Archive for the ‘The Steamboat Lifestyle’ Category
Sunday, September 13th, 2009
We are in full transition from summer into fall, my favorite time of year in Steamboat Springs. Although we experienced an incredible summer of weather there is something very special about September and October. Life seems to move at a slower pace and people seem more relaxed. We wake to brisk morning walks and soon the valley will begin to change to a rainbow of various colors. Still days in the sixties and seventies can be expected well into October and sometimes into November. This doesn’t’ mean that we won’t experience a snow fall or two just to let us know that winter is on its way. Its Mother Nature’s way of telling us to get the snow tires ready and the skis’ waxed. Soon the long john’s will appear and a hat and gloves will be required for our morning stroll.
Fall brings the end to the baseball season and the start of football as well as the hunting season. Local schools are in full swing and the sidewalks of downtown Steamboat seem inviting if not full of anxious shoppers.
From a Real Estate standpoint we are also transitioning from our historically high season which ends with September to our 4th quarter. It is a great time of year to see properties as the condos and townhomes are not filled and easier to access. Deals can be had at most lodging properties and nary a reservation is required at your favorite local restaurant. Opportunities may exist on some properties as Sellers are anxious to sell prior to the onset of winter. Come experience this wonderful time of year in the Yampa Valley. You won’t be disappointed.
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Friday, August 7th, 2009
By Susana
The real estate market may be slower than usual right now in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, as in most of the nation (world?) but in my opinion it won’t be like that in Steamboat for long. And I’m even willing to place some bets. (Ask my husband and he’ll tell you I only place bets when I know I’m going to win – so watch out!)
What, you may ask, do I base this on? One word: Technology. And the human need for sanity. (Okay, seven words.) More specifically: technology and how we humans are now interacting with it; technology and the impact that it is having, and will continue to have at an accelerated rate, on our society, our culture, our way of working.
Sure Steamboat is expensive, but not that expensive. A lot of people have jobs which produce the income needed to be able to buy a decent home here (and the necessary toys required to enjoy a ski town). So, what’s kept them away from Steamboat? Their being tied to metropolitan areas for work.
The internet and cell phones started changing that already a few years back. We apparently already have 700+ people living here that have “Location Neutral” jobs. What I’m seeing though are all the jobs that are being created by these new technologies that are inherently Location Neutral. As manufacturing jobs leave our nation (of which there never were very many in Steamboat anyway), Location Neutral jobs are taking their place. And what better place for people to live, when they can choose ANYWHERE to live, than Steamboat?
If you’re sitting in front of a computer all day, the human need for sanity (in my opinion) requires beautiful vistas to be right outside, fresh air, and outdoor exercise.
When you spend your days working within the virtual realities of cyberspace, the human need for sanity demands that we have face-to-face interactions with people on the street and the grocery store who know our name and our history. What does Steamboat have if not an extraordinary community within a lovely, user-friendly setting?
Okay. Which way are you going to bet? Show me your money.
Tags: real estate market trends in Steamboat Springs colorado, ski resort lifestyle, technology affects on lifestyle
Posted in Location, Market Trends, Real Estate Opportunities, The Steamboat Lifestyle | No Comments »
Friday, June 26th, 2009
I recently had the pleasure to accompany Doug Labor, who recently received his pilot’s license, on a flight around Routt County. The Colorado blue, cloudless morning afforded us an incredible view of all the landmarks of the Yampa Valley. On takeoff we headed south toward the Flat Tops Wilderness area. Off to the west you could clearly see Yampa Valley Regional Airport’s runway and just beyond the town of Hayden. As we approached the Flat Tops we were climbing to over 13,000 feet and still would have needed more to clear the snow covered peaks. On the way we could peer down at the towns of Oak Creek, Phippsburg and Yampa peacefully existing among their natural settings.
With the wet spring that we have endured it certainly has everything lush and green. I was surprised to see as many hidden lakes as we did. We proceeded to turn and head north east over Lynx Pass and the Stagecoach area and could see people enjoying the water activities at the Stagecoach State Park. Beyond the reservoir you could see the Yampa River meandering through Pleasant Valley on its way to Lake Catamount. As we passed the lake we could see the Rabbit Ears that gave the pass its name and began to approach the Steamboat Ski Area and Mount Werner. The city of Steamboat Springs lay at her feet aligned with the Yampa flowing through its midst. We passed by both the Walton Creek and Fish Creek drainage areas and could make out the waterfalls glistening in the sun. The Mount Zirkel Wilderness area was still holding its snow and we wondered how far up Buffalo pass one could go before snow blocked the way. Off to the right of the plane was a large canyon situated between the Fish Creek area and Seed House road. I made a mental note to see where this area is on the map and see if there is any access into the canyon.
On the horizon Hahn’s Peak kept getting larger as we approached. Pearl Lake with its still waters was now below us and as we circled Hahn’s Peak and the town of the same name we could clearly see into Wyoming just past Hog and Whiskey Parks. Heading south west once again Steamboat Lake appeared as did the Bears Ears and Sand Mountain in all of its glory.
Not everything was perfect however. It was clear that the Pine Beetle infestation is taking and will continue to take a tremendous toll from our lovely forests for decades to come. Of course in the middle of it all was the Sleeping Giant that you could see from almost any other place in the valley. I thought of the old Ute Indian legend that this sentry would rise up and protect the valley from any evil that might befall it. Even from the air this majestic figure gave me the sense of comfort knowing that all is well.
When we landed I thought about the past two hours and came away with the same conclusion that I have formulated from visiting all these areas by foot or car in the past. Routt County sure has a lot of “pretty”!
Posted in Hayden / Milner and West Routt, Stagecoach / Oak Creek / Yampa / Phippsburg / South Rou, Steamboat Lake / Clark / Columbine / Han's Peak / North, The Steamboat Lifestyle | No Comments »
Thursday, June 18th, 2009
“Mustang Sally better slow that Mustang down!” Yes it’s time again for the 21st annual Ford Mustang Roundup. This weekend the streets of Steamboat Springs will be filled with 450 Mustangs of every year and model. A variety of events occur throughout the weekend but my personal favorite takes place on Saturday June 20th when Lincoln Avenue will be closed to traffic from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. between 5th and 10th street allowing the Mustangs to show off their shine and grandeur. Strolling down the road seeing all of the classic and modern Mustangs and conversing with the owners is always an annual favorite.
Another Father’s Day favorite event is hiking up to the top of the Gondola and enjoying their tremendous brunch. From there my wife, Janet, and I will be joining our friends for our weekly “Sunday” round of golf. The winner is proudly presented with the winner’s jacket ala the Master’s tournament. Our jacket is passed on week to week and each winner is responsible in adding something to the jacket. The jacket itself is a rather hideous blue with gold piping. If you are looking to finance you may want to take a fresh look at FHA (Federal Housing Administration) programs. The FHA was created in 1934 and used extensively during the 40’s to help finance military housing and homes for returning veterans and their families. FHA funding has fallen out of favor in the past few years for a variety of reasons, one of which was a complaint that FHA appraisal guidelines were too stringent and the appraisers were too picky. The focus has shifted away from “picky” items like cracked windows and leaky faucets. The FHA is now concentrating on the overall valuation of the property. With the changes and streamlined features that the FHA has made there may be an opportunity to get better terms and better pricing then conventional loans. For more information on FHA programs go to: www.fha.gov.Happy Fathers day to all of you deserving Dad’s!
Posted in Financing, The Steamboat Lifestyle | No Comments »
Friday, June 12th, 2009
Sunshine! That precious commodity that we enjoy so often in Steamboat Springs has finally returned. For how long we are not certain but I can assure you that most locals will be out enjoying the sunshine while it lasts. June is, after all, supposed to be the driest month for Steamboat according to the weather service. My 33 years of occupancy disputes this theory as I believe September to be the driest month. So what is this eerie and unaccustomed sight of cloudy mornings and dark wet afternoons and evenings? The meteorologists claim that we are a victim of two massive storm fronts that don’t seem to be moving. One is anchored near the Aleutian Islands and another squatting off the coast of Greenland.
Whatever the reason I can tell you it is the main topic of conversation at coffee shops and grocery stores and all the other social gathering places. We are so accustomed to waking up to sun in the morning and not having to worry about rain that many of us don’t even own an umbrella.
Maybe the Sun is beginning to shine on the national economy also. International markets are showing positive signs as are the American Stock and Bond markets. Unemployment figures are declining and home sales are up.
Conversing with Colleagues in various parts of the country there seems to be a lot of people taking advantage of the $8,000.00 first time home buyers tax credit. What many people don’t understand is that a “First Time Home Buyer” is considered someone who has not had ownership interest in a home for 3 years or more.
Getting back to my weather theme today my analogy for Real Estate purchasing in the Steamboat Springs, Colorado area is akin to the perfect storm. We have great inventory, anxious sellers, historically low interest rates, Federal Tax credits and prices that reflect the market of two to four years past. Mix all of these ingredients together and you have the makings of a Buyer’s Tornado. The time and climate is right to take advantage of these ingredients. Now go out and enjoy the Sunshine!
Posted in Financing, The Steamboat Lifestyle | No Comments »
Friday, June 5th, 2009
By Ulrich
Welcome to Marathon Weekend! This Sunday, June 7th will see the 28th annual Steamboat Springs Marathon which is our unofficial kick off to summer. There will be 500 Marathon runners along with 1000 half marathoners and untold number of 10k runners. Time and time again people proclaim that this is one of their favorite runs. Almost all 50 states will be represented as well as various countries.
The full marathon course begins at Hahn’s Peak Village while the half marathon begins simultaneously at Moon Hill Meadows. The 10k begins in front of the Court House where all the runners will cross the finish line in front of fans and family. As you can imagine the logistics are quite an undertaking. The Transportation component alone of hauling 1,500 participants beginning at 6:00 a.m. is quite a feat. Getting the right runners into the correct bus and getting those buses to deliver the runners then get quickly out of the way. It is amazingly well orchestrated and quite a show in itself.
There was an interesting article regarding Steamboat Real Estate and the fact that price is and should not always be the bottom line factor. The author points out that we are sitting on historically low interest rates that are artificial and won’t last. Chad James points out that “For anyone who was waiting for prices to drop even more, a 1.00% increase in your interest rate would bring a higher monthly principal and interest payment on a home, even if the price of that same home had fallen an additional 10% in value. If you’re waiting for home prices to fall even lower, be aware that while holding out for a lower price may help you win the battle, you could lose the war in terms of monthly payments and overall affordability. With the Federal Reserve scheduled to end its buying of mortgage-backed securities this year, rates only stand to go higher for those that wait. In fact, interest rates are already on the rise and could go higher from here”.
Posted in Financing, The Steamboat Lifestyle | No Comments »
Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009
Happy Earth Day! Earth Day 2009 marks the 40th anniversary for this growing movement and the kick off of the “Green Generation Campaign” featuring these core principles:
- A carbon-free future based on renewable energy that will end our common dependency on fossil fuels, including coal.
- An individual’s commitment to responsible, sustainable consumption.
- Creation of a new green economy that lifts people out of poverty by creating millions of quality green jobs and transforms the global education system into a green one.
From its humble beginnings this grass roots movement has grown to an international stage in the education of sustainable and reusable practices. Green Building is becoming more and more attractive in the Yampa Valley also as prices for green products are competing favorably with standard fare. More and more builders in Steamboat Springs are adopting green building practices.The Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association has developed a certification program to help businesses of all types understand, adopt and maintain sustainable business practices. They have partnered with a third party auditor, Lynn Halliday, from Environmental Solutions, Unltd. Whose function is to educate and bring businesses up to a level of standard and practice by implementing these sustainable programs. Buyer’s Real Resource Real Estate of Steamboat Springs is proud to be the first Real Estate office to obtain the Gold Planet Certification, awarded on December 3, 2007. There are more and more organizations, web sites and information on various types of green building practices. From Geothermal heating to new innovations of Solar to simple items such as ENERGY STAR rated appliances. We encourage everyone to do their part to help maintain the health of this planet for our future generations.
Posted in The Steamboat Lifestyle | No Comments »
Friday, May 29th, 2009
It’s time to be OUTSIDE!!! So whether your plan is to rollerblade the Yampa River core trail, mountain bike Spring Creek trail to Buffalo pass, play eighteen holes of golf at the Haymaker Golf course or simply have a picnic lunch in little toots park, it’s time to enjoy the weather. On the way , no doubt, you will see people of all ages on the soccer and baseball fields, some kayakers and fishermen. As you pass them just give them a nice wave and a friendly Steamboat hello as is our custom. Steamboat Springs, after all, is all about recreation and friendliness.
Speaking of friendly, there is a very friendly deal on the market in Quail Run condominiums. It is a two bedroom one bath unit with an attached garage and 993 square feet of room for $299,900.00. This second floor unit was built in 1999 and has vaulted ceilings so it seems like there is even more room along with a gas fireplace. The next lower priced one is listed at $369,000.00 and the last one of this size to sell went for $ 392,000.00. One of the unique items at Quail Run is that all the heating and hot water is included in the HOA fees. At $313.00 per month this includes water, sewer, trash, cable TV, exterior building maintenance, exterior building insurance, lawn maintenance, snow plowing and shoveling and a common area hot tub.
Also included in the HOA, and something you should always ask about, is Capital Reserves. A portion of every month’s dues goes into a fund for future maintenance or improvements. Most healthy home owner associations have this valuable tool in place. Most healthy home owner associations also have a 10 to 20 year maintenance plan in place with costs and timelines. This allows you to look into the future and see what is on the horizon as far as needed repairs. The Capital Reserve account can be used to fund these improvements in a couple of ways. If it is a minor project then the entire amount can be taken from this account. If it is a major expenditure then this account can be used to leverage a loan to pay for the repairs and/or replacement of the item. This method means that there should be no major special assessments dropped on your door step. Also remember that once you own a property then you are a part of the HOA and can, and should, be actively involved in the HOA’s decision making.
Posted in Real Estate Opportunities, Steamboat Condominiums, The Steamboat Lifestyle | No Comments »
Monday, May 4th, 2009
By Ulrich,
Ah Spring! Or “Mud Season” as the locals refer to it. It certainly isn’t as bad as it used to be with more paved roads and sidewalks. Most of Steamboat Springs is empty now due to our school spring break. About 20 years ago the School Board was asked to review their vacation schedules which gave the kids almost three weeks off for Christmas break. This proved to be a hardship for most parents as they were somehow involved in the ski/tourism industry. The Christmas time has traditionally been one of the busiest time of the year and required “all hands on deck”. At that time a suggestion was made and accepted on a trial basis. The Christmas break would be shortened by one week and that week would begin one week after the close of the ski area.
This schedule proved to be so popular that it remains in effect today. This new schedule allows for parents to actually take a vacation with their kids. It is a great time of year to travel as the weather is usually favorable, there are plentiful lodging options and the airfares are at their cheapest.
Not all people fly however, there is always a contingent who haven’t had enough of their favorite winter sport who head to the few resorts that remain open. Add that to the annual pilgrimage to Moab, Utah for mountain biking and hiking and you end up with an empty Steamboat.
The few of us that remain to guard the town are treated with dinner and drink specials at the few remaining open dining establishments. It is a great time to relax, get the yard ready and gear up for what will be another event packed summer season. Sure it may require that a person has a multitude of professions throughout the year but most will proclaim that they enjoy having a definitive end to one job and they wouldn’t have it any other way.
Posted in The Steamboat Lifestyle | No Comments »
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