IT'S SNOWING!

Finally, a beautiful snowfall just in time for Christmas and the holidays.

The result is that the skiers are flocking to Durango. Last Saturday it seemed like every other car in downtown was from Texas. Welcome Texans - we're glad you're here.

Enjoy our town, enjoy our mountain and while you're at it, enjoy yourselves. In your spare time you can search for Durango real estate at:

HomesInDurango.com

We're #6

WE'RE PICKED AGAIN! Smithsonianmag.com has just selected our Durango as one of their "20 Best Small Towns in America." We come in at #6. Here's the article: 6. Durango, CO All aboard for mountain fun, plus classical tunes and—gasp—vaudeville. It would be a bald-faced lie to say that Durango (pop. 16,900) isn’t devoted above all to outdoor recreation, from mountain biking and black-diamond downhill skiing to Iron-man triathlons, white-water kayaking and rock climbing. But between adventures in the surrounding San Juan Mountains, people celebrate life Western-style in the old railroad and mining town’s lamppost-lined historic district, among art installations along the Animas River greenway, and at the nearby Music in the Mountains festival come July (heavy on the classical offerings, but a bit of pop, too), the Fort Lewis College Community Concert Hall, and the Henry Strater Theatre, a.k.a. the “Hank,” a showcase for vintage melodrama and vaudeville. Best of all, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, opened in 1882 and now a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, still carries passengers 45 miles into the heart of the high San Juans, pulled by a coal-fired, steam-driven locomotive, with the occasional bluegrass band or cowboy poet onboard for entertainment. -- SS Read more: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/The-20-Best-Small-Towns-in-America.html#ixzz2D5GgIJFq

Visit our website: www.HomesInDurango.com. It contains lots of information about Durango, schools, activites and real estate in Durango.

Here's Why Durango's Cool

The National Recreational and Parks Association has presented the Durango Parks and Recreation Department with their Gold Medal for cities under 25,000 in population.

Durango was recognized for conservation, development of amenities such as the Animas River Trail, its sustainability and community envolvement.

As a result of 2 designated sales taxes approved by voters in 1999 and 2005, the citgy has developed the river trail, the Durango Community Recreation Center and has preserved 2,639 acres of open space, including 1,128 acres acres acquired since 2005.

Solar panels installed at the Recreation Center have saved 60 metric tons of years emissions. The rec center also uses energy efficent light bulbs to reduce is annual natural gas and electricity consumption by 16 percent. Now that's conservation at work.

The city has collaborated with community groups such as Trails 2000 and the Durango Winter Sports Association to develop more than 100 miles of natural surface trails and to improve skiing conditions at Chapman Hill.

We're proud of our community and can help you be a part of it. Visit us at:

www.HomesInDurango.com or

www.RealEstate-Durango.com

3rd QUARTER STATS ARE IN!

3rd QUARTER MLS STATS

Looking back on the past quarter the big news is the decline in the number of homes available on the market. During the summer months there were 18% fewer homes on the market in La Plata County. We consider this to be a healthy trend. During the recession our housing inventory was very high. As the number of homes sold has increased (up 15% from the prior year)combined with the decrease in supply, the market is moving to stability. Influenced by record low interest rates and low prices, the number of buyers for primary homes is increasing. In addition, investors are back. The median price continues to decline; but with demand rising and supply declining, the median price will eventually firm and the move upward.

Search for Durango real estate at www.HomesInDurango.com and www.RealEstate-Durango.com

IT ALL STARTS HERE

The 2012 USA Pro Cycling Challenge, the world's largest and most significant international race (after the Tour de France), comes to Durango August 20, 2012. Some 20,000 visitors, including media from throughout the world, are expected to arrive in advance to support the elite atheletes who will race for seven days and 683 miles through the Rockies at elevations higher than they've ever had to endure. Durango is the Grand Depart, or the overall start, of the prestigious seven-stage race. The race will be aired live in 200 countries around the world with NBC covering the event. RE/MAX LLC, with its world headquarters based in Denver, has signed on as an offical sponsor of the race through Colorado. Ed Andersson, our co-owner at RE/MAX Pinnacle recongized the significance of the event and pushed, promoted and pressed RE/MAX LLC to jump on board and they have in a big way. RE/MAX will be represented at each stage of the event with booths, banners and other promotions. We will be receiving the equivalent of 30 minutes of internation TV exposure for Durango and, of course, RE/MAX Pinnacle. I bet a lot of folks are going to be adding a visit to Durango to their "bucket list."

http://HomesInDurango.com

http://RealEstate-Durango.com

Chocolate

WE'RE DOING OUR PART! Chocolate lovers in Japan will soon be able to buy Durango made chocolate. Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, base here in Durango, has rolled out plans to expansion into Asia, including Japan, Hong Kong and China. Under a license agreement the company's Hong Kong based partner will open 10 Rocky Mountain Chocolate stores in Japan over the next year. The company will also open test stores in Hong Kong and Shanghai later this year. Taiwan and South Korea locations are possibilities on the horizon as well. What a sweet way to contribute to the reduction of the trade deficit.

Visit us for information about Durango CO real estate.

www.HomesInDurango.com

www.RealEstate-Durango.com

WE'RE #1

Policom, an independent economic research firm specializing in local and state economies, did an analysis that ranked Durango No. 1 out of 576 micropolitan areas studied.

A micropolitan area contains a population of 50,000 or less.

Data used for the study included not just Durango, but all of La Plata County.

http://HomesInDurango.com
http://realestate-durango.com

SALES UP - PRICES DOWN

The number of La Plata County homes sold in the first three months of 2012 increased compared with the same period last year, while prices have continued to fall, according to the latest local real-estate statistics. The report from the Durango Area Realtors Association showed the median home prices declined in most parts of the county compared with the first quarter of 2011. Durango condos and Bayfield in-town homes saw a price drop of a bit more than 10 percent while prices on resort condos dropped 38 percent from $250,000 to $155,000. Prices increased for Durango in-town homes, Bayfield county homes and undeveloped land. In Durango, the median price for a home was $329,950 for the first quarter of 2012, a 1.52 percent increase compared with the same period in 2011. In Bayfield, the median home went for $171,000, a 10.66 percent decline from the first three months of 2011. Across the board, the number of homes sold last quarter was up compared with the same period in 2011. Homes sales in Durango and Bayfield as well as Durango country homes increased 60 percent or more. Countywide, the number of properties sold increased by an average of 27 percent compared with the first quarter last year. It appears that historically low interest combined with depressed Durango housing prices are enticing buyers back into the market. We've seen an increase in 2nd home buyers; mainly from Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. As the Phoenix market rebounds, this segment of our market will continue to improve. If you're thinking of purchasing a home in Durango - NOW IS THE TIME!

DURANGO'S IN THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT!

Durango was once know as "the worst-dressed resort town in America" and Durangoans proudly embraced the tag.

However in 2011 Durango was seemingly a constant presence in the national spotlight receiving accolades for more than our style. Here's a summary:

* Best Places to Live 2001 and Best Place to Put Your Outdoor Life First - Men's Journal

* Top Micropolitan Area in the US - Politicom

* Top Western Towns - True West Magazine

* Top 200 Towns in the US - Outdoor Life Magazine

* Top Ten "Life is Better Here" - Outside Magazine

* Colorado's Secret Stashes - Ski Magazine

* Durango selected as the start of the prestigious US Pro Cycling Challenge

In other good news; It's never been more affordable to own a Durango property. Down the road, people will be grateful they chose to buy now.

http://HomesInDurango.com
http://realestate-durango.com