A beautiful day in the neighborhood of this 3-bedroom condo in Wildernest. Southern exposure, a great deck and you'll love the views: Lake Dillon and mountains. Brand spankin' new carpet throughout and new paint. Sun-drenched with warmth, the fresh interior looks great. Get ready for great BBQ's on the deck!  There's room for everyone here.  Washer/Dryer in unit.  Enjoy!

Great for locals who want their first home, or 2nd home buyers looking for good value in two-story property.   

The perfect mountain condo with all the amenities you could hope for, plus great hiking and biking are within steps.  It's on the bus route too, getting to the slopes has never been easier. The floor plan provides max. privacy and is perfect for entertaining. It been updated with hardwood floors, tile and a beautiful fireplace. Mountain and ski views from the living room and deck! GR8 BUY!  

 Open, airy and bright wtih views of the Peak 1 & Buffalo!  You'll love the remodelled large kitchen with new hardwood, 2 beautiful baths with new countertops, tile and fixtures, new carpet, doors, trim & hardware.  Huge deck with great mtn. views.  A club house with a pool, hot tub, sauna and game rooms. Fun for the entire family. On the bus route.  It has just about everything...just needs you! 

Your heart will jump for joy for this well cared for ground floor unit in the heart of Dillon It's priced to sell! The kitchen looks great w/ newer counters, cabinets & appliances.  Great storage in lower level w/ pool table, laundry, sauna & extra showers. Walk out patio right to the Summit Stage, tennis courts, park or anywhere your heart desires!  Low dues & WiFi. OWNER WILL CARRY, 20% DOWN!

Beautifully furnished & tastefully decorated condo has great views of the slopes and is w/in walking distance too! Ground floor location is convenient w/ parking right out front. Listen to the river and sit in the outdoor hot tubs all while on your laptop, WiFi works all over the property! The bike path will take you to all the attractions. Bedrooms on opposite sides of condo, great privacy.

Enjoy secluded, quiet setting between Keystone's Lake Village and the new River Run Village. Easily access Keystone's best skiing, shops and restaurants. Escape to your 2 bedroom 2 bath get-away for cool summers and winter fun.

 This one third acre lot is filled with mature pine and aspens, adding to your privacy and mountain home feel.  Bask in the sun and take in the wooded surroundings from the very large and south facing front deck.  Sit on the back deck and enjoy fantastic views of Buffalo and Red Mountains to the west.  The 1 car garage has plenty of room to store all of your winter and summer toys, with additional built in shelving.  You’re a hop, skip and a jump away from all of Summit County’s ski resorts and it’s a quick dash to I-70.  Such a great, central location! 

 At $500,000, this home is being sold fully furnished and is the most affordable log home in Summit County on the market today!  It is truly in move-in condition.  Don’t spend the money and time updating a different property, enjoy the beautiful remodel here without having to lift a finger.  Save your legwork for the mountains!  Take advantage of the first time homebuyer $8,000. tax credit or the move-up buyer $6,500. tax credit and get yourself into this charming log cabin.  Don’t wait until interest rates go up and inventory levels go down, give your broker or Summit Real Estate a call today! 

Looking to Buy?  Not ready to speak to a broker?  Visit www.SummitHomeBuyer.com

Meet Lynn Sustad, Kelie Gray and Anna Willis, the Buyer Specialist Team at Summit Real Estate-The Simson / Nenninger Team.  Devoted to working with Buyers, these Specialists tour hundreds of homes and commit to having the most comprehensive knowledge in the market.  A member of the Buyer Specialist Team can be reached at (800) 262.8442 or (970) 468.6800, www.SummitRealEstate.com or email us at Team@SummitRealEstate.com

This newer and wonderfully maintained condo is a great mountain retreat or primary residence. End unit is private, sunny & warm w/ great deck to enjoy the beautiful sunsets and mountain views! Washer/Dryer in unit, huge storage room in basement, extra storage closet on deck & low dues make it easy & affordable. Great Summit Cove location, on bike path, easy access to all the resort towns & mountain activities.  Move on in!

This beautifully furnished and tastefully decorated condo can be your mountain getaway!  Newly remodeled with carpet, paint, tile, lights, blinds. Light & bright unit, west facing, great views,ground floor. Central location, minutes from Dillon & Keystone, summer & winter trails within  quarter mile. Spacious living area with gas Fireplace, Washer/Dryer in unit. Room for all of your toys in a large exterior storage closet.

What a choice property!  You'll love the privacy and great wooded views from the big deck.  Spacious interior with vaulted ceilings.  There's room for everyone with the loft sleeping area.  Great rental property that is a skier's delight.  Jump on the shuttle and you're minutes from the slopes.  You'll feel relaxed and happy snuggled up in front of the fireplace with your family and friends.

This one is a breath of fresh air!  Clean and bright with sunny windows & deck.  New flooring, paint.  You'll love the new cabinetry & new counter tops. Unit is on entry level with no stairs. Building C is right next to the clubhouse and swimming pool. Great association and maintenance.  You'll be close to everything Summit County has to offer.  Hop on the free shuttle and you're on your way!

Enjoy all the splendors Summit County has to offer at a less expensive price. This wonderful 2-bedroom condo is centrally located within 15 minutes of 4 world-class ski areas, and only 30 min from Vail. Don't miss out on the opportunity of a lifetime, GET IN WHILE YOU CAN!! LOCALS-stop paying rent, WEEKENDERS-save money on accommodations, or INVESTORS-make this work for you.

"As lending practices continues to tighten, it has become exceedingly apparent how this affects our economy in Summit County.
 
Current Fannie Mae Guidelines indicate perfectly sound and warrantable condominium projects in Summit  County may be denied any financing possibilities simply because they are located in a "resort" area or because individual unit owners may rent their units on a nightly basis. Furthermore large banks are adding additional cumbersome barriers restricting financing  because many condominiums do not have individual meters for gas and electric services or because the word "lodge" is in the name.  These are examples of unreasonable and unfounded restrictions that are severely hindering buyers trying to purchase condos in our area.
 
If lenders had the ability to loan judiciously to a fireman or a teacher or other permanent residents who's main option for housing is a condominium, we would see more building, more jobs and a good beginning of economic recovery.  Second homeowners are also hurt by these restrictions and are finding it increasingly difficult to purchase property in Summit County. Healthy resort areas are one of the major heartbeats of Colorado.   
 
When people think of Colorado, they think of mountains and fishing and snow and skiing. Tourism is the second largest economic driver in Colorado.We also rely on tourists to buy  second homes in Summit County furthering jobs and promoting a healthy economy.
 
We need your help and strongly urge you to help reopen the financing doors from FNMA and FHLMC.
 
Thank you in advance for your consideration and help!"

Certainly, the lending practices had gotten far too lax, but to penalize strong, stable complexes with few to no foreclosures on their books seems irresponsible in the other direction!  

We do have a few great lenders who are able to finance condos in Summit County- up to 90%.  Please call if you'd like more info.

The home-sale market has taken a beating throughout the nation in the last few years, which begs the question: Does it makes sense financially to invest in home improvements? According to Diane Hymer of Inman News and Remodeling Magazine's annual Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report for 2009-10, published in agreement with the National Association of Realtors, indicates that remodeling still pays off, but more so on less expensive projects.
Most high-end remodeling projects don't return dollar for dollar on the investment even in a good market. That is, unless homes are appreciating at a fast clip. In this case, you might get your money back due to appreciation. But the profit on the sale might not be as much as it would have been if you hadn't done a high-end renovation.
Just as today's homebuyers are making pragmatic decisions, so are today's homeowners when it comes to making improvements.

These projects returned from 71 to 83 percent nationally depending on the materials used. The project that paid back the highest return was a midrange front-door replacement that cost approximately $1,200 and returned an average 128.9 percent nationally.
Sellers may wonder why it would make sense to invest in an improvement just for the sake of selling if it won't repay the amount invested. In today's challenging home-sale market, these improvements may be warranted for the home sell at all if there is a lot of inventory in your neighborhood. Buyers expect more for their money and gravitate to listings that are in the best condition for the price.
HOUSE HUNTING TIP: Be judicious about how you spend your money fixing your home up for sale. For example, if your kitchen is a disaster, it makes more sense to do a midrange than an upscale renovation. According to the Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report, a midrange minor kitchen upgrade will return an average of 78.3 percent nationally. A major upscale kitchen remodel will pay back only 63.2 percent
The Cost vs. Value Report recommends the following cost-effective improvements you might consider to prepare your home for the market: tidying up the kitchen cabinets using organizers will make your cabinets roomy; add an inexpensive tile backsplash to a tired kitchen, and use inexpensive tile to give an old bathroom a new look; add a breakfast bar by cutting an opening between the kitchen and family room; and install granite tile rather than slab.
Other suggestions include: replacing outdated light fixtures; freshening up the basement; giving the kitchen cabinets a new look by reconditioning and adding new knobs or having cabinet doors and drawers replaced; updating a bathroom without replacing tile by changing the medicine cabinet, light fixtures, vanity, cleaning the grout or replacing it and adding glass shower doors.
THE CLOSING: Before starting any fix-up-for-sale projects, seek your real estate agent's advice so that you don't waste money on improvements that won't pay back much in your area.

If you have specific questions about fixing up your place, please don't hesitate to call.  Or, if you'd like a copy of our special report "Staging Your Home", just let us know and we'll send it to you. We're here to help! 

Question:  Allison, we are considering selling our Keystone condo in a year or so and would like to do some updating and remodeling before then.  Is it a good idea to fix our place up and put money into it before selling in this market?

Answer: Yes. And no. The home-sale market has taken a beating throughout the nation in the last few years, which begs the question: Does it makes sense financially to invest in home improvements?

Remodeling Magazine's annual Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report for 2009-10, published in agreement with the National Association of Realtors, indicates that remodeling still pays off, but more so on less expensive projects.

Most high-end remodeling projects don't return dollar for dollar on the investment even in a good market. That is, unless homes are appreciating at a fast clip. In this case, you might get your money back due to appreciation. But the profit on the sale might not be as much as it would have been if you hadn't done a high-end renovation.

Just as today's homebuyers are making pragmatic decisions, so are today's homeowners when it comes to making improvements. Most of the remodeling projects with the largest return were for such things as replacing exterior siding and windows. On average the cost involved was less than $14,000, according to Remodeling Magazine.

These projects returned from 71 to 83 percent nationally depending on the materials used. The project that paid back the highest return was a midrange front-door replacement that cost approximately $1,200 and returned an average 128.9 percent nationally.

Sellers may wonder why it would make sense to invest in an improvement just for the sake of selling if it won't repay the amount invested. In today's challenging home-sale market, these improvements may be warranted for the home sell at all if there is a lot of inventory in your neighborhood. Buyers expect more for their money and gravitate to listings that are in the best condition for the price.

HOUSE HUNTING TIP: Be judicious about how you spend your money fixing your home up for sale. For example, if your kitchen is a disaster, it makes more sense to do a midrange than an upscale renovation. According to the Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report, a midrange minor kitchen upgrade will return an average of 78.3 percent nationally. A major upscale kitchen remodel will pay back only 63.2 percent

The Cost vs. Value Report recommends the following cost-effective improvements you might consider to prepare your home for the market: tidying up the kitchen cabinets using organizers will make your cabinets roomy; add an inexpensive tile backsplash to a tired kitchen, and use inexpensive tile to give an old bathroom a new look; add a breakfast bar by cutting an opening between the kitchen and family room; and install granite tile rather than slab.

Other suggestions include: replacing outdated light fixtures; freshening up the basement; giving the kitchen cabinets a new look by reconditioning and adding new knobs or having cabinet doors and drawers replaced; updating a bathroom without replacing tile by changing the medicine cabinet, light fixtures, vanity, cleaning the grout or replacing it and adding glass shower doors.

THE CLOSING: Before starting any fix-up-for-sale projects, seek your real estate agent's advice so that you don't waste money on improvements that won't pay back much in your area.

For answers to your real estate questions, call Allison at 970-468-6800. Email - Info@SummitRealEstate.com. Are you looking to purchase property in Summit county, but not ready to speak with a Broker yet?  Go to www.SummitHomeBuyer.com for a list of properties that meet your criteria!

Question:  What do you see on the real estate horizon? 

Answer: I wish I could consult my real estate crystal ball, but alas, it’s in the shop getting some work done!  There is so much speculation about real estate in the media today it’s difficult to discern what is reality and what is fantasy.  But according to Inman News Group, while most housing analysts believe there will be no double-dip recession, the number of foreclosures will continue to hound the industry in 2010.

"The only guys predicting a double-dip recession are guys who want to make a name for themselves," said John Tuccillo, national residential consultant and the former chief economist of the National Association of Realtors.

"If they can call this one right, everybody will remember them. But, in reality, it will be a long, grinding, slow recovery. Banks are sitting on too much cash now for a double dip, and I don't think most people see that happening."

Lawrence Yun, the present NAR economist, expects the $8,000 first-time homebuyer credit extension to continue to stimulate the lower end of the market, influencing the entire housing ladder. As more first-timers move in, others move up.

About 47 percent of all home sales in 2009 involved first-timers, up from 41 percent in 2008 and 36 percent in 2006. Yun believes that number will continue to rise because of an estimated 16 million renter households making enough money to qualify to buy homes. Demand should remain strong in 2010 and restore confidence for all potential buyers.

"I don't think the fear factor will be at play in 2010," Yun said. "We're seeing price stabilization on a month-to-month basis."

Yun's numbers show the pool of first-time buyers is 5 million more than in 2000, and thus represents pent-up demand. In his opinion, if the credit continues to have the same impact on demand in 2010, overall house prices will rise 3-5 percent this year and sales will be up "conservatively" 15 percent.

It remains to be seen if the first-time homebuyer program -- plus the new $6,500 credit for existing homeowners -- will generate enough energy to eliminate the fear factor this year. People simply postpone a buying decision if they believe home prices will continue to go down.

The stewing pot is the number of foreclosures heading to the market. Some lenders, deluged with active foreclosures, are way behind with some borrowers who are 16-20 months behind in their payments. These properties have yet to hit the market as foreclosures. Yun predicts 2.2 million foreclosures this year.

Let's hope that fear factor is quickly eliminated in 2010. Let's hope people will regain the confidence -- and guts -- to make their payments or seek a realistic, honest solution.

For answers to your real estate questions, call Allison at 970-468-6800. Email - Info@SummitRealEstate.com. Want to know the value of your Summit County property? Visit www.SummitHomeValue.com   

Very large lot that is over an acre!  Just 2 miles I-70 and the convenience that brings, but feels miles aways from city life.  Site is flat so it'll be easy to build your dream home on it.  Views are to the east, down valley and the Gore Range to the west. Like to golf? Love to ski? Cross Country? Snowshoeing? Hiking? It's all out your back door! 

Getting a loan?  It could be easier now for you to "shop around" to pick the most cost effective loan...or not, depending on your point of view!

Recent guidelines from Washington have forced a change to the way that loan originators will disclose closing costs for all homebuyers. The purpose of the new Good Faith Estimate is to level the playing field for borrowers comparing loans to be able to make apples to apples comparisons for loan scenarios.

In essence, HUD is working to bring all lenders up to the same standard of excellence in reporting closing costs that I have always adhered to, estimating realistic fees that a buyer should expect to pay at closing with no last minute surprises.

What are the important facts you should be aware of in having conversations with homebuyers? Below are some important points to know:

All fees paid to the lender/broker are to be consolidated in one line, including processing fees, origination fees, etc. These charges cannot change from the original estimate without a material change to the loan requested.
In the event fees are being charged to obtain a lower rate, these are to be broken out and itemized for the borrower's ease of comparison to other loan programs.
Estimates for fees from government recording charges and third party settlement providers we suggest are to be itemized and the lender is held to a tolerance of 10% for their accuracy. In the event the estimated charges exceed the amount listed by the allowable tolerance, the lender will be responsible for making up the difference. Estimates for services that the buyer can shop for and do choose can change at settlement without the lender being held accountable. This can include title charges, homeowner's insurance, and initial deposits for an escrow account.

In some ways this new form will be easier to understand, and more difficult in others!  We know some great lenders, so if you're looking, please give us a call. We're happy to help! 

"There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."   —Albert Einstein

The 2010 Conference has been booked and this years key note speaker is Dave Ramsey . I do not personally profit if you sign up on my recommendation, but if you try to sign up without going through me it is going to cost you extra money.  Us the link below to get the discount.

http://www.gostarpower.com/go?w=conference&p=a434

STAR POWER also has a new saying that fits perfectly with the organization's goals:

STAR POWER is ... Success Shared™.

I'm proud to be a part of this extraordinary organization helping thousands of agents across the country learn how to be more successful, both professionally and personally.

Agents interested in elevating their business should definitely look into going to STAR POWER Conference. Again, the site is:  http://www.gostarpower.com/go?w=conference&p=a434

For anyone who's counting...the statistical data for sales in Summit County 2009 is in! Here, in a nutshell, is the summary for Summit County.  As always, if you'd like more details, please just give us a call! 

*Summit County ended the year 2009 with $683,009,100 in monetary sales volume. This is 36% shy of the 2008 total.

*Total Transactions in 2009 totaled 1047, 32% shy of 2008's total.

*The areas that showed an increase in median average price for Single Family 2008 to 2009- Breckenridge at +14%, Keystone at +27%, Peak 7 ( Crystal Peak Lodge) at +33%, Silverthorne at +20%,- the total Median Price Single Family Gross Live Median increased by +4%.

*The areas that showed an increase in median average price for Multi-Family 2008 to 2009 –Copper Mountain at 21%, Silverthorne at 2% and Summit Cove at 22%-the total Median Price for Condo and Townhome sales overall decreased by 10%

*The total Median Price for Vacant Land only decreased from 2008-2009 by 3%.

*There were 136 Residential Units that sold for $1M and over in 2009 vs. 177 in 2008 and 208 in 2007.

*The most active Residential Price ranges in December were $200k-300k 21 transactions, $300K -400K 22 transactions, $400K-500K 21 transactions and $500K-600K21 transactions.

*The YTD Price Point Summary for 2009 indicates a total of 1047 transactions vs. 2008 at 1471 transactions and 2007 at 2581 transactions.

*The Year to Date 2009 areas with highest number of transactions: Breckenridge at 257, Keystone at 173 transactions, Frisco at 127 transactions, Silverthorne at 117 transactions, the Breckenridge Golf Course area at 116 transactions, and Wildernest with 114 transactions. Cash transactions are still averaging around 40% each month.

Note: This information was obtained from Land Title Guarantee company and comes from actual recorded transactions at the County Clerk and Recorder’s Office for that particular month.  The information is not directly related to MLS data. The data is an unofficial tabulation of Summit County Records that are believed to be reasonably accurate.

Yes, Summit County has been hit by the national recession, but not nearly as hard as so many parts of the country.  For this we are thankful and hopeful for some stabilization in the national economy this year.

If you would like specific information about your Summit County property or any particular complex or subdivision, please respond to this email and we'll send you the 2009 Sales report for that area!

Warmly,

Allison Simson, Owner/Broker
Lynn Sustad, Buyer Specialist
Kelie Gray, Buyer Specialist
Anna Willis, Buyer Specialist
Kristi Warner, Client Care Manager
Margaret Bowes, Transaction Coordinator

Skiers, sightseers, residents and mountain travelers of all kinds now have an exciting new way of planning and optimizing their next trip along I-70. GoI70.com is a new website and mobile phone application dedicated to the I-70 traveler.

“GoI70.com is the single address that you need to plan your next trip to the Colorado high country,” said Tad Kline, TDM Program Manager of the I-70 Mountain Corridor Coalition. “We have gathered together the best highway, weather, snow conditions and local information available and put it on a single web page. You can view current highway speeds, get tips for the best times to travel, or search for anything your heart desires - trailheads, shopping, parking, lodging, restaurants – anywhere along I-70 mountain corridor.”

The site includes road information from CDOT, Google and from the network of GoI70 Jackrabbits – frequent users of the highway who post updates of current travel conditions. The Jackrabbits are part of the GoI70 social network where travelers can post their first-hand impressions of road conditions and keep up to date about what is going on along the I-70 corridor.

Since going live just before Thanksgiving, GoI70 has had 2300 unique visitors to the website and nearly 100 people follow its tweets daily, getting up to the minute information about changing highway conditions on their mobile phones. The GoI70 social network has drawn notice from Warren Miller Entertainment and the Colorado Snow website, among many others.

The GoI70.com blog offers detailed travel forecasts for the upcoming weekends and holidays, and tips for the best times to travel along I-70.

Once you are on the road, text alerts on changing road conditions can be sent direct to your phone or you can check http://goI70.com/mobile on your smart phone for the latest highway news and current travel speeds.

Visit GoI70.com and "Know before you go!”

About I-70 Mountain Corridor Coalition

The coalition was formed through an intergovernmental agreement in January 2004 to address transportation issues in the I-70 mountain corridor, and to respond to CDOT's Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement. The local governments involved in the coalition include Roaring Fork Transportation Authority, the counties of Clear Creek, Eagle, Garfield, Grand, Jefferson and Summit, plus the cities and towns of Aspen, Avon, Breckenridge, Dillon, Empire, Fraser, Frisco, Georgetown, Glenwood Springs, Golden, Grand Lake, Idaho Springs, Leadville, Minturn, Silverthorne, Silver Plume, Vail, and Winter Park. Private partners include Powdr-Copper Mountain, Intrawest Corporation and Vail Resorts, Inc. More information is available at www.i70solutions.org.