Frisco, Colorado. This small town is changing. Is it good, or bad?

Where once we had little cabins, today we have huge condo buildings.  Yes, they are designed nicely, and have a mountain feel, but the town is losing a little of its charm and quaintness.  One example is the half acre site at First and Granite, that used to have a Bed and Breakfast named The Lark on it. 

Mt Victoria Lodge

Recently a developer bought the old B&B building and turned it into a very nice looking condo complex named The Mount Victoria Lodge.  It has commercial spaces on the ground floor and two floors of condos above.  There are 10 condominium units and the prices ranged from $550,000 to $695,000.    Parking is in a common garage behind the commercial spaces on the first floor.  All condos were sold before the building was finished. I must say that it is an improvement over what was there, but it is a mammoth building! 

Another example ocurred recently at 4th and Galena, where a small cabin was torn down and a duplex was built on it.  Each side of the duplex sold for approximately $1,000,000, and both sides sold prior to completion.  We are finding that Buyers want a very nice level of finish, but don't necessarily need a large home as a second home.  They do want wine coolers, granite counters, stainless steel appliances and hardwood floors.  A rustic mountain look is a plus.  We are aslo seeing a trend toward two sets of washers and dryers with one being near the master suite.  The majority of people buying in this price range do not rent and prefer to just keep it for their own use. Lake Dillon Colorado

Timberline Cove is another new building that is nearing completion, and it has awesome lake views from the front units and nice mountain views from many other condos.  The complex is on the last piece of lakefront property and is behind the Holiday Inn. It is now finished, and the first units closed just a couple of weeks ago.

  From the time the first units were reserved until today, many of the condos have appreciated as much as 40-50% over what they were initially bought for.

 

 

 

Timberline Cove Condo

 Frisco has developed into two distinct areas; the lake area  and downtown, and people seem to have a strong preference for one or the other.  If views or access to the bike path is important, then they tend to go to the area near the lake.  Many people seem to really want to be close to Main Street so that they can walk to dining, take the bus directly to the ski areas, or enjoy the frequent festivals and events that happen in the summertime.  The bike path is also convenient for these people, as is Walter Byron park. 

 

 

 

 

There is one little cabin that will not go under the bulldozer's blade.  It is currently for sale for $519,000 and is about 800 sq ft, 2 bedrooms and 1 bath.  It is really cute inside, but has no land other than what it sits on, so cannot be developed.  Frisco cabin in Historic parkI am curious to see if it will actually sell at that price, as it seems high, but there will probably someone out there that falls in love with it and just has to have it!

At least we will have one cabin left in town, other than the ones, like the one to the right,  that has been moved to Frisco's Historic Park

For more on Frisco:

Summit County Medical Center

Lagoon Townhomes

The Real Estate Market in Frisco

 

29 Comments on Frisco, Colorado. This small town is changing. Is it good, or bad?

Joanne, nice post about Frisco! Sorry to hear it's losing some of it's uniqueness!  Funny how time changes things!  Love the country flavor!

08/28/2007 10:15 PM by David L. Britt, MBA (The Heritage Real Estate Team)


Hi David, Frisco is still unique, just different from the way it was.  But isn't everyplace? 

08/28/2007 10:23 PM by Summit County, Colorado Realtor l Joanne Hanson (Coldwell Banker Colorado Rockies Real Estate)


Joanne, We have stayed both close to the lake and close to downtown, and they both have great pros going for them.  Frisco still has that old town feel to me regardless of all the development.  You live in such a great town. 

08/28/2007 10:24 PM by Steve Scheer - Denver Real Estate - Highlands Ranch Real Estate (RE/MAX Masters, Inc.)


Steve, I know you get up to this part of the state frequently, and love it as much as I do!  Perhaps we should have an AR ski day this winter?

08/28/2007 10:30 PM by Summit County, Colorado Realtor l Joanne Hanson (Coldwell Banker Colorado Rockies Real Estate)


Great pictures of the cabin and of the lake - doesn't Colorado have the bluest ski !

08/28/2007 10:37 PM by Dena Stevens ~ Ecobroker ~So. Colorado Realtor (Colorado Western Real Estate)


Joanne, Nothing is definite yet, but I should be up there one of the last weekends of September.  I will let you know by email later if those plans evolve or not.  But we will be up once the snow is a-flying as well. 

08/28/2007 10:43 PM by Steve Scheer - Denver Real Estate - Highlands Ranch Real Estate (RE/MAX Masters, Inc.)


Dena, there is nothing like a Colorado sky!  I have never seen that exact color anywhere else.  I have a ski suit that is the exact color of blue.

Steve, do you ski Copper at all?

08/28/2007 11:14 PM by Summit County, Colorado Realtor l Joanne Hanson (Coldwell Banker Colorado Rockies Real Estate)


I think we will be this year, One of the kids & friends want to do a program there - Is it called Copper Chopper or something like that?  We are trying to decide now what passes we are getting where/when etc.

08/28/2007 11:17 PM by Steve Scheer - Denver Real Estate - Highlands Ranch Real Estate (RE/MAX Masters, Inc.)


Copper Choppers is a great program for the kids.  The little ones are called Scooters and the older one is Choppers.  They bus them up if you like too, like they do the Eskimo ski club at Winter Park. 

They are 3 weeks out of each month, December to February, on Saturday or Sunday.  You can sign up for one month or all three. It is how my grandkids learned to ski and they did a great job with them! 

08/28/2007 11:31 PM by Summit County, Colorado Realtor l Joanne Hanson (Coldwell Banker Colorado Rockies Real Estate)


I wrote about Eskimo earlier today. 

I'll let you know about Sept once we know the plan. 

08/28/2007 11:37 PM by Steve Scheer - Denver Real Estate - Highlands Ranch Real Estate (RE/MAX Masters, Inc.)


Joanne ~ With progress we all experience trade-offs. My little town has grown more than some of us would prefer, (although certainly not the scenic beauty of CO in many ways) and it continues.

You always do such a wonderful job spotlighting your community of Frisco. You know your market and present it well. I'd be interested for a follow up someday on that little place for $500,000+ for 800 square feet.

08/29/2007 12:28 AM by Orange Co. Real Estate~Lynda Eisenmann, Broker-Owner, Brea, CA (Preferred Home Brokers)


Joanne, great information on how Fisco is developing. That lonely little cottage. Keep us posted if it gets an offer. One positive thing I noticed in this post is that it appears the buyers either want downtown or lakeside. That's pretty cool, that you don't have alot of wishy washy people going back and forth.

08/29/2007 06:03 AM by Missy Caulk Ann Arbor Real Estate (Keller Williams Ann Arbor, Michigan)


Joanne,  this information is shocking ...I can't believe the prices in your area. I find it very sad that the quaint feeling is disappearing from these old mountain towns and that all of the old structures are disappearing and being replaced by gigantic condo complexes. The same thing is happening on many of Ontario's more trendy northern lakes.....just never the same again. It really saddens me.

Two washers and dryers just to save a few steps ?  Or to run double loads I guess.....now I've heard everything....

Thanks for another excellent post...

Jo 

08/29/2007 06:50 AM by Jo-Anne Smith-Belleville, Quinte and Prince Edward Region Real Estate, Ont. (Royal Lepage Proalliance Realty, Brokerage)


Thesa, you are in a beautiful area yourself, and know it isn't hard to get good photos!

Lynda, I interviewed for the listing on that little cabin, and I may do a post on it after it sells.  I didn't quote them a high enough price!  I suggested around $499-525,000 and they listed at $579,000 with someone else!  They recently dropped to $519,000. 

Missy, we are to the point now where there is little land left, so things are being scraped to make room for "progress". 

Jo, the cabin is not representative of prices in our area, although I look at listings in Myrtle beach and North Carolina, and I wonder how they can seel them so cheaply!

08/29/2007 08:31 AM by Summit County, Colorado Realtor l Joanne Hanson (Coldwell Banker Colorado Rockies Real Estate)


Joanne,  excellent information on Frisco!  The good and bad of real estate development.  :) I'm glad they saved the one cabin!

08/29/2007 11:38 AM by Stephanie Edwards-Musa, Realtor ® The Woodlands, TX Real Estate (Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors ®)


Joanne, Great post on Frisco. I've shown that little cabin myself. Very unique, but more of a conversation piece than anything. Thanks for clarifying that most of Frisco is expensive, not that outlandish. I love your blog and all that you do for Summit County. 

08/29/2007 11:52 AM by RolandoTheRealtor, RE/MAX agent in Frisco/Keystone/Breckenridge, Colorado (RE/MAX Properties of the Summit, Frisco, Colorado)


Stephanie, there actually is a whole block of old cabins, that like the one in the photo, have been moved to the historic park.  The old school house is now a museum and they have a self guided tour of the area.  It is nice to see some history preserved.

Rolando, I bet your customers were shocked when they saw the cabin!  It is cute, but the fact that it is not expandable knocks it out of the running for a lot of people.

08/29/2007 12:39 PM by Summit County, Colorado Realtor l Joanne Hanson (Coldwell Banker Colorado Rockies Real Estate)


Joanne, We moved to a little town 15 years ago and every now and then I refer to it as our little town, but we are growing fast. I just hope the cabin looks in Frisco stay.

08/29/2007 06:29 PM by Camarillo CA Real Estate Agent/ Mana Tulberg (Beach View Real Estate)


800 square feet for 519K?  Wow, I can't imagine.  I also, though, can't imagine waking up to the beauty that you have there every morning.  Great life, but a little hard to finance!

08/29/2007 07:04 PM by Chris Tesch College Station, Texas Real Estate (RE/MAX Bryan College Station)


Mana, we hope it stays too, and I think that one will.  Others may be a different story.

Chris, that is not the norm.  New construction in Frisco is running about $400 a sq ft.  Although new condos a the base of the mountain in Breckenridge are $1000 a sq ft.  In Vail they are around $3000!  We are cheap!

08/29/2007 07:07 PM by Summit County, Colorado Realtor l Joanne Hanson (Coldwell Banker Colorado Rockies Real Estate)


Joanne,

Beautiful picture with the lake.  I like the little cabin in the park at the end the best - it has a lot of character.  It is hard for me to think of $400 a sq ft as cheap but when you put it into perspective it looks like a Frisco is a great deal. 

08/29/2007 08:28 PM by Rita Taylor | Sanford NC Real Estate & Homes for Sale in Sanford North Carolina (Strother Real Estate)


I think I will take the lake living! Your area is so beautiful; I'm sure that is where the cost is. If you want to wake up every morning to mountains and lakes, there is a price for the view.

Things always change, some good, others not. It still has not changed how beautiful your area is!:)

08/29/2007 08:46 PM by Indianapolis Real Estate | Paula Henry (ReMax Excel)


Rita, every time I read your posts on market reports or listings, I am always amazed at what your money will buy.  You are in an affordable area, and we are not really! 

08/29/2007 08:49 PM by Summit County, Colorado Realtor l Joanne Hanson (Coldwell Banker Colorado Rockies Real Estate)


Paula, There is little around the lake.  The lake is man made and is owned by the Denver water board.  All the water goes down there, but as a result there are few condos on the lake.  There are some lake views, and Timberline Cove has some prime views.  They sell at a premium though.  This photo was taken from the deck of one I sold a couple of weeks ago.

08/29/2007 09:00 PM by Summit County, Colorado Realtor l Joanne Hanson (Coldwell Banker Colorado Rockies Real Estate)


Joanne,  I know how you feel about watching the changes take place.  I have watched the same thing here in Myrtle Beach.  It nice to watch it grow and to be a part of it.  But at the same time, it's nice to keep the "good old days" feel.

08/29/2007 09:50 PM by David and Kristin Small, REALTORS®- Myrtle Beach Real Estate (Eagle Realty- Myrtle Beach)


You are right.  I wonder about the people that were here before the dam was built and the lake filled.  They lost farms and ranches and homes.  Many of the buildings were moved to higher ground.  That was before my time!  Now they saw some "progress"!

08/29/2007 10:08 PM by Summit County, Colorado Realtor l Joanne Hanson (Coldwell Banker Colorado Rockies Real Estate)


Joanne - it will be interesting to see how things progress. We experienced something similar 2 years ago - lots of condo conversions and new developments - I hope they manage the inventory better than here - too much at one time hurts everyone. Great info and you are the Summit County Real Estate expert. 

08/29/2007 11:43 PM by Clearwater Beach Real Estate |Clearwater Real Estate Homes & Condos -Jack Haydon (Belloise Realty)


Cyndee, we don't have as much room to grow as you have, so that is actually good news.  We do have a lot of small single family homes that are built on and that is zoned for multifamily.  Those homes will eventually get scraped and condos will take over.  It has started, and although it won't change Main Street, it will change the areas surrounding it. 

08/29/2007 11:55 PM by Summit County, Colorado Realtor l Joanne Hanson (Coldwell Banker Colorado Rockies Real Estate)


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Real Estate Agent: Summit County, Colorado Realtor l Joanne Hanson (Coldwell Banker Colorado Rockies Real Estate)
Summit County, Colorado Realtor l Joanne Hanson
Frisco, CO
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The Colorado mountains, real estate, ski resorts, lifestyle and vacation homes is my focus. We talk about buying and selling ski condos in Breckenridge, Keystone and Copper Mountain. Homes and land in Frisco, Dillon and Silverthorne are also in our market area

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