MADISON VALLEY OCTOBER “HAPPENINGS” → What’s happened in Ennis, the Basecamp of the Madison Valley? → There was Stargazing at the Jack Creek Preserve. → The weather was perfect for the annual Hunters’ Feed! →  Guests enjoyed more Wine Dinners at the Madison Valley Ranch. →  Madison Conservation District presented a Land Stewardship Workshop for small acreages.  → The Ennis Booster Club hosted their First Annual Golf Scramble. → MSU Extension offered a workshop on Well Water Testing and Septic Maintenance. → There were several classes offered by the Ennis Continuing Education →  There was a Solar Eclipse Party at Lion’s Club Park. → Another Mulex cyclecross race was held at Lions Club Park.  → The Ennis Lion’s Club hosted their annual Bingo & Halloween Carnival for kids and adults.  → Fewer tourists and more parking spaces! Now, it’s pickups with critters in the back. → It was a busy month in the Madison Valley!

MADISON VALLEY NOVEMBER “HAPPENINGS”  → The Elling House in VC will host an historic interpretation of Mother of Meriwether Lewis at 7 PM on the 4^th.  http://ellinghouse.org/. → The 248^th annual S. Marine Corps Birthday Ball will be held on the 10^th at Willie’s Distillery this year, in their new Tasting Room!  All services invited! Contact Shanna Mae at: usmcbirthdayballmt@gmail.com. →  Do your Christmas shopping during the Small Business Weekend, the 24^th & 25^th.  → The annual Holiday Bazaar will be held in the Elementary School Gym on the 25^th. → And, you can still go fishing,  disc golfing, hiking, trail riding, bowling, do yoga & exercise classes, have a facial and a massage, play Pickleball, Mahjongg, or eat, drink, stroll through Ennis, take in a movie, and go shopping!  Just do it all!

MADISON VALLEY FUTURE “HAPPENINGS” → The annual Spirit of Christmas Stroll in downtown Ennis, Dec. 8^th. → https://www.ennischamber.com. → The annual Splendid Feast will be held at The Elling House in Virginia City on Dec. 15^th & 16^th.  http://ellinghouse.org/.  An awesome experience!

MONTANA NEWS → Tourism to Yellowstone National Park contributed $600 million to the local economy, supporting 6,234 jobs in nearby communities. And if you haven’t experienced Yellowstone in the winter, put it on your Bucket List!  https://www.yellowstone.org/registration-open-for-winter-programs-in-yellowstone/?  → Lonely Planet just named Montana one of the best places to travel to in 2024. https://www.lonelyplanet.com/usa/rocky-mountains/montana. → Western Montana has been designated as a regional technology hub and qualifies for federal funds that could enter the state to innovate and boost the area’s emerging technologies and economy, with Missoula and Bozeman leading the way. Tech Hub recognition will support two key pursuits in Montana, including autonomous systems — like machine learning — and responding to and mitigating natural and man-made disasters.  Across the country, 31 regions received the designation. https://news.yahoo.com/western-montana-designated-regional-technology-130100657.html. →  Where are they coming from?!  Just over half of Montana’s 1.1 million people were born in the state, according to new census data released last week on state-to-state migration and place of birth.  California-born residents make up the next largest chunk, at 7.3% of the population.  Just over 48,000 people moved to Montana from another state in the last year, while about 38,000 people moved away. Of last year’s new arrivals, Washington and California contributed the most; while Arizona and Washington drew the most Montanans away! → General hunting season opened last Saturday. Unusually warm and dry weather led to above-average hunter success rates in many parts of Montana, compared to last year.  Be safe and be Bear Aware!

FISHING REPORT → Well, it is almost winter, or that is, real  November is a time of transition, here in Montana.  The general elk and deer season is up and running, the spooky season is now past, and we are looking forward to the holiday centered around eating a bird.  We saw some real winter at the end of October, here in the cultural epicenter of trout.  We usually get a storm, but the one this year was epic. Snow, cold and below-freezing temps made the transition sudden and dramatic.  So, where does this leave the fisherman in the Madison Valley, wanting to catch the November fish?  The good thing is the cold and snow will not be constant all month.  We will transition back to some days in the 50’s where it is doable to cast a fly rod.  Once this happens, it might just be some darn good fishing.  And, you will have the river to yourself, as everyone else is trying to get their elk, get ready for the turkey-eating holiday, or just watching college football.  Go Griz!

If you want to fish, you need to pick your day.  Look for days above 50° with little or no wind.  Better yet, one with light cloud cover.  What is going on in the river?  The brown trout are starting their spawn, whitefish are spawning, and everything is getting ready to lock it down for a long, cold winter.  Capitalize on this.  Fish the egg.  We like the scrambled type with bacon and sour dough.  Get a good breakfast, then hit the river about lunch time.  Egg patterns in the yellow, cheese, and  pink colors will do the trick.  Keep them small, in the 12-size range.  Also fish them right near the bottom dead drift.  Eggs do not swim, as a general rule.  The worm can be a good option as well.  The egg and worm.  Eggs and bacon for the win.

If you want to get more techie, fish a midge larva or a BWO nymph, as both are in the soup.  Tiny and shiny with a bit of flash.  The fish will be in the deeper pools and buckets.  They are no longer in the bouncy stuff of summer and fall.  Think deep and slow.  If you can see the bottom, it is not deep enough.  Fish the green water.

Lots of options out there for getting the November fish.  If you find yourself on a snowy day, with fishing on your mind, stop by the store.  Get your Christmas shopping done for the angler on your list. Then, go fishing on the next nice day.  Lots of stuff on sale to save you some money.  Make this year a “small town, small business” holiday.  Small towns everywhere, and America, will be better off for it.  As always, let me know how we can help.  Good Fishing and God Bless, John Way.  http://www.thetackleshop.com)  Ennis, Montana, the CULTURAL EPICENTER OF TROUT.  (406) 682-4263, or cell: (406) 370-5206.

John Way was just appointed to the Montana Board of Outfitters, by our Governor Gianforte!

Go John!  And congratulations on all your hard work and commitment to doing what’s right!

If people concentrated on the REALLY important things in life,  there would be a shortage of fishing poles!

And check out:  https://mtflyfishmag.com/

Check out other fishing reports at:

• Madison River Fishing Company at: https://www.mrfc.com/
• Dan Delekta at: https://www.beartoothflyfishing.com/
• The Madison Valley Ranch at: https://www.madisonvalleyranch.com/
• Joe Dilschneider’s Montana Trout Stalkers at http://www.montanatrout.com/
• Yellowstone Fly Fishing at http://www.yellowstoneflyfishing.com/madisonreport.htm.

WEATHER → The first couple of weeks of October were like summer! Then all of a sudden, it was winter!  We were not quite ready for below freezing temps and several inches of snow!  But we

can’t complain about the long, glorious fall we had this year.  Now, it will warm up, the snow will melt, and we start all over again!  Never boring! The daytime high in October was 78°.   The daytime low was 17°.  The nighttime high was 43° with a nighttime low of 8°!  October weather was quite erratic!

REAL ESTATE TIPS.  HOME HEALTH HAZARDS.  According to Melissa Tracey in a recent REALTOR® Magazine article, buyers of “fixer-uppers” could face health nightmares!  The lack of newer and affordable homes lead some cost-conscious buyers to purchase older homes with potential problems.  Buyers need to be educated about the telltale signs of lead, asbestos, and mold, and know how to properly remediate the health hazards.  Remediation experts point to three common dangers in homes built prior to 1978 that can come with long-term health consequences:

1. Lead: Found in paint, plumbing fixtures, dust and soil in and around homes, built prior to 1978.
   1. Health Risks: headaches, abdominal pain and anemia. Lead poisoning is particularly dangerous for children; it can affect brain development, nervous system and digestive organs.
   2. What to do: Consult a certified lead professional before renovating, repairing or painting.
2. Asbestos: A mineral composed of thick fibers that was commonly used prior to 1980 in insulation, flooring, roofing felt, board siding & sheathing, popcorn textures on ceilings and other building materials.
   1. Health Risks: Often, there are no symptoms immediately following asbestos exposure.  But in the long run, it can cause lung cancer and mesothelioma.
   2. What to do: Find out if asbestos materials are present before  NEVER saw, sand, scrape or drill holes into suspected asbestos materials.  Do not touch or disturb suspected asbestos products.  If you are unsure whether a home has asbestos, an abatement professional can take samples for analysis.  If asbestos materials are found, they may be sealed or covered to prevent the release of its dangerous fibers inside the home.  Specialists can remove it, but it is expensive and risky.  DIY asbestos removal is NOT recommended.
3. Mold: Present in both newer and older homes, mold can grow in humid places that have current or prior water exposure, such as from leaky roofs, widows or pipes.  Mold can thrive in basements, bathrooms and under sinks.  Mold can also grow on ceiling tiles and wood products as well as paints, wallpaper, insulation, drywall, carpet and upholstery.
   1. Health Risks: wheezing, red or itchy eyes, skin rashes, and an increased risk among children for developing asthma. Mold can also cause respiratory problems, especially for those with severe allergies.
   2. What to do: Mold that affects an area of less than 100 SF inside a home can often be cleaned by the homeowner, with special precautions and productions, according to the EPA.  A professional is strongly recommended to handle mold found in any larger space or when it’s caused by flooding or leaky pipes.  Without property cleanup, mold can continue to spread.  Mold growth on any drywall or insulation, for example, will need to be replaced.

HOME FOR YOUR SOUL. FEATURED PROPERTY OF THE MONTH. PREMIUM LOT IN THE FAMOUS SUN WEST RANCH!

This parcel consists of nearly 7 acres in an ideal location, with privacy, spectacular views & great building site. It has a wide variety of fauna, surrounded by common area & bordering a large common-area pond. This property has views of the Madison River and the mountains + good access to the SWR facilities. Sun West Ranch is a premier, gated community, located in the most beautiful part of the Madison. SWR is a place where you can experience the pride & lifestyle of authentic ranch ownership without the day-to-day operations. It consists of 55 homesites, selectively placed across 2,000 acres, with over 1,600 acres in common area, including 3 miles of the Madison River for world-class fishing. Owners enjoy equestrian facilities, trails for hiking & trail riding, private stocked ponds, a rental cabin for guests and 24- hour ranch management and services. Sun West Ranch, Lot 46 A-1. $465,000. MLS # 380621. GoogleEarth Coordinates at center of lot: Latitude 44.947093°, Longitude -111.633132°, Elevation 6,003’.

REAL ESTATE NEWS – WASHINGTON (October 26, 2023) – Pending home sales augmented 1.1% in September, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. The Northeast, Midwest and South posted monthly gains in transactions while the West experienced a loss. All four U.S. regions had year-over-year declines in transactions. “Despite the slight gain, pending contracts remain at historically low levels due to the highest mortgage rates in 20 years,” said Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist. “Furthermore, inventory remains tight, which hinders sales but keeps home prices elevated.”

The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI)* – a forward-looking indicator of home sales based on contract signings – rose 1.1% to 72.6 in September. Year over year, pending transactions declined 11%. An index of 100 is equal to the level of contract activity in 2001.  NAR forecasts that the 30-year fixed mortgage rate will average 6.9% for 2023 and decrease to an average of 6.3% in 2024, while the unemployment rate will lower to 3.7% in 2023 before increasing to 4.1% in 2024.

NAR predicts existing-home sales will decrease 17.5% in 2023, settling at 4.15 million, before rising 13.5%, to 4.71 million in 2024. Compared to last year, national median existing-home prices are projected to remain stable in 2023 – edging higher by 0.1% to $386,700, before increasing by 0.7% next year, to $389,500. Housing starts will drop 10.4% from 2022 to 2023, to 1.39 million, before rising to 1.48 million, or 6.5%, in 2024.

“Because of homebuilders’ ability to create more inventory, new-home sales could be higher this year despite increasing mortgage rates. This underscores the importance of increased inventory in helping to get the overall housing market moving,” said Yun.  NAR expects newly constructed home sales will grow from last year by 4.5% in 2023, to 670,000 – because of additional inventory in this market segment – and increase by another 19.4% in 2024, to 800,000. The national median new home price will drop by 5.9% this year, to $430,800, and improve by 3.5% next year, to $445,800.

Pending Home Sales Regional Breakdown – The Northeast PHSI increased 0.8% from last month to 63.1, a loss of 12.7% from September 2022. The Midwest index expanded 4.1% to 74.3 in September, down 9.2% from one year ago.  The South PHSI rose 0.7% to 87.1 in September, retreating 10.7% from the prior year. The West index declined 1.8% in September to 55.3, dropping 12.9% from September 2022.  “Sales are expected to turn positive by early next year, with affordable regions and fast job-creating markets in better positions to recover, led by the Midwest and South,” added Yun.

The National Association of Realtors® is America’s largest trade association, representing more than 1.5 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.  The term Realtor® is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of Realtors® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics. 

LOCAL REAL ESTATE MARKET STATISTICS: Correction!  The Granger Ranch is NOT for sale, just a small ranch on the Granger Ranch Road!  Prices of real estate in the area may still seem high, but Madison County is the wealthiest county in the state!  (thanks to the parts of Big Sky in Madison Co.!) And still, Madison Co. has the least amount of mils in the state.  We can expect that taxes will continue to go up for the next two years, as we are always 2 years in arears.  For information on Montana Property Taxes, in general, go to: https://mtrevenue.gov/property/.  For specific information on individual properties, go to: https://svc.mt.gov/dor/property/.  Big Sky Country Multiple Listing statistics for the Madison Valley area (including Ennis, Cameron, McAllister, Norris, Virginia City, Nevada City, Harrison, Pony), for the month of October were as follows:   

• HOMES: 63 homes listed ($289,000 to $9,995,000); 13 pending sales ($295,000 to $2,310,000); and 44 homes have sold in 2023 ($305,000 to $3,700,000), totaling $38,178,934 at 7%↑ of list prices.
• LAND: 129↓ vacant lots listed ($39,000 to $2,250,000); 8↓ pending sales ($165,000 to $850,000); and 74 lots have sold in 2023 ($6,497 to $925,000), totaling $17,970,094 at 7% of list prices.
• COMMERCIAL: 6 commercial properties listed ($365,000 to $2,770,000); 0 pending sales; and 4 commercial properties have sold in 2023 ($85,000 to $2,250,000), totaling $4,835,000, at 5%↑ of list prices.
• RANCHES: 6 ranches listed ($960,000 to $13,750,000); 1 pending sale ($6,999,999), and 0 ranches have sold in 2023.

“The best investment on Earth is earth.” Louis J. Glickman, real estate mogul/philanthropist

Also, according to Jordan Davis & Luke Bryan, in their hit song, “Buy Dirt!” 

MONTANA TRIVIA…. Did you know that….there are dozens of cool ghost towns all over Montana?  It could take weeks to visit them all.  But the 10 most famous and interesting ones are:  Virginia City, Nevada City, Bannack, Garnet, Marysville, Granite, Castle Town, Comet, Elkhorn and Kendall.

See the whole list and map at: 

https://discoveringmontana.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Ghost-Towns-in-Montana-1.jpg.   According to Wikipedia, “A ghost town is a town or city which has lost all of its businesses and population.  A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as a flood, government action,

 uncontrolled lawlessness, or war.  The term is sometimes used in a deprecated sense on the internet to include cities, towns, and neighborhoods, which while still populated are significantly less so than in years past.”   You can find a more complete list of Montana ghost towns at:   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ghost_towns_in_Montana. These old ghost towns provide vivid peeks into life in the old west, especially at the many old mining camps.  From the time that gold was first discovered in Gold Creek in 1852 to the first major gold rush boom in Bannack in 1862, and all the way through today, millions of dollars in gold, silver, copper, zinc, and other precious ores have been scoured from the mountains of Montana.  Along with these many historic sites, legends and tales of outlaw gangs, road agents, ghosts, and hidden treasures also abound along with the state’s rich history.  If you want a spooky experience, the historic Fairweather Inn in Virginia City is said to be home to some ghostly children. Rumor has it that the ghost children visit guests who are staying on the first floor, with their children. Witnesses also describe footsteps, whispers, the rustling of old-fashioned dresses, and doors that open and close on their own. Room 10 is reportedly popular with the spirit set. Hmmm.

SEE YOU IN MONTANA!

A wise Old Timer from the area once told me,  

“Don’t try to change the Madison Valley… let the Valley change you!”