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Jessica Bubar’s Whitefish Real Estate May Newsletter

by

Jessica Bubar

 

Jessica owns and manages Integrity Property Management. If you are in need property management for your residential or commercial property, call Jessica today! For a list of available residential and commercial properties to rent or lease in the Kalispell area, follow this link: www.integrityrentalsmt.com or call 406.890.1531.

Greg Lindstrom Flathead Beacon photo

Uncovering The Sun

By Dillon Tabish // April 2017 // Outdoors Flathead Beacon

They dodge tumbling boulders and surging avalanches. Hunkered inside high-powered heavy equipment, they navigate a narrow, often invisible path that ascends into the sky, twisting and turning up the mountainside along jagged cliffs and over a minefield of unstable surfaces. They sculpt walls of winter in the cradle of ancient glaciers, cutting through 30- to 50-foot drifts and chewing up 4,000 tons — 8 million pounds — of snow per hour, 100,000 cubic yards per spring.

These high-pressure operations are part of the Glacier National Park Road Crew’s age-old mission prepping the iconic Going-to-the-Sun Road for tourist season, a spring rite that plays a pivotal role in the park and surrounding region.

Starting April 1 and usually spanning 10 weeks each year, the 20-person crew braves this 50-mile highway, one of the most treacherous thoroughfares on the continent and the primary path into Glacier.

Click here to read the whole article…

815 Lodgepole Drive, Marion

815 Lodgepole Drive, Marion, MT 59925
PRICE REDUCED! $309,000

MLS #21604343

Most adorable, well-loved ”cottage-like” cabin on 100′ of Bitterroot Lake. Lovingly referred to as ”Little Green”, this two-bedroom, plus extra bunk room cabin has beautiful views, mature trees and a level beachfront. Remodeled bathroom, covered/screened porch, large deck, fire-pit and storage shed all in a relaxing, quiet setting. Start creating your family memories now! For more photos and information, click here…
https://youtube.com/watch?v=8oHuad_8o9I

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

residential sales volume 2017Each 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.

where are the plows

26990654581_e2dac629fc_z

Nikki Marengo’s Whitefish Real Estate May Newsletter

by

nikki-marengo-rocky-mountain-real-estate

 

Let Nikki help you with the next adventure in your life, whether it’s finding a home on the golf course or selling your cabin in the woods. Contact Nikki today at 406.212.8507.

Greg Lindstrom Flathead Beacon photo

Uncovering The Sun

By Dillon Tabish // April 2017 // Outdoors Flathead Beacon

They dodge tumbling boulders and surging avalanches. Hunkered inside high-powered heavy equipment, they navigate a narrow, often invisible path that ascends into the sky, twisting and turning up the mountainside along jagged cliffs and over a minefield of unstable surfaces. They sculpt walls of winter in the cradle of ancient glaciers, cutting through 30- to 50-foot drifts and chewing up 4,000 tons — 8 million pounds — of snow per hour, 100,000 cubic yards per spring.

These high-pressure operations are part of the Glacier National Park Road Crew’s age-old mission prepping the iconic Going-to-the-Sun Road for tourist season, a spring rite that plays a pivotal role in the park and surrounding region.

Starting April 1 and usually spanning 10 weeks each year, the 20-person crew braves this 50-mile highway, one of the most treacherous thoroughfares on the continent and the primary path into Glacier.

Click here to read the whole article…

Beautiful custom home

architecturally placed on the 10 acres to capture the views. Flowing open concept with many custom features including, solid hand scraped oak floors, concrete counter tops, exposed rustic beams, stone fireplace and custom handmade cedar railing and iron work. Four Bedrooms including two master suites and an option for a fifth bedroom or nice bonus room. Property is thoughtfully landscaped, with mountain views, a large fire pit, hen house, and paddock with shelter. Established fenced garden with automated irrigation system. Just a short drive from the conveniences of Kalispell and Bigfork, in a beautiful rural setting. Kalispell address in Bigfork School District. Contact Nikki Marengo at 406.212.8507 or your professional real estate agent as this is not a drive by! For more photos and information, click here…

https://youtube.com/watch?v=8oHuad_8o9I

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

residential sales volume 2017Each 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.

where are the plows

26990654581_e2dac629fc_z

Greg Carter’s Whitefish Real Estate May Newsletter

by

Greg Carter

“After 25 years in the real estate brokerage and development business across the southwestern United States, I chose Montana’s Flathead Valley as an ideal place for my family. It’s proven to be on one of the country’s most dynamic areas with great growth potential over the next 10 years.” Contact Greg today at 406.250.9000.

Greg Lindstrom Flathead Beacon photo

Uncovering The Sun

By Dillon Tabish // April 2017 // Outdoors Flathead Beacon

They dodge tumbling boulders and surging avalanches. Hunkered inside high-powered heavy equipment, they navigate a narrow, often invisible path that ascends into the sky, twisting and turning up the mountainside along jagged cliffs and over a minefield of unstable surfaces. They sculpt walls of winter in the cradle of ancient glaciers, cutting through 30- to 50-foot drifts and chewing up 4,000 tons — 8 million pounds — of snow per hour, 100,000 cubic yards per spring.

These high-pressure operations are part of the Glacier National Park Road Crew’s age-old mission prepping the iconic Going-to-the-Sun Road for tourist season, a spring rite that plays a pivotal role in the park and surrounding region.

Starting April 1 and usually spanning 10 weeks each year, the 20-person crew braves this 50-mile highway, one of the most treacherous thoroughfares on the continent and the primary path into Glacier.

Click here to read the whole article…

815 Lodgepole Drive, Marion

815 Lodgepole Drive, Marion, MT 59925
PRICE REDUCED! $309,000

MLS #21604343

Most adorable, well-loved ”cottage-like” cabin on 100′ of Bitterroot Lake. Lovingly referred to as ”Little Green”, this two-bedroom, plus extra bunk room cabin has beautiful views, mature trees and a level beachfront. Remodeled bathroom, covered/screened porch, large deck, fire-pit and storage shed all in a relaxing, quiet setting. Start creating your family memories now! For more photos and information, click here…
https://youtube.com/watch?v=8oHuad_8o9I

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

residential sales volume 2017Each 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.

where are the plows

26990654581_e2dac629fc_z

Kerrie Cardon’s Whitefish Real Estate May Newsletter

by

Kerrie Cardon

 

 

Kerrie became a Realtor as a way to leverage her passion into helping you achieve your Montana dream. Call Kerrie today to begin your own amazing journey! Call Kerrie today at 406.270.2614.

Greg Lindstrom Flathead Beacon photo

Uncovering The Sun

By Dillon Tabish // April 2017 // Outdoors Flathead Beacon

They dodge tumbling boulders and surging avalanches. Hunkered inside high-powered heavy equipment, they navigate a narrow, often invisible path that ascends into the sky, twisting and turning up the mountainside along jagged cliffs and over a minefield of unstable surfaces. They sculpt walls of winter in the cradle of ancient glaciers, cutting through 30- to 50-foot drifts and chewing up 4,000 tons — 8 million pounds — of snow per hour, 100,000 cubic yards per spring.

These high-pressure operations are part of the Glacier National Park Road Crew’s age-old mission prepping the iconic Going-to-the-Sun Road for tourist season, a spring rite that plays a pivotal role in the park and surrounding region.

Starting April 1 and usually spanning 10 weeks each year, the 20-person crew braves this 50-mile highway, one of the most treacherous thoroughfares on the continent and the primary path into Glacier.

Click here to read the whole article…

848 St. Andrews Drive Unit #1312, Columbia Falls, MT 59912
MLS #21701158 Offered at $218,000

Enjoy golf course living at Meadow Lake Resort with this fully furnished and move-in ready 2 bedroom / 2 bathroom ground level condo in scenic Northwest Montana. A putting green and swimming pool with spa are right out your back door. A lockout feature and private entrance on the second bedroom enables you to live in the main condo and rent out the second bedroom for additional income. Or purchase this condo as an investment property as nightly / weekly rentals are allowed. It’s a short 25 minute drive to Glacier National Park and 20 minutes to downhill skiing and summer activities at Whitefish Mountain Resort. Call Kerrie Cardon at 406.270.2614 for a showing.

For more photos and information, click here…

https://youtube.com/watch?v=8oHuad_8o9I

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

residential sales volume 2017Each 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.

where are the plows

26990654581_e2dac629fc_z

Holly Carbo’s Whitefish Real Estate May Newsletter

by

Holly Carbo the natural choice

Holly is a person who doesn’t give up when faced with a challenge. Once she’s determined your individual real estate goals, she won’t quit until she’s achieved them. Contact Holly today at 406.249.7818.

Greg Lindstrom Flathead Beacon photo

Uncovering The Sun

By Dillon Tabish // April 2017 // Outdoors Flathead Beacon

They dodge tumbling boulders and surging avalanches. Hunkered inside high-powered heavy equipment, they navigate a narrow, often invisible path that ascends into the sky, twisting and turning up the mountainside along jagged cliffs and over a minefield of unstable surfaces. They sculpt walls of winter in the cradle of ancient glaciers, cutting through 30- to 50-foot drifts and chewing up 4,000 tons — 8 million pounds — of snow per hour, 100,000 cubic yards per spring.

These high-pressure operations are part of the Glacier National Park Road Crew’s age-old mission prepping the iconic Going-to-the-Sun Road for tourist season, a spring rite that plays a pivotal role in the park and surrounding region.

Starting April 1 and usually spanning 10 weeks each year, the 20-person crew braves this 50-mile highway, one of the most treacherous thoroughfares on the continent and the primary path into Glacier.

Click here to read the whole article…

815 Lodgepole Drive, Marion

815 Lodgepole Drive, Marion, MT 59925
PRICE REDUCED! $309,000

MLS #21604343

Most adorable, well-loved ”cottage-like” cabin on 100′ of Bitterroot Lake. Lovingly referred to as ”Little Green”, this two-bedroom, plus extra bunk room cabin has beautiful views, mature trees and a level beachfront. Remodeled bathroom, covered/screened porch, large deck, fire-pit and portable buildings all in a relaxing, quiet setting. Start creating your family memories now! For more photos and information, click here…
https://youtube.com/watch?v=8oHuad_8o9I

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

residential sales volume 2017Each 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.

where are the plows

26990654581_e2dac629fc_z

Jessica Bubar’s Whitefish Real Estate April Newsletter

by

Jessica Bubar

 

Jessica owns and manages Integrity Property Management. If you are in need property management for your residential or commercial property, call Jessica today! For a list of available residential and commercial properties to rent or lease in the Kalispell area, follow this link: www.integrityrentalsmt.com

victory-lane

Featured Property: Custom Home between Kalispell and Bigfork

1011 Victory Lane, Kalispell, MT 59901
MLS #21610785 Offered at $479,000

This stunning custom 4 bed/4 bath on 2.09 acres nestled between Kalispell and Bigfork. The 3433 sq/ft home offers a master on the main level as well as bonus room and an additional bedroom and bath above the garage. The large double garage is heated and has lots of rooms for additional equipment. Hopper windows open and remove easy to make cleaning a breeze, and you can the rooms clean using a PRESSURE WASHING AMERICA, LLC company which works since 2005. This fanatic property also comes with underground fencing system, fire pit, and amazing views of the Swan and Whitefish mountain ranges.

More info and more photos…click here.

What Are Restrictive Covenants?

Read These Rules Before You Buy

BY CATHIE ERICSON for Realtor.com

If you’re looking to buy a home in a community run by a homeowners association, or HOA, then you may have also heard that in order to join the club, you’ll have to abide by its restrictive covenants. So what are restrictive covenants?

Although this term may conjure up images of a satanic cult, “restrictive covenants”—also known as CC&Rs (for “covenants, conditions, and restrictions”)—aren’t as ominous as they sound.

Simply put, CC&Rs are just the rules you’ll have to follow if you live in that community. Unlike zoning regulations, which are government-imposed requirements on how land can be used, restrictive covenants are established by planned subdivisions to maintain the attractiveness and value of the property.

Odds are you’re all for rules that keep the real estate you’re buying in good shape! But some CC&Rs don’t always sit well with some residents and are seen as too, well, restrictive. It all depends on your perspective and how much freedom you want over your home—or protection from your neighbors exercising that same freedom in ways you might not like.

Common restrictive covenants

Restrictive covenants differ from community to community, but there are some you can expect to see:

  • Permissible colors for exterior house paint
  • Minimum property and landscaping standards
  • Types of fencing allowed
  • Types of window treatments allowed
  • Limitations on the type of security lights you can attach to the house
  • Controls on installing sporting equipment such as a basketball hoop in the driveway
  • Restrictions that limit vehicle storage or recreational vehicle parking
  • Curbs on property uses that generate noise or smells (e.g., raising livestock)
  • Rules on commercial or business uses of land reserved for residences

While it’s easy to focus on what these rules say you can’t do, try to turn the tables and see the upsides, too.

“A reasonable HOA is like heaven,” says Bruce Ailion, Realtor® and attorney for Re/Max Town and Country in Atlanta. Several years ago he represented a builder of family homes that were sold to investors; with no restrictive covenants in place, the community looked terrible two years later.

By contrast, a nearby community that had instituted an HOA to oversee lawn care and home exteriors was thriving.

“Those properties looked like new, and year after year the gap in price between the two communities has grown,” he says.

When to review your CC&Rs

After your offer to buy a home is accepted, you are legally entitled to receive and review the community’s CC&Rs over a certain numbers of days (typically between three and 10). Warning: Some CC&Rs can be hundreds of pages, but given these are the laws you’ll have to abide by, this is required reading that you skip at your own peril.

If you spot anything in the restrictive covenants you absolutely can’t live with, you can bring it up with the HOA board or just back out of your contract completely (and keep your deposit). It may seem extreme, but if this is the place you hope to call home, living with rules that seriously cramp your style may just not be worth the trouble.

Can you change restrictive covenants?

Restrictive covenants, however, aren’t set in stone. They can be contested and changed with a majority vote of the shareholders, aka neighbors in your development. This can work for or against you depending on where you stand. Ailion says he has seen neighborhoods tighten regulations by issuing fines for cars parked in the streets, bicycles left outside the garage, nonstandard mailboxes, and other potentially petty problems.

“Yes, restrictive covenants keep the appearance of the property up and can prevent eyesores such as wrecked cars, unkempt lawns, and oddball home colors,” Ailion says. But he admits there are times when CC&Rs can be so restrictive that they start infringing on the rights of their residents.

But even in that case, there are things you can do. In January 2016, for instance, when an HOA in Keizer, OR, wouldn’t allow a family to park their RV in their driveway—a necessity for their disabled child—the family fought back with a lawsuit, arguing that the Fair Housing Act requires HOAs to make “reasonable accommodations” for people with disabilities.

The bottom line: Restrictive covenants are meant to protect residents, but they can be changed if they’re out of line. Make sure to review them before you buy a home, and if you disagree, by all means speak up! Many others may be glad you did.

IN THE MOMENT

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

Halladay

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.

 

Kerrie Cardon’s Whitefish Real Estate April Newsletter

by

Kerrie Cardon

 

Kerrie became a Realtor as a way to leverage her passion into helping you achieve your Montana dream. Call Kerrie today to begin your own amazing journey! 406.27.2614.

Featured Property: Resort living on Whitefish Lake

MLS#21700865 Offered at $655,000

Enjoy resort living at its best in all seasons in this waterfront 2 bedroom / 2 bathroom condo at Whitefish Lake Lodge in the desirable resort community of Whitefish, Montana. Condo includes access to all of the Lodge at Whitefish Lake amenities; fine dining, casual dining, spa, pool and hot tub, marina, and Tiki bar & grill. Activities in Glacier National Park are only 30 minutes away. Whitefish Mountain Resort is just a short 10 minute drive.

More info and more photos…click here.

What Are Restrictive Covenants?

Read These Rules Before You Buy

BY CATHIE ERICSON for Realtor.com

If you’re looking to buy a home in a community run by a homeowners association, or HOA, then you may have also heard that in order to join the club, you’ll have to abide by its restrictive covenants. So what are restrictive covenants?

Although this term may conjure up images of a satanic cult, “restrictive covenants”—also known as CC&Rs (for “covenants, conditions, and restrictions”)—aren’t as ominous as they sound.

Simply put, CC&Rs are just the rules you’ll have to follow if you live in that community. Unlike zoning regulations, which are government-imposed requirements on how land can be used, restrictive covenants are established by planned subdivisions to maintain the attractiveness and value of the property.

Odds are you’re all for rules that keep the real estate you’re buying in good shape! But some CC&Rs don’t always sit well with some residents and are seen as too, well, restrictive. It all depends on your perspective and how much freedom you want over your home—or protection from your neighbors exercising that same freedom in ways you might not like.

Common restrictive covenants

Restrictive covenants differ from community to community, but there are some you can expect to see:

  • Permissible colors for exterior house paint
  • Minimum property and landscaping standards
  • Types of fencing allowed
  • Types of window treatments allowed
  • Limitations on the type of security lights you can attach to the house
  • Controls on installing sporting equipment such as a basketball hoop in the driveway
  • Restrictions that limit vehicle storage or recreational vehicle parking
  • Curbs on property uses that generate noise or smells (e.g., raising livestock)
  • Rules on commercial or business uses of land reserved for residences

While it’s easy to focus on what these rules say you can’t do, try to turn the tables and see the upsides, too.

“A reasonable HOA is like heaven,” says Bruce Ailion, Realtor® and attorney for Re/Max Town and Country in Atlanta. Several years ago he represented a builder of family homes that were sold to investors; with no restrictive covenants in place, the community looked terrible two years later.

By contrast, a nearby community that had instituted an HOA to oversee lawn care and home exteriors was thriving.

“Those properties looked like new, and year after year the gap in price between the two communities has grown,” he says.

When to review your CC&Rs

After your offer to buy a home is accepted, you are legally entitled to receive and review the community’s CC&Rs over a certain numbers of days (typically between three and 10). Warning: Some CC&Rs can be hundreds of pages, but given these are the laws you’ll have to abide by, this is required reading that you skip at your own peril.

If you spot anything in the restrictive covenants you absolutely can’t live with, you can bring it up with the HOA board or just back out of your contract completely (and keep your deposit). It may seem extreme, but if this is the place you hope to call home, living with rules that seriously cramp your style may just not be worth the trouble.

Can you change restrictive covenants?

Restrictive covenants, however, aren’t set in stone. They can be contested and changed with a majority vote of the shareholders, aka neighbors in your development. This can work for or against you depending on where you stand. Ailion says he has seen neighborhoods tighten regulations by issuing fines for cars parked in the streets, bicycles left outside the garage, nonstandard mailboxes, and other potentially petty problems.

“Yes, restrictive covenants keep the appearance of the property up and can prevent eyesores such as wrecked cars, unkempt lawns, and oddball home colors,” Ailion says. But he admits there are times when CC&Rs can be so restrictive that they start infringing on the rights of their residents.

But even in that case, there are things you can do. In January 2016, for instance, when an HOA in Keizer, OR, wouldn’t allow a family to park their RV in their driveway—a necessity for their disabled child—the family fought back with a lawsuit, arguing that the Fair Housing Act requires HOAs to make “reasonable accommodations” for people with disabilities.

The bottom line: Restrictive covenants are meant to protect residents, but they can be changed if they’re out of line. Make sure to review them before you buy a home, and if you disagree, by all means speak up! Many others may be glad you did.

IN THE MOMENT

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

Halladay

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, they are provided with a Pool Vacuum Hq to clean the pool” 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.

Holly Carbo’s Whitefish Real Estate April Newsletter

by

Holly Carbo the natural choice

Holly is a person who doesn’t give up when faced with a challenge. Once she’s determined your individual real estate goals, she won’t quit until she’s achieved them. Contact Holly today at 406.249.7818.

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This is an amazing opportunity to buy a vacant 1.044 acre pieces of property at the base of chair 2. Create a condominium complex, a time share dream, ski in ski out hotel, motel, private home or convention facility. Let us help you explore the possibilities. Impeccable views with recreation facilities out the back door. Listing agent is fractional owner.

More info and more photos…click here.

What Are Restrictive Covenants?

Read These Rules Before You Buy

BY CATHIE ERICSON for Realtor.com

If you’re looking to buy a home in a community run by a homeowners association, or HOA, then you may have also heard that in order to join the club, you’ll have to abide by its restrictive covenants. So what are restrictive covenants?

Although this term may conjure up images of a satanic cult, “restrictive covenants”—also known as CC&Rs (for “covenants, conditions, and restrictions”)—aren’t as ominous as they sound.

Simply put, CC&Rs are just the rules you’ll have to follow if you live in that community. Unlike zoning regulations, which are government-imposed requirements on how land can be used, restrictive covenants are established by planned subdivisions to maintain the attractiveness and value of the property.

Odds are you’re all for rules that keep the real estate you’re buying in good shape! But some CC&Rs don’t always sit well with some residents and are seen as too, well, restrictive. It all depends on your perspective and how much freedom you want over your home—or protection from your neighbors exercising that same freedom in ways you might not like.

Common restrictive covenants

Restrictive covenants differ from community to community, but there are some you can expect to see:

  • Permissible colors for exterior house paint
  • Minimum property and landscaping standards
  • Types of fencing allowed
  • Types of window treatments allowed
  • Limitations on the type of security lights you can attach to the house
  • Controls on installing sporting equipment such as a basketball hoop in the driveway
  • Restrictions that limit vehicle storage or recreational vehicle parking
  • Curbs on property uses that generate noise or smells (e.g., raising livestock)
  • Rules on commercial or business uses of land reserved for residences

While it’s easy to focus on what these rules say you can’t do, try to turn the tables and see the upsides, too.

“A reasonable HOA is like heaven,” says Bruce Ailion, Realtor® and attorney for Re/Max Town and Country in Atlanta. Several years ago he represented a builder of family homes that were sold to investors; with no restrictive covenants in place, the community looked terrible two years later.

By contrast, a nearby community that had instituted an HOA to oversee lawn care and home exteriors was thriving.

“Those properties looked like new, and year after year the gap in price between the two communities has grown,” he says.

When to review your CC&Rs

After your offer to buy a home is accepted, you are legally entitled to receive and review the community’s CC&Rs over a certain numbers of days (typically between three and 10). Warning: Some CC&Rs can be hundreds of pages, but given these are the laws you’ll have to abide by, this is required reading that you skip at your own peril.

If you spot anything in the restrictive covenants you absolutely can’t live with, you can bring it up with the HOA board or just back out of your contract completely (and keep your deposit). It may seem extreme, but if this is the place you hope to call home, living with rules that seriously cramp your style may just not be worth the trouble.

Can you change restrictive covenants?

Restrictive covenants, however, aren’t set in stone. They can be contested and changed with a majority vote of the shareholders, aka neighbors in your development. This can work for or against you depending on where you stand. Ailion says he has seen neighborhoods tighten regulations by issuing fines for cars parked in the streets, bicycles left outside the garage, nonstandard mailboxes, and other potentially petty problems.

“Yes, restrictive covenants keep the appearance of the property up and can prevent eyesores such as wrecked cars, unkempt lawns, and oddball home colors,” Ailion says. But he admits there are times when CC&Rs can be so restrictive that they start infringing on the rights of their residents.

But even in that case, there are things you can do. In January 2016, for instance, when an HOA in Keizer, OR, wouldn’t allow a family to park their RV in their driveway—a necessity for their disabled child—the family fought back with a lawsuit, arguing that the Fair Housing Act requires HOAs to make “reasonable accommodations” for people with disabilities.

The bottom line: Restrictive covenants are meant to protect residents, but they can be changed if they’re out of line. Make sure to review them before you buy a home, and if you disagree, by all means speak up! Many others may be glad you did.

IN THE MOMENT

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Halladay

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.

Rocky Mountain Real Estate