Welcome to the the blog for buyers in the Aspen / Snowmass area

This is THE site for buyers looking to purchase residential real estate in the Aspen / Snowmass Area. (Sellers, please visit http://TopAspenAgents.com)

On this site you will find information on the Aspen / Snowmass area, market updates, statistical analysis, sales history along with access to all of the current listings including foreclosure and short-sale opportunities.

Please be sure to check back regularly to see the most up to date information on everything real estate in Aspen and Snowmass.

Pitkin Assessor sees declines of up to 60% in Values between Aspen and MO Heights

With new assessments being mailed out this week, we get an insight into where the Pitkin County Assessor sees values in relation to a couple of years ago:

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20110503/NEWS/110509947/1077&ParentProfile=1058

Market Update, April 2011

Here is a statistical analysis of our current market courtesy of my friend Joe Carpenter, Vice President at American National Bank:

“The March results reflected a continuing trend of contraction, most notably in the absorption rates for the overall market and particularly for the western suburbs. As of month-end, the overall absorption rate stood at just under Continue Reading »

Foreclosures Continue to Impact Local Market

It seems like everyday on the news there is a new piece on Foreclosures and in our area, they continue to have a significant impact on our market.

Currently there are 178 active or pending listings that are bank owned, ranging from serious fixer uppers under $100,000 to immaculate multi-million dollar properties in Aspen. Continue Reading »

Mortgage Rates Dip…

According to today’s Wall Street Journal,  financial turmoil in Europe is providing an unexpected windfall for American home buyers, as international money seeking a safe haven is flowing into the U.S., pushing mortgage rates to the lowest levels of the year and nearing 50-year lows. Analysts now see the prospect of rates as low as 4.5% this summer instead of rising to 6% as some had projected earlier. Rates on 30-year mortgages averaged 4.84% last week, with rates on 15-year mortgages at 4.24%, the lowest since Freddie Mac started its survey of rates in 1991.

Aspen Snowmass and area March Real Estate Update

Well, the trend of decreasing inventory and decreasing absorption rate (listings divided by sales) has clearly ended. Not surprisingly, the promise of Spring has started to bring the sellers out. While sales have shown very modest increases, this is not enough to offset the increase in inventory.  Continue Reading »

For the numbers people, here is a comprehensive set of market stats

For those of you who love to follow the numbers and analyze the trends, you will love this feature. The data included covers the whole of the Aspen / Glenwood MLS.

Aspen / Glenwood Springs MLS Market Statistics

Whole Foods set to move ahead in Basalt

The hole along side highway 82 at Willits which was supposed to be a “Whole Foods” store looks like it will finally move forward.  A clear sign of the rapid decline in the area’s real estate market and overall economy came when construction was halted on the Whole Foods store in Fall of 2008.

Many feel that once large projects like this one and others up in Snowmass Village get back on line, it may be one of the best indicators of an improvement in our local market.

To read the full article, visit: http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20100309/NEWS/100309791

Market Statistics for Aspen – Absorption Rate / Sold to list Price Ratio…

For those of you interested in market statistics and trends, click on the following link to see detailed graphs showing information on sales and inventory in Aspen over the last 12 months:

Aspen Real Estate Market Statistics

Panic, Depression and Hope in the Aspen Snowmass Real Estate Market Cycle

Real Estate Market Cycle
Economists tell us that all markets have cycles. A typical market, like a wave, has peaks and troughs. Nobody would deny that in the Aspen / Snowmass area, in the years running up to 2007, we were riding the crest of a big wave of optimism and euphoria as the prices soared higher daily. Continue Reading »

Aspen Snowmass January Market Update

Both December and January have shown falling sales numbers in the Aspen/Glenwood MLS.  December ’08 had 83 sales versus 81 in ’09. January ’09 had 108 versus a meager 67 this year.

On a more positive note, the trend of decreasing inventory has continued for the 6th straight month and while the overall supply has climbed back up to 58 months, there are more localized areas and price ranges where supply has fallen back close to what would be a balanced market (The River Valley Ranch development in Carbondale is one such example). Continue Reading »