Community Strong

Greetings from Crested Butte,

By now we’ve all endured plenty of tough news about COVID-19 and the impact it is having on all of us across the globe. Yes, it is true what you’ve read about Crested Butte. Our small mountain community was hammered by the outbreak. Hundreds in our valley were stricken with the disease. Our ski resort along with all other Colorado resorts shut down and our town and the rest of Gunnison County was closed with stay-at-home orders put into place in early March. We’re now enduring an economic hit by missing out on crucial end of season skier visits and Spring Break vacationers. Now, as we begin the traditional off-season months of April and May we are all focused on recovery and hopeful for what the remainder of 2020 may bring.

One thing is for sure. From day one of the outbreak, the selfless and supportive spirit of our local community has shone brightly. Many of us don’t think about it this way but we live on the frontier. In many ways we are on our own living way up here in the mountains. We live at the end of the supply chain. Most necessities are fetched from larger stores 30 miles away in Gunnison. The only hospital (24-beds small) is also in Gunnison and does not have an ICU capability. If you get hurt skiing, biking or have another serious medical problem you are likely headed to Grand Junction or Denver to get help. It has always been this way and we accept it. We thrive because we support each other in ways many outsiders don’t understand.

In the face of this pandemic, healthy friends and neighbors are making daily trips to Gunnison to gather up much needed groceries, supplies, medications and equipment that others are too sick to get themselves. Those same friends and neighbors are delivering home cooked meals, bags of groceries and care packages to door steps all over the community. Local restaurants are supplying meals to those in need, meals that are donated by locals, 2nd homeowners and local businesses. Financial donations are pouring in to help those in need too. Some landlords are giving hard hit tenants breaks on rent payments. Some creative property managers are lining up folks in need of a quarantine shelter with empty short term rental homes. To me, it’s an incredible time to be a local in Crested Butte and to experience what this community is all about. It epitomizes the very reason I live here…on the frontier.

QUICK UPDATE ON REAL ESTATE

It feels a bit strange discussing local real estate at this time but here goes. Contrary to what may be a growing belief Crested Butte’s real estate industry is still chugging along. As a matter of fact, we are realizing some impressive sales activity around the valley. It is true we are not able to physically show a home or condo but just like every off season when our valley is quiet we do a lot of things virtually. I find myself FaceTiming and using video tours, maps and photos to communicate more than ever.

Since March 1st, 19 residential properties sold representing $21.5 million in volume. The average sales price was $1.134 million. Since the beginning of 2020, 51 residential properties sold representing $40.5 million in volume. This volume of activity mimics last years performance for the same period. Currently, there are 19 pending transactions with a cumulative listing value of $18.6 million. For a deeper perspective of current market conditions please contact me anytime.

Thanks for reading today. Stay safe so you can stay healthy.

Channing Boucher
Broker Associate
LIV Sothebys International Realty
970-596-3228