Montana also has the lowest number of hospitalizations, per capita, in the nation.

Wednesday, April 22, 2020/Categories: Governor's Office/Tags:

Governor Steve Bullock today announced a gradual and phased reopening of the state beginning Sunday for individuals, and extending to businesses on Monday.

There are very few states in the country that can say they have seen the number of positive cases decline over these past weeks. Montana can say that because, together, we have made that decline in cases possible,” Governor Bullock said. “While there is reason for optimism this is not a time for celebration. I am going to ask Montanans to continue to go to great lengths to protect one another, to continue looking out for our neighbors who need it…

383 Views, 0 Comments

After 5 states extended their stay at home order, Montana is now the only state planning a reopening this week. Colorado is next on the list, except Denver.

Montana is still slated to begin lifting restrictions on Friday, April 24.  Democratic governor, Steve Bullock, issued a statement last Friday saying: “I want to open things up as much as any Montanan. We will do it in a way that will protect Montanans’ lives and the recovery of our economy.”

Montana is also surrounded by states without a "Stay At Home" order. North & South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming all avoided the order, but have restrictions that are similar as well as closed schools.

For a list of which states are scheduled to open and the timeframe, visit this site.

327 Views, 0 Comments

Understanding options to stay in your home

Struggling to make your mortgage payments due to a short- or long-term financial hardship? There are options to help you stay in your home.

As soon as you realize you have (or potentially will have) a problem paying your mortgage, reaching out to your loan servicer (the company listed on your mortgage statement) is the best decision you can make – and one that may help you keep your home. They are your best resource for identifying a solution that’s right for your individual situation.

Your loan servicer will work with you to determine if you're eligible for any of the following workout options to stay in your home.Refinance

  • This option will completely replace your…

334 Views, 0 Comments

Given the volatility of mortgage rates in recent weeks, time is of the essence for those looking to secure cheap home financing!


Mortgage rates largely remained unchanged over the past week, but their ups and downs since the beginning of the year have created challenges for those looking to get a loan to buy a home.

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage remained flat at an average of 3.33% during the week ending April 9, Freddie Mac FMCC, -0.34% reported Thursday. A year ago, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.12%.

The 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage also stayed the same over this last week, averaging 3.4%. The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage, meanwhile, fell five basis points to an average of 2.77%.

Freddie Mac’s…

623 Views, 0 Comments

We recently asked for a list of the following from our advisors and staff, here is what they said and hopefully a few ideas for you to occupy your time.
1. Favorite Movie  2. Favorite Book 3. Favorite Netflix TV Show 4. Best recipe 5. Kids Activity (at home) ________ Elisa: 1.  Favorite Movie - Eat Pray Love and Erin Brockovich 2. Favorite Book -  F*** Leadership and High-Performance Habits 3. Favorite Netflix TV Show -.... Greys Anatomy, The Ranch, Longmire, Any kind of detective show (NCIS, Bones, Criminal Minds, etc) 4) My mom's Carrot Cake (I will make it for the office one day) 5) We work out as a family, bike ride, hike, attempt to ski (haha) COOK (that's a big one for Joseph) 

585 Views, 0 Comments



With all of the bad news being thrown at us, here is a little glimmer of positivity...turn off the news and just look up what you need to know and try not to get depressed, we will get through this sooner than later.

In the last few weeks, there has been a lot of volatility in the markets- stock markets which in turn direct our mortgage rates via the 5 and 10 year Treasury, we watch the stock markets react to the current news and go up and down drastically. Trying to time my IRA contribution or buying a great stock on sale is like trying to catch a falling knife. Well, this week we have seen 3 consecutive days on the upswing, finishing over 22,500 today on the Dow Jones Industrial, 7,797 on the Nasdaq and 2,630 on the S & P. Expect even more volatility…

847 Views, 0 Comments

One of our advisors, the lovely Amy Alvarado is married to a doctor at our local hospital. They are worried about running low on masks so she is busy helping collect new N95 masks or handmade masks per the pattern listed below.

Thank you to all who have donated so far! Bozeman Builder/Contractor/Painter/Handyman Friends: We have a HUGE favor. Bozeman Deaconess, like all other hospitals around the country, is experiencing a shortage of N95 masks. If you have any unused N95 masks that you can donate, please text or email Amy Alvarado and she will pick them up and drive them to the appropriate hospital contact.

Physicians/Nurses/First Responders are working diligently to keep us all safe. Please, let's do what we can to keep them (and their…

602 Views, 0 Comments

Anyone that bought in 2018 or early20 19 (or has a rate above 4.25%) it is highly likely they can benefit from the lower rates.  These rates may continue to drift down, or if the virus scare abates and markets rebound we may go back to where we were a few weeks back.  
BUYING POWER:
  in a market like ours where prices move up by 7-9% per year and wages do not, buying power is diminished......lower rates help to offset that of course. 

Example:  a loan amount of $350,000 with a rate of 4.125% with Principle & Interest of $1696, borrowing power can go up to $378,000 at 3.5% while the payment stays $1697. 

Pay attention to the mortgage rates, it could be a big win for you during this time!

437 Views, 0 Comments

From a recent email from Flagstar...

Great news! If your buyers are currently paying mortgage insurance premiums, those payments may be deductible on their taxes, thanks to an extension from the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020.  
Since we're not tax advisors, you can get the full breakdown on how mortgage insurance deduction works at this link from the IRS.  
However, I'd urge you to check it out while it's fresh in your mind, as there may be a deadline for how long your clients will be able to deduct their mortgage insurance premiums.  
As of right now, however, your clients that qualify can still save a bundle on their tax bill for mortgage insurance premiums paid for the 2019 tax year. The same goes…

354 Views, 0 Comments

From a recent Town Crier, an account of the Mining Days in Montana...
On March 10, 1864, vigilantes in the frontier mining town of Virginia City—which doubled as the Montana Territory’s capital beginning just a year later—hung a sometimes-lawless man in a controversial execution. Plagued by rampant looting by desperados and fringe riders of the region, a group of prominent men within Virginia City formed a posse of vigilantes, slaying known and suspected individuals causing terror and unrest throughout the area. They even went as far as to pin the numbers 3-7-77—the dimensions for a standard grave of 3 feet by 7 feet by 77 inches—to the bodies of such victims, as well as their cabins, tents and dwellings as a deterrent and message to leave,…

252 Views, 0 Comments