February, a form pale-vestured, wildly fair,
one of the North Wind's daughters, with icicles in her hair.
–Edgar Fawcett
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Hello friends and clients,
Ah February, the border between winter and spring and a time for love and self-love. I know it may seem counterintuitive but February can be a great time to invest in real estate. If you are practicing some real estate “self-love” this month, here are a few positives about February and the real estate market.
February is a slower buying season. However, it can be a great time to get a deal on a home (or sell a home quickly). February offers an average of a 6.1% discount on home prices, the highest discount throughout the year.
Any home can look and feel amazing in the mild weather of spring or early summer. How it really fares, however, is more likely to show up in the winter.
Alternately, if your property is the perfect winter retreat, then this is an ideal time to list!
January and February account for only 12% of home sales in a year, meaning there are fewer folks looking to buy a home, so you won’t have problems with a home being sold out from under you. Also, you likely won’t have to face bidding wars. You can be more selective and take more time making sure a home is right for you before you pull the trigger.
If you are thinking about buying or selling a property, let me help you meet those goals. I'll listen to your wants and needs, and together, we'll set your expectations based on our current market conditions. This is not the time for timidity but rather a time for new and bold thinking and of course, self-love. I am known for walking all the way with my clients, giving them everything I have and never letting them slip. Times may have changed but I have not. My knowledge, experience and creativity will help you meet your needs. If you want to make a change, we can and will do it--together. Call me, we'll make it happen.
On that note and from our home to yours, we wish you the happiest and healthiest of times and I thank each of you for your friendship. This is a season for love!
As Ever, Denise
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DENISE LANG - GO WITH SUCCESS
#1 in Bigfork
#16 in Northwest Montana
Top 1.49% of Realtors® Nationwide
Top 1.5% Of Real Estate Agents “America’s Best” by Real Trends
Featured In Forbes Global Properties
MLS period 1/1/2022 12/31/2022
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These Mountain Lake Towns Are Next-Level Serene
Bigfork on Flathead Lake, Montana
There are beautiful mountain lakes from coast to coast, but so few of them have equally alluring small towns attached to them. These aren’t just nice little towns that happen to sit on shores reflecting snowy peaks. They’re cozy hamlets where you’ll find great food and drink, fun things to do, and people whose attitudes seem refreshed by lakeside breezes commingled with mountain air. And right now -- in that sweet spot between the summer boating season and the influx of skiers -- might just be the best time to visit. I couldn't agree more. Read the article.
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Testimonial
Hi Denise,
This is Bruce and Janet calling you from the Big Island. We were thinking of you and wanted to call and thank you for all the wonderful work you did for us over the years with our real estate needs. You helped us out so much. Best wishes for a wonderful year!
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What's the Weather Outlook for Bigfork?
November 2022 to October 2023
Winter will be warmer than normal, with the coldest periods in mid-November and early February. Precipitation will be above normal, with above-average snowfall in the far north and far south. The snowiest periods will be in mid-November, late December, early to mid-January, and early February.
April and May will be cooler than normal, with above-normal precipitation, on average. Summer will be slightly cooler than normal, with rainfall above average in the north and below normal in the south. The hottest periods will be in mid to late July and early August. September and October will be cooler and drier than normal, on average.
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LOVE WHERE YOU LIVE...MONTANA |
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1908 - Bigfork, Montana. Bridge over the Swan River, from the hill above the power plant.
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GQ Magazine named Sip ’n Dip (Great Falls) the best bar in the world with mermaids to delight!
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What can you see in the night sky in February 2023? Venus, Jupiter, and Mars shine bright!
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My friend, Jack Horner, sky and dinosaur expert, took this photo of the green comet. |
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THE HEART OF BIGFORK - Tina Lawler
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When it comes down to it, Bigfork is just one big family and this month we lost one of our best. It is impossible to know how many lives Tina touched with her constant smile and contagious laughter. Those of you who knew Tina, appreciated that she exemplified the reasons that people love living in Bigfork. We'll all miss you, Tina, but we will try to keep your spirit going strong.
Our thoughts are with Tina's husband and the Bigfork Harvest Foods family. BIGFORK ACES created a "Be A Tina" t-shirt. Order online and have it delivered to your home or pick up at ACES. Tina's memorial will be at the Bigfork High School gym on March 18th. To order, click here.
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Bigfork native Makena Morley placed second at the USATF National Cross Country Championships earning an opportunity to represent Team USA at the 44th World Athletics Cross Country Championships February 18 at Bathurst23. |
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Signs of hope. After suffering all-time lows during the COVID-19 pandemic, the supply of homes for sale has rebounded with a bang. January’s median home list price clocked in at $400,000—holding steady since December but lower than June’s record high of $449,000.
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Active
MLS #22216735 $224,665
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Under Contract Taking Backup Offers
MLS #22215093 $549,750
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CERI PONDERS...What happens to animals on moonlit nights? |
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Here I am basking in the fire's glow waiting for the green comet. Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) positioned itself close to Mars in the Taurus constellation, making it easier to locate as it sped away from Earth. Sadly, I didn't get to see it, but it will be around again in 50,000 years after it orbits the sun.
Waiting for it and admiring the full moon in the meantime made me wonder how dogs and other animals respond to the full moon.
And lions, well, lions hunt best at night, but will sometimes kill during the day, especially after a full moon. Research has shown that lions consume less food during moonlit nights. To make up for it, they must find extra fuel during the day following a particularly well-lit night.
Sadly my brothers and sisters (cats and dogs) find mischief and get injured more often during the full moon. One study investigating this correlation — frequently noted by veterinarians and other workers in animal care — found a 23% increase in cat visits and 28 percent increase in dog visits to emergency rooms on brighter nights. Take care out there fellow beasts!
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DENISE'S COOKING CORNER - Panko Crusted Rack of Lamb |
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Inspired by many similar recipes including Ina Garten and Cooking The Nouvelle Cuisine in America.
INGREDIENTS
1 1/4 cups panko or dried breadcrumbs
1 tablespoon finely minced garlic (+/- 2 cloves)
1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary leaves (or less)
2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme leaves (or ½ dried)
2 tablespoons minced parsley (why not?)
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
Blue Rock Estate olive oil
1 rack of lamb (fresh domestic is best)
2 tablespoons good Dijon mustard
DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
In a medium bowl, mix the panko, garlic, rosemary, thyme, parsley, sea salt and pepper. Drizzle with 3 tablespoons Blue Rock olive oil and stir to moisten the crumbs. Set aside if needed for up to several hours. Remove the racks of lamb from the refrigerator 30 minutes before you plan to cook them. Place the lamb, fat-side up, on a pan. Sprinkle with sea salt and black pepper to taste. roast for 12 minutes exactly. Remove from the oven and, working quickly, use a knife to spread the mustard on the top side of the lamb. Spread the crumb mixture evenly on the mustard, pressing gently to help the mixture adhere. return the lamb to the oven right away and continue roasting for another 12 to 18 minutes (depending on the size of the lamb), until the crumbs are golden brown and the meat is 120 degrees F for rare or 125 degrees F for medium rare. Cover loosely with aluminum foil and allow the lamb to rest for 8 minutes. Cut the racks into single or double chops and serve hot.
WINE PAIRING SUGGESTIONS: My favorite - Pinot Noir, Belle Glos
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DENISE'S READING CORNER - The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
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"Books, she has found, are a way to live a thousand lives—or to find strength in a very long one."
France, 1714: Trading her soul for the life of freedom and immortality, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever. With that, she is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets.
For 300 years, the life of Addie LaRue is a crazy quilt of dazzling adventures, playing out out across centuries and continents, across history and art. She will go to extreme lengths to leave her mark on the world, yet everything she says or writes seems to wash away.
It all seems like a fruitless task until she meets Henry, a young man working in a hidden bookstore. "I remember," he says. Finally, it seems like Addie has found a loophole — a cure for her lonely existence. But there's something Henry isn't telling her and it may be enough to bring and end to Addie's three centuries of resistance and survival. The drama unfolds with each chapter is set in a different year/place in Addie and Henry's life.
Although, I am mostly found of historical fiction, I found the quasi-time-travel book delightful, thoughtful and a good page turner for escape. It is intriguing to consider how our humanness boils down to the hunger we have to leave a mark on this world before we are forced to leave it all together.
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