Darci Gillespie CRS.MRE.GRI.RSPS.ePRO.SFR.

Crested Butte Mountain Resort Opening Day Countdown Is On: November 24th!

Just 9 days until Crested Butte Mountain Resort opens for another spectacular ski season. CBMR has reported 7" of snow in the last 24 hours via their PowCam and the snow making machines are hard at work. Click here for more information on lift tickets and season passes, and get ready to hit the slopes!

How does 2010 compare to 2009 so far?

It's a common trend everywhere - 2010 has been great for Buyers, and not so great for Sellers...but better than 2009, because more properties are moving, and this is what the market needs for a recovery to begin.

So far in 2010 we've seen 152 sales in the greater Crested Butte area, which is roughly 10% more than the 138 sales at this time last year. The total dollar volume of sales has decreased 2% and the average sales price has decreased by 11%.

The total number of sales in 2009 was 160, with a dollar volume of $84.5 million. We are well on track to exceed this number of transactions in 2010, with 152 sales year-to-date and 28 listings currently under contract. As for total dollar volume, it looks like we'll come in fairly close to '09's number, as 2010 has seen $71.6 million in sales with $13.9 million currently under contract.

Stay tuned...

The Quiznos Pro Challenge organizers are hailing it as "the greatest bike race ever to be held on American soil". The stages of the international pro cycling tour have finally been announced, a tour which Lance Armstrong has been working on bringing to Colorado since last year. The 600 mile, seven day race includes seven stages and will take place from August 22nd to the 28th. Gunnison, Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte will all be able to witness the excitement, as the race departs from Salida on day 2 and finishes in Mt. Crested Butte. Day 3 will find the cyclists departing from Gunnison and ending in Aspen via Cottonwood and Independence Pass. To read more about this excitement from a local perspective, visit the latest edition of The Crested Butte News. You can also click here to visit the official site of the Quiznos Pro Challenge.

Happy Halloween from Crested Butte!

It's winter in Crested Butte...ready or not. As always happens this time of year, Crested Buttians got their first real taste of snow for the season earlier this week. On October 26th, Crested Butte Mountain Resort reported over 26" of snow from the recent storm. Locals are chomping at the bit to hit the backcountry this weekend and counting down the 25 days until Opening Day.

Sunset Magazine has just revealed what we already knew, and now everyone else does too! Sunset named Crested Butte the most charming ski town in the West. Click here to read the entire article, as Sunset highlights "Great Winter Trips in the West".

It's hard to believe, but Crested Butte Mountain Resort is celebrating 50 years of skiing this winter season! From November 23rd through December 17th, help us celebrate with 50% off lift tickets and $50 per person / per night lodging. Click here to reserve this package online, or call Crested Butte Vacations at 1.800.810.7669.

So far year to date in the greater Crested Butte real estate market, 2010 sales transactions are up almost 6% from 2009, while total dollar volume of sales is down approximately 5%. Average Sales Price and Median Sales Price are down 10% and 13% respectively. What does this mean? It essentially means that Crested Butte real estate is on sale! These low interest rates and great prices aren't going to last forever. MSN Money recently reported that the average 30-year fixed rate is expected to jump over 5% next year, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. While 5% is still a phenomenal interest rate, if you can take advantage of today's even lower rates, why wouldn't you?

Daylight Savings reminder! Don't forget to mark your calendar to turn your clocks back one hour next Saturday, November 6th before going to bed. Hooray for an extra hour of sleep or play!

Enjoy the weekend wherever you are...time for me to go play in the snow!

Crested Butte Mountain Resort 2010-2011 Opening Day is November 24th - less than 30 days away! With the resort reporting 26" of snowfall from the first storm of the season, we are all looking forward to another great ski season.

Today's issue of The Crested Butte News reports on several improvements taking place at the resort. In an effort to provide more amenities to their visitors, Crested Butte Mountain Resort is adding 200 seats in The Treasury Center with new bathrooms, as well as couches and cozy chairs for lounging. Spellbound Pizza will be moved to the top floor, beverages beer and pizza will be served via window service, and Adaptive Sports has added more rental ski lockers. To read the entire article regarding these welcomed improvements, click here.

In other local news, Cottonwood Pass, a popular alternative summer driving route from Crested Butte to Denver, has closed for the season due to the recent snowfall.

As for the local Crested Butte real estate market, historically low interest rates and great prices are grabbing Buyer's attention. No one can be sure if sales prices are close to "hitting bottom", but one thing we can be certain about is that these amazing interest rates won't last forever. 141 properties have closed in the greater Crested Butte area thus far in 2010, for a total dollar volume of almost $68 million. At this same date last year, 133 properties had closed for a total dollar volume of just over $71 million. This means that while more property has sold so far in 2010, the sales prices have comes down. Great news for Buyers! Currently there are 30 properties under contract in Crested Butte, totalling over $14 million.