I recently pulled up the website for one of my go-to Montana Micro Breweries and the first thing that caught my eye was the slogan "We Make Water Fun".  I love it!  I enjoy a tasty libation when the moment presents itself, whether that is while floating one of our world famous rivers, listening to Music On Main in Bozeman, or atop a mountain peak before undertaking the trek back down. Among famous waters, great hiking, epic skiing, legendary hunting and fishing that bucket lists are created around, Montana has some phenomenal micro-brewed beers.  Here are a few of my favorites:   Moose Drool - Big Sky Brewery, Missoula, MT - chocolate brown in color, with a creamy texture and just enough hop to keep it from being too sweet, Moose Drool is my favorite beer, period.  There is a reason it ... 08/11/2011

Are you contemplating buying a home?  Now is the time to buy!   Market conditions provide significant buying opportunity. With interest rates at historic lows, it makes your payment affordable enough to consider early payoff.  What a fantatic opportunity to invest in yourself and your future!  With our market correction there are unbelievable opportunities to locate your perfect home,  secure an amazing rate, and make your dreams come true!  Contact us today at Bozeman Montana Real Estate and let us show you the way to a new home!  08/11/2011

I had a breakfast meeting earlier this week and my client requested we eat at the Cateye Cafe in downtown Bozeman.  I had been to the Cateye for lunch but never breakfast, the menu is great so I was looking forward to a hearty meal. On a recommendation from my co-listing agent, I ordered a breakfast item I normally would not have and it is hands down the best freakin' breakfast I ever had. If you are ever in Bozeman, MT, go to the Cateye and have Banana Bread French Toast.....it is epic.  They take two pieces of banana bread, prepare them French toast style, drizzle what I think was a huckleberry cream sauce on it with a dollop of whipped cream, add a touch of maple syrup and prepare to skip lunch.  Seriously, I had to stop conversation to comment on the stuff.....it was that good. 08/10/2011

After residents complained that a proposed cellphone tower would block mountain views and hurt property values, Verizon Wireless has offered to camouflage the tower to look like a pine tree. “It’s now been modified to a shorter station that will be what we call a stealth site,” Verizon spokesman Bob Kelley said Tuesday. “It’s an attempt to make the site less noticeable.” An illustration provided by Verizon Wireless to the city of Bozeman showing what a cellphone tower in northeast Bozeman near Bridger Canyon might look like camouflaged as a pine tree. Verizon applied to the city of Bozeman in May to build a wireless-communications tower at 705 Bridger Drive — on the north side of the road next to Zig’s Electric & Plumbing as you’re leaving town and heading toward the Bridger Mountains. ... 08/10/2011

Closed for two years, the vacant Imperial Inn might be resurrected as a rustic, mountain-style commercial space containing a restaurant, retail stores and offices. West Main Holdings, a local family partnership, submitted an application to the city of Bozeman last week to remodel the 13,000-square-foot motel. “Keeping it a hotel didn’t make sense financially, and none of us has experience in hospitality,” said Eric Sutherland, one of four partners in the company. The inn was shuttered in fall 2009, days before a bank auctioned off the prominent property, at the southeast corner of Main Street and Grand Avenue, to a Florida-based finance company in a foreclosure sale. Sutherland said the partnership plans to revitalize the rundown, two-story motel with a “modern, mountain-rustic” look a... 08/09/2011

SLAM fest attendees look over some of the sculptures at the Billis Fine Art space at Bogert Park on Sunday. While the first weekend of August may be known to many around these parts as "Sweet Pea Weekend," this weekend also included a new, free arts festival, the inaugural SLAM Festival at Bogert Park. And despite what the name might imply to some, organizers of the event said they aren't trying to compete with the established Sweet Pea gathering, but rather complement it. "Our focus is positive," said SLAM co-founder Callie Miller. "We want people to enjoy everything that goes on this weekend. This is a big weekend for visitors, and we wanted to give artists the most exposure they can get." SLAM, an acronym for Support Local Artists and Musicians, is a newly formed non-profit group tha... 08/08/2011

Sitka Gear, a manufacturer of hunting and archery clothing and backpacks, announced Friday that it will move its headquarters from Napa, Calif., to Bozeman. The company plans to be operating out of the Gallatin Valley by April 2012, according to a news release. “We believe being in Bozeman will enable us to continue building our team of authentic hunters and outdoorsmen," Kevin Sloan, Sitka business leader, said in the release. “This move will also enable us to better test and develop game-changing gear, while thriving in Montana’s creative, outdoor culture.” Sloan said the company isn’t sure yet where it will locate in Bozeman. “We’re kind of down to two locations, but it will be in Bozeman,” he said. The company will employ about 12 people locally, Sloan said. According to Sitka’s we... 08/08/2011

The city of Bozeman, Bozeman Area Chamber of Commerce and Montana State University have teamed up to create a website they hope will make it easier for businesses to open or expand in the Gallatin Valley. Gallatin Business Resource Network, www.gbrn.org, was launched Monday, said Brit Fontenot, city economic development director. The website is intended to be a one-stop shop for entrepreneurs both here and far away to find information to help them start a business, grow an existing business or move their business here. “The idea was that we knew that there were a lot of business resources out there locally, but there was no one place you could go to find out about them,” Fontenot said Wednesday. The new website lists about 50 or 60 different resources such as the nonprofit SCORE, Servi... 08/04/2011

James Tex, left, and Asa Jackson, employees with Tryon General Electric, install lights in a dorm room in Langford Hall on the campus of Montana State University on Aug. 1, 2011. For years grandparents visiting Montana State University’s Langford and Hapner Hall dormitories have noted with astonishment that nothing seemed to have changed since they were students. Dorm rooms looked the same and even smelled the same, said Tammie Brown, MSU housing director. Finally this summer, the two dorms are getting their first major facelifts in 51 years. Together with upgrades to the Miller and Harrison dining halls, it means nearly $3 million worth of renovations will make living and eating on campus more attractive. Other construction projects on campus may be bigger, like the $10 million footbal... 08/03/2011

NICK WOLCOTT/CHRONICLE Ian Aadland, 9, draws a lion on Main Street's sidewalk Tuesday morning during Chalk on the Walk, an annual Sweet Pea activity. Chalk covered hands, clothes and Main Street’s sidewalks by the end of the day Tuesday – the colorful aftermath of the Sweet Pea Festival’s 22nd Chalk on the Walk. People young and old spent the sunny morning hunkered down with their chalk boxes from Grand to Broadway avenues. The idea is to paint the town – literally. What better way to celebrate art than by making art out of the city itself? For nearly a quarter century, Chalk on the Walk has been a Bozeman tradition. Some parents take the morning off – just like they have since they were kids. Continuing the family affair, they now bring their own children. William Young, 4, staked out ... 08/03/2011

With an anticipated late-September opening, Kohl’s department store is seeking to fill 130 jobs in Bozeman – and soon. The company will be holding a five-day job fair at the Hilton Garden Inn on Sunday through Thursday. During that time, Kohl’s representatives will interview candidates for positions ranging from retail sales and merchandising to security and stocking, according to the store’s website. The positions, all listed as part-time, appear to include benefits, but Kohl’s would not divulge wage ranges. “Kohl’s offers competitive compensation, great benefits, an employee stock ownership plan and immediate merchandise discounts,” Kohl’s spokeswoman Julia Fennelly wrote in an email. And though Gallatin County unemployment is below state and national averages, it is still at 7 percen... 08/03/2011

New Gallatin Field Terminal Dedicated Standing in the new $40 million expansion of Gallatin Field Airport’s terminal, Kathi Coyle loved what she saw. “It’s beautiful,” said Coyle, a Bozeman caterer, as her college-bound daughter repacked an over-stuffed suitcase for a flight to New York City. “I think it’s marvelous. It so suits Bozeman. I love it,” Coyle said. “When you go to O’Hare or LaGuardia or Denver, there’s nothing beautiful to look at.” After two years of construction at what officials called “Montana’s fastest growing airport,” the terminal has now doubled in size, big enough to handle up to 1.5 million people a year, twice the 750,000 passengers who now arrive and depart. The terminal expansion kept the rustic ski-lodge look of the original, repeating the use of Gallatin Cany... 08/03/2011

The Gallatin RiverThe Gallatin River is located just west of Bozeman and is known for its abundance of fish and its unbelievable scenery.  Starting about 70 miles south of Bozeman and flowing North following U.S. Highway 191 most of its length, the Gallatin has easy access and is a great choice for wade fishing all year long.07/29/2011 The Gallatin River continues to drop nicely and fish better and better each day. The river still has some color in it and is still a bit high so you must be careful where you wade. Up above the Taylor's Fork, it is much clearer and a little more manageable. There have been good hatches of caddis and yellow sallies which have pretty much dominated the fishing lately. Fishing a big dry with a dropper of some sort close to the banks has been your best bet. ... 08/01/2011

Information is everything. If sellers know what buyers are looking for—sellers can deliver by providing just these things!  1.     Green- The high expense associate with the trend of going green has kept many buyers from fronting the money to purchase renovated green homes. Recent indications are showing Americans are deciding it is worth it. “Expenditures on energy-efficient home improvements, which have been essentially flat over the last few years, will see a period of strong growth through 2014, reaching $50.2 billion in that year.” Energy Efficient Homes. Motivation is up to buy environmentally responsible homes.     2.     Double Duty Rooms-Buyers are looking to smaller houses meaning sellers must maximize every inch! Basement/workroom, bedroom/office, or any other combination app... 07/28/2011

Here in Bozeman, Montana, the Rockin’ R Bar has long been a customary haunt for present college students and graduates from many years past.  A wonderful mix of ages and personalities create a vivid and entertaining crowd. More than 2 years ago, a gas explosion in downtown Bozeman brought that, and our beautiful town, to a halt…. For awhile.  After Explosion:                       As a testament to the spirit here, and to the confidence in the business our small town drives to our downtown area, the owners decided to rebuild!  Last night was the grand re-opening, and what a turn out it was.  A waiting line to get in that even us old folks would stand in, a fabulous alley band, and standing room only.   Rebuilt:                                                                      Grand R... 07/27/2011

 The 2011 National Housing Pulse Survey is out and solidly proves that home ownership is still an American goal. 72% of the renters they surveyed this year indicated that owning a home was a top priority for stability and safety reasons. While the concern over the looming mortgage changes may hinder their ability to purchase by requiring 20% down, two thirds of those surveyed thought now was a good time to act on those goals.   With these numbers in mind, and interest rates being at the lowest levels since 1964 according to the U.S. Census table, now could be the least expensive time we have known in our lifetimes to purchase a home. According to both the National Home Builders Association and the National Association of Realtors the percentage of households earning the national median ... 07/26/2011

Considering buying horse property in or around Bozeman Montana? This is a great place to start a ranch or continue an existing one. There are many choices when it comes to horse or equestrian property in Bozeman. But "Horse Property" Can mean many things to different people and to properly find what you want you need to map out what you need. Are you looking for a working ranch ready to go with horses included and all the fixings that go along with that? If you are in the market for a working farm with all the tack and equipment necessary to pick right up and keep going there are some of these available but this would be on the high end of options and it starts to go down in price and options from there. There are homes on ranches with all the outbuildings necessary to move your existin... 07/25/2011

Located in Gallatin County just west of Bozeman is the cozy community of Four Corners Montana. Home to about 2,000 people, Four Corners is approximately 11 square miles and stretches out into farm land around the Gallatin River. There are many wonderful homes for sale in Four Corners and depending on what you're looking for you can enjoy a small home near the river, a larger parcel of land in town or several acres just outside of the city center. Whatever you are looking for I would love to show you around this beautiful, sleepy town. With easy access on Hwy 191 right into Bozeman you can live outside the bustle but still be within minutes to major shopping and dining in Bozeman. There are several stores in Four Corners for grocery and the Mountain Arts Coffee Pot is a great place to se... 07/25/2011

07/22/2011

Many people call me to inquire about bank owned properties.  Their belief is that a bank owned property (or maybe a short sale) is the best deal.  In many cases, this is true.  But this article, which will be part of a series, will help to better educated you on distressed properties.  To me, a distressed property is any property that is selling below current market value (many times significantly below market) due to a number of factors.  Distressed properties may include bank-owned foreclosures,  short sales  or a traditional listing (meaning no third party, such as a bank, yet involved) with an extremely motivated seller.  Seller motivation may include trying to compete with the bank owned and short sales, wanting to sell quickly to purchase another property or contending with the ea... 07/22/2011