A modest 69-year-old home in rural Montana has been listed for sale for more than $1 million, sparking outrage among thousands over the huge price tag.
The three-bedroom, one-bathroom home, seemingly unremarkable among others in numerous small towns across America, has gained viral attention due to its $1.1 million price tag.
Located in Whitefish, a town in the Rocky Mountains of northwestern Montana with a population of just 9,000 people, the exterior of the home is clad in simple white paneling with square windows.
The 1,824-square-foot property also features a two-tone lawn and town lots, neither of which seem to justify the high price among potential buyers.
However, the home’s seller, Gary Hanson, who inherited the home from his father, believes the home is worth even more and is considering increasing the price.
A modest 69-year-old home in rural Montana has been listed for sale for more than $1 million, sparking outrage among thousands of people over the huge price tag.
The three-bedroom, one-bathroom home, seemingly unremarkable among others in numerous small towns across America, has gained viral attention due to its $1.1 million price tag.
‘A friend of mine from California said, ‘You’re too low.’ Price it for $2.3 million and it will sell,” he told Business Insider.
Factors contributing to the shocking price include its “prime location,” according to Heather Reddig, an agent with ReMax Home Again Realty who represents Hanson.
The home, located at 428 O’Brien Avenue, is a short drive from downtown Whitefish, an escape to the peaks, lakes and rugged valleys of Glacier National Park.
The town itself is a sought-after destination for lovers of skiing, hiking and golf. It has even attracted numerous billionaires and celebrities, including Michael Goguen, who lives in a 75,000-square-foot compound on Whitefish Lake.
The median sales price in Whitefish rose to $750,000 in January, making it one of the most expensive cities in Montana, according to Redfin data.
That’s what he thinks the house is worth. “It’s all about location, location, location,” said broker Reddig.
Factors contributing to the shocking price include its “prime location,” according to Heather Reddig, an agent with ReMax Home Again Realty who represents Hanson.
The town itself is a sought-after destination for lovers of skiing, hiking and golf. It has even attracted numerous billionaires and celebrities.
The home, located at 428 O’Brien Avenue, is a short drive from downtown Whitefish, an escape to the peaks, lakes and valleys of Glacier National Park.
But he also admitted that Hanson’s rebellious optimism played a role in asking for so much, as he said, “there’s a little bit of rebellion.”
Social media users seem unconvinced and expressed their disbelief as they flooded the Instagram account of Kirk Rossiter, a real estate agent in Whitefish who posted a video of the property.
‘Is there $900,000 accumulated in the basement?’ reads one of the comments that I like the most.
‘Who else came to the comments thinking it was a joke?’ another user asked, and someone responded: ‘Isn’t it??!!’
Users also compared real estate prices in different states, as one person wrote: “In Arkansas, that will get you 250 acres, a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom house, 3 barns, and an old tractor.”
The post has sparked overwhelming reactions with almost 10,000 comments to which agent Rossiter had to respond: “for everyone wondering, $1,100,000 is the actual selling price of the house.”
The median sales price in Whitefish rose to $750,000 in January, making it one of the most expensive cities in Montana, according to Redfin data.
Despite the lack of interest, Hanson is considering raising the price even further, having reportedly told the agent that the eventual buyer could tear down the house and build new homes on the land.
So far, Reddig has not received any offers on the home since it went on the market on February 8.
Despite the lack of interest, Hanson is considering raising the price even further, having reportedly told the agent that the eventual buyer could tear down the house and build new homes on the land.
‘The town the owner grew up in has completely changed. He says, “Someone who has that much money can build their skyscraper right here,” Reddig said.
Hanson also insisted that his father, described as an “avid collector”, left treasure hidden within the property.
‘(My) father collected everything in case I needed anything. The house is full of things.
He declined to go into detail about what the ‘treasures’ are, but said: ‘someone said, ‘Wow, you’ve got everything in there except the kitchen sink.’ I said, ‘Well, that’s there too.’