Any good deals left?….

The real estate business in Big Sky is anything but dull. Perhaps especially during Mid Winter, when so many new travelers to our region become smitten with the area and make it their personal quest to figure out what is going on here, since they can’t quite believe how impressive Lone Mountain and the area are.

Before they land in Bozeman, many have no idea where Montana is and whether or not they need to bring their passport…or how can such a world class ski area and summer wonderland be hidden under all of that snow…. The vibe is too good, the skiing is like nothing they have ever experienced before, the locals are just way too nice.

Sure the night life is limited, but, as we say, if you’re still up at 10 PM, you didn’t ski enough… and you are doing laps all day with no lift lines!!!!

So many laps that they were exhausted by Wednesday, had to take Thursday off as they were too sore to move and by Friday the “bug” had bitten deep telling them that they didn’t want to miss out….so the call goes out the clairvoyant Realtor who knows exactly what it is….THE BEST DEAL!

Ring….ring….ring….. “Hello…hello…are you a Realtor? I’m looking at your sign on this property and was wondering what the price is.” Its a Friday at about 4 in the afternoon. In February. Not dark yet…but sunlight till 10:30 PM is months away….

“Yes, I’m a Realtor…My name is Eric….We have a few listings…can you tell me where your are? Which property you are looking at?” “I’m just off the main road. I can see the mountain over there. I can see the skiers and some lights. Can you tell me about the property and show me some other properties?”

“Well, what are your plans…what time are you thinking?”

“I have a massage at 4:15 PM and then we have dinner reservations at Buckaroos at 7PM tonight, so I’ll be free at 5:30…but I HAVE to be at at dinner on time as its my nephew’s Birthday dinner and our whole group will be there….how many properties can you show me?”

“Are you having dinner Buck’s in the Canyon? Is that were you are staying? Tell me where you are?”

“I’m right here by your sign, near the property, and I’d like to see it if possible tonight. The shuttle is picking us up at 3 AM tomorrow to bring us to the airport…. We’re staying at the Red Feather Enclave Spa, Rod, Ski, Sporting Club. Its a rental. I don’t think its really a ‘Club’. My cousin made the arrangements. I can’t believe that we fit as many people as we did in that house! Don’t tell!!!”

“The Red Feather Enclave Spa, Ski, Sporting Club? Got it. I’m not familiar with that particular Club…” I ask her to give me a few moments to activate my satellite GPS reverse caller ID locator mapping app on my iPad and I’ll be right there….”I’ll meet you there…!”

At 5:30 I find them… on the side of the road, the left front wheel perhaps a bit too close to the edge, but not stuck, yet…Good news. Its a rental. The Real Estate sign had been repositioned by a thoughtful plow driver about 1000 yards down the road on top of a snow bank and the sign is still in remarkably good condition. The property it was in front of was not on the market, however.

“Hi. You must be Eric. I’m Cathy. What can you tell me about the house? Will it cash flow? By the way, do you know a plumber? Something got stuck in the hot tub. How much do you think the Red Feather owners of make renting out the house each year? What are the taxes? Any dues? How many bedrooms? Is the 4th bath a full bath? Where is Moonlight? What is the weather here like in the summer time? Can you tell me about the Yellowstone Club? How many people actually LIVE here anyway? My husband wants to take up fly fishing…do you have any nice little cabins along the river on 20 or 30 acres? How about a Ranch? I LOVE horses…always wanted to have a few….we thought of getting one at home, but we live in town and don’t have enough room….we’re just looking, really, but if there was a really good deal, we could come back out…we travel a lot…why have we never been here before!! What an amazing place this is….”

It was getting dark…the alpenglow beginning to highlight the mountains. Cathy’s enthusiasm was contagious. Her three companions in the rental were raring to get going and had some of their own questions… they were stunned that all of their questions were answered, and it only took 90 minutes….

The afternoon got away from us, and before you knew it, they had to get ready for dinner…she didn’t find anything to buy on that trip, but she wrote me the nicest thank you note… The hook is set. Its only a matter of time…