Wanda's Blog From Billings, Montana

This past summer during my gym exercise, I overheard many local teachers discussing their plans to pull up roots and move to Uruguay in South America.  Sounded like an interesting migration; cheaper cost of living, practically free health care (touted to be better than USA) and just a relief from the "nightmare in School District 2".

Like many school systems around the country, the largest one in Montana, School District 2 in Billings, is facing budget troubles.  The leader of any school district, legislative district, State or Country can have a hard time keeping their job in a tough economy. 

The local school board for District 2 experienced a huge increase in public comment and input during the last few months leading up to the forced departure of the superintendent.  People were gathered together, carrying signs and chanting their cause. 

The school board members, an all volunteer force, were discussing how upset people were and what they could do about it.  It would be fair to say that there was not overall agreement in the school board group about what the cause of the dissent was among the teachers, administration and the public.  In fact, many feathers were being ruffled from several sides.  SD2 Trustees voted to terminate the Superintendent's contract and buy him out.

This whole time, during the public school board meetings, we never heard from the superintendent.  He was there, sitting, with his lips zipped.  He did bring an attorney, which is perfectly reasonable, but still, why so quiet?  Could this be part of the problem?  Communication skills, zip? 

I hope the job search for the next superintendent includes the criteria of "great communicator".  Maybe you need a couple of people to serve in this job, or at least a "press secretary" who can communicate to the public.

A skilled administrator cannot lead without being a good communicator.  People are much more willing to forgive shortfalls if they "feel" like their leader is driving them down the right road.  Sometimes you have to take a couple of turns, but if the pack doesn't know why you're going down that different road, they'll think you're on the wrong one!

Uruguay is a long way from Billings Montana.  We need seasoned teachers in our district, after all, we have some of the highest testing students in the country right here.  They didn't get that way without good teachers, administrators, board and public.

This is just my humble opinion :)

The Quilting Realtor

Many Dream Of Living In Montana I'm One of the Lucky One's That Already Do! Wanda Thomas 2wandathomas@gmail.com Call or Text 406-698-8640 for help with all things Montana. Local MLS Search Link

I took this picture of a real bird (house)'s eye view of the Yellowstone River from a log home for sale just east of Billings Montana.  The road is named Bald Eagle Road and while we were viewing this log home listing, right on cue, a Bald Eagle flew right in front of us on it's way to fish in the Yellowstone.

I think it's only fair to mention that this is not riverfront property, there is a railroad track down next to the river.  However, this view is really not to hard to take, lots of wildlife all day long.  Tonight you'll be able to see the Northern Lights on the horizon, looking in the very same direction.

If you want more info on log homes for sale in our area, just email me here 2wandathomas@gmail.com.

The Quilting Realtor

Many Dream Of Living In Montana I'm One of the Lucky One's That Already Do! Wanda Thomas 2wandathomas@gmail.com Call or Text 406-698-8640 for help with all things Montana. Local MLS Search Link

The Yellowstone County Extension Service helps to organize a 3 day event for Sewing and Crafty people who love to see and learn new things.

Quilting, Serging, Machine and Hand Embroidery, Jewelry Making and garment construction; all under one roof!

You get to hang out with like minded people!  You get to try skills you already have and learn a few new ones!

The cost is so affordable, I don't know how they do this, except for the great support of sponsors and teachers!

You can click this link to take you to our Yellowstone County Website onto the Extension Service page for the full brochure and some pictures of the finished products from some of the classes.  You'll need some basic sewing supplies, and some classes feature projects that you can do right in the class, but you need to purchase the kits in order to have the right stuff.

Have you thought about sewing up a few children's clothes lately?  I know we have rekindled a huge interest in sewing for children just because the things you can make are so darn cute and special!

Here's a couple of pictures of some fun skirts one of the teachers, Nancy Sasse, will have during class #54 on Saturday October 1 in the Dress Form Room of the Shrine Auditorium on Broadwater Avenue.

Lots of fun fabrics in this skirt, many more to choose from, and surprisingly easy to make! 

You can find the fabrics and the pattern at Nancy's website, some fabrics will be available for purchase right at the Rocky Mountain Sewing and Craft Festival in the vendor's section!

The Quilting Realtor

Many Dream Of Living In Montana I'm One of the Lucky One's That Already Do! Wanda Thomas 2wandathomas@gmail.com Call or Text 406-698-8640 for help with all things Montana. Local MLS Search Link

Chivalry still obvious in Billings Montana.

Just driving up on top of the Rimrocks (high bench above the Yellowstone Valley) when low and behold I see a stranded motorist.  The strandies were two women and right behind them was parked a white dodge pickup, and I'm assuming that the nice looking bald headed fella with the tire iron in his hand stopped to help these ladies with a mechanical ailment!

I guess it just did my heart a little good to drive by and see this kind of helpful thing going on.  We have our a####le drivers around here too, and they usually get the most negative attention, at least from me, but I'm always struck with a smile when I see someone helping another.

Random acts of kindness beget random acts of kindness.

The Quilting Realtor

Many Dream Of Living In Montana I'm One of the Lucky One's That Already Do! Wanda Thomas 2wandathomas@gmail.com Call or Text 406-698-8640 for help with all things Montana. Local MLS Search Link

Under $200,000!  That just goes along with affordability and availability in our region. Billings Montana is an attractive place to live, and one of the most affordable home markets in the country.

About 93 homes per month are selling under the $200,000 compared to about 44 homes per month over $200,000.

It's a Price War and A Beauty Contest out there right now.  Buyers have a keen eye for value, they have more information and pictures than they ever had to help them make their decisions. 

We still have trouble selling homes that are overpriced, in fact, less than 35% of all the homes listed actually sell right now, compared to a more normal market of about 50%.

Well Priced Home + Attractive Features = SOLD!

Have a look at the price ranges to see what activity there is.

The Quilting Realtor

Many Dream Of Living In Montana I'm One of the Lucky One's That Already Do! Wanda Thomas 2wandathomas@gmail.com Call or Text 406-698-8640 for help with all things Montana. Local MLS Search Link

Yellowstone County, Number 7 of Yahoo's America's Best Affordable Places, 2011!  I didn't realize we had it this good around here!  Maybe that's why I never want to leave!

I'm not sure how this information is analyzed, but I do think that spreading the word about our town, you know, bragging a bit, is a really good thing.  We've had a bit of a hard winter and spring, more rain that we're used to, but all an all, we have it pretty good around here.

Our unemployment rate is all the way up to 6.3%, which is pretty high for us, we're usually under 5%.  We have seen more growth in business than many places.  Our construction for residential is chugging along, but at a much slower pace than the last 10 years. Our average home price is less than $200,000.

Our neighborhoods are pretty stable and walkable.  Most people have some connection with the outdoors, hiking, fishing, skiing, snowmobiling, 4 wheeling, horseback riding.  Our recreation is really right outside our front doors, or at least not that far from home.

Our medical community is very good, many seniors have moved to our area just for the best regional care for miles.  Some of the best physician's in the country live right here, it's a good place to raise families!

Montana is home to less than 1 million people, and we're a very large state.  Stop by and visit sometime!

The Quilting Realtor

Many Dream Of Living In Montana I'm One of the Lucky One's That Already Do! Wanda Thomas 2wandathomas@gmail.com Call or Text 406-698-8640 for help with all things Montana. Local MLS Search Link

The Billings Police Department will host a "Drug Disposal" at Rimrock Mall for anyone who wants to clean out that medicine cabinet of unused and old prescription drugs.  It's not good to put them down the toilet or into the trash.  Once collected, the Police in cooperation with the DEA incinerate them.  The time is from 10am to 2pm, on Saturday April 30, 2011 as well as 30 other sites all over the State.

Last year they collected almost 1,000 pounds of the stuff.  There are at least 30 other sites around the State of Montana hosting the same collection, you can find out about your town at the DEA website, just plug in your city or town and see if you're a collection site.

Don't forget to check with your other family members, let them know that if they miss this time, there'll be 2 maybe 3 more collection dates this year.

Remember to keep close tabs on the meds you do have, especially the strong pain pills.  Unfortunately, too many Montanan's have abused these, often found in the medicine cabinets of friends and relatives.

The Quilting Realtor

Many Dream Of Living In Montana I'm One of the Lucky One's That Already Do! Wanda Thomas 2wandathomas@gmail.com Call or Text 406-698-8640 for help with all things Montana. Local MLS Search Link

I was watching one of the morning shows this weekend and Suze Orman was talking about her newest book on personal finance.  She had 3 major points, and the one I listened to the most was about home buying.

She said that a home buyer should only buy in this market if they have 20% down and 8 months of expenses in the bank.  This is actually nearly the case for how my family has purchased our last 3 homes, but it wasn't the case for my first home.  I also think it's a bit of a stretch for many first time home buyers to reach this saving goal. 

Right now, rent is very similar to a house payment, and in some cases even more.  Our home prices in the Billings Montana market has decreased since this recession, anywhere from 3 to 10% (some neighborhoods even more).  We count ourselves fairly lucky, as far as prices go, but I am wondering if prices will continue to fall this year.  I don't anticipate rents decreasing!

I think this is a great time for first time homebuyers to purchase, and I do agree with the concept of downpayment and some saved living expenses, but I don't know that I agree with the Suze Orman tout in my region.  Our unemployment levels in our state are closer to 7.4%, and as low as 5.5% in Yellowstone County over the last couple of years.  Our ups and downs in our home sale markets tend to be smaller peaks and shallow valleys.  We just tend to respond a little behind the boom parts of our Country.

I don't have a crystal ball, but I would think that someone with a decent credit score, a good job, a good debt to income ratio and a desire to purchase with the intent to stay for 4 or more years, can probably do well in this market.

First time home buyers are the juice for many markets, because homeownership is a strong desire for many. 

I'd hope that the first time homebuyers of the recent past and the future will find themselves in the same position my family is in right now, in middle age, we have a strong equity position in the home we love.  To pay off a home is actually a good goal!

I love home buyers with big downpayments, don't get me wrong, but we all start somewhere!

The Quilting Realtor

Many Dream Of Living In Montana I'm One of the Lucky One's That Already Do! Wanda Thomas 2wandathomas@gmail.com Call or Text 406-698-8640 for help with all things Montana. Local MLS Search Link

The College Subdivision in Billings Montana is located between Poly and Rimrock Roads.  The streets are appropriately named Yale, Harvard and Princeton.

Most of the homes in this neighborhood were built in the 1940's and 1950's featuring traditional ranch and cottage styles.  You're likely to find period features such as galley kitchens and wood floors in most of the homes.  Attached garages were just starting to catch on during this construction period, but few had access right into the home.

The average home price range for sales for the year of 2010 in the College Sub was $164,830 with the average number of days on the market at 53 (that's pretty darn good around here).

Most of these homes have 3 bedrooms (basement level may not be egress) and 1 bath.  The 2 bath homes seem to sell for the higher prices.  The average home size that sold last year was 1,898 square feet, many of these homes have basements.

This subdivision sits right between two centers for higher education, Rocky Mountain College and Montana State University Billings.  One of the best things about this subdivision is that the residential streets are pretty quiet, with quick access to main connector roads to the north, south and west.

Not far to the south east is the Hospital Corridor, aptly named because this area (just north of the downtown) is the main hub for the 2 largest hospitals in the region Saint Vincent Healthcare, and The Billings Clinic.  Close at hand are several outpatient Surgery centers and many medical testing and physician services.

If you'd like more information about homes for sale in this subdivision, just give me a call or email and we'll explore what's available for you.

The Quilting Realtor

Many Dream Of Living In Montana I'm One of the Lucky One's That Already Do! Wanda Thomas 2wandathomas@gmail.com Call or Text 406-698-8640 for help with all things Montana. Local MLS Search Link

One of the major landmarks of the Billings Montana landscape is the prominent rock formations called the Rims.  Years of natural erosion from the mighty Yellowstone River has carved a lovely valley for us to enjoy.

Living in the shadow of "The Rims" many homeowners enjoy views of the Yellowstone Valley, the Beartooth Mountains and the Pryor Mountains.  Unfortunately, on a very rare occasion, one of those Rimrocks will dislodge from it heights above these homes and travel dangerously down, sometimes right into someone's home. 

There is an argument about responsibility for this tragedy, some say the city of Billings has responsibility, others say that homeowners take the risk in order to enjoy the location.  But what do you do if you have a home in this shadow now, or want to purchase one in the future?  Casey McGowan from Western States Insurance just sent us an email that may offer people a little help.

"After the rock slide that caused damage to the house under the rims, we had quite a few people calling in to see if they could get coverage for this through an insurance policy.  What we found was that it is excluded in all policies and the rock slide is considered earth movement like Earthquake and therefore excluded.
 
We contacted all of our carriers and none of them provided an option for this, so we partnered with one of them to develop an exclusive product to offer our clients and attract prospective new clients who may have a rock slide exposure.
 
We now have a product to sell, and thought it might be of value to you if you had a perspective client that was looking at a home under the rims but was concerned about a rock slide… we can now offer a policy to protect them from that.
 
The first one we wrote was a bit spendy, but I am guessing it will be a pretty good average to use… for a $450,000 house the annual premium was $2,000 with a $1,000 deductible
 
Feel free to share with your peeps…"

I didn't know we weren't protected from earthquakes either, did you?

The Quilting Realtor

Many Dream Of Living In Montana I'm One of the Lucky One's That Already Do! Wanda Thomas 2wandathomas@gmail.com Call or Text 406-698-8640 for help with all things Montana. Local MLS Search Link