What's Missoula like? (Bozeman, Thompson Falls, Plains: real estate, crime rates, townhouse)

[L-88]

Originally Posted by jimj

Headed towards Berkely???

Or Santa Monica

[rickers]

More like Venice California if you visit the saturday market,
aka the Missoula Bead N Weed !

[darylg88]

Hello :
I'm new to montana myself, About housing?? I found an apartment complex, downtown. they said they would have an apartment open in about two weeks, so I paid the 50.00 application fee, which I understood was not refundable. and a partial deposit of 200.00 to hold the unit while they repaired it from the last tenant. a week goes by and the manager said they would need more time to do the repairs and painting . while waiting to get into the apart. running down leads on furniture. I find a house that is having a moving sale. The tenants are on their way to another state, and leaving soon. So I contacted the owner of the house, and found I could rent this house for less than the little apartment in town, that I was having a hard time getting a move in date from the apartment manager in town. So I asked for my 200.00 deposit back, knowing that the application fee wasn't refundable. I was told "it" , meaning the 200.00 partial deposit wasn't refundable either. That is a partial damage deposit. If I have never even set foot into the apartment , How could I have caused any damage to the unit to be refused my deposit????????? If you have a lead on any legal avenue or any governing body over rentals, I would appreciate any help, as I am not a student at the college, I have ran out of phone numbers to call . Including the mayors office. It seems there ins't a governing body for Lanlords and renters????

[truckingbronco]

MONTPIRG is a local public interest group and I believe they have some renter resources.

Unfortunately, it seems that a landlords first instinct is to screw_you whether it's legal or not, so you will probably have to make some noise if you want to get your money back.

[jimj]

Call the county attorney's office and explain your situation. Either they will take interest or will steer you where you need to go. Unfortunately Montana is in the stone ages when it comes to consumer laws and usually to get anything done you have to sue people. They always wonder why the courts are so tied up, well there's one reason.

[rickers]

There is a scam that a few apartment managers try to pull off. They advertise an apartment for rent and pocket the application fees.

[opelske]

Originally Posted by jimj

Call the county attorney's office and explain your situation. Either they will take interest or will steer you where you need to go. Unfortunately Montana is in the stone ages when it comes to consumer laws and usually to get anything done you have to sue people. They always wonder why the courts are so tied up, well there's one reason.

You don't need 'consumer laws,' you need educated consumers. We have over the top consumer laws here in NY and still wind up in useless courts trying to find a semblance of justice. What we do need are caring, concerned public officials and workers in the many systems and organizations that already exist, since this is one of the reasons we pay taxes. If nobody cares laws are useless - like a bell without clappers.

[sissys_soapbox]

jojo is pretty plain speakin but not far off the mark. I have little kids. i wouldnt hang out in missoula much. too many oddballs and way to liberal for me. I love people but some people are working too hard at being "free".

[montanahogrider]

Originally Posted by rickers

Well I don't want to jump into any argument about how bad or good Missoula is but one thing I do know, and that is that Missoula is not in the middle of the Bitterroot Valley ! It is located at the northern end of the Bitterroot Valley just east of the confluence of the Bitterroot River and the larger Clark Fork River.

The Bitterroot Valley does not end with Missoula. It runs all the way up to Thompson Falls which places Missoula right in the middle of the Bitterroot. Consult your US Geological survey map for specifics. And surprise, maybe even an old dog can learn new tricks.

[elliottmew]

For a small city, Missoula has a lot going on. There's definitely always something to do, indoors and outdoors.