Are Montana Home Prices Starting to Fall?

It's been a while since average homes were really affordable for most Montanans. And while marketing conditions have been moderating over the past couple of years, one of the big questions starting in 2026 is whether the latest numbers show prices actually steady, or even falling.

While some reports have suggested dropping prices, those are using third-party sources that only follow general market trends.

The initial numbers, based on sales in Bozeman, Kalispell, and Missoula, are showing what may end up being another spike in prices this year. For example, the Missoula Organization of REALTORS® latest numbers show the median home price may have actually broken $700,000 here at the start of the year, based on a handful of initial sales.

However, the median price for all of 2025 looks to have settled around $565,000, which is comparable with a year ago.

Like Bozeman, some reports have put the range of median home prices in the Flathead over $800,000, or just under $700,000, depending on the property. However, some real estate firms say lower-priced homes may be dropping in price even as overall sales continue to cool.

     📊 MOR will release its detailed report in February.

Most of Montana is owned by just a few thousand wealthy people

New reports show reports showing a trend to big land ownership moves in Montana, as Nick Northern reports.

Authorities need tips for Cascade County murder

Cascade County investigators are asking for the help of the general public and the Great Falls area business community to try to track down the suspect wanted for the murder of a Harlem man last week.

The body of 25-year old Terrill Johnson was found on Friday in the 1700 block of 22nd Avenue South. Initially, it was just a "suspicious death" case, but it is now being treated as a homicide.

Sheriff Jesse Slaughter says investigators are hoping to locate Johnson's car, a red 2014 Chevy Cruze, which had been seen around the area last week.

Slaughter says the victim was also known to frequent bars in downtown Great Falls, and is asking businesses to check their surveillance videos and pass along tips to detectives.

Volunteers are back at the Montana Food Bank Network

When the Montana Food Bank Network designed its new Missoula warehouse, one of the objectives was to provide much more space for volunteer help.

And this weekend, the facility got its first "pressure test", as a large group from Republic Services was able to repack tons of food for food banks and pantries across the state, as well as the MFBN "Mail a Meal" program, in a matter of hours.

MFBN Chief Development Officer Bill Matthews was excited about the efficiency, praising Republic Services for its partnership.

Republic Services provided a quarter of a million dollar grant for that new repack facility.

Groups can now volunteer by signing up at the Montana Food Bank Network's Volunteer Page.

Whitefish Mt in full operation again after mass evacuation

It was back to normal operations over the weekend at Whitefish Mountain Resort, after crews completed servicing and safety checks following Friday's shutdown that forced the evacuation of upwards of 200 skiers.

The resort said a mechanical problem stopped Chair 1 from spinning Friday morning just before 10, and although crews did get it running again, it was decided to evacuate all the chairs, using climbing equipment and special seats to get everyone on the ground and back to the lodge 4-hours later. The closure had also forced the closure of Chair 8 and some of the mountain's terrain.

Billings pets back in business

It was a big weekend for the Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter, after a small army of volunteers showed up Saturday to move the operation from its temporary location to the new shelter on Jellison Road in Billings. It went so well that the shelter was able to conduct its first pet adoptions.

The shelter had been forced to move from its old location last year after a mishap with a drug disposal operation in the crematorium filled the building with hazardous smoke.