Well, sure, you buy a home, close, and on move in day, find that the previous owner's definition of "clean" just isn't the same as yours.  You might try to get them back for one more go over, but don't hold your breath.  You are either going to put in the elbow grease yourself or hire a cleaning service.  After all, you want your new SnowHome to actually SEEM like new when you move in, right? 

Well, if you lived in Switzerland, you wouldn't have a problem.  The "clean police" are on the job.  Check out this article from the BBC New Service, and you'll either laugh out loud or get upset that we don't have this service. 

Boy, aren't we special.  Summit County homes are owned 2 to 1 by non-residents.  That means they are second homes and/or investment properties.  We knew second home sales are what drive resort markets, but guess what?  According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), a third of ALL home sales in the country last year were second homes.  Why is that? 

Well, interestingly, not all were to live in.  More and more are for invesment and for portfolio diversification.  I know that we are getting more and more inquiries from people who want to move all or part of their investments from the stock market.  And for good reason.  Not only is appreciation better than "more liquid" financial investments, but combined with the leverage available in real estate, it's a real winner.  Where else can you investment 20% or less (many homes are bought with nothing down) at interest rates still under 6%, and not have a call if rates change or the economy goes crazy. 

I tell you, it's a good deal.  But, don't just take my word for it.  Read the article in full. 

Yep, it's true.  Just as stock brokers were investigated and prosecuted, and mutual fund companies weren't far behind, now title companies are being caught in an audit web. 

Remember that the majority of business for title companies comes from real estate brokerages and/or individual agents.  Hence, title companies are more than willing to help sponsor real estate events (such as annual awards banquets), and will throw parties and invite the real estate community.  However, according to the investigators, actual rebates were paid in direct referral agreements.  It's gone nationwide, but Colorado companies were the first to be named in an investigation by Colorado Insurance Commissioner Doug Dean. 

So, if you were anticipating a purchase of a SnowHome, for example, in Summit County, or a refinance of your existing home, you might be concerned that you are being overcharged for your title insurance or otherwise defrauded.  So, let me set the record straight, at least from my perspective. 

Neither I individually, nor our Team has been contacted by any title company with which we do business in Summit County with an offer of any rebate or other consideration for sending business to that company.  We have never taken a rebate, or even discussed such a situation.  In fact, in spite of my years involved on our board, including my stint as president, I have never heard any rumor or suggestion that any title company was playing this game here.  I can't say unequivocably that this has not gone on.  But I'd certainly be surprised if it were.  Perhaps it's because we are a relatively small community, and it would be too difficult to keep something like that a secret.  Or, perhaps I'm just too disinterested to notice.  At any rate, if the state or federal investigation extends here, we will all at some time know for sure. 

But, in my opinion, you can do real estate business in this County safely, at least from the point of view of title insurance.  And, I would hope you will feel that the SnowHome Team is above reproach.  We are.

Well, here is a new take.  Lots of people believe real estate agents are too highly paid as it is, that deals are easy to make and the earned commissions are high.  Of course, most people do not really know the time a Realtor spends in the business, and how much they spend for overhead, advertising, education and marketing to make that deal seem easy. 

But, now, New York Time Columnist Daniel Gross suggests that, beyond the basic commission, there is not enough incentive for your agent to, in fact, work to get you the best deal.  He makes some good points.  If you are asking, say, $300,000 for your home and an offer comes in at $270,000, how does your agent respond?  Would he encourage you to take the deal based on the old adage that "the first offer is always the best"?  Or, does he help you push for a better deal?  What rationale is used in either case? 

Gross' point is that, with the $270,000 deal, the agent has already made most of his commission.  Assuming the agent gets about 1.5% (of a 6.0% commission, typically, 3.0% will go to the selling brokerage and your agent will pay 1.5% to his borker, leaving him 1.5%), if he helps you push for an additional $10k, and you get it, the difference in his commission is only $150.   Why would he want to risk the deal over that amount?  On the other hand, you've got $10,000 additional income at risk.  Who is trying harder here? 

Gross is reporting on a study by  Steven D. Levitt, a self-described "rogue economist", who tested his theory by comparing sales prices vs asking prices for the public (represented by agents) and those sales of agents' own homes.  He found that the agents actually sold their homes for closer to the asking price that their sellers did.  Of course, there are a lot of variables that could not be accounted for, such as incentive, preparation, and so on.  For example, how many sellers actually take their agent's advice on spending money to fix up their property for sale vs agents taking their own advice. 

Nevertheless, it would be important, for example, to make sure you are working with an agent whose livelihood does not depend on the sale of your home.  A busier, more successful, agent can afford to be more objective, and will more likely provide you with objective material to help you make a decision that affects your bottom line.  My new book, Get the Best Deal When Selling Your Home covers this and many other points to consider when selecting an agent.  But the ability to be objective, and the ability to focus on your needs rather than their own, should be primary considerations. 

In Summit County, the SnowHome Team is unique also, in that it is the only team that participates in every commission earned.  Each team member gets much smaller, but many more, checks, evening out their income, creating a base for cooperation (and brainstorming on the sale of your home), and creating a source of pride in our results. 

With the SnowHome Team, the normal rules don't apply.  And the winner is you.

Greenspan sees a problem, but I don't believe it's here.  Testifying before Congress he says he anticipates a housing bubble burst in "certain" areas.  But, if you look, the references are to parts of the country that have experienced double digit appreciation in recent years.  You can only do that for so long.  In Summit County, we have had steady, but mild, appreciation since 2001.  3-5% ain't bad.  Nevertheless:

Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan yesterday said he sees a housing price bubble in "certain areas" and suspects prices are vulnerable to declines, but they will not collapse in any way that threatens the economy.

"I think we're running into certain problems in certain localized areas. We do have characteristics of bubbles in certain areas, but not, as best I can judge, nationwide," he told the House Financial Services Committee.  More . . .

A foot of snow.  Yes!  Here in Summit County, we live for snow.  You know that.  We know that.  And the Denver citizens who want green lawns in the summer know that.  Oh, yeah, and don't forget the farmers and ranchers, the cities (Las Vegas comes to mind), the wildlife and a myriad of other entities.  They all know that, as well.  After all, it's the mountains just outside our door that supply the water for about a third of the country.  We watch it falling in the winter.  They grab it from the rivers, streams and lakes year round.   It's the life blood of a great deal of our Nation. 

So, if all you are doing with it is skiing, well, wake up.  Your fun is good.  It's great, even.  But, it's a miniscule activity compared with the abundant uses attributed to that precious powder down the line. 

We got a lot in the past few days.  I, for one, had to spend extra time snowblowing my drive, and waved to the neighbors doing the same thing.  But, we were singing as we worked.  Gold, that is.  Displaced only temporarily from the drive to the yard and the street, we all know where it ends up eventually.  And we sing.

The only real, and temporary, drawback, is that this snowfall also requires caution on the roads.  A driver or two forgot that recently, and ended up personally discomfited (broken bones?), and on occasion, discomfitting others.  Truly, its takes caution driving when there is fresh powder on the roads (damn, why can't it land only on the slopes?), but it also takes a certain amount of skill.  The caution can't just translate to slower speeds.  Too slow and everyone else will be passing you, cussing as they go, and that can offer another kind of danger.  Let's face it.  There are also people who believe they can drive at breakneck speeds through anything, especially if they drive those "special" all wheel drive vehicles.  After all, who hasn't seen the commercials, with those SUVs plowing through any manner of obstacle unscathen. 

So, a gentle word of caution.  Be more aware on the slopes, get here safely, and enjoy the bumps!

What holiday matches the name "Loveland" best?  If you guessed Valentines Day, you'd be right.  For years now, people interested in getting married or renewing vows have been encouraged to bring their love to Loveland Basin Ski Resort on Valentines Day for some relatively official ceremonies. 

And lots of people take advantage of it.  70 couples did the deed yesterday on a mountaintop on the edge of Summit County.  At the Continental Divide, they got to be on top of the world in more ways than one. 

But, hey, that's life in Summit County.

The Town of Frisco, Colorado seems to enjoy airing its laundry.  Battles between citizens and whatever council is in place tend to take on dramatic airs.  But, these people feel strongly about why they moved here, and why they remain here.

Earlier this week, the Town of Frisco had a hot item on its agenda.  Basically, the issue was how to handle 9/4 acres (called the 10 acre parcel) behind Safeway and Walmart off of Summit Boulevard and adjacent to I-70.  The Town Manager, Michael Penny, and his staff, had prepared a fairly detailed presentaion explaining the financial history, current status, and future prospects for the Town.  The upshot was that, in order to insure future financial viability, the Town should sell the parcel to one or more big box retailers to generate sales tax dollars. 

There you go.  In one paragraph, you got the gist of fours hours of hearing public testimony and a vote.  However, as you might have guessed, the reason the meeting was so long was tha the public was so vocal.  About 150 citizens showed up (alright, the paper said 100, but I was there - and counted).  All but one voice some form of opposition to the proposal of any retail use for the site.  About half wanted to see the new campus for the Colorado Mountain College located there.  Many just did not want anything there, or minimal use like sports fields. 

People even asked that the Town increase their property taxes instead (Frisco has the lowest mil levy in the County of communities that have property taxes - Silverthorne has none).  Others suggested cutting back on the wish list developed during the 90s when the economy was doing so well.  Some of the testimony even carried veiled threats - on the order of "if you vote against us, you won't hear the end of us." 

At the end, it appeared clear that the Council members had made up their minds well before the meeting, gave their individual rationales, and voted 5-2 in favor of authoring the Town Manager to put our requests for proposal (RFPs) to solicit companies/developers for a retail use for the site. 

Emotions have not calmed over this, and today, an editorial questioned the veracity of the decision.  You can read here about the Town's position and here for the citizen's comments, here to see today's editorial, here to see yesterday's opinion that a referendum might be next, and here for a viewpoint by citizen and business owner, Paul Connelly.  

Some years ago, I helped a young couple buy their first SnowHome in Summit County.  She was the manager of the Breckenridge Brewery.  He was a bartender there.  After the closing, they invited everyone from the closing table back to the Brewery for lunch on them.  That included the lender, the title closer, the sellers and me.  Unfortunately, I had another appointment and was unable to join them.  But, I got an earful the next day about the happenings I missed. 

It seems that, while sitting at the bar, a hose connected to one of the vats behind the bar broker loose and, while flipping around uncontrolled, sprayed the entire bar and the patrons with dry hops.  All the aforementioned people were covered with over an inch of spray before they got it under control.  Darn, I wish I hadn't missed that <grin>. 

I helped that couple into three additional properties over the years as they grew.  And in the process, I spent many friendly hours at the Brewery, a few times recovering from an inordinately cold day of cross country skiing. 

And now, the Brewery is celebrating its 15th anniversary.  It opened when microbreweries were new and hot, when there was not much competition.  It still could have failed had it not also offered good food at reasonable prices.  Its become an icon, a very popular spot for lunchers, diners and, well, imbibers.  It's a spot you've got to try when you are in-County, or in Breckenridge.

If you are looking for a SnowHome, you might have an interest in comfort.  It's only one of the criteria buyers present when they want to look for property.  This is certainly true in Summit County, where we have a very dry climate, but lots of snow.  Part of comfort is managing moisture in the home.  Energy efficient homes typically provide some form of moisture management.  The following article from the EcoBroker website provides an understanding of the issue:

Snapshot & Benefits:
You can increase comfort and save money by mindfully managing the moisture content of the air in your home. Humans are most comfortable at a relative humidity of 50%, plus or minus 10%. Relative humidity is the amount of moisture that air contains relative to the maximum amount that it could contain (at any given temperature and pressure). Two separate strategies are required: one for summer and one for winter.

In the winter, air inside the house is cycled repeatedly past heating elements in your heating system, where it gets drier and drier. As room air dries, you will increasingly experience dry and itchy skin, dry eyes and mouth, chapped hands, static electricity and a wide range of other discomforts. From an energy efficiency perspective, the dry air increases the rate of evaporation of body moisture from your skin and this evaporation makes you feel chilled. A normal reaction is to turn up the heat as you attempt to keep warm. The net result is that you will burn extra fuel to maintain a higher room temperature and the air will become progressively drier. In the winter, your strategy is to add moisture to the air.

Click here to learn more...

Picture this.  You are skiing the back country.  There have been heavy snows over the past few days, and as can happen even in the best of circumstances, the snow under you gives way, and a huge slab slides on a rush down the mountain, taking out trees and anything else in its path.  You are buried.  Fortunately, you were smart enough to carry an avalance beacon, and unbeknownst to you, a skiing partner who was not carried away is able to call for help.  You can't move, it's difficult to breathe, and you can feel the cold growing, gathering you into its coffin-like embrace.  While it's difficult to move, you are able to get the one downward pointing hand down to your boot to release it from its ski.  Minutes count.  Your fear is palpable, but even your panic doesn't give you a way out.  All at once, you feel a prod, a stick down through the snow finds you.  You hear voices and the pawing of a dog.  Soon, you are dug out, crying, knowing how close you came to your end. 

Chances are very good that Dan and Patti Burnett and their dog, Sandy, are among the rescuers.  You can't express enough gratitude, but anything you can express will be well deserved. 

Dan and Patti are friends of mine.  Dan is a fellow Realtor who is successful in his own right.  They have two daughters and are truly contributors to this community. 

But beyond real estate, they both have been volunteers for years with the Summit County Rescue Group, the organization that regularly saves back country skiers, hikers and others who have either gone in without preparation, got lost, or have fallen and otherwise been injured.  They do this as if it were a day job.  It's in their blood.  In the winter, snow avalanches are all too common, and they and their dog, Sandy, can find themselves out at an avalanche site or belaying from a cliff down to a ledge where yet another person is trapped.  It can happen at any time of the day or night.  

Patti often looked for a book on training avalanche dogs, and when she could not find one, she wrote it.  "Avalanche! Hasty Search" is now the bible on this unique type of dog training.  It's a popular seller on Amazon.com. 

Dan and Patti Burnett - they are the kind of people who make you want to live in Summit County.  Read more here.

Bring a cooler.  Bring a six-pack (of soft drinks).  It could be a long ride.  If you've been a visitor to Summit County and Vail Valley ski resorts in recent years, you will have noticed a marked increase in traffic, particularly west from Denver on Friday afternoon and evening and east toward Denver on Sunday afternoon and evening.  For years now, the ongoing discussion has been how to accomodate the increasing traffic better.

Of course, everyone has an opinion.  The citizens voted down a referendum a few years ago to test a fixed guideway system (FGS) - basically, a raised monorail that would run on magnetic energy.  Due to opposition by the Governor and a miscue on the part of the proponents of the system, the votes were not there.  Interestingly, the complete test would have not required the taxpayers to pay any additional taxes.  The taxes had already been collected, but due to our Tabor Amendment, a refund was due.  The test phase would have meant an reduction by $19 of that refund.  It was anticipated that the system could be operative by 2007. 

Many communities are affected by the traffic, from Denver International Airport through Denver to Golden, Idaho Springs, the ski communities of Summit County, the ski communities of the Vail Valley and all the way to Eagle.  Most of these communities have opposed widening of the highway.  In fact, it was shown in the late 90s that widening of the highway would cost double what the FGS would have cost.  But, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has put most of its focus on adding lanes.  And, for now, Vail Resorts has jumped on the bandwagon as a "temporary" solution, while pushing for future mass transit options. 

The neighbors, however, are not so convinced.  At a public meeting last week in Eagle County, citizens drove from as far away as Idaho Springs to voice their opinions against the option of adding lanes.  Their ire was directed primarily at State Transportation Director, Tom Norton, who (it appears) unilaterally set a spending limit of $4 billion.  That means that anything outside that range could not be considered.  Other options are now higher (even the FGS?).  Citizens decried the negative affect on lifestyle, both for construction (expected to last 15 years), and after.  They want a solution that will last beyond 2025. 

That might be possible if the fix wasn't in.  So, Tom, is it?

And for those of you who will visit in the meantime, you might consider the option that hundreds have taken in the meantime - contact SnowHome Properties to purchase your SnowHome, and have a place to stay while traffic subsides on the weekends.

Most of you come to Summit County for the alpine skiing.  How about a different experience?

Talk about solitude.  If you like back country skiing, try doing a hut trip.  Tenth Mountain Division Huts and Summit Huts allows back country skiers and snowshoers to stay overnight.   You can do it alone, as a couple or as a small group.  Most of the huts will sleep 10 or more, so if you travel alone, you will find yourself socializing with strangers (who quickly become friends). 

One man, Gene Dayton, has refurbished two huts to add to the system.  It's a labor of love for him. 

Reservations are generally required, and often have to be made well in advance.  The back country hut system is popular.  One can travel long ways, staying each night in a new hut, if you plan well enough in advance.  There is a relatively nominal charge, which covers upkeep and stocking of the cabins.  The term "hut" is used, but many are actually well equipped cabins, with indoor bathrooms and kitchens.   

Also, if you volunteer to help with any of the huts in the system, you can get in return a free night in one of the huts. 

Get ready.  Summer visitors will again find delays getting around Summit County.  The upside is, however, that once competed, the new construction will ease congestion.  So we give up short-term annoyance for long term efficiency.  I can live with that, and I hope you can, too. 

The Colorado Department of Transportion (CDOT) will be spending $90 million this summer, most to go into four-laning from Frisco to Breckenridge and through Breckenridge on Park Avenue.  With the new agreement between the CDOT and the Town, Park Avenue becomes the extension of Highway 9, while Main Street becomes a local byway that will be more pedestrian friendly. 

Check the links for updated information as the year progresses, or just look for those iniquitous orange cones. 

Lisa Fersuson has a big smile.  She comfortably embraces kids from any country, and brings smiles to their faces, as well.  Lisa is that rare individual who has spent most of her working life overseas.  That means, of course, that in addition to her "work" traning, she has become familiar with other cultures and learned other languages.  And we're not talking about just the more common languages of Spanish and French.  Lisa has worked in, count 'em:

Hong Kong, Thailand, Yugoslavia, Senegal, Egypt, Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, Dingapore, Nigeria and West Africa. 

Summit County is now proud to call her a resident, and the Summit Schools have the benefit of her wide and varied experience.  It's even more important, given that Summit County has become a melting pot of visitors and workers from dozens on countries, many of whom have their children in our schools.  If you visit our schools, you will definitely want to say hello to Lisa.

We love snow!  Better yet, we love the water that snow brings.  Snow serves multiple purposes, not the least of which is providing a vastly popular recreational medium for skiers, snowshoers, winter campers and other back country enthusiasts.  But overriding those uses, all communities downslope of our high mountain peaks need and use the water it produces.  Rivers run year-round based on our winter snows.  Those rivers run to both coasts, bringing water from Summit County mountains up to 1500 miles away, serving the needs - not to mention keeping people alive - through more than half the country. 

Snowfall in Colorado is currently 121 percent of average, and it has people doing everything from jumping for joy to simply being hopeful. 

Talk about flying high!  Historically, the only people who could get to Lake Chutes area at the top of Peak 8 and to the top of Peak 7 were those hearty enough to hike it.  But, starting next year, pending final approval (after a public comment period) it will be open to all skiers who want the highest alpine experience possible.  The U.S. Forest Service ranger in charge of the Dillon District, Rick Newton, has given his approval of this long-sought-after lift, the top of which will tip the altimeter at 12,830 feet.  

Newton also approved the 6 Chair, which would feed the Summit Lift.  The approvals are not without their detractors, but Adam Aaron, CEO of Vail Resorts, has committed the $4 million necessary, and plans construction for this summer. 

Well, we all know statistics don't lie.  That being true, all the Colorado resorts are just thrilled about a statistical 8% increase in skier visits this year over last.  And we're not halfway through the season.  What it comes down to is that you just love us more when it snows!  And it's been doing just that. 

The leaders from all the resorts in our neighborhood, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin are sporting the biggest smiles.  My guess is that if you can get sat next to one of them in a bar, they'll buy!

If you're considering a visit, now might be a good time - before those darned blue skies return for good.  Oh, and just in case you didn't make the connection, an associated result is that Summit County real estate sales will be strong through a usually soft part of the year. 

Seems the AG of Texas has had it - and has accumulated the evidence to do something about it.  IT is the spamming that Samuel Pitylak of Austin, TX and Mark Trotter of Encinitas, CA did for mortgage loans, becoming millionaires in the process.  Their methods were insidious, and the information they got from those gullible to visit their sites was resold.  The Texas AG took action by filing a criminal complaint.  But, what might hurt even worse is that Microsoft also sued civilly.  It goes without saying that even buyers and those refinancing in Summit County, Colorado have been hit.  For more on how they did it, what types of messages to avoid, and to even view a summary of the lawsuit, you can see the article here. 

Everyone has grown increasingly tired of having to deal with email spam.  It's become insidious.  So, a couple of simple precautions:  First, download or purchase a good spam blocker.  There are many out there, but I use (and like) SpamNet by Cloudmark.  You can get a free 30-day trial of the personal version and the cost is nominal after that.  Or you can do as millions are learning, and selectively receive only information you want.  For example, you can click the RSS feed link at the bottom of this page to receive updates from this Blog. 

Either way, you'll sleep better at night.

It is fairly widely accepted that the Summit County school system is one of the better in the State.  It offers opportunities to kids that they just can't get in many places.  How many schools, for example, can provide the opportunity for even the youngest to get out regularly on ski slopes - at a nominal fee for the year?  How many have ski teams that produce world class competitors?  The ski resorts of Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin all participate.

Yet, as with any small town, we have our share of controversy and discontent.  Our former superintendant was "let go" less than six months after she started, the initiative lead by a growing voice of discontent from teachers and principals, many of whom quit or threatened to do so.  Millie Hamner, who had been assistant superintendant for something like three years, was thrust into the position, first as the acting superintendant, then (smart decision by the school board), the permanent fixture in that job.  She was just named one of two Newsmakers of the Year

It won't be long.  Plans are pretty well in place for new development in Breckenridge.  Vail Resorts, the owner of the ski resort, and the Town have learned to dance together to the same beat.  By next summer, you can expect new projects to start sprouting up, with emphasis on the Peak 8 base area.  Slopeside homes, townhomes, condos, restaurants, lodges and new retail will all be encompassed in the new activity on the horizon.

Recent approvals for the new Skyway Skiway Bridge (giving ski access from the mountain into Town) and the in-town gondola have brought new excitement and life to this ski resort.  Instead of parking in town and having to take a shuttle to the lifts, one primary lift will terminate right at the main parking lot. 
 
Breckenridge is undergoing a new renaissance, with development happening primarily at Peak 8, but significant changes happening in Town, as well. Agreements are in place with the Colorado Department of Transportation to route Highway 9 (with most of the vehicular traffic) around the Town core on Park Avenue, leaving Main Street much more pedestrian friendly. RFPs are out for Main Street redevelopment ideas. Redevelopment plans for the ski mountain were approved by the Town in 2002, and construction will begin this year. It's truly an exciting time to be here. Prices have also been increasing throughout 2004, and are expected to accelerate through 2005.