Montana is still a great place to live AND buy and sell real estate. There was an article that just appeared in the Daily Interlake that quotes Paul Polzin, director of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of Montana.

"As a whole, the Montana economy gains 90 percent of its vigor from sectors that remain strong: nonresident travel, mining, manufacturing, agriculture and the federal government.

In a national recession, Polzin said, the nation would suffer worst in four areas.

Financial services and durable manufacturing, primarily in the auto industry, don't have much of a presence here. But home building and construction also would be hard-hit, and both leave big footprints in Montana's wood-products industry. So far, he noted, the construction trades have been running counter to national trends and could enjoy some more breathing room.

"So with the exception of these last two, this recession probably would not have a lot of impact on Montana," Polzin said.

He projects 4 percent growth in 2008 for Montana's economy, continuing at 4 to 5 percent for the next several years. He bases that on a turnaround in mining, oil and gas industries, all in strong global demand; strong manufacturing, high-tech industry and oil refinery upgrades; 2 percent growth in nonresident travel; a strong federal presence with its incumbent spending; and agriculture that is seeing record-high wheat prices that are pushing $12 a bushel.

Five straight years of 4- and 5-percent growth, with more to come, make this a historic run for Montana."