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Get Ready to Downsize
Change your mind-set. Don’t feel limited. If you are downsizing by necessity, it can be easy to get down about the whole process. But there can be a lot to love about going smaller; easier upkeep, lower maintenance costs, and less pressure to host large groups of people can be a relief after years of living in a big house. Or perhaps you will be relocating closer to an urban center, where you can reduce reliance on your car and have easier access to shopping, restaurants and cultural events. Try thinking of three benefits of downsizing and keep those things in mind as you winnow your belongings and move into smaller digs.
Set your top three priorities. What do you most crave, need or want in your living space? Really think about this and be honest. It’s not often you will get everything you want in a new place, but if you stick with your top three priorities (I suggest you actually list five but ultimately don’t settle for fewer than three), you can get what is most important to you. For instance, is it really important to you to have a private outdoor space? An entrance that is not in an enclosed hallway? Lots of light or an open floor plan? These will point you quickly toward the spaces that may be a good fit and allow you to move past others that would not suit your needs.
Start an inspiration/motivation file. It wouldn’t hurt to also start saving images of small spaces you find inspiring (like perhaps the rooftop patio shown here), as well as organizing and decluttering ideas. When you are feeling discouraged, you can flip through your Houzz ideabooks and clippings for a boost.
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Real Estate Statistics for October 2017
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Area 1 – Bozeman City Limits
Area 2 – Bozeman Area Area 3 – Belgrade and Surrounding Area Area 4 – Manhattan/Three Forks Area 5 – Gallatin Canyon/Big Sky Area 6 – Livingston Area 7MM – Ennis SINGLE FAMILY INVENTORY of current Active listings in Bozeman in October was down 4% from 2016 and 20 listings less than 2015. Bozeman Area inventory is down 16% from 2016.
Area 3’s inventory is down 24%. Area 4 is 18% more than last year and Area 5 is down 19%. Area 6 is down 24%. Area 7 has 6% more inventory than October 2016. As you can see by the numbers, most areas of MLS inventory of homes for sale continues to decrease. This lack of inventory continues to increase prices – the law of “supply and demand.” Great for Sellers, but tough for Buyers. NUMBER OF MLS SINGLE-FAMILY SALES in October were mixed from October 2016: Areas 1, 2, and 4 had fewer sales than September 2016 (-5%, -12% and -6%). But Area 3 had sales up by 25% again from last month. Area 5 had 18% more sales. Area 6 sales were up 29% and Area 7 increased by 2%.
MEDIAN SALES PRICES are up almost across the board compared to October 2016. Bozeman City prices are up 6% with a median of $380,000.
CONDO/TOWNHOUSE inventory in Bozeman (where most of the condos/townhouses are located) is up 80% from 12 months ago, but there are still only 88 units on the market compared to 84 in 2015. There are only 11 condos listed in Area 2 and 3, comparable to last year, but down from 39 in 2015. Builders are still taking the opportunity to cash in on the condo market by bringing on inventory, but most of it won’t be ready for several months. Please feel free to call Sharon or Brian for any questions on our inventory and sales in specific price ranges, as these stats are for all prices. We’re always ready to help with a free current market analysis for your property, whether or not you’re ready to sell. This information was obtained from the Big Sky Country Multiple Listing Service.
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Our Clients Recommend Us
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“Brian and Sharon area a competent and thoughtful team. I felt like I had two people for the price of one! From beginning to end, I had thoughtful support and wise counsel. Their marketing and display of my home brought more potential buyers than I ever imagined. I was never alone in the sale of my home – Brian and Sharon were there every step of the way.”
– Lori B. “Sharon and Brian were very professional and answered all of our questions throughout the process. We were very satisfied with ERA and Sharon and Brian, and would definitely recommend them to a friend or family member.”
– The Van’t Hul Family
“The seller and I were going to attempt to handle the transaction on our own. We quickly realized we needed help. Brian’s and Sharon’s help was invaluable! They assisted us every step of the way. Couldn’t have been better!”
– Janice
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