You will want to know about this super outstanding value for your investment portfolio.  The units on this duplex property include 4 bedrooms, 1 bath, large kitchen with oven/range, refrigerator, dishwasher.  Off-street parking, washer & dryer hook-ups.  The units rent for $950 each per month, gas heating system and more.  Call to see this opportunity today!

Priced at $179,204

Sunday, January 22, 2012

549 Cherry Hills Drive

$259,549

Beautiful brand new home built by Specialized Construction, Inc. has so many features you will fall in love!  Spacious open living areas, vaulted ceilings, custom kitchen, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths main level, main level laundry, and lots of room for future expansion, storage galore, 3 car attached garage, deck and more!  Come see it today!

$217,000

Your family will enjoy this home in all Seasons!  Bright & light living areas, country style kitchen, 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, spacious family room with gas fireplace, office/hobby room, storage galore, covered deck, unique garden shed, privacy fenced yard, immaculately clean, located in West Billings.  Call today to see this home!

October of 1981 the 30 year mortgage topped at 18.45%, the consumer price index stood at 93.4 for the basket of goods

Fast forward to today

consumer price index stands at 226.72 or an increase of 243%,  the 30 year mortgage stands at 3.96% or a drop of 78.54%

NOW LETS TRANSLATE INTO A PROPERTY PURCHASE IN YELLOWSTONE COUNTY

1981 THE AVERAGE PROPERTY THROUGH MLS SOLD FOR $63,337 @18.45% FOR 30 YEARS  $977.83 PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST

2011 THE AVERAGE PROPERTY THROUGH MLS SOLD FOR $190,089 @3.96% FOR 30 YEARS  $917.39 PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST

NOW LETS TRANSLATE INTO A PROPERTY PURCHASE IN  THE UNITED SATES

1981 THE AVERAGE HOME IN THE U.S SOLD FOR $83,700 @18.45% FOR 30 YEARS  $1292.21 PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST 

2011 THE AVERAGE HOME IN THE U.S SOLD FOR  $257,600 @3.96% FOR 30 YEARS  $1223.89 PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST

SO THE THOUGHT TO PONDER ………

DO YOU BELIEVE THE INTEREST RATE OR PRICING ON HOUSES WILL FALL FURTHER AND MAKE HOUSING LESS COSTLY …..OR …….. ARE WE AT THE LOW POINT IN THE CYCLE, SO  WHETHER IT IS INTEREST RATES OR THE PRICE OF HOUSE THE COSTS WILL GO UP ?

IS THIS A HISTORIC TIME TO BUY PROPERTY?

NEW PRICE  $259,549

Don't miss out on this brand new home, located near Lake Hills Golf Course, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 3 car attached garage, large yard, storage space & room to expand!  Call  Howard today to view this beautiful home 245-6890

THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE DIRECTION

MY FIRST COMMENT ABOUT 2011 IS, I AM GLAD IT IS IN TH REAR VIEW MIRROR. MY BELIEF IS 2011 GOES INTO THE RECORD BOOKS AS THE LOW POINT IN REAL ESTATE UNIT SALES AND MOST PROBABLY PRICING IN THIS REAL CYCLE IN YELLOWSTONE COUNTY. THAT BEING SAID THAT DOES NOT MEAN A BOUNCE IN 2012. WHAT IT MEANS IS, MOST PROBABLY, STABILITY WITH A BIAS TOWARDS AN UPWARD MOVEMENT. THE MOST DIFFICULT ASPECT OF 2011 WAS THE FINANCING ARENA, ALTHOUGH RATES ARE INCREDIBLE, THE HOOPS TO JUMP THROUGH TO OBTAIN FINANCING ARE NOT INSIGNIFICANT AND LEAD TO DISCOURAGEMENT OF PURCHASERS DURING THE PROCESS. 2011 WAS THE HIGHEST RATE OF FAILED TRANSACTION THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED IN MY THIRTY YEARS IN THE BUSINESS.  I HOPE 2012 SLOWS THE CHANGES WITHIN LENDING PRACTICES TO GIVE MORE STABILITY AND CONFIDENCE TO PURCHASERS.

FIRST THE POSITIVES OF 2011. THERE ARE ACTUALLY THREE MAJOR POSITIVES THAT YELLOWSTONE COUNTY ENDED 2011 WITH, ONE IS INVENTORY 20% BELOW 2010 AT THE END OF THE YEAR, THE PENDING SALES BEING UP 17% AS COMPARED WITH 2010 AND LAST WOULD BE THE SMALL DECLINE IN UNIT SALES COMPARED TO 2010.                                                                                                                          WE CONTINUED TO SEE NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION DECLINE AND 18% DECLINE COMPARED TO 2010 AND A FALL OF 54% SINCE 2007. WHILE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT FOR MY FRIENDS IN THE BUILDING OF HOMES, IN THE LONG RUN THE SURVIVORS WILL BE HEALTHIER AND MORE  PROFITABLE.                                                                                                                                           LAST THE RENTAL MARKET SHOWS THAT GROWTH IS OCCURRING WITH YELLOWSTONE COUNTY WITH LESS UNITS AVAILABLE AND POSITIVE GROWTH IN RENTAL RATES. AS THE RENTAL MARKET CONTINUES TO STRENGTHEN THIS WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE CONFIDENCE OF PURCHASERS SINCE AT THIS TIME THERE IS JUST $86 DOLLARS DIFFERENCE IN THE MONTH COST TO RENT THE MEDIAN HOUSE FOR RENT AS COMPARED TO PURCHASING THE MEDIAN PRICED HOUSE PAYMENT WITH TAXES AND INSURANCE. THAT DIFFERENCE IN 2008 WAS $391.    

FINALLY I WANT TO THANK ALL MY GREAT CUSTOMERS FOR ALLOWING ME TO HELP THEM ACHIEVE THEIR REAL ESTATE GOALS IN 2011, ALTHOUGH A DIFFICULT, WITHOUT LOYAL CUSTOMERS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A MORE DIFFICULT YEAR.      

549 Cherry Hills Road

Be the first family to own this energy efficient & spacious home!  Over 2,800 s. ft. with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 3 car garage, lower level ready for your personal touch.  Located near Lake Hills Golf Course in an area of new homes!  Come see it now!

ONLY ONE OTHER TIME IN THE PAST THIRTY YEARS HAVE I SEEN WHERE IT IS CHEAPER TO OWN THAN RENT IN YELLOWSTONE COUNTY. THAT TIME THE LATE 1980'S, CAUSED BY THE RECESSION AND FORECLOSURES OF THAT PERIOD OF TIME. YELLOWSTONE COUNTY WAS LIKE LAS VEGAS IS NOW WITH OVER 600 FHA REPOS AND 100 VA REPOS ADVERTISED IN THE PAPER EVERY SUNDAY. HOME PRICES HAD FALLEN FROM FORECLOSURES AND POPULATION DECLINE IN YELLOWSTONE COUNTY AND INTEREST RATE HAD DROPPED FROM 13% ON A 30 YEAR MORTGAGE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE REASONABLE 9% RANGE. THIS TIME AROUND WE HAVE SEEN PRICES DECLINE SLIGHTLY AND INTEREST RATES SHARPLY DECLINE FROM 6.38% TO 4.11% FOR A 30 YEAR MORTGAGE. RENTS HAVE MOVED UP AND POPULATION IN YELLOWSTONE COUNTY HAS ALSO INCREASED.  JUST LIKE THE LAST TIME AROUND THERE WILL BE A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE FROM RENTING TO OWNERSHIP THAT WILL PROBABLY BE OPEN FOR 6 TO 12 MONTHS. BELOW IS THE COMPARISONS IN GRAPHS. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL OR E-MAIL WITH QUESTION OR IF YOU NEED HELP BUYING OR SELLING.

Open 1-3

Sunday, November 13, 2011

2545 Avalon Road

Located off Poly Drive West of Zimmerman Trail

Life flows easily in this wonderfuly family home!

$214,000

Open 1-3 PM

719 Wyoming Avenue, Laurel

Sun filled rooms, lovingly cared for home!  You will be impressed with this neat & tidy home featuring 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, laundry room, country style kitchen with tile flooring, storage, huge deck, fenced yard, garage and more!  See it today!

Open 1-3

Saturday, October 22, 2011

549 Cherry Hills Road

Directions:  Wicks Lane to St. Andrews, North on St. Andrews to Annandale, West on Annandale to Cherry Hills Road

$269,900

Brand new home built by Specialized Construction and waiting for your family.  3 bedrooms, 2 baths, open living area, custom kitchen, 3 car garage plus room to expand.  Energy saver package

Open House October 2, 2011

549 Cherry Hills Road

Directions: Wicks to Saint Andrews, North on St. Andrews to Annandale Road to Cherry Hills Road, near Lake Hills Golf Course

Brand new home built by Specialized Construction with many features for today's lifestyle including energy smart package.  Be the first family to own this 2,848 sq. ft. home, 3, bedrooms, 2 baths, main level laundry, 3 car garage, unfinished lower level for future expansion, deck, large yard, views.  Don't forget your golf clubs!

NEVER IN THE HISTORY, HAS HOME BUILDING BEEN IN THIS CONDITION WHEN THE RECESSION WAS DECLARED “OVER” MORE THAN TWO YEARS IN THE PAST. THE NUMBERS WERE RELEASED THIS MORING SEPTEMBER 20^TH AT 8:30 AM EASTERN

Below is the information for Yellowstone county to compare what has happened since 2007 mid-September to mid-September 2011. In reviewing the information from 2007 you can see why  my opinion is that five years should be your minimum time horizon. In looking at the debt pay down and essential a flat market you may just barely cover the cost to sell. Still factoring tax savings and the cost of renting your total costs of living in the home might be slightly positive.

Now when you look at the effect of the current interest rate environment and look out where you would be after five years, assuming a continued flat market, the most probable scenario is in the positive Colum financially in purchasing a home. First is your actual principal and interest payment to own is  $150 dollars less than renting.  Second your actual debt pay down from the original balance increases to $19,015 over the first five years meaning it is highly likely your cost to sell the property are covered and you are finically in a positive position.

Open 1-3

August 28, 2011

549 Cherry Hills Drive

Located near Lake Hills Golf Course, this brand new home will please everyone in the family. Open living area, custom kitchen, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, main level laundry, daylight level ready for expansion, 3 car attached garage, 440 sq. ft. storage area and so much more! Stop by and check it out!

$269,900

With all the things going on in today's world, one thing that may not have crossed your mind is your existing interest rate on your home loan. The one positive about all the events of the recent past, is believe it or not, it has pushed home loan rates back to historic lows. So if you missed the last opportunity to lower your rate or change the length of your loan with minor impact on your payment now may be the time. Below are a couple of examples.

 Your present loan at $150,000 at origination (about 3 years ago) carrying an interest rate of 5.5% for 30 years today's going rate is 4.125% for 30 years.

 current principal and interest approximately $851 per month

 new principal and interest @ 4.125% approximately $726 per month

 savings about $125 per month it will cost approximately $4500 to refinance

 so to find your pay back, $4500 divided by $125 monthly savings, it will take 36 months to break even and start making money on your refinance.

 looking at a 15 year loan

 new principal and interest @ 3.25% approximately $1054 per month

 so you loan is  three years old, for approximately $200 per month, you save 12 years of paying on your house before it free and clear. just a thought for those thinking about retiring in about a decade.

 i hope you find the information useful , if i may be of any assistance please feel free to call or e-mail

Open 1-3

Saturday, June 25, 2011

579 Cherry Hills Road

$242,500

Be the first family to own this brand new home built by Specialized Construction, Inc.  Over 2,600 sq. ft. of living area.  Open living room with vaulted ceiling, lots of natural lighting, 2 bedrooms including master bedroom with private bath and walk-in closet, 2 baths including master bedroom bath, lower level unfinished and ready for expansion!  Trex deck, Energy Smart features including a high efficiency furnace, 3 car attached garage, custom kitchen with hickory cabinets and so much more!  Located near Lake Hills Golf Course