VA Home Loans.

This is Montana, where the dream of homeownership really gleams as brightly as the Big Sky Country, with its scenic beauties and friendly communities. For veterans and active military, this dream is especially bright and much nearer to its realization through the VA Home Loan program. VA Home Loans give you the opportunity to set your foot in the Treasure State.

What is a VA Home Loan?

The VA Home Loans are designed to secure long, favorable repayment of American veterans (or their unmarried, surviving spouses). The VA Home Loan is designed to give much more benefits than a normal loan for homeownership and makes it a reality for people who are serving for their country.

Winter home in Montana.

Are you thinking about selling your home this winter? You’re not alone - in fact, winter is one of the most popular times of year to list a home! But while there may be more buyers searching for homes during the spring and summer months, that doesn’t mean you can’t successfully sell your home during the winter. With a little extra preparation, your home can be just as appealing to buyers - no matter what the season.

Here are a few of our top tips for selling your home during the winter season:

Winter in Montana.

As the summer fades and autumn leaves start to fall, Montana's unique winter charm starts to unveil itself. The arrival of winter in Montana is a serious affair due to the state's harsh weather conditions which include heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures. However, with proper preparation, you can enjoy the winter season in the Treasure State without any hitches. Here are some essential tips to help you prepare for winter in Montana:

home office.

Whether you work full-time at home or occasionally need to conduct business in the evenings or on the weekends, a home office a great way to utilize an extra room. A dedicated workspace in your home can be designed to increase productivity and comfort. Here are 5 ideas to get you started.

puppy.

An evacuation plan is a necessity for every home, especially if you live in an area where fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, flooding, and other disasters are a possibility. Many homeowners create evacuation plans for their homes and practice them with their kids, but far fewer have considered one for their pets. Take these steps to add your pets to your evacuation plan.

Coffee.

Ever wish you could become one of those rare morning people? The ones that wake with a start, feeling refreshed and energized. The ones that get in that morning workout or wrap up some work before many of us even hit the snooze button for the first time. Here are five tips to help you achieve that early bird status!

How to give back this holiday season image.

This year has demonstrated, perhaps more than ever, the importance of our family, friends, neighbors, and community. It truly “takes a village” to keep a community functioning effectively, whether that’s by keeping our waterways clean, feeding the hungry, teaching our kids, or supporting small businesses.

With the holidays right around the corner, December offers the perfect opportunity to give back to the place we call home. You might want to focus your efforts near home, expand to our larger community, or even help support the people closest to you. Whether you’re passionate about a particular cause or just want to get more involved in general, let these 10 ways, both big and small, inspire you to do good in your town.

Housing market to stay strong in 2021.

“2020 will be known for a lot of things, and a record-breaking year for real estate will certainly be one of its more unexpected legacies,” prominent economist Daryl Fairweather said.1 And he’s right: most of us would have expected the housing market to suffer from circumstances like a once-in-a-hundred-years pandemic and historic inventory shortages.

5 secrets buyers and sellers must know.

For years now, virtual home tours have helped real estate buyers far and wide find the perfect home. From long-distance military personnel being relocated, to investors expanding their portfolio, to homeowners looking for a vacation getaway, this technology makes finding a house that’s a bit out of driving distance much easier. And for real estate agents, virtual tours have been a useful way to help buyers with their home search and to assist sellers in creatively marketing their listings.

Because of the pandemic, virtual home showing options recently experienced a huge spike in popularity. One survey found that nearly 33% of recent home tour requests were for virtual tours, as compared to just 2% pre-pandemic.1 And it’s easy to see why. 

Move up vs. second home.

The pandemic has changed the way many of us live, work, and attend school—and those changes have impacted our priorities when it comes to choosing a home.

According to a recent survey by The Harris Poll, 75% of respondents who have begun working remotely would like to continue doing so—and 66% would consider moving if they no longer had to commute as often. Some of the top reasons were to gain a dedicated office space (31%), a larger home (30%), and more rooms overall (29%).1

The current real estate market is an excellent example of the law of supply in demand. After a period of slowed activity due to COVID-19, buyers have emerged strong and ready to buy, but the lack of inventory is creating serious demand for properties—and driving up prices in the process.

Add Value To Your Home With These 9 DIY Improvements.

Whether you’re prepping your house to go on the market or looking for ways to maximize its long-term appreciation, these nine home improvement projects are great ways to add function, beauty, and real value to your home.

The best part is, once you’ve secured the materials, most of these renovations can be completed over the course of a weekend. And they don’t require a lot of specialized skills or experience. So grab your toolbox, then get ready to boost your home’s appeal AND investment potential!

Is Now a Good Time to Buy or Sell Real Estate?

Traditionally, spring is one of the busiest times of the year for real estate. However, the coronavirus outbreak—and subsequent stay-at-home orders—led many buyers and sellers to put their moving plans on hold. In April, new listings fell nearly 45%, and sales volume fell 15% compared to last year.1

Fortunately, as restrictions have eased, we’ve seen an uptick in market activity. And economists at Realtor.com expect a rebound in July, August, and September, as fears about the pandemic subside, and buyers return to the market with pent-up demand from a lost spring season.2