Estes Park, CO ~ Gateway Rocky Mountain National Park (6:00 am)

This country is an place of amazing beauty, from the high plains of Wyoming to the heart of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado.  Estes Park defines tourism.  However, before most people open their eyes, Estes Park is a beautiful paradise and home to the Stanely Hotel where Steven King wrote the Shining.  Estes Lake provides this mornings shot of the day.  Waking up today I know I am alive. 

Here's the quick and dirty...it's Sunday and I've been locked in a hotel room since yesterday evening in order to finish a work project with a Monday due date!  Lucky for me I was saved by Emory earlier today for a hike and some sightseeing in Boulder, CO.  I believe I have finally had a cup of coffee as strong as I make at a local hot spot in Boulder.  Our hike was lovely following a babbling brook for a few miles.  Sam managed to completely behave himself and has settled into his afternoon nap.

Wyoming memories remain as beautiful as ever.  My last day in Lander, WY I hiked up to some beautiful waterfalls with my new friend Bob and his dog Rusty. Finishing up my day with some bouldering and research for my book...Coffee Across America (working title) I ran into Katie from Bozeman!  Imagine, she arrived the day I was leaving and we by chance met in one of three coffee shops in Lander!  I can't help but remember a story my mom told me about meeting a friend for hiking in Cool, California (yes there is such a place!).  They decided to meet at what they believed was the only grocery store in Cool.  My mom waited at the grocery and her friend waited at the liquor store.  They never saw each other in a town of less than 100 people!  

 
Bob, Sam, Rusty taking a break along the trail.

After sharing beers and swapping stories we parted way and Sam and I headed for Laramie.  Thanks to Bob's meticulous notes we found Happy Jack Recreation Area.



And here is where we rested our travel weary heads.



This journey has not been without some incredible sadness and reflection.  When meeting fellow travelers or just local folks there is so much to learn.  It seems that we are all searching for something we may never find.  For some just a happier existence, others a good job, and many a soul mate.  I learned today that there are four laws of attraction the first being proximity.  I just simply found this sad.  We find our mates by those that are around us, closest to us.  Or are we actually just afraid to meet new people, to say hello to a stranger?  It reminds me of my favorite poem and what I will close with today.    

Life is like a journey taken on a train
With a pair of travelers at each window pane
I may sit beside you all the journey through
Or I may sit elsewhere never knowing you
But should fate sit me by your side
Let's be pleasant travelers it's so short a ride
~author unknown 


Thanks Emory for the mouse!  It is fabulous!

Day 4 or 5 -- I'm really not sure, but I did have my first shower and it was glorious!

For certain I've discounted many cities along the way and have seen some wonderfully great places.  For road side stops Wyoming can't be beat.  A small "rest stop" in Wyoming might include a lake hike such as below.  Sam and I reached this stop about 9:00 am after waking to 30-degree weather.  Fresh snow scattered about the shoreline and me in my flip flops and Mississippi skirts sprinted along glee-ily (word?) as Sam wet his toes and palate in the crystal clear water.  
  

Not your average story!  Written by Sharon Dunn of Bozeman, Montana, she does an excellent job of keeping your interest and suspense as she unveils the murderer of a six foot teddy bear and what does the squirrel have to do with anything?

In this book, you really get to know each character and there is sure to be one you will identify with.  The plot is unique and follows a particular style, combining a few subplots.  I'm not a fiction reader myself, but after reading for a few hours I found not only was I hooked, but I was finished with book. 

If you're looking for a quick read in between schoolwork, "real" work, or on a short flight, pick up this book!  You won't be disappointed...except for maybe when the girl...oh wait, I can't tell you! 

Why is it that no one is actually buying real estate?  Simple.  Fear!  Our great late President Roosevelt said it best: "We have nothing to fear but fear itself". 

Interest rates are fantastic!  Today's rates make it possible to get a 15-yr fixed at under 6.0%!  WOW!  And the selection has never been better.  There are some real gems at $350,000 and under in downtown.  If acreage is what you're looking for, there is ample opportunity there as well from beautiful south-facing homes in Gallatin Gateway, to large lots with great houses closure to downtown Bozeman and Belgrade. 

So, if you're thinking about buying, but haven't decided to do it, stop waiting!  Get out there and buy your next property.  Investment opportunities are waiting!  Visit www.bozemanmontanaproperties.com to seach for listings.

It is already 2008.  I'm sure we've all heard the rhymes--basically anything that rhymes with "8".  However, the most common is "great".  And that is exactly what this year's real estate market is lining up to be, with no help from the media.  The painted "doom and gloom" picture of the real estate market selling papers around the country simply isn't true in Bozeman.  Real estate markets are local.  I would argue that there is no national real estate average.  What one market experiences is quite different than another.  Interest rates are excellent -- in the 6% range for 30-year fixed mortgages and less for 15-year mortgages.  It is a great time to buy and a great time to sell.  You may ask, sell? are you sure?  Absolutely!  

Real estate professionals will say that the best time to sell is in a "seller's market" and I would make the exact opposite plea.  When your home is for sale, no matter what the market, you will get top dollar if your house is picture perfect.  I call this "wearing it's party dress".  In a buyer's market, more care needs to be taken while getting your home ready to sell, but once that has been done, your house will shine.  And, in a buyer's market, there are simply more people shopping for houses.  Often what happens in a seller's market is that a buyer will look at just a few houses and make an offer for fear of loosing one of those houses.  In a buyer's market, however, buyers are shopping; they are looking at multiple houses and selecting the best house.  If your property is ready, priced appropriately, you will get top dollar.  And then, you have the luxury of shopping in this buyer's market!   

On July 16, 2007, the Workforce Housing Ordinance passed with a 3-2 vote by the City Commission.  Reduced parklands as a cost offset was the critical issue.  Developers and builders on the Task Force felt strongly that this reduction would ease the pain for fixed priced lots and houses while shifting some of the burden to others.  The move was in an effort to "Share the Responsibility" of affordable workforce housing throughout the community.  Parklands will be reduced on average of 11% per development.  In an example provided by the Task Force at the July 16th meeting, for a 100 acre development, the parklands would be reduced by 1.3 acres or, from a practical standpoint, about half the size of Cooper Park.  The remaining parkland for that 100 acre development would be just over 9 acres. 

The two main components of the ordinance that will be reviewed during the first review period include the parklands reduction and the formula used to calculate the number of affordable units.  The Task Force used a "net buildable acre" formula.  Using the 100 acre subdivision, once roads, infrastructure, parks, and setbacks are deducted from the land area, the total buildable acreage may be reduced to as little as 54 acres.  The formula is then used to determine the number of units required: 54 acres * 0.4 = 21.6 workforce housing units required.  In most cases this does not provide for 10% of the development being affordable, which was the purpose of the ordinance.   

Review the complete Ordinance here.  If you have questions, e-mail Connie@BozemanMontanaProperties.com.

You read it here first!  This is the entire packet being submitted to the commission for Monday's hearing.

Commission Memorandum
Cover Letter
Workforce Housing Ordinance 
Rationale
Shared Responsibility Chart
Cost Offsets Chart (D=developer/B=builder)

This packet will be available on the City's website after Thursday afternoon.  www.Bozeman.net