Breckenridge Update

Always Keep Learning

Hi,  People ask me how I formulate my ideas about the real estate market.  They are amazed that the predictions I put to print in our quarterly magazine Summit Lifestyle & Real Estate are so accurate. 

This photo is one good reason (taken at a real estate seminar in Denver this past Friday).  I am devoted to learning. I devour it. Real Estate Brokers are required to attend a certain number of hours of training each year. I don't even count the hours as the amount of training I attend is at least 4 times more than required.  Twice a year I attend a real estate specific conference to ensure I am learning from the best in the business and to stay 'ahead of the curve'. The next conference I am attending in in San Francisco in February.

Love life, Daniel Webster Johnson (970) 393-3300
Daniel@YourMountainBroker.com
The Breckenridge real estate blogger

VRCD Donates $10,000 to Summit Foundation

Hi,  Last night was one of those "who's who" in Breckenridge events; the opening party for Crystal Peak Lodge.  Vail Resorts Development Corporation (VRDC) gets "10,000 points" from me.  In the words of Alex Iskenderian, VP of Development, Summit County for VRDC,

 "Rather than putting on a lavish party with fireworks and ice sculptures we are making this donation to the Summit Foundation."

It was a superb moment and I highly commend VRDC for making this extra donation to the community.

Love life, Daniel Webster Johnson (970) 393-3300
daniel@YourMountainBroker.com
The Breckenridge real estate blogger

Lots of Properties for Sale.... ...Too Many?

No waffle.  This is the data you need.  Comparison of sales over three years.  Download AAA Sold and on the market comparision for '06'07,'08 This bar chart is thanks to my collegue, Craig Walsh of RE/MAX in our Keystone, Colorado office.  Thanks Craig.

Now compare that with my trend chart Download Sales Volume projection till 2015_with trend line

Lots of people are saying, "There are too many properties on the market, bla, bla,bla."  As you can see I don't listen to it.  I say, "There is plenty of demand.  Summit County in 2008 is a 1 billion dollar market!  Properties that are price similar to sales of about 18-24 months ago are selliing."

Love life, Daniel Webster Johnson (970) 393 3300

The Breckenridge Real Estate Blogger

PS I'm back after a few days off with my family!  I had a few people email asking why I had not posted recently.  Glad you missed me.  Headset still keeping me focus. I'm listening to music using the the Music Genome Project(r) via pandora  You create your own "radio station" and there is never a commercial.  Try it!

Coffee with the Mayor

 Once a month the Mayor and Town Manager have "coffee time", a very productive and relaxed open forum, where anyone can ask/discuss anything.  I have been attending for years.  As you can see only a handful of people are involved (John Warner, our Mayor is in the red shirt) which allows everyone to have their questions answered.

Today we talked about the new 'green' building code, how the town and businesses can work together to be more 'green'. We also discussed items such as; parking issues, the 'challenging economy', allowing Realtors the use of more open house signs, the concept of capping the size of homes ...  Summary: The Town is supporting the businesses and making a very deliberate and diligent effort to be 'green'.

As you can see from above paragraph these discussions are 'all over the place'.  For me it one of the most valuable meetings each month.  Give me a call on my cell (below) if you want to know the time and place for the December meeting.

Love life, Daniel Webster Johnson (970) 393-3300
daniel@YourMountainBroker.com
The Breckenridge real estate blog

Top Quality Signs Sell Real Estate

Look to the left of the weather you will see this house, priced at $1,499,000.  Click on the link to the right labeled "$1,499,000 Overlooking Breckenridge" to see photos.

Love life, Daniel Webster Johnson
daniel@YourMountainBroker.com
The Breckenridge real estate blog

Sold in Less than 48 Hours

Hi,  Apologies for the delay in posting for a few days.  Busy getting properties sold and having a few days off with my family in Denver.

Good news story.  I was asked to determine the fair market value of an office.  I spent about a week pulling together the info.  This past Friday late in the day the owner agreed with me on the value of the unit and said, "Get it SOLD."  So Friday we created a good quality brochure and got it in the local MLS.  On Saturday I spent the day phoning and emailing prospective Buyers.  Sunday morning I showed the unit at 9.15am.  By noon it was under contract.

This again validates my point.  Prime real estate is selling for top prices.  The office is located at 202 S. Ridge St., has views and street frontage.  It is prime real estate.

Love life,Daniel Webster Johnson (970) 393-3300

daniel@YourMountainBroker.com

The Breckenridge real estate blog

Advice from Top Notch Commercial Appraiser

Most of you know I have a very good grasp of the 'big picture'.  I have a number of friends and colleges that help me focus on the details of the marketplace.  Bill van der Hoeven  is one of these friends.  Bill is a commercial appraiser at Ebert Appraisals here in Breckenridge.  Bill earned his MBA at CU Boulder and is, in his own words, a detail oriented business analyst.

We had lunch this week.  The focus was on how the commercial sector is doing across the mountain resorts (he does appraisals all around the central Rockies ).  Bill said that much of the lending has dried up and most projects (especially residential  complexes) have slowed right down.  He believes it will take at least a couple of years for the pace of construction to pick up.  I agree.  He also mentioned that in the current economic times he feels Breckenridge is probably "the safest bet" because the market here has stayed so much more stable as compared to the rest of the resorts and the country as a whole.

Love life, Daniel Webster Johnson (970) 393-3300

Daniel@YourMountainBroker.com

The Breckenridge Real Estate Blogger

Advice from The Breakfast Club

Hi, So 'Joe the Landscaper' was 100% right again.  Obama won.  I love the idea of having friends that I can learn from.  Those of you that have been regular visitors to this site will remember back a few months I introduced you to The Breakfast Club.

* Photo taken at 7.15am on November 5, 2008.

Of course the 1st topic was the Barack Obama landslide victory.  We all agreed having the election behind us is good for the housing market.  It removes at least that element of uncertainly.  There were two other major conclusions from the morning I want to share with you:

1. Beware - interest rates are on the climb.
2. Housing markets especially in Summit County will be stable.  None of us expect prices to drop by a significant amount (apart from the pockets of decline I have told you about).

I'd like to say thanks to our loyal readers.  This blog is successful beyond my wildest expectations after only a few months.

Love life,

Daniel Webster Johnson (970) 393-3300
Daniel@YourMountainBroker.com
The Breckenridge real estate blogger

* 1st on the left is Harry Woolley, a life long banker and top commercial lender for Wells Fargo; Tim Forsythe, CEO of the largest residential apprasial firm in the USA, Forsythe Appraisals; myself, the #1 broker with RE/MAX in Summit County; Chris Belby, top 'relationship manager' with LandAmerica (one of the largest USA title insurance companies) and not pictured, Trip McLaughlin of North Line GIS. 

'Joe the Landscaper' Says Obama will Win & Now a Good Time to Buy

Hi,  Joe has become an overnight sensation.  I have had all sorts of phone calls and emails about Joe.  Because he made over $200,000 on Breckenridge real estate others want his advice.  I'll bet you 10 to 1 that other Joe (the plumber) has never made that kind of money on real estate.  John McCain should have taken my Joe, 'Joe the Landscaper' with him around the country.  As I said yesterday Joe is a real guy, a client and good friend (he is shy and this is NOT a photo if him).

Joe tells me that Obama will win.  And when he does long term capital gains tax will be increased and be much higher than it is now (only 15%).  Joe believes the increase will be voted in around the middle of 2009 and be back dated to January 1, 2009.  He says, "There will be Sellers in Breckenridge that will be extra motivated to sell starting tomorrow as long as you can close before Dec 31st."

To better understand the projected trends it is a MUST you look at this graph.

Download market_projection_with_trend_summit_county_2008_to_15.pdf

Love life, Daniel Webster Johnson (970) 393-3300

Daniel@YourMountainBroker.com

The Breckenridge real estate blogger

'Joe the Landscaper' Makes $218,250 on Sale of Breckenridge Real Estate

Hi,  It is Sunday night and the Presidential election is just around the corner.  I don't know a 'Joe the Plumber' so I phoned my client 'Joe the Landscaper' tonight for his insight on the election.  'Joe the Landscaper' is much more modest than that other Joe.  My client prefers to stay anonymous.  He won't even let me use his photo or give you his view on the election.  Darn.

Here is what I can tell you:  'Joe the Landscaper' lives in Denver.  His name is Joe and he owns a landscaping business.  And he is a very astute real estate investor.  Joe bought a two bedroom Mountain Thunder Townhome off the plans.  After construction was finished he held and enjoyed the property for 15 months.  He sold the property about 6 months ago and put $218,250 in his pocket before tax.  A lot of it is timing however I think you will agree with me Breckenridge real estate is a solid investment.

Love life, Daniel Webster Johnson (970)  393-3300
Your Mountain Broker
The Breckenridge real estate blogger.