Rocky river reflecting golden autumn trees, with forested mountains in the distance.

Flathead Lake Real Estate - October 2024 Sales

Flathead Lake Real Estate

We almost escaped a snow-free October, but once again on Halloween an early winter system made its way through the valley. A light dusting accumulated on the shores of Flathead Lake. Overall the autumn season has been spectacular with flashes of color from the aspens, maples, and larch.

There were three reported sales around the lake for the month of October, building on the increased sales volume earlier in the summer. We expect the year-end total sales volume to nearly match 2022 around $113M, a 26% increase over the 2023 sales of $83M. Important to note is the increased dollar volume coincides with a significant drop in transaction count. Year to date we have closed $100M with only 29 transactions.

Inventory appears to have stabilized, up 28% over last year at this time, but seasonally decreasing to 43 residential units and 9 land listings currently available. We expect a modest seasonal decrease in transactions as we head into the late fall and winter months.

October Sales:

Table of three October 2024 sales: two in Polson and one in Bigfork, with prices, frontage, and adjusted price per foot.

Pricing and Sales Summary:

Tables comparing Flathead Lake frontage values and total sales for 2022, 2023, and 2024 year to date.

Significant Sale

Yellow Bay Orchard Estate

8,917 sf,4.85 acres, 167ft of waterfront

List price $7.0M

Rustic timber home with a central balcony, landscaped lawn, stone path, and wooden outdoor chairs.

Located in the exclusive Yellow Bay orchard area on Flathead Lake's east shore, this waterfront property is an immaculate home with an open floor plan, sophisticated architectural detailing, and beautifully landscaped yard. The location of this property offers lake living at its finest with dramatic lake and mountain views while close to the artisan village of Bigfork. Features of the main home include extensive timber work and stone fireplace, gourmet kitchen with quality appliances and granite countertops, den area with second stone fireplace, butler's pantry, and two car garage. The fully landscaped back yard has a gentle slope down to the pebble beach with 167 feet of waterfront. The 3,500 sf guest residence offers 2,100 sf of garage and shop space on the main floor along with approximately 1,400 sf of living space on the second floor.

Active Waterfront Listings

Residential inventory around the lake continues to increase year over year. The 43 residential active listings currently on Flathead Lake represent a 28% increase in listings over this time last year. Median list prices have flattened out around $3M.

Waterfront land listings have held relatively flat in both units and median price.

Flathead Lake monthly waterfront listing chart, with residential and land counts from November 2023 to November 2024.

Chart of monthly median Flathead Lake waterfront land and residential prices, November 2023–November 2024.

Flathead Lake Condominium Market

With nearly two dozen waterfront condominium communities around Flathead Lake, there has historically been plenty of options for buyers who want the waterfront lifestyle without having to worry about maintaining a lake home. Below is a summary of currently active and sold units so far this year as compared to last year's sales. The condo market has followed the single-family waterfront market to near-record low inventories and increasing prices.