Billings, MT

Read this now, before you have a fender bender on icy roads in Billings. After the roads have iced up, the news lets us know that the Billings Police Department has instituted it's "Slick Street Policy". Pretty much, it means, if there's no one injured, get out of the way because the Police must prioritize their response and go to injury accidents first. My question was, then what? I emailed the Billings Police Department and got some clarification from Sgt Kevin Iffland, Administrative Sergeant. Thanks Sgt Iffland!

Wanda,

The following is the Billings Police Department Policy on "High Accident Days" also has been referred to as Slick Streets Policy. If you have further questions please feel free to contact me.

High Accident Days:

A. If the Commander finds he does not have the ability to investigate all accidents during a

shift, he can issue an Accident Alert and limit accident investigations to those accidents

that have:

1. Serious personal injuries;

2. Reports of DUI Drivers; and

3. Accidents with disabled vehicles.

B. The Commander will notify the Communications Center that he is issuing an Accident

Alert for the City of Billings. The Communication Center will use their procedure for

alerting local media organizations. The Commander will notify agency personnel and any

relieving Commander about the existence of the alert.

C. The Commander who cancels the Accident Alert will notify the Communications Center

and agency employees. The Communications Center will follow their procedure for

canceling the alert.

D. If accidents are not investigated, the persons should be advised to fill out a Montana

Highway Patrol Vehicle Accident Report (“White Form”). The report can be obtained at

City Hall.

just want to alert you. recently i have had two properties posted on Craig's list for rent at way below market rent. the scammer indicated they needed to leave the country and wanted to find some one to care for their home while they gone for a couple of years. the reason for the lower rent was the caretaker status. the payoff for the scammer was collecting the rent and disappearing before the renter could figure it out. almost worked except the prospective tenant called to double check if the home would be taken off the market for sale. so beware,

the market is moving into it's normal holiday season decline in activity. since the first time buyers have been in full force and the first half of November was quite busy. i thought i would rune the nubers for mid month. No great suprises inventory has started it "normal" yearly decline through the end of the year. the closed transaction for 2009 are creeping up on the volume of 2008 the intersting thing to me is both years flip flopped in terms of activity 2008 started strong and ended weak. 2009 started weak and is ending strong all due to $8,000 frist timew buyer tax credit. at any rate here are the nu,mbewrs through the 15th.

Thought it might be useful to show the effect on interest rates on the decision to rent versus purchase a home. The comparisons contain over 4000 rental housing units advertised in 2009 and over 1150 closed home transactions. Payment figure a financing of 100% of purchase price 5% interest rate for 30 years showing the principal and interest payment. Taxes and insurance are not included, yet if you factored in the tax savings versus the tax & insurance costs it's about a wash.

The following charts do not take into account the benefit of $8,000 tax credit given to you when you switch from renting to buying. yet if want to compute that affect, it tilts the advantage to buying by another $22.22 per month over thirty years so average sales price you have only $16 more a month to own the averages sales price in billings as opposed to renting the average asking price home for rent.

Now when you look at the median sales priced home in billings and think your better off renting your calculator is not working at all. it only costs $9 more a month to rent the median priced home as opposed to purchasing it. When you factor in the $8,000 credit over thirty years it cost $31 more a month to rent than it does to buy.