WHAT CLIENTS SAY ABOUT ARROW REAL ESTATE in ENNIS, MONTANA



Don and Toni Bowen



THANK GOD FOR GREAT CLIENTS!  Sometimes you find yourself involved in a very messy transaction that seems to threaten to go sideways, from every angle.  It takes an amazing amount of time and effort plus adds a lot of stress to your life.  Well, that pretty much describes a situation I encountered this year, representing clients, Jeff and Doreen Lee, on a "simple" land purchase.  It started in late August and finally closed October 15, 2010.  My clients, the Lees, were wonderful to work with.  They were proactive, agreeable, prompt and reasonable - the perfect clients.  As crazy as the process was, it turned out well for my clients in the end and they are happy.  So happy in fact, they wrote this amazing testimonial that warms my heart.  It makes it all worth while knowing that people appreciate what you do.  So I wanted to share it...

“My wife and I have been fortunate to get to know Toni and Don Bowen on both a professional and personal level.  We first met Don and Toni about 10 years ago when we decided to purchase property in the Madison Valley.  Toni and Don were referred to us by a mutual friend to whom we are indebted for this referral. Since that first real estate transaction, Arrow Real Estate has represented us on three additional property acquisitions.  In each transaction Toni and Don and the entire Arrow Real Estate support staff performed with the utmost professionalism.  Toni and Don are knowledgeable about the requirements of buying and selling real estate in Montana, and more importantly, they possess the “local knowledge” to smoothly handle real estate transactions in the Madison Valley.  Each of our four real estate purchases has had their unique set of complexities and challenges, and without exception Arrow Real Estate successfully dealt with the various issues in a very competent manner.  The most recent transaction successfully closed in early October 2010, however, it presented the most complex issues.  The complexities involved the conveyance of water rights, access and utility easements.  The issues were of the utmost importance to us and if not resolved satisfactorily, would have caused us to not carry through with the transaction. Fortunately, we had Arrow Real Estate on our team and with their expertise and willingness to go the extra mile, we were able to successfully navigate the various hurdles.  Typical of Arrow Real Estate’s commitment to their clients, Toni developed the knowledge and expertise about water rights necessary to ensure we were able to accurately receive the valuable water rights that were included with our property.  Without Toni’s dedication we may not have been able to purchase the property or at least would not have received the appropriate water rights which carry considerable value.  While our future plans are uncertain, there is no doubt we will always use Arrow Real Estate to represent us whether buying or selling real estate in Montana.  While it has been a pleasure to work with Arrow Real Estate, the best part is knowing we have made life-long friends in Toni and Don Bowen.” Jeff and Doreen Lee, Ennis, MT.  

LOCAL REAL ESTATE MARKET STATISTICS FOR ENNIS MONTANA



A beautiful log cabin we sold this year



 November really slowed down and there have been very few calls or walk-ins so far December.  We still get a few internet inquiries but nothing like “the good ‘ole days.”  The sales numbers are up because some deals are finally closing, and several more to be completed, but nothing new coming along.  I am working with some potential buyers who will come out in the spring to lo at interesting properties.  So we just keep "planting seeds"  hoping something will sprout from our efforts. 

The Multiple Listing statistics for the Madison Valley (including Ennis, Cameron, McAllister, Virginia City, Harrison, Pony, Whitehall and Cardwell), for the month of November 2010, are as follows:

• LAND:  370 vacant lots listed, 4 pending sales, 29 lots sold year-to-date. 
• HOMES:  144 homes listed, 10 pending sales, 38 homes sold year-to-date.  
• FARMS AND RANCHS:  5 listed.  (We cannot report accurate sold information on ranches because listing brokers are not reporting the sales, most likely because of low sales prices.) 

WINTER WONDERLAND IN ENNIS, MONTANA FOR CHRISTMAS STROLL

Snow all night and this morning blanketed the whole valley in big, fluffy flakes - and no wind!  So it is beautiful and actually feels warm because the sun is shining in a blue, blue sky.  It is a perfect day and evening for families to enjoy the Christmas Stroll all through Main street and beyond.  There is a 50 cent hot dog lunch, special window displays, kids crafts, story time and treats, in-store specials, contests, local arts and crafts, gallery receptions, photos with Santa and letters to Santa, ski and sport swap, wreath auction, chili feed, Christmas Tree lighting, live Nativity scene and much more.  Not bad for a town of less than 1,000 people!  This community really comes together to make this a very special place to live and visit. This photo is of the First Madison Bank building in the park next to our office.  So beautiful.  
If you haven’t tried winter or Christmas in Ennis, Montana, maybe you should add it to your “Bucket List.”   And for you skiers, Moonlight Basin, the fabulous ski resort up at Big Sky, has the best snow they’ve had in years and are opening early.  So add “Ski Moonlight” to your list as well.

What's Happening in Ennis Montana?

ENNIS AND MADISON VALLEY “HAPPENINGS”

→ November was a busy month in the Madison Valley and December is coming way too fast! Tomorrow, to be exact!  That means scramble to get everything done for the holidays!

→ Front page news in the Madisonian featured an article about the new Medical Marijuana ordinance in the Town of Ennis that will go into effect on December 5, 2010.  I guess it makes little ‘ole Ennis seem quite progressive.  And if you are interested, you can read the ordinance at http://www.ennismontana.org/. 

→ Thanksgiving always brings quite a few families and visitors to the area.  This year, the wild weather made getting in or out of Ennis quite a challenge.  It made the saying, “There are no Wimps in Montana” even more meaningful. 

→ The Madison Valley Woman’s Club, a member of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, hosts a big Holiday Bazaar every year on the Saturday following Thanksgiving.  This year was no exception, with over 50 vendors and an overwhelming abundance of handcrafted items for sale.  Brave shoppers came through deep snow to participate.

→This photo was taken from the Veteran's Memorial at the end of Main Street, showing the piles of snow and the snow covered mountains in the Madison range.  It is so beautiful.  The weather is still relatively mild with temperatures in the balmy teens.  And we'd love to be out showing property!

Winter Hits the Madison Valley - Big Time!

Some people feel sorry for us, living up here in the "frozen north" but it's not all bad.  We love the change of the seasons and each one has unique beauty and activities.  Right now the hunters are in "hunter Heaven" with all this snow and cold.  The bad weather brings the animals down out of the mountains so they are easier to find and easier to retrieve.  Many folks are starting to cross country ski in areas of the valley and the snowmobilers are eager to rev up their machines.  There are even hard-core fishermen out on the river!!

Many of the residents turn into snowbirds before the first flake hits the ground, but more of them stay put, right here, all winter.  The town is getting ready for Thanksgiving dinners, the Holiday Bazaar and in early December our annual Christmas Stroll with merchants participating in many creative ways. 

This is a great time to visit Ennis and the Madison Valley to see what our winter is really like.  We actually get very little snow - just inches, not feet.  And it doesn't stay on the ground all winter.  It melts or blows away.  The sun is usually shining so even if it is 20 below 0 and the ice crystals are sparkling in the air, it is still comfortable.  It is a very dry cold so it's better than the bone-chilling cold they have in other areas of the country with higher temperatures.

Once you come out, you will find friendly people, a charming western town and breathtaking beauty.  It is quiet and magestic in the winter with the valley surrounded by snow-capped peaks and topped with blue skies and bright sunshine.

You will also find some great real estate bargains.  Especially in the winter.  Sellers know that our "window of opportunity" for selling is generally from June through October.  So after winter sets in they are even more open to negotiating to make a sale.  There are some amazing bargains in vacant land, such as the 5 acres in Shining Mountains for $39,500.  Lots in this area were selling for over $100,000 just a few years ago, and hard to come by.  Now just take your pick.  Quite a few homes have been drastically reduced already and more deals could be made.  Who knows what 2011 will bring, but we know that this valley will always be special and desirable. 

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. 

Trout live in nice neighborhoods,

in Ennis, Montana 

Here we are, another day in paradise.  Beautiful blue skies and sunshine, just a little chilly, but tolerable.  I am stressed out over two deals that have been plodding along like snails and we are finally coming down to the final stretch.  It is like pulling teeth to close a real estate transaction in this "brave new world."  So we don't take them for granted anymore.  We've never worked so hard for so little.  But this too shall pass, the pendulum will swing back and life will be rosy again.  It's too depressing not to think positive.  

I go in to Bozeman tomorrow for surgery on my right hand to reconstruct my thumb.  I will be in a cast for 6 to 8 weeks and my sweet husband is looking forward to taking over all my household tasks for the next 2 months!  Right.

So I'm not sure if I will be able to type or not.  We shall see if I can keep up with my blog. 

Check out our website at http://www.arrowreal.com/ for all the latest listings.

Toni Bowen, Broker, co-owner, Arrow Real Estate

Trip over the Beartooth Pass and Through Yellowstone National Park

What a great time we had a few weeks ago!  We had to attend a continuing education class in Billings and decided to drive home the scenic route.  So we headed south to Red Lodge, then across the Beartooth Highway and into the Park.  It was white knuckle driving for me, even at 20 mph!  Luckily there was very little traffic.  The scenery was so beautiful as the trees were turning and the landscape was changing.  We had lunch at a small diner in Cooke City, then headed back into the Park.  Buffalo were everywhere!  All over the highway and in the fields.  We came out of the Park at West Yellowstone and arrived home after an 8 hour drive - which normally takes 3 if you go on the Interstate!  But it was well worth it since that drive has been on my Bucket List for 15 years!  We live in such a fabulous wonderland of scenic beauty, abundant wildlife and friendly people.  We are so blessed.
Toni Bowen, Broker, Co-owner, Arrow Real Estate

Day One - on the EnnisMontanaRealEstateHappenings Blog

Trout live in nice neighborhoods -
near Ennis, MT. 

 Howdy from Ennis, Montana!  The gateway to Heaven! 
This is a new adventure for the Arrow Real Estate Team.  We will be posting exciting happenings from this beautiful part of the world. 
Last week it was summer in Ennis.  This week it is winter.  We have to be very flexible here and I keep all my winter AND summer clothes in my closet, together, all year!  You never know what you will need.

The Arrow Real Estate office on Main Street

It has been snowing all day!  So the hunters are happy and the critters are hiding.

Toni at work in the field

November is a busy month in the Madison Valley with lots of hunting activity, snowbirds packing up to head south and holiday festivities getting underway.  → More to come....
Toni Bowen, Broker, Co-owner, Arrow Real Estate