COURSE CORRECTION: A LITTLE BIT OF NORMALCY RETURNING TO TODAY’S MARKET

COURSE CORRECTION: A LITTLE BIT OF NORMALCY RETURNING TO TODAY’S MARKET

BUYING AND SELLING REAL ESTATE, Helpful Advice, SOTHEBY'S NEWS
by steamboatsir | Aug 29, 2022 A conversation with Managing Broker, Jill Limberg There’s no sugar-coating the fact that the real estate market has experienced a few waves of uncertainty in recent months as financial indicators have brought a dose of reality to the post-pandemic boom. The good news is that the market here in Steamboat is as robust as ever; it’s just not as gangbusters as it was a few months ago. “In the peak of the craziness of the market, multiple offers were the norm. In some cases, I heard of 20 offers at the same property at the same time,” says Jill Limberg, Managing Broker, Steamboat Sotheby’s International Realty. “We’re still seeing multiple offers on some properties in certain sectors of the market, but more like 3 instead of 20.”…
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STEAMBOAT CITY COUNCIL PASSES STR TAX – VOTERS TO DECIDE IN NOVEMBER

STEAMBOAT CITY COUNCIL PASSES STR TAX – VOTERS TO DECIDE IN NOVEMBER

BUYING AND SELLING REAL ESTATE, Helpful Advice, NEIGHBORHOODS IN AND AROUND STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, SOTHEBY'S NEWS
by steamboatsir | Jul 25, 2022 You’ve likely heard about changes to short-term rental policies in Steamboat Springs, particularly though the process in which Steamboat Springs City Council was working to create a zoning map for how to regulate STRs in the city. Recently, the map was completed and approved with three zones – green, red, and yellow – which regulate how STRs will be available going forward. The next step which was recently approved in a second reading of the ordinance is an additional 9% tax on STRs. This will appear on ballots this fall, falling in the hands of the voters. City Council approved this 9% tax, and if it passes, the plan is to use the funds generated to support the build out of the infrastructure at the Brown Ranch,…
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SETTING UP CAMP: A GUIDE TO CAMPING IN AND AROUND STEAMBOAT

SETTING UP CAMP: A GUIDE TO CAMPING IN AND AROUND STEAMBOAT

Helpful Advice, STEAMBOAT LIFE STYLE
by steamboatsir | Jun 28, 2022 The definition of camping has evolved to mean a lot more than setting up a tent in the woods, but the good news is Steamboat and the Yampa Valley offer something for everyone when it comes to exploring the great outdoors and sitting out under the stars for a few nights, even if that means pulling up an RV and watching movies on a flat screen TV. Whether you’re looking to make the most of your investment in #vanlife and find the farthest reaches your Sprinter van can take you, or you’re curious about which roads are best for towing that Airstream, Steamboat has it all. And if all you want to do is carry everything you need on your back, there’s a lifetime of opportunities to…
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GREEN THUMB, ROCKY MOUNTAIN-STYLE: A GUIDE TO GARDENING IN STEAMBOAT

GREEN THUMB, ROCKY MOUNTAIN-STYLE: A GUIDE TO GARDENING IN STEAMBOAT

Design Trends, ENVIRONMENT, Helpful Advice, STEAMBOAT LIFE STYLE
by steamboatsir | May 27, 2022 If you’ve ever tried to dig a hole in Colorado, you understand pretty quickly how the Rocky Mountains earned its name. If you’re from another part of the country and love to garden, get ready: a whole different set of rules apply here. Take it from Emma Friedland, Lead Horticulturist for the Yampa River Botanic Park, whose job it is to manage the horticulture team who maintains all the gardens. Part of her job description, in addition to keeping out weeds, making compost into viable soil, and pairing plants for the most successful growing season, is to showcase Colorado’s native plants. “I was born and raised in Colorado, so I’ve been gardening here all my life,” she says. “I always tell people who are new to Colorado…
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FRACTIONAL OWNERSHIP: A MORE AFFORDABLE OPTION

FRACTIONAL OWNERSHIP: A MORE AFFORDABLE OPTION

BUYING AND SELLING REAL ESTATE, Helpful Advice, SOTHEBY'S NEWS, STEAMBOAT SPRINGS CONDOMINIUMS
by steamboatsir | May 16, 2022 With the unprecedented surge in property values over the past few years, real estate ownership has either slipped through the fingers of many would-be owners or has discouraged those shopping due to stiff competition or lack of inventory. If you fall into one of those categories, an affordable alternative to consider is fractional ownership. A hybrid of timesharing, fractional ownership has been around for nearly 40 years and has grown in popularity from a segment of the population who find it more practical to just own the portion of a property they intend on using. Fractional ownership is defined as ownership greater than one week of use per year and less than whole ownership. Some projects call themselves a “Private Residence Club”. They are identical to fractional…
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NO MORE GRAY AREA: IN 2022’S BIGGEST INTERIOR DESIGN TRENDS, IT’S ALL ABOUT COLORS AND PATTERNS

NO MORE GRAY AREA: IN 2022’S BIGGEST INTERIOR DESIGN TRENDS, IT’S ALL ABOUT COLORS AND PATTERNS

Design Trends, Helpful Advice
by steamboatsir | May 6, 2022 Is white and gray finally passe? After years of minimalism punctuated by white subway tile, stark white walls, kitchens, and lots and lots of gray, people are finally wanting to bring a little color back into their lives. “Gray has run its course, and it’s time to move on,” says Lindsey Jamison, interior designer, Rumor Designs. “We’re seeing more colors and patterns spicing up interiors.” Jamison says a neutral palate for walls and floors is ideal to be able to play with color and patterns via tiles, paint, wallpaper, rugs, artwork, and furniture choices. “People get intimidated by color and patterns, but we like to recommend it in the initial stages of a project.” Paint by number. “Here in the mountains, we tend to use rich greens…
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BUILDING GREEN: A GUIDE TO LOCALLY SOURCED MATERIALS

BUILDING GREEN: A GUIDE TO LOCALLY SOURCED MATERIALS

Design Trends, ENVIRONMENT, Helpful Advice, STEAMBOAT LIFE STYLE
by steamboatsir | Apr 5, 2022 When settlers first came to the Yampa Valley, they built cabins from logs harvested from trees on their own land. Today, between materials that are engineered and those that are imported from the other side of the world, the carbon footprint and ecological cost of construction materials is staggering. Purchasing materials within a 100-mile radius of your home will greatly reduce the carbon footprint of building. For John Shively, who has been building homes in the Yampa Valley for 35 years, terms like “sustainable” and “green” when applied to building can be misleading. There’s a lot more to consider in the bigger picture and how impactful some of these materials that are billed as sustainable are going to function over the long run in terms of energy…
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IMMACULATE LIVING: 5 WAYS TO CLEAR THE CLUTTER

IMMACULATE LIVING: 5 WAYS TO CLEAR THE CLUTTER

Helpful Advice
by steamboatsir | Mar 22, 2022 The words “spring cleaning” might not make you want to jump out of your chair and do a happy dance, but the truth is, the state of your home does affect your state of mind. It also affects the value of your property. When our brokers prepare a home for sale, it means getting the property into the best possible shape it can be to attract a buyer and to garner the highest possible price for the home. Even if selling your home is the farthest thing from your mind, don’t you deserve to get the most value out of your own home when you’re actually living in it? Taking the time to refresh and clean out your home will deliver a return on your investment, guaranteed.…
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Stop Stressing: You Don’t Need a 20% Down Payment to Buy a Home

Stop Stressing: You Don’t Need a 20% Down Payment to Buy a Home

BUYING AND SELLING REAL ESTATE, Helpful Advice, HOME BUYER HANDBOOK
02/08/2022 Olson Tolan Team Many Americans may be unnecessarily talking themselves out of homeownership. Thirty-seven percent of non-homeowners say not having enough saved for a down payment is holding them back from homeownership, but 62% of Americans incorrectly believe you have to have at least 20% of a home’s purchase price to buy, according to NerdWallet’s 2020 Home Buyer Report. “These days, you don’t need to put a full 20% down on a home,” says NerdWallet home and mortgage expert Holden Lewis. “Lenders offer mortgages with far less — as little as 3% down — which allows far more people to get into homeownership sooner.” So, how do you know just how much you need to save up based on your specific goals? It requires a little strategizing. Before you can…
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Thinking About A Remodel?

Thinking About A Remodel?

Design Trends, Helpful Advice
01/18/2022 Olson Tolan Team Remodeling? Refinancing With a 203(k) Loan Can Help When your house is in need of some serious TLC, it can be tough finding room in your budget for renovations and repairs. One way to pay for those projects is by refinancing your home with a Federal Housing Administration-backed 203(k) loan. The FHA provides mortgage insurance on loans originated by lenders, backing them financially in case borrowers default or don’t follow the loan terms. Anyone can obtain an FHA loan — first-time buyers, repeat buyers or current homeowners looking to refinance. With an FHA 203(k) loan, you can roll the cost of home improvement projects into a single monthly mortgage payment by refinancing with one of two options: the limited 203(k) insured loan or the standard 203(k) insured loan.…
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