Check your home from the sky. - 07/31/06 12:24 AM
If you haven't seen your home, your city, your market, from the sky, you should.  It's an illuminating experience.  Didn't go up in a plane today, but we did climb from Copper Mountain (9300 feet) over the Ten Mile Range (where we crossed over at 12300 feet) and down into Frisco.  Seven hours - really pushed my limits (I have to get in shape!).  Got views on the west side down to the complete Copper Mountain Ski Resort and on the East Side from Breckenridge to Lake Dillon and the Town of Dillon (13 mile panorama).  Wonderful.  Ecstatic. 
I encourage you … (1 comments)

Climbing a mountain - business or pleasure? - 07/29/06 07:38 PM
Last week, my daughter and son-in-law, my brother-in-law, and a good friend, climbed Mt. Bierstadt, one of over 50 peaks on Colorado that are over 14,000 feet (this one 14,060).  It's not such a big thing - unless you haven't done it for years, or are not in good health, or have a prevailing fear of heights.  But, it's damned good exercise.  You literally feel like you are on top of the world.  You are not, of course.  There are dozens of higher mountains in the world.  But, you can see in all 360 degrees, other peaks, perhaps some towns, wildlife, lakes … (1 comments)

I wrote a book - or the book wrote me! - 07/29/06 07:15 PM
If you are a writer, consider youself an author, can't let the pen and paper get far away, then you know what I went through.  Since I was a kid, I have thought I had a book in me (perhaps several).  Had a wonderful creative writing class as a senior in high school, and that is the only teacher with whom I have maintained contact.  Over the years I wrote some poetry, some short stories, and even got quite a few articles published (none for money). 
When I got into this business, because of the broker I had, I began practicing … (2 comments)

What is the National Repertory Orchestra? - 07/28/06 11:25 PM
Founded in 1960 by the late Walter Charles, the National Repertory Orchestra (NRO) performs in residence at the Riverwalk Center in the heart of Breckenridge, a Victorian town high in the Colorado Rocky Mountains.The NRO, a non-profit organization, has as its primary mission the training of talented young musicians for seats in symphonic orchestras in the United States and abroad. Alumni currently play in virtually every major and regional orchestra in the U. S. and in orchestras world-wide. Each summer, approximately 86 musicians are chosen in a nationwide audition tour to participate in an intense symphonic orchestral experience.The NRO performs two … (0 comments)

Breckenridge Backs Affordable Housing Initiative - 07/28/06 11:10 PM
Affordable housing is crucial.  We are a resort.  We attract people who love to recreate here and who can afford second (or third or fourth) homes.  And in the process, we are squeezing our workforce, people who make all those recreational systems work, because they cannot afford to live here. 
In the other corner, we have the Summit County Housing Authority, an organization responsible for providing down payment assistance, housing classes, counseling for first time homebuyers, and works closely with our various communities to help bring some cohesion to the process.  And it has fought diligently to obtain regular funding.  Our … (3 comments)

Copper Mountain's own sets world skiing record. - 07/28/06 10:53 PM
I like this kind of guy.  Self effacing, but focused and dedicated.  Rainer Hertrich of Copper Mountain today skiied his 1000th day in a row.  He did it in Portland, Oregon, which still claims snowpack at Timberline Ski Area.  Now, he doesn't just take a run and add another day to his record.  He actually took 23 runs and passed the 34 million vertical feet mark.  Another ho hum day.  And on the way to his motorcycle at the end of the day, he found a five dollar bill and decided to celebrate.  "So, I think I'm gonna go into the … (2 comments)

Rocky Mountain Resort Alliance - 07/27/06 09:14 PM
There is an organization that I belong to that is little known in the real estate community.  In fact, I represent my board as a trustee of the Rocky Mountain Resort Alliance (RMRA) and also serve as its Treasurer.  This organizaiton was formed by a few Realtors from Rocky Mountain ski resorts a few years ago, and has grown to encompass nearly all those resorts.  In fact, boards in ski resorts not in the Rockies have expressed interest in joining.  Why?  We came together in recognition that selling real estate in ski resorts in different is many ways from tradional real … (0 comments)

What is a Real Estate Buyer's Agent? - 07/27/06 09:03 PM
A real estate buyer's agent represents the consumer who is purchasing the property in the real estate transaction - YOU. This agent owes full fiduciary responsibilities, duties and loyalty to the real estate buyer. The buyer's agent works for and is an advocate for you and has your best interests in mind throughout the entire real estate transaction process.
The Benefits of Using a Buyers Agent
Using a Buyers Representative offers you many benefits. He/she will:
Evaluate your specific needs and wants and locate properties that fit those criteria.
Assist you in determining the amount you can afford (pre-qualify) and show properties in that … (4 comments)

I-70 Congestion to Summit County and the Rocky Mountains - 07/27/06 08:30 PM
One of the serious problems faced by anyone living on the I-70 corridor in Colorado is the increased congestion.  The problem has been addressed by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) - late, and to the dismay of many, ineffectively.  The CDOT plan is simply to widen the highway by adding two more lanes at a cost that CDOT also says is far above any future proposed budget.  A combine task force made up of every special interest we could imagine, including the governmental bodies of every community in the mountains who felt they might be affected has urged alternatives, and … (0 comments)

So you want to be a Realtor . . . - 07/26/06 08:48 PM
Last year, I was asked to give a talk to the career planning class for our local high school seniors.  It was fun, and while I did not want to scare anyone off, I did want to impart what it truly takes to be in this profession and be successful.  Here is my outline:
•1.  What I do . . .
            •a.   Help people buy and sell property.
            •                 i.            Homes
            •                ii.            Land
            •              iii.            Businesses
            •b.   Help people stop renting and start growing financially.
            •c.   Counsel people on financing.  Match financing capability, coupled with client's desires, to the right property. 
            •d.   Investment counseling.  … (3 comments)

What makes Summit County so hot? - 07/26/06 08:18 PM
We have lots to offer visitors and investors:
I've been interviewed a bit lately, reporters wanting to know "why Summit County?" or "why are so many people buying there?"  So, I thought I'd share my thoughts - how best to answer the question - what makes Summit County so hot?  Well, no place else on earth offers the same mix of features, amenities and attractions that we do.  Consider:
We offer 4 ski resorts with 3 different owners on 9 peaks.  The owners of the Breckenridge, Keystone, Copper Mountain and Arapahoe Basin ski resorts will generously support hosting the Symposium here.  Our skiing … (2 comments)

Sign, MLS and Pray - 07/26/06 08:14 PM
Unfortunately, for most real estate agents, these are the three things they actually do to sell a home - put up a sign, put the listing in the mls, and pray that another agent shows the home and brings in a contract.  Why do sellers list with agents like this?  Well, I am convinced that (1) they do not know what questions to ask, or (2) they are dealing with a friend or relative and don't feel comfortable asking the tough questions.  But you should.  Here is a list that you might consider using next time you want to list your … (1 comments)

Chasing little white balls in the high country. - 07/18/06 08:34 PM
Summit County, Colorado has some of the best golf courses in the country.  I know.  I’ve played them all.  They are all championship courses, and will challenge even the best golfers.  Yet, depending on the hole, the weather, the day, some of the holes can also be forgiving. 
First, there is Copper Creek at Copper Mountain.  A mix of links and mountain style holes designed by the venerable Pete and Perry Dye, Copper Creek accommodates the novice golfer from the forward tees while still providing a great test for the accomplished golfer.  Spellbinding views of the 10 Mile Range provide the perfect … (3 comments)

- 07/17/06 05:45 PM
So, where is our high-end market?  When we compare sales of homes that actually sold for $1 million or more in the first six months of 2006 to the same period in 2005, here is what we find:  
In 2006, we have had a total of 63 sales over $1 million in the County, with 45 in Breckenridge, 2 in Copper Mountain, 1 in Dillon, 5 in Frisco, 7 in Keystone, and 3 in Silverthorne.  Of those, 6 were over $2 million, with $2.3 million being the high sale.   
In 2005, we had a total of 43 sales over $1 million in … (3 comments)

Connecting the dots for bicyclists. - 07/17/06 03:04 PM
If you like bicycling, whether an avid enthusiast or a more passive recreationalist, AND you like to spend time in Summit County, you will likely be cheered by the news that the last leg of our bike path – across the southern side of Lake Dillon – will break ground later this month.  Known as the Swan Mountain recpath, this will connect Highway 9 on the west side to Highway 6 on the east over Swan Mountain Road.  The cost, of course, is humongous, and the first of three sections, known as the Lowry section, will cost $2 million.  That money … (3 comments)

Justice in the high country. - 07/17/06 02:43 PM
We often do things a bit differently here.  Some of us are a bit more radical than the average Joe, just a tad more independent.  Not to say that we're off the wall.  We simply believe that what's right is right.  That is, apparently, what Tim Duffy felt when he took some action against a former employee.  Duffy owns Black Diamond Video in Frisco.  When the employee Dylan Donahue was caught on tape stealing money from the cash register, Duffy reported the theft to the police.  Donahue got cited for theft under $100 and repaid $36 to Duffy.  Duffy was a … (1 comments)

There's gold in them thar' hills. - 07/16/06 05:16 PM
If you haven't been to Mayflower Gulch, I highly recomend the trip.  It's but a few short miles south of Copper Mountain, where a trail rises slowly from a turn-off from the highway through high country willows to a huge ampitheatre.  In the winter, you actually cross country ski or snowshoe on top of the willows.  The snow is that deep.  In the summer, you follow a jeep trail.  Unfortunately, it's also a relatively popular four-wheel drive road, so hikers do have to put up with an occasional drived-by.  Nevertheless, the hike is worth it. 
The ampitheatre is made up of … (0 comments)

A summer day in Summit County - 07/16/06 11:36 AM
Well, it has truly been a busy week.  Much of it (last Sunday through Wednesday) spent on a car trip with friends to southwestern Colorado, spending nights in Silverton, with some exploration as far south as Durango, and up to Ouray (where the hot springs were closed for routine cleaning).  The mountains in that part of the State are much younger than ours and as a result, much more dramatic.  The area is called Little Switzerland for good reason.  We took a bus to Durango and took the narrow gauge railway back to Silverton.  Caught views you never get from the … (2 comments)

Living in Summit County - 07/11/06 07:55 PM
My good friend, Paul Winters has a great website - www.HighCountryAerie.net – where he posts photos every day and talks about living in Summit County.  He has great down-to-earth wisdom.  Here is one of his that I liked:
On resort town economies
During good years, jobs are plentiful here.  Service jobs.  Most pay between $8 and $10 per hour.  Not bad if you are living in a tent.Meanwhile, property values in Summit County are skyrocketing.  Had we followed our original plan and waited  in Ohio two more years to save up additonal money, it is quite likely that we would not have been … (3 comments)

Idaho Springs in Restaurant Haven - 07/09/06 07:04 PM
Idaho Springs a Restaurant Haven Take a break from the traffic for a great meal It's perhaps a little known fact.  Idaho Springs is full of restaurants.  When traffic gets too crowded on I-70, particularly when headed up the hill to ski on a Friday, or down the hill on Sunday afternoon, thousands of people get off at Idaho Springs, 30 minutes down the mountain from Summit County (Dillon, Silverthorne and Frisco), to take a meal.  It's also 30 minutes from downtown Denver.  Until about a year ago, the pickings have been fairly basic - pizza, hamburgers, a micro-brewery.  However, the … (1 comments)

Second homes can dominate the economy - 07/09/06 10:18 AM
Second homeowners bring lots of money, some worries, to Summit County Some second homes are huge mansions on vast acreage, castles that are perhaps smaller than their first homes, but with all the amenities.  These tend to get most of the attention, being inhabited, albeit sporadically, by shieks and stars and othe luminaries.   
But second homes can also be very modest, not much more than a decent hotel room.  In either case, they are increasingly popular, the preferred place for baby boomers, investors, and others interested in protecting (and increasing) their wealth to put their money. The upside is that second homes … (4 comments)

Are Deed Restricted Units Second Homes? - 07/09/06 10:10 AM
Kirk and Pam Alter thought they had the cat's meow - a low-priced home in Breckenridge where they could vacation (live?).  New construction as well.  The problem was that the property was deed restricted to locals only. 
You see, as prices rise in resorts, locals increasingly get priced out of real estate.  The privilege of living and working here has a decreasing ability to actually live here.  So, to counter the problem and increase the ability for locals to actually purchase homes, nearly every resort establishes some rules. 
Sometimes it means that each new development have a few "locals dedicated" units.  … (1 comments)

Where are the primary homes? - 07/09/06 12:47 AM
Where will the working class live? So, we have 2 out of 3 homeowners in Summit County who do not live here. They are second homeowners, investors, vacationers. They can afford to have at least one second home (some have 2-3 more), and often, they have found that putting their money in real estate is much safer, and provides a much greater return, than the stock market.  
The transient population of a market like Breckenridge has almost doubled in the past 10 years, but the local, year-round, population hasn't exactly remained stagnant. More second homeowners creates a need for more services, and … (0 comments)

Is there a speculative bubble in the housing market? - 07/08/06 06:58 PM
… (1 comments)

Housing Bubble? Who knows for sure? - 07/08/06 06:33 PM
… (0 comments)

 
Ken_09

Ken and Mary Deshaies

Breckenridge, CO

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