Yaak.. or other family friendly small town? (Billings, Missoula: foreclosures, homes)

[nowhereman427]

Originally Posted by MontanaGal2018

Don't move to small town Drummond. They'll eat you alive. I'm surprised I've survived 5 months here.
If you are not an inbred Montanan - you can't join the club, and...if they do accept you, question it!
Other than that, there ARE friendly towns, friendly folks, and peaceful living. Do your homework if you decide to try Montana. Me, well...I'm heading east (Montana). As a Senior, and a law-abiding citizen - I, too, would like to find that ideal little town. But, if certain small towns would rather have an inbred Montanan with a police record, eviction notice, and pot-breath over someone decent like me because I'm from another state...hey, just sayin'. Peace to you.

I would stay to the west side of Montana because of Tornado Alley.
Other than that I think we are looking for the same small town.

[mjstef]

Affordable real estate in Montana?? BAHAHAHAHAHA! Keep looking! I left after 12 years as i could not afford to buy anything that would work for my business..............

[nowhereman427]

Originally Posted by mjstef

Affordable real estate in Montana?? BAHAHAHAHAHA! Keep looking! I left after 12 years as i could not afford to buy anything that would work for my business..............

[ericsvibe]

Originally Posted by nowhereman427

His experience is different from most. He was in one of the hottest real estate markets in MT.


There is plenty of affordable real estate outside of the major towns, and away from the resort areas. Stay away from Bozeman, Kalispell, and Missoula. Plus, you can find small towns within driving distance with affordable real estate around Missoula, Billings, Bozeman, and Helena.




A family member sent me an email about cheap land down in Mississippi, going for $800.00 and acre, and tons of water, cause its all swamp. Property taxes is dirt cheap. I might one day purchase some just in case Yellowstone blows, plus there is some really good hog hunting down there. Doesn't mean I ever want to live there.

[nowhereman427]

Originally Posted by ericsvibe

His experience is different from most. He was in one of the hottest real estate markets in MT.


There is plenty of affordable real estate outside of the major towns, and away from the resort areas. Stay away from Bozeman, Kalispell, and Missoula. Plus, you can find small towns within driving distance with affordable real estate around Missoula, Billings, Bozeman, and Helena.




A family member sent me an email about cheap land down in Mississippi, going for $800.00 and acre, and tons of water, cause its all swamp. Property taxes is dirt cheap. I might one day purchase some just in case Yellowstone blows, plus there is some really good hog hunting down there. Doesn't mean I ever want to live there.

I would stay away from he larger areas of Montana. Perhaps within 10-20 miles of a population area but not in a subdivision or with neighbors right next to you. Maybe areas like Marion or Helena?

[ericsvibe]

Originally Posted by nowhereman427

I would stay away from he larger areas of Montana. Perhaps within 10-20 miles of a population area but not in a subdivision or with neighbors right next to you. Maybe areas like Marion or Helena?

Helena is unique in that the valley is very diverse. Right now, the cheapest home for sale is a 3 bed 2 bath trailer on a tiny lot in town for $27,900.00. The most expensive is a 4 bed 3 bath home with 1,340 acres for 3.3 million. All within a single valley with a population of 60,000 people.


So you can choose to live downtown, or in the north valley where most homes sit on 5 to 100 acres. You can purchase a home on one of the golf courses, or property by the lake. You can get a home on the valley floor, or purchase one in the foothills, with a commanding view of the entire valley. Or you can choose to purchase a home in the mountains, surrounded by pine trees, secluded with only a couple of neighbors. The options in Helena are endless.

[nowhereman427]

Originally Posted by ericsvibe

Helena is unique in that the valley is very diverse. Right now, the cheapest home for sale is a 3 bed 2 bath trailer on a tiny lot in town for $27,900.00. The most expensive is a 4 bed 3 bath home with 1,340 acres for 3.3 million. All within a single valley with a population of 60,000 people.


So you can choose to live downtown, or in the north valley where most homes sit on 5 to 100 acres. You can purchase a home on one of the golf courses, or property by the lake. You can get a home on the valley floor, or purchase one in the foothills, with a commanding view of the entire valley. Or you can choose to purchase a home in the mountains, surrounded by pine trees, secluded with only a couple of neighbors. The options in Helena are endless.

Secluded with little or no neighbors and no traffic or traffic signals are all ideal. A home not older than 2005 2,500+ sq ft with 1+ acres.

[NW Crow]

These are the very, very few closest matches I found for Helena on quick search https://www.zillow.com/homes/?search...ble%22:true%7D

Maybe it is different for places far enough outside Helena to not have a Helena address.

fwiw the OP indicated elsewhere that their attention had turned to Maine.

[nowhereman427]

Originally Posted by NW Crow

These are the very, very few closest matches I found for Helena on quick search https://www.zillow.com/homes/?search...ble%22:true%7D

Maybe it is different for places far enough outside Helena to not have a Helena address.

fwiw the OP indicated elsewhere that their attention had turned to Maine.

Thanks!
Is there much difference between East Helena and Helena?

[NW Crow]

By the stats, Helena's population is 4 times as dense, 2/3rds higher on rate of college graduates, about 25% higher on average income, in houses 40% more expensive.


Homes newer than 2005 are pretty uncommon in both places (about one in ten). Homes in 200-299k range in East Helena, about 7% of total and not much above that (like 2%). In Helena, about 35% are in that 200s range. 14% are more expensive, with a slim majority of those in the 300s.


So yeah, there are differences. Probably some neighborhoods that are similar but the more well to do are far more common in Helena. Both places have advantages. Depends how you weight the factors.