Spring, Wildflowers, and Real Estate Cycles

Spring, Wildflowers, and Real Estate Cycles

As a real estate professional, I like to think of myself as the source of the source—kind of like my days as a nurse case manager. If you need something, I’ve got you covered. Have a question about your transaction? If I don’t know the answer right away, I’ll find it. That’s just part of what I do. My clients benefit not only from my experience, but from the deep relationships and trusted resources I’ve built through Big Sky Brokers and in the Helena community. When you choose me as your Realtor®, I want you to feel fully supported, like I’ve got your back—and I truly do.

We talk to people all the time in this line of work, and of course, the latest on the economy, interest rates, and investments come up often. And let me tell you—these conversations are wild! Just like life right now! So many opinions, so much variabity, so many routes forward to consider. I was recently chatting with a tax professional whose advice was simple: save, save, save—if you're not losing money right now, you're doing great. Then, not long after, I spoke to a financial advisor who said, “Buy stocks while they’re low!” Two professionals I respect, two very different takes. And a third colleague just shrugged and said, “You never know what’ll happen. But the Helena market tends to stay pretty steady.” All of this was still swirling in my head while I was hiking in the South Hills this weekend—sorting through the week, feeling grateful for some bright spots,

choosing what to let go of.

The best part of the hike, a surprise—wildflowers! Shooting stars and pasque flowers up! As I was taking photos and enjoying their beauty, I got to thinking about how much wildflowers remind me of the economy. There really isn’t any certainty, except that everything moves in cycles and everything changes over time. One day the hillside is covered in furry pasque flowers, and then they’re gone. But soon after, the balsamroot will bloom. And then the sage. The timing, the intensity, and even what shows up depends on so many factors we can't control.

What we can do is notice the conditions of the present, study the hillside (and the market), and be ready for the next bloom. Because no matter what expert advice is out there, there’s always something new to learn from, jump on, grow through, or prepare for. That’s one of the reasons I love helping people invest in real estate. It stands through the cycles. It may not always be flashy, but it tends to grow steadily over time—and it’s right here, something we call home.

What do you think about my wildflower analogy? I'd love to know if it resonates with you.