The market in Summit County, Colorado which consists of Breckenridge, Keystone, Copper Mtn., Frisco, Dillon and Silverthorne ended up pretty well last year. 

The most expensive condo to sell in Summit County was $2.4 million. The Most expensive single family home sold for $5.5 million . There were 646 condominiums sold in Summit County with the lowest price of $122,500.

The lowest priced  non-modular home Single family  home sold for $300,000. A total of 324 Single Family homes sold in Summit County.  The average Sold price was $950,000 and the Median Sold Price was $755,000.  The percentage of Asking price was 95.7%.

The total number of residences sold was 1199.  The average sales price was $463,000 and the percentage of asking price was 96.5%.

Please visit my website www.leahbaxter.com or simple go to the MLS and search all properties available in Summit County.  Leah Baxter can be reached at 970-389-6367 for more information.

Bad weather and holiday crowds created the perfect storm of awful traffic Sunday. Here, cars try to merge onto a packed I-70 in Silverthorne. Special to the Summit Daily/Thomas Zieba

Winter has officially arrived in Summit County Colorado this past Saturday and Sunday.   It turned out to be quite the adventure on I-70, especially on Sunday, the end of a Holiday weekend.

I don’t understand why people don’t plan on spending the night on Sunday or leave a day earlier, or plan to come a day earlier.  Why not take that extra vacation day and save your sanity and be safe?  Why not plan to leave on Monday morning early?  I realize people have to work on Monday or go to school, but it is only an hour drive to the West side of Denver when there is no traffic or weather.  Combine traffic, weather, and a Holiday and it spells wasted time on I-70.  Now you are talking a 5-7 hour drive to get back to Denver.    Even if it doesn’t snow, just plan on spending the night or leave at 8am on Sunday.    A regular commute back to Denver on a  Sunday night could take you 2-4 hours without any weather related problems or a Holiday. The reason traffic is so congested is that everyone leaves the various ski areas at the same time, Vail, Breckenridge, Keystone, Copper Mtn. Loveland, Winter Park.  All of these ski areas funnel into I-70.

I-70 did end up closing until 10pm on Sunday night and several of the stranded motorist ended up camping out at the Silverthorne Rec center, which seems to be acting as a Holiday Inn more times that it should. 

 We had quite a winter last year, and even though it seems to be clear in Denver, it is another story in the mountains once the weather moves in.  Combine that with people that have front-wheel drive cars or who have never driven in snow and you end up with multiple accidents.  I don’t know about you, but I sure don’t like to end up in traffic for hours on end after a wonderful weekend in the mountains. 

 I did end up driving to Denver on Monday morning for some appointments and it only took me 1 hr 30 min. This was with snow packed roads and some traffic . So what is the solution?  Why not purchase that mountain condo as an investment, or a rental and a place your family can enjoy.  It will be a better investment than the stock market.  Our prices are stable right now.  Rest assured you won’t be one of the thousands of stranded motorist on I-70. 

 The interest rates are below 6% now.  Why not enjoy life, come to the mountains and have fun, and relax!  Check out my website www.leahbaxter.com or call me 970-389-6367.

Keystone Mountain will be kicking off their concert series beginning on November 22.  Here is the official line-up for November 22. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

4-6p Official Pre-Party with KSMT at the Wolf Rock Brewing CO
6-8p Live DJ and Giveaways on the Main Stage in Hunky Dori Lot
6-9p Sponsor Village Open
8pm Free Concert with Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

Do you dream about having your own special place at the ski area, but don’t think you can afford it?  Well there are some options out there for you to consider :

For example there is a great studio at a complex right at the outskirts of River Run listed at $189,900.  Ski slope views from nicely furnished condo that sleeps 4.  This is a great complex with a pool, hot tub, elevators and excercise room.  There is even an Aveda spa in the complex.  So what are you waiting for?  Give Leah Baxter a call today 970-389-6367 or email me at leah@leahbaxter.com. 

Also, there are several 1/4 shares available. If you want to be situated right in River Run, there is an adorable one bedroom condo available for $89,000 (1/4 share). 

Even though the rest of the country seems to be in Foreclosure mode, it is not true in the resort areas.  Everyone wants a deal, but noone wants to pay market value right now.  So what is the solution? 

Have you considered a quarter share or a 1/10 of a share.  This is not a time share, you actually own a deeded share  buyers experience all the joys and rewards of owning a second home property but at a fraction of the normal cost and with few of the normal concerns.

For example you could own a 1 bedroom condo 1/4 share in River Run for $89,000.  This will give you the use of it it for 1 week a month.  For more information on quarter shares, 1/10 shares please call Leah Baxter at 970-389-6367 or leah@leahbaxter.com.  Feel free to see current listings at www.leahbaxter.com.

The new gondola is scheduled to open on November 7, just around the corner. This gondola runs from the River Run base area and it is supposed to double the uphill capacity, which is quite impressive, since it seemed to get people up the mountain rather quickly before.

Some of the future plans for Keystone are adding a new lift from the Ski Tip area up to the east side of the mountain. There are currently cat-skiing operations in the Bergmann and Independence Bowls and this is going to be replaced with some new lifts. I’m not sure if that is a good thing, for the powder adventurist.

The Wayback chair is scheduled to be replaced and new trails are going to be formed on the front side, North Peak and the Outback.

Keystone is a great family friendly mountain as well as some extreme skiing in the outback areas. It is scheduled to open on November 7, weather permitting. We are expecting a snowstorm today!  The  Market snapshot will give you information on current market trends, current up to the date MLS listings in Summit County, including Keystone, Breckenridge, Copper, Dillon, Silverthorne and Frisco . Call Leah at 970-389-6367 or visit my website leahbaxter.com.

Inventory levels have increased since the winter in Summit County.  The market here is becoming a little more neutral than a full on Seller’s market.  Now is a good time to buy in Summit County because of the choices.  Some properties have been on the market for more than a few months and perhaps the seller may be a little more negotiable than in prior years when there are not a lot of choice. 

Our market has never experienced a bubble like other areas in the nation.  WE have been consistently growing anywhere between 10-25% appreciation a year.  It has stabilized a little this year due to the economist portraying doom and gloom everywhere.  However, we are not experiencing a decline in prices or do we experience foreclosures here.  Generally if a property is going to foreclosure, it is usually sold or rectified before that even happens.

If you are interested in new projects that are in the planning phase, click here.The following are inventory levels in each town which include condos, duplexes, town homes and single family homes:

Frisco-current inventory 110 properties

Copper Mtn. -current inventory 61 properties

Breckenridge-current inventory 653 properties

Wildernest/Silverthorne- 214 properties

Dillon-130 properties

Keystone-142 properties.

Feel free to contact Leah at 970-389-6367 to help you with your property needs.  www.leahbaxter.com

In the quaint mountain town of Frisco, Colorado spring has finally arrived!!!! Frisco is in the center of Summit County and is a wonderful small town with world class restaurants.  The snow if finally melting and I’m sure many of the locals as well as myself are thrilled.  Even though it has been an epic season for skiing and riding and other snow sports, we are definitely ready for biking, hiking, camping, fishing, boating, etc.

On May 17th, the town of Frisco will host the annual town clean up day followed by a BBQ at Walter Byron park.  The Marina Season Opener is scheduled for May 24th at the Frisco Bay.

Frisco is located 1 hr/minutes from the west side of Denver.  It is convenient to Copper Mtn. (5 minutes), Breckenridge, Keystone, Loveland, and 25 minutes to Vail.  It is a charming town with world class restaurants, local shops, bike paths that will take you all over Summit County, and a great marina to go sailing and boating.

If you are interested in property in Frisco, check out this beautiful duplex that has awesome views of Mt. Royal.  For any more property information in Frisco or Summit County please contact  leah@leahbaxter.com  or search the MLS for free on my website www.leahbaxter.com.

Keystone is in the preliminary plans of a huge redevelopment of the Mountain House base area.  The Keystone Citizens League who represent property owners at the resort, is in full support of the plan.The Mountain House base area is the original base area for Keystone, so it is definitely up for redevelopment

The development plans would include total improvement which would cover 88.4 acres. Out of the 88.4 acres 48.4 would be slated for redevelopment and the other 40 acres would be designated for recreational trails, public transit, open space, wetlands and interpretive  facilities.

The area that houses the existing cafeteria, ski school, and ticket offices would  also be redeveloped.  Vail Resorts would be in charge of this redevelopment process.

  Now would be a good time to purchase real estate in Keystone.  If you are looking for a nice large two bedroom property that overlooks the golf course in Keystone, click here.

For more information on properties in Keystone or Summit county please contact leah@leahbaxter.com.  or check out my website www.leahbaxter.com to search the MLS for free.