Eureka, Mt (Kalispell, Whitefish, Libby: real estate market, apartment, rentals)

[cherrywv1]

Hey any info on Eureka? Looks like a nice town, how bout an insiders view.
Thnx

[be_a_light]

We have lived here for a couple of years. Eureka is facing the growth of many areas in Montana. There continues to be an active real estate market here, due primarily to the Canadian dollar and empty nesters who are paying cash for homes or are not under the gun with sub-prime mortgages or have been successful in selling their out of state homes.

Eureka has a nearly new high school. There have been numerous new businesses opening to cater to the influx of people. No Walmart but two of the local groceries are breaking ground for new facilities with expanded offerings. There are many small shops and two medical clinics. Most of Eureka's trade comes from locals who live outside of the city limits and Canadians. We've had a pretty mild winter and, for the most part, our winters are milder than many areas of Montana. We are a little short of snow this year, but we are supposed to get a foot of snow before the end of the day tomorrow. We've been missing the snow this year for some reason.

What are you looking for and I can be more specific.

[cherrywv1]

Mostly how is the community, do they welcome newcomers. belive it or not we moved someplace that didnt like strangers too well before. We want a friendly place where people arnt afraid to talk to their new neighbors.
How are the rentals in that area? How much would a 2 bdr or 3 bdr home cost to rent. We do have a dog, housetrained and she stays in a cage when were not home.
is there internet there in Eureka, I know it sounds like a stupid question, but what kind of internet is there if there is. Also how is cell phone signal. I have verizon right now.
Are their job opeinings in eureka or would you have to travel to a larger city to work. I like secretarial work, but can work just about anything you throw at me. I do have computer experience went to college for 2.5 years for data base managament and design.
i guess i should ask age as well, we are 33,32, 12 and almost 14. Meaning I dont think a group of retiree's in their 60's would want kids running around. Another stupid question but weve lived in an area moslly older and it didnt work out to well there either.
I dont think anyone could understand, but we feel drawn to Mt. Like it is where we are ment to be. Have you ever had that feeling that you know you are sapposed to do something??? Ok nice way to make friends by pronoucning that you are a bunch of weirdo/s that listen to their feelings. lol
Actually we are pretty down to earth, our kids are nice and respectful and we jsut want a place we can call home.

[be_a_light]

Originally Posted by cherrywv1

Mostly how is the community, do they welcome newcomers. belive it or not we moved someplace that didnt like strangers too well before. We want a friendly place where people arnt afraid to talk to their new neighbors.
How are the rentals in that area? How much would a 2 bdr or 3 bdr home cost to rent. We do have a dog, housetrained and she stays in a cage when were not home.
is there internet there in Eureka, I know it sounds like a stupid question, but what kind of internet is there if there is. Also how is cell phone signal. I have verizon right now.
Are their job opeinings in eureka or would you have to travel to a larger city to work. I like secretarial work, but can work just about anything you throw at me. I do have computer experience went to college for 2.5 years for data base managament and design.
i guess i should ask age as well, we are 33,32, 12 and almost 14. Meaning I dont think a group of retiree's in their 60's would want kids running around. Another stupid question but weve lived in an area moslly older and it didnt work out to well there either.
I dont think anyone could understand, but we feel drawn to Mt. Like it is where we are ment to be. Have you ever had that feeling that you know you are sapposed to do something??? Ok nice way to make friends by pronoucning that you are a bunch of weirdo/s that listen to their feelings. lol
Actually we are pretty down to earth, our kids are nice and respectful and we jsut want a place we can call home.

You are going to see two camps of people here: most who are welcoming and some who are...let's say ... cautious. We found that to make connections here we often had to be pro-active with making the first move of introductions, handshakes, etc.

Rentals are not plentiful. You can usually rent something between $450-650 in an apartment; $900 and up for a rental house. Most people who stay here for the long haul usually buy or build. Unlike many areas of the country, Eureka's real estate has remained high. Reasons? The Canadian's strong dollar ("loonie") and the influence of the Flathead Valley market. We are a pretty area with lots of trees, mountains, and water ... what everyone wants.

We have two ISP's who provide DSL as well as dial-up.

Finding a job in the Eureka area will be the most challenging part of relocating here. If you don't work for the school or the forest service, you either have to slide into some of the local businesses or commute to Whitefish or Kalispell for work. There are many self-employed (cyberbusiness and small shops) here. I work at the school and my husband is an auto mechanic at a local shop. Wages here are not at par with other areas of the country. As of tomorrow, Montana will raise it's minimum wage 10 cents. This summer it will raise to the national minimum wage. There are new businesses coming into Eureka little by little. Also, our two grocery stores are breaking ground for larger facilities this spring. It seems secretarial jobs pop up once in awhile here, but they are filled rather quickly. We have found that most jobs are not posted here--it's best to go visit prospective employers face to face. It seems they want to "get to know who you are" rather than rely on a resume'. Our college age daughter found this out last summer when she was looking for work. Most hiring around here tends to happen from late April through about the 4th of July.

We have a very nice new school here with great facilities for music, the arts, and athletics. Good teachers who love to teach more than they want to make money. I know this as I am making less money here than I was 5 years ago at a smaller school district in Montana. This isn't a retirement community ... yet but unless we get more jobs, it could become one I fear.

Come to Montana and do your homework, for the sake of your family. There are many faces to Montana. We are a big country--actually bigger than most "real" countries in the world. I've tried to tell you the "real scoop" here but one must visit to get the real feel of a place.

[jimj]

Eureka would be a challenge for you I think unless you're coming with money to be able to survive for a while (6 months or more) while you try to find employment. Might I suggest looking around the Flathead valley closer to Kalispell first? You would be closer to more jobs and housing and it would give you a chance to scope out the area for a possible later move if that's what you still want to do. Eureka,Libby and small towns like those tend to be hard to find jobs in until people get to know you and you are competing with those that already live there or have family that lives there that are well known. I know I wouldn't want to commute from Eureka to Kalispell or Whitefish everyday for work, some days you wouldn't make it. In the small towns nepotisim still rules the day so jobs can be hard to find. Outlying towns around Kalispell gives you access to the jobs there of which there are a lot of right now. As for being welcomed, there are lots of people moving here and for the most part (except in the real small towns) no one really notices much. You're 14 yr old will be old enough to drive (14 1/2 here) and there are plenty of things for kids to do both winter and summer if they like outdoor sports. It all depends on what y'all do for a living and what you can afford in rent or to buy. Eureka,Libby and such are limited economy towns at this point and from our vantage point seem to be where people are going to retire and live a real rural life. The school(s) in Eureka are as good as anywhere in MT so that shouldn't be a real concern for you. You do need to remember though that commuting here to other cities to work is NOT like it is in other states where a 45 mile drive is the norm, during the winter here you may not be able to go that far or want to take your life into your own hands to do so on a daily basis.
To be honest, more info is needed from you before real good suggestions can be made, things like what do you do for work? Are your kids outdoorsy or video game sit at home types (it matters)? Do both of you need work full time? What type of housing and costs do you need or expect? What kind of atmosphere (cultural,climate etc) are you currently used to?
With these answers it'll be easier to pinpoint an area to suggest to you....
Have a good new year and hope this helps.

[cherrywv1]

Actually I think you would be surprised, we know how to survive and have been through tough times. no we arnt rich but we make it and are very resoureful.
I am in contact with a few people in Eureka now and might have a house lined up. We will prob be moving up in middle of Febuary, so it wil be nice to meet you

[be_a_light]

Let me know if I can help you in any way. be_a_light@hotmail.com

Good luck with your move!!!