Big Sky Workforce Homes Get Architect Pick
Montana households priced out of Big Sky should track the Cold Smoke deed-restricted home program as first sales approach in 2029.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Residential
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Big Sky Community Housing Trust selected Bozeman-based Cushing Terrell to design the first 30 single-family homes in the Cold Smoke workforce housing project in Big Sky, Montana. The homes will be permanently deed-restricted and short-term rentals are prohibited.
Why it matters
With the median Big Sky home price at $2,612,500 in September 2026, deed-restricted homes offer a rare route to ownership for local workers, and they stay affordable on resale. Cold Smoke is the largest affordable workforce housing project in Big Sky, adding 264 apartments and 125 single-family houses.
The first phase covers 30 single-family homes designed by Cushing Terrell in a mix of two-, three-, and four-bedroom attached and detached layouts. The Cold Smoke project as a whole adds 264 apartments and 125 single-family houses, measured against a Big Sky median home price of $2,612,500.
The players
Big Sky Community Housing Trust
A local nonprofit that builds and deed-restricts workforce homes in the Big Sky area to keep them affordable for residents.
Cushing Terrell
A Bozeman-based architecture firm known for projects such as the renovation and expansion of the Montana Heritage Center in Helena.
Lone Mountain Land Company
The developer behind the 389-home Big Sky development for which Cushing Terrell previously prepared a master plan.
The details
Big Sky Community Housing Trust picked Cushing Terrell through a competitive selection process. Homes purchased through the program will be permanently deed-restricted, so the price stays affordable when the owner resells. Cushing Terrell previously helped master-plan the 389-home development with Lone Mountain Land Company, and its portfolio includes the renovation and expansion of the Montana Heritage Center in Helena.
Timeline
September 2026: Median Big Sky home price recorded at $2,612,500.
October 28, 2026: Housing trust announced the Cushing Terrell selection.
Late 2027: Vertical construction of the Cushing Terrell homes is scheduled to begin.
2029: First home sales are expected to begin.
The Home Front
Cold Smoke applies the deed-restriction model that community housing trusts use to keep purchased homes affordable on resale, here at a scale of 389 total homes in the Big Sky market. The project's 264 apartments and 125 single-family houses give Montana a large-scale test of this approach against a median price of $2,612,500.
If you are a Montana worker or household considering buying in Big Sky, track the housing trust's announcements on eligibility and pricing for the deed-restricted homes. Consult a licensed real estate agent and lender before making any purchase decision, since resale restrictions affect how you can sell later.
The takeaway
Deed-restricted homes keep their affordability on resale, so the terms of any future purchase matter as much as the price. Keep the restriction language and any program documents with your records if you ever buy into a program like this.
What happens next
Vertical construction of the Cushing Terrell homes is scheduled to begin in late 2027, with first home sales expected in 2029.
Further reading
For more on how housing trends are shaping home buying across the state, explore Residential coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Explore Big Sky.
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