Breckenridge Real Estate

New Website for Real Estate Deals in Breckenridge

2009-07-15T14:23:00.000-07:00

In markets like the current one, it is not unususal for there to be really good deals in certain pockets of real estate. This is certainly true in Breckenridge, Colorado.

A new website, http://www.BestDealsBreck.com has been created to display such opportunities. It deserves serious consideration by those prepared to act quickly since good deals do not stay on the market for long.

Check it out.

Earnings down, but pass sales up for Vail Resorts

2009-06-05T12:56:00.000-07:00

Bob Berwin reports in the June 5, 2009, issue of the Summit Daily News:

Execs hope pass sales will spur visits next season.

Season pass sales and usage continues to be bright spots for Vail Resorts at the end of a challenging season.

In spite of a 20.9 percent drop in bottom line earnings, advance season pass sales for next year are up 37 percent from last year. This revenue is quickly growing into a larger slice of the company's overall revenue picture, from 26 percent in the 2007-8 ski season, to 34 percent for the 2008-9 season.

Total skier visits were down about 5.3 percent for the 2008-9 season. Destination guests made up 57 percent of Vail Resort's total visitation, compared with 63 percent last season. Visits by non-season pass holders dropped by 22 percent.

These results were impacted by the continued severe downturn in the economy.

On the real estate side, Vail Resorts reported revenues of $9.4 million for the third quarter of 2009, compared to $54.5 million for the same quarter last year, resulting in a $4.7 million loss.

The company's operating expenses were down $12.8 million, or 8.1 percent compared to last year. Forest service and credit card fees were down along with labor costs which resulted from a company-wide wage cut implemented in April, 2008.

Lodging revenue was up 3 percent for the third quarter, mainly from revenue generated by Colorado Mountain Express, a recent acquisition of Vail Resorts. But overall lodging revenue was down 26.9 percent. Lodging deals helped drive skier visists, but also pushed down average room rates.

Rob Katz, CEO for Vail Resorts, said he thinks advance sales of season passes for next year will create momentum going into the 2009-10 season.

For information about real estate opportunities in Breckenridge, contact Susan Gunnin, or visit www.breck4sale.com.

Village at Breckenridge plans $19 million expansion

2009-03-02T10:56:00.000-08:00

As reported in the Summit Daily News, February 28, 2009, by Robert Allen, homeowners of the iconic, 'Seventies-type feel' Village at Breckenridge have approved a $19 million refurbishment to begin in 2010. In need of an update, the homeowner's association general manager commented that "it was running second for the ugly award in town". [No report on what is first!!]

The buildings will get new roofs, decks, windows, railings, and the skins of the five buildings will be improved. The theme will be 'mountain elegance with historic features', and the existing Plaza III building will have a clock atop the elevator shaft. The ground level will be transformed so it will look like a village.

The Village includes some 235 residential and 28 commercial units. The residences range from 386 square feet to 1,800 square feet. The project will cost property owners an average of $76 per square foot.

Reports of possible 15 to 20 percent lower labor and construction costs, due to the national economic slump, and probable lower loan rates make the project feasable at this time. The price could actually come in at less than $19 million.

Project construction is to begin in April, 2010 and be complete in eight months. All five buildings will be improved simultaneously.

The HOA voted overwhelmingly to go forward on January 31, 2009. It is expected to go out to bid in April.

The project is hoped to make the Village area more vibrant, attracting more restaurants such as Teddeo's Italian Restaurant which recently moved to on of the Village buildings.

Improvements to the central deck area have been considered, but aren't included in the project price.

For more information about the Village, contact Susan Gunnin.

Breck home-size policy to be decided through consensus

2009-02-13T10:17:00.000-08:00

Council takes heat for preservation proposal

Robert Allen of the Summit Daily News reported February 13th, 2009, that although Breckenridge officials want to restrict home size to preserve neighborhood character, a task force should be created aimed at finding a consensus.

Last week, the town hosted two open-house meetings with residents from about 25 Breckenridge neighborhoods. In both meeting, most shared the view that maintaining the size and scale of homes in their neighborhood was important. But a wide majority disagreed with the town's proposal of capping the maximum home size at 80 percent of the average, current home sizes.

What is intended is to avoid the situation where a 10,000 square foot home is built amid homes averaging, say 4,000 square feet.

Some meeting attendees felt that people who want to build such a 10,000 square foot home would simply take their plans -- and potential tax dollars -- elsewhere. Others pointed out that a design-based, rather than size-based, approach could better fit with what neighborhoods want. Many said they'd prefer to have the policy address specific subdivisions rather than the town overall. Maybe this is more an issue for the historic district than for outlying areas.

Town mayor John Warner concluded the work session by suggesting a task force of stakeholders such as a real estate agent, a home builder, a member of the town staff and others to "create a menu of options" for future discussion. Such a task force will be assembled to convene sometime soon regarding a neighborhood preservation policy. The policy would apply to homes in neighborhoods without platted building envelopes. Single-family homes and some duplexes are the only structures with no square-footage limits in the town's current development code.

For more information, contact Susan Gunnin, or go to www.breck4sale.com.

Town of Blue River approves sewer annexation

2009-02-06T10:51:00.000-08:00

A Summit Daily News article by Robert Allen on February 4, 2009, reports that the Town of Blue River (about 2 miles south of Breckenridge) voted to be annexed by the Upper Blue Sanitation District. Gradually over time, the approximately 680 residents of Blue River will have the option of replacing existing septic systems with sewer service.

This news is interesting in that, historically, the town has voted against any potential intrusion into the town's "rural character". But it appears the advantages of sewer service outweighed these concerns.

Residents won't be required to connect to the sewer until their current [septic] systems fail, and then would only be required to connect if they were within 400 feet of a sewer main.

Construction will begin at the south end of town but probably not for another year and a half. The South Blue River Treatment Facility next to the Eldorado Subdivision is planned to serve the entire town.

Presently, most of the town's residents use septic systems. The threat of failing systems, the expense of replacing them, and the gradually increasing population density affected the outcome of the election.

The Upper Blue Sanitation District was formerly known as the Breckenridge Sanitation District.

If you want to learn more about how this might affect real estate in the Blue River area, contact Susan Gunnin

Vail: Full Speed Ahead On New Improvements

2008-09-04T10:31:00.000-07:00

Vail Resorts says it plans to spend at least $100 million on projects to upgrade its five ski properties.

September 4, 2008 - The Denver Post

Vail Resorts (owner of Breckenridge Ski Area) plans to showcase at least $100 million in capital improvements this year at its five ski resorts. The spending, which could rise to $115 million by the end of the year, is more than the combined total for all other Colorado ski resorts.

National economic weakness and a slight decline last year in Colorado's total skier visits have not caused Vail to rein in the spending program. According to Bob Katz, Vail chief executive, "We have not pulled back on a single improvement".

Projects include a new eight-passenger gondola at Keystone, a new base area with dining and lodging at Breckenridge's Peak 7, the opening of the Arabelle hotel in Vail Square and a $7 million renovation of the former Inn at Beaver Creek.

Katz also announced:

Within two years, Vail will doulbe from 5 percent to 10 percent its program to reduce energy consumption through conservation and equipment upgrades
Sales of the Epic Season Pass -- allowing unlimited skiing at all Vail Resorts for $579 -- have been strong
A new lodging promotion offers one free night at various Vail Resorts hotels during the season's biggest holidays if four consecutive nights are purchased.

Copper Plan Gets Green Light

2008-08-13T13:32:00.000-07:00

Commissioners conditionally approve major base-area changes

In an article in the Summit Daily News, August 13, 2008, Bob Berwin reports that the Summit County Commissioners approved a plan to resdistribute about 420 units of previously approved unbuilt density at Copper Mountain, focusing development in the core of the resort.

Copper officials said the redevelopment will breathe new life into the resort's base area by building a critical mass of beds and commercial activity with the addition of new residential units and a condo-hotel on the site of the Chapel parking lot. This is a scaled-down version of several previously denied proposals.

According to Gary Rodgers, president and CEO of Copper Mountain, "the sequencing of any development is yet to be determined" explaining that the resort and county still have to nail down the details of the conditions attached to the development approval.

"It's been a long road to get here," Rogers continued. "It's our goal to now move forward and work with all stakeholders on the execution of this plan over the coming years."

Overall, the development will provide significant public benefits, and the amendment falls within the guidelines of existing county regulations. Those benefits include new trail connections, stream restorations and donations to the Chapel Foundation and the Summit Housing Authority.

Single-Listing Websites

2008-04-01T12:52:00.000-07:00

One way for Realtors to more effectively market a property they have listed is to create a website just for that property, using the property's street address as the website name (domain or url name). For example, if the listing is located at 217 Highlands Drive, then the website name would be http://www.217highlandsdrive.com/. Then, on the listing sign at the property, the Realtor adds a rider with this website name on it.

There are several reasons why this is an effective marketing tool. Passers-by or other realtors who see the property have an easy way to remember the website (as opposed to some website name that has little or nothing to do with the property itself, and might be 40, 50 or more characters long and thus difficult to remember). The information on the website is usually more thorough, more pleasing to view and in general, more informative than a simple brochure or the listing as seen on an MLS site (where, for example, the number of photos may be limited, and the information provided too terse). The Realtor has an opportunity to market him or herself. And, the website name can be added to brochures, linked to the Realtor's own website and used in any other marketing efforts like postcards or emails.

Susan Gunnin has used this tool with very good results in a number of her listings. These websites have been created by her husband, Don, whose work and several samples can be viewed at http://www.quickcustomwebsites.com/. These websites are very inexpensive considering the size of the commission that will be earned and when compared to other types of marketing.

The Snow just won't quit!

2008-02-26T08:27:00.000-08:00

Once the snow started in December, it just hasn't let up. Back in November, the weather pundits (meteorologists) were predicting a dryer than normal ski season.

Man! Were they wrong. As of today, Febeuary 26, we have had 60 inches of snow this month. And for the season, Breckenridge reports over 214 inches of the white stuff.

Southern Colorado has had even more, and they're running out of places to put the snow cleared from walks and streets.

Oh well. Such is life in the Rocky Mountains.

Breckenriedge Skiable Terrain Now at 75%

2007-12-14T13:07:00.000-08:00

After an unusually dry November, the snow gods have awakened and December snowfall has been great thus far.

Season-to-date Breckenridge has had 87 inches of snow. As of December 14th, Breckenridge Ski Area reports that 75% of its skiable terrain is open with 25 of 27 lifts operating.

It's an understatement to say that snow in a ski resort is good for the real estate values.

For more info contact Susan Gunnin, or visit her website.

More Luxury Units Come to Breck

2007-12-03T13:50:00.000-08:00

An article in the Summit Daily News by Kimberly Nicoletti, reports that One Ski Hill Place, a 90-unit development at the base of Peak 8, is about to raise the bar for luxury in Summit County.

The first fifteen of ninety units will be offered for sale, and there's already interest, according to Alex Iskenderian, vice president of Vail Resorts Development Company.

The asking price for the first of four penthouses will be $2.67 million -- the highest asking price for a non-single family residence in Summit County. The cost per square foot is also notable -- with prices ranging from $963 to $1,385 per square foot. Last ski season, Crystal Peak Lodge sold about two-thirds of its units for approximately $928 per square foot.

One Ski Hill Place offers a premium location with amenites not yet seen in Summit County. A two-lane bowling alley will be designed to look like an old mine shaft. Additionally, there will be an aquatics center with two swimming pools, an indoor hot tub and an outdoor plaza with a private hot tub, a game room, two movie lounges and lockers for owners and guests. There will also be three restaurants, a conference center, a sports massage center, daily maid service and ski and snowboard rental.

Iskenderian said the level of luxury "is likely to pull everything up with it in Summit County." One thing seems certain: Breckenridge is upping its level of extravagance.

Some are comparing Breckenridge to Aspen and Vail and perceiving value here because it's still less expensive.

The units will range from studios, starting at $585,000 to four bedrooms at $2,670,000.

For more information about One Ski Hill Place, contact Susan Gunnin at RE/MAX in Breckenridge.

2006-7 Breckenridge Ski Area and Business Data

2007-07-25T10:15:00.000-07:00

As reported in the July 24, 2007 High Country Busines Review by Kimberly Nicoletti

23 months in a row of sales tax revenue increases
Record skier visits (1.65 Million), Breckenridge exceeded Vail
63.7% of skiers were from out of state, 9.7% international, 12.6% from Colorado
International visitors stayed an average of 8.8 nights, out-of-staters stayed 5.2 nights
Breckenridge 2006 economy surpassed $300 million for the first time ($323 million)
Lodging revenue up 33 percent for summer
Average age of skiers continues to increase from 35 to 37

These statistics bode well for real estate investment in Breckenridge. For more info, contact Susan Gunnin by email or visit her web site.

Currency Rates: British Pound versus US Dollar

2007-07-23T10:08:00.000-07:00

With currency exchange rates placing the British Pound at a quarter-century high against the US Dollar, and with very favorable EURO rates, now could be the ideal time to put those overseas funds to work in Breckenridge and Summit County real estate. Real estate values continue to appreciate in Summit County which has been largely unaffected by the real estate maliase in other sections of America.

Susan Gunnin understands the needs of overseas investors and is comfortable offering them her expertise in the Breckenriddge and Summit County real estate markets.

To gather more information about this exciting investment opportunity, email Susan or go to her web site.

About Summit County

2007-06-22T10:14:00.000-07:00

Summit County is situated about 60 miles west of Denver, smack dab in the middle of Colorado's glorious Rocky Mountains. Traveling to Summit County from Denver via I-70, the eastern edge of Summit County is the Continental Divide, the watershed separating water flows to the Atlantic Ocean on the east side and the Pacific Ocean on the west side. Entrance to the county from Denver is through Eisenhower Tunnel, a mile and a half long tunnel completed in 1973. At over 11,000 feet above sea level, the tunnel is the highest in the world. Here is a very interesting web site about the tunnel.

Hoosier Pass defines the southern edge of Summit County, about ten miles south of Breckenridge. It, too, is a pass over the Continental Divide and its elevation is over 11,500 feet. Hoosier forms the headwaters of the Blue River, which, when it flows out of Dillon Reservoir, is one of the most beautiful, Gold Medal Trout fisheries in the country.

Traveling along I-70, the western edge of Summit County is Vail Pass, at about 10,600 feet. About 15 miles beyond Vail Pass is the city of Vail which hosts the most popular ski area in North America. Breckenridge, by the way, is the 2nd most popular resort in America.
Here is a comprehensive overview of Summit County,

There are five towns in Summit County: Breckenridge, Frisco, Dillon, Silverthorne, and Keystone. Breckenridge and Keystone are homes to ski areas. Two other ski areas, Arapahoe Basin and Copper mountain are nearby, and Vail is about a 40 minute drive west.

Recreation opportunities abound in Summit County. Not only is there alpine (or downhill) skiing, but other winter activities include cross country skiing (Summit County has miles of X-country ski trails), ice skating, sleigh rides (some with meals), sledding, and good ol' snowball throwing!

Summer is unbeatable! There is a saying among locals "I moved here for the skiing, but I stay here for the summer!" Summer activities are boundless. Biking, hiking, fishing, gold-panning, boating on Lake Dillon and touring historic mine sites are among the favorites. Of course, for relaxation, just sitting on the deck observing the incredible beauty of the wild-flower-covered mountains or crystal clear streams is hard to beat. Investing in the Breckenridge real estate market avails you to all this.

For information about towns in Summit County, follow these links:
Breckenridge Frisco Dillon Silverthorne Keystone

For more information about the real estate market in Summit County, contact Susan Gunnin or visit her web site.

Colorado Skier Visits hit new peak

2007-06-18T14:06:00.000-07:00

An article in the Denver Post by A. J. Miranda, on June 15, 2007 reports that for the second consecutive year, Colorado hosted a record number of skier visits, bolstered by momentum from the previous season as well as early snowfall.

More than 12.56 million visits were recorded by the state's 26 resorts between October and June, according to figures released by Colorado Ski Country, the resort association's trade organization.

Colorado also broke a national record by grabbing 23 percent of the U. S. Ski Industry market share.

According to Rob Perlman, CEO of Colorado Ski Country, "We have a lot of great advantages in Colorado, and one is the consistency [compared to an inconsistency in other, lower-elevation markets] of the product. It's an unbelievable winter vacation experience.

"The publicity from the Denver snowstorm last year told the world that Colorado had snow pre-Christmas" said Bill Jensen, president of the mountain division of Vail Resorts. At that point, there was no snow in Europe and no snow to speak of in New England".

International tourism helped Colorado, with just under one million skiers coming from outside the U. S. At 8 percent of skiers, the international visits were also a record.

All this was helped by the $19 million the Colorado Tourism Office spent to promote Colorado, a vast increase in spending from prior years.

No doubt, Colorado's national popularity helps the real estate market in ski resorts. For more information, check out http://www.breck4sale.com/.

Second Home Purchasing in Breckenridge and Summit County

2007-05-17T08:28:00.000-07:00

If you’re thinking about purchasing a second home in Breckenridge or Summit County, here's some valuable information to help you in this momentous decision. Your second home can be a place for you to get away from it all, develop and enjoy your hobbies, renew your spirit, and do the things you love.

But before you make the decision, there are some important practical issues to consider mostly having to do with the financial aspects of second home ownership. The major decision is whether you want your second home purely as a vacation home, or are you looking for an investment property? The tax ramifications are different for these two uses.

A vacation home is one that you use for at least 14 days per year (or, if it is rented, at least 10 percent of the total number of rental days). An investment property is one that is used less than 14 days, and owned primarily to generate rental income. In both cases, you have the probability of appreciation as it relates to your overall financial goals.

The tax ramifications of these two types of ownership are very different:

Vacation Home Investment Property

Mortgage Interest deductible not deductible
Rental Revenue tax free must be reported, taxable
Rental Expenses n/a deductible
Property Taxes deductible deductible
Rental Expenses n/a deductible
Utilities n/a deductible
Home insurance n/a deductible
Depreciation n/a allowed

In an investment property, in some cases, rental losses can be used to offset other income, dependent on the amount of other income and your own usage of the property. It may be possible to use funds from your retirement savings accounts to purchase an investment property. It is also possible to schedule “fix-up or maintenance days” which are not counted as your own personal usage. You should consult an accountant for these rules and information.

Whatever the choice, it is possible to use the equity in your permanent residence to purchase or make the down payment on your second home.

Once you’ve decided on the Vacation versus Investment property, you can consider all the reasons why you’ve chosen Breckenridge or Summit County as your second home location.

A 2006 survey of current homeowners (both local and second homeowners) by the Northwest Colorado Council of Governements (NWCCG) reported the following about second homeowners in Breckenridge. All responses are listed in order of importance.
Why did you purchase in Breckenridge? Recreational amenities, proximity to ski resort, scenery and surroundings, intend to vacation here, investment potential, small town atmosphere, climate, air and water quality, friendliness, proximity to front range, rental income, more affordable than other mountain resorts, intend to retire here, proximity to friends/family, and proximity to airports.

How important are community services? Open space/trails, parks/trail system, recreation center, arts/cultural, public transportation, library services, Division of Wildlife, medical services.

Most important recreation? Downhill skiing, walking/jogging, hiking, mountain biking, golf, fishing, picnic areas, swimming, Nordic skiing, playgrounds, snowboarding, tennis, sailing/boating, ice hockey/skating.

What is most important? Recreational opportunities, parks/trails and open spaces, public safety, appearance of town, opportunities to attend cultural events, transportation, sense of community, shopping alternatives, health services, education (K-12), traffic, adult education, job opportunities.

These responses probably match-up pretty closely with your own decision to purchase a second home here.

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), if you’re a typical second home purchaser, you are a baby boomer in your late 50’s with a belief in diversifying your assets, and you earn around $120,000 annually. In their 2006 report, the NAR reported that of all home purchases in 2006, 36 percent were for second homes, with vacation home sales up 4.7 percent over 2005. 24 percent of these second home purchases were in resort areas. Of all home purchases in 2006, 22 percent were for investment properties, and 7 percent of them were in resort areas.

All this information is provided to let you know that you’re not alone in considering a second home purchase in Breckenridge or Summit County. Because of this, when you consider the supply/demand ratios, you can anticipate that prices will continue to escalate (appreciation) because Summit County is approaching “buildout” where all the property available for development has been developed.

National Brotherhood of Skiers pick Breck

2007-04-19T11:03:00.000-07:00

2008 annual meeting will mark the 35th anniversary of the National Brotherhood of Skiers

The National Brotherhood of Skiers (NBS) -- known as the largest winter sports organization in the United States -- will be having its 2008 annual meeting in Breckenridge, January 12 - 19.

The annual meeting and Challenge Cup is the NBS biennial convention and fundraiser, and is expected to bring more than 1,000 individuals representing 77 clubs from across the country for the week-long winter sports event.

The quaint Victorian mining town of Breckenridge, combined with the 2,300 acres of ski terrain that make up Breckenridge Ski Resort will be the setting for all of the NBS annual convention events and activities.

"Breckenridge has a history of propelling new sports and teams of athletes into future Olympic competitions," said Lucy Kay, vice-president of marketing for Breckenridge Ski Resort. "We are very pleased to welcome young NBS athletes into the fold during their annual meeting."

The primary purpose of the annual meeting and Challenge Cup is to demonstrate African American representation in winter sports and raise money for the NBS Olympic Scholarship Fund, designed to provide financial support for exceptional athletes of color who excel in winter sports. The intent is to propel these young athletes to Olympic and international competition.

The NBS was founded in 1973 by 13 African American ski clubs. Since that time, the organization has grown to more than 77 clubs with membership of more than 8,000 adults and youth.

Keystone thinks big for future on-mountain improvements

2007-04-12T15:34:00.000-07:00

In the April 11, 2007 Summit Daily News Nicole Formsa filed the following report.

Executives from Keystone Ski Resort (owned by Breckenridge Ski Area owner, Vail Resorts, and about a 20-minute drive from Breckenridge) touted their long-term plans for the county's largest ski area, including replacing the River Run Gondola, building a new on-mountain restaurant, relocating the Outpost Gondola, and beginning a $2.3 million expansion of the Keystone Lodge Spa.

Pat Campbell, Keystone chief operation officer, said Keystone has caught the attention of its parent company and is poised to take the next step. "People have really noticed the success that we're having, but also the incredible potential here at the resort, so I think we're sitting in just a great position looking into the future for development" Campbell said.

The master plan, which is subject to Forest Service approval, has at the top of the list the replacement of the 23-year-old River Run Gondola. As planned, the new gondola would start on the north side of the Snake River to shorten the walk from the free parking lot and would include a mid-station. The new gondola was originally planned to be tied to real estate development, but is now viewed as a stand-alone project and can move forward without a real estate anchor.

In addition, Keystone plans to replace the Argentine lift with a new lift that would whisk skiers from the Mountain House base to the top of Dercum Mountain. Also planned is a fine-dining restaurant which could eventually replace the award-winning Alpenglow Stube.

Breck's Peak 6 ski area expansion a sure thing

2007-03-29T10:55:00.000-07:00

In an article in the Summit Daily News, dated March 29, 2007, Bob Berwyn reports that the Breckenridge town council got an update on resort plans from the Forest Service.

Ski area development on Peak 6 is all but a done deal. U. S. Forest Service District Ranger Rick Newton states " The bottom line is, there will be skiing on Peak 6. The skier density at Breckenridge is high ... especially compared to other resorts in the area ... more terrain makes sense. The intermediate terrain on Peak 6 is what they're after". Newton referred to the resort's perceived need to spread out crowds on peak days.

Although the fundamental decision to allocate Peak 6 for resort-based sking was reached in 2002, public involvement will be part of a site-specific review of a Peak 6 proposal. The site-specific proposal would answer the only question remaining: What type of ski development might occur in the area? Newton mentioned hike-to and cat-served sking as possible options, along with lift-assisted skiing. Concerns about wildlife impacts and backcountry access would be addressed during the site-specific review.

The timing of a Peak 6 expansion is still up in the air, according to Rick Sramek, vice president of Ski Area operations. "We went 15 years between developing Peak 10 and Peak 7. At the earliest, a Peak 6 plan could be on the table a year from now.

Although the town of Breckenridge doesn't have a formal role in the Forest Service approval process, Breckenridge Mayor Ernie Blake expressed apreciation for the willingness of ski resort leaders to come back to the town a second time to outline their plans.

Ski Resort Crowds are soaring at Breckenridge

2007-03-26T12:15:00.000-07:00

An article in the Denver Post posted Sunday, March 25, 2007 by staff writer Julie Dunn reports that in spite of untimely blizzards and unseemly traffic from Denver, ski resort crowds are soaring as good snow, great press and hot properties offer a lift.

With spring-breakers crowding the slopes and just weeks left before the end of the season, Colorado's 26 ski resorts are on pace to meet -- if not beat -- last year's record of 12.53 million skier visits.

With the average skier spending $210 a day, that translates to roughly $2.6 billion in economic impact. Buoyed by good snow, great national press, strong real estate sales, a wider variety of activities and more terrain, ski resorts are attracting bigger crowds and filling local cash registers.

Through February, traffic at state ski resorts was up 1.4 percent from the record set last year. The volume has grown for a number of reasons, including the addition of resort amenities that appeal to destination visitors and technological advances in equipment that help baby boomers keep skiing longer.

Colorado's snow conditions have been reliable, while other regions have suffered in recent winters. With higher elevation and much more consistent snow, Colorado has a strong competitive advantage.

The recent explosion of mountain real estate development has also helped grow a base of faithful skiers. According to Ford Frick of Denver-based BBC Research and Consulting, real estate development builds in loyalty. "You're a lot less likely to go skiing in Utah if you own a home in Breckenridge. An increasing amount of skier visits are coming out of the growing residence base in the mountains".

The weaker US dollar also has drawn more international skiers to Colorado than in past seasons, and Europe's dismal snow this past winter has helped continue that trend.

For more information about investing in Breckenridge real estate, email Susan Gunnin, or check out her web site.

About Susan Gunnin, Blog Author

2007-03-21T12:48:00.000-07:00

After growing up in Minnesota, I graduated from Penn State with a degree in Petroleum Engineering and worked at a major oil company for 14 years, the last 11 of which were in Denver. My career in engineering involved analyzing and evaluating oil producing properties, skills which prepared me to move into the Breckenridge real estate sales. In 1991, when oil companies were leaving Colorado, I made a career change so I could remain in the Rockies.

I started my new mountain life in 1991 and found Breckenridge real estate to be the perfect fit. I brought to the business well-honed computer skills and I'm not unnerved by constantly changing technology. I also enjoy the daily personal interaction with clients and business associates. I believe everyone can have their mountain dream if we work diligently and realistically to make it happen.

My husband, Don Gunnin, has joined me as my business manager. He has over two decades of experience in resort rental property management. This allows me a unique perspective and understanding of the ins and outs of purchasing investment property.

In 1997, our lives changed drastically. We were fortunate enough to travel to China and adopt our beautiful, one-year-old daughter, Tessa Qian Gunnin. She has become quite an accomplished gymnast, and in the Summer of 2005, at the Colorado State championships for CARA gymnastics, she placed 1st in Balance Beam and Vault, 4th in Floor Exercise, 5th in Uneven Bars and tied for 1st All Around, taking the Silver Medal after a tiebreaker. We are extremely proud of her accomplishments.

We have a Dalmatian, Cabo, and Tessa has a two hamsters, Daisy and Nutmeg.

My Breckenridge real estate career is focused on taking care of my clients needs with honest, sincere and professional dedication and enthusiasm. I was rewarded for these traits in 2005 by being the top producing realtor in the Breckenridge RE/MAX office. Since Breckenridge is a resort community where over 60% of the property is owned as second homes or investment property by absentee owners, the requirements of a realtor are different than, say, in a typical city. I have the skill-set to keep this difference in the proper perspective.

When you're ready to make a real estate purchase in Breckenridge or Summit County, or if you already own property here and are considering selling, email me. I'll put my experience, knowledge, enthusiasm, understanding of the market and perseverance to work for you. If you haven't already, please check out my web site.

Take a peak at the new Breckenridge

2007-02-12T12:13:00.000-08:00

Following are excerpts from a spread that appeared in the Travel section of the Denver Post, February 11, 2007, by Kyle Warner, Denver Post Travel Editor.

The snow stopped abruptly, as though it had been measured before being sifted, just as the three of us walked onto the gondola, as leisurely as stepping into an elevator.

A couple entered after we did, also at a relatively casual pace, and we jostled for position in the roomy cabin. Meant for eight, the gondola had no problem accommodating the five of us and five pairs of skis, with room for stretching our legs. We settled in for the 10-minute ride to the base of Breckenridge Ski Resort's Peak 8.

The trading of basics (we are from Denver, they are from London, we come to the mountains nearly every weekend, they come to Colorado every winter) led to the inevitable question on both sides: Where is our favorite place to ski?

If Lisa had her way, she and husband Seb would spend their entire Colorado vacation in Breckenridge. "This is our fifth year here; we just love it," Lisa said. "It has such a great town, and the on-piste runs are so lovely, and if you go up high, the off-piste-like stuff is quite fabulous too."

They've checked out several of the other resorts around Colorado, and have decided that Breckenridge is their favorite.

"Seb always wants to see if there's anyone famous in Vail," Lisa said, "but who gives a pooh about famous people? I want the, what are you always saying? The powder, and I want to be able to breathe. I don't want skiers piled on top of me. I let him have his Vail day, but the rest of the time we're right here."

Hitting Higher Ground

Right here at the moment happens to be the base of Peak 8, where the gondola, called BreckConnect, has the capacity to dump out about 2,800 people per hour. The group clumps off the gondola and up the ramp toward the complex of buildings and lifts, where we wish Lisa and Seb a powder-filled vacation.

They plan to spend some time warming up on the lower slopes before heading over to Imperial Lift, which reaches 12,840 feet, making it the highest lift in North America. There, they will look for that "off-piste-like-stuff" -- the European version of backcountry.

We'll stay on the lower, exploring mostly greens and blues, because we are at three levels of skiing ability -- my having just learned to ski again after 11 years of snowboarding, spending the day with one daughter, a beginner-intermediate after also switching from snowboarding, and one daughter who confidently skis the blacks.

Here, we can find terrain parks at the Freeway Super Park and Pipe, as well as a smaller, more kid-oriented version at the bottom -- the ideal place for beginner and starting-over skiers to practice getting some air and playing in the half pipe, secure in the knowledge that most of the others here are learning too.

It's that variety -- and we've only just touched on Peak 8 here, never mind Peaks 7, 9 and 10 -- that has made us fall in love with Breckenridge. It's easy to navigate, family-friendly and famously snowboarder-friendly, although the number of skiers proves there's room for both.

The town, founded in 1859, has a real-town feel, with restaurants in a variety of price ranges -- actually quite a few reasonable ones considering this is a resort area -- and a scene that's still far shy of pretentious.

Lofty Views Too

The gondola, which opened at the beginning of this year and cost $17 million, is Breck's new pride and joy. It will have set the standard for avoiding interference with wetlands by spanning 720 feet in one section, and it makes two turns, both in the midst of some impressive real estate, which many suspect was the reason for the thing in the first place. BreckConnect will go all the way to the terminal at Peak 7 in 2008.

The gondola is a sweet, scenic way to get up to Peak 8, not to mention back down again. When we finish for the day, the brit couple met on the way up are nowhere to be seen, but they had told us that they might be found at the Maggie in the Village for make-your-own bloddy Mary's, or Downstairs at Eric's, where Seb watches sports and Lisa likes the Bass ale on tap. And they might run into a few fellow Brits there, especially considering London is the third-largest population visiting Breckenridge from outside Colorado, after Chicago and Texas.

"Breckenridge often feels like its full of people, but not crazy crowded," Seb said. "Sometimes there's a wait at some of the little restaurants, but we always get in."

After dinner, we wander Main Street, where the Christmas lights still twinkle aound the outlines of buildings and trees, giving the chilly air a warm glow. Enough people stream along the sidewalks that we jostle for space, but not so many that we don't recognize our new Brit friends coming out of Eric's.

"Hello, hello!" Lisa calls. "Did you have a good day?" We did, and so did they. "Going back out tomorrow?" Oh, yes, all of us. We wished each other well, and went our separate ways.

Such a small-town moment, right there on Main Street, Breckenridge.

Breck outlines build-out vision

2007-01-11T13:58:00.000-08:00

'Master Plan' includes Peak 6 terrain, new restaurants, trails, lifts and snowmaking.

The following recaps an article in the Summit Daily News by Bob Berwin, January 11, 2007.

Ski area executives touted their vision of a conceptual plan for build-out of the country's second busiest ski area, outlining a slew of upgrades and improvements to existing lifts and trails, as well as additional snowmaking and a new terrain pod on Peak 6.

Some of the items discussed were from previously approved (Forest Service) Master Plans, and some were new items.

"These are all the potential things we want to do, but it doesn't mean we'll do all of them," Roger McCarthy, co-president of Vail Resorts, said.

Among items discussed were improved egress from the ski area at Peak 9 with regrading of the Silverthorne trail, moving ski school operations up the mountain at Peak 9 to reduce congestion at the base, replacing some of the older lifts, a new lift and new trails for the Red River area, adding new ski school activity terrain, replacing Chair 6 with a higher capacity chair, moving the bottom of the Independence Chair downhill to tie in with the new base area development, a new mid-mountain restaurant on Peak 7, and more snowmaking on Peak 7.

Regarding Peak 6, which is inside the ski area's boundary, but which has never been developed, the plans call for one to two new lifts for Peak 6. In full, about 400 acres af intermediate and advanced terrain would be added.

Other projects could include replacement of the Colorado Superchair as well as a new Peak 8 base area lift that would slant over toward the Pioneer trail on Peak 7. Also discussed was a new teaching area above the Peak 8 vehicle shop, to be accessed with a cabriolet-style lift, mid-mountain food and beverage service in the vicinity of the old Chair 2 and renovations to the Vista House to replace some of the open-air decks with covered space.

Finally, a new access road to the bottom of the new lift at Peak 6 is needed, and reconstruction of existing roads to help reduce erosion on the mountain.

"This is a road map for the next six to eight years," said vice-president of operations, Rick Sramek. "It's important to note that this is not an approval process, it's conceptual." Site-specific review an approval for the various pieces would be part of a U. S. Forest Service process.

Roger McCarthy noted that the implementation of some of the projects are real-estate related, meaning that in order to afford the upgrades, adequate real estate sales had to occur.

Vail annouces Crystal Peak Lodge

2006-12-15T16:13:00.000-08:00

The first phase in the development of The Peaks at Breckenridge has been announced. Learn about Crystal Peak Lodge.

These units are expected to sell quickly, so if interested, give Susan Gunnin a call or email her.

John Fielder moves to the Mountains

2006-11-20T10:54:00.000-08:00

Renowned nature photographer, John Fielder, known for his epic nature shots, is moving to Breckenridge according to an article in the Summit Daily News by Leslie Brefeld.

Fielder will open his second gallery in a location called "The Photoshop" on Main Street in Breckenridge. The opening is scheduled for November 25th.

Fielder describes his photograhpy's uniqueness through the method he uses to shoot, all 65 pounds of a large-format camera. He carts the old-fashioned and heavy equipment to remote areas of Colorado's wildeness with the help of 4-5 sherpas who help carry supplies and help him keep comfortable in the sometimes hostile environment.

Speaking of the Eagles Nest Wilderness north of Silverthorne, Fielder says "Some of the things I've found in there are the most sublime, scenic things I've seen in my life anywhere on earth, much less Colorado".

He will present a slilde presentation of 80 of his works at the Silverthorne Pavillion, Tuesday, November 21, from 6 to 9 pm.

The picture shown above is from a remote drainage on the east side of the Gore Range in the Eagles Nest Wilderness.