Teri McCarthy, ABR, CRS, GRI, ePRO

Planning your summer vacation?

With record-high gas prices across the nation, why not go where fuel prices are the lowest, and put a few extra dollars in your pocketbook to treat yourself to a nice dinner or spa treatment?

Wyoming has the Lowest Gas Prices

According to Gas Buddy Wyoming has the lowest gas prices in the country. Check out the gas temperature map.

Foreign Visitors

Foreign visitors see an advantage to the dollar's historically low exchange rate. Many Europeans are booking vacations in the U.S. this season and the Yelllowstone region is one of the top choices for their choice of ‘out of the way places to visit' according to Diane Shober, director of Wyoming Travel and Tourism.

Stay in Jackson Hole

While in the neighborhood, visit Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole.

For activities and accomodations (hotel, motel, condos, lodges and B & B's) visit the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce.

For luxury vacation home rentals (weekly $3,600 and monthly $8,500) contact me at 307-732-7557. Here is a link to one of our luxury vacation homes, the Teton View Lodge.

For your real estate needs, there's one name in Jackson Hole - Teri McCarthy!

Happy trails, Teri

Snake River Canyon

Last week I had the pleasure of taking a buyer to look at properties in Star Valley (Alpine, WY) 35 miles south of Jackson. Driving through Snake River Canyon the scenery was absolutely spectacular. It was a warm day but as you can see some snow remains in mountains and along the banks of the river. We saw mountain goats grazing on the hillside above the road. A few lucky folks were navigating the river in their rafts and a few were fishing along the bank.

Real Estate in Star Valley

If Jackson prices don't suit your pocketbook, you might want to check out Alpine. There are some wonderful homes starting in the $300k price range, and a beautiful, new executive-type home with 360 degree mountain views, can be found in the $600k range.

Alpine has a private airport where one can buy a home with a hanger in the mid-$700k price range.

Last week Teton County mailed out "2008 Notice of Assessment" letters to all Jackson Hole property owners. If you own property in Teton County, Wyoming you should have received yours by now. If you haven't yet opened yours, make sure you're sitting down when you do so. I was shocked to see that my assessment is slated to increase by almost 45% this year. Most of the homeowners that I've spoke with are facing a significant increase in property taxes this year.

The Notice gives you the "Previous Year Property Breakdown" and the "Current Year's Assesment". The Notice states "This is not a Bill - It is for your information only".

Don't agree with the County's assessment of value on your property? Property owners have the right to appeal the values placed on their property, but they must do so WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE POSTMARK DATE. My Notice was Postmarked April 15, 2008 so I have until May 15, 2008 to file an appeal.

Property Record Cards are available at the Assessors Office for the property owners review to ensure the accuracy of the information used to determine the property's market value.

Teton County property sales prices are not public knowledge since Wyoming is one of seven non-disclosure states. If you'd like to know how much your neighbor's property sold for, you won't find that data at the County, but if you give me a call at 307-732-7557 I would be happy to provide you a list of the latest neighborhood sales.

Would you like more information about property assessment? There is a great phamplet prepared by the Teton County Assessor's Office on the How's and Why's of Property Assesment. Addtional information can be found on the Teton County website.

Happy trails, Teri

The Jackson real estate market remains steady and a safe haven amidst national major markets where we've seen decling prices and higher inventories. We rarely see foreclosures in our market and most Teton County Realtors don't even know what a "short sale" is.

Demand remains strong while the wealthy are securing their piece of paradise - and what better place to live than in the "tax friendly" state of Wyoming. Bloomberg Personal Finance Magazine has cited Wyoming as the "tax friendliest state" in the nation.

In the past few months, in Teton County, Wyoming, we've seen some asking price reductions which are always healthy for the market. Inventory is slightly higher than last year at this time and we've seen somewhat fewer sales than the first quarter 2007. Jackson Hole is leaning more towards a buyer's market. While interests rates are still favorable this is a very oppotunitstic time to be buying and selling real estate in Jackson Hole.

What's for sale in Teton County, Wyoming?

ACTIVE Listings

Jackson Active Price Range Median Price

HOMES 115 $575k to $32m $1.67m

LOTS* 107 $485k to $9.5m $1.6m

Wilson

HOMES 36 $775k to $35m $3.2m

LOTS* 16 $1.35m to $6.3m $3.8m

Teton Village

HOMES 5 $2.87 to $15.65m $3.5m

LOTS* 3 $2m to $9.5m $2m

Alta

HOMES 15 $600k to $4m $1.3m

LOTS* 19 $215k to $2.5m $475k

*Vacant lots - up to 40 acres

PENDING Teton County, WY Listings:

15 homes listed under $1m and 30 homes listed at over $1m are currently under contract - two of which are listed over $10m.

8 vacant lots are under contract, ranging in price from $850k to $16m for 72 acres.

Happy trails!