Breckenridge Associates
Real Estate

It's always exciting to hear what the resorts have in store for operations and improvements heading into a new season. Last week, the resort executives for Breckenridge, Loveland, Keystone, Copper and A-Basin officially kicked off the season, announcing to the public expected plans for each resort heading into the start of skiing in the high country. Fortunately, we live in a resort area where the ski areas are continually re-investing in their product to keep it top-notch and the best it can be. This gives us confidence in our local community and creates momentum and a "snowball" effect for many local businesses going into a new ski season. In addition to the improvements listed below, the resorts have also seen unbelievable early season snow and a rise in season pass sales. All signs of good business ahead! Resort Improvements: Keystone - Purchased 5 new snowcats and parking lot improvements. Better grooming and added focus on intermediate and black runs. A-Basin - Earl...

It's that time of year again, where local ski resorts and towns announce their big events for the upcoming winter. To check out the wide range of event happenings in Summit County visit our Event Page .

A chilly fall and early season snow have helped two of our local resorts open earlier than normal this year. An annual friendly rivalry between Loveland and Arapahoe Basin commences each October where the two compete in the "Race to Open". Loveland won the battle this year on October 7th and was the first resort in North America to open for the season with an 18 inch base and 1,000 vertical feet of skiing via Chair 1. Arapahoe Basin followed two days later on October 9th. They too opened with an 18 inch base and skiing on the High Noon run. The resorts continue to open more terrain daily and officially helped to kick off winter in the Colorado Rockies. The ski season momentum continues with chilly fall days, snow storms and optimal snowmaking conditions in the high country. Keystone and Copper Mountain Ski Resorts are set to open November 6, followed by Breckenridge Ski Resort on November 12. We can't wait for an epic year on the slopes.

Purchase 2009-2010 Colorado season ski passes online now. Vail Resorts, parent company to Breckenridge, Keystone, Vail, Beaver Creek & Heavenly ski areas, is offering several pass options online and you can purchase directly as a first time buyer or to renew. Visit this link to view Vail Resorts pass options. Intrawest, parent company to Copper, Winter Park and Steamboat resorts, also has passes available for purchase online. Visit this link to view Intrawest passes.

Momentum in our local real estate market is continuing to build with increased activity in the late summer months of 2009. In June, the combined number of transactions among single family residences/duplexes, condos/townhomes and land was at 55. After closing the month of September, this number has more than doubled with 117 sales. Data for the past 45 days indicates even greater activity on the horizon with 161 pending sales. The first graph below highlights the lows of early 2009 as well as the upswing in transactions experienced over recent months. The second graph shows the sold data since 2007. If you're considering a home or investment property in Breckenridge or Summit County, Colorado and are still on the fence, you can feel confident knowing you aren't the first taking advantage of current market conditions. Many investors have entered back into our market and demand is steadily increasing. Average sales are realizing 2005 prices and the selection is better than it has...

Learn what's planned for the local ski areas this winter at the annual season preview event featuring top executives from each local resort. Ski resort representatives from A-Basin Ski Area's VP and COO Alan Henceroth, Breckenridge Ski Resort's Director of Mountain Operations Gary Shimanowitz, Copper Mountain Ski Resort's President and COO Gary Rodgers, Keystone Resort's VP of Mountain Operations Doug Lovell and Loveland Ski Area's Director of Business Operations Rob Goodell, will address the public and officially kick off the 2009-2010 season. The event is scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday, October 21, from 7-9pm at the Community & Senior Center in Frisco. Topics covered to include: Opening/closing dates, facility and lift upgrades, ongoing projects, season, multi-day and day pass information, events, ski and snowboard school programs, competition schedules and environmental initiatives.

Loveland Ski Area announced yesterday it would open today - its earliest opening in 40 years! The ski area, located 50 minutes west of Denver, starting running lifts this morning at 9am and is the first resort in the state to open. The ski area opens with only one run, but it's a great sunny day today and a perfect way to break in the ski legs for the winter ahead. Loveland has been making snow since September 21 and has tree to tree coverage with an 18 inch base. Conditions are looking good for early season. Each year the rivalry and a "race to open" takes place between Loveland Ski Area and A-Basin Ski Resort. Last year the two resorts tied and the two previous years, A-Basin Ski Resort won the race. We applaud Loveland for their snowmaking efforts and congratulate them on the opening 'win'. A-Basin opens on Friday. We're eager to get on the slopes and take some turns ourselves!