Choosing the Right Real Estate Agent

 

It’s a big deal. Seriously. It could mean actually purchasing the home of your dreams, the home you never really wanted, or maybe even having the deal fall through all together (not to mention the emotional stress and turmoil it could potentially put you through).

I was inspired to write this blog after having some in depth conversations with one of my closest friends. She is currently under contract on her home, while also being under contract on the home she and her husband fell in love with. I just got off the phone with her (well- Marco Polo….it’s the new thing) and she is terminating her contract with her Realtor as well as the contract on the home they were wanting to purchase (and for good, legal reasons as well).

It all comes down to the beginning; she never really resonated or “jived” with her in the first place.  Long story very short, her Realtor represented both sides of the transaction and did not have my friend’s best interest in mind. It got so bad that her agent ended up spraying bleach to “mitigate” the serious mold issue in the crawl space of their new potential home instead of requesting that the seller hire a professional to attend to the job. Crucial contract dates were not met and the lack of communication was…well….lacking, substantially.

My point is this: make sure you are hiring someone you completely resonate with, like and TRUST. This is most likely the biggest financial transaction and life change you will ever make and having the right agent by your side is crucial in making it the experience you want and need it to be. Don’t settle for less, trust your gut and do your research to back it up!

Billings Montana Schools

Montana Winter Wonderland

As a real estate agent here in Billings, MT I think the most commonly asked question I get from my relocating clients is “How is the weather?” which really translates to “How freaking cold are the winters?”. I mean, we do live in the Northwest so you can expect to invest in a warm coat, gloves, ear muffs, hand warmers and a face mask (OK- it’s not THAT bad…most of the time).

Billings typically has more mild winters than other areas in Montana. We also tend to get less snow and stay a bit warmer. Having said that, this year has definitely been on the frigid side and we have been dumped with the snow. I personally LOVE all of the snow and am still giddy about it even though we are already well into January. A few weeks ago we received over 20” of snow in a 24 hour period breaking a record from 1977! We definitely had ourselves a very White Christmas.

Our sleds from last year took a turn for the worse, so my 6 year old daughter and I had to get creative since we desperately wanted to go sledding (and we weren’t going to wait around for a trip to the store).  Although it was a bit tricky to figure out how we could blast down the hill together on my husband’s old snowboard, we quickly figured it out and flew down our neighborhood coulee laughing hysterically- frozen tears and all.

We have about 3 more months before it starts warming up around here, so we are going to make the best of it and enjoy our beautiful winter wonderland.

And yes- do invest in a warm coat (and everything else I mentioned above, just to be safe ;) ).

Work it out at the YMCA!

Montana Microbrews and Wine!

Why is Billings named the Magic City?

When I first moved to Billings I was always curious as to why I kept hearing the term “The Magic City.” I always assumed it was because it’s just  flat-out a great place to be, but there is a story behind that name.
Billings is located on the banks of the Yellowstone river and was considered merely a “tent town” until is was founded as a railroad town in March of 1882. The railroad changed this small town into a thriving urban metropolis practically overnight, which was truly a magical thing. Billings is  still known to be one of the largest distribution centers in Montana, all thanks to the railroad. 
The Billings Depot was built in 1909 and was the meeting house used by all three railroads that were servicing the area. It was the centerpiece of downtown Billings and was a popular venue where numerous presidents, Hollywood celebrities and even royalty would visit. The Depot has since been beautifully restored and is still a popular destination for catering events, weddings, fundraisers, Christmas concerts, corporate events and much more.  The presence of this grand, historical building creates a nostalgic atmosphere in our city, helping us keep the memories alive of what sky rocketed this amazing place.

Billings will always be magical to me, and not just for historical reasons. Since moving here I have come to know the amazing people in our community,  been on countless outdoor adventures and stood in amazement at our beautiful Montana skies. I now know why John Steinbeck wrote "I'm in love with Montana. For other states I have admiration, respect, recognition, even some affection. But with Montana it is love."

A Storms A'brewing!

One of my ultimate favorite things about where I live is that we're able to watch all the amazing storms roll in. I'm a sucker for lightning and thunder and turn into a little kid again when I see those beautiful dark clouds developing in our Montana skies. One of the most incredible storms we ever had lasted only a few minutes and soon after a brilliant rainbow appeared in the eastern sky as the sun was setting. I'm going to miss these storms as we approach fall, but then again- fall is also an incredible season and I'm so looking forward to it! Bring on the colorful trees and the pumpkin spice!