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The data is in and it looks as though real estate property sales in Chaffee County are headed upward! The numbers for 2009 are about half of what they were in 2007 and the data shows that the worst sales months were in late 2008 and early 2009.
Within the graph there is an obvious annual cycle and a 12-month trailing-average trendline indicates that sales numbers have hit bottom and are trending upward. Since winter and early spring is the softest sales period, it will likely take into May before we know how business is going to be. Keep in mind that current times have established a new normal and growth will be slow and steady over the next years. The good news is Buena Vista is still a gem in the Rockies and the desire to be here has not diminished!
I was sitting here in the kitchen this morning looking out the window and the thought came to me that the view reminded me of Switzerland. Then I realized, this view that I see everyday, is really my Buena Vista view. The sky was clear Colorado blue; the air was a crisp 11 degrees; the new snow on Mt. Princeton just made that massif stand out as if it were pasted on the sky. One is just compelled to stare.
There are days when there is not enough hustle and bustle here in this town for me, but when I stop and look at the surroundings, I am always awed at the majesty of this valley. There are other impressive views that I have seen in my travels, but these are particularly so. I finally realized that views here are different because I have hiked the trails and climbed the peaks and know the back country. Elsewhere, a view is a view, but each one here has a memory or two for me.
If ever there was a little town, nestled in a valley, surrounded by snow covered peaks, that made you think of a Colorado Christmas, Buena Vista could be the one.
Here in Buena Vista we are getting to the lazy time of year in real estate. Everyone seems pretty much otherwise focused during the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Years day. But there are always surprises! There are those folks who do not rush around during the holiday, but live leisurely…and often end up here in the mountains to enjoy what is naturally here. Once in a while they find real estate that speaks to them. Needless to say, that can make the holidays merry for a lot of people.
I have one of those properties listed. It has been on the market too long. It is one of those upper-end homes that is the epitome of comfort, energy thoughtfulness, careful layout and attention to detail. The price has been reduced over the year, largely due to market changes. This house is nestled in the trees, but offers great views and from inside one continually appreciates the outside. If you are ready for an opportunity to purchase yourself a gift that will give back for years to come…here it is.
For an information sheet, click on the picture and for a virtual tour of the property, click here  .
Happy holidays…and feel free to call me!
There is just something about Buena Vista. For me, it is not quite big or busy enough, but the front range is a bit too busy. Yesterday I went to Denver, where there was snow on the ground and the temperature was in the 20s. When I got back to BV, it was sunny, windy and 60ish; the mountains were looking great..with peaks some 6,000 feet above our 8,000 ft valley floor.
When taking trips to the Front Range on the weekends, one thing is notable, heavy traffic is headed west on Saturday morning and headed back east on Sunday afternoon…so for me the slow traffic is usually in the other lane. I get it! We have more 14ers and better whitewater than anywhere else in the lower 48, along with great family skiing areas. This is where Coloradans come to play. Perhaps it is time for me to ignore the slowness here and just play more…after all…how great is it to live on the playground!
It’s time to buy! Currently the $8,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers will expire at the end of November…in fact the transaction should be closed by then, so that means that a contract should be made by mid-October if you are going to get everything done. Also, interest rates are down. A 30-year mortgage is running about 5.75% in Buena Vista…and on top of that we have a nice selection of homes from which to choose.
So, if you have not owned a home during the last three years, this may be a good time to change that. I can help!
It happens every year. The aspen trees start to turn, the mountains become gold and green, then one morning the high peaks are snow capped. It happened a couple of days ago here in Buena Vista. It is a glorious sight to see the gold and green capped with white. It also means summer is over and any high climbs probably ought to be scheduled soon. Although over, autumn in the high country may go on for months. Quite often we do not get snow on the valley floor until after Thanksgiving.
This year summer did not bring many buyers to my office, but now that fall is here, the pace has picked up a bit. Almost, as if after a year of mourning…or perhaps just a year a waiting to see what the financial markets would do, buyers are ready to get on with life. We are where we are and this is probably normal now. With all the national commotion about that and that, Buena Vista is a great place to be, just to be. Come join us!
It’s getting to be aspen time in the high country of Colorado when stands of aspen quickly turn yellow and light up the hillsides. On a sunny, blue-sky day in Colorado there is nothing quite like walking through and beneath a large stand of aspen…all of a sudden the world is golden.
With real estate activity picking up a bit in the mountains, many buyers will strike gold as they look for retirement and second homes or lots on which to build. The inventory is very good here in Buena Vista, so finding the dream property is easier this year. If this is the time for you to invest in the mountains, I’d be happy to assist.
Gold Rush Days have come and gone along with the burro races that bring crowds to Buena Vista. Summertime here is a month of beginnings and endings. The rafting season will soon end, but the hiking and climbing season are in full swing, now that most of the snow has melted off the trails. Vacationers are packing the town, but that will slow down as the schools get underway, which will make room for the visitors who always wait until after Labor Day for their mountain visit. Then comes the beginning of the aspen season. One of the enjoyable aspects of living here in the mountains is the great availability of outdoor activities on a year around basis, so just about any month is the end and beginning of something.
We’d love to have you join us here. Real estate sales are down, but values are steady and inventory is up…so there is bound to be a good property for you here in our mountain valley.
The July 4th weekend is over and Buena Vista seems a bit empty. Reports from around Colorado indicate that many folks headed to what is called the “high country” to celebrate the holiday weekend. High country to those along the Front Range means the elevation of Buena Vista, 8,000 feet. For me, in Buena Vista, the high country is above 11,000 feet. At any rate, the town was packed with campers, hikers, fisherfolk and those who just wanted to enjoy a small Colorado Mountain town. The motels were full, there were lines at the restaurants, the fireworks were enjoyed, the parade was long, the quilt show was a success…all to say that Coloradans love their mountains and mountain communities. Many of us grumble when it takes more than 30 seconds to make a left-hand turn…but on mornings such as this, we realize how popular our part of the country is and how fortunate we are to live here. If you would like to join us, I’d be happy to assist you!
Not all of the traffic was on the roads…Central Colorado Regional Airport is a popular portal into our area…and it was busy with locals, second-home folks and transients. If you fly, give it a try. Traffic big and small
Should I buy a house or not? Should I sell my property or not? These are the questions being asked and fairly so. In Buena Vista, the real estate market is slow and if picking up…not doing it very quickly. Everyone is waiting for the bounce back and I’m not sure there is going to be one.
I think we are where we are. This is it for now. Certainly sales will continue and even increase as the economy strengthens, but for now we need to think of current conditions as the new norm. Decisions that are made regarding real estate or any other matter should be made on the basis of how conditions are today…not what we expect. We are not going back to the old times or to any times…we are fundamentally changing the the way business works and the way customers and businesses interact.
It is universally time for change and here it is. That means we need to learn the new ways of doing business and it has started by a jump from the Internet, which worked well and we got used to , to the social media ideas of direct contact with minimal middle persons. The social media now is in the state home computers were in the late 70s. It will be a few years before we see the full impact of SM, but I’m betting it will take us to a place we have not thought of yet!
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Welcome! Buena Vista, at 8,000 feet, sits in the Upper Arkansas Valley surrounded by 13,000 and 14,000 foot peaks in the heart of the Colorado Rockies. This area is a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts and is a second-home or retirement community for those who love the beauty and high-country adventure. I invite you to pay us a visit.
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