Western Montana & Missoula Real Estate Blog & Area Information

Missoula Montana Real Estate Market Report June 2009

The Missoula MT real estate market was not hit as hard as many parts of the country. Earlier in the year, we were still seeing an increase in our median home price, although there were fewer sales. We are now starting to see a dip in prices, fewer sales and longer days on market.

In dealing with other agents in and around Missoula, the sense is still optimistic and many feel like we are starting to see an upswing. Price and condition are always important but become critical in this market. Buyers are looking for the best value in their price range and have many options.

Residential Market Activity in the Missoula Urban Area
(residential, AND residential with acreage)

Missoula Urban Area - Month of June

 Market information solely from listings entered into the MOR Regional Multiple Listing Service. Therefore, figures may not reflect all real estate activity in the market.

Number of Active Listings: July 6th, 2009 

Active listings indicate the number of properties from which buyers can choose.  An increase/decrease in the number of listings indicates seller activity and may affect buyer choices. 

Data Source: Missoula Organization of Realtors(R)

For more information on Missoula and Western Montana Real Estate, the market, or for relocation assistance, contact Kevin and Monica Ray of Access Realty at 406-207-1185.

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Kevin and Monica Ray are Missoula Real Estate sales and marketing professionals for Access Realty in beautiful Western Montana. We provide services in, but not limited to: Missoula, Superior, Alberton, Saint Regis, Lolo, Clinton, Turah, Potomac, Florence, Corvallis, and Hamilton.

For more information on Missoula Real Estate or surrounding areas, they can be reached at 406-207-1185 or online at www.AccessRealty.net.

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Missoula had one if its first "Tweetups" in June at The Broadway. The Tweetup was sponsored and organized by Access Realty, Energy 107.5, and Real Estate Client Referrals.

The Tweetup was a great opportunity for people who knew each other on Twitter to meet face to face.

The event was featured on the evening news at KPAX. Jill Valley, the evening news anchor from KPAX, attended the event has been using Twitter since January when she attended the Obama Inauguration in Washington, DC and tweeted the event highlights to viewers.

For Video Highlights of the event, to find out about future events, or for Twitter resources and a presentation about using Twitter for business visit www.MissoulaTweetup.com.

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Kevin and Monica Ray are Missoula Real Estate sales and marketing professionals for Access Realty in beautiful Western Montana. We provide services in, but not limited to: Missoula, Superior, Alberton, Saint Regis, Lolo, Clinton, Turah, Potomac, Florence, Corvallis, and Hamilton.

For more information on Missoula Real Estate or surrounding areas, they can be reached at 406-207-1185 or online at www.AccessRealty.net.

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Visit Our New I Love Missoula PhotoBlog - Missoula Montana Living

The ILoveMissoula.com Photo Blog features photos from the Missoula area that we have taken, as well as photos from local photographers and friends who have given permission for their photos to be used on the site.

We have also compiled a list of local Missoula area links that are available on the site.

We post a new photo on the site each week and also accept submissions for review for the site so check back each week, or follow us on Twitter at @ILoveMissoula to receive notifications when new photos are posted.

For more information about I Love Missoula, contact Kevin and Monica Ray at 406-207-1185.

Kayak in Downtown Missoula at Brennan's Wave
on the Clark Fork River

A great place to visit in Missoula is Brennan's Wave which is located downtown, next to Caras Park on the Clark Fork River.

We spent some time at Brennan's Wave last weekend, after visiting the local farmer's markets, and had a great time watching the action.

Brennan's Wave was developed in 2006 and was named for Brennan Guth, a local kayaking legend. It's level two rapids are great for local kayakers to practice their sport, and are also used to help train search and rescue personnel.

Brennan's Wave replaced an abandoned irrigation dam that was a hazard to river goers. It also benefits the Clark Fork River by providing better oxygenation for fish.

Use of Brennan's Wave is free, and so is viewing the kayakers from the overlook located in Caras Park. Not to mention, it's one of the best ways to cool off on a warm summer day in Missoula. You can even rent a kayak at several downtown Missoula businesses.

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Kevin and Monica Ray are Missoula Real Estate sales and marketing professionals for Access Realty in beautiful Western Montana. We provide services in, but not limited to: Missoula, Superior, Alberton, Saint Regis, Lolo, Clinton, Turah, Potomac, Florence, Corvallis, and Hamilton

Kevin & Monica Ray are real estate sales and marketing professionals for Access Realty in beautiful Western Montana. For more information on Missoula Real Estate or surrounding areas, they can be reached at 406-207-1185 or online at www.AccessRealty.net.

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Missoula Farmer's Markets & Local People's Market

A Saturday morning in Missoula wouldn't be complete without visiting our local Farmer's Market and the People's Market.

Located in downtown Missoula at Railroad and Higgins, the Farmer's Market has been in operation since 1972 and provides a place for local farmers and vendors to share their goods.

The People's Market features locally made crafts, jewelry, baskets, and arts. It has something for virtually everyone.

The Farmer's Market/People's Market is open on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. from May to October. For more information visit, Missoula Saturday Market.

Over the last several years a new farmer's market

also started on Saturday mornings under the Higgins Avenue bridge, along the Clark Fork River. The Clark Fork River Market provides locally grown produce but also offers farm fresh eggs, locally made sausage, fresh salmon and other perishable products. They are open from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  More information is available at Clark Fork River Market

With the two markets so close together, many people take the opportunity to walk through downtown Missoula, enjoying the fresh air and lively Missoula culture. A great way to start your weekend!

Kevin & Monica Ray are real estate sales and marketing professionals for Access Realty in beautiful Western Montana. For more information on Missoula Real Estate or surrounding areas, they can be reached at 406-207-1185 or online at www.AccessRealty.net.

Missoula, Montana is one of the most beautiful cities in the Northwest. And yes, a river does run through it. Missoula is located near the three rivers to be exact, The Clark Fork River, The Blackfoot River, and The Bitterroot River.

Missoula's amazing location and proximity to three rivers draws fly fisherman from all over the world, has inspired artists and writers, and even filmmakers. The city is frequently mentioned in novels of Ernest Hemingway, Stephen Frey, Chuck Palahniuk, James Lee Burke, James Crumley, and Norman Maclean.

One of the most famous portrayals of Missoula was by Norman Maclean in his 1976 novel, A River Runs Through It which was made into a film directed by Robert Redford in 1992. "The story is a semi-autobiographical novella about Macleans Presbyterian family in early 20th century Montana whose views on life are filtered through their passion for fly-fishing."

This story has influenced many Missoulians and has drawn people to our community for years. I've actually met several people who moved to Missoula as a result of seeing A River Runs Through It. One former co-worker had never even been to Montana. She was living in California and saw the movie and decided one day to pick up and move to Missoula!

Some of Macleans classic lines about Missoula include:

"The world is full of bastards, the number increasing rapidly the further one gets from Missoula, Montana."

"Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs. I am haunted by waters."

"In our family, there was no clear line between religion and fly fishing. We lived at the junction of great trout rivers in western Montana, and our father was a Presbyterian minister and a fly fisherman who tied his own flies and taught others. He told us about Christ's disciples being fishermen, and we were to assume, as my brother and I did, that all first-class fishermen on the Sea of Galilee were fly fishermen and that John, the favorite, was a dry-fly fisherman."

"I am in love with Montana . . . Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans."

"On the Big Blackfoot River above the mouth of Belmont Creek the banks are fringed by large Ponderosa pines. In the slanting sun of late afternoon the shadows of great branches reached across the river, and the trees took the river in their arms."

For more information on fly fishing in Montana or where to find fly fishing properties, contact Kevin & Monica Ray at Access Realty at 406-207-1185 or visit us online at www.YourMT.com.

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Kevin & Monica Ray are real estate sales and marketing professionals for Access Realty in beautiful Western Montana. For more information on Western Montana, they can be reached at 406-207-1185 or online at www.YourMT.com.