Home Storage

Make efficient use of the space you have within your home. Closets are getting creative with space maximizing techniques that range from simple closet organizers and storage rods to vacuum shrinking bulky clothing for the out of season apparel that takes up so much of the space. If the easy things are done to make the most of the current storage spaces your home offers, think of the ways to expand! Kitchens may just not fit all dishes, food, and appliances. Take another look at your cabinets to see if there are open spaces within them that can store more! If inserting a new shelf does not mend your spatial needs, look for complementary self-installing cabinets that can open the kitchen space up a little more.

Moving Material

Move stuff in. Move stuff around. Move stuff out: three easy tips to make your space more functional and freshen it up. Buy yourself a new coffee table that is hollow inside to add a new feature piece to your room and hide the undesirable clutter.  Move stuff around. Reorganize so that the highest used items are easiest to reach and see and the things that are only used for specialty occasions are more tucked away. If you have done everything you can to move things and your home is still over burdened with clutter, think about moving things OUT. Minimalist living differs for everyone, but it is minimalist living that keeps a space fresh, trendy, adaptable, and most of all—comfortable. 

As a Montana Resident, a special savings account is available for the purchase of your first home. You can save on Montana income taxes due to this First-time Home Buyer Act. The first-time home buyer savings account can be established at a state or federally chartered bank, saving/loan, credit union, trust company, mutual fund company, or with any brokerage firm. The options are very open. Commonly asked questions and answers regarding the accounts and affiliated tax benefits are seen here.

------------------What are some of the requirements of the new law?

The first-time home buyer savings account must be opened after December 31st, 1997. Unfortunately if you bought your first home prior to January 1st 1998 you do not qualify.  Your home must be established prior to the purchase of your home and the money in the account must be used for eligible home buyer expenses.

----------------------------------How much will I save on state income taxes?

Simple answer: up to $3,000 for those filing singly and up to $6,000 for joint filers. It is based on your adjusted gross income and therefore is dependent upon your individual tax bracket.

------What is the minimum/maximum time period a first-time home buyer savings account must be in existence before I can use it?

The first-time home buyer savings account must be established prior to the
purchase of a qualifying home, and as long as the account is opened prior to the closing papers being signed, you are qualified for the Montana state income tax reduction.

On the other end of the spectrum, the account must be used 10 years from the date the account was established.

----------Are there any forms that have to be filed with the Department of Revenue when I file my Montana income tax returns?

Spring is just around the corner! Biking is one of the most popular ways of celebrating the warmer weather (although I have seen some bikes out there no matter the temperature or amount of snow…). So great news for all you bikers out there! The already comprehensive trail system throughout the city is looking to get upgraded. 

If getting out of Bozeman is your ideal form of escapism on a bike, Hyalite Canyon has trails for both road and mountain biking. Check out the Gallatin Valley Bicycle Club website at www.gallatinvalleybicycleclub.org for additional information.

According to the American Heart Association, 70% of people feel helpless in the event of a cardiac emergency. It is at home where 80% of cardiac arrests occur. These events oftentimes have no warning signs and can happen to anyone. The danger is real.

To confront these very real statistics, four saved lives here in the Gallatin Valley have joined forces to initiate the Gallatin Heart Rescue Project. A partnership between Bozeman Deaconess Cardiovascular Training Center, Absarokee Emergency Physicians, and all Gallatin County law enforcement/fire agencies has brought together the community in order to offer hands-only CPR classes open for all those interested in learning CPR. The first class is Monday, February 20^th at the Gallatin Valley Baptist Fellowship in Manhattan, MT.

Gallatin Heart Rescue Project’s goal is to educate 5,000 residents of the Gallatin Valley to ultimately increase the valley’s cardiac arrest survival rate.  

Source: http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/health/article_b8e03d76-5791-11e1-91af-001871e3ce6c.html

American houses most admired features:

Men: Master bathrooms top this category for men. The next three places are neck in neck with 55% of men wanting walk-in closets, 51% wanting a gourmet kitchen, and another 51 % wanting an outdoor deck.  The stereotype is broken with only 42% of men wanting pre-wired entertainment throughout the house. On the other hand….

Women: 75% of women want master bathrooms with a close second of 72% wanting walk-in closets. 62% want a gourmet kitchen and the statistics fall from there. Only 28% want pre-wiring for home theaters and surround sound systems.

As a home owner, your listing may not have all these highly sought for amenities; you can highlight your listing’s features knowing that these are the assets buyers are looking for. For example, if three rooms share a single bathroom, make it luxurious enough to feel like a master. Clear away storage spaces to show off the ample space there is that can serve the role of a walk in. Work with what you have, but in order to make men and women fall in love, know what they are looking for! 

Sources: http://pro.truliablog.com/grow-business/5-ways-to-make-buyers-fall-in-love-with-your-listing/?ecampaign=anews&eurl=pro.truliablog.com%2Fgrow-business%2F5-ways-to-make-buyers-fall-in-love-with-your-listing

A traditional and extremely popular Montana choice, wood is one of the primary standbys for homeowners when they decide how to side their home. Varieties include clapboard, rectangular planks, plywood, shingles/shakes, solid wood, and hardboard. Each has its own specific look and feel to it to render a unique style to a home. Notable benefits of wood siding consist of an aesthetically pleasing visual appearance that may increase the overall value of a home. The varieties of wood listed above in addition to the versatility of paint/stain colors allow for wood to be adaptable to any environment. The maintenance often deters homeowners. Repainting/resealing must be done ever few years. If not, wood may rot, be colonized by termites, or blister under the sun which leads to peeling, cracking, and fading.

A nontraditional durable, affordable (in the long term), and low maintenance siding option, steel is bridging the market of commercial building into residential. Exposure to elements can still lead to rusting, but as with each of these options, staying on top of the upkeep with easily prevents this. Wind-proof, hail-proof, and severe weather-proof, steel is a great alternative for us here in Bozeman, Montana.  One of the great accolades affiliated with steel is the ease of cleaning to restore it to its top condition. All the owner has to do is spray down the siding and DONE!

Vinyl is the most common housing siding in the United States. It is famous for its supreme low maintenance, durability, and relatively low cost. No paint is required, and very little cleaning is associated with vinyl. Similar to steel/metal siding, all a homeowner needs is a hose to keep their home in tip-top condition. VSi-certified vinyl retains its color and can be cut/placed in a wide variety of options to maximize customization. Contemporary or vintage visages can be obtained through proper manipulation of the styles.

Hardie Boards are the standout in the concrete category with their extreme resiliance to exterior wear and tear, long standing reputation for having a long life, and its adaptibility of appearance. In this same concrete category, there is also perhaps the most nontraditional option making waves in the siding debate is the concrete options, specifically concrete logs. This siding gives homeowners the feel and look of a traditional wood/log home without ever needing to worry about fires, insects, mold, extremely low maintenance, and operating cost within the home are greatly reduced (heat, ac, ect). This option is ideal of Montana to fend off fires and heavy snow damage, for Mid US against tornadoes, Eastern US against hurricanes and around the world for maximum protection against natural elements.

The debate comes down to a personal homeowner’s aspirations for their home. Personality exists in each option, you just need to find the one that fits you (and your budget) accordingly.   

Sources: http://www.thectrealtyblog.com/journal/2011/12/18/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-clapboard-siding-for-your-ct.html, http://www.abcseamless.com/index.php/media/article/benefits_of_steel_siding_in_selling_real_estate, http://homeguides.sfgate.com/advantages-vinyl-exterior-house-8693.html, http://everlogs.com/benefits_siding.php

Active Foreclosures in Bozeman,
                                        Belgrade,
                                            Manhattan,
                                                Three Forks, &
                                                    Big Sky!

            Week of February 10, 2012

The following links are for the current FORECLOSED HOMES in the Gallatin Valley.  They are usually priced well and most do not stay on the market for long.  Take a look, find your favorite, then call to schedule your appointment to see them!

Bozeman Montana Foreclosures

Belgrade Montana Foreclosures

Manhattan Montana Foreclosures

Three Forks Montana Foreclosures

Big Sky Montana Foreclosures

These links are the SHORT SALE homes that are available presently.  If you do not know the details for purchasing a short sale home, please email, call or text and we can explain those for you!  We would love to be your guide in finding a great home at an outstanding price.

Bozeman Short Sale Homes

Belgrade Short Sale Homes

Three Forks Short Sale Homes

Big Sky Short Sale Homes

Bozeman gets to boast one more accolade. As dubbed by National Geographic, Bozeman Montana is one of the top 25 Ski Towns in the WORLD!

“Just what makes a classic ski town? It starts, naturally, with skiing and snowboarding so good they attract people like youth-bestowing fountains. Then add an inviting mountain burg steeped in ski heritage, amenities, and culture. These are the 25 best. For insider tips, we asked local luminaries where to stay, play, and party, whether you're on a budget or indulging.” —Aaron Teasdale

The article portrays Bozeman as “an old Montana university town of cowboys and ski bums, pickups and unleashed dogs, and two of the premier ski hills in America.” I cannot find much wrong in that interpretation. We are a place where fine dining meets blue jeans attire, a place where fresh snow means depleted classroom attendance for all the students hitting the slopes, and a place I can HOME.  

Two of our three ski resorts are praised. World class Bridger Bowl, Big Sky, and (I will throw in) Moonlight Basin are all within an hour’s drive from Bozeman.

To Read More about Bozeman’s Skiing Opportunities: http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/trips/best-ski-towns-photos/#/bozeman-montana-ski_47301_600x450.jpg 

Year-Round Fun!

Coming to Gallatin County Fairgrounds is a 35,000 sqft, $4.5 million indoor ice arena to be used all year long. Valley Ice Garden, the only other indoor rink in the area, closed its door in 2006 and ever since volunteers have been raising money to construct the rink. Hockey, figure, and public staking are all on the rise, but when the idea came about, “It wasn’t ‘if you build it, they will come,’ Pertzborn, member of the Bozeman Amateur Hockey Association, said. “They were already here. But everybody adapted and the programs continued to grow. The [current Haynes Pavilion] enclosure worked better than we expected. Now we’re maxed out.” But the lack of a year-round place to practice greatly reduced opportunity. Since 2006, memberships in local clubs have reduced dramatically.

“The new arena will house a regulation rink and 1,000 seats with capacity for 1,600 spectators.”

We cannot wait to see it open. Good work Bozeman Community. 

Source: http://www.rinktime.com/skating_rinks/mt/haynes_pavilion_skating_rink_arena_bozeman_mt.cfm

State of Distressed Properties in 2012

Predictions are always hard to make and distressed sales are no different. Factors like home values, employment, and consumer confidence will all be determinants of the rising or falling housing market. That is the only thing that is certain.

“Foreclosures aren’t going away right now,” says Andy Firoved, CEO of CounselorDirect, a technology company that specializes in automating processes for various government foreclosure-prevention programs. “We’re going to have a certain level. The question is, how many?” 

These are the predictions made by Firoved:

#1-Government home ownership assistance programs will get more effective.

The goal of helping home owners has hit every road block from job losses to overly bureaucratic processes. In contrast, newer initiatives such as the “Hardest Hit” mortgage assistance programs and the revamped Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP), will be able to dig in more due to the plans of better promotions and administration.

“The word is getting out, and people are starting to get assistance,” Fivored says. “These programs are starting to find higher-level efficiencies as well.”

#2-The amount of evictions will stay the same or go down.

Banks are hesitant to push foreclosures and in turn evictions due to the robo-signing issue which still has not been settled. Evictions are labor-intensive, painstakingly tedious legally, and banks just don’t have the resources to evict all their borrowers.  “The problem is that there are a lot of people out there who haven’t paid their mortgage in a while, and they have gotten used to it,” he says. Although “the party’s got to stop at some point,” Fivored is guessing it’ll keep going, for the most part, through 2012.

#3-Banks will get creative with REOs and delinquent home owners.

Special deals are on the horizon. Leasing foreclosed and bank owned home to former owners or allowing foreclosed-on and delinquent borrowers to continue living in homes without making payments for a short term are the type of scenarios on the table because banks want properties to be maintained in order to hold their resale value high.

What are the predictions you see in your area for this year!?

Please share and comment.

Source: http://realtormag.realtor.org/daily-news/2012/01/05/3-predictions-for-distressed-properties-in-2012