A modest 69-year-old home in rural Montana is for sale for more than $1 million, sparking outrage among thousands of people over the whopping price tag.
The three-bedroom, one-bathroom home, seemingly unremarkable compared to others in countless small towns across America, has gained viral attention for its $1.1 million price tag.
Nestled in Whitefish, a town in the Rocky Mountains of northwestern Montana with a population of just 9,000, the home’s exterior is wrapped in simple white paneling with square windows.
The 1,824-square-foot property also features a two-tone lawn and city lots, neither of which seems to justify the exorbitant price tag among potential buyers.
However, the seller of the house, Gary Hanson, who inherited the house from his father, believes the house is worth even more as he considers raising the price.
A modest 69-year-old home in rural Montana is for sale for more than $1 million, sparking outrage among thousands of people over the whopping price tag
The three-bedroom, one-bathroom home, seemingly unremarkable compared to others in countless small towns across America, has gained viral attention for its $1.1 million price tag.
“A friend of mine from California said, ‘You’re too low. List it for $2.3 million and it will sell,” he told Business Insider.
Factors contributing to the shocking price tag include the “prime location,” according to Heather Reddig, an agent with ReMax Home Again Realty who represents Hanson.
Located at 428 O’Brien Avenue, the home is within walking distance of downtown Whitefish, a retreat to the jagged peaks, lakes and valleys of Glacier National Park.
The town itself is a sought-after destination for skiing, hiking and golfing enthusiasts. It has even attracted countless billionaires and celebrities, including Michael Goguen, who lives on a 71,000-square-foot property above Whitefish Lake.
The median sales price in Whitefish rose to $750,000 in January, marking it as one of the most expensive towns in Montana, according to Redfin data.
“That’s what he thinks the house is worth. It’s about location, location, location,” said real estate agent Reddig.
Factors contributing to the shocking price tag include the “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 skiing, hiking and golfing enthusiasts. It has even attracted countless billionaires and celebrities
The home, located at 428 O’Brien Avenue, is within walking distance of downtown Whitefish, a retreat to the jagged peaks, lakes and valleys of Glacier National Park
But he also admitted that Hanson’s rebellious optimism played a role in him having, as he said, “a little bit of rebellion in there.”
Social media users appear unconvinced and expressed disbelief as they flooded the Instagram account of Kirk Rossiter, a Whitefish real estate agent, who posted a video of the property.
“Is there $900,000 stacked in the basement?” one of the most liked comments reads.
“Who else came to the comments thinking this was a joke?” asked another user, while one replied, “It’s not??!!”
Users also compared real estate prices in different states, as one person wrote, “In Arkansas you get 250 acres, a 3 bedroom, 2 bath house, 3 barns and an old tractor.”
The post has elicited an overwhelming response with nearly 10,000 comments, to which real estate agent Rossiter responded, “for anyone wondering, $1,100,000 is the actual sales price of the house.”
The median sales price in Whitefish rose to $750,000 in January, marking it as one of the most expensive towns in Montana, according to Redfin data
Despite the lack of interest, Hanson is considering raising the price even higher, telling the real estate agent that the eventual buyer could tear down the house and build new homes on the land.
As of now, Reddig has not received any offers for the home since it was listed on February 8.
Despite the lack of interest, Hanson is considering raising the price even higher, telling the real estate agent that the eventual buyer could tear down the house and build new homes on the land.
‘The city where the owner grew up has completely changed. He said, ‘Someone who has that much money can build his condo here,'” Reddig said.
Hanson also insisted that his father, described as an ‘avid collector’, left a wealth of treasures in the property.
“(My) father collected everything in case he needed anything. The house is full of stuff.’
He declined to go into details about what the “treasures” are, but said, “Someone said, ‘Boy, you got everything in there but the kitchen sink.’ I said to him, ‘Well, that’s in there too.’