http://coldwellbankerbozeman.com/blog/categoryname_property/sort_entrydatetime-desc/ The following is a guest post written by Jessica Thiefels.Homeownership in the U.S. is increasing, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In fact, the Q2 2018 U.S. homeownership rate was 64.3 percent, up from 64.2 percent in Q1 2018 and 63.7 percent in Q2 2017, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.Being a homeowner is exciting and rewarding—not to mention it comes with a lot of perks. No more landlord, no more renting, and no more leases. While owning a home has a long list of benefits, it also comes with great responsibility and hard work. Being a good homeowner means retaining the value of your home with continuous maintenance, keeping your financial health in check and much more.Luckily, there are many tools and guides available to help you be the best homeowner you can be. Below are eight of our favorite guides and tools to help you be a better homeowner.HomeAdvisor: True Cost GuideIf you plan on renovating your home, head over to HomeAdvisor’s True Cost Guide. This tool gives you accurate estimates for common home renovation and repair costs.Whether you are planning on remodeling your bathroom or installing a new garage door, True Cost can help. The tool takes real costs from real home projects and combines it with local and national cost data to give you the closest estimate for what you can expect.Use this estimate to vet potential contractors and companies so you can avoid working with someone who will charge too much.Consumer Report: Homeowners Insurance Buying GuideHomeowners insurance is critical, as the protection for your most valuable and expensive asset—your home. However, not all homeowner insurance policies are created equal, and with so many to choose from, it can be difficult to decide which is best for you.Consumer Report’s Homeowners Insurance Buying Guide not only gives homeowners tips on how to choose the best insurance but it also provides ratings for the top homeowner's insurance companies such as Allstate, Amica, and State Farm.If you’ve already signed up with homeowner’s insurance, use this guide as a way to evaluate whether now is a good time to switch to a new provider, negotiate rates, or update your current coverage.Zillow: Home Value CalculatorUnderstanding the market value of your home is important for insurance purposes, property tax, financial planning and if you ever plan on selling.Zillow’s Zestimate tool estimates the value of your home using millions of public and user-submitted data points. It also takes into account special features, location, and market conditions. While Zillow’s Zestimate is useful, it’s important to note that it’s an estimated market value not an official appraisal.Puls: The Ultimate Guide to TV MountingWith TV’s being part of the modern home, more and more people are mounting them to make space and create a cleaner look. However, mounting your TV isn’t the easiest homeowner task and one that can lead to a lot of damage, both to your home and your TV.Puls’s guide is a great resource if you want to mount your television without ripping out a wall or making one too many holes—you own that wall after all, so you want to take good care of it. The Puls blog is also filled with homeowner guides for your garage door, kitchen and more, so keep it bookmarked.CrimeReportsCrimeReports is an online tool that provides up-to-date information on crimes within your neighborhood. All you have to do is type in your zip code to see what’s happening or what has happened recently. The tool also allows you to set update alerts, so you always know if something is going on in your neighborhood. You can even register your security camera as a resource for local law enforcement, keeping your home and your neighbors safe.Remodeling: Cost Vs. Value ReportWhen deciding what to remodel in your house, consider both use and need within the house, in addition to the return on investment (ROI). The Cost Vs. Value report is put out each year and tells you which renovations will lead to the greatest and lowest return.For example, the 2018 report found that a garage door replacement has the greatest return. Consider this data as you embark on new home projects to make sure you’re getting the most for your time and money.Home Depot: DIY/How-To GuidesAre you the handy type who likes to take on home renovation and décor projects yourself? Home Depot has a robust selection of DIY and how-to guides on a variety of home projects, including lawn and garden ideas, the shower door configuration and kitchen backsplash guides.These how-to guides and helpful DIY videos provide step by step instructions as well as material recommendations pulled straight from their shelves. It’s a one-stop-shop for those looking to start a home passion project.TreeHugger: EnergySavvyBeing an eco-friendly homeowner doesn’t have to be expensive. EnergySavvy is an online tool that helps homeowners minimize wasted energy and save money. Create a profile and get a score based on your current energy efficiency. Once you’ve done that, the tool then finds different ways you can improve your energy efficiency. The tool even suggests contractors to help you implement the improvements and find rebates to make it cost-effective.*** Jessica Thiefels is an entrepreneur and founder and CEO of Jessica Thiefels Consulting. She’s been writing for more than 10 years and has been featured in top publications like Forbes. She also writes for Business Insider, Virgin, Glassdoor and more. Follow her on Twitter @JThiefels and connect on LinkedIn. http://coldwellbankerbozeman.com/blog/7059/8-guides-that-make-you-a-better-homeowner/ Mon, 12 Aug 2019 09:51:48 -0700 Summer home, year round living, bed & breakfast, vacation rental or office? This southside property is zoned commercial & residential.  South 5th street is located in the Historic District of Livingston, Montana & only 3 blocks from Main Street. Property highlights: Welcoming foyer & a large open living room complete with 12 foot ceiling, a cozy fireplace sitting area & dining room complete with original hardwood floors and turn of the century charm! 3 bedrooms upstairs with a beautifully renovated full bath. The siding, roof and front wrap round porch exterior have been completely replaced/restored. The entire home has been incredibly well maintained & ready for another 100 years! The unfinished basement has easy outside access & tons of storage. The 5,000 SF lot has a finished studio/shop space with alley access but could also be converted back into a garage or renovated into a GUEST HOUSE.Want to know more? Click here for all the details! http://coldwellbankerbozeman.com/blog/7043/featured-property/ Mon, 29 Jul 2019 10:11:05 -0700 Summer home, year round living, bed & breakfast, vacation rental or office? This southside property is zoned commercial & residential.  South 5th street is located in the Historic District of Livingston, Montana & only 3 blocks from Main Street. Property highlights: Welcoming foyer & a large open living room complete with 12 foot ceiling, a cozy fireplace sitting area & dining room complete with original hardwood floors and turn of the century charm! 3 bedrooms upstairs with a beautifully renovated full bath. The siding, roof and front wrap round porch exterior have been completely replaced/restored. The entire home has been incredibly well maintained & ready for another 100 years! The unfinished basement has easy outside access & tons of storage. The 5,000 SF lot has a finished studio/shop space with alley access but could also be converted back into a garage or renovated into a GUEST HOUSE.Want to know more? Click here for all the details! http://coldwellbankerbozeman.com/blog/7019/featured-property/ Wed, 03 Jul 2019 11:01:12 -0700 350 Greenhills Ranch Road, Bozeman, MT 59718Listing Courtesy Wendy Wilson of 45th Parallel RealtySpectacular working farm on 100 acres minutes from downtown Bozeman, and close to trails and Hyalite Canyon. This property features a 4-bedroom 6.5 bath custom 8,450 square foot home, 3,950 square foot guest house, a 900 square foot farmhouse along with barn, hay barn, pole barn, paddocks, and pasture fenced and cross fenced, two cabins, horse shelters, large shop, extra 3 car detached garage, and smokehouse. The main home features reclaimed wood, hand-hewn beam work, high-end finishes including lath-and-plaster wall finishing, custom stonework, antique lighting, antique oak circle-sawn floors, and outdoor patios with outdoor fireplace to name a few. The property has a series of waterfalls and ponds that flow into a 3-acre trout lake stocked with trout. This property commands outstanding views of the surrounding mountains and the farmlands it looks over. Cannot be further subdivided. There are water rights on the property and several wells.TBD Bostwick Road, Bozeman, MT 59715Listing Courtesy Tim Anderson of Swan Land CompanyBostwick Canyon Estate is a truly rare and exceptional 173± acre estate sitting at the foothills of Gallatin County’s picturesque Bridger Mountain Range. Nestled into a beautifully landscaped mountain-foothills setting, the Estate features an architecturally-designed home built with the finest of craftsmanship and materials, complete with an outdoor swimming pool, tennis court and Caretaker’s home. It is extremely rare to find an estate of this size and grandeur in the bustling Bozeman area that provides natural beauty, live water, forest service boundary, seclusion and privacy without being remote. With commanding views of the entire Gallatin Valley extending to the Spanish Peaks, Gallatin, and Tobacco Root Mountain ranges, the Estate is only minutes from Bozeman, Belgrade, and the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport. Bostwick Canyon Estate is available for the first time in over 50 years and is an opportunity all discriminating buyers will not want to miss.1930 Montana Ranch Trail, Gallatin Gateway, MT 59730Listing Courtesy Jackie Miller of PureWest Christies Big SkyOwn a piece of the Montana Dream with this amazing 160-acre ranch. Expansive and unobstructed views of several Montana mountain ranges; this property overlooks Ted Turner's Flying D Ranch offering the enjoyment of elk and bison migration viewing. Spectacular one of a kind setting in this private and gated community of the Montana Ranch. This custom Jerry Locati designed Mountain Home offers 6651 SF of luxurious living with amazing outdoor entertaining space, privacy, live water with Maryott Creek flowing year round and endless wildlife wandering your backyard. This ranch has a barn and is completely set up for your equestrian needs. Easy paved access to downtown Bozeman, Airport, and Big Sky. Montana Ranch owner amenities include paved roads throughout, access to the 17-acre equestrian center and over 9 miles of riding/hiking trails meandering through the well over 2000 acres of the Montana Ranch. 850 Candlelight Drive, Bozeman, MT 59718Listing Courtesy Jill Pike of Heart of MontanaBeautiful Northwestern Contemporary Home with Bridger Mountain views. Smart design includes nine bedrooms and ten bathrooms spread through-out this beautiful 16,000 sq. ft. house. Spacious Master includes a sitting area, two large walk-in closets, gorgeous open bathroom, private balcony, and hobby room. The gourmet kitchen is perfect for entertaining. Stainless appliances include Viking oversize refrigerator, Wolf double wall convection ovens & Wolf gas cooktop. Find serenity with 30,000-gallon indoor pool surrounded by spectacular views. Additional highlights are a 20 ft. waterfall in entry, Mine Shaft-themed theater room, fitness room, and a jungle-themed playroom. Secluded one bedroom apartment with garage. Comes with extensive video/audio system and equipment along with furnishings! Plenty of room for a large family, several friends, or corporate members. 88 Southview Ridge Ln, Bozeman, MT 59715Listing Courtesy Mike Schlauch of PureWest Christies BozemanNever lived in, new construction on 2 acres in desirable Triple Tree. Top of the ridge with 360 views centered on the Gallatin Range and Bridger Mountains. "New West" home custom designed utilizing the finest workmanship and materials, ready for you to move in and make your own. Great Room living with stacked-stone wood burning fireplace, hardwood floors, kitchen with Thermador 6-burner, double oven range, Thermador French door refrigerator with freezer drawer, and wine refrigerator. Main floor Master Suite with spa-quality bath and enormous walk-in closet. Terrific outdoor entertaining and living spaces including covered, screened porch with gas fireplace connecting Master to Great Room. Formal library/den with library ladder, "Tower" room with 360 views ideal for an office, walk-out lower level Family room with wet bar, glass doors to patio, office with fireplace, Junior suite and smaller bedroom perfect for an exercise room.8528 Cottonwood Road, Bozeman, MT 59715Listing Courtesy of The Renevier Real Estate Group of Coldwell Banker Distinctive PropertiesThis architecturally designed home was built with entertaining guests in mind. Sitting among the cottonwood trees at the end of a private driveway on just under 40 acres, this 5412sf home cannot be overlooked. Beautifully designed gourmet kitchen offering plenty of counter space and walk-in pantry. The master suite is straight out of a design magazine with a soaker tub, steam shower, and radiant floor heat. The large pergola was designed to entertain and catch those long summer nights, this is a must see. http://coldwellbankerbozeman.com/blog/6906/bozeman-luxury-homes/ Thu, 25 Apr 2019 01:10:47 -0700 If you are thinking of escaping some of the craziness of Bozeman but don't want to leave all its amenities too far behind, we've got a collection of exceptional Belgrade homes on the market now!441 Farmland CrossingListing Courtesy of Carolyn Campbell of Worldwide Realty ProfessionalsThis spacious 4 bedroom, 3 bath house also features guest quarters with a full bath, chefs kitchen, and an incredible great room.  The three car garage to the main house offers additional space for a private sports hobby room and the 2 car garage to the guest quarters has additional space for a workshop.456 Mockingbird DriveListing Courtesy of Shirley Van Osdol  of  Keller Williams Montana RealtySitting on 10 open acres with incredible Bridger Mountain views, this property includes a main home with 3-car garage and a barn.  Inside, the main home is dripping with luxurious details, including hardwood floors, granite countertops, under cabinet lighting, and basement with full theater room.150 Milestone DriveListing Courtesy of Chelsea Stewart of Gallatin Real EstateOn a half acre lot with 6 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, this 3,572 square foot home has all the room you need. Farmhouse touches and modern finishes combine to create a cozy, welcoming atmosphere. Plus, a fully finished basement allows for extra space to play and entertain.1427 IngomarListing Courtesy of Meghan Holcomb of Keller Williams Montana RealtyThis new construction 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home sits on a spacious corner lot across from a park.  Lots of upgraded finishes including quartz countertops, tiled bathrooms, wood floors, and custom closets.705 North River RockListing Courtesy of Richard Pemberton of Windermere Bozeman - DowntownGreat location across from a park, and also near trails, pond and amenities, this River Rock home also has some unbeatable Bridger views.  With 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and 2,260 square feet, this home has plenty of room for a growing family.1304 Idaho StreetListing Courtesy of Kade Embry - Coldwell Banker Distinctive PropertiesThis well-maintained home in the Las Campanas subdivision has 3 bedrooms on the main level and an additional bedroom with its own bathroom above the garage.  Also features vaulted kitchen ceilings, underground sprinklers, and a fully fenced back yard.8 West Dooley LaneListing Courtesy of Nicole Blount - Coldwell Banker Distinctive PropertiesThis newly listed home includes 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a two car garage, and some great neighborhood views from the covered front porch.  This one is priced to sell, and likely won't be on the market long.373 Brown Pony TrailListing Courtesy of Bob Johnson of Laubach Ranch LandThis incredible horse property sits on over 20 acres at the end of the road.  Just over 30 minutes to either Belgrade or Bozeman, this property feels secluded while still being close to town. http://coldwellbankerbozeman.com/blog/6850/our-favorite-belgrade-homes-on-the-market-right-now/ Thu, 21 Mar 2019 10:52:13 -0700