The Whitefish Pilot had this video on their web site. It is taken by a remote helicopter:

Good shot of construction on Casey's Bar in Whitefish but also of Whitefish and the valley.

I was driving along Flathead Lake yesterday heading north and was thinking about how I never tire of seeing the white capped mountains and the beautiful blue of "the" lake. The lake level is regulated by dams and is filling in nicely getting close to the full pool goal by Memorial Day weekend.  Boat docks are still high and dry but the shoreline has water covering the areas that were bare just a couple of weeks ago. Cherry trees are blossoming for even more beauty along Hwy 93.

Glacier National Park plowing is proceeding well. There are some amazing photos on the park site and you can friend the facebook page so you too get the updates on progress and latest photos.

Here is a photo that was posted by Glacier National Park of the plowing in Two Medicine camp ground. Just a "little" snow!! Speaking of snow, Whitefish Resort announced in today's Daily Interlake that this was a banner ski visit year. Even with Big Mountain opening a week late due to lack of snow, and not much snow until mid January, ski visits and season pass sales made it one of the best years ever. I am looking forward to next year and plan on getting my season pass during the summer discount period.

Real estate continues to slowly pick up speed. Mostly the homes under or around $200k are still what is moving. New listings are coming on daily for the spring/summer/fall buyer period. Email me at: info@kalispellcary.com if you want to receive new listings that fit your needs as they hit the market.

Going to the Sun road plowing in Glacier National Park has started! After a record late opening last year, let's hope for a record early opening this year. Keep up on the plowing progress http://home.nps.gov/applications/glac/gttsroadplow/gttsroadplowstatus.cfm

There was valley snow yesterday morning after wonderful warm and sunny days last week. Springtime in Montana, going back and forth from winter to summer.

City of Kalispell has hired a new City Manager from S. Dakota. He will be the 9th City Manager since that position was formed. 

I listed an incredible ranch recently. 

10 acres, 2 horse barns, shop, guest house, run in sheds, huge 3rd barn for hay and tractor storage. 3151 Columbia Falls Stage Rd, $839,500. Email me for more details; info@kalispellcary.com

April is between busy tourism times and an excellent time to visit the Flathead Valley.

Nemo Arms manufactures a whole different kind of weapon; nemoarms.com. Local Bigfork resident Major General Paul E. Vallely retired, is one of the gentlemen at the helm. One of the goals of this company is to fill a need in the military and also provide jobs in the Flathead Valley.

A residential eating disorder clinic is awaiting zoning approval from the City of Kalispell to begin construction at the north end of town on Hwy 93. With the central valley location, both North Valley Hospital in Whitefish and Health Center Northwest in Kalispell will be utilized to assist patients in this clinic. There is no such clinic available for several 100 miles around Kalispell.

Sometimes jobs come from surprising arenas. There are many small companies operating in our valley that fly under the radar but are so very important in providing diversity in jobs. Zinc Air Inc. is another example. This company markets a grid storage system to store large amounts of electricity, mostly from wind power generators.

I applaud those with the creativity and foresight to create companies, take the financial risk, and provide jobs for our valley.

I was in a continuing education class for supervising brokers this week. We learned - or had a refresher course in - everything from trust accounts to water rights and a legislature update from last session. Our Montana legislature meats every other year.

I was in a continuing education class for supervising brokers this week. We learned - or had a refresher course in - everything from trust accounts to water rights and a legislature update from last session. Our Montana legislature meats every other year.

In the class information that was passed on:

1) Montana has 176,000 miles of rivers, only 3 states have more

2) In explaining flood plains: in a 100 year flood plain there is a 1% chance of flooding in any given year, in a 500 year flood plain .2% of a chance. So, instead of thinking that a 100 year flood plain means that odds will be that a major flood will happen once in every 100 years, it is actually the likely hood of a flood in any given year.

3) There was a bill that was passed prohibiting sprinkler systems to be installed in new homes. The governor vetoed the bill. The department of Labor and Industries is working on guidelines for these to be installed. The cost of a system in the average house will add $6000 to the price. The irony is that in most Montana areas outside of the city limits, there are no building codes enforced so to implement this sprinkler system ruling is going to be very difficult.

4) Montana Realtor Association is a huge lobby group in the state fighting for property rights and lack of government interference in private matters. There were many bills that this association made an impact on that would have effected our private property rights. Since Gov. Schweitzer is not up for re-election this year, there is optimism that some of his vetoes will be over turned in 2013. Gov. Schweitzer vetoed 78 bills!

March 9 saw 62 degrees! This last week there were many awesome ski days with sun.

​Big Mountain (Whitefish Mountain Resort) piled up 22" of snow in 24hrs on Sunday. Powder hounds were in heaven. Monday the sun came out, lots of snow made the conditions ideal for those of us who prefer to ski groomers.

​Sunday afternoon I sat an open house. I had 2 groups through, both looking at the option of buying a new construction home in a nice subdivision. This home is ready to move into and a great value at $179,900!

http://www.kalispellcary.com/Property/196-Weimar-Way-Kalispell-Montana

As I write this blog, it is snowing big flakes outside my window. Our snow pack is about 52% of normal and the ski hill has half as much snow as a year ago - of course that was a record year. Snow is in the forecast for the next week so skiers rejoice!

There are a number of investors in the market looking at multi-family and commercial real estate. I had a commercial listing just close and showings on the duplex units I have listed. Job ads at Job Service and in the local paper are definitely on the rise. Good news that we have been waiting for. I remember back in '07 the economic forecast for the valley was that 2012 would be the beginning of an up turn in the market. Seemed like a long time to wait but maybe we are there.Since then our MLS has lost about 1/2 of the licensed Realtors. Those of us who have been able to hang in there during the challenging last few years are set to benefit from less competition.

Whitefish Winter Carnival is in full swing. The parade was last Saturday with many events set to come.

Kalispell City Council voted to remove the transportation tax that was added onto the cost of new construction. Any reduction in costs will benefit home buyers of new construction.

Kalispell's current City Manager took a position in another state. An attorney from Helena was set to be the interim but ran into some state pension problems. So, while the search continues for a new manager, the current city attorney may be filling in for a time. The new fire chief has been approved by the city council. Dave Dedman is a Kalispell native and has been filling in for the vacated post and is now the new fire chief.

Record high temps on Wednesday at 50 degrees was really strange. It felt like spring most of the week. Snow in the forecast though for the next few days and boy are we ready for it! The ski slopes are emptied from the surge of holiday tourists. Should be good skiing next week.

The National Association of  Realtor's economist, put out a positive market report for the first time in 3 years. He says there are signs that there is the beginnings of  a healthy uptick in the market. Not since the first time home buyer's credit has there been this change so it is thought that we are slowly climbing out. All real estate is local however, but national trends trickle into our valley eventually. Good news for my sellers-in addition to decreased inventory and fewer bank owned coming on the market. The good news for the buyers is that still record low mortgage rates are available.

My personal happy news this week was welcoming my first grandchild! Son and daughter-in-law gave birth to a boy in Washington State. So blessed and excited.

Weather: for some reason this is the first thing that comes to mind this week. After many sunny and warm (for winter) days, it is snowing this morning. Still warm and may end up raining in the valley but the ski hills should benefit. It has been a slow start to skiing this year. Big Mtn received 7" the other night which led to avalanche control measures. This weekend should see the start to more stable snow fall and better conditions. Blacktail faces north and has had a better base thus far. Big winds and rain off and on the last couple of days in the valley. The ground has been thawing. Hope the trees and horses don't start thinking it is spring!

Whitefish Mountain Resort has some New Year's Eve options. Snow boarding on the rails under lights at 5pm followed by the torchlight parade. Music at the base lodge free of charge from 5-8:30pm.

First Night Flathead in Kalispell is an annual event. Buy a button and roam around town to various venues to enjoy a wide variety of music from local musicians.

Fresh Life Church had 3 amazing Christmas Eve services on Saturday. We attended the one at 2pm in Kalispell. There are 2 former movie theaters where worship takes place and they were at capacity with overflow in an additional building. This is a very high tech church so the other venues had hd equipped screens showing the live music and preaching from the Liberty theater. There was a 4pm in Whitefish at the cinema there. Amazing music and preaching!

Hockey is showing up around the valley. On any frozen body of water, at the Woodland Park rink in Kalispell and the Stumptown Ice Den in Whitefish. 

My winter activities are curtailed due to knee replacement surgery a few weeks ago, but you can still find me in the cheering section for snow!

Flathead Valley activities are ramping up quickly leading to Christmas:

Tonight, December 2 - Kalispell ArtWalk from 5-9pm

Shepherd's Hand Clinic in Whitefish has a benefit tonight at Christ Lutheran Church. Free to attend but donations accepted. This clinic has been in place for many years helping those without insurance. One of my personal favorite physicians, Jay Erickson, and his wife started this program and have donated untold hours to helping those in need of medical care in our valley. Shepherdshand.com. The benefit starts at 7pm.

I am once again singing the praises of our excellent medical care in the valley. Dr. Olszewski, noted knee surgeon, did a total knee replacement on my right leg last week. 2 nights were spent at Health Center NW in Kalispell. The wonderful staff at Flathead Orthopedics and our local hospital made the surgery go very smoothly. My follow up physical therapist is Kat Ingalk of Mindful Motion in Kalispell. I saw her last night for the first time and love her! She is caring, energetic and creative. Kat works out of Straight Blast Gym. She will be giving me homework and working on getting the motion back into that new knee joint.

Last night we ate at Hops Bar and Grill in Kalispell for the first time since they opened. Had a burger and their homemade chips. Best chips ever! The place was packed which is pretty impressive for a Thursday night in December.

Whitefish Mtn Resort has delayed opening. Ski season was set to start December 3 but there just is not enough snow. We have had lots of sun and dry weather with no snow left in the valley floor.

Saturday morning drive into Whitefish to get a fleece jacket for the little house dog. He didn't look kindly at the cold weather when he needed to head outside to do his duty. Tailwaggers had just the thing, a locally made fleece coat for him. Then a walk over to Nelson Hardware to pickup a couple of items and have a nice visit with Rick Nelson the owner. Then onto the turkey buying at Super One. Last stop: Montana Coffee Traders on Hwy 93 in Whitefish for the best Americano in the valley. Super women work there, always friendly and remember me.

New commercial listing on the Swan Valley Highway. Former deli/gas station with a 4 bedroom house, recently remodeled. See it on kalispellcary.com.

Off to protect the honey bee hives from the cold nights.

November! Snow is on Big Mtn, some valley snow possible the end of the week. Unlike the NE part of the country, we had no snow in October in the Flathead Valley.

Kalispell restaurant update:

1) Applebees in front of Costco will be opening soon to add to the choices at the north end of Kalispell

2) Doug and Vonnie Day are changing their restaurant format over to more casual pub type of eatery on Main Street called Hops Restaurant and Grill. Always on the lookout for a great burger, I'll let you know how it is.,

3) We have had both lunch and breakfast at the Split Rock downtown. Both excellent, good value and great service.

Whitefish City Hall re-location and possibly a new building are still being hotly debated, especially leading up to council member elections.

A group in Wisconsin has complained to the Forest Service that a statue of Christ on Big Mtn since 1953 should not have the permit renewed for it to be on the ski hill. This statue is a World War II memorial and the out cry from our valley has been loud and strong. We'll see if the Forest Service respects the history and local opinions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiwgBxlpC9o

This is mostly about Whitefish. Don't leave out Kalispell, Bigfork, Columbia Falls and Somers/Lakeside. The Flathead Valley has much to do and see!

Saturday and Sunday the 8-9th, the Kalispell Ski Club does their ski swap at the Flathead County Fairgrounds. Time to buy and sell used and new ski equipment and pick up that ski pass for Blacktail and Big Mountain.

There is a new Applebees restaurant at Hutton Ranch in front of Costco nearing opening day. This part of Kalispell is fast becoming the place to go to eat and shop. The new Hutton Ranch connector road has gone out for bids to provide another access from Reserve Drive.

Kalispell Regional Hospital is progressing with another large addition. Being a regional medical center  this facility sees strong, steady growth. New physicians are coming into the valley to meet the medical needs of residents and tourists.

In reading my CRS (certified residential specialist) magazine this morning, there was an article about housing prices hitting bottom in the next few months. Of course this is nationwide information. The Flathead slowed down later than a lot of markets and traditionally starts picking back up later. The 69 panelists in this article estimate that there may be 2% annual appreciation in the next 5 years. This is described as stability in the market rather than a rebound meaning no actual change in home values. I advise my sellers that if they want to sell now, sell. Waiting for 5 years is not going to net them a greater price.

The Summit - owned by Kalispell Regional Medical Center - offers some great education to the public. I renewed my CPR/AED certification there the other night. Check out their web site for upcoming classes, something to meet any need in the medical or fitness area.

The Bistro restaurant in Whitefish has purchased a former restaurant building in Kalispell and is currently remodeling to open there this fall. Another great place for lunch and dinner. I had a fantastic lunch with a friend at the Split Rock Cafe in the KM Building in Kalispell this week. Great value and love the old building atmosphere.

Must be the fall weather, lots of information to pass on this week!

High school sports are in full fall season force. Flathead High and Glacier High are doing very well in both football and girl's volleyball. 

Time to get the final harvest from the garden, still no hard frost which is unusual for the end of September.

City of Kalispell is working on a plan for an improvement district along the west side railroad tracks. Some talk of incorporating the fairgrounds into the scheme as well.

Glacier Symphony is promoting their new season, great musicians in this valley!!