Wanda's Blog From Billings, Montana

I saw an ad in the newspaper about a book signing in Red Lodge Montana about a week ago and decided to get my husband and head 60 miles to the southeast of Billings and check out these "vintage trailers".

I'm so impressed, and so excited to work on my own trailer now.  These gals know how to find friends and have a good time, hopefully I can get my act together and saddle up my own outfit and hit the trail with these gals.

There is a website that shows over 400 pictures of sisters on the fly trailers, some have great paint jobs!  Check out their website at www.sistersonthefly.com.

I'm really trying to figure out how I can jazz up my own 23 foot 5th wheel trailer.  The kitchenette is going away and I'm gonna put 2 lightweight recliners in their place and bolt them to the floor.  After a hard day hiking and huckleberry picking, those dinnette benches are just awful to sit in.

I need a name for my trailer, I'm thinking chicken coop, I'll have at least one "chick" and one "rooster" in this outfit.  Apparently there are "couples" activities on occasions.

1656 Roadrunner Place, Billings Montana 59102--Condo For Sale--Priced at only $108,000.

West end location with views of the Rimrocks and the water in the irrigation ditch.  Click here for virtual tour!

When you live in a condo community, having the advantage of a little privacy is a luxury!  Call me for a personal showing if this is something that would work for you!

The main level includes a living room graced by a gas fireplace as well as the eat in kitchen with warm wood cabinetry.  A large pantry is handy next to the kitchen!  A half bath is located on this main level.  Follow the stairs to the upper level hallway.  A main bath including a tiled shower/tub area is handy for the two upper level bedrooms.

The master bedroom enjoys a large patio door that opens out onto a balcony.  The balcony is shaded by Quaking Aspens just to the west.  A large closet expands across an entire wall for all of those clothes and shoes.

A second bedroom just down the hall enjoys the same views as the master bedroom.

From the main floor, follow the stairs down to the basement level which opens up into a large utility room where the washer and dryer are located.  Plenty of room for storage, maybe a peice of exercise equipment or a sewing area.

A third bedroom, non-egress in this basement is very large and has a very long closet for even more clothes.

This condo also enjoys a single detached garage just down the walkway.

Condo fees are $120 per month which includes the outside maintenance and insurance, water, lawn-care and snow removal.  A separate paint fund for the entire complex is growing by the contributions of $75 extra per month until September of 2011. 

For a complete review of the condo documents and the minutes of the last meeting, please email me @  wanda@mymontanahomestead.com for details.

 

5711 Scandia Road in Shepherd Montana is the location of a big log home for sale on 4.8 acres.  This home is offered for $250,000 which is a great deal for over 4,600 square feet including a double tuck under garage.

This horse property is located just a few miles north of Shepherd Montana, accessed by a paved road.  The school bus stops right in front of the driveway. The Shepherd School System, the Shepherd Elementary, Shepherd Junior High and the Shepherd High School are all located on the same campus in this rural community.  Just imagine having your school age children all in the same location for in-school and after school activities!  The graduating class size for the last few years from the Shepherd High School has been 60 to 80 students. 

This big log home has a total of 5 bedrooms featuring the master suite with a large walk-in closet.  3 bedrooms upstairs and 2 bedrooms on the lower walk-out level, one lower level bedroom non-egress.  2 Full baths up and 1 full bath down.

Please check out this link to the virtual tour, which has a good collection of pictures of both the home and the land-- virtual tour.

 

 

Where were you?  At the Homesteader Days Celebration, that's where!

This annual event highlights the strong heritage of this farming community.  People out on the Project, and those who've had the misfortune of having to move away, seem to migrate back to the homestead for a weekend of family fun and get togethers.

My Mother In Law, Shirley Thomas, grew up on the Project.  She now supervises the Old Schoolhouse part of the Huntley Project Museum, very fitting since she is a retired School Teacher!   A board of volunteers organizes this event for the benefit of the local community, you can find out more about the Museum at this link.

For Friday's program, check out the map below for directions to the center of the activities at the Osborn Park on Hwy 312 between the little town of Huntley (with the big heart) and the little town of Worden (home of a really good football team).

Friday Evening, July 9, 2010

5:30  Gates open, vendors are ready to serve you, show tickets $30 at the gate

7       Johnny Lee and the Copper Mountain Band

8       Mark Chesnutt

10      Bucky Beaver Ground Grippers

Caution!!!  Dancing and general happiness breaks out at these shindigs.  Bring your chairs, blankets and cushions, but buy your refreshments from the vendors at good prices, served with a smile!

Saturday July 10, 2010

8 am   Gates Open

10       Parade!!!   Theme "Stake Your Claim On The Project"  Museum of Irrigated Agriculture open

11      Beer Gardens open (bring your designated driver if you plan to drink and leave, safety first).  Some people drive from other States just to participate in this event, and to eat the food!  I'm not kidding, the BBQ Beef and Chicken are famous around here!

All Day   Kids carnival, bingo, craft show and sale, Museum indoors and out!

3pm    Duck Race

6pm  Live music begins again with Johnny Lee and the Copper Mountain Band

10pm Fireworks begin at dark

Click the link to the map below for directions.  If you get off of Interstate 94 at the Huntley Exit just East of Billings Montana, you can't miss the fun!

 

Enjoy

 

View Homesteader Days on the Project in a larger map

We have 1, count that 1 Representative from the Big Sky Country State of Montana, and he's suing the local Billings Fire Department!  This whole episode has actually made National News today and I've got to ask "Denny, what the hell are you thinking?"  You're up for re-election this year?  Seriously, you thought this was a good time to sue your local HERO's at the Fire Department? 

Now get this:  FOR LOSS OF TREES AND UNDERCOVER ON PROPERTY THAT WAS TO BE DEVELOPED IN THE REHBERG RANCH SUBDIVISION. 

Perhaps Denny missed the whole "New Home Sale Slowdown" data and thought that since he's had trouble selling his lots, he might as well take another route to make a few bucks. 

I feel a pain, a really big pain in my gut for all of my friends who live in the Rehberg Ranch Estates Subdivision, this kind of negative news doesn't do much for their property values.  Seems there's been one mishap after another in this subdivision; mostly concerning rules and regulations as well as promised (but undelivered) improvements and amenities.  It's really too bad, because the setting and the ideas for this subdivision's use have been really cool.

I'm also wondering who the Rehberg's are gonna sue when the Pine Beetles destroy the feature of this subdivision, the trees!  Maybe they'll go after the Forest Service for not keeping the Pine Beetles under control!

Let's just get this straight, you build a subdivision in a wildfire prone area, and in July 2008 a wildfire starts and burns trees and undergrowth.  The local Firefighters come and defend property and people (no homes burned, but they could have).  Now you turn around and sue the taxpayers (who fund the insurance and wages of Firefighters) for incompetence in fighting fire. 

Buddy, you may have just shut down future development for your constituents who had hoped to be annexed into the City in the future. Can you just hear the discussion at the Planning and Development meetings as well as the City Council?  This annexing stuff is tough enough without adding this kind of nonsense to the mix.  Must you also force the taxpayers to defend themselves when fighting fire on your property?

How about you take a better role in your State and work to save your local taxpayers money by NOT suing them!

 

The Alkali Creek neighborhood has excellent and easy access to walking paths and hiking trails. 

 

 

 

It's easy to forget this little neighborhood exists, unless you live there!  The main street Alkali Creek Road, leads to a few side streets of residential homes, but otherwise there's not that much traffic.  Walkers and bikers have good options for paved paths along Alkali Creek Road with connections to the main BikeNet paths of the entire city coming soon:  click here to connect to the Aronson bike path connection.

There is some serious Alkali Creek verses Road Construction going on just before you get to this Bridge at Aronson Road.  Alkali Creek road had some erosion, serious erosion, and is undergoing some much needed repairs.  The outcome should benefit all of the traffic on this road by the end of the summer, walkers, bikers and cars!

 

 

For those who prefer a bit more of a rustic bike ride or more of a nature type trail, check out the Alkali Creek Nature Trail located right next to the Alkali Creek Elementary School.  You can cruise along the creek and up under the Rimrocks.  Keep a lookout for those wonderful nature animals; birds, deer, muskrats, mountain lions, and snakes!  Yes, all kinds of wildlife enjoy this trail as well as the more civilized human varieties!

Homes in the Alkali Creek area can be found with lots backing right up to the creek and scattered up into the crevases of little valleys tucked under the protective Rimrocks.  This area has seen some areas of newer development lately, but mostly the area is established with mature lawns and trees.

The average home that sold in the past 12 months was about 2,700 square feet, it had 4 bedrooms and 2 baths and sold for on average $237,000 after an average of 51 days on the market.  Homes in this area don't come up for sale that often and anything that is in good condition and priced well has an excellent chance of selling in a very reasonable amount of time.

It only takes about 10 minutes to get from this little valley to the downtown area, very short commute!

Montana has authorized beneficiary deeds as a way for people to transfer their real property upon their death.

When signing up for an IRA or some type of retirement venue, I have always been asked the question, "who is your beneficiary(s)?, or how do you want to transfer your assets upon your death?" 

Interesting that when people take title to real property, no one asks that question????

My interest was peaked by the headline for Montana PBS station's Montana Ag Program, "beneficiary deeds allow owners of real property in Montana to transfer at death without probate their property to one or more beneficiaries".  If you haven't seen this show, you really should, the host is hilarious.

Our Montana State University Extension programs provide us with updated self-learning resources on their websites, specifically MontGuides.  I love them!  They address many estate and family issues in a way that I cannot find any where else.  I use these handouts in my real estate business, especially the one about "property ownership" in Montana, which covers how parties can take title to real property.

This MontGuide is titled Beneficiary Deeds in Montana, and I'll hit some highlights for you:

• Authorized by the 2007 Montana Legislature
• Pertains to real property in Montana only, land, including whatever is erected, growing on or affixed  to it, such as homes, garages, or other building, fences, water systems (unless removable), mineral deposits and standing uncut timber.
• The beneficiary deed is one in which the owner conveys an interest in Montana real property to a grantee beneficiary effective upon the owner's death.
• The beneficiary can be anyone the owner decides upon including children, spouse, relatives, friends, charitable organizations or trusts
  
• The beneficiary deed does not supersede a joint ownership with right of survivorship
• The deed must be recorded with the clerk and recorder in the Montana county where the property is located before the death of the owner

You can read the details of this deed in the MontGuide and see if it's something you may want to consider for your Real Property in Montana.  It is estimated that 70% of Montanan's do not have a will.  If a person dies without a will, their assets will be distributed according to Montana intestate statutes, through the probate process.

An attorney familiar with estate planning can give you legal advice about what your best options are.

Just Listed for $145,000

This may be just the home for you, especially if you need a big garage to put some of your toys!  This subdivision is located West of Amend Park in a nice little community surrounding a park. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check out the newly refinished hardwood floors, bright and shinny!  Three bedrooms with hardwood floors on the west side of the house. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fenced backyard with a water feature for summer enjoyment.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cook up your favorite meals right here in this kitchen with new counter-top and flooring.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plenty of room for parking and working in this huge garage/shop.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Email me for more information  wanda@mymontanahomestead.com

 

Read this now, before you have a fender bender on icy roads in Billings.  After the roads have iced up, the news lets us know that the Billings Police Department has instituted it's "Slick Street Policy".  Pretty much, it means, if there's no one injured, get out of the way because the Police must prioritize their response and go to injury accidents first.  My question was, then what?  I emailed the Billings Police Department and got some clarification from Sgt Kevin Iffland, Administrative Sergeant.  Thanks Sgt Iffland!

 

Wanda,

The following is the Billings Police Department Policy on "High Accident Days" also has been referred to as Slick Streets Policy. If you have further questions please feel free to contact me.

High Accident Days:

A. If the Commander finds he does not have the ability to investigate all accidents during a

shift, he can issue an Accident Alert and limit accident investigations to those accidents

that have:

1. Serious personal injuries;

2. Reports of DUI Drivers; and

3. Accidents with disabled vehicles.

 

B. The Commander will notify the Communications Center that he is issuing an Accident

Alert for the City of Billings. The Communication Center will use their procedure for

alerting local media organizations. The Commander will notify agency personnel and any

relieving Commander about the existence of the alert.

 

C. The Commander who cancels the Accident Alert will notify the Communications Center

and agency employees. The Communications Center will follow their procedure for

canceling the alert.

 

D. If accidents are not investigated, the persons should be advised to fill out a Montana

Highway Patrol Vehicle Accident Report (“White Form”). The report can be obtained at

City Hall.

 

Just lately I was showing a country property when the buyer asked the question "where does the water for the house come from?  And where does it go when you're done with it?"  While I'm quite comfortable with country plumbing, I could tell the buyer was really working hard to visualize what the heck I was talking about.

 

Link to Montana State University Website Video

This video is about 16 minutes long and is very well done.  I have started to direct inquires about country living to this page online.  I hope you enjoy it.

There are some parts of our rural country side where no matter how big your well driller rig is, you may not find drinkable water.  Not the best situation, but living with water saving devises and having water hauled to an underground tank near your home can work very well. 

Many people think that Montana has unlimited water resources, this is very far from truth. In many parts of the Yellowstone Valley, water can be found in the ground at only 5 or 6 feet.  Just up the hill, the water may not be found for 700 feet!

The cost of well drilling is often a big consideration in the domestic water plan for a home.  A home with a well sells faster and for more money than one without!