Breckenridge Associates
Real Estate

As ski season comes to an end, we all start looking forward to the wonderful days that summer will bring.  The locals wait for all the snow to melt; the warmer and longer days are always welcomed.  With summertime also comes a lot of outdoor events.  Here is a little taste of what the summer days will offer in Breckenridge this year. May 5- Cinco De Mayo Celebration at MiCasa Restaurant June 15 & 16th- Kingdom Days, the official kickoff to summer in the Rockies June 22nd- August 31st- PRCA ProRodeo July 4th Celebration- Parade, Concerts and Fireworks August 15th- 18th- Breck Bike Week August 20 & 21- The USA Pro Cycling Challenge, Breckenridge hosts the Stage 2 finish line and the Stage 3 start September 13-15th- Breckenridge Oktoberfest Make sure to pencil in these dates because we would love to have you join us in the mountains to enjoy the fun.  As the events get closer, make sure to check back for more details.

The housing recovery is expected to grow at an annualized rate of 0.6 percent through the third quarter of this year, then gain momentum and prices are projected to grow 3.7 percent between the third quarters of 2013 and 2014 until settling down to 3.3 percent annual increases over the next three years according to Fiserv, a financial services technology provider using data from the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Both home prices and home sales volumes increased steadily last year, making 2012 the first positive year for both prices and sales since the housing market crash, excluding gains induced by the home buyer tax credits in 2009 and 2010. “Although some recent real estate activity has been speculative, it seems as if buyers have more realistic expectations about housing market returns after having lived through the largest housing market crash in U.S. history,” says David Stiff, chief economist, Fiserv. The recovery in home prices has been solid and broad-based. At the end of th

As the time to file income taxes approaches, we need to take a new look at the changing tax landscape for homeowners. The dynamic atmosphere in Washington, D.C. has a different effect each year on which tax breaks are proposed, rescinded, changed and extended for taxpayers who own a home. Many of the tax benefits that homeowners enjoy, which were on the chopping block over the past few months, have been protected and extended through the 2013 tax season. 1. Mortgage Interest Deduction The mortgage interest deduction has always been the most-beloved tax benefit of home buyers in the United States. New homeowners’ monthly mortgage payments are made up almost entirely by interest for the first few years. Their ability to deduct that interest can result in a healthy reduction in tax liability. Homeowners who itemize their deductions can deduct the interest paid on a mortgage with a balance of up to $1 million. Americans save around $100 million every year by deducting mortgage intere

It might finally be time to come out of the basement. Seven years after the housing market began to collapse, rising prices and thinner inventories are presenting new opportunities for home sellers. Some hot markets are even seeing multiple offers for the same property—a phenomenon rarely seen since the boom years—as buyers become more confident and seek to take advantage of today's near-record-low mortgage rates. Nationally home prices climbed 8.3% in December from the same period a year earlier, according to CoreLogic . The increase was the largest since May 2006 and the 10th consecutive monthly gain. The CoreLogic figures include foreclosures and other distressed sales. Getty Images The gains are good news for would-be sellers who have been stranded on the sidelines since home prices peaked in 2006. Nearly one in four homeowners and renters say now is a good time to sell a home, according to a survey released this month by Fannie Mae . Thinking about sell

Thank you, Ron and Tom for all of your help putting on another great Breck Snowflake Challenge. Here are a few photos and the list of winners. All 6 teams did an amazing job this year. 1st place: Your Move at The Photo Shop 2nd place: Breckenridge Grand Vacations at Breck Assoc 3rd place: Gravy Train North of the Gold Pan 4th place: Ready Paint Fire First Place Second Place Third Place Fourth Place Ski Country Resorts

Summit County is starting to see a gain in momentum with increased consumer confidence translating to more deals and less inventory. Things are definitely moving in the right direction. And now for this month’s Top 5 real estate deals-there is something for every buyer! 1. Loma Verde For those of you that want to build the perfect mountain retreat for you and your family, the Loma Verde subdivision just 5 minutes south of downtown Breckenridge offers 4 amazing lots starting at only $125,000. This subdivision offers easy National Forest access for hiking, biking and back country skiing as well as expansive views and all day sun. Each lot has a large building envelope with pre-planned well and septic locations insuring the big views. 2. Panorama Alpine Condo Looking for a 1 bedroom with easy access to the mountain and all that downtown has to offer? How about this totally renovated unit in Panorama Alpine for only $259,000. No surface has been left untouched and finishes incl

There's lots on-tap in Breckenridge and Summit County this Summer. Check out this Summer's event calendar for events around the county.   Please contact us to learn more about real estate in Breckenridge and Summit County, Colorado. 800.774.7970 or 970.453.2200. Click here for the latest news about  Breckenridge Real Estate .

February 2013 saw an increase in the number of properties sold in most areas compared to the same time as 2012. In Breckenridge, 15 Single Family Homes, 1 Duplex, 14 Condos, and 1 Townhome sold. For Summit County, there were 44 Single Family Homes, 4 Duplexes, 35 Condos, and 7 Townhomes sold in the month of February. CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

The annual Breckenridge Spring Fever festival is the biggest spring party in the Rocky Mountain region! The events in town and on the mountain are endless, from great skiing and riding, competitions, concerts, dining specials, kid’s events, beer festivals and more. Here is some information on the various events taking place. The Bud Light Concert Series takes place throughout weekends in April, and features big-name national acts on a specially-constructed stage at the Peak 8 base. The concert dates are April 6-7 and April 13-14. More information and performers will be announced soon! Keep an eye on Facebook and Twitter to be the first to know. The Spring Fever Chili Cook-off brings the top chefs from Breckenridge Ski Resort to a face off in who can make the best chili. The event will take place in Sevens restaurant at Peak 7 base on Sunday, March 24 from 2 to 4 p.m. Head to Sevens Patio at 2 p.m. and indulge in all the chili you can handle and vote for your favorite recipe, al

The great thing about predictions is that, after some time has passed, it’s possible to see which ones were right, and which ones were not. For several years, economists and housing analysts have predicted a housing bottom, but few forecasts at the beginning of 2012 foresaw the magnitude of the rebound that the housing sector enjoyed last year. Quarterly surveys by real estate website Zillow poll around 100 economists and other housing analysts on their predictions about where home prices are headed. So how did the specialists do last year? Looking at the survey from December 2011 shows that around 42 panelists saw prices declining on a year-over-year basis in 2012. The other 52 said prices would either rise or remain flat in 2012. Panelists base their home-price estimates on what they expect the S&P 20-city index to show. Constance Hunter, the deputy chief investment officer of AXA Investment Managers, called for a 4.4% gain. In October, the index stood 4.3% above last year’s lev

Smart phones have created a new breed of consumer: The Mobile Consumer. This type of change in human behavior has not occurred since the invention of the automobile. While the Internet changed consumer behavior, it did not change human behavior the way cell phone have. As a society, people are more aggressive, less vocal; they don’t hesitate when pulling out their phones during meetings and dinners. People are starting to change the way they communicate with mobile-originated emails and texts often replacing phone calls. How can one effectively target this new consumer? The key is to understand that these new consumers require more intelligent, highly relevant communication and stronger engagement opportunities. Mobile “touch points,” such as QR codes, SMS, NFC and photo recognition allow the consumer in the physical world to instantly connect to content in the digital world. The touch points help turn otherwise static items, such as mailers and product packaging, into interactive ex