Bigfork Real Estate Video Blog with Scott Hollinger
91 episodes - English - Latest episode: 11 days ago -If you are looking to buy or sell a home, get all the information and the latest updates, tips, and tricks from Hollinger Team - your professional Bigfork Real Estate Agents.
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Episodes
Flathead Lake Q1 2024 Real Estate Update
April 16, 2024 00:00 VideoThe latest news on home prices, supply, inventory, and much more. What’s going on in Flathead Lake’s real estate market? The first quarter numbers are in for 2024, and they paint a pretty clear picture of our market. Today, I’ll go over what’s happening in our market and what it means for buyers and sellers in our area: 1. On Flathead Lake two home sales this year compared to four sales last year means we are still in a flat market. 2. Flathead Lake condominiums. With 17 active listings...
Flathead Lake Real Estate Update and Conservation Efforts
April 16, 2024 00:00 VideoMarket demand uptick breathes life back into Flathead Lake housing. Picture yourself in your summer home, sipping tea or drinking coffee, looking at the beautiful view of the lake outside your house. Imagine having easy access to all the fun summer recreational activities for your family. If that image lingers in your mind, you may want to give Flathead Lake listings a try. To keep you informed of the current housing demand and supply in Flathead Lake, here’s what’s going on in each major...
Strategies to Maintain Flathead Lake's Water Levels
April 02, 2024 00:00 VideoFillTheLake.com has a strategy to help save Flathead Lake. As summer approaches, the level of Flathead Lake is a pressing concern for many residents and businesses alike. Last year, the lake experienced a significant drop, causing boats to be stranded and posing risks to safety. Businesses suffered, and our community felt the impact. Why did this happen, and what can be done to prevent a repeat scenario this year? Historically, Flathead Lake has weathered droughts with strategies in plac...
Multi-generational Homes Can Offer Affordability And Much More
March 06, 2024 00:00 VideoThere is a rise in multi-generational house buying; here’s why. The housing market is currently witnessing the rise of multi-generational home buying, particularly in Alaska and Montana. This phenomenon coincides with the demographic shift known as the “Silver Tsunami,” where a large number of baby boomers are reaching an age where they outgrow their current homes. Some opt to share living spaces with their adult children or aging parents while some sell their homes. Let’s look into some ...
Montana's Real Estate Dynamics: A 2023 Overview
February 27, 2024 00:00 VideoDive into Montana's evolving real estate trends from east to west. The Montana Association of Realtors recently compiled data from eight different areas within the state, offering valuable insights into the real estate market trends for homes, condominiums, and townhomes between 2022 and 2023. This report traverses from Billings in the east to the Flathead Valley in the northwest, revealing the dynamic nature of Montana’s real estate landscape. Feel free to watch the full message above or...
Why You Might Get a Property Tax Bill—Even If You’ve Already Paid
February 20, 2024 00:00 VideoHere’s what you need to know about upcoming property tax increases. Today, I want to address an issue that may not have surfaced yet, but it’s on the horizon for property owners across most counties in Montana this winter. Here’s what happened: Many counties opted not to levy the full mill rate authorized by the state for schools, which stands at 97 mills. They believed they didn’t require the extra funds, but the state Supreme Court ruled that all counties are still constitutionally obl...
6 Real Estate Trends Homeowners Should Know About
February 01, 2024 00:00 VideoHere’s what you need to know about current real estate design trends. People often ask me about making their houses stand out and be more marketable. Recently, Zillow shared insights into six trending features that have surfaced in the descriptions of homes for sale, showcasing the diversity of preferences among potential buyers. Let’s explore each trend: 1. Hand-painted murals. Some homeowners commission artists to create unique murals in their houses. 2. Brutalism. This is a stark arc...
2023 Real Estate Rollercoaster: Unveiling the Twists and Turns
January 18, 2024 05:00 VideoHere are the critical stats that shaped the property landscape in 2023. Welcome to our comprehensive year-end recap for 2023, where we provide an in-depth analysis of the real estate landscape in Flathead and Lake Counties. In this recap, we delve into the key metrics surrounding waterfront transactions, land sales, and home transactions, offering a nuanced perspective on the market dynamics. Join us as we navigate through the numbers and unravel the intricate details that shaped this intr...
Navigating Tomorrow’s Real Estate: Mortgage Rates, Prices, and Market Predictions
January 05, 2024 00:00 VideoExplore expert insights into rates, home prices, and recession forecasts. Today, I’ll address three commonly asked questions about these topics: mortgage rates, housing prices, and the possibility of a recession. Firstly, regarding mortgage rates, recent news suggests no expected increases this year, with a slight decrease in interest rates recently. This trend indicates positive news for borrowers. As for housing prices, they’re influenced by supply and demand dynamics. Predictions indi...
Flathead Valley: A Haven for Adventure Seekers
December 19, 2023 10:00 VideoImmerse yourself in Flathead Valley’s diverse outdoor activities. Flathead Valley is a treasure trove of outdoor activities, and I often get asked by people new to the area about what there is to do. Thanks to the Flathead Trails Association, a collective of various local organizations, we have a wealth of activities to engage in, no matter the season. For those interested in exploring the great outdoors, there’s something for everyone. From the scenic trails of Glacier Park and the North...
2024 Forecast: How Today's Housing Trends Shape Tomorrow's Market
November 30, 2023 10:00 VideoWe have the data to explain why this market has been so "weird" lately. Have you ever wondered what the housing market is like these days? It’s a question that’s been on many minds, and my recent encounters with it have led me to describe it simply as “weird.” Let me share a compelling story and graph that highlights what’s happening. This graph compares existing home sales with new construction, revealing a significant divide since the rise in interest rates. T...
Flathead Lake in Crisis: Be Part of Our Response
November 17, 2023 07:00 VideoHow we can save Flathead Lake by coming together as a community. This summer posed a significant environmental challenge for Flathead Lake, a concern that many of you have raised in your questions. We experienced an exceptionally hot and dry season, leading to substantially lower-than-average rainfall – about 80% below the norm. This resulted in low river and stream flows and a severely impacted lake ecosystem. A notable consequence of these conditions was Flathead Lake not reaching its ...
Luxury Living Unveiled: Swan Lake Mansion Tour
November 01, 2023 10:00 VideoJoin us on an exclusive tour of Swan Lake's stunning luxury property. Get ready for a deep dive into the lap of luxury living on Swan Lake. In this full-length video, we explore every nook and cranny of one of the most gorgeous properties available on the market. Complete with a library, theater, spacious master suite, and many other amenities, this is one property that you definitely don’t want to miss. This is a 360 degree video so you can use your mouse (or your finger) to twirl the im...
Flathead Valley Real Estate Report: Q3 Highlights and Market Shifts
October 19, 2023 10:00 VideoHere is a recap of what’s been happening in Q3 of 2023 in Flathead Valley. Welcome to our third-quarter recap of waterfront transactions in the beautiful Flathead Valley. Let’s dive into the current real estate trends in Flathead and Lake Counties and see how the market is faring. As of now, there are a little over 1,000 homes available for sale in both counties. This year, we’ve seen almost 1,400 closings, which is a decrease from the nearly 1,700 closings recorded last year. This repres...
Your Dream Home Awaits at 388 Ridgeline Drive, Lakeside
October 03, 2023 00:00 VideoTake a virtual tour of this beautiful home in Lakeside, Montana. Do you want a slice of paradise in Montana? If so, you’ll want to see this beautiful property at 388 Ridgeline Drive in the Lakeside Club of Lakeside, Montana. This captivating home offers a mesmerizing panorama, overlooking the pristine waters of Flathead Lake and framed by the majestic Swan and Mission Mountain Ranges. With four bedrooms, an expansive kitchen area, and a generous deck for al fresco dining against the back...
3D Home Walkthrough: Beautiful Flathead Lake Home
September 18, 2023 00:00 VideoYou have to check out this beautiful Flathead Lake log property. Today, I’m back with another beautiful property you have to see. This walkthrough is totally interactable, so you can view every nook and cranny of the home to your heart’s content. This gorgeous home is located on Flathead Lake near Cromwell and Wild Horse Island, and the beauty is truly something you need to see to believe. Feel free to use the features of this video to look around the property. If you’re interested in th...
Decoding the Connection Between Reappraisal and Taxation in Montana
September 05, 2023 00:00 VideoThe complex relationship between property reappraisal and taxation. In response to the recent property reappraisal in Montana, I’ve had numerous conversations with individuals who are concerned about the implications of rising property values on their taxes. Many are left wondering whether they should protest the appraisal and how it might affect their tax bills. In this blog post, we’ll address some common questions and shed light on the connection between property reappraisal, tax values...
Beautiful Foys Lake Home: Full Walkthrough
August 25, 2023 00:00 VideoHere is more information on this Lake Foys home. Have you ever considered buying a home in Foys Lake? If you have, or if you just like looking at beautiful properties, you’re in luck. Today, I’m sharing a full 360 walkthrough of a recent listing in Foys Lake that you have to see to believe. You can interact with the video to check out different parts of the rooms. I highly recommend you use this tool because there’s a ton to see. If you are interested in this home or just have a questi...
Unleashing Bugs to Save Our Landscapes
August 07, 2023 00:00 VideoWe witness nature’s Tiny warriors combat the noxious knapweed. If you’ve ever wondered about the notorious noxious weed, knapweed, and its impact on your property, you’re not alone. Today, we dive into the fascinating world of knapweed control and a unique approach using nature’s tiny warriors – bugs! Two years ago, I introduced a new strategy to combat the knapweed invasion on my property. I decided to release specially selected bugs that target and attack knapweed, hoping they would mak...
Waterfront and Housing report for Q2 2023
July 19, 2023 00:00 VideoUncover the latest trends and insights from the second quarter of 2023. Welcome to our second-quarter 2023 Waterfront and Housing Market Report. Today, we will be diving into the numbers and trends surrounding the real estate market, particularly focusing on the Flathead Lake area. Join us as we explore the current state of the market, analyze sales and inventory, and discuss factors influencing housing trends. Feel free to watch the full message above or use these timestamps that will d...
Emerging Trends in Investment Preferences: Insights and Statistics Unveiled
May 24, 2023 00:00 VideoWhere investors are putting their money, with real estate at the top. Today, I’m here with an update on an important statistic: where investors prefer to put money for a 10-year investment. This will show all of us where investing is trending, which is an important thing to know. You can see the graph of this information at 0:40 in the video above. According to this Bankrate survey in June 2022, 29% of investors said real estate was the best way to invest. From there, 26% said the stock ...
The Sky’s The Limit: What You Need To Know About Our Market
April 11, 2023 00:00 VideoHere’s what you need to know about our local real estate market. “What’s happening in our real estate market?” I’ve been getting this question a lot now that we’re heading into the spring. That’s why today, I’m sharing the latest numbers from our market and explaining what they mean for buyers and sellers. You can listen to my full explanation in the video above or skip to each topic using the timestamps provided: 0:00 — Introduction 0:35 — The latest Flathead numbers 2:40 — Flathead ...
Common Home Health Hazards You Need To Know
April 04, 2023 00:00 VideoThese are some of the health hazards in a home that need to be disclosed. What health hazards should be disclosed to you as a buyer? I recently read an article from the National Association of Realtors magazine that talks about this topic. Today, I’m sharing some of the health hazards in the house that need to be disclosed. Feel free to watch the full video above or use these timestamps to browse specific topics at your leisure: 0:00 — Introduction 1:13 — Lead, mold, asbestos 1:31 — M...
What’s Been Happening in Our Real Estate Market?
March 27, 2023 00:00 VideoHere is what you need to know about our real estate market. What’s been going on in the Bigfork real estate market recently? Interest rates and prices are changing all the time, so today, I’ll give you a brief update on what’s been happening. If you plan on making a move sometime soon, this is information you need to know. You can listen to my full explanation in the video above or skip to each topic using the timestamps provided: 0:00 — Introduction 0:56 — Interest rates have doubled ...
Just In: Your Big Montana Real Estate Report
March 06, 2023 00:00 VideoComparing total sales, median sales price, and average days on market for Montana. Today we’re traveling from west to east across the state and looking at all of the numbers that you need to know. We’ll drill down on the housing market and try to draw out some lessons that we can learn about where our market is heading in Montana. Feel free to watch the full message above or use these timestamps that will direct you to various points in the video: 0:00 — Today’s Market Update 1:21 — Bil...
A Comparison of the 2021 and 2022 Housing Markets
January 25, 2023 00:00 VideoHow the critical real estate statistics from 2021 compare to 2022. It’s time for our annual market recap! What happened to the real estate market in 2022 and how does it compare to the 2021 market? Today we’re sharing some critical market indicators from both years to find out what has changed. Feel free to watch the full video above or use these timestamps to browse specific topics at your leisure: 0:00 — Introduction 0:41 — Residential and vacant land market stats 1:52 — Flathead L...
What Truly Happened in 2022's Housing Market
January 09, 2023 00:00 VideoImportant stats from the 2022 market that affect our current one. So much happened in the 2022 market, and I’m sure you noticed the many ups and downs. As changes happen, it’s important to stay up to date to know how you, your home, and your plans are affected. To help with this, today I’m here with a recap of the 2022 market. You can listen to the entire recap in the video above or skip to specific topics using these timestamps: 0:00 — Introduction 0:50 — Our research 2:05 — Askin...
Some Good Real Estate Market News
December 12, 2022 00:00 VideoThe latest big news is that conforming loan limits will increase. A question that I often get is, “What’s happening with interest rates?” I know that things are tough right now. Lenders are coming up with products to help cushion the strain of high rates. One example is adjustable-rate mortgages that start at a reduced rate for a number of years and then go to an adjustable rate. Those are good products to think about because interest rates won’t stay high forever. They’ll come down at som...
Spotting a Rare Grizzly Bear and Bobcat in Montana
December 01, 2022 00:00 VideoInteresting wildlife can be spotted in Montana during these winter months. What kind of wildlife do we have in Montana? Today I’ll share a few of the common and rare animals that we see in our area. Some of the typical wildlife you’ll spot here are deer, elk, turkeys, geese, ducks, and coyotes. On rare occasions, you can also find bears locally. Just the other morning, as I sat at my desk and looked out over the frozen Echo Lake, I saw a grizzly bear walking across the ice, which you can...
Third Quarter Waterfront Housing Update
November 03, 2022 00:00 VideoThese numbers show declining sales were common throughout the region. What is going on with real estate in NW Montana’s Flathead Valley? There have been some interesting changes to the market, and I’ve got all the latest numbers. I’ll break down each specific area and tell you what’s happening with housing sales there, based on the facts. Feel free to watch the full message above, or use these timestamps that will direct you to various points in the video: 0:00 — Introducing today’s top...
Should I Stage My Home Before Selling?
October 18, 2022 00:00 VideoAnyone can stage their home themselves if they’re honest about it. Should you stage the house before you sell? This is a very common question that I’d like to answer today. We recently listed a home that needed to be staged. You can see the before and after photos in the video at 0:44. The reason I want to show this house, in particular, is because the seller staged everything on her own. It took her a little while, but she did an amazing job. Anybody can do it. I encourage anybody looki...
Recent Changes in the Market Stats
September 02, 2022 00:00 VideoKeeping you updated on the housing market and the direction it’s going. Many people have asked me to help them stay updated on the market, and I want to oblige. I will continue to make more videos with updates because things change constantly. Today’s information is specifically about our local market. Here are four factors to pay attention to as the market changes: 1. Percentage of list price. In June, homes sold for 100.4% of their list price on average, but that number went down by 1....
Should You Be Worried About Price Reductions?
August 23, 2022 00:00 VideoWhat the recent price reduction trend means for our local market. “What do you see happening in the market?” Clients always ask me this question, and I’ve noticed an interesting trend in price reductions. This trend has big implications for our market, so I’ll share the details with you today. Recently, my team and I looked at 168 homes in Lake, Flathead, and Sanders counties in the $750,000 to $1 million range. To our surprise, 30 houses, or around 16%, had price reductions in the last ...
What’s Happening in Our Market?
July 29, 2022 15:16 VideoHere’s what you need to know about home sales in the first half of 2022. What has been happening in our housing market so far this year? Today I’ll look at the latest statistics and tell you what they mean for buyers and sellers in our area. You can listen to my full explanation in the video above or skip to each topic using the timestamps provided: 0:00 — Introduction 0:27 — Flathead and Lake Counties overall 2:18 — Flathead Lake homes sold 2:54 — Flathead Lake condos sold 3:20 — ...
Nothing good happens after midnight ..... Except ...
May 31, 2022 16:49 VideoThings are looking up in the dark in Montana. Nothing good happens after midnight, right? Well, on dark nights here in Montana, that couldn’t be further from the truth. When the sun goes down and the stars come out, turn your gaze upward! Today I’ll discuss some resources that will help you find the best spots in Montana to be entertained by the night skies. Montana’s Trail to the Stars website has created an online map of over 40 great places to observe the night sky. Enthusiasts travel ...
What’s Been Happening in Our Market?
May 06, 2022 14:25 VideoWhat trends are we currently seeing in our real estate market? The first quarter of 2022 is now over, and we want to tell you about all the changes we saw in the real estate market. Today we’ll update you on the current emerging trends we’re seeing in our local area. Feel free to watch the full message or use these timestamps to browse specific topics at your leisure: 0:00 — Introducing today’s topic 0:40 — Flathead & Lake Counties overall figures 2:25 — Flathead Lake home sales 3:45 ...
Waterfront Properties and Price Reductions
April 19, 2022 20:49 VideoHere's an analysis of what happens when a Seller overshoots the market and chooses to start high. A question I’ve been getting a lot lately is, “What’s going on with waterfront properties?” I did a little research and looked at the numbers for waterfront properties over the last six months. Today I want to share some of my findings with you. Eighty properties closed during the six-month period we examined from September 2021 to February 2022. Of the 80 properties, 56 did not see a price c...
Is Your Kid Going Off to College?
April 01, 2022 19:12 VideoIf your kid is off to college, you have a fantastic investment opportunity. At this time of year, when kids are about to graduate from high school, we often receive similar questions from parents about how they’re considering buying a house or condo near their child’s future college so their student can live there for the next four years. The idea is that, when they’re done with school, the parents are hoping the house will have appreciated in value so they can use the extra money to off...
An Update on Our Montana Markets
March 07, 2022 16:13 VideoThe most valuable stats for all our different markets across Montana. Today I want to answer some of your questions about real estate throughout the state of Montana. We usually do this once a year, and to help me, I have the state-wide market report from the Montana Association of Realtors. I can’t wait to pass on some of this data. As a little bit of a spoiler: The least expensive cities in Montana are Butte and Great Falls. Both have a median price that’s under $300,000. You can watch ...
An Update on Our Montana Housing Markets
March 07, 2022 16:13 VideoThe most valuable stats for all our different markets across Montana. Today I want to answer some of your questions about real estate throughout the state of Montana. We usually do this once a year, and to help me, I have the state-wide market report from the Montana Association of Realtors. I can’t wait to pass on some of this data. As a little bit of a spoiler: The least expensive cities in Montana are Butte and Great Falls. Both have a median price that’s under $300,000. You can watch ...
An Update on All Our Montana Markets
March 07, 2022 16:13 VideoLet’s take a look at the stats for different markets all across Montana. Today I want to answer some of your questions about real estate throughout the state of Montana. We usually do this once a year, and to help me, I have a state-wide market report from the Montana Association of Realtors. I can’t wait to pass on some of this data. As a little bit of a spoiler: The least expensive cities in Montana are Butte and Great Falls. Both have a median price that’s under $300,000. You can watch...
Big Fork Has a New Attraction on the Way
February 25, 2022 15:48 VideoThe Big Fork area is getting a new semi-professional baseball team! One of the most common questions I receive from people moving to the Big Fork area is, “What is there to do?” There’s plenty! Today I want to discuss what sorts of activities we like to do for fun around Big Fork, including a special new attraction. There are excellent skiing mountains in the winter and wonderful fishing spots in the summer. We also are close to Glacier Park if you are interested in hiking and wildlife....
The Flathead Valley Has a New Attraction on the Way
February 25, 2022 15:48 VideoThe Flathead Valley area is getting a new semi-professional baseball team! One of the most common questions I receive from people moving to The Flathead Valley area is, “What is there to do?” There’s plenty! Today I want to discuss what sorts of activities we like to do for fun around The Flathead Valley, including a special new attraction. There are excellent skiing mountains in the winter and wonderful fishing spots in the summer. We also are close to Glacier Park if you are intereste...
What Is an Absorption Rate?
February 04, 2022 13:43 VideoExplaining the absorption rate and how it has changed since the pandemic. If you’ve been following me for a while, then you may be familiar with our market’s absorption rate. However, I haven’t talked about this topic in a while, and things have changed, so today I want to discuss our absorption rate and what it means for the Big Fork area. First, let’s talk about what an absorption rate is. A good example to use is our grocery stores. Before the pandemic, the shelves were almost always ...
Explaining Housing Absorption Rate
February 04, 2022 13:43 VideoExplaining the absorption rate and how it has changed since the pandemic. If you’ve been following me for a while, then you may be familiar with our market’s absorption rate. However, I haven’t talked about this topic in a while, and things have changed, so today I want to discuss our absorption rate and what it means for the Big Fork area. First, let’s talk about what an absorption rate is. A good example to use is our grocery stores. Before the pandemic, the shelves were almost always s...
2021 Waterfront Housing and Land Market Recap
January 13, 2022 20:06 VideoToday we’ll give a recap of how our real estate market fared in 2021. Hopefully your 2022 is already off to a great start! Today we want to recap how our market fared in 2021 and share some data and interesting things that happened during the year. Cited below for your convenience are timestamps that will direct you to various points in the video. Feel free to watch the full message or use these timestamps to browse specific topics at your leisure: 0:01 — Introducing today’s topic 0:29 ...
Insurance Exclusions for Vacant Properties
December 21, 2021 15:21 VideoDoes your insurance policy detail unoccupied/vacant exclusions? Today’s topic is for people who have seasonal homes in the area and are leaving or have already left. While I was going over the insurance renewal for my home, I stumbled across an exclusion in the policy for vacant and unoccupied residences. Today I’ll share what that exclusion is and what you need to know about it. There are two key words to define. ‘Vacant’ means that all furniture and other evidence of someone occupying t...
How Zillow Lost Money Using Their Own Estimates
November 29, 2021 20:06 VideoHere’s the latest news that proves just how inaccurate Zestimates are. Some of you may have heard the recent news about Zillow. I’ve made videos about their various online services in the past and how they affect the market, but I wanted to talk about this most recent one. Zillow had been using their Zestimate to make offers on homes the AI told them would be a good value. It tried to factor in appreciation, the cost of repairs, and the cost to sell. They had been doing this for a while a...
Q3 Residential Waterfront Market Update
November 22, 2021 11:50 VideoHere are all the latest numbers from our residential waterfront market. Today I’m sharing our third-quarter real estate market report for 2021. All our numbers are reflective of an extremely strong market. However, there’s very little for sale across the board, whether you’re looking for a home or vacant land. You can watch my full market update, or you can skip around to each topic using the timestamps provided below: 0:00 — Introduction to today’s topic 0:50 — Flathead Valley overvie...
The Most Popular 10-Year Investments
September 28, 2021 14:20 VideoHere’s an update on the most popular 10-year investments today. Today I’m following up on a video blog from about a year ago. In that video, I covered what you should do with your money when you sell. I brought up an article by Bankrate which looked at the popularity of different investments that you’d hold for 10 years, and real estate was on top. I just received an update on that same topic, and I thought it would be interesting to cover. Real estate is still No. 1, but it was much more...