Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Martin Luther King, Jr
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Just How High Will Mortgage Interest Rates Rise—and How Fast?
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Hello dear friends and clients,
This past winter in talking with clients, I hear concerns about inflation, interest rates, high home prices and current economic volatility. My insight and experience in real estate informs me that we are not in the same place as we were a decade back. In fact, we have the opposite situation. High real estate prices are a result of a lack of inventory as well as the pandemic challenges. Our lifestyles and our living situations are changing in more ways than I think we realize.
To help sort out your concerns and questions, I have two articles that deal with these topics. The first is housing market turbulence (click here). My thoughts are that the limited inventory and a competitive group of homebuyers should keep home prices up unless an unforeseen disaster occurs. A potential rise in interest rates is driving home shoppers to close deals faster. For more interesting data on the housing market, buyers and sellers, (click here).
If you are considering listing your property, let me know. Our market is strong and our inventory is low. My experience, consistent record and excellent negotiating skills will successfully lead you toward a sale at the right price. The Lang Team is here to make your real estate dreams come true whatever they are, wherever you are.
Another perk for you, as the seller, is our exclusive membership in Forbes Global Properties. What does this mean? When you list your luxury, high end property, your home will be opened up to the international market. Click here to view Bigfork properties on the Forbes website providing access to the entire Forbes network. Here's another advantage. Maybe you have always wanted to have a home in Florida, France, Hawaii or the place of your dreams. I can use my Forbes Global Properties referral network to connect you with an expert and knowledgeable Realtor in many national and international markets. Let's talk!
From our home to yours, we wish you a healthy and prosperous New Year!
Denise
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Northwest Montana By The Numbers
according the NW Montana Multiple Listing Service for January 2022
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Whitefish
New Listings 35
Sold 34
Median $577,000
Bigfork
New Listings 7
Sold 6
Median $645,000
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Flathead County
New Listings 168
Sold 125
Median $502,000
Lake County
New Listings 23
Sold 22
Median $515,000
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We've been busy at National Parks Realty! |
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National Parks Realty announces Top Producers |
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We outgrew our old digs. Visit our new office! |
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What’s my home worth?
Did you know you can quickly learn the value of your home in today's market by simply clicking a button? It's useful information with no strings attached. See what your home is worth - you may be surprised!
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How often does Flathead Lake freeze? For ice to develop across this 200 square mile piece of real estate, a series of conditions must be met. |
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Two Flathead Valley Olympians are in Beijing with Team USA. Whitefish born skier Maggie Voisin and hockey player Jake Sanderson.
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One&Only’s first luxury resort in the United States is coming to Montana. Private residences will start at $8.45 million, and a spa by Chenot. |
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Recently featured in The Week, six luxurious yet rustic homes throughout Montana. Take a look. You may find your forever home.
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Instead of "bigger is better," real estate experts say buyers are looking for smaller homes within their budgets featuring flexible spaces. |
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Invisible kitchens are out. What's in are kitchen areas designed to celebrate cooking, rather hiding everything away. |
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As inflation rises, the cost of everything goes up, including real estate. According to Forbes, value is locking in a low-interest, fixed-rate mortgage. |
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Rent or Buy? Spoiler: it still makes sense to buy in about three-quarters of the 100 largest metropolitan areas, according to top analysis. |
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FEATURED REAL ESTATE
New, Contingent and Sold Properties
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NEW LISTING
MLS #22108357 $497,750
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Testimonial
We can't thank you enough for all your patience and help. You have never given us bad advice and you made our dream come true. We couldn't have done it without you! There's a lot of work ahead, but it should be fun! Janet & Bruce
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Ceri (our lop-eared Corgi) says...
Today's topic is my butt, specifically, my jiggly butt. Corgi hind ends are famous for the jiggles and now there is a cafe to celebrate our unique feature. The Corgi Cafe serves everything for lovers of my breed. You should see the souffle pancakes (click here). Yup, they jiggle a lot and there is all sorts of Corgi merch. too. The lattes come with special Corgi marshmallows! I hope my people will take me to the Corgi Cafe in Los Angeles.
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Denise's Cooking Corner - Chocolate Pots de Creme
From Food Network Magazine and perfect for the month of love!
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Ingredients
9 ounces high-quality semisweet chocolate, chopped
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
6 large egg yolks
5 tablespoons granulated sugar (add an extra tablespoon if using bitter chocolate)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar
Directions
Place the chocolate in a blender. Whisk the milk, 1 cup cream, egg yolks, granulated sugar and salt in a heavy-bottomed medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring constantly with a heatproof spatula, until the mixture is thick enough to coat the spatula and almost boiling, 5 to 6 minutes.
Immediately pour the milk mixture over the chocolate in the blender. Cover and hold the lid with a thick kitchen towel; blend until combined and smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides of the blender as needed. Divide the chocolate mixture among ramekins or small cups and refrigerate until set, about 2 hours.
Whip the remaining 1/2 cup cream and the confectioners' sugar with a mixer or in the blender until soft peaks form. Top the chilled pots de crème with whipped cream.
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Denise's Book Corner - Violeta by Isabel Allende
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This epic story is about Violeta, a South American woman whose life spans from one pandemic (1920) to another (2020). Although it's historical fiction, the character is based on Allende's mother, who recently passed away at 98 years old.
Violeta was born to a conservative and wealthy Chilean family at the onset of the Spanish Flu. Their circumstances changed nearly immediately when the Great Depression left them homeless. She tells her story in the form of letters to someone she loves, recounting passionate and heartbreaking affairs, times of poverty and wealth, loss and joy. Throughout her words, we see how her life is shaped by some of the most important events of history: the fight for women's rights, the rise and fall of tyrants, and two pandemics.
Along with love, violence, women’s strength and the absence of fathers, death is a recurring theme. The message Allende conveys reflects what she saw as her own mother aged losing friends and loved ones. “Loss is an important thing of old age. There’s so much loss! Everything dies on you,” says the writer. The longer you live, the more you lose.”
My thoughts: A history refresher is always helpful, especially when it's embedded in a novel. After all, if we forget our mistakes, we are certainly doomed to repeat them. I'm also aware of the loss that some have felt over this past three-year pandemic. I think it has touched all of our lives in one way or another. This bittersweet story is one you'll like.
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Call me and let's talk about your real estate goals.
I love to share, so if an item or two in this newsletter interests you, pass it on!
Just scroll down to the bottom of this email and click "forward."
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