Building Buyer and Seller Relationship

A great article from the National Association of Realtors indicates buyers and sellers are using Realtors at an all-time high. 88% of buyers and sellers are using realtors, compared to 69% of buyers using a realtor in 2001 and up from 77% of sellers using a realtor in 1991.

While the housing market can be difficult to navigate, buyers and sellers place high importance on a realtor who is honest and has integrity. Their local expertise of the buying/selling process, reputation, and knowing the neighborhood are all critical.

At The Schaefer Team, we are committed to working fully for our clients - both buyers and sellers - all the while working on their behalf in an ethical manner. We're successful in part to our strong communication with, and on behalf of our clients. 67% of buyers only interview 1 agent, and 70% of sellers interview 1 agent. We strongly encourage our clients to interview multiple agents before finding a good connection. 

Give us a call, shoot us a text, or send an email and let's chat about how we can help you with your buying/selling of a home!

Source: NAR

2015 Could Be Banner Year For Missoula Building

$160 million in building permits have been issued over the past 2 years in Missoula. Member's of the city's Development Services believe that next year's number could surpass that, bringing with it numerous projects and construction jobs. Major projects already announced include Missoula College, Stockman Bank, and the H&M Store. Downtown could see additional growth with St. Patrick Hospital looking to build a four story medical office building.

Continued good news is in the mix for the Old Sawmill District. While the project has taken longer than anticipated, developers anticipate seeing projects begin on the 46-acre site during 2015. This includes Polleys Square, a four-story condo project slated for Wyoming Street.

Lastly, there's the Southgate Mall purchase of the nearby lot with Val-U Inn. The hotel is going to be taken down at some point, however, what will take it's place still remains to be seen. Other projects have been rumored, but the Holidays, it was difficult getting concrete information.


Source: Missoulian

Season's Greetings From The Schaefer Team!

We would like to Thank You for a wonderful 2014 and wish you Happy Holidays and a prosperous New Year! 

Jason, Alana, Jack, Derek, & Sam

Missoula Showing Strong Signs of Recovery After Recession

Better late than never! Missoula's economy definitely felt the impact of the recession harder than other areas in the state - due primarily to the timber industry. When Stimson Mill in Bonner and Smurfit-Stone in Frenchtown both closed, Missoula and surrounding communities certainly felt the impact.

According to Patrick Barkey, an economist with the University of Montana, Missoula is poised to see more growth in 2015. He said certain sectors of the Missoula economy are strong, while others are weak. Government, such as the BLM and Forest Service stagnant and in decline. On the other side, the health care industry continues to forge ahead. There was 2.6% growth seen from 2013, and Missoula is the 2nd largest health care market in the state. 

The final piece of the pie that Barkey points to is tourism for Missoula and surrounding areas. Last year, restaurant and food service growth equated to 5%, while arts and entertainment saw a 13% increase. While the Stimson Mill in Bonner may have closed, Pyramid Lumber in Seeley Lake is doing quite well. 

Overall, Barkey is very optimistic about 2015 - which is good news are all of Missoula and surrounding communities.


Source: Missoulian

Missoula's Toole Avenue Development Transforms Warehouse Into Apartments

Additional upscale apartments are coming to Missoula and Toole Avenue. The property is located at 812 Toole Avenue, and expected to take 10 months from start to finish. They expect to have 32 units when finished on the second and third floors, with six ground-floor retail spaces. 

One of the main reasons for the new conversion of the warehouse is the expansion that St. Patrick Hospital is under going. St. Patrick is gearing up to add an addition in the spring of 2015.

This is more good news for downtown Missoula as it continues to transcend. It's beginning to get more trendy with the addition of breweries, shopping, and the new apartments being built. The estimated cost of this project is $5 million, and it's the group's only one at this time, however, they did say they are working on another potential local project.

Source: Missoulian