Mountain Lion Hunting Season Underway in The Black Hills

It is officially mountain lion hunting season in the Black Hills. The season started on Dec. 26th and will run through March 31, 2015 or until the harvest limit has been reached. The harvest limit for the Black Hills Fire Protection District this season is a maximum of 75 lions (or 50 female lions).

Two mountain lions were killed on opening day. One was a 102-pound female from Pennington County that was estimated to be eight years old, and the other a male from Custer County weighing in at 151-pounds and estimated to be 10 years old. To stay up to date on the latest number of mountain lions killed in the region visit the Harvest Status page here or via the South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Facebook page here.

Mountain Lion hunting is restricted to in-state residents only and unlimited licenses for the season can be obtained through the South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Department. For those hunting please follow the protocols below:

Report a Mountain Lion Kill:

• All harvested mountain lions must be presented to a GFP representative for inspection within 24 hours of harvest.
• Call 605.394.2391 during weekday office hours (8am-5pm).
• Call State Radio at 605.393.8121 during nights and weekends.
• Check in at the Rapid City GFP Regional Office (4130 Adventure Trail at the site of the Outdoor Campus West) or at the park headquarters at Custer State Park.

I am a local expert in the Black Hills region and can help you sell your Black Hills home. Call me, Jim Peterson, at (605) 574-4444 or email me to discuss how I can help you with all your real estate needs. Our expertise in the Black Hills or Rapid City markets will ensure you a stress-free experience in selling your Black Hills Home. My office is in the heart of Hill City and as a tourist spot, restrooms are hard to find – mine are always open for your convenience!

Happy New Year!

Bull Elk Roaming Sunset Creek Looking for Greener pastures!

One of the great gifts of living in Sunset Creek Development is the amount of wildlife you will encounter. These pictures are just a few of the Bull Elk that were roaming the streets earlier this month looking for greener pastures.

Sunset Creek Development is the perfect place to call home. While living in the city limits of Hill City you are surrounded with a small-town appeal, but yet an easy driving commute to Rapid City.

As the developer I have ensured that you will truly enjoy country living, and be able to build the home of your dreams with your own custom builder. Enjoy this custom community that offers lots of 1/3 of an acre up to 7/10 of an acre that are already set with city water & sewer, underground electric, and communication services contained in a mountain meadow setting.

The Michelson Trail runs throughout the community. There is plenty of green space and walking trails that allow you to get out and enjoy the nature that surrounds you. Sunset Creek also shares borders with the Black Hills National Forest.

Environmentally friendly practices have been put into place to protect the land within the development such as an innovative drainage system to control runoff and protect the soil and the use of no street lights to protect that gorgeous night sky. This makes the perfect place to live for those looking for a green development.

If you are ready to buy your new home in the Black Hills Area, I’d love to talk with you. Whether you are interested in homes in Hill City, Custer homes for sale, or Rapid City new homes, we can give you the most comprehensive listings that meet your criteria. Our expertise in the Black Hills or Rapid City markets will ensure you a stress-free experience. Contact me, Jim Peterson, at (605) 574-4444 or email me to discuss how I can help you with all your real estate needs. My office is in the heart of Hill City and as a tourist spot, restrooms are hard to find – mine are always open for your convenience!

The Biggest Mistake Black Hills Home Sellers Make

Home prices are continuing to inch up, which is bringing more Black Hills home sellers to the market. As a result sellers believe that with home prices increasing their home will sell rapidly and for more money.

Overpricing your Black Hills home is the biggest mistake you can make as a seller. It is not uncommon for homeowners to value their investment, and as a result price their home higher than it is really worth. If your home is priced higher than similar homes then it makes it appear as if you are unrealistic.

Listing your home at a higher price with the idea that you can come down in price later will hurt you. Home buyers shop in a certain price range that is usually given to them by their lender or a price range they have set themselves that they feel comfortable with. When looking for a home if yours is out of their price range and you later lower your price you could lose potential buyers.

Overpricing your home means you will get fewer showings and if you do get an offer it will be low.  As a result, you will have to lower your price to generate more traffic.  You may notice that you still do not get showings even though the price has dropped.  Why would home buyers not jump at the new price reduction? First impressions in the housing market count. The impression you have created is that of an overpriced home that reflects on you, the seller.

Many buyers and agents do not want to work with a seller who they feel is unrealistic. Overpricing your home leads both agents and buyers to think that you are not in touch with the current housing market conditions, that you may be upside down on your mortgage, or have further money troubles. It is not uncommon for homes that have been dropped in price drastically to attract lower offers than other homes that are similar due to buyers thinking you are desperate.

A home in the Black Hills will not sell for more than what a buyer is willing to pay for it or what a lender is willing to finance it for. There is no better advice when it comes to selling your home than to price it right.

If you are considering selling your home in the Black Hills and would like to know what would be the right price to sell your home for, I can help. I am a local expert in the Black Hills region and can help you sell your Black Hills home. Call me, Jim Peterson, at (605) 574-4444 or email me to discuss how I can help you with all your real estate needs. Our expertise in the Black Hills or Rapid City markets will ensure you a stress-free experience in selling your Black Hills Home. My office is in the heart of Hill City and as a tourist spot, restrooms are hard to find – mine are always open for your convenience!

Great News for Potential Black Hills Home Sellers- Existing-Home Sales Reach Yearly High

If you are a Black Hills home owner and are on the fence about selling your home, then you should know that for the month of October existing-home sales reached a yearly high. The sale of existing homes across the nation rose in October to a yearly high according to a recent report by the National Association of Realtors (NAR).  Total existing-home sales increased by 1.5 percent to a seasonally adjusted rate of 5.26 million in October, which is up 2.5 percent over this time a year ago. This marks the highest pace of an increase we have seen since September 2013.

While existing home sales were increasing, the number of homes on the market fell by 2.6 percent. This makes now the perfect time to sell your Black Hills home. The median price of homes across the United States rose by 5.5 percent in October. This marked the 32^nd consecutive month of year-over-year price gains.

“Sales activity in October reached its highest annual pace of the year as buyers continue to be encouraged by interest rates at lows not seen since last summer, improving levels of inventory and stabilizing price growth,” said NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun. “Furthermore, the job market has shown continued strength in the past six months. This bodes well for solid demand to close out the year and the likelihood of additional months of year-over-year sales increases.”

With mortgage rates reaching their lowest levels in more than a year, it comes as no surprise that home sales have increased.

We would love to help you sell your Black Hills home this holiday season. The number one reason to list during the holidays … buyers who are looking for new homes during the holidays tend to be more serious about finding a Black Hills home!

I am a local expert in the Black Hills region and can help you sell your Black Hills home. Call me, Jim Peterson, at (605) 574-4444 or email me to discuss how I can help you with all your real estate needs. Our expertise in the Black Hills or Rapid City markets will ensure you a stress-free experience in selling your Black Hills Home. My office is in the heart of Hill City and as a tourist spot, restrooms are hard to find – mine are always open for your convenience!

Holiday Décor That Can Help Sell Your Black Hills Home

We hope that everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving. We are now in the full swing of the holidays.  If you are selling your Black Hills home during this holiday season, the décor you use may make it or break it for you.

 Here are a few tips:

1. Less is more – When a potential buyer views your home they want to be able to see themselves living in that space in the future. When it comes to holiday decorations go with the “less-is-more” approach. A few subtle touches are all you need. A nice welcoming wreath, a beautiful Christmas tree, and a lovely centerpiece at your table are great holiday decorations to consider.
2. Safety – Your safety and those visiting your home is important. All the walkways in your home should be free of decorations that may cause a tripping hazard. If you have outdoor Christmas lights double check to make sure all cords are secure and out of a walkway. The last thing any home seller needs is a lawsuit.
3. Interior Décor – When placing holiday décor throughout your home be mindful that you are not hiding your home’s best assets. Too much clutter can quickly hide your home’s unique and best qualities. For instance, if you have a fireplace mantel there is no need to cover every inch.  Instead, feature it with a few strategically placed holiday items.
4. Curb Appeal – Curb appeal may be the most important thing when it comes to selling your Black Hills home. If a potential buyer is turned off by the outside of your home they more than likely will not want to see the inside. Too much outdoor holiday décor can come across as cluttered. Try using only a few of your most cherished and favorite items this year.

I am a local expert in the Black Hills region and can help you sell your Black Hills home. Call me, Jim Peterson, at (605) 574-4444 or email me to discuss how I can help you with all your real estate needs. Our expertise in the Black Hills or Rapid City markets will ensure you a stress-free experience in selling your Black Hills Home. My office is in the heart of Hill City and as a tourist spot, restrooms are hard to find – mine are always open for your convenience!

Happy Holidays!