Young family wants to move to Kalispel from S florida

[ElkHunter]

Here's the temp norms, or averages for each month. Minimum average, Maximum average, Mean, and precip.

City:BILLINGS INTL AP
State:MT
Lat:45.48N
Long:108.33W
Elev: 3567
ID:240807
Normal Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual
Minimum 15.1 20.1 26.4 34.7 44.0 52.5 58.3 57.3 47.1 37.2 25.6 17.7 36.3
Maximum 32.8 39.5 47.6 57.5 67.4 78.0 85.8 84.5 71.8 58.9 42.7 34.5 58.4
Mean 24.0 29.8 37.0 46.1 55.7 65.2 72.0 70.9 59.5 48.1 34.1 26.1 47.4
Precip. 0.81 0.57 1.12 1.74 2.48 1.89 1.28 0.85 1.34 1.26 0.75 0.67 14.77


City:MISSOULA INTL AP
State:MT
Lat:46.55N
Long:114.06W
Elev: 3192
ID:245745
Normal Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual
Minimum 16.2 20.5 27.1 32.4 39.3 45.9 50.2 49.3 40.6 31.4 24.0 16.5 32.8
Maximum 30.8 37.4 48.1 58.0 66.1 74.5 83.6 83.2 71.5 57.4 40.0 30.3 56.7
Mean 23.5 29.0 37.6 45.2 52.7 60.2 66.9 66.3 56.1 44.4 32.0 23.4 44.8
Precip. 1.06 0.77 0.96 1.09 1.95 1.73 1.09 1.15 1.08 0.83 0.96 1.15 13.82


City:GLASGOW INTL AP
State:MT
Lat:48.13N
Long:106.37W
Elev: 2294
ID:243558
Normal Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual
Minimum 1.8 9.9 20.6 32.2 43.0 51.6 56.6 55.7 44.1 33.0 18.5 6.4 31.1
Maximum 19.9 28.3 41.3 56.7 67.9 77.1 83.8 83.3 70.4 57.1 37.4 24.8 54.0
Mean 10.8 19.1 30.9 44.5 55.5 64.4 70.2 69.5 57.3 45.0 27.9 15.6 42.6
Precip. 0.35 0.26 0.47 0.75 1.72 2.20 1.78 1.25 0.98 0.71 0.39 0.37 11.23

[Texplant]

FL2MT, did you ever get up there? I'm in S. FL now, trying to get outta here and I have MT or WY in my crosshairs!

[FL2MT]

Originally Posted by Texplant

FL2MT, did you ever get up there? I'm in S. FL now, trying to get outta here and I have MT or WY in my crosshairs!

7 years running now I've been spending my summers in Montana.

[skistar]

Done a bit of searching but could really use any local insight on areas around Kalispell/Columbia Falls. Still unsure if I want to rent or buy at first but it seems like the housing market might be taking a turn for the better?? and I don't want to miss a good opportunity to own.

Main neighborhoods with multiple places for sale seem to be East/Westside of Kalispell, the area to the North off 3 miles, around Evergreen and Columbia Falls itself. Schools seem better down in Kalispell but other than that I find much as far as specifics go. I know everything has the basics covered and is a shorter commute than the 45min to town we drive now so mainly looking to narrow my search if a couple of these areas would be better to buy in.

I've only spend a few weeks in Kalispell/Whitefish over the years but I live in a nearly identical climate now and my job is bringing me over there so I don't have to worry about finding employment. Would you still say it's a strong buyers market out there? Ideally I'd like to find a 3/4 bedroom/2 bath and have been searching in the 150-275 range trying to find out where the best value is.

Appreciate your help narrowing my search!

[FL2MT]

Originally Posted by skistar

Done a bit of searching but could really use any local insight on areas around Kalispell/Columbia Falls. Still unsure if I want to rent or buy at first but it seems like the housing market might be taking a turn for the better?? and I don't want to miss a good opportunity to own.

Main neighborhoods with multiple places for sale seem to be East/Westside of Kalispell, the area to the North off 3 miles, around Evergreen and Columbia Falls itself. Schools seem better down in Kalispell but other than that I find much as far as specifics go. I know everything has the basics covered and is a shorter commute than the 45min to town we drive now so mainly looking to narrow my search if a couple of these areas would be better to buy in.

I've only spend a few weeks in Kalispell/Whitefish over the years but I live in a nearly identical climate now and my job is bringing me over there so I don't have to worry about finding employment. Would you still say it's a strong buyers market out there? Ideally I'd like to find a 3/4 bedroom/2 bath and have been searching in the 150-275 range trying to find out where the best value is.

Appreciate your help narrowing my search!

Rent first, a small apartment or something similar. Give yourself at least 6 months to get familiar with the area. There's nothing to indicate that home prices and/or mortgage rates are going to rocket higher in the next year so you've got time to be patient. You're not going to miss some great opportunity by purchasing now that you couldn't also get a year from now. Plus after renting you'll have time to see all those areas in person multiple times. Much better to wait 6 months or a year and get your location right than shoot semi-blindly when you first arrive trying to score a deal based on our personal opinions.

Take your time, don't get house fever.

[skistar]

I understand where you're coming from. That was my initial plan but there don't seem to be many decent rentals around and we (me, my girlfriend and her 9 y/o) have been living with family for the last year and would really like to settle down without moving multiple times. Would also prefer to not have to switch schools multiple times with the move. I will have several weeks to spend in Kalispell during training and we're close enough to come over for the weekend to spend a bit of time in different areas.

That said, if I don't find the right place, I'm not going to buy just to own a home. I do want to give it a fair shot before settling for a rental without looking around at all.