Eagle County (Vail and Beaver Creek) Real Estate: July 2006

Monday, July 31, 2006

www.searchinvail.com Ski season is just around the corner! Browse thousands of MLS listings in Vail, Beaver Creek, Avon, Minturn, Eagle-Vail, Eagle, Edwards, Wolcott and Gypsum. Try www.searchinvail.com for all of your real estate needs.

Friday, July 28, 2006

www.searchinvail.com Experience all that Beaver Creek, CO has to offer! Search the MLS for thousands of listings. Pro-Active Real Estate Agents will answer any questions you may have about properties in Eagle County, CO.

Wednesday, July 26, 2006

www.searchinvail.com Search thousands of MLS listings in Beaver Creek, Vail Valley, Eagle, Edwards, and Gypsum. Enjoy all that Eagle County Has To Offer!

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

www.searchinvail.com Looking for Real Estate in the Vail Valley? Log on to www.searchinvail.com to search MLS listings

Sunday, July 23, 2006

www.searchinvail.com

If you are looking to purchase real estate (homes and/or land) in Eagle County, Colorado (Vail, Beaver Creek, Bachelor's Gulch, Eagle, Gypsum, Eagle-Vail, Minturn, Vail Valley, Eagle Ranch, Brightwater Club, Lionshead, Vail Village, Edwards, Cordillera, Arrowhead and more)...go to www.searchinvail.com and one of the pro-active Realtors will quickly respond to your real estate and MLS search requests. The Realtors at www.searchinvail.com are here to assist you in obtaining the perfect property to match your Vail and Beaver Creek real estate needs.

www.searchinvail.com

(Vail Real Estate, Beaver Creek Real Estate, Vail Colorado Real Estate, Beaver Creek Colorado Real Estate and all of Eagle County, Colorado Real Estate)

www.searchinvail.com

Saturday, July 22, 2006

www.searchinvail.com

If you desire a motivated Realtor in the Vail Valley for your Eagle County, Colorado Real Estate needs (Vail and Beaver Creek Real Estate), www.searchinvail.com is here for you. With motivated and fun Realtors, Keller Williams in Edwards, Colorado is based on the team concept. We want to find you the perfect mountain property and provide you with the best customer service. Real Estate in Vail, Colorado and Beaver Creek, Colorado is a big stakes business. There is limited land with many interest parties. With Eighty to Ninety percent of Eagle County owned by the federal government (eg the US Forest Service), there are not a lot of prime lots still available in close locations. For areas with some land, one can go to Cordillera of farther west. Sign onto www.searchinvail.com to find the perfect mountain property that fits your needs.

www.searchinvail.com
www.searchinvail.com

As per the town of Vail:

"Free Wi-Fi Coming to Vail7/20/2006
Internet users in Vail will soon have access to one free hour of broadband wireless service following a partnership announced by the Town of Vail and communications provider CenturyTel. Pending town approvals, the free Wi-Fi service is to be launched in the fall and is included in CenturyTel’s proposal to build a municipal wireless network in Vail, the first of its kind in the state and considered to be a model agreement for other CenturyTel partnerships across the country.

The town selected CenturyTel to build its system following a competitive bid process that included proposals from six other companies. The proposal was unanimously approved by the Vail Town Council at its July 18 evening meeting which authorizes the town manager to enter into an agreement.

Mayor Rod Slifer says Vail will be the first ski resort in the country to offer wireless Internet service of this magnitude. “We will have a state-of-the art system that benefits everyone here - guests, residents, businesses and our employees,” he said. “This is the kind of innovation that continues to differentiate Vail from other resort destinations.”
No investment is required by the Town of Vail. Instead, the town has agreed to an eight-year term for the network. In addition, the town will have special access to the network in exchange for CenturyTel’s use of municipal buildings and other town property to operate the system.
The Wi-Fi network will be launched during the upcoming ski season and will enable users to get free Internet access up to 300 Kbps (kilobits per second) anywhere in town in one-hour increments. At the end of the hour, users will be required to register again for more time. Faster Internet service with speeds up to 3 Mbps (megabits per second) will be available with pay plans for monthly, weekly or daily access. CenturyTel also plans to offer wholesale service to local resellers.

Engineers estimate that within Vail’s town boundaries, Wi-Fi users will have 95 percent coverage outdoors and 90 percent coverage indoors. Once the system is fully functional, it will be tested and fine tuned to maximize the coverage area.

The proposal provides access to a private network for municipal employees and a public safety network for emergency responders. Benefits of this public safety network include the capability of feeding real-time video from patrol cars to the communications center as an additional communications link for employees in the field.
“We applaud the Town of Vail for their forward thinking and initiative,” Karen Puckett,
CenturyTel president and chief operating officer, said. “This is a strategic step for CenturyTel to expand our technologically advanced business outside of our traditional local telephone markets.”
The company’s presence in the region currently includes a combination of telephone and cable service in Edwards, Eagle and Gypsum.

For details, contact Ron Braden, Town of Vail Information Technology Director, at (970) 479-2154. or rbraden@vailgov.com."

www.searchinvail.com

(Serving your real Estate needs in Vail, Beaver Creek, Avon, Eagle-Vail, Wildridge, Eagle, Gypsum, Eagle, Minturn, Edwards, Cordillera, Lake Creek, Arrowhead, Bachelor's Gulch, Eagle County Colorado MLS real Estate search)
www.searchinvail.com

Real Estate in Eagle County, Colorado (Vail Colorado real estate, Beaver Creek real estate, Bachelor's Gulch properties, Wildridge Realtors, Avon Real Estate, Eagle-Vail Realtors, Minturn real estate, The Vail Valley, Cordillera, Wolcott, Gypsum, Eagle, Edwards real estate and more) has been very active over the past couple of years. Finding a good Realtor in the Vail Valley is imperitive when attempting to obtain a desireable property. http://www.searchinvail.com/ has teamed up with Keller Williams in Edwards, Colorado to help cleints get the service they desire. Using the best technology to search the Vail MLS for real estate and properties has never been more enjoyable and rewarding. Go to http://www.searchinvail.com/ in order to obtain a Realtor in the Vail Valley who is interested in assisting your real estate search and get some results. With cutting edge technology and a team of insprired locals, http://www.searchinvail/ is the place to find your Vail and Beaver Creek area Realtor who can assist you needs in all of Eagle County. With fairly quick moving inventory and aggressive buyers, you need a pro-active Realtor to assist your Vail, Colorado and Beaver Creek, Colorado area real estate needs.

www.searchinvail.com

(Vail Colorado real estate, Beaver Creek Colorado real Estate, Cordillera real Estate, Vail real estate, Beaver Creek real estate, Bachelor's Gulch real estate, Avon real Estate, Avon Colorado real estate, minturn Ginn project area real estate, Vail Valley real estate, Vail, Beaver Creek, Avon, Gypsum Colorado real Estate, Eagle real estate)

http://www.searchinvail.com/
www.searchinvail.com

www.searchinvail.com is the technology leader when searching the MLS for Vail, Beaver Creek, Avon, and Edwards real estate.
www.searchinvail.com

Real Estate in Eagle County, Colorado (Vail Colorado real estate, Beaver Creek real estate, Bachelor's Gulch properties, Wildridge Realtors, Avon Real Estate, Eagle-Vail Realtors, Minturn real estate, The Vail Valley, Cordillera, Wolcott, Gypsum, Eagle, Edwards real estate and more) has been very active over the past couple of years. Finding a good Realtor in the Vail Valley is imperitive when attempting to obtain a desireable property. www.SearchinVail.com has teamed up with Keller Williams in Edwards, Colorado to help cleints get the service they desire. Using the best technology to search the Vail MLS for real estate and properties has never been more enjoyable and rewarding. Go to www.searchinvail.com in order to obtain a Realtor in the Vail Valley who is interested in assisting your real estate search and get some results. With cutting edge technology and a team of insprired locals, www.searchinvail is the place to find your Vail and Beaver Creek area Realtor who can assist you needs in all of Eagle County. With fairly quick moving inventory and aggressive buyers, you need a pro-active Realtor to assist your Vail, Colorado and Beaver Creek, Colorado area real estate needs.

www.searchinvail.com

(Vail Colorado real estate, Beaver Creek Colorado real Estate, Cordillera real Estate, Vail real estate, Beaver Creek real estate, Bachelor's Gulch real estate, Avon real Estate, Avon Colorado real estate, minturn Ginn project area real estate, Vail Valley real estate, Vail, Beaver Creek, Avon, Gypsum Colorado real Estate, Eagle real estate)

www.searchinvail.com
www.searchinvail.com

Real Estate in Eagle County, Colorado (Vail Colorado real estate, Beaver Creek real estate, Bachelor's Gulch properties, Wildridge Realtors, Avon Real Estate, Eagle-Vail Realtors, Minturn real estate, The Vail Valley, Cordillera, Wolcott, Gypsum, Eagle, Edwards real estate and more) has been very active over the past couple of years. Finding a good Realtor in the Vail Valley is imperitive when attempting to obtain a desireable property. http://www.searchinvail.com/ has teamed up with Keller Williams in Edwards, Colorado to help cleints get the service they desire. Using the best technology to search the Vail MLS for real estate and properties has never been more enjoyable and rewarding. Go to http://www.searchinvail.com/ in order to obtain a Realtor in the Vail Valley who is interested in assisting your real estate search and get some results. With cutting edge technology and a team of insprired locals, http://www.searchinvail/ is the place to find your Vail and Beaver Creek area Realtor who can assist you needs in all of Eagle County. With fairly quick moving inventory and aggressive buyers, you need a pro-active Realtor to assist your Vail, Colorado and Beaver Creek, Colorado area real estate needs.

www.searchinvail.com

(Vail Colorado real estate, Beaver Creek Colorado real Estate, Cordillera real Estate, Vail real estate, Beaver Creek real estate, Bachelor's Gulch real estate, Avon real Estate, Avon Colorado real estate, minturn Ginn project area real estate, Vail Valley real estate, Vail, Beaver Creek, Avon, Gypsum Colorado real Estate, Eagle real estate)

wwww.searchinvail.com



Thursday, July 13, 2006

www.searchinvail.com

As per www.vaildaily.com

Vail real estate boom moving west

VAIL, Colo. — With huge redevelopment projects changing the skylines in Vail Village and Lionshead as part of the resort’s billion-dollar “New Dawn,” planners, developers and real estate experts are now looking westward.

The town of Vail is amending its master plan for a new part of town —“West Lionshead,” roughly half a mile of land west of the Vail Marriott Mountain Resort & Spa between Interstate 70 and Gore Creek — with the ultimate goal being a third village of sorts, complete with a new, high-speed chairlift, new retail and entertainment establishments and, of course, new luxury homes.

All this talk of a new village in Vail, with shopping, dining, mountain access and other resort amenities, has owners and brokers of existing properties on West Forest Road, a quiet street with a dozen or so homes overlooking Gore Creek and West
Lionshead, realizing they’re sitting on some pretty hot property. Until now, they’ve been relatively isolated, especially in winter; in a few short years, however, residents of West Forest Road will have all of that just a short walk away.

Alan Goncharoff, a local developer and a partner in White Rock Real Estate, recently remodeled and listed a spacious four-bedroom, five-bathroom home at 736 W. Forest Rd., about a hundred yards from the bridge over Gore Creek. He says it won’t take buyers long to realize a great investment.

“This neighborhood on West Forest Road is going to be a fabulous place to live, and for now it’s still a bargain,” he says, adding prices already have nearly doubled on West Forest Road since he purchased the original, three-bedroom home a couple of years ago with plans to remodel. “You have a quiet street overlooking Gore Creek, views across the valley and West Lionshead out your front door. In back, you look up through the aspens to the ski mountain.”

Luxury homes

Leading the way is Gore Creek Place, a luxurious new enclave of private residencies by Vail Resorts Development Company nearing completion on the banks of Gore Creek, with a main entrance on West Forest Road. Buyers snapped up these properties almost immediately after they hit the market last summer, and all of the 3,500- to 4,400-square-foot homes are scheduled for completion by the end of this year.

As well, Vail Resorts continues to work on plans for the Ritz-Carlton Residences, Vail, a luxurious development where West Forest Road meets South Frontage Road, formerly a parking structure and surface lot for resort employees. In the ski company’s most recent announcements, the Ritz-Carlton Residences, Vail, will include 107 private, wholly owned luxury homes — from two-bedroom apartments to six-bedroom penthouses — adjacent to the new, proposed chairlift. These residencies have not yet been offered for sale.

“West Lionshead is a unique opportunity in many ways,” says Jack Hunn, senior vice president of development for Vail Resorts Development Company. “It accomplishes the town’s goals of increasing bed base and retail space; it can extend the currently perceived western boundary of Lionshead; and it will be a large, planned section that will adhere to the standards currently being set by projects like the Marriott renovation and The Arabelle at Vail Square.”

A new lift

Meanwhile, Vail Resorts also has announced plans to build a new high-speed chairlift that will deliver skiers and snowboarders from West Lionshead to the bottom of the Pride Express Lift, Chair 26, which continues on to Eagle’s Nest, at the top of Vail Mountain. The ski company already has purchased several properties at the bottom of the new chairlift, where preliminary plans call for a new parking structure and transportation center. If these moves pan out, West Lionshead will be a fifth portal to the ski mountain, relieving pressure on existing mountain-access points at Golden Peak, Vail Village, Lionshead and Cascade Village.

“It’ll be a very good transit link, reducing demand at the other portals. Traffic, skier drop-off, mass-transit — the whole scenario will be much better,” says Jim Lamont, who works with planners from the town and Vail Resorts as executive director of the Vail Village Homeowners Association.

Lamont also is lobbying for nightclubs and other entertainment venues — as well as affordable housing — to be included in the plans. “I see it as an entertainment center for all age groups, especially young adults. In general, a lot of fun, high-end stuff will be coming to West Lionshead.”

Lamont says there’s even discussion of realigning South Frontage Road to parallel I-70, creating a pedestrian-friendly village within West Lionshead, as well as a “Simba Run Underpass” linking South Frontage Road with its counterpart north of the interstate.

Hunn says all these concepts and ideas have “gelled” over the last nine to 12 months.

“But there's still a long way to go,” Hunn says. In addition to finalizing plans, there are processes to go through with the town, CDOT, neighbors and the community before we can put a shovel in the ground.”

Bright future

Joni White Taylor of Sonnenalp Real Estate, who’s been listing properties in Vail for 26 years, has a new, 3,617-square-foot, four-bedroom, four-bath home at 798 W. Forest Rd. on the market for $4.6 million, or about $1,270 per square foot. She expects values to rise dramatically in the next few years as West Lionshead evolves — rivaling prices between Lionshead and Vail Village on East Forest Road and Beaver Dam Road at more than $2,000 per square foot.

“It looks like there’s going to be a whole new village just down the street, with restaurants, shops, a high-speed lift. And everything’s going to be brand new. It should be beautiful,” White Taylor says. “The future for this neighborhood is very bright.”

For more information on West Lionshead and real estate opportunities on West Forest Road, call White Rock Real Estate at 970-827-5600 or Sonnenalp Real Estate at 970-477-5300, or visit www.whiterockrealestate.com or www.sonnenalprealestate.com.

Vail Colorado

www.searchinvail.com

Thursday, July 06, 2006

www.searchinvail.com

Travel & Tourism Articles, News and Upcoming Events in Vail

Partners are encouraged to add their free listing to this Vail Articles, News and Upcoming Events directory. The page is hosted by Owner Direct Vacation Rentals Inc. - specializing in finding perfect accommodations for holiday guests who are interested in articles, news and upcoming events at Vail, CO, Colorado, USA.
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1. Vail Valley Tourism and Chamber Bureau
A spectacular experience awaiting your discovery in Colorado: Beautiful scenery, bountiful activities and unrivaled resorts combine to create the ultimate Colorado Rocky Mountain getaway any time of year. From Vail itself, where it all began, to the eclectic Minturn, there is something for everyone! Whether you're seeking Colorado family fun, a romantic weekend, an outdoor adventure or international shopping, it's all here.

2. Meeting Planner Destination
Vail, the number-one ski destination in North America, "is a fantastic buy for meeting planners if you're not in the ski season," says Hazinski. "It's becoming well regarded in the off-season for its recreational opportunities."

3. Vail's New Dawn
Over the past 10 years, Vail Resorts has invested more than $125 million in improvements on Vail Mountain. Soon, Vail Village and Lionshead will get the same attention. Vail Resorts and the Town of Vail are working together to make North America's top ski resort destination even better. Plans call for new skier services facilities, additional shopping, dining and lodging, a new ice-skating rink, entertainment venues, enhanced streetscapes and landscaping, and new residential opportunities.

www.searchinvail.com
www.searchinvail.com

As per www.realestatejournal.com

Neighbor of Aspen and Vail is on the rise

Home prices are going up -- way up -- in Basalt, Colo., says Vail Daily. In this town, which is located close to skiing meccas Aspen (16 miles away) and Vail (40 miles distant), the median price for a single-family home shot above the $1 million mark in May, the paper says. In mid May, the median selling price in Basalt was $695,000 the article reports. This spike in the local market comes after three years of very flat and slow home sales, the paper quotes a local real-estate agent as saying. In this seller's market, any residential property up for sale for less than $500,000 gets at least one offer in the same day the home is listed, the article says

www.searchinvail.com
www.searchinvail.com

9/6/05 - Vail Real Estate: $1.2 Billion and Counting
By E-mail author
Posted 9/6/2005
Vail Real Estate: $1.2 Billion and Counting
By Cliff Thompson, Eagle County Correspondent
This article was originally published in the Summit Daily News

EAGLE COUNTY, CO-Frenetic sales of entry-level housing drove June's sales to a new record - $275.4 million.

That eclipses the previous June mark of $158.7 million by better than 50 percent and takes the year-to-date total to $1.2 billion in sales, according to statistics reported by Land Title.

The county's sales mirrored the national trend. Real estate sales records were set across the country in June, according to a report issued by the National Association of Realtors.

In Eagle County, continued low interest rates and the availability of entry-level properties - those priced at less than $1 million - have sparked the boom. Sales of those homes accounted for 61 percent - or 226 of 370 - transactions in June.

A total of 1,839 transactions were logged at the midway point of the year. That's 476 more sales than last year at the midway point.

Sales of homes priced at $3 million and more were a little slower than in the past - there were nine.

That disparity between the number of entry-level homes sold and the nine sold in the $3 million to $5 million range is attributable to fewer people in the upper crust, industry professionals said.

"It's totally normal," said Jim Flaum of Slifer, Smith & Frampton Real Estate. "There's lots more people who can afford to buy a home priced under $1 million than over."

The difference may in fact be due to the acceleration of sales of entry-level properties instead of a slowing at the high end, Flaum said.

www.searchinvail.com
www.searchinvail.com

Vail's Redevelopment


Summer 2006 Celebrate Newsletter

Spring 2006 Construction Overview Map

Spring 2006 Frontline Construction Newsletter

Vail's renewal is well underway. During the time period of 2004 - 2008, more than 25 major public and private development projects will be in various stages of review and construction. Current estimates show plans for approximately $1 billion in private sector redevelopment and approximately $15 million in public improvements.

Public Projects
(subject to change - click on project for details if applicable) Project Description Status
Vail Village Streetscape Street and pedestrian improvements Under
construction
Vail Gymanstics Center Facility for gymanstics and other recreational uses Complete
Pirate Ship Park New park and play structure Complete
Chamonix Property Fire station plus other uses Master planning
LionsHead Streetscape Street and pedestrian improvements Concurrent with Arrabelle


Private Projects
(subject to change - click on project for details if applicable) Project Description Status
Middle Creek Rental units and early childhood learning center Complete
Vail Mountain Lodge New hotel and condo units, employee housing Complete
Tivoli Lodge New hotel Complete



Vail Mountain School New school, auditorium and employee housing Complete
One Willow Bridge Road
(formerly Swiss Chalet) New condos and retail Under
construction
Vail Plaza Club
(formerly Vail Village Inn) New hotel Under
construction
Four Seasons 18 dwelling units, 22 free fee untis, 108 accomodations, parking, employee housing units and more. Anticipated Spring 2006
Sonnenalp Remodel and additional hotel rooms Under construction
Manor Vail Remodel and additional condos Approved
November 2004
Crossroads Demo/rebuild
Design Review


Vail Reorts, Inc "Vail's New Dawn" Projects
(subject to change - click on project for details if applicable) Project Description Status
Founder's Park and Parking Garage (Lots P3 & J) 110 parking spaces, park Complete
LionsHead Skier Bridge New 40' wide bridge Complete
New Snowcat Access Bridge and access road Under construction
Forest Place
(tennis courts) 4 new residential sites Under construction
The Arrabelle at Vail Square
(LionsHead Core Site)
Hotel, new amenities Under
construction
Gore Creek Place
(part of West Day Lot) 16 townhomes Under
construction
Vista Bahn Ski Plaza Skier services, ski club, residential Antipated
in 2006
LionsHead North Day Lot Offices, employee housing Anticipated
in 2006
Holy Cross Site Employee Parking Anticipated
in 2006
Ritz-Carlton Residences 107 Residences Approved Dec. 2005


ORDINANCE 10 OF 2005, APPROVING THE COMMERCIAL CORE CONSTRUCTION MITIGATION SIGN AND CONSTRUCTION FENCING PACKAGE, AND SETTING FORTH A SPECIAL REVIEW PROCESS TO ALLOW FOR STAFF APPROVALS FOR TEMPORARY SIGNS, CONSTRUCTION FENCING, AND OTHER TEMPORARY IMPROVEMENTS WITHIN VAIL’S COMMERCIAL CORES.

www.searchinvail.com
Vail Real Estate
Vail Colorado Real Estate
Beaver Creek Real Estate
Bever Creek Colorado Real Estate
Edwards Colorado Real Estate
Gypsum Colorado Real Estate
Avon Colorado Real Estate
Eagle-Vail Real Estate

www.searchinvail.com

As per Land Title:
Real Estate Sales Continue to Set Records

The month of May’s total sales volume reflected the highest of any May recorded in Eagle County history at $257,872,000. This added to the staggering year-to-date total real estate sales dollar volume of $968,387,200 and exceeded last years record breaking year-to-date volume by almost $23 million.

The year-to-date total number of transactions through May is down 22% from last year. And the year-to-date average sales price for homes in Eagle County is up to $842,076.

Highlights for the month of May 2006:

Arrowhead had the highest total sales dollar volume at $27,520,000
Eagle had the highest number of real estate transactions at 50
Single family home sales are up 40% over April
Residential home average sales price was $903,584

The attached file has tabs at the bottom with five statistic reports to keep you up to date with the Eagle County real estate market.

If you have any questions or if I can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thank you for your business.

Trevor Theelke

Land Title Guarantee Company

p. 970.328.1465 / f. 970.328.5065

ttheelke@ltgc.com

Vail Real Estate
Vail Colorado Real Estate
Beaver Creek Real Estate
Bever Creek Colorado Real Estate
Edwards Colorado Real Estate
Gypsum Colorado Real Estate
Avon Colorado Real Estate
Eagle-Vail Real Estate

www.searchinvail.com
www.searchinvail.com

Vail Real Estate
Beaver Creek Real Estate
Vail Colorado Real Estate
Beaver Creek Colorado Real Estate

Crossroads/Solaris


The Vail Town Council voted 5-0 (Slifer and Logan absent) at its June 6 meeting to set a special election that will ask Vail voters to decide if the Town Council’s previous approval of the Crossroads redevelopment should remain in place or be overturned. The election is set for July 11, 2006; ballot language is as follows:

Question 1.
Shall Ordinance No. 5, Series 2006, an Ordinance Establishing Special Development District No. 39, Crossroads, to Facilitate the Redevelopment of an Existing Mixed Use Development in the Town of Vail, take effect?

Background
The Council voted 4-3 at its March 21, 2006 meeting to approve the Crossroads redevelopment, located at 141 and 143 Meadow Drive in Vail Village. The project includes 69 condominium units, 58,804 square feet of retail, 338 underground parking spaces, a bowling alley, arcade and movie theater, plus a public ice rink contained within a half-acre public plaza. During public hearings on the matter, opponents of the development, now called Solaris, expressed concern about the size and scale of the project, saying it was out of proportion with adjoining properties, while proponents had disagreed, noting the public benefits offered by the development were worthy of the deviations granted by the Special Development District.

On March 28, the Vail Town Clerk’s Office received an affidavit from a five-member Petitioners’ Committee announcing its intent to seek the Town Council’s reconsideration and/or a public vote to repeal approval of a new Special Development District to facilitate redevelopment of the Crossroads property. Click here for more information.

On April 20, the petition was returned to the Vail Town Clerk's office. Click here for more information.

On April 26, the petition was certified by Vail Town Clerk. Click here for details.

More Information
Crossroads Site Plan and Elevations (NOTE: ~6MB PDF file)
Jan. 23 Staff Memo to PEC (includes development statistics)
March 21 Staff Memo to Council (includes development statistics)
Developer Improvement Agreement
Ordinance No. 5 of 2006, Establishing SDD #39 - Crossroads



The Crossroads development plan is available for review in its entirety from
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday - Friday at the
Town of Vail Community Development Department.
Please contact Warren Campbell to make an appointment

www.searchinvail.com

Vail Real Estate
Beaver Creek Real Estate
Vail Colorado Real Estate
Beaver Creek Colorado Real Estate
www.searchinvail.com

There is more to do in Vail after you are done searching for Vail and Beaver Creek Real Estate.

As per www.vailmusicfestival.org



The Vail Valley is one of the finest resort destinations in the world, nestled in the magnificent Colorado Rocky Mountains.

Vail's evolution from a quiet sheep pasture to an international resort over the last 40 years can be attributed to the famous 10th Mountain Division ski troops who were introduced to the valley while training at Camp Hale in the 1940s. Following World War II, a group of former Army buddies returned to the Gore Creek Valley to fulfill their collective dream...to develop a ski resort. Vail later emerged as a ski giant and the county has flourished ever since. The Colorado Ski Museum is located at the top of the Vail Transportation Center, and documents this great skiing heritage with photographs and memorabilia. The Vail Valley is comprised of the towns of Vail, Avon, Edwards, Minturn, and Eagle, and the resort of Beaver Creek. Together, they offer an incredible array of world-class sports, shopping and gastronomy. Although the skiing is unsurpassed, much of the Vail Valley's charm comes from its uniquely designed alpine villages and pedestrian system, a tightly knit community and the lifestyle. The community is connected by a bus system that, in the town of Vail, is free - the largest free transit system in the country.

Although winter has traditionally offered many activities for visitors, Summer is arguably the Valley's most beautiful season. Visitors, guests and residents alike take advantage of the abundance of the...

Natural Surroundings

Craggy mountain peaks include those from the Gore, Sawatch and New York mountain ranges
Lush, green valleys and blooming wildflowers
A clean, purified environment that refreshes your body and mind
Prima - www.primavail.com

Come soak in all that PRIMA has to offer this summer in the heart of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. PRIMA is an extraordinary palate of cultural events featuring the world's best music, dance and theatre all summer long.

Set in the natural outdoor splendor found only in the Vail Valley, PRIMA's three internationally acclaimed festivals yield more than 90 performances by world renowned talent that includes the New York Philharmonic, the Atlanta Ballet, members of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, The Neo-Futurists, Ensemble Soloists from La Scala Ballet, and more!

In addition, a multitude of shows, musical revues and free concerts take place in and around Vail all summer long, including the Hot Summer Nights concert series and the Labor Day Jazz Festival.
Colorado Music Alliance - www.coloradomusicalliance.org

Colorado Music Alliance: Stunning scenery, first-class presenters, avid audiences: it's no wonder some of the world's finest classical musicians take a summer sojourn to Colorado. The state's classical music festivals present nearly 1,000 concerts every summer, ranging from symphonic to chamber to opera to virtuoso recitals. Come hear the music in sublime concert settings ranging from Victorian opera houses to state-of-the-art tents and amphitheaters. Sponsored by the Colorado Tourism Office.
Recreational Activities

A broad range of activities includes golf, tennis, hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, rafting, hot-air ballooning, spa days, mini-golf, rock climbing, gondola rides, movies, art classes, nature walks, and more
Lodging
For information on Vail Valley lodging please visit Bravo! Sponsors.

The Vail Valley truly has something to offer for the whole family or just you - and at an affordable price. A range of accommodations can be found - from camping to luxury hotels and condominiums. For more information about getting to the Vail Valley, events or how you can book your next trip to the Vail Valley or Colorado, call Vail Valley Chamber & Tourism Bureau at 800-525-3875 or visit
www.visitvailvalley.com.



Community Links
www.vailalive.com
www.snow.com
www.visitvailvalley.com
www.vailrec.com
www.colorado.com
www.beavercreek.com



Please visit the Sponsors page of this website for a list of fine restaurants and lodges that support the Festival. We appreciate your support of them.

Getting to the Concerts

The Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater Vilar Pavilion is located below Ford Park, just a five-minute walk from the center of Vail Village. You may walk from the paid parking lot above the Amphitheater or from the parking structure in Vail where you can find free parking. You may also bike or take the bus to all Festival events here. See map below.

The Vilar Center for the Arts in Beaver Creek is host to our Chamber Music Classics series. Located underneath the ice skating rink and next door to the Beaver Creek Lodge, this state-of-the-art 530-seat theatre has wood-paneled columns, walls and ceilings that are combined with a curved horseshoe-seating layout found in many traditional European halls. See map below.

Many other concerts are held at various lodges and private residences throughout the Valley. Please call the Festival offices for specifics on these locations toll free at (877) 827-5700

After you are done looking for a Realtor and finding your perfect house in the Vail and Beaver Creek Real Estate market, enjoy some other fun activities!

www.searchinvail.com
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This article was posted in Jan 2006, how did it pan out come July?

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As per www.industryreport.com


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January 09, 2006
On your mark...get set....go?


Real estate agents at mountain resort communities in the Rockies are looking to keep riding the winning streak of climbing prices and sales that kicked into a gallop in 2005, according to a spot check of representative resort professionals.

"Our economic future for the next six months looks good," Jed Gray, owner and associate broker at Sun Valley Associates told Industry Report. He said he was expecting "strong business" to continue in the middle range of homes and condos (those between $1- and $3-million) and upper range (over $3-million).

Because of very low availability of vacant land, he said, older homes have become tear-downs. Gray said he was "optimistic" about price gains in the middle-range single-family home market, where there is not much inventory, and also in the upper range where there is good inventory.

The condominium market, especially for older units, should be strong, according to Gray. "Those are very difficult to find. When one comes on the market, it's definitely jumping up in price over what previous ones have sold for." New high-end condos (those over $2-million) are "moving a little more slowly."

In some major Colorado and Utah markets, 2005 was a gangbuster year and 2006 promises to continue the party.

Sales in counties that include Vail, Beaver Creek and Aspen shattered records, according to county records. The total haul: $2.2-billion in Pitkin County (Aspen and Snowmass) as of Dec. 12, $2.4-billion in Eagle County (Vail, Beaver Creek, Bachelor Gulch.) But the president of Aspen's Board of Realtors cautioned against expecting the same pace in 2006. "I see continuing demand," Ed Foran told the Rocky Mountain News, but he added that a shortage of inventory would limit sales.

Steamboat in 2005 saw "a substantial increase in real estate activity across the board," according to Doug Labor, broker/owner at Buyers Resource. "We're up 24 percent in transactions and 31 percent in dollar volume over 2004. The bar just keeps on being raised."

Labor said he looked for "more of the same in 2006 although sales might be slowed a bit by a lack of inventory." Steamboat has been under a building moratorium for a year, Labor said, with the Steamboat City Council finally lifting the ban last November.

Nevertheless, said Labor, Steamboat remains the "best value" among the 11 resort areas that comprise the Rocky Mountain Resort Alliance, an association of real estate agents.

Dennis Hanlon, head of the Alliance, said of his home area, Park City, Utah, "barring economic crises that we have no control over, it's looking like 2006 is going to be another phenomenal year for us."

Ticking off high-end condo developments in Deer Valley that had sold all their new units, Hanlon told IR: "Buyers are still here; we are not seeing prices flatten or come down at all." In fact, he said that "prices are increasing, but not at the pace of last year."

It's a different story in the North Lake Tahoe region. Sales are sputtering.

Ellen Grace of Coldwell Banker said prices in the Tahoe/Truckee market had jumped 30 percent last year -- "not sustainable growth" -- and some sellers were getting unrealistic in their demands. "It has shifted from a sellers market to a buyers market and the sellers are sometimes the last to get the message," she said.

At places like Tahoe/Donner, she said, buyers were beginning to see properties withdrawn because they had no takers. "It was like somebody flipped the switch; reality started creeping in," she said. The outlook for 2006: "The return to a more normal market."

Another North Tahoe agent, Charles White, blamed the bad weather over the Christmas holiday, when it rained. Since Tahoe relies primarily on buyers from the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento areas, "if people aren't up here to look for property they won't be buying."

At Whistler in Canada, one agent, Ray Longmuir, projected a mixed bag for 2006.

The region's high-water mark for real estate sales was 2002, explained Longmuir, of ReMax Sea to Sky Real Estate Ltd. Last year, the area registered the best sales since that record year.

And now? "We have a fair amount of inventory," he said. "I don't see any quick price appreciation over the next 10-12 months." But he did see a strengthening of the market, to judge by increased e-mails and queries. "As the inventory starts to dry up, I expect to see some moderate price gains across the board."

In the Whistler region, a single-family home priced at $675,000 CAD (approximately $582,000 US) is a tear-down, Longmuir said. And although one spectacular ski-in ski-out home, The Couloir, is on the market for an eye-popping $20-million CAD ($16.5-million US) most single family dwellings in the middle to high-end range are far less costly.

In the condo market, Longmuir pointed out that there are two categories. Those considered primarily tourist rentals (they can be occupied by owners for up to 56 days a year) are not likely to see any price appreciation in 2006. They run from $122,000 CAD ($105,200 US) for a studio to $1.2 million CAD (1.035-million US) for a two-bedroom unit at the Four Seasons.

He has greater hopes for condos that are not restricted in the same way and are ski-in ski-out. "I see the market starting to turn, a higher volume of sales" with very moderate price gains. Prices for these begin at about $350,000 CAD ($302,000 US) for a studio to $600,000 CAD ($517,000 US) for two-bedroom units.

In the hottest markets, even the sales of very expensive fractional-ownership shares have not impacted sales of whole-ownership homes or condos.

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Read Below for all of your Eagle Ranch, Colorado Real Estate information, as per www.eagleranch.com


Frontgate Townhomes

At the front door to Eagle Ranch is a quiet residential area bordering the community’s traditional neighborhood. It is close to the village activity, adjacent to the medical center, and just steps from gold-medal fishing along Brush Creek and the wide open spaces of Brush Creek Park. Welcome to Frontgate Townhomes.

The Prairie-style architecture supports the traditional feel of Eagle Ranch, where your neighbors are your friends, and the porches and front sidewalks encourage the contact of small town living. Frontgate offers a variety of options in its two and three-bedroom townhomes.



Several residences are located off the creek with views to Castle Peak, while others surround a small park within Frontgate. The open floor plans are perfect for today’s lifestyles, and the convenience of a homeowner’s association ensures carefree living.
See why so many are enjoying the Eagle Ranch lifestyle, with its miles of hiking and biking trails, golf at one of the valley’s top courses, and the activities of Eagle Ranch Village.

Discover Frontgate Townhomes.


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Redstone Townhomes
(Only three deed-restricted units remain)

Located in the heart of Eagle Ranch Village are Redstone Townhomes. It’s the perfect setting for those with an active lifestyle. Enjoy a morning paper and a cup of coffee or grab dinner and a movie. Take an exercise class or jog trails that meander throughout Brush Creek Park and Eagle Ranch. These ten residences are only steps from the social hub of the community.


Their setting alone projects an urban feel with an updated Victorian architecture lending itself to the adjacent neighborhoods. Sunny front porches, brick accents and second floor decks with southern exposure blend beautifully in a mountain environment. Influenced by loft-style design, tall windows allow for abundant light. An open floor plan creates easy-living spaces. Redstone Townhomes features three ample size bedrooms, two and one-half bathrooms, and “morning” room accessing a quaint outdoor courtyard. There are also an attached single-car garage with separate mud-room and a large unfinished basement. A high-end finish level underscores the quality of construction and design.

What more can be asked for?

A beautiful home, easy to care for…a location within a short walk of school, stores, restaurants, theater…community activities at Brush Creek Park just across the creek…affordable golf at one of the best courses in the valley down the street…miles of hiking and biking trails in adjoining open spaces…abundant wildlife a camera click away…neighbors becoming lifelong friends.

Eagle Ranch,
“A place where you can settle.”

Redstone Townhomes,
“Where neighbors become lifelong friends.”

For more information contact your broker or call 970-328-2550 at Eagle Ranch Slifer Smith and Frampton Sales Office.



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Aidan’s Meadow – The Heart of Eagle Ranch

Whether you’re seeking the perfect setting to raise your family or a place where you can pursue those things in life you most enjoy, Aidan’s Meadow is perfectly situated to help you realize the dream. Here you’ll find all of the wonderful possibilities of mountain living at your doorstep. A place where idyllic views of historic Brush Creek Valley open before you to the surrounding peaks, while all the amenities of Eagle Ranch, with great schools, convenient shopping and outdoor recreational opportunities can be found right in your back yard. Most importantly, Aidan’s Meadow was conceived as a place for community. A place to enjoy things like quiet tree lined streets, a dedicated community park and that old-time sense of ‘neighborhood’ you once knew.

Aidan’s Meadow is about living your dreams. It’s about a lifestyle that is more relaxed. It is an opportunity to enjoy why you came here in the first place…to be close to the things you love about the mountains. Aidan’s Meadow is a chance to enjoy life as it should be.

For information, contact Doug Landin or Scot Webster at 877-328-2550 (toll free).


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Single Family Homesites
Six exceptional custom homesites remain in the Mesa and are priced in the mid $200,000's, in a region where they often cost three times as much. Homesites are generously-sized at an average of 1/2 acre.

Some sites face the park-like open space and recreation paths, edged with Juniper trees and Big Sage. These are large elevated lots with plenty of open space. Nearby bike and walking paths link the various neighborhoods of Eagle Ranch to the green hills surrounding it, and to Eagle itself.

The views from many of these homesites are simply spectacular, sweeping from the Flat Tops, Castle Peak and New York Mountain, which crown the Brush Creek Valley.

Click here for what's available.



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Village Homes - Traditional Single Family Homes
The Traditional Neighborhood is being constructed by Village Homes of Colorado, known for its award-winning traditional style of community development. The homes are arranged in traditional blocks clustered around the village center. Home designs feature wide, welcoming front porches, dormer windows, and garages accessible by alleyways, enabling larger front yards.

Village Homes introduces their newest neighborhood at Eagle Ranch, Mountain Edge Village. Perfectly located at the base of the bluffs, Mountain Edge Village boasts eight beautifully designed home styles from the High Prairie and Prospector Collections. And soon, the Alpine Collection, offering five more distinctive home designs. Each of these larger single-family homes will exhibit unique architectural detailing such as Porte Cocheres, full basements and large front porches.

Easy access to all the things you love to do and tailored to your lifestyle, Mountain Edge Village means quality homes and quality of life. Priced from the $350's, offers low-maintenance living with homes ranging in size from 1,624 to 2,077 square feet. And newly available in the High Prairie Collection, priced from the low $400's, four homesites across from the neighborhood park have just been released for purchase. These sites will accommodate larger low-maintenance homes ranging from 2,286 to 2,595 square feet, not including additional full basement footage. Both collections feature amenities such as full unfinished basements, gourmet kitchens, and spacious master suites.

Click here for what's available.

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Elk Run

Elk Run, a neighborhood of 10 Single Family Residences, is the latest offering in the popular Eagle Ranch Development adjacent to the Town of Eagle. Centrally located on one of Eagle Ranch's most serene and secluded sites, Brush Creek Elementary School, the future Hospital site, Eagle Ranch Village and the Golf Course, are all within easy walking distance of Elk Run.

This neighborhood features tree-lined streets, a bike path and a private recreation area, offering a true sense of "community-living,” characteristic to Eagle Ranch. Large homesites of up to ½ an acre are encircled by open Space and BLM land beset with native Sage Brush and Pinyon Pine. Homesites offer spectacular views of the Sawatch Range, Castle Peak and the Eagle Ranch Golf Course in Brush Creek Valley below.

Choose from several different floor plans that are guaranteed to match your family's specific needs. For larger and/or growing families, each home even comes with the capability to add an extra bedroom, bathroom and den in the basement.

All units feature a large Master Suite, and wide open family-oriented, view-centric floor plans are a consistent theme throughout Elk Run. High-end finishes including granite kitchen counter tops, stainless steel appliances, knotty-alder or pine cabinetry, and oak floors throughout the living level are evidence of superior construction, a distinguishing feature that Elk Run at Eagle Ranch prides itself in.


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Local's Housing Program

Eagle Ranch has committed to creating affordable housing for locals throughout the development. The locals' housing includes deed-restricted owner-occupied condominiums and single-family homes.

The Eagle Ranch Housing Corporation, an independent and non-profit organization, administers the availability and transfer of the deed-restricted units through the "Locals' Housing Program, and also administers a down payment assistance program.

Basic requirements and obligations for ownership of a deed-restricted property through the Locals Housing Program at Eagle Ranch are:

You must be a current resident of Eagle County, or currently employed within the County to purchase a unit. You will be required to present proof of your residency and/or employment.

You must occupy the property as your sole, exclusive, and permanent place of residence during the entire time you own it.

The property may not be used for rental income unless:
You choose to bring in roommates
You're moving and you have the property up for sale, or
You're leaving the area for up to nine months and plan to return to the property.


The units will be subject to an appreciation cap and specific resale procedures, both intended to make the initial price as low as possible and keep it that way well into the future.

You must be pre-qualified with a mortgage lender, and provide the Housing Corp. with a letter from the lender to that effect.
If you are interested in participating in the Locals Housing Program at Eagle Ranch, please contact our office at 328-2550 for more information.


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Obtain the Property Report required by Federal Law and read it before signing anything. No Federal agency has judged the merits or value, if anything, of this Property.This offering may be made only in compliance with the laws of the State of Colorado. This is not an offering in New York or in any other state where prior registration is required.


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Wanted: Programs and Individuals Working to Increase Minority Homeownership

Washington, D.C. (May 15, 2006) – The HOPE Awards (“Home Ownership Participation for Everyone”) is an industry awards program sponsored by a partnership of real estate associations whose mission is to help raise public awareness about the need to place a higher priority on creating equality in homeownership.

Organizations and individuals who are making outstanding contributions to increase minority homeownership can submit their applications for the fourth HOPE Awards online at http://hopeawards.org. The acronym HOPE stands for Home Ownership Participation for Everyone.

The HOPE Awards Partnership is committed to identifying and recognizing the very best of projects and programs that increase minority homeownership, revitalize communities and expand affordable housing opportunities. Individuals, nonprofit and for-profit organizations, state and local agencies are eligible. The awards are given every other year.

Each HOPE Award recipient will receive a $10,000 cash award, national media coverage, an opportunity to speak at a minority housing symposium, a prestigious HOPE Awards statue and paid travel expenses to attend the black tie awards gala in Washington, D.C.

Applications for the 2007 HOPE Awards will remain open until December 1, 2006. For HOPE Awards entry forms, submission guidelines and to view past HOPE Award recipient nominations, please visit www.hopeawards.org, or call 202/383-1192.

The categories for the 2007 awards include homeownership education, finance, project of the year, real estate brokerage, public policy, media and leadership. The awards will be determined by a panel of distinguished judges and based on the impact of the nominee’s work on promoting minority homeownership, use of innovative ideas, acceptance by the minority community and focus on affordability.

The third HOPE Awards, which were granted in 2005, honored Allen Chiang of Presidential Inc., Rowland, Calif. (Brokerage Award); Little Haiti Housing Association of Miami, Fla. (Education Award); Partnership For Homeownership of Springfield, Ill. (Finance Award); Coachella Valley Housing Council of Indio, Calif. (Project of the Year Award); Antonio Matarranz of Avangard Real Estate Services, Dallas (Leadership Award); and HOMEWORDS Program of the LA Times, Chatsworth, Calif. (Media Award). No award was made in the public policy category in 2005.

The HOPE Awards is a national industry awards program created by a partnership of real estate associations. The partnership joined together to support the HOPE Awards to raise public awareness on the vital issue of minority homeownership and to provide a means to share inspiring and enlightening experiences with others who may want to replicate these projects and programs to help the nation achieve the goal of homeownership parity.

The HOPE Partners include: the California Association of Real Estate Brokers, the Chinese American Real Estate Professionals Association, the Chinese Real Estate Association of America, the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals, the National Association of Real Estate Brokers, Asian Real Estate Association of America and the National Association of Realtors®.

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How do the baby boomers affect Vail Valley Real Estate?
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As per www.realtor.org

Baby Boomer Survey Shows Big Appetite For Real Estate

WASHINGTON (May 18, 2006) – Baby boomers have a higher rate of homeownership than the national average and one out of four own more than one property, according to a new study of the largest generation in U.S. history commissioned by the National Association of Realtors®. Initial results were released here today at NAR’s Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo.

The comprehensive study of nearly 2,000 Americans born between 1946 and 1964, conducted for NAR by Harris Interactive®, also shows boomers are optimistic about the future, but many are not adequately prepared for retirement.

David Lereah, NAR’s chief economist, said marketing to this generation has been and can be a challenge. “As a group, boomers are in their peak earning years and continue to wield great influence in the U.S. economy, but they are not homogeneous – there are significant variances in needs, behavior, attitudes and resources,” he said. “On one hand is an almost insatiable desire for real estate, with some owning multiple properties, and on the other, many have not adequately planned for retirement. What should not be overlooked are the discretionary spending interests of this generation, and their appreciation of housing as a great investment.”

Nearly eight in ten boomers own their own homes and almost nine out of ten have owned at some point in their lives; 96 percent believe owning a home is a good financial investment – evidenced by their actions. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the overall rate of home ownership is 69 percent.

For the portion of baby boomers who have never owned a home, 85 percent cited financial reasons but 38 percent simply didn’t want the responsibility of homeownership.

One-quarter of respondents own one or more other kinds of real estate in addition to a primary residence: 13 percent own land, 8 percent own rental property, 7 percent a vacation home or seasonally occupied property, 2 percent commercial real estate and 3 percent some other kind of real estate.

In addition to a higher rate of homeownership, analysis by NAR shows baby boomers are proportionately more active in the second home market, owning 57 percent of all vacation/seasonal homes and 58 percent of rental property.

For the segment of boomers who own rental investment property, 34 percent own multiple properties: 14 percent own two rentals, 5 percent own three and a small number own four properties; however, 14 percent own five or more rental units.

Of the portion who own vacation homes or seasonally occupied property, 13 percent said they own two or more vacation or seasonal homes.

Four out of ten respondents who own a vacation home or seasonal property intend to eventually make that property a primary residence. Historically, other NAR survey data shows only one in five vacation-home buyers had such intentions when they first purchased the property.

Lereah said this has emerged as an investment strategy. “Some boomers will take advantage of generous capital gains exclusions from their taxes when they sell their primary residence, and then place themselves in the position of being able to convert a vacation home into their new primary residence which would later become eligible for the same tax treatment,” he said.
“Then, if their needs change in the future, they’ll be able to take the capital gains tax break after they have lived in that home as their primary residence for two out the five previous years. It becomes a great way to build and protect a nest egg.”

For the portion of respondents who own land, the median holding was 5 acres. Half of those with commercial property had an ownership interest in only one property and 29 percent have two holdings.

NAR President Thomas M. Stevens from Vienna, Va., said the survey shows one-quarter of all boomers are not satisfied with their present homes. “That means a good portion of baby boomers may be considering a move, so it’s important for the industry to understand their preferences and needs,” said Stevens, senior vice president of NRT Inc.

Ten percent of all boomers said they are likely to buy additional real estate in the next 12 months; two-thirds of those respondents said they were considering a primary residence but 26 percent were interested in land, 19 percent rental property, 15 percent a vacation or seasonal home and 14 commercial property.

Eight out of ten boomers used a real estate agent the last time they sold a home. The things they value most in a real estate agent when they buy a home are representation of interests and coordinating with other parties in the process; explaining all contracts, forms and agreements; and management of the closing process from start to finish.

In selling a home, they also want agents to establish the right asking price, show the home and negotiate all offers received on their behalf.

“This tells us the Internet is great for information, but baby boomers want real estate agents to provide services, whether they’re buying or selling,” Stevens said.

Typical boomers have lived in their present home for a median of nine years, and plan to stay there for another five years. Two-thirds think it’s important to pay off a mortgage quickly, but at the same time 58 percent are comfortable in purchasing with a small downpayment.

In deciding whether to buy a primary residence in the future, nearly half of the respondents that were considering a purchase said having sufficient wealth or favorable mortgage financing were factors.

In terms of their current financial condition, 43 percent say they are financially comfortable but 37 percent say they have just enough to make ends meet. Only 4 percent said they were well-off, and 17 percent said they are having financial difficulty. “That clouds the retirement options for many baby boomers,” Stevens said.

Nearly two-thirds say it costs too much today to truly retire and never work again, and four out of ten expect they will pay for at least some college expenses for children or grandchildren; 38 percent said current financial needs mean they give little attention to financial planning for retirement.

“Many baby boomers are simply too busy to give much thought to planning for retirement, but they really need to develop strategies now,” Stevens said. “Many just see themselves ‘going’ for as long as they can.”
Only 14 percent expect to receive a sizeable inheritance that will be a critical help during retirement. Half of all boomers believe it is important to diversify savings for retirement into different types of investments.

In describing how they would like to retire, many boomers might be described as “dreamers.” One in ten said they already are retired but only 26 percent said they would never want to work for pay again. A third see themselves as going back and forth between periods of work and leisure, 17 percent would work part time, 11 percent would start a business and 7 percent would work full time. Even so, 59 percent said it was not likely that they’d work beyond the time they become eligible for full Social Security benefits. The average respondent expects to stop working at age 65.

Three out of five say their idea of the perfect location to retire is in a rural area or small town, with only 12 percent saying an urban or city setting, and nearly half would consider living in an age-restricted community; 38 percent want to be close to family.
If money were no object, access to quality health care is important to more bombers than being on a golf course (38 percent vs. 4 percent). Ideally, they would like to live in a rural area with access to quality health care. “One question is how many areas actually offer those kinds of amenities in that kind of environment,” Stevens said.

Half said they have a 401(k) or similar retirement plan, 39 percent a pension, 39 percent an IRA or Roth IRA, 11 percent a SEP (Simplified Employee Pension Plan), and 6 percent have investments in a REIT (real estate investment trust).

Most, 83 percent, do not plan to withdraw funds from an eligible retirement account starting at age 59½. For those who are very likely to withdraw, 75 percent said they’d use the funds for personal living expenses, and 51 percent said they’d travel; 39 percent would consider investment in some form of real estate.

The 2006 National Association of Realtors® study, BABY BOOMERS AND REAL ESTATE: Today and Tomorrow, was conducted online by Harris Interactive® between March 31 and April 6, 2006, among a nationwide cross section of 1,969 U.S. adults born between 1946 and 1964. Figures for age, sex, race, education, region and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents’ inclination to be online. With 95 percent certainty, overall results have a sampling error of plus or minus 2.2 percentage points; the sampling error for various sub-sample results is higher and varies.

The study, expected to be ready for publication in late June, can be ordered in advance by calling 800/874-6500. The cost is $50 for NAR members and $125 for non-members.

Harris Interactive Inc. (www.harrisinteractive.com), based in Rochester, N.Y., is the 13th largest and the fastest-growing market research firm in the world, most widely known for The Harris Poll® and for its pioneering leadership in the online market research industry.

The National Association of Realtors®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing more than 1.2 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

To find your Realtor in the Vail Valley to assist with your Eagle County, Colorado real estate needs (Vail Real Estate, Beaver Creek Real Estate), go to:
www.searchinvail.com

Search the entire Vail and Beaver Creek area MLS. Set yourself up to receive listings when they are listed. Eductated yourself on Eagle County, Colorado real estate with state of the art technology that makes your Vail real estate and Beaver Creek real estate search as user friendly as possible.

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As per www.realtor.org

Young Realtors Serve Generation X And Y Consumers By Bringing Special Skills To Buyers And Sellers

WASHINGTON (June 2, 2006) – More homebuyers than ever are 30 years old or younger, and a record number of Realtors under 30 – nearly 150,000 – are connecting with the Generation X and Y markets. Thirty of these young Realtors are being recognized in the June issue of REALTOR Magazine’s “30 under 30” – Realtors who have made their mark in the industry and their communities while still in their 20s.

“As new generations enter the housing market, the real estate industry must adapt to meet changing needs and ways of doing business,” said Thomas M. Stevens, 2006 National Association of Realtors president from Vienna, Va., and senior vice president of NRT Inc. “Many of our younger members add value to their clients’ real estate transactions through their generational sensitivities and diverse skill sets. They don’t know a real estate industry without the Internet, technology is second-nature to them, and they speak their clients’ language, often both literally and figuratively.”

According to data from the U.S. Census, more immigrants are becoming homeowners than ever before, and seven of this year’s Realtors under 30 are either immigrants themselves or children of immigrants. José Rivera Sinclair, from Northfield, N.J., is a native of Honduras, and Latino homebuyers compose 80 percent of his business. Penny Liu moved to California from Taiwan as a child and works with U.S. buyers purchasing property in Shanghai, Beijing, and Nanjing. Tempe, Ariz.’s Steven Haddad, the youngest professional on the list at age 20, speaks fluent Arabic – his father emigrated from Jordan.

Another trend affecting real estate is the growing influence of the Internet as a resource in the home search. According to the 2005 NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, 42 percent of buyers who used the Internet to search for a home were 34 or younger. Realtors of this generation have embraced new technologies – 28 of the “30 under 30” operate Web sites for their business – and many of them go beyond this basic technology. David Scher from Boston used the skills he developed in his previous career in information technology to customize an MLS listing feed to 20 different sites for his customers. Jessica Horton from Griffin, Ga., wasn’t satisfied with video home tours – she markets properties with video tours of entire communities.

“Younger home buyers and sellers are already having a big impact on real estate markets across the country,” said Stevens. “Our Realtor members, whether they grew up watching I Love Lucy or IMing their friends, are honored to be bringing the American dream of homeownership to the next generation and beyond.”

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As per www.realtor.org

Pending Home Sales Index Leveling Out

WASHINGTON (July 6, 2006) – The index of pending home sales, a leading gauge for the housing sector, rose slightly in May, an indication that the market is stabilizing, according to the National Association of Realtors®.

The Pending Home Sales Index,* based on contracts signed in May, was up 1.3 percent to a level of 113.4 from an index of 111.9 in April, but was 10.1 percent lower than May 2005.

The index is derived from pending sales of existing homes. A sale is listed as pending when the contract has been signed and the transaction has not closed; pending sales typically are finalized within a month or two of signing.

An index of 100 is equal to the average level of contract activity during 2001, the first year to be examined, and was the first of five consecutive record years for existing-home sales.

David Lereah, NAR’s chief economist, said the index appears to be moderating. “The slight change in pending home sales indicates the market is beginning to level out,” Lereah said. “This is consistent with our forecast, which is showing a soft landing for the housing sector. We are entering the second phase of the transition period from the housing boom, in which sellers are becoming more realistic about their expectations – sales are stabilizing and annual home price appreciation is returning to historic norms.”

Regionally, the PHSI in the South was down) 1.7 percent in May and was 7.3 percent lower than May 2005. In the Northeast, the index was down 0.6 percent in May and was 7.8 percent below a year ago. The index in the Midwest was up 0.6 percent to 100.9 in May but was 13.6 percent lower than May 2005. The index in the West rose 9.9 percent to 110.1 in May but was 12.9 percent below a year earlier.

The National Association of Realtors®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing more than 1.3 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.
# # #

* The Pending Home Sales Index is based on a large national sample, typically representing about 20 percent of transactions for existing-home sales. In developing the model for the index, it was demonstrated that the level of monthly sales-contract activity from 2001 through 2004 closely parallels the level of closed existing-home sales in the following two months.

Existing-home sales for June will be released July 25; the next Pending Home Sales Index will be on August 1.

Vail Valley Real Estate
Beaver Creek Real Estate
Vail, Colorado Real Estate
Eagle County, Colorado Real Estate

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Why use a Realtor when looking for Real Estate in Vail, Colorado and the surrounding areas (Beaver Creek Real Estate, Minturn, Eagle, Eagle-Vail, Gypsum, Avon, etc)

As per www.realtor.org

Why Use a REALTOR®

Many consumers consider selling their home directly but eventually turn to REALTORS®. Smart home sellers realize they need the expertise in pricing their home, making connections with REALTORS® working with buyers, arranging and staffing open houses, and coordinating with other professionals in the sales process.

Only about half of all real estate agents are REALTORS® -- the top half, in our not-so-humble opinion. REALTORS® work independently, for small agencies, or for large brokerages. They help people buy and sell residential or commercial properties, vacation homes, and land; they conduct appraisals; they operate in the United States and in other countries; some specialize in auctions; and others are buyer’s representatives.

Go to www.searchinvail.com to find your Realtor for Eagle County, Colorado
Vail Colorado Real Estate
Beaver Creek Colorado Real Estate
Vail Valley Real Estate

www.searchinvail.com
www.searchinvail.com to search the entire Eagle County, Colorado MLS

Choosing a Realtor to assist with one finding Real Estate in the Vail, Colorado area (Eagle County, Colorad Real Estate: Vail, Beaver Creek, Avon, Gypsum, Minturn, Cotton Ranch, Wildridge, Eagle-Vail, Eagle)

As per realtor.org

NAR’S 1.2 Million Realtors® Live By The Code


WASHINGTON (March 6, 2006) – For nearly 100 years, Realtors® have subscribed to one of the oldest codes of ethics for trade groups in the country. Today, with the premiere of advertising spots entitled, “Someone You Can Trust,” the National Association of Realtors® explains how its Realtor members’ adherence to that code serves and protects the public.

In many ways, consumers today are just like those at the turn of the last century – they deserve and demand honesty, integrity and commitment from the professionals who serve them. Today’s home buyers and sellers, however, confront real estate realities never envisioned 100 years ago, with disclosure requirements, environmental regulations, and an expanding universe of mortgage and financing options. More than ever, home buyers and sellers need to know that their real estate professional is someone they can trust.

“Few, if any, other professional organizations in the nation have put in place such rigorous ethics training requirements for their members,” said Thomas M. Stevens, 2006 NAR president and senior vice president of NRT Inc., from Vienna, Va. “Realtors® are part of a unique profession that requires both competition and collaboration. By subscribing to the Code of Ethics, NAR’s Realtor® members ensure that all home buyers and sellers, with or without professional representation, are treated honestly.”

All Realtors® must know and comply with the Code of Ethics, which goes beyond state licensing requirements. The Code predates real estate license laws, and when these laws were established, many were based on the standards set in the Realtor® Code of Ethics. Realtors® must complete ethics training by taking at least 2.5 hours of instruction at least once every four years to retain membership in NAR. A Realtor® is subject to disciplinary action if a local association of Realtors® finds him or her in violation of the Code of Ethics. Real estate professionals who are not Realtors® do not subscribe to this Code.

Consumers can learn more about NAR’s Code of Ethics by visiting www.realtor.org/codeofethics, or by asking a Realtor® for a copy of the Code.

“Buying or selling a home involves many decisions; choosing a Realtor® to protect your interests is the best one you can make,” said Stevens. “Realtors® help home buyers and sellers save time and money, and add value to the real estate transaction. A licensee has passed an exam; Realtors are real professionals.”

The National Association of Realtors®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing more than 1.2 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

Go to www.searchinvail.com in order to find the Realtor to help you with all of your Vail Valley Real Estate needs.
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As per www.vaildaily.com

Towering exaggerations




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Kaye Ferry
June 27, 2006

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As I predicted, the opposition has turned up the heat on Crossroads.

They're pushing the dialogue to something worthy of the Tonight Show monologue. But they keep at it with the hopes that somewhere, some one unsuspecting soul who has been living under a rock for the past two years just might, by some stretch of the imagination, actually believe their drivel.

Daily Editor Don Rogers wrote a commentary on Friday the 23rd, the title of which was "Arguments that don't stack up."

He outlined the fallacies that the "Friends of Vail Village" (aka, "Old Guard") have been attempting to foist on us. Boy oh boy was he right in his conclusions. He was wrong, however, in assuming there was ever any intent of providing logical, well-researched and documented facts.

No, I'm sorry to say, the whole point of their media blitz is to employ scare tactics. Chicken Little is on the horizon and the sky is falling. Say the outrageous and perhaps it will have some effect. What's that old saying about throwing ... at the wall and seeing what sticks? That's obviously the plan. Because what they're doing really stinks.

These paranoid notions of things that are "lurking in the shadows" are unfortunate, exasperating and manipulative. But what they mostly are is unfair to the community.

It's not bad enough that progress has been stalled. It's not bad enough that we'll have spent an extra year before turning the first shovel. And it's not bad enough that the process has cost the town upwards of $40,000 to satisfy this flex of muscle and ego.

What is worse is that they have deliberately set out to misrepresent the facts for the purpose of getting their way, even though the rest of us have spoken. At meetings, in letters and most explicitly, at the last election.

While we're at it, these "OG" - what are they guarding? A falling-down building? A view of the Frontage Road? A time that has changed? A world that has moved on? I'm not sure.

What I do know is they've insulted our intelligence. But even more, they have insulted us as human beings. Who are they to dictate who can vote? Because when they offended our seasonal workers, they offended everyone who has ever been a seasonal worker. Something a lot of us can relate to.

Through all of this, Crossroads owner Peter Knobel and his staff have kept their sense of humor. They've decided not to stoop to the level of debating the BS. They laugh at most of it and instead continue to diligently work toward giving the community a great complex.

If you want independent answers, they're available. Public Works can give you the traffic studies. I know, because I almost died of boredom listening to them. But more to the point, how will an increase in condos from the current 22 to 69 cause traffic jams? These new owners had better bring a lot of cars and plan on driving around all day.

Community Development can give you the correct heights. It's 87.6 feet high from the Frontage Road, 10.4 feet shorter than the Vail Plaza Hotel.

Everyone knows parking is being helped by Crossroads adding 103 more spaces than required.

The same with housing. Twice as much as required. And there's no town requirement that they be on site.

And how about the Lionshead parking structure? The town manager will be happy to tell you that it's just in the early stages of discussion. Hardly ready for the threatened skyscaper.

The same for West Vail. But how would the "OG" know? They haven't attended those meetings, either.

And as for those 550 signatures. The town clerk can tell you how many were valid. Some of the ads had over 30 percent of the signatures that weren't even registered voters.

Then there's the Roost, which is proceeding through the process with no requests for variances of any kind. So what now? Developers can't even follow current zoning without incurring the wrath of the "OG"?

But the best is the 12-lane highway that will lead to our economic demise and plummeting real-estate values.

Actually I did hear a better one. It was suggested last week by one of the petitioners that all buildings should be measured from sea level. The Planning and Enviromental Commission ought to love that. Not only will they get free lunch, they'll have to fly to California for their meetings.

So they're basing the hysteria on things that we might want, that we might need, that might work, that might pass public scrutiny, that might get approved. Kind of the coulda, shoulda, woulda mentality. Next they'll be having us plan a landing strip for Martians.

Yet they've forgotten. This is the real world. One where the customer's needs should take priority. One where the product is redefined to fit the demand. One where the voice of the majority prevails- regardless of how old they are or when they arrived.

As for you, don't forget to check your mail box. Today you should receive the latest mailing with the vital facts and overlays comparing the three new Frontage Road buildings. Review that and you won't have any questions left. If it's not there, call 479-6000.

Now here's what you need to do: Vote. Vote in large numbers. This is the beginning of a new generation calling the shots.

Vote early. It starts tomorrow at Town Hall and continues through July 7. Just go in, bring your ID, fill out the forms and VOTE YES FOR CROSSROADS. And if you get it done by June 30, regardless of how you vote, take your "I Voted" sticker over to Crossroads and pick up your free voter appreciation ticket for Hell's Belles, who are playing at 8150 on July 1.

Do your part: call them and write them. To contact the Town Council, call 479-1860, ext. 8, or e-mail towncouncil@vailgov.com. To contact Vail Resorts, call 476-5601 or e-mail vailinfo@vailresorts.com. For past columns, go to vaildaily.com and click on "Columnists" or search for keyword "ferry."



Kaye Ferry is a longtime observer of Vail government. She writes a weekly column for the Daily

Vail Valley Real Estate
Beaver Creek Real Esate
Eagle County Real Estate

Go to www.searchinvail.com if you are lookinng for a team of Realtors who want to make your deal happen!
Vail and Beaver Creek Area Real Estate

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As per the Vail Daily

Vail Mountain School home tour slated for Sept. 17




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Daily Staff Report
July 1, 2006

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VAIL - Vail homes will be open to the public on Sunday, Sept. 17, during the 35th annual Vail Mountain School Home Tour chaired by parents Tracy Bossow and Lise Carnes.

The tour coincides with Vail's Oktoberfest weekend. Tickets include tours of the homes and a luncheon catered by Larkspur Restaurant, and will be served in the new school dining room. The traditional bake sale will be held in the school's common. Vans will transport guests from the free parking at the Vail Transportation Center. For parking from I-70, use Exit 176 and follow posted signs.

Proceeds from the tour help to fund need-based scholarships for the school, which offers a college preparatory education for grades K-12. Approximately 30 percent of students benefit from this annual event through need-based financial aid.

Since the home tour was established in 1972, all proceeds have been allocated to scholarships in order for any student, regardless of financial circumstances, to attend the school. A strong financial aid budget is critical to continuing this tradition.

Advance tickets are available by calling the school at 476-3850 or by emailing Hometour@vms.edu or downloading from www.vms.edu. Prices are $40 per person in advance; $45 on event day; $30 for seniors (62 and older) and students (with student ID cards). For seniors in groups of 20 or more, the cost is $25 per person.

Beginning Sept. 1, tickets may be purchased at the American Ski Exchange in Vail Village and Gorsuch's in Vail and Beaver Creek, also the Bag and Pack Shop in Vail and Avon; the Silver Buckle in Edwards and Prudential Real Estate in Beaver Creek.



Vail, Colorado

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Vail Valley Real Estate
Beaver Creek Real Estate
Eagle County Real Estate
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As per www.vaildaily.com

Two in running for Lionshead garage redo




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Edward Stoner
June 29, 2006

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VAIL — The eight developers interested in redoing the Lionshead garage have been whittled down to two.

East West Partners in Avon and Open Hospitality Partners/Hillwood Capital Partnership in Dallas are the only developers who are still in the running to redesign the garage.

Developers had to describe their qualifications and a concept overview by a Wednesday deadline. The overview had to include preliminary plans and an acceptance letter from Vail Resorts because of covenants on the property that limit the use to public parking and conference centers.

Crossroads developer Peter Knobel, who expressed preliminary interest in the redevelopment, did not submit a plan for the latest deadline.

The town issued the request for proposals on May 10. Eight developers responded by the deadline, June 9.

For the next step, a review team will go over the submittals in a public meeting on July 18.

The 1,100-space Lionshead parking structure was built in 1981. The town wants more parking in the new proposals. The project area is 6.6 acres and includes the parking structure as well as the charter bus lot.

Chuck Madison, spokesman for East West Resorts, said earlier this month that the company’s proposal would include hotel rooms, condos, timeshares, a spa and fitness center and restaurant space.

The proposal could also include a large conference center space, between 15,000 and 25,000 square feet, Madison said. Retail and office space are also part of the plan, Madison said.

Mark Mastiner of Open Hospitality Partners/Hillwood Capital said earlier this month that his group’s proposal for Lionshead will have two hotels and public parking, Masinter said. There may also be a conference center, Masinter said.

Hillwood Capital is part of Hillwood, a real estate development company whose chairman is Ross Perot Jr., son of the former presidential candidate.


Staff Writer Edward Stoner can be reached at 748-2929 or estoner@vaildaily.com.

Vail, Colorado

www.searchinvail.com
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Vail and Beaver Creek area real estate (Eagle County in general) has been doing very well the past couple of summers. With world class events like the Teva Mountain Games and the Bravo Music series, real estate clients from all over the world have been able to come purchase properties and enjoy the international atmosphere of Vail Village and Beaver Creek at the same time. Real Estate has been appreciating substantially for most and quite a bit more for those who have taken the time to remodel their Eagle County, Colorado residences. When choosing a Realtor in the area, one should make sure that they are working with a Vail area Realtor who has experience in the many different areas of Real Estate (Vail, Beaver Creek, Eagle, Avon, Eagle-Vail, Wildridge, etc) in order for the client to be able to make a wise decision on purchasing a home in Eagle County, Colorado.

Go to www.searchinvail.com to find your Realtor and to assist your process of purchasing a home in the Vail Valley.

www.searchinvail.com
www.searchinvail.com

When looking for a Realtor in the Vail Valley (Beaver Creek, Avon, Eagle, Eagle-Vail, Edwards, Gypsum, Minturn, etc) a lot of people are finding that the internet can be a good place to find a Realtor and also, sometimes, a bad place to try and get information. If a client chooses to go to www.searchinvail.com, they have found the right place to search for all of their real estate needs. With cutting edge technology and quick responses from the Realtors, clients can expect the internet real estate service that they deserve. Real estate in Vail, Beaver Creek and the surrounding areas moves quickly. Requesting to receive listings they day they are listed is a great way to start. Working with your Realtor, a client needs to let the Eagle County Realtor know what they desire from the beginning. There are many different areas that fit many different personalities. Log on to www.searchinvail.com to find your Realtor for Vail, Beaver Creek, Eagle-Vail, Avon, Eagle, Gypsum, Minturn and all of Eagle County, Colorado.

www.searchinvail.com

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

www.searchinvail.com

As per www.vaildaily.com

Real Estate Sales Continue to Set Records



The month of May’s total sales volume reflected the highest of any May recorded in Eagle County history at $257,872,000. This added to the staggering year-to-date total real estate sales dollar volume of $968,387,200 and exceeded last years record breaking year-to-date volume by almost $23 million.



The year-to-date total number of transactions through May is down 22% from last year. And the year-to-date average sales price for homes in Eagle County is up to $842,076.





Highlights for the month of May 2006:



Arrowhead had the highest total sales dollar volume at $27,520,000
Eagle had the highest number of real estate transactions at 50
Single family home sales are up 40% over April
Residential home average sales price was $903,584


The attached file has tabs at the bottom with five statistic reports to keep you up to date with the Eagle County real estate market.



If you have any questions or if I can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.



Thank you for your business. - Land Title

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As per www.vaildaily.com

Hole in the Sky – that would be Cotton Ranch

Daily Staff Report
June 27, 2006

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If a dream-come-true means living in a lovely home in the mountains where you can ski in the morning at the premier international ski resort in the world (that would be Vail) and golf in the afternoon at one of the most beautiful, challenging courses in Colorado (that would be Cotton Ranch), welcome to Hole in the Sky – and that, again, would be Cotton Ranch.

Legend has it that Hole in the Sky was the name the Ute Indians, indigenous to the Valley, gave to the area now known as Cotton Ranch. Part of the ‘banana belt,’ this spot where the sun shines brighter and more often and the temperature is warmer and stays mild longer, is located just 35 miles west of Vail and 23 miles west of Beaver Creek. The 6,300 foot elevation fosters a gentle climate and allows a golfing season that seems to stretch on forever. This holds year-round appeal for outdoor enthusiasts who ardently cling to each season’s unique activities.

The natural splendors of the area are surprising to some, snowcapped mountain peaks rise on all sides of this high desert land, and apparent to all. Directly south of the growing town of Gypsum, Cotton Ranch is built around the golf course and lies in the valley surrounded by mountain views of Sawatch Range, New York Mountains, Red Table Mountain, the Flat Tops, and Castle Peak. Gypsum Creek rushes through valley and across the golf course.

Golfing is the heartbeat of this quaint neighborhood, the very first tee-off occurring in 1997. The community is predominantly made up of single family homes surrounding the 18 hole, par 72 course designed by Pete Dye.

The golf course has diverse, undulating terrain with snow-topped mountains offering a backdrop and the Colorado blue skies overhead. By all accounts the course is challenging and varied and fun. Semi-private, guests are always welcome.

A 12,000 square foot clubhouse is complete with exercise room, pro shop, fine dining restaurant, and lounge. For outdoor enjoyment there is a driving range, tennis facilities, 25 meter outdoor swimming pool, and fishing ponds for member’s to catch-and-release.

The club offers both social and golf memberships and about 75% of the Cotton Ranch residents are members. Residents refer to the clubhouse and its facilities as “a vacation in your back yard” and it draws the neighborhood together in unified activities.

The residential community consists of Cotton Ranch, the original development, and the upper mesa, called Sky Legend at Cotton Ranch. The development covers over 415 acres and will consist of over 500 homes when built out.

The upper bench, Sky Legend at Cotton Ranch, is 110 acres and will include 247 homes. Phase I, offering the first 77 lots and homes, has sold out. Phase II offers 29 custom lots and is 90% under reservation. The final phases, which will back onto BLM land, are in the planning stage.

Sky Legend at Cotton Ranch is located on the hillside of terraces overlooking the manicured greens of the Cotton Ranch golf course. It surrounds holes five, six, and seven of the golf course and consists of tree lined streets, quiet cul-de-sacs, and a network of walking paths. There are trails throughout the development extending onto BLM.

Currently active on the real estate market in the original development are six lots and five homes; all original developer lots have been purchased.

Residents describe the community at Cotton Ranch as very close knit. Fulltime residency is approximately 95% and contributes to a stable community base. The estimated average age of residents is 30 – 50. And with the new elementary and middle school within walking distance, this is a convenient place for growing families. Young families with children comprise about 50% of the community.

Sidewalks line one side of the streets and in the summertime it’s common to see residents strolling through the neighborhood in the evening or standing in their yards chatting.

Summer also brings bike riders of all ages and abilities venturing out onto the quiet, open streets of Cotton Ranch. For those who crave a more adventuresome ride there are numerous local trails, such as Cottonwood Pass, easily accessible. Also only a bike ride away, is the Eagle County Trail Program, a scenic recreational path linking Gypsum and Eagle and running along the scenic Eagle River. It also hosts fly-fishing, rafting, and kayaking adding to the list of activities easily available to residents.

Wintertime will display neighbors’ cross-country skiing and snowshoeing along the golf course when the warm weather is briefly overtaken by snow and golf clubs need to be temporarily stored.

Also easily accessible to the Cotton Ranch community is Sylvan Lake State Park, just 40 miles southeast. It’s ideal for fishing, boating, hiking, and picnicking. National forest is adjacent to the Sylvan for longer excursions into the picturesque mountains.

The proximity of the Eagle County Regional Airport and Jet Center makes air travel an effortless undertaking.

With the longest golf season in the Vail Valley, a plethora of outdoor activities for the entire family, and a friendly neighborhood atmosphere, this area has become the choice of many folks for fulltime and second-home living. Ask the homeowners and they’ll say the ‘hole in the sky’ is really an opening in the clouds where the sun shines down onto a little piece of heaven on earth – and that would be Cotton Ranch.

Vail Colorado

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