My agency – Slifer, Smith and Frampton Real Estate – issues an annual Smart Buyer’s Report outlining when it is a “smart” time to buy as well as why a certain area might be a better investment opportunity than another. You can read the entire report here and below is a quick summary of a couple of the main points. I’ll be blogging more about the report – as well as your thoughts – on my Web site this month. Visit www.ColoradoLuxuryRealEstateBlog.com.

The report opened with how the current real estate market offers smart buyers the following things: excellent home values throughout the Vail Valley, a broad selection of inventory, favorable interest rates and a resilient local market. They quoted a Fannie Mae survey from April 2010 which found that, nationally, nearly two‐thirds of Americans think now is the right time to buy a house, with a majority believing prices will be the same or higher over the next year.

Essentially, the window of opportunity for homebuyers has opened in that inventory is good, home prices remain competitive and if you’re interested in financing, rates are at a record low. Buyers are realizing that there are a number of reasons to take advantage of current market conditions and are purchasing their mountain homes. Both hard data and anecdotal evidence supports the fact that the market is on the uptick – as I blogged about last month – with sales beating out the last couple of years. You can see the numbers here.

These numbers also indicate that inventory in the Vail Valley hit a high recently – in August of 2009 – and has decreased since remaining under 2,000 active units. Here in Vail, we have not seen the mushrooming of inventory experienced by other markets around the country. This is largely because foreclosures in our area – which have risen a bit in the past year – still remain very low, below 1 percent in Eagle County. As a result, most buyers today are finding a more extensive selection of homes to choose from as compared to prior years such as in 2007 and 2008.

What is great for buyers is that the market has shifted in their favor. Smart buyers in this market are finding sellers more willing to negotiate in order to put together an acceptable transaction.

Executive summary: there hasn’t been a better time to buy a mountain home. There is plenty of inventory and the area is stable. The home prices are competitive and record-low financing is available. It is a great time to invest, not only in a piece of real estate but also in a vacation home that will provide memories for you and your family that will last a lifetime.

The Best for All Seasons: Ski in Access with Gore Creek in Your Backyard

An absolutely stunning home with views of the mountain or creek from every room

This gorgeous home – with creek or mountain views from every room – is new to the market. Enjoy ski-in access to the mountain during the winter and the best fly fishing grotto in Vail during the summer.

An absolutely stunning home with outside decking overlooking the Gore Creek – this is a one-of-a-kind luxury retreat.

With over 5,800 square feet, the home has 5 bedrooms and 6.5 bathrooms, plus a separate caretaker’s apartment. It is priced to sell at $7,995,000.

This home really is a must see. Give me a call at 970-331-1806 to schedule your private showing.

Vail Resorts Inc. reported last month an 18.1 percent increase in income for the third quarter 2010 ending April 30. The increase is largely attributed to higher visitation rates though many factors contributed to the increase.

For the quarter, Vail Resorts reported a profit of $72.8 million, or $1.98 a share, up from $61.6 million, or $1.68 a share, from a year earlier. Revenue in Vail’s mountain segment rose 8.3 percent and total skier visitation rose 4.6 percent compared to the same period in the prior year.

All of this is indicative of the nationwide trend of consumer confidence and increased spending. It is also nice to see that when people choose to vacation, they are choosing Vail as their destination. In fact, Vail Resorts reported that during spring break and Easter, levels of skier visitation, total lift revenue, ski-school revenue, dining revenue and retail/rental revenue were comparable to the results Vail had during the same periods in 2008 and 2007.

This announcement of a great profitable quarter comes on the heels of Vail Resorts’ announcement last month that they will be investing around $80 million in enhancements to their properties. Again, it’s just wonderful to see the sizeable demand for great facilities and that Vail Resorts continues to invest in their locations, offering luxury amenities to locals and visitors alike.

Vail continues to be a place where people want to vacation and live. And who can blame them?

You can find Vail Resorts’ entire quarterly announcement here.

Luxury Real Estate has never been this inexpensive. Nonprofit Vail Academy recently launched their 2010 Vail Home Raffle. The winning prize? A million-dollar vacation home in Vail, Colorado. Does it get any better than that?

Tickets are $50, and the grand prize winner can choose ski home or $850,000 in cash. If you’re interested, enter early. There are incentives as well as a additional drawings for purchasing multiple tickets and referring friends.

Tickets can be ordered at www.winavailhome.com or by calling 866-638-9488. The Vail Academy is a private school located in Avon, Colorado between Vail and Beaver Creek ski resorts.

Now, if you are interested in owning a home in Vail, you don’t have to wait for this contest nor put all of your eggs in one basket. Let me know what you’re looking for and I’m sure we can find your dream home. I’m here to help!

I’m not saying that we’re out of the woods yet but we have more good news from the Vail Valley real estate market. In Eagle County, the number of transactions for the first three months of 2010 rose a whopping 190 percent, to 276, compared with 145 during the same period a year ago.

There were 116 total sales just in April, more than double last year’s figures. For the year so far, sales are double those recorded in 2009.

The dollar volume is also strong. According to the monthly report from Land Title Guarantee Company, sales in April totaled more than $130 million. That’s just 5 percent lower than the volume recorded in 2008, and more than double the sales totals from 2009.

The most expensive sale recorded in April – $6.7 million – came from Solaris in Vail. Two units sold at the Landmark in Vail for $2.4 million each, and there were nine more condo sales at the Westin Riverfront in Avon.

Through the first four months of the year, both transaction numbers and sales volume are right at twice the levels recorded last year.