Montana Lot For The Archives -- November 8, 2023

Locator: 45995ARCH. 

This is the sort of thing I would share with readers by e-mail but because I no longer have access to e-mail associated with this account, I will share some of this information via the blog.

Back in the early 1970s, my parents bought two lots on Flathead lake, each lot priced at about $20,000. 

My dad built an incredibly nice retirement home for my mom. He never lived there, but my mom lived there for years -- a very nice retirement for her. They built the home during a severe economic downtown when contractors were looking for any work they could find. Dad hired a Williston, North Dakota, contractor and the rest is history. If I remember, I will post a photo of the house, and its unobstructed view of the lake.

In the 1980s, my mother offered to sell her lot to me for $26,000. She was caught up with the surge in CD returns (14% -- ? -- should be fact-checked) and the surge in the price of gold. She did very, very well with her CDs. She bought a one-ounce gold coin for each of her five children. That was totality of her gold investment. 

I have not built on our lot. Recently an owner of the house behind our lot had a California buyer interested in his McMansion but the buyer was willing to buy only if there was some assurance I would not build something that would obstruct his/her view of the lake. I provided a long letter saying I had no intent to ever build on my lot and it was unlikely that either of my children would ever build on this lot. That brings us to our grandchildren -- no indication that they will build within the next twenty years. If ever.

I have hired a local landscaper to maintain the lot and the lot is in beautiful condition. I will leave money in the estate to continue maintaining the lot. 

Last year, for tax purposes, Flathead County appraised the lot at $108,000. 

This year, one year later, 2024, the county has appraised the lot for $183,000. No typo.

My plans have not changed. I will ensure through my will and other instruments that the property is never sold and that the property will flow to the grandchildren and their children. 

But, wow, it's a beautiful lot.