Buena Vista Real Estate » Colorado Rockies

…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!

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.

Buena Vista a natural for the season

Mal Sillars — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 16:13:44 +0000

‘Tis the season here in the Rockies. Although there is no snow on the valley floor, the high peaks surrounding us are covered with snow. The town Christmas lights are strung across the highway and the light poles all have their decorations. Houses throughout Buena Vista have hoisted their seasonal decorations and this little town in a high valley in the Rocky Mountains is looking just about right. If there is any doubt as to the time of year, the annual equine parade has announced that the Christmas season is in full swing!

It will be a while before Santa and his eight…well nine…reindeer show up, but for those of us in Buena Vista, there are always the mule deer in the backyard.

Great time on the Continental Divide Trail

Mal Sillars — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 17:20:51 +0000

One of the great gifts of living in this part of the country is having the Rocky Mountains in your backyard. For years I have worked with the Continental Divide Trail Alliance on trail work as they raise money to complete this trail. Congress created the trail but never funded it…so there is a lot of volunteer effort to get it completed. That is what every community does for their local projects.

The trail is about 3100 miles from Canada to Mexico and follows the Continental Divide. When first started, the trail consisted of walking trails, game trails, logging and mining roads and whatever was present to create a path from one end to the other. In recent years, the effort has been to refine that network, into a “proper” trail from top to bottom. In our area, we are working on a 90-mile section from Mt. Elbert, 14,440 feet, the highest mountain in the Rocky Mountains and the second highest in the lower 48, south to Monarch Pass on US 50. Some sections are being re-worked and some are being moved so that this entire length will be “off-road.”

In 2005, ’06, and ’07, I and others spent many days surveying and siting a large section of this new trail. A couple of years ago, I adopted an eight mile section, mainly above 12,000 feet, to watch over, monitor and maintain. This past weekend I walked it again for the fall inspection and more trail had been completed. It is a spectacular walk. With the completion of about 1,500 feet of trail, my section will be complete and with the completion of another 2.5 miles to the south in Morgan’s Gulch…where I spent many happy days working…the path from Cottonwood Pass to Tin Cup Pass, 17 miles, will be complete. I think that ‘sky-walk’, mainly above 12,000 feet, will be one of the jewels of the CDT and it is fun being part of that effort.

Autumn in the Rockies

Mal Sillars — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 16:24:15 +0000

While not record setting, it was a warm summer. There were many days with highs in the 80s…I would have preferred the 60s. At this elevation, 8,000 feet, the sun is so direct that you can feel warm even though the temperature might seem cool. Now we are heading into autumn and the outlook is for above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation. At this point in the game, above normal means 70s and that will be OK. Nighttime lows are already in the 30s. We just had our first snow in the high country and that put the frosting on a beautiful mountain scene. Below is Mt. Columbia, one of our 14ers, with a light cover of snow above the colored trees.

Autumn in our part of the state brings traffic to see the changing colors and this year it is bringing some welcome traffic to my real estate office. It’s a nice change!

Summertime

Mal Sillars — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 18:09:45 +0000

Summertime is here. Cool mornings, hot afternoons and occasional thunderstorms. Along with that come lots of vacationers. They are here to see the wonders of the Rocky Mountains, here in the heart of 14er-land; however, they are not looking at properties the way they have in the past.

This year, again, the numbers are way down and the trend line is flat. The good news is that the inventory is huge; the interest rates are way down; and on any particular property you might be able to fashion a great deal. I think by autumn, we’ll see the real estate activity start to pick up with 2011 supporting a come-back. It’s just a matter of waiting for buyers, because the beauty, vitality and value of our valley has not changed.

It’s climbin’ time!

Mal Sillars — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 01:04:58 +0000

I’m itching to get the climbing season underway. This past week was a great week weather-wise, but it has been raining all weekend. When the weather breaks, the first thing I need to do is to take a day or so and inspect the portion of the Continental Divide Trail that I have adopted. That is about 8 miles all above 12,000 feet, although a small portion is not yet complete. Once that is done, Casco Peak is the first on the climbing list. I got up high enough last week to spot the route, but the south ridge was still snow covered; however, that should be pretty much snow free now. Once I get that done, there is a long list to take me through the summer. So many peaks…so little summer! (Here in the Sawatch Range there are about 130 peaks 13,000 feet or higher)

Casco Peak - 13,908 feet

Springtime…where have you been?

Mal Sillars — Mon, 17 May 2010 18:14:08 +0000

What an up and down weather season it has been the last few months. Every time there is a warm-up, there has been a quick cool-down. After the coldest winter ever here in Buena Vista and the last four seasons averaging below normal, one wonders if there will be summer. But there are indications that nature is on track.
Yesterday started out on a bitter-sweet note. My friend and colleague, who helped raise Central Colorado Regional Airport from a low point to national recognition, left to become the Airport Manager at Hays, KS….good for them…not so much for us. After parting it was time for a hike and some fresh air. Just as I was getting to the top of Midland Hill, there they were…dozens of Pasque flowers. Every season they are the first to pop up in the mountains…a sure sign that all is well!

Spring not quite sprung

Mal Sillars — Wed, 05 May 2010 17:29:45 +0000

May is here as it probably is everywhere, but this year I’m not sure that Spring came with it to Buena Vista. It seems as though it should be warmer and the grass greener. Where are the flowers…or is it too early for them? The real attention-getter is the bright, white mountains pasted on the so-Colorado blue sky. There is still a lot of snow sitting up there, which is good for Colorado’s water supply and those of us who like to snowshoe, so I guess this is really not so much a complaint about Spring as much as an observation of what seems different this year. Any way you look at it, Buena Vista is a beautiful site!

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!