Hoopers Nursery was packed out this afternoon for their free seminar, everyone is getting ready to think of starting those seeds and getting ready for summer. I want to get my seeds started this week in the greenhouse.

Horses are frolicking and shedding big time. I am attending 2 horse clinics this spring so need to get riding. Still snow in my outdoor arena so wait until the footing is a little safer. Plan to do more horse camping this year so need to get working on those horses of mine.

    We watched the Whitefish Carnival Parade last weekend. What a crowded event! Very popular with locals and tourists alike. Lots of Canadians in town for winter fun.

There are some great horse clinics on offer this coming Spring and Summer. I will be attending one in April with my 5 year old gelding. Mark Rashid is teaching and I am a fan of his methods.

Whitefish Winter Carnival continues this weekend with a ball, penguin plunge, artwalk. The North Valley School of Music is having a concert tonight that we have tickets for. The instructors will be the performers, should be fun.

There are 4 new listings on my web site this week. I will be driving around taking new photos as the mountains appear out of the clouds today. Showed homes in Bigfork this week and the mountain view was incredible from Swan Hill Drive.

Temperatures have been so mild it feels strange. Taking care of goats, horses, chickens is my way of getting outside after a day at the desk and in the car. Days are getting longer so it is nice after a workday to get outside and be with the critters. Yesterday the horses were quite playful, they feel spring coming as well.

Whitefish Carnival: Skijoring takes place all weekend. Horses and riders towing skiers/snowboarders through a course for prizes.

Alpine Theater Project and Glacier Symphony collaboration on South Pacific, performances in Whitefish and Kalispell.

Thursday night concert in Whitefish by the International Guitarists, brought into town by the Whitefish Theater Co.

Why I live here: Thursday morning skiing hard for 2 hours in the sun on Big Mountain, then heading to work meeting with some great clients. Outstanding view of all the mountain peaks into Canada from the summit yesterday, wish I had brought my camera so I could share! It is fun in the parking lot with everyone greeting each other while getting geared up to ski. Lots of us head up the hill for a few runs then head off to work.

City of Kalispell debate continues about what to do with the City airport. Choices are to expand it or close it. It has slowly become surrounded by development and may have lived out it's useful life. If it is closed, traffic would come and go from Glacier International Airport exclusively. The city council had a work session on Monday night with 45 members of the public speaking out with their opinions.

  Skiing whenever my work allows and it has been great! Conditions were wonderful last Saturday but not the visibility. Made up for that Monday morning. Spring like conditions but the mornings are fine. Looking for some fresh snow to fall starting today.

  Whitefish ArtWalk is next Friday, January 29th. Also that night is one of 4 performances of South Pacific, a collaboration with Alpine Theater Project and the Glacier Symphony.  Whitefish Winter Carnival starting to pick up steam, lots of fun events on the schedule.

  Work continues to pickup with buyers making offers. Got one deal together this week and working on a second. A serious buyer considering one of my listings - feels busy, especially compared to last year.

  Might try to fit in a snowshoe trek in Glacier National Park tomorrow. It is free with a ranger along to educate the snowshoers.

On the weekend we had a family bowling competition at Pick's Bowling in Bigfork. A fairly new  bowling alley. Fun and frustration - not my favorite thing to do. Followed by dinner at Tamarack Creek Brewery in Lakeside. The most interesting menu and even though I don't drink beer, well worth the drive for an excellent buffalo burger and the best fries in the valley.

We are having a spring thaw the last 2 days, nice to be warm out but a little sloppy. I wondered why I bothered to get my car washed yesterday, hopefully it will stay clean until I show homes this afternoon.

Still sore from a killer workout during the noon hour at Flathead Fitness. The owner taught it and it was tough! Looking forward to the regularinstructor next week. There was a lot of moaning and groaning going on during class.

Foys to Blacktail trail had a meeting last night to strategize on further trail progress and land purchases to extend the system. This is a wonderful thing for the valley. Starting at Herron Park in Kalispell, you can ride horses, bikes, hike all the way to Blacktail Mountain in Lakeside. A great group of people working to increase the land available and set it aside for recreation that is easilyaccessible to all. I support this project and hope others will too.

Kalispell swore in the new mayor this week. She is a young attorney. I'll be watching to see how that works with the city manager and council.

Night life starting to pick up around the valley now that the new year is here. Many Canadians and other tourists in town for all the winter fun we have to enjoy. Cross country skiing at the Whitefish Golf Course is one of my favorites. Groomed runs and you can rent equipment right there.

Community Education catalog from Flathead Valley Community College arrived in the mail yesterday. An overwhelming array of choices from learning Korean to cooking to back country camping with horses!

Central School Museum in Kalispell is starting up the winter lecture series. Check out their web site for more information.

Tickets are on sale for Alpine Theater Project's collaboration with the Glacier Symphony in an abbreviated version of South Pacific the end of January. 3 performances, 2 in Whitefish and 1 in Kalispell.

   Thought about skiing this a.m. but with 14" of powder over night and still snowing heavily at Whitefish Mountain Resort, think we'll wait for it to be groomed and packed. Another big storm tonight, so maybe Saturday will be good skiing. Looks like snow for the next week in the mountains. Get kind of funny about holiday "crowds" on the mountain. So used to never standing in line that with kids out of school and holiday tourists, seems like long lines when compared to the norm at some resorts, are actually very short lines.

   A friend's goat had her kids yesterday so plan on running out to Kila to see the babies. My kids are due the beginning of May.

   Going to skip First Night Flathead this year. Maybe have a neighborhood bon fire instead. Never stay up till midnight anyway.

   Watch for a post of a video of the Christmas Eve torchlight parade. Should be on in a couple of days after my visiting son shows me how to do it. He is the family tech wiz and attorney all rolled into one.

    Last night was the Gallery Opening in Whitefish for artist Sunti. Sunti is from Thailand and lives in Bigfork. He does amazing resin and bronze statues. Google him and check out his work.

    Monday night was the yearly Alpine Theater Project's Christmas show. Broadway stars fly in for a week or so and perform. Always entertaining and fun.

    The weather is turning colder which is good for the snow conditions. Sun is also in the Christmas forecast. Planning on snowshoeing in Glacier National Park tomorrow with the family. Should be beautiful. Will post a photo of our adventures next week.

    A blessed Christmas to all from Kalispell Montana and Cary Jo!

     Looking forward to Alpine Theater Project's annual holiday play on Monday night. It has been sold out for weeks. We go every year and it is always outstanding. Broadway actors and musicians are brought in with a huge variety of talents for our enjoyment.

     Christmas week talks of snowshoeing in Glacier National Park, ice skating and other winter fun.

     I have 2 new listings on my web site; www.kalispellcary.com - check them out!

Whitefish Christimas Stroll is tonight, Friday. Always fun. Galleries and shops open and a Christmas parade. Snow will be falling, very Christmas like.

Bigfork is open late on the Saturdays before Christmas. Another charming village at Christmas in our valley.

Having dinner tomorrow night at Kandahar at the Whitefish Mountain Resort - favorite restaurant in the valley!

Get those skis ready - it is going to be a great season.

   NOW, The Boiler Room has opened in the parking lot where the former heating plant was for the hospital. I just returned to my office from checking it out. Very urban and cool. Lots of metal, wood and style. 2 moms came in while I was there with their wee ones all bundled from walking to the coffee shop. The Boiler Room offers breakfast and even some staple items in the form of groceries for those who live nearby. The fire place is the coolest - if a fire place can be cool :) It has the metal that looks like an old boiler with what looks like the old boiler hatch on the front.

http://www.boilerroombrew.com/ here is the web site for the Boiler Room

http://www.eastsidebrick.com/ here is the web site for the building.

Now, back to work sending out my monthly seller reports!!

     Woke up to rain - a rather rare occurrence in this valley which only gets on average 16" a year. Hopefully this translates to snow in the mountains. Snow is forecast in the valley tomorrow.

     Headlines in this morning's Daily Interlake indicate that Tele Tech will be adding 100 new jobs this spring. There is the feeling in the Flathead Valley that spring will bring a pick up in everything from construction to real estate creating a come back in the economy. While it is still a buyer's market, I feel this might slowly start to change in the spring.

   The Kalispell truck alternate route (aka bypass) contract has been awarded. Construction to start depending on weather.

    Waiting for......... SNOW! The slopes on Big Mountain - Whitefish Moutain Resort - open in early December. Snow is forecast for this weekend, let's hope it starts piling up on the mountain. It was downright balmy a couple of days this week, I would have riden a horse if I didn't have to be in the office working. Got the shoes pulled for the winter. Don't miss my favorite coffee spot in Kalispell, Colter Coffee on Main Street. Great place to visit, wifi, and the best coffee in town.

   Can you believe Thanksgiving is next week!!

Everyone is gearing up for Thanksgiving next week and looking forward to good food and good times spent with family and friends. In this time of thanks we are lucky to have some great Thanksgiving events in the

Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

 Thanksgiving Cornucopia

Montana Coffee Tradersis sponsoring "Thanksgiving Cornucopia," a local farm and bakery market on Tuesday, November 24th.  This indoor sale will take place from 3p.m.-6p.m. in their downtown Whitefish location at 110 Central Avenue.  Local and organic produce ranging from apples, onions, root vegetables and much more will be offered for sale to help make your Thanksgiving cooking complete.  To help with baking for the holiday feast, local artisan bakers and a chocolatier will be on hand to sell pies, breads and dinner rolls, desserts, and other specialties.  For more information, please contact Barb Brant at 249-3484 or Terri Feury at 871-6791.

Thanksgiving Animal Food Drive

Our animal friends need help this time of year as well! Help our local Eagle Scouts, Humane Society of NW MT and the Flathead Food Bank with this wonderful food drive project. Stop by Sat., Nov. 21st & Sun., Nov. 22nd from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm, there will be three drop off locations for your convenience:
CHS Country Store - 150 1st Ave. WN, Kalispell (Saturday Only)
CHS/Cenex Convenience Store & Gas station-120 W. Idaho, Kalispell (Sunday Only)

Murdoch’s Ranch & Home Supply
2330 Hwy 93 So., Kalispell (Both Saturday & Sunday)

Cash donations also welcome, checks can be made payable to the
Humane Society of NW MT for tax deductible donation. Please help the animals in our community as they are also feeling the effects of the economy.

2nd Annual Turkey Trot-- 5K walk/run

Come out for the 2nd Annual Turkey Trot-- 5K walk/run on Thursday, November 26 ... 9:30 AM (Registration opens @ 8:30) at the Century 21 Big Sky Building
All proceeds will be given to the Mission Valley Food Banks.

Annual Ronan Community Thanksgiving Dinner

The Ronan Annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner will be held Thanksgiving day from 11:00am to 3:00pm at the Ronan Community Center, 300 3rd Ave NW, Ronan. This traditional dinner began many years ago by Marie Cowan.  Over the years it grew too large for her café and it was moved to the Ronan Community Center and is now sponsored by the Ronan Area Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with the Ronan Community Volunteers. Over 280 were served in 2008 with the help of local volunteers. The Lake County Commissioners donate the Ronan Community Center for this annual event.

If you are interested in volunteering, entertaining, donating turkeys, pies or rolls please call Adina Fox at 676-9228 or 207-2973 or e-mail at adinaf@ronan.net.

Financial donations are welcomed and appreciated. They may be sent to: Ronan Community Volunteers at PO Box 751, Pablo, MT 59855

It is a buyers market right now but that doesn't mean that you cannot sell your home or that you have to sell it for an amount that is not acceptable. Sellers have many reasons for selling and life doesn’t always wait for the “right” market conditions. You have to evaluate the pros and cons of selling in today’s market in light of your own financial and personal goals.

And yes, you can sell your home in a buyer’s market!

FrontDoor.com, HGTV’s companion information site, lists the Top 10 Ways to Beat the Sluggish Housing Market  Here are my takes on my favorites:

•  “Hire an aggressive, well-connected real estate agent.”  A qualified real estate professional is your MVP in the selling game. I’ve spent years building a base of satisfied clients and responsive contacts. I know my market, and I know how to sell your house in my market area.

• Have a focused selling plan right from the start. You want to aim, then shoot--and not the other way around. Today’s market is tough. Your tactics should be, too--and they need to be part of an organized game plan that gets the job done. The right real estate agent can set up a marketing plan that gets your home sold.

• Get your home in shape. If you know you need to make repairs, don’t wait: Get them done before your home goes on the market. And if you’re worried there may be less-obvious problems that might affect a sale, call in a professional home inspector. Bottom line: If you suspect, inspect!

• Consider doing some remodeling. If your home could use some updating with amenities that buyers really want--and are willing to pay for--take the plunge. For some great ideas, check out FrontDoor.com’s 10 Things that Make Buyers Bite.

• Entice buyers with incentives. Throw in some bonuses you can afford, like help with closing costs or flexibility with the closing date. Think about it: It’s a buyer’s market. Can you afford not to offer an incentive or two?

So should you sell your home now? In the end, only you can answer that question. But do your research and take some time to explore the possibilities. Your real estate agent can help with targeted information and professional expertise. Just ask!

 Earlier this week, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed an extension and expansion of the homebuyer tax credit. This morning, the House of Representatives approved the agreement reached in the Senate by a vote of 403-12. The bill has now passed both chambers and is awaiting the President’s signature, which could be as early as tomorrow!

Below is a summary of the new modifications in the extension and expansion of the tax credit:

1)  The $8,000 tax credit will be extended and available for first-time purchases before May 1, 2010.

2)  A new $6,500 tax credit will be available for repeat buyers who purchase between December 1, 2009, and May 1, 2010. To qualify for this provision, buyers must have used the home sold or being sold as a principal residence consecutively for 5 of the previous 8 years.

3)  Prospective purchasers with binding contracts in place as of April 30, 2010, will be allowed an additional 60 days to complete the transaction.

4)  Income limits are expanded to $125,000 on a single return and $225,000 on a joint return.

If you know anyone looking to buy their first home at a time when prices and interest rates are still down, or if you are thinking of buying another home and getting the new $6,500 credit please contact me today.

   School elections in Kalispell had differing results for restoring the building funds. Elementary passed and high school failed. The way the schools are in the valley is a bit different. Elementary in the city of Kalispell would have those voters voting. For the high schools, enrollment covers quite a wide area with voting coming from voters not necessarily in town and in the town elementary districts. Is this a push back on high schools from the new construction of Glacier High and major remodel on Flathead High? District is considering going back for another vote on this later on. My take was that the taxes would not increase, just stay the same to build up the reserve.

   Weather had been mild but now is getting colder. Need to start getting the snow pack built up on Big Mountain in time for an early December opening day.

Of course that being said, in this difficult economy it is not easy to save the $20,000 or more that is needed, especially if you are shopping for your first home and you are just starting out. However, I have some tips that can help you save for that down payment and to get to your goal. An important rule of thumb to keep in mind when you're deciding how large a down payment you can afford, it is important to leave yourself some padding. The home-buying process, moving as well as the first months of home ownership can be expensive and there may be many unexpected expenses.

Open A Special Account. Start a special savings account that is strictly for the down payment. This will help you to keep your daily expenses as well as any other savings accounts separate. If you open this account at the same bank that your checking account is held, it might make it easier for you to transfer funds on a regular basis, helping your balance to grow!

Reevaluate Your Expenses. Saving such a large amount is not easy so you will have to have for look at your budget and consider sacrificing other things. Saving in an economy like this is difficult but it can be done. If you are able to  cut major monthly expenses like credit card debt payments or vacations, you can get to your goal faster. 

Look to your 401K. While touching your 401k is not for everyone, you do have this as an option. Most plans will allow you to pull funds out for a limited amount of time to use them toward a home purchase. Most will require that you repay these funds within a certain time frame. If you have enough in your retirement savings this might be an option you can explore.

Once you have an idea of how much you need to save for your down payment, it is a good idea to explore your options with your lender to see which loan programs fit your situation. There may be some programs available to help you if coming up with a down payment is the only thing standing in the way of your home loan. Saving such a large amount will be difficult but watching your money add up can help you stay motivated and reach your savings goal. Just keep reminding yourself that with each dollar saved you will be much closer to home ownership!

So what exactly is staging? Basically it means that you are showcasing your home in its absolute best light. You draw buyers’ attention to your home’s most appealing features--and skillfully divert their attention from those that are less-than-stellar.

In short, staging is creating visual “eye candy” that emphasizes your home’s positives. It’s part art, part science--and all marketing. It can involve everything from fresh paint to clever carpentry, new lighting to new window treatments. It is always a good idea to use amazingfurniture to define and enhance each room! Keep in mind you don't have to buy the furniture you can always rent or borrow these items to make your home shine!

To see staging in action, watch an episode or two of HGTV’s Designed To Sell. There are some rules that should be followed when staging and Designed To Sell’s Donna and Shannon Freeman have the top 10 Home-Staging Dos and Top 10 Home-Staging Don’ts.

Should you try to stage your own home--or hire a professional? My real estate experience has taught me there are two essential staging tricks that every home seller can do:

* Clear it out. You have stuff--lots of stuff. And your house is overloaded with all that stuff. Go through each room and get rid of the clutter everywhere you see it. Your rooms will look bigger, more restful, and more inviting. And all you did was pick up!

* Clean it up. Make sure everything shines inside and out, from windows, floors and countertops inside to the deck, garage and yard outside. Pay particular attention to the kitchen and bath. A little well-applied elbow grease will go a long way in selling your home. And it’s free!

Do these two simple things, and you’re already ahead in the staging game.

But should you keep going and stage other aspects of your own home? That depends on whether you have the eye, the skill--and the objectivity. Can you put yourself in the buyer’s shoes and see your home as the buyer will see it--positive points and negative points? Are you prepared to tackle those negatives? Do you have the “designer’s eye” for color and other design elements? Do you have the technical skills to complete improvements?

Staging can definitely help sell your house for more if it’s done right, whether you do it on your own or you hire a professional stager. Please feel free to contact me and I would be happy to share staging ideas discuss your specific needs or answer any questions you might have about any aspect of real estate.