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Friday Farmers Markets in Dillon

Friday July 9, 2010

It’s hard to beat Friday mornings at the Farmers Market in Dillon throughout the summer. Get your fruits, veggies, fresh pastas and cheeses for the week. Enjoy lunch and live music. Take a stroll along the lake or down to the marina on a blue sky Colorado morning. The Friday Farmers Market is a great way to kick off weekends this summer.

When: Fridays, June 11 – September 3 from 9am-2pm. (No market August 6.) Markets may extend through September 24, weather dependent.

Where: Marina Park parking lot. Located on Buffalo Street, downtown Dillon.

Entertainment Schedule for the Farmers Market:

July 9 – Nancy Cook 


July 16 – Amy Mathesuis 


July 23 - Leon Littlebird 


July 30 – Doo Wop Denny 


August 6 – NO MARKET (BBQ at the Summit) 


August 13 – Doo Wop Denny 


August 20 – Jeff Powell 


August 27 – Scott Aller 


September 3 – Scott Staten 


September 10 – extended market at Marina Park 


September 17 – extended market at Marina Park 


September 24 – extended market at Marina Park




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Wheeee! Alpine Coaster Underway for Breckenridge Ski Resort

Friday July 9, 2010

An Alpine Coaster is planned for Breckenridge with construction beginning this summer. It’s slated to operate in both the summer and winter seasons and will bring yet another element of fun and adventure to the ski resort and community.

The thrill ride’s location on Peak 8 is set to be above the Kids Castle. The ride will be approximately 2,500 feet long. Unlike the Alpine Slide (also located on Peak 8) the coaster’s cars run on a track rather than a trough and will be propelled to the beginning of the launch point, similar to a roller coaster. Participants are strapped into the individual cars and able to control the speed of the decent. The cars are fixed to the rails, therefore riders won’t be able to jump the track if they are more aggressive heading downhill. 

A similar coaster exists at Adventure Park in Glenwood Springs.

Bring on the fun! We can’t wait to test it out! 




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Did You Know? 2009-2010 Breckenridge Skier Visits Surpass Vail

Friday July 9, 2010

Vail Resorts, parent company to Breckenridge Ski Resort, finished the 2009-2010 ski season stronger than the previous year, according to their earnings report released mid-June. Breckenridge had the most skier visits of the company's Colorado resorts with about 15,000 more visits than Vail. Breckenridge visits topped the previous year’s visits by 5.6 percent for this season. Vail and Beaver Creek both fell behind the previous year in skier visits (Vail fell by 1.4 percent and Beaver Creek fell by 0.4 percent) for the season.

Despite record-low snowfall in Colorado, Vail Resorts (Breckenridge, Keystone, Vail, Beaver Creek and Heavenly) had an overall visitation increase of 2.5 percent during the 2009-2010 season.

View skier visits graphs, ski school, rental/retail and lodging business recaps plus a look forward by viewing the full story as reported by the Summit Daily News.




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NRO Porch Series Concerts at Breckenridge Associates Real Estate

Wednesday July 7, 2010

Join us this summer for the Porch Series Concerts. Enjoy music featuring the National Repertory Orchestra ensemble on the porch of our historic brick house on Main Street. We are located at 229 South Main Street, Breckenridge between Starbucks and Bubba Gumps.

Friday, July 2, 2010 at 5:30pm

Friday, July 9, 2010 at 5:30pm

Friday, July 16, 2010 at 5:30pm

Friday, July 23, 2010 at 5:30pm




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Did You Know? Water Rights For Outdoor Usage

Thursday June 10, 2010

If your property falls within the Vidler Water Company boundaries of Summit County, you are likely able to participate in their water augmentation program by purchasing water rights allowing you to expand existing indoor rights to the outdoors to add an accessory dwelling (i.e. guest house), irrigated land or surface area (i.e. pond).

There are a few steps you’ll need to investigate to determine your eligibility and what the cost will be for your extended rights. Specifically, there are different costs based on whether you have an Exempt or Non-Exempt Well. If you have a Non-Exempt Well* you will most likely pay only the fees of adding, or augmenting, the rights outside as there most likely is existing augmentation for your property or subdivision. However, if you have an Exempt Well** you will have to augment the water inside your property too, which is an additional cost to the fee you pay for the outside expansion.

Vidler Water Company’s website is a great resource for the process and forms needed for the augmentation of your property. Visit vilderwater.com and click on the area to the bottom right of the site “Residents of Summit County”.  From there, you can access Augmentation Application Process Instructions, the Application itself and the Water Rights Purchase Price Worksheet, all of which will give you a better idea on cost. If you’d prefer to call Vidler Water Company, 775.885.5000.

Once the new water rights are obtained, it’s important to remember they stay with the property, not the property owner. The addition of a water feature, guest house or outdoor irrigation should be valuable additions to your property’s value if you consider selling your home down the road.

*Identify a Non-Exempt Well Permit # as a series of numbers followed by –F or –FR

**Identify an Exempt Well Permit # as a series of numbers followed by no Suffix or –A 




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The Secret Stash – Breckenridge Town Party

Wednesday June 9, 2010

For over 15 years, the Town of Breckenridge has been throwing a party for locals (and that means you) to celebrate a winter of hard work and to welcome the summer. This year’s Town Party is on a Friday again and everyone is invited to join us to kick off the beginning of summer with music, socializing, fun for the kids, a Town photo and much more. Join in the fun at the Riverwalk Performing Art Center and lawn. Friday, June 18 from 4-9pm. Food and drink available. Enjoy music featuring "Mountain Standard Time" and "Hot Buttered Rum".





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Stage to Sell: 10 Tips on Home Staging

Wednesday June 9, 2010

 

  

Thinking of listing your property? Take the time now to view your home through a potential buyer’s eyes. We’ve compiled 10 easy tips to improve your home’s appearance and get it ready to sell.

1. Curb Appeal You never get a second chance to make a first impression. Buyers will have an opinion about your home before they even walk in the door. Keep sidewalks and driveways cleared, lawns mowed and create a welcoming entry.

2. Less is More Extra furniture, overflowing bookshelves, cluttered counters and bulging closets are easy to remedy. Consider renting a storage unit for extra stuff to maximize your home’s use of space.

3. Remove the Home From Your House Remember, you want potential buyers to picture themselves in your home, so keep personal memorabilia to a minimum.

4. A Blank Canvas Use neutral paint colors so buyers can better envision their own style.

5. Lighten Up Clean the windows, keep the lights on and let the sunshine in. Make your home feel bright and cheery.

6. Doggy Day Care Not everyone is crazy about animals. Keep pet bowls, pet hair and pet smells hidden. Take your pet with you during open houses or showings.

7. Kitchen If you’re considering upgrades, the kitchen may provide the best return. You’ll typically get your money back on upgraded counter tops and appliances, but even simple fixes like new cabinet hardware, fixtures and paint will create an updated look.

8. Ambiance Freshly cut flowers, cookies and light music will make the buyer feel welcome in your home.

9. Always Be Ready Always keep your home picked up and clean, clean, clean. You never know when it might be shown.

10. Professional Staging Consider having your home professionally staged to help it stand out. A small investment can make a difference in your home’s marketability.

Breckenridge Associates Real Estate recommends several home stagers in the area. Contact your Broker/Partner to connect to a staging expert and set up a free initial consultation today.

  

Source: HGTV.com, RIS Media

 

 

 




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Did You Know? Blue River Sewer Line Extension Scheduled for Summer 2010

Tuesday May 4, 2010

If you are a property owner in Blue River, you may soon have the ability to access the new Blue River Sewer Line being built this summer. Switching to the new sewer line from your individual septic system could prove to be a good investment down the road as it may now allow for you to add on to your property.

The new Blue River Sewer Line plan is moving forward rapidly due to the positive feedback and support locally, and will begin to be implemented once the main line is extended from Breckenridge into Blue River this summer. District fees are being developed and are not yet available, but we can share some valuable information to help you determine if your property will be affected or if you should consider joining the district.

1.)  See the map below to view the Blue River Sewer Line plan expansion.

2.)  You don’t necessarily have to be on the new sewer line unless your septic system is failing. If you are within 400 feet of the new sewer line with a failing system, you will be required to be on the line.

3.)  The first two neighborhoods scheduled for implementation of the sewer line are Sherwood and Mountain View Subdivisions. There will potentially be additional neighborhoods added to the line down the road after the first phase is complete.

4.)  You will be responsible for having a line dug from your house to the main line by the excavator/contractor of your choice. This falls outside of the responsibility of the Upper Blue Sanitation District.

5.)  There will be a Plant Investment Fee (PIF) for your house connection. The base price has been created based on homes that are 3 bedroom/2 bathroom or smaller. The 2010 PIF cost for a 3 bedroom/2 bathroom or smaller home is a $10,710 base price. The 2010 cost for larger homes can be calculated by taking .4 x $10,710 per additional bedroom an .2 x $10,710 per additional bathroom, and then adding to the base price. These above described prices apply through December 31, 2010. Prices for 2011 have yet to be determined.

6.)  If your neighborhood or property is not planned for inclusion in the district but is near the sewer line, you will have to petition to be approved to be on the line if you’re interested and pay district fees. District fees are currently being determined by the Upper Blue Sanitation District. Payment for inclusion on the sewer line will be calculated by the level of interest among homeowners now. If homeowners opt not to participate now, but instead come on at a later date, they will pay the future rates and interest will be applied.

Contact the Upper Blue Sanitation District at 970.453.2723 for more information and to learn how this may affect your property.

 

 




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Breckenridge Associates Real Estate – 1st Quarter Reports

Friday April 30, 2010

Breckenridge Associates Real Estate is leading the Breckenridge market in $ Volume Sales and overall Transactions for the first quarter of 2010 among the top performing local real estate offices. The same range of data specific to Summit and Park Counties sales indicated we were the top performers in $ Volume Sales and tied for first among overall Transactions. 

Source: Summit MLS, April 7, 2010

Source: Summit MLS, April 7, 2010

Source: Summit MLS, April 7, 2010

Source: Summit MLS, April 7, 2010




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Breckenridge Festival of Film Celebrates 30 Years

Friday April 30, 2010

 

  

The Breckenridge Festival of Film is one of the oldest film festivals in the country. It boasts an incredible Indie presence, perhaps taking a cue from the independent spirits of the miners and gold seekers who settled in Breckenridge in 1859, 150 years ago. The Breckenridge Festival of Film returns Thursday, June 10 - Sunday, June 13, 2010, to celebrate the art of filmmaking and to celebrate 30 years of films locally.

If you haven’t attended the film festival before, consider this year’s event and you surely won’t be disappointed. You’ll be exposed to a great line-up of films and in an unassuming, approachable format – this is truly a favorite event of the locals and one not to miss.

Each year, the Breckenridge Festival of Film is hosted by none other than WNBC-TV Film Critic Jeffrey Lyons, along with his son Ben Lyons, the E! Network Daily Top 10’s film critic. More than 80 Hollywood luminaries have appeared in Breckenridge over the past 29 years, including Anna Sophia Robb, Thomas Haden Church, Donald Sutherland, Jon Voight, Michael York, Connie Nielsen, Eva Marie Saint, Alan Arkin, Lou Diamond Phillips, Jon Favreau and the late Rod Steiger. 

Prices range from $10 for individual tickets to $199 for an all-access pass. All tickets are available for purchase online at www.breckfilmfest.com or by calling 970.453.6200.

Breckenridge Festival of Film lodging rates from ResortQuest Breckenridge start at $99 per room per night. For lodging reservations and information call ResortQuest Breckenridge at 800.627.2973 and reference Code # INT BFF.

  

 




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Recent Market Activity

Thursday April 8, 2010

Summit MLS data indicates an increase in Summit and Park County sold residential properties and vacant land from December 1, 2009 to March 25, 2010 over the same time frame the year prior. This nearly four-month time period indicates there were 343 sales in 2009-2010 versus 251 sales in 2008-2009, a year-over-year increase of 37 percent.

The table below shows Breckenridge Associates Real Estate listings sold during the December 1, 2009 to March 25, 2010 time frame. Our listings sold during this time period over the same period the previous year have increased by more than 50 percent, a healthy improvement and strong indicator of first quarter sales for 2010.

Graph Source: Summit MLS, March 25, 2010




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The Secret Stash - Spring is a Great Time to Buy Property in the Mountains

Wednesday April 7, 2010

As the winter ski season winds down and comes to a close in Summit County, homeowners wanting to sell their mountain property will most likely list in the spring. It is typical in our market cycle for new listings to become available in the next couple of months so they can be properly marketed and exposed for the high buying season of the summer.

From a buyer’s perspective, higher inventory levels typical in the spring mean a wider range of properties to choose from. Likewise, since many wait until the summer months to begin the search for their mountain property, those starting prior to the busy season will have less competition among buyers interested in the same type of property. Savvy buyers are able to take advantage of a larger inventory and secure the best deal by beginning the search process early in the season. 

If you’re in the market for a new home and planning on buying this summer, it’s not too early to start the process now. Contact your Breckenridge Associates Real Estate broker today at 800.774.7970 or 970.453.2200 to learn more about available listings in the area.




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Check Our References

Wednesday April 7, 2010

We would be happy to provide business references from past clients. Contact our office to learn more about our local real estate team, 800.774.7970.




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List Your Property with Us Today

Wednesday April 7, 2010

Timing is everything. List your property with Breckenridge Associates Real Estate now and take advantage of our summer marketing campaigns to maximize your property’s exposure during the peak selling season. Please contact us today at 800.774.7970, to learn more about our sales team and how to get your property sold.




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Proudly Supporting Our Local Community

Wednesday April 7, 2010

As a locally owned and operated company, we are truly invested in making certain our community is growing, thriving and enjoyable for generations to come. To help give back and show support locally, we have chosen to focus charitable efforts in the areas of the performing arts as well as through the endorsement of successful, longstanding events. Both bring entertainment and value to our community and help cultivate Breckenridge’s success as a world-class, year-round vacation destination. We proudly support The Summit Foundation, National Repertory Orchestra, Breckenridge Music Festival, Breckenridge Film Festival and International Snow Sculpting Championships, just to name a few.

Thanks to our loyal clients, our accomplishments as a company allow for us to continue to sponsor these invaluable organizations close to our hearts.




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Delivering Real Estate Results: Past, Present & Future

Wednesday April 7, 2010

After successfully closing two major record-breaking sales in the past couple of months as well as achieving leading brokerage status in Summit and Park County sales volume for 2009, we are pleased to report a stable stretch of accomplishments among the Breckenridge Associates Real Estate team in what has otherwise been a challenging time for many local brokerages.

The two record-breaking transactions consist of the highest-ever single-family home sale of nearly $8.3 million at the close of 2009 and the most expensive residential lot sale of $3.3 million in January of this year. Each property is ski-in, ski-out and located in the luxurious Timber Trail Subdivision near Peak 8 Village of the Breckenridge Ski Resort. Breckenridge Associates Real Estate represented the seller in both listings. The $8.3 million sale surpassed the previous record holding transaction, which was also a Breckenridge Associates Real Estate listing, by more than $2.7 million.

Local MLS data pulled at the close of 2009 has proven positive for Breckenridge Associates Real Estate in total sales volume and number of transactions in the area. The graph below shows our office as the leader in total dollar volume for the year in Summit and Park Counties among the top-15 local real estate offices.

Likewise, in overall sales we were involved in, we represented more transactions than any other off ice in Breckenridge and performed the second best out of all offices in Summit and Park Counties. The graph below is representative of Breckenridge transactions of the top-16 local real estate offices.

Not only has our brokerage driven up sales volume by selling high-end luxury homes, but we also handle a vast cross-section of properties in all price ranges. These statistics prove our team’s ability to excel in all segments of the market from entry-level condos to multimillion dollar estates.

The longstanding experience, knowledge and stability of Breckenridge Associates Real Estate allows our clients to have confidence and trust that our team will represent their property better than our competitors. With nearly 80 percent of our business comprised of loyal clients and their referrals, it’s rewarding to know we are providing the highest level of customer satisfaction. Thank you for your continued support in the past, present and future of Breckenridge Associates Real Estate.

If you are considering selling or buying property in Breckenridge or the surrounding areas and would like more information on Breckenridge Associates Real Estate and how our team can best work for you, please contact our office today at 800.774.7970 or 970.453.2200.

Graph Source: Summit MLS, March 5, 2010





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How to Spot a Good Deal: Foreclosures Aren’t Always What They Seem

Wednesday April 7, 2010

Most homebuyers in search of a property automatically assume buying a foreclosed home means they’re getting the best deal out there. However, this often isn’t the case. Purchasing a foreclosed home truly can be a great investment, but it could also be an eye-opening experience for those not aware of the process and problems that can arise along the way.

Fortunately, from a property-value standpoint, we have not seen significant growth in the number of foreclosures locally as many other markets have experienced. Out of 26,765 properties in Summit County only 47 were sold as foreclosures in 2009*. Unlike many areas, Breckenridge has a high number of cash transactions. This coupled with a healthy rental pool and a stable tourism-based economy, has surely helped to keep foreclosures to a minimum in the area. That’s not to say there aren’t great opportunities. There are, however you have to stay on top of the local real estate happenings in the area not to miss out.

One of the reasons a foreclosure may not be as good of a deal as it appears to be on paper is that distressed home sellers may have more debt than just their home mortgage. They may have a lien or loans against their property, which the bank could factor into the sale price. Another issue could be the amount of work and repair needed on a home, if the sellers had stopped maintaining it. A home may sit vacant for months, which could be problematic in a winter climate such as ours, where bursting pipes can cause serious damage. Foreclosures typically take a lot longer to close on the sale, therefore buyers need to be flexible on their timeframe. Securing property prior to a foreclosure can mean the difference in having a move-in ready, beautifully furnished home versus a bank-owned home typically stripped of its contents. Buyers need to be aware of these types of concerns when pursuing a foreclosure, but if the price is right and the home is free of these types of issues, buying a foreclosed property can prove to be a very wise purchase.

Establishing a relationship with a knowledgeable broker and sharing what you are looking for up front will allow you to get a jumpstart on finding the best property for you. Knowledge of the local real estate market and access to a network of resources are invaluable in finding a great real estate opportunity. More often than not, in our market, the best real estate deals are found prior to a property facing foreclosure. Being aware of new inventory before it hits the market, monitoring shifts in the existing inventory (i.e. price reductions) and the ability to act quickly are all key strategies. A reputable real estate broker should be able to offer insight on an ideal opportunity if it arises, as they’ll be in tune with a home’s value and current financial situation, both of which will help to determine the true value of the deal.

Our team of Realtors® is out in the local market every single day, networking with our contacts and working together for our clients so we can best represent their needs. Breckenridge Associates Real Estate’s “Home Town Team” has a proven track record and longstanding success to best represent you. Contact your broker today to learn more about great deals in the area and how we can help you find your next mountain home, 800.774.7970 or 970.453.2200.

*Source: Stewart Title Company 2009 Foreclosure Data




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The Secret Stash - Free Forestry Health Assessment or $50 Off Tree Removal

Friday March 5, 2010

  

Now is a great time to think about landscaping along with the beauty and value it can add to your property in a future sale. Our friends at 'A Cut Above Forestry' are extending a special offer Breckenridge Associates Real Estate clients to help get you started with your landscaping needs.

As a Breckenridge Associates Real Estate client, you qualify for a free, on-site tree care consultation by a certified arborist. This is a $125 value. Or, choose $50 off tree removal or re-forestation services. 

To qualify, either service must be ordered by June 1 and completed no later than September 1, 2010. The tree care consultation offer is limited to lots of one acre or less. Tree removal and re-forestation services are site-specific and will require an estimate. There is no charge for estimates.

'A Cut Above Forestry' is equipped to take care of all your forestry needs using a unique combination of cutting edge forestry and arboricultural technology as well as eco-friendly, preventative practices to provide top-notch tree and plant care to Breckenridge and the surrounding areas. Regardless of whether you need a few branches trimmed back or your entire yard replanted, their team will work closely with you to best suit your needs.

Call 970.453.9154 and mention the "Breckenridge Associates Real Estate" special client offer or visit the 'A Cut Above Forestry' website http://www.acutaboveforestry.com/ for more information.

  




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You Can’t Beat Spring Skiing, Spring Events & Spring Deals in Summit County

Tuesday March 2, 2010

April brings some of the best skiing and riding conditions of the season with sunny skies, endless activities and affordable prices. Enjoy Breckenridge’s Spring Massive with a line-up of events not to miss! Get your live music fix at Copper’s Annual Sunsation where you’re sure to find a band you can jam with! Check out the vibe of the Beach Scene at A-Basin or the giant kids’ snow fort at Keystone Mountain’s Kidtopia! Stay the night, the weekend or the week with the best rates of the season.

Links to April Fun in the Mountains

Breckenridge Ski Resort’s Spring Massive http://www.breckenridge.com/events/spring-massive.aspx

Copper Mountain Ski Resort’s Annual Sunsation http://www.coppercolorado.com/winter/landingpages/sunsation.htm

A-Basin Ski Resort’s Beach Scene http://www.arapahoebasin.com/ABasin/mountain/the-beach.aspx

 Keystone Mountain Ski Resort’s Kidtopia http://www.keystoneresort.com/eventdetail/Kidtopia+-+Apr.axd?year=2010&month=4&eventview=calendarview

Links to Great Lodging Deals

Go Breck Now http://www.gobrecknow.com/ 

Ski Country Resorts & Sports http://www.skicountry.com/




 




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Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center – The Wounded Warrior Project

Tuesday March 2, 2010

The Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center (BOEC) and many local businesses are generously donating a week of skiing and relaxation in early April for 10 military heroes and their families associated with the Wounded Warrior Project. Another local organization in the area is hoping to generate enough in donations to present a fully framed Breckenridge panoramic photograph to each of the families as a way of saying “thank you”.  

This project is designed to provide some much deserved mental and physical relief for the men and woman who serve in the military and protect our way of life by putting themselves in harms way. 

There is goal is to raise about $800-$900 to purchase the matting and frames for these 26” x 10” panoramic photographs and ship them to these residences of the Wounded Warriors after their week in Breckenridge, Colorado.

The group putting together the photos and framing is called Real Marketing Tools. They can be reached at 970-390-9715.




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20th Annual International Snow Sculpture Championship Results

Wednesday February 17, 2010

Congratulations to all the snow sculpting teams at this year's spectacular event. The display of talent for the 20th year was truly second to none. Breckenridge Associates Real Estate is very proud of our own Team Breck's snow art masterpiece, titled "String Theory". They were the big winners in our book! Our hats off to the competition and award-winners for another successful week in Breckenridge, Colorado.

Following are photos of the final "String Theory" and an explanation to the thought process behind the sculpture. Looking forward to seeing you again next year!


String Theory - “Each of our souls is like the vibrating string of the violin; resonating from the most profound sub-atomic level to the celestial reaches beyond. Music is the portal that allows us to connect our spirit to the sublime, and to grasp our place in it.”

String theory is a new branch of physics. It is a theoretical description that has shown great promise in uniting our understanding of what happens at the sub-atomic level with what we believe to be true in the larger world of matter and energy. To date, the laws that appear to govern these two domains are irreconcilable, and obviously this cannot be correct. Finding a bridge between these two clearly interconnected realities has been the Holy Grail of physics for decades.

String Theory describes all matter and energy as being composed of tiny, vibrating “strings”, each with its unique resonance, or harmonic.

View a full time lapse video of String Theory and the week of competition here http://skicountryhomes.com/videos/sculptures_2009.mov.




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Breckenridge Associates Real Estate Receives Award

Wednesday February 17, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEAS

Contact:  Laurie Huggins

Telephone: 970-453-2200

Cell: 970-389-4000

Email: laurie@breckenridgeassociates.com

 

Breckenridge Associates Real Estate Earns Website Quality Certification

Designation signifies excellence in corporate website.

Breckenridge, Co – February 17, 2010  – Breckenridge Associates Real Estate has earned the Website Quality Certification (WQC), presented by Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® to member companies that have demonstrated excellence in website design, functionality and execution.

Every aspect of the site, www.breckenridgeassociates.com, was reviewed to ensure exacting standards were met in eight key areas, ranging from design and content to human interactivity to search engine optimization.  The WQC was introduced in 2009 to recognize and encourage superior websites among Leading Real Estate Companies of the World’s 600 member firms. Breckenridge Associates Real Estate is one of 64 initial applicants to earn the designation.

A real estate company’s website plays an increasingly significant role with today’s consumers, who often go there first when considering buying or selling a home.  It is thus critical to use this Internet medium to attract and engage consumers in a meaningful way,” said Pam O’Connor, president/CEO of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®.

For more information about Breckenridge Associates Real Estate, please visit www.breckenridgeassociates.com.

# # #

About Breckenridge Associates Real Estate

Breckenridge Associates Real Estate is a top-performing Summit County real estate brokerage with more than $111 million in sales volume transactions in 2009, focusing on the luxury real estate market. Breckenridge Associates Real Estate is a locally owned and operated real estate company comprised of 15 Broker/Partners, located on historic Main Street, Breckenridge, CO. www.breckenridgeassociates.com.

About Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®

Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® www.LeadingRE.com is a global real estate network comprised of over 600 of the best-known local and regional real estate firms. With nearly 5,000 offices and 150,000 sales associates in the United States and 35 countries abroad, LeadingRE affiliates sell almost $300 billion in home sales, representing nearly one million transactions annually. The network has #1 market share in more of the top 88 U.S. markets than any national brand, representing a powerful force in American real estate.




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Big Snow in Breckenridge

Wednesday February 17, 2010

Ullr has delivered some fantastic powder to Breckenridge and Summit County, Colorado over the past week. In fact, we've had more than 2 feet at the mountain in the last seven days. Be sure to come up and test it out, now is the time with fantastic conditions and more snow in the forecast over the next several days! 




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Moose Spotting

Wednesday February 17, 2010

Check out these great photos of a local moose taken in Breckenridge over the weekend by one of our brokers. Talk about getting up close and personal with nature!




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The Secret Stash - Save on Parking in Breckenridge

Friday February 12, 2010

Did you know, you don't always have to pay to park to access skiing and riding at Breckenridge? Park at the Gondola North, Gondola South and Gold Rush Lots for free during the week if you carpool with 4 or more friends, and the cost increases to just $5 on the weekends. Parking at most paid lots is free after 2pm and the Airport Road Lot is free all day, every day.

Daily Parking Details follow:

Gondola South Lot, Gondola North Lot, Gold Rush Lot - Monday through Thursday, $5. Friday through Sunday + holidays, $10. (Holidays are 3/15-3/18/10)

Save with Parking Packs - pre-paid 5-pack, $35; pre-paid 10-pack, $60

Drive with 4+ people and receive a discount at the above lots - weekdays, free; weekends, $5

Beaver Run Lot - daily, $15; save $5 at this lot when you carpool with 4+ people

Town of Breckenridge Paid Parking Lots - daily, $15

Free Parking - Airport Road Lot, satellite parking with free shuttle to/from Gondola; All paid lots are free after 2pm (Town of Breckenridge Lots are free after 3pm)

Subject to change. For additional parking details and maps, visit http://www.breckenridge.com/mountain/mountain-information.aspx#parking%23Top.




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Breckenridge Gondola Lot Redevelopment Master Plan

Friday February 12, 2010

The Gondola Lot Plan development is now a step closer to fruition with approval of the overall plan from Breckenridge Town Council provided late January 2010. The vision has been a collaborative effort between Vail Resorts Development Company (VRDC) and the Town of Breckenridge to ensure the last major development for Breckenridge will create an authentic “Breckenridge” story, staying true to the existing character of the town.

Adding the gondola was the first step in connecting the ski area to the town and providing a more integrated guest experience. Further enhancements in the Gondola Lot Plan, such as adding a landmark building, creating in-town après ski in a downtown environment, enhanced vehicle and pedestrian connections, conference space and more convenient parking are the next phase in the integration and will continue to heighten the appeal of Breckenridge as a world-class ski destination.

Highlights of the Gondola Lot Plan may include a 162-room hotel, 42 condos/townhomes, 12,000 square feet of commercial space, two parking garages with 1,558 parking spaces and an expanded skier services/transit building.

Additionally, there are proposed public amenities such as an extension of the Riverwalk area’s paths and bridges and the creation of The Gondola Plaza. The vision of The Gondola Plaza serves not only to access the gondola but may offer such amenities as a children’s play area, an ice skating rink, outdoor seating and space for summer art fairs or outdoor concerts. Plans include a revitalization of the Blue River corridor and habitat to create a more natural river condition through landscaping and design. The Blue River is already a great asset to town and will be key in tying the entire new development together. 

Aesthetic and sustainability are major components of the Gondola Lot Plan. Architecture should be a compatible style to that of downtown Breckenridge, but the character of each building may differ. The Mixed Use Building aims to be the closest visually to the South 100 block of Main Street. The Skier Services/Transit Building is proposed to represent traditional train depots of the west. The Condo Hotel Building will be designed to serve as an iconic landmark playing a major role in the Gondola Lot Plan and may mirror the style of a traditional downtown western hotel. Townhomes will be reflective of the look of the northern Main Street community and Parking Structures are intended to blend into their surroundings, lessening their visual impact.

The Gondola Lot Plan is expected to explore and use ways to reduce the environmental and carbon impact of the development. The town’s sustainability code will be adhered to for the overall plan.

The project’s location is a combination of properties generally bordered by Ski Hill Road, Highway 9, North Main Street and French Street, and additionally, the Gold Rush lot to the west of Highway 9. Vail Summit Resorts, Inc. owns the majority of the site. Other properties include the existing main town transit station and bus parking area, small parking areas and the Blue River Corridor owned by the Town of Breckenridge.

Now that Town Council has given the official approval, VRDC will move forward with greater detailed components of the plan, requiring more approvals along the way. VRDC intends to complete the development over the next five to 10 years as market conditions allow.

If you would like to stay informed of real estate opportunities as the Gondola Lot Plan Development progresses, contact your Broker/Partner so that we can keep you up-to-date on the latest news.

Source: VRDC & Town of Breckenridge




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Breckenridge’s Luxury Real Estate Sales Momentum Continues

Wednesday February 10, 2010

The most expensive lot in Breckenridge, Colorado closed January 27, 2010 for $3,300,000.

On the heels of the record setting highest priced residence ever purchased in Breckenridge, Colorado for $8,285,000, another real estate record has been broken. The highest priced residential vacant lot (single family home building site) sold late January for $3,300,000.


The latest transaction is Lot 22 in the exclusive ski-in, ski-out neighborhood of Timber Trail. It is .55 acres and sits directly on Trygve’s Run, in close proximity to the new Peak 8 Village of Breckenridge Ski Resort. This is the premiere lot in Breckenridge with 360-degree views and unparalled ski area access. With the most recent sale, there are now only two available lots for purchase on Trygve’s Run.



Breckenridge Associates Real Estate continues to be in the forefront in record sales, with Dan Corwin being the Listing Broker for this transaction. This sale shows unique and desirable properties are still in demand and the current momentum continues to show signs of growth, especially in the luxury segment.







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Not Your Ordinary Snowman - Check Out Team Breck's 2010 Snow Sculpting Creation This Week

Thursday January 28, 2010

The snow sculpting competition has started and Team Breck has set out to create another masterpiece for this year's 20th year celebration of the International Snow Sculpture Championships in Breckenridge, Colorado. We are thrilled to see our very own Breckenridge Associates Real Estate team, and event founders, out competing with what we think is going to be a head-turning, awe-inspiring work of art.

Head out to the parking lot behind the Riverwalk Center in Breckenridge throughout the week to see their progress as they transform the large block of snow into "String Theory". Judging takes place on Saturday and you can view the sculptures all next week as well. Read the artists' description and view the model below. But, come see the real thing for yourself. 

Go get 'em Rob, Ron and Tom! Best of luck to Team Breck!

String Theory

“Each of our souls is like the vibrating string of the violin; resonating from the most profound sub-atomic level to the celestial reaches beyond. Music is the portal that allows us to connect our spirit to the sublime, and to grasp our place in it.”

String theory is a new branch of physics. It is a theoretical description that has shown great promise in uniting our understanding of what happens at the sub-atomic level with what we believe to be true in the larger world of matter and energy. To date, the laws that appear to govern these two domains are irreconcilable, and obviously this cannot be correct. Finding a bridge between these two clearly interconnected realities has been the Holy Grail of physics for decades.

String Theory describes all matter and energy as being composed of tiny, vibrating “strings”, each with its unique resonance, or harmonic.




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Breckenridge Associates Real Estate Broker Honored as Ullr King

Thursday January 14, 2010

We're couldn't be prouder of this year's Breckenridge Ullr King & Queen - Rob and Deb Neyland - from Breckenridge Associates Real Estate's team of Broker/Partners!

Rob & Deb Neyland - 2010 Ullr Fest Royalty (from Breckenridge Associates Real Estate)

They've been given the great responsibility of helping Ullr, the Norse God of Snow, bring more fluffy white snow we like to play in all winter long to Breckenridge and the Colorado Rockies. Look for them tonight making their rounds at the Ullr Parade on Main Street in Breckenridge and throughout Ullr celebrations. Congratulations Rob and Deb!

Rob & Deb Neyland pictured with Robin & Patty Theobald (2009 King & Queen)





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Ullr, Ullr, Ullr!

Friday January 8, 2010

It’s that time of year again where Ullr (pronounced Ooh-ler), the mythical Norse god of Winter, blesses Breckenridge, Colorado with the finest snow in the world. To help repay Ullr for his gift of snow, the Breckenridge community gathers together with a grand week-long winter festival like no other, January 10-16, 2010. You won’t want to miss the amazing energy this event brings to Main Street and beyond. There’s something for everyone to enjoy: live entertainment and a bar series, a Nordic event, an ice skating party, the Ullympics and the unforgettable Ullr Parade.

This year, our very own – Rob Neyland and his wife Debbie – have been honored as Ullr King and Queen. You’re sure to see them throughout the week as they help celebrate all things Ullr. We hope you will join us for the fun this festival brings and let’s all hope that Ullr continues to bring us more and more fluffy, white snow this winter!

2010 Schedule of Events

Ullr Skating Party – January 10 (1:15-4:30pm):  Join the fun at the Stephen C. West Arena, hosted by the BRC Ambassadors. Proceeds benefit Al Chaffee Scholarship program, helping local students.

Ullr Nordic Party & Bonfire – January 11 (5:30-9pm):  The crowning of the Ullr King & Queen, food and a cash bar. The crowning is followed by a beginner-friendly Nordic ski and snowshoe to the bonfire. It takes place at Gold Run Nordic Center on the Breckenridge Golf Course.

The Dating Game Breckenridge-Style – January 12 (8pm):  Adults over the age of 21 are welcome to attend Breckenridge’s version of the Dating Game at Cecilia’s Bar & Nightclub. Apply to be a bachelor or bachelorette and meet some Breckenridge’s finest guys and gals! Call 970.453.2234.

Ullympics – January 13:  Co-ed teams compete like for fun and prizes in three events at Carter Park. An after party follows at a local joint with beer and prize giveaways. Get ready for some fun.

Ullr Parade – January 14 (4:30pm):  The infamous Ullr parade kicks-off on North Main Street and continues south through the heart of Breckenridge. This is one you cannot miss!

Comedy Night – January 15:  Laugh the night away with stand-up talent from Comedy Works of Denver. Enjoy light appetizers, good friends, giveaways and a cash bar.

Chili Cook Off Event – January 16 (3-8pm):  The Breckenridge Mountain Rotary Club Chilly Chili Cook Off at the Riverwalk Center. Taste samples from local and world famous chili chefs,  enjoy live entertainment and fun activities for the whole family.

Email events@gobreck.com for Ullr Fest registration and participation information.

 

Events and times subject to change.




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2009 Breckenridge Associates Real Estate Report

Friday January 8, 2010

In what has been an uncertain economic year, Breckenridge and Summit County real estate have faired well according to local MLS data obtained at the close of 2009. In a year over year comparison to 2008, real estate sales volume and overall transactions were down between 12% and 13% in Breckenridge, and in the surrounding Summit and Park County areas the same numbers dropped between 13% and 15%. Summer and fall months gained momentum with approximately 72% of Summit and Park County transactions taking place the second half of the year.

With average sales realizing 2005 prices, buyers sought and were able to find better local deals in 2009 than in the last 10 years. First-time homebuyers took advantage of the government tax credit and were able to enter into the market. This year also marked a record sale in the Breckenridge luxury market at nearly $8.3 million, beating the previous record holding transaction by more than $2.7 million.

A successful local economy where developers and ski resorts continue to invest in capital improvements and new development coupled with limited supply of real estate inventory have helped to somewhat shelter our towns from the turbulent year many U.S. real estate markets have experienced. We look forward to 2010 as well as a whole new decade of exciting opportunities in Breckenridge, Summit and Park County real estate.

Breckenridge Associates Real Estate is leading the charge through number of transactions and dollar volume sales in 2009. Data is based on MLS real estate transactions January 1–December 31, 2009.

BRECKENRIDGE

Breckenridge Associates Real Estate is the #1 performing real estate office of 2009 in Breckenridge.





 Graphs based on both listing and selling side transactions and sales volume pulled from the local MLS.


ALL AREAS (Summit & Park County)

Breckenridge Associates Real Estate is a top-performing brokerage in 2009 in Summit and Park Counties.




 

Graphs based on both listing and selling side transactions and sales volume pulled from the local MLS.

 




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Breckenridge Associates Real Estate Sets Record & Breaks Personal Best

Friday January 8, 2010

The most expensive listing in Breckenridge, Colorado closed December 30, 2009 for $8,285,000.

This record-setting sale is a ski-in, ski-out premier property located in the prestigious Timber Trail Subdivision on Peak 8 of the Breckenridge Ski Resort, and is one of only three lots directly on Trygve’s Ski Run. It is a true work of art and irreplaceable property built around the unique location and ski resort views with meticulous attention to detail and every desired amenity. The selling price for the 6,565-square-foot home was $8,285,000, or $1,262 per square foot. Listing broker for the property was Andy Clapp of our Breckenridge Associates Real Estate office. 

This beautiful estate property (shown in the above image) was designed by Suzanne Allen-Guerra and built by Ethan Guerra.

The previous record sale in Breckenridge was a $5,550,000 home, also listed by Breckenridge Associates Real Estate. It sold in July 2008. This new sale breaks the previous record by $2,735,000. The Breckenridge Associates Real Estate brokerage was also responsible for two prior highest sales in the area over the past several years. The luxury category in Breckenridge and its greater surrounding areas of Summit & Park Counties have paced very well in the $2 million and above range for 2009. Year-over-year transactions in this segment specific to single family homes grew from 21 in 2008 to 23 at the close of 2009. Breckenridge Associates Real Estate was involved in 22% of these transactions.

The local real estate market has also shown signs of steady growth in month-to-month transactions from June – October 2009 and a November 2009 indicating improved numbers over 2008, according to a Land Title Guarantee Company Year-to-Date through November Market Analysis released last week (see graph below).

Additional property details on the recent $8,285,000 transaction include: seven bedrooms, nine bathrooms, four fireplaces, three-car garage, three laundry rooms, top-of-line finishes and detail such as custom iron work fixtures, beautiful stained glass, wide plank Norwegian Elm flooring, Smart Home features and a 2,000-square-foot heated patio with awe-inspiring views of the ski resort’s Horseshoe Bowl. This extraordinary mountain estate is Breckenridge luxury at its best, an impeccable property where generations will gather for years to come.

The lot listed beside the newly sold property and adjacent to Trygve’s Ski Run is also for sale through Breckenridge Associates Real Estate for $3,500,000. 

Contact your Broker/Partner to learn more about our local real estate market, including market reports, available listings and opportunities in Summit County.




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The Secret Stash – Pre-Judging Celebration with the Snow Artists

Thursday January 7, 2010

On Friday, January 29, the evening prior to the International Snow Sculpture Championships judging, all of the sculptors are allowed to work through the night. Many are there all night long, and most are working to complete their sculptures. There's typically a strong following of dedicated spectators getting "up-close and personal" with the artists as they carefully and precisely execute their final touches on their sculptures. It’s a great time to observe as the artists complete the final detail on their works of art. This is a welcome opportunity for the public to enjoy a casual “communal” campfire, to share in the camaraderie among the teams, and (or so we've heard) to offer a toast to their or somebody’s impending victory. Located onsite at the International Snow Sculpture Championship event, behind the Riverwalk Performing Arts Center.




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Celebrating 20 Years of the International Snow Sculpture Championships

Thursday January 7, 2010

Come celebrate 20 years of snow art in Breckenridge, January 26-February 7, 2010, as artists from around the world come together to carve and create beautiful masterpieces from 20-ton blocks of snow. Artists are allowed only 65 hours to transform each enormous blank canvas of snow into dimensional works of their own art – you won’t believe the masterpieces made from blocks of snow. This is a signature Breckenridge event – not to miss!

In this commemorative celebration of the 20th year of the official international snow sculpting event in Breckenridge, we’d like to pay tribute to the history of snow sculpting in our local town with a story told from one of the event founders and Breckenridge Associates Real Estate Broker/Partner, Rob Neyland, about how he and Team Breckenridge (made up of Neyland along with Ron Shelton & Tom Day – also Broker/Partners of our real estate office) started what is today a world-class event in Breckenridge, Colorado.

Creating A Snow Sculpting Event in Breckenridge, Colorado – as told by Roy Neyland:

My parents brought us to Breckenridge when I was a kid. Dad was determined that his family was going to know the world of snow skiing. As a teenager, I was smitten with this old-fashioned town with its own ski area. The mountains were so beautiful, there was always stuff to do, and dude, it seemed like everyone was always on vacation! Count me in.

The skiing, and boarding brought all of us together here in the first place, but it is all of the other events and activities that keep us here, and bring families back to visit. This colorful ski town is united by its passions, and celebrating these passions is where locals and visitors alike find a unique opportunity to really get involved. The zany, irreverent and home grown parades of Ullr Fest (Winter Carnival) and 4th of July are a perfect examples.

Ullr parade floats are what got us started with snow sculpting here in Breckenridge some thirty years ago. Geez, that sounds old...make it 29 years ago--we flipped a coin. Heads we entered a float in the Ullr parade, tails we entered the snow sculpting contest, and built one in front of our real estate company. Tails it was, so we raided the kitchen and garage for tools, piled up a bunch of snow and set about making us a sculpture. We won! We won money! We were hooked. We planned and plotted next year's project (with secret designs of course), and came back and won. And the year after that. I began to see pictures of snow sculptures in travel and skiing magazines, highlighting one of the unusual, engaging, non-skier aspects unique to Breckenridge. I wanted our little town to be known for this – the perfect blend of sport and artistic spirit, using Colorado's most precious natural resource, snow. One fateful January day in 1985 while we were working on our Ullr Fest sculpture, a guy came along and said, "Hey you guys are pretty good, have you ever thought about going to the Nationals?"  There's Nationals? we gasped. "You bet. And Internationals, all over the world..." Our minds were blown. We knew then and there we had to land such an event for Breckenridge.

And so began a four-year journey for Carvin' Marvin and the Snowflakes. To the U.S. Nationals and a host of international competitions – kicking a little butt, taking names, building a roster and building legitimacy for Breckenridge as a worthy place for these international sculptors to compete. 

Hey…all we needed was the ski area to make the perfect snow for us, the town's trucks and loaders and manpower to make all the uniform 20-ton snowblocks, free meals and condominiums for 80 people for a week in the middle of the ski season. Oh and by the way…could we have some ski passes and ski equipment for everyone? And one more thing…we needed an entire parking lot somewhere right in the middle of town that we can shut down for almost the whole month of January? It all sounded preposterous…But glorious!

Where else could you pull off something like this? We set out to make it happen. We hounded any organization that would listen to us – the Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Realtors, restaurants, hotels and lodging companies, ski shops, and of course the Town of Breckenridge. And wonderfully, magnificently in fact, everyone believed in the vision, and pitched in with goods and services. It was a smashing success, and now 20 years later, this annual transformation of a parking lot into a glittering sculpture park has become one of the signature events on Colorado's winter calendar.

The Breckenridge International Snow Sculpure Championships draws artist from around the globe, and tens of thousands of spectators. For many, this gleaming display is a part of their first exposure to Breckenridge. I can see it in their eyes, when we are out working on our sculptures. Their parents are bringing them to Breckenridge when they are kids, and they are never going to forget it. Yes, the sculptures melt and go away in a short time. But in that fragile, fleeting moment, hearts are touched for a lifetime.

And there you have it. Come and see the passion and beauty of this event in action January 26-February 7, 2010. Located in the large parking lot behind the Riverwalk Performing Arts Center. Check out the artists creating their works of snow art beginning Tuesday, January 26 and throughout that week. Judging takes place Saturday, January 30 and the sculptures will be on display through the following Sunday, February 7. 

Make sure to stop by and check out Team Breck, made up of Rob Neyland, Ron Shelton and Tom Day as they join together to create this year’s sculpture titled, String Theory. Following is a preview of the "secret design".

You can learn more about the symbolism of String Theory and how it relates to the Team Breck Sculpture onsite at this year's event. Please stop by to cheer on Team Breck and learn more about the artists' inspiration.

 

 

 

 

 




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Breck Snowflake Challenge Photos & Results

Tuesday January 5, 2010

We wanted to share some of our favorite photos and a recap of the results from The Breck Snowflake Challenge, a locals' snow sculpting competition we co-presented with the Breckenridge Resort Chamber in December. Congratulations to all the participants. It was a lot of fun and brought something truly special to the Town of Breckenridge. We appreciate all of the hard work and dedication that went into all of the beautiful works of snow art! Hope to see you next year.

 

Sculpture: The Grinch That Stole Christmas, located in Blue River Plaza off of Breckenridge Main Street. 1st place.

 

Sculpture: Charlie Brown's Christmas, located in front of Main Street Outlet on Breckenridge Main Street. 2nd place.

 

Sculpture: Snow Globe, located in front of Paragon Lodging on Breckenridge Main Street. 5th place.

 
Photos: Courtesy of Timothy Faust.



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Happy Holidays From Our Family To Yours

Monday December 28, 2009

Thank you to our clients and friends for your business with Breckenridge Associates Real Estate in 2009 and over the years. Happy Holidays to you and yours! We wish you a new year filled with abundance, joy and treasured moments.





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Winter Dew Tour Kicks Off In Breckenridge – December 17

Wednesday December 9, 2009

Back for its second year, the Winter Dew Tour will once again begin the three-stop series at the Breckenridge Ski Resort. This not-to-miss tour consists of three major, multi-sport events spanning across the country, with a cumulative points system, and a $1.5 million competitive purse. Each stop of the tour features men's and women's snowboard (superpipe and slopestyle), and men’s freeskiing (superpipe and slopestyle).



The Winter Dew Tour will be broadcast live on NBC Sports from 11:30am-2pm, Saturday, December 19 and 2-4pm, Sunday, December 20 with additional competition and lifestyle broadcasts on MTV, MTV2 and USA and is also distributed on Fuel TV, Universal HD, Rush HD, and internationally on Eurosport, Fox Australia, Extreme Channel and Allarco Superchannel.



The competition courses and Festival Village locations are at Peak 8 at the Breckenridge Ski Resort. Peak 8 can be accessed by taking the gondola to the Peak 8 base from Breckenridge Station in town. To access the courses by skiing or riding, take Chair 5 to 4 O’Clock to Freeway. To access the courses by hiking, start at the base of Peak 8 by the gondola.

Gondola Hours: Everyday 8am-5pm (open until 9pm on Saturday 12/19). Closed Runs: Twister and Freeway (Freeway open for viewing.)

2009-2010 Winter Dew Tour Event Line Up
Thursday, Dec. 17
9am-4pm                     Festival Village
9:30am-1pm               Snowboard Slopestyle Open Qualifier (Men)
1-4pm                          Freeski Superpipe (Men)
2:15-4pm                    Snowboard Slopestyle Open Qualifier (Women)

Friday, Dec. 18
9am-4pm                    Festival Village
9am-12:30pm            Freeski Slopestyle Open Qualifier (Men)   
10-10:45am               Snowboard Superpipe Prelims (Women)
11:05am-12:30pm    Snowboard Superpipe Prelims (Men)
1:30-4pm                    Snowboard Slopestyle Prelims (Men)
4-5:30pm                    Freeski Superpipe Prelims (Men)
7-9pm                          Concert @ the Riverwalk Center

Saturday, Dec. 19
9am-4pm                    Festival Village
9am-12:30pm            Freeski Slopestyle Open Qualifier (Men)
10-10:45am               Snowboard Superpipe Prelims (Women)
11:05am-12:30pm    Snowboard Superpipe Prelims (Men)
1:30-4pm                    Snowboard Slopestyle Prelims (Men)
4-5:30pm                    Freeski Superpipe Prelims (Men)
7-9pm                          Concert @ the Riverwalk Center

Sunday, Dec. 20
9am-4pm                    Festival Village
12pm                           Freeski Slopestyle  Final (Men)
2-2:40pm                    Snowboard Slopestyle Final (Women)
3-4pm                          Snowboard Slopestyle Final (Men)

***Schedule Subject to Change***

Visit the Breckenridge Ski Resort website for the most up-to-date event schedule for the Dew Tour.

Photos courtesy of photographer, Aaron Dodds.




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Breck Snowflake Challenge Is Underway – View Local Snow Sculpting Creations This Week

Tuesday December 8, 2009

Local snow artists will be hard at work this week creating snow art on the streets of Breckenridge for all to enjoy. This second year event, created by Breckenridge Associates Real Estate and produced jointly with the Breckenridge Resort Chamber, is a fun and friendly competition among locals to put out their best snow sculptures for a chance to win up to $2,000 and other generous cash prizes.



Come one, come all, but be sure to come out and cheer on our competitors this week and watch as their creations come to life. Sculpting started on December 5 and will be judged at 3pm, December 12.



Stop by Breckenridge Associates Real Estate at 229 S. Main Street for a site map of the sculpting locations this week and be sure to vote for the People’s Choice sculpture on Saturday, December 12 – also at our office. The awards ceremony follows judging Saturday from 5:30-7:30pm at the Gold Pan Saloon.

Read a recent Summit Daily News feature story on the event and visit the Breck Snowflake Challenge website for event details and history of snow sculpting in Breckenridge.

The event wouldn’t be possible without sponsorship and community support. The Breck Snowflake Challenge would like to thank: Summit Daily News, KSMT – The Mountain, Coors Tap the Rockies, Breckenridge Resort Chamber & Breckenridge Associates Real Estate.




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The Secret Stash – Tubing At Keystone Resort’s Adventure Point

Tuesday December 8, 2009

One of our favorite family or group activities we have to check out each winter is heading up the gondola at Keystone Resort to experience the thrill of snow tubing at Adventure Point. It’s just like the tubing we all have done as kids, but with a much larger hill, its own conveyor tubing lift and much greater adventure.

Choose your adventure with three different tubing lanes. You can link tubes together or ask to get spun around by one of the guides. Try it during the day or under the lights at night. You will love the thrill of it and want to come back for more!

Hours and Dates: 
Weather dependent, Nov. 25, 2009 - April 11, 2010. Wednesday-Saturday: 12pm-3pm & 5pm-7:00pm*; Sunday: 12pm-3pm & 5pm. Sessions start on the hour and half hour. 
4pm-5pm CLOSED for grooming 
*Night tubing only open when night skiing is open.

Requirements: You must be at least 42 inches tall.

Cost: $27/person or $22/person if you choose to go and watch.

Checking in: 
Guest must check in 40 minutes prior to their reservation at the Mountain Services Center. During the Christmas holidays (12/18/09 to 1/3/10) check in should be 1 hour prior, because of possible lift lines. If guests are already on the hill skiing they must check in at Adventure Point, atop Dercum Mountain 15 minutes prior to their reservation.

Directions to the Mountain Services Center:
 Follow Highway 6 East through Keystone. Turn right at River Run Village. Turn left onto Gondola Road. Turn right into Montezuma Parking Lot. Park here. Enter the main gate in River Run Village. 
Continue on the path through the village that will wind down to the bottom of the Gondola. You will pass Starbucks on your right and go over one bridge. The Mountain Services Center is the second building on the right once you have crossed the bridge, just past the ticket office.

Visit the Keystone Resort website for more details or call 970-496-4FUN to make your Tubing reservation.




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Summit County Food Drive - To Benefit Local Food Bank

Saturday December 5, 2009
Land Title Company has organized a food drive to benefit our local food bank. Please drop by our office at 229 S. Main St. in Breckenridge to donate your non-perishable food items by December 11. Your donations will go a long way to help families in need this holiday season.


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Homebuyer Tax Credit Extended with Expansion

Monday November 16, 2009
There is exciting news for potential homebuyers and homeowners. The first-time homebuyer tax credit has just been extended through the end of April. In addition, an expansion of the program will now include a tax credit of $6,500 to homeowners who have lived in their principal home for at least five years and are purchasing a new home.
Qualified buyers will be able to claim the tax credit on their 2009 or 2010 tax returns. Some restrictions on income limits, property type and eligibility apply.
View details on the tax credit via this RIS Media Article and learn the answers to questions about the buyer and owner credits through the Q&A via The New York Times.



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Breckenridge Ski Resort Opens - November 12

Monday November 16, 2009
Ski lifts on Peak 8 started turning this past Thursday with solid early season conditions and more opening day terrain than in recent years. Breckenridge opened with Colorado Super Chair, 5 Chair and Rip's Ride (previously Chair 7).
Guests can enjoy skiing and riding on 108 acres with four runs including Springmeier, Spruce, Trygve’s and lower Crescendo, or spend the day in the upper Park Lane triple jump line. Cooler October temperatures, early snowstorms and optimal snowmaking conditions have allowed Breckenridge to open with more terrain than any other Summit County ski resort.
Breckenridge Ski Resort, preopening day. November 11, 2009.



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The 2nd Annual Breck Snowflake Challenge Returns to Main Street, December 5-12

Monday November 16, 2009
Breckenridge Associates Real Estate and the Breckenridge Resort Chamber are proud to present the 2nd Annual Breckenridge Snowflake Challenge on Main Street, December 5-12. In this week-long event, local teams will compete to design the best snow sculptures for a chance to win cash.
The founders of the Budweiser International Snow Sculpting Championships, celebrating its 20th Anniversary in January, have come together to host this grass roots competition as both a return to the roots of how the long-standing event got its start and as a way to give something great back to the community.
Calling all entries! Individuals and business teams are invited to sign-up and create their own one-of-a-kind sculpture and compete for cash prizes. A schedule of events is being finalized now and will be made available to the public shortly. To learn more or sign up today, call Breckenridge Associates Real Estate at 970.453.2200.
Thank you to our sponsors for this year's event, including the Breckenridge Resort Chamber along with the Summit Daily News and KSMT Radio.
 
 
One of the amazing local snow sculptures created at the 1st Annual Breck Snowflake Challenge in December 2008. “Frosty” posing with some Breck local kids.



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The Secret Stash – The B&B Mines Trail to Turks Trail & Sally Barber Mine

Monday November 16, 2009
Early ski season is a great time to head out on the slopes for a few fun runs to get the feel of your ski legs and start to get back in the groove of winter skiing and riding. As the snow falls with resorts opening more terrain daily, ski area conditions continue to get better and better.
But, ask a local what to do late October and early November when it’s time to put the mountain bikes up and the hiking boots away, and you’ll hear many get out our cross country touring gear and the hit the north facing slopes for a little ski tour.  
The locals love those unexpected early season snows where even a couple inches in town can mean several inches more in our secret stashes. A couple of favorites begin in the French Gulch area, in the open space that is now owned jointly by the Town of Breckenridge and Summit County. This area, once owned by B&B Mines Company, hosts tons of winter and summer hiking, biking and skiing trails and offers all levels of skiers terrain on non-motorized paths. 
The first loop consists of the B&B Mines Trail, which connects to a new trail added this summer called Turks Trail. This loop has off road parking that is about 1/3 of a mile up French Gulch Road from where the pavement ends at the Wellington Neighborhood. It’s just over a 1 hour ski and will take you past dredge boat tailings, old mining equipment and 1 of 2 actual dredge boats left in Breckenridge today. Known by locals as the Ghost Dredge, this boat found its final resting place in a small pond on French Creek. The B&B Mines Trail has some interesting history too – many long time locals call it Boomer Trail. It received its nickname from all the early mountain bikers, who were exploring the area for great trails. Well, there were several old miner’s cabins on this dirt road and a couple of the old hippie/miners didn’t like people using the trails back there and would shoot guns over the bikers heads as they raced down the road, bombing the trail as fast as they could. Those cabins have long been removed, but the name has stuck around and it still leads to a good story too.  
Turks Trail makes a loop back onto the B&B Mines Trail. We prefer to stay on the B&B Trail all the way to the just before the dredge boat and take the upper entry to Turks Trail. Turks continues to the right just below the dredge boat – if you want to take a peek at the boat stay left at the post and go to the fenced area, it is a hundred yards or so beyond the turn to Turks. The upper route will take you just past the dredge, past more mine tailings and then will gradually work its way uphill and turn back west towards the parking lot with a couple fun little downhill spots. You will pass some old mining remains and cabins and end up back on the B&B Trail about 1/4 of a mile from the parking lot. Named after Turk Montepare, a key figure in acquiring the 1,800 plus acres of Golden Horseshoe Backcountry including this trail, Turks Trail is great advanced beginner rolling terrain with a few bridges, small streams and lush vegetation. 
Another favorite of the locals for early season touring is the Sally Barber Mine Trail. Farther up French Gulch Road, about 1 1/2 miles, you’ll come to a parking lot with a large information sign on the trails and snow plow turn around. This is north side parking for the Sally Barber Mine Trail. Park there and walk a little way to just past the driveway on the left, where you can put your skis on and then take the right hand fork. This trail is a steady uphill for about 2 miles and offers great views of French Gulch and the Ten Mile Range. This trail is definitely not for beginners because you do need some skills on the downhill portions. Locals love this trail as it holds early season snow well, offers a great uphill workout and at the top you can continue on if you’d like. Add another 2 miles to the south end of Sally Barber and return back the way you came, giving you about a 2 to 2 1/2 hour ski. Or, turn around at the top, which is the actual site of Sally Barber Mine. At the top, there is signage explaining the site and some of the old equipment used in the mining operations there. Make sure to take the time to look back the way you came and you will see the trails at Keystone Resort. 
Breckenridge Associates Real Estate Broker/Partner Lisa Bova’s favorite canine, Maya, chasing the ball on Sally Barber Trail after a late October storm October 26, 2009. Happy girl!



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National Repertory Orchestra Benefit Dinner

Thursday November 12, 2009
Enjoy a Wine Pairing Dinner at the Blue River Bistro to benefit the NRO. 6:30pm on December 2. Cost is $75 per person with all proceeds going to the NRO. Reserve your spot today at blueriverbistro.com or by calling 970.453.6974.



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Real Estate Activity In Breckenridge & Summit County Has Doubled Since June 2009

Wednesday October 21, 2009
Momentum in the local real estate market is building with increased activity in the late summer months of 2009. In June, the combined number of transactions in the area among single family residences/duplexes, condos/townhomes and land was at 55. After closing the month of September, this number more than doubled with 117 sales. Data for the past 45 days indicates even more activity on the horizon with 161 pending sales. The first graph below highlights the lows of early 2009 as well as the upswing in transactions experienced over recent months. The second graph shows the sold data since 2007.
If you're considering a home or investment property in Breckenridge and are still on the fence, you can feel confident knowing you aren't the first taking advantage of our current market conditions. Many investors have entered back into this market and demand is steadily growing. Average sales are realizing 2005 prices and the selection is better than it has been in recent years. However as demand begins to increase, this too could change. If you wait until the spring to begin your search and real estate activity continues to grow as it has in the past months, you may miss some of the exciting opportunities on the table today.
From a National perspective, The National Association of Realtors has reported pending home sales are up again - continuing their growth streak for seven straight months. Pending sales rose in 12.4 percent from August 2008 to August 2009. The index reads at 103.8, its highest reading since March 2007. Visit the following link, http://rismedia.com/2009-10-03/record-streak-continues-for-pending-home-sales/ to view to the full story as reported by RIS Media. Also in the news October 14, the Dow closed above 10,000 for the first time in a year and reclaimed 10,000 again October 19. Visit the following link, http://money.cnn.com/2009/10/19/markets/markets_newyork/index.htm?postversion=2009101918 to view the full story as reported by CNN.



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Buy Your Ski Pass Online Now, Save On Lift Tickets

Tuesday October 20, 2009
Purchase 2009-2010 season ski passes online now. Vail Resorts, parent company to Breckenridge, Keystone, Vail, Beaver Creek & Heavenly ski areas, is offering several pass product options online and you can purchase directly as a first time buyer or to renew. Visit the following link, https://onestore.snow.com/snow/estore.asp?action=SetEStore&storeType=PassEStore"rel="nofollow" to view Vail Resorts pass options. Intrawest, parent company to Copper, Winter Park and Steamboat resorts, also has their passes available for purchase online. Visit the following link, https://estore.intrawestcolorado.com/copper/estore.asp?action=SetEStore&storeType=PassEStore"rel="nofollow" to view Intrawest passes.



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The Secret Stash - Loveland & A-Basin Resorts Open For The Earliest Ski Season In 40 Years

Tuesday October 20, 2009
A chilly fall and early season snow have helped two of our local resorts open earlier than normal this year. An annual friendly rivalry between Loveland and A-Basin commences every October where the two compete in the "Race to Open". Loveland won the battle this year on October 7 and was the first resort in North America to open for the season with an 18 inch base and 1,000 vertical feet of skiing via Chair 1. A-Basin followed two days later on October 9. They also opened with an 18 inch base and skiing on the High Noon run. The resorts continue to open more terrain daily and officially helped to kick off winter in the Colorado Rockies. The ski season momentum continues with chilly fall days, snow storms and optimal snowmaking conditions. Keystone and Copper Mountain Ski Resorts are set to open November 6, followed by Breckenridge Ski Resort on November 12. We can't wait for an epic year on the slopes.



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2009-2010 Opening Days and Season Passes On Sale Now

Wednesday September 9, 2009

Season ski passes are on sale now! With so many resorts to choose from and easy access to and from Summit County, you can’t go wrong. We’ve included pass pricing from Breckenridge, Keystone, ABasin, Vail, Beaver Creek, Copper Mountain, Winter Park, Steamboat and Loveland.

 

2009-2010 Opening Days 

ABasin Ski Resort, Snow Dependent, in 2008 opened October 13

Loveland Ski Resort, Snow Dependent, in 2008 opened October 13

Keystone Ski Resort, November 6, 2009

Copper Mountain Ski Resort, November 6, 2009

Breckenridge Ski Resort, November 12, 2009

Winter Park Ski Resort, November 18, 2009

Steamboat Ski Resort, November 25, 2009

Vail Ski Resort, November 20, 2009

Beaver Creek, November 25, 2009

 

Breckenridge, Keystone, ABasin, Vail, Beaver Creek Season Passes

Summit Pass, $399 (Adult) $309 (Teen) $199 (Child) – Breckenridge, Keystone, ABasin. Unlimited, no restrictions.

Colorado Pass,  $439 (Adult) $329 (Teen) $209 (Child) – Breckenridge, Keystone, ABasin – unlimited. +10 days at Vail and Beaver Creek with restrictions.

Epic Pass, $599 (Adult) $299 (Child) – Breckenridge, Keystone, ABasin, Vail, Beaver Creek & Heavenly (Lake Tahoe). Unlimited, no restrictions.

Keystone/ABasin 4-Pack, $139 – 4 days at Keystone and ABasin with restrictions.

Visit coloradopass.com for details on buying or renewing passes for the 2009-2010 season. Pricing subject to change.

ABasin Season Passes

Bonus Pass, $349 (Adult) $259 (Child) – Abasin unlimited, no restrictions. +4 days at Breckenridge or Keystone +1 day at Vail or Beaver Creek

Visit arapahoebasin.com for details on buying or renewing passes for the 2009-2010 season. Pricing subject to change.

Copper, Winter Park, Steamboat Season Passes

Rocky Mountain Super Pass Plus, $439 (Adult) $329 (Teen) $229 (Child) – Copper, Winter Park – unlimited. +6 days at Steamboat with no restrictions.

Rocky Mountain Super Pass, $399 (Adult) $309 (Teen) $209 (Child) – Copper, Winter Park. Unlimited, no restrictions.

Copper Mountain Season Pass, $359 (Adult) – Copper unlimited, no restrictions.

Rocky Mountain Ultimate Pass, $879 (Adult) – Copper, Winter Park & Steamboat. Unlimited, no restrictions.

Copper 4 Pass, $119 – 4 days at Copper.

Visit coppercolorado.com for details on buying or renewing passes for the 2009-2010 season. Pricing subject to change.

Loveland Season Passes

Season Pass, $349 (Adult) $269 (Teen) $149 (Child) – Loveland unlimited, no restrictions +3 days at Monarch Mountain

4Pak, $119 – 4 days at Loveland with no restrictions.

Visit skiloveland.com for details on buying or renewing passes for the 2009-2010 season. Pricing subject to change.




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The Secret Stash - Mountain Bike With The Family And View Changing Leaves

Tuesday September 8, 2009

You won't want to miss an opportunity to view "Colorado Gold" in Summit County. There's no better way to experience it than enjoying an easy-to-moderate family mountain bike ride to Bakers Tank at one of the best fall foliage viewing places, Boreas Pass Road in Breckenridge. To get there, from Main Street take a left at the last light at the south end of town. Follow the road until you come to a parking area and dirt road, you can start your ride here. Take the road up to an old water tank on the left hand side. If you wish to continue to Bakers Tank, take the dirt road to the left of the tank and follow it to a single track to the left. You will come to a junction in the road, veer left to follow the loop back toward where you parked. This is the perfect ride for a family or novice rider with wide open roads, rolling hills and incredible views.




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What Does Old Man Winter Have In Store For Breckenridge?

Tuesday September 8, 2009
Winter is just around the corner and we’re wondering what it will bring. Like every year we hope for endless snow. Will Mother Nature deliver this year? We’ve reviewed predictions from two separate, century-old weather forecasting methods - the Farmers’ Almanac and Weather Folklore. There are some interesting insights from both and if they're right, it could be a blowout Winter. Hint, hint…shoveling may be in your future.

Without computers or instruments to forecast weather long-term, Farmers’ Almanac predictions are based solely on a top-secret mathematical and astronomical formula that dates back to the early 1800s, when the first issue was published.

This formula is still relied upon today with 2010 predictions just released. Will it be a cold Winter? The answer is yes – throughout most of the country. Actually, the question isn’t really whether it will be cold this Winter, but instead just how cold it will be?

According to the predictions, Old Man Winter has plans for a very cold and snowy Colorado and the central part of the country. Central and Southern Plains are expected to receive above-average precipitation and 75 percent of the U.S. will experience below-average temperatures. Significant snowstorms are in the forecast for every zone. Cold days and nights and snow are in the long-term Winter forecast for Colorado.

Backyard bear spottings, changing  leaves and crisp, cool mornings in the mountains give the feeling of Fall earlier than normal this year. These signs combined with more observations throughout the country, including spiders spinning very large webs, geese migration, squirrels storing their acorns instead of eating them and thick bark on trees are Mother Nature’s signs of a cold winter ahead according to “old wives’ tales” of Weather Folklore.

Well before science instruments and the modern day weatherman, generations relied on previous generations’ Weather Folklore to relate patterns in nature to weather predictions. They viewed the relationship of nature and weather as that of cause-and-effect. According to these observations, it will be a very cold winter.

If these long-time, trusted sources are predicting the upcoming winter accurately, it could be the epic winter we’re waiting for. We couldn’t be in a better place for cold and snow – time to wax those skis and we’ll see you on the mountain.

Pick up a copy of the 2010 Farmers’ Almanac and view more information on Winter Weather predictions here: www.farmersalmanac.com




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Second Quarter BARE Market Share Statistics Show Positive Signs

Monday July 27, 2009

Breckenridge Associates Real Estate is leading the charge through number of transactions and dollar volume sales in 2009. Data is based on real estate transactions January 1 - June 30, 2009.

BRECKENRIDGE

BARE is #1 in Breckenridge $ volume sales - 20% of market share.

 

BARE is #1 in Breckenridge transactions. For properties $1+ million, BARE has represented 26% of all transactions*. In all residential transactions, BARE represents 19% of all transactions*.

 

* Based on both listing and selling side transactions.

 

ALL AREAS

BARE is #1 in Summit and Park County $ volume sales – 13% of market share

 

BARE is #1 in Summit and Park County transactions. For properties $1+ million, BARE has represented 20% of all transactions*. In all residential transactions, BARE represents 10% of all transactions*.

 

* Based on both listing and selling side transactions.




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NRO Porch Series Concerts

Wednesday June 24, 2009
Join Us for the NRO Porch Series Concerts this Summer at our office - 229 S. Main Street, Breckenridge, CO (between Bubba Gumps & Starbucks). Enjoy wine & cheese and the sounds of the NRO in a relaxed setting on our lawn.

 

Series dates & times:

5:30pm - Friday, June 26

5:30pm - Friday, July 10

5:30pm - Friday, July 17

5:30pm - Friday, July 31

 

We hope to see you there and tell your friends!




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Are You Waiting for the Right Property, the Right Price or Both?

Thursday June 4, 2009

Over the past 10 years, real estate prices have escalated rapidly in Breckenridge and Summit County and buyers and sellers have felt lucky to be part of the ride. Returns on real estate have been at an all time high. We've often have heard people say, "I'm kicking myself for not buying 10 years ago."

Ten years ago the average sales price for housing was $250,000 in Summit County and doubled by the end of 2008 to an average price of $500,000. The average return in Breckenridge for the same period was even higher. Buyers "got in" at the right time and produced great returns on their investments. When it came time to sell, few concessions were made. However, for buyers this meant there were few "deals" to be had. It was a seller’s market. There was limited supply of available housing and buyers often settled on a less desirable location with fewer amenities just to “get in” to the local market. They hoped for the same returns their neighbors were seeing.

Today, the tables have turned and we are experiencing a “strong buyer’s market”. This means that the inventory of condos, homes, townhomes and vacant land is higher than it was. In some cases the number of units available have doubled from 2007. An abundance of sellers means they must now compete (i.e. dropping their asking prices) to get the attention of bona-fide buyers. Buyers with approved financing are able to negotiate a price often times much lower than what the seller is asking, because of the competition. Another phenomenon we are witnessing is that a few of the “keeper” properties – those we thought we would never see on the market, or have never been offered before – are now available (i.e. right by the river, top floor, southwest corner unit, new custom homes by stretched builders below construction cost). Now is the time to buy.

Just as is true in the Stock Market, “timing” the market has never proved fruitful. If you’re waiting for prices to decline further, you may miss out on a shot at a great fixed rate loan. Interest rates are ridiculously low and will almost certainly increase soon. Don’t miss your chance to lock in a fixed rate loan in the 5% range. This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Today’s buyers will undoubtedly look back 10 years from now and say “Wow, glad I bought back in 2009 when…”




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Breckenridge Associates Real Estate Web Traffic Spikes in April

Friday May 29, 2009
Web sites visits to our site were up year over year in April for the first time this year, a good sign that guest are coming to the site and searching for properties more than they have been in the last three months with an increase over 2008.



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Breckenridge Celebrates 150th Anniversary

Thursday April 16, 2009

Long before Breckenridge was a ski resort, it was a mining town. Over the past 150 years, the unique spirit of the town has remained the same with equal parts outcast and visionary, frontier and fine living. With Breckenridge’s 150th Anniversary taking place throughout 2009, it is important to reflect on the heritage and characters that made this Victorian mining town what it is today. 

Full of gold finds and mining claims, exploration and adventure, brothels and saloons, booms and busts, the town’s history set the stage for the modern day adventurer.  Founded in 1859 by a small group of prospectors, the town’s Gold Rush brought settlers in droves seeking their fortune. While some found gold, all discovered the glory of the Ten Mile Range and the bounty of its beautiful landscape.  Today, Breckenridge has one of the largest historic districts in the state of Colorado, with more than 200 structures on the National Registry of Historic Places. 

This year will be a time to celebrate Breckenridge’s colorful past. The Breck150 line up of events will encourage visitors and locals to explore the town, trails and many renovations being made to important historic sites.

Highlights to take place during Breckenridge’s 150th Anniversary include:

April 4, Breck150 Kick-Off WeekendSpring 2009, restoration of the Edwin Carter Museum will be unveiled

June 20-21, Kingdom Days

Summer 2009, new additions to the Arts Districts will be unveiled

Summer 2009, new interpretive signage added to French Gulch and Iowa Hill telling stories of Breckenridge’s lively past

August 7-9, Breck150 Grand Celebration

August 15-16, Mining and Railroad Weekend

Visit breck150.com for more information on Breck150 events.




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List by May 15th to have your property in The Source 2009

Thursday April 16, 2009
Don’t miss the chance to feature your property in the county’s most valuable Buyer’s Tool, The Source 2009. List with Breckenridge Associates Real Estate by May 15 and your property will be included in the largest listing magazine in the area. Contact your Breckenridge Associates Real Estate Broker/Partner to learn more about our sales team, marketing plan and ability to best represent you and your listing in 2009.



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Breck Buzz Around Town

Thursday April 16, 2009
Many new businesses have opened around town this year – an eclectic mix of retail, restaurants and services add to the Summit County experience. Please remember to support your local economy and check out some of these great new businesses around town.
 
Featured Business
Business: Hand & Glove
Owner: Sheri Shelton
Location: 308 South Main Street Store A – On the walkway known as “The Old Historic Shops on Main Street”
Website: handandglove.com
Phone: 970.453.0200
Opening Day: October 20, 2008
 
What type of business do you operate?
Women’s, men’s and teen’s gloves made from the finest Italian leathers, cashmere and wool, for fun, fashion and function. High quality selections from world-renowned designers like Carolina Amato of New York and Sermoneta of Italy, plus cashmere wraps and more. For the summer, beautiful gardening gloves, hats and even lace gloves will catch your eye.
 
Where are you from and why did you decide to open a business in Breckenridge?
For 30 plus years I lived in Las Vegas. I owned a business there for 25 years and sold it in 2003. I grew up in Summit County, my Father sold real estate here and I have family here. I’ve always come to Breckenridge to visit the family and get back to nature. It has been a goal for many years to move here and open a business. When I found the glove shop idea it was a natural to open it in a resort ski area.
 
What sets your business apart?
There just aren’t glove shops on every corner; there aren’t even glove shops in every city. This type of shop is usually found in Italy or France. If you’ve seen the one in New York, then you’ve seen a glove shop like Hand & Glove. But if you haven’t you need to treat yourself to a visit.
 
Breckenridge New Businesses
Restaurants:
Lucha Colorado Cantina, 500 S. Main St.
Himalaya Dining & Bar, 505 S. Main St.
Pizza Parlor, 200 N. Main St.
Kave Café, 211 N. Main St.
Retail:
Altitude Gallery, 107 N. Main St.
Melt, 226 S. Main St.
Teal Art Gallery, 211 N. Main St.
The Fall Line, 301 N. Main St.
Valley Girl Boutique, 125 S. Main St.
Services:
Breckenridge Nails, 505 S. Main St.
Godspeed, 100 N. Main St.
Mountain Sun Tanning, 500 S. Main St.
Nannies, Inc., 970.485.5677
Peak-2-Peak Sitting, 970.576.2338
Sol Impressions Massage, 111 S. Main St.



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Participate in the "Bring Your Own Bag (BYOB)" Initiative

Thursday April 16, 2009
With the goal of raising awareness about the environmental and social costs of single-use plastic shopping bags, 25 towns throughout the western United States are coming together in a “friendly competition” among the Colorado Associations of Ski Towns (CAST). The BYOB Challenge encourages residents and visitors of participating CAST towns to shop with reusable shopping bags March 1 – September 1, 2009. Breckenridge, Frisco, Dillon and Silverthorne are among the competing towns. Participating grocers and vendors will keep track of the bag usage locally and the winning town will be the community that tallies the most uses of reusable bags per capita. Alpine Bank of Colorado is contributing $5,000 for a solar panel installation, which will serve as the prize to the winning town.
 
Currently, the United States uses 100 billion plastics bags per year at an estimated cost of four billion dollars and 12 million barrels of oil. The average American uses between 300 and 700 plastic bags in one year and most of these end up in the landfill. Summit County has a huge problem with plastic bags blowing out of landfills into nearby forests — spending $50,000 per year on plastic bag clean up.
 
Help keep Summit County clean and reduce usage of single use plastic bags. BYOB and visit highcountryconservation.org.



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Local Market at a Glance

Thursday April 16, 2009

There are some signs that Breckenridge and Summit County are weathering the storm of the turbulent economy. Developers are continuing with new large-scale construction projects and homeowners are moving forward with exterior renovations and remodels.  Mortgages are available on second homes and condos at unbelievable low rates – as low as 4.25 percent. However, real estate transactions have fallen compared to recent years, and skier visits and visitor spending is down.   

Local real estate year-to-date transactions are down 60 percent and days on market up 20 percent over the first quarter of 2008.  Average sales prices are reflecting 2006 and 2007 values. Buyers and sellers can feel confident that despite these recent shifts in the marketplace, Breckenridge and Summit County are fairing much better than other destination markets. For the first quarter of 2009, Breckenridge Associates Real Estate (BARE) was involved with 17 percent of sales and represented 24 percent of the dollar volume of all Breckenridge transactions. BARE continued to be associated with one in every four transactions, typical of its market share.  Moving forward, you can be certain BARE will be key in making your future transaction a success. 

Skier visits throughout Colorado were down 5.9 percent, as reported by Colorado Ski Country USA, through February of 2009.  Moving into their third quarter Vail Resorts has implied visitation hasn’t improved, and has seen significant declines during some of the key holiday weeks. Resort guests are spending less on ancillary purchases, such as ski  school and restaurants. Indications point to a very quiet wrap up of the ski season and an overall business environment that will likely achieve limited profits for resorts and local businesses.

Several new developments are currently underway in Breckenridge, which will bring a new level of refinement to the resort town.  One Ski Hill Place, a RockResort, at the base of Peak 8 will feature 88 ski-in/ski-out condos, ranging from studio to four-bedrooms with distinctive modern-lodge interiors. An interesting fact, Vail Resorts Development Company is building this project without financing. Construction is moving along with an expected completion date of January 2010.  There are still units available priced at an average of $1,200/square foot. Several other new construction projects are also moving forward, including Water House on Main Street, The Fairmont Lodge & Spa at Shock Hill and The Fairmont Residences on the River. These new developments are a positive sign for the long-term future of Breckenridge.

The next condominium project undergoing a renovation is the Village at Breckenridge (VAB).  VAB homeowners made the decision in January to move forward with a major $18 million assessment. This will result in putting VAB back on the map as a flagship property given the extensive remodel and base-of-the-mountain location. Construction is scheduled to begin April 2010 and be completed prior to the holiday season the same year. Approval of this assessment clearly demonstrates homeowners’ desire to improve the long-term investment value of the resort, and the need to meet the challenges of competition posed by newer developments.

Breckenridge and Summit County are well-positioned destinations, which will get back on track and come out on top. In a recent Forbes Magazine article Colorado is referenced as a top place to live for its popularity, skiing and culture. Summit County remains, “Colorado’s Playground”. Contact your Broker/Partner to learn more about the local market, area improvements and real estate opportunities.

 

Sources: Summit County MLS and BARE transaction reports; Las Vegas Sun; Sun Sentinel; Vail Resorts second quarter earnings reports and Colorado Ski Country USA report – both released March 11, 2009; oneskihillplace.com; villageatbreckenridge org; Forbes Magazine.




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Our Place in Breckenridge History

Thursday April 16, 2009

In this most celebrated image* of Victorian Breckenridge, young Ella Foote peers through a snow tunnel across Main Street during the Great Winter of 1898. 

That year it began to snow on November 27, and continued until February 20, 1899. Snow rose to the rooftops, people exited buildings through second story windows, and tunnels were dug across roads to allow foot traffic. The trains were helpless against 40-foot snowdrifts and Breckenridge was completely cut off from the outside world for 79 days. 

Ella Foote, the Mayor’s daughter, grew up the signature red brick building on Main Street known today as the Breckenridge Associates Real Estate office. The home was built in 1905 by Ella’s father, Robert W. Foote, a prominent Breckenridge businessman. It features a beautiful and stately Doric columned porch, and was one of only three brick residences constructed at the time. 

Mr. Foote was a significant part of Breckenridge history. He owned and operated the posh Denver Hotel on Main Street and was the first general manager of ellington Mines Company, the largest and longest operating gold producer. He was twice elected Mayor, served as county commissioner and was on the school board. He married Margaret Burnheimer in 1886.  Together they had one daughter, Ella Foote Theobald. The Foote’s lived above the Denver Hotel until the residence was completed in 1905. 

Help us celebrate 150 years of Breckenridge this summer. Stop by our historic building on Main Street to say hello, to learn more about Breckenridge Associates Real Estate and to experience a true piece of Breckenridge history.

 

*Ella Foote




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BARE recognized as Business of the Month

Saturday March 7, 2009

For the month of February, BARE was awarded "Business of the Month" by the Breckenridge Resort Chamber for our involvement creating and producing the 1st Annual Breck Snowflake Challenge in December and participation in the 19th International Snowsculpting Championships (ISSC) late January.

With founding members of the ISSC as BARE Partners, the snow sculpting art form is held close to our hearts at BARE. After many years growing the ISSC into what it is today, we decided there was room for a smaller scale event on Main Street where locals tried their hand at original creations, competing to win great prizes. Thus, the Breck Snowflake Challenge was born as a tribute to the original grass roots snow sculpting event, which took place during Ullr Fest a few decades ago. It was the perfect kick of to the holidays in the Colorado high country and the response from the local businesses, community and visitors was outstanding.

We at BARE have been long time supporters of local performing arts and truly value the importance of their presence in our community. Thank you to the Breckenridge Resort Chamber for naming BARE February "Business of the Month."




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Second homes: Ski Country Light on Luxury Deep in Snow

Saturday March 7, 2009

by Larry Olmsted, Special for USA TODAY:

When investing in Colorado's ski country real estate, many buyers forgo the glamour and exclusivity of chic resorts like Vail, Aspen and Telluride for the much lower prices, deep snowfalls and skiing in Summit County.

"About 70% of all residential property in the county is owned by second-home owners — and that's been going up," says a Dillon, Colorado Realtor.

The county's four major ski resorts — Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin — are nothing to sneeze at. Breckenridge attracts more skiers and snowboarders annually than any other mountain, and Keystone is one of the largest in Colorado. All are closer to Denver, about 90 minutes, than their chief competitors.

Read the full article at http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/secondhomes/2009-02-12-summit-county-colorado_N.htm




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People's Choice: Breckenridge, CO

Saturday March 7, 2009
by Philip Higgs, Contributor, SKI Magazine

Breckenridge is America’s favorite resort for a reason: it’s for everyone. The bombers, the boarders, the tuckers and the huckers – and you, especially you.

When I was a kid—a Kneissel-skis, jeans-tucked-in-boots New Mexican kid bumping around the greens of Sandia, Santa Fe and Pajarito—my older brother took a Big Boys’ Trip to Breckenridge. When he returned a week later, the Breck pin another shiny feather in his ski cap, my brother would only moan, “It hit 70 below with the wind chill!” But his goggle-tan told a different story: The bugger had been out all day, every day, gnashing through squalls of new snow.

Read the full article at http://www.skinet.com/travel/2009-01/peoples-choice-breckenridge-co




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2009 International Snow Sculpting Championship Results

Wednesday February 11, 2009
Team Canada, Yukon takes first place in the 2009 Budweiser International Snow Sculpting Championship
 
Sixteen teams came together from around the globe at the International Snow Sculpting Championships in Breckenridge this past weekend and worked vigorously to accomplish “How’d they do that?” works of art made from famous Breckenridge snow and many hours of work.
 
Sixty-five sculpting hours later Team Canada, Yukon came out on top, taking home the gold with “Family Reunion”. The team described their concept of native elder Alaskans dancing with traditional “button blankets” wrapped around their shoulders. (Typical blankets would be red, black and ivory incorporating buttons into the pattern). The dancers were calling to their ancestors to give wisdom to their youth. This symbolized the age-old story about knowledge being transferred to the next generation and bringing history to today’s world.
 
First Place – Team Canada, Yukon “Family Reunion”
 
Second Place – Team China “The March of Spring”
Third Place – Team USA Wyoming “Trunks Optional”
 
Our very own team – Breckenridge Associates Real Estate created “Wheee”. Brought to you by the International Snow Sculpting event original founders: Rob Neyland, Ron Shelton and Tom Day
 
Thank you to everyone for your support for 19 years and counting of Breckenridge’s International Snow Sculpting event and for all who came out to cheer for our own Home Town Team. Visitors can continue to view the sculptures through the weekend behind the Riverwalk Center.
View results at http://www.gobreck.com/page.php?pname=ISSC/09winners



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Breckenridge International Snow Sculpting Championship

Friday January 30, 2009
 

 And so it began, day one of the International Snow Sculpting Championship in Breckenridge, Colorado.  Our own Carvin' Marvin and the Snowflakes, better known as our Breckenrige Associates partners, Rob Neyland, team captian and Ron Shelton and Tom Day begin the task of transforming a 26 ton block of snow into a work of art, over the next 5 days.

The Breckenridge Associates Real Estate Team is ready to bring their concept to life.

 

In Breckenridge each year, blank canvases of snow become works of art. From a whimsical bouquet of enormous flowers, to thought provoking abstract shapes, sculptors form these masterpieces before thousands of spectators over the course of five days in the heart of our victorian town. In its 19th year, artists from all over the world will come together to present intricate, awe-inspiring snow sculptures. 12-foot-tall blocks of snow into pieces of art using only their creativity, inspiration, own two hands and permitted hand tools. 

 

Tom Day surveying the block prior to making an importaint cut.     Tom Day surveying the block prior to making that first important cut.

    The cut is complete.  Ron, Rob and Tom are making their next move.

 

    

 




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Real Estate in a Retirement Plan – A New Concept?

Friday December 12, 2008
Although purchasing real estate in a retirement plan is nothing new, there are many people who have not heard of this concept. It is something that has been available since IRAs came out in the mid 1970s. But, unless the person considering this type of purchase has had a tax attorney or CPA that has known where to direct them to learn more about holding non-traditional assets in a retirement plan, this may be a new idea.

The benefit of pursuing this type of investment is that it allows the purchaser to buy real estate and not have to pay taxes on the profits and gains until they begin using the money at retirement age. Depending on the type of retirement plan, the profits are either tax deferred or tax free.

The IRA has some rules to follow when buying real estate in a retirement plan. One rule is the buyer cannot have any personal benefit from what the IRA or 401K is purchasing. This means, the IRA buyer cannot live in the property, vacation to it or let their college age children live in it. It must be for investment purposes only. There are more guidelines to adhere to and the IRS is very specific about what a person cannot do in their retirement plan. To deter potential issues down the road, it is best to err on the side of caution with IRS rules by operating within their boundaries. If the buyer does something that is not allowed by the IRS, it is called a Prohibited Transaction and can be penalized up to 150% of the account value.

A goal of the partners at Breckenridge Associates is to be the leading real estate experts, keeping clients up-to-date on what's happening in the world of real estate with opportunities such as this. However, as a real estate brokerage we do not give tax, legal or financial advice. To learn more about purchasing real estate in a retirement plan, contact your broker.


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Home for the Holidays in Breckenridge

Wednesday December 10, 2008
There's no place like Breckenridge for the holidays when our quaint, historic town has been decked out with thousands of twinkling lights, pine wreaths and the timeless traditions of the holidays. With an abundance of activities, it's the perfect place for people of all ages to reconnect with family and friends. Some of your most memorable moments of holidays spent here may be cozying up by the fireplace, sipping hot cocoa and watching the snow fall while recapping the day's ski adventures together. Building a snowman, trimming the tree, visiting Santa and listening to carolers along Main Street are sure to heighten your holiday experience in this unbeatable mountain setting.

With such easy access to Breckenridge Ski Resort, you can enjoy the mountain at any level. A top-rated Ski & Snowboard School will help you improve your skill set and confidence on the mountain. From the bunny hill to groomers and steeps, Breckenridge has you covered. Copper and Keystone are just two more of the world-class resorts in the county for those wanting to venture out and explore new terrain.

Most guests come to experience the best skiing and riding in Colorado — with 300 days of annual sunshine and an average of 300 inches of snow each year. But there's more to Breckenridge than the skiing. Go ice skating, sledding, extreme tubing at Keystone or find the nearest snowfield to make snow angels with the kids. Take a hike through the forest and experience true solace. Try ice fishing on Lake Dillon for a different kind of adventure. During a full moon, you can even explore the many trails for cross-country skiing or snowshoeing at the Nordic Centers at night. Enjoy a snowmobile ride or dog sled up the mountainside. And, don't forget those necessary strolls into town for apre ski and shopping.

When it comes to the Winter Holidays our community goes out of its way to make the season special with endless events for both locals and visitors alike. Breckenridge Associates Real Estate and the founders of the International Snow Sculpting Championships kick off the fun-filled winter season with the 1st Annual Breck Snowflake Challenge, December 5-13, a grass roots snow sculpting contest open to anyone wanting to try their hands at this competition. A whole new generation of snow artists will showcase their sculptures and return this "native" art form to its roots on the streets of Breckenridge. We've also invited Santa to our office for kids of all ages to tell their holiday wishes and have their photo taken, December 13-14.

The ceremonial Lighting of Breckenridge on December 6 brings the town together to kick off the holiday season. The same afternoon, the Breckenridge Heritage Alliance hosts an open house at the Barney Ford Museum.

Just when you think Breckenridge might be quieting down, the annual Ullr Fest kicks off with weeklong festivities celebrating the Nordic mythical God of Snow, January 4-10. This party started with a few local characters back in 1963. They wanted to pay tribute to the snow god, Ullr, who loved winter and traveling the country on his skis and skates. Ullr ended up settling in Breckenridge and each year blesses the mountains with the finest snow in the Rockies. The celebration includes a legendary parade on Main Street, live entertainment, a Nordic event and the Ullympics. It's truly a unique Breckenridge event not to be missed.

The International Snow Sculpture Championships, featuring international artists carving jaw-dropping creations, comes to town January 20-25. Spectators get a chance to watch the artists bring their sculptures to life with beautiful creations made from 12-foot-tall blocks of snow. This is a signature Colorado event and special to Breckenridge Associates. Be sure to visit our own "Home Town Team" sculptors — Rob Neyland, Ron Shelton and Tom Day.

It's everything possible in a winter holiday. Come visit Breckenridge, where all your holiday wishes come true.


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Holiday Client Appreciation Concert

Wednesday December 10, 2008
For more than five years, the partners at Breckenridge Associates have gifted their clients during the holidays with a customized CD of noted pianist, composer, and recording artist Steve Barta. Now, the partners have teamed to bring the artist to Breckenridge for a special Christmas performance.

A trio, led by Barta with Ronnie Shaw on drums and Ken Walker on bass, will play a private concert at the Village at Breckenridge Ten Mile Room on December 20 at 7:30 p.m. "He's got very broad mass appeal," says Broker/Partner Ron Shelton, who led the effort bringing the artist to town. "We've arranged to have a Steinway piano delivered up here for him to play." As a recognized Steinway Artist, Barta is provided with with the legendary grand piano on any concert stage in the world.

"We've had a longstanding relationship with Breckenridge Associates and it just seemed a natural thing that we should come in and do a performance," says Barta. "We're going to do it, live and in color."

The special event is being hosted to complement the annual July 4 picnic the brokerage sponsors each summer. "We wanted to do something similar in the Winter," Shelton says.

Barta's compositions reflect a great diversity of style and his sound is best known as a fusion of Classical, Jazz and Brazilian influences. Barta has 11 recorded works and his talents have contributed to symphonic orchestras, film scores, jazz ensembles and the classically influenced solo piano.

A resident of Colorado Springs, Barta accepts only a limited number of private commissions each year. The event has limited seating for about 350 people, and interested parties should contact their Breckenridge Associates' broker for a ticket. 


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A Climate of Opportunity in Breckenridge Real Estate

Wednesday December 10, 2008
Although we're reminded daily of the national economic downturn and the negative effects on the years of investments of individuals across the country, the state of the economy has actually created a climate of opportunity in the Breckenridge and Summit County real estate markets that we have not seen in years.

With inventory exceeding levels seen in recent years by 50%, 60% and even 70% in some areas, buyers have a wealth of options to fulfill their dreams of property ownership. And, as is a typical correction in our market, prices have leveled and buyers are realizing 2007 prices in 2008 and soon to be 2009. In a market with such consistent, long-standing annual appreciation, this is an opportunity to make a great buy.

Historically our market correction, as we saw in 2001, is a period of value leveling -- not experiencing significant appreciation or depreciation over a 12 to 24 month period. What we do see and are seeing is a significant reduction in the number of transactions and an increase in days on market. This is due in part to the fact that approximately 70% of property owners in the Breckenridge area are absentee owners with the wealth and where-with-all to wait out our stagnant market. Instead of fire saleing properties, they are placing them in a rental pool until the time our market can bear their desired value. Additionally, we hardly originated any subprime loans in this area due to restrictions and the types of properties that qualify. As a result, we have not seen the negative impact those types of loans have caused in other real estate markets.

This is not to say there are not some independent sellers in a situation of financial need and willing to make an amazing deal. When presented with the right price, buyers are ready to jump and make incredible investments. Truth is, those buyers willing to make a move before the masses are getting the best selection and pricing. And, many of the current transactions are a result of investors tired of the volatility and intangibility of the stock market. You cannot take the family to stocks for vacation, but you can create years of wonderful memories and family bonding in your mountain getaway.

Finally, we are starting to see a modest reduction in our available inventory. Although this is more a result of expired listings and properties being withdrawn from the market rather than sales, a declining inventory is one of the first signs that real estate is beginning to recover.

Buyers can feel confident that Breckenridge and the greater Summit County area will continue to be a world-class destination for skiers and snowboarders in the future. Breckenridge, Keystone and Copper are some of the most visited ski resorts in the country, and are continuing to drive the local economy. Vail Resorts, the parent company of Breckenridge and Keystone resorts, have re-invested multi-millions of dollars into resort improvements and continue to do so with expansions, updated lifts and amenities.

Whether a home buyer looking to invest for the first time, an investor hoping to get into a place with great rental potential or a local resident wanting to move up into a larger property, now is the right time and the right climate to make a move to Breckenridge.


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Breckenridge Snowflake Challenge takes snow sculpting back to its roots

Wednesday November 12, 2008
BRECKENRIDGE, Colo. – November 11, 2008 – Visitors and locals alike are invited to experience how snow sculpting got started in Breckenridge through a spontaneous eruption of snow art on the streets. The Breckenridge Snowflake Challenge will make its debut December 6-13, 2008 in Breckenridge.
 
This grass-roots sculpting contest is open to anyone who has wanted to try their hands at snow sculpting. The event is being produced by Breckenridge Associates Real Estate and the founders of Breckenridge’s International Snow Sculpture Championships as a means to turn out a whole new generation of snow artists, and to return this “native” art form to its zany roots on the streets of Breckenridge.
 
Those who want to participate in the Breckenridge Snowflake Challenge must print a registration form online at brecksnowflakechallenge.com and return with the $25 team entry fee or $75 business entry fee to Breckenridge Associates Real Estate at 229 S. Main Street by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, December 3.
 
Sites have been designated around town for each sculpture and the sites will be assigned on a first come, first served basis. There is no team member limit, but the smaller the team, the greater the reward. Team members must retrieve their own snow and use only hand tools (no power tools allowed) to create a masterpiece that goes with the theme, “Winter Dreams.”  Teams are encouraged to get creative, and Breckenridge’s own International Snow Sculpture Team will be on hand for guidance. Sculpting starts with a kick-off party at 5:30 p.m. on Friday December 5 at Burke and Riley's Irish Pub. Sculpting ends with an awards party at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 13.
 
Cash Prizes will be awarded to first through 6th place teams:
$2,000 – First Place
$1,000 – Second Place
$500 – Third Place
$100 – Fourth Place
$50 – Fifth Place
$25 – Sixth Place
 
“On the way to becoming the capital of snow art, we lost touch with being the home to snow art in Colorado,” said Rob Neyland, one of the founders of Breckenridge’s International Snow Sculpture Championships. “Our cause is to promote the art and sport of snow sculpture by providing the opportunity, venue and incentive to awaken the next generation of Breckenridge snow artists.”
 
This event is not to be confused with the Breckenridge International Snow Sculpture Championships, which will take place January 20-25, 2009. All experience levels are welcome to participate and no one should be discouraged from trying to crate a sculpture. The sculptures will be on display along Main Street through the holidays.
 

For more information on the Breckenridge Snowflake Challenge and to obtain a registration form, rules and a snow sculpting tips sheet, visit brecksnowflakechallenge.com or call 970.453.2200.


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Many Happy Returns

Thursday October 16, 2008
MANY HAPPY RETURNS
 
Charles, a computer executive from Minneapolis, and his wife Linda had skied in Breckenridge for ten years until they sat down and made a list of the things that had become important to them over the course of a decade before they bought their town home. Austen and Lesley fell in love with the town the first time they came here and bought a vacation home, seeking to eventually retire in Breckenridge. Stacy vacationed here as a child, and has now returned as a mother of three with her husband Mark, seeking a mountain vacation home to share similar moments with the grandchildren that will someday come. All have a common thread; they were captivated by Breckenridge and became second homeowners. Why are all these people buying second homes, and why are they buying them in Breckenridge?
 
Every property owner in Breckenridge started out as a visitor to the area, where they discovered a place "away from it all" that they could call home, and determined to return again and again.  Ask a local, and the most common refrain you will hear is "We came for the skiing, but we fell in love with the summer..." they say.  "No heat, no bugs, no humidity", (and your golf ball travels 20% further!). Whenever we vacation in the mountains, we always pick up literature on the homes for sale in the area. We want to know how we can live here--a home, a condo, a fractional ownership? Are there some really good deals? Is the market slowing down? What are the hot spots? Is now a good time to buy?
 
HOME SUITE HOME
 
There are a lot of reasons for buying a second home. But typically people are looking for one of three things: a vacation home for use by themselves or their family; an investment property that will increase in value; a future place that they can retire into down the road. Certainly there is overlap between these goals, and they combine to create a booming market for second homes in the U.S.
 
Chief Economist for the NAR, David Lereah writes, "Because.the typical second home buyer is a baby boomer, it is likely over the next decade that second home sales will remain historically high. The boomers are still in their peak earning years and have the wherewithal and the desire to purchase vacation homes and investment properties"
 
ENJOYMENT
 
The number one reason for owning a second home, according to the editors of Escapehomes.com, is for the sheer enjoyment it brings you and your family. It can provide a special place where you can reconnect: with family, with nature, and with yourself. As the huge Baby Boomer generation approaches retirement, these quality of life issues are becoming more important. The desire for family gatherings and traditions is one of the most influential of these. Opportunities for family members to interact in meaningful ways is becoming a big driver, not only in how people choose to vacation, but also decisions people make about investing long-term in everything from timeshares to second homes, according to the editors of RCLCO's The Advisory, an investment publication. Moreover, there is increasing demand from an aging population determined to remain active and challenged, and to find discovery and personal reward.
 
 
 
 
THE REAL IN REAL ESTATE
 
Clearly, this increasing demand will make resort real estate worth more tomorrow than it is today. As the stock market continues its volatile and unforgiving mood swings, more and more investors young and old alike are looking to move assets into resort real estate. "Stocks are fickle", says Rob Neyland, co-owner of Breckenridge Associates Real Estate. "People are tired of seeing their retirement funds getting trashed and losing a third of their value over the weekend. In a nutshell, they are looking for the REAL in real estate; something they can own, that they can use, enjoy, and have some control over, and that will increase in value".
 
According to the annual Survey of Wealth and Affluence in America, conducted by American Express and the Harrison Group, 40% of the nation's affluent plan to buy real estate in 2008. They view real estate as a solid diversification from their other investments, and 89% believe that real estate values will rebound strongly.
In fact, resort real estate in Summit County has maintained an average 12.1% annual appreciation rate since 1993 and in some cases double that, according to sales figures from the Summit County MLS. The Breckenridge are continues to dominate the sales picture with 45.9% of the total dollar Summit County sales.  Even though the overall number of units sold in was down in 2007, the average sale price for all housing was up by a robust 14.7%, and length of time on the market decreased by 34% over the prior year--both clearly bucking national trends. Land Title Guarantee Company's property index indicates that in 1988, the average price of new or resale housing in Summit County was a little more than $99,000. In 2007, the average price for a single family home was $798,295!
 
 
UNCLE SAM
 
While we're talking about family members, don't forget Uncle Sam!  There are significant tax advantages in 2nd home ownership not offered by most other investments. A second home can provide a host of federal tax deductions including mortgage interest, real estate taxes, management and homeowner fees, and utilities that partially offset the costs of ownership.  Renting your second home is often a good source of income, and can enable your property to be treated as an investment with the IRS. Moreover, such real estate investments offer the unique opportunity to defer capital gains from increased values by the mechanism of the Section 1031 Tax-Deferred Exchange. It can amount to virtually an interest-free loan from Uncle Same, and is certainly the most powerful wealth and estate building tool available to the U.S. taxpayer.
 
BUILD OUT LOOMS
 
The increasing demand for quality resort settings from the Boomer generation is being met with a decreasing supply of the desirable locations. The Breckenridge area is clearly approaching build out, and available land for development is at a premium and dwindling fast. Despite the appearance of miles of forested hillsides, only 20% of the land in Summit County is private property! The rest is Forest Service and other government-regulated lands. Combined with the anticipated doubling of the metropolitan Denver population over the next decade, the result will be significant upwards pressure on prices and values.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
WHY BRECKENRIDGE?
 
First and foremost, it's the vibrant and engaging town. The most visited ski area in the US,  Breckenridge is high country at its best. Located just 86 miles from Denver in Colorado's playground of Summit County, Breckenridge is nestled amongst six major league ski areas including Keystone, Copper Mountain, A-Basin and neighboring Vail and Beaver Creek, with countless miles of trails and terrain.
 
This plucky Victorian gold camp-turned-world class destination resort provides an endless, year-round variety of outdoor and cultural activities for every age, from wine and orchestra to Gatorade and the Colorado Trail. It is one of only a handful of real ski towns in Colorado. Like where people actually walk down the street carrying skis or boards on their shoulders during the season...Breckenridge is about making time for what you truly love.
 
With a legendary ski mountain that spans four peaks, boasting the highest chairlift in North America (at 12,860') and a new gondola that connects skiers with Victorian downtown, Breckenridge has come of age. It has come a long way since its founding in the gold rush days, and in 2009 the community will embark on a year-long celebration of the 150th birthday of the town. Under the ownership of Vail Resorts, Breckenridge Ski Area has become a centerpiece for Vail's massive development of the mountain's base areas and gondola base in town. "They got the chance to fill in the last big pieces of the jigsaw puzzle in Breckenridge's landscape and identity", said Rob Neyland of Breckenridge Associates. "Vail is pumping millions into this area to make sure it is done right."
 
Clearly the phased creation of almost 450 ski-in/ski-out properties happening at the base of Peaks 7 and 8 and at the gondola base present the chance for buyers to hook up with a real "hot spot" in the market. Ultra-deluxe and just yards from the chairlifts and gondola terminals, these new properties have raised the bar for luxury in Breckenridge. The top of the food chain is not cheap: the 46 units at Crystal Peak Lodge sold out pre-construction for over $1,000 per square foot, and the new grand lodge at the base of Peak 8 is going for over $1,200/square foot. There, the planned 290 units will feature a skier plaza, new restaurant, aquatics area with pool and water slides, fitness center, theater and bowling alley!
 
BEST MAJOR LEAGUE VALUE
 
And yet Breckenridge is cheap by comparison to its counterparts in the major league of mountain resorts in Colorado and throughout the west. Rivals Steamboat, Telluride, Vail and Beaver Creek, as well as Utah's Park City far outstrip the cost of ownership in Breckenridge. The median price for a single family home in Telluride's Mountain Village topped $3.4 million! Vail Village and Lionshead over $4.65 million. Aspen...forget about it.
 
For a real family town with a world class ski area located the closest to Denver and the International Airport, with the complete gamut of amenities including golf, performing arts, free public transit system, extensive trails and bike path system, ice arena, fabulous rec center, shops and restaurants, and nearby Lake Dillon, Breckenridge remains a bargain in the company of the other major mountain resorts. And you get a real town with a strong cultural heritage and, with real people who actually live there because they love it passionately--and it shows!  Buying a second home in Breckenridge is stepping into a community that welcomes participation and is keen to create a quality year-round vacation place for everyone.
 
 
 
 
WHAT'S AVAILABLE?
 
The good news is that real estate in Breckenridge covers the whole spectrum in price and character, from funky little ski cabins in the woods to slopeside masterpieces and everything in between. Single family homes start at about $400,000 and go up from there. Two bedroom condominiums can range from as low as $220,000 to $2 million. A three or four bedroom townhome will cost between $500,000 and $2.2 million. And yes, there is still land available, beginning at about $120,000 for a homesite.
 
Fractional ownership opportunities can begin as low as $80,000 for a slice of a high-end property. Fractionals present the newest emerging trend in the resort industry. They may be anything from a one-twelfth ownership (4 weeks of usage) to a one-quarter ownership ( 13 weeks of usage). The idea to own at the very same locations and have the same lifestyle at a fraction of the cost is compelling and works for more and more savvy second home buyers every year. Fractional ownership (fully deeded and thus able to appreciate) presents that chance to buy a portion of a far larger or more upscale property, based on anticipated usage than whole ownership would allow, and the idea is catching on.
 
THE FIVE  R's
 
Reconnect. Rejuvenate. Return. Rediscover. Retire. This is the "RE" in resort real estate, and they combine to equal Many Happy Returns. For not all returns are measured in dollars. Who can say the value of getting up close and personal with the majesty and grandeur of the Rocky Mountains, of those first few turns through glistening untracked powder on a blue sky day, or helping a grandson catch his first trout? For most second home owners who are building a legacy of family memories in Breckenridge, the Return on Investment is: priceless.
 
 
 Rob Neyland is a co-owner of Breckenridge Associates Real Estate, and has been helping people with resort real estate in Breckenridge for almost 30 years. He first came to Breckenridge as a child, and helped build the family ski cabin in 1966.



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Breckenridge Goes Green With New Building Code

Tuesday September 16, 2008
Living in a place like Breckenridge with such natural beauty and clean air, it's hard not to think "green." And, in an effort to preserve these surroundings that attract both nature lovers and second homeowners alike, mountain towns are doing their part to protect the environment by reducing carbon emissions.

Breckenridge has adopted a sustainability code that mirrors the new code designed for Summit County. Both go into effect January 1, 2009. This code will impact new construction for single-family homes, multi-family dwellings and additions and remodels taking place to existing structures. The residential components of mixed-use projects will be subject to the new code as well.

For example, when replacing windows in an existing home, homeowners must adhere to regulations requiring energy-efficient windows. And, for new construction, the code provides an extensive series of steps to be taken to determine how large a home can be and how many amenities it can have.

Stricter guidelines come into play for new residential construction greater than 3,000 square feet. For every hot tub and heated driveway built, energy use must be offset by following a process to reduce the overall carbon footprint of the new home. The points gained for using solar panels, for example, could be used to compensate for an outdoor hot tub. Each builder must earn a score of "zero" or more to be in compliance.

"Homeowners will get a much more efficient house and lower energy bills," says Breckenridge chief building official Glen Morgan. "The bigger the house gets, the more green initiatives will be needed."

Given that about 40 percent of the countywide waste stream comes from construction and deconstruction, the new code is based on the idea of keeping the incredible landscape intact by designing and building efficient and healthy buildings.

To learn more on the new code visit highcountryconservation.org.


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Milestones in the Breckenridge Real Estate Market

Tuesday September 16, 2008
Breckenridge Associates represents an average of one in three real estate transactions over $1,000,000.

January 1995 – 1st $1,000,000 home sold in Breckenridge. Breckenridge Associates was involved in the sale.

November 1997 – 1st $2,000,000 home sold in Breckenridge

In 2000 – 19 homes sold for more than $1,000,000

May 2001 – 1st condo sold for more than $1,000,000

In 2006 – 100 homes sold for between $1,000,000 - $2,000,000; 22 condos and townhomes sold for more than $1,000,000

January 2007 – 1st condo sold for more than $2,000,000. Breckenridge Associates was involved in the sale.

April 2007 – 1st $3,990,000 home sold in Summit County. Listed and sold by Breckenridge Associates.

August 2007 – Record topped by sale of $4,690,000 home sale. Breckenridge Associates was involved in the sale.

September 2007 – 1st $5,000,000 home sold in Summit County. Breckenridge Associates was involved in the sale.

In 2007 – 8 homes more than $3,000,0000. Breckenridge Associates was involved in six of the sales.

July 2008 – Highest selling home of all time in Summit County, $5,550,000. Listed by Breckenridge Associates.


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Local Real Estate At A Glance

Monday September 15, 2008
It's a great time to purchase real estate in Summit County. Though Summit County and more specifically Breckenridge have not experienced the same down turn affecting our National Market, active residential listings in Breckenridge have doubled compared to the same timeframe in 2007. This increased volume of inventory is providing buyers a better selection. For the first time in many years, sellers are more willing to negotiate on price and concessions. This unique situation allows buyers to get into the dream house they may not otherwise have been able to afford, as well as locals to move up within a wonderful community. First-time home buyers may also qualify for a newly passed $7,500 credit that will be available for the purchase of a principal residence on or after April 9, 2008 and before July 1, 2009. Now is the time for buyers to take advantage of these favorable market conditions. Contact your Breckenridge Associates Partner/Broker for a detailed real estate analysis and to learn more about the local market.

 Breck Residential Market Stats
  2007 2008
 Sales 400 247
 Active
 Listings
373 784
Based on 2007 and 2008 market comparisons for Jan. 1 - Aug 1


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Real Locals

Monday September 15, 2008
Breckenridge Associates contributes $30,000 annually to local organizations and non-profits throughout Summit County in an effort to keep our community thriving and growing – a place visitors and locals can continue to enjoy for to come. Sponsorships include:

• International Snow Sculpture Championships
• Summit Foundation
• National Repertory Orchestra
• Breckenridge Music Institute
• Breckenridge Film Festival
• Backstage Theatre
• Summit County Swim Team
• Lake Dillon Optimists
• Little Red School House
• Mountain Top Children's Museum
• Summit County Youth Baseball
• Town of Breckenridge Great Easter Egg Scramble


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Local Snow Sculpting Contest Slated For December

Monday September 15, 2008
In the late 1970s, snow sculpting in Breckenridge took place as part of the winter festival that included Ullr Fest. Then, in its infancy, snow sculptures made of colors and props would line Main Street throughout the Christmas holidays. Fast forward 40 years later, and the International Snow Sculpture Championships are 19 years old, have become internationally acclaimed and continue to attract artists from across the globe.

In what could be called a return to yesteryear, the team of partners at Breckenridge Associates is preparing to launch the first local-oriented snow sculpting challenge along the storefronts of Main Street in early December, a prelude to the international event taking place in January.

"All of us in Summit County have a latent snow sculptor inside of us," says Breckenridge Associates Partner/Broker Rob Neyland, an international snow sculpting champion of more than 30 years. Neyland and sculpting teammates Ron Shelton and Tom Day, are teaming up with their company Breckenridge Associates, to sponsor the first annual event. It's being billed as a snow sculpting contest without rules, and the winner could take home as much as $2,500.


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Breckenridge Dredge Boats Now 100 Years Old

Monday September 15, 2008
"There's gold in them thar hills."

The origin of the statement remains unknown, but the precious metal is as valued today as it was 100 years ago, when dredge boats came to Breckenridge as the "latest and greatest" way to unearth gold from the depths of the river bottom.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of dredge mining by the Number Six and Number Seven boats in Breckenridge. Though gold was first discovered in the lower Swan River around 1860, more than 30 years passed before miners discovered dredge boats could dig up to 50 feet beneath the river and lift gold to the surface.



Records show dredge mining started in Breckenridge in 1898 in the Blue and French Gulch riverbeds. In 1907, miners signed a contract with the Bucyrus Company of South Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to build the Number Six and Number Seven dredges. The boats were built in Valdora, a mining town once situated at the southeast corner of what is now Tiger Run Resort. This is where Dredge Boat King, Ben Stanley Revett dug a pond to be used for the construction of the two dredge boats.

The boats were anchored to the shore by cables and large, heavy poles were driven into the gravel surface of the pond to hold them in place. Every 8 hours, men lifted the poles and used winches onshore to thrust the dredges forward. Each was electrically driven by a 200-horsepower motor and used 42 buckets more than nine feet deep to excavate the rock. The boats had the ability to cut through the landscape and leave 200-foot arcs in the sides of the ponds up to three times a day. They were capable of moving through 2,500 cubic yards of gravel and dirt every 24 hours.

The bedrock lifted from beneath the water would be piled alongside the pond, creating massive rock piles more than 40 feet high, some of which can still be seen today. The dredges dug 40 feet into the bedrock in the Swan River and 50 feet below the water's surface in the Blue. They were incredibly noisy, and the clang and clutter caused a terrible racket as they made their way down the Blue River, says author and historian Mary Ellen Gilliland, who penned Summit: A Gold Rush History in Summit County, CO. When the dredging ceased, the story goes, residents couldn't sleep at night because it was too quiet.



The Number Six boat operated during 1908 and part of 1909, working gravel down the Swan River to the Blue River. Number Six then sat idle until 1914, when it was purchased by another company. Number Seven spent its life working the Swan River. In 1911, just above Galena Gulch, it produced $33,000 in gold in a 12-day period.

More significantly, says Gilliland, the gold unearthed from the riverbeds was tantamount to a windfall, and most say the dredges brought in as much as $32 million at a time when gold was selling for less than $20 an ounce. "That's a huge fortune," she notes.

Government mandates during World War II finally stopped all mining for precious metals in 1942. In the 44 years that dredge mining took place in Breckenridge, nine dredges plied the local waterways, though never more than five were in operation at any one time. Visit summithistorical.org for more information on the history of Breckenridge and Summit County.


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Calendar of Events

Monday September 15, 2008



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Golden Aspens Set Stage For Fall Foliage In The High Country

Monday September 15, 2008


When summer's warmth begins to give way to chilly morning frosts in the mountains, fall is not far behind. Mountainsides will soon be covered with rich colors of gold, yellow, red and brown as the seasons begin to transition. Fall is the perfect season to experience the Rocky Mountains and if timed right, a scenic drive with the family could be an ideal outing to view fall foliage at its prime.

Pack up a picnic, the kids and dogs and head out the back door or take a day trip to a Colorado mountain town for a glimpse of fall in the high country. Breckenridge, Aspen, Buena Vista and the byways near Georgetown all rank among top viewing destinations when fall rolls around – and those outside of Breckenridge are just a scenic drive away.

Boreas Pass Road. The road just south of Breckenridge offers some of the best fall viewing with a slice of history to boot. Once the path followed by eager prospectors during the Breckenridge Gold Rush, the pass later became the route for the Denver, South Park and Pacific narrow gauge railroad. Old and restored remnants of the once-thriving hamlet still stand today along the 11-mile road leading to the town of Como. From its peak of 12,000 feet, views from the road include panoramic landscapes, the Continental Divide and the Blue River Valley with its large stands of waving aspen groves. Be sure to pick up a pamphlet from the Breckenridge Resort Chamber Welcome Center – it highlights historic sites along the road, from beginning to end.

Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Area. When bathed in fall color, the rocky peaks are said to be among the most photographed mountains in the country. Independence Pass is always mentioned as a premier viewing spot in the area. The most beautiful views are unveiled when taking the approach running northwest from Twin Lakes. Changing leaves wind through dark green hues of evergreen Conifers that line both sides of Highway 82. A series of switchbacks leads to the 12,095-foot summit, and a it's just a short walk to an overlook to take in 18 peaks topping 14,000 feet.

Cottonwood Pass. The best route follows Cottonwood Pass Road west of Buena Vista, where awe-inspiring views await. Rising on all sides are the massive Collegiate Peaks, more specifically Mount Princeton and Mount Yale. While passing beneath the two, one of Colorado's most aspen-laden valleys lies ahead. The vast and majestic landscape gives any average photographer a chance to be a pro.

Guanella Pass Scenic and Historic Byway. The route – a favorite among foliage enthusiasts – is just south out of the historic town of Georgetown. The colorful aspens are said to be more prevalent on the southern side of the pass. Some suggest taking a right on US 285 at Grant, following the highway for about 15 minutes to the top of Kenosha Pass, where the aspen thrive on the rim of the gentle slopes that encircle South Park.

Although it's difficult to pinpoint exactly when the most vibrant foliage displays will occur, or how brilliant they might be, an escape to the mountains early fall is worthwhile. Leaves typically start to change from early September to mid-October, beginning with shorter days and cooling temperatures. As the amount of daylight decreases, chlorophyll – the dominant pigment that keeps leaves green during the growing season – slows and other colors begin to show through. Carotenoids, which are present during the life cycle of leaves, are unmasked to display hues of yellow, brown and orange. Stunning reds and purples develop from a different pigment called anthocyanins, which develops late in the summer season in the sap cells of leaves, resulting from a complex interaction of daylight, sugar and other external and internal influences.


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SUMMIT COUNTY REAL ESTATE PRICES BUCK TREND

Thursday August 7, 2008

Breckenridge Associates leads the charge with the highest Summit County sale in history.



Breckenridge, CO - July 17, 2008 - With a housing decline across the nation, there are few communities that have seen positive growth and signs of a healthy real estate market.

The Summit County market appears to be holding its own with year-over-year increase in overall sales prices, when comparing statistics for the first four months of 2008 to the same timeframe in 2007. In 2008, single family home prices are up 4.2%, condos/multifamily homes have increased 14.4% and duplex/townhomes have risen 19%. While the pace of growth has slowed and inventory has increased, the market is still experiencing growing sales prices as recent as mid-July.

Leading the charge in sales is Breckenridge Associates Real Estate, listing brokerage for the recent record-setting sales transaction of a $5,550,000 Breckenridge home, the highest-priced sale of all time in Summit County. With this recent transaction and involvement in nearly 40 percent of Breckenridge sales over $1 million to date in 2008, Breckenridge Associates' team of realtors are proven leaders in Summit County real estate.


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Lake Dillon: Summit's Sparkling Gem

Thursday August 7, 2008
Few things can beat summertime in Summit County. From outdoor concerts, farmers markets, barbeque festivals, parades and scads of hiking and biking trails, the natural amenities and weekend activities at 9,000 feet are plentiful.

Whitewater rafting, horseback riding and mountain biking are some of the most popular activities, but Summit County possesses gems that sometimes get overlooked. Lake Dillon is one, and it's been attracting hardcore sailors and fisherman for many years. Through two marinas in Dillon and Frisco, guests can rent a pontoon boat, sailboat, canoe or kayak and tour the rocky shores. One favorite pastime takes place on July 4, when just about every vessel on the lake heads out to catch a firsthand glimpse of the festive fireworks directly above.

The lake also serves as a backdrop to Saturday night concerts at the Dillon Amphitheatre. From mid-June until the end of August, folks gather to listen to a diverse array of performing artists. Relax on the amphitheater lawn, sit on the lake's shore or drop anchor and enjoy the music from Lake Dillon.

The bike path connecting Dillon and Frisco offers a gentle, six-mile ride along the lake's shores. For those feeling ambitious, it continues on all the way to Breckenridge. The Frisco Peninsula offers a respite from roadside traffic and can be hiked or toured by mountain bike. Either way, the views of the water and sailboats make for a nice outing.

The fishing on the lake is another attraction with 26 miles of shoreline. Finding a secluded place to cast for trout is never a problem. Regattas held throughout the summer feature numerous sailboats dotting the lake, and many opt to hike up to the old Dillon Reservoir to enjoy the races and watch the sailboats glide by.

Those looking for a low-key adventure can ride their bikes from Dillon to Frisco and take the Lake Dillon Water Taxi on the return, even dogs are welcome. The charter service also offers evening excursions and hosts numerous corporate outings and family reunions. To inquire about the Water Taxi, call 970.486.0116.
Lake Dillon
The new and improved Frisco Marina boasts The Island Grill, which offers food and libations not to mention the view. Across the way, Lake Dillon Marina is the home of the Tiki Bar also serving appetizers and drinks in a great atmosphere. Both marinas are set to officially open on the weekend of Memorial Day, weather permitting.

The calendar of events that runs from early June through September features an endless array of activities everyone will enjoy. Experience Saturday socials, concerts, festivals and parades, all beneath the Colorado sunshine in the heart of the Rockies. It's time to relax. Take off those shoes, dip your feet in the creek, venture into town shops or just sit down at the Tiki Bar at Lake Dillon Marina and start sipping one of their signature Rum Runners. Locals and guests will be sure to gain a new appreciation for our local gem, Lake Dillon.



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High-Altitude Gardening Provides a Bounty of Rewards

Thursday August 7, 2008
The abundant displays of vibrant flowers that enhance Breckenridge, Frisco and Dillon in the summer often serve as The abundant displays of vibrant flowers that enhance Breckenridge, Frisco and Dillon in the summer often serve as inspiration to alpine gardeners who covet such a brilliant display in their own yards. With a few simple adjustments and a little bit of patience, it's possible to grow equally lavish baskets and flower beds of tulips, peonies, poppies, lupine, columbine and delphinium - even at elevations of more than 8,500 feet.

Nature's own wildflowers can provide an easy "field of flowers" vision for those who might not want to commit to taking care of a garden. But, most people opt for a summer-long display of early-season perennials - daffodil, tulips, crocus - supplemented by annuals and wildflowers to create the perfect array of colorful flowers.

It's best to sow wildflower seeds in late fall, but they can still be planted in the spring and achieve late-summer blooms. Wildflowers prefer soil with low fertility. They like water and take some time to achieve their full glory. It helps to spread the seeds with a carrier, such as fine sand, to ensure they spread evenly. Barely cover the seeds with about 1/8 inch of dirt and keep them moist until they germinate.

When it comes to annuals and perennials, the slow-starting and short-growing season proves to be challenging. Starting seedlings indoors helps to get the growing process on track sooner. Although it is slightly more expensive, using short-season or high-altitude seeds that are available through a variety of plant suppliers and local landscaping companies is worthwhile.

Most seeds will need to stay inside at least four to six weeks after germinating. At high elevations, seeds can begin growing early May to be ready for planting mid-June. Seed-starting mixes, such as Ferti-Mix or Redi-Earth Seed Starter will better the chances of a successful garden.

When temperatures start hitting nearly 40 degrees, it's safe to remove dead and damaged limbs from perennials and start preparing beds for the upcoming season. Once temperatures are consistently warm - usually in mid-June - it's time to plant.

With a solid covering of mulch, regular watering and weeding, most high alpine gardens will show off their resplendent colors in a beautiful and rewarding display of color by in late July or early August.

The last fertilization time should be mid-August when gardeners can decide which plants to deadhead and which will go to seed. As fall approaches, preparations for the next summer can begin by reducing the amount of water, adding organic matter to the soil, planting bulbs and spreading wildflower seeds. New plants should be watered either until the snow is here to stay or the ground freezes.

Columbines
Local landscapers are a great source for figuring out which plants do well in Summit County. Further inspiration can also be gained through the Summit County Garden Club, a non-profit organization that beautifies public spaces. The club highlights the talents of Summit County's best gardeners every year in a tour of show-stopping gardens. Get inspired. This year's tour will take place on July 26. More information is available at www.summitcountygardenclub.org.


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Breckenridge Riverwalk Grand Re-Opening

Thursday August 7, 2008
Breckenridge Theater
When the scene is one of majestic mountains, flowing creeks and wildflowers, the thought of a symphony performance tends to stir in the imagination. Strings and horns will soon be coming together to celebrate nature and its wonders in the summer season.

For years, visitors and residents have gathered under the giant white tent at the Breckenridge Riverwalk Center to enjoy the sounds of the National Repertory Orchestra, the Breckenridge Music Festival and the Blue River Series.

Thanks to efforts from the Town of Breckenridge and private citizens, the Riverwalk Center will re-open its doors this summer, unveiling a more permanent, heated facility offering shelter on those cool summer nights. Crowds of more than 2,000 people will be able to enjoy musical performances with improved acoustics and features such as large doors that open up and create a new ambiance.

The Riverwalk Center is a success story as the Town of Breckenridge and the local community came together to achieve a common goal. When faced with the dilemma of replacing the old and tattered canvas tent or building something more permanent, the town gave its citizens a challenge. "If you can raise $700,000," the town officials said, "then we will double the community contribution towards building a more permanent structure."

The town's citizens rallied. Its officials drew money from their own pockets. The brokers at Breckenridge Associates Real Estate encouraged clients and friends to contribute to the effort as well. Those efforts combined with the brokers' personal contributions helped to raise more than $250,000 for the fund.

Now, thanks to a feel-good story that benefits the arts, visitors and residents of the area, the Breckenridge Riverwalk Center will welcome a new level of musical sophistication that complements the scenery surrounding it. The Riverwalk grand re-opening is scheduled for June 13, coinciding with the Breckenridge Town Party. Visit townofbreckenridge.com for more information.g creeks and wildflowers, the thought of a symphony performance tends to stir in the imagination. Strings and horns will soon be coming together to celebrate nature and its wonders in the summer season.



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NRO Musicians Delight Crowds All Summer Long

Thursday June 19, 2008
Music aficionados who relish the experience of listening to classical music receive a special treat every summer when the National Repertory Orchestra (NRO) performs at the Riverwalk Center in the heart of Breckenridge.

The NRO, a non-profit organization, sponsors the eight-week fellowship program for the most promising young orchestral musicians across the globe. Each summer, 89 musicians are selected from a nationwide audition to participate in this intense, symphonic experience in the mountains.

Led by the charming and affable Maestro Carl Topilow, the NRO performs two full-orchestra concerts each week as well as chamber concert performances. The young musicians also collect in varying groups of trios, quartets and quintets to make surprise performances during the week. With various combinations of strings, horns and winds, the student groups can be spotted throughout Breckenridge, Frisco and Dillon. On four occasions during the summer, the musicians collect to play on the front porch of Breckenridge Associates’ office next to Starbucks on Main Street.
Musicians on the porch
Seats are set out on the lawn for passers-by and wine and cheese are served in a welcoming and casual setting. It’s a great way for locals, visitors and shoppers to enjoy the artistry of talented musicians while experiencing everything else that summer has to offer. The entertainment is designed to complement the larger, weekend events and adds eloquence to the charming town. This year’s Porch Series at Breckenridge Associates will be held Friday, June 27 at 5:30pm; Thursday, July 17 at 5:30pm; Friday, July 25 at 5:30pm and Friday, August 1 at 1:00pm.

The NRO has been performing at the Riverwalk Center in the town of Breckenridge since 1993.



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