Galen Chase

About Sheridan, WY:

Geography:

Nestled in a valley, at just 3745 feet above sea level (the lowest major city in Wyoming), Sheridan is bordered on the west by the dramatic Big Horn Mountains and Bighorn National Forest, a mere 15 miles away, with a great expanse to the east of Wyoming high plains. Conveniently located adjacent to Interstate 90, the City of Sheridan is also 30 miles from the junction of Interstates 90 and 25. Sheridan is 125 miles southeast of Billings, Montana; 240 miles west of Rapid City, South Dakota; and 440 miles north of Denver, Colorado.

Residents and visitors alike are enthralled with the beauty and accessibility of the majestic Big Horn Mountains , for many a year-round playground. History buffs find the region steeped in the rich Western history of the Indian wars and range wars. Add to this a thriving diverse arts community that provides a wide spectrum of interests.

Natural Resources & Development:

The Sheridan area is as rich in its natural resources as it is in its beauty. The soils are full of nutrients and organic material, and the climate is favorable for growing grass and small grains. The business of agriculture is still alive and well as are coal mining and natural gas production. The Powder River Basin (just East of Sheridan) is one of the most productive low sulfur coal mining regions of the entire world, and coal production is expected to increase 50% over the next ten years.

The region is also home to one of the country's largest inland natural gas plays. The area's abundance of natural resources has created an intense demand for housing and commercial development sites. The demand pressures have created somewhat of a bottleneck in supply and have forced municipal and county planners into a situation that they're a bit unprepared for. The result has been a temporary setback in new development and aggressive land plays as Sheridan struggles to catch up to its growth. In the mean time, Sheridan now has a Home Depot, a Starbucks Coffee Franchise in addition to a Super Wal-Mart and a Walgreens.

Sheridan and Wyoming - Opportunities now:

In our opinion, Sheridan is on the verge of a significant growth surge that should last for the next 10 years, but in all likelihood the next 20 years. The State of Wyoming is estimating the current energy boom to last up to three decades, and Sheridan's economy inevitably mirrors that of the State. Several factors besides natural resources will influence this growth - especially the fact that Wyoming is extremely well funded. Wyoming has no State income tax, so with current funds available, communities like Sheridan are receiving much public funding for infrastructure improvements.

Statewide, spending on education is up as teachers are getting raises and new schools are being built; curricula at all levels are well financed. For example, the state of Wyoming has established a groundbreaking scholarship program rewarding Wyoming students with scholarship money to attend the University of Wyoming or a Wyoming community college. The program provides merit- and need-based awards to eligible students.

Sheridan is surrounded by virtually unending open space and potential land development opportunities; and, we are fortunate to have an abundance of water that is available for municipal use. As was stated earlier, the demand for all types of housing is extremely strong as a result of the growing economy and the increased in workforce necessary to sustain it. Land development that includes workforce and middle income housing is very much needed. Commercial parks that include office, light manufacturing, and research would also be well suited to our area's market needs.

Economy:

The Wyoming economy is strong and we are one of only a handful of states showing a large surplus annually for the last half dozen years. This is in large part due to the fortunate abundance of coal and natural gas.

The Sheridan area mirrors the State of Wyoming economic growth, but is more diversified. In addition to growth due to development of natural gas, Sheridan is also growing from a healthy mix of service sector growth, small innovative business growth, healthcare, and construction.

Real Estate:

Our local real estate market has also seen a steady and healthy growth over the last several years. Local appraisers have seen growth for the last five years in overall housing and land values. Within the last year they are, however, beginning to see a slow down but nothing like what the rest of the country is experiencing.

Business and Innovation:

Wyoming is consistently ranked #1 in the Nation for offering business friendly taxation, most recently by the "Tax Foundation's 2007 State Business Tax Climate Index". The State is also ranked 3^rd best state for small business and entrepreneurship by the "Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council" and is tied for 1^st in terms of economic vitality by ‘The American City Business Journal". This kind of consistent national attention, combined with strong state and local business incentives, a natural propensity for innovation and independence, and a well educated and skilled workforce makes Wyoming's business climate truly special.

Sheridan is currently home to dozens of innovative businesses that operate worldwide, representing diverse industries like medical and pharmaceutical research, aviation fuel brokering, oil field extraction, and rocket valve technology for NASA.

BHJ Realty, Inc.

Established in 1908, BHJ Realty, Inc. sets the standard for real estate sales in northern Wyoming. Since its affiliation with CENTURY 21® in 1978, BHJ Realty, Inc. has continued a reputation for trustworthy, knowledgeable service in a highly competitive market. Listing more top quality properties than any regional competitor, our office is a thriving, vibrant place of business, with a superior team assembled from varied backgrounds. At CENTURY 21 BHJ Realty, Inc., we chalk our success up to unrivaled management and sales teams, who face each new challenge with a spirit of community and service.

CENTURY 21 BHJ Realty, Inc. combines a state of the art national real estate network with unrivaled local connections and know-how. Our diverse agents, with combined experience of 211 years averaging 12 years per agent, include 8 licensed brokers, 4 of which are licensed in Montana and Wyoming; have developed unparalleled expertise in the purchase and sale of residential, agricultural, and commercial properties. We even specialize in the executive home market, rounding out the professional services offered through our office. So whether you're looking to buy or sell, to move across the street or across the nation, take a good, hard look at a company with a trusted, tested reputation: CENTURY 21 BHJ Realty, Inc.

http://www.century21bhj.com

About Me

I'm a Sheridan, Wyoming native with a profound appreciation for our community's heritage and a firm commitment to our continued prosperity in the years to come. When not working on my family's ranch or managing other ranch operations, I successfully started and operated a natural beef production company. And, in addition to being a real estate sales associate, I participate in real estate acquisitions and have helped manage a subdivision development project here in Sheridan.

Success in real estate is all about closing deals. My experience in agriculture taught me about the merits of hard work, honesty, and a commitment to getting jobs done right on a timely and consistent basis. I bring those values and skills to the real estate business where my number one priority is customer satisfaction and my mission is to help create and build economic opportunity for the residents of Sheridan and the surrounding area.

Together, with my brother John Chase http://www.activerain.com/blogs/jhchase and http://www.chasebrothersproperties.com we're your local real estate experts when it comes to ranch and recreational properties as well commercial and investment opportunities. We know to put deals together because we believe in a "win-win" philosophy of doing business.