Hope you’re enjoying our changeable weather – from bright sun, to cloudy, to snow or rain showers. As they say, in Montana if you don’t like the weather, just wait a few minutes!
Don’t you just love how the grass is greening, spring flowers are popping, and spring is in the air?!
Our real estate market is blooming, also. We’re busy with new listings, lots of showings on other inventory, negotiating offers, and working with buyers from Colorado, Washington, and California (some are natives coming back here).
If you have questions/comments and/or would just like to visit, give us a call!
MARKET REPORT
The question we hear often is: How’s the market?
And the answer to that depends. Are you looking to buy, sell, invest or rent? Or are you just curious?
This Market Report mostly answers the question by using our MLS stats and figures, comparing the market now to one year ago. Trends are revealed, giving buyers, sellers and investors information that can relate to their situation. And you can always give us a call for interpretation and/or more information.
SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (COMPARING MARCH 2014 TO MARCH 2015)
Inventories are mostly down in numbers in all areas, except Bozeman, which has 16% more listings than last year. But it’s still a challenge, even in Bozeman, for buyers to find just what they want.
SALES NUMBERS ARE MIXED
Bozeman’s sales numbers are down by 2% in the last year, but Area 2 (surrounding Bozeman) shows an increase of 48% with Belgrade showing an increase of 31%.
Sales in Big Sky are down by 36% from last March, but sales are up by 44% in Park County.
MEDIAN SALES PRICES ARE UP
Bozeman’s median sale prices for single family residential are up 9% to $300,000. Area 2’s prices are up just 2% to $353,000. Belgrade’s median sale price is $234,000, up about 2% from last year. Big Sky’s median price is up from last year by 34% at $638,000. Park County/Livingston’s prices are up 22% to $183,000.
MISCELLANEOUS MARKET INFORMATION
ERA Landmark’s stats show that most of our buyers originate in Montana. The second area is California, then Colorado, Washington, Minnesota, Texas and Florida. And most of our leads, 71%, come from people who know and love us, or referrals by those people.
As always, call us for more information (condos, other area, vacant land, investments, etc.). We’re happy to provide a Current Market Analysis for your property – of course, at no cost! And to add your information to our automatic searches.
The Top 10 Features for New Homes
DAILY REAL ESTATE NEWS | MONDAY, APRIL 06, 2015
(For more up-to-date news and articles, please see our Facebook Business Page at https://www.facebook.com/TudorIsler )
The outdoor kitchen and two-story foyers are starting to lose favor among new home shoppers, while energy efficiency and bigger closets are gaining in popularity, according to a new survey from the National Association of Home Builders. NAHB asked builders to rank home features from 1 to 5 on how likely they were to include them this year in single-family homes they build this year.
An increased interest in energy efficiency is decreasing interest in two-story foyers and rooms, Rose Quint, NAHB’s assistant vice president for survey research, told MarketWatch. “Consumers consider those spaces to be energy inefficient,” she says.
Here are some of the least likely features that builders say they will include in new homes this year:
- Outdoor kitchen (cooking, refrigeration, and sink)
- Laminate countertops in kitchen
- Outdoor fireplace
- Sunroom
- Two-story family room
- Media room
- Two-story foyer
- Walking/jogging trails in community
- Whirlpool in master bathroom
- Carpeting as flooring on main level
On the other hand, these home features, builders say, are most likely to be included in a new home this year:
- Walk-in closet in master bedroom
- Laundry room
- Low-e windows
- Guest room (kitchen-family-room-living room)
- Energy-star rated appliances
- 9-foot ceiling or more on first floor
- Energy-star rated windows
- Programmable thermostat
- Two-car garage
- Granite countertop in kitchen
Source: “Whirlpool Bathtubs are Losing Out in New Homes,” MarketWatch (April 2, 2015)
RECOMMENDATION:
“We have used Sharon’s and Brian’s services twice: Once as Sellers and second at Buyers.
We found them to be helpful and to make realistic estimates and recommendations on both occasions.
They are very thorough in handling negotiations and the raft of paperwork required.
We would have no qualms at all in using their services again should the occasion arise.”
Bruce and Audrey Mueller