding so good they attract people like youth-bestowing fountains. Then add an inviting mountain burg steeped in ski heritage, amenities, and culture. These are the 25 best. For insider tips, we asked local luminaries where to stay, play, and party, whether you're on a budget or indulging.” —Aaron Teasdale

The article portrays Bozeman as “an old Montana university town of cowboys and ski bums, pickups and unleashed dogs, and two of the premier ski hills in America.” I cannot find much wrong in that interpretation. We are a place where fine dining meets blue jeans attire, a place where fresh snow means depleted classroom attendance for all the students hitting the slopes, and a place I can HOME.  

Two of our three ski resorts are praised. World class Bridger Bowl, Big Sky, and (I will throw in) Moonlight Basin are all within an hour’s drive from Bozeman.

To Read More about Bozeman’s Skiing Opportunities: http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/trips/best-ski-towns-photos/#/bozeman-montana-ski_47301_600x450.jpg 

Year-Round Fun!

Coming to Gallatin County Fairgrounds is a 35,000 sqft, $4.5 million indoor ice arena to be used all year long. Valley Ice Garden, the only other indoor rink in the area, closed its door in 2006 and ever since volunteers have been raising money to construct the rink. Hockey, figure, and public staking are all on the rise, but when the idea came about, “It wasn’t ‘if you build it, they will come,’ Pertzborn, member of the Bozeman Amateur Hockey Association, said. “They were already here. But everybody adapted and the programs continued to grow. The [current Haynes Pavilion] enclosure worked better than we expected. Now we’re maxed out.” But the lack of a year-round place to practice greatly reduced opportunity. Since 2006, memberships in local clubs have reduced dramatically.

“The new arena will house a regulation rink and 1,000 seats with capacity for 1,600 spectators.”

We cannot wait to see it open. Good work Bozeman Community. 

Source: http://www.rinktime.com/skating_rinks/mt/haynes_pavilion_skating_rink_arena_bozeman_mt.cfm

State of Distressed Properties in 2012

Predictions are always hard to make and distressed sales are no different. Factors like home values, employment, and consumer confidence will all be determinants of the rising or falling housing market. That is the only thing that is certain.

“Foreclosures aren’t going away right now,” says Andy Firoved, CEO of CounselorDirect, a technology company that specializes in automating processes for various government foreclosure-prevention programs. “We’re going to have a certain level. The question is, how many?” 

These are the predictions made by Firoved:

#1-Government home ownership assistance programs will get more effective.

The goal of helping home owners has hit every road block from job losses to overly bureaucratic processes. In contrast, newer initiatives such as the “Hardest Hit” mortgage assistance programs and the revamped Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP), will be able to dig in more due to the plans of better promotions and administration.

“The word is getting out, and people are starting to get assistance,” Fivored says. “These programs are starting to find higher-level efficiencies as well.”

#2-The amount of evictions will stay the same or go down.

Banks are hesitant to push foreclosures and in turn evictions due to the robo-signing issue which still has not been settled. Evictions are labor-intensive, painstakingly tedious legally, and banks just don’t have the resources to evict all their borrowers.  “The problem is that there are a lot of people out there who haven’t paid their mortgage in a while, and they have gotten used to it,” he says. Although “the party’s got to stop at some point,” Fivored is guessing it’ll keep going, for the most part, through 2012.

#3-Banks will get creative with REOs and delinquent home owners.

Special deals are on the horizon. Leasing foreclosed and bank owned home to former owners or allowing foreclosed-on and delinquent borrowers to continue living in homes without making payments for a short term are the type of scenarios on the table because banks want properties to be maintained in order to hold their resale value high.

What are the predictions you see in your area for this year!?

Please share and comment.

Source: http://realtormag.realtor.org/daily-news/2012/01/05/3-predictions-for-distressed-properties-in-2012

Kansas performing in Bozeman!

The band Kansas will be in Bozeman to perform with the Montana State University Symphony on March 24, 2012 in the Shroyer Gymnasium .  In 1998 this band released an orchestral album called “Always Never The Same” and has been on tour with symphonies since.  We are lucky to have them in our small community and looking forward to having them here.

You may purchase your tickets at the Bobcat Ticket Office or call 800-808-5940, visit Tickets West online.

Sooner or later, many families face the prospect of moving. Disruptive as moving can be for parents, the experience can be even more traumatic for kids, who may not be a part of the decision to move and might not understand it.

Some children may need some extra time and maybe even some special attention during the transition.  Here are some tips to try and make the process less stressful for everyone.

The Decision to Move

Many children learn to depend on familiarity and routine.  Change can be difficult for them especially if it comes with other big changes such as divorce or death.  If possible give kids time to adjust and keep a positive attitude about the move even if you aren’t happy about it yourself.

Talking About the Move With Your Kids

No matter what the circumstances, the most important way to prepare kids for a move is to talk to them about it.

Give children as much information as possible.  Answer their questions completely and truthfully.  Respect the childs reactions to your answers.  Change can be frightening especially if they don’t understand it.

Involve children in the planning as much as possible.  This will make them feel like they are participating in the process and less like it’s being forced on them.

If possible, try to take the kids to visit the new house and explore the neighborhood.  If it’s not possible, show them on a map, through photos or use a program that they can see it through the internet.

Provide as much information as you can about the new home, city and state. Learn about the community together and find activities the kids can participate in.

After the Move

Try to get your childs room unpacked and in order before the rest of the house. 

Try to stay on any schedules you had prior to the move like meal times and bedtime.  This will help give the kids a sense of familiarity.

When your child is ready to start school it may help to go along to meet and introduce to your child his/her teachers or principal.

Have some realistic expectations about the transition.  Generally, teachers expect new kids to begin feeling comfortable in about 6 weeks.

A move can be challenging as well as rewarding.  The moving process can help families grow closer, build stronger relationships and provide family members with a chance to learn more about each other. Moving can give anyone, especially children, the opportunity for personal growth if approached with understanding and love.

For more information, age specific tips or additional resources visit:  kidshealth.org

New Emergency Room for Bozeman

For the past year Bozeman has been pursuing the lofty goal of raising $9 million of the $15 million dollar budget to build the new emergency room for the Bozeman Deaconess Hospital.  As of mid January, we are within $400,000 of meeting this goal.

Construction began last March as a majority of the money had been raised, the building is scheduled to be complete early next year.   The new ER will double the number of patients that can be seen in a year, and should provide new jobs for our area.

For more information on the hospital, the new emergency room and the potential for job opportunity for you, visit Bozeman Deaconess.

For more information on the local real estate market, or to search homes for sale in the area, visit Bozeman Montana Real Estate.  You can also reach us by phone, text, or email for any of your local questions, we are here to help.

 Staging for Pet Owning Sellers

Part 3 – Birds, Reptiles and Other Small Animals

GET OUT THE VACUUM!

Vacuum every day! If you have birds, make sure the bird seed has been cleaned out of cracks and crevices on the floors and surfaces around the bird cages.  Surprisingly birds can be very messy. Their downy feathers can stick in all kinds of visible nooks and crannies.  If you have rodents, bedding material and food can often be found around the cages.  Be sure this is cleaned up.

ELIMINATING AND AVOIDING PET ODORS AND WASTE!

Bird cages can be a source of odor.  Make sure that the cage and the surrounding area are clean.  Carpeting can harbor odors so if possible bird or rodent cages should not hang over carpet, they should be in a location that the floor around and under can be disinfected.  Any bedding materials used should be replaced frequently.  Fish and reptile tanks should be have clean water and free from waste.

WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR SMALL ANIMALS WHEN SHOWING YOUR HOUSE!

Use a cage cover for your small pets that are acceptable to cover.  Don’t feed or leave “live” food in with your pet during a showing, prospective buyers may find this offensive.  Last, when you leave for a showing, your pet should give the impression that you take good care of it.  If buyers don’t think you take care of your pet why would they think you have taken care of your house?

MARKET YOUR HOME TO OTHER PET LOVERS!

If there is no good solution for the seller and their pet then perhaps the best piece of advice would be to sell your home to another pet owner. Instead of trying to hide all evidence of pets, promote the fact that your home is “pet-friendly.” Work with your real estate agent to market your home to other pet lovers. Advertise your home in Humane Society and local animal shelter newsletters, on animal lovers’ websites and discussion groups. If you volunteer at a local shelter do some old-fashioned, promoting of your home.

With a little bit of planning, you can sell your home, even if you have pets. There are plenty of options for keeping your pets safe during showings, and with a bit more elbow grease, potential buyers don’t have to be hit at the door with their presence. Get creative and your home still has a great chance of selling quickly.

 Staging for Pet Owning Sellers

Part 2 – Dogs

GET OUT THE VACUUM AND BROOM!

Vacuum and/or sweep every day at the very least and more if needed! This advice will never change…keeping any kind of flooring clean will help your house sell especially carpet.  Be meticulous in your vacuuming and sweeping, pay careful attention to corners, edges and door jams.  Make sure you don’t have dog hair on your furniture and bedding. Dogs enjoy lounging where the people are so the evidence that they have been there is frequently visible.

ELIMINATING AND AVOIDING DOG ODORS AND WASTE!

Dog odors can be more subtle than cat odors.  Make sure to keep your dogs themselves clean.  This will help by keeping dirty dog smell out of furniture and carpets.  If it is possible keep them off beds and furniture while your house is listed, this not only helps with odors but will eliminate dirt getting on your furniture that the dogs carry in from outside.  Use baking soda or carpet sprinkles when vacuuming.  Try boiling cinnamon in water for 30 minutes before a showing. Use citrus scented cleaning products, especially before a showing.  You can mist citrus scented water on linens or curtains before ironing or when changing and cleaning. (Be sure to check the manufactures cleaning recommendations prior to using any liquid on fabric or carpet to avoid damage.) If the smell of your pets is extremely strong, try bleach. While bleach is not a favored smell, most experts agree the smell of bleach is better than the smell of someone else’s dog.

Be sure to make a pass through the yard and remove any waste before showing your house!!

WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR DOG WHEN SHOWING YOUR HOUSE!

The best way to show a house as a dog owner; is to leave no sign of your dog other than dog doors, or accessories that will stay with the house when sold.  Leaving your dog in the house is like leaving family pictures hanging all over the walls and this choice should be avoided at all costs.  Your goal is to help the buyer be able to imagine their family in the house.  If the house reflects the seller’s family it makes it harder for the buyers to see the houses potential for their family.

When your house is being shown, keep barking dogs out of the house.  Eliminating this distraction will help keep the buyers focused on your home.  You can see if a friend or family member will keep your dog at their house for a while.  You can take your dog for a long walk, your dog will enjoy getting out and spending time with you.  If you simply can’t arrange to get your dogs out of the house you can set up a temporary pen in your backyard.  These can be found at pet stores or many farm and ranch stores and you can take it with you when you move.  Temporary pens keep dogs out of the rest of your backyard and away from fresh landscaping.

If you leave your dog at the house it should be because it’s the ONLY option you have left. The last thing any seller needs is a lawsuit because their dog bit someone looking at their house.