Crested Butte, CO

Trish Giassa of Crested Butte, Colorado has been certified as a Resort & Second Home Specialist (RSPS).
Introduced in January 2006, the Resort and Second-Home Property Specialist Certification is a nationally-recognized certification awarded by the National Association of REALTORS® to real estate professionals who wish to demonstrate their expertise in the resort market specialty.

According to an NAR survey, more than 140,000 REALTORS^Ò currently work in resort area and second home markets. In Crested Butte, only five other real estate brokers hold this certification.

"The RSPScertification program is unlike any other professional certification or designation," said Allan ‘Dutch' Dechert, 2008 chair of the NAR Resort & Second-Home Committee and a RSPS. "It takes specialized skills and knowledge to maximize the business opportunities in resort and second-home markets. You need to be able to communicate your proficiency in this aspect of real estate. RSPS Certification lets everyone know you're serious about lifestyle real estate."

The program focuses on developing the knowledge and skill base that real estate professionals need to specialize in buying, selling, or managing second homes in a resort, recreational, and/or vacation destination and properties for investment, development, or retirement. In order to achieve the RSPS Certification, REALTORS^Ò are required to take two core courses. They must also complete two electives or hold the ABR^Ò, CIPS, CPM^Ò or CRS designations.

I am proud to represent Crested Butte's owners and potential owners with all the skills and knowledge I can. As the Crested Butte Resort Specialist you can count on me to know about the property that best meets your needs. Please visit my website for Crested Butte real estate, homes, condominiums and investment property

Julie & Julia - The Movie - Playing at the Majestic Theatre in Crested Butte. The timing was perfect ... after a beautiful morning spent tasting and buying amazing, fresh, organic produce at the Crested Butte Farmers' Market, clouds rolled in and produced a short but dynamic rainstorm. Enough to get us off our bikes and to the matinee to see Julie & Julia. What a wonderful little movie! As a fan of the French (I know not everyone is) and lover of food (most everyone is), this was an entertaining and somewhat educational movie. I have been known to add "I love to eat" to my interests so I was really pleased that Julia Child stated that was what she truly loved to do. What an amazing, truly unique american woman. She was full of life and energy, and an inspiration to any of us who waffle sometimes, myself included, trying to fit in or do the right thing. She did the right thing being herself in all her glory. May we all have the courage, fortitude!
If you're inclined to spend some serious time in Crested Butte, I can help you with Crested Butte real estate, homes for sale, home valuation, Crested Butte condos, foreclosures and investment property. Contact me or search for listings from the privacy of your own home on the Gunnison/Crested Butte MLS.

Buying real estate, whether a home, condo or investment property, is a BIG decision which should not be made lightly. If you're looking at a lifestyle change, whether it be a dream vacation retreat, a waterfront lodge that you can fish from everyday, or the equestrian property you've been dreaming about since you were a kid, the time to seriously look at buying is NOW. Prices in Crested Butte have come down and inventory is up, giving you lots of choices and options to make smart decisions for your family's future and legacy. But you want to know what you're getting into:

1. Search the MLS to learn about the properties that appeal to you;
2. Review all our Crested Butte listings to see what's for sale;
3. Review our Crested Butte market data information and statistics
4. Review Gunnison & Crested Butte area maps to understand where everything is;
5. Investigate Crested Butte demographics;
6. Take a look at what there is to do in Crested Butte, both Summer and Winter;
7. Read what the media has to say about Crested Butte;
8. Contact a trusted real estate broker to help make this a hassle-free, fun and profitable experience.

A 20 minute free consultation is available to you. No pressure and no obligation. Crested Butte is my hometown. Let me show you around and find you the property of your dreams or the investment you've been looking for. Contact me today for an appointment.

Good day from Crested Butte!

Mid-summer real estate sales activity in Crested Butte picked up enough to give our market a very important "shot in the arm" confidence booster. We limped into the historically busy summer selling season after a dismal end to 2008 and first half of 2009. Our market was down almost 65% and by the end of May things were looking pretty grim for summertime sales.

But, in July and August we experienced some very impressive buying activity particularly for luxury homes at the higher end of our market. Our market rebounded with July 2009 sales numbers actually doubling (over $13 million) that of July 2008 numbers ($6.3 million). The market is now down about 47% year-to-date compared to 2008. This is a moral victory considering where we were just a few months ago.

At the north end of our valley (Almont to Mt Crested Butte), we've seen 68 homes and condos sell in 2009 with 12 of these properties trading for $900,000 or greater. 3 homes sold for more than $2 million dollars! The most important statistic? We still have 38 more residential properties under contract representing another $25 million in pending sales volume. When these sales are finalized our year-to-date market condition will improve again and get us within 15% of 2008's sales performance. Quite a jump to say the least. Stay tuned.

View Benson Sotheby's Year to Date Market Analysis - PDF

Cool Upcoming Events in Crested Butte:

The Crested Butte Farmer's Market continues Sunday's through September. Be sure to check it out.

Back by popular demand, Djangofest returns to Mt Crested Butte on September 5th.

Vinotok 2009 - Crested Butte's Fall celebration that defies description returns on September 16-19.

Thanks for reading today!

Channing Boucher
Benson Sotheby's International Realty
Local Knowledge Global Reach