About Chaffee County, CO

There is a Great Hot Air Balloon Rally in Buena Vista, CO this month on July 22, 23 and 24. I am bringing my balloon named "Splash" this year. There will be 14 balloons attending this year with flights each morning at the Buena Vista Rodeo Grounds (1 miles west of BV on county road 321) at 6:00am and also this year we will have a balloon glow on Saturday night in town at the soccer fields.

If you are in the area, come by and see us and our flight team, our balloon is easy to spot (see photo below)

For balloon rides each morning you can contact Endeavor Balloons at 719-221-5148

A few months ago I inherited a small beautiful house about 65 miles from Miami Beach. The house is pretty old and I was thinking about selling it. But as you know the situation in the market is awful and houses are neither bought nor sold. I decided to spend my holiday there and at the beginning of April I settled there for a month (I was going to stay there only for two or three weeks). But when I saw the place I loved it at once.

The place is very quiet with a beautiful and picturesque forest on one side and sandy beaches on the other side. I’m fond of jogging, swimming and sunbathing so now I’m thinking about moving here with my pets forever (by the way, they liked the place at once, too). 

Now my life is like a paradise. Every morning I get up early, took my iPhone with installed All-In Fitness Pedometer (I need to control and count the miles I have run), put on my headphones, switch on my favorite music and go jogging. That’s fantastic! Now I’m completely satisfied with my lifestyle and want nothing more.

Here in Buena Vista, there is a lot of snow on the mountains. It seems to me as though they are whiter than normal for this time of year...but it could be me. The good news is that while hiking yesterday I spotted a bunch of Pasque flowers...they are the real indicator of Spring here it the Colorado Rockies.

Everyone here...well we real estate brokers...are really ready for spring. Actually the first few months of the years showed more activity than a year ago, but those of us who have hung on are ready for some real mountain action. There is a great property inventory here in Buena Vista and some good deals to be had. That is not to say that values have dropped all that much, but we probably have what you are looking for...and what a great place to live!

Buena Vista is central to kayaking, rafting and mountain climbing in Colorado. It is a small town and some of the streets are still unpaved...in fact Main Street has only been paved for 50 years or so. Now it is unpaved again...looking a bit like the old west...as we prepare for pedestrian bumpouts, benches, landscaping and new lighting along our main drag. BV as we call it...is a popular area for retirement and second homes. Recently younger families are moving here to live where they play and enjoy small town mountain living. It feels as though fresh thinking has reached critical mass here. Green is in, although the valley is still wearing winter brown backed by white peaks. We will never be Aspen or Vail...we are OK with that. Come join us...or at least drop by.

I just love showing property here on the side of the Continental Divide...surrounded by 13- and 14,000 foot peaks. The beauty is astounding and so far, the housing market is holding tight. I have not noticed any real slip in property values, although sales numbers were down for 2008. On the other hand, I have the longest list of potential buyers that I have ever had at this time of year and many of them are actively looking and plan to buy this Spring. This early season activity is supported by my colleagues in other offices, which makes us feel very buoyant and the troubled economy quite far away. We do feel safe in the mountains!