I am leaving Minneapolis on Friday to find my family a home in Great Falls, MT!! We are very excited to be coming home to Montana.   I am a realtor and I will continue doing business in the Great Falls area as soon as I can get my MT license.  My husband and were both born and raised in Montana and we are so excited to share it with our kids.  I thought it would be fun to post some comments from the buyers prospective instead of a Realtor's so stay tuned for some pictures.  If anyone knows the Great Falls area and has some recommendations please share.  Thanks, Tanya Jones       Exit Realty Nexus 04/27/2011

Income and Investment Real Estate in Great Falls Montana   Whether your just getting started in real estate investing, or are a seasoned pro, it is always important to find investment property that cash flows well. Every so often you come across a property that cash flows so well that you have to do a double take. That is what this investment property on one of the busiest streets in town, 9th St S, will cause you to do. With Traffic counts on this street steady at nearly 10,000 cars a day, these storefront sites will get much needed exposure. Income potential on this property is $2200/mo. There are 4 rentable units - 2 commercial and 2 residential.  There are seperate water, gas and electric meters on all the units. The price?  Only $125,000. How is that possible?  Well, the bank owns ... 04/17/2011

Made In Montana Marketplace - Your chance to Buy Made in Montana Products Your chance to buy Real Made in Montana Products directly from the people who make them is coming soon.  The Made In Montana Marketplace is March 25th and 26th this year.  The trade show boasts 111 booths and is strategically timed to connect exhibitors in the show with wholesale buyers looking to purchase Made in Montana products for the spring and summer seasons. The Made in Montana Marketplace is held at the Mansfield Convention Center at the Great Falls Civic Center. Friday March 25th is reserved for Wholesale buyers with doors open from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.  The General Public can attend Saturday March 26th. Doors are open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Entry is $3 per person for 12 and older.  Door prizes will be drawn. ... 03/16/2011

What makes Great Falls Montana Great?  -  The Waterfalls of course. Great Falls, MT sits along the Beautiful Missouri River - the longest river on the Continent. This famous fly fishing river winds it way to Great Falls from the Rocky Mountains by Bozeman Montana.   As the river passes Great Falls it flows over 5 different waterfalls over a 10 mile span as it heads downstream.  The river drops a total of 612 feet from the top of the first falls to the bottom of the last.  Lewis and Clark traveled this path on their journey across America.  These waterfalls include:  Black Eagle Falls - the only set of falls actually in town.  Colter Falls - now submurged in the pool of water behind Rainbow Falls, Crooked or Horseshoe Falls and of course the Great Falls of the Missouri. The Great Seal of... 03/15/2011

Northside Craftsman House for Sale in Great Falls Montana Charming North side Craftsman Home with 5 bedrooms and 2 baths. This home features beautiful restored Hardwood floors. There is a large open Kitchen which flows into the sunny breakfast room addition which offers lots of windows overlooking nicely landscaped back yard and garden. You will be entertaining in style in the large Dining Room which opens into the main floor living room. The 2 main floor bedrooms feature Walk-in closets.  There is a large walk-in shower in the main floor bath and a full bath in the basement. The 2 Car garage is accessible from the alley & the fenced yard offers a safe play area. $139,875 More pictures and info here:  http://www.dougmaas.com/Listings/0/142593/MT/GREAT-FALLS/1905-6-AVE-N.aspx 03/15/2011

  No Urban Chickens in Great Falls MT - For Now.   Great Falls MT usually tends fall a little behind the curve when it comes to new issues and resolutions.  So when it came to the issue of Urban Chickens it was no surprise to me that several other cities in the state have already addressed this new "fad" and Great Falls is just now dealing with it.  Helena, Bozeman, Missoula and Whitefish have already legalized Urban Chickens. A recent meeting of the Great Falls Planning Board took up the issue. Even with the support of CLUC - Citizens for the Legalizing of Urban Chickens, the proposed ordinance that would have allowed residents in some zoning districts to keep no more than 6 female chickens, and no roosters, was shot down by the Great Falls Planning Board. Residents in R-1 residential ... 02/23/2011

Well we hit the big time!!!!!!!!!!!  Great Falls, Montana was featured today in USA Today.  I was interviewed last Thursday for today's article.  I thought is was quite good.  Thanks to our association President for giving them my name to give a report on the lower north side Historic District and the super buys available in that area. Check it out here................. http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/housing/closetohome/2010-06-29-realestate29_ST_N.htm?POE=click-refer Perhaps Great Falls really is the last best place??  It has been our secret for decades :) Cheers, Kelly 06/29/2010

Well here we are and it is raining again!!  I have not seen so much rain in the 15 years  Ihave been here.  The landscape is green and lush and beautiful.  I thought this great plains area was technically a desert.  I guess every decade we must get some moisture to recharge everything.  Most days are typically sunny and bright.  This spring has been cloudy and rainy.  The rivers are dangerously high so be careful if you are planning to be near them.  I would assume the farmers are pretty happy with all the rain but I bet they are worried about hail.  We had some yesterday.  There were some pretty good thunderstorms and lightening too.  We are however getting soaken wet showing houses, so it is a good idea to pack an umbrella.  Happy trails, Kelly 06/16/2010

Spring Is Here!! Well the sun is shining again.  We had a very hard winter and a very cold, rainy spring.  Our unusual temperatures are what some are saying was normal 30 years ago. I don't know about that.  All I can say is it was a tough one and with all the moisture I have never seen the fields so gorgeous. It looks like my grape plants are coming up finally but the lavender didn't do so well (its not really supposed to grow here at all).  I finally cut the three varieties of rhubarb I am growing at the farm.  They are all delicious.  Be careful if you have horses though.  The amount of rain and now the sun has caused several horses to founder.  Typically there is not enough sugar in the grass to founder a horse, but this year is not that way.  I know my horses are back in the paddoc... 06/08/2010

Price: $40,000 FIZBER.com ID 14505523 Acreage/Land with in Lot 3B Triview Loop Great falls, MT, 59405 http://www.fizber.com/14505523/ Lot 3B Triview Loop - For Sale By Owner Property Details: Type: Acreage/Land Address: Lot 3B Triview Loop, Great falls, MT, 59405 Sq footage: 0.0 Floors: n/a Bathrooms: 0.0 Bedrooms: 0 Year built: 0 View full property details and seller's contacts. View more Montana homes for sale. Homes for Sale by Owner. Description: Great views of Little Belts, Highwood and Rocky Mountain Front. 10 Beautiful new homes in subdivision. Covenants are enforced and the area is well kept. Located 10 minutes from Great Falls, 2 miles West of airport. Power and phone to the lot line. 02/18/2010

Price: $258,000 FIZBER.com ID 13970444 Single Family with 4 bed, 2.0 bath, in 3805 4th St NE Great falls, MT, 59404 http://www.fizber.com/13970444/ 3805 4th St NE - For Sale By Owner Property Details: Type: Single Family Address: 3805 4th St NE, Great falls, MT, 59404 Sq footage: 2300.0 Floors: n/a Bathrooms: 2.0 Bedrooms: 4 Year built: 2003 View full property details and seller's contacts. View more Montana homes for sale. Homes for Sale by Owner. Description: Amazing Montana Views with an Alley Easement for RV or Boat parking!! Custom Built Multi-Level Home in Riverview (new addition) 4 Bedrooms, 2 Full Bathrooms Built in 2003 with Tons of Upgrades Open/Spacious Floor Plan Approx. 2300 sq .ft. Berber Carpet, Ceramic and Hardwood Floors Cherry Wood Cabinets w/ Corian Counter Tops Fami... 01/22/2010

Well I have to tell you that I didn't really think it would happen.  Spring is here.  Yes we got snow again this morning but it warmed up to about 60 degrees F today and most trees are budding out.  The three feet of snow we got a week and a half ago made me think that winter was never going to leave. For those of you who are not familiar with Great Falls, Montana or might consider moving here you should know that for over the past 10 years we have experienced a severe drought.  We have had record moisture this "spring" beating records from the turn of the century.  We had a hard winter this year too with more snow than any of us can remember.  I do love Great Falls though.  Yes it is also windy, but it is a nice dry climate and the townfolk are really very nice.  We have a huge number ... 05/13/2009

Here is a little tidbit about Great Falls Montana that I read yesterday.  Forbes has ranked the top 200 "Best Small Places for Business and Careers" for 2009.  Believe it or not our city Great Falls was ranked 85th in the nation.  Forbes bases the criteria on the cost of doing business, projected job growth and education.  Wow!!!  We know we have one of the best real estate markets because we have not suffered any price reductions like other areas in the U.S.  I sort of think of it like we are always in the toilet and when the national economy bottoms out it doesn't really affect us here.  Our average priced home is about $150,000 I am not sure it can bottom out below that.  The other side is that you cannot make huge fortunes here like in other areas either by flipping houses.  That ex... 04/04/2009

How cool is this?  Interest is so low.  Wow.  I guess we are bucking all the trends with new low rates.  Here in Montana we don't have very many foreclosures (like one per 7500 homes) so our prices haven't taken the proverbial dip like in other areas.  We are lucky, but this is also not the place to shop for blue light specials on houses either.  Homes that are dated are taking the biggest hit here, but that is the norm when they start out overpriced.  If houses are priced right they sell in almost all price ranges.  Of course our average home price is $140,000.  Happy house hunting. Kelly 01/13/2009

Hello everyone, The Holiday Season is fast approaching.  Please don't forget that rescued dogs and other animals need help too.  Often animal shelters and rescue organization are overlooked this time of year.  There are really great people out there who foster rescued dogs and the rescue organizations work on very limited budgets.  In some cases there is hardly a budget at all.  Nice people just help these dogs because no one else will.  I beg you all, please help in some way this Holiday Season.  Donate to your local shelter or favorite breed animal rescue organization.  Most donations are tax deductible.  Please don't forget the animals.  I adopted a 4yr old English Mastiff in July.  He was starving and looked like he was 100.  His name is Moses and he is the sweetest boy.  He has gai... 11/30/2008

  This graph shows the historical data of where interest rates were in 1963 and where they are now in 2008. They might be headed up so do your research and decide if now is the time for you to buy. Educated buyers make better buying decisions.  Become an educated buyer.    11/11/2008

Real Estate Tax Bill are being mailed out here in Great Falls.  Remember to check if your taxes and insurance are escrowed by your mortgage lender/bank.  I get lots of questions this time of year about, "Wow, I just got a bill ... and I thought my taxes are escrowed".  I always remind my clients that they should double check to be sure, but in most cases both real estate taxes and insurance are escrowed.  That simply means that your bank or mortgage company pays them on your behalf because you pay into the escrow account every month.    If you think there are errors or you are being taxed too much, you can always visit with our County Treasurer and also petition to have them reduced.  Our tax people here are pretty nice overall and usually willing to listen.  If your taxes are not escro... 11/05/2008

The bulk of my market is single family residential.  I do and have sold many million dollar listings.  The inexperienced may think that million dollar listings here in Montana should be treated the same as $100,000 listings.  Whether it be a home or a ranch a million dollar listing requires special attention and marketing.  My philosophy is no different but marketing techniques sure are.   The various avenues you market a million dollar listing to, to be sure you are targeting the right audience, makes a difference if you want to do your duty to your seller to get the most exposure.  It just amazes me when I see posts from new agents and brokers who think all markets are the same for every listing.  On the other hand that is good for me.  LOL.  Kelly 10/14/2008

Well, as we are fast approaching fall and the "election" I must remind myself to prepare for the upcoming Holidays and winter.  This makes me think of all the neat things I actually got done this past spring and summer and trips I want to plan. Despite what many of my out of state and out of country friends think, Great Falls is really not the end of the earth.  lOl. First we have several airlines that fly into Great Falls now.  This year we were even blessed with the addition of more direct flights to Las Vegas.  We can get to Denver, Minneapolis, Seattle and Salt Lake very easily and those destinations get us everywhere.  I have to fly to Toronto on business this fall and I really want to take my daughter to Sea World.  The great thing is I can get everywhere now, without much hassle ... 09/10/2008

Okay, here is the thing with our housing market.  We do not have all the wild excitement of other markets, so we don't have big highs and big lows in real estate here in Great Falls, Montana.  Our market is pretty boring, as it just plugs along.  So when people ask me how we are dong, because the national real estate market is bottoming out, I respond, " oh well it's just the same as usual".  Great Falls, Montana is a super place to live.  There are many things to do both in the summer and in the winter and we have many historic sites, which makes it interesting for history buffs.  Lewis and Clark came through here on their expedition and we also have the renown Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center.  It is a terrific resource and educational center and if you haven't been there you shoul... 07/31/2008