Considering Moving to Kalispell MT…any locals have any thoughts?

I am considering taking a skilled trades job in the Kalispell MT area.

We’ve visited out west dozens of times.

Besides the saying “ We’re full don’t come”

Do any locals have anything to share about the area?

 

Montana is nice. I was in Great Falls for 5 years. There's a few guys here from Montana. @kparrow, @BigSkyTaco

 

Everywhere is getting expensive lol.

 

I know everyone in Kalispell. They asked me to let you know, it’s a shitty place to live, barren and loveless, not a place you’d want to visit, and definitely not a place any one should move to....

They’d like to keep it that way.

 

That’s the rub

Housing costs are insane in my area too. No point in selling my current home just to
Buy another cracker box somewhere I hate.

Life costs lots of $$$ nowadays regardless of where you live. It’s all messed up haha

 

Your news doesn’t match your screen name lol

 

Big Mtn (whitefish) is rad skiing/biking. Glacier NP isn't too far away either.

 

LOL! Also, I don’t know anyone in Kalispell. But I know what they’re thinking....

 

… we know what caused it.

 

BigFoot or Big Mouth

 

Haha! The recent crop of invasive, parasitic non-native weeds.

 

I figure i can’t be that bad?

I’ve held the same job for 13yrs,and been married for 17yrs. I can read a tape measure without the cheater numbers on it,know my way around a wrench,and don’t generally ask for help if it’s something I’m able to do or learn myself. Never been on welfare or asked anybody for money.

 

As a Canadian who pre-Covid has spent a decent amount of time in the Kalispell area as a tourist, it’s a beautiful area filled with very hospitable, hard working people.

For its size and probably in part because of the constant influx of Canadian tourists, the area has lots of the big city amenities like a Costco, REI and Cabelas.

 

I was recently told (as a deterrent I believe)that Kalispell crime is going through the roof and there is absolutely zero housing for rent or sale and that i better stay put where I’m at. However,I believe that God can work miracles, and also that sometimes people just don’t know when or how to ask a question or get connected.

 

Crime is on a rise. Mostly petty theft and shit like that. With the massive influx of transplants mostly from states who's political beliefs don't mesh well with MT, the inevitable influx of shit bags comes with it.

There is very very limited housing available. And if you do find housing jump on it quick cause if you don't then it will be gone in a few minutes.

When you get here just be ready to be on isolation island till the locals figure you out. Over the last year we have been getting barraged with new people and we need to get to know before we are nice.....

Good luck in your endeavor.

 

it's been nice with the border closed......

 

Do it for the huckleberries.

dear god I mis those.

 

When you show up, ride in on a horse with sun over your shoulder. Know how to run a wheel gun and you should be able to make it through the weekend.

 

Thanks for the reminder. I gotta get my order in jam, syrup, 3lbs dehydrated berries

 

I have done some work in the Bozeman/Big Sky area for the last few years and have met entire crews in the building trades that can not afford to live there at all.
Even those who grew up and went to work there are priced out of the old neighborhoods by those needing second and third homes near the Ski Slopes.

I am not exaggerating or embellishing this at all,I have gotten to know these people and they are forced into living in the outdoors in trucks and tents to be able to keep going.
So the housing sits empty most of the year but the people supporting it are homeless pretty often for it.

Montana is one of the most favored Tax Haven states for the rich too and so they gobble up the real estate to provide an address to shelter the money,look it up it is not hard to understand just hard for the rest of us to live with.

It is an amazing place but not the Holy Grail unless you are sitting on a pile of cash too.

YMMV I hope!

 

I live in Breckenridge, CO and same story here or for any mountain town for that matter. All the remote workers from COVID made things even worse, no one wants to live in cities anymore.

Wrap your head around this as well, of all the housing types in summit county (where Breckenridge is), only 25% are occupied by full time residents/those who work in the county. Short term rentals and second home owners are pushing us all out. They have housing projects coming up to give us more apartments but it won't end until short term rental licenses stop. I'm just lucky the rental I'm in hasn't changed in 10 years, our rent is very fair. I just hope our landlord never decides to sell...

 

Small world for sure,we own a small house in Gunnison and another in Longmont and they are both rentals. I have them managed locally and we dont even use them in the summer anymore because the rental income is just too good to pass up.
I really miss the time in Gunnison in the Summers but it is easier to keep long term renters year round even with constant raises in the rent.

I have considered moving to the Mountains myself countless number of times and usually right after I work somewhere in the mountains but if it is good tourist area then it is also likely a terrible working mans area too.

Good money in the work but near unobtanium in the reasonable housing and living expenses area.

 

Isolation Island is where I’m at now. Been here 13yrs but keep to myself. The neighbors,while i know a few of them,smoke weed and drugs 24/7 and don’t care about working because they’re on the government.

I have no problem keeping to myself if needed.

Ill know more thus upcoming week after some interviews. Nobody said i absolutely must move. I need to know more details first about the job

 

Ya those things are amazing. My first time there many many years ago, I had never heard of them, tried some and was hooked, I ate my fill that week for sure. LOL

 

Well good on ya for renting to long term residents. We all appreciate it.

Yeah you don't live in the mtns to make good money, that's for sure (unless you're in real estate). I've lived here for 10 years but grew up in Littleton, I've just worked in kitchens and ski shops but now I manage a ski shop so am very fortunate to make okay money and live here (at least good enough money to afford my tundra and all it's upgrades!! haha)

 

Bring warm clothes...

 

Sorry

How has the economy been without the Canadian tourists? I heard the Whitefish area was really hurting.

 

Hurting? It slowed down for a bit than the onslaught of transplants and US tourism never stopped here.

Sorry dude not to be a dick but Canadian money doesn't really drive the area like you think we are doing just fine without it. But it's the typical thinking like that that makes us enjoy the border being closed, I overheard a conversation like that in Eureka that if the Border closed then the town would fall apart. All the locals laughed at the guy and he drove off angrily....guess what the town is still there and thriving.....so who knows.

 

The Flathead isnt the hidden gem it once was. I wouldn't be worried about finding a job...But I would absolutely have housing secured before doing anything.

The problem is blue collar families cant find affordable housing. Its all gone and unless you have 400k+ cash. You're gonna battle everyone for a decent house. My buddy is heading to GA in a couple weeks to look at moving down there. His oldest is going to college down there and they cant find a house here.

Plus the wages suck for the area. The cost of living is high, but nothing like bigger cities. Kalispell has higher crimes, but its nothing compared to most big cities.

What kinda job are you interviewing for?