Construction workers have to work 85 hours per week to afford homes in Missoula, another report says
Contact: [email protected]
BOZEMAN, Mont. — Governor Greg Gianforte’s Montana has officially become the nation’s most unaffordable state, according to data from the National Association of REALTORS.
A report this week in the Missoula Current says Montana has surpassed California “as the most unaffordable” state for local homebuyers. According to the National Association of REALTORS, which scores communities based on an overall affordability score of 1, Montana has the lowest score in the nation at .38. Idaho is the second most unaffordable state with a score of .40, followed by California at .42. Iowa is the “most affordable” state in the nation with a score of .89.
Most Affordable States
Iowa (0.89)
West Virginia (0.88)
Ohio (0.87)
Indiana (0.85)
Michigan (0.84)
Least Affordable States
Montana (0.38)
Idaho (0.40)
California (0.42)
Hawaii (0.44)
Oregon (0.44)
Another report out this week indicates Missoula is one of the toughest housing markets in the nation for construction workers.
The publication Construction Coverage says “elevated home prices and an inadequate homebuilding pace are making it difficult for construction workers to afford to purchase a home in the cities where they work.”
According to Construction Coverage, home builders in Missoula would have to work 85 hours per week, at an average rate of $26.76 per hour, to be able to afford an average home worth nearly $570,000.
In Billings, construction workers would have to work 58 hours per week, and 48 hours per week in Great Falls. Construction Coverage did not include data for Bozeman.
“This is what Greg Gianforte calls a ‘Montana Miracle?’” said Busse. “This is yet another failure of Gov. Gianforte, and yet another ridiculous false claim from a billionaire who recently bought his fourth mansion while the rest of us struggle to make ends meet.”
Here is Ryan Busse’s and Raph Graybill’s plan for addressing housing affordability in Montana:
1. Lower the residential property tax rate from 1.35% to .94%. This will provide relief to Governor Gianforte’s record-high property taxes and put money back in the pockets of homeowners and renters, and it’s what the Montana Department of Revenue recommended (Gianforte ignored this recommendation).
2. Champion and support low-income housing tax credits to get resources to people who need to live in Montana, not to wealthy developers who want to get richer.
3. Refocus the Montana Department of Labor to get to work building a stronger union workforce that can quickly meet construction demands for new housing. Under Gianforte’s leadership, the Department of Labor is too focused on “culture war” issues and not its actual mission.
“Bottom line: We need to build more,” Busse added.
QUICK FACTS:
- Pronunciation: Ryan BUSS’-ee
- Home: Kalispell, Mont.
- Office Sought: Governor of Montana
- Affiliation: Democrat
- Website: busseformontana.com
- X (Twitter): @ryandbusse
- DOB: 2/23/70 (53)
- Occupation: Writer, Consultant, Firearms Expert and Former Executive (Vice President of Sales, Kimber America: 1995-2020)
- Family: Married to Sara for 24 years; two sons: Lander (18) and Badge (15)
- Alma Mater: Bethany College (Kansas)
- Chevy Odometer: 280,000 miles
- Hunting Dogs: Aldo and Teddy
- Bio: Ryan Busse is an author and former firearms executive who helped build the gun company Kimber from Kalispell between 1995 and 2020. Over his 25-year career Busse directed the sales of nearly three million Kimber firearms. His memoir, Gunfight: My Battle Against the Industry that Radicalized America, was published by PublicAffairs (Hachette) in 2021. Busse was born near the Kansas cattle ranch homesteaded by his great-grandfather. He is an avid hunter, angler and champion of public lands, and has held leadership positions with Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and Montana Conservation Voters. Busse and his wife Sara live in Kalispell and have two teenage sons.