A Surprise Awaits You in Cottonwood Park – Jackson Hole – New Listing!

Excellent Floor Plan with Beautiful Kitchen

Excellent Floor Plan with Beautiful Kitchen

2120 Lilac Lane

2120 Lilac Lane

Cottonwood Park Gem!

Here’s the full package at a great price in Cottonwood Park – Jackson Hole. Located on a quite street, near the schools and bike path, 2120 Lilac Lane is a fantastic opportunity to purchase a beautifully remodeled, large 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom home. The property is .18 acres of well landscaped yard and gardens with views of Rendevous Mountain and High School Butte. Be ready to be impressed by the interior. Recently remodeled and expanded the 2,100 square foot home is almost new. Beautiful hickory floors grace the main floor which includes the kitchen, the living and dining rooms and two bedrooms. The wonderful kitchen, highlighted by the granite and tile covered island in the center of the room, includes new appliances, high-tech lighting, cherry cabinets and pantry.

The master bedroom is located on the lower level and makes for a relaxing retreat. The master wing has a large walk-in closet, hydronic in-floor heating, big windows and a spa like bathroom. Double sinks, soaking tub, walk-in tiled shower and gorgeous maple wood cabinetry all highlight the master bathroom.

Additional features of the interior include: 2 living areas (game room, living room), a powder room, new lighting throughout the home and concrete flooring on the lower level. The exterior features include a huge 1 car garage with additional storage and climbing wall potential. A fenced-in parking area that is perfect for a drift boat or snow mobiles. A wonderfully laid out garden area which includes raised beds, a fenced back yard and a peaceful back deck.

Public water and sewer service. Low homeowners fees – $420 a year! Cottonwood Park has a storage yard available for owners to store “toys”. Irrigated yard.

Call us today! We are happy to show you this home. The JacksonHoleExperts can be reached toll free at 877-739-8056.

Value Priced Home Next to the Hoback River – Jackson Hole

Christy and I are excited about a new property we listed in Hoback Junction. The home is value priced and should hit a price point many buyers can consider. The property is about .25 acres and has access from two roads – one paved and the other gravel. The exciting part of this home is that you can literally walk out your front door and be throwing rocks into the Hoback river within 100 steps. It is also very close to the confluence of the Hoback and the Snake River and the National Forest allowing a home owner convenient access to the outdoors! Rafting, kayaking, fly fishing, hiking all with in reach. The home is perfect for a first time home owner and has a big yard for a dog or two.

Front of Home

Front of Home

Back of Home

Back of Home

Outdoorsmans Retreat —

Your gateway to the outdoors at an affordable price point. Located just a short 15 min drive from the town of Jackson this 1, 235 sq ft home is just the place to hang your hat. Situated at end of a cul de sac, this 3 bedroom, 2 bath home has been recently remodeled & upgraded. Enjoy all day sunshine with south facing windows with great mountain views, mature landscaping and a large yard. Walk from the doorstep to the Hoback River and National Forest for great fishing, hunting, hiking, and biking.
Additional Information:
Large yard begging for a garden. Yard includes established, estate sized lilacs and evergreens. The deck is perfect for a hot tub. Washer and dryer are included. Community water system and individual septic. Located on a paved road. Just across the street from a local market. Includes water rights to Hoback river for sprinkler system. Ample parking with both front and rear entrance to house, wraparound deck.

For more information about this home or if you would like to have a visit please contact the Jacksonholeexperts – Christy and Garth Gillespie at 877-739-8056. Opportunity is knocking!

Sotheby’s International Realty Acquires Teton Village Realty in Jackson Hole, Wyo.

Wow! Exciting News in Jackson Hole real estate. Here is the “hot” real estate news just released by Sotheby’s International Realty – Jackson Hole Brokerage. Christy and I will update the blog with our thoughts later but we wanted everyone to get the news. Very exciting, excellent news for sellers and amazing coverage of the Teton Village real estate market moving forward.

Market Leader Acquires Fastest Growing Local Firm to Expand Presence in Teton County

Jackson Hole, Wyo. (May 13, 2009) – Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc., a residential real estate brokerage firm representing fine properties in some of the world’s most sought-after markets, today announced it has acquired the assets of Teton Village Realty in Jackson Hole, Wyo. Teton Village Realty, specializing in properties at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and surrounding areas, will now operate as Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. The Teton Village Realty offices, located in the Teton Mountain Lodge and Hotel Terra at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, will complement Sotheby’s International Realty’s existing offices in Jackson Hole and Driggs, Idaho.

Clayton Andrews, executive vice president and COO of the Mountain Region for Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. who leads the company’s Jackson Hole operations, will also manage the new offices.

The acquisition expands Sotheby’s International Realty’s footprint in Jackson Hole and shows the firm’s commitment to serving clients throughout Teton County. Since first opening in Jackson Hole in 1999, Sotheby’s International Realty acquired Jackson Hole Realty in 2003. Since then, Sotheby’s International Realty has been the market leader in sales volume, according to the Teton Board of Realtors MLS.

After its founding in 2003, Teton Village Realty became the fastest growing brokerage in Teton County, achieving the third highest market share in the Teton MLS each year from 2005 to 2008. Teton Village Realty sales associates, including owner Rob DesLauriers, will now operate as agents of Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc.

According to Andrews, Teton Village Realty is an ideal fit with Sotheby’s International Realty, based on its historical performance as well as its office locations. “As a relatively young and fast growing firm, Teton Village Realty offers a fresh perspective on the local real estate market,” said Andrews. “Rob DesLauriers is well known and respected at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, and his firm’s experience in development sales at Teton Village is unmatched. We are pleased to be gaining such a dynamic and talented team at a pivotal time in our market.”

“It’s exciting to be part of the Sotheby’s International Realty organization,” said DesLauriers. “We appreciate the company’s successful history and expertise in the valley. We have a long and productive working relationship with the firm’s local team, and our agents and clients will benefit from the enhanced regional and global presence as well as the referral opportunities the company offers.” DesLauriers continued, “Sotheby’s International Realty provides a strong and far-reaching platform from which we can continue to grow and leverage the synergies of our firms.”

About Sotheby’s International Realty

Sotheby’s International Realty was founded in 1976 as a real estate service for discerning clients of Sotheby’s auction house and represents fine properties at a range of price points. Today, Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. operates brokerage offices in key metropolitan and resort markets, including London; Manhattan; the Hamptons; Westchester County, Greenwich, Conn.; Litchfield County, Conn.; Cape Cod; Palm Beach, Fla.; Beverly Hills; Brentwood; Pasadena; Santa Barbara; San Francisco; Sonoma; Monterey Peninsula; Sun Valley, Idaho; Santa Fe, New Mexico and Jackson Hole, Wyo.

Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. (www.sothebyshomes.com) is part of NRT LLC, the nation’s largest residential real estate brokerage company, and a member of the Sotheby’s International Realty® network that spans 39 countries. NRT, a subsidiary of Realogy Corporation, operates Realogy’s company-owned real estate brokerage offices.

Why Are Real Estate Prices Dropping Substantially in Jackson Hole’s Real Estate Market?

What a deal! Beautiful townhome on flat creek. $975,000

What a deal! Beautiful townhome on flat creek. $975,000


Christy and I are getting this question from a lot of our seller’s and customers lately. Jackson Hole has a very limited amount of property that can be developed and there has historically been enough demand to raise prices. In today’s market we have seen a total slow down of transactions and willing buyers at current prices. Since the beginning of the year the Jackson Hole real estate market has been seeing substanial price reductions in certain markets (Melody Ranch, Rafter J, The Aspen’s and the Town of Jackson). Most of the price reductions have come in the price ranges of $500,000 to $1,500,000.

In general terms – Prices are dropping due to the anomaly that occured during our recent market boom (2000-2007). Historically, homes have appreciated at a rate of about 5% per year on a national level. Information gathered from the recent REALTOR magazine states: Professor Karl Case of Wellesley College and contributing author of the Case-Schiller Home Prices Indices, a quarterly nominal housing price report, looked at appreciation of median home value over 5 year increments dating back to 1980. The research showed that home values appreciated 26.5% on average for the 20 year period from 1980 thru 2000. In the six years that followed (2000-2006), average appreciation was 89%!

Home prices nationally and in Jackson Hole are now adjusting to the incosistent and insustainable growth that occurred during the recent price run. So – the market is not in decline – it is just moving toward stabilization – which will mean a healthier market in the future.

Just a little tibit of information that we like to share. For more information about prices or if you would like a free listing presentation and value assessment on your property contact Christy and Garth Gillespie – The Jackson Hole Experts – at 877-739-8056 to set up an appointment! We are happy to help and to share our expertise in this market.

Top Real Estate Values in Jackson Hole – Ask the Experts

Top Pick?  Click link to see....

Top Pick? Click link to see....


Christy and Garth Gillespie, the Jackson Hole Experts at Sotheby’s International Realty, have just updated our Top Picks for April 23, 2009. Just about every 2 weeks we take a look at the Jackson Hole real estate market and look for the current “deals” in the market. We also review the current situation with pending transactions, closed transactions and noteable price reductions.

This week we note that there were 34 price corrections in the past 2 weeks. For Christy and I this is a good signal that sellers are becoming motivated to jump start the market. For the past 4 months the Jackson Hole real estate market has been painfully slow. We have credited alot of this “non-action” on the fact that sellers have been sitting back and waiting for the buyers to arrive. Well, here at Sotheby’s International Realty – Jackson Hole Brokerage, we have seen our fair share of buyers but very little contract activity. The economy has shown signs of stabilization or at least of bottoming and the result has been a slight increase in buyer activity and inquiries. The federal government has been helping by putting pressure on mortgage rates (lowering) and offering incentives for first time home buyers. To support this thinking we have seen 7 new pending transactions from all over the market. They include 4 single family homes ranging from $599,000 to $895,000, 1 Aspen’s home and a townhome at Teton Village priced at $1,795,000. Congrats and good luck to all the involved Jackson Hole real estate agents.

To find out what we choose as out Top 3 Picks click the link. If you have any additional questions or thoughts about available Jackson Hole homes, vacant land or current activity please feel freee to contact us – the Jackson Hole Experts – Christy and Garth Gillespie toll free at 877-739-8056

Research Is Suggesting That Large Homes May Become A Thing Of The Past – In Jackson Hole?

Red housesRecent data is showing that homes being built today are smaller than they were in the beginning of 2008. In the third quarter of 2008 median home size was 2,090 square feet, down from 2,629 square feet in the second quarter of 2008. With housing prices dropping and the economy weakening, homeowners may be looking at homes with less unused space, more energy efficiency and a home that better fits their overall needs. There is more of an interest in economizing space and making one room of the home a more flexible space that can be used for a myriad of activities. Outdoor kitchens and entertaining areas are becoming more popular as square footage decreases.

Of course this is national data – what is going on in Jackson? For one thing the Town of Jackson is attempting to limit the size of homes on standard Town of Jackson buildable lots. The standard size lot in town is 50 X 150. The current proposal would limit house sizes to 3,000 square feet. As this is debated by the planners we will keep you up to date.

Do Christy and I see a pattern of smaller houses? Not yet but we believe this could be contributed to a lot less construction taking place in the valley. According to the Teton County Planning and Building Department and the Town of Jackson, February permits for new homes and remodels dropped considerably from January. January had 23 permits issued and February had just 13 issued for a total of 36 for the year compared to 54 in 2008. Another interesting fact is that the Town of Jackson has not received one application for new construction in 2009. We will keep you updated on any trends in new construction in the Jackson Hole real estate market.

Research shows that builders are paying very close attention to what buyers want. The National Association of Home Builders is reporting that 88% of homebuilders surveyed plan to build more smaller homes, and that 89% of homebuilders surveyed claim that they plan to build lower-priced homes.

For additional information on the current Jackson Hole real estate market and current events in the Town of Jackson and Teton County, Wyoming feel free to call the Jackson Hole Experts, Christy and Garth Gillespie, Jackson Hole real estate associates for Sotheby’s International Realty – Jackson Hole Brokerage toll free at 877-739-8056.

Mortgage Talk – Jackson Hole and the President

Aspens - Wilson Wyoming

Aspens - Wilson Wyoming

This morning President Obama took time to discuss the current economy and to bring up the fact that there are historic low mortgage rates for people to take advantage of. Refinancing seems to be the topic of most interest as there are opportunities for Jackson Hole homeowners to refinance and save money. Rates on 30-year mortages have averaged about 4.8% for the past few weeks and are a full point lower than this time last year. The President also encouraged people who want to learn more to go to a new government website – www.makinghomeaffordable.gov.

In local Jackson Hole mortgage news we like to ask the “mortgage expert” T.R. Pierce at the Bank of Jackson Hole. Below is the banks current rates and report:

Conforming rates are unchanged this morning as Wall Street responds very positively to Wells Fargo’s announcement that it expects to report a profit of $3 billion for the first quarter. In other positive news… initial jobless claims fell last week and the trade deficit was $25.97 billion in February compared to $36 billion the previous month. This represented a 28.3% decrease in imports and was the lowest trade gap since November 1999.
BANK OF JACKSON HOLE
Residential Mortgage Rates for April 9, 2009

The following rates are thirty (30) day quotes for fully documented, owner-occupied and/or second home loans for borrowers with a minimum credit score of 700 which feature a one (1%) percent loan origination fee and the escrow of taxes & insurance.
PLEASE NOTE THAT CONFORMING LOAN AMOUNTS OVER $417,000 TO $625,500

ARE AVAILABLE AT HIGHER INTEREST RATES THAN INDICATED BELOW.
PROGRAM CONFORMING
(Loans to $417,000)
JUMBO
(Loans over 417,000)
30 Year Fixed
4.500%
7.875%
15 Year Fixed
4.375%
6.875%
10/1 ARM
5.000%
7.875%
7/1 ARM
4.625%
5.000%
5/1 ARM
4.125%
4.750%
3/1 ARM
4.875%
6.625%
30 YEAR FIXED RATE FHA LOANS TO $693,750: 5.000%
PRIME RATE: 3.250%
ONE YEAR LIBOR RATE: 1.951%

These are some great rates and it is an incredible time for Jackson Hole residents to consider making a purchase, refinancing or moving up in the housing market. The low end market – under $500,000 – still needs to readjust some pricing so if you are in this category please call us for a free listing presentation from the JacksonHoleExperts. In many ways there has never been a better time to list your property for current market value as most of the market has mispriced their properties. To learn more….call us toll free at 877-739-8056.

Christy and Garth Gillespie, Jackson Hole real estate associates for Sotheby’s International Realty would like to wish everyone a Happy Easter. We are hoping for some warmer weather here in Jackson Hole as we still have about 2 feet of snow on the ground. Thanks for visiting the Jackson Hole real estate blog – Jackson Hole Experts-

New Real Estate Office Opens in Jackson Hole

Jackson Hole Real Estate Associates – Christie’s Great Estates opened its doors last week. JHREA is a new company that combines agents from many different real estate firms in the valley. The office will have multiple locations in the valley but most prominently at their current office next to Sports Authority and the old Real Estate of Jackson Hole site on East Broadway.

The eight partners of this new firm are Bob and Karen Graham and Julie and Matt Faupel of the Graham 4, David Viehman, Brad Andrews, Bill May, Carlton and Cathy Loewer, Chad and Dianne Budge and Bomber Bryan. Christy and I have the highest respect for these brokers and wish them the best.

If you would like additional information about real estate in Jackson Hole please contact the JacksonHoleExperts – Christy and Garth Gillespie at Sotheby’s International Realty. Feel free to call us toll free at 877-739-8056 or email us at garth.gillespie@sothebyshomes.com.

Teton County, Wyoming – Jackson Hole – 1st Quarter Preliminary Real Estate Results –April 6, 2009

1st Quarter Real Estate Results for Jackson Hole, Wyoming

It will go down as a quarter to forget… Probably the weakest quarter of results that Teton County, Wyoming has seen in recent history. This on the heels of a rather bleak report in the 4th quarter of 2008 where we only had 48 units sold (wait till you read below the 1st quarter results) and volume of just over $100 million.

The preliminary results that we have gathered are taken strictly from the Teton County Multiple Listing Service data. There are always transactions that take place off to the sidelines but with all the reporting we do we always use the data supplied to us by the MLS and the agents that report the results to the board. During the 1st quarter of 2009, Christy and I wondered where the buyers had gone. There were very few transactions taking place and although we did show property, we DID NOT see many offers. That was the case throughout the real estate business in Jackson Hole.

During the months of January, February and March there were 17 reported closings in all of Teton County, Wyoming. The sales volume is an estimated $36 million as 4 closings did not report the closing price and one of the 4 unreported closings was listed for $10,500,000. Taking a closer look at the 17 closings – 1 was a lease, 2 were fractional ownerships, 3 were commercial properties, 2 were condos and 9 were single family homes. The most activity occurred in Melody Ranch with a total of 4 single family homes sold!

The pending transaction data leaves us questioning where we are heading. We recently reported that most of the pending transactions are from soon to be completed development projects (Terra/Sweetwater Lodge in Teton Village, Pine Glades in the town of Jackson and 270 W. Pearl) and that has not changed. There are currently 39 pending transactions with 29 of them being “pre-sale” purchases. In reality that leaves us with 10 pending “deals”. To make the numbers even better (wink, wink) of the 10 remaining – 4 are fractional sales. That leaves us with only a condo in the Aspens, a townhome in the town of Jackson, a home in South Park, a Four Seasons Resort penthouse and 2 commercial purchases as the only property pending. The biggest void in all of these numbers is transactions below $500,000. Currently, there are NO pending transactions in condos under $500,000 in the town of Jackson, south of town or on the “West Bank”. If we are to look for the root of our stalled real estate market Christy and I will put the blame on the complete failure of the “low-end” market. We often use the analogy of tipping over dominos in real estate – need one domino to fall to get another to fall. Well – no one is tipping over the first domino.

Active inventory has been staying fairly stable as we are witnessing a lot of potential sellers keeping their properties off the market and waiting to see what happens. Inventory has actually dropped (40 units) since February. There are currently 516 residential units and 143 vacant land parcels for sale in Teton County.

As more data is released and when Sotheby’s International Realty – Jackson Hole Brokerage computes their data we will update our report. Christy and Garth Gillespie – the Jackson Hole Experts – are happy to compile this information so if you would like to discuss the current data, are considering listing your home or interested in learning more about the Jackson Hole real estate market please do not hesitate to call us toll free at 877-739-8056. We also have a great feature we call the Top Picks — which are Christy and Garth’s top real estate values in Jackson Hole – feel free to check them out.

Top Real Estate Deals in Jackson Hole — Top Picks Updated!

Update – Update – Update

Christy and I just updated our “Top Picks” of the week at www.JacksonHoleExperts.com. Please check them out.

The week in review for Jackson Hole real estate according to the Teton County Board of Realtors Multiple Listing Service is as follows:

There were 10 listings that experienced significant price reductions. Listings of notice include – 2 lots on the “West Bank of the Snake River” located on Wiley Lane which are both about 3 acres in size have been reduced to $675,000! These lots are priced at a very value.

There have been 8 new listings added to the inventory in the Jackson, Wyoming area. Included in the new listings are 3 Love Ridge units at the Snow King Resort. We saw a new listing in Cottonwood Park and also another in Rafter J – unfortunately the pricing does not seem to accurate.

As for action we saw 3 new pending transactions and 1 closing of interest. The closing was a Teton Pines Cluster home listed for $2,395,000. Congrats to the agents involved.

Have a great weekend and if you would like additional information on the Jackson Hole, Wyoming real estate market please contact the JacksonHoleExperts – Christy and Garth Gillespie at 877-739-8056.