Art: www.vecteezy.com
No one was sure what would happen when the pandemic hit this spring. Well, it turned out this year was one for the record books. Let’s recap what happened to Bozeman real estate in 2020.
The pandemic redirected people away from big cities and into less populated towns: Bozeman was especially desirable because of the open space, picturesque mountains, laid-back college vibe and year-round outdoor amenities.
Inventory drops and prices skyrocket
This year was the tale of two, maybe three very different years. We started off in a normal brisk market and then slowed down due to covid restrictions. Once we started to reopen in June , the real estate market went gangbusters for the rest of the year. As of November 2020, we were almost at no inventory. The result of low inventory on the pricing that has increased by double digits this year. The average sales price in Bozeman went from $514,422 in November 2019 to $715,615, according to Big Sky Country MLS. Naturally, people went to Belgrade for more options and increased the average sales price from $364,736 in November 2019 to $524,394 this year.Â
Below we see the illustration of what has happened to pricing and inventory over the past 12 months in Gallatin County. It is quite dramatic when you look at the ending point which is November of 2020 and compare to the beginning point which represents November 2019.
Gallatin County Monthly Supply of Properties for Sale 2020
Gallatin County Median Sales Price 2020
Reasons for the low inventory
- Some homeowners decided to hang on to their homes until the results of the pandemic on the economy, home prices, etc. were more clear.
- A large influx of new people moved to Bozeman this summer. (Check out this previous post.)
- Many people reevaluated their living situation. People are looking for more space to accommodate changing lifestyles that need to include home offices and room for schooling.
Construction is in full swing
Drive anywhere around Bozeman and you will see that construction projects have really taken off this year. There are new subdivision like Home 40, additions to existing communities in Flanders Mill and Black Bull, and urban revitalization in the Midtown and historic downtown areas. As fast as the developers and builders are working, they still can’t keep up with the demand for housing.
The future of Bozeman
The city commission is trying to stay one step ahead of the growth. In preparation, they approved an ambitious growth plan this year. The plan extends the city’s footprint from 20.9 square miles to 70.8 over the next 20 years. The focus is on the elements that make Bozeman such a great place to live. Picture community pockets that have residential mixed with commercial, parks and open gathering places, and trails that encourage walking and biking.
As you can see, a lot happened to Bozeman real estate in 2020. If you have any question about this post or about Bozeman in general, feel free to contact me at liz@windermere.com. Cheers to a new year!
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