Often when you think you're at the end of something, you're at the beginning of something else.

--Fred Rogers

Dear Friends and Clients,



Fall is upon us. That means, the crowds are thinning out, the leaves are beginning to change and life is beautiful! I have always felt that Fall is a time for change. As you can see, I have made a change, too. You can now find me at Glacier Sotheby's International Realty in Bigfork. I am looking forward to welcoming you to my new "digs."


lf real estate is in your change plans, you'll be happy to know that the real estate market might just be inching forward. Experts think that with the job market robust but cooling off and inflation slowing down, the Federal Reserve is not likely to raise rates before year end (read article here). Let's hope that's a trend we can all look forward to, right?


My questions to you are....Are you ready to down size or up size? Is it time to build your dream home? Is it time to sell and move into town or buy or build in the woods? Our market is very strong. In fact, Kalispell is one of the 10 towns in Montana that is on the national radar for a great place to live! Our inventory is still tight and once a property goes on the market, it doesn't stay long! Below, you can find our real estate market at a glance over time, but to stay truly informed up to the minute, give me a text or call and let me know your needs and wants. Whatever your real estate goals, I can help. I'll listen to you, and together, we'll set expectations based on current market conditions. Remember, not every buyer is looking for a mortgage and many buyers are looking for a safe and stable place to put their money. This is a time for bold thinking.


I am known for walking all the way with my clients, giving them the benefit of my knowledge and experience and I never let them slip. Times may have changed but I have not. I will help you meet your needs and we'll have some fun, too! . We can and will do it--together. Call me, we'll make it happen. 

As ever, Denise

Activities Around the  Flathead
What's Happening in Bigfork

REAL ESTATE NUMBERS AROUND THE VALLEY...

When we look at new listings, homes on the market and median sales price, we see that our market becoming more like the "before times," leveling out. These stats, from the Montana MLS are tracking single family homes over $400,000 and 2500 square feet. The time frame is over one year from January of 2022 to August of 2023.

Is a cold winter facing us? Long before there were weather trackers, people looked to nature for early signs of a colder than normal winter. You can, too. Here are some nature signs to look for. Have fun predicting!



Size of the band on wooly worm caterpillars.

Larger than average spider webs. Squirrels gathering nuts early.

Ants marching in a line.

Heavy fog in August

Thick hairs on a cow's neck

Duck and geese migrating early.

Halo rings around the sun and moon.

Mice trying to get in the house.

LOCAL NEWS AROUND THE VALLEY

You've already been to Boston, New York and San Francisco. What about something new? Try one of these 8 great places---Missoula!

Montana is filled with wonderful places to eat. And according tothe New York Times Top 50, one of Big Sky Eateries made the list!

The Flathead Valley produces some great things, great fishing, beautiful vistas, a wonderful lifestyle and home grown authors.

A boon to the Flathead--approximately 2.9 million visitors to Glacier National Park spent an estimated $368 million in nearby communities.

NATIONAL REAL ESTATE NEWS

What states are the most stressful places to live? Here's a list of stressors and a ranking state by state. Montana--near the bottom!

Since prehistoric times, traditional healers used honey for a wide variety of medicinal purposes and it's making a comeback.

Downsizing. If you have decided to "right size," here’s a look at how to make the hard decisions and how to successfully start the process.

Multigenerational living affects real estate and home plans. How can you make the situation work for each generation in the home?

ACTIVE LISTINGS

Commercial Opportunity

7935 Montana Hwy 35, Bigfork

MLS #30004194 $2,595,000

Price Improvement

13518 Sylvan Drive, Bigfork

MLS #30012762/30012681 $3,988,000

Price Improvement

137 Sunrise Terrace, Bigfork

MLS #30008168 $634,750

Price Improvement

189 Mcdowell Drive, Bigfork

MLS #30004424 $3,470,750

Price Improvement

80 Ranchettes Road, Bigfork

MLS #30005981 $3,490,650

Multi Family Home

281 Chapman Hill Road, Bigfork

MLS #30000404 $1,700,000

Central Location

123 Barron Way, Kalispell

MLS #30012289 $475,000

Saddlehorn Community

136 Trading Post Trail, Bigfork

MLS #30008839 $239,750

JUST SOLD

SOLD 270 Bridge Street #101, Bigfork

MLS #30011340

SOLD 27710 Emerald Bay Lane, Bigfork

MLS #30010678

SOLD 13392 Sylvan Drive, Bigfork

MLS #30010605

SOLD #9 Parkway Avenue, Bigfork

MLS #30008715

Testimonial

Denise just carried us through the process of buying a new Creston acreage for our once-in-a-lifetime dream home project. We met Denise several years ago when we bought our current property in Bigfork. She has stuck with us over the years as we looked around the area for a new place. She is always the local expert that we trust to keep us informed and help us watch carefully for the right deal that fits our needs. This new purchase was a little bit "sticky" so we were happy to have her at our side to make sure everything worked out. Thank you, Denise, for watching out for us. Around here, no other agent can do a better job, either buying or selling, as far as we are concerned. 

Charlie and Susan

CERI says... How well do Corgis get along with other dogs?

There’s some concern about how I will accept Odin. I have had a few siblings since I was a puppy with my humans. Some I dearly loved, some I was a rascal with and one I miss very much.


Now let’s talk about Odin. He seems to instinctively know who is boss around here…ME. That works. He’s smart that way. Typically, Corgis thrive when they are the center of attention and I am no different. I think in time we will become great friends. I know he has some things to work out but he is in the best of hands with my humans. They rock! If you are wondering about how Corgis get along with other animals, I have an article for you to read. It will give you some background and tips on my breed. In the meantime, Odin and I will work on all the fun we can have together at Camp Lang! (read here).

DENISE'S COOKING CORNER - Tomato Sandwiches (open face)

To my boys, Eric and Drake,
I have been making my tomato sandwiches like this for awhile for the same reasons. What are your thoughts?
Mom
Their response:
At its very basic, a tomato sandwich is composed of three things: tomatoes, mayonnaise, and bread. A purist will tell you the bread should be soft, but we beg to differ.
Eric and Drake

Tomatoes are juicy fruits and if you're in a hurry for a tomato sandwich, sometimes you just have to slather and slurp your way through lunch. Part of the nostalgic magic of a classic tomato sandwich is the soft bread with the soft tomato (squish-on-squish). But I beg to differ and do the unthinkable. I toast my bread and sometimes I even make it open-face. Here is an article to bring you to my dark side (on tomato sandwiches at least) click here and for some great tomato sandwich recipes, too! Remember to stand over the kitchen sink while eating this juicy sandwich. 

DENISE'S READING CORNER -  Everything I Never Told You, Celeste Ng 

This is a true page-turning novel about a Chinese American family living in 1970s small-town Ohio.


Lydia is the favorite child of Marilyn and James Lee, and her parents are determined that she will fulfill the dreams they were unable to pursue. But when Lydia’s body is found in the local lake, the delicate balancing act that has been keeping the Lee family together is destroyed, tumbling them into chaos.


The story moves through a series of family secrets and longings, offering a sensitive and universal portrait of the dynamics that affect all families. Throughout the book, each event uncovers the ways in which mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, and husbands and wives struggle all their lives to understand each other. I found a good deal of wisdom in this novel and many insights.




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