David's Blog

Slowing Down a Fast Food Lifestyle in Teton Valley

David Peters (Real Estate of Jackson Hole) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 11:25:38 -0600

With food costs on the rise and the national economic situation what it is today, many people are wringing their hands when it comes time to cutting costs. Now is the perfect time to turn to the local community to become more self-sufficient. This means saying "no" to the big fast food corporations and processed food and "yes" to buying meat, vegetables and fruit from local farmers. Slow Food in the Tetons is a non-profit organization that promotes sustainable agriculture, the traditional family mealtimes, school gardens and utilizing heritage foods (such as elk, potatoes, carrots, huckleberries and mushrooms in the Tetons). By supporting local farmers, we keep them in business which, in turn, keeps the economy alive. And by helping the farmers, we help our families thrive by bringing back the family mealtime, which has become such a rarity nowadays. In the past, mealtime was a place where everyone talked about what happened at school, work or throughout the day and discussions about what was important to the family were commonplace occurrences. By slowing down our fast food lifestyle in Teton Valley, we can all benefit greatly; financially, spiritually and healthily.

Things to Do This Week in Jackson Hole

David Peters (Real Estate of Jackson Hole) — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:41:25 -0600

You can always find something to do in Jackson Hole. Habitat for Humanity is welcoming volunteers to help build homes for families in needs on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. For more info, call Lara at 734-0828. Visit the Teton County Library every Thursday from 10:30-11am for Storytime. This is perfect for kids 4-6 and it's absolutely free. The Stagecoach Bar in Wilson hosts Disco Night every Thursday at 9:30pm. Music lovers have alot to look forward to on Fridays and Saturdays. If you like funk, blues and rock, go to the Silver Dollar Bar at The Wort Hotel and enjoy the musical stylings of Dark Cheddar from 7:30-11pm for free. Jazz lovers can visit the deck at Teton Pines for Papa Chan and Johnny C Note (6:30-9:30pm) or go to The Granary for pianist Keith Phillips, bassist Mike Rossi and drummer Ed Domer (7-10pm) for free. If salsa, cumbia and meringue rhythms are more your thing, you will enjoy Latino Night on Fridays at Cutty's (corner of Broadway and Highway 22) at 10pm. Another Storytime happens from 10:30-11am every Saturday at the Teton County Library for children ages 2-5. Saturday Storytime includes puppets, songs, stories and flannel board fun and it's absolutely free. The Sierra Club meets for an easy to moderate eight mile day hike on Saturday to Two Oceans and Emma Matilda lakes. Nature-lovers can continue the love on Sunday with the Jackson Hole bird club at 7:30pm at the Jackson Town Hall.

Be Bear Aware

David Peters (Real Estate of Jackson Hole) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 10:04:14 -0500

Wildlife officials are urging Jackson Hole residents to beware of increased bear activity in their area. Bears' appetites increase during the fall so that they can store up fat for their long winter hibernation, where they can go as long as five months without eating. The summer berries are just about gone, leaving the bears to seek out their next food source: whitebark pine nuts. Since the whitebark pine nut crop was only fair this year, Jackson Hole bears are being forced to search out alternative food sources. What does this mean for you? If you live near the typical travel corridors of bears (ie. rivers and streams), you may have a bear come digging through your trash to find sustenance. State wildlife officials offer these suggestions to avoid any possible conflict with a hungry bear:

1. Store your garbage or livestock feed in a bear-resistant container. If you don't have one, a reinforced building or shed should do the job.

2. Take down bird feeders from April-October, when bears are the most active.

3. Feed your pets indoor and keep all pet food inside.

4. If you have fruit trees, pick the fruit as soon as it ripens. Make sure any fruit that has fallen to the ground gets picked up immediately.

5. Use electric fencing to protect your garden, beehive or compost pile.

6. Clean your barbeque thoroughly. Store in a secured building, if possible.

Bears are a normal sight in the Jackson Hole area this time of year. Following these tips will help you stay bear aware and avoid any problems with these beautiful creatures.

What's Happening in Jackson Hole?

David Peters (Real Estate of Jackson Hole) — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:37:48 -0500

Here's what's happening this week in Jackson Hole:

Habitat for Humanity is looking for volunteers to help build homes for families in need October 15, 16 and 19. To sign up, contact Lara at 734-0828 or email: lara@tetonhabitat.org.

The Rec Center is hosting a One to One Wellness Clinic on Chi Walking at 6:30pm October 15th. This free clinic is great for people recovering from an injury or those with chronic injuries because it is easy on the joints. For more info, call 739-9025.

Frank's 19th Annual Fall Film Festival, held October 15-30 at the Teton Theatre, is fun for everyone. The pass for all seven movies in the festival is $35. For each movie, ticket prices are $8.50 for adults, $7 for seniors and $6 for children.

Join the Senior Lunch Outing to Signal Mountain Lodge on October 16 for only $4 plus lunch. The outing departs at 10am. To register for this great event, call 739-9025.

Help out the library by visiting the Friends of Teton County Library's Fall Book Sale going on October 16-19, 4-9pm at the library. For more info, call 733-2164.

The Jackson Elks Lodge will be holding a Kids in Need dinner fundraiser at 6:30pm on Friday, October 17th. The $20 a plate for adults dinner, silent auction, raffle and student art show are all in an effort to raise money for local school lunch programs, C-V, youth sports, scholarships and much more. Children under 5 get dinner for free. Join in on dancing after dinner. For more information, contact Elizabeth Shockley at 733-6278.

The Jackson Hole Community Housing Trust will be hosting an open house on Saturday, October 18th from 9am-12pm to celebrate the completion of 15 new affordable homes in Jackson Hole. These homes are the first LEED certified green building homes. Enjoy refreshments and home tours. For more info, call 739-0665.

Go to the Town Square on October 18 from 9am-12pm for the Rendezvous PTA Pumpkin and Bake Sale. This pumpkin patch includes kids' crafts and face painting, baked goods for sale, hot cocoa and an inflatable fun jump.

Home Sales Are Looking Up

David Peters (Real Estate of Jackson Hole) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 10:16:30 -0500

According to the National Association of Realtors, pending home sales were up 7.4% in August, the largest gain in almost seven years. This unexpected increase has been credited to the increasing availability of more affordable housing as home prices have fallen and mortgage interest rates continue to be cut. In the western portion of the United States, there was actually an incredible 18.64% increase in August from the downturn of pending home sales in July. With the possibility of 30-year fixed rate mortgages going up to 6.6% by the end of 2009, now is definitely a great time to buy a home!

Free Flu Shots for Seniors

David Peters (Real Estate of Jackson Hole) — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 09:54:33 -0500

All of Jackson's senior citizens are welcome to bring their Medicare cards and come down to the Senior Center of Jackson Hole today from 8:30am-12:30pm to receive their free annual flu shot. If you don't have a Medicare card, the shot will cost you only $15. The clinic will provide transportation for $1 round trip. This clinic is limited to senior citizens. However, other public clinics will be offering flu vaccinations throughout October: Alta on October 16, Wilson on October 22, Jackson Hole High School on October 23 and Teton Village on October 30. If you are unable to attend any of these public clinics at those times, walk-ins are available at the county health department (460 E Pearl Ave) from 9:30am-4:30pm.

Grand Teton's Seasonal Closures Begin

David Peters (Real Estate of Jackson Hole) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 11:13:01 -0500

To transition from summer to fall, several areas of the Grand Teton National Park will be closing. Lizard Creek campground and Flagg Ranch Information Station already closed on September 2nd and the Flagg Ranch campground and Jenny Lake Ranger Station closed on September 21st. The following is a list of closures scheduled for the rest of September through October:

September 27 - Jenny Lake Visitor Center

September 28 - Jenny Lake campgrounds, Colter Bay campgrounds, Colter Bay facilities

October 5 - Jackson Lake Lodge, Jenny Lake Lodge

October 6 - Flagg Ranch

October 12 - Gros Ventre campground

October 13 - Colter Bay Visitor Center, Laurance S Rockefeller Preserve Center

October 19 - Signal Mountain Lodge, Signal Mountain campground

October 31 - Granite Canyon, Moose and Moran entrance stations, Moose-Wilson Road, Teton Park Road, Triangle X

Please contact Grand Teton National Park at 739-3300 for more information on closures in the area or visit the Teewinot, the park's newspaper.

Fine Art in Jackson Hole

David Peters (Real Estate of Jackson Hole) — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 10:27:37 -0500

The breathtaking scenery surrounding Jackson Hole provides the inspiration for local artisans, making Jackson Hole a great place to find fine art. Boyer's Indian Arts offers sand paintings, pottery, hand woven rugs and fine jewelry from Navajo, Zuni and Hopi Indians for sale. If you are looking for high quality Indian and Cowboy antiques, Cayuse Western Americana is the place for you. They have an amazing selection of spurs, textiles, chaps and beadwork as well as Native American jewelry and historic art, lithos and prints of the Jackson Hole area. The Diehl Gallery specializes in contemporary paintings and bronze sculptures by both world renowned and emerging artists. For aspiring jewelry designers, you can take a course at the Ingrid Weber Studio, who has been creating custom jewelry since 1986. If you love high quality furniture from the 19th and early 20th centuries, you simply must visit the Fighting Bear Antiques shop. Some of the other fine art galleries in Jackson Hole include: Galleries West Fine Arts, Hennes Studio & Gallery, Horizon Fine Art Gallery, Images of Nature Gallery, JH Muse Gallery, Legacy Gallery, Mountain Trails Gallery, RARE Gallery, the Robert Dean Collection, Trailside Galleries, West Lives on Gallery, Wilcox Gallery, Wilcox II, Wild by Nature and the Wyoming Gallery. Jackson Hole is also home to wonderful museums, including the Jackson Hole Historical Society & Museum and the National Museum of Wildlife Art. The 2nd Annual Jackson Hole Art Auction will be held on September 20th. Some of the proceeds from this auction will go to benefit the National Museum of Wildlife Art and the Center for the Arts. Whether you live here or are simply passing through, stop by one of these fine art establishments to see how our artists have captured the beauty and inspiration of Jackson Hole.

A Slowdown is Not a Letdown

David Peters (Real Estate of Jackson Hole) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 10:10:37 -0500

While the Jackson Hole market has experienced a slow down, it is nowhere near the dire straits being touted in the media. A California-based research company recently reported that the median home price in Teton County had dropped 9% in the last fiscal year. While the lower end market has experienced a slight dip in home values, the higher end Jackson market has actually increased 2% (from $1.175 million in July 2007 to $1.2 million as of July 1, 2008). Since the Jackson Hole market has consistently experienced approximately 20% increases every year for the last few years, a slow down or even slight dip may seem much bigger than it is. Many Teton County realtors believe this is a much needed correction in the market. With slowing sales volume, there is now an 80% increase in inventory from a year ago. In actuality, Jackson home values are about the same as they were two years ago. Sellers seem to have trouble believing that their home hasn't increased 20% from last year, which is reflected in the asking price. However, many sellers are understanding that this has become a buyer's market. So, don't be shy. Make an offer. The worst that can happen is that the seller will counter.

Green Building: Fact vs Fiction

David Peters (Real Estate of Jackson Hole) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 10:49:04 -0500

As more attention is focused on green building, especially in Jackson Hole, some people still seem to be stuck on the misconceptions of the past. For instance, green building is not always an expensive undertaking. This myth has persevered because more high-end projects tend to get builders' attention. The truth is that there are many ways to utilize green building inexpensively by reducting waste, selecting the correct size for the structure's function and so much more. Another myth is that the products used in green building don't work as well as traditional building supplies. The low-flow toilet still gets a bad rap even though it has been required in new construction for over a decade now. Additionally, people believe that green products are too hard to find. While not as readily available as traditional building products, they are becoming more and more prevalent in local building supply chains and can always be found online. The sheer number of green products continues to grow and shows no sign of slowing down. Many people still believe that building a "green" home can be too complicated and tend to take an "all or nothing" approach. Constructing a green home is only as complicated as you want to make it. Using some green building materials is better than using none at all. In fact, more home builders and manufacturers are using some sort of green building materials than ever before. Take a closer look at utilizing green building in your new Jackson construction or remodeling projects. It's easier, more affordable and less complicated than you would think.

Four Remodel Projects that Will Pay Off the Most

David Peters (Real Estate of Jackson Hole) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:16:52 -0500

Are you looking to remodel your home but don't know which project to tackle first? The four main areas of a home where you will get the biggest bang for your buck are the bathroom, the kitchen, the exterior siding and the attic. The bathroom is a great place to start. Small bathrooms can look bigger by adding pedestal sinks and glass shelving for a more "open" look. Take out the tub and add a tiled shower with glass doors. Simply replacing an old sink or toilet with a new one can make a big difference without breaking the bank. Updating what you already have is usually a better investment than adding a completely new bathroom onto your home.

The kitchen is another smart place to spend your remodeling dollars. If the cabinets are in good shape, replace the hardware. Put in new appliances: a stainless steel dishwasher, stove/oven, refrigerator, etc. Replace outdated flooring and countertops. You don't have to put in a $50,000 kitchen to sell your home, especially if you aren't in an upscale neighborhood. Simply updating your current arrangement and adding a fresh coat of paint will bring a great return on your investment.

One of the most neglected parts of a house is the exterior. Replacing old, worn out siding with brand new can give your home an instant facelift. While vinyl siding is the easiest and most cost-effective material, fiber-cement siding can be made to look like stucco, wood or even cedar shingles. Fiber-cement can cost about 30% more to add to your home, but you do get a higher return on your investment as well.

Don't forget about the attic! If you are in an older neighborhood where most of the homes are pressed for square footage, remodeling attic space into a beautiful master suite with a bathroom can create form and function out of previously unused space. It will also create a draw for buyers in a neighborhood where only smaller homes are to be found. Remodeling the attic is also alot less expensive than adding square footage on to the lower floor for a new master suite addition.

Remodeling your home is a great way to create additional value. Just make sure not to go overboard and you will see a great return on your investment.

Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival

David Peters (Real Estate of Jackson Hole) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:50:25 -0500

Considered by many to be THE premier cultural event in the area, the 2008 Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival will be held September 4-21. This event not only showcases spectacular pieces from local artisans, but also draws international artists to beautiful Jackson Hole, WY. Throughout this 18 day event, you will experience visual, culinary, contemporary, Native American, wildlife and landscape arts. In addition to the art exhibits, you will be able to enjoy music, food, drinks and even cowboy poetry. There will also be dozens of workshops, receptions for some of the artists featured at the festival, gallery walks and so much more. One of the main showcases at the Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival is the "Taste of the Tetons", where visitors get to experience the best of Jackson's food, wine and desserts. The QuickDraw Art Sale and Auction pits 30 artists against each other in a drawing duel while spectators watch them create original works of art right before their eyes. There is even a special Western Design Conference that exhibits the latest in western furniture, accessories and clothing. With more than 50 events being held throughout the festival, you are sure to find something that fits your tastes. For more information and a schedule of events, please visit the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce's calendar of events.

Wyoming: The Windy State

David Peters (Real Estate of Jackson Hole) — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 10:14:38 -0500

With Americans' interest in finding cleaner energy sources on the rise, many investors as well as voters are eyeing wind power. Wyoming is one of the places that sits towards the top of the list of possible wind energy sources. In fact, Wyoming's wind is considered the most viable for places as far away as Utah, Colorado, Nevada and California. Many landowners are looking to cash in by leasing their land to set up the giant wind turbines necessary to capture the energy created by the wind. The only stumbling block at this time is setting up transmission lines to transport the energy to the end user. While landowners are happy with setting up the turbines on their land because they don't interfere with cattle grazing and are a great opportunity for financial gain, many people don't like the idea of transmission lines going through their property. The multiple states that the transmission lines have to go through mean multiple governmental agencies, various restrictions and lots of red tape. This has bogged down the export of wind power outside of the state so far. But, proponents believe that it is only a matter of time before everything is sorted through. Then, step back because the dam will be broken and Wyoming will be flooded with energy requests from all over the western United States. Wyoming is standing on the precipice of helping America with a cleaner source of energy and less dependence on foreign soil.

The Grass is Blue in Jackson Hole

David Peters (Real Estate of Jackson Hole) — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 10:51:11 -0500

Come to Jackson Hole this weekend (August 8-10) to enjoy the 21st Annual Grand Targhee Bluegrass Festival. There will be music, food, arts and crafts, games and festivities for the whole family. Some of the headliners for this year include Tim O'Brien, Spring Creek, The Infamous Stringdusters, Tony Trischka and his Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular band, Darrell Scott, the Sam Bush Band, Blue Highway, Abigail Washburn and the Sparrow Quartet and Jeff Austin & Friends from the Yonder Mountain String Band. Dancing among the aspens is, of course, encouraged. Kids will love Grand Targhee's Kidzone, where puppet shows and craft classes are held. And, on Saturday, the Banana Slug String Band will perform their unique blend of science, conservation techniques, music and humor for the kids.

Grand Targhee encourages recycling. Special receptacles are provided for glass, aluminum, plastic, paper, cardboard and steel. Bring your own water bottles to reduce the use of disposable cups at the festival. Also, Grand Targhee urges attendees to utilize the free shuttle service from Teton Valley. There is only a $5 fee per car for all day parking. To find out how to help out decrease your impact on Mother Nature, visit the Sustainability Booth. We hope to see you kickin' up your boots at the Bluegrass Festival this weekend!

It's a Buyer's Market

David Peters (Real Estate of Jackson Hole) — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:50:35 -0500

What is the silver lining in the Jackson real estate cloud? It's a buyer's market. The rocketing prices of houses on the market of the past are starting to come back to earth a bit, with sellers realizing that they can't sell an overpriced home. This housing cooldown should actually be considered more of a market correction. Even through this sluggish market, Real Estate of Jackson Hole has enjoyed record listings with their share of the market on the rise. Those houses listed under $1 million are affected the most. However, the median price for a home in Jackson has increased 2% from last year to $1.2 million. The "upper-end buyers" (those in the $1 million or more range who account for 60% of local Jackson sales) continue to pull their money from other resources and put it in local Jackson real estate. Jackson Hole is still a beautiful place to live. So, good news for those buyers in the market for a home...the real estate world is your oyster. Take a bite!

Saddle Up for the Teton County Fair

David Peters (Real Estate of Jackson Hole) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:55:03 -0500

The annual Teton County Fair is being held in Jackson until Sunday, July 27th. Come enjoy the carnival rides and live music every night. There will be pig wrestling on Wednesday at 7pm, Figure "8" Races on Thursday at 8pm, a concert by the Yonder Mountain String Band on Friday at 8pm, the rodeo on Saturday at 8pm and an all-out demolition derby on Sunday at 6pm. Prices vary for each event, so visit their website for more info. You can also enjoy the horse and dog shows on Saturday and Sunday and exhibits of food, gardening, arts and crafts, photography, needlework, home furnishings and paintings at the Fair Building. Some of the free entertainment available throughout the fair will include a petting farm, clowns, mechanical bull, the Balloon Buffoon, motorcycle stunts, clogging performances, car show, fish pond, a hypnotist, fiddle contest, talent show, comedy juggler and so much more. It's not too late to gather up the family and enjoy some good old fashioned fun at the Teton County Fair.

Hootin' & Hollerin' in Jackson Hole!

David Peters (Real Estate of Jackson Hole) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:45:55 -0500

A throwback to the gatherings of old, the Jackson Hole Hootenanny continues the tradition of muscial get-togethers at 7pm Monday evenings at Dornan's in Moose. Beginning in 1993, Dick Barker and Bill Briggs co-founded what would become "the Hoot" as a way to get together with friends and enjoy live acoustical music together. This year's festivities will include a wide variety of song stylings from such artists as Anne & Pete Sibley, John Cooke, Alan Morton, Adrienne and Peter Ward with John Sidle and many, many more. Even Mr. Barker and Mr. Briggs will make an acoustical appearance onstage. At only $5 a pop, this is the best ticket in town. For more information on the Hoot, tickets, who's playing and when, just contact the Center for the Arts at 734-8956. Kick up your heels, clear your throats and start a-hootin' and a-hollerin'!

Music on Main in Driggs, ID

David Peters (Real Estate of Jackson Hole) — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:31:32 -0500

During the warm summer months, it's nice to spend the evenings in the great outdoors surrounded by the Grand Tetons. Driggs, Idaho is happy to present free outdoor concerts every Thursday throughout the summer at the Driggs City Center Plaza from 6-9pm. Each week, Music on Main showcases a different headliner, as well as an amazing opening act. These musical acts include country, southern rock, bluegrass and funk. All you need to bring with you is a blanket or chair to sit on and your desire to hear fine music to enjoy this free concert and the beautiful mountain air at Drigg's Music on Main.

4th of July in Jackson WY

David Peters (Real Estate of Jackson Hole) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 09:37:40 -0500

The 4th of July festivities in the Jackson Hole area are second to none and last the entire 3-day weekend. Come and watch the balloons soar at the Teton Valley Balloon Festival Friday through Saturday starting at 6am at the Teton Valley Fairgrounds. For those who want to soar amongst the clouds, balloon rides are provided for a fee. Free balloon rides are available at Alpine Field at 6am on Friday, the 4th. The Jaycees are serving up breakfast from 7-11am at the Town Square. Tickets are only $8 for adults and $3 for children. Enjoy the parade downtown at 10:30am. St. John's Episcopal Church is providing plenty of fun games for kids 12 and under from 12-3pm. Enjoy Music in the Hole at Alpine Field from 3-7pm and fireworks are provided by the Jaycees at Snow King Resort at 10pm. After the fireworks, Snow King Resort is hosting a hip-hop party called Declaration 2008 with both DJs and live music for just $25. If you like blues, bluegrass and Americana music, visit 43 North for their fireworks after-party with the Boondocks. No matter where you celebrate America's independence, please make sure to be safe. Happy 4th of July!

A Gift of Love for the Grand Tetons

David Peters (Real Estate of Jackson Hole) — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:30:58 -0500

A private ceremony was held June 23rd to dedicate the last 1100 acres of the previous 3000 acre JY Ranch at the Grand Teton National Park for a nature preserve in honor of the late Laurance S. Rockefeller, a third generation member of the famous American oil family. This ceremony was the official debut of the preserve's nature center as well. Rockefeller's love of the gorgeous Grand Teton property began when his father, John D. Rockefeller, purchased the JY Ranch in the early 1930s. After inheriting the land from his father, Laurance donated 2000 acres of the ranch in the 1990s. By 2001, he promised to donate the remaining land on the JY Ranch after his death. The nature preserve helps continue the Rockefeller's dedication to preserving as much of the natural American landscape as possible while also helping keep up an important piece of the Grand Teton's ecosystem. The visitor center is also one-of-a-kind as the only Platinum designated LEED certified building in the nation. LEED (Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design) awards their certification only to buildings that utilize environmentally sustainable construction. The Platinum designation is LEED's highest honor. To find out more about what's happening in the Jackson Hole area , please contact us today.

Bigger Isn't Always Better

David Peters (Real Estate of Jackson Hole) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 11:37:42 -0500

In the past, one of the prime status symbols in a person's life was the size of their home. Just look at the so-called "McMansions" that have popped up all over the country. An unfortunate by-product of this up-sizing was that people mortgaged themselves to death to "keep up with the Joneses". Now, both they and the Joneses are losing their homes due to poor financing choices and multiple loans on one home. Also, with skyrocketing energy costs, simple day-to-day living expenses can go through the roof.

This has, in turn, created an interest in smaller, more energy-efficient homes. Studies have found that, even though most people want more storage in their homes, there still doesn't seem to be enough to fit the bill, no matter how large of a home you get. Simply decluttering your home of things that you no longer use can show you that a smaller home really can be more than enough to handle your belongings. Smaller homes mean less area to heat/cool, clean and clutter. This means less money from your pocketbook in expenses and more time with the family.

So, when looking for your next home, you may want to consider downsizing. It's good for the environment and it's good for your pocketbook. If you have any questions or want more information, please contact us today. We're always happy to help!

Summer in Yellowstone

David Peters (Real Estate of Jackson Hole) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 08:23:48 -0500

With summer fast approaching, many people take to the roads to visit one of the nation's most beautiful natural wonders: Yellowstone National Park. Before embarking on this great family trip, please keep in mind that the higher elevation of Yellowstone means that the seasons change much later than in lower areas. This means that spring showers tend to linger into the summer months and even snow is known to make an appearance overnight, causing road closures in some areas. Visitors to the park should make sure they bring jackets and other warmer apparel in case the weather is cooler than expected. To get the latest information about park closing times and possible road closures, call Yellowstone's visitor center at (307) 344-2117 anytime. To get more information about Jackson Hole real estate, please contact us.

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort Goes Green!

David Peters (Real Estate of Jackson Hole) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 11:20:36 -0500

The largest consumer of energy in Jackson Hole, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, has committed to offsetting their energy use with renewable energy: geothermal energy, small hydro, biomass and wind. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR) uses approximately 9,000,000 kwh per year. Through a program with Renewable Choice Energy, JHMR will be able to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 37.5 million pounds. To put this in perspective, this would be the same as taking over 3800 cars off the road or planting almost 5300 acres of fully matured trees. Additionally, JHMR has been fully certified as a third party ISO "green" company. This makes it one of only two ski resorts to do so. Let's all give a hand to Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in their efforts to help save this planet of ours.

Give Your House the Once-Over

David Peters (Real Estate of Jackson Hole) — Wed, 28 May 2008 13:17:36 -0500

Now that the weather is starting to warm up, it's a great time to inspect the outside of one of your biggest investments you'll ever make...your home. Taking a few minutes to give your house the once-over can result in big savings down the road.

1. Look for water leaks, especially in the awnings, overhangs and any exposed siding. These are typical places that water and/or snow may collect during the winter months, causing damage to the building materials beneath them.

2. Check windows and doors for drafts, including the window sills and doorsteps. By caulking seams, reglazing or replacing windows and replacing any worn weatherstripping, you keep the air conditioning inside, which can save money by keeping the electric bill down.

3. Don't let Santa be the only one to visit your roof. Check on the flashing around the chimney and any vents. Look for cracks or worn roofing materials that may create a water hazard in your home later. And, while you're up there, clean out those gutters and downspouts of any debris that may have piled up over the winter.

4. Watch where you walk. Are there any safety concerns with the stairs, sidewalks or railings? Is the front door hard to open or lock? You may need to simply oil the hinges or you might need to change the locks out completely. Make sure the doorbell works and check the gates and fence to see if any repairs are necessary.

5. Look at the house from a visitor's point of view. Does it have that "not so fresh feeling" to it? A fresh coat of paint not only helps keep up your home's appearance, but it protects the wood from the elements, preventing bigger repair bills in the future.

6. Make sure the garage door opens and closes with ease, the mailbox is securely fastened to its post and the numbers are clear and easy to read from the street.

7. Lastly, go over an evacuation plan with your family. If there is an emergency, such as a fire, flood, tornado or other disaster, it is always good to have an evacuation plan in effect and planned out so that you and your family know what to do.

Taking the time to inspect your home and repair what needs to be done will give you and your family a tremendous peace of mind as well as saving you money in the long run.

Alive and Well In Wyoming

David Peters (Real Estate of Jackson Hole) — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 06:03:09 -0600

The real estate market in the State of Wyoming is alive, well and strong!

The real estate market in Jackson Hole is alive and well.

Our market is still strong although it has moved slightly into a Buyer's Market. Historically, this trend does not last long so if you are a considering a move to our area or purchasing a second home "someday", today may be the perfect time for you.

Has the media's doom and gloom reports impacted our market? To hear the media tell it there is no place in the nation that is seeing a good or stable market. This is just not true. The Jackson Hole market has slowed somewhat with an increase in inventory but if the price is right and the location is right then the property will sell.

There has also been some downward pricing in certain areas. This is not the time for sellers to test the market but to look realistically at the competition, the condition of the property and its location and price it accordingly.

Affordable housing is still in short supply so homes under the $600,000 price range are still disappearing from the market quickly. In this price range negotiating is still on the seller's side. Over the $600,000 there is a wide variety of homes to chose from.

Our market is still strong and we still have good activity so do not listen to the doom-sayers they do not live in Wyoming or the Jackson Hole area.

Investing in Jackson Hole real estate now is a smart move. The future is bright for the state and our community.

If you would like to know more about Jackson Hole Real Estate visit our website or contact us. You can David at (307) 413-7650. You can reach Kathy at Cell: (307) 690-3520. Our email is info@WeSellJacksonHole.com