Moving advice??? (Billings, Great Falls, Bozeman: for rent, condos, purchase)

[Stone circus]

Me and my family are moving in April and would love some local input. We are a LDS family of four, love the outdoors and wide open space. I am a Medical Assistant and my husband is a truck driver. We need to relocate due to being closer to family (which reside in Canada). I am looking to move about 20-30 minutes outside of city center. Rent or buy?? Any suggestions on trucking companies that might be hiring? We are VOULENTEERs with our local fire/EMS and would like to continue that adventure so any help there would be appreciated

[michael11747]

Hmmm, housing will be a big challenge in this town... I would look outside the city. Realistically in town, you're going to be looking at $400k to purchase a typical 3 bed, 2 bath. You can find some condos under $300k, but they all look identical, cheaply made, and are packed together like sardines. Renting a home, if you can find one for rent here, will be even more expensive than a mortgage, I promise. Look out by Gallatin Gateway, 4 Corners, Belgrade, Springhill, Bozeman Pass Area.

If you can live out further, you can find an acreage maybe 30 minutes from town in the $400k price range. Don't know a thing about trucking companies except a guy I work with also hauls gas for a truck stop / gas station out by the freeway. That might be an option?

[patches403]

Originally Posted by Stone circus

Me and my family are moving in April and would love some local input. We are a LDS family of four, love the outdoors and wide open space. I am a Medical Assistant and my husband is a truck driver. We need to relocate due to being closer to family (which reside in Canada). I am looking to move about 20-30 minutes outside of city center. Rent or buy?? Any suggestions on trucking companies that might be hiring? We are VOULENTEERs with our local fire/EMS and would like to continue that adventure so any help there would be appreciated

Anything in particular bringing you to Bozeman vs. other cities in Montana? Do either of you already have jobs lined up? If not, the Bozeman area is one of the most expensive in Montana and you likely will have a difficult time finding housing you can afford unless you're coming with lots of cash. You both will likely also have a difficult time finding jobs.

If you want to be closer to family in Canada, Great Falls and Helena would both be closer to Canada and would have a lot more affordable housing and more job options. Billings would also have more jobs and more affordable housing.