Do You Think People Expect For Rates To Be Under 5% on 30 yr fixed forever? - 05/31/09 10:22 PM
I'm really concerned that those who've taken advantage of the super low rates in the last few years won't tolerate anything much higher.   Even I'm getting to where I say that 5.5% is high.  How did this happen?  I'm pretty middle aged and I thought a rate under 7.5% was just like getting money for free 10+ years ago!
Since the rates shot up half a point the end of last week, more than a few of my current buyers have blinked! Should they wait until the market "settles down"?  Or should they take the rate as it is right now … (7 comments)

Am I Smart? Or Do I Just Think I Am? - 05/29/09 11:17 PM
Am I really the best judge?  Maybe not, but it makes me happy to think I am.
when I lose at Penokle, it's all about the cards, not the way I played them when I can't figure out all of the steps in the quilt directions, it's because it's late at night and I'm tired when I finish my husbands sentences, it's because he talks slow and I already know what he's thinking when a referee makes a mistake on a call and I correct him/her, I'm just trying to be helpful when I don't put my junk away, it's only … (6 comments)

Thanks to the rural volunteer fire fighters, great neighbors - 05/29/09 10:43 PM
In a rural community, it may be a half mile or so to your neighbors, but your neighbor just might be your local volunteer fireman/woman.
Not too long ago I had a fire start in a rural subdivision that I was marketing in Shepherd Montana, a grass fire not a house fire.  The local rural fire department responded and worked all day and into the evening to put out the embers and hay bales that take a long time to burn.
The owner of the subdivision, from Phoenix, was notified of the situation.  His response was not one of gratefulness, but … (2 comments)

Are the dandelions weeds or are they wine? - 05/26/09 08:48 PM
I suppose it's whether you're more likely to make wine or kill weeds.
What's up with the explosion of dandelions this year?  Hot topic at my local coffee shop, and I thought it was just me!
We don't make dandelion wine, and I'd like to kill the weeds, but my husband insists that they don't hurt anything and wants me to just leave them alone.
I think they really like the fertilizer he put on, kinda like grow juice.  I'm really tempted to get the 2 4 D out there and clean these suckers up, but he's a bit against the … (2 comments)

Those bloomin lilacs tell ya it's safe to plant! - 05/26/09 08:31 PM
I wish I would've known about this last year!  Maybe we wouldn't of froze the tops off our tomatoes and beans!
I don't know if it's folklore, farmer/gardener lore or something my mother should have told me, but apparently the lilacs blooming are a signal that it's safe to plant here in Montana.  I think this is true for other parts of the country as well!
I talked my husband into some raised beds this year, mostly so that I can cover the plants that I want to keep early in the fall to protect them from frost.  We had late … (2 comments)

Selling a House with Pets at Home - 05/19/09 01:42 PM
This blog was well put together and I thought it might help sellers understand how they can win a buyer, even with a pet at home. 
Via Caroline Tsou (RE/MAX Realty 100):
This article is found at: http://homebuying.about.com/od/sellingahouse/qt/sellwithpets.htm Almost everybody loves pets except the home buyer who is buying your house. Don't ask me why, but that's often how it works out. Home sellers who adore their pets -- and I count myself as a huge pet lover -- have a hard time imagining the negative attitudes others harbor against pets. So, while this might be a bitter pill to swallow, if you … (0 comments)

Montana Governor says NO to the Welcome Home Loan Program - 05/15/09 05:05 PM
If You Want Your $8,000 first time home buyers tax credit, you need to follow the guidelines already established.
Several States have enacted a loan program that would lend a first time home buyer upfront money they could use on their home purchase, then pay back next year when they recieve the federal tax credit.  Montana isn't one of them.  The Governor says that there is a risk that the user of this loan may not pay it back.  Unfortunately, this has happened before (mortgage loan crisis) and even though we have very few repo's per capita here in our wonderful … (1 comments)

If I sell it myself I don't have to disclose that the sewer pipe needs replaced, right? - 05/15/09 03:44 PM
Yes You Do!!!
"Ya, but if I tell people what's wrong with the property, they won't be interested and I won't get what it's worth."
Home buyers beware!  This is the conversation I just had with someone who didn't want to list with a Realtor because then they would have to disclose the problems with the home. 

This was all brought to the front of the conversation when I presented a Seller"s Property Disclosure to a customer who I was explaining about how the home selling process works.  I gotta tell ya that he also thought that since he told … (3 comments)

Market Action In Shepherd, Worden, and Huntley early May 2009 - 05/15/09 02:49 PM
Hooray we have some good movement in the "East of Billings" market.  Seems as though this spring like weather has sparked some interest in moving. 
Today I ran the numbers for area 10 and found that we have 14 properties under contract right now!  Here are the average numbers of interest:
$171,107--Average price of a home under contract right now 3 bedrooms and 2 baths--Average $89.72--Average price per square foot 1,936--Average square foot size of the home 67--Average number of days on the market 30% of listings are under contract right now (that's good news) I think the east end … (2 comments)

Small Business Focus: Good Earth Works, Billings Montana - 05/13/09 12:17 PM
You'll find Good Earth Works on Hwy 312 when you head from the Billings Heights to Shepherd, Huntley and Worden.  And you should find them if you need any help with just about anything landscapish.
This business has grown over the last 8-10 years that I have driven by almost every day on my way to town.  I know they're doing things right, because I send my clients to them for help and advice about all things tree and bush like!  Most of the trees in my yard are from this store, some of which are special order so that I … (0 comments)

Mystery Quilt Mystery - 05/08/09 01:24 PM
Remember, this is a process! 
Our little quilting group rotates to each other's homes on Tuesday evenings for a bit of fun.  Here are a couple of pictures of our latest projects which are a mystery to us until we put them all together.

 
… (4 comments)

Death Of The Serial Home Seller - 05/08/09 12:49 PM
Just 2 years ago I had a lot of clients who were on their 3rd or 4th home sale and purchase at a pace of one move every two years!  Where have all the serial home sellers gone?  These "movers and shakers" have become "watchers and waiters".
Many of these folks were making more tax free money on moving than they did in their regular jobs as the market climbed and climbed.  We knew things would have to chill eventually, my goodness, who could afford to keep buying as the prices went up and up.
Luckily in our area, Billings Montana, … (5 comments)

Horse Cents - 05/01/09 01:52 PM
I've never owned a horse, but I can if I want to, and that's important to me!
I bought my first horse property in 1993, I was so excited!  Irrigated acreage, fenced, live water year round, it doesn't get much better than that!  I just never got around to buying my own horse, and all of the other stuff that goes with it!  Instead I boarded some horses for other people, and rode around using their equipment (cheaper and nearly as rewarding). 
It would be better for me, (the owning a horse part) if my husband wanted horses, but he doesn't, … (5 comments)

 
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Wanda Thomas, Billings Montana Real Estate

Billings, MT

More about me…

Montana Homestead Brokers, Broker, CRS, GRI, SFR, RN

Address: Billings, Laurel, Shepherd, Huntley, Worden, Joliet, Park City, Fromberg, Columbus, Red Lodge, Bridger, Billings, MT, 59105

Office Phone: (406) 698-8640

Cell Phone: (406) 698-8640

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This is where I write updates and information about Montana Living. Sometimes you'll see Real Estate stuff (my business) and sometimes you'll see Montana Local Events, Montanaisms and what I see and do when I travel around our state. You will definitely see stuff about huckleberry picking, a family tradition, and quilting, my personal passion.


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