RW’s TX CRE Brief: 08/13/21
A Quick Side Trip to Montana!
This week’s newsletter includes:
1) TX CRE Brief - Montana
2) Montana Ranch Brokers
3) Montana Podcasts
4) Airplane Reading
1) TX CRE BRIEF – MONTANA
I took a quick and somewhat impromptu trip to Montana over the past ten days. When you get a chance to visit Big Sky Country, you should always take it!
I visited some friends who recently sold their family ranch; a ranch that dates back almost ninety years. It was a hard decision for them to shut down operations. Several reasons led to their final decision, and the incredible price points being commanded for real estate of all kinds in Montana was a key driver.
The flights in and out of Bozeman Yellowstone Airport were uneventful. To be honest, I was a bit concerned about the flight back to Texas as shortages of aviation fuel have delayed flights in recent months.
The airport is my favorite in the nation. It seems like less of an airport and more like a mountain lodge. I’ve flown into Bozeman dozens of times since the 1970’s, and it is always awe inspiring for me. Trivia: My grandfather was Vice-President of Operations for Western Airlines for many years (prior to the Delta merger) and he oversaw the opening of the airport for expanded jet traffic from all over the west coast in the early 1970’s.
Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport
Smoke from the western fires was constant. The Big Sky wasn’t quite as big on this trip, as the smoke really impacted some of the most beautiful views in the world.
Regardless of smoke and the problems of the world that were thankfully left behind, the trip was a great success. Steaks grilled every night, sittin’ with feet up while the river flowed quietly just a few yards away, and good old friends. It doesn’t get any better than that!
2) MONTANA RANCH BROKERS
A lot of folks are looking to get out of the cities and onto land in the mountains. As such, Bozeman and its surrounding cities are growing at a crazy pace. So much so, that Bozeman locals are now calling the town BozAngeles, and it is most certainly not a compliment. A lot has changed since my first trip to Montana.
If you are so inclined, here are a few of the major brokers who are helping people realize their dreams of ranch living.
Be careful when you visit these sites. The videos of the ranches for sale and previously sold will have you glued to your computer for hours and hours. Better just fire them up on your big screen and settle in for a bit…
3) MONTANA PODCASTS
To prep for the trip, I listened to and watched a few podcasts to gain an understanding of the ranch markets.
Montana Land Source is a great site with tons of information. It also has a weekly Land Report Summary video feed that can be viewed through the website or on YouTube.
Ranch Investor is another outfit with an audio and video podcast that are worth taking in if you are so inclined.
4) AIRPLANE READING
On the flight to Montana, I read Jim Harrison’s “Legends of the Fall.” Harrison was an absolute American original and treasure. Livingston Montana was his home for many years.
Coming home, I read “Silent Seasons” which is a compilation of fishing stories edited and compiled by Russell Chatham. Like Harrison, Chatham was an artistic genius and he lived in Livingston for many years.
If you are so inclined, try to take in the Montana episodes of Anthony Bourdain’s shows, “No Reservations” and “Parts Unknown.” Both men are featured prominently.
THANK YOU
I hope you enjoyed this week’s TX-CRE-Brief. If you see something that might be of interest and should be included in a future brief, please send it along via DM on LinkedIn or by e-mail to TX.Sales.Leadership@pm.me.
And please, by all means, support the sources I link to above.
Thanks everyone!