Vail Colorado Real Estate Agent Shanny Satterstrom

As I mentioned in my last blog, I am becoming an expert at the “deals”in Vail Valley Real Estate.  Well, I saw one today that is well worth mentioning.  In fact, this is a steal.  First of all, it was bought brand new in 2006 for $699,000.  The owners have spent the past two years upgrading it into a true custom home in a very rare location in this planned community.  This is a tract home subdivision in disquise because there are so many options for floorplans, features, etc.  The owners have added the following in the past two years:  designer paint, landscaping, xeriscape in the back, two pairs of high quality washer/dryers for each of two laundry/utility rooms, prewired for surround sound, security system, 2 50 gallon hot water heaters, whol house humidifier, central air conditioning, closet organizers,  high grade berber carpet and hardwood floors.  There is more as the  basement has been finished to include two more bedrooms, floor to ceiling rock fireplace which doubles as a heater, and 400 feet of storage area and custom paint throughout.

This home is protected from neighbors in the back by Eagle Ranch open space - walking and biking trails not to mention INCREDIBLE views.  Can you tell that this home excites me for the price?   It is within walking distance of theatre, restaurants, school, golf course and Brush Creek Pavilion.  It was a deal in 2006 without any of these upgrades.

WHAT’S THE PRICE???  $699,000.  Sound Familiar?  It is the SAME price as it was before (I am guessing here) $100,000 worth of upgrades!!!! Anyone interested in an Eagle Ranch property needs to take a look or better yet, call me and I will show it to you.  970-376-6374.

I view a lot of properties in the Vail Valley.  All are marketed as value–buy now buyers!!! You will never see prices this low in the Vail Valley again-we have bottomed out, YADA, YADA, YADA.  Really??? Do any of us know this?  If we did, we would be making Amazon a fortune on our book sales.  However, I do think that there are deals and I do think that I have a pretty good idea of what some of them look like.  Afterall, I have lived here since 1978 and I know where the best of just about everything is around here.  That includes the real estate. 

Today’s featured property is being discounted by 40%.  High Chaparrel Ranch is a gorgeous development consisting of 17 lots from 2.0 acres to 9.95 acres.  Views are spectacular, roads are in place, building footprints are designated and horses are allowed!! Not only horses are allowed but animals in general are welcomed.  I like lot #15 and it is priced at $499,000 for 5 acres.  I can buy this lot for $299,400 today.  Is that a deal or what!!  I know that there are many of us who have a dream of a few acres, couple of horses, dogs, and a rural lifestyle–log cabin or full blown mountain home with a barn out back. This is a radical reduction!! One of the best in the Vail Valley.

Three lots have sold for $100,000 +/acre-one for $150,000/ acre.  I can get a beautiful lot close to BLM, gorgeous views with trees for $59,800/ acre.

Call me. 970-376-6374 I would love to show this deal to you. This is a limited offer so act now.  While the other listings that you want are being chipped down 5% every two months, this one is ready to go and it will.

Need a ready built home?  There is another great deal out there.  Watch for the next “best buy” of the Vail Valley.

I live in the Vail Valley and when all the recent articles began about the LAWS OF ATTRACTION, I like many were drawn to the message and concepts about this way of thinking.  It is not a new idea, but it is being expressed in many more ways through different media.  Well, since I have lived here, I have been a long subscriber to the LAW OF DISTRACTION and I am truly successful at this concept.

The Vail Valley is probably one of the hardest places to remain focused on one’s daily tasks.  Distraction is everywhere.  I wake up to the sounds of a river, I look out on mountains which change with the seasons.  I breathe the air of altitude—so clean and free of things that make one cough.  The sky is visible—some days a deep azure blue, some days bursting with the weather rolling in from the West but always lacking energy zapping humidity.

The ways to spend a day here are endless and for an outdoor freak like myself, the call of everyday to wander, to explore, to ride, to ski, to hike, to try a new trail is overwhelming.  When I take my real estate clients out to view properties, it is joyful because I am outside and I can enjoy their reactions to the beauty around us.  I have learned to focus but I know in my heart that I am truly a master of the Vail Valley’s Law of Distraction.

I am having an Open House at an Arrowhead property today- one of our listings actually. This is an easy place to talk about because this development has it all.  The Country Club of the Rockies Golf Course runs through this community.  It is certainly one of the best golf courses in Eagle County and most scenic.  From most fairways, one can look West and have a wonderful view of Castle Peak in Eagle- about 25 miles away.  Moving on to amenities, Arrowhead has its own chairlifts and skiing mountain.  It is part of Vail Resorts so one lift pass is good on this mountain in addition to Beaver Creek and Vail.    This mountain and Beaver Creek connect so from the lifts that are in the neighborhood, one has a vast amount of terrain to ski.  If you follow the Village to Village trail, you can go between the mountains hiking or on a bike also.

Arrowhead is a gated community with homes ranging from 1.5million to 14 million for the incredible home on top of the mountain.  There are also condos, duplexes within the community.  It is such a popular place to be so -prices have dropped very little here during this “bear” real estate market.  Most of the owners here have children and grandchildren who love the accessibilty of everything.  Edwards lies about 4 miles from here  to the West and Avon about the same to the East.  There is a recreational path that runs parallel to highway 6 and it is usually dotted with runners, bikers, roller bladers and folks just taking a nice walk.

This Open House at 150 Sawatch is great duplex with terrific views west from the Great Room.  It has almost 2500 sq.ft. with 4 bedrooms and 4 baths.  The most recent remodels include the interior in 2004, driveway pavers in 2007 and a new shake roof in 2008.  The high ceilings give the home a feeling of spaciousness and the hardwood floors, alder base and trim give it the mountain look without overkill. It is so well priced at 1.4 million that I am amazed it did not sell the first week on the market.  One  of the best features about this home is the fact that there is no HOA so  therefore, no HOA dues.  This home has been used very little in the past 4 years and shows beautifully.  It is ready to move into today.

View from Arrowhead Home on Golf Course

I am having an Open House at an Arrowhead property today- one of our listings actually. This is an easy place to talk about because this development has it all. The Country Club of the Rockies Golf Course runs through this community. It is certainly one of the best golf courses in Eagle County and most scenic. From most fairways, one can look West and have a wonderful view of Castle Peak in Eagle- about 25 miles away. Moving on to amenities, Arrowhead has its own chairlifts and skiing mountain. It is part of Vail Resorts so one lift pass is good on this mountain in addition to Beaver Creek and Vail. This mountain and Beaver Creek connect so from the lifts that are in the neighborhood, one has a vast amount of terrain to ski. If you follow the Village to Village trail, you can go between the mountains hiking or on a bike also.

Arrowhead is a gated community with homes ranging from 1.5million to 14 million for the incredible home on top of the mountain. There are also condos, duplexes within the community. It is such a popular place to be so -prices have dropped very little here during this “bear” real estate market. Most of the owners here have children and grandchildren who love the accessibility of everything. Edwards lies about 4 miles from here to the West and Avon about the same to the East. There is a recreational path that runs parallel to highway 6 – the length of Arrowhead and it is usually dotted with runners, bikers, roller bladers and folks just taking a nice walk.

Arrowhead Home (front view)

This Open House at 150 Sawatch is great duplex with terrific views west from the Great Room. It has almost 2500 sq.ft. with 4 bedrooms and 4 baths. The most recent remodels include the interior in 2004, driveway pavers in 2007 and a new shake roof in 2008. The high ceilings give the home a feeling of spaciousness and the hardwood floors, alder base and trim give it the mountain look without overkill. It is so well priced at 1.4 million that I am amazed it did not sell the first week on the market. One of the best features about this home is the fact that there is no HOA so therefore, no HOA dues. This home has been used very little in the past 4 years and shows beautifully. It is ready for a new owner today.

Now this is a dream home in the Vail Valley.  I don’t even know how to describe this beautiful place other than to say, it is exceptional.  I viewed this brand new home yesterday and was so glad to I did!!!!  First of all, it is not that huge–4700 sq.ft. really is not huge by Vail standards but designed for function.  The exterior is mountain stone, wood, and custom iron railings on the decks.  I walked up the stone stairs outside to the mid-level which enters tothe kitchen, great room and junior master.   There are high end finishes but unlike some of these masculine, dark, mountain homes, this one has a feeling of light.  The loft above the great room is where I would spend my time.  The floor to ceiling window looks out on the Gore Range and I mean you have the view that few in the world will ever get from their living areas.  Since the home is built into a slope, the master bedroom is on the loft level and has a private entrance connected to the hot tub on the patio by stone pavers –yet totally private-a brilliant use of architectural creativity.  The master closet has a washer/dryer in it which is so convenient.  The lowest level contains a laundry room and mud area and two more bedrooms –all perfect for mountain folks.

The list of features goes like this:  Moss rock fireplaces-in the Great Room, The Loft, The master bedroom and the junior master bedroom -4 total, one of which is wood burning.  There are steam showers, hot tub on private patio, air conditioning, in floor radiant heat, heated driveway and stairs outside, granite slab counter tops, three level elevator, stereo system throughout, security  system, Gourmet kitchen, Wolfe range, Sub Zero Refrigerator, Kohler Sinks and Tubs, Grohe Faucets, wine cellar to name a few.  The home has 4 bedrooms, 4 full baths plus 2 half baths, 21/2 garage and Stone patios.  This home is priced at $3,995,000 ($850.00/sq.foot) and worth it in my humble opinion.  It is a beauty!!!

Okay, I am a cycling nut and whenever I can do it, I ride my road bike or my mountain bike.  I have mentioned before that my Loft is very close to the “Bone Yard” mountain bike trail and in order to get there, I have to ride through a development called “The Bluffs”.  The homes appeal to locals families and I love seeing the children playing in the yard and the bikes in the driveways.  There is a cute park centrally located in the development and the Elementary School and MIddle School are adjacent to the project.  How nice to be able to walk to school.  The Bluffs have homes ranging from the low $400’s to the $600’s for a 5 bedroom.  Want a nice neighborhood in the heart of Eagle?  Take a look here.

Every so often, I ride my bike east from Eagle on highway 6 to Wolcott, Colorado. Most of us have not heard of Wolcott, have we? This is a little gem of a place located between Eagle and Edwards on the Eagle River. The entire town was for sale several years ago. It consisted of a “hotel”-more like a B&B, a gas station and lots of sheep on big parcels of land. It has been purchased and is now pretty much the same. I love places that don’t change too much. Anyway, the Wolcott Yacht Club is known for the best FAC in the Valley during the summer. One can see almost any kind of motorcycle parked there on a Friday afternoon. The yacht club hosts lots of live music all summer and their fish tacos and buckets of 6oz. beers under bright umbrellas outside make this a fun venue for an evening.

From a real estate perspective, the Yacht Club is located at the intersection of highway 131 to Steamboat Springs. The road winds north into some pristine ranch land and tremendous views. Horse Mountain Ranch is located on the west side of the road. This development of 40 acre parcels is just a beautiful place. The folks lucky enough to live here are loving the quiet, the wildlife, and the spectacular views. More homes are being built and occasionally, one will come on the market. I have the feeling when traveling through this part of Colorado that the old West is not gone afterall. Much of the land out this way is protected BLM land and there are many jeep, mountain bike, and horse trails winding throughout the mountains and grazing land. The biking on 131 can be a little scary because there isn’t much shoulder but there also isn’t much traffic.

I want to finish talking about the Grand Traverse in Vail.  The owners here are happy to live here.  Many have put these homes in trusts for their families because there really is no need to look for anything better in the Vail Valley.  Very few homes ever come up for sale in this development.  In fact, there have only been three resales of homes in the past ten years.  The homes are built by Dauphinais-Moseley Construction and are of the highest quality.  Square footage is of extreme importance in the Valley and Pat Dauphinais has designed these homes with utilization of every possible space.  Often there will be a loft or a storage area where one does not expect to find usable space.  Functional floor plans provide for main floor master bedrooms-kitchen, dining and great rooms flow to accommodate modern living.  Always, always, are views considered—the home is actually placed on the lot to access the best view from as many rooms as possible.

The Grand Traverse has attracted local families who are full time residents as well as part time owners.  The open space provides a wonderful play area for children as well as providing a lovely landscape.  The yards are also large and many with professional landscaping.  Aspens, evergreens, and large boulders provide a real mountain terrain within the well kept lawns.  In the winter, all yards bordering Lions Ridge Loop are covered about 3 feet in to protect the lawns from the ice melting materials from snow plows.

A fast bike ride down the hill gets me to all the amenities of West Vail and a slow but manageable ride up gives the heart a great aerobic workout.  The north trail is ¼ mile away –mountain bike or hike it from home.

Lofts on the Eagle River

I live at the Lofts on the Eagle River in Eagle, Colorado. For those of you who do not know the Valley very well, the community of Eagle is the county seat and stands at the western edge of our long 37 mile valley. The town of Eagle dates back to the late 1800’s – a thriving ranching community. Today, it still retains its small town flavor but many of the large ranches have been sold off to developers and it has become home to many of the Vail locals who are able to buy more square footage for their dollar a little further west down the road.

The Lofts are unique for sure. Firstly, they overlook the Eagle River!!! I could throw a line in from my deck if I was so inclined. Secondly, they are modern in design – truly “lofty” with high ceilings, contemporary lines, white walls and stainless appliances. The kitchens are IKEA which took some getting used to but they look nice and I can always have granite put in later if I tire of the raw wood look. My unit is a two bedroom so the master is upstairs. I love all the space in my master bath. I had a custom closet company come in and construct shelves, rods and even a dresser in the very modern-no door closet. It was worth it as I can get all of my clothes into one space. I use the other area of the upstairs as my music spot. I have instruments hanging on the walls, two cabinets and a keyboard plus some stools and it all fits. The wall is painted a bright gold. It’s a loft right? Color is needed!!!

The downstairs bedroom and bath are my guest quarters/office. The red barn doors yes, barn doors, are a great accent and actually hide the stackable laundry and storage areas. I need some more big rugs and art on the walls but homes are always a work in progress, I think. Fall is my time for rearranging.

Lofts on the Eagle River Interior View

This location is the best in all of Eagle. I walk or bike everywhere. There is a wonderful asphalt path that leaves the Lofts and heads up to the Bluffs and town. I can quickly cross the fields and walk to banks, eateries, grocery stores, etc. to the north. The best mountain bike trail in the whole county is the “Bone Yard” and the trail head is minutes from my garage to the southeast. I lived “up” valley for many years and really thought that I would miss it but I have found that Eagle suits me just fine and the sense of community here is hard to beat.