Floyd Magee

Happy days are here again! I must say that I was very pleased to here that the old "Doghouse Bistro" will be reopening under a new name and new ownership. Judi Snelling, a real estate broker in Ridgway, is going to be leasing the old space and buying the equipment. She will re-open it as the "River's End Bar & Grill".

This is great news because I really loved that location and what the Doghouse had to offer in terms of atmosphere and entertainment. Judi is going to keep the upstairs much the same as it was, while making the downstairs more fine dining. In an effort to not misquite her I will include her comments here in an email she sent out to all of us real estate folk:

River's End Bar & Grill

Hi all....

Just so you hear it straight from me & not the Ridgway /Ouray street gossip...

My son, Nick, & I are re-opening the old Dog House location...

• If you did not know /remember Nick is a chef & graduated from John & Wales University- Culinary College
• It is Nick's Restaurant....I am just GM for now with an emphasis on the Bar....
• Nick has had an extensive background over the last 6 years in both Denver & local area establishments:

· Double Tree Hotel / Plush Restaurant in Denver

· He is currently @ the Mt. Village Mt. Market as Deli Chef manager for the last year...

· He has worked @ the Outlaw / Chipeta Sun Lodge / Montrose Golf Course /Galloping Goose /Subway in High School

It will be called River's End Bar & Grill & will re-open around 4/1-4/15

• The look & feel will be totally different (no more white walls)....
• Basically 2 different restaurants:

· The upstairs will still be the bar /grill type food...sports bar....lunch & dinner.

· Downstairs will be higher end dinner only...."Outlaw style" (steaks /fish /etc.)

• Outside patio dining in the summer...entertainment /bands occasionally....catering for all events

Request for input:

• Let me know what foods & dishes are /were your favorite ....or what you would like to see in both the upstairs & down stairs menus
• What was your favorite Beer (micro or other)????
• Any of you who know of someone with high end waiting experience please forward this info
• And, if any of you that have experience (bar or food) & would like a couple of days /nites a week until RE comes back.... let me know
• I will have a pre-opening party for the area Brokers....so look for that invite...around the first of April.

Comments:

• I will still be doing both RE & the restaurant (still have lots of clients & listings)..
• Last time I did the White Horse + worked in RE at Ponderosa + worked with the School as the School to Career Grant writer & Coordinator
• So that you don't have to ask around....as the Doghouse was not listed anymore.....I did not buy the business...I am leasing the facility & buying the equipment

Judi

So there you have it. Let's all come out and support Judi as she takes on this new venture!

I was recently visiting with a friend on the phone and was lovingly encouraged to post more oftern :)

I had to agree. There are many times when I think, "Oh, that would be good to write about." Or, "My readers would probably like to know that." Then of course I see a bird flying by and the thought is gone and never to return.

The other thing we can't forget is the pace at which Ridgway life moves. It is, well let's say, slower. That is one of the major reasons why folks around the world are drawn to our little corner. So I could argure that I want that to be reflected in my lifestyle post frequency as well. Probably just an excuse, but hey, a good one...right?

On to the hot topic of this post. MOUNTAIN MARKET IS EXPANDING!! That is so darn cool that I just can't express it in words. One of the biggest struggles is not quite having what we need at the local grocery store. It is a great store, and for sure. running a business, any business, in Ridgway takes precision with ROI calculating.

So as you drive by now you will see a huge mess being made in the front of the store. I don't quite remember but I believe the store will end up being around 16,000sqft and totally dress up the block. The parking lot will be paved with beautiful landscaping.

In these tough economic times I want to personally thank the owners for taking the risk and moving this much needed project forward.

Here's to more frequent posting in the future! Please subscribe to this post and share your comments.

Each fall our little town of Ridgway is blessed with the presence of these majestic travelers. The word is that these guys come down all the way from Alaska. Last week I spotted my first eagle taking a dive from his tree top pirch, into the cold waters of the Uncompahgre River. The river is teaming with another late fall traveler...salmon.

We know when the salmon show up the bald eagle's are soon to follow. Depending on the year, there can be around a dozen in the corridor of the Ridgway River Trail System. The trail system is a concrete walking path that leads from the Ridgway Town Park, all the way to the Ridgway Reservoir. Half way down is the new Dennis Weaver Memorial Park. The memorial park has a massive bald eagle monument at its heart.

This river walk is absolutley incredible. As you stroll quietly along with the majestic San Juan Mountain Range to the south, a couple of the USA's symbols pirched above, and the Uncompahgre River running by. In times like that I have to thank God that I am able to live in such an amazing place.

It's not happening across the board, but real estate prices in Ridgway, and the surrounding area, are coming down. With the current economic fear gripping the globe, seller's are seeing less buyer's coming into the area. The buyer's that do come in are wanting, even expecting, a great "deal" on whatever they buy. That has created a virtual stand off between the two transactional parties. Most seller's in Ouray County, and I stress most, don't need to sell. For the ones that do I have some advice....lower your price today! Sellers who have to sell are going to have to stop listening to the voice of "My home is worth more than this!" Bottom line, your property is worth what someone is willing to pay for it, that's it.

Due to the irreconcilable differences between the buyers and seller's, I predict a lot of properties will be taken out of the marketing pool this winter. I will personally remove 4 properties from my listing supply this month. In honest conversations with my selling clients we have realized that to ad 120-150 more days on the market, with little chance of selling, would only exacerbate the problem in the spring of 2009.

I expect the only properties that will change hands this winter are the ones that present irresistible opportunities to buyers. Prices will eventually find a happy medium, but until that day the showdown between buyer's and seller's will rage on.

For examples of some of the properties in our market that have come down dramatically, or to be placed on my watch list for "screaming deals" in the area, simply subscribe to this blog. I recently was able to get one client a $200,000 lot for an amazing $135,000! Simply because I knew what he was looking for and got to the deal faster than everyone else. That's the way it will work through most of the winter. Listing brokers are going to go to the agents who they know have someone waiting for their price to drop. It will secure a solid close and stop the bleeding for the sellers.

Dont' be left out of one of those amazing deals. Subscribe here today, or visit my listings page by clicking here now.

Lis Pendens...Tortious Interference....Motion to Expunge...Slander of Title...what did I miss?

These are all terms that we here in Ouray County will more than likely here more of in the coming months.

Once again it seems that the old clubhouse owners, Norm Wigginton and Rebecca Gold, are doing everything they can to muddy the waters for our golf resort on the mesa. On Tuesday, September 30th, they filed lis pendens against the entire Divide Ranch & Club resort.

Lis Pendens - "A recorded legal document that gives constructive notice that an action affecting a particular piece of property has been filed in a state or federal court. A person who subsequently acquires and interest in that property takes it subject to any judgment that may be entered; that is, a pendente lite (pending a lawsuit) is bound by the result of the lawsuit." -Language of Real Estate 5th Edition

I shared this news with one of my clients and good friends who owns a builing lot in the development. His response was, "Well that shouldn't hold things up for long. If the development wanted to they could turn right around and file tortious interference against Norm and Rebecca."

It is true that Lis Pendens doesn't immediately keep individual buyer's and seller's from doing business in the development. A buyer could still move forward with a purchase, and a seller still has the right to sell to that buyer. However, the title will be clouded until the court case is settled. Also, it is a huge matter of disclosure on the side of the seller, and the agents representing them.

To muddy the waters further, Norm and his wife are in the middle of a divorce. Also, a proceeding with an appeal to overturn the Colorado Court of Appeals decision in August was file by Norm and Rebecca. To read that article click here.

So this legal mess is just about as muddy as it can get. Hopefully the judge overseeing Norm and Rebecca's appeal of the Colorado Court of Appeals decision will deny it. If that happends they might be inclined to withdraw the lis pendends, or in legal terms, file a "motion to expunge".

I supposse the overall message here is eveyone needs to be patient, and informed, as these matters move forward. It would be a total tragedy to see the Divide Ranch & Club development not move forward because of what appears to be legal action without a lot of substance. Also, if you are looking to buy or sell in the Divide Ranch resort you will at the very least need a competant real estate broker to represent you. Of course, as always, that is what I am ultimately here for. However, even further, I am advising my clients to seek expert legal advise under these conditions.

Stay tuned as I will make every effort to keep you up to date on the events.