D
arwin Ernst wears multiple hats, including city councilor for Ward 3 in Hamilton and chair of the county tax appeal board. Behind these roles, he's a puzzle enthusiast who enjoys analyzing data to uncover meaningful insights. One of his annual projects is compiling real estate data for the Bitterroot Valley.

    Ernst serves on the governing board of the Montana Regional Multiple Listing Service (MRMLS), which provides him with the starting point for his analysis. He extracts relevant data, removing outliers that can skew trends and focus on median sale prices to understand what's happening in the market.

    According to Ernst's 2024 data, sales are leveling off at a price point more than double what it was just a few years ago. The median sale price has increased by over 100% in five years, from around $233,000 in 2016 to $465,000 in 2021. This trend is significant for the valley's real estate market.

    As an appraiser and broker, Ernst uses his data analysis to inform his work with clients. He wants to know if properties are priced correctly and can provide valuable insights to those involved in the local real estate market.

    Ernst's data also has implications for his role on the Bitterroot Affordable Housing Coalition, which addresses the valley's high costs and low availability of housing. While a drop in interest rates may stimulate the market, Ernst believes that other factors, such as California's wildfires, will have a greater impact on population growth in the valley.

    Some individuals who have lost their homes due to wildfires may consider moving to Montana, attracted by its natural beauty and remote work opportunities. As Ernst notes, "We advertise it all the time. We see it on 'Yellowstone.'" His data analysis is available on his website, https://tekboys.com.