Happy New Year from Ski Town USA®, Bike Town USA® and the land of Champagne Powder®!

As we welcome a new decade, The Valicenti Team has reflected on some of what we recall as memorable local events for 2019! Here’s what we came up with:

  • New Colorado law went into effect January 1st allowing grocery stores to sell full-strength beer!
  • The deepest snowfall in Steamboat in a 24-hour period was January 18th with 13.5” of Champagne Powder®!
  • Attempts for a Guinness World Record with a Winter Carnival Night Extravaganza firework display failed – however, stay tuned with the 2020 Winter Carnival just 4 weeks away!
  • Steamboat Ski Area closes the 2018-2019 season posting 409.5” of snow at the summit – the most since 2013-2014!
  • Really?! SNOW on the first and third day of SUMMER  #$@&%*!
  • The mix of rain and summer snow brought the Yampa River to one of its latest peaks on record- extending rafting season but delaying the tubing season until July 15th!
  • The Steamboat Parade of Homes, a charitable event organized by Colorado Group Realty, raised a record $20K in August, benefitting the non-profit Steamboat Creates!
  • Late October storm brought an unprecedented 12”- 18” of SNOW!
  • Steamboat Ski Resort has its earliest opening day in its history (November 15th)!
  • New $15M 8-person gondola completed & opens in Steamboat as the fastest in North America!
  • New gondola hiccups and malfunctions on November 24th but is repaired in time for the busy holiday season!

As far as real estate goes, 2019 started off a bit lackluster in comparison to 2018 which had been the best year since 2007.  With stats in through November, here’s how 2019 is closing out (info courtesy of Land Title):

  • Average residential (multi & single-family) price $696,140 YTD; average price per square foot $371 YTD (new unit sales are $464 on avg)
  • With November sales, Routt County YTD gross volume is up just 0.41% and transactions down 7.22%

Like many desirable places to live in the U.S., Routt County has limited inventory, equating to rising home prices with lack of new construction.  Even with prices where they are, we continually hear from Buyers who research other world-class ski areas, that Steamboat still provides a better value when it comes to more space for the dollar and appreciate it being a “real town.”

As they say, “it’s a beautiful thing when a career and passion come together!” In 2019, our enthusiasm to provide excellent service to our clients & friends broadened with two new brokers, Zach Valicenti & Ryan Oberly who both joined The Valicenti Team and keep us on the cutting edge! We appreciate the opportunity to earn your business as your estate advisors.  Please let us know if you have any questions or need any assistance on anything here in the Yampa Valley. We are also happy to assist your friends/family if you would like to make an introduction- of which we are always thankful for.

May all of your dreams come true in 2020!
We look forward to seeing you!
Sincerely,
Marci, Tom, Zach & Ryan