Whitefish Real Estate-The Ultimate Guide

Whitefish, Montana is one of the few places in America that has it all. Quiet, peaceful neighborhoods, hiking and biking trails, a ski resort, a large alpine lake in the middle of town, great restaurants, and one of the most beautiful national parks nearby. Whitefish real estate is a great investment now, and it will continue to be in the future. I have put together this guide to help with your purchase of Whitefish real estate, and what to expect while you are here.

Whitefish Real Estate-History

The town of Whitefish started in 1904 when the Great Northern Railway put their line through the area. Originally, the town was called “Stumptown” due to the large amount of timber that had to be cleared to make way for the railroad and the town site. The Great Northern Railway Depot was built in 1928 and is currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It now serves as the Amtrak terminal and is located at the end of Central Avenue in downtown Whitefish. Logging and agriculture were the main industries in the area until the 1940’s when the first chair lift was installed on Big Mountain. Shortly after the beginnings of the ski resort, a nine-hole golf course and clubhouse were built on the west side of town, and summer homes and cabins began to pop up around Whitefish Lake, and Whitefish real estate became a valued commodity. From that point on, Whitefish became a tourist destination.

Whitefish Real Estate-Schools

Whitefish has five schools that are located in town. Muldown Elementary School has classes from Kindergarten to 4th grade. Whitefish Middle School has classes from 5th grade to 8th grade, and Whitefish High School is 9th-12th grades. Both Whitefish High School and Whitefish Middle School have had major renovations/additions done recently. Other Whitefish school options include the Whitefish Christian Academy which started in the current location in 1989. The academy teaches Pre-K thru 8th grade. There is also the Children’s House Montessori School which teaches children from the ages of 3–6. Whitefish High School has great academic and sports programs, and they just won the State Class A Football Championship in 2015.

Whitefish Real Estate-Recreation

If you have never been to Whitefish, you will be amazed at all of the outdoor activities that are available within minutes of town. One of the most popular spots is Whitefish Mountain Resort. The resort has been ranked in the top 10 for best ski areas in the country. Whitefish Mountain Resort covers 3000 acres, has 105 marked trails, and a vertical drop of 2353'. During the summer, the resort has many activities as well. There is an alpine slide, zip lining, hiking, and world-class mountain-bike trails. https://youtu.be/nDhYzC9Vhj8 https://youtu.be/qAtTympHSIc Hiking is a very popular activity in Whitefish. Over the past few years, the Whitefish Legacy Partners have been building hiking and biking trails on the outskirts of town. As of now, there are 36 miles of trails that can be accessed from the paved trails in town and some of the trails connect to the trails at the resort. The trails wind through the mountains and around the lakes on the west side of town. Beautiful overlooks and lake views highlight these trails. In the town of Whitefish, there are paved trails that follow the Whitefish River, and connect the downtown area to the City Beach. For those that enjoy the sport of golf, Whitefish is home to 2 premier courses. Whitefish Lake Golf Club is located on the west side of town and has two 18 hole courses. Both courses have been rated in the top 10 in Montana. It is a public course, but as a resident of Whitefish, you can buy a season pass at a discounted rate. The other course in town is Iron Horse Golf Club. Located in the hills just below Whitefish Mountain Resort, this is a private club that has been rated as one of the best courses in the United States. Some of the finest Whitefish real estate can be found at Iron Horse.

Other recreation opportunities found in Whitefish include the Stumptown Ice Den and the Whitefish Wave. The ice den is home to year-round ice. There is a huge adult hockey association with many adult leagues for all levels of play, and they also host several men’s and women’s tournaments throughout the winter. There is also a large youth hockey association and a figure skating association. The Whitefish Wave is a state of the art fitness center located in the heart of town. There are three pools, a large fitness area, a full-size gym, and racquetball courts. Trainers are available as well as a masseuse.

Whitefish Real Estate-Restaurants/Night Life

Whitefish Real Estate-Restaurants/Night Life Whitefish is home to many great restaurants and bars. There is no way that I can review all of them here, but I will give you some of my favorites. You really can’t go wrong with any of the restaurants in Whitefish, and all of the bars are a great time. Here is a list of some great restaurants in no particular order. Latitude 48, Tupelo Grille, Wasabi Sushi Bar, Jersey Boys Pizzeria, McGarrys Roadhouse, Whitefish Lake Restaurant, Stillwater Fish House, and Zucca’s.

There are many great bars/nightclubs located in downtown Whitefish as well. Again, I will list some in no particular order. Great Northern Bar, Casey’s, Bulldog Saloon, Craggy Range, Remington, Tupelo Bar, and the Great Northern Brewing Company. Most of these bars offer live music on most nights, and occasionally a famous act will play at one of the locations.

Whitefish Real Estate-Events

Whitefish is the home to many events, large and small. It seems as though there is something happening every weekend. There are two different theater companies in town that put on productions year round. The Whitefish Theater Company is located in the O’Shaughnessy Center, and the Alpine Theater Project is located in the Alpine Theater, which is part of the Middle School. One of the largest events every year is the Whitefish Winter Carnival. There is a King and Queen Coronation, a Skijoring competition, a hockey tournament, the penguin plunge into Whitefish Lake, and finally, the Grand Parade on Saturday afternoon. The Winter Carnival is a huge event, and it draws large crowds every year. A great summertime event in Whitefish is the Farmers Market. Every Tuesday afternoon from the end of May until the end of September, all of the local farmers and artists sell their products in Depot Park downtown. There are food vendors as well as live music each week. Another event that has grown in popularity over the years is the annual Oktoberfest. It is held over two weekends in October and features many contests and local food and beer.

Whitefish Neighborhoods/Whitefish Real Estate

Whitefish real estate varies in price depending on the neighborhood. As of now, Whitefish real estate is the most expensive real estate in the Flathead Valley. There is a huge demand for Whitefish real estate because of all of the things that were mentioned above. Whitefish real estate will always be a great investment. People from all over the country want to move here and enjoy everything that Whitefish has to offer. The following are some great neighborhoods to purchase Whitefish real estate.

1. Whitefish Lake. The lake is over 6 miles long and 1 mile wide in some areas. Some of the most coveted Whitefish real estate is located on the lake. As of today, the prices range from $899,000-$26,700,000.
2. Whitefish Mountain Resort. Another popular location for Whitefish real estate is at the ski resort. In this area, you can purchase time shares, condo’s, or single family homes. The different types of living arrangements command a wide variety of prices. Right now there is a time share listed at $21,500. The condo’s range from $79,000-$447,800. The highest priced Whitefish real estate on the mountain are the single family homes that are located in the Elk Highlands and Northern Lights neighborhoods. There is a private ski lift that accesses the resort, so all of the homes are ski in and ski out. The home prices in that neighborhood range from $1,225,000-$11,500,000.
3. Iron Horse Golf Club. Whitefish real estate purchased in Iron Horse does not require a membership to the club. There are private cabins for sale and single family homes. Right now the prices range from $895,000 up to $6,950,000.
4. City Beach area. Whitefish real estate in this area is also in high demand. It is a very desirable location due to it’s proximity to the lake, walking trails, and the downtown area. Homes in this area vary widely in size and age as do the prices. Investors are always looking for Whitefish real estate in this area.
5. Southeast Whitefish. The area between downtown and the high school is also a very desirable place to purchase Whitefish real estate. This is an older section of town, and the homes are on the smaller side. Many people like the fact that it is an easy walk to the downtown area or the schools. Homes usually sell quickly in this area.
6. Southeast Whitefish near the hospital. There are a couple of large condo complexes located near the hospital on the south end of town. The Monterra complex is the largest and most popular. It has an outdoor pool and a clubhouse.

There are many other subdivisions and neighborhoods that I did not mention. I tried to cover the main parts of town and the most popular Whitefish real estate. On the outside of town, there are some large parcels of Whitefish real estate that is currently for sale. Please feel free to share this Whitefish Real Estate guide with anyone you know who is thinking about purchasing Whitefish Real Estate. If you would like to search the current Whitefish real estate listings, please see below. If you have questions about purchasing or selling Whitefish real estate, please contact us at 406–249–1735 or email at willfriedner@gmail.com.