Originally Posted by flyingcat2k
My definition is one of a native Montanan. I was born and raised there for 27 years. My definition of affordable is between 100k to 150k for a 1500 sf house with a yard. I realize that California and a bunch of other markets have gone completely drunk with OPM. Think about it, with the average family making 40k a year, can they afford the average home? Not in California and not in many "hot" market areas. The prices in Kalispell are unreasonable when the average family income is 28k in Montana. Kalispell does have a few industries that pay well (Semitool and a few brokerages), not as many as Billings (3 refineries, brokerages, medical, oil & gas exploration) so there is a job base supporting higher prices but on average, this area is full of part-time residents. 300k is a completely unreasonable price for an average home in Kalispell but people get it every day. I'd like to see it happen when interest rates hit 8%.
1. The average family income in Montana is not $28K. I have no idea where you got that number (well I do but I will be polite). See
www.census.gov/hhes/income/4person.html for real data. It is in fact $49,000. Do some quick math and you'll see Montana's number is 73% of California. Yet real estate prices are less than 1/2 of California, making real estate, relatively speaking a great bargain in Kalispell or anywhere else in the state.
2. It is a ridiculous statement to say that 300K is completely unreasonable. It is obviously reasonable to people who pay 300K. Is it ridiculous to pay $1500 for a suit? $50,000 for a car? $10,000 for a flat screen TV? Not to anyone who pays it.
3. My wife is from Hamilton. He parents bought their house - a 3 bedroom/2bathroom house with a yard for $140K......in 1997. Your $100K to $150K for a home in that area hasn't existed for 10 years.
So to the OP...go to Kalispell, look around. It is a beautiful part of the country and IS affordable.