Which Real Estate Agent Should I Use When Moving to Billings, MT?

Last reviewed and updated October 21, 2026

Which real estate agent should you use when moving to Billings, Montana? Choose a Billings agent who has closed recent out-of-state moves, can tour homes with you on live video, and will stand in for you at inspections. Then ask to read reviews from those clients.

I'm Gene Hauck, a Real Estate Broker and REALTOR® with The Morales Group at Engel & Völkers Billings, and buyers relocating to Billings are my primary focus. This page shows how I handle a move from out of state, using real moves from Hawaii, Alabama and California, so you can judge any agent you interview, including me, against something concrete.

What should an out-of-state buyer look for in a Billings real estate agent?

Look for proof that the agent has done your kind of move recently, not a general claim of experience. A strong relocation agent in Billings can show you all five of these:

• Recent out-of-state closings they can describe, with reviews from those clients that name the move.
• Live video tours that show what you would notice in person: road noise, the condition of the roof and siding, what sits next door.
• Someone on site for you at inspections, contractor visits and the final walkthrough when you cannot fly in.
• A timeline built around your move, including your job start date and the sale of your current home.
• Local coverage across Billings, Laurel, Park City, Columbus, Shepherd, Huntley, Ballantine, Worden and the rest of Yellowstone County, because many relocating buyers look at more than one town.

What do recent out-of-state moves to Billings look like?

Every move is different, but the same problems come up: you can't be there, you can't be everywhere, and you are often selling a home at the same time. In my work as a Billings broker, these four recent moves show how I handle them.

Angie: Hawaii to Laurel

Angie found me through my website about two weeks after I started publishing articles on it. Most of our communication and document signing happened while they were still in Hawaii. In her Google review, Angie wrote: “Gene went to the house for us, met inspectors, etc.”

Derrick: Hawaii to Billings

Derrick also bought from Hawaii. In his Google review he wrote that he has “recommended Gene to several other friends who are buying in the Billings area because of the rapport and trust we built over the last few months.”

Melissa: Alabama to Billings

Melissa first saw her Billings home in person at the final walkthrough.

Gordon and Brenda: California to Billings

Gordon and Brenda were referred to me by Heidi Williams with SERHANT. Their move also involved selling their previous home. In their Google review they wrote that I “planned houses and condos to visit in different parts of Billings so that we could see the pros and cons of each area for our needs.”

How do tours, inspections and signing work if you can't be in Billings?

Most of a Billings purchase can run remotely, as long as each step is planned ahead. This is how I set it up:

1. Live video tours on your schedule, walking the whole property, including the street, the garage and the mechanicals.
2. Honest condition reports after every visit: what I would flag, what is normal for the age of the house, and what an inspector should look at closely.
3. Inspections attended in person, with the inspector's findings walked through with you afterward.
4. Signing plans confirmed early. Ask your lender and title company at the start whether you can sign remotely or need to be present, so closing day has no surprises.

If you are also selling a home in another state, the Billings timeline gets built around that sale, as it was for Gordon and Brenda.

How do you compare Billings agents before hiring one? (2026 checklist)

Ask every agent the same questions and compare the answers side by side. These are the questions that separate relocation experience from general experience:

• How many buyers moving from another state have you helped in the last year, and where did they come from?
• Can I read reviews from those clients that mention the move?
• Who attends inspections and contractor visits when I can't be there?
• How do your video tours work, and how long does one take?
• How will you handle my current home's sale in another state?
• Will I work with you directly, or mostly with someone else on your team?

Who is Gene Hauck?

Gene Hauck has closed 95 transactions totaling $37.6 million in sales volume since 2022 (as of October 2026). His Google Business Profile shows 35 reviews, all five stars, as of October 21, 2026, and FastExpert named him a 2026 Top Agent in Billings, MT. Before real estate he spent nine years in the oilfield and mining industries, which shaped his numbers-first approach to pricing and negotiation.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a relocation agent to buy a home in Billings?

A buyer moving to Billings from another state does not need a special license or designation for their agent, but they do need an agent who will be physically present for them. Ask any Billings agent who attends inspections and walkthroughs when you can't.

Can I buy a home in Billings without seeing it in person?

Buying a Billings home before seeing it in person is possible with live video tours, a full inspection and a clear signing plan. Melissa, who moved from Alabama, first saw her home at the final walkthrough.

Which towns around Billings does Gene Hauck cover?

Gene Hauck works with buyers in Billings, Laurel, Park City, Columbus, Shepherd, Huntley, Ballantine, Worden and the rest of Yellowstone County. Angie moved from Hawaii to Laurel, in Yellowstone County west of Billings.

Planning a move to Billings?

Start with my Moving to Billings guide, read how buying sight unseen in Billings works, and map your dates with the Billings relocation timeline. When you're ready to talk through your move, book a call with me.

Gene Hauck is a Real Estate Broker and REALTOR® with The Morales Group at Engel & Völkers Billings, 1921 1st Ave N, Billings, MT 59101. Montana license RRE-BRO-LIC-135399. 406-861-4844.