Considering Moving to Bozeman Someday (condos, houses, to buy)

[robcat33]

Originally Posted by Senah

A lot of people live in Belgrade or Manhattan which is economical and a very quick commute because you just hop on I-90. There is a lot of building going on so we are getting a lot more housing options. I would still agree that the real estate market is disproportionately expensive here vs. other places in Montana, but we have so many free events and activities here it is a huge plus (vs a larger city where you have to pay for everything fun you want to do).

Additionally, once you get just out of the city limits (which is about a 7 minute drive from Bozeman), you can often qualify for a rural real estate loan - for example my friend is buying a 3 bedroom place outside of town (it will take him I think 10 minutes to get into town) and will have a mortgage of $500-$700 dollars a month and rent out 2 of the rooms so he will be making money on it. He'll qualify for the loan.

So, you have to think out of the box a little, but honestly there is so much to do outside of your house, you don't need a big house here in Bozeman, and there are plenty of smaller properties for sale for less money now with the building boom and the drop in real estate prices. I think it is a cool town and getting manageable. We also have a free bus system which is cool, and a trail system that is so good you can bike from the national forest on the north side of the city to the national forest on the south side of the city without having to bike on the roads.

I thought everyone on here was just trolling about the cost of living until i actually visited last summer. Theres almost no middle class. For the most part the people i met there were either filthy rich or dirt poor. We found out real fast that we could'nt afford to live there but i still think its a nice city.

[City Guy997S]

Originally Posted by robcat33

I thought everyone on here was just trolling about the cost of living until i actually visited last summer. Theres almost no middle class. For the most part the people i met there were either filthy rich or dirt poor. We found out real fast that we could'nt afford to live there but i still think its a nice city.

If you believe the internet, the volcano at Yellowstone is going to destroy the upper corner of the country!
Yellowstone geologist talks threat of supervolcano eruption - NBC Montana

[robcat33]

Originally Posted by City Guy997S

If you believe the internet, the volcano at Yellowstone is going to destroy the upper corner of the country!
Yellowstone geologist talks threat of supervolcano eruption - NBC Montana

Please mention that any foreign investor you encounter

[Geo Roam]

Originally Posted by robcat33

I thought everyone on here was just trolling about the cost of living until i actually visited last summer. Theres almost no middle class. For the most part the people i met there were either filthy rich or dirt poor. We found out real fast that we could'nt afford to live there but i still think its a nice city.

I know a few that are in both situations....the vast majority are middle or upper middle.

May want to get out and meet more people.

[flyingcat2k]

Originally Posted by Geo Roam

I know a few that are in both situations....the vast majority are middle or upper middle.

May want to get out and meet more people.

Are you using the GOP definition of middle class?!? The majority of people who fall in the national scale lower middle and middle class struggle in Gallatin County. They out and out can't afford Bozeman where starter homes run 300k. I never understand where Realtors think that a household making 71K a year can afford a 1700 a month mortgage payment which is really 1900 once taxes are included. The only people I know in the area that make more than 71K a year have college degrees and/or own a business. Rank and file employees w/o a degree (still the majority of Gallatin County) are lucky to make 50K.

https://www.bozemandailychronicle.co...db54244ad.html

[NDak15]

Originally Posted by robcat33

I thought everyone on here was just trolling about the cost of living until i actually visited last summer. Theres almost no middle class. For the most part the people i met there were either filthy rich or dirt poor. We found out real fast that we could'nt afford to live there but i still think its a nice city.

There hasn't been much of a middle class in Bozeman for years.

Originally Posted by Geo Roam

I know a few that are in both situations....the vast majority are middle or upper middle.

May want to get out and meet more people.

Where the hell do all of these middle and upper middle class people work? Has there been that much more industry moving to town that I'm not aware of?

[Reziac]

Originally Posted by NDak15

There hasn't been much of a middle class in Bozeman for years.

What do you call the whole west side??

Originally Posted by NDak15

Where the hell do all of these middle and upper middle class people work? Has there been that much more industry moving to town that I'm not aware of?

Now that I've wondered myself... what on earth do they all find to do that suffices to buy even those midrange westside houses?

[cwwjr1681]

Originally Posted by robcat33

I thought everyone on here was just trolling about the cost of living until i actually visited last summer. Theres almost no middle class. For the most part the people i met there were either filthy rich or dirt poor. We found out real fast that we could'nt afford to live there but i still think its a nice city.

I now have a job offer in Bozeman. Im actually debating moving there for the job atm. I visited it back in June and stayed there for about a month. Back when I was applying at places. Maybe Its just because I spent a lot of time living on the Northern East Coast (New England); but I did not find Bozeman to be that expensive when compared. I mean it may be expensive when compared to places like Wyoming or Spokane, WA? Do just people in Montana find it $$? Or is the Northern East Coast just that inflated to where I dont notice? I mean I even found it cheaper than Salt Lake City, which is where I live now. I mean heck even Asheville NC was more expensive than Bozeman. Not factoring heating bills of course. Im sure those will do a nice number on your wallet. Ever since I moved out west it just seems things are a lot cheaper than on the East Coast.

Forbes Magazine and Bozeman MT got a 76/100 on their livability score? Thats extremely high! Every major city I have lived in has been in the low 60s. Score wise. I mean the US average is 60.
Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed

Maybe Im just misunderstanding this? Are people just saying its expensive for a city of its size?

[Reziac]

I think it's not so much that Bozeman is terribly expensive, as that everywhere has gotten expensive compared to what we were used to before the real estate bubble and the "deregulation" of electric service. Real problem is that we've lost so much industry that income hasn't kept up, and you can't support a middle class on a service economy.

And if you think midrange houses in Bozeman are high-priced, try central or Bay area California, or even Vancouver -- prices are 4 to 10 times as high for essentially the same house.

[cwwjr1681]

Originally Posted by Reziac

I think it's not so much that Bozeman is terribly expensive, as that everywhere has gotten expensive compared to what we were used to before the real estate bubble and the "deregulation" of electric service. Real problem is that we've lost so much industry that income hasn't kept up, and you can't support a middle class on a service economy.

And if you think midrange houses in Bozeman are high-priced, try central or Bay area California, or even Vancouver -- prices are 4 to 10 times as high for essentially the same house.

I think you hit the nail on the head. Back on EC in most places I have lived you are looking at 500k Minimum! on a home. 5 years ago this wasnt so. I do agree it is happening all over.