What does the increased tension between Vail and ski towns mean for real estate? Vail, the owner of major ski resorts and the epic pass, is selling approximately 86% more passes than in 2019. At the same time mountain towns throughout Colorado and the country...
Colorado’s back door tax hike allows local governments to grow 20 times inflation.
Property taxes in Colorado are off the charts with many seeing an increase of 40% plus in the last assessment which is considerably higher than any inflation measure. Lawmakers took up the cry from voters with a vengeance coming up with a solution that not only makes...
Colorado Mountain town tax revenue continues to grow, what does this mean for real estate prices?
Regardless of all the talk of a recession, soft landing, or something in between. Many Colorado mountain towns continue to see record tax sales revenue. How is this happening while domestic tourism is pulling back? What does this mean for the upcoming ski season? ...
What Colorado ski town is outperforming others : Which Colorado ski town is the best investment?
As I predicted, we are starting to see some big changes in Colorado ski real estate. Even as prices in many markets throughout the country are staying flat, some Colorado ski real estate is still increasing while others are starting to correct. What is causing the...
Aspen/Pitkin County lines up ban on short-term rentals
Aspen continues leading the way in Colorado on nightly rental regulations. Historically what happens in Aspen ultimately flows through to other mountain communities. What is in the exclusion of nightly rentals in Pitkin County? Are these new regulations legal based...
Median income soars in CO mountains, is 150k/year income affordable housing
It is likely no mystery that the Colorado ski towns are getting considerably more expensive, but the recent data released by HUD is eye opening. HUD releases income figures every year based on census data and other factors, such as the rate of inflation. What do the...
Tax bills double in CO mountain towns, new legislation doesn’t help, you can reduce your taxes
Our legislative branch and Governor have touted a new proposal to drastically reduce property taxes after they have skyrocketed due to increasing values and the elimination of the Gallagher amendment. Unfortunately the new bill will not help the overwhelming majority...
Big changes in mountain real estate, volumes drop, but there is one big surprise
Although March is typically not a big sales time in the mountains with mud season and the resorts closed, there are some interesting trends emerging. As suspected single family homes sales volumes have dropped dramatically along with median and average sales price. ...
Taxes jump, you have 30 days, how do you appeal (quick guide) and should you?
Get ready for sticker shock; as you will be receiving your new tax assessment in the next few weeks (typically the beginning of May) and time is of the essence as you have a limited window if you want to fight your tax value. How can assessed values continue to...
“Apparently we are too stupid”; Colorado Mayors Blast Polis’ statewide zoning proposal
With a supermajority, the legislature has been busy crafting bills that will radically alter the real estate landscape. The recent proposal allows the state to dictate zoning in every county throughout Colorado and eliminate single family zoning. Colorado mayors are...
Big changes to traffic patterns and Colorado mountain real estate post Covid
Anyone who has ventured into any Colorado ski town recently has noticed a profound change since Covid. Everything seems to be busy all the time, prices have skyrocketed, and longtime locals are quickly priced out. What is causing the swift changes and what does this...
Aspen adopts some of the strictest building codes in state, impact on real estate
A local HVAC contractor said of the new code “This is like a really obese person drinking a 12-pack of Diet Coke and feeling good about themselves.” What is in Aspen’s new building code proposal? What impact will this have on new construction, property values, and...
Wild West Buying and selling in Colorado ski towns: a cautionary tale from steamboat values plunge
There is a condo complex in Steamboat Springs, CO where units have precipitously dropped in value overnight while owners cannot sell, refinance, rent, or in many cases use the units. The units themselves are fine, but there is one huge problem. What happened in...
Buying and selling in Colorado ski towns: a cautionary tale from steamboat values plunge, 4 ways to quickly lose money in ski real estate
There is a condo complex in Steamboat where units have precipitously dropped in value while owners cannot sell, refinance, or in many cases use the units. The units themselves are fine, but there is one huge problem. What happened in Steamboat? Why is this a...
What Colorado ski resort is the best investment? Top two choices
What a run it has been the last several years with most Colorado ski resorts averaging 30-40% / year increases. Many resort areas are still up double digits for the year, but just like the seasons are beginning to change there is a cold bite to the air in Colorado...
Statewide transfer tax gearing up for 2024; I’ll bet 178 million this will not work
It is amazing, they just called the last races in Colorado a few weeks ago and already there is a ballot initiative to increase taxes further. In the last cycle voters passed an affordable housing initiative and hot on its heals is a new statewide transfer tax...
CO Short term rental elections 20% tax rates approved, what are the results and what does this mean to you and Colorado ski real estate?
Regardless of party affiliation, this has been a big voting season for Colorado real estate and there was a resounding message relayed at the polls. Voters in Steamboat Springs, Aspen, Dillon, Glenwood Springs, Carbondale, and Summit County all decided whether...
6 CO ski towns have short term rentals on ballot; what does this mean for real estate
Voters in Steamboat Springs, Aspen, Dillon, Glenwood Springs, Carbondale, and Summit County will all decide whether to impose additional taxes, with at least part of those funds in each municipality going to support affordable housing. What are the new short term...
Denver values up 13%, Summit up 23% for the year, the chart should scare you!
The Summit Daily recently posted an article that Fall is a great time to hike a 14er. I took the pic below of a 13k foot peak the same week the article came out. Probably not a good time to attempt a peak ascent in the snow. The article on 14ers is eerily similar...
Ruling in Louisiana court halts Frisco’s plan for short term rentals
Frisco had originally planned to offer a “locals” only license classification for short term rentals. A new ruling in Louisiana put these plans on hold and could jeopardize many other communities short term rental laws. What was in the ruling and why is it so...
Steamboat’s occupancy plummets, revenues soar, what is going on?
Steamboat’s occupancy rate “supposedly” plummets 13% from last year, yet accommodation taxes are up an astonishing 48%. Why is it important to focus on occupancy and sales taxes? How accurate are either of these numbers? What does this mean for real estate? What...
Breckenridge records lowest occupancy rates since 2015; will real estate follow?
The headline in the Summit Daily sound ominous: Summit County servers stung by lack of visitors with lowest occupancy rates since 2015. From the headlines it sounds like Breckenridge is in a free fall. Is it really? What is going on in Breckenridge and other...
Will higher interest rates impact Colorado ski real estate? One market down 71%
Depending on the Colorado ski town, cash transactions make up between 30-75% of all closed transactions. With this many cash transactions, what do rising interest rates mean for sales in the various ski towns. Will there be a slow down in ski real...
Aspen prices soar, further limits to development, what are the alternative resorts
Aspen home prices jumped from 10 million to 16 million from 21 to 22. At the same time the city council has recently increased restrictions on new construction. How many demolitions/new builds do you think the city will now allow? Hint, the number is much lower than...























