MADISON VALLEY NOVEMBER “HAPPENINGS” → What’s happened in Ennis, the Basecamp of the Madison Valley? → The Elling House in VC hosted an historic interpretation of Mother of Meriwether Lewis.  → The 248^th annual S. Marine Corps Birthday Ball was held at Willie’s Distillery. → Many people did their Christmas shopping at the annual Holiday Bazaar and during the Small Business Weekend in Ennis. → The hunting season was a little disappointing to many hunters due to the warmer, dryer weather. → It is starting to slow down a bit, now that hunting season is over.  There are parking spaces on Main Street, and the shops are open and full of good stuff, on sale!  Shop small; shop local; shop Ennis!

MADISON VALLEY DECEMBER “HAPPENINGS” → The annual Spirit of Christmas Stroll will be held in downtown Ennis, on 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/.  It is an awesome experience! →  And you can still go fishing, (and soon go ice fishing at Hebgen Lake), 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!

MONTANA NEWS → Lack of snow has led to the cancellation of the time-honored Nordic ski festival in West Yellowstone. It’s only the second time in 30 years that organizers have been forced to cancel the event. →  Governor Greg Gianforte today announced Montana reached its 24th consecutive month of unemployment below 3%.  Prior to the governor taking office, Montana’s unemployment rate had fallen below 3% only three times since record-keeping began 50 years ago. → The governor also announced a new law to support veterans and to attract retired military personnel to Montana.  Senate Bill 104 exempts up to 50 percent of military retirement pay from the state income tax.  The bill was signed into law this spring and will go into effect January 1, 2024.   → The Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport keeps on growing and adding more flights and perks.  Check it out at:  https://bozemanairport.com/.  If you are flying to or from Montana this winter, or anywhere – you might like to know someone has your back.  Check out:  https://flyersrights.org/ for more information.

FISHING REPORT → Christmas time in the Cultural Epicenter of Trout is a special time.  Everyone is concerned with getting the right gift for that special someone and enjoying holiday parties, Christmas Strolls, and tree lighting.  What a festive time of year.  If you’re a fly fisherman, it could not be more depressing.  It is dark all the damn time, it’s cold, the river is flowing ice, and the fish have taken the winter off.  Even if you go fishing, you need a fire, a bottle of whiskey, and some serious layers to stay merry.

If you’re trying to get that December fish for the trout-of-the-month club, this one might just be the hardest.  For fishermen (being solar-powered people), the artic-like darkness makes for a very small window of opportunity.  Add to that the lovely Madison Valley wind!  But look on the bright side – you will have the river all to yourself!  You might just escape one of those dreaded holiday get-togethers, and it is drop-dead beautiful out there on the river.

Usually by December, the mountains are snow-covered, along with a good portion of the valley.  This year, embrace the brown.  We have seen a considerable lack of snowfall so far.  Thanks, El Nino.  Who in the heck is this El Nino guy, anyway?  He is absolutely on the naughty list this year.  While we are down on snow accumulation, at the moment, it is not the time to “break glass in case of emergency” for the summer season.  We have lots of wintertime left, and I have a feeling the later part of winter will be plenty white.

If you are seriously needing that December trout, pick your day carefully.  Maybe the day of the office Christmas party or the neighbors’ get-together would be a good time.  Look for the days above freezing, with little or no wind.  We have been seeing some floating slush ice in the mornings, but it is usually gone by mid-day. Deep nymph fishing is the name of the game.  Bright winter stuff, like egg patterns, worms and midge larva, will get them.  The key is finding the deepest hole in the river with a good fire ring next to it and fishing that spot.  If you’re still not getting them, add some split shot.  The fish will not move in cold water, so you will need to smack them in the face with it like a snowball.

Get out on the bad-weather days and do your Christmas shopping.  Think family-owned, small-town businesses this year.  Remember, Amazon did not sponsor the local little league team, ever!  If you’re looking for that angler on your list, there is a local fly shop that would be happy to help.  HINT, HINT.   Great sales and the always-popular Clearance Section on the website make shopping from home, or on-the-way-to-the-holiday-party, easy.  Have a wonderful December and a beautiful and merry Christmas, everyone.  Remember, after the 22^nd,  we start building up daylight again.  Now that is something to be happy about.  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.

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 temps indicate winter is finally here, but still no snow around Ennis. The Upper Madison Valley has had some snowfall, and the peaks are white.  We just hope Mother Nature doesn’t try to make up for this delay by doubling up on what’s yet to come!  The daytime high in November was 64°.   The daytime low was 24°.  The nighttime high was 42° with a nighttime low of 9°.  The green grass has finally turned brown!

REAL ESTATE TIPS.  REAL ESTATE SCAMS – VACANT PROPERTIES.  Reports of vacant listing scams are exploding.  So, whether you own vacant property in Montana, or somewhere else, beware. Criminals are posing as real property owners and through a series of impersonations are attempting to schedule showings and negotiate the listing and selling of properties, which are vacant, or lien free. Realtors  are aware of this scam, and we are taking steps to verify the identity of people asking for our help to list and sell properties they claim to own.  To learn more about the scam and tips on how to prevent yourself from being victimized, go to:  https://www.secretservice.gov/investigation/Preparing-for-a-Cyber-Incident.
How it works:

• Scammer searches public records for vacant lots or rental properties free of mortgage or other liens. Gets seller’s identity from public records.
• Scammer contacts a listing agent to list property for sale.
• All communications are through email and digital means.
• The listing price is typically below current market value.
• Scammer quickly accepts the offer, with preference for cash sales.
• Scammer refuses to sign documents in-person. Impersonates notary and returns falsified docs to title company or closing attorney.
• Fraud isn’t discovered until after the monies have been transferred to scammer.

HOME FOR YOUR SOUL. FEATURED PROPERTY OF THE MONTH. GREAT BUILDING LOT, CLOSE TO ENNIS

Just minutes to the Madison River & about an hour drive to Bozeman & the Big Sky Airport, makes this location & parcel a great spot for your next home. Ownership in Sky View gives you access to common area parks & access to Madison Meadows Golf Course by way of a walking-cart easement, getting you on the course in a matter of minutes. Subdivision has well-maintained gravel roads, underground power, phone & fiber optic cable to all lots.  Sky View has strong  covenants & well-managed HOA, protecting property values. Sky View, Lot 41, $149,000. MLS # 381415. GoogleEarth Coordinates, at center of lot: Latitude – 45.36165°, Longitude -111.73677°, Elevation: 4,938’.

REAL ESTATE NEWS –WASHINGTON (November 30, 2023) – Pending home sales dropped 1.5% in October, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. The Northeast posted a monthly gain in transactions while the Midwest, South and West all recorded losses. All four U.S. regions noted year-over-year declines in transactions.  The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI)* – a forward-looking indicator of home sales based on contract signings – dropped 1.5% to 71.4 in October, the lowest number since the index was originated in 2001. Year over year, pending transactions declined 8.5%. An index of 100 is equal to the level of contract activity in 2001.

“During October, mortgage rates were at their highest, and contract signings for existing homes were at their lowest in more than 20 years,” said Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist. “Recent weeks’ successive declines in mortgage rates will help qualify more home buyers, but limited housing inventory is significantly preventing housing demand from fully being satisfied. Multiple offers, of course, yield only one winner, with the rest left to continue their search.”

Pending Home Sales Regional Breakdown – The Northeast PHSI jumped 2.7% from last month to 64.8, although representing a loss of 6.5% from October 2022. The Midwest index contracted 0.4% to 73.8 in October, down 10.3% from one year ago.  The South PHSI decreased 1.9% to 85.6 in October, declining 7.1% from the prior year. The West index fell 6.0% in October to 51.8, dipping 10.8% from October 2022.

“Home sales are rising in places where more inventory is available,” Yun added. “Sales for properties priced above $750,000 were higher than a year ago, because there is more inventory at this price point than what we saw last October. Additionally, newly built home sales are up 4.5% year-to-date due to homebuilders’ ability to create more inventory. It is vital that we continue to focus on boosting housing supply by all means in all corners of the country over the coming months.”

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: Real estate activity is slowing down, along with visitors and traffic in the area.  Buyers, everywhere, are waiting for improved conditions – more inventory plus a reduction in prices and interest rates.  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 November were as follows: 

• HOMES: 55↓ homes listed ($275,000 to $9,995,000); 9↓ pending sales ($369,000 to $2,310,000); and 56 homes have sold in 2023 ($300,000 to $3,700,000), totaling $44,596 at 9%↑ of list prices.
• LAND: 139↑ vacant lots listed ($30,000 to $2,250,000); 9↑ pending sales ($84,900 to $850,000); and 77 lots have sold in 2023 ($6,497 to $925,000), totaling $18,410,094 at 7% of list prices.
• COMMERCIAL: 6 commercial properties listed ($427,000 to $2,995,000); 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: 4↓ ranches listed ($960,000 to $13,750,000); 2 pending sales ($1,490,000 – $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….the old, original Varney Bridge was one of the first steel truss bridges built in Madison County? 

In 1897, a group of local settlers and ranchers petitioned the Madison County commissioners for a bridge near the community of “Varney,” located southwest of Ennis.  Named for Osman Varney, a local rancher and county commissioner, the bridge would provide access to the village and a connection between two major roads in the Madison Valley.  The bridge construction was completed the same year.  The old bridge was a landmark in the area and measured 191 feet long and 15 feet wide.  Ice floes and high water on the river caused the county to add a fender to the upstream side of the pier in 1908 and rocks in 1911.  Otherwise, during the 122-year history of the bridge, there were few changes made to it.  This one-lane bridge served the community of Varney, just west of the bridge, including a sawmill, an electric power plant, filling station, post office and school.  A local old-timer told me a story about the “oil boom” in Varney.  The story is that a local fella drilled an “oil” well and sold stock in it.  But, in truth, there was no oil but for the oil he had dumped into the hole to fool his investors!  Not sure what happened to that “gentleman.”  The village of Varney didn’t last too long, but the bridge served its purpose.  The old bridge had a pier in the middle of the stream that was an obstacle to water and ice moving under the bridge.  During the winter months, water and ice would back up on the pier and run over the bridge.  The old bridge was replaced in 2019 due to age and safety concerns.  The new one is a single-span, two-lane bridge with guardrails, but without the character, charm and history of that old bridge.

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!”