Looking to move back home to Montana... (Missoula, Kalispell: ski resort, for sale)

[toccifamily]

Hi all! New here, read a lot of threads but first posting. My husband and I are beginning our search to find a place to retire and raise our family. My family is from the Missoula/Bitterroot area. My husband's family is all from Colorado. We are looking a little bit there as well. He is active duty military (Army), a PA, and I homeschool our 4 children. We have been moving every year and a half to two years since 2000 and are looking forward to settling in one place. He has a little while yet before retiring at 20yrs.

What we are looking for, ideally, is a smaller community. Had enough of crazy, busy cities with traffic and little gang-wannabes. Yes, admittedly, I do like the amenities that a larger city offers but it is not the end of the world to go without them. We would like to find a bit of land to purchase now and then build on when retirement comes. We both miss the mountains terribly! I am not a big ski bum but my husband needs it and hasn't had a chance to in, oh, about 8 years. Our youngest two children don't even know what snow is - just not right. We want to live somewhere with 4 seasons in the year. Rolling green hills, mountain backdrop, 10-20 acres with trees! Did I mention green?! I love the idea of returning to the Bitterroot valley where my grandparents homesteaded but I fear the recent influx will have driven the prices too far out of our range. We have looked online at the Dillon area (though I am seeing quite a bit of brown there). Up around Kalispell would also be wonderful but again I think the cost may prove prohibative. Suggestions/info otherwise would be most appreciated!

Any thoughts? We plan on continuing to homeschool our kiddos and my husband would be looking to be the local small town medical provider...

Thanks in advance for your input!

[8 SNAKE]

It would be helpful if you listed a price range for the land that you wish to acquire. Otherwise, suggestions may miss the mark.

[Joe Doer]

A bit off the beaten path is Polaris. It is just west of Dillon and it situated between two mountain ranges. One of the true gems that not a lot of people have discovered. The cost of living would be reasonable and there is land for sale. With the economic downturn you may get a real deal on some nice property.

[rickers]

Take a look at White Sulphur Springs. Bring your own job though. People can really retire anymore ?

[toccifamily]

Good point, 8 SNAKE. Our price range for land only would be around 160,000. If the property had a home on it already our range would be around 250,000. We'll check out Polaris and White Sulphur Springs. The great thing about being a PA is that they are needed just about everywhere and there is the possibility he could even open his own practice.

We are planning on a trip later this summer (july/aug) to visit family and check out land possibilities.

[rickers]

You might also want to check out Thompson Falls over on the west side or even our town of Conrad. We are pretty darn close to this.

[Clark Fork Fantast]

If you'd want to go as far north as Kalispell, and if the Thompson Falls area appeals to you (it does to me), you might want to extend your search to the Idaho border, and even into North Idaho. For two years we were looking for bare land from Thompson Falls to the Yaak, and over into NID, and there were many more affordable properties available in NID, also with great mountain backdrops, rivers, lakes, and friendly people. Besides, you've got Schweitzer ski resort right there! From Thompson Falls you'd be able to get to Schweitzer in about 1 1/2 hour. There are properties within your price range. We ended up getting 5 acres on the ID-MT border.

[toccifamily]

Thanks rickers. And, yes, this is only a retirement from the military rather than retirement from working altogether!

[rickers]

If you don't mind copious amounts of snow there is the Seeley/Swan valley corridor between the Mission Mountains and The Swan Range. Nice area and not developing all that fast, (compared to Missoula or the Kalispell areas).