Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T L Y M O N T A N A • M Y M O N T A N A H O M E 58 HOW WELL ARE BUYERS AND SELLERS ACCEPTING THE "NEW NORMAL" OF REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS? MARTHA JOHNSON: I've found they're anxious to get to Montana now that the shelter in place has ended. They're looking to buy more as a lifestyle and are less investment minded. Buyers are asking to be kept apprised of any distressed sellers, but Big Sky has very few. Our luxury market has exploded with clients looking to get out of big cities. Our Montage Hotel project has remained on schedule, and sales/interest has remained strong. Spanish Peaks Mountain Club and Moonlight Basin have new products that have been very well received. Properties with amenities such as golf courses, skiing, and fishing have been in high demand. VOSS SARTAIN: Believe it or not, we have picked up right where we left off at the beginning of March. The demand for housing is robust, and there is significant pent up demand. Because Montana has had such low COVID-19 numbers, most of the buyer and sellers that the team works with have been relatively unconcerned about meeting in person. They want to sell their home to move on to new adventures, find that perfect home for their growing family, or retire. Buyers and sellers are setting the boundaries for the "new normal," and it is very quickly feeling very similar to the "old normal." AMY BAIN-WILSON: Well, the good news is, there is still a market! Each individual is unique, and we approach the situation in a man- ner that suits the client. Real estate transactions are being conduct- ed more effectively. Realtors, banks, lenders, and title companies are handling the process differently from before, and in my opinion, it's better! They have found more efficient ways of bringing the trans- action to the client through digital signing applications, secured messages, and wiring funds. I feel that most people in the real estate process are doing a great job in adapting and creating new ways to serve our real estate clients. SUZY BARNETT: In these days of social distancing, any information that a buyer or seller can glean before viewing a home, will leave them feeling more educated, making the actual hands-on experience a shorter, safer one. I think that once buyers and sellers become sav- vy about the new wave of technology in Real Estate, they will see that it makes the entire process much easier. JULIE GARDNER: The Missoula real estate market is bustling and shows no signs of slowing in the coming months. Buyers and sellers have embraced the technologies that allow them to act quickly, accomplish their goals, and make sound decisions, all while minimiz- ing their exposure to high-risk environments and protecting others. This is a community of hard-working, resilient people who care as much about the well-being of others as they do for themselves – it's the perfect recipe for a successful transition to the "new normal" in the real estate industry. CAN YOU GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF A SUCCESSFUL TRANSACTION FOR A PROPER- TY SALE USING AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGIES? VOSS SARTAIN: One of my listings went under contract right before the shelter in place order was designated by Governor Bullock. The sellers of this home were high risk, but the buyers still needed to have a home inspection, and the appraiser still needed to view and measure the home. I creatively utilized a variety of the technologies I mentioned previously to facilitate a remote appraisal. To me, real estate is truly only about buying and selling a home on the surface. It's always been more about problem-solving and finding solutions for the parties involved. We have to adjust how we do things, but not ultimately, what we do. AMY BAIN-WILSON: Yes, I was able to successfully bring buyers and sellers together by utilizing the various online platforms. One was a client from Washington that purchased a new home under construction. We had set up bi-weekly construction meetings with the contractor (seller) via Zoom and provided weekly photos and vid- eos of the property while under construction. Because she got in the early stages of construction, she was able to pick most of the finishes and did so online through various portals set up by the individual vendors. SUZY BARNETT: I do quite a bit of out-of-state transactions. I recently had a buyer from Texas who was looking at a property in Colorado with me, their Realtor from Montana! To make the process even more exciting and complicated, my client wrote a buy-sell con- tract before he even viewed the property in person. This made the pictures that I sent, the videos that were created, and any time with him and the listing agent on FaceTime, super important! I did one other out-of-state transaction where the buyer didn't even realize that I wasn't in the same state until after it was all over! JULIE GARDNER: All of the transactions I have handled since mid- March have deployed new technologies, or used existing technolo- gies in new ways. Cooperation among local Agents and their clients is especially high, perhaps because the central focus is public health and safety. Recently, local buyers and their agent agreed to view one of my listings virtually before visiting in person. I gave them a tour of the house via Zoom and answered questions from both the buyers and their agents. They confirmed the house felt like the perfect fit for them, scheduled an in-person showing, and agreed to take pre- " Adapting to a "new normal" has caused me TO BECOME MORE RESOURCEFUL AND INNOVATIVE. EFFICIENCIES HAVE BEEN CREATED, AND BETTER SYSTEMS ARE NOW IN PLACE. " - AMY BAIN-WILSON LAKESIDE

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