The Aspen Times

February 2021 Newsletter

February 2021 Newsletter

Hard to believe we’re one month into this new year already!

COVID is still a reality in our local communities but one of the great things about living in the mountains is the abundance of healthy outdoor activities. If you are thinking about visiting, flights and lodging are available. The slopes are open with social distancing and other health measures in place. We had fresh snow last weekend and more is forecast for this week! Restaurants in Aspen Snowmass are open again but at a lower capacity so be sure to make reservations early. You can also support our local restaurants by ordering take out or buying a gift certificate to use later.

Interest in real estate remains high and although there are fewer options to choose from, opportunities are out there to secure your piece of paradise. Reach out if you’re on the hunt or thinking of selling in this historic market. It’s a great time to be here!

Praying for lightning to strike in 2021

Praying for lightning to strike in 2021

As a guy who sells homes and dirt for a living, I found the recent coverage of the local housing lotteries remarkable for a myriad of reasons. I noted the report highlighted the lucky few and didn’t talk much about those who weren’t chosen. I wondered how they felt and what they would do now. The complexities and wide-reaching effect of such programs made me think.

Lessons of “A Christmas Carol” for 2020 and the New Year

Lessons of “A Christmas Carol” for 2020 and the New Year

This time of year I’m always compelled to look back at the previous twelve months, reading and watching all the year-end reviews. I’m always amazed at how much has happened, how many people died, what I remember and somewhat surprisingly, what I’ve forgotten. If there was ever a year when just the thought of attempting to reconcile the last 365 days risks short-circuiting our fragile and collective sub-conscience, 2020 was it.

Third-quarter Aspen-area property sales top $1.5 billion

Third-quarter Aspen-area property sales top $1.5 billion

In his monthly real estate column in Sunday’s Aspen Times, Aspen Snowmass Sotheby’s International Realty broker Scott Bayens, citing the Multiple Listings Services, reported another “nearly 500 properties under contract and set to close by the end of the year. All previous end-of-year sales numbers are sure to smashed.” Those properties are located in the Roaring Fork Valley and from Glenwood Springs to Rifle, according to Bayens.

Grateful in the age of COVID

Grateful in the age of COVID

Here in the mountains we have a couple of truisms relating to the summer season. One is “come for the winter; stay for the summer.” Another is, “summers are always too short.” Of course, as fires rage now in the month of August, and Interstate 70 remains closed, many are praying for rain and cooler temps sooner than later. But those of us lucky to live here know how special these months usually are.

Local Real Estate Surges as Wealthy Move From Cities to Their Mountain Escape

Local Real Estate Surges as Wealthy Move From Cities to Their Mountain Escape

Estin and Bayens, who writes a monthly real estate column for The Aspen Times, agree on the general reasoning beyond the mass move of the wealthy from cities to small market luxury towns like Aspen. A lot has to do with the current environment surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, combined with much of the civil unrest that has been sweeping through the country.

Downvalley real estate market shows signs of life after rough late March, early April

Downvalley real estate market shows signs of life after rough late March, early April

Scott Bayens, a broker with Aspen Snowmass Sotheby’s International Realty, said real estate agents are trying to grasp the new normal. He confirmed the trends in Gray’s report — activity plummeted in middle March and improved in late April into May.

Now, single-family homes, townhouses and condominiums priced between $400,000 and $750,000 in the mid and lower valley are going under contract in just a few days in many cases and often have multiple offers.

WHAT’S THE KEY TO REAL ESTATE IN THE ROARING FORK VALLEY? FINDING IT BEFORE IT HITS THE MARKET.