10 Things to Know About Buying a Home in Downtown Bozeman

Downtown Bozeman is filled with an abundance of history, which makes it a hot commodity for buyers! Read our Top 10 Things to Know before you purchase a home in Downtown Bozeman below.

1.) Where are the Historic Districts in Downtown Bozeman?

There are 10 unique Historic Districts located in Downtown Bozeman, each with their own distinct charm. To learn more about each specific district click HERE.

Bon Ton District: Stretches along the 200-1000 blocks of South Willson Avenue, South Grand Avenue, South Third Avenue and West Cleveland Street.
Bozeman Brewery District: Sits along the 700-800 blocks of North Wallace Avenue.
Cooper District: Located within the streets of West Olive and West Harrison, covering South 8th Ave over to South 5th Ave.
Lindley Place District: Sits on a two block long street (which has no cross street) at East Koch Street to East Olive Street.
Main Street District: Located on either side of Main Street, between Rouse Avenue and just west of Willson Avenue.
Montana State University District: This boundary starts at West College St, South 11th Ave, West Grant St and South 6th Ave, and comprises 89.3 acres in the core of campus.
Story Mill District: Roughly bounded by the Northern Pacific RR right-of-way and the Story Mill spur line from Wye to Bridger Canyon Road.
South Tracy District: Original isolation on South Tracy Avenue.
North Tracy District: Spans two blocks, from Villard to Peach Streets.
South Tracy - South Black District: South Tracy-South Black Avenue Historic District consists of 93 diverse, vernacular houses lining S. Tracy and S. Black Avenues between Olive and Alderson Streets, as well as a large school building and a neighborhood grocery store.

2.) Where are the boundaries of each Historic District?

To get an overlay of each district on a map, click HERE.
If you are looking for a printable PDF, click HERE.

3.) What are the B3 Districts in Downtown Bozeman?

The B3 zone, or the Downtown Business District, is home to many of Bozeman's vacation rentals. If you are looking to invest, see this article about the B3 zoning in Downtown Bozeman.
See below for a snap shot of the B3 location.

4.) When buying properties in Downtown Bozeman, what should you look out for?

Downtown Bozeman has many homes that were built in the 1900's, knob and tube electrical is often a financing issue for all loan types. Make sure the property you are purchasing has an updated electrical system if you are getting a loan.
Homes in Downtown Bozeman are often surrounded by beautiful old trees. You need to have sewer systems scoped on any home you purchase as it's not uncommon to see tree roots growing into the sewer lines.
Asbestos and Vermiculite are commonly seen in Downtown Bozeman. How does this effect your home?

5.) Parking

You might need a parking pass to park in front of your home in Downtown Bozeman. Find public parking, parking garages, and garage spaces for rent, HERE.

6.) Events

When there are events in Downtown Bozeman your street may be flooded with cars from attendees and you may not be able to easily park in front of your home. Stay up to date on all the upcoming events, HERE.

7.) Vacation Rental Zoning

Looking to invest in a Vacation Rental By Owner (VRBO) but don't know if local zoning approves it? Learn about zoning regulations and access Bozeman's interactive Vacation Rental Zoning map, HERE.

8.) School Boundary Maps

Picking out the perfect school for your family is important. To better understand which schools are located in each district, and the homes available within these areas, click HERE.

9.) Transportation

Streamline Transit is the Bozeman community bus service which provides free transportation in and around Bozeman, as well as commuter routes to Belgrade, Four Corners, and Livingston. Get more information on their routes and rules, HERE.

10.) Housing Prices

In August 2020, single family homes in Bozeman City Limits increased a soaring 18% bringing the average sales price to $622,766. Access Bozeman's latest Local Real Estate Market Update for more statistics. Due to the nature of these Historic Districts and considering the improvements you may need to invest in (see 4 above) you may need to set aside additional funds for upgrades. If you are considering investing in a Downtown Bozeman home, we can help you run numbers, discuss pro's and con's and help you set a plan! Below are active homes for sale in Bozeman's Historic Districts and Downtown Bozeman, enjoy!

**information sourced from City of Bozeman, and other various sites, click links to be redirected to original sources.