Is Now the Time to Buy a Home? Real Estate Affordability   Yes. Yes. Yes. Buy a home NOW. Today just might the best time to invest in real estate in a long time. Prices of Steamboat Springs real estate is down. Interest rates are at a new lows. And consumer confidence is rising. If you think about a roller coaster, we are just about to climb up in real estate values.  In fact, we're already seeing prices rise. So get in while rates are still low. When interest rates rise, people will not be able to afford as much as they can today. So if you can find the perfect home today, buy it. In Denver and Steamboat Springs, absorption rate is 2 months for single family homes. So it's not that easy to find the homes of your dream. Inventory might go up this summer, but I'm not confident that will ... 04/11/2013

Steamboat Springs Planning for the Future I am continually impressed with how the Steamboat Springs community plans for the future and  thinks long-term. I was reading the Steamboat Today this morning and saw that the City of Steamboat was evaluating what to do with the 1% lodging tax they collect.  Annually, this tax generates between $650,000 and $800,000. What was interesting to me was how progressive and well, just neat, that my neighbors have voted in this tax and attempt to use it wisely. The projects that are up for consideration are all projects that will greatly benefit our town. And these aren’t just infrastructure or boring things like that. These projects will directly benefit the locals and visitors alike for the long-term.   Four applicants made their presentations and fou... 04/08/2013

Steamboat Springs has Camp Robbers! No, not those kind of robbers, we just don’t have a lot of them here in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. I’m talking about Camp Robbers. The kind of Camp Robbers that you meet on the chairlift on Steamboat Springs Ski Area. Camp Robbers - they are birds we know and love in the Rocky Mountains. They are a fearless and friendly bird that will come right into your camp and rob you of your food; hence the name, Camp Robbers. They are also known as Gray Jays or Perisoreus canadensis. Camp Robber eating BROWNIES at the bottom of Morningside Chairlift These omnivores eat seeds, berries, insects, small rodents, brownies, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and french fries. They are quite busy in the summer caching their food by creating pellets using their stick... 04/03/2013

April 2013 Steamboat Springs Market Report     146 pending sales today!  There's never a dull moment in Steamboat Springs real estate. I just viewed a home that was on the market for 2 days had 12 showings and multiple offers. If you're a seller, things are looking up! If you are a buyer, we'll have to work a little harder...Roughly 30% of the market here is on fire. The remaining market is still flat Here are some of the highlights for the real estate market in Routt County-double click the images to see larger: Routt County Transactions: February home sales increased by 37% from January in gross dollar volume.  Total transactions were up 36% from January. Routt County Transactions (double click images to see larger) Market Analysis by Area: As usual, the Mountain area leads the total ... 04/02/2013

Facebook Influences World Wide Commerce  Here's am amazing video. I've said over and over again how the business of real estate has changed dramatically over the last 6 years. The amount of information available on your computer is endless. But it's not just Routt county real estate stats and foreclosure filings, these are just facts. But today, we have information contributed by each and every person on the Internet. Social media allows anyone to voice an opinion on products, service, and anything they see fit.  Facebook and social media is the new Better Business Bureau and companies are embracing this. Real Estate is a 24/7 business.   fbmarketingtalks on livestream.com. Broadcast Live Free 04/02/2013

Do You Get $75,000 Net Income on Your Vacation Home? Wouldn't it be nice to make $75,000 on your vacation home here in Steamboat Springs, Ski Town USA?  I've written a lot on 2660 Alpenglow Way and there’s a reason for that! It is a hidden gem that is in its own little world: -It’s a town home but feels and acts like a single family home. -It comes with high-end luxury furnishing…….but it’s just not over the top. -It has a 900 lb. dining room table that seats 16 but it’s not ostentatious-hard to believe. -It’s comfortable, welcoming and family friendly and….it has a great rental history. -Alepenglow Way home is situated on the mountain so the views look over the rooftops down the valley. You feel like you are out of town but you are “on The Mountain”. -Because if its location, you have ... 04/02/2013

Steamboat Springs, Marabou Ranch SOLD to Investors $11,100,000.  SF Marabou LLC, with possible ties to William Stolz and the Stolz Group out of Georgia, paid Elk River Partners the developers of Marabou Ranch in Steamboat Springs, over 11 million for their remaining lots in the  Marabou Ranch - a Premiere Fly Fishing Ranch in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Marabou Ranch is comprised of  1,717 acres of picturesque ranch land and open space.  Just 62 homesites will grace the Marabou Ranch property landscape. Marabou is primarily known for the prestigious trout fishing waters of the elk river. 18 remaining lot we sold for $11,100,000. That's about $616,000 per lot. These lot were once price and sold for $1.2 to$ 2.5 million. I don't expect the new prices to be under 1 million. But time will ... 04/01/2013

Steamboat Springs Real Estate Market Rebounds The numbers indicate there Steamboat Springs Market is experiencing a rebound. The mountain area had the highest number of transactions at almost 32% and the mountain area had over 51% of the total dollar volume for January 2013. The columns titles appear to be switched but you get the idea. 24% of the sales in January were between $300,001 and $500,000 - see chart below: Total numbers for 2011 and 2012 are below. Overall, gross dollar volume of residential homes in 2012 increased from $309,438,000 to $347,170,000 If you're looking to sell or buy real estate in the near future, I'd love to chat. Regards, Charlie (970) 846-6435 03/27/2013

National Market and Steamboat Springs Update  - March 2013 National Home Prices: National home prices are improving.  Fiserv Case-Shiller projected March 4, 2013 that home prices across the nation will grow by 3.3 percent every year for the next 5 years. As we reported to you last month, 2012 was the first positive year for both home prices and home sales volume increases since the market crash. According to Case-Shiller,  2012 was as close to normal as we've seen since 1997! Fiserv Case-Shiller Home Price Index measures the health of the housing market across the country.  It tracks data from repeat-sales of residential homes from 20 metropolitan regions and nationally. This chart from Standard & Poor/Case-Shiller shows the national home price trend. Overall, there was a 7.3% gain in t... 03/26/2013

Even Your Grandma Can Play in Steamboat Springs, CO   Steamboat Springs, Colorado does have nice activities for the elderly. My friend was wondering what her 84 year old mother would do if she spent part of the year with her here in Steamboat Springs. I mean, it can be really scary. You love your parents but they can’t exactly play with you anymore….and they don’t like mountain biking as much as you….and they don’t like jumping off that boulder on their new fat boards on a 10-inch powder day….and, well, they just don’t have the energy they used to have. Funny how that works. So I suggested a little internet research. Because, let’s face it, the big plan, I mean the BIG PLAN is your parents are always older than you. That’s just how it works. So after a brief look on the internet, here i... 03/21/2013

Energy-efficient entrance doors help to bring down the cost of your power bills, costing you less, as well as decorating the look of your house. If you live in an older home, it would be really worth investing in fresh doors that will offer much better insulation up against the weather and can help to reduce your energy bills. Purchasing and installing new energy-efficient doors will make your new home environmentally friendly as well as saving you on expenses.Choosing the best material for the door is determined by the location and use. Wood, fibreglass, and steel are the most dependable and cost-efficient solutions for doorways that are energy-efficient as well. Steel as well as fiberglass must be lined with an insulator, in order to lessen energy ineffectiveness, whereas timber is a... 03/21/2013

An important aspect to remember when choosing a home is the fact that a final walk-through and an inspection are two different things. This is not the time for reigniting the conversations with the vendor on extra maintenance besides the items previously settled. The reason behind this is so that you should understand that the house is in the same condition as it was upon last assessment and that absolutely nothing serious has gone wrong using the property for the time being. It is also a fun time to ensure that the particular agreed upon fixes were completed to your pleasure. This is usually carried out before the day's closing when the contracts are signed. You will see plenty of other activities to worry about, especially when the signing date attracts near, nevertheless the final w... 03/19/2013

Steamboat Springs Largest Aspen Tree Challenge! Do you know where the largest Aspen tree is? .   Here in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, we just about worship Aspen trees. Which is a good thing because we have a lot of them.   Fall Aspen Grove on Steamboat Springs Ski Area - Mt. Werner I want to know if you’ve ever seen one larger than this:  The Largest Aspen! I bet you haven't seen one larger. If you have, do you have proof? This one is somewhere close to the Flat Tops outside of Steamboat Springs. But, like my favorite fishing hole, I will have to kill you if I told you where this was exactly. Let me know - the challenge has been made….I just don’t think you’ve seen one larger…. Aspens dominate the Steamboat Springs mountainsides.  In addition, they are the highlight of many majestic ho... 03/18/2013

Steamboat Springs, Colorado Cross-Country Skiing   Another Magical Day Skiing on Rabbit Ears Pass It’s hard to believe but Alpine Skiing is not the only winter sport in Steamboat Springs! The way I view back-country skiing is  it is basically getting my exercise while taking a hike in the woods with a few moments of exhilaration (or fear) as I turn in the undisturbed powder. The beauty and peace of the Colorado Mountains just can’t be beat. Rabbit Ears Pass is one of my favorite haunts. It’s a 20 minute drive from Steamboat Springs to most of the trails which are frequented by skiers and folks on snow shoes. The National Geographic Trails Illustrated map #118 for Steamboat Springs Rabbit Ears has the cross-country trails clearly marked. You can find these maps at numerous shops in town ... 03/15/2013

Are You Trying to Get to Steamboat Springs, CO? When you are looking to buy a new home, transportation to and from Steamboat Springs is a key question I run across year after year. Some people have grandkids they visit monthly or they have a second home they will be travelling to often. Others travel as part of their job so getting to a major international airport is required. Steamboat Springs is a high mountain ski resort in the Rocky Mountains about a 3-1/2 hour drive from Denver. We have these things called mountains here that can make driving difficult, especially in the winter.  To help you with this there are numerous transportation options to get you to your final destination.  Yampa Valley Regional Airport, is located approximately 22 miles west of Steamboat Springs off of High... 03/12/2013

You have currently more data on how technology and modern ways of living have an impact on our environments which is the main reason why more homeowners try to make their homes as environmentally friendly and green as possible. It is not just for hippies anymore, in any case! Many individuals have more budget set aside than others for this, but even if you're just a little short on cash, there are small ways you can improve your home that will eventually help make a huge difference when it comes to helping the environment. A few could even have the potential to save you some funds in the long run also!First, when you do have a little cash saved up to put to this particular purpose, consider changing your siding or roofing components to OSB paneled siding, or Plywood which helps reflect ... 03/11/2013

Fun at Stagecoach Near Steamboat Springs, CO There's a lot of fun planned for the Stagecoach area outside of Steamboat Springs. The Friends of Stagecoach is a group of passionate Stagecoach area residents that are trying to improve Stagecoach State Park and the recreational opportunities of the area. The community of Stagecoach is located around Stagecoach Reservoir which is approximately a 30 minute drive from Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The Stagecoach community is situated on the shores of Stagecoach reservoir which provides stellar fishing, boating, and numerous other water activities.   Hiking, skiing, snowmobiling, and camping opportunities abound at Stagecoach which is surrounded by Routt National Forest.     In 2010, a group of residents created the Friends of Stagecoach State P... 03/10/2013

It's Confusing? Steamboat Springs Has Four Water Districts When you buy a home in the Steamboat Springs area, it can be a little confusing as to which water district you are in. There are four to choose from: The Mount Werner Water District The City of Steamboat Springs The Steamboat II Metropolitan District The Tree Haus Metropolitan District Mount Werner Water District Mount Werner Water District was formed in 1965 to provide service to the newly developed Steamboat Ski area. Mount Werner Water District services the area approximately south and east of Angler’s Drive. They bill quarterly and if you purchase a home in that area, you need to call and verify your mailing address. Mount Werner Water District can be reached at (970) 879-2424 City of Steamboat Springs The City of Steamboat ... 03/09/2013

Want to be Spoiled in Steamboat Springs? Emerald Lodge is How Location along with first class amenities makes this ski area property a perfect Steamboat Springs getaway. Located just steps from the base of the ski area, Emerald Lodge #5107 has all the luxury you desire with the ease of a convenient location. You will feel spoiled! You can either walk the two blocks to the ski area or hop on the private shuttle. Hiking, biking, skiing are all just moments away. And inside, you will find a well-appointed, fully furnished home ready for you and your guests. Emerald Lodge is one of the newer additions to Trappeurs Crossing which is the premier development in the area. Every detail is as close to perfection as you can get here at Trappeurs. This 4 bedroom, 4 bath ground floor unit comes full... 03/07/2013

Ski resorts own an Alpine slide, a ride that produces summer income for them. A cart that has wheels is used to navigate a long chute built on the hillside. The process is very similar to riding a bobsled but instead of the track being made from ice, it is generally manufactured from smooth components similar to fiberglass, stainless-steel or cement. The cart could accommodate 1 or 2 passengers and is managed by a handbrake that may be found between the legs of the driver. Pulling the handle stops the cart and releasing the handle releases the handbrake and enables the cart to accelerate. The experience is one of a kind among amusement park rides since the rider has control on his experience and his speed.Colorado has many alpine slides which provide a variety of experiences and here a... 03/05/2013