I may be a little biased, but Aspen is one of the most beautiful places on earth. I am proud to call this community home and I welcome anyone who wants to move here. Whether you are buying a seasonal home or a full-time mountain residence, you sure won’t be disappointed if you own property in the Aspen/Snowmass area.
I originally moved here in 2007 to begin my real estate career. I was born and raised in Colorado and have spent a decent amount of time working, volunteering and studying abroad. After graduating from the University of Denver with a degree in International Business and Real Estate, I started to put roots down in Aspen. Today, I love helping other people from all around the world discover this community.
If you are relocating to Aspen, Snowmass or anywhere in the Roaring Fork Valley, there are a few things you need to know:
Four Seasons
One of the great things about living in Aspen all year round is the four distinct seasons. Winter, spring, summer and fall all have different weather, natural beauty, events and activities to enjoy. Of course, Aspen/Snowmass is most known for its world-class downhill skiing, which is why winter and early spring are strong seasons. Other winter activities include snowboarding, skinning, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, snow biking and more. When the snow is off the ground in the summer and early fall, you can enjoy more expansive hiking, biking, flyfishing, paddle boarding and golf. The summer season draws part-time residents and visitors looking to escape heat and humidity in other places. Summer and fall seasons are popular for outdoor weddings set in the beautiful mountain scenery. There are always fun things to see and do throughout each season!
Tightknit Community
Aspen has a big reputation, but by all standards this is a relatively small albeit, sophisticated and cosmopolitan mountain town with a very tightknit community. We support our local non-profits, businesses, arts and education, and we all strive to make this a better place to live. If you like a high-end community with lots of local pride infused with a melting pot of international flavors, you are going to love Aspen.
Competitive Real Estate Market
Because Aspen is considered one of the country’s most desirable places to live, we attract visitors, home buyers and investors from all over the world. Due to the building codes and geography of our location, we don’t have massive development. This means that the existing real estate here is not inexpensive, in fact it continues to climb substantially in value. This luxury real estate market has proven to be a very solid investment. If you are serious about relocating here or buying a vacation home, you will want to be familiar with the nuances in the market. You want your home here to be a safe haven for enjoyment. Let someone who lives and breathes the real estate market here help you to make the smartest investment decisions possible.
Transfer Tax
The city of Aspen has a Real Estate Transfer Tax (RETT) in place. For any property sold within the city limits, Aspen collects a 1.5% RETT from the purchaser. This applies to all properties, including land, buildings, condos, houses and townhomes. There are some exemptions and special rules that apply. To learn more about Aspen’s Real Estate Transfer Tax, read this article. You would be surprised and well served to know how the city and county limits interact. Snowmass Village has a 1% RETT as well.
Finding the Right Home
Online home search tools enable you to see what’s available on the local market. You can view virtual tours and read descriptions. If you find something and you want to get a FaceTime or virtual tour, we can almost always accommodate that request. Build a relationship with an experienced local real estate agent who you can trust to give you up-to-date information and sound advice throughout the process.
If you are looking for a great local real estate professional or just have questions about buying property in Aspen, feel free to contact me any time. I’m always here to help! I can set you up with customized property searches and updates to be sure you are seeing the properties that match your criteria.
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Brittanie Rockhill
Aspen Real Estate
DRE # FA.100019229
