Tag Archive for: Jackson Hole News and Guide

Jackson Hole Real Estate Hotsheet Highlights for 12.31.08

Holiday lull; more REJH fallout; looking ahead to 2009

The Web is crawling with ways to search for real estate listings. In this region, the best way to get started is at Jackson Hole Experts.com. But for when you want to know what Realtors know … you need the Hotsheet!

New listings: Activity has been light during the holiday period, with many “new listings” representing extensions of listing contracts that often expire at the end of the year. For example, Garth and Christy Gillespie extended their listing for a beautiful home in 3 Creek Ranch listed at $3M. There are now 8 homes available in this private development just south of Jackson listed between $2.695M and $5.295M.

Real Estate of Jackson Hole: Also notable in the last week under new listings are all the properties formerly listed with Real Estate of Jackson Hole, which completed a nearly yearlong demise earlier this month when they announced on Dec. 22 they would be closing their doors. As the approximately 70 agents resurface at other valley brokerages, their listings are steadily reappearing. An article written in the Jackson Hole News and Guide is published here – http://www.jacksonholenews.com/article.php?art_id=4045

One other note on REJH: Sotheby’s agents were provided a good bit of information in this week’s sales meeting that was not available in the extensive newspaper coverage of REJH’s demise. I would be glad to help anyone better understand this complex story, to the best of my ability, or refer them to someone even closer to the facts.

Outlook for 2009: What will next year bring in the Jackson Hole real estate world? From my perspective — opportunity. As a buyer’s agent, I am working with several people very interested in entering the Jackson market in 2009. With sales prices generally regressing to years past, market watchers are well aware this will be one of the best times to buy into Jackson in the last 20-25 years. And with current interest rates near historic lows, the question becomes: Even if prices have not reached bottom, will an increase in the cost of credit in the coming months offset any future price reductions?

My advice is to identify a specific area or neighborhood and a price range and make an offer on available properties based on what you are willing to pay, regardless of the listing price. Many sellers today do not have the luxury of being “insulted” by offers much lower than asking price – in fact, my inbox is filled daily with e-mails from agents saying their sellers are willing to look at any and all offers. In other words, ask today for next summer’s price reduction, and you might get it. And if the market rebounds before that, your deal will look even better.

For details about any property mentioned in this blog post or a FREE PERSONALIZED Jackson Hole real estate market analysis, please call Brian Siegfried [my name should be a link to my bio page] at 690-9346 or e-mail him at Brian.Siegfried@sothebysrealty.com.

Frontier Airlines Flying to Jackson Hole

Frontier Airlines announced last week (Feb. 14th) that it would begin flying three planes a day into Jackson Hole starting in mid-May.  The airline is planning  on using a 70 seat Q-400 turboprop with flights to Denver.  This is great news as it should increase competition with United and will lower prices on flights to many destinations. 

As posted in the Jackson Hole News and Guide on Wednesday Feb. 20 – Here are some sample prices:

Destination Price
   
Denver $178
Aspen $238
New York $298
Houston $278
Salt Lake City $238
San Francisco $278
Chicago $278

This will no doubt help increase visitors to the valley but on a more important level really help the locals find cheaper flights to other areas in the country.  After or during 6 months of winter many of us are looking for sun shine or the city life.  Great move by the Jackson Hole Airport to secure the deal.