YOUR NEW HOME

The secret is out! Gallatin Valley is a great place to live and more and more people are

deciding to call it home. The U.S. Census confirmed what most of us already knew: Gallatin County was the fastest growing county in Montana, Bozeman officially became a metropolitan, and the area is continuing to grow rapidly. Home prices in the county have shot up since 2020 and are now well above the national average. The good news is, though, that are Realtors, businesses and nonprofits that want to help you find your home here in Big Sky Country, whatever your needs may be.

HOMEYour New

If you’re looking to buy a home there are many experienced, professional Realtors in the area who can find something perfect for you.

HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

The HRDC provides a variety of services and is a major player in addressing affordable housing issues in Bozeman. The organization helps folks who qualify for services like down payment assistance and rental assistance. HRDC is also working to bring more affordable housing to the rest of the valley through both rentals and homeownership. HRDC also runs two shelters in the area to provide a safe place for anyone in need to spend the night during the winter months. The Warming Center is a seasonal shelter open to anyone in need from November through March. 2015 Wheat Dr., Bozeman, 406-556-1123.

There is an emergency shelter located in Livingston open between November and March as well. 121 S. Second St., Livingston, 406-333-2537. Information on both shelters can be found at thehrdc.org.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF GALLATIN VALLEY

Habitat for Humanity of Gallatin Valley has built over 80 homes people can afford in the Gallatin Valley since the organization opened its doors in 1991. Whether you’re looking to volunteer, apply to be a partner family, or need critical home repairs, Habitat is a worthwhile option. Habitat for Humanity also operates the ReStore, which sells new and gently-used furniture, building materials, appliances and home goods to the public at a fraction of the retail price. Proceeds from sales are used to fund affordable homeownership and repair programs

Visit habitatbozeman.org for more information. 230 Arden Dr., Belgrade, 406-388-8225

FAMILY PROMISE OF GALLATIN VALLEY

Family Promise is a rotating shelter for families that operates out of a network of churches in the valley. Families have somewhere to stay at night, and then in the day, they spend time job and home searching, taking financial education classes, working with a case manager, etc.1603 Tschache Ln., Bozeman, familypromisegv.org, 406-582-7388

The City of Bozeman recognizes 16 neighborhood associations. While Bozeman is still a small town, the town has separate neighborhoods each with a distinct feel. Below isn’t an exhaustive list, but has info on bigger neighborhoods and districts you should be familiar with. Downtown

Downtown Bozeman has some residential areas, but is one of the town’s main hubs for shopping, dining and nightlife. The area is walkable and there are several trails and parks that connect to other parts of Bozeman. Midtown

Midtown is a fast-growing area along a roughly 1-mile corridor of North Seventh Avenue with plenty of new businesses like hotels, restaurants and breweries. Residential areas—many new and cropping up—surround Seventh Avenue. It’s a walking or biking distance from Downtown Bozeman. Montana State University Neighborhood

In close proximity to Montana State University, the residential neighborhood abutting the campus is mostly comprised of historic single-family homes. Neighborhood perks include many nearby coffeeshops, restaurants and a grocery store. The area is part of the

University Neighborhood Association. North Bozeman

North Bozeman has a mix of older neighborhoods and newer subdivisions and developments, like the trendy Cannery District. North Bozeman is close to Story Mill Park, several trails like the “M” Trail or Drinking Horse Trail and the Glen Lake Rotary Park. There are restaurants, bars and breweries close in the area.

West Bozeman

Much of Bozeman has been growing west and new subdivisions and businesses have been cropping up in recent years. A new grocery store is planned in West Bozeman, which is already home to the large Ferguson Farm development that has several restaurants, stores and apartments.

LOOKING OUTSIDE OF BOZEMAN?

Southwest Montana has many small towns that are perfect to visit for the day, for a weekend getaway or to call your permanent home. Livingston

Livingston is an artsy railroad town about 25 miles east of Bozeman with a population just over 8,000. At the mouth of Paradise Valley, the town is the original gateway to Yellowstone National Park and is a popular tourist destination in the summer. The little town is also known for being the home to a number of famous authors, painters, and actors. Surrounded by four mountain ranges, the area offers year-round outdoor activities and world-class fly-fishing on the Yellowstone River. Many in Livingston commute to Bozeman for work, or school, but the artsy town has a thriving arts and culture scene. With two playhouses, a movie theater, many art galleries, a museum and a wealth of restaurants, Livingston is a great place to live, work or play.

Visitor’s information: Livingston Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Information Center, 303 E. Park St., 406-222-0850, visitlivingstonmt.com Belgrade

Belgrade is a sleepy community about 20 minutes from

Bozeman of about 10,000, that still has a small-town feel compared to neighboring Bozeman. With more affordable housing than Bozeman, it’s becoming increasingly common for folks to live in Belgrade and commute to Bozeman. Despite that,

Belgrade doesn’t feel like a commuter town. It has a tight-knit community with summer farmer’s markets, seasonal festivals and many outdoor activities to delight anyone. Belgrade is near three rivers, the East Gallatin, Missouri and Madison, offering summer water activities like fishing, boating or floating.

Visitor information: Belgrade Chamber of Commerce, 10 E. Main

St., 406-388-1616, visitbelgrade.org. Three Forks

Three Forks is about 30 miles from Bozeman situated off

Interstate 90. It sits on the confluence of the Gallatin, Jefferson and Madison rivers, creating the headwaters of the Missouri River.

The small town offers many opportunities for outdoor recreation like boating, hiking trails, golfing and camping, and is near the

Missouri Headwaters State Park. Three Forks is also close to Lewis and Clarks Caverns State Park, the state’s first state park with unique geological formations and spectacular caves. The town of about 2,000 people has been growing steadily, with some overflow from pricey Bozeman, and has a strong small-town community with a museum, summer farmer’s markets, restaurants and parks.

Visitor information: Three Forks Chamber of Commerce and

Visitor Information Center, 110 N. Main, 406-285-4753, threeforksmontana.com. Big Sky

Big Sky is about an hour south of Bozeman and an extremely popular tourist destination in both the summers and winters. In summer, it’s a popular stop on the way to Yellowstone National Park and offers a vast number of outdoor recreational opportunities like hiking, biking, camping, horseback riding and golfing to name a few. The area is a ski mecca in the winter, with one of America’s largest ski resorts, Big Sky Resort. There are plenty of places to Nordic ski—a slightly tamer option than Alpine skiing—and snowmobiling. In both summer and winter, the area is dotted with high-end, or luxury, hotels, resorts and clubs. Because of its popularity, Big Sky has run up against a housing problem. There’s a shortage of available housing and the cost of living has skyrocketed. Many who work in Big Sky commute from Bozeman or other area towns. Several organizations are teaming up to address the housing shortage, aiming to create more affordable housing for those who live and work in Big Sky.

Visitor information: Visit Big Sky, 88 Ousel Falls Rd. Unit A1, 406-99-3000, visitbigsky.com