…By way of Boston. I’m attending the National Association of Realtors annual convention, where I’ll have the opportunity to network with 20,000 other Realtors from all over the world. I always enjoy these conventions because I’m able to kill two birds with one stone. First of all, I get to learn about the latest tricks of the trade and all the current issues in the real estate world. Second, I’m able to take a working vacation and get out of Dodge for awhile. I always come home with a few new ideas and a refreshed, open mind. At 70 years old, this is a way for me to travel as if I were retired, but still stay active doing the work I love. I hope to work this way for many more years to come.
Some good news from home is that Wolf Creek Ski Area opened early this year on October 6, and I understand they just received 14 inches of new snow a few days ago. Rumor has it that we may be going through an El Nino year, which means more snow and milder temperatures for the next couple of months. This would be great news. So far, 2018 is our second driest year on record, and we’ve got a lot of catching up to do.
Another local item I’d like to discuss is a problem currently under consideration by the Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners. The problem is that a large number of lots in the county were improperly subdivided at their original creation, and are now in a sort of legal limbo. The exact extent of the problem is not clear to me at the moment, but I am told that there are somewhere between 500 and 900 pieces of property involved. Unfortunately, you may own one of these parcels and not even be aware that you have a problem. The issue usually comes to light when the owner applies for a building permit or sells the property, at which point the county will put a hold on everything until the legal issues can be resolved.
You may now be wondering if you might own one of these properties. I am not aware of any master list where you can go to check, but in general, anything located within the PLPOA should be fine. Lots located in the major subdivisions outside of PLPOA (such as Loma Linda and Timber Ridge) should be fine as well. Beyond that, I can’t say for sure. You would likely need to contact the county to get a decisive answer.
Until recently, the county has been dealing with these properties on a case-by-case basis. The process of bringing these properties into compliance can be expensive and time-consuming, both for the property owner and for county staff. County officials are currently discussing a plan to bring the entire collection of improperly divided parcels back into compliance, all at once. The plan involves a one-year amnesty program where all owners of improperly divided parcels would be guaranteed a return to compliance, as long as they complete a given set of tasks and provide all the necessary paperwork and documentation.
You can read the County’s current proposed solution HERE.
Some of us in the local real estate community are concerned that the county’s proposed solution is still too complicated. It may be unrealistic to expect the County Planning Office to process up to 900 applications in any reasonable amount of time. Steve Van Horn of High Country Title has written a very concise letter outlining these concerns and making some proposed solutions of his own. I support Steve’s view of the issue.
You can read Steve Van Horn’s letter to the County Commissioners HERE.
These issues and concerns will be discussed at several upcoming meetings. I hope that the County and the real estate community are able to work together to come up with a win-win solution that works for everyone involved. I’ll do my best to keep you informed as the issue progresses. If you have any questions in the meantime, please give me a call.
Now for the latest real estate news. After a strong September, October numbers were down slightly due to a dip in land sales. November looks to be a stronger month, as we have a lot of pending sales in the hopper. Take a look at these charts to see what I mean.
I’d like to take a step back for a minute and look at some stats in the longer term. Instead of simple year-over-year statistics, let’s zoom out and look at 2015 compared to today.
By looking at numbers from three years ago, it is easier to see the long term trends. Sales and prices are up across the board. Inventory numbers are down significantly. As I gaze into my crystal ball and try to think about what the market will look like another three years in the future, I expect that these trends will continue.
GRI, CRS
2011 & 2014 Realtor of the Year
Phone (970) 731-4065
Fax (970) 731-4068
Cell (970) 946-3856
Email: [email protected]
