summit county: Ptarmigan Mountain, above Silverthorne, is the site of a new battle - 08/14/06 03:38 AM
It’s Ptarmigan Mountain for gosh sakes.  There are no “real” roads up there.  After all, when the Bureau of Land Management deeded acreages to Korean War Vets in the 50s, it did not plan a community.  Those original owners were left to fare for themselves.  They had to build a structure on the land, and then figure how to get to it.  So, neighbors cooperated to dig roads through each other’s properties to get up the hill, then entered into formal or informal agreements to maintain the roads.  Many are too steep to navigate in the winter, and Summit County will … (0 comments)

summit county: The View From My Window - 08/14/06 03:25 AM
Gary Lindstrom is a good friend of mine. He is also  our  State Representative for  Summit and adjoining  counties.  He posts  regular observations and encourages  their distribution.  This is his most recent, and one I like, because it  gives a look at the types of issues shared by so many of us who live here.  Thanks, Gary.
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There is a small town near where I grew up in Iowa named Lake City.  As you drive into Lake City there is a sign welcoming you with the greeting, “Welcome to Lake City.  We have everything but a lake.” 
Such is evolution.  … (0 comments)

summit county: Bull riding in the summer, skiing in the winter! What's wrong with this picture? - 08/07/06 03:08 PM
I might have forgot to mention, but rodeos are another great sideline event in Summit County.  Colorado sports many cowboys.  Lots of those are urban cowboys, the dress-up, look-for-the-ladies kind.  But, we also have the real kind, the ones who actually ride the bulls, the broncs, and who put life and limb in jeopardy several times a month to make a meager living.  Meet Clay Culbreath, rider extraordinaire.  He's part of a family that has lived here for several generations, and he is good at what he does.  Welcome to Summit County!
(1 comments)

summit county: 24 Hours on a bike. It's heaven! - 08/07/06 03:02 PM
You might see this name and think it is a disease.  And some participants might agree.  But our version of Montezuma's Revenge is actually a bicycle race - a long one.  It's a 24 hour race.  And one interesting point - it requires riders to start and finish on the same bike (any and all parts can be replaced as long as the original bike frame completes the journey).  Key to any victory is the support team, and this year's winner, Mark Thompson, employs five people, headed by his wife.  The key team player, however, is the mechanic, who deals with … (2 comments)

summit county: Lake Dillon knows a winner! - 08/07/06 02:52 PM
We live in ski country.  Everybody knows that.  Shushing down the hill is what it's all about.  It doesn't get any better than that.  Or does it?  Actually, here in Summit County, we are a four season resort.  And we are lucky enough to have within our boundaries the highest fresh water sailing lake in the country (some say the Northern Hemisphere).  And I am told that if you learn to sail on Lake Dillon, you can sail anywhere in the world.  The winds - and the weather - can change on a dime.  But consider - the lake is surrounded … (0 comments)

summit county: Inventory going up? - 08/06/06 08:57 AM
We watch indicators.  Some are remote, some sort of global, and others very specific.  On the specific side, the traffic to our own office gives us a indication of what might be happening in our market in general.  (Of course, it may just be a weather vane for how successful we might be, but . . . .)  In the past couple of weeks, our traffic has been way up.  Not only more buyers, but we've just aded half a dozen new listings.  And it doesn't show any signs of abating.  From $200k condos to $1.4 million dollar homes, they are … (1 comments)

summit county: The heavy selling days - 08/06/06 08:50 AM
Interestingly, if you want the best service, Sunday is the day to stop into our office.  It seems to be the quietest day of the week.  This contrasts to my experience in Denver, where Sundays were always busy.  But, in Summit County, Colorado, home to four ski resorts and the highest fresh water sailing lake in the country, we get more business during the week.  It's not unusual to have Thursdays and Fridays where we are double booked.  So, stop in on Sunday, see on agent on floor and get all your real estate sales needs taken care of. … (1 comments)

summit county: It's a Seller's market! - 08/04/06 02:46 AM
The real estate market may be cooling off nationally.  The Denver Metro area may still be flat.  But, none of that has affected sales in Summit County, Colorado.  Our sales are hot, our inventory is down, and prices are climbing.  Difficult to control.  Everyone wants a piece of this affluence.  Even deed-restricted homes designed for locals have reached over $230,000 for those who qualify at median income or less. 
Look at some statistics.  Sales volume just for June this year were up more than 45 percent over the June of 2005.  Incredible!  But, the number of transactions were up only 11 … (2 comments)

summit county: Don't complain about the rain - 08/04/06 02:36 AM
It's true.  We are having a very wet summer.  I have been incredibly lucky.  Played more golf than ever this summer and never been rained out.  Climbed a 14 thousand foot mountain (Mt. Bierstadt) and did a 7-hour hike and climb last Sunday, and enjoyed mild, sunny weather both times.  And the rains came both evenings. 
July was nearly double our normal rainfall at 4.83 inches, and the past year has  brought us 22.7 inches in precipitation so far.  So, many people are complaining about the rain.  For shame!  Consider that we are coming out of a 4-5 year drought cycle, … (0 comments)

summit county: Monsoon in the mountains? Get outa here! - 08/04/06 02:24 AM
Monsoons.  Aren't those what occurs in far East countries close to the sea?  Weather patterns that continue for weeks at a time, where you don't dare venture outdoors if not absolutely necessary?  Well, we have been getting an extraordinary amount of rain over the past few weeks.  July rain was nearly twice normal, and it has put us over normal for the year. 
And the rains have not been slight.  Great gully washers are hitting often in the afternoons, and many nights, it seems to go all night long. 
So are we in a monsoon?  My friend, Bob Berwyn, reporter for … (0 comments)

summit county: Performing miracles is all in a day's work for JoAnn Falletta - 08/03/06 04:18 PM
One of my favorite conductors is JoAnn Falletta.  Of course, she is the favorite of others, as well.  The New York Times, for example, called her ". . . one of the finest conductors of her generation."  So, why am I enthralled?  Well, for one, she has performed here in Summit County the last two years as guest conductor of the National Repertory Orchestra.  And she keeps you alive, you audience members.  For some of us, you actually have her to thank for being alive days after her concerts are over. 
She is sharp, excitingly knowledgeable, animated, and in control.  Her … (0 comments)

summit county: Lake Dillon Theatre honored - 08/02/06 11:12 AM
We always knew it was that good.  Our Lake Dillon Theatre was recently honored with two distinctions.  In May, the Denver Post theater critic, John Moore, named the Theatre Company as one of the 10 best in Colorado outside the Denver area.  Our friend, Chris Alleman, performing arts director, says this was dut to Dillon's staging of new titles. 
And the Theatre was honored more recently with a Henry Award from the Colorado Theatre Guide in the category of Western Theatre.  It was one of two theaters outside the Denver area to receive the award. 
This does not surprise us.  Mary … (0 comments)

summit county: Climbing a mountain - business or pleasure? - 07/29/06 12:38 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)

summit county: I-70 Congestion to Summit County and the Rocky Mountains - 07/27/06 01:30 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)

summit county: What makes Summit County so hot? - 07/26/06 01:18 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)

summit county: Sign, MLS and Pray - 07/26/06 01:14 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)

summit county: Chasing little white balls in the high country. - 07/18/06 01:34 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)

summit county: - 07/17/06 10:45 AM
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)

summit county: There's gold in them thar' hills. - 07/16/06 10:16 AM
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)

summit county: A summer day in Summit County - 07/16/06 04:36 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)

 
Ken & Mary Deshaies (SnowHome Properties)

Ken & Mary Deshaies

Breckenridge, CO

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