Salida, Colorado: Why Buy Now?

If you’re ready to invest in real estate in Salida, whether it’s a first or second home, a plot of land for down the line, or a development opportunity, now is a good time to buy.

Our local buyer’s market has several contributing factors. Total sales volume in Salida and the surrounding areas was down 24% from 2007 to 2008 and average days on the market increased from 231 to 252 in the same time period. The drop in sales and overall increase in days on the market mean we have about 2.5 years worth of inventory on the market, and a host of motivated sellers!

While the news media is full of stories about waves of foreclosures across the country, this is not the case in Salida, Colorado – we do not have a big foreclosure market here, but we are showing an increase in the list-to-sell ratio, which means sellers are accepting lower offers. In a buyer’s market you can bargain harder. Look for properties with hefty days on the market or with multiple price drops.

Salida, Colorado is a small mountain town that continues to make a name for itself. The winter months mean outdoor adventures on snowshoes, snow mobiles, cross country and downhill skis. Monarch Ski Resort is a mere 30 minute drive from town, and just last week I rode the chair with a fella from Crested Butte that described Monarch as, cat skiing, but with lifts, and it doesn’t get much better than that! Spring and summer bring opportunity for just about any kind of recreation you could imagine, from mountain biking to fly fishing, river rafting to world-class hiking, and currently in the works is Salida’s first 18-hole golf course and golfing community! The hot springs are, of course, a great resource for year-round rest and relaxation.

The current market, coupled with the attributes of the area, plus the provisions of the economic stimulus package designed to help homebuyers, make Salida real estate ripe for the picking! If you are curious about anything from real estate to local happenings, get in touch. I’m sure we can help you find the apple of your eye.

For continued up to date information on the Salida real estate market and other local happenings, please visit my blog at: http://salidarealestate.wordpress.com

Taxing My Memory

Having been born and raised in the southern end of Chaffee County, I sometimes reminisce on the changes and in some cases the lack of changes that have occurred over the last half century in my home town.The mid to late 50's was a booming time. Climax mine was in full swing, the D&RG railroad had freight trains running and a passenger train to Denver and to Salt Lake. The Frying Pan Arkansas water project had an office with engineers and all the support staff.The forest service, the Colo Division of Wildlife and the telephone company also had full staff offices located in Salida. Real-estate was moderately priced and life was full of activity centered around a great school system. This continued to be the case clear up into the mid 70'S.

Then recession hit. Climax closed down, the railroad stopped using the line full time and shut down the passenger service completely. The Frying Pan Arkansas project lost funding from the Federal Gov. The school enrollment declined and most of the good paying jobs were gone. Homes could be purchased for as little as $10,000.00 or less.

But Salida survived and grabbed it's boot straps and began to draw tourists at an ever increasing rate. Once productive farm ground became more valuable for homes for retirees and 2nd home buyers. Mountain properties were more and more attractive to people form other states and Colorado's own metro areas.Things were good again, not at the job pay level of the 50's and 60's, but livable.

Now here we are back in a recession. Surprise--Surprise. But the good news is it, at least in Chaffee County, is nowhere close to what happened in the 70's. Sales tax revenues are off less than 1% for Nov. 2008 & Dec. 2008 compared to 2007. Maybe things will get worse but maybe not. They will be worse if we loose a positive attitude and let doom and gloom rule our actions .

Remember all things are relative to what we have become accustom.

Dreaming of Spring

Sitting here looking out my window at the Arkansas River on a sunny winter day, I find myself dreaming of Spring. Dreaming of crisp early season afternoons on the river fly-fishing for trout before run-off begins and makes the river turn to chocolate. Dreaming of cloudy blustery Baetis hatches, and Mother’s Day Caddis , and fish rising…the thought of catching the Stonefly hatch on the Colorado with the water still clear.

Don’t get me wrong – I also enjoy winter in the mountains. Many evenings find me sitting next to a crackling fire with snow softly falling outside, or drinking hot chocolate after a day of skiing. I feel lucky to be surrounded by beauty on a daily basis. I hope I never take it for granted that I get to live in a mountain community with wonderful people, and a small town feel.

But if you catch me daydreaming and looking out the window - I’m most likely wishing for spring and thinking about getting on the river. It’s that time again…time to stop tying, and start fishing.