The Story Behind the "M"

The "M" is 620 feet above the Missoula Valley floor. It is 125' feet long and 100' feet wide. University of Montana forestry students cut the switchbacks into the side of the hill in the early 1900's. The first "M" was assembled out of whitewashed rocks in 1909, and given a fresh coat of paint by freshmen every year, until 1968, when all those rocks were cemented together with concrete.

Photo by Nelson Kenter, kenterphotography.com

Archive for the ‘Housing’ Category

Great Reasons For Getting a Home Loan

Getting the house of your dreams may just be at the tip of your fingertips.... more

4 Essential Tips for a Successful House Renovation

Whether you are renovating a whole house from top to bottom or a couple of rooms to bring them up to a modern standard there are a few basic principles that you should follow,... more

What To Look For When Renting A House

With this guide, you’re going to learn about the top things to consider when attempting to rent a house.... more

Why Should You Buy a Central Air Conditioner for Your Home?

There are dozens of benefits associated with adding air conditioning to your home. Here are just a few:... more

First Time Home Buyer in Montana: 5 Words of Wisdom

If you are buying a home in Montana, you will appreciate these pieces of advice. Welcome to this introduction for the first time home buyer in Montana.... more

How to Reduce Non-Biodegradable Waste and Recycle More Effectively

Besides recycling waste, you can considerably reduce it by adopting various healthier alternatives to non-biodegradable products. ... more

Things You Should Know Before Selling Your Home

When preparing to sell a home, it is important that you know what to expect and prepare well.... more

Is it Possible to Pay Your Mortgage with a Credit Card?

By following the tips provided, paying for your mortgage using your credit card can reap you some juicy rewards while enabling you to make timely payments.... more

Buying a Home with Bad Credit: Pros and Cons of Every Option

It’s a sad truth that buying a house with a bad credit score is extremely difficult. ... more

5 Common HOA Rules You Don’t Know About

Here are a few rules that are common among HOA's across the country.... more

How Yurt Housing differs from a Traditional Home

Yurt Living - an Alternative to Traditional Housing – and the Tiny House. Buying a home can be an expensive, lengthy process, and the rent for an apartment is looking increasingly more like mortgage... more

Missoula in Motion Launches January Clear the Air Challenge

For the month of January, Missoula In Motion will challenge citizens to reduce the amount of C02 they emit into the air by trying to limit their solo driving trips.... more

How to Start a Green Team at Your School

You’ve finally decided your school needs an Eco-messiah, and you’re looking into starting a green team, but you don’t know where to start? ... more

3 Things to Consider Before Purchasing Commercial Real Estate

So, you’ve decided to buy some income producing property, and you’ve decided against residential property.... more

Why Land for Sale in Missoula is Your Ticket

With land for sale in Missoula and its best communities, now is the ideal time for you to start looking for your dream home here.... more

Tips on Getting Financial Help for Your First Apartment

Financing an apartment can be very expensive, and unless you’ve got plenty of savings in the bank, you’re going to need to think about financing this adventure.... more

What Are the Pros and Cons of Refinancing a Mortgage?

Choosing to refinance your mortgage is an often overwhelming decision. Examining the pros and cons can help you determine the ideal option for you and your family.... more

Affordable Housing Area For Missoula On The Way

By CINDY CUMMINGS - Missoula is a great place to live and work, and it’s one of Montana’s favorite cities for a day out too. ... more

How a Realtor in Missoula Can Help Accurately Price Your Home

One of the most important components of selling a home is pricing it right. ... more

Montana Homestead Declaration – Why it’s Important for Homeowners

By ALLISA WINBERG - The state of Montana has a wonderful Homestead Exemption Act that is designed to protect the investment you have made in your home. Here are the details.... more

Smell Makes Cents

By JENNIFER SLAYDEN - Realtors are gearing up for the busiest time of the year. Smell, believe it or not, plays a big role in the whole process.... more

I’m Not in Love with the Reverse Mortgage

By JENNIFER SLAYDEN - What can you do to protect yourself, your parents, or others who may be considering a reverse mortgage?... more

I LOVETT! Music Plays Again in an Old Company Town

By JENNIFER SLAYDEN -Lyle Lovett & His Large Band were the first show to take the stage at the new KettleHouse Amphitheatre in what was an amazing evening of entertainment.... more

Roofing Replacement: Enhancing Protection and Beauty of Your Home

Your roof is not only a vital component of your home's structure but also a key element in providing protection and comfort to your family. Over time, roofs can deteriorate due to weather conditions, age, or we... more

February: LOVE Your House Month: Fire Safety

By JENNIFER SLAYDEN -Take a little time to learn what YOU can do to keep your home warm and toasty, while keeping yourself and your family safe during these cold winter months.... more

Missoula is Our Home for the Holiday

By JENNIFER SLAYDEN -Sit back and enjoy a little clip of scenes from in and around Missoula! Wishing you and yours a safe, wonderful and warm holiday season!... more

Growing Birds in the Garden City

By JENNIFER SLAYDEN -Why did the chicken cross Missoula Ave? Perhaps to say hello to the new neighbors, Quail and Duck!... more

Nesting in the Zoo: Storing History in Milltown

By JENNIFER SLAYDEN -Ask anyone in Bonner, West Riverside, or Milltown where they used to go buy groceries and more than likely you will hear a variety of responses: Milltown Market, Finky’s or Disbrow’s.... more

Nesting in the Zoo: Create a Great Learning Space

By JENNIFER SLAYDEN -How do people create a productive learning environment at home? I'm convince it takes headspace, and physical space.... more

30+ Things for Kids to Do in Missoula, Montana

By LINDA McCARTHY - I am amazed at how many free and low cost things there are to do with kids in Missoula, Montana. My daughter and I compiled a list of more than 30 Things to Do With Kids in Missoula:... more

Trash Talk Missoula

By JENNIFER SLAYDEN -On a bright Saturday morning, approximately 75 boaters, tubers, and divers met to talk trash! River trash that is. It was the 13th year of the annual Blackfoot River Cleanup.... more

Understanding Agency – Part III: Dual Agency

By JENNIFER SLAYDEN -The annual Missoula Marathon: one of the highlights of the year for many locals and visitors to our town!... more

Understanding Agency: Part II

By JENNIFER SLAYDEN - Are you a fan of lists and sticky notes? I sure am! Even before getting into real estate, I was a “listing agent” in my own right!... more

Understanding Agency: Huddle Up with a Buyer’s Agent

By JENNIFER SLAYDEN - Picture this: you are at the annual Brawl of the Wild with all your buddies who are die-hard Grizzly fans.... more

New Trails and Old Tales: That’s What Bonner is Made Of

By JENNIFER SLAYDEN - As we eagerly await the Milltown State park to open, we continue to celebrate the accomplishment of the removal of the Milltown Dam.... more

Is Home Buying Really as Easy as HGTV?

By JENNIFER SLAYDEN - I’m going to admit it right here on Make it Missoula. I have an addiction to HGTV. Especially the renovation shows.... more

MissouLUCKY!

By JENNIFER SLAYDEN - (PHOTO GALLERY) I’m only a wee bit Irish, but I can tell you, I feel extremely lucky to call Missoula my home. Not just on St. Patrick’s Day, but 365 days of the year.... more

Building Tiny Houses With Big Dreams

By JENNIFER SLAYDEN - Brian Daigle grew up building forts as a child, and now that pastime has turned into a successful and ever- growing company--Montana Tiny Homes.com.... more

City Council Approves 12 New Playgrounds

The City Council unanimously approved the purchase and installation of of new playground equipment for 12 playgrounds throughout Missoula.... more

MISSOULA-LA-LOVE (plus chocolate)

By JENNIFER SLAYDEN - Missoula is like a box of chocolates. The neighborhoods may all be housed in our great city, but each area has its own unique taste, feel, and characteristic.... more

To Stay Put or Uproot? SPACE ODDITY

By JENNIFER SLAYDEN - Space. It matters! So when it comes to buying, here are a few start up questions to begin defining the type of space your would like for your home.... more

Location, Location, Location!

By JENNIFER SLAYDEN - Location, location, location! Yes, the most overused phrase in Real Estate can seem as obnoxious as the Brady Bunch phrase, “Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!” ... more

Parks and Recreation To Recycle Christmas Trees

Missoula Parks and Recreation’s Urban Forestry Division is inviting citizens to drop off their cut Christmas trees at area parks to be recycled into productive mulch.... more

The State of the Jungle

By PAUL WHEATON - The more stuff I create and post online, the more people need to give me their feedback. Just reading their feedback is bigger than a full time job. ... more

Leaf Collection Starts Monday, Nov. 2

The City of Missoula will begin fall leaf pickup on Monday, Nov. 2, starting in the neighborhoods north of the Clark Fork River during the first week. ... more

Swords, Iron, Missoula Blood and Pie

By PAUL WHEATON - Turns out I have too much iron in my blood and it's leading to exhaustion. So I get the idea of just donating blood to see if I then feel supercharged. ... more

Jumping Spiders and Daddy Longlegs in Your House Keep Away Brown Recluse

By PAUL WHEATON - This video is of a jumping spider that found its way onto my monitor. I used to kill all spiders, but here's why I don't anymore.... more

Residential Water Conservation

Conserving water in your home is much easier than you think. By taking just a few simple steps, you can save water and decrease your water bill!... more

Struggles, Hurdles, Challenges and Observation

By PAUL WHEATON - I'm not yet of retirement age, but I suppose I could say that I am retired .... from being a software engineer. Sorta. ... more

City of Missoula Storm Updates

Clean-up from Monday’s thunderstorms continues throughout the City.  The City of Missoula would like to remind citizens of the following items: Power has been restored at Splash Montana waterpark. The fa... more