Bozeman Cost of Living Catching Up with National Average reposted by Jason Frey

By KARIN RONNOW, Chronicle Staff Writer

The latest Bozeman cost-of-living report puts the city almost on par with national averages for the first time in four years, according to Prospera Business Network.

The third-quarter 2010 report shows Bozeman's composite cost-of-living score at 100.4.

"The last time the city reported average consumer expenses this close to national ones was the second quarter of 2006," said Stuart Leidner, Prospera's executive director.

The decline in the cost of living here is attributed to "even lower housing costs," which dropped to 3.4 percent below the national average after years of being well above average, Leidner said.

In other categories for the third-quarter:

= Energy prices posted well below national averages, as they have all year.

= Health care costs were 4.7 percent above the national average.

= Groceries posted at 7.6 percent above the national average, "well within historic trends," Leidner said.

= The cost of miscellaneous goods (dry cleaning, veterinarian bills and movie tickets, among other things) was 2 percent above national averages, but "they have been dropping all year," he said.

= Transportation costs were about 2 percent above the national average for the second quarter in a row.

"Bozeman residents pay similar prices for transportation costs, such as gas and tire rotations, to residents in Twin Falls, Idaho, a city of similar size and composition," Leidner said.

By comparison, the cost of living in Missoula was one-tenth of a percentage point closer to the national average, at 11.3 percent, with lower housing prices compared to the national average, but higher utility and healthcare costs than in Bozeman.

The cost of living fell just below the national average in Kalispell and Laramie, Wyo., at 97.6 and 97.3 percent respectively.

Prospera, Gallatin Valley's nonprofit economic development organization, compiles its quarterly report using the ACCRA Cost of Living Index, a national comparison of prices in 314 urban areas. The index tallies the prices of more than 90,000 items in each community. In Bozeman, Prospera collects the information and submits it to ACCRA.

 

Comments by Jason Frey: With the cost of living in Bozeman adjusting closer to the national average coupled with our combination of outdoor amenities, the area continues to be a highly sought after destination for relocating professionals and those looking for investment or vacation properties.  For more information on real estate in the Bozeman area, contact me and I will assist you in finding property that meets your specific and unique criteria.

All best,
______________________

Jason Frey

Agent

PureWest, Inc. 

jason.frey@purewestproperties.com

http://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonfreylifewideopen

www.PureWestProperties.com

Bozeman Ranked #1 Place to "Live to Ski" from Powder Magazine by Jason Frey

The November 2010 issue of "Powder" Magazine ranks the top 20 places in North America to "Live to Ski" with Bozeman, MT ranked #1.

The magazine considered area population, the price of lift tickets and season passes, vertical feet of terrain available, annual snowfall and important things such as room rates and best bars.  Powder says, "Bozeman is the perfect mix of ski town and skitropolis; it's more affordable that Jackson Hole, less crowded than Salt Lake City, and more of a real town than Whistler."  They also comment that the area, "lays claim to three blue-ribbon trout waters all within an hour's drive, three distinctly different yet exceptional ski resorts in Bridger Bowl, Big Sky, and Moonlight Basin, Yellowstone National Park, and boatloads of backcountry ski opportunities."

Powder comments on the sub-community that is Montana State University as well.  The magazine notes that "Montana State University and its 13,000-person enrollment give Bozeman a young, active, and open-minded community", and that "It's not uncommon for MSU teachers to cancel class when the BBC (Bridger Bowl Cloud) settles in overnight and drops a foot of cold smoke."

Of the town itself, magazine touts "Bozeman enjoys a rich music and art scene and a robust nightlife full of tasty eateries and copious watering holes." additionally noting that "this town retains a small town feel with bigger city options, and has world-class outdoors directly out the back door."

In regards to the area mountains, columnist John Stifter asks, "Do you want a big resort with over 4,000 feet of vert and ample elbow room or a grassroots, not-for-profit ski area that holds some of the rowdiest inbounds terrain in the States?  Or how about an average of 400 inches between the two with some of the lightest, driest snow in th world?"  He continues, "Big Sky's 11,166-foot Lone Peak offers a multitude of 2,000-foot-plus descents while a legitimate terrain park entertains others on the lower flanks of Andesite Mountain.  As for Bridger, the installation of the Schlasman's lift last year only added to the mystique of the renowned Ridge.  The new lift distributes skiers over a wider area, allowing for more stashes to remain stashes."

All three resorts are gearing up for the 2011 season, Bridge Bowl's opening date is slated for December 10th, Moonlight Basin's is December 11th and Big Sky Resort's on November 25th snow conditions permitting.

For information on Bozeman area real estate, contact Jason Frey.

All photos courtesy of www.bridgerbowl.com

All best,
______________________

Jason Frey

Agent

 

PureWest, Inc. 

406-579-4582

jason.frey@purewestproperties.com

http://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonfreylifewideopen

www.PureWestProperties.com

 

 

Family Hike to History Rock by Jason Frey

I had the opportunity this past weekend to take a morning and enjoy it with my family, which is something we do not get to do as often as I would like.  My wife and I currently have two children, our son is almost 4, our daughter is 18 months, and we are expecting #3 in December.  We are not crazy but, if the family continues to expand at this rate we may be soon.  Spare time is at a premium and enjoying it all together is rarer still. So when the opportunity arose for a family hike we were all excited.  As I have said previously, the most difficult part of recreating in the Bozeman area is choosing what to do and where to do it.  The possibilities are as near endless as it gets.  My wife and I are stealing an idea from my cousin Seth and his wife Brooke, we are taking 52 hikes in the Bozeman area and writing each of them on a playing card.  When it comes time to choose a path, we simply choose a card and head out, it makes the selection process much easier and when we have done the first 52 we can add, cull, supplement our favorites and re-shuffle.

History Rock is a short, 2.4 mile loop that begins a short distance below Hyalite Reservoir in the Gallatin National Forest.  The name of the hike is derived from a large limestone rock poised along the trail that has had a number of names scribed into it over the years.  According to our hiking book there are names on the rock that date back into the 1800's from hunters and settlers in the area. The hike starts from a well maintained parking area and crosses a large meadow before heading up into the lodgepole pine forest.  The trail shadows a small creek for most of the way and the sound of water can be heard from multiple locations along the trail.  

We started out just after 9:30am so the wildlife activity was not as high as I would have liked but we had a great time pointing out different animal tracks in the moist trail.  My son is enamored with all types of wildlife and asked a never-ending string of questions about each track.  Why did the horse have shoes on?  Why are elk toes pointed?  Are coyotes really like dogs?  Can I step in that?  He also saw a "really big bird" when running ahead of us and, sure enough, when we caught up with him there was a large owl stirring about 20 feet up in the pines.

Our youngest grew tired of being ported along in the luxury of our kid-carrying backpack and insisted on walking for a portion of the trail.  This forced us all to slow down a little, we all took a little deeper sniff of the roses, feeling the warmth of the late summer sun cutting through the cool of the trees.  We came across one other hiker along the trail, a older gentleman who looked to be in his late 60's or early 70's.  We stopped and exchanged pleasantries, he commented on the beauty of the morning and commended us for getting the whole clan out and about.  I told him we could not bear to waste the morning, and had to get out on the trail.  He looked wistful as he talked of his children and grandchildren's adventures on the very trail that we were following and encouraged us to keep at while we could.  "Times go fast", he said, "and before you know it, you'll be out here alone."

We continued on, upon reaching our destination, we took a few minutes to crawl on the rocks, gather moss and pine cones so when we clean out the car in a month or two there is something more to remind us of the morning, snap some photos, then began our return  to the trailhead.  After getting back we loaded up and headed about a mile farther up the canyon to the reservoir for a picnic lunch and quick splash on the boat ramp.

The hike took about 2 hours round trip, adults without kids or with older children would probably be able to complete the loop in closer to one hour.  It was time well spent and we look forward to drawing another card soon.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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All best,
______________________

Jason Frey

Agent

 PureWest, Inc. 

jason.frey@purewestproperties.com

http://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonfreylifewideopen

www.PureWestProperties.com