Benson Realty Crested Butte433 Sixth Street | P.O. Box 210
Crested Butte, CO 81224
800.249.6653 Toll Free
970.349.6653 Local
info@bensonsothebysrealty.com

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The Business of Extraordinary Living

Wednesday, August 11th, 2010

The newest release for The Business of Extraordinary Living, the micro-site on WSJ.com, is available now by clicking here. 

In this latest issue articles include:

One of the most exciting things in this issue is the Lifestyle Comparison – Mountain on the Insights tab. It compares a great property listed by Cathy Benson and Karen Redden on 757 Ridge Road, Crested Butte  to a home in Sandpoint, Idaho.  Of course we believe that there is no comparison that 757 Ridge Road is an excellent property with views that literally go on for miles and miles. 

As a matter of fact 757 Ridge Road is such a great property that it just recently went under contract and is slated to close next month.

Click here for more information about 757 Ridge Road.

757 Ridge Road

757 Ridge Road Views

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July Newsletter with Market Update

Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010

For anybody who hasn’t had the joy of reading our latest newsletter, the newsletter is now posted online.  One of the most useful tools in the July newsletter are the market updates through June 2010.  Also included is some good news about the market such as our market is up 28% in the first half of 2009 compared to 2010.  All of the same material you can expect from our newsletter is also included such as upcoming events, featured properties, related news articles and the electronic magazine rack with our summer real estate guide included.

Click Here to View Newsletter

Benson-Sothebys-International-Realty-July-2010-Newsletter

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Reside Magazine | Spring 2010 Edition

Friday, April 30th, 2010

Sotheby’s International Realty magazine Reside has just been published in print and online editions.  If you would like a print copy stop by our office at 433 Sixth Street, Crested Butte as we should have copies by the middle of May or you can view the online version here.

From Sotheby’s International Realty member site:
“This issue welcomes readers with one of our most captivating covers yet. Our cover home is a sprawling Colorado estate, built around 40 mesquite doors reclaimed from Mexico, South America and Morocco. Our feature article takes readers through some of our network’s most spectacular equestrian estates, while providing insight on how to select the perfect property for horse enthusiasts. Also featured is Deepwater, a regal yet charming Mediterranean style home on the shores of Bermuda. With over 40 pages of International listings in the Property Gallery, this issue continues to demonstrate the power and global presence of the Sotheby’s International Realty Network.”

reside-magazine-sothebys-international-realty

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When is the right time to buy?

Monday, April 19th, 2010

When is the time to buy has always been one of the most important questions in the purchase of any real estate transaction.  Are prices at the bottom?  Do I wait thinking that prices are going lower?  What if I wait too long and miss the bottom?  All of these questions can make for quite a confusing decision on your next purchase.   Ideally you would like to know exactly when the bottom of the real estate market is so you can make your purchase with the hopes of the market rebounding.  This way you could build equity when market prices rise.

Many people believe we could be at the bottom right now, with this being the best time to buy a home.  Nearly two-thirds of Americans think the time is right to buy a house, with a majority believing prices will be the same or higher over the next year, according to a Fannie Mae survey released April 6.  The 64% that said it is a good time to buy is just shy of the 66% that said the same thing in 2003 as the U.S. housing market was racing higher.

Click here for full survey results.

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The New Times Collaboration – Part II

Wednesday, April 7th, 2010

Connect

With the Connoisseurs of Life.

The New York Times offers the Sotheby’s International Realty brand another unique access point to speak with the target audience we like to define as Connoisseurs of Life by allowing Sotheby’s International Realty to seamlessly align with luxury content in the following categories:

sothebys-auction-item

Light Pink Diamond Pendant-Necklace, Fred Leighton

  • Fashion
  • Art
  • Travel
  • Design
  • Dining
  • Living
  • and most importantly…Real Estate 

Statistics of The New York Times reader:

  • 71% of New York Times Magazine readers have taken action in response to the ad’s they have seen in the magazine.*
  • 47% of NYTimes.com visitors have purchased a high-end luxury item online*

At Benson Sotheby’s International Realty we believe that  the collaboration with The New York Times, gives us and our clients a global reach to the connoisseurs of life who vacation in our valley.

*Source: 2006 Magazine Reader Survey

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The New York Times Collaboration – Part I

Friday, April 2nd, 2010

The Sotheby’s International Realty network has formed a  collaboration with The New York Times to showcase unique properties from its network’s approximately 500 offices in 38 countries and territories worldwide throughout the publication’s Web site, www.nytimes.com. 

The relationship will promote the Sotheby’s International Realtynetwork’s listings exclusively in slide shows throughout the publication’s online real estate section, called Great Homes and Destinations.  The brand’s offices will be showcased exclusively on select “Style Maps” located on The New York Times’s online T magazine throughout the year.

The Sotheby’s International Realty collaboration with The New York Times is all about these three integral words: Reach. Connect. Create.   It is about reaching a global audience, connecting with connoisseurs of life and creating content integrated solutions to keep our brand and the listings our network represents front and center to an audience of nearly 30 million monthly users worldwide.

Some facts about The New York Times:

  • The New York Times is the #1 Media Web Site in the World
  • The New York Times has won 101 Pulitzer Prizes far more than any other newspaper
  • The New York Times has Home Delivery in over 340 Markets

Reach.

The New York Times Covers the Globe.

Every day in print, online mobile, The New York Times delivers a highly loyal and engaged global audience of influencers. In fact, half of the NYTimes.com users are considered “influential”, about 5 times the national average.

Users that make up The New York Times networks:

  • 2.2 million European reach circulation via 6 major local newspapers: International Herald Tribune, Le Figar0, la Repubblica, Suddeutsche Zeitung, El Pais and The Observer
  • 2.6 million unique users via the New York Times mobile applications (ie. Blackberry, IPhone and others)
  • 7.5 million make up The International Herald Tribune  audience
  • 5.4 million readers comprise the The New York Times’ print audience (newspaper, magazine, etc.)
  • 27.1 million unique users worldwide comprised of both NYTimes.com & global.nytimes.com

Stay tuned for our Connect and Create segments along with screenshots and links on how to access the Sotheby’s International Realty and The New York Times collaboration ads and property searches.

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First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit program ends April 30th

Friday, March 5th, 2010

Back in the fall, Congress voted to extend and expand the First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit program.  The expiration date of the up-to-$8,000 tax credit has been pushed forward to spring, requiring homebuyers to be under contract for a home no later than April 30, 2010, and to be closed no later than June 30, 2010.

In addition, “move-up” buyers were also added to the program’s eligibility list meaning you don’t have to be a first-time home buyer to be eligible for the tax credit.  If you’ve lived in your home for 5 of the last 8 years, you meet the IRS requirements.  Move-up buyers are capped at a total tax credit of $6,500.

The tax credit’s basic eligibility requirements are:

  • You can’t purchase the home from a parent, spouse, or child
  • You can’t purchase the home from an entity in which they’re a majority owner
  • You can’t acquire the home by gift or inheritance
  • All parties to the purchase must meet eligibility requirements

The new law includes some notable updates, however.

First, the subject property’s sales price may not exceed $800,000. Homes sold for more than $800,000 are ineligible.  And, also, household income thresholds have been raised to $125,000 for single-filers and $225,500 for joint-filers.

And lastly, don’t forget that the program is a true tax credit — not a deduction.  This means that a tax filer who’s eligible for the full $8,00 credit and whose “normal” tax liability totals $5,000 would receive a $3,000 refund from the U.S. Treasury at tax time.

The complete list of qualifying criteria is posted on the IRS website.

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Best in Category for Real Estate Franchisee Satisfaction Award

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

We are proud to  announce that the Sotheby’s International Realty brand won Franchise Business Review’s Best in Category for Real Estate Franchisee Satisfaction award for the third year in a row.

 The Best in Category award measures franchisee satisfaction with their franchisors and is part of the 5th annual Franchisee Satisfaction Awards presented by Franchise Business Review.  Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC also was ranked third overall among all franchise categories with more than 200 locations.  This is the third year that the Sotheby’s International Realty brand was rated in the top 10 of all award categories.

 “We are so honored to receive this recognition for the third year in a row,” said Michael R. Good, president and chief executive officer, Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. “It demonstrates we are continuing to provide our franchisees with the support, tools and resources they need to excel.  The fact that this award is based on direct feedback makes it very significant for us and a true testament to the value we provide our members.”

 Franchise Business Review surveyed franchisees from more than 500 leading systems, representing more than 100,000 franchisees, for the 5th annual Franchisee Satisfaction Awards.  Franchises were evaluated in five areas: training and support, franchise system, franchisor/franchisee relations, financial opportunity and overall satisfaction.  Additionally, demographic and lifestyle questions gave a 360-degree view of the franchise ownership experience.  Franchise Business Review is a national franchise market research firm that performs independent surveys of franchisee satisfaction and franchise buyer experiences.  For a complete list of this year’s award winners, go to www.FBR50.com.

 “We have surveyed thousands of franchisees, representing almost all of the leading brands in the real estate sector,” said Eric Stites, president, Franchise Business Review.  “The Sotheby’s International Realty brand’s owner satisfaction is exceptionally high and a direct reflection of the unique business opportunity created by their team and parent company, Realogy Corporation.”

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Myths about Short Sales

Monday, March 1st, 2010

With many properties either in the foreclosure process or sellers needing to sell their property for less than what they have owed on it, short sales could be the way to go right now if you have the time and patience.  You can sometimes get a property for below market value through the short sale process. If you are interested in short sales or foreclosures contact one of our experinced agents about finding short sale properties in the Crested Butte Area. 

Below are some of the myths that are being circulating about short sales. 

Seven Short Sale Myths

1)  Short Sales are impossible and never get approved.  FALSE

2)  Banks are NOT accepting Short Sales; They are waiting on a bailout.  FALSE

3)  You must be behind on your mortgage in order to negotiate a short sale.  FALSE

 4)  Buyers are not interested in short sales and avoid them.  FALSE (mostly)

 5)  Listing a home as a short sale is an embarrassment.  FALSE

 6)  The bank would rather foreclose than bother with a short sale.  FALSE  FALSE  FALSE!!

 7)  There is not enough time to negotiate a short sale before a foreclosure.  FALSE

Click here to read the full article by Pat Perrota along with the truth about each of the seven myths.

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Now might be the time to buy? See why.

Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010
Butte-Jump

Crested Butte Backcountry Skier | www.crestedbuttephotography.com

Cash is king in the current market with inventory at an all time high and with prices as low as they have been in years.  Even without cash, there are still great interest rates for qualified buyers.  Now is the time to buy that second vacation home or condo, as described below in this week’s New York Times article.

Skiers Buy Vacation Homes as Prices Fall

By IRENE RAWLINGS

OVER the holiday season all was snowy and bright at ski areas across the country, with a festive jingle in the air. It wasn’t sleigh bells — it was the sound of money. Vacation-home seekers who saw recessionary opportunities were looking to buy.

Many were ready to pay in cash, and they wanted great deals, like a $900,000 slope-side condominium for $500,000 or a studio in town for half the asking price. They were getting what they wanted because it is the best buyers’ market in 20 years, real estate agents said, with inventory at levels not seen since 2001.

Click Here to read the rest of the article.

If you are looking for that second home or condo, search all homes and condos in the Crested Butte area on our real estate website.

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