Teton Valley Real Estate

Is This a Good Time to Buy Real Estate

tayson — Wed, 01 May 2013 16:32:49 +0000

So many Americans are feeling the panic of wondering if they should buy real estate now or not. There are all kinds of news reports that are talking about the Fed getting ready to raise interest rates. Well, there are a few steps that people can take to decide if it is the right time for them to buy real estate.

Calm down. The very first thing that people need to do is to take a deep breath and a step back. They do not need to feel like they need to act immediately if they do not want to miss the chance of having an extremely low interest rate on their mortgage. The Fed wants to help to stabilize the economy. They do not want to risk hurting all of the growth that has happened by raising the interest rates too fast. So it is a plan for the future, but not something that is going to happen overnight. People need to try to relax and make a smart choice, not a panicked one.
Then people need to decide if they are really ready to be home owners. They need to figure out if they can really afford to own their own place. When renting people will always have the landlord to lean back on if anything breaks or stops working. When they are owners then they will have to be their own financial backers. They will have no one to go to if the home needs repairs or replacements. So they need to be totally ready to own a home. Again, this can’t be a quick decision based on the panic to buy with low interest rates. It needs to be an educated choice based on the real desire to own a home.
Once people have decided if they are really ready to own a home then they will need to make sure that they have money for the down payment. They will want to try to have at least five percent of how much they will be planning on spending on the house. Some people try to save up a bigger down payment because it will make their monthly mortgage payment smaller. While that is a good goal, people need to remember that they will save a ton of money on interest right now, so it is alright if their payments are a little more. At least almost all of the money will be going towards the mortgage and not towards interest.

When people realize that they are ready to buy a house, meaning that they are ready to be responsible and that they are ready to spend money on the down payment, then they should get going right away. They want to make sure to buy before the interest rates go up next year. They need to realize that they could literally save thousands of dollars over the years when they are not paying so much towards the interest on their mortgage payments.

How Important Are Interest Rates?

tayson — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 21:17:29 +0000

While much of the country is talking about the possibility of the Fed increasing interest rates. Their current policies are trying to keep all of their short-term interest rates very close to zero. Then they are also trying to buy mortgage-backed securities while they are trying to get all long-term rates lower as well. When it comes to long-term rates they are specifically trying to get mortgage rates lower. They are trying to keep the interest rates down because of how that will continue to benefit the economy of this country.

Now, to some people that is honestly a bunch of gibberish. They do not understand the policies and they also may not be able to see how it will benefit them. A lot of the changes that are made in higher government can seem confusing to a lot of people, especially as they continue to live their lives the same that they always have. But there are some of these policies that can directly affect people in their everyday lives. So hopefully this article will help people to understand that a little better.

Everyone knows that when they get a loan they get an interest rate with it. People can shop around for different interest rates, but most people just take what is offered to them. They will think that something like eight percent does not sound like a lot. However, with some loans, the difference between eight percent interest and almost zero percent interest could be hundreds of dollars a month. People who have credit cards can have interest rates that are even higher. They could have up to eighteen percent interest. Then they get caught in a cycle where they pay hundreds of dollars on their card each month but they are only paying off a small amount on the total balance.

So the Fed wants to help the economy get more stable. They want the housing market to get better and for home sales to grow. They want to help not only the country to get out of debt, they want to help people get out of debt. They want to help the employment rate to go up. These are all just part of the goals that they would like to help out with. People who do not understand what this group does just needs to know that they have the best interests of the people at heart.

So people need to understand that the low interest rates offered currently by the Fed are to try to help people. If everyone could save hundreds of dollars each month that would normally have been going to interest then they can put that money where they need it. They can get their debt paid down faster and they can also save money faster for the things that they need. They can save up quickly for a down payment and also be able to buy a house while the interest rates on mortgage loans are so low. So interest rates are definitely important.

Rocky Creek Ranch – Price Reduced

tayson — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 01:45:43 +0000

Rocky Creek Ranch – In the heart of Henderson Canyon, now 2.7m.

Website changes coming your way!

tayson — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 00:57:03 +0000

We thank those of you who use our free property search & website features. We always have dedicated agents ready to serve you anytime. Feel free to contact us directly, or choose an agent from “Our Agents” Page in the home screen.

TVR will be making some subtle, and some great changes to the website you know and love. (We hope) Be looking forward to these changes soon:

MAP SEARCH!
The “Blog” logo on the home page will be replaced with a new interactive map search feature that will display every listing in the area – from West WY, to Alpine, to Driggs. DON’T WORRY! The blog will still be available on the navigation menu up top.

Live Chat – Always Online (Almost)
Soon (if not by the time you read this) you will be able to chat live with a local TVR agent. Message stream to phones and computers, so we’re usually online. Our beta testing has been a success.

“Drop-Down” Search Improved
Some of you Jackson searchers noticed some missing listings – no more. All listings available in the MLS will be displayed accurately. Also, Star Valley & Lincoln County will have a dedicated search, as well as Alta, WY now separated from the Driggs search.

Thinking of listing your property with TVR?
The “List your property” area of our site (Under “Our Services”) will soon provide real constantly updated data on current market statistics, pulled directly from the Teton MLS database, which serves Jackson Hole, Lincoln County, Teton Valley & more.

New Listing & Price Reduction E-Alerts!!!
TVR will now be offering the MOST ACCURATE & UP-TO-DATE new listing & price reduction email alert system for properties that meet your criteria. Whether you are only interested in Bank Owned, Short-Sale, under a certain price point, over a certain number of bedrooms (the list goes on) you will be the first to know. It will be easy, free, and you can unsubscribe anytime with the click of a mouse.

We’ll also be making some minor tweaks on colors, & other things to keep things looking “Fresh” but we’re not changing enough so you have to relearn our site. Search away, and we’ll be here for you when you are ready to list, buy, or just need help with anything in the area. Even if you have no intention of selling, we are happy to provide data about a property, or your property.

From the team at Teton Valley Realty – “Local Brokerage, National Results”

Investors! You may be missing your opportunity!

tayson — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 17:00:12 +0000

Teton Valley is beginning to see a new page of it's real estate market. The hearing for 30 residential lots on approximately 98 acres located on the West Side of Teton Valley is October 11th. An incomplete subdivision on Ski Hill Road is requesting approval for 11 lots is shortly thereafter. That being said, the idea that there is money to be made is becoming apparent. Several opportunities have surfaced as of late, and with this new mindset & confidence level, it may be time to strike. A few opportunities below:

Buffalo Valley – 24 Condos at 1.4 million.

24 Condos in 6 buildings. Almost all units are rented. This is an extremely rare opportunity.

Leigh Meadows – 22 1.3 acre premium building sites, Just $500,000.00

Leigh Meadows is a fully completed Planned Unit Development, consisting of 66 acres, 22 1.3 acre lots, of which 18 are being sold in bulk. These lots are build ready, governed by recorded CCR's and Design Guidelines & established POA. Project includes 50% open space which is both landscaped with berm, trees, drip irrigation system, 10 enormous, lined & circulating ponds, masonry and treated fence entry, installed underground utilities with fiber optic conduit in place to each lot. All lots overlook large,deep,circulating ponds & open space to Teton view corridor. First 3 lots sold for $180K in 2007, prior to development completion.

Redtail Subdivision – 49 Premium Ski Hill Road Lots priced at 1.35 Million

The offering includes 49 lots that average .55 acres. The total area of the subdivision is 105 acres with 55 acres being open space. Teton Creek flows through the property with paved roads throughout.

Contact us today for other opportunities!

-Teton Valley Realty

Grand Tetons

tayson — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 16:52:58 +0000

Take a look at what USA TODAY is saying about the Tetons!

No matter how you arrive at the gateway to Grand Teton National Park, at some point the massive snow-covered peaks of what the early French voyageurs called les Trois Tetons will dramatically appear, jutting toward the sky from the valley known as Jackson Hole.

President Calvin Coolidge signed the bill creating a 96,000-acre park, which encompassed only the Teton Range and six glacial lakes at the foot of those peaks, in 1929. Expanding park protection to include the valley floor was not completed until 1950.

President Calvin Coolidge signed the bill creating a 96,000-acre park, which encompassed only the Teton Range and six glacial lakes at the foot of those peaks, in 1929. Expanding park protection to include the valley floor was not completed until 1950.

President Calvin Coolidge signed the bill creating a 96,000-acre park, which encompassed only the Teton Range and six glacial lakes at the foot of those peaks, in 1929. Expanding park protection to include the valley floor was not completed until 1950.
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You’ll recognize the spires of Grand Teton, Middle Teton and South Teton — or “three breasts,” as the cheeky French explorers and fur trappers once called them — by their distinct jagged peaks and steep snow-and-ice-filled gorges known as couloirs.

The mountains of the Teton Range are among the most spectacular in the Northern Rockies. Just a few miles north of the resort town of Jackson, Wyo., Grand Teton National Park is the little sister to America’s first national park, Yellowstone. The parks are connected by a 27-mile-long parkway named for John D. Rockefeller Jr. along a 24,000-acre stretch acting as an extension to Grand Teton.

Grand Teton is about a tenth of the size of Yellowstone, which at 2.2 million acres is almost impossible to explore in a single visit. The smaller of the two parks, with its easy access and more intimate size, makes up for its lesser acreage in abundant, accessible recreational opportunities, according to longtime park employee Jackie Skaggs, who arrived in 1976 to work for one of the park’s concessionaires and never left.

Now the park’s public affairs officer, Skaggs says the combination of scenery, wildlife and recreational opportunities — from hiking to climbing to kayaking to wildlife viewing — make Grand Teton and the parkway an ideal destination for sightseers and adventurers.

“The rugged Teton Range is the Swiss Alps of North America,” Skaggs said. “We have charismatic wildlife that range from something like a little pika in the talus slopes in the Teton canyons to the large bison, elk and grizzly bears on the sagebrush flats.”

The park’s massive peaks, the highest of which rises to 13,770 feet, beckon world-class climbers and adventurers. With more than 20 miles of paved pathways, hundreds of miles of hiking trails, fantastic fishing opportunities and more than 1,000 front-country campsites, Grand Teton appeals to casual vacationers as well as hard-core thrill seekers.

“There is a lot of juxtaposition in the landscape because the mountains are all of the sudden just there, and they are just so big and overwhelming,” said Lori Breisinger, of Greensburg, Pa., who visited last June with boyfriend Morgan Smith, of Helena, Mont.

Smith said the towering mountains and gorgeous sunsets reflecting across the mirror-like surface of Jenny Lake created a postcard-like memory of a trip he’ll never forget.

“It’s a pretty dramatic backdrop for sleeping in a tent next to your car,” Smith said.

What makes Grand Teton special, the couple said, is the relative ease in which you can lose crowds and experience the wonderment and solitude of the wilderness on a trail.

“You can pretty quickly get into a place where you feel like you’re really deep in the wilderness,” Breisinger said.

On a hike in Cascade Canyon, a few miles past popular Inspiration Point on their way to the high alpine Lake Solitude, Breisinger and Smith watched a bull moose graze on aquatic vegetation in a creek-side pond. Farther along, they spotted a cow moose with her calf. “The wilderness is so intimate in Grand Teton,” Smith said.

Skaggs said the best time to visit is in fall when the park comes alive with wildlife preparing for winter. “You’ll hear elk bugling, geese getting together as they prepare to fly south,” she said.

If camping in chilly weather doesn’t suit you, Skaggs noted the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce holds its Fall Arts Festival each September. “You can enjoy a long hike in the park during the day and then go on a gallery walk in Jackson in the evening,” she said.

About the park

History: Philanthropist and Standard Oil fortune heir John D. Rockefeller Jr., after visiting the then-96,000-acre Teton National Park in the 1920s, began buying private land in the Jackson Hole valley with the intention of turning it over to the National Park Service to expand the park. Local opposition and congressional efforts to stop the expansion stalled Rockefeller’s plan until the 1940s, when President Franklin Roosevelt used the Antiquities Act to establish the Jackson Hole National Monument with land that Rockefeller had acquired in addition to federal Forest Service Land. The monument and park were combined in 1950.

When visiting: Address: Grand Teton National Park, Moose, Wyo. 83012. Visitor info: 307-739-3300.

Of note: At less than 10 million years old, Teton Range is the youngest mountain range in the Rocky Mountains. The Tetons continue to rise at a rate of about 4.5 inches every 100 years.

Community Events: 4th of July

mandy — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 20:49:52 +0000

Once again summer is here in Teton Valley. With exceptionally warm weather, and no shortage of sunny days, I can't help but wonder if summer is really here to stay. I remember a few years of super-rainy weather in June, so fingers crossed, this is it! There are so many amazing things happening in Teton Valley this summer; here are a few of them!

Celebrate America: Huntsman Springs annual Independence Day Celebrations are on June 30, 2012. I know it's technically June, but it's when Huntsman's kick off celebrations. With events all day, including a Hypnotist, Comedian/Magician, BMX bike show, and air show; not to mention bounce houses, classic car show, bounce houses and more, this free event is one you don't want to miss.

Figure 8 Races: Located at the Teton County Fairgrounds on July 1, 2012. The Firgure 8 Races are a fun event! We've been attending for the past few years, and every year we enjoy them more. It's during the day this time, so hopefully it will be warm (not sweltering) and enjoyable for all!

Teton Valley Balloon Rally: Located at the Teton County Fairgrounds from 6:00 to 8:30am July 2-4. You can shell out the cash to ride in one, or watch them. Breakfast will also be available. I have to admit that my house is usually all sorts of exciting at about 8:00 or so, because the balloons usually land somewhere near our house. Kudos to the drivers though, no insurance claims yet. This year there's also an evening glow from 6:30 to 9:30 on the 3rd.

Parade: The 4th of July parade has traditionally taken place on Main Street in Victor, usually around 10:00 am. For some reason, I can't find the right information now, I'll update this post as it becomes available.

Rodeo: What Independence Day Celebration wouldn't be complete without a Rodeo? I guess we wouldn't know, because we've got one! Teton County Fairgrounds, usually about 7:00 pm, July 4th. I'll post more solid information as I know.

Music on Main: Starting at the end of June, for 8 weeks, Music on Main in Victor will entertain families for free every Thursday night. Don't miss out! Blitzen Trapper will end our festivities on July 5.

Post by: Mandy Rockefeller, Associate Broker, REALTOR, GRI, SFR, ABR

Upgrades that can help sell your home.

tayson — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 21:43:13 +0000

2011-12 Cost vs. Value: Big-Bang Remodeling Projects

Find out which remodeling projects will provide the biggest bang for your buck this year, according to Remodeling magazine.

March 2012 | By Erica Christoffer

Optimizing the use of space in a home will not only attract buyers but also give sellers more bang for their buck, according to Remodeling’s “2011–12 Cost vs. Value Report,” conducted in cooperation with REALTOR® Magazine and NAR’s HouseLogic.com.

An attic bedroom addition costing $50,148 was expected to recoup 72.5 percent of the cost nationally—inching up 0.3 percent from the 2010–11 report. The minor kitchen remodel also fared well, returning an estimated 72.1 percent of the nearly $20,000 job cost.

The report looks at the estimated cost and expected resale return of 35 midrange and upscale remodeling projects in 80 markets. The estimated costs and returns were derived from a survey of more than 3,000 REALTORS® conducted last summer. As in past years, REALTORS® picked exterior projects to recoup the most at resale. Among those, new fiber-cement siding was expected to provide the highest return, recouping an estimated 78 percent of the $13,461 cost.

Top 6 Returns

Siding Replacement (upscale) – fiber-cement
Job Cost: $13,461
Resale Value: $10,493
Cost Recouped: 78%

Entry Door Replacement – steel
Job Cost: $1,238
Resale Value: $903
Cost Recouped: 73%

Attic Bedroom Addition
Job Cost: $50,148
Resale Value: $36,346
Cost Recouped: 72.5%

Kitchen: Minor Remodel
Job Cost: $19,588
Resale Value: $14,120
Cost Recouped: 72.1%

Garage Door Replacement
Job Cost: $1,512
Resale Value: $1,087
Cost Recouped: 71.9%

Garage Door Replacement (upscale)
Job Cost: $2,994
Resale Value: $2,129
Cost Recouped: 71.1%

Remodeling’s2011-12 Cost vs. Value Report ©2011 by Hanley Wood, LLC. Republication or redissemination of the Report is expressly prohibited without written permission of Hanley Wood, LLC.“Cost vs. Value” is a registered trademark of Hanley Wood, LLC.Visit www.costvsvalue.com for information on all 35 projects. There, you can also download a free PDF providing information on average cost and resale value nationally, regionally, and in a specific market. Estimates for construction costs were compiled by HomeTech Publishing.

Visit HouseLogic.com for great remodeling and home maintenance advice.

Spring Is Here in Teton Valley!

bill — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 18:20:58 +0000

With the dog days of winter fading here in Teton Valley (we hope!), and the warmer weather aroud the corner, it's time to take a look at the land segment of the real estate market.

As the foreclosure and REO home segment begins to slow down, the inventory of homes available is beginning to shrink. In the last 24 months , Teton Valley brokers have sold about 420 residential single family homes, condos, and townhomes. In that same timeframe, only 110 pieces of land have been sold. This includes all resort and subdivision lots, county acreages, and ranch land. Nearly a 4 to 1 ratio between residential and vacant land.

Between 4/1/2004 and 4/1/2008 almost 2400 land parcels were sold in Teton Valley, to give you an idea of the land rush that took place here!

Now, land values are at prices not seen since the early 2000's, and if you don't find the perfect home currently listed, it's a great time think about a lot or vacant land purchase. The differnent land options can seem daunting, when there are so many to choose from, but our agents here at Teton Valley Realty are experts in helping you narrow down your options and providing listings that match your 'wish list'. Whether it's the perfect Teton view, wooded location, or resort site, there is something for everyone, and everyone's budget!

As they say, "A Change Is In The Air", both literally, and in the current real estate market. If you were ever thinking about owning a piece of this beautiful area, there hasn't been as good a time as the present in nearly a decade. Let us help you make that possible.

New Listing – Rocky Creek Ranch

tayson — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 19:40:28 +0000

Rocky Creek Ranch

Once in a great while, an exclusive, once in a lifetime real estate opportunity comes available. Sometimes, it's a great value, or an impressive view. When this property came available for sale 15 years ago, the Owner's of Rocky Creek Ranch knew this property was something special. They saw an opportunity for the grandest home sites, recreation, privacy, exclusivity, and serenity. They purchased the acreage and installed a volume of quality improvements, including barn with guest quarters, large pond, tennis court, heated paddle tennis court, trap range with shooting deck, guest house, stunning primary home site, roads, trails, fences and voluminous utilities.

In negotiating the purchase, they worked with Broker Mark Rockefeller of Teton Valley Realty to impose deed restrictions on adjoining hilltops – ensuring their amazing Teton Views would never have visible homes in the view corridor. The acquisition was deeded into three 20 acre and one 5 acre parcels, adding value, benefiting future liquidity, and allowing for 4 primary residences with guest house and accessory structures, as well as Teton Views, with each parcel.

As you approach the first landmark turning off Henderson Canyon Road, you encounter an attractive, unique barn providing large storage for maintenance equipment, tractor, horse stalls, and recreation vehicles. The barn also features 2160 sq' of livable space above. It becomes apparent that "Barn" is an understatement, as you cast your gaze on the field of lupine wild flowers, trout stocked pond, hand crafted bridge and various meandering trails that make you feel as if you are part of a fairytale – which is perhaps why this property has been a popular sought after destination for weddings, photographers, and artists.

Continue up the well maintained winding drive, and enjoy the breathtaking forest views and wildlife. Along the way, you will pass an elevated meadow complete with a heated paddle tennis court and warming cabin. No detail here is overlooked. A restroom is strategically disguised as an old saloon out-house. The winding paths are apparent here, faintly visible through the trees. The meadow could also provide an incredible home site with Teton Views.

Crest the first gradual s-curve climb and prepare yourself for breathtaking views. Here, dusk presents a natural light show as the sun sets over the Grand Teton. This appears to be the 20 acre home site of your dreams, though arguably third to those following. The site is flexible enough to be a cabin site, but more likely a grand home site, towering over the valley below. The landscape here suggests yet another pond on the ledge beneath the site, almost as if it were spilling off the edge, into the canyon below.

Moving upgrade, after a peaceful tour of the second 20 acre site, you can almost feel the air thinning as the drive climbs to the final major landmark of this incredible property. The hilltop opens and the 1918 square foot guest cabin comes into view. This fourth site features a fenced tennis court, a detached garage, and a trap range with a shooting deck that extends high over the wooded National Forest below. The Cabin features quality furnishings, timbered ceilings, river rock fireplace, abundant windows and covered decks, with western decor throughout, 2 bedrooms and bathrooms. The cabin blends in with the conifer and aspen covered landscape – as if it is one with the forest. Looking outside to varied views, you will never feel as free as this anywhere else in the world, across the rolling, wooded hills to the valley below, and the prominent Teton Mountain Range abroad.

Offered Exclusively by Teton Valley Realty at $2,900,000 – Contact Mark 208-351-1411 or Tayson 208-709-1333