Author: The Moens Team

Neighborhoods for Luxury Homes in Breckenridge

October 17, 2018

Breckenridge is a beautiful mountain town and the amazing homes rival the world-class views. If you’re thinking about purchasing a luxury home in Breckenridge – as a primary residence, vacation home or investment property – be sure to check out these neighborhoods.

The Highlands

The Highlands neighborhood features custom homes across the valley from the Breckenridge Ski Area, with access to wetlands, open spaces and trails for hikers, bikers, golfers and cross-country skiers. This neighborhood is just north of downtown Breckenridge, near a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course that’s converted to a nordic ski center in the winter. The Highlands is also a short drive to beautiful Lake Dillon. The distinguished Highlands real estate embodies the refreshing, luxurious Colorado lifestyle.

Shock Hill

You’ve heard of ski-in/ski-out? Shock Hill is a luxury neighborhood that’s “gondola-in/gondola-out,” with the Breckenridge ski area and downtown Breckenridge only a short gondola ride away. These custom homes have amazing views down the Ten Mile Range or across the valley to Baldy Mountain. Shock Hill is also perfect for those who like to hike, cross-country ski or snowshoe, especially if you don’t mind sharing the trails along preserved open spaces with birds, moose and other wildlife. Shock Hill combines high-value lots and extraordinary mountain home design with modern features, picturesque vistas, and unlimited recreation.

Timber Trail

Timber Trail is an exclusive ski-in/ski-out neighborhood located off Ski Hill Road at the base of the Breckenridge ski area’s Peak 8. These custom homes feature contemporary mountain-style designs – lots of wood, stone and exposed log beams – on heavily wooded lots for privacy. Expect to find wine cellars, theaters, billiard rooms, bunk rooms and more in this neighborhood. Depending on the home, spectacular views may include Ten Mile Range, Peak 7 and Peak 8 to the north and Baldy Mountain to the south.

Trappers Glen

Trappers Glen is another luxury neighborhood that is connected to the Breckenridge ski area and downtown Breckenridge by Four O’Clock Run. This newer neighborhood is close to the White River National Forest and year-round outdoor activities, and minutes from shopping and restaurants in downtown Breckenridge. Prestigious homes in Trappers Glen epitomize luxury design in the Colorado Rocky Mountains.

For detailed descriptions of Breckenridge neighborhoods, check out our website or contact The Moens Team for more information. We love living and working in Breckenridge and can help you find the perfect property in the Breck luxury real estate market!

Blog | How's the Market in Breckenridge

How to Determine What Your Home is Worth

September 28, 2018

Thinking about selling your house? Wondering if you should question your property tax assessment? Just curious about the current value of one of your biggest investments? According to a recent poll conducted by NerdWallet, nearly three-quarters of Americans say knowing the value of their home is important to understanding their overall financial health.

There are a number of reasons to look into how much your home is worth and quite a few ways to track down that information. Here are some tips!

Start Online

If you’re looking for a general estimate of what your home is worth, an online home valuation service may be a good place to start. You can also get an instant online estimate of your home price through our RE/MAX website. Other websites like Zillow and Trulia take into account information you provide as well as public records to approximate your home’s current market value. These services are fast and usually free, although not as accurate.

Check Out the Neighbors

Recent sales and current listings in your area are a strong indicator of what you could sell your home for, and there are several ways to find that information. Again, the Internet is a good place to start. To look up sale prices for specific properties in Breckenridge, try Real Estate ABC or Summit County Assessor’s website. While less scientific, going to open houses, or events like the Summit County Parade of Homes, can also help you get an idea of the local housing market. Keep in mind that past sales should carry more weight than current sale prices.

Call a Real Estate Agent

If you’re serious about selling your home, a professional local real estate agent can help you more accurately estimate the current market value of your home. He or she will compare your home to similar properties – carefully considering factors like square footage, age, amenities, upgrades, condition and location – and help assign value to what makes your home unique. First-hand knowledge of the local market and assessing your home in person will provide a more accurate valuation than the Internet.

Hire an Appraiser

Like a real estate agent, a licensed appraiser will visit your home and closely inspect the property to assess the market value. An appraiser will evaluate the local real estate market, your property and comparable properties and provide an official report. Banks require an appraisal as part of the mortgage process, but you can hire an appraiser at any time. The average cost of an appraisal for a single-family home is $300-$500.

If you have questions about how to determine the value of your home in Breckenridge or have other real estate questions, contact The Moen Team. We are here to help!

Blog | Breckenridge News

What Do Breck’s New Short-Term Rental Regulations Mean for Vacation Rental Property Owners

September 19, 2018

As the short-term rental market has boomed in recent years, rules and regulations to oversee the industry have not necessarily kept up. The Breckenridge Town Council recently passed new rules to try to balance the interests of rental owners with the concerns of neighbors who live near these properties.

What’s Changing?

The Town of Breckenridge approved a new fee structure for licensing short-term rentals (an annual fee of $25 – $150 based on the number of bedrooms) and a new process for inspections (the town will try to reach owners before inspections unless it’s an emergency). However, a new 24-hotline to report complaints is drawing the most attention from owners.

Who You Gonna Call?

When a complaint is called in, the hotline will contact the “designated agent” listed on the rental license, who will have one hour to resolve the problem. The agent doesn’t need to be the owner or a property management company – a friend, family member or neighbor can serve as an agent, but must be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to respond to complaints.

Mixed Reaction to the New Rules

The new rules are intended to be less restrictive than measures in similar resort communities, which is good news for vacation rental owners in Breckenridge. Vail, for example, requires a response within 30 minutes of calls to the complaint hotline. Owners who manage their own short-term rental properties or use a property management company are worried about the burden of responding to complaints within one hour, especially if the call may come in the middle of the night or require a visit to the rental unit.

An Ounce of Prevention

There are things you can do to try to avoid trouble with the new rules. Parking, noise and trash are the most common complaints concerning short-term rental units in mountain communities like Breckenridge. Try to head trouble off at the pass by including your neighborhood rules in your marketing materials and rental agreements and remind guests of the rules when they arrive. Post a friendly reminder near your trash cans about being careful with garbage – think bears! – and ask guests to keep the volume down so everyone – visitors and neighbors – can enjoy everything Breckenridge has to offer.

If you’re looking for a vacation home or investment property in Breckenridge or have questions about the latest trends and topics in our real estate community, please contact The Moen Team. Secondly, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to see the latest news.

We’re here to help!

To read the new rules and regulations from the Breckenridge Town Council, go to: https://www.townofbreckenridge.com/home/showdocument?id=16079.