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Glacier Sotheby's International Realty
480 Electric Ave
Bigfork, MT 59911
Bigfork Community • Northwest Montana Real Estate • August 2026
“That man is richest whose pleasures are the cheapest.” Henry David Thoreau
Dear Friends, Family & Clients,
Can we just take a minute to appreciate my window box right now? Seriously. This may be its finest hour.
There is something about August in Montana that makes you want to hold on just a little tighter. The mornings are beginning to hint at what comes next, but the days are still wonderfully long, the lake is still calling, gardens are overflowing, and there are plenty of summer evenings left to enjoy. And apparently, my flowers have decided this is their moment to shine.
It has been another full month, both personally and professionally, and as I look around at everything happening, I find myself feeling especially grateful. Grateful for this place we get to call home, grateful for the people who make our community what it is, and incredibly grateful for the clients, friends and referrals that continue to keep me doing work I genuinely love.
Of course, summer in the West also has its harder side. Smoke has found its way into our valley this month, much of it traveling in from fires throughout the region. And our hearts remain especially close to our neighbors in Washington, where communities around Spokane have experienced devastating fires and tremendous loss. It is a sobering reminder not to take these beautiful summer days, or the places and people we love, for granted.
The July real estate numbers remind us that there really is no single “Montana market.” Some areas are moving more quickly than others, inventory and pricing vary considerably from one community to the next, and buyers have become more thoughtful about what and how much they are willing to buy. For sellers, that makes good preparation, presentation and pricing especially important. For buyers, it means opportunity!
We have also listed several new properties this month, each offering a different interpretation of Montana living. And as Ceri would undoubtedly point out, the most important question may not be square footage at all. It might simply be whether the property has the right porch, deck, view, yard or sunny spot for enjoying life with your favorite hoomans.
I’ve also spent a surprising amount of time experimenting in the kitchen this month, and there have been some very good discoveries. I love finding recipes that are flavorful without requiring an entire afternoon of preparation, and this month’s clear winner was Puttanesca Poached Fish. Briny olives, capers, tomatoes, garlic and tender fish all come together in one of those dishes that tastes far more complicated than it is. It earned a definite place in the “make this again” category.
August always feels a little bittersweet in Northwest Montana. We are not finished with summer, but suddenly you become aware that it won’t last forever. So pick the huckleberries. Eat the cherries. Take the boat out one more evening. Sit on the deck longer than you planned. Wander through Bigfork. Have dinner outside. Admire your flowers while they’re showing off. And enjoy the place we are lucky enough to call home.
As always, real estate continues quietly in the background of all of it. Whether you are thinking about selling, searching for your next Montana property, wondering what your home might be worth, or simply curious about what is happening in your neighborhood, I’m always happy to have the conversation. I never take for granted the trust you place in me. Every listing, purchase, referral and introduction matters, and I remain committed to giving my clients the thoughtful communication, strong marketing, local knowledge and personal attention they deserve.
Thank you for continuing to follow along, send your friends my way, share my listings and allow me to be part of your Montana story. Now I’m heading back outside to admire that window box while I still can.
Warmly,
Denise
July’s numbers across Northwest Montana tell a very local story. Flathead County saw fewer new listings and closed sales than June, while the median sale price rose to $599,000 and average market time increased. Whitefish remained especially strong, with a $1 million median sale price and sales up year over year, while Kalispell also showed steady activity.
Bigfork saw a notable increase in new listings, giving buyers more choices, while Lakeside’s smaller number of sales created greater month-to-month swings. Overall, the market continues to reward realistic pricing, strong presentation, and a property-specific strategy.
Thinking about buying or selling? Let’s look at what these numbers mean for your specific property and goals. I’d be happy to help you make sense of the market and build the right strategy for your next move.
In the first half of 2026, Sotheby’s International Realty remained the most profiled real estate brand in the press. Accounting for 34% of share of voice by reach, we command the largest audience when compared to competitors. With these stats, we can continue to say that Sotheby’s International Realty is the #1 most profiled luxury real estate company in the news.
“Denise was incredible to work with. She connected well with our family and understood our vision. She dealt with hurdles without missing a beat, and was well worth the value. When it came to the services she provided, we received more than expected. Overall, we would love to do business with her again. She will be our first choice when we go to buy a new home.”
ELIZABETH
Several new properties this month, each offering a different interpretation of Montana living.
Good morning friends.
Let me tell you something I’ve learned about hoomans: you are very bad at hiding your feelings. You think you’re being subtle. You are not.
We notice everything. The sighs. The dramatic or non dramatic staring out the window. The “I’m fine” that absolutely does not match the energy of the room. Even the coffee you forget to drink because you’re too busy thinking about… whatever it is you’re thinking about. We see it all. And when we do, we have a very important job.
We move closer. We follow you from room to room like a fluffy little shadow with opinions. We rest our head on your knee like, “Yes, I am here. No, you may not spiral alone.” We bring you toys you did not ask for but are clearly necessary in this moment. Basically, we become your emotional support system with fur.
Now, I recently read (yes, I read things… mostly while waiting for snacks) that dogs are quite good at picking up on hooman emotions and responding to them. Something about reading faces, tone, and behavior changes. Scientists call it emotional awareness. I call it obvious. You can read more about it here if you enjoy hooman science.
The important takeaway is this: when you’re having a hard day, we know. And we show up.
But before anyone gets too sentimental, I need to clarify something: Odin and I are not only emotional support professionals. We are also highly trained in the art of food surveillance.
If you are sad on the couch, we are gentle, comforting, and deeply devoted. If you are sad at the table with food, we are suddenly alert, strategic, and operating at full capacity. Because while we absolutely care about your feelings… we also care about whether that chicken is going to mysteriously “fall” off your plate.
Odin pretends he is dignified about this. He is not. I prefer direct eye contact. It establishes expectations.
Still, scraps or no scraps, I think we dogs understand something hoomans occasionally forget: you don’t always have to fix someone’s bad day. Sometimes you just sit beside them until it passes. Preferably very, very close. And preferably within reach of the snack table.
Until next month,
🩷 Ceri
This month’s clear winner. Briny olives, capers, tomatoes, garlic and tender fish come together in one pan, and it tastes far more complicated than it is. Firmly in the “make this again” category.
As a realtor I am naturally drawn to stories in which a house becomes more than a backdrop, and in Blackbird House, the house is unmistakably the main character.
Instead of following one family, Alice Hoffman traces the lives of the many people who inhabit the same weathered Cape Cod farmhouse across generations. Beginning during the era of British occupation and continuing into modern times, the interconnected stories reveal how each owner leaves something behind: a memory, a heartbreak, a secret, or a bit of hope. The house quietly absorbs it all, linking people who may never meet but whose lives echo one another through its rooms, land, and history.
I have read other Alice Hoffman novels and have always appreciated the way she blends ordinary life with just a touch of magic. Here, that style feels especially fitting. A white blackbird, old orchards, gardens, storms, and the changing shoreline create a sense that the property itself remembers everyone who has called it home.
From a real estate perspective, I loved the idea that a home’s true story cannot be told through bedrooms, acreage, or architecture alone. It is shaped by the people who live there, the routines they create, the losses they endure, and the memories that remain long after the keys have changed hands.
Blackbird House is atmospheric, tender, and sometimes bittersweet. It is less a traditional novel than a collection of connected stories, but together they form a beautiful portrait of home, history, and belonging. It left me thinking about the unseen chapters held within every property, and the privilege of helping someone become part of its next one.
Whether you are thinking about selling, searching for your next Montana property, wondering what your home might be worth, or simply curious about what is happening in your neighborhood, I’m always happy to have the conversation.
Contact DeniseDeniseLangRealEstate.com
