Measuring Montana’s Outdoor Economy

New report says outdoor recreation pumps $7.1 billion into state economy and supports 71,000 jobs

BY JUSTIN FRANZ // AUG 29, 2017 // FLATHEAD BEACON Photo by Greg Lindstrom

COLUMBIA FALLS — For more than a century, the mountains that surround the Flathead Valley have inspired legions, from artists trying to capture the beauty on canvas to teenagers sharing the scenery through the perfect Instagram filter. But a new report suggests Montana’s scenic wonders are worth a lot more than a pretty picture.

“Montana’s public lands aren’t just for creating memories or snapping pictures for Facebook,” Sen. Jon Tester declared last week at an outdoors round table at the Cedar Creek Lodge, which was followed by a rally for public lands. “These lands bring $7.1 billion to the state’s economy every year, support 71,000 jobs and bring numerous new businesses and entrepreneurs here.”

Tester was referencing data published in a report by Headwaters Economics for the nonprofit Business for Montana’s Outdoors. The report noted that some of Montana’s fastest-growing counties are also close to federally managed public lands. Between 2000 and 2015, five counties — Gallatin, Yellowstone, Missoula, Flathead and Lewis and Clark — were responsible for 75 percent of the state’s job growth.

READ MORE…click here.

 Housing Plan

Update set for Wednesday night, Sept. 13 at City Hall

Whitefish Chamber members and the public are invited to take part in an Open House & Workshop on Wednesday, September 13th at City Hall, to get a progress report on – and offer input to – the Whitefish Strategic Housing Plan.

Set for 5-7 p.m. next Wednesday evening at Whitefish City Hall, Open House attendees will hear about the goals and objectives established by the Housing Plan Task Force, and the programs, projects and tools that have been identified to help tackle the housing shortage.

They’ll also get an update on the work done to-date by the Task Force and its six subcommittees, and provide valuable input to the Task Force and consultants as they work to fine-tune the Plan prior to submitting it to the City Council in November.

For more information, call the Chamber 406.862.3505  or visit www.whitefishhousing.com.

Kelley’s Market Trends: Western Montana Home Prices

Over the last 12 years, Flathead County’s median home price has been on average the highest of six western Montana counties.

BY JIM KELLEY // SEP 6, 2017 // FLATHEAD BEACON

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This week let’s take another look at how Flathead County’s home price trend relates to other counties in Western Montana. At the peak of the market in 2007, Flathead County had the highest median home price of any of the surrounding counties. Flathead’s median was 13 percent higher than Missoula County, 4 percent higher than Lake County, 13 percent higher than Ravalli County, 35 percent higher than Lincoln County and 45 percent higher than Sanders County.

Over the last 12 years, Flathead County’s median home price has averaged 4.4 percent higher than Lake County, 44.8 percent higher than Lincoln County, 43.2 percent higher than Sanders County, 4.8 percent higher than Ravalli County and 1.6 percent higher than Missoula County.

In the first eight months of 2017, Flathead County’s median was the 14.6 percent higher than Lake County, 73.8 percent higher than Lincoln County, 50.9 percent higher than Sanders County, 3.8 percent higher than Ravalli County and 1.9 percent higher than Missoula County.

Of these six counties, Flathead County had a 7.8 percent increase in the median home price in 2017, which is higher than any of the surrounding counties. Lake County has had a 5.9 percent decline, Lincoln County has had a 12.3 percent decline, Sanders County had a 2.1 percent increase, Ravalli County has had a 6.6 percent increase, and Missoula County has had a 5.2 percent increase.

162 Barron Way, Kalispell, MT 59901

Festival Armadeus

Glacier Orchestra and Chorale presents Festival Amadeus, August 8-13, 2017. Mountains by Day; Music by Night. Celebrating our 10th anniversary!

Click here for more information.

A SWEET LITTLE TREASURE

EPISODE SIXTEEN: OPEN ROAD

Pan for a gem, create a masterpiece, indulge in every kind of candy, and create memories that will last a lifetime in Philipsburg, MT.

Open Road is a series of videos about Montana and Montanans. Travel along with these characters as they experience the endless possibilities waiting for them in Montana and be inspired to discover Montana for yourself.

Featured Property

25 Minnesota Avenue, Whitefish, MT 59937
MLS #21706528 Offered at $349,000

For more info, click here.

Summer on the Mountain

Summer is our second favorite season on the mountain. Activities include biking, zip line tours, alpine slide, aerial adventure park, spider monkey mountain for the kids, scenic lift rides and more.

Visit https://skiwhitefish.com/summer/ for more information.

There is so much fun to be had on the mountain! If you can’t find what you’re looking for here please don’t hesitate to call us at 877-SKI-FISH or 406-862-2900.

Amenities and activities are open daily June 17 – September 4, 2017. After Labor Day amenities and activities are open Friday – Sunday through September 24, 2017. Amenity and activity dates are conditions permitting and subject to change.

Save money by purchasing package deals for the whole family here: https://skiwhitefish.com/summer-tickets-passes/

A must-do for families at the summit is to visit the Summit Nature Center. Operated and staffed by the Flathead National Forest, families love to visit the Summit Nature Center to learn about our forest and its local flora and fauna. Interactive games and exhibits make it fun to discover how to identify plants, trees and animal tracks and scat. Children ages 7-12 are invited to become Junior Forest Rangers – it’s free, it’s fun and includes an official badge and certificate. There’s also a coloring station for the little ones.

Families are encouraged to borrow an Outdoor Adventure Pack from the Nature Center and explore the outdoors. The pack contains field guides and materials to help families learn together in a fun and informal setting. For more information call 406-862-1972. This line is answered mid-June through Labor Day.

Mapping Out a Montana Adventure

EPISODE FOURTEEN: OPEN ROAD

See how Cairn Cartographics is putting Montana on the map.

Featured Property

317 Fox Hollow Road, Kalispell, MT 59901
MLS #21705455 Offered at $747,000

Tastefully designed Golf Course home sitting on the 9th fairway of the beautiful Northern Pines Golf Course located between Kalispell and Whitefish. Perfect for entertaining, indoor or out, with two main floor living areas and a covered casual living space to soak in the unhindered views of the golf course and Swan Valley Range. Fully finished walkout basement has an additional suite and bedroom with a third recreational area. Alluring landscaping welcomes you home. Call Jessica Bubar at 406.890.1531 for your personal tour. With only 28 home sites in Northern Pines Community, you don’t want to miss out on this incredible home.

Summer Camps

Get the kids outside with summer camps.

“Rockstars” is for kids ages 6-11. Cost is $225; camps run Monday through Thursday 9AM-3PM. This camp is all about learning the fundamentals of climbing, playing outside, learning about wilderness and nature, being a kid, and having fun!

“Stone Masters” is for kids ages 12 and up. Cost is $450; camps run June 19-22, July 10-13, and August 21-24. The first half of this camp will be day trips that will include outdoor climbing and whitewater rafting. The second half we will camp and climb at the beautiful Lake Koocanusa. Campers will leave camp knowing how to tie knots, belay, rappel, and basic wilderness skills.

Call 406.862.8955 or visit www.rockfishclimbing.com. Limited space, sign up soon!

Potter’s Field horsemanship curriculum is designed to give kids a working knowledge of horsemanship from the ground up, but they don’t stop there.  Through mounted games, arts and crafts, music and movement, and classroom discussions, they challenge kids to grow in their interpersonal skills with others and to become confident of their own God-given value and worth.

The camps run from May – September with special fall and holiday camp dates. These four-day camps are scheduled Monday through Thursday, from 11:00AM – 3:00PM and open to children from ages 5-15 years of age.

Call 406.862.9673 or visit www.pottersfield.org for more information.

The Magic Place

EPISODE EIGHT: OPEN ROAD
The Great Northern Powder Guides take you into the deep back country to find untouched powder.

April real estate market trends update for Flathead County

By Jim Kelley, Kelley Appraisal, April 2017

Each month, Jim Kelley analyzes the trends in real estate sales in Flathead County of Montana. Click on the link to read to entire report.
April Real Estate Market Trends in Flathead County – click here to read the whole report.

Where are the plows?

See where the plows are today on Going to the Sun Road in Glacier National Park. Also see plowing photos posted by the crews. Click here to go to nps.gov.

What Are Restrictive Covenants?

Read These Rules Before You Buy

BY CATHIE ERICSON for Realtor.com

IN THE MOMENT

EPISODE SEVEN: OPEN ROAD
Join the Absaroka Dogsled Treks team on a ride of a lifetime through the Montana backcountry.

Live Music Saturdays

Starting April 4, 2017

7:00 PM – 10:00 PM MDT

Firebrand Lounge, Second and Spokane in Whitefish

Halladay Quist is a country bluegrass singer songwriter with a streak of rock ‘n roll in her veins. She performs live in the Firebrand Lounge most Saturdays with the occasional guest musician stepping in.

To learn more about Halladay visit her website: https://www.halladayquist.com/Halladay

What Are HOA Fees?

BY LISA MANDELL for Realtor.com

First things first: HOA is an abbreviation for “homeowners association,” which applies to the owners of condos, townhouses, or freestanding homes in a planned community. The fee, which is usually charged monthly, goes to maintain the common areas of that community.

“Because multiple parties live in the same building or complex, all residents must be equally responsible for maintaining the common areas such as landscaping, elevators, swimming pools, clubhouses, parking garages, fitness rooms, sidewalks, security gates, roofing, and building exteriors,” says finance expert Amy Fontanelle. HOA fees also include insurance payments to cover those common areas.

Sure, homeowners already taking on a mortgage may hate coughing up more money for HOA dues. But they actually let you off the hook for a ton of home maintenance work. So before you start kvetching, consider all that HOA fees can do for you.

How much are HOA fees?

For a typical single-family home, HOA fees can cost homeowners around $200 to $300 per month, although they will be lower or much higher depending on the size of your unit and the amenities.

To give you an idea of the range of HOA fees, a 1,000-square-foot condo in Des Moines, IA, with no pool, spa, community room, or gym in the community has an HOA fee of $100 per month, which covers utilities, landscaping, and snow removal.

On the other end of the spectrum, there’s Hollywood’s fancy Sierra Towers condo building, which is filled to the brim with amenities like 24-hour concierge service and valet parking. They charge residents of a 3,400-square-foot condo about $4,000 per month in HOA fees. Suddenly that $250 monthly fee you’re considering feels a bit more reasonable, doesn’t it?

What is an HOA reserve fund?

HOA fees are usually divided into two parts: One portion goes toward monthly expenses, and the remaining money goes into a reserve fund, to save for long-term repairs and replacements such as roofs, plumbing, and exterior paint. Reserve funds also cover emergency expenses that arise when natural disasters, vandals, or just the unavoidable wear and tear strike.

What is an assessment?

Be aware that when your community is hit with extreme maintenance expenses—like a flood in the underground parking lot due to a broken water heater or a pipe bursting—homeowners insurance will cover some of it, but whatever’s left will have to be paid by your HOA.

Typically in these cases the HOA will tap the reserve fund, which may become depleted as a result. As a result, your HOA board may require you and your fellow homeowners in the community to pay a special assessment bill above and beyond your monthly HOA fee. Luckily, though, these assessments are typically temporary until the reserve is back up to a comfortable level.

What happens if I can’t pay the HOA fees?

Rest assured that most lending institutions take the HOA fee into consideration when they write up your mortgage. In other words, they evaluate your monthly income compared with your monthly expenses, and they won’t make a loan on the desired property unless they feel you can safely cover everything: your mortgage payment, taxes, and HOA fees.

But hey, life happens. If you lose your job or are unable to pay your HOA fees, you might be able to work something out with the HOA board. Be sure to talk to it before you miss even one payment. If you fall too far behind, the consequences could be the same as if you fail to make your mortgage payments. Bob Tankel, a Florida attorney specializing in HOA law, says you could be evicted or, in extreme instances, the board has the right to foreclose on your property.

The ins and outs of your HOA fees and what they cover in your new community will be spelled out in the covenants, conditions, and restrictions. Tankel suggests reading your CC&Rs carefully before you even buy your condo, and referring to it frequently once you move in so you’ll always know what to expect.

Real Estate sales see large uptick, new projects double

BY HEIDI DESCH, WHITEFISH PILOT 2-15-2017

Home sales in Whitefish last year saw a large uptick, while new residential home development more than doubled in the city.

There were 194 homes sold within the city limits last year, according to a report by Kelley Appraisal of Kalispell. That’s an almost 40 percent increase from the previous year, following two years of decreases in the number of sales in 2013 and 2014, according to Jim Kelley who compiles the annual home sales report.

According to the city of Whitefish Planning and Building Department’s annual report, there were 156 new dwelling units permitted in 2016 compared to 67 in 2015.

City Planning Director Dave Taylor said the increase in the number of permits seems to fall in line with a recently completed workforce housing study showing the city will need 980 residential units by 2020 to keep up with current demand.

“There is currently a shortage of service workers and housing,” Taylor said in his report. “The deficit of available residential units has translated into 10 year highs in duplex and multi-family residential development, which counted for more than two-thirds of our residential new construction.”

Taylor estimates the economic investment of the residential development at over $32 million.

According to the Kelley report, this January there were 126 homes on the market within the city limits compared to 142 in January 2016.

“With 126 current listings, this represents 7.8 months of inventory compared to 6.1 months of inventory in Flathead County,” Kelly says in his report. “Last year at this time there was 12.3 months inventory in Whitefish.”

Kelley says that last year was mostly stable for sales with numbers similar to the last three years.

“Subdivision activity continues near its all-time low, but the inventory of bank-owned has mostly gone away,” he said. “There is development, but mostly within city limits. There continues to be little interest in rural subdivision development.”

According to the city report, seven new subdivisions were approved in Whitefish last year with 51 new lots receiving preliminary plat, which is more than twice the number for 2015.

The median home price in Whitefish in 2016 increased to $325,000, up slightly from $320,000 in 2015.

Twelve homes sold on Whitefish Lake last year, up slightly from nine in 2015. The median price for those homes is $1.87 million, up 2.4 percent over 2015.

ALPENGLOW – The Perfect Line

EPISODE SIX: OPEN ROAD
Watch skier Rachel Pohl turn a day on the slopes into a work of art. The Sky’s the Limit. Rachel believes the world is her canvas. With Montana’s unspoiled beauty and pristine powder as her muse, it’s easy to see why.

SNOW REPORT

Check the snow conditions at Whitefish Mountain Resort by clicking here.

LESSONS

Learn to ski or snowboard. Click here for information about lessons and ticket packages.

NIGHT SKIING

Night owls can enjoy some great skiing during our night sessions. Click here for info.

LIFT TICKETS – PURCHASE ON-LINE

Purchase tickets in advance.

You can always call for information too.

877-SKI-FISH

or visit their website:

www.skiwhitefish.com

Wilderness Speaker Series

March 22, 2017
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM MDT
Flathead Valley Community College
Event Description:
“THE NAMES OF THE STARS, A Life In The Wilds” a book reading and discussion

Speaker: Pete Fromm, wilderness author.

Acclaimed author of “Indian Creek Chronicles,” the story of his seven winter months alone in the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness tending salmon eggs, Pete’s newest book, “THE NAMES OF THE STARS; A Life In The Wilds” is the story of another month alone in the wilderness caring for fish eggs, this time the Bob. He will read from his new book. Books available for sale and signing.

Find more information at www.bmwf.org.

TURNING PAGES – Finding and sharing community in Montana

EPISODE FIVE: OPEN ROAD

Learn how two supermoms are making their dream of raising a family and building a publishing empire come true in Montana. Click the arrow to watch.

Real Estate Market Summary for 2016

SUMMARIZED FROM JIM KELLEY’S ANNUAL REPORT BY GREG CARTER

Mr. Kelley’s annual real estate market report for Flathead County is available at the following link: http://kelleyappraisal.net/FlatheadMarket16.pdf

The Flathead real estate market continues to improve with near record number of sales in 2016! This number of sales coupled with subdivision activity near all-time lows has motivated a renewed interest in development. Although all the county’s towns show an increase in the number of sales, the largest increase was in Whitefish. You can look here if you’re wondering how to sell your house for the best deal you can get. One of the best ways to achieve the asking price is to take the time to stage your home. You can get something like peel and stick wallpaper to freshen up the interior for prospective buyers.

There was an 11% increase in the number of residential units built from 2015 to 2016. This number has shown a healthy increase every year since the bottom of the recession in 2011. Over those 5 years, the total increase in annual residential construction in the Flathead Valley was over 200%.

From the standpoint of residential sales, 2015 was the best year for home sales since 2006, and 2016 maintained that same level. Since 2011, the median home price has experienced a healthy annual increase totaling over 26%! In that same time period, the number of homes on the market has steadily decreased. Comparing total sales from 2016 with homes currently on the market, there is only a six month inventory throughout the Valley! (In Columbia Falls, there is only a 1 month inventory!)

So, here is an important message for all our clients who may be considering putting your home on the market…there’s rarely been a better time!! If priced right, these statistics say you won’t have much competition so; your home should sell readily. Call your RE/MAX Rocky Mountain real estate professional for a review and market analysis of your property.

From a potential buyer’s standpoint, here are some helpful statistics: Nationally, we just completed 34 years of consistent interest rate declines. That is obviously not going to continue.

In 2016, the overall average 30-year mortgage interest was 3.7%. Currently the 30-year rate is 4.1%. Still, that remains very near record lows. As you are aware, the Federal Reserve recently increased the Fed Funds rate a quarter of a percent. There may be two or three similar rate increases in the coming twelve months. Even at that, the mortgage rates will still be near historically record lows. Given these statistics, if you are considering a real estate purchase, there is ample reason to lock in your mortgage rate as soon as possible.

In summary, we have an extremely healthy market for anyone thinking about selling their home and plenty of motivation to not wait if you are considering a purchase. We at RE/MAX Rocky Mountain Real Estate would consider it a privilege to assist you with any of your real estate needs. We have offices in both Whitefish and Columbia Falls and have been serving our real estate clients in all the Flathead Valley sub-markets for over 20 years.

City moves ahead with highway 93 south corridor plan

BY HEIDI DESCH, WHITEFISH PILOT JAN 25, 2017

The city of Whitefish is finally moving forward on a long discussed corridor plan for Highway 93 South.

In December City Council requested city planning staff create a scope of work and a timeline for initiating a corridor plan for the area. Last week Council gave its OK to a proposal that sets the kick-off this spring for work on the corridor plan.

The city’s 2007 growth policy identified the area as in need of a corridor plan, but plans for Highway 93 West and Wisconsin Avenue were considered greater priorities by the City Council, mostly due to issues with the doughnut dispute.

A Montana Supreme Court ruling in 2014 ceded planning control of the doughnut from the city to the Flathead County following a long-running legal battle over its control.

Mayor John Muhlfeld addressed appearances that the city is rushing into the corridor plan.

READ MORE….

SNOW REPORT

Check the snow conditions at Whitefish Mountain Resort by clicking here.

LESSONS

Learn to ski or snowboard. Click here for information about lessons and ticket packages.

NIGHT SKIING

Night owls can enjoy some great skiing during our night sessions. Click here for info.

LIFT TICKETS – PURCHASE ON-LINE

Purchase tickets in advance.

You can always call for information too.

877-SKI-FISH

or visit their website:

www.skiwhitefish.com

Forest project set to begin this summer in Haskill Basin

By HEIDI DESCH, WHITEFISH PILOT JAN 24, 2017

PHOTO BY STEVEN GNAM

Widespread prescribed burns and some timber harvesting are planned for the mountains above Haskill Basin.

The project known as the Whitefish Municipal Watershed Fuel Reduction project is an effort to prevent a devastating wildfire that could be destructive to the city’s water supply from Second and Third creeks. The project is also aimed at addressing disease concerns in the forest, including root disease, bark beetles, and mortality in white bark pine.

Flathead Forest Supervisor Chip Weber last week issued a decision notice and Finding of No Significant Impact for the project following an environmental assessment. The project, which includes 1,114 acres of forestland, is expected to be implemented in the summer of 2017.

Project leader Deb Bond said the goal is to implement a variety of fuel reduction treatments on the area.

“The purpose is that by treating the forest we hope we can reduce the chance of wildfire in the future,” Bond said.

Several types of silvicultural treatments are planned on 254 acres. Commercial thinning is planned on 58 acres and seed tree harvests is proposed on 196 acres. About 859 acres within the project area are set to have fuel treatments by either prescribed burning of 756 acres or understory removal on 103 acres.

The prescribed burns are set along the south face of the Whitefish Range above Haskill Basin. Most of the terrain is high-elevation and steep with limited access.

Timber harvest is planned mostly on the lower flanks of the range that are accessible by established roads and temporary road extensions.

READ MORE…