Happy New Year! I hope that 2014 was a great year for you and that 2015 will prove to be even better. Things are hot around the valley right now. Many people make New Year’s Resolutions this time of the year, and I think January is a great time to start making goals for the New Year, especially those goals relating to Real Estate.

If you’re still renting and watching the market pass you by, this is a great time to get your financial ducks in a row and make a goal to get into your own home. While home prices have been rising around town, rents have been rising as well. Even with the appreciation our market has seen, most people find mortgage payments to be less expensive then renting. A great first step is to meet with a lender and see what steps would be necessary in order to get pre approved.

For those households with a growing family, 2015 may be the year to sell and get into something larger and more comfortable. Rising home prices have afforded many families the opportunity to sell their first home and get into their dream home. Winter is a great time of year to start prepping for the big selling season that is just around the corner.

Take a look around your home and make a resolution to tackle projects that need to be finished up. Winter evenings are also a great time to start de-cluttering. De-cluttering your home prior to putting it on the market affords the most cost effective means of preparing your home for sale and getting top dollar.
Whatever your resolution, I wish a Happy New Year and a prosperous
2015 to you!

Look for my article in next month’s issue for a recap off the 2014 Real Estate Market. As usual, I have included data for the number of homes sold in Bozeman during the first 11 months of 2014. In addition to the 819 homes sold during this time period, another 95 homes are currently pending, or under contract, as of the date of writing this article.

The included data reflects sales of homes on less than and more than 1 acre in the greater Bozeman area, including Four Corners, Gallatin Gateway, Bridger Canyon, and Bozeman city limits. The data includes home sales reported through the local Southwest Montana MLS, and does not include private party sales, Condominiums, or Townhouses.