RETURN TO HOME
Realtor Thursday
A conversation with Tristan Emond, Prudential Kahler REALTORS®, Rapid City, South Dakota
Rapid City. The Gateway to the Black Hills. The City of the Presidents. The City of Parks. Known mostly for its proximity to Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills, Rapid City has much to offer! It all started with gold. The discovery of gold back in 1874 brought the first settlers into the area. In February of 1876, a square mile was sectioned off and Rapid City was born.
The second biggest city in South Dakota, it has a trade radius of about 150 miles and a population of around 60,000 people. If you include the surrounding communities of Box Elder, Black Hawk, Piedmont, and up towards Sturgis, you get close to 100,000. Interstate 90 drives through the north end of the city, hitting Sturgis and Spearfish on its way out of the state.
Our Town
The mix of history and the present is evident all over Rapid City. Historic Downtown is full of unique shops, excellent restaurants, night life, and fun events, such as Summer Nights – a weekly outdoor band and gala featuring local artists and even entertainment for the kids. Jump on the trolley in the summer to get you from one place to another! A sculptured President – a selection from Washington to Clinton – watches over each corner downtown. Under construction is Main Street Square, an outdoor park soon to be home to many events such as beer fests, farmer’s markets, and an ice rink in the winter. Not far from the downtown experience is West Boulevard. With its mature trees and historic homes built in the early 1900s, it is a relaxing walk or a neat drive.
And of course, I have to mention the parks. My favorite thing about Rapid City. Back in 1972, a flood ravaged through the city. Those flood ways were turned into parks and common areas. Whether you want hoops, playground equipment for the kids, or a leisurely stroll down a stream, we’ve got it all. Like to bike? A bike path takes you from one end of the city to the other.
There are so many other features in Rapid City – from Skyline Drive and Dinosaur Hill to Canyon Lake and Storybook Island. One can also not forget the tourism facets that drive it all: Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, and the many other attractions and activities of the Black Hills.
The People
Rapid City is a friendly small town atmosphere with all the amenities of a big one. Often you will see people wave to you as you pass by them in a housing development, or smile and nod their head to you as you pass by them on the street. You have everything you need – chain restaurants, a mall, department stores, movie theaters, and big time events, concerts, plays, shows, and the very popular Rapid City Rush semi-pro Hockey team at the Civic Center. Its charm is still evident with unique local small businesses lining the streets. Since the city is spread out in all directions, you don’t feel like people are crammed on top of each other.
Perhaps the biggest reason people live and stay in Rapid City is the Black Hills. You can be almost anywhere in half an hour. Whether your passion is hiking, mountain biking, climbing, 4-wheeling, fishing, boating, kayaking, or skiing and snowmobiling in the winter, the Black Hills has it available to you. Throw an extra half hour on and you can be on the west side of the Hills, where the people are fewer for your backpacking trips. Abundant wildlife is also a perk to the avid hunters and sportsmen.
Schools and Taxes
Rapid City provides many good schools, both public and private, for your needs. There are two public high schools – one currently getting an expansion, five middle schools – with a new one being built and scheduled to open 2012, fifteen elementary schools, and one alternative high school academy. St. Thomas More and Rapid City Christian are the two larger private schools in town, with a number of smaller elementary private school options available.
South Dakota is tax friendly. Although sales tax is charged on all goods and services, there is no state income tax. With no corporate income tax or inventory tax, Rapid City is a smart choice for business expansion and development. More details about the benefits of South Dakota’s tax structure are listed on the Rapid City Economic Development’s website.
The Future 
Rapid City continues to grow and does not look like it’s slowing down. Just in the past few years, a new shopping center called Rushmore Crossings has been built. It features a new Target, brand new and expanded Sam’s Club, Gordman’s, T.J.Maxx, and Scheels Sporting Goods store. New businesses are slated to come shortly (a new steakhouse, I hear!). And then there is the highly anticipated second Wal-Mart Supercenter. With the Rapid City Wal-Mart being one of the busiest stores in the nation, a second is greatly needed.
New construction housing has slowed down in the past few years, but has been gaining its momentum. With plenty of new developments and residential lots for sale, you are sure to find what you are looking for to build your new home.
Economy and Prices
Fortunately, Rapid City has faired the nationwide recession well. Yes, there have been layoffs and budget cuts, but not like the rest of the country. Our unemployment rate is right around 4%. The housing market has remained steady, while other parts of the country were experiencing home prices falling upwards of 50% the past few years, our residential values only went down 6% since the high point in 2007. At present, home prices are remaining steady or even increasing a bit on average. Although the number of foreclosures has been up, the majority of home sales are still normal transactions between homeowners and buyers.
Rapid City’s cost of living is just below or right at the national average, according to various sources, including Yahoo! Real Estate. As the tourist season draws near, prices generally start to increase, but I suppose the laws of supply and demand come into play there. All in all, the average person can make a decent living in Rapid City.
Preparing to Buy
Buying a home can be a very stressful and emotional experience. I am here to do what I can to take away some of that stress and give you the keys to a new home. (And typically a new mortgage, too…sorry) Doing your homework is important. I can be a great resource for you in doing your homework – answering your questions, explaining the process, and allaying your fears. I can suggest some great lenders, inspectors and contractors to work with. Sit down and decide what you want in a home…bedrooms, bathrooms. Any special areas you need? Do you have to have a fenced back yard? If we can’t find a house with a fenced back yard would that be the deal breaker? Get an idea of what would make you happy. Write it down. It will probably change, but at least you have a place to start.
I cannot stress enough the importance of a preapproval. Find a lender you trust and find out how much you qualify for. No sense looking at homes only to find out the one you love is $15,000 more than the bank will give you. Then find a real estate agent that you trust to be your buyer’s agent. They will be your guide through the process and help you get into your dream home.
Words of Wisdom
In Rapid City, your home will sell if it’s priced right and is move-in ready. The hot spot price range is between $120,000 to $180,000. The over $200,000 price range has kicked up this year, but anything over $400,000 is slow. The biggest thing is to make sure your home is clean. If you don’t have the money to put in new carpets or paint the walls, at least keep it spotless. Paint crazy colored rooms and remove wallpaper and wallpaper borders. Clean up the front yard and take care of the front door and porch. First impressions mean a lot!
If you are a buyer, you’ll have plenty of homes to choose from. But don’t get the cart ahead of the horse! Visiting with a local lender to learn about the local financing options and getting pre-approved is the first step. Then be ready to act! When you find that home you really like, and you keep going back to it, that’s probably the home for you. Make an offer quickly to grab it!
Realtors and Technology
Social Media is changing the way business is done. Facebook and Twitter provide great platforms to keep up on what is happening with past clients and friends, as well as spread the news about closings, new listings, and real estate information. Blogging continues to also be a great media to spread the word about listings and provide local information about Rapid City and the Black Hills.
I have recently implemented Quick Response (QR) codes into my listing marketing strategy. With this smartphone technology, a potential buyer can simply scan the code, and their browser will open up to the property information – pictures, information, videos, and more!
About Tristan Emond: Prudential Kahler REALTORS® is a family owned business that has been active in the Black Hills since 1962. The company draws strength from powerful alliances with professional organizations. We are affiliated with the following groups: Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Prudential Referral Network, National Association of REALTORS®, South Dakota Association of REALTORS®, Black Hills Association of REALTORS®, Rapid City Multiple listing Service and Employee Relocation Council. Prudential Kahler, REALTORS® holds nearly 13% of the entire Rapid City Market.
I have worked, played and lived in Rapid City since 1990. Getting into real estate 5 years ago was the best thing I have ever done. I have been involved in commercial leasing, helped many first time home buyers, assisted a number of military transferees, and even found a Black Hills vacation home or two. My wife has recently joined me in the real estate field, and we hope to continue to build a network of clients and friends that we not only help buy and sell real estate, but establish a relationship with as well.
I am happy to help you with any relocation needs into Rapid City or the Black Hills.
It’s a good life.
Tristan Emond
Broker Associate
Prudential Kahler REALTORS(r)
2401 West Main
Rapid City, SD 57702
605-343-7500 office
605-391-7086 cell
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This guest post is part of our Realtor Thursday Series. We invite realtors from towns and cities all over the country, big or small, to participate. Our goal is to “travel” to as many towns as we can in every state. Every town is unique and wonderful to our readers. If you would like to showcase your town, your neighbors and your talents as a realtor, please contact us at liz@dalesiegel.com