For the third time, a Bozeman business is representing the entire state of Montana at a White House event celebrating American manufacturers.

“It’s very much an honor,” said Curt Smith, president of Schnee’s in downtown Bozeman. “We got invited by the White House to represent the state of Montana.”

When you get invited to go to the White House, it might be tough to say no. For Smith, he’s proud to make the trip, representing both Schnee’s and the Treasure State.

“We have been building our boots in Bozeman and even on Main Street since 1987,” he said. “We’re really proud about that.”

It’s all a part of the White House’s “Made in America” showcase, bringing all 50 states together in Washington, D.C. A business from each state is picked for…

566 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Billings Clinic is one step closer to building in Bozeman.

The health care provider asked for an amendment to the city’s growth policy for the 54 acres it owns west of Costco, and the Bozeman City Commission voted 5-0 Monday night to change the requirements to build a medical campus and new businesses on the land.

Sarah Rosenberg, an associate planner with the city, told commissioners it was the first of several steps Billings Clinic needs to clear before carrying out its plans. She said city planning staff recommended approving the request because it would encourage a “broad and robust activity level” in the area.

Billings Clinic bought the property in 2016 with plans to open an ambulatory center and provide outpatient…

527 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

By Kris Inman EBS CONTRIBUTOR, Explore Big Sky

It was a great winter for skiers but the conditions that are best for winter sports enthusiasts provide unique challenges for wildlife. Record snow fall with temperatures well below zero resulted in deeper than normal snow depths that remained on the ground for an extended period this winter.

These conditions made it difficult for deer, elk and pronghorn to accesses the grasses lying beneath the snow. In turn, this forced the herbivores to rely on their fat reserves to not only fuel them when the grasses weren’t available, but to also keep them warm. As a result, we can expect to see more winter-killed animals this spring.


Photo: Missoula County FWP
To watch the video of Missoula County Fish Wildlife…

2967 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

There is exciting news in the Rocky Mountain West! Our little montana406.com has had a baby! We are now excited to announce that evranchland.com has been brought into the world. EV Ranch & Land is our new ranch division and is a network of experienced brokers throughout the states of Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, California, Idaho, and Washington. We have an incredible line up of properties and brokers that have a combined 100 years of experience in finding recreational ranches for clients that are looking for investments with great memories. 

It was a natural evolution considering the beautiful states we live in. Whether it is a legacy ranch, hunting property or a fly fishing ranch EV Ranch & Land has the website and the brokers to find you the…

777 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Mortgage rates showed little change heading into the Federal Reserve meeting. But now that the central bank has revised its stance, they could be headed lower.

According to the latest data released Thursday by Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate average edged up to 3.84 percent with an average 0.5 point. (Points are fees paid to a lender equal to 1 percent of the loan amount and are in addition to the interest rate.) It was 3.82 percent a week ago and 4.57 percent a year ago.

The 15-year fixed-rate average slipped to 3.25 percent with an average 0.4 point. It was 3.26 percent a week ago and 4.04 percent a year ago. The five-year adjustable rate average dipped to 3.48 percent with an average 0.4 point. It was 3.51 percent a week ago and 3.83 percent…

581 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

“Fishes of Montana,” a free app, launches this month (June 2019) includes photos and descriptions of the state’s more than 90 fish species as well as distribution maps.

MSU professor Chris Guy says they wanted to digitize the book of the same name in a mobile-friendly form to make the guide more available.

The app also lists 10 species that biologists don’t want in the state. Guy says officials are trying to use app as a tool to prevent the spread of these invasive species. 

The app was developed by High Country Apps in collaboration with scientists at Montana State University and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. The scientists behind it hope it will help people get to know the state’s piscine inhabitants better.

It will have a list of at…

628 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Last week’s massive dip in mortgage rates apparently pushed homeowners into action. According to new data from the Mortgage Bankers Association, refinancing was up 39% last week, hitting its highest point since January 2016.

Overall refinances accounted for nearly half of all mortgage applications: 47.4%, specifically. For mortgage lender Better.com, the refi surge was even bigger. The company saw refinance loans make up 56% of its total loan activity last month. In total, Better.com has seen a 500% increase in refinance applications since March 2018.

Last week’s dip into low-4% mortgage rates is the big driver of this uptick in activity. According to Freddie Mac, the average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate loan as of March 28 was 4.06%. On 15-year…

533 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

The real estate and construction industry will increasingly have to grapple with an older population and consumers who want homes that can house extended families

United States is currently experiencing a sustained, decades-long growth in multigenerational households, according to recent research, though nearly a century of focus on single family housing means this transition also raises challenges.

Today, up to 41 percent of Americans who are buying a home are also considering accommodating a family member from another generation, such as an elderly parent or adult child, according to research first reported by Fast Company from John Burns Real Estate Consulting. That figure stands in stark contrast to the middle decades of the 20th Century, when only…

2216 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post