Casey Carr - Engel & Völkers - Black Hills

05/13/2026

04/10/2026

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/111-N-1st-Ave-W-Faith-SD-57626/234436872_zpid/?utm_campaign=androidappmessage&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=txtshare

New Listing in Faith - 111 N 1st Ave W

If you have been looking for a newer build with plenty of space, this home at 111 N 1st Ave W is worth a look. It was built in 2013 and has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, so there is plenty of room for a family or anyone needing extra office space.

Property Details:

2,280 square feet

Open concept living area

Master bath with a separate shower and soaking tub

0.32-acre lot

Priced at $250,000

At $110 per square foot, this is one of the better values you will find in the area for a home this size. It is clean, modern, and ready for a new owner.

03/16/2026

From Lemon Drops to Atomic Clocks: A Trip Down Memory Lane

Last night, Ryan asked me: “Want to watch a movie?” Of course, the answer was yes! 🍿

In the Carr family, we’ve always gravitated toward the "classics," which in our house means the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s. We’ve seen them all: Back to the Future, Harry and the Hendersons, The Breakfast Club, and ET. We even do the deep cuts like Beethoven and The Land Before Time...if Diana Ross’s “If We Hold on Together” doesn’t give you the warm and fuzzies, nothing will! 🦕✨

But last night, something else jumped out at me: Jailhouse Rock (1957). I’d recently heard a podcast with Mr. Malcolm Gladwell and Jack White of The White Stripes discussing their love for Elvis, and suddenly that iconic poster seemed to jump off the screen.

Watching Elvis “The Pelvis” or "Ol' Tupelo" as Chelsea’s Grandma Doris would say play Vince Everett was a trip. But what really caught my eye wasn't just the music; it was the furniture. It reminded me of my love for Mid-Century Modern design.

As any collector knows, finding original pieces by Drexel, Broyhill, or Baughman has become nearly impossible lately. I still feel lucky I found my John Van Koert highboy a few years back. Stripping it down to reveal the original ash wood was pretty satisfying!

That love for MCM started in the home of my Great Uncle Bud and Aunt Dee. I used to stop by their house on my walk home from school to eat marshmallows and lemon drops. While Uncle Bud told stories of his Navy days in WWII and Aunt Dee asked about my school day, I’d stare at their awesome atomic clock and the furniture I now realize was priceless.

It made me wonder... how do you choose the pieces that fill your home? Is it a childhood memory? Your specific personality? Or do you just grab what looks good in a magazine?

03/13/2026

40 is the New First Home 🏠⏳

I recently read that the average first-time homebuyer is now 40 years old. Think about that: many people won’t own a home until they are closer to retirement 👴 than their high school graduation 🎓. It’s easy to see why this generation feels so disconnected from the "American Dream." It isn’t a lack of ambition; it’s a lack of math that works. 📉

While home prices and rents have skyrocketed 🚀, wages have remained stagnant for decades. When you factor in the inflation of everyday goods 🍞⛽, saving for a 20% down payment feels less like a goal and more like a fantasy. 🦄

Gen Z is entering a workforce already burdened by massive student debt 🎒💸. When you’re paying several hundred dollars a month for a degree you were told was necessary for success, there’s no room left for a mortgage. It’s next to impossible to build a future when you’re forced to start your adult life deep in the red. 🔴

Lately, I’ve seen the phrase "financial nihilism" popping up. It describes a generation that has watched the traditional American Dream vanish in real-time 💨. They’ve lived through multiple economic downturns, a global pandemic, and a deadlocked political system. 🏛️🚫

Gen Z isn't "giving up" because they’re lazy; they’re adapting to a system that feels designed to keep them out. 🔒

Gen Z: How do you feel about homeownership? Does it still feel like an attainable goal, or have you given up to focus entirely on the present? 🙋‍♂️🙋‍♀️

Older Generations: Did you find it easier to get your foot in the door when you started? Looking at today's landscape, what advice do you have for those trying to navigate this market? 🗝️🏘️

03/11/2026

This setup is the BOMB (Unc Slang)... literally. 💣

I’ve been sharing some "alternative" housing ideas lately from Barndominiums to Quonset huts and modern manufactured homes, but today we’re going big.

In the near future, I’m planning a trip to the Southern Hills to check out one of the most unique real estate setups on the planet: Igloo, South Dakota.

🏛️ From Munitions to Modern Living
If you aren't familiar with the history, this place was built in 1942 as the Black Hills Ordnance Depot. At its peak in 1945, it was a bustling city of over 4,200 people. It got the nickname "Igloo" because of the hundreds of earth-covered concrete munitions bunkers that dot the landscape.

The base was decommissioned in 1967 and sat as a ghost town until a company called Vivos stepped in. Their vision? To transform 575 bunkers across 18 square miles into the world’s largest survival community: Vivos xPoint.

🛡️ The "Extreme" Pros
Imagine a home that is practically invincible:

Military-Grade Engineering: These aren't your typical basements. They were built to military specs and can withstand a 500,000-pound internal blast. Tornadoes, wildfires, and extreme winds? Not a problem here.

EMP Protection: The 12-inch thick concrete walls are outfitted with steel mesh, acting as a natural Faraday cage to protect your electronics from an electromagnetic pulse.

Thermal Mass: The earth-covering provides natural insulation, keeping you cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

The "Safe Zone": Located 3,800 feet above sea level, it’s "high and dry" with no flood risks or earthquake faults. Plus, it’s roughly 100 miles from the nearest known nuclear target.

Noah’s Ark Community: This is my favorite part. Applicants are chosen based on their skills (doctors, mechanics, etc.) to create a self-sufficient community of like-minded people.

⚠️ The Real Estate Reality Check
As a real estate advisor, this is an intriguing case study. But, with anything "extreme," there are some red flags:

Ownership: You aren’t buying the land. You’re paying an upfront fee for a 99-year lease, plus annual ground rent and monthly fees.

Financing & Resale: Since it’s not traditional real estate, standard mortgages are off the table. It’s a niche market that functions more like a high-priced rental in a gated "prepper" compound.

🎥 Stay Tuned!
Is it a revolutionary way to live off-grid, or just a cool piece of Black Hills history? I'm ready to get down there, talk to some residents, and see it for myself.

I'll be posting a video highlighting my visit in the near future, so stay tuned!

03/11/2026

Looking for a new home but want to skip the 12-month wait and the massive price tag? 🏠 Following up on my posts about Barndominiums and Quonset huts, I’ve been diving deep into another option: Manufactured Homes.

Now, I'll be honest, when we moved from Hot Springs to Rapid City, I pitched the idea of putting a double-wide on some acreage while we saved up to build a "traditional" home.

The boss (Chelsea) wasn't having it. Her exact words? “Casey, I’m not living in a trailer.” 😂

Fair point! But was she right? After touring Liechty Homes yesterday and doing "hundreds" of hours of research, I found out that the industry has changed a lot. Manufactured homes are not the same as when I grew up, the "1900s," as my kids like to say.

Here is the breakdown of what I discovered:

✨ The "New" Manufactured Home
Forget the wood paneling of the 80s. The models I toured were indistinguishable from a standard interior. We’re talking:

Full drywall throughout (no more strips!)

High-end finishes: Granite countertops and massive tiled showers.

Luxury features: Oversized tubs and modern vanities.

Efficiency: Energy-efficiency that keep utility bills lower than many older stick-built homes.

✅ The Pros
Affordability: At $60–$100 per sq. ft., they are 30-50% cheaper than traditional builds.

Speed: You can move in within 2 to 4 months, compared to the 7 to 12 months a traditional build takes.

Quality Control: Built in climate-controlled factories (no rain/snow delays) and strictly regulated by federal HUD codes.

⚠️ The Cons
Financing: If it's not on a permanent foundation on land YOU own, you’re looking at a chattel loan (higher rates, shorter terms).

Depreciation: If you’re paying lot rent in a park, it depreciates like a car. If it’s on your own land with a foundation? It appreciates like real estate.

Resale: The pool of buyers can be smaller because financing can be trickier for the next person.

🤔 So, what's the verdict for the Carr family?
Are we going with a Quonset, a Barndo, a Modular, or will I make Chelsea the Queen of my double wide trailer? The research continues!

What do you think? Would you consider a modern manufactured home to save 50% on costs, or is the "trailer" stigma too much to overcome?

03/06/2026

I have a confession:

I can’t just "go for a drive" anymore. While everyone else is looking at the scenery, I’m mentally gutting old buildings, measuring the clearance on roadside sheds, and wondering if that shipping container would look better with floor-to-ceiling glass.
My obsession with alternative housing really spiraled back in 2021. My wife and I were looking for a home for Salon 402. We needed a high-traffic, recognizable spot in Hot Springs, which narrowed the field significantly. We eventually landed on a medical clinic right across from the high school.
We didn’t just move in; we tore it down to the studs. We built out an 1,800-square-foot salon on one side and two 900-square-foot apartments on the other. I even tucked a full bathroom and shower into the back of the salon. Just in case we ever wanted to flip that space into a residential suite down the road. That project changed how I see real estate. Now, when I scan the MLS, I’m not looking for "finished", I’m looking for "potential."
Lately, two specific styles have been occupying my headspace:
The "Barndo" (Barndominium)
Most of you have probably heard of these. They use a post-frame or steel "pole barn" structure but finish it out as a high-end luxury home.
• The South Dakota Factor: They cost about 35% less to build than a traditional stick-built home, and they laugh at our 70 mph winds and heavy snow loads.
• The Perk: Because the exterior shell carries the weight, the interior is a 100% blank canvas. No load-bearing walls to ruin your open-concept dreams.
The Quonset (My current "fangirl" moment)
If the Barndo is the reliable older brother, the Quonset is the edgy, industrial-chic cousin. These are the arched steel huts born from military surplus, and I am currently obsessed with them.
• The Price Point: Quonsets are arguably the most affordable entry point for a steel-shelled home.
• DIY or Die: Unlike a Barndo, which usually requires a crane and a crew to erect, a Quonset is essentially a giant "erector set." It’s a series of bolted panels. If you have a small, dedicated crew and a few weekends, you can save $5–$10 per square foot just by assembling the shell yourselves.
• The Vibe: No heavy internal framing or rafters. Just a self-supporting arch that looks incredibly cool when you pair it with modern finishes.
Honestly, I’m looking into building a Quonset home myself in the near future. The mix of the price point and that unique aesthetic is just too good to ignore.
Have you ever considered ditching the "standard" 2x4 house for something a bit more alternative? A Barndo? A container? An old clinic conversion?

02/24/2026

🕒 If I Had a Time Machine: Casey’s Real Estate Revisionist History

We’ve all had those "if I knew then what I know now" moments.

While recently discussing the power of USDA loans, I started thinking about the deals I missed early on simply because I didn't have the right tools in my shed. If I could hop in a time machine and give my younger self one piece of advice, it would be this: Don't overlook House Hacking.

🏠 What is "House Hacking"?

It sounds like a tech term, but it’s actually the ultimate real estate "cheat code." House hacking is when you live in one part of your property while renting out the rest to generate income.

Whether it’s a multi-family property or a single-family home with extra space, you’re making your primary residence work for you instead of the other way around.

🚀 Top 3 Ways to Hack Your Housing:

The Multi-Family Move: Buy a 2–4 unit property. Live in one, rent the others. You can often start with an FHA loan for as little as 3.5% down!

The "Spare Space" Strategy: Rent out a finished basement, a garage conversion, or extra bedrooms in your current home.

The ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit): Utilize a "granny flat" or tiny home on your lot as a separate rental unit.

💰 Why it’s a Game Changer:

Slash Your Expenses: Rental income can cover a huge chunk (or all!) of your mortgage and expenses.

Build Equity Faster: Your tenants are effectively paying down your loan, accelerating your path to full ownership.

Low-Risk Landlording: It’s the perfect "intro to real estate" course. Since you live on-site, you’re always on top of maintenance and property care.

Whether you're looking for creative financing, trying to break into a high-demand neighborhood, or just want to kickstart your passive income journey—house hacking is a strategy worth exploring.

02/23/2026

🏔️ Is the Black Hills Market "Waiting" You Out?
We’ve all seen it. Since the pandemic, the Black Hills have shifted from a "hidden gem" to a national destination. With that popularity comes the question we hear every day: "Should I just wait for prices and rates to drop?"
While the "waiting game" feels safe, history tells a different story. Even the top experts can’t perfectly time the market, but they do agree on one thing: Real estate remains one of the safest appreciable assets you can own.
The reality? The best time to buy is almost always when you are ready. You might not be looking for the "home run" deals of 2019, but with the right advisor, there are still incredible ways to build equity in our beautiful backyard.
💡 The Strategy You Might Be Missing: The USDA Land Loan
If the traditional 20% down payment is what's holding you back, it’s time to look at rural-specific financing. The USDA Land Loan is a powerhouse tool for our area, offering 100% financing (zero down payment).
Are you eligible? Here are the quick facts:
• 📍 Location: The property must be in a USDA-defined rural area (which covers much of our stunning region!).
• 💰 Income: Your household income shouldn't exceed 115% of the area’s median income.
• 💳 Credit: A score of 640+ usually gets the green light, though manual underwriting is possible for scores between 620–640.
• 🏠 The Purpose: This is for primary residences. It is perfect for building your dream home, but not for investment flips or vacation rentals.
The Bottom Line: Don’t let the headlines scare you out of the market. There are still affordable paths to homeownership in the Black Hills if you know where to look.

Send a message to learn more