See how Montana’s waterfront market performed in early 2025, with Flathead Lake leading and most other areas still off to a slow start.

Waterfront properties are back in the spotlight. If you’re keeping an eye on the waterfront market this year, here’s what’s happening so far. The first quarter of 2025 started a bit slow overall, but there are signs of solid activity picking up especially on Flathead Lake. Inventory is still tight in most areas, but we expect more listings and movement as spring rolls in.

Flathead Lake leads the activity. Flathead Lake saw seven home sales in Q1, up from just two during the same time last year. There are also four pending sales, which is a good sign of demand. That said, inventory is low, with only 33 active listings. Prices remain high across the board, including median and top-end sales.

Flathead condos and land are still quiet. The condo market on Flathead Lake is off to a quiet start. Only one unit has sold so far this year, down from two last year. Quite a few condos are still listed, but activity hasn’t picked up yet. Land sales are about the same: one sale, one pending, and only seven active lots. This part of the market usually gets more attention as we head into summer.

We're expecting more listings to come online as the season progresses.

Other lakes are off to a slow start. Combined, the other area lakes only had three home sales in Q1, down from six during the same time last year. Inventory remains low, with only 13 active listings and two properties under contract. We’re expecting more listings to come online as the season progresses.

Flathead and Lake counties show balance. Zooming out to Flathead and Lake Counties overall, the market’s balanced. Homes have about a seven-month supply, while condos are sitting at twelve months, and land is closer to fourteen. Those numbers suggest that residential homes may move more quickly, while condos and land may need stronger demand to sell at a faster pace.

Market outlook for spring. With spring arriving earlier this year, we’re already seeing more signs of activity. Due to recent stock market instability, some buyers may also be looking to shift funds into real estate, which could lead to more movement in the weeks ahead.

Whether you’re thinking about selling or starting your search for a waterfront property, now’s the time to plan ahead. Call me at 406-837-5531, email ScottHollingerMT@gmail.com, or visitwww.flatheadrealestate.com to take the next step.