6 easy, affordable smart home features that could help you sell your house faster

#Colorado

Michael Yearout Photography

RE/MAX Link

Fresh paint on the walls, professional staging and an asking price that ends in 999 — when you're selling your home, you'll do whatever you can to help it stand out and sell faster. Because the National Association of Realtors is predicting modest growth for the 2017 real estate market, as a seller you want every edge you can get. And on the heels of the popular Consumer Electronics Show in January, perhaps that edge is a smarter home.

"Smart home features are designed to make homes more convenient, appealing, secure and energy-efficient — all of which are bonuses when you're trying to sell a house," says Geoff Lewis, president of RE/MAX, LLC. "Sellers who want to move their homes faster may benefit from adding smart features that make their properties more appealing to tech-minded buyers."

According to IHS Markit and CNBC, 80 million smart home devices were delivered worldwide last year. That's a 64 percent increase from 2015.

Here are six trending smart home features that might catch buyers' attention and help sell your home faster:

Keyless/remote entry door locks

Have you ever left the house and worried that you left the front door unlocked? If your home is equipped with a keyless/remote entry door lock — available from multiple manufacturers — you can use an app on your smartphone to lock the door from wherever you are. Some manufacturers make versions that will also send a text or email to your phone when the door opens. Locks that can be programmed with multiple entry codes also allow you to see who comes and goes and when.

Smart lighting

From lighting automation that allows you to control lights remotely and wirelessly, to energy-efficient LED bulbs that can change color to match your mood and decor, lighting has come a long way. Some smart lights work in tandem with home automation systems to allow you to turn them on or off, or even dim them, from an app on a smartphone or tablet. Others require no communication hub and can be controlled directly from your mobile device. You can also put some smart bulbs on timers (using your wireless device), sync them with certain TV shows or movies, and integrate them with security cameras and thermostats.

DIY security systems

Don't want to sign a contract or deal with complex security systems? Install-it-yourself security systems are affordable and offer security features like cameras, sensors, motion detectors and alarms or sirens, without the need for a security service to monitor them.

Smart appliances

The Internet of Things (IoT) — everyday objects that have network connectivity — includes a growing list of smart appliances. Many manufacturers are offering washers, dryers, refrigerators and other home appliances that can communicate with you — and each other — wirelessly. Many can be controlled remotely from your smartphone — so if you leave the house and can't remember if you turned off the stove, you can check in and turn it off using your smartphone app.

While appliances aren't always included in a home sale, they do make for interesting features that keep your home top of mind to buyers.

Smart plugs

One of the easiest, most affordable smart home upgrades you can make is to add smart plugs to your home. These Wi-Fi-enabled plugs fit existing outlets and can be controlled from a smartphone app. Plug anything into a smart plug, like lights or a television, and you can turn it on or off remotely, track energy consumption, or even create an on-off schedule.

Temperature controls

Programmable thermostats were just the beginning; today's home temperature controls are even smarter. Like other smart home features, smart thermostats can be controlled remotely from your mobile device. You can program them to make automatic temperature adjustments and then use your smartphone to override the program like turning up the heat on a particularly cold day. Some smart thermostats learn from household behavior and adjust the temperature to meet your family's needs and save energy, while others adjust based on the number of people in a room. And several can now be operated via voice-controlled virtual assistants.

"Many of these smart home features are surprisingly easy and affordable to install," Lewis says. "Sellers who are open to the idea of investing a little money to possibly help get a speedier sale, may want to consider adding the smart features buyers will be looking for in 2017."

If you're thinking of selling your home, contact me today.

Discovery Channel’s ‘Gold Rush’ is leaving Park County, but residents continue to fight for more mining oversight

#Fairplay #Colorado

Summit Daily News

Summit Daily Link

It's been nearly two years since the reality-TV show "Gold Rush" roared into Park County, descending on an old dredge near Fairplay with a small army of trucks and excavators to mine for television gold — and a bit of the real stuff, too.

The show stirred up some trouble along the way, disturbing the peace and quiet of some neighbors and even leading to some gunplay with a fed-up local. It also had its defenders, including Fairplay's mayor, who said the miners' relationship with the town was "five-star."

Now, the crews are packing up and leaving Park County for good. But Save South Park, the opposition movement that sprang up against them, isn't going anywhere, galvanized by their struggle against the show to push for more oversight of mining.

"The legacy of mining and what's happened in the past is pretty horrific," said Trevor Messa, one of the group's co-chairs. "We just want to see responsible mining our region. Mining can take place, but it needs to take place with people's approval."

“We cannot risk sacrificing our water, our future and our children’s health to the environmentally damaging operations of some miners and the hazardous fallout of their ventures.”Save South Parkin a report by geologist John S. Stuckless

Save South Park's members are still in a legal battle against the county over a re-zoning decision favorable to "Gold Rush," which they fear could mean the mining continues even after the TV crews are gone.

The controversy also convinced some residents that there isn't enough local control over mining in Park County, which they say risks spoiling their picturesque swath of the High Country and contaminating its waterways with old mining chemicals currently entombed in rocks.

Last week, the group published a 50-page report by geologist John S. Stuckless sounding the alarm over possible mercury contamination in the Fairplay area and urging state regulators to investigate.

"Things like this can often catalyze people to come together and combine their efforts to have a positive impact on their communities," said Danny Teodoru, an attorney representing the group in Park County District Court. "I think that's what you're seeing here, and that's very encouraging."

On Saturday, Save South Park held a fundraising event at the Riverwalk Center in Breckenridge, featuring four bands and a series of speakers who shared their concerns about the mining that has sprung up in Park County since "Gold Rush" came on the scene. With the money raised, the group hopes to encourage officials to adopt new standards for responsible mining.

"We've seen a large jump in mining operations in this area and there just doesn't seem to be any oversight of it," Messa said. "We watched something go from a small gravel operation to a giant industrial operation in the past year and a half with what 'Gold Rush' was doing."

The site of the "Gold Rush" operation, adjacent to residential areas just off Highway 9 and a short drive from Fairplay, had for years been the site of a small-scale gravel operation. That changed when the mining show arrived with a complement of industrial-scale equipment.

The show's popularity drew plenty of fortune seekers and amateur gold miners to Park County, some less scrupulous than others. In a letter to the county commissioners last year, a U.S. Forest Service official warned that the number of squatters on National Forest land had "increased dramatically" since the show's arrival.

But the "Gold Rush" model, using tons of heavy equipment to pick over old dredge mines, worries Save South Park. Group members fear that stirring up legacy mine operations could unearth toxic chemicals used in bygone eras.

"In the whole process of looking into mining in this area, and how it's affecting this area, we came across the fact that some of these old tailings were contaminated with mercury," Messa said, citing historical documents and conversations with mining historians.

Trapped in dredge piles in its solid form, the mercury is harmless. But when disturbed, it can enter waterways and undergo a chemical process called methylation. The resulting methylmercury is a potent neurotoxin that bioaccumulates in ecosystems.

Miners used mercury to recover gold from the 1800s through the 1960s, losing much of it to the environment as it flowed along water sluices. In recent years, the U.S. Geological Survey has found that mercury contamination is widespread across the American West, in part because of historical mining operations.

In the report, which draws on several USGS studies and a wealth of historical documents, Save South Park argues that Park County's many dredge piles could be contaminated with mercury, posing grave risks to fish and wildlife if they are disturbed.

"We cannot risk sacrificing our water, our future and our children's health to the environmentally damaging operations of some miners and the hazardous fallout of their ventures," the report's introduction reads.

The group sent the report to the Colorado Department of Health and Environment and the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety early last week, asking the agencies to test for methylmercury in South Park. (Spokesmen for the agencies could not confirm Friday whether or not they had received the report, but Messa said he was told it was being reviewed.)

"What we're concerned about is that nobody is testing to see if any of this stuff is contaminated with mercury," Messa said. "We can show you the data that say it likely is, but until the state actually decides to test the sites that these guys are operating on, we don't know."

Summit County commits to go 100-percent renewable energy by 2035

#Summit County #Colorado

Summit Daily Photo

Summit Daily Link

On Feb. 13, the Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution committing the community to using 100 percent renewable energy by 2035.

The resolution is similar to the one passed by the town of Breckenridge back in November, which also committed to getting all energy from renewable sources by 2035. By passing the resolution, Summit joins other Colorado counties and towns going fully renewable, including Aspen, Avon, Boulder, Lafeyette, Longmont, Nederland and Pueblo. Larger cities outside the state have also committed, including Atlanta, Orlando, Salt Lake City and San Francisco.

County Commissioner Karn Stiegelmeier felt the issue was of the utmost importance to the county, given the alarming new data about climate change.

"The projections for climate change show that it is much more accelerated than previous models have shown," Stiegelmeier said. "We're already seeing it with these shorter, warmer winters. Climate change will have a frightening impact for our economy and our lifestyle."

Stiegelmeier also noted the political climate in Washington, and how it put the onus on communities to take initiative. "At the federal level, they're going in the opposite direction on climate change, so it comes down to local government taking action."

The text of the resolution explicitly refers to climate change as a threat to the local community, noting that "a warming climate is expected to have various adverse local effects such as shortening our ski season, reducing annual snowpack, increasing drought conditions, decreasing water supplies and making our forests more prone to wildfire, while also presenting a variety of other threats on a global scale."

The commissioners passed the resolution after attending the Colorado Community Symposium conference in Denver, where local and state elected officials met and discussed collaboration with business leaders and innovators involved in producing renewable energy technology.

Commissioner Dan Gibbs said the conference was very informative, and spurred the commissioners in taking an affirmative step in the right direction.

"When you look at Summit County, enhancing and protecting the environment is one of the best ways to protect our economy," Gibbs said. "Moving towards 100 percent renewable energy by 2035 is not only an important goal benefiting this generation and future generations in Summit."

When it comes to specifics, Gibbs noted that one way the county can reduce its carbon footprint is upgrading the public bus fleet.

"Our bus fleet is all diesel," Gibbs said, "but there's technology out there for eco-friendly electric buses. Aside from cutting fossil fuels, there are also less moving parts involved in electric vehicles, making them cheaper to maintain. That makes great economic sense."

County manager Scott Vargo noted that the resolution is a non-binding community commitment, and will not require county government, homeowners or private businesses to purchase or upgrade electrical systems. The county will instead work with energy companies like Xcel to get them to switch more and more to renewable energy and away from fossil-fuel-based energy sources.

"Our primary objective is to try to influence change and cooperate with Xcel to modify the way they generate power," Vargo said. "Within the last several months, Xcel has offered their support for the initiative. There has been an effort on Xcel's part to increase the amount of renewable energy they're producing in the state."

The resolution has some caveats and exceptions to the goal, such as reserving the right to modify the commitment if consumer costs increase.

Section 2 of the resolution reads, "Should the county determine that customer utility costs have or are projected to increase at an unacceptable rate because of a transition to renewable energy, the county may modify this resolution and the goal…"

"We don't want this effort to result in significant price increases to consumers where they see their energy bill go up dramatically," Vargo said. "We want to make sure that the types of changes and investments made by Xcel are good, sound investments so we don't see significant changes to what rate payers are absorbing."

As to why Summit is passing the resolution now, Gibbs said progressive change is oftentimes led by local government.

"Sometimes government has to take the lead on taking these steps," Gibbs said. "We hope the private sector will follow, because research shows that switching to renewables makes good economic sense."

The resolution does not set a timeline for milestones or goals, and planning for the initiative has not yet begun.

Vail is implementing new short-term regulations in March. Here’s what is required

#Vail #Colorado

Michael Yearout Photography

Summit Daily Link

VAIL — With a March 1 deadline approaching, officials here are working to ensure property owners are ready to comply with the town’s new short-term rental regulations.

Staffers, along with the Vail Town Council, spent months crafting new regulations, largely as a response to the growth of online rental sites including Airbnb. The end result was a new law that requires property owners to obtain special licenses. Those licenses will be available online starting next week. Current regulations require only a standard business license.

The new licenses are tied to specific units, and owners must meet several new requirements. In the absence of complaints, officials aren’t physically checking units, but owners must provide a notarized affidavit affirming they’ve met requirements including:

• Having life safety equipment in the unit, including fire extinguishers and smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

• Notifying duplex neighbors of the intent to short-term rent a unit.

• Acknowledgement of town parking, trash and noise regulations.

• Posting license numbers in all online and print advertisements.

• Providing interior signs with contact numbers and emergency exit locations.

• Having a local agent to handle complaints and problems.

ENFORCEMENT PROVISIONS

The ordinance also has enforcement provisions. Three documented, unresolved complaints in a year can lead to revocation of a unit’s license.

In the run-up to the regulations’ March 1 effective date, town officials have had meetings with property managers and unit owners to hash out a good number of questions.

The last of those meetings was held the evening of Wednesday, Feb. 14, at The Grand View room atop the Lionshead Village parking structure. At that meeting, several property owners had a number of questions, with staff members on hand to answer those queries.

Town code enforcement officer Miguel Juaregui told the group that potential complaints can come over parking, trash and noise.

“We’re holding you accountable,” Juaregui said, adding that it’s up to owners to notice and address patterns of behavior from guests.

The idea, Juaregui said, is to keep the Vail experience consistent for all guests, from those staying in the town’s top-flight hotels to those who rent a condo for a weekend.

To help meet that goal, owner representatives have to be available at all hours and must respond to complaints within 60 minutes — 30 minutes between 11 p.m. and 8 a.m.

That requirement has a number of owners looking for local representatives.

Property owner Marianne Mulherin currently uses an out-of-state management company. She wondered if that matters if most complaints can be resolved over the phone.

Town sales tax administrator Johannah Richards said complaints — expected to be from neighbors about short-term renters — will first be referred to the owner’s agent. That could require someone who lives in the area.

Mike Vaughan, of the Vail Fire Department, also fielded several questions about requirements for alarms and fire extinguishers.

Responding to a question, Vaughan said that homes need smoke alarms — preferably in every room where someone sleeps and on every level of a unit.

Carbon monoxide alarms are different. Any unit that uses gas for heating or water, or any unit with a gas or wood-fueled fireplace, needs a carbon monoxide detector, Vaughan said. Units with attached garages need the detectors in the vestibule between the garage and the living area.

The town’s parking, trash, noise and life-safety regulations have all been on the books for some time. What’s new, though, is property owners having to affirm compliance — and have a local representative.

Julieanne Zenz and her husband own a condo in Lionshead Village. After the meeting ended, Zenz, a Chicago resident, took a few minutes to talk about the new regulations. Zenz said she and her husband will comply, but worried about the additional expenses being imposed on property owners.

“The problem for us is that everyone puts their hands in your pocket,” Zenz said. “That eventually gets passed on to the consumer.

“People are asking for a significant sum of money,” she added. “Everything adds up.”

Verizon, Breckenridge Republicans at odds over proposed wireless facility

#Breckenridge #Colorado

Special to the Summit Daily

Summit Daily Link

Verizon Wireless aims to build a cluster of antennas on top of one of the highest buildings in Breckenridge's downtown historic district. At face value, the proposal seems rather mundane, but it's drawing sharp criticism from a band of locals, including members of Summit County GOP.

Verizon filed its application Dec. 10, proposing to install a new wireless communication facility with nine screened antennas atop 305 S. Ridge St., a three-story, flat-roofed building that houses the post office, Breckenridge Market and Liquor, a couple of restaurants and a parking garage.

According to the application, the antennas on the roof would be removed from view by a screen made to look like a piece of the building, and additional equipment would be put inside the parking garage.

The building itself was built in 1976 and stands just over 41 feet tall. The wireless facility would extend about 8 feet over the lower wall running along the edge of the rooftop and almost 7 feet above the existing upper wall, a height Verizon says is necessary to achieve the coverage levels it hopes to reach with the new antennas.

Because the facility would be so much smaller than the rooftop on which it sits, angles would largely hide it from public view and produce only minor effects where small pieces of the screen can be seen, according to Verizon.

In its application, Verizon says the facility is a necessary upgrade to relieve another wireless facility at the Liftside building, also known as the "Snowberry" site, that's running over capacity.

"The existing Snowberry communications site cannot support the data traffic in the large area it covers and is already frequently overloaded. … When this occurs 4G data speeds slow to unacceptable levels," Verizon states in the application.

Additionally, federal rules hem in Breckenridge's ability to address some potential issues regarding wireless facilities, including what's an acceptable level of radiation or the maximum time frame for approving a project.

In response, the town adopted a lengthy ordinance regarding proposed wireless facilities that runs congruent with federal rules but gives local officials some jurisdiction over such facilities.

Per the ordinance, Breckenridge tries to cluster these facilities to avoid multiple companies from locating them all over town, while also driving them away from the downtown historic district, if possible. So far, it apparently has been.

The town also forbids two wireless facilities from being within 1,500 feet of each other, with some exceptions, such as showing there's no other way to achieve the improved wireless coverage or that having too many would create excessive clutter.

Because Verizon is already attached to the The Village at Breckenridge on Park Avenue, also called the "Snowberry site," the company says it would do little good to locate the new one on top of an old one.

Still, that doesn't improve one local man's opinion of the project.

"I am concerned about the town's policy of co-location because there will be others there (inside the historic district)," said C.J. Milmoe, who lives near the proposed site of the new wireless facility and has numerous problems with the proposal.

Evaluating the application, town staff found benefits in the project but could not identify an alternative location that would improve the wireless capacity in a more feasible manner.

Over the phone Wednesday, town staff said there is currently one wireless facility inside the town's conservation district, which covers the entire historic district but extends a little farther out than the historic district does, but didn't know of any such facilities currently inside the historic district.

Milmoe said he believes that once one lands inside the historic district, the town won't be able to keep others out.

"I can guarantee it," he warned, adding that stopping Verizon's proposed facility here is the town's only chance to keep them out of the historic district going forward.

The Summit County Republican Committee has also weighed in on the issue, adopting a resolution suggesting Verizon failed to show the antennas are a necessary upgrade while expressing concerns over potential impacts on the environment, public health and the character of the historic district.

Committee chair Kim McGahey readily admitted the committee doesn't have any research to back up its claims about potential health impacts, but the close proximity of the proposed facility to Breckenridge Elementary worries him nonetheless, he said.

Verizon filed its application on Dec. 10, and the town sent out mailers to residents living within 300 feet of the proposed facility. The Republican committee is also taking up issue with the notices, claiming they were confined to "a very limited mailing list" and lacked substantive details about the proposal with little time to learn more ahead of the Jan. 30 hearing before the town's planning commission.

"We care about the quality of life here, and we're very concerned about big government telling us what to do all the time," McGahey said, "even at the local level, especially at the local level."

During the Jan. 30 hearing, the planning commission voted 4-3 to defer action until their Feb. 20 meeting.

Commissioners Mike Giller, Steve Gerard, Dan Schroder and Christie Mathews-Leidal favored the delay, and the Republican committee has applauded their decision.

Responding to a question about Verizon's efforts to improve service, McGahey remained skeptical but said that if Verizon can show the new facility will improve coverage, he hopes they'll find a different place to put it.

"If the planning commission does approve this, then that opens the door and sets the precedent for more unsightly and disturbing antennas," he said. "I think it's a precedent we do not need to set right now."

In a statement, Verizon said it's "always working to identify locations for cell sites based on where our customers need wireless coverage and capacity" while explaining that demand for data has doubled since 2015 and is expected to grow seven-fold through 2019.

"Our goal is to always be a good neighbor, wherever we build a cell site," the statement reads. "Verizon provided zoning drawings and photo simulations of the proposed site to commissioners, which demonstrated how the site would blend in with its existing architectural surroundings."

Additionally, the company says it works to ensure all applicable federal, state and local regulations are followed and looks forward to working with the planning commission and community "to find a solution that will meet the evolving needs of the community."

Breckenridge ranks fourth in U.S. for growth in senior population, according to Newgeography analysis

#Colorado

Denver Post Photo

Summit Daily Link

Colorado's mountains aren't the only places showing more white on top. Residents of the resort towns below are graying at some of the fastest rates in the country.

Steamboat Springs, Edwards and Breckenridge ranked first, third and fourth, respectively, for the biggest gains in their senior populations this decade, while Glenwood Springs came in 13th, according to an analysis published in Newgeography.

"You have to recognize that not everybody wants to move to Florida. A lot of people enjoy those mountain communities," said Wendell Cox, a principal with Demographia near St. Louis who did the analysis using U.S. Census Bureau numbers.

Cox looked at the change in the 65-plus population between 2010 and 2016 in 933 places across the country ranging from small communities to large metropolitan areas. Of the 15 locales with the biggest percentage gains in senior population, nine were in the Rocky Mountain region, including four in Colorado.

Nationally, the nation's senior population this decade rose 15.2 percent, a gain nearly five times faster than overall population growth. The entire country is getting older, but Colorado, with its heavy concentration of baby boomers, is aging faster than most.

Read the full story on The Denver Post website, click here.

15 U.S. communities with largest increase in the 65-plus population between 2010 and 2016

1. Steamboat Springs, CO
2. The Villages, FL
3. Edwards, CO
4. Breckenridge, CO
5. Summit Park, UT
6. Myrtle Beach, SC
7. Heber, UT
8. Gillette, WY
9. Santa Fe, NM
10. Austin, TX
11. Jackson, WY
12. Hailey, ID
13. Glenwood Springs, CO
14. Bend, OR
15. Fairfield, IA
Source: Demographic research using U.S. Census Bureau numbers

Frisco cancels town council election for lack of candidates, two incumbents and two newcomers to be elected

#Frisco #Colorado

Summit Daily Link

Frisco has cancelled its town council election after only four candidates were left vying for four vacant seats by the Jan. 30 filing deadline. On Apr. 3, all four candidates will be deemed elected, and the election that was previously scheduled for that date has been canceled.

Local business owner and former Frisco town councilman Dan Fallon will be returning to town hall to assume a four-year term. In addition to his 2006-2008 council term, the 28-year Frisco resident has also served on the town's Master Plan Committee, Housing Task Force and Marina Master Plan Committee.

"I know from experience the considerable time required of a council member to responsibly represent the concerns of the citizens," Fallon wrote in a candidate bio. "I have the time to make this a priority and I believe that my 20-plus years of business experience would be an asset on the council as it prepares to meet the challenges looming in the next term."

Melissa Sherburne, who currently sits on the Frisco Planning Commission, will also be taking on a four-year term. She has lived in Frisco for the past seven years and serves as director of acquisitions for development company Brynn Grey Partners.

"Housing is vital to our future and will require creative solutions in the years ahead," Sherburne wrote in her candidate bio. "As a resident of Peak One Neighborhood, I see every day what a positive impact a great neighborhood can have on individuals and families. Our council needs to ensure that there are opportunities for people of all ages, incomes, and stages of life to live and thrive in Frisco."

Sherburne and Fallon will be replacing outgoing councilman Dan Kibbie and councilwoman Kim Cancelosi. Incumbents Rick Ihnken and Hunter Mortensen will be returning to council for two- and four-year terms, respectively.

Summit’s building boom comes with at least 150 fewer contractors

#Summit County #Colorado

Summit Daily Photo

Summit Daily Link

The days when Summit County's contractors had to plow snow to make ends meet might be a memory, but as business rebounds from the Great Recession, at least one lingering effect remains.

That is, for those local contractors who did survive the economic downturn, many are now fielding more requests for work than they could ever satisfy, and as a result projects are taking longer to complete.

It's no secret Summit County is in the midst of a record-breaking building boom with the county recently announcing it issued more building permits last year than any other year prior to the recession.

The permits cover everything from spec homes to the luxury housing market and commercial builds. Regardless of the project, however, the number of permits issued in Summit County throughout 2017 skyrocketed to 852 after the county OK'd 710 in 2016 and just 644 the year before that.

"During the recession, many of (the local contractors) were doing small remodels and plowing driveways to keep their businesses going, but now we are seeing lots of new starts and spec homes back in the mix," states the Summit County Building Inspection Department's 2017 summary, released at the end of January.

What's more impressive is the local building community that's shouldered much of the weight from the building boom has done it with reduced numbers compared to what they were seven years ago.

That's because there were 720 registered contractors in Summit County in 2010, but only 562 remained in 2017, according to Scott Hoffman, the county's chief building official.

It came as somewhat of a surprise, but Hoffman said the department didn't have figures prior to 2010. Still, based on what information the county does have, Summit has lost almost one out of every five of its contractors since 2010.

"There is definitely less of a subcontractor base then there was seven years ago," said Matt Mueller, director of development at Summit Sky Ranch. "During the recession it appeared that some of the subcontractors chased other opportunities in different industries, like the oil and gas industry or moved to other markets."

Whatever the reason, Mueller notes that the local building community is feeling the effects, but he's been "lucky" and "experienced very little attrition with regards to our contractor base."

Mueller said the initial selection of subcontractors, along with being organized and having open lines of communication about the work happening on-site, helps ensure "a high level of efficiency, which equates to more profitability for the crews in the field."

At the same time more than 150 local contractors have vanished from the landscape, Summit County's housing market has shot up across the board in virtually every measurement.

Compared to 2016, the total monetary volume for all real estate transactions rose by 18 percent in 2017, for example. Meanwhile, the overall number of sales jumped 5 percent, and the price of the average single-family residential home rose 16 percent, according to figures previously provided by Land Title Guarantee Company of Summit County.

It doesn't stop with housing sales and prices, either. In Silverthorne and Breckenridge, estimated sales tax receipts related to building retail and construction were both up between 5 and 10 percent in 2017.

Despite all of that, though, the average sale price of vacant land in Summit County was actually down 8 percent last year compared to 2016.

Many factors are pushing on the market, according to local experts, but one likely reason for the price drop of vacant land is the limited number of local contractors to build on it.

"There is much greater demand than we have people to do the work," said Chris Renner, owner of Pinnacle Mountain Homes, a Breckenridge-based builder that accounts for roughly a third to a fourth of Summit County's luxury home builds.

Renner tracks the average length of construction projects in the county through his business, and he said he's noticed it's taking longer now to see a project through than it previously did.

"I can tell you projects are going on today across the country, and there are not enough people to do the work," he said.

A local electrician who asked not to be identified has noticed some of the same problems Renner has.

From the electrician's observations, pretty much everyone in Summit County struggles to stay fully staffed, and he too sees a serious shortage in the number of workers in the building industry that's not just limited to builders, plumbers, masons and electricians but runs "the whole nine yards."

Renner's company is unique among builders in the sense Pinnacle Mountain Homes creates custom homes with the ability to design, build, furnish and even manage the home as a vacation rental all in-house at Pinnacle.

Explaining how the shortage of workers has affected one of the many aspects of his business, Renner explained that Pinnacle's design studio has grown from two interior designers to eight in the last 12 months alone.

However, because he's struggled to find good, qualified designers in Summit County, Pinnacle had to hire four that live and work out of a satellite office in Denver.

Renner said he thinks the problem with finding good labor is directly related to local housing issues, and the rise of short-term rentals has greatly exacerbated the issue.

The leading short-term rental website, Airbnb.com, recently released a list of its top 10 markets in Colorado, and Breckenridge was second only to Denver. Additionally, Keystone and Silverthorne also cracked Airbnb's top 10, giving Summit three of the 10 most-visited destinations in the state.

For Renner, the rise of short-term rentals here has put a much greater pressure on the housing market.

In turn, the scarcity of available housing affects almost every other sector in the community, including retail establishments, restaurants and even the people who build them.

Silverthorne snowboarder Red Gerard wins first American gold of Winter Olympics

#Silverthorne #Colorado

Summit Daily Photo

Summit Daily Link

After he stomped his third and final run to become the youngest American male to win a gold medal at an individual event in Winter Olympic history, Red Gerard was his typical even-keeled, laid back 17-year-old self.

He was so chill while fielding interviews with excited reporters at Phoenix Snow Park, that when one asked him about his thoughts on meeting the current International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach, it took the Silverthorne teenager a minute to realize who that was.

"He just said," Gerard recalled of Bach, "'what were you thinking during all those spins?' And I said, 'I just wanted to land a run. That's about it.'"

Throughout this Olympic qualifying process, Gerard — whose Instagram followers ballooned from 50,000 to 80,000 following the event — has been adamant that every time he goes down a slopestyle course, it's the same. And even though he scrubbed his first two runs of the Olympic final on the inventive course in South Korea, Gerard indeed treated that third and final run just like any old day at his family's now-famous backyard-snow park in Silverthorne.

With his nearly-immaculate 87.16 final run, Gerard became the first American medalist at this year's Pyeongchang Games. And he did so despite taking on snowboard slopestyle's heaviest of hitters, including eventual silver medalist Max Parrot and bronze medalist Mark McMorris, both of Canada.

"I would guess people are pretty surprised I won," Gerard said.

"To be honest it's a little hard to believe for sure," he added. "I'm absolutely mind-blown. I don't think I've had enough time for it to settle in. I'm just so happy I got to land a run and to end up on the podium is awesome.

"I can't believe it."

Heading into the slopestyle final, Gerard was regarded as a wild card to bring home the gold thanks to his always inventive take on slopestyle courses. He wasn't the favorite, but on this atypical Olympic slopestyle course, one complete with different rails, jibs and jump options, it was Gerard's one-of-a-kind style that shone through.

"I try to be a little different with my runs," he said after he won the gold.

On that third and final run, Gerard hugged his friends at the top of the course before dropping in. On his first two runs, Gerard failed to execute his trick on the second of three jumps to end the course.

Despite the struggles, and despite the fact that he clutched his lower back after scrubbing his second run, Gerard dropped in the same way he had all competition. Coming in switch, on the biggest run of his life the nerves didn't get to him.

Once again he strung together his stylish run, complete with a tap in the bowl feature. And in the middle of the run, it was his brave, technical and clean take on the course’s quarter pipe that set him up with an opportunity to post a gold medal-caliber score.

“I just look for different lines,” Gerard said.

“I think the side hit helped me because nobody was hitting that,” he added.

Then when he landed that second jump, all he needed to do was land at the bottom to enter into the medal conversation.

Executing four rotations on his final jump — a triple cork 1440 — Gerard once again stomped his landing to provide a pseudo-sequel to American Sage Kotsenburg's gold medal run at Sochi in 2014.

But did it feel like a gold medal run?

"I don't know, to be honest," Gerard said. "I didn't watch too many runs. I kind of tried to stay warm and sit inside.

"It felt like a good run."

As for the specifics of what it took to win the gold?

"Just spins, yeah," Gerard said to reporters. "Just a whole bunch of spins."

Frisco, Breckenridge, Keystone ready to bring Mardi Gras to the High Country

#Summit County #Colorado

Summit Daily News

Summit Daily Link

Get out the beads, masks and colorful costumes because Summit County is celebrating Mardi Gras this weekend and Tuesday with town-sponsored events in Summit County.

Breckenridge

Each year, Breckenridge takes some cues from New Orleans, and visitors clad in masks, boas and beads respond to the call by taking over the ski town on Fat Tuesday to commemorate the snow carnival season.

The traditional Breckenridge Mardi Gras Parade down Main Street kicks off at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday with the Mardi Gras King and Queen, Alan Bullock and Amy Russo.

The parade dead-ends at the Riverwalk Center, 150 W. Adams Ave., where there will be a free concert from 5-7 p.m. featuring the Lowdown Brass Band.

Additionally, people are welcome to indulge themselves at the Paulaner Salvator Festival, a German "strong beer" festival featuring brews from Paulaner. The first 100 people in the door will receive a free stein.

Also, it's not too late to register a float for the parade. Cash prizes will be awarded for first-, second- and third-place entries.

Go to GoBreck.com and click on the Feb. 13 Mardi Gras link to find the registration forms and more details about the event.

Frisco

On Saturday, Feb. 10, the town of Frisco will host two events: the 5th Annual Mardi Gras 4Paws dog parade/street party and the 2nd Annual Frisco Freeze Fat Bike Race. Mardi Gras 4Paws will be from 2–4:30 pm on 2ndAvenue and Frisco Main Street, and the Frisco Freeze Fat Bike Race will start at 3 p.m. at the Frisco Nordic Center.

Mardi Gras 4Paws will once again benefit the League for Animals and People of the Summit (L.A.P.S.). Mardi Gras 4Paws is a costumed dog parade along the sidewalks of Frisco's Main Street inspired by New Orleans's Mystic Krew of Barkus parade. Frisco's Mardi Gras 4Paws will feature a "yappy" hour street party on 2nd Avenue between Main Street and the Granite Street alley with gumbo and beignets from Lost Cajun Restaurant, hot beverages from Abbey's Coffee, beer from New Belgium Brewing and wine from Cupcake Vineyards, along with a dog parade. New this year- Fire on Demand will provide fire pits to keep "yappy" hour participants warm.

Online pre-registration is $15 for the 1st dog and includes dog treats, a Mardi Gras doggie bandana, beads and a token for either one bowl of gumbo or a drink. Each additional family dog is only $5, and additional dog registrations do not include the token or bandana. Day of registration is $20 for the 1st dog and $5 for additional dogs. Registration and more information are available at TownofFrisco.com.

Mardi Gras 4Paws Schedule:

• 2 p.m.- Registration begins and dogs and their humans converge on 2nd Avenue between Main Street and the alley
• 2–4:30 p.m.- "Yappy" hour street party will begin on 2nd Avenue with beer, wine, gumbo and "doggie brew".
• 3:15 p.m.- The canine parade will start and travel down Frisco Main Street from 2nd Avenue to 7th Avenue along the sidewalk and back up the other side of the street for full canine viewing.
• 3:45 p.m.- Canine costume contest will begin and prizes will be awarded for dogs in costumes for a King and Queen, along with a full court of winners. There is also a "Belinda's Best" category to commemorate the late Belinda Griffin, who inspired this event.

Keystone

River Run Village at Keystone is hosting a Mardi Gras Party on Fat Tuesday, Feb. 13 from 2:30–5 p.m.  Fat Tuesday in Keystone Resort is fit for all ages and includes free live music, giant games, a cash bar, special guest – kid's celebrity chef Nicholas Hornbostel and Summit County's best gumbo prepared by local and Denver chefs inspired by the official cuisine of the great State of Louisiana.  Whether you prefer Cajun or Creole style you won't go hungry as restaurants from Keystone and beyond put their pride on the line and whip up their best batches of gumbo to be judged in both the Professional and People's Choice categories.  Official judges will rank their 1st and 2nd choices in the seafood/exotic and chicken/sausage classifications where over $1,600 in prize money will be up for grabs. The Keystone Neighbourhood Company will also be giving out a Team Spirit award meaning gumbo participants are encouraged to dress up their booths and put together their best Mardi Gras costumes.  Better yet bragging rights and a little cash will be awarded in the People's Choice category and will be determined by the Mardi Gras party guests themselves.  Unlimited gumbo tasting bracelets for adults are just $12 in advance or $15 at the gate. New this year, kid's bracelets are $5 in advance and $8 at the gate. Kid's will get their own Kids Choice ticket to vote for their favorite gumbo alongside our special guest Nicholas Hornbostel from Kids Food Network.

For tickets go to: https://keystonemardigras2017.eventbrite.com

 It wouldn't be a Mardi Gras party without some tunes and for 2018 the live concert is in full effect with Chris Daniels and the Kings taking the stage at 3:30 p.m. Chris Daniels and the Kings has been taking the stage for 33 years and will be delivering the rhythm while the party-goers dance away or kick back with a Keystone Kane, our version of the hurricane, from the bar. The Keystone Mardi Gras Party combines food, music and family into one grand Fat Tuesday celebration while doing its part to bring a little Southern hospitality to the mountains. 

Schedule of Mardi Gras Events at Keystone:

• 2:30pm – 3:30pm: DJ spinnin' tunes
• 2:30pm – 5:00pm: Gumbo Tasting – $12 Adult, $5 Kid in advance  / $15 Adult, $8 Kid at the gate
• 3:00pm – 3:30pm: Professional and People's Choice Judging
• 3:30pm – 5:00pm: FREE Live Music by Chris Daniels and the Kings
• 5:00pm –  Gumbo Competition Winners Announced

Overview of Cash Prizes and Awards: 

• 1st Place Gumbo Cook-Off:
  • Chicken/Sausage Category – $400.00
  • Seafood/Exotic Category – $400.00
• 2nd Place Gumbo Cook-Off
  • Chicken/Sausage Category – $200.00
  • Seafood/Exotic Category – $200.00

• People' Choice Best Gumbo – $250.00
• Keystone Team Spirit Award – Best Booth – $150.00