Home Buying 101: Are You In the Market for A Seeley Lake Home?

Maybe you’ve had your eye on our Seeley Lake area, and have even thought of buying a vacation home here, but were waiting for the right time to buy.  In real estate, timing is important, and you’ve been watching the market trying to judge the right moment to purchase in an unstable economy.  But just what is the right moment? 

As an expert in real estate and our area, I believe now is a great time to buy a vacation property in Seeley Lake and the Swan Valley!  Why?  After watching real estate values decline and sales slow down over the past 3 years, sellers are finally realizing that the real estate market will probably not rebound overnight, but may actually continue to decline further when the spring buying season starts up.  Those who are serious about selling their homes are watching the market conditions and pricing their properties to reflect the realities they’re seeing, while serious buyers are getting ready to take advantage of historically low interest rates, an abundance of inventory, and lower prices. 

Maybe you’re convinced it is the right time to buy.  You’ve visited the Seeley Lake area in the past and would love to have a place of your own to return to, a vacation home that would enable you to share our gorgeous locale with your loved ones.  So how do you know which properties are the best values? 

The most important thing any buyer can do is hire a professional realtor who is an expert in the market.  A realtor can show buyers what properties have sold for recently, how long the property has been on the market, and what the competition looks like for that price range.  Buyers also benefit from an experienced realtor who can show them the trends in the market over the past several years to enable them to make the most educated decision possible.

Are we at the bottom of the market yet in Seeley Lake?  I wish I knew!  I don’t know if anyone will be able to predict when that will happen.  As a professional real estate expert here, I saw a dramatic surge in appreciation in our local market over a 3 year time period (from 2004-2007).  Because of this fast rise, I expect that our market will take several years to work its way back to a more sustainable level.  What I can say with confidence, however, is that it is clearly more affordable to buy a vacation home in Seeley Lake now than it was 3 years ago!

If you are considering buying a home in Seeley Lake or the surrounding area, I’d love to be your local real estate expert!  Give me, Kim Koppen, a call and find out what I can offer you as your realtor.  Let the experts at Great Bear Properties help you achieve your dreams!