We get asked all the time, “How’s the market?” And the truth is, it’s a bit of a loaded question.
We can absolutely look at the real estate market as a whole, and that gives us a helpful big-picture view. But it does not always reflect the reality of the specific market you are buying or selling in. Real estate is hyper-local, and even more than that, it is price-specific. What is happening at one price point, in one area, can look completely different just a few miles away or a few hundred thousand dollars apart.
Let’s walk through what we mean.
Looking at the Big Picture
If we zoom out and look at Flathead County as a whole, we see a market that is fairly balanced overall.
There are currently 783 active listings, and based on recent sales pace, about 120 homes are selling per month. When we divide the number of active listings by the number of homes selling each month, we get what is called
months supply of inventory. In this case, that puts us at about
6.5 months of inventory.
So what does that mean?
Months supply of inventory tells us how long it would take to sell through all current listings if no new homes came on the market. Generally speaking:
- Lower months supply indicates a seller’s market
- Higher months supply indicates a buyer’s market
- Around 3 to 4 months suggests a more balanced market
At 6.5 months, we are leaning slightly toward a buyer’s market at the county level, but that is only part of the story.
Narrowing It Down
Now let’s take a closer look at Kalispell and break it down by price point.
$500K to $600K Range
In this price range, the numbers tell a different story. We are seeing about
3.8 months of inventory, which puts us right in that balanced zone.
There are 56 active listings, with about 15 homes selling per month. Buyers and sellers are meeting in the middle, negotiating, and getting deals done. This is a market where pricing, condition, and strategy matter, but opportunities exist on both sides.
$900K to $1M Range
Now shift up to the $900K to $1M range in Kalispell, and things change again.
Here we are seeing
8.3 months of inventory, with only 2 to 3 homes selling per month and 19 active listings. This is a clear example of a buyer’s market, where buyers have more options and more leverage in negotiations.
What This Means for You
This is exactly why we say “the market” is not just one thing.
We are not saying one market is better than another. Deals can always get done in any market. What changes is the strategy.
- In a tighter, more balanced market, we may need to move quickly and be competitive.
- In a slower, higher inventory market, we may have more room to negotiate, but pricing and positioning become even more critical.
Whether we are helping you buy or sell, our job is to understand the specific market you are in and guide you accordingly.
If you are curious about what is happening in your price range or neighborhood, we are always happy to take a closer look and break it down for you.
