Wake up Breckenridge is just the first of many events Breckenridge will host this ski season.  There is truly something (or many things) going on every month throughout the ski season.

Here are a few of my favorite Breckenridge events that are too good to be missed:

Lighting of Breckenridge
Location: Breckenridge
December 03, 2011 – December 03, 2011

Dew Tour
Location: Breckenridge
December 15, 2011 – December 18, 2011

Ullr Fest
Location: Breckenridge
January 08, 2012 – January 14, 2012

International Snow Sculpture Championships
January 24, 2012 – February 05, 2012

Spring Fever Festival
March 17, 2012 – April 05, 2012

Check out Breckenridge Ski Resort’s Events page for a complete list of Breckenridge Events and descriptions

• There are 131 properties in Summit County (Breckenridge, Blue River, Frisco, Copper Mountain, Dillon, Keystone and Silverthorne) that are listed for $200,000 or less.

• 42 of those properties are 2 bedrooms.

• 38 of those properties have 700 sq.ft. or more!

The point is there are options for locals to buy!  If you are interested in finding out how you can stop renting and start owning email me.  I can put you in touch with a good mortgage broker and find properties that would meet your budget and living criteria.

Here is an informational video from a broker I know in the Denver area.  He makes some good points on reasons to buy instead of rent.  Of course, most locals will want to use a local broker when applying for a loan.

A few fun things to think about when you consider buying your own place!

• Depending on what you pay for rent and what you are interested in buying, you might pay a similar amount to own instead of rent.

• You will own your home and never have to worry about your apartment selling midwinter and having to find a new place to live.

• You can decorate your place to your liking, paint your walls and can even do some home renovations!

• You can have a pet!

• Even if you don’t always live in Summit County, you’ll be able to rent your place out or use it as a ski retreat.

• Never worry about finding a place to rent again!

Start your home search by visiting my website or contacting me at Dyan@coresortproperties.com

Take a Haunted Tour in Breckenridge

Breckenridge Heritage Alliance offers a Haunted Tour of Breckenridge that covers local history, legends and lore.  They also run historic walking tours, cemetery tours, mine tours and a saloon and distillery tour.  Haunted Tours are held Friday and Saturday evenings and cost $10/prsn while the rest of the tours are held at various time throughout the week.

Get Out Some Aggression with a Halloween Dodgeball Tournament at the Breckenridge Rec Center

The Breckenridge Rec Center will be hosting a Halloween dodgeball tournament.  Teams of six will don costumes and battle it out dogeball style Oct. 27th for a chance to be called tournament champions.  Register your team in advance for a chance to play.
Explore your creative side with Breckenridge Carving Contests and Costume Contests
by creating your Halloween costume, carving pumpkins and creating Halloween treat.  Then get ready to compete in carving and costume competitions at the end of the month.

Catch ski movie premiers in Breckenridge, Keystone and Copper Mountain

Check the paper for screenings. ALL.I.Can  An Environmental Awareness Snow Sports Film by Sherpa Cinema will play Oct. 22 at 7pm in Keystone for $10.

Country Dance at the Silverthorne Pavilion

The Town of Silverthorne is hosting a Country Dance Friday, October 14
for $5/person.  They will be offering free dance lessons with Mike “Tex” DeGarie from 6-7pm
7 – 10 p.m. – Open dancing

Get Scared at a Haunted House in Frisco, CO

The Town of Frisco hosts its annual Haunted House October 29th-31st.  The haunted house runs nightly from 6pm-10pm.  Tickets for this good scare are  $7 per person.

Fall Views in Breckenridge Colorado

The Parade of Homes typically features the most extravagant homes in the county, but this year’s choices take into consideration the current economic situation.  Featured homes include, mult-family dwellings, remodels, net zero energy homes, budget conscious construction and even a few over the top residences.

There are 19 homes involved in the Parade of Homes.

• 5 are in Silverthorne
• 1 is in Dillon
• 1 is in Keystone
• 1 is in Montezuma
• 2 are in Frisco
• 9 are in Breckenridge

Featured Parade of Homes Pick:  Home 14: 382 Fairview Boulevard in Breckenridge, CO

This home is a remodel and the before and after shots featured in the Parade of Homes magazine are amazing.   It is hard to tell they really are the same house.  Colorado Building Company updated this home from a dated early 1980’s home that was in poor shape to a completely renovated dream home that took advantage of the lot’s million dollar views.

All proceeds from the ticket sales of the Parade of Homes will benefit the Summit Foundation, which is a community organization that provides ongoing support to local organizations, nonprofits and programs.  Tickets can be purchased at City Market in Breckenridge or Dillon or through online purchase.  If you are unable to make it to the 2011 Summit County Parade of Homes you can still view the featured home through the online magazine.

The Summit County Real Estate Market Mid-September:

Since September 1^st there have been 61 residential properties sold in Summit County.

• The highest priced property sold was a 6bd/5.5ba with 5,284 sq.ft. that sold for $3,275,000 and was listed at $3,890,000 in Shock Hill on Peak 8 area of Breckenridge.  It was on the market 188 days before being sold.

• The lowest priced property sold was a 1bd/1ba with 432 sq.ft. that sold for $102,000 and was listed for $115,000 in the Quandary Breckenridge Condominium complex.  It was on the market 293 days before closing.

• Average sales price for September has been $583,307. The average property that sold in September had on average been on the market for 207 days before going under contract.

What sold this month, 18% of the properties went under contract within 30 days of being listed.

• 51% of the properties were listed for 120 days or less before going under contract
• 49% of the properties were under contract 120 days or more.  With the longest sold property being on the market
• Out of the properties sold so far in September, the longestime on market was for 1,238 days.  It was a 3bd/4ba Claimjumper Condo in Breckenridge that was listed at $395,000 and sold for $325,000.  The description of the condo started with, “Owner’s had it – get us an offer, any offer.”  When this property was originally put up for sale the year was 2008 and the price was for $415,000.  Learn how to not be that seller!

• The lowest priced unit in the complex is one of the two available 1 bedroom / 1 bathroom units. It is listed for $225,000.
• The highest priced unit in the complex is a 4 bedroom / 4 bathroom 1,667 sq.ft unit listed at $639,000.
• There is also a 2 bedroom/ 2 bathroom unit listed at $349,000
• Plus, a 3bedroom / 3 bathroom unit listed at $475,000
• All 5 properties have been listed this year and all but one in the last 5 months.
• During the last year zero properties have sold in this unit but only 3 properties were listed and failed sell in the last year.

BEST DEAL IN THE COMPLEX

Click to view slideshow.

Is the 1 bedroom / 1 bathroom listed for $225,000.  This is the best deal in the complex due to the price and because it is a 1 bedroom, 2 bath lock off.  This layout allows one side to be locked-off as a hotel room while the other is set up at a studio.  Giving you the opportunity to DOUBLE YOUR RENTALS. The unit has also been completely remodeled with granite counter tops and new cabinets, designer furniture and new flooring. With the lock-off option and upgrades this unit also has a great rental history.

Like all units in this complex, it is ski-in/ski-out with the Super Bee lift right across from the condo. This condo complex also has a hot tub, onsite restaurant, underground parking and a  and hot tub is truly right outside your door. HOA Dues include ALL utilities plus high-speed wireless internet & Cable TV!

BONUS:  The US SKI TEAM has just signed a 20 year contract making Copper Mountain their official speed training facility.

As of  August 1st, 1,833 residential properties were for sale in Summit County.

• 34% were single family homes
• Out of those homes currently for sale, 114 are priced at $500,000 or lower.
• 49% of the properties currently for sale in Summit County are condos
• Out of the condos currently for sale, 391 of those condos are priced at $300,000 or lower
• 11% of the properties currently for sale have come on the market in the last 30 days
• 40% of the properties been on the market 90 days or less and 52.43% on the market has been for sale for 120 days or more.

What’s Selling?

172 residential properties are currently under contract in Summit county.

Out of the residential properties under contract:

• 57 are single family homes
• 80 are condos (the rest are a combination of townhomes, duplexes and mobile homes).
• 30% of the properties under contract have been for sale 30 days or less
• 57% of what is under contract has been on the market under 90 days.

What Sold In July?

During the month of July, 77 residential properties were sold.

• 25 of those properties were single family homes and 39 were condos (the rest are a combination of townhomes, duplexes and mobile homes).

Condo Sales Stats:

• Out of the condos that were sold, 25% were for properties listed 30 days or less
• 49% of the condos sold were listings on the market for 90 days or less.
• Throughout 2011, 259 condos have sold in Summit County.
• Out of the condos that were sold, 84% of those condos sold for below $500,000

When you view the overall condominium sales stats in Summit County you will notice that the average sale price is up from 2011 overall.

Single Family Home Sales Stats:

• The average home sold during the month of July was a 4 bd / 3.25 bath and 2,910 sq. fot home  that sold for $740,965 and was on the market an average of 190 days before going under contract.
• Out of the 25 homes sold in July, 22 of them were sold for a million dollars or less.
• 41% of the homes sold in July were on the market for 120 days or more.
• 5 of the homes were on the market 10 days or fewer before going under contract
• One home that sold was a 6 bedroom / 6.5 bathroom home in Breckenridge that was on the market for 854 before going under contract!
• So far this year 41% of the homes sold have been priced between $500,000 -$1M

View overall home sales and statistics by city and compare them to previous years by visiting our updated single family sales stats document.

2011 Sales So Far:

By August 1st, 471 residential properties were sold in Summit County this year.

• 33% of those properties were single family homes
• 49% were condominiums
• 44% of the properties sold this year were on the market for 120 days or less
• Properties on the market for 30 days or less had a 95% list to sales price ratio while properties on the market over 120 days averaged  91% list to sales price ratio.  This stat does not take into account the original sales price or how many price reductions the property had.

Cheapest House on the Market:

63 Quandary Road
Breckenridge, CO 80424
2 Bedrooms / 1 Bath 878 sq.ft.
7 miles from Breck!
Priced at $235,000
This is the cheapest non-modular single family home in Summit County.  Located about seven miles south of town, this quaint property has nice views down valley, gas heat, and vaulted ceilings in the kitchen/dining area. Bank owned property, all offers will be subject to bank counter proposal language including an “AS-IS” clause with exception of septic system which must be inspected and cleared by the Summit County Health Dept.

Featured Property:

31 Burgundy Circle
Silverthorne, CO
4 bedrooms / 3 baths with 2,185 sq.ft. on .13 acres
Priced at $449,000
Set in the woods, this turnkey 4 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath Duplex looks and feels like a single family home. The entire interior was remodeled in 2003 ( down to the studs).The main floor master suite has a walk in closet and huge master bath with a jetted tub. The lower level with a huge rec room and 3 guest bedrooms offers a wonderful separation of space. This home sleeps an army! Trails right out the door.

If you are interested in either of these properties or have specific criteria for your mountain home, send me an email.  I would be happy to help find properties that meet your criteria and to monitor the market so that when the right property for you is available you are ready to jump on it!

It is easy and FREE to start receiving our monthly Summit County Foreclosure Report.  Devault Real Estate Group is the only real estate company that  provides an accurate foreclosure list for Summit County.  Email us to receive your own foreclosure list and to learn about other bargain properties in the county.

Follow COResortRealtor on Twitter!

P.S.   Are you reading our blog? It is pretty cool and a great Summit County Resource.

To request a targeted market report on properties in your area or to receive additional information about Summit County real estate contact:

When people have a health issue they see a doctor, a legal issue a lawyer so it only makes sense to see a professional when it comes to something as important as selling your home.  However, there is a group of people that will try and do it themselves.  The two main reasons for this are:

1.  Homeowners believe they will save money selling their home themselves.

While FSBO sites say they can save you money by saving you from having to pay the 6% commission fee – there is a greater chance of a home ownerlosing money due to inexperience.

One issue is that without knowledge of the local market, they could price their property too low for the area or price it too high and turn off potential buyers.  An experienced Realtor will compile a list of comparable properties to correctly price your home-ensuring you aren’t selling too low for your market or at an unrealistically high price.

For those few homeowners who do find buyers off of sell-it-yourself websites, they then face the often overwhelming task of negotiating a contract alone-often with little experience and no more than a generic contact found online.  There are countless exceptions, inclusions, exclusion and obstacles to jump through when selling a home, a professional Realtor puts someone on your team to navigate this often difficult process.

2.  Some Homeowners believe the internet alone will sell their property.

Many homeowners believe that with sites like ForSaleByOwner.com, FSBO.com and Craigslist it is no longer necessary to hire a Realtor.  However, while these sites can feed to big name sites like Realtor.com, Trulia.com and Realtor.com the FSBO listingswill not make it to the IDX sites that Realtors use.  Without access to these sites, self listed homes are unlikely to be seen by any local Realtors and are even less likely to be shown to any buyers working with Realtors.

It is also important to know that experience Realtor’s do more than advertise a listing online.  Most will have active buyers searching for properties as well as various online and offline marketing practices to employee.  If all your Realtor does is list your property and let it auto feed to various sites – you might want to look for a new Realtor.

Realtors perform a valuable service.  This service is the reason the real estate industry has been around for centuries and is continues to be one of the most important parts of the home buying and selling process.  If you have questions regarding what a Realtor can do to market your property contact me at (970) 485-5740 or email me at Dyan@COresortproperties.com

1. Hike Mohawk Lake

2. Hike McCullough Gulch

3. Spend a few hours kayaking around Lake Dillon

4. Enjoy a round of golf with mountain views

5. Bike down Vail Pass. I feel no need to go ride uphill though.

6. Go to a the Dillon Farmer’s Market for some fresh fruit and veggies

7. Pretend to be at the beach while enjoying a day at Green Mountain Reservoir

8. Go to a rodeo! I’ve heard good things about the rodeo in Vail

9. I was a little too scared to go earlier this season – with the water running so fast and so high – but I also want to go rafting.

10. Finally, with all the physical activity I’ll be getting in, I can’t wait for a massage!

For extra motivation to start/finish my bucket list I’ll be posting photos and stories of my adventures!  Also, let me know if there is anything that is a must add to my list.