FINANCE

SPECIAL ADVERTISEMENT You’ve moved to Montana and are ready to buy a home. Now what?

BY PATRICK STRAUB

The statistics don’t lie: Bozeman, the Gallatin Valley and Big Sky are growing at rates well above national averages. These growth rates, many of them exponential, also buck several of the trends occurring nationally due to COVID-19. Median home price, median household income and unemployment rates in Bozeman, the Gallatin Valley and Big Sky all beat national averages. Clearly, this place has been discovered.

Many new residents are coming from places more akin to air conditioning and real-time traffic reports, not winter storm warnings and roads slicker than Gordon Gecko’s Wall Street hairdo. The desire to buy a home or condo is high for these new residents, but most are lacking some boots-on-the-ground know-how.

“We are local. Everything we do is based on our knowledge of local markets, HOAs and trade partners,” says Elex McAlear, a real estate loan officer with Big Sky’s First Security Bank. “From the new regulatory requirements from COVID-19, to understanding Big Sky’s unique seasonal economy, our decision process is all local.”

With world-class downhill ski resorts, hundreds of miles of cross-country ski trails, snowmobile access and even winter fly fishing, finding winter recreation in Bozeman, Big Sky and the Gallatin Valley is easy. For homeowners, however, preparing a home that’s safe and incident free is as important as finding the next stash of powder.

“Winter makes an already tight housing market more interesting,” adds McAlear. “With our decades of experience, we work with the best appraisers and best local inspectors to keep the homebuying process on time and on track, but the homebuyer still needs to be aware of some winter preparations.”

If a new home has a woodstove, gas fireplace or wood fireplace, get it inspected and learn its maintenance. It is also a good idea to have a generator and gas to run it. Ensure all air vents are clear and unobstructed and test smoke/carbon monoxide alarms. For residents that are accustomed to living in areas where roads are regularly plowed, have at least a week’s worth of canned goods and water in case issues arise after a major storm.

From big things—mitigating snow load on roofs, ensuring gutters and sashes can sustain wind gusts, or installing ice-dam prevention systems—to the little things, like keeping rodents out of pantries and vehicles, living in Big Sky and the Gallatin Valley in winter can be a dish served cold if homebuyers are not prepared.

Even longtime residents of the area may need to escape winter’s grip on occasion. When they do travel and plan to be gone longer than a few days, veterans of Montana winters take a few necessary precautions because snowfall and temperatures can vary greatly from week to week.

“Many of our homeowners have a plan in place if they are going to be gone,” says McAlear. “We know that while they’re gone if their HOA will shovel snow on sidewalks or roofs—yes, we get that much snow in Big Sky.”

“We’ve been through dozens of Montana winters,” says McAlear. “We want our customer’s first winter in Montana to be memorable for all the right reasons.”

Just like your lawn mower, be sure to have your snow blower tuned up once a year. PHOTO COURTESY OF FIRST SECURITY BANK

Large amounts of snow should be removed in order to prevent ice dams and reduce excess weight. PHOTO COURTESY OF FIRST SECURITY BANK

STACY OSSORIO

Broker, Private Office Advisor 406-539-8553 stacyossorio.evrealestate.com stacy.ossorio@evrealestate.com

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