Western Montana & Missoula Real Estate Blog & Area Information

UPDATE!!!!  JUST RECEIVED WORD: Kelsey turned herself in to authorities, she's safe and will be home soon! Thank you to everyone, we couldn't have done this without you!

Asking the ActiveRain Community for Help in Finding Our Missing 16 Year Old Daughter

Many of you who follow me or Kevin on our other social networks already know that our daughter has been missing from the Superior Montana area since 5/30/10.

She is with 2 older males, both of which have outstanding felony warrants.

She was last seen in Washington State in the Seattle/Kirkland area and in Sedro-Woolley, WA. She could still be in the Washington area or may also be in Idaho, Montana, or possibly even Oregon or California.

We are trying to get the word out as much as possible in case someone in these areas in case you see Kelsey or the other two. If you are not in the area, but know someone who is, please send this information to them as well.

They appeared on Washington's Most Wanted on Friday which can be seen here:

And here are flyers for our daughter and the other two if you can post them in a visible location, or distribute electronically:

http://www.slideshare.net/jammediagroup/documents

Our friends have set up a Facebook site for updates and leads at www.Facebook.com/FindKelseyRay.

We have hired a private investigator and are working with law enforcement across the Northwest. If you see our daughter or the other two, contact 911 or the Mineral County Sheriff's Office at 406-822-3555.

As many of you know, I started a company called JAM Media Group back in January. JAM Media Group is a New Media Marketing Company that provides:

• Wordpress Blog/Website Design,
  
• Social Media Strategy Development and Training,
  
• Custom Facebook Pages,
• Graphic Design, Logos
• Professional Video Production and Editing
• Blog & Social Media Coaching
• Search Engine Optimization
• Pay Per Click and Online Advertising
• General Internet Marketing

Custom Wordpress Blog/Websites by JAM Media Group Recent studies show that businesses that blog get 55% more traffic to their websites.

If you’re ready to become a Blogger, we can help! We will help you get a Custom Domain Name, set up your WordPress site, and train you on how to use it. WordPress sites are easy to use, easy to change, and will provide you with great Search Engine Optimization.

Our Blog/Website Setup Includes:

• Custom URL (Domain Name)
  
• Wordpress Set-Up Wordpress Theme
  
• Establishing Static Pages (Home, About, Contact Us, and Up to 2 Other Pages- You provide the content),
  
• Includes 1 revision
  
• Setting Up Categories for Your Blog Posts
  
• Feedburner account and RSS setup
  
• Set up of a Google Analytics account
  
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO) plugin
  
• Creation of a blog header using your logo and/or artwork
  
• One hour training session on how to use your blog
  
• Submitting your Blog to Google, Technorati and other search engines
• Personalized email set-up

For more information, contact Jon at 406-531-8605 or Monica at 406-544-3098 or visit us online at www.JAMMediaGroup.net.

If you've spent much time on ActiveRain, you're bound to have encountered Clint Miller and his popular and fun blog posts.

Clint's birthday is Monday, March 8th and to celebrate, we've set up a Community Birthday Blog on Posterous.

If you're a Clint Miller fan or friend, please join us in wishing him a Very Happy Birthday.

Send your Happy Birthday wishes by email to:

post@therealclintsbirthday.posterous.com

Your posts will appear shortly, there is a moderator on the front.

You can send text, stories, videos, or photos and they will be posted to the Birthday Blog.

You can also view the blog.

Thanks and a big Happy Birthday to @TheRealClint!

Dream Custom Montana Log Cabin For Sale on the Kootenai River - Peace and Tranquility Can Be Yours

Your Dream - Just Listed!

This Beautiful custom log home is quality craftsmanship at its best with stunning views & amazing Kootenai River frontage. You will enjoy this home's spacious and open floor plan with three bedrooms and three bathrooms. Its vaulted ceilings create a grand statement that accent the awe inspiring views of nature's brilliance and the Kootenai River from your windows.

Amazing Brazilian cherry hardwood floors, master tile work, custom cabinetry, and a finished daylight basement make this home a masterpiece in it's own right. And there's room for all of your guests in the over-garage guest quarters with a separate kitchen and bath.

Enjoy the peace & tranquillity of your surroundings as you enjoy fishing from your property while watching the big horn sheep playon your lawn. This is Montana living at it's finest.

View the Virtual Tour of this Dream Montana Cabin

Just listed at $649,500

• 3 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms
• 2,880 square feet
• 1.1 Acres
• Kootenai River Frontage
• Built in 2005
  

        

For more information, or to schedule a personal tour, contact Kevin and Monica Ray of Access Realty at 406-207-1185.

Speechless Sunday: Yaaaawwwwwnnnn!

As many of you know, our daughter Kelsey, or Krayphish as she's known on her blog and on Twitter, is an avid photographer and living in our house, a pet lover. Our pets are among her favorite topics for photographs and our cat Sherman provides plenty of material. Here he is in mid yawn, he must have been really tired!

We recently received a letter and window decal in the mail from Google Maps stating Access Realty Missoula is a Favorite Place due to the number of searches for our business listing and the number of times people requested directions to our office.

"Because you're so popular, we're enclosing a window decal that shows customers you're a 'Favorite Place on Google'. The sticker includes a special bar code that potential customers can scan with cameras on their phones. Then they can see your business listings on Google, read and write reviews, and add you as a favorite right there."

Access Realty on Google Maps

If you want to increase traffic to your Google business listing, Google suggests three things:

1. Use your Google account to login at google.com/localbusinesscenter.
2. Keep your hours, website, and other details up to date. Stand out with photos, videos, even coupons - all for free.
3. Keep checking your personalized business dashboard to see how many hits your listing is getting, what zipcodes people are travelling from to reach your door, and more.

Some great tips on interview listing agents, it pays to do your research:

Missoula Real Estate Foreclosure Auction - 6 Bedroom House, Starting Bid $50,000

BUYER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT SELLER WILL RE-KEY THE EXTERIOR DOORS TO THE PROPERTY PRIOR TO CLOSING AND FUNDING AT THE BUYER'S EXPENSE TO BE PAID AT CLOSING. REGARDLESS OF LOCAL CUSTOM, THE BUYER UNDERSTANDS AND AGREES THAT THE SELLER WILL PAY FOR THE OWNER'S TITLE POLICY AND LENDER'S TITLE POLICY (IF ANY) AND THAT THE BUYER WILL PAY ALL OTHER CLOSING/TRANSFER COSTS INCLUDING SURVEY, ESCROW, ALL CLOSING FEES, AND ALL REALTY TRANSFER TAXES. Please contact for full terms from the auction house.

Montana Real Estate Auction

To Be Auctioned: Beautiful Montana Cabin on 12+ Acres - 1 Hour from Missoula in Hamilton

This Very private mountain home is scheduled to be auctioned on February 15, 2010

Starting Bid: $100,000

Located in Hamilton Montana, this home features:

• 12.15+/- acres
• Spacious rooms
• Beautiful, rustic log staircase, and a
• Stone fireplace
  
• Detailed woodwork throughout the home.
  
• 5,742+/- sf.
  
• Lots of trees with great mountain views and a
• Detached shop.

We will be working as a Buyer's Broker at this event.

If you are interested in registering or would like more information, to make a pre-auction offer, or to attend the upcoming Open House, contact Kevin and Monica Ray of Access Realty at 406-207-1185 or 406-544-3098. Out-of-state bidders are also welcome and will be able to bid online.

Note: A Buyer’s Premium will apply for this property. Please see Terms of Sale for details.

BUYER ACKNOWLEDGES AND UNDERSTANDS THAT NEITHER ACCESS REALTY, THE AUCTION HOUSE, NOR IT'S AGENTS MAKE ANY ASSERTIONS OR GUARANTEES AS TO THE CONDITION OR POTABILITY OF THE WELL REPORTED TO BE ON THIS PROPERTY. BUYER AGREES TO ACCEPT 'AS IS, WHERE IS'. BUYER ACKNOWLEDGES AND UNDERSTANDS THAT PROPERTY HEREIN HAS BEEN REPORTED TO HAVE AN ON-SITE WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM/CESSPOOL/SEPTIC TANK AND BUYER AGREES TO ACCEPT 'AS IS' WITH NO WARRANTIES OR ASSERTIONS BY THE AUCTION HOUSE, ACCESS REALTY, NOR THEIR AGENTS AS TO THE CONDITION THEREOF. BUYER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT CONVEYANCE OF PROPERTY MAY BE SUBJECT TO CITY/COUNTY SEPTIC INSPECTIONS. BUYER AGREES TO COMPLY WITH ALL REQUIREMENTS NECESSARY TO COMPLETE INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO OBTAINING THE NECESSARY PERMITS AND MAKING ARRANGEMENTS TO CORRECT ANY NOTED CITY/COUNTY VIOLATIONS AT BUYERS EXPENSE. BUYER ACCEPTS ALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY REMEDIATIONS, FEES, OR TERMS REQUIRED BY THE AUTHORITY THEREOF.

We have seen several dream homes with high levels of radon and have worked with both buyers and sellers through this process.

It can be frightening to have your home inspector tell you that your dream home has high levels of radon. Before you put your dream on hold, learn about radon and radon remediation.

According to the EPA, Radon is an invisible radioactive gas that seeps into homes undetected through foundation cracks, and can reach harmful levels if trapped indoors. It travels up from underground sources of uranium in the earth's crust. EPA estimates that one in 15 homes will have a radon level of four PicoCuries per liter (pCi/L) of air or more, a level the agency considers high.

Here's the scary part:

--Breathing home indoor radon causes nearly one hundred times more deaths each year than carbon monoxide poisoning.

--Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer behind smoking.

--Some 20,000 people will die this year due to breathing too much radon without even knowing it.

The radon threat is preventable with some simple steps. In existing homes, families can begin protecting themselves by buying an easy-to-use radon test kit to determine if a high level exists; if so, a high level might be lowered simply with a straight-forward radon venting system installed by a contractor. In new homes, builders can easily and economically include radon-resistant features during construction, and home buyers should ask for these. EPA also recommends that home buyers ask their builder to test for radon gas before they move in.

In our area, a professional radon test costs around $75. You can also test your own home for less at http://www.homeradontest.com/. If high levels of radon are found, it is possible to have a radon remediation system installed in your home. This system removes the radon and can bring your home back to normal levels. In our area, a radon remediation system costs between $1200 & $1500. It is less expensive to have one done if you have a full basement. However, our remediator says that he is able to remove more radon from a home when it is on a crawl space instead of a basement. See photo on left for what a remediation system looks like.

RADON SCORES:

• Less than 4.0: Low probability of significant health risk
• Between 4 & 10: It is recommended to mitigate readings above 4.0. This should be performed within 6-12 months.
• Between 10 & 200: Perform mitigation and follow up as soon as possible.

If you are thinking about selling your home, or for your own safety, you might consider getting a radon test. It is important to know that if you are aware of high levels of radon in your home that you must disclose this to all potential buyers. In most cases, it is well worth it to have the test done and remediate the home if necessary. This will eliminate a potential issue on your home inspection, and gives you piece of mind for your family's safety.