Buena Vista Real Estate » Buena Vista Real Estate

…and still holding

Mal Sillars — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 20:42:04 +0000

It has been an interesting season in the real estate business. While business in the Buena Vista area is down, there are still closings taking place…most of them in the upper part of the market. And as we approach Christmas, the phone and Internet inquiries are still coming in. They are not all big items, but at this time of year, there are more inquiries than I would have expected. What does that mean for next year? I have no idea, but my guess is that it will be better than 2011. 2011 was year three of business bumping along the bottom of the scale and next year may be year four, but I do think the trend will be up. Being an election year may not help. The good news is that the inventory here in Chaffee County is high, the mortgage interest rates are low and the mountains, trails and streams and rivers continue to awe visitors and assure the rest of us that this is the place to be. If you would like to join us, I’d be happy to assist!

…and holding

Mal Sillars — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 16:59:51 +0000

In my last post I indicated that there had been a burst of real estate activity in August and September. I’m here to tell you that as we head for mid-October the interest is still there. My activity and the activity in the office is starting to feel like old times! We are certainly not out of the woods yet as far as real estate business in this valley goes, but for this week it’s good. Come join us. There is a large inventory and with 30-year interest rates less than 4%, now is the time to make your move to the Colorado high county.

Falling into Autumn

Mal Sillars — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 15:10:19 +0000

Here we are heading into the last quarter of the year. The aspen are near peak color and the mountains look spectacular. There has been a bit of snow on the high peaks, but still no mantle…but that will change in the next month.

The real estate business in Buena Vista had a puff of activity during the August and September and it is yet to be seen how the last quarter of the year will go. This is still one of the most beautiful areas in the country, the property inventory is great and interest rates are low…so it is a opportune time to make the move here. For me, there are trails to hike while waiting for the phone to ring…feel free to call. I have worked on real estate deals from the side of mountains!

Perhaps next year

Mal Sillars — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 16:15:33 +0000

August is almost here and Buena Vista is full of tourists, but most of them have not paid a visit to a real estate office. I understand that that is not the main reason they come here. Hello! There is so much to do here that you can fill a year’s worth of weekends doing stuff…and those of us who live here are always out enjoying some outdoor activity. But back to real estate. While there has been an increase in interest and activity…perhaps not offers…I think that this year may be the worst in sales of the past three years…we’ll know for sure come the end of December. Now there are still the fall months to go and they are often good, but at this rate, I think if there will be a significant increase in the real estate activity…it will be next year.

Buena Vista Pace

Mal Sillars — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 00:38:43 +0000

One great aspect of the real estate business is helping buyers and sellers buy and sell their property with a minimum of fuss. But beyond that, practicing real estate in Buena Vista allows a pleasant pace. There is no frenetic driving all over territory, running here and running there, trying to meet deadlines and generally getting upset. For me there is a nice mix of business which includes paperwork, phone calls, general visiting and time for a hike or a home project. It’s sort of like ‘having a life.’ I’ve already had the job where I did not have a life.

I really like to hike the mountains and trails here. There is something special about prolonged times in elevated spaces. Getting up there is often the hardest thing I do. That’s probably why so many of us have chosen to live here. There are jobs or other things to do…but basically, we just want to be here. When one considers climate, weather, beauty, natural wonder, rugged terrain, high peaks, fast rivers and endless outdoor activities to pursue, there may not be a better place to live and play.

Oh, we still have some room left!

Here’s a claim

Mal Sillars — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 21:19:22 +0000

One of the interesting properties of real estate in the west is the mining claim. These parcels are often in hard-to-get-to places…but not all of them. One of my current listings is on the top of Boulder Mountain at about 13,000 feet. That one is all rock. A newer one that I have recently listed is near Hancock Lakes along the Continental Divide Trail. It was worked to some degree back in the 1800′s, but now sits quietly in an awesome setting. Part of this claim is meadow with lots of wildflowers in the spring. The big draw of mining claim ownership is that they are usually surrounded by public land, which you cannot buy. By purchasing a claim, you have a place to call your own and are often surrounded by thousands of acres of amazing ruggedness and beauty.

Typically, when a prospector found ground of interest, he would “strike” a claim. The standard claim was 300 feet wide and 1500 feet long, creating an area of 10.33 acres. To mark the corners, rocks, stumps, posts and trees were used. Some of the old posts are still findable, as they were on the Dan Allen. Often a nearby tree was used as a marker to the actual corner of the claim and these trees were often marked “BT”, for bearing tree. Many of these trees are still standing.

The tree stump above has the US patent #3328 carved in and still readable. A tour of the Dan Allen is right here. The best features of this claim are the surrounding rugged beauty, the accessibility and being just across the road from the popular mountain fishing site of Hancock Lakes!

2011

Mal Sillars — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 20:41:31 +0000

2011 is well underway and so am I. I have been doing my cardio exercises so that I will be in shape to climb, first with snow shoes and in warmer times without. Outdoor activities are big in our part of Colorado. Any excuse to be outside doing something is a good one…and here in the Arkansas Valley there is plenty to do. This year there are some 20 peaks on my climbing list, most of them 13ers that are sometimes hard to access…but that is part of the fun.

Also, it appears as though my adopted section of the Continental Divide Trail will be complete and ready for a through-hike this season. That is about 8 miles of trail above 12,000 feet heading south from Cottonwood Pass and ending in Mineral Basin.

As for real estate, it is hard to say how that will turn out this year. 2010 was better than 2009 for me, but not for all. I’m prepared for whatever comes and as usual will be happy to assist any and all with their real estate needs along with giving trail tips when requested.

Holiday Bonus

Mal Sillars — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 22:02:28 +0000

I had an interesting call from one of my clients the other day. They have enjoyed their second home here in Buena Vista over the years, have done some updating and now are ready to move on. They suggested lowering the price by $10,000 over the holidays. So we have!

One of the big features of this house is the huge south-facing deck. There are big views of Mt. Princeton, one of Colorado’s 14ers; down valley views as well as views to the east and west. Just inside from the deck, is the open living-dining-kitchen area. At the back on the main floor are two bedrooms and a bath. The upper level has two bedrooms, each with a balcony, and a 3/4 bath. The lower level has a family room and 3/4 bath. This is a great large- or extended-family house because of all the room in which to spread out. Whatever the size of the family, lots of living will be done on the deck. Even during the winter months, if there is no wind, the sun will keep you warm out there.

The price of this house is now $264,900 through January 4, 2011. If you know someone who might be interested, have them give me a call.

Smart leads

Mal Sillars — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 18:02:48 +0000

I have long believed that continuing education in real estate will pay off in the long run. I used to teach and have always enjoyed taking classes and expanding my knowledge envelope. While I certainly don’t remember everything from every day of class that I have had, I do remember key items that are important and always know where I can get the details. In the past few years I have picked up a designation or certification just about every year, so I can have a raft of initials after my name, but rarely put them there because no one knows what they mean and it probably doesn’t matter anyway.

About a week ago I received a call, followed by an e-mail, from a member of a family who was looking for a second home with the idea of it being a extended-family get-a-way. Last night I met with them. It is a great family and I had a great time guiding them through a process to help them develop some direction. Now there are certainly a raft of brokers around here that could have done this…but I had been chosen because the family noticed that I had my Resort and Second-home Property Specialist certification…RSPS…and they were looking for a second home, so they called. I appreciate that.

Springing to Life

Mal Sillars — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 18:29:51 +0000

Following the coldest Winter and coldest February on record, there is a feel of Springtime in Buena Vista. Keep in mind that March and April can be big snow months here, but those snows come and then melt here in the valley, but do add mightily to the snow pack, so important for Colorado’s summer water. Beyond that, there is a feeling of excitement in the business community that there is a good year ahead. Certainly in real estate there has been an early flurry of activity during typically slow February. As I check with other brokers around town, all are upbeat.

Now that we are getting into March, spring-breaks will be coming along and that usually notches up the activity in the real estate market. Spring skiers, road-trippers and beauty-seekers will be passing through our valley and will be awed. Even if not planning to buy real estate, tourists will make sure to pick up a real estate guide to take home; it just happens in Colorado mountain towns…and we love it. We are ready with a great inventory and I look forward to assisting new buyers find their dream property. I’m getting excited!