MADISON VALLEY MARCH “HAPPENINGS” → What’s happened in Ennis, the Basecamp of the Madison Valley? → The Missoula Children’s Theater performed “Alice in Wonderland” at the Ennis Schools. → West Yellowstone hosted a Cross-Country Ski Race.  → The Elling House and Humanities Center in Virginia City held a Chautauqua and a Youth Art Show.  → Jack Creek Preserve held A Day in the Life of a Naturalist – Winter. → March 17^th was St. Patrick’s Day and the birthday of the founder of Ennis, William Ennis. → The Ennis Lions Club hosted a Charity Poker Tournament at the Silver Dollar Saloon. → The Thomas-Hickman Library in Virginia City held a Mad Hatter Party. → A Vietnam Veterans Day Honor Guard was held at the Madison Valley Veterans Memorial. → Montana Disc Golf held their “Wind Blown Open” at the Madison Meadows Golf Course. → And there were movies at the Madison Theatre! → March was a pretty quiet month!  Ennis doesn’t roll up the sidewalks anymore!|

MADISON VALLEY APRIL “HAPPENINGS” →Yellowstone National Park opens for limited access on the 18^th. https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/index.htm.  → You can enjoy Spring biking in YNP before it opens to traffic.  Call the Park to check the status of roads.  Read about the experience in: Far from the Maddening Crowds | Outside Bozeman. → The Madison Co. Conservation District will hold a Soil Testing Workshop at the Madison Valley Public Library on the 2^nd.  →  Bring your pets to the Spay & Neuter Clinic at the Ennis Town Hall on the 6^th. → The Ennis Lions will host an Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, the 19^th in Lions Club Park, at 11 AM for the kids and at 11:30 for dogs!  → The Madison Valley Ranch will offer two special Wine Tasting Dinners, featuring Domaine Watson, on the 11^th and 12^th.  Make reservations at:  https://www.madisonvalleyranch.com/wine-dinners-montana. → The Elling House & Humanities Center in Virginia City continues their Chautauqua Winter Series, on the  29^th. http://www.ellinghouse.org/. → Play Cribbage every Tuesday night in April at Willie’s Distillery.  → Enjoy Live Music most Friday and Saturday nights at Willie’s Distillery and the Gravel Bar.  → Still time for spring skiing at Big Sky, https://www.bigskyresort.com/current-conditions. → YNP snowmobiling is over. → But you can go fishing, disc golfing, skiing, bowling, visit the library, do yoga, go to the gym, take exercise classes, have a facial & a massage, see a movie, or eat, drink, stroll through Ennis, and go shopping!  Extend your visit, and JUST DO IT ALL!  But be Bear Aware!  They are waking up, hungry!

FUTURE “HAPPENINGS” → Virginia City displays open May 1^st. https://virginiacity.com/events. → Come for food & door prizes at Grand Opening of the new Ennis Home Furnishings store on May 2^nd , 9 AM – 5:30 PM, and May 3^rd, 10 AM – 4 PM.  → Yellowstone National Park lodging opens up May 9^th, and fully accessible by mid-May. → Tap into Ennis, May 17^th. → Madison River Foundation is sponsoring, “Big Bucks for the Big Bugs,” at Madison Valley Ranch on June 5^th. → Youth Bull Riding at Ennis Rodeo Grounds on June 6-7. → Ennis Community Children’s School Golf Scramble on June 14^th. → The 4^th of July Parade and Rodeo, July 3-4. → 14^th Annual Madison Triathlon on July 5^th. → Madison Duathlon (Run/Bike/Run Race) July 6^th at Lion’s Park → Annual Fundraising Gala, on July 12^th. https://www.madisonriverfoundation.org/. → The 29^th Annual Madison River Run “Water to Whiskey” 5K on July 19^th. → Home Tour sponsored by the Valley Medical Center Foundation on July 19^th. → Madison Marathon on July 22^nd. → Summer Music in the Park on Thursdays. →The 29^th Annual Madison Valley Arts Festival on July 26^th. → Trout Rodeo (Can’d Aid fundraiser) with flyfishing and Bluegrass concert at the Burnt Tree Brewing, on August 1^st. → Shedhorn Sports’ 28^th Hunters’ Rendezvous, August 1-3. → The MVMC Foundation’s Madison Festival at the Madison Double R on August 8^th. Fly Fishing Festival on August 23^rd.  → Hunters Feed, Oct. 24^th. → Shop Small Ennis, Nov. 28^th & 29^th. → Christmas Stroll on December 5^th . → Conversations continue re: Resort Tax, Community Center for Ennis, Big Sky hospital district tax dollars. (www.supportMadisonValley.com)!

MONTANA NEWS → Montana’s agricultural tax rules slash bills for thousands of million-dollar homes and MT lawmakers could tighten qualification requirements for ag designations.  Many mid-sized rural properties (those between 20 and 160 acres) automatically qualify for a partial agricultural classification, even if they don’t report enough farm or ranch income to qualify for the full tax break.  For example, the taxes on a 19.9-acre subdivision lot could be $467 whereas a 20.0-acre lot could be as little as $40. Read more at:  https://montanafreepress.org/2025/01/09/key-takeaways-from-mtfp-and-hcn-investigation-of-montanas-agricultural-tax-code.  → Not much else to report from Montana this month!

FISHING REPORT → Our favorite month to fish the Madison has arrived.  Cold, clear water, hungry fish, snow-capped peaks, warming days, and less pressure.  If you are here in the Cultural Epicenter of Trout this month, you are one lucky person.  April is named after the Greek goddess of LOVE and that is fitting, as we LOVE April.  The month starts with a Day for Fools and ends with National Unicorn Day! No fooling!  What can be better than that?

If you’re around the Trout Kingdom this month, then get out and fish.  Although the weather is warming up every day, we can still see old man winter taking his last gasps.  Avoid those days.  The rule of April is: If the weather is good, the fishing is good.  We will see the rainbow trout spawn this month, as well.  If you are out on the river and see fish actively spawning, please stay away.  They will be found on shallow riffles, with gravel bottom.  Look for cleaned gravel.  Give them the space they need to make the next generation of fish.  The good thing about this is, now you know to fish an egg pattern! There are tons of eggs in the soup and fish will eat them.  We like the small pink or salmon colored eggs.  Pink is the color of spring.  Fish pink eggs, worms and even mayfly nymphs.  Yup, they like ‘em pink.  Other good stuff to use - stone fly nymphs, midges and even some mayflies.  We will soon start to see hatches of BWO mayflies.  Stay on the lookout for these little sail boats.

This is the month to get after it.  It is “go” time on the Madison.  Get out and fish.  So, you don’t like rowing your own boat?  Consider our Spring Special guide trips all month.  Save some money and get to fish all day.  Give us a call or stop by the store to sign up and check out all the new gear - new waders, rods, reels, flies, and cool clothing - arriving daily.  John says, “If you look good, you fish good.”  We can help you look “river good.”  We can also help you find the bugs you need to be successful on the river.  Remember, the advice is always free and friendly. Good Fishing and God Bless, John Way, The Tackle Shop, Ennis MT, the CULTURAL EPICENTER OF TROUT, 406-682-4263, Cell: 406-370-5206,  www.thetackleshop.com,  Lodging - www.montanaway.com.

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

Watch “The Rocky Mountain Fly Highway” on Amazon Prime

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 →March was typical for “Spring in the Rockies,” with a wide variety of weather!  We experienced snow, rain, wind, freezing cold and beautiful, warm, sunny “blue bird” days!  But it is never boring!  Hard to plan what to wear though!  The daytime high in March was 68°, and a low of 31°.  The nighttime high was 42° with a nighttime low of 16°!  Stay tuned, for the  REAL spring is coming soon!

REAL ESTATE TIPS →VACANT LAND FRAUD →Scammers plot elaborate schemes to dupe potential buyers, property owners, and real estate professionals. The latest trend involves vacant and unencumbered properties.  These scams involve bad actors posing as the legal owners with the intent to sell the property for profit.  The U.S. Secret Service has observed a sharp increase in the reports of real estate fraud. So, beware.

The Scheme:

• The criminal searches public records to identify real estate that is free of mortgage or other liens and the identity of the property owner.  These often include vacant lots or rental properties.
• The criminal poses as the property owner and contacts a real estate agent to list the targeted property for sale, and requests that it be listed below current market value to generate immediate interest.
• The criminal, posing as the property owner, demonstrates preference for a cash buyer, and quickly accepts an offer.
• The criminal, posing as the property owner, refuses to sign closing documents in person and requests a remote notary signing.
• The criminal (or co-conspirator) also impersonates the notary and provides falsified documents to the title company or closing attorney.
• Title company or closing attorney unwittingly transfers the closing proceeds to criminal.
• The burden of verification is on the real estate and title companies.

What property owners can do:

• Monitor online listings
• Use title monitoring services
• Keep title insurance up to date
• Regularly check on vacant or infrequently occupied properties
• Sign up for one of the many online subscription services, such as Property Fraud Alert. https://www.propertyfraudalert.com/aboutpropertyfraud.aspx.

HOME FOR YOUR SOUL. FEATURED PROPERTY OF THE MONTH → CUSTOM HOME on 41.57 ACRES, with large barn, 2-car garage, raised-bed garden, spectacular 360° views, and private access to the world-famous, blue-ribbon waters of the Madison River! This elegant, contemporary, mountain home of 2,000 SF, with 2 BR, 2 BA, features a gourmet kitchen, dining area with custom bar, living room with a beautiful 3-sided, designer gas fireplace, and floor-to-ceiling windows to the views. And much more!  62 Bowman Lane S, Cameron MT 59720.  $2,400,000.  MLS # 399829,  Google Coordinates: 45.149610, Lon. -111.684711, Elevation: 5,500’. https://www.eralandmark.com/listings/view/399829. My Active Listings - Toni Bowen.

NATIONAL REAL ESTATE NEWS → WASHINGTON (March 27, 2025) – Pending home sales improved 0% in February, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. The Northeast and West experienced month-over-month losses in transactions – with a larger decrease in the West – while the Midwest and South saw gains, which were greatest in the South. Year-over-year, contract signings dropped in all four U.S. regions, with the Midwest undergoing the greatest reduction. The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI) grew 2.0% to 72.0 in February.  “Despite the modest monthly increase, contract signings remain well below normal historical levels," said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. "A meaningful decline in mortgage rates would help both demand and supply – demand by boosting affordability, and supply by lessening the power of the mortgage rate lock-in effect." 

According to the NAR Quarterly Economic Forecast, "Considering the Federal Reserve's recent forecast for slower economic growth, we expect mortgage rates to slide moderately lower," said Yun. "But the current high national debt will prevent mortgage rates from falling drastically – and certainly not to the 4%-to-5% range seen during President Trump's first term."

NAR forecasts mortgage rates will average 6.4% in 2025 and 6.1% in 2026. The association expects existing-home sales will rise by 6% in 2025 and accelerate another 11% in 2026. The new-home sales market has plentiful inventory and, therefore, NAR anticipates it will rise by 10% in 2025 and another 5% in 2026. It predicts that the national median home price will increase by 3% in 2025 and 4% in 2026.  "Home price growth will moderate due to more supply coming onto the market," added Yun. "Having income and wages rise faster than home prices are welcome to improve affordability."

First-time buyers were responsible for 31% of sales in February, up from 28% in January.  Cash sales accounted for 32% of transactions in February, up from 29% in January.  Individual investors or second-home buyers, who make up many cash sales, purchased 16% of homes in February, down from 17% in January.  Distressed sales represented 3% of sales in February, unchanged from January.

In February, existing-home sales in the Northeast decreased 2.0% from January, up 4.2% from February 2024. The median price in the Northeast was $464,300, up 10.4% from one year earlier.  In the Midwest, existing-home sales were unchanged in February, but up 1.0% from the prior year. The median price in the Midwest was $295,500, up 5.8% from February 2024.  Existing-home sales in the South bounced 4.4% from January, down 4.0% from one year before. The median price in the South was $358,800, up 1.9% from last year.  In the West, existing-home sales jumped 13.3% in February to an annual rate of 850,000, identical to a year ago. The median price in the West was $614,600, up 3.6% from February 2024.

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: I am still busy and expecting a strong season.   Prices and interest rates are still coming down, and there are more listings to choose from, so buyers are willing to commit.  Still time to find some bargains, before our busy summer season begins. 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 March were as follows:

• HOMES: 51↑ homes listed ($166,500 to $7,995,000); 9↑ pending sales ($250,000 to $959,000); and 17 homes have sold in 2025 ($250,000 to $1,565,000), totaling $11,492,600, at 97.1%↓ of list price.
• MULTI-FAMILY: 4↑ listings ($850,000 to $2,700,000); 0 pending sales; 0 sold in 2025. (This would indicate that multi-family units are not great investments in this area.)
• VACANT LAND: 107↑ lots listed ($7,102 to $3,000,000); 11↑ pending sales ($19,744 to $425,000); and 10 lots have sold in 2025 ($136,000 to $650,000), totaling $3,102,000 at 98.1%  of list price.
• LAND w/STRUCTURE: 8↑ lots w/structures listed ($269,000 - $3,000,000); 1↑ pending sale ($825,000); 1 lot w/structure sold in 2025 ($400,000), at 95.5% of list price.
• COMMERCIAL: 2↓ commercial properties listed ($399,000 to $1,495,000), 0 pending sales; and 0 commercial properties have sold in 2025.
• RANCHES: 1 ranch listed, ($12,500,000), 0 pending sales, and 0 ranches have sold in 2025.

“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 Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) is one of the largest nearly intact temperate-zone ecosystems on Earth, covering approximately 34,375 square miles across parts of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho? It includes Yellowstone National Park at its core, which spans 2.2 million acres, as well as Grand Teton National Park, plus ten million acres of five national forests, three wildlife refuges, countless acres of BLM and state lands, private landholdings, and numerous small communities – including the Madison Valley.  The GYE is renowned for its diverse wildlife, hydrothermal features, and geological wonders, making it a significant site for conservation and ecological research.  It is managed by state, federal, and tribal governments, as well as conservation groups and private individuals.  The wildlife includes: one of the largest elk herds in North America; largest, free-roaming, wild herd of bison in the U.S.; one of the few grizzly populations in contiguous U.S.; rate wolverine and lynx sightings.  The management challenges of the GYE are:  climate change; invasive species; managing an ecosystem across political boundaries; land-use change; conservation of migration corridors; increasing visitation; wildlife diseases; native fish management; bison management; and grizzly bear management.  https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/greater-yellowstone-ecosystem.htm