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Newsletter – News You Can Use – April 2021

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RMRE-NEWSLETTER-April-2021

Brian Nicodemus, Your Whitefish RE/MAX Agent, March 2021

by

Brian Nicodemus

I’ve had the pleasure of living in the Flathead Valley since 1989. I am amazed every day by the beauty of its scenery and the heart of its people. Not to mention the endless possibilities of outdoor recreation right out your door. Since becoming a REALTOR in 1999 I’ve made many great friends and have been fortunate enough to sell some wonderful properties. The true reward for me is the smile on my customers face when they achieve their goals. No hassles and no pressure when you work with me. Just a friendly knowledgeable Real Estate Broker who is here to help. Give me a call or email me today so I can help you catch your special piece of Montana!

Real Estate Today

Kitchen

By Corrine DeGolier Lanfear|Realtor®️|March 2021

 

Is Now The Time to Sell?

Have you been thinking about selling home? Is your current property too large? Too small? Too expensive? Too hard to manage? Are you ready to travel more? Whatever the reason, you’ve been thinking about a move, but you don’t know if it’s the right time to move?

This might be the right time to sell! The first step in making a good decision is information. You would be amazed how many people will use stories they heard at the grocery store to make the decision to sell a home. Before you make any decision, speak to a professional agent and talk about your local market and home values. Learn about the inventory levels of your neighborhood and get a comprehensive market analysis of your property.

Traditionally a great time to list a home, this spring selling season is seeing a low inventory of homes for sale. This means that the home values are stronger than they have been in the past. You might have more money sitting in your home than you expect.

As interest rates continue to tick up, many buyers are seeing this as a great opportunity to buy before it’s too late. With record low unemployment and changing tax laws, more and more buyers are entering the housing market. This has resulted in strong home values and with more buyers ready to find a new home, this might be the perfect time to sell your home as well.

Don’t forget you can always call me for even more ideas and tips!

Here’s What’s Happening

The forest surrounding Larry Wilson’s cabin up the North Fork on Oct. 27, 2020. Hunter D’Antuono | Flathead Beacon

BY TRISTAN SCOTT |

North Fork Land Purchase Preserves Habitat on Flanks of Glacier

Advocates of maintaining the North Fork Flathead River’s wild-and-scenic character celebrated a victory this month when the Flathead National Forest and Vital Ground Foundation brokered a deal to conserve 10 acres of open space and wildlife habitat in the shadow of Glacier National Park, where development pressure runs high.

Read more…

Looking for a beautiful Montana home, land, or commercial property for sale near Whitefish? Call Brian Nicodemus, your Whitefish RE/MAX real estate agent at (406) 862-9000 or (406) 250-7311

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180 Vista Lane 153, 143, 133, 123

180 Vista Lane, Big Fork, Flathead, Montana, United States 59911

15Picture(s)
0Sqft
Selling as Asset only, no financials available at this time. Opportunity to Turn key full service resort, bar, restaurant, tiki bar, event center, 2 boat slips, pool, hot tub, fuel dock, liquor license and much more in the picturesque village of Bigfork, Montana. Located at the North End of the largest freshwater lake, on the pristine waters of Flathead Lake.
$5,800,000
19 Results returned.Per Page

Real Estate Market Trends

The average sales price in Whitefish, Flathead Valley as a whole, Kalispell, and Columbia Falls of a single-family residence in February for the past 3 years is depicted in the graphs below.

 

Nhn Sherman Road

Kalispell, MT 59901

MLS #22013359

Remarkable 130 Acres! Build your dream home and horse property on a Mountain top with 360 degree views of Big Mountain, Flathead Lake, Swan Range and Glacier National Park. Gated log entrance leads you through this one of a kind property.

Contact Brian Murphy at 406-890-1681, or your real estate professional.

Recipe of The Month

 

Pot of Gold Cupcakes

Make these pot of gold cupcakes for your whole crew this weekend! They’ll love the rich, dark chocolate cake with the rainbow striped frosting, and the gold coin on top is such a fun touch!

Ingredients:

 

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven according to your favorite chocolate cupcake recipe or try the recipe that is linked above at 350 degrees F.

2. Follow cupcake recipe, bake and allow to completely cool.

3. Make your favorite buttercream recipe or follow the one linked above.

Now for the fun part…

4. Gather your pastry bag and tip, the gel paste food coloring and use a thin, clean artist brush to swipe stripes of gel paste food coloring down the inside of your pastry bag.  Then fill it with buttercream and squeeze it out, just like you normally would.

5. Top them off with a gold (chocolate) coin and you’ve found your pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.  Hope you enjoy!

(Recipe adapted from bakingamoment.com)

Brian Nicodemus, your Whitefish RE/MAX agent, February 2021

by

Brian Nicodemus

I’ve had the pleasure of living in the Flathead Valley since 1989. I am amazed every day by the beauty of its scenery and the heart of its people. Not to mention the endless possibilities of outdoor recreation right out your door. Since becoming a REALTOR in 1999 I’ve made many great friends and have been fortunate enough to sell some wonderful properties. The true reward for me is the smile on my customers face when they achieve their goals. No hassles and no pressure when you work with me. Just a friendly knowledgeable Real Estate Broker who is here to help. Give me a call or email me today so I can help you catch your special piece of Montana!

Real Estate Today

 

By Corrine DeGolier Lanfear|Realtor®️|February 2021

 

Home Sellers Quick Guide

  • Research the Best Time to Sell – In the current market, the time is now!
    • Make Repairs – Repairing anything that needs some fixing or whatever seems problematic, will definitely speed up the selling process of your home. Keep receipts for proof of work done.
    • Find a Real Estate Agent – you want an agent that has experience working in the area you live in, with a proven track record, and someone who can offer feedback through every step of the process.
    • Pricing Your Home – A comparative market analysis is a document that presents pricing information for homes similar to yours. Your real estate agent can provide you this and give their feedback on it. It will be helpful to know what has worked price wise in your area and what hasn’t.
    • Putting Your Home on the Market – Discuss with your real agent their marketing plan they believe will work best for your home. They should, at the very least,  utilize the Multiple Listing System (MLS), real estate websites, social media, reach out to other agents, use yard signs if permissible,  advertise in print media and have a virtual tour available for example.
    • Prepare Your Home for Showings – You want your home to look its best when buyers are looking at it. In order for it to be in top condition,  go through each room and clean up clutter. Allow your buyers to imagine themselves living in your house by putting away any personal items.
    • How to Handle Offers – When a buyer makes an offer on your home, they will use a contract to offer up their sale price and any other terms of purchase. You can either accept, reject, or counter the offer that will then lead to negotiation with your agents help. For a successful negotiation: disclose everything, ask many questions, meet halfway on costs when possible and keep in mind your “why” for selling.
    • The Closing – This can take a month or longer depending on they property. Be ready to cooperate with a Title Company, Escrow Officer, Inspectors and Appraisers. A closing agent will finalize the transaction and review the sales agreement. He or she will also collect any last payments from the seller and buyer, will make any adjustments, and makes sure the buyer’s title is recorded in the local records. After this, congrats! You’ve sold your home successfully!
    • Moving Out – Start by getting rid of items that you don’t need by donating and or having a garage sale weeks prior. From there you can see the items that you need and start packing. Get the movers ready and schedule a time for them to be at your home. Separate valuable paperwork and other important things into one box. Do a change of address and forward any medical records if needed. Lastly, walk through your home one last time to see you didn’t forget anything and take inventory of everything you have.

Here’s What’s Happening

By HEIDI DESCH
Editor | February 10, 2021 1:00 AM

Whitefish, other cities, advocate for retaining affordable housing tool

The City of Whitefish, along with representatives of other cities around the state, last week told a Montana House committee that a bill that would effectively put an end to inclusionary zoning would leave them without an important tool in efforts aimed at creating affordable housing.

Whitefish City Councilor Ben Davis, who also serves on the city’s housing committee, told legislators that the community has determined that housing is at a crisis level here and years were spent in the public process to determine that inclusionary zoning is necessary to address the situation. Read more…

Looking for a beautiful Montana home, land, or commercial property for sale near Whitefish? Call Brian Nicodemus, your Whitefish RE/MAX real estate agent at (406) 862-9000 or (406) 250-7311

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180 Vista Lane 153, 143, 133, 123

180 Vista Lane, Big Fork, Flathead, Montana, United States 59911

15Picture(s)
0Sqft
Selling as Asset only, no financials available at this time. Opportunity to Turn key full service resort, bar, restaurant, tiki bar, event center, 2 boat slips, pool, hot tub, fuel dock, liquor license and much more in the picturesque village of Bigfork, Montana. Located at the North End of the largest freshwater lake, on the pristine waters of Flathead Lake.
$5,800,000
19 Results returned.Per Page

Real Estate Market Trends

The average sales price in Whitefish, Flathead Valley as a whole, Kalispell, and Columbia Falls of a single-family residence in January for the past 3 years is depicted in the graphs below. The only downward trend in NMAR’s latest data is the average number of days on market for Flathead Valley homes—yet another indicator of a bustling real estate market.

 

Nhn Big Lodge Lane

Rollins, MT 59931

MLS #22015618

Nice Sloped 5 acre lot with filtered lake views and lots of timber. 2 access points.

Call Brian Nicodemus at 406-250-7311 for more information or your real estate professional.

Recipe of The Month

 

 

Since it’s the month of love, nothing says “I love you” more than some sweet, delicious, and cute thumbprint cookies! Best of all, they don’t take a lot of effort but taste like you slaved away in the kitchen. ?

Ingredients:
✔️2 cups all-purpose flour
✔️ ½ tsp. Baking powder
✔️ 2 tbs. Almond milk
✔️ ½ tsp. Salt
✔️ ¾ cup margarine, softened
✔️ ½ cup sugar, or sweetener of your choice
✔️ 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
✔️ ⅓ cup assorted jams for the filling
✔️ Optional: Powdered sugar

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 F/177 C and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk flour and salt together. Set aside.
3. Add softened margarine, sugar, vanilla extract, and almond milk to another bowl and mix.
4. Slowly add in the flour/salt mix and combine until a dough is formed. Be careful not to over-mix.
5. Scoop out a half tablespoons worth of dough and roll into a smooth ball. Place all dough balls about 1 ½ inch apart.
6. Make the indent by using your finger (the “thumbprint” mark). Fill each indent with jam, but be careful not to overfill.
7. Bake for about 13-15 minutes or until barely lightly golden.
8. Remove from the oven and let them cool for 5-10 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. Optional: Dust with powdered sugar.

(Recipe adapted from veganhuggs.com)

Brian Nicodemus, your Whitefish RE/MAX agent, December 2020

by

Brian Nicodemus

I’ve had the pleasure of living in the Flathead Valley since 1989. I am amazed every day by the beauty of its scenery and the heart of its people. Not to mention the endless possibilities of outdoor recreation right out your door. Since becoming a REALTOR in 1999 I’ve made many great friends and have been fortunate enough to sell some wonderful properties. The true reward for me is the smile on my customers’ faces when they achieve their goals. No hassles and no pressure when you work with me. Just a friendly knowledgeable Real Estate Broker who is here to help. Give me a call or email me today so I can help you catch your special piece of Montana!

Real Estate Today

 

By Corrine DeGolier Lanfear|Realtor®️|December 2020

Age-Old Real Estate Selling Tips to Ignore

Homeowners planning to sell their home tend to get unsolicited advice from every direction. “Do this,” “don’t do that”; it can be difficult to decipher the good from the bad advice. As homebuyers become more informed and market-savvy, knowing which age-old advice to
ignore can be important. Here are some adages which should be retired immediately.

• ?Spring is the best time to sell – While spring is traditionally when home sales tick upward, the real key to selling is inventory levels. Low inventory means more chances your home will be more desirable, and this can occur any time of the year.
• ?The first offer is always the best – While all offers should be considered, don’t feel pressured to take a sub-par offer just because it was the first.
• ?Open houses sell houses – Not necessarily. Only 2% of homes sell as the direct result of an open house, according to the National Association of Realtors®. People are more attracted to virtual tours and online photos during these times. Consider a “Virtual Open House,” or scheduled showings on a specific weekend giving a certain end date that all offers must be in by. This will still generate the “buzz” around your property and create some urgency for perspective buyers.
• ?Price high so there is room to negotiate – Homebuyers are more sophisticated about pricing and will not bother with overpriced homes.
• ?If you don’t want to make repairs then lower your price – Unless you market your home as a fixer-upper, buyers expect the home to be in reasonable condition and a low price might not be enough to encourage an offer. Have your Broker or Real Estate Agent pull a Comparable Market Analysis, considering items such as condition of the property, square footage, amount of rooms, and area the home is located when considering how to price. Most agents have a list of trusted vendors they can suggest for you to make the needed repairs. Small repairs can make a big difference in the final price.
• ?You must update your kitchen to sell – Buyers do love renovated kitchens, but keep in mind that you typically recover only 81% of the cost of a remodel when selling. Try these simple ideas instead: Keep it clean and uncluttered, possibly a coat of paint or new hardware on the cabinets or an updated backsplash can make a big difference. This will leave the buyer to update to their preferences, which most prefer to do when making a home purchase.

Selling a home is a major life decision. Before you begin the process of listing your home, do your research and make sure the advice you rely on is valid in today’s changing environment and you pair up with an agent you can trust.

Here’s What’s Happening

Picture by HUNTER D'ANTUONO

Picture Credit | HUNTER D’ANTUONO

Mask Up, Ski Down

Opening week off to a smooth start at Whitefish Mountain Resort, with the ski area earning praise from ‘super seniors’ for its safety precautions

BY  // 

Although Whitefish Mountain Resort’s outdoor operations will run similar to pre-pandemic times, with lift line corrals set up roughly the same, a major difference is that skiers and riders are required to wear face coverings while waiting in line for the chair, as well as while loading and unloading.

That might seem like a straightforward requirement, particularly given that face coverings tend to be standard attire for skiers and snowboarders. But mask requirements during the pandemic have become the subject of a polarizing national debate, and Whitefish Mountain Resort, as well as the city of Whitefish, have gone to great lengths to educate the skiing community on the importance of heeding the requirement this winter… read more

Looking for a beautiful Montana home, land, or commercial property for sale near Whitefish? Call Brian Nicodemus, your Whitefish RE/MAX real estate agent at (406) 862-9000 or (406) 250-7311

Sort Option
  • Price
  • Beds
  • Baths
  • Sq/ft
  • MLS Number
Grid
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More Details

180 Vista Lane 153, 143, 133, 123

180 Vista Lane, Big Fork, Flathead, Montana, United States 59911

15Picture(s)
0Sqft
Selling as Asset only, no financials available at this time. Opportunity to Turn key full service resort, bar, restaurant, tiki bar, event center, 2 boat slips, pool, hot tub, fuel dock, liquor license and much more in the picturesque village of Bigfork, Montana. Located at the North End of the largest freshwater lake, on the pristine waters of Flathead Lake.
$5,800,000
19 Results returned.Per Page

Real Estate Market Trends

The average sales price in Whitefish, Flathead Valley as a whole, Kalispell, and Columbia Falls of a single-family residence in November for the past 3 years is depicted in the graphs below. The only downward trend in NMAR’s latest data is the average number of days on market for Flathead Valley homes—yet another indicator of a bustling real estate market.

 

THE FARMHOUSE INN AND KITCHEN

A luxury bed and breakfast and farm to table style Bakery and Café featuring produce, meats etc from farms in the area. More info…

28 Lupfer Ave
Whitefish, MT 59937

(406) 730-2666

Recipe of The Month

 

 

Here is a simple recipe you can cozy up to:

Ingredients:
✔️ 4 cups apple cider
✔️ 1 bottle (750 ml) red wine of your choice
✔️ ¼ cup honey
✔️ 2 cinnamon sticks
✔️ Juice, zest, and peel from 1-2 oranges depending on your taste
✔️ 4 cloves
✔️ 3-star anises

Directions:
✔️ Combine all ingredients except the orange peel in a large saucepan.
✔️ Bring to a boil and then let the mix simmer on low heat for 10 minutes.
✔️ Pour mulled wine into mugs and add the orange peel for garnish.

Recipe adapted from Food Network.

Brian Nicodemus Real Estate in Whitefish, November 2020

by

Brian Nicodemus RE/MAX Rocky Mountain Brian Nicodemus

I’ve had the pleasure of living in the Flathead Valley since 1989. I am amazed every day by the beauty of its scenery and the heart of its people. Not to mention the endless possibilities of outdoor recreation right out your door. Since becoming a REALTOR in 1999 I’ve made many great friends and have been fortunate enough to sell some wonderful properties. The true reward for me is the smile on my customers face when they achieve their goals. No hassles and no pressure when you work with me. Just a friendly knowledgeable Real Estate Broker who is here to help. Give me a call or email me today so I can help you catch your special piece of Montana!

Real Estate Today

 

By Corrine DeGolier Lanfear|Realtor®️|November 2020

Should You Accept the Previous Buyer’s
Inspection Report?

Sometimes a house falls out of contract. Most buyers assume that it is related to a bad home inspection, but there are many reasons for a home to come back on the market that are unrelated to the condition of the home. During the contingency period, most buyers can cancel for almost any reason – or even no reason.

Of course, the listing agent and seller are motivated to get the home back under contract as quickly as possible and may offer the previous buyer’s home inspection report to the new buyer. Some may even ask that the new buyer remove their right to a home inspection, based on the one they offer.

If you have been offered the previous buyer’s inspection report, you’re probably wondering if you should accept it and remove that contingency. In a fast-moving seller’s market, it might be tempting, but before you accept the report, there are a few considerations:

• Before accepting the inspection, do your research. Who did the inspection? Is it a reputable, licensed home inspector? Check public review sites for comments and customer satisfaction. Check their license with the issuing board and see if they have had any violations or suspensions.
• Once you verify the company, give them a call. Make sure the inspection is transferable, and that they have performed a comprehensive inspection. Many companies offer both a comprehensive and a simpler, cheaper, visual inspection.
• Finally, read the report carefully. If there are issues discovered, ask for clarification and consider paying for the inspector to meet you at the home to discuss the report in person with you.

Accepting the home inspection might seem like a good idea – both to make your offer more appealing to the seller and to save a few dollars – but before you remove the home inspection contingency, do your homework. Make sure you understand the real condition of the property before you buy it.

Here’s What’s Happening

Winter decorations go up downtown

By HEIDI DESCH
Editor | November 22, 2020 10:20 AM

The iconic red bells and snowflakes hanging from lighted garland went up in downtown Whitefish Sunday morning.

Volunteers spent the morning hanging the winter decorations that have been a tradition in town since sometime in the 1950s. Each year volunteers spend weeks checking the roughly 10,000 bulbs in the decorations and preparing them to light up downtown.

The decorations include 24 snowflakes, 70 wreaths, four snowmen and 47 lighted garland strings.

The tradition began when John Austin, who was president of the Chamber of COmmerce, purchased the wire frames for 20 red bells for $1 a piece. He tasked John Thorson, who owned Flathead Upholstery, with putting new fabric on the wire frames.

Eventually the nonprofit Whitefish Shines took over the effort of maintaining and making sure the decorations decorate the town from late November through Presidents’ Day.

Hanging the lights has become a tradition of its own with volunteers of all ages showing up to assist in putting them up on the Sunday before Thanksgiving each year, no matter the weather. Read more…

 

Looking for a beautiful Montana home, land, or commercial property for sale near Whitefish? Call Brian Nicodemus, your Whitefish RE/MAX real estate agent at (406) 862-9000 or (406) 250-7311

Sort Option
  • Price
  • Beds
  • Baths
  • Sq/ft
  • MLS Number
Grid
List
More Details

180 Vista Lane 153, 143, 133, 123

180 Vista Lane, Big Fork, Flathead, Montana, United States 59911

15Picture(s)
0Sqft
Selling as Asset only, no financials available at this time. Opportunity to Turn key full service resort, bar, restaurant, tiki bar, event center, 2 boat slips, pool, hot tub, fuel dock, liquor license and much more in the picturesque village of Bigfork, Montana. Located at the North End of the largest freshwater lake, on the pristine waters of Flathead Lake.
$5,800,000
19 Results returned.Per Page

Real Estate Market Trends

Virus Playing Part in Booming Ranch Sales in U.S. West

Real estate brokers are experiencing high demand for ranches in Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Idaho and Washington

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS // 

BILLINGS — The coronavirus is one of the likely factors fueling a boom in large ranch sales in the U.S. West, real estate industry professionals said.

Real estate brokers are experiencing high demand for ranches in Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Idaho and Washington, The Billings Gazette reports.

“It’s the craziest year I’ve ever seen,” said Jim Taylor, director and real estate partner for Hall and Hall, which has offices in Montana and other Western states.

Taylor said buying a ranch is not always a compelling investment because the rate of return can be low. But he is working with buyers who see fewer stable alternatives.

“People look at them as an investment even though the ranching business isn’t good,” Taylor said.

Andy Rahn of Montana Land Source, a website tracking land listings and sales in the state, said factors driving buyers to rural areas can include a “get me out of here kind of mentality” concerning the pandemic.

That mindset may be propelled by fear of social unrest as well as mask and social distancing mandates with which buyers disagree.

Some in the industry theorize buyers believe rural areas are safer from COVID-19, while others said people who already planned to buy property in the future were spurred to action by the pandemic. Read more…

 

Thanksgiving can bring on a lot of stress when you think about how many people you have to impress. And the last thing you want to do is work all day in the kitchen to only produce a mediocre dish. ?

 

But worry no more!

 

Here is a quick and easy #pumpkinpierecipe that will leave you with enough time to relax before blowing your relatives’ taste buds away.

Ingredients:
✔️ 2 large eggs
✔️ 16 oz. (1 can) unsweetened pumpkin puree
✔️ 14 oz. (1 can) sweetened condensed milk
✔️ 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice (cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and allspice)
✔️ 9 in. (1 pack) unbaked pie crust

Directions:
✔️ Preheat your oven to 425 F/220 C.
✔️ Mix together the eggs, unsweetened pumpkin puree, sweetened condensed milk, and pumpkin pie spice in a large bowl until thoroughly combined.
✔️ Spread the pie crust on a baking sheet.
✔️ Pour the pumpkin pie mixture over the crust.
✔️ Bake in the pie in the preheated oven for 15 minutes.
✔️ After 15 minutes, reduce oven heat to 350 F/175 C. Bake until the pie is set (about 35-40 min.)

 

(Recipe adapted from allrecipes.com)

Brian Nicodemus Real Estate in Whitefish, October 2020

by

Brian Nicodemus RE/MAX Rocky Mountain Brian Nicodemus

I’ve had the pleasure of living in the Flathead Valley since 1989. I am amazed every day by the beauty of its scenery and the heart of its people. Not to mention the endless possibilities of outdoor recreation right out your door. Since becoming a REALTOR in 1999 I’ve made many great friends and have been fortunate enough to sell some wonderful properties. The true reward for me is the smile on my customers face when they achieve their goals. No hassles and no pressure when you work with me. Just a friendly knowledgeable Real Estate Broker who is here to help. Give me a call or email me today so I can help you catch your special piece of Montana!

Real Estate Today

 

By Corrine DeGolier Lanfear|Realtor®️|October 1, 2020

What Home Buyers Are Looking for Now – Office Space

With major employers now stating that their employees will be working from home for the foreseeable future, many homebuyers have adjusted their list of desirables in their next home. Some not only need to plan for a home office space but also need to accommodate the homeschooling or distance learning needs of their children as well.

This is impacting the way homes are marketed and the type of features that have become important to buyers at all price points. Of course, homebuyers with larger budgets have the luxury of seeking homes with extra bedrooms or offices and dens already included. But many buyers need to find space in more creative ways.

The easiest way to add working space is within the bedrooms. This offers the ability to close a door for privacy. Larger bedrooms (both in master and secondary bedrooms) have been a top priority for homebuyers.

Another important feature is an open floorplan which features a Great Room design. For generations, kids have done their homework at the kitchen table, and a spacious kitchen/family room combo makes it easier for home learning without becoming cluttered. Another option for homebuyers is a separate formal dining room that could be converted to a workspace.

With all the changes in working and learning environments for both adults and kids, the home is even more important than ever. As needs change, homebuyers seek different features from their new dwellings.

Here’s What’s Happening

Changes made to highway zoning district

By HEIDI DESCH
Editor | September 30, 2020 1:00 AM

Whitefish has made a list of changes to the WB-2 zoning district along the highway, including removing personal services, which includes hair salons, from the uses allowed in the district.

City Council earlier this month approved the changes to make updates for what is a permitted use and what requires a conditional use permit in the zone.

Council, however, said personal services — like delivery, catering, event planning, recreational guiding, tattoo shops, personal training, and hair or nail salons or spas — shouldn’t be allowed in the zone, even as a conditional use.

Councilor Andy Feury said personal services should not be allowed in the WB-2 zone because the nature of those businesses means they often operate on a smaller scale and require being located inside a larger building with other such shops.

“There is a lot of places in the city where they can operate,” he said. “Previous discussions were that we didn’t want those businesses [in the WB-2]. They are a catalyst for strip malls.

Previously, hair salons had been allowed by obtaining a conditional use permit but Council decided that would no longer be the case for the WB-2 zone. Any current hair salons in the zone would be grandfathered in… Read more…

Looking for a beautiful Montana home, land, or commercial property for sale near Whitefish? Call Brian Nicodemus, your Whitefish RE/MAX real estate agent at (406) 862-9000 or (406) 250-7311

Sort Option
  • Price
  • Beds
  • Baths
  • Sq/ft
  • MLS Number
Grid
List
More Details

180 Vista Lane 153, 143, 133, 123

180 Vista Lane, Big Fork, Flathead, Montana, United States 59911

15Picture(s)
0Sqft
Selling as Asset only, no financials available at this time. Opportunity to Turn key full service resort, bar, restaurant, tiki bar, event center, 2 boat slips, pool, hot tub, fuel dock, liquor license and much more in the picturesque village of Bigfork, Montana. Located at the North End of the largest freshwater lake, on the pristine waters of Flathead Lake.
$5,800,000
19 Results returned.Per Page

Real Estate Market Trends

Flathead home sales details and trends, past four years (January through August)

BY RICHARD DEWS // SEP 30, 2020

Let’s look at residential sales quantities, median days from listing to contract, and median cost per square foot, by square footage range (in 500-square-foot segments), since 2017, for homes sold at prices between $150,000 and $699,999 (see chart) — focusing on sales Jan. 1 through Aug. 31, each year… Read more

 

 

The annual Big Mountain Ski Club ski swap and sale

Oct. 9 and Oct. 10 at the Wave, 1250 Baker Ave. Whitefish

 

Great Fish finishes with more than $2.7M raised

A total of $173,335 was donated on the last day of the sixth annual Great Fish Community Challenge bringing the preliminary total raised during the campaign to more than $2.7 million… Read more

Brian Nicodemus Real Estate in Whitefish, August 2020

by

Brian Nicodemus

The National Association of REALTORS® just released the Market Recovery Survey of a random sampling to close to 100,000 members conducted June 24-26, 2020.  The following statements are the members’ opinion on various aspects of the recovery to the Covid-19 pandemic as it relates to real estate.

In response to the safety of buyers, sellers and agents, REALTORS® are expecting within the next year to have increased demand for the following technologies used to market properties:

  • 67% – Zoom or other video technology to communicate with clients
  • 66% – virtual tours
  • 63% – live virtual tours conducted by agent using video
  • 60% – virtual open houses

Nine out of ten respondents indicated that some of the buyers have returned to the market or never left the market.  Agents currently working with buyers report that slightly more than half of buyer’s timeline has remained the same with about the same level of urgency.  27% believe the buyers have more urgency.

The most popular reason cited by buyers with an increased timeline is that the delay during the pandemic has amplified their demand for a new home.  Others realize that new home features would make their home life more comfortable.  Some buyers are wanting to buy before a potential second peak of Covid-19 occurs. During the week the survey was taken, three out of four buyers saw the home in person physically while 26% did not.

Roughly 2/3 of the buyers are looking for the same features as they were prior to Covid-19 while new feature considerations include home office, space to accommodate family, larger home for more space, place to exercise and bigger kitchen. Most buyers are looking for the same type home, however, respondents reported that 13% are moving away from multi-family properties to a single-family home and only 1% are going from SFH to multi-family.

89% of respondents stated that some of the sellers have returned to or never left the market.  Only 23% reported more urgency to sell a home due to the pandemic.

On the commercial side, 2/3 of REALTOR® respondents felt like the demand for office space would decrease and 72% felt that retail space demand would decrease.

The stats mentioned in this article pertain nationwide.  To find out specifics in your market, call me at (406) 862-9000.

View Southeast towards Lost Trail Conservation Project

Building a Public Lands Legacy at Lost Trail

Fish and Wildlife Service proposes conservation easement on 100,000 acres of prime hunting and timberland owned largely by Southern Pine Plantations

BY  // 

If the sale of a prized swath of Northwest Montana forestland to an out-of-state investment firm was cause for consternation earlier this year, then a new proposal to conserve much of that land for public access, wildlife habitat and sustainable timber management ought to be cause for celebration.

That’s the consensus of federal and state land and wildlife resource managers leading the effort to place 100,000 acres of prime hunting and timberland into conservation easements, protecting parcels in Flathead and Lincoln counties from private development in perpetuity while also ensuring continued access for hunters, anglers, hikers, skiers, berry-pickers, and other recreational users, as well as allowing the property to be sustainably managed for timber production.

The proposed project lands form a sprawling checkerboard of ownership flanking the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge near Marion. The lion’s share of the project area was recently purchased by Georgia-based Southern Pine Plantations (SPP), a real estate and timberland investment firm that paid $145 million in cash to the previous owner, Weyerhaeuser Co., in exchange for 630,000 acres, touching off rampant speculation among public land users in the region about whether the new guard might chop up the parcels and sell them for private development, supplanting trophy bucks and bulls with gated trophy homes.

The newly proposed Lost Trail Conservation Area would authorize the federal FWS to work with willing sellers like SPP, as well as smaller private owners, to acquire conservation easements on up to 100,000 acres within the defined 116,000-acre conservation area boundary… read more

By Whitefish Pilot
| July 10, 2020 9:30 AM

Sun Road opens Monday to Rising Sun

The Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park will open to motorized vehicles from the west entrance to Logan Pass and as far as Rising Sun on Monday, July 13, pending any last-minute changes due to weather, the park said late Thursday in a press release.

The east entrance at St. Mary remains closed, due to the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council’s resolution restricting non-essential travel on the reservation because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Visitors will need to enter and exit Going-to-the-Sun Road via the west entrance. Traffic will be allowed as far as Rising Sun on the east side.

This week, the park resumed collecting fees at the gate, and park officials encourage visitors to allow for extra time in case of long lines.

Park road crews have finished snow removal, assessed current snow conditions, removed rocks and other road debris, installed guard rails, prepared Logan Pass facilities and started the water system for visitor use.

There will be sporadic work zones on Going-to-the-Sun Road with traffic control and flaggers, the press release noted, including on-going spillway work along Lake McDonald, guard wall repair near Triple Arches, and seepage repair at Siyeh Bend.

Services at Logan Pass will include restroom facilities and potable water. Visitor information services will be provided outside of the Logan Pass Visitor Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily… read more

Looking for a beautiful Montana home, land or commercial property for sale near Whitefish? Call Brian Nicodemus , your Whitefish RE/MAX real estate agent.

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180 Vista Lane 153, 143, 133, 123

180 Vista Lane, Big Fork, Flathead, Montana, United States 59911

15Picture(s)
0Sqft
Selling as Asset only, no financials available at this time. Opportunity to Turn key full service resort, bar, restaurant, tiki bar, event center, 2 boat slips, pool, hot tub, fuel dock, liquor license and much more in the picturesque village of Bigfork, Montana. Located at the North End of the largest freshwater lake, on the pristine waters of Flathead Lake.
$5,800,000
19 Results returned.Per Page

Huckleberry Days Arts Festival

Huckleberry Days Arts Festival – Fun for all Ages

The 31st annual Huckleberry Days Arts Festival, will take place August 7-9, 2020 at Depot Park (Railway St. & Central Ave.) in Whitefish, MT. With over 100 vendors of fine arts and great food, the festival includes a mobile climbing wall for kids & adults. Admission is free but Huckleberry Days will be following all current social distancing guidelines.  Contact the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce for further information: (406) 862-3501 or visit www.whitefishchamber.org or follow Huckleberry Days Arts Festival on Facebook.  More info

Real Estate Market Trends

Kalispell home listing prices by listing month, past five years

BY RICHARD DEWS // 

Last week, we looked at median square foot list prices of Flathead County single-family residences (by listing month), over the past five years. This week, let’s drill into the data for Kalispell – reader request – to include activity through June 30 this year. This will include homes listed for prices between $200,000 and $599,999… learn more

Farmers Market

Tuesdays 5:00-7:30 PM Central Avenue

RE/MAX Rocky Mountain Brian Nicodemus, July 2020

by

Brian Nicodemus RE/MAX Rocky Mountain Brian Nicodemus

Homeownership is a privilege and a responsibility. Even after decades of owning a home, you may still need some help to handle some of its challenges by focusing on the three “M”s of homeownership: maintenance, minimizing expenses and managing debt and risk.

Consider exploring the following:

  1. Do you know the current value of your home? (You can, by obtaining a list of comparable sales in your immediate area, as well as what is currently on the market for sale.)
  2. Have you compared your assessed value for tax purposes to the fair market value in order to possibly reduce your property taxes?
  3. Even if you’ve refinanced in the last two years, can you save money and recapture the cost of refinancing in the length of time you plan to remain in your home?
  4. Have you considered reducing your mortgage debt with low-earning cash reserves that will not be needed soon?
  5. Do you have a record of the improvements you’ve made to your home since you purchased it? Do you know what items can be included?
  6. Have you considered investing in rental homes in good neighborhoods to increase your yields and avoid the volatility of the stock market?
  7. When was the last time you updated your home inventory of personal belongings? Do you have pictures as well as written documentation?
  8. Do you need recommendations of repairmen and other service providers?

This service is part of my point of difference as a real estate professional to provide information to help homeowners not only when they buy and sell but all the years in between too.  My goal is to create lifelong relationships with our customers as their “go to” person whenever they have a real estate question.

My strategy is to provide reliable, consumer-based information about homeownership on a regular basis through email and social networking.  If it benefits you by helping you be a better homeowner, maybe you’ll consider us your real estate professional.

When you don’t know the answers to real estate questions, you know where to get them.

We’re always here to serve your real estate needs. By helping you with the three “M”s of homeownership, we can earn your confidence and trust for the next time you move or a friend of yours needs a recommendation.

If you’d like to have a list of the market activity in your area or any of the other information mentioned, please contact me at (406) 862-9000 or [email protected]. We’re happy to provide it along with informative guides regarding the subjects mentioned.

After months of uncertainty, hospitality businesses feel relief with the park’s reopening in early June

BY  // 

Ever since Glacier National Park’s closure in March, businesses within and outside of its boundaries have sat on pins and needles, waiting for the governor and park superintendent to set a reopening date.

“We’ve been preparing for being able to open at any moment,” Holly DuMay, the director of sales and marketing at Izaak Walton Inn and Eddie’s Café and Mercantile. “We knew we weren’t going to have a lengthy notice.”

Once the park finally reopened on June 8, Eddie’s Café and Mercantile was ready to go, opening just a few weeks after its normal date of Memorial Day Weekend.

“It’s a huge relief that we’re opening as soon as we are,” DuMay said.

Eddie’s, which is operating with coronavirus precautions such as plastic screens and spaced-out tables, received a facelift this winter, with a completely remodeled restaurant, a full-service bar and to-go cocktails.

“You can take a cocktail to-go and just sit on the beach at Lake McDonald,” DuMay said. Read more…..

Thousands gather at City Beach for the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce’s annual Fourth of July fireworks show over Whitefish Lake. (Heidi Desch/Whitefish Pilot file)
By Heidi Desch
Whitefish Pilot | June 22, 2020 9:10 AM

Fourth of July fireworks show canceled, arts festival still happening

 

The annual fireworks show over Whitefish Lake on the Fourth of July has been canceled.

The Whitefish Chamber of Commerce made the decision last week to cancel the event after failed attempts over the past month to relocate the show to a location that would allow for social distancing related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event typically draws upwards of 5,000 people to City Beach.

Chamber Executive Director Kevin Gartland said the chamber has been working steadily to make the show happen, but it became apparent that it just wasn’t possible.

“In the current situation it just wasn’t feasible,” he said. “And all the alternatives we considered had flaws that just wouldn’t be possible to overcome.”

The annual event is sponsored by the chamber and supported through private donations.

Gartland said the chamber explored two other possible locations at Big Mountain Ranch and at Smith Fields, but both of those had challenges that couldn’t be overcome including that holding the fireworks show over land rather than the lake increased the cost up to $7,000.

“When fundraising for it, half our donors are private individuals on Whitefish Lake who contribute to the show to view it from their properties,” he said. “We didn’t want to dig ourselves into a big hole with the extra cost.”

The Fourth of July parades in both Kalispell and Bigfork have already been canceled. Read more…

Looking for a beautiful Montana home, land or commercial property for sale near Whitefish? Call Brian Nicodemus, your Whitefish RE/MAX real estate agent.

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180 Vista Lane 153, 143, 133, 123

180 Vista Lane, Big Fork, Flathead, Montana, United States 59911

15Picture(s)
0Sqft
Selling as Asset only, no financials available at this time. Opportunity to Turn key full service resort, bar, restaurant, tiki bar, event center, 2 boat slips, pool, hot tub, fuel dock, liquor license and much more in the picturesque village of Bigfork, Montana. Located at the North End of the largest freshwater lake, on the pristine waters of Flathead Lake.
$5,800,000
19 Results returned.Per Page

Seeking a Safe Haven

Realtors have “never been busier” as out-of-area homebuyers flood the Flathead Valley

BY  // 

After spending eight years in Chicago, 46-year-old physician Robert Valleau grew tired of the city life.

He was burned out from the bar-and-restaurant, shopping-and-museum scene of Michigan Avenue, the explosive taxes and his box-sized apartment. He preferred fresh mountain air to bustling city streets. But most of all, he wanted to get away from people. To learn more…

You know, there’s more to Whitefish, Montana than just breathtaking scenery, a great ski hill, abundant wildlife and a spectacular alpine lake.  But there’s no ignoring the obvious … the #1 attraction that brings visitors to our city – the Great Outdoors – also fuels an active lifestyle for residents that is second to none. Get outside!

Farmers Market

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Rocky Mountain Real Estate