Inside this 1 bedroom condo is a galley kitchen that makes the best use of your space without compromising your amenities.  The large bar is a suitable place to enjoy any meal or just to hang out and talk with someone in the kitchen.  The living room also makes the best use of the space with a wall mounted, flat screen television, wood burning fireplace and sliding glass door accessing the deck.  You’ll love grilling on the deck looking out at Frisco’s most popular peaks.  A huge skylight in the vaulted ceiling lets in an abundance of natural light to both the living room and loft.  The loft area is above the kitchen and is approximately 100 square feet.  The kids will love having their bedroom perched high above the living room making this MountainSide condo even more of an adventure for them.  The one bedroom and full bathroom are located at the front of the condo, adding a little extra privacy. 

This Mountain Side condo is in the perfect location for year ’round enjoyment of Summit County recreation.

Pushing back nearly to the base of the rising mountains is a popular area known as Mountain Side.  Just a few blocks from Main Street in Frisco you will first come across Mountain Side Subdivision made up of single family homes and duplexes.  Behind this small town neighborhood is Mountain Side Condos.  Ten buildings nicely arranged to capitalize on mountain views and undeveloped wetland areas giving a special peace and quiet to this Frisco condo complex.  Of course there are an endless number of outdoor recreation opportunities nearby.  Miles of paved recreation paths and hiking trails are waiting for you just outside your door.  Catch the local bus to one of four ski areas in the county or head to one of the many located in neighboring counties.  Lake Dillon and Green Mountain Reservoir offer water activities all summer long.

As your second home, your ski condo, your rental property or your primary residence this Mountain Side condo has what you need. 

It’s been called one of the best clubhouses in Frisco.  Featuring a swimming pool, hot tub, sauna, fitness center, tennis courts and laundry facilities there’s plenty to do without leaving the parking lot.  These great amenities add to the appeal for your tenants and at a reasonable cost to you.  HOA costs are only $250.00 per month and include snow removal, trash service, your water and sewer costs and more. 

this condo in Silverthorne is a wonderful place to stay while you’re in Summit County.  There is a hiking trail right outside your back door that will take you through the National Forest to multiple destinations in Summit County and beyond.  You will find many other recreation opportunities close to this Silverthorne condo.  From bike paths to water activities on Lake Dillon and Green Mountain Reservoir to skiing and boarding at the six nearby ski resorts this Snowscape condo is in a great centeral location for all of your Summit County activities.  Just across the parking lot from this Snowscape condo is the clubhouse.  Inside you’ll find a swimming pool, hot tub and sauna.  Upstairs is a large gathering place with wet bar, fireplace, a foos ball game and ping pong table.  The laundry facilities are also located in the clubhouse.

Inside this condo in Silverthorne are 2 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms.  

A spacious condo in Silverthorne with plenty of space for everyone to congregate.  A wood buring fireplace quickly takes the chill off on those cold nights.  Out the sliding glass door are amazing views across the wetlands of Peak One and Buffalo Mountain.  The kitchen is still part of the living space although it’s tucked back out of the way.  A large bar area and dining room allow everyone to comfortably pull up a chair and have a meal.  Nearly 900 square feet easily makes roomy and comfortable accomodations for six adults.  The bedrooms are at separate ends of the condo allowing for maximum privacy.  The master bedroom and bathroom are user friendly with the vanity and sink hidden from the bedroom behind a wall.  A separate door will close off the bathtub with shower and toilet when extra privacy is required.  A second full bathroom is an added convenience for you and your guests.

From the parking lot this first floor Snowscape condo is easily accessed, just half a flight down to the front door.  The slope of the land allows the back deck to be up off the ground and the views to be so much better than you would expect from most ground floor condos.  Open space behind this Silverthorne condo keeps additional buildings from being built that could possibly hinder these amazing views. 

have easy access to this trail as it leaves from the upper reaches of their subdiviisons.  The main trailhead is at the top of Willowbrook, and from there to Willow lakes is about 5 miles.  With side trips to the other Willow lakes and Salmon lake, you can extend it to just over 13 miles round trip, as we did.   The Summit County Hiker, my hiking bible, shows it as a “most difficult” trail.  I scoffed for the first 3 miles, as I decided that it must be rated that way because of the length of it.  However, after mile 3, the trail steepens and is a long slog from there almost to the lakes.  Then there is a little up and down getting to the lakes themselves.  I dislike going downhill while hiking out because it means uphill on the way back, when it should be easy all the way home! 

We took the side trip to Salmon lake and it was worth it.  The trail sign has an arrow pointing UP to Salmon lakes, and it is right; more up and over a point of land, then down the other side to the valley with the lake in it.  A pretty lake though, worth the extra mile or so. 

The best part of the hike was from the Salmon trail turnoff to Willow lakes.  You cross lots of creeks and wetlands getting to the chain of little lakes, and the wildflowers were incredible!  We saw Monkshood, Elephant head, Kings crown, Queens crown, Chiming bells, Paintbrush and Jacobs ladder, to mention only a few.  Once there, you are in a little valley with the jagged edge of the Zodiac Ridge above.  We noticed a sign asking that we please not feed the goats, so we looked around hopefully for them, but didn’t see any.  It was the perfect rocky kind of environment they like, but all we saw were a marmot and squirrels, with pika squeaking out their alarm calls as background noise.   Along the way you have some great views of Buffalo, Red Mountain, Thorn, and what I think is Willow Peak (the one attached to the Thorn.) The sky clouded up as we headed back,and we ended up with rain gear on, but no thunder nearby. 

This hike took us 8 hours, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.  Allow plenty of time to explore and of course, you will want a lunch stop.  It is one of the best hikes I have done, and we have hiked a lot of Summit County trails.  It is a great combination of length, elevation gain, and the rewards of the hike; views and wildflowers. 

Another blog post you might enjoy is one (with photos of the mountain goats) about our hike on Buffalo Mountain.

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when the owners price them realistically came this week as we put four of our listings under contract.  Even though inventories are at the highest level they have been in several years, when priced right, homes and condos still sell.  This home was only 18 days from listing to closing, as we had a cash buyer wanting to close quickly, and a Seller willing to discount a little more in order to do so.  It sold for 93% of the last sale of a similar duplex, but the last one had very nice views, was fully furnished and in excellent condition.  Our listing had good views but was vacant, in desperate need of paint inside and out, and was sold as-is.  The Seller needed a quick sale and priced it accordingly.  It worked and he was very happy with the price he got. 

Another of the Silverthorne homes we had listed

is in a subdivision with 9 other similar homes already listed.  We were number 10.  How do you get to be first in line when you start out in the #10 position?  You do it by being a better value than the rest.  That does not necessarily mean pricing under the market however.  It does mean pricing at the market, having great curb appeal and being clean, neat and attractive inside.  It sold so quickly that the Seller only came off the list price by $400, but the Buyer is thrilled to have such a nice home at a fair price.  We could have priced $20,000 higher, waited 3 or 4 months, reduced the price and perhaps sold at a considerable discount off that price.  These days, it is all about pricing strategy. 

The third home was a single family home in Silverthorne

in the $800-900,000 price range.   This photo is of a home in a similar price range, but is not the same one.  We researched the market very carefully as this price range often takes a while to sell.  The home was prepared nicely by the Sellers and with the unique mountain touches they had added to the log home, it went under contract within two months at very close to the asking price.  It is all about value.  Buyers today often will “lowball” just to give it a try and see what happens, hoping they have found a distressed Seller.  When they find it is not the case, if they can see the value in the property, they will negotiate with the Seller until reaching a price that satisfies everyone.  That price is the fair market value of the home. 

As I write this, the Summit County MLS system is at 1700 active listings.  Last year at this time we had around 800-900 homes for sale.  The market has definitely turned, but that is not to say that nothing is selling!  It is, and we have proof! 

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For information on Summit County neighborhoods, read about Mesa Cortina in Silverthorne, Wooden Canoe at Waterdance in Frisco, or a funky Frisco neighborhood, Bills Ranch.

You’ll be able enjoy views of Lake Dillon and snow-capped mountains from the home you build on this premium lot in Mesa Cortina.  At .34 acres you have plenty of room to create the mountain home of your dreams on a private building site off a paved, county maintained road.  National Forest lands border the community allowing more opportunity for wildlife sightings and recreational activities close to home.  In fact, moose and fox are known to frequent the area.  The lot sits up above the road, rising steeply for a short distance before leveling off.  The lake and mountain views should be even better from a raised deck when a home is built on it.

Finding land is becoming more and more difficult.  Don’t miss your opportunity to get a fantastic Mesa Cortina lot before it’s too late.

It’s hard to beat the fabulous location of this condo in Frisco.  Backing to Ten Mile Creek you can enjoy the sounds of the river through open windows or off your second floor deck.  Windows line the back wall allowing you to enjoy this private, serene setting to it’s fullest.  Only a block off Main Street in Frisco you are close to a variety of town activites, and only a short drive or bus ride to Copper Mountain or any of the area ski slopes.  

Nearly 1300 square feet with two bedrooms plus a spacious loft give you ample space to congregate as well as plenty of room for at least eight adults to sleep comfortably.  Vaulted ceilings enhance the feeling of spaciousness and generous windows keep it light and bright.  As the days get increasingly cooler you’ll find keeping warm has never been easier.  Just throw a couple of logs into the stove and it will warm the entire condo quickly.  Both bedrooms are located at the other end of the condo from the stove making it possible to be warm all evening but keeping the bedrooms cool enough to sleep comfortably.  New carpet and fresh paint add to your enjoyment of this fantastic condo on the river.

Another benefit of this Frisco condo on the river is that there’s no need to scrape the snow off of your car every morning you stay here.  A private, detached one car garage is conveniently located at the bottom of the steps to your front door.  Just off to the side is the common hot tub ready to make the most of your time in Frisco. 

This condo on the river in Frisco has all the necessary elements to enhance your Summit County experience to the fullest.

However, there is always payback.  When Uncle Sam offers one group of people a tax break, someone has to pay for it, and in this case, the second home owner will be part of it.  There used to be a big loophole in the tax law that allowed people doing a 1031 tax deferred exchange out of an investment property to buy a property that they might like to live in permanently, rent it for a while, and then turn it into their permanent primary residence when they retired.  That loophole was tightened up recently when new legislation was passed mandating that you had to have owned the home for at least five years and live in it for two of the five years before selling.  Now according to Kay Bell, who writes the blog mentioned above,

…..under the new law, sellers will not be able to exclude gain for those times that the property was not used as the owner’s main residence, for example, when it was used as a rental or vacation property. This provision will affect homes sold on Jan. 1, 2009, and thereafter.

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Even with 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms this Silverthorne home has plenty of living space to keep everybody comfortable.  A focal point of the spacious living room is the gas fireplace.  Large river rock rises from floor to ceiling drawing your eye upwards toward the vaulted ceiling.  Large beams are functional while adding a little extra charisma to the home.  Numerous large windows flood the living room with light.  This open and airy room is the place everyone gravitates to; it’s the place to be.  The kitchen, while still feeling like part of the living space is nicely tucked back out of the way, keeping any mess out of sight.  A small built in desk makes a great spot to pay the bills or surf the internet with ease.  The hardwood kitchen floor allows a chair to roll conveniently under the desk and out of the way.  From the dining room a patio door takes you out to a private deck.  You’re sure to be grilling every meal possible and dining on the deck all summer long.  Put your worries aside out here with a fenced back yard to keep pets and kids safe and secure.  Also on the main floor is the laundry room, a three-quarter bath and one bedroom.  This is the perfect bedroom for anyone that may have trouble climbing stairs daily, although other possible uses are nearly endless.  Imagine it as an office, a work out room, or den. 

The upper level of this home in Silverthorne is the master bedroom with a walk-in closet and a five piece bath complete with a jetted tub, corner shower and double sinks.  Two more bedrooms and a full bathroom complete the upper level.  The unusual shape of these two bedrooms is just different enough to add a touch of flair without overdoing it.  Ceiling fans keep all the upstairs bedrooms cool in the summer practically ensuring you’ll have a good nights sleep every night.

This Silverthorne home in Willowbrook Meadows is located north of I-70 on Highway 9 in Silverthorne.  

Close to several shopping centers, the Silverthorne recreation center and several parks.  At the entrance to the neighborhood is Trent Park.  A cute park that has a playground, tennis courts, baseball diamond and even a fishing pond.  From this home in Silverthorne you are within 45 minutes of any of Summit County’s four ski resorts, within twenty minutes of two reservoirs, close to miles of bike trails, hiking trails and nearly endless recreational opportunities.    

With the slowdown in the market in the last few months, come some opportunities.  We have four condominiums in Frisco recently listed, all priced under $400,000.  All four are very different from each other, so here is a quick rundown of the highlights of each of them.

204 Meadow Creek Villa, $350,000. 

A Frisco condo with two bedrooms and  two baths, over 1000 sq ft.  It is in an older building, but older buildings often have the best locations, and that is the case here. the living room and dining room both have large windows to take advantage of the scenery.    The views over the wetlands and Lake Dillon are awesome! 

The property has been rented by the owners themselves, taking advantage of websites and a local cleaning company to do it very successfully.  They are willing to include all the “how to” information with the sale.  A one car garage with extra storage space is also included.  The condo is being sold furnished.

 205B Ten Mile Island, $369,000

A three bedroom Frisco condo with flexibility.  The third bedroom is currently used as a den, enlarging the living room.  At night time, the folding wall is drawn across, and it becomes a bedroom with direct access to a bathroom.  If you prefer to hear the river rather than looking at the lake, this is the second home for you.  The deck overlooks a branch of Ten Mile Creek, and the area is heavily wooded, adding to the privacy.   Ten Mile Island has a great clubhouse, with swimming pool, hot tub and laundry facilities.  One block from Main Street, it allows you to enjoy all Frisco’s events, dining and shopping, leaving the car at home. 

418F, Frisco Bay Townhomes $383,000

New carpet, tile and appliances refresh this Frisco townhome with three full bedrooms and great space for plenty of people.  It is very suitable as either a full time home or a second home as it comes with a washer/dryer and a garage, two necessities for full time living.  An enlarged deck with gas stubbed in for a grill allows for summer barbeques.  Centrally located, this Frisco Townhome is no more than 20 minutes from four major ski resorts. 

730B Lagoon condominiums  $309,900

A recent renovation added a new jetted tub to this one bedroom, one bath condo in Lagoon townhomes.  The extra large garage with a locking storage room in it is a hard to find feature of this home.  The owner has been very successful renting it himself, using the internet to do so.  It is a great way to bring in enough rental income to help pay the monthly dues and utility costs when you are not using it yourself.  Lagoon has a complete set of amenities, with pool, hot tubs, tennis courts, a raquetball court and a large party room that is available to owners and guests.  For more on Lagoon, the homes association and their website, read my blog post on Lagoon Townhomes. 

These condos in Frisco are just a few of the condos currently available for sale in Frisco.  To see everything available, access all the Summit County MLS listings on our website.  For more about the Summit County towns and the lifestyle, check out our “resource” section.

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