Steamboat Springs "Game On" for Downtown Revitalization Project!

The urbanization of downtown Steamboat Springs is getting renewed traction. A weekend article in the Steamboat Pilot and Today focuses on the renewed attention to revitalizing a prime location –Yampa Street which lies between Steamboat Springs’ main street (Lincoln Avenue) and the Yampa River, home to world-class fly fishing, as well as summer tubing and kayaking. Already dotted with restaurants and a few retail stores, it could be so much more given its prime location between downtown Steamboat Springs and Howelsen Hill.

Steamboat Springs Howelsen Hill Ski Area

There are at least three meetings on the calendar between now and the end of March to discuss a game-plan for Yampa Street– 2 presentations are scheduled for the Steamboat Springs City Council and Mainstreet Steamboat Springs is hosting a meeting of Yampa Street stake-holders on March 27^th. You can be sure owners of Ciao Gelato, Carl’s Tavern, The Boathouse, Sweetwater Grill, Steamboat Fly Fisher, Steamboat Meat & Seafood Company, Back Door Sports, Sun Pies, Sweet Pea Market and all the other merchants, eating establishments and mixed use building owners will be in attendance and on record for what they’d like to see developed on their street.

Explore Steamboat Yampa Street Photo

Whether it becomes a pedestrian mall, cycling hub, entertainment district or some combination of mixed uses, this prime downtown street and the entire Steamboat Springs community will definitely benefit from a strategic plan to better utilize this beautiful stretch of real estate. From a real estate perspective, the Olympian, Howelsen Place, Alpen Glow and The Victoria all stand to benefit with mixed use space still available in each…and homeowners in both the Old Town and Brooklyn areas will enjoy both tangible and intangible benefits as well. This endeavor presents an incredible opportunity to further enhance Steamboat Springs’ downtown appeal, and is one of the most exciting projects on the horizon.

Steamboat Springs Free Concerts at Ski Area Start Saturday

For the next 6 weeks Steamboat Springs ski mountain is the FREE concert destination compliments of the 2012 Bud Light Rocks the Boat Free Concert Series. With the new concert stage venue at the base of the slopes in Ski Town U.S.A.® the sound is fantastic, the viewing area is ample and the atmosphere is fun. Gondola Square will be rocking with high energy on-stage performances that start at 3pm each Saturday unless otherwise noted.

Steamboat Springs Ski Area Bud Light Rocks The Boat Free Concert Series

“This is an amazing line-up of talented artists as we head into the 13th season of free music in Steamboat,” said Rob Perlman, senior vice president of sales & marketing for Steamboat Ski Corp. “There isn't a better way to enjoy an incredible outing in the mountains than by combining Champagne Powder® snow with plenty of sunshine and a free concert by some of the hottest bands around.”

Starting this weekend, March 10^th, enjoy the acoustics of the Band of Heathens; then See-I, ALO and New Monsoon every Saturday throughout March.

See-I - Classic Roots Reggae March 17th Concert

I'd Like to Meet You Face-to-Face in Steamboat Springs

As an off-the-beaten-path (in a great way!) resort town, Steamboat Springs gets lots of initial inquiries via phone and email, but the sooner I can meet in person with someone the better. I understand the importance of knowing how clients prefer to communicate, and I posted a blog on just that topic on SteamboatsMyHome.com.

Face-to-Face Meetings from Sure To Meet

Here’s what caught my eye this morning, that strengthened my belief in face-to-face meetings sooner rather than later with potential clients, and periodically with current clients:

Proof Point #1: A featured post on the real estate site, Active Rain, by Judi Barrett titled: “Are You Pricing Your Home to Sell or Pricing it to Keep?”

• This is the perfect question to ask someone who has had their home on the market for a while, who has done the appropriate staging inside, ensured maximum curb appeal on the outside, and has ample marketing support from their real estate agent, but still hasn’t obtained an offer.
• But this is not a question I’d want to ask in an email, or even over the phone. Nope, this is a sit down together let’s have a heart-to-heart conversation about what your pricing motivations are.
• While it’s the perfect question that should lead to a productive conversation, it could be taken totally out of context and cause a client to get defensive if it’s simply asked in an email or over the phone in a quick “do you have a minute” phone call.

Proof Point #2: An Inc.com post by Rene Siegel, owner of High Tech Connect, that was titled: “5 Reasons You Need to Meet in Person”. Here they are and my shortened (one example each) of how this relates to real estate:

1. You’re off the record: Ever tried to have a home buying/selling conversation with someone at work and their employer doesn’t know they are leaving?
2. Make use of not-so-small-talk: Small talk is what builds relationships that are important in real estate – small talk is much harder to foster in an email, text or phone call.
3. Make an impression: Just like some internet dates are flops, you can spend a lot of time working with someone over email, and when you meet it just doesn’t click for one or both of you.
4. Read the body language: What people say and how they feel as judged by body language can be two totally different things – hearing words while seeing body language gives you the upper hand every time.
5. Learn where the action is: the sooner a client comes to your office they see and know your personality much better, or when you go to their home you immediately see what needs to happen to list it or if it’s perfectly ready to put on the market as is.

---For more information on buying real estate or questions regarding Steamboat Springs real estate in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, feel free to call Charlie at 970-846-6435 or write me an email at: charlie@steamboatsmyhome.com

Thanks,

Charlie

Steamboat & Other Colorado Mountain Resorts - Yes or No to Optimistic?

A Denver Post March 4^th Business Section article reported that real estate dollar sales in Colorado’s 6 mountain resort counties fell more than 10% in 2011. A strong January ’11 start, fell off track by year’s end.

High end markets such as Aspen, Snowmass and Beaver Creek did enjoy a good 2011, while the remainder of the ski mountain resort areas didn’t have quite as stellar results. I posted the Steamboat Springs and Mountain Resort results based on Land Title’s Colorado Mountain Resort Real Estate Trends Report at the end of January. This report indeed showed the same data with disappointing news overall, as well as for Steamboat Springs’ real estate activity in 2011.

Denver Post, Land Title Guarantee Co. Chart

What the new Denver Post article pointed out was that 2012 seems to be off on the same strong start as 2011, with January ’12 numbers in and showing positive signs similar to a year ago when January sales stirred up optimism that 2011 would see a real estate rebound. This year:

• Aspen-Snowmass saw a very strong January ’12 with 29 deals worth $98.26 million. This was up from 20 deals and $79.48 million in January ’11
• And while not highlighted in the Denver Post article, Steamboat Springs was up 1.43% in dollar volume January ’12 vs. January ’11 – while not what might be considered huge news, it’s still positive and going in the right direction

So with just as much positive news this past January as there was a year ago in January ’11, should we get our hopes up again that “this year” will be the real estate turn-around year? Well, to be honest, we’d all love to have the crystal ball that holds that answer, but in the meantime, we need to be cautiously optimistic despite the rationale to be wary.

Reasons for caution:

• Shadow inventory that has yet to hit the foreclosure market
• Case-Shiller’s year end Price Index report that is anything but positive for many key markets
• Election year political dynamics (or gymnastics) that will have just about everyone promising and posturing semi-facts and semi-truths at some point
• A lending market that is still wary
• Investors who are still waiting for the bottom
• An uncertain European market with uncertain global impact

Reasons for optimism:

• The National Association of Realtors reported that Pending Home Sales rose in January
• NAR’s chief economist, Lawrence Run, is predicting the Market is on an “Uptrend”
• The Confidence Board’s Consumer Confidence Index rose dramatically in February vs. January

---For more information on buying real estate or questions regarding Steamboat Springs real estate in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, feel free to call Charlie at 970-846-6435 or write me an email at: charlie@steamboatsmyhome.com

Thanks,

Charlie

If you are looking to sell your home and you don't have a real estate agent, how does one choose? There are so many. Here's a video with helpful tips on how to narrow down your selection for choosing a real estate agent. At least this will get you in the right direction by narrowing down from the endless list of real estate agents.

Selecting the right real estate to sell your home very important. There are many qualities to look for and I will go into details below. But if you're just beginning the search, this video has helpful tips on what to look for in a good real estate agent to sell your home.

Selecting a real estate agent or local Realtor can be tough. In Steamboat Springs, Colorado there are over 300 real estate agents to choose from. How do you decide?

Selling or buying real estate is one of the largest things you will do financially. So it’s important to select the right agent, the first time. Fortunately, many agents have a website so you can learn a lot about an agent through browsing their website.

Selling and buying real estate should always be taken seriously. Never hire a friend, family member, acquaintance, or recommended agent based solely on your relationship or recommendation. Hire an agent based on their professionalism, their expertise, their personality, and what services they will provide you. If it turns out to be your friend, mother, neighbor or recommendation, then that is great. But always interview real estate agents and select the best one – the agent that provides a great service and will get the job done. I suggest interviewing at least 3 agents.

Within the interview, ask the agent:

If you’re selling: What are you going to do to sell my home for the most amount of money in the time frame that works for me. Do not just hire the agent that tells you that they will sell your home for the most amount of money. That can and many times become just the opposite. Agents should provide a detailed marketing plan on the steps they use to sell real estate. This plan should include many items like: professional photographs, virtual tour, maybe a video, advertising agenda, web exposure, etc. This plan should be long.

If you’re buying: Ask the agent what are you going to do to find me the best property and get me the best deal? If they educate and continue to talk your ear off and what they say makes sense, then maybe you found your Realtor. If they babble on about statistic and awards and how great they are, then you might want to talk to someone else.

I hope that makes sense. I’d love the opportunity of getting to know you and assisting you through any of you real estate need.

Regards,

Charlie