Several bills proposed during the last two Montana Legislative Sessions were aimed at lowering the state’s housing costs. In 2023, lawmakers drafted rules to make it easier to build affordable housing, such as allowing accessory units in residential areas and allowing duplexes on lots zoned for single-family homes in cities with a population of at least 5,000 residents. Some of them passed, others failed, and still others were tied up in courts, but the goal was the same. The state’s elected officials were going to make a concerted, and often bipartisan, effort to cut regulations and lower property taxes to help more people afford homes.

The initial results were mixed at best. During an economic update on the local housing market last year, University of Montana’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research Director Pat Barkey said that the real estate market was still “frozen” because of a lack of inventory, stubborn prices and skyrocketing interest rates.

So, during the 2025 Session, state lawmakers went back to the drawing board. As the high cost of living once again dominated conversations in the halls of the capitol, more bills were introduced to lower property taxes for full-time residents. Gov. Greg Gianforte eventually muscled though his signature piece of legislation aimed at raising taxes on second homeowners to provide owner-occupied homeowners and long-term renters some relief.

Whether the newly passed legislation will do enough to unfreeze the local housing market remains to be seen. As the prime spring home sales season begins to ramp up in northwest Montana, residential sales are down from last year. There were 92 home sales closed in March in Flathead County compared to 116 in 2024. April saw 107 home sales compared to 127 the year prior. Meanwhile, the price of a local home has remained about the same. It’s a similar story in most real estate markets across the country.

However, if you are in the market for some expensive local real estate, Cromwell Island on Flathead Lake (pictured above as viewed from Wild Horse Island) is listed for $72 million. Along with a 348-acre island, you get multiple unfinished homes that include 45,000 square feet of living space. If that’s a little out of your price range, the entire town of Pray, located on the edge of Yellowstone National Park, can be bought for $2.6 million. The town last sold for $480,000 in 2018, although it has apparently seen several updates since then.

I’m Kellyn Brown, let’s get to the rest of the Daily Roundup by catching up on other news from northwest Montana and beyond.

Meet Echo! This female Siberian husky is 2 months old and in search of her forever home.

To find out more about Echo and other pet adoption opportunities at the Humane Society of Northwest Montana go to: www.humanesocietypets.com.

You can also support the Humane Society of Northwest Montana by attending the Summer Shindig and Fundraiser on June 14. Click here for more information and here to make a donation to the event.