The days may be getting shorter, but the list of reasons to BUY NOW is getting longer. 

The falling leaves and slowing days often cause the real estate market to do the same. But here are some reasons why this slower pace could actually be good for home buyers. 

1. There are fewer Buyers on the market  

As the market slows, this means there are LESS BUYERS on the market competing for the same house. This makes it easier to negotiate by giving Sellers less options to chose from. 

2. Sellers may be motivated by the end of the year

Closing by December 31st may be beneficial for Sellers in terms of taxes. They may be able to take advantage of tax gains or losses during the year, that might go away if they were to settle in January. 

3.

A new Senate Bill has been passed and we are eager to share it with you!

Senate Bill 300 was passed to prevent Homeowners' Associations (HOAs) from imposing new covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CCRs) on certain types of use of property. 

Effective May, 8, 2019, this bill prevents an HOA from imposing certain types of new use restrictions against owners who purchased their properties before the restrictions went into effect and do not wish to be bound by them. Basically, if your HOA makes adjustments to your CCRs after you've purchased your home, you can be "grandfathered" into the prior CCRs and exempt from the new CCRs. And guess what? All you have to do to become exempt from the new CCRs, is contact your HOA and tell them, then record

When buying a home, a lender will run your credit score to start the process of getting pre-qualified. What you should KNOW is that your credit score will dictate how much of a loan the lender will give you.

While this might sound scary to you, it is going to give you piece of mind should they find anything you may need to correct or perhaps even something you were unaware of. We HIGHLY recommend getting pre-qualified as many sellers will not even entertain an offer unless your financing is in order. 

If you have a credit score in the 600s, a lender will have a much different value of how much home you can afford vs. if you have a credit score in the 800s. 

1. Payment History
35% depends on bills paid on time. Note: Auto-pay is a total game

Bozeman is an outdoorsy community with a dog in almost every home.

Bozeman won 2nd place in Dog Fancy Magazine’s Most Dog Friendly Towns in the U.S.. Bozeman has a population of roughly 45,000 and a dog population of 30,000. 

A well-exercised dog is a happy and healthy dog. It is very common to see dogs joining their families hiking, camping, swimming, hunting, or even strolling Downtown Main Street where local shops will have water bowls out front for thirsty pups passing by. 

Bozeman has 7 Off-Leash Designated Dog Parks:

•             Snow-Fill Recreation Area ~ 37 acres (2956 McIlhatten Rd.)

•             Regional Park (between Baxter Ln and Oak St)

•             Centennial Park (5-9am only, between W Tamarack St and W Peach St)

The current population in Gallatin County is 107,810 people with a population growth projection to 159,000 in 2045. In the next 28 years, Gallatin County is projected to grow at 2,000+ people per year until 2045. Of this growth, about half is likely to occur in the City of Bozeman. So what does that mean for you as a renter? Well, that could mean higher rent prices, lower rental inventory, stricter rental agreements and more!

Now for the big question, “Is now the right time for me to buy?” Whether you are just tired of renting and want to live by your own rules or maybe you're tired of being told you can't have a dog/or your rental doesn't allow pets. Or say you’re tired of your landlord telling you they are coming to do a walkthrough unexpectedly

The hottest season is summertime both weather-wise and our real estate market. I've come up with 10 TIPS how to avoid purchasing an overpriced home.

1. WORK WITH A REAL ESTATE AGENT 
We know the real estate market and we understand when a home is overpriced by doing our research, running sales comparables, and simply selling a lot of homes in the Gallatin Valley allows us to navigate the channels for you and with you confidently. Working with a Buyer's Agent is FREE for a buyer. 

2. SELLER SITUATION
With assistance of your Buyer's Agent, you can navigate how long the property has been on the market and gather an understanding what type of situation the seller is in. "Are they looking to sell a home? Do they need to occupy the home after closing?

Are you starting the Home Buying process? Have you hired your Buyer’s Agent yet? If not, this article is for you! We discuss the 3 most important questions to ask before you hire an Agent.

In the initial stages of purchasing, clients typically look to the internet to find areas of interest and houses they like. Most people aren’t aware they can hire an Agent who will help guide them from the very start. However, finding a Realtor right away, and finding the right one, can really pay off! So let’s discuss how to find the right Buyer’s Agent for you.  

The first question to start with is, “how many transactions did you complete in the last 12 months?” 

This is a simple question to help you gauge their experience in the industry. Knowing the

Purchase an Owner’s Title Insurance policy to protect your property rights. 

For a one time fee, you can purchase a policy that protects the rights of how you use your property. This policy will stay active as long as you, or your heirs, own the property. Below are some frequently asked questions regarding Title Insurance and how it can benefit you. (Note: This policy is actually purchased by the Sellers' of the property once you are under contract on the property.) 

What is a Title?
A Title is your right to own and/or use your property. This document will state any limitations of those rights. 

What is Title Insurance?
Title Insurance is a policy issued to protect both the buyer and the lender, against any loss due to a title

Have you been searching for your next home online? Are you feeling overwhelmed by all the websites and search engines available? Don’t be! We are here to help guide you through searching for your next real estate purchase!

When you go online to search for properties for sale, you can become inundated with resources. Some ads are legitimate and some are so vague you can’t even figure out who to contact about the property. One of the most common websites available is Zillow.com, but did you know it is an open platform and anyone can put information on there? It’s true! One of the major issues homebuyers have is not knowing if the information is legitimate or a scam. For example, Zillow.com especially will post "Zestimates". Montana is a

Looking to purchase a home but don’t know where to start? This article will review 5 things you need in advance to complete your home purchase!

1: Mortgage Loan Pre-Approval

The first step in the home buying process is to acquire the funds to purchase the home. For the majority, that means qualifying for and obtaining a mortgage loan. A mortgage is a loan specifically used to purchase a home.

How do you get pre-approved? You can look online for lenders or give us a call and we’d be happy to give you a personal recommendation. The key is finding a mortgage lender who is there to help make the process as easy for you as possible. Once you’ve found a lender you are comfortable with, they will assist you in determining how much money you can borrow and