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.

What is the Jackson Hole Real Estate Hot Sheet? One of a Realtor’s most important tools is the local Teton County Multiple Listing Service, a dynamic database of currently available properties and much, much more, including sales histories, Competitive Market Analysis programs and information only available to members. The MLS also provides a daily “Hot Sheet” brimming with the latest price changes, new listings, pending and closed sales, as well as expired, withdrawn and back on the market properties.

New listings:
There were 28 new listings for residential property in Teton County, WY, between New Year’s Day and January 10. The least expensive is a 1-bed, 1-bath, 760 sq. ft. condo in the Aspens listed at $419K and the most expensive is “Bighorn Lodge,” an 8,000 sq. ft. new home on 5.23 acres in Solitude priced at $12,750,000. Ten properties were listed below $1M, another 10 were priced between $1M and $2M, and 6 between $2M and $3.5M.
Coincidentally, the same 10 days in 2008 also saw 28 new listings for residential property in the same area. Thanks to the “custom” Hot Sheet, we can see also see how these newly listed properties fared over the course of the year.
· Twelve of the 28 properties eventually sold, with the least expensive being a Ponderosa Village condo (2-bed, 1-bath, 716 sq. ft.) for $379K and the most expensive being a $3.95M home in Willowbrook.

· Three are still active, 11 listings expired and one was withdrawn.

Closed and pended listings:

Perhaps more indicative of any overall trends may be a look at closed and pended transactions for the same time frame.
· This year has seen 2 closings on homes in Teton County, with one of them being a fractional (1/6th) unit in Teton Pines and other a home on Munger Mountain for $900K. No property has gone under contract so far in 2009.

· In 2008, there were six closings year to date at this point, with 8 properties going under contract.

· Teton Village:

With the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort now 100 percent open (when avalanche conditions permit!) and winter in full swing, many of the buyers in town are focusing their attention on Teton Village property.
What’s the latest in the land of the big new shiny red tram?
· The first thing that jumps out is that of the 130 active listings in Teton Village, 42 are fractional ownerships at Teton Club with the least expensive being 2 weeks (one fall, one spring) in a 2-bed unit and the most expensive being 4 prime weeks including New Year’s in a 3-bed unit for $350,000.

· The least expensive full ownership condo in TV is a 464 sq. ft. studio built in 1972 listed at $389K. The lowest priced unit with 2 baths is $685K.

Thanks for visiting the Jackson Hole Real Estate and Community News Blog sponsored by Christy and Garth Gillespie from Sotheby’s International Realty of Jackson Hole. For more information on the “Hot Sheet” please feel free to contact me – Brian Siegfried, sale associate and Gillespie Real Estate Team member at brian.siegfried@sothebysrealty.com.

The Web is crawling with ways to search for real estate listings. In this region, the best way to get started is at Jackson Hole Experts But for when you want to know what Realtors know … you need the Hotsheet!

New listing highlights: New Jackson Hole listings have been few in the past month or so, predictable for this time of year, but Teton Village and in-town condos have been hitting the hotsheet in greater numbers in the past few days.

The second new Four Seasons in Jackson Hole listing of the week (there are now 13 FS properties available) hit Dec. 17. This 3-bath, 5-bed unit on the sixth floor is priced at $5,250,000, making it the second most expensive Four Seasons unit after the 5,016 sq. ft., 5-bed, 6-bath, unit on the ninth floor listed at $6,950,000. I toured the latter last Thursday and was, well, impressed of course. The layout, cathedral ceilings and abundance of glass belied the fact it was a condo, providing more of a single-family home feel, perhaps mainly because this is one of the few units with both west (Mountain Resort) and east (Sleeping Indian and valley) views.

Price change highlights: There were 25 price changes during the Dec. 16-18 3-day period, with the most interesting being a $43,000 Brookside Condominium price reduction from $358K to $315K. According to an e-mail sent to all realtors from this agent, the list price is $78,000 less than the sale of a similar unit in March 2008. He points out that if it sells at that price with 20% down, and financing comes in at 4.625%, the monthly payment is about $1,295 per month. It rents for $1,200 per month.

Also notable were 2 price reductions in the High Teton Condominiums on Hansen Street, with both 2-bed, 1-bath units dropping $16K and $25K respectively with prices now just below $500K. A very nice 1-bed unit in this building dropped to $318K earlier this week.

Closed and pended listings: A 3-bed, 3-bath, 2,210 sq ft home in Indian Trails listed at $805,000 sold this week after 61 days on the market and a price reduction of $90K. That leaves 6 homes on the market in this west Jackson neighborhood, with list prices between $1.1M and $2.195M.

For details about any property mentioned in this blog post or a FREE PERSONALIZED Jackson Hole real estate market analysis, please call Brian Siegfried at 307-690-9346 or e-mail him at Brian.Siegfried@sothebysrealty.com.

It isn’t every day that workers at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort get applause for their work. But then, a new Aerial Tram at isn’t exactly an everyday occurrence.

In late October, spectators gathered at the resort and clapped as crews placed the first of two bright-red Tram cars from Switzerland onto their track cables. Seeing the cars put into place was like watching the curtain lift at the theater, although in this case the performance is to start December 20, when the Aerial Tram will begin carrying skiers and snowboarders up Rendezvous Mountain. For the legions of people who are passionate about this particular ski hill, it will be as though Christmas arrived five days early.

Anyone who has skied at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort any time from the 1960s to more recent years will find the sight of the little red boxes moving along their cable to be a familiar sight. The Tram cars are red, like their iconic predecessor, which shuttled skiers up the mountain for 40 years before being retired. But the new tram will be bigger and faster, whisking 100 passengers at a time to their starting point for their adventures in about nine minutes.

Change is afoot at Teton Village as a whole. The Village has kept hold of its classic attractions, like the Mangy Moose Saloon, while adding new ones like Hotel Terra, a boutique property that’s sleek, upscale and eco-friendly. Some changes at the Village are subtle, like the acoustical upgrades at Walk Festival Hall, home to the Grand Teton Music Festival. Other changes are more dramatic, a case in point being the new Shooting Star™ golf course.

Teton Village has become famous for its resort offerings. But it has become viewed more and more in recent years a great place to live, whether year round or on a part-time basis. The new hotels, for example, offer condo ownership opportunities in addition to options for out-of-towners to stay in style and comfort when they come to Jackson Hole. With the opening of the Four Seasons Resort, Teton Village acquired a “grande dame” hotel as well as a new group of slopeside luxury residences. In addition to Hotel Terra, there’s also Teton Mountain Lodge and others are coming, including the second phase of Hotel Terra.

Another new arrival in Teton Village is the newly completed Timbers, a group of three- and four-bedroom homes in Granite Ridge. Designed by John Carney, they average 3,300 square feet, with vaulted ceilings, gourmet kitchens, stone fireplaces and private Jacuzzi decks. Elsewhere in the village, the condos along McCollister Drive and Rachel Way, though not exactly new, are newly interesting to the real estate market. With upgrades and improvements the units, which like the Timbers, are zoned for short-term rentals, creating an attractive opportunity for investors who would like to generate some revenue from their properties.

As for Shooting Star™, it’s easy at this time of year for Nordic skiers to look out at the snow covered rolling terrain of the Tom Fazio-designed golf course and fantasize about streaking along a freshly groomed track. The golf course will, in fact, be a Nordic ski center, but its big unveiling will be next summer, when the golfers who have been watching the new facility take shape can finally walk out onto those greens and play a few rounds.

Construction is well underway on the Shooting Star™ club house, which will feature spa and fitness facilities, as well as a restaurant. The residential portion of Shooting Star™ includes cabins by architect Paul Bertelli of JLF Associates, featuring reclaimed materials and old world craftsmanship, plus spectacular views of the Tetons and the golf course.

Not everything planned for Teton Village is on such a grand scale, but little things make a difference. The pond behind Crystal Springs Lodge will eventually be replaced by a group of smaller water features and landscaping better suited for functions or for just relaxing. An 812-space, paved parking lot was just approved by the Teton County Board of Commissioners to be built between Granite Loop Road and Highway 390. It’s possible that someday there will be an automated “lift” that will whisk skiers and snowboarders from the lot to the clock tower so they can begin their day on the slopes. There’s no doubt that the opening of the new Arial Tram at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is the biggest story for winter 2008-09 at Teton Village. But as is always the case with news, some of the other stories are pretty interesting, too. For first timers and veterans, Teton Village is worth exploring this winter.

For more information on Teton Village or Jackson Hole please feel free to email or call the Jackson Hole Experts – Christy and Garth Gillespie.

It is almost time for the grand opening of the new Jackson Hole Ski Resort tram scheduled for the weekend of December 19, 2008. The celebration will take place all weekend long but the opening ceremony will be at the base of the tram from 5:30 – 6:30 with fireworks and treats for all ages. The tram will own the honor of the longest vertical rise of any ski lift in the USA –Jackson Hole will once again be put on the map as one of the most extreme ski destinations in the United States. Now is a great time to buy in Teton Village with prices at a all new low you can own a fully furnished Teton Mountain Lodge ski –in / ski-out studio apartment with full amenities at Teton Mountain Lodge for as little as $475,000 or own 2,200 square foot 3 bedroom/ 3 bath luxurious condo in the heart of Teton Village at the Crystal Springs Building. Whatever your budget may be we can help you find what you are looking for – call or email the Jackson Hole Experts today.

Christy and I received a very interesting report from the Rocky Mountain Resort Alliance the other day and we felt like the information would be helpful to many of you.

First off…What is the Rocky Mountain Resort Alliance (RMRA)?  The Rocky Mountain Resort Alliance is composed of boards of REALTORS of destination ski resorts in the Rocky Mountain West. The alliance was formed in January of 1996 at a meeting in Vail, CO with the presidents of the various boards or REALTORS attending. At this meeting, the various presidents discussed and came to the realization that geographic boundaries were no longer as important as the common bond that we share as resort REALTORS. We understood that the marketing and selling of resort real estate is very different from the traditional models of residential real estate sales. Our buyers and sellers have different expectations and goals and are looking for a REALTOR with knowledge of the resort markets. Frequently, buyers for a vacation home in one resort are comparing similar properties in neighboring resorts. From this realization came the idea of sharing sales information from the various resorts as well as pressing issues the resorts are facing. We know that because of the mountains, we have very limited space for development and housing the work force are issues facing each resort. As the demand for resort real estate grows, and prices increase, there is more pressure on finding suitable housing for the very important work force.

RMRA End of Year 2007

Those are some outstanding statistics.  When we look deeper into the numbers a few statistics catch our eye.

• Teton County, Wyoming average sales price is the second highest behind Aspen. 
• Teton County, Wyoming has the least amount of inventory available and has all the other communities beat by 200 units.

Christy and I have all the statistics broken down into types of sales so if you would like to learn more please email us at garth.gillespie@sothebysrealty.com or visit us at www.jacksonholeexperts.com.   

• A 3 bedroom/3bath townhome came on the market in the Wilson area for $875,000 on Wednesday and by Thursday evening there had been a least 2 offers of over asking price! 
• An older home on 2 lots in the Gill Addition priced at $1,640,000 went under contract in less than 1 week.
• A townhome in the Town of Jackson on Rancher Street which has been on the market for a lengthy period went under contract.
• A Four Seasons Resort Penthouse listed for $4,800,000 and a Crystal Springs Condo listed for $1,575,000 both went under contract.
• 3365 Tucker Ranch – An 8,400 square foot log home went under contract with a list price of $8,995,000.
• 2 Hotel Terra Units in Teton Village sold “publicly” with an average sales price per square foot of $1,400.00.
• Teton Pines “Cluster Home” closed for $2,250,000.
• A 16 acre lot in Wilson closed for $2,900,000.

Just Released….Well sort of.  Sotheby’s International Realty is proud to announce the release of the first few phases of Pine Glades on February 14, 2008.

Pines Glades will be located at the base of Snow King Resort on a total of 17 acres.  The location is just west of the Exhibition ski lift and is filled with thousands of mature Douglas Fir trees.  When Pine Glades is completed in the summer of 2009, it will consist of 27 free market town homes and 12 deed-restricted condominiums priced to be affordable for Jackson Hole’s working families.  As many have already heard, access to the development will be through a well lit spacious Alps-style tunnel from South Cache Street.

The town homes in Pine Glades will range in size from nearly 2,700 to 2,800 square feet, with three bedrooms, and three and a half bathrooms, and underground two-car garages.  The custom design features vaulted ceilings, large windows, an open floor plan and gas fireplaces with a stone chimney.  The developer, Dave Taylor, is locally known to build incredibly detailed and high-end homes through out the valley and Pine Glades is slated to have the same attention to detail as David’s custom homes.

The eco-friendly aspects of Pine Glades may not be as noticeable as the aesthetic qualities, but they’re just as important a part of Dave Taylor’s plans.  Pine Glades is on tract to be the first residential project in Wyoming to earn the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy Efficiency and Design) certification.

Pricing in the first phase ranges from $1,750,000 to $2,200,000.  The Gillespie Real Estate Team has full project packets available along with floor plans and standard and upgrade options.  Please call us if you would like to be one of the "lucky" ones to purchase in the first phases of Pine Glades.

The Teton County, Wyoming county commissioners approved a 350 unit expansion at Grand Targhee Resort on Monday, February 4, 2008.  After years of development and months of negotiations with the county commissioners, the George Gillette family has been granted permission to move forward with developing the aging resort. 

The Teton County Board of Commissioners approved the resort proposal with a vote of 4-1, allowing Grand Targhee Resort to expand to a total of 450 units and rezone 120 acres from rural to resort..  The lone dissenting vote came from Leland Christensen, an Alta, Wyoming resident, who pleaded with the other members to turn down the application on fears that the development will change Alta, Wyoming and the Teton Valley of Idaho forever.  The history of Grand Targhee runs deep and this approval will change the resort in the upcoming years.  For better or worse only time will tell.

With Monday’s approval, the Gillette family can have as many as 450 units, including employee housing, on site.  Over 75% of the development must be short-term lodging.  The expansion includes 150,000 square feet of commercial space and resort services, amenities and support uses.

For more information on the expansion and the future real estate offerings please feel free to contact us at garth.gillespie@sothebysrealty.com.