Missoula and Bozeman (Billings, Whitefish, Florence: real estate, loan, find a job)

[gingerg07]

I'm posting this in the general Montana forum since we are considering both cities. I know you are probably tired of answering questions from people who want to move there, but I'd appreciate the help.

1. Is Missoula way more progressive than the rest of the state? My main concern is people who care to upkeep their property and the town. My husband's main concern is someone trying to tell him he can't shoot his gun on his property.

2. Is it much more cloudy and dreary in Missoula?

3. Is it feasible to live ~20 miles out and still have good access to jobs and schools, i.e. Florence?

4. Are there any schools I need to avoid in these areas?

5. How poorly does a farming job pay? My husband has a real estate license and is currently a loan officer, but he'd rather not be in sales. Along the same lines, if I took a part time job at a resort, what kind of pay could I expect?

Thank you

[historyfan]

1. Missoula proper will be different than outside of town.
Little towns that are incorporated may have ordinances. Some "towns" are not officially towns.
In general each county has a nuisance ordinance regarding weeds & hazards....if you let your place go completely, it might have clean up ordered & bill attached to property tax bill--this is if extreme neglect occurs & complaints are made.

Gun firing on your own property has rules depending on where your property is. In general you can not fire 1/4 mile from a public road, dwelling, etc....where people traditionally are. The actual law per location is going to vary. Towns will likely have no guns fired within city limits rule. Check with local sheriff's office prior to purchasing property for clarification.

2. Winter in Missoula Valley is grayish from overcast. I personally could not stand it. Other seasons are glorious.

3. Is your question, 20 miles to commute to a Missoula job, or are jobs available 20 miles away? Most every small town has public school & MT public systems are decent.

4. Not that I know of, someone more local needs respond.

5. In MT it completely depends on the "farm job". Some are very subsistence level pay but have housing as part of compensation. Some are part of a corporate structure with excellent benefits and others with zero benefits. There are management jobs that pay well, but I do not know what the Missoula area has for opportunities in ag. Perhaps your husband could find opportunity in ag banking, if he as agricultural experience.

Resort work will also have huge variety in pay. Most employees are probably in minimum wage category because they are housekeeping & front desk & food service help. At some places employees are there because they get a perk like a free season ski pass. Some resorts & dude ranch & outfitting situations have positions which are traditionally heavily tipped.

[Antonio Montana]

Unfortunately, both Missoula and Bozeman, due to how "hip" and "trendy" they have become are now full of cultural marxists, people from California (I'm possibly being redundant), hipsters, gun haters, and people who think a dude who thinks he's a chick should be able to share bathrooms with girls. Billings is getting to be the same way as well.

I'm very thankful that I live in one of the less "trendy" and sexy places of Montana, but yet still has more than enough amenities for me. I

[gingerg07]

Antonio Montana,

Where do you live? We need to live somewhere big enough for at least my husband to find a job. Have you lived other places? I think the country as a whole is becoming more progressive, so I guess we can't escape that anywhere.

[NDak15]

I'm posting this in the general Montana forum since we are considering both cities. I know you are probably tired of answering questions from people who want to move there, but I'd appreciate the help.

1. Is Missoula way more progressive than the rest of the state? My main concern is people who care to upkeep their property and the town. My husband's main concern is someone trying to tell him he can't shoot his gun on his property. People in Missoula seem to keep their property in order for the most part. As far as shooting a gun you can't do that in the city limits anywhere in Montana. Missoula is considered the most liberal city in Montana but it's not Berkely by any mean. And it gets VERY red not too far away from town.

2. Is it much more cloudy and dreary in Missoula? Yes, Missoula gets inversions, especially in winter.

3. Is it feasible to live ~20 miles out and still have good access to jobs and schools, i.e. Florence? Yes

4. Are there any schools I need to avoid in these areas? None that I'm aware of unless you decide to go on the Flathead Reservation.

5. How poorly does a farming job pay? My husband has a real estate license and is currently a loan officer, but he'd rather not be in sales. Along the same lines, if I took a part time job at a resort, what kind of pay could I expect? Not sure what a farming job pays. The only resorts in that area are in Whitefish which is a long ways away. And most resort jobs pay minimum wage. Your main concern in relocating to that area is finding a job that will pay a decent salary. The area is expensive to live in.

Thank you[/quote]

[Antonio Montana]

Originally Posted by gingerg07

Antonio Montana,

Where do you live? We need to live somewhere big enough for at least my husband to find a job. Have you lived other places? I think the country as a whole is becoming more progressive, so I guess we can't escape that anywhere.

I've lived in the Midwest and the west coast.

[Dangerous Dave]

Originally Posted by gingerg07

I'm posting this in the general Montana forum since we are considering both cities. I know you are probably tired of answering questions from people who want to move there, but I'd appreciate the help.




3. Is it feasible to live ~20 miles out and still have good access to jobs and schools, i.e. Florence?




Thank you

As for Missoula, I can tell you that commuting to Missoula from the south on Highway 12 can be a zoo. If you can find something on the north side of town or outside of town along Interstate 90, you'll have a less stressful drive into Missoula.