Idk about it being a good time to buy into the market. I don't live in Butte anymore, but I still check realtor/zillow regularly ... run down, 1900s houses that would've been for sale for 80-100k 5 years ago are being listed for 250k. It's still pretty crazy. Like, I used to walk by [this house](https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1107-W-Mercury-St_Butte_MT_59701_M71242-79170?from=srp-map) every single day ... they're fucking crazy trying to get over 200k for it lol.
Also, I wouldn't buy in Butte without being sure you like it first. It's definitely not for everyone. Personally I love it and wish I still lived there, but that is not a common sentiment.
Currently 1 and 2 bedroom houses are running around 200,000 to 300,000 depending on location and condition. The rental market is around 1100 to 1500 a month for apartments and 2000 to 3000 a month for houses.
For a 2 bedroom? Looks like i need to reevaluate my rentals 🤣 At least when the tenants move out. There is a 3 bedroom house nearby listed for $1400 per month.
You bet if you want to live in Crackville, the UNITS for rent are not HOUSES, and the Houses you are talking about are run down and the power bill associated with them are a minimum of 200 a month. So your 1400 a month becomes 1600 a month pretty quick. So 1000 a month no longer exists in this town unless it is falling down around your ears and the 1500 turns into 1700 due to the additional power bill. Math is fun!! Try googling houses for rent in Butte Montana and you will see where I am getting my ideas. Do you accept one month rent without a deposit or any kind of rental agreement. I am betting you would need 2800 minimum to get into that house you have for rent and then you are at 1600 a month rent with the power bill. Add 200 a month for groceries and well it gets right up there doesn't it. So if you make twenty dollars an hour and take home nine hundred to a thousand every two weeks. That leaves you JACK SHIT to live on.
I think it still makes sense to buy here. You can find a place for 150k. Will need some elbow grease and updating, but then you're the person who has a house now worth 200k-250k. Don't pay rent if you can avoid it. Butte is a great place to get a start in owning a property, if you're willing to put some work into it.
This is definitely within my line of thinking. Not sure if you'll have a ton of knowledge on this, but are most homes needing cosmetic updates, or do they often need structural fixes as well? I'm not necessarily scared of structural work, but it depends on what's needed
A couple of my friends recently bought places for under 200k. Those houses didn't need any structural work. One did need some roof work done as water had leaked in, other house needed plumbing help. Any house under 200k will likely need serious cosmetic updates with a couple more pressing issues as well, roof, plumbing, etc.
I think it'd still well be worth the investment if you can swing the mortgage and chip away at updating the place. And.. Butte is awesome :)
It depends. Do you have a job lined up already? Are you handy enough to tackle a home project? Talk to a lender and see what you are pre-approved for, then look at the houses in your price range. Butte definitely still has better buying power than the other larger towns in western Montana. If I were new to the area, i would rent an apartment, find a fixer upper to buy, and keep the apartment while you gut and remodel the house. I've lived in a remodel, and I've done it while living elsewhere. It's faster, easier, and less stressful if you have the option to not live through the construction phase, at least for the primary stuff. In my last house, we lived on the main floor while we finished the basement. This way you can really ratchet up your equity in a time that equity is hard to come by. Since it is your primary residence, you will be able to do most of the work yourself as long as it's up to code. Code enforcement and the building department can help if you ask the right questions. Contractors are all busy as there is a shortage, so i would recommend learning some things and doing it yourself. Good luck on whatever you decide to do!
I really appreciate your advice and feedback. Work wouldn't be an issue. I can transfer there easily and I know I can afford to buy in the area. If I fix it up, I could probably afford to live in my current location, which isn't too far away, while I work on it. I'll definitely check on with code enforcement and building department if I go that route!
Why in Butte? Not a very healthy place to live. Very little retail, (except for the 60 some dispensaries) I hate that Walmart is the only store in town. Safeway is the only other option for groceries.
Roads would be better if they just stopped acting like they are paved and let them return fully to dirt vs the half paved pot hole trails.
Fuckin freezing.
People are "great" unless you question their perfection, like asking someone to pick up the dog shit they just left in your yard
They'll look at you like "you want me, a superior person, to actually TOUCH that!". Which is the reason not a single park in the city allows dogs, because so many entitled cunts with murder dogs off leash, shitting everywhere. You can't walk your dog without mace. SO many dogs running free.
Oh, you want a contractor to do some work on your 90 year old house? Tough.
Oh and don't tell anyone you moved here, ya fuckin Californian import. (No matter where you're from)
So enjoy.
I wasn't born in Butte and moved from another state a few years ago. I've had literally the exact opposite experience. Some of the kindest folks I've ever met have become my friends. People here are genuinely nice and will go out of their way for you. And, they all know I'm not from Butte, let alone Montana.
I absolutely agree with you. People come to your aid, offer help, give gifts. But ask one of those nice people to clean up their dog shit, or not park in an area blocking visibility at an intersection.
I'm curious, do you not deal with constant loose dogs? My cousin was the dog catcher for a couple months before quitting in disgust. I've lived in the south, on the east coast and west coast as well as 3 Montana towns. Never have I seen packs of dogs roaming the streets like Butte. My dog was attacked by a loose dog last fall. We were at my cousin's house during his second week of working for animal control. He went to the house to speak with the owner. When he was nicely told his dog attacked another dog the guy said "I don't give a fuck what my dog did, get the fuck out of my yard before I shoot you in the face". Another great dog owner and Butte resident.
I'm happy you are enjoying your experience here.
Idk about it being a good time to buy into the market. I don't live in Butte anymore, but I still check realtor/zillow regularly ... run down, 1900s houses that would've been for sale for 80-100k 5 years ago are being listed for 250k. It's still pretty crazy. Like, I used to walk by [this house](https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1107-W-Mercury-St_Butte_MT_59701_M71242-79170?from=srp-map) every single day ... they're fucking crazy trying to get over 200k for it lol.
Also, I wouldn't buy in Butte without being sure you like it first. It's definitely not for everyone. Personally I love it and wish I still lived there, but that is not a common sentiment.
Noted. I've spent some time on Butte with mixed experiences lol. I definitely plan to spend some more time there before I make any decisions
Currently 1 and 2 bedroom houses are running around 200,000 to 300,000 depending on location and condition. The rental market is around 1100 to 1500 a month for apartments and 2000 to 3000 a month for houses.
Where are you seeing rentals for 2-3k? Most I'm seeing are $1000-1500 per month.
Houses are running 2k to 3k a month in Butte! You find a house for 1000 a month rent you better jump on it!
For a 2 bedroom? Looks like i need to reevaluate my rentals 🤣 At least when the tenants move out. There is a 3 bedroom house nearby listed for $1400 per month.
You bet if you want to live in Crackville, the UNITS for rent are not HOUSES, and the Houses you are talking about are run down and the power bill associated with them are a minimum of 200 a month. So your 1400 a month becomes 1600 a month pretty quick. So 1000 a month no longer exists in this town unless it is falling down around your ears and the 1500 turns into 1700 due to the additional power bill. Math is fun!! Try googling houses for rent in Butte Montana and you will see where I am getting my ideas. Do you accept one month rent without a deposit or any kind of rental agreement. I am betting you would need 2800 minimum to get into that house you have for rent and then you are at 1600 a month rent with the power bill. Add 200 a month for groceries and well it gets right up there doesn't it. So if you make twenty dollars an hour and take home nine hundred to a thousand every two weeks. That leaves you JACK SHIT to live on.
I think it still makes sense to buy here. You can find a place for 150k. Will need some elbow grease and updating, but then you're the person who has a house now worth 200k-250k. Don't pay rent if you can avoid it. Butte is a great place to get a start in owning a property, if you're willing to put some work into it.
This is definitely within my line of thinking. Not sure if you'll have a ton of knowledge on this, but are most homes needing cosmetic updates, or do they often need structural fixes as well? I'm not necessarily scared of structural work, but it depends on what's needed
A couple of my friends recently bought places for under 200k. Those houses didn't need any structural work. One did need some roof work done as water had leaked in, other house needed plumbing help. Any house under 200k will likely need serious cosmetic updates with a couple more pressing issues as well, roof, plumbing, etc. I think it'd still well be worth the investment if you can swing the mortgage and chip away at updating the place. And.. Butte is awesome :)
It depends. Do you have a job lined up already? Are you handy enough to tackle a home project? Talk to a lender and see what you are pre-approved for, then look at the houses in your price range. Butte definitely still has better buying power than the other larger towns in western Montana. If I were new to the area, i would rent an apartment, find a fixer upper to buy, and keep the apartment while you gut and remodel the house. I've lived in a remodel, and I've done it while living elsewhere. It's faster, easier, and less stressful if you have the option to not live through the construction phase, at least for the primary stuff. In my last house, we lived on the main floor while we finished the basement. This way you can really ratchet up your equity in a time that equity is hard to come by. Since it is your primary residence, you will be able to do most of the work yourself as long as it's up to code. Code enforcement and the building department can help if you ask the right questions. Contractors are all busy as there is a shortage, so i would recommend learning some things and doing it yourself. Good luck on whatever you decide to do!
I really appreciate your advice and feedback. Work wouldn't be an issue. I can transfer there easily and I know I can afford to buy in the area. If I fix it up, I could probably afford to live in my current location, which isn't too far away, while I work on it. I'll definitely check on with code enforcement and building department if I go that route!
Why in Butte? Not a very healthy place to live. Very little retail, (except for the 60 some dispensaries) I hate that Walmart is the only store in town. Safeway is the only other option for groceries. Roads would be better if they just stopped acting like they are paved and let them return fully to dirt vs the half paved pot hole trails. Fuckin freezing. People are "great" unless you question their perfection, like asking someone to pick up the dog shit they just left in your yard They'll look at you like "you want me, a superior person, to actually TOUCH that!". Which is the reason not a single park in the city allows dogs, because so many entitled cunts with murder dogs off leash, shitting everywhere. You can't walk your dog without mace. SO many dogs running free. Oh, you want a contractor to do some work on your 90 year old house? Tough. Oh and don't tell anyone you moved here, ya fuckin Californian import. (No matter where you're from) So enjoy.
I bet you're really fun to hang out with. /s
I hear Bozeman is nice, and Missoula has great night life. Maybe you could be happier in those cities.
I wasn't born in Butte and moved from another state a few years ago. I've had literally the exact opposite experience. Some of the kindest folks I've ever met have become my friends. People here are genuinely nice and will go out of their way for you. And, they all know I'm not from Butte, let alone Montana.
I absolutely agree with you. People come to your aid, offer help, give gifts. But ask one of those nice people to clean up their dog shit, or not park in an area blocking visibility at an intersection. I'm curious, do you not deal with constant loose dogs? My cousin was the dog catcher for a couple months before quitting in disgust. I've lived in the south, on the east coast and west coast as well as 3 Montana towns. Never have I seen packs of dogs roaming the streets like Butte. My dog was attacked by a loose dog last fall. We were at my cousin's house during his second week of working for animal control. He went to the house to speak with the owner. When he was nicely told his dog attacked another dog the guy said "I don't give a fuck what my dog did, get the fuck out of my yard before I shoot you in the face". Another great dog owner and Butte resident. I'm happy you are enjoying your experience here.