Cary Jo Hofstad

Sailboat came out of Flathead Lake today for the winter. The lake gets drawn down in preparation for next Spring's snow melt, so the 30' boat is lifted out and put on blocks for the winter. Always a little sad to see another sailing season pass, but looking forward to skiing!!

Kalispell and Whitefish city elections are coming up. The Daily Interlake is full of campaign news and opinions. Be interesting to see if there is a changing of the guard in November.

It appears that the long awaited Kalispell Highway 93 bypass construction will be going out to bid very soon. I have yet to hear where the funds are coming from to actually build it, but they must be there available to use.

I had lunch yesterday at Kalispell Regional Hospital with client and friend Dr. Melissa Hulvat. Melissa is the new breast surgeon at the hospital. She has been very busy speaking during this breast cancer awareness month. If you have to go through such a trauma, Dr. Hulvat is the gal you want to take care of you! I got a tour of her clinic, very homey and comfortable - for a doctor's "digs" as she calls them.

WINTER??? What is normal weather for NW Montana? Who knows. 2 weeks ago we were 15-20 degrees above normal. Now we are the same difference below normal. Snow yesterday, now today, bitter cold. My horses are putting on their winter fir as quickly as they can, but will blanket them for the next couple of days. Next week the weather promises to return to "normal" temperatures.

Kalispell Ski Club swap is this weekend at the fair grounds. Plan on getting my ski pass for Whitefish Mountain Resort photo taken so I am ready when the mountain is ready.

Winterizing the bee hives this week. They are hunkered down in the bottom feed box trying to stay warm. A lot of honey there for them to eat and get through the winter.

Flathead Valley Community College has a very well done play we saw last night, "The Art of Dining". Good for a few laughs. Great turnout. Love the new theater.

Good day for knitting. Camas Creek Yarns has a beginning class this morning. Stop by Colter Coffee for an Americano and walk down to the yarn shop to be in the cozy store and re-learn how to knit.

Okay, I missed the blog update last week, I was working hard! 4 buyers in 3 days. 1 relocation, 1 out of state buyer, 2 buyers getting in on the $8000 tax credit and they need to close by November 30, 2009.

It was a weekend of fund raising dinners. Saturday night at Flathead Valley Community College was the auction/dinner for the Glacier Institute and the Big Creek Camp for kids. During the school year, school groups go to the camp to learn about critters and life in the wilderness. In the summer, intercity children arrive for week long camps to be exposed to something outside of their normal environment. They hike/backpack/raft/fish etc. Great cause!! The camp is on Forest Service land across the river from Glacier National Park.

Sunday was an awesome dinner at Kandahar Restaurant at the Whitefish Mountain Resort for the Flathead Community College Foundation. Chef Andy wowed us all with his usual local and unique offerings. He is the best chef and the most creative!!

Summer weather continues with temps in the 70's to 80's. That will come to an end later this week, so taking each sunny day as it comes!

Summer continues!! The weather has been nothing but sunny and warm. The garden continues to produce and we are taking every summer day we can get!!

Took in some amazing homes last Friday on the Parade of Homes put on by the Flathead Building Association. Outstanding craftmanship in some of the homes I visited.

Kalispell Chamber of Commerce had their monthly luncheon at the Flathead Community College this week. I cannot say enough about this educational resource right here in our valley. Enrollment is up 38% this year! There are many programs that enable students to stay in the Flathead Valley and obtain a 4 year degree. The culinary arts program does weekly Friday night dinners in their kitchen. We are going to the one tonight with some friends. For $38 we will get a 4 course gourmet dinner served by the students with explanations of the cooking and prep process. Crown of the Continent lecture series has started weekly at the college. Speakers lecturing on geology and everything else that makes Glacier National Park what it is.

For the 2nd time in 2 weeks, I have received multiple offers on one of my listings! Yes they are $200k or below, but that is what we need to get this market back on track. Showings since Labor Day have also taken off.

This week: a market update

As soon as August hit, showings started escalating in all price ranges. A brief lull the last week of the month then last week offers started flying in. I received 3 offers on one listing and through a multiple counter offer, went over the asking price.

Price range: under $200k inventory is what is really moving. I have a buyer under $200k and her choices are drying up quickly. I am losing one renter to a home purchase. Buyers in the lower ranges are feeling the need to lock something up if they are first time home buyers. They need to close no later than December 1. Between FHA and Rural Development, there are good programs out there for 0 to very little down payment.

I expect Sept/Oct to be much hotter. Traditionally these months were always strong but the last 2 years proved it is anyone's guess right now.

Don't wait too long if you are a buyer, the tables will turn and it won't be a buyer's market at some point.