Vail Snow Daze begins today with a full week of fun events!  If you’ve never seen a concert outside during the winter in Vail, you HAVE to head to the mountains this weekend!  There is nothing like riding the slopes all day and dancing in the streets of Vail at night with snow falling on your head.    The 2010 Snow Daze will highlight the likes of Mix Master Mike on 12/9, Dwight Yoakam on 12/10, O.A.R. on 12/11, and Weezer will wrap up the week with a concert 12/12.  There will be après ski specials throughout the Village, Demo specials, and shopping specials too (for you non-riders).  While you're in town be sure to stop by my Slifer Smith & Frampton office on the balcony level of the new Solaris Building, I'll be happy to fill you in on the details!   For all the details of this fun-f... 12/06/2010

Today was a great morning in Vail, Colorado!  I spent the morning volunteering at the Vail Valley Medical Center Volunteer Corps Bake Sale.  What a hoot!  I hadn’t done a bake sale since high school and could not believe what a mad-house it was!  There was everything from Bundt cakes to cookies to hand made candies and gingerbread houses!  The photo to the left showcases my chocolate pretzel treats cooling on my counter top the night before the sale.   We opened  the booth at 9:00am and by 10:00 nearly everything was gone!  I learned some great selling techniques from my friend, Marti.  She is pictured here using her mad skills on these poor unsuspecting gentlemen.  She closed that deal, a huge plate of cookies, in less than 10 seconds!  After seeing this, you should have seen me pushin... 12/03/2010

The ski season here in Vail, CO started off with a big bang last weekend!  With record snow accumulation prior to opening and more falling the first few days, this is one of the best openings in years.  I got out on the hill on Saturday and Sunday to great conditions and tons of fun with family and friends.  With the entire front side of the mountain open, there was plenty of room to play and no lift lines!    Another storm is rolling in tonight with big snow expected: Colorado Snow Forecast  Beaver Creek Mountain opens tomorrow… an expected POWDER DAY!  Thanksgiving weekend will prove to be a fun time in the Vail Valley and throughout the Colorado Rocky Mountains.  Get out here and tear it up!   Just in case you forgot what deep Colorado powder feels like, here is a video reminder from... 11/23/2010

Nearly 3 feet of powder in the last week.  Vail is certainly ready for center stage.  Not only is the Mountain looking great but the town has never looked better.  The almost 2 Billion (that is a B) Dollar Vail Renewal is almost complete.  The Ritz Carlton Residences are open.  Solaris, the new town center, is open, and the Four Seasons opens on December 11.  Vail finally has a Town base with the same quality as our on-mountain experience.  Whether you are looking for a ski vacation or to purchase an amazing ski home/condo, I can point you in the right direction.  Give me a call and I'll tell you all about the new Vail.  Mark - 970-331-5821.   11/17/2010

Vail Mountain is going to open on Friday.  We've had over two feet of snow the past few days with much more on the way.  It is going to be a great season and amazing Opening Weekend.    As far as Real Estate goes, there is plenty of activity.  Lots of showings, lots of closings, lots of offers.  Looks like we are reaching equilibrium between buyers and sellers.  Realism has reared its head in the Vail Real Estate Market.  Even though our inventory has been reduced there are still amazing opportunities out there for buyers at all price points.  Please give me a call if you have any questions about Vail.  Mark -- 970-331-5821. 11/16/2010

I've had mixed feelings about a blog post about this touchy subject.  I don't want to jinx it.  But I think it is safe to let the world know that homes in Vail are selling.  The existing "for sale" inventory has been dramatically reduced.  At one point this summer we had almost 500 homes/condos for sale within the Town of Vail.  Now we are down to 380.  There are still some amazing homes for sale, but they won't be there for long. There are bargains at every price point.  And the best news is that there are now some valid comps to use.  So the integrity is returning to the market.  If you have been thinking about a ski home in Vail, now is the time to make the move.  The inventory is shrinking and the Mountain is opening next week.  Please give me a call if you want any additional detai... 11/13/2010

The first day of winter has arrived in the Vail Valley!  I left my house this morning at 6:30am headed to spin class with a balmy calm cloud covered sky, but when I left the gym at 8:15am the winds were blowing and the snow was flying!  Woo-hooo, winter!!   If you watched the poor Denver Broncos get crushed by the Oakland Raiders yesterday, you know that the only good thing that came from watching that game were the shots of the skiers at opening day at Loveland Ski Area.  And with today being opening day at Arapahoe Basin this storm couldn’t have come at a better time.  "A-Basin" opened to 9 inches of fresh snow this morning on top of the snow they've been blowing for the past month, with more coming down all day!     We Coloradans are funny people, we get all giddy and pumped when the... 10/25/2010

YES it is snowing here in Vail.  YES they are calling for 8 -- 16 inches.  YES winter is here.  YES it is going to be an amazing ski season.  YES the mountain opens on Nov 19.  YES homes are selling.  YES home buyers are buying.  YES there are still deals out there at ALL price points.  YES it has been too long since I updated this blog.  YES it is my fault.  YES I forgive myself.  YES you should too.  YES you should be making plans to come to VAIL.  YES you should give me a call for more information.  YES my number is 970-331-5821.   10/25/2010

"FAMILY WEEK" Vail Restaurant Month wraps up with the final week 4, "Family Week."  This is the fourth and final week for the Vail Restaurant Month, so get out this weekend and enjoy it! Take advantage of kid's cooking classes, family activities, and dinner specials galore.  You can drop your kids off at "Imagination Station" for the evening and enjoy a dinner for two.  Your kids can take a three-course dining etiquette experience while making their own homemade ice cream to have for dessert.  Look for the Grand Marnier drink specials and then enjoy champagne breakfasts for a little 'hair of the dog.' The response has been great to Restaurant Month here in Vail, so if you haven't taken advantage of some of the great deals in Vail this weekend is a great time to do it.  If you live here... 10/15/2010

“MY PLACE” Would you like to be the first to know when a new property comes to market, has a price reduction or sells in the Vail Valley?  Are you are just beginning to look at real estate in the Vail Valley?  If you answered yes to either of these questions then I want to let you know about a great tool on my website that you might enjoy using.  It’s called “My Place.”     Go to my website: VailRealEstateInfo.com and click on the picture of the couch (or just click on the couch above) to get started.  Once you create a profile for yourself, you can develop property searches for homes for sale in the Vail Valley.  This data is pulled from our local MLS, so any property that fits your criteria will show up.   You can also create email notifications and whenever a new property fitting the... 10/08/2010

LOVE FEST WEEK IN VAIL, COLORADO! Vail Restaurant Month continues today, October 4th- October 10th with "Love Week."  Get ready to tantalize your taste buds will all things lovey, lovely, and loving during Week 3 of Vail Restaurant Month in Vail, Colorado.  From Champagne to sexy seafood, to romantic dinners specializing in aphrodisiac style foods, this week is all about the L.O.V.E.  Do you love pizza?  Then there is something for you too!  One of the local clothing shops is even having a sale on ladies lingerie!  If you're not in Vail this week, wherever you are, I suggest finding some time to celebrate something you love.  Whether it be a good book, a yoga class, a massage at a spa, time with your family, a new pair of jeans, a glass of good wine, or a a plate of fresh raw oysters, ... 10/04/2010

I was just looking through some of my Autumn photos from years past here in Vail, and ran across my 'first snow' photo from 2006.  Luckily I had date stamped the photo, 9/24/2009.  Hard to believe the Gore Range was completely covered in snow in September of 2006.  After seeing this photo, I got so excited for the coming ski season that I checked the Weather Channelto see when we should expect our first storm.  We don't have long to wait! We're expecting some lower temps at night and moisture in the air starting tomorrow.  It could turn to some white stuff by next weekend.  Now, coming from a girl who grew up in brutal winters in South Dakota, you probably wouldn't expect me to be looking forward to winter, but I am!  Summer has been great, but the Vail Valley truly comes to life in the... 10/02/2010

I have to admit, there have been times when I'm riding a chair lift on a beautiful snowy day when I think to myself, "How the heck did this gigantic machine get here?!"  I've always wondered how a chair lift is actually built, and today I found out! If you want to see one of the coolest video clips of some crazy building on Vail Mountain, then take the three minutes to watch the installation of Chair 5 on Vail Mountain.  You'll never think about a chairlift in the same way again.  NEW CHAIR 5 HIGH NOON EXPRESS Pretty amazing!   09/30/2010

It's week #2 for Vail Restaurant Month "Health, Wellness and Outdoors Week" lasting from September 27-October 3.  Vail Restaurant Month lasts from September 20 through October 17, and is featuring different themed weeks with many fun activities to participate in, and great food and drink to enjoy.  Fall is a great time to head to the mountains to enjoy all sorts of outdoor activities and indulge in some great food.  Whether it's fly-fishing, biking, rafting, hiking, or simply strolling through the streets of Vail and soaking up some sun and golden fall colors, you're sure to have a wonderful visit. Be sure to check out the website for details on this week's events:  Vail Restaurant Month Week Two 09/29/2010

I'm in love with my iPhone.  I recently entered the world of the iPhone and I've been engulfed in this intricate web of amazingness, discovering apps for just about everything anyone would ever like to know.  My husband has even requested that I remove my face from my iPhone screen every once and a while so that we can actually have a face to face conversation like normal married couples.  No, I'm not THAT bad, but I absolutely love the capabilities of this phone. I've dabbled with a few real estate apps, but haven't found the best all-around-home-base iPhone app for real estate brokers.  The company I work for, Slifer Smith & Frampton Real Estate will soon be releasing an app for the local Vail Valley market, which will be great.  But in the meantime, I thought I'd turn to you for som... 09/28/2010

What a weekend!  The weather is perfect, mid-70's and sunny, and the Vail Valley is alive with color.  I went on three awesome hikes this weekend at Piney Lake, Vail Mountain, and Arrowhead Mountain.  The views were spectacular, the colors vibrant, and some vistas nearly took my breath away. I hope you get a chance to visit Vail soon and catch some of this magic!  When you do be sure to stop by my Slifer Smith & Frampton Real Estate office at the Solaris Building in Vail Village.  I'd love to meet you and discuss the great real estate opportunites we have to offer in the Vail Valley right now. View from the Vail hike:                               My dog, Maude and me hiking in the Aspen trees at Piney Lake:                               09/26/2010

That's right, there was a dusting of snow on the "Bald Spot" at Beaver Creek Mountain, and the Gore Range was white as well.  With the Aspen Trees in full golden glory, this weekend is a must-see time of year for the Vail Valley.  For those of you who've only visited Vail in the winter, you won't believe how beautiful it is here in the Summer and Fall too! Be sure to stop by my office in Vail Village at the new Solaris location when you're in town! 09/24/2010

It snowed last night and the magic of Vail is it is a Blue Sky Morning.  This really is an amazing place....even in the off season.  Right now there are some incredible opportunities to own a piece of Vail.  Once you are a home owner here, your relationship with the Town is completely transformed, for the better.  There are currently great deals at all price points, from below $300,000 for a move-in ready condo to $8,450,000 turn key ski-in/ski-out home.  Give me a call if you are interested in learning more about Vail's great deals.  Mark--970-331-5821   05/12/2010

First let me say that I’m not going to upload a picture, because any picture that I take would feature tons of SNOW.  I don’t want to feature snow right now, it is May 1st tomorrow.  The Mountain is closed and it is still dumping here.  I must admit I’m ready for Summer.  So with that being said, here is the surprise that the Title refers to.  There are currently 35 properties for sale in Vail, Colorado under $400,000.  That number includes 1 bedroom condos up to 3 bedroom condos and town homes.  These are not all fixer uppers.  Some of these are turn-key and ready for you to move into.  Some are bank owned, but the vast majority of them are just on the market and have motivated sellers.  It is off season here, and there aren’t too many buyers walking around town.  Now is the time to s... 04/30/2010

JUST ANNOUNCED.  East West Resorts is discounting their new construction in Vail Village 40%.  These are all new construction at Manor Vail.  Across the street from Lift 6 in Golden Peak.  Each condo has a private elevator entrance and all the great amenities of Manor Vail.  Amazing views, Lord Gore Restaurant, and underground parking.  East West discounted their Avon Westin property 40% and they sold over 50 condos in about a month.  There are only 7 Manor Vail Penthouses available and they are going to go fast.  If you or a client is looking for one of the best locations in all of Vail give me a call.  970-331-5821.     03/12/2010