Not Yet on National Radar: Flathead Lake, Montana

A Realtor in Bigfork, part of Montana's popular Flathead Valley, tells a reporter: "What we have are second- and third-time home buyers driving our market." Bigfork is part of western Montana's trophy home and retirement home market. But even there, Bigfork doesn't quite fit in like other similar markets. There seems to be no end to the sales in the Flathead Valley community. "I don't think a national 'bubble burst' would affect us too much," one real estate agent said. Flathead Valley is not even on the national radar. Although growth seems to many locals to be out-of-control, is marginal when compared to many other real estate markets.