The Jack Nicklaus signature course at Red Ledges just seems get better every time we play it. In 2010 and 2011 Golfweek Magazine ranked it as “Best of State” and we think it is certainly in the top 3. There were no major changes made on the course last year. The reworking of several of the greens that was done a few years ago to make those greens more receptive and hold shots has paid off. The bent grass greens have had a couple of growing seasons since the alterations and they are rolling true and holding good shots.

Red Ledges, one of Park City Real Estate’s premier golf communities, sold 48 properties in the in the past 12 months. For the same time period last year there were 36 sales. This shows a very healthy improvement. Part of what we see as very encouraging (for Park City’s golf community market) is that 10 lots were sold to smaller builders who intend to break ground on spec homes. New homes being built and in the planning stages is yet another sign that the Park City Real Estate market is turning the corner. Another positive indicator that Red Ledges is healthy is that a new neighborhood is breaking ground. It is called Mountain View. Mountain View will offer 4 models that will be priced in the $500,000 to $700,000 range. Red Ledges is differentiating itself in Park City’s golf market by offering homes in more price ranges than the other golf communities. With a few lots still available for under $200,000 and single family homes starting in the $500,000 range Red Ledges has with increased their pool of buyers compared to the other Golf communities. Golf or lifestyle memberships are currently included in developer sales but we expect that to come to an end soon.

Red Ledges amenity package now includes the Jack Nicklaus 18 hole championship signature course, a comprehensive practice facility, the Jim McLean Golf School, the Cliff Drysdale Tennis academy, a golf shop, and swimming pool and equestrian programs. The most exciting news is that they will be breaking ground on the Clubhouse next month. The current goal is to have all of the planned amenities in place in the next 5 years.

For more Red Ledges real estate information or for a tour of the community and facilities contact a realty professional with the YouInParkCity.com Group at (888)968-4672.

Golf in and around Park City, UT is near and dear to the YouInParkCity.com group so with the days getting longer and the golf season fast approaching; it is time to take a look at the past 12 months in the five amazing private Park City golf communities. The communities of Glenwild, Promontory, Red Ledges, Tuhaye and Victory Ranch are home to some of the top courses in the state; all of the courses have received national recognition. Which course ranks where is a matter of opinion but in terms of layout and condition they are all exceptional. The courses are all relatively young and are only improving.

In the past 12 months there have been 149 sales plus 35 pending sales in Glenwild, Promontory, Red Ledges, Tuhaye and Victory Ranch combined. This number includes vacant land, single family homes and condos. For the same time a year ago total sales were 127 properties. Both years had approximately two dozen distressed sales. Current distressed inventory makes up less than 5% of the current available inventory.

The more than 15% rise in sales has been accompanied by an increase in prices with the average selling price of vacant lots up by nearly 30%. Market indicators for Park City area real estate are very strong and this bodes well for the private golf course communities in Park City as well. In the next few weeks we here at YouInParkCity.com will break down the real estate sales for the past year and review the upcoming and ongoing improvements being made at each of the five private golf course communities in the area.

All of the local Park City area public golf courses are already open and the private courses will be open by Memorial Day. For specifics on a particular golf course community homes in Park City, UT contact the YouInParkCity.com Group at (888)968-4672.

The Park City Heights development has started work.

What is the Park City Heights Development? It is a Master Planned Development near the corner of Highway 40 and State Road 248. The Quinn’s Junction area commonly referred to as the ‘back door’ into Park City, UT. The development when completed will cover 239 acres and have nearly 240 residences.

The location is just behind the much disputed film studio that was approved earlier this year. Unlike the film studio, this master planned development worked with the city and has met all of their guidelines regarding density, impacts, etc. Because there aren’t any neighborhoods nearby, the public was largely silent during discussions about the new neighborhood. I expect that there will be more of an uproar now that the construction process has started and as the impacts become more visible.

The original Master Plan was a collaboration between Park City and The Boyer Company (which is currently developing the Tech Center at the other entrance to Park City (Highway 80 and State Road 224). The construction of the development has since been transferred to Ivory Homes (one of Utah’s largest builders). Ivory homes is known for entry level home communities throughout the state, but has also recently added some higher end product in the Red Ledges Community in Heber City just south of Park City, UT. Over 70% of the development will be open space. The community will have a 3000’ community center/ club house as well as 15000’ of community garden space. Trails, both paved and dirt will run through the community and connect to other trails in Park City.

The Park City Heights community is slated for 160 market rate cottages and single family homes plus 28 deed restricted townhomes and 41 other deed restricted (affordable) units. Questions about the need or possible overbuilding of the deed restricted or workforce housing components of developments like this have been prevalent with the downturn in the economy. These 79 units will have the added benefit of being within the city limits.

Future residents in the area will have great access to the Quinn’s Junction recreational amenities (Park City’s Ice Arena, soccer and ball fields, the dog park as well as Round Valley Trails and the Rail Trail. The area will though add traffic to the already congested roads in front of the Tri-school area on SR248. This new construction will also have effects on real estate sales and values in the Prospector area as well as the new construction developments in the Jordanelle area (Black Rock Ridge, Parks Edge, and the Retreat at Jordanelle).

For more information about Park City Heights and its impacts on the Park City Real Estate Market contact a Park City Real Estate professional with YouInParkCity.com at (888)968-4672.

ParkCityGreen.org

            ParkCityGreen.org is a community resource run by Park City Municipal and the Park City Foundation; a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight foundation helped make it possible. The idea is to help residents understand how they can (and do) affect the earth through their carbon footprint, water usage and waste production.

            The website has calculators for your home and business which allow you to measure your carbon footprint, water consumption, and waste production. It then offers tips and options to help reduce and recycle. The program will compute costs and give you ways to save as well as ways to produce less waste. The program’s “what if calculator” allows you to set goals for yourself, family and business.

            Other great parts of the program include “My Sustainable Year” which is a weekly challenge to make a change in your life toward less impact on the environment. Challenges range from eating food produced locally, to walking or riding the bus versus driving your car; avoiding peak energy usage hours, trying to use less hot water, turning out the lights. It is amazing when you monitor what you do, how much you realize you might be wasting. The My Sustainable Year Challenge can be found on the ParkCityGreen.org website and heard on Park City’s local radio station KPCW at the beginning of each week. As well as during the “This Green Earth” weekly radio show.

            There are great reference tools to help you learn about how you can make a difference as well as kid specific portion of the website. We encourage you to take a look at all of the information this Park City community resource provides. No matter what your personal belief toward global warming may be, this Park City resource gives you ways to easily do what you know is right in terms of doing your part to protect the limited resources our world has.

            ParkCityGreen.org is another of the many intangibles that add value to Park City Real Estate and make the Park City, Utah area a great place to live. For more information on making Park City your home, contact a realty professional with the YouInParkCity.com Group.

 What Makes Park City Real Estate Valuable? The Kimball Arts Festival

            I as I was driving into work today with my wife, she mentioned that it was the Arts Festival that brought her to Park City. Ask a local why they live in Park City, UT and many will answer that they came here for a winter and never left. In my wife’s case, it was pictures from the Arts Festival that was the draw that put things over the top.

The annual Kimball Arts Festival is one of the many things beyond the skiing, biking, golf, snowboarding, hiking or … that make Park City, Utah special. It is a vibrant piece of the local Park City community (residents and vacationers alike actively volunteer to help with the festival).  Local amenities like the Arts Festival make Park City Real Estate Valuable by adding to the Park City Lifestyle.

            This year marks the 41^st annual Kimball Arts Festival. The festival runs Friday August 6^th (6pm-8pm) Through Sunday August 8^th (Sat 9 am-7 pm, Sun 9 am-6pm). Note that the Friday evening opening is a special “local” event that is free (suggested $10 donation goes to the Kimball Arts Center) and the least crowded time of the festival.

            The Kimball Arts Festival in Park City, UT is touted as one of the top ten arts festivals in the country (don’t ask me who said this). Each year they receive more than 1000 applicants for only 325 spaces. Tents line the middle of Main St as the area is closed to traffic for the weekend to make way for the anticipated 45,000 attendees. Only the Sundance Film Festival and Fourth of July Parades in Park City put so much pressure on Historic Main St. Things will be crowded, but that is part of the lure. It is impossible to walk through without running into friends you haven’t seen in a while.

            Music has been a recent addition to the Arts Festival with 3 different stages running throughout the festival. A free film screening by the Sundance Institute will be held on Friday night at Park City’s City Park. Local restaurants have also gotten into the spirit with the “Taste of Art” offering festival goers special pricing and limited time menu offerings.

            Real Estate for parking in Park City is at a premium during the Kimball Arts Festival. Follow the signs and directions of the volunteers. Plan on parking away from the festival and walking in or hopping on a free shuttle.

            For more festival information go to: http://www.kimballartcenter.org/

            Have a great time, and when you find yourself thinking “If I owned a home in Old Town I could just walk over to events like this on Main St.” contact your YouInParkCity.com Group Keller Williams Real Estate Professional to make it possible. (888)968-4672

             More than just the skiing, biking, golf, snowboarding, hiking or …it is the community and local amenities that make Park City Real Estate Valuable.

            Ask a local why they live in Park City, UT and many will answer that they came here for a winter and never left. In this ongoing blog chapter we will talk about some of the many things that make Park City, Utah a special place to live and own real estate.

            Today’s topic: The Park City Farmers Market

            Every Wednesday throughout the summer, there is a local Park City Farmers Market held in the lower parking lot of The Canyons Resort.

            The weekly event is held rain or shine. It is one of those great spots around town where you are bound to run into friends. Stop by and grab lunch, along with some fresh produce, local raised beef and lamb, fresh fish, bread, cheese, flowers and more. The Wednesday Park City Farmers Market is a great stop for food and snacks on your way to the free concert at Deer Valley too.

            The market is also home to some local artisans featuring sculptures, art, jewelry, antiques and more. The Wednesday Market has been the inspiration for a few other indoor and outdoor markets around Park City and it is still one of the best.

            For more information about the Park City Farmers Market, go to: http://www.parkcityfarmersmarket.com/.

            The Park City Farmers Market gives locals and visitors alike a sense that our community is not just about our resort amenities, Summit county not long ago was a mixture of mining and farming communities and to the east of park City, the farming still thrives. Local markets such as this one provide an easy way to be “green”…think global, buy local.

            If there is a Park City community amenity that you have questions about, drop The YouInParkCity.com Group an email.

             More than just the skiing, it is the community and local amenities that make Park City Real Estate Valuable.

            Ask a local why they live in Park City, UT and many will answer that they came here for a winter and never left. In this ongoing blog chapter we will talk about some of the many things that make Park City, Utah a special place to live and own real estate.

            Today’s topic: The Kimball Art Center

            The Kimball Art Center is Park City’s nonprofit community art center. Located in the heart of Historic Old Town the Kimball is considered by many the hub of the arts in Park City. Most renowned for hosting the Park City Arts Festival, one of the top art festivals in the country the Kimball Art Center also has classes for artists of all ages and abilities. While I take at least one class a year one of my favorite things do is the monthly Friday night gallery stroll which starts and ends at the Kimball and includes a stop at all of the galleries in Old Town. Most galleries provide beverages and light hors d oeuvres. Of course the center also hosts some fantastic exhibitions featuring both local and nationally known artists. Like the Park City Transit System the Kimball Art Center is free to the public.

            While the Kimball has no affiliation with the Park City Real Estate community it is considered by many locals and potential home buyers to be one of the important amenities that make Park City such a great place to live or vacation.

            For a list of events or classes at the Kimball visit their web site at http://www.kimballartcenter.org/  or visit the YouInParkCity.com events section at http://youinparkcity.com/events.php. If you stop by the Kimball and have any questions about Park City Real Estate stop by our office at 693 Main Street located right next door to the lower level entrance to the Kimball and ask for Rob or Todd.

If there is a Park City community amenity that you have questions about, drop The YouInParkCity.com Group an email.

             More than just the skiing, it is the community and local amenities that make Park City Real Estate Valuable.

            Ask a local why they make Park City, UT home and many will answer that they came here for a winter and never left. In this ongoing blog chapter we will talk about some of the many things we think make Park City, Utah a special place to live and own real estate.

            Today’s topic: KPCW – Your Community Connection

            KPCW is Park City, Utah’s local radio station. As one of the few radio stations that sounds clear in your car while driving around Park City, it has a tremendous local following. KPCW is one of the best sources for news and events relevant to the Park City area.

            KPCW dedicates five hours a day to award-winning, in-depth local news and interviews, with a focus on local Park City and Summit County issues. KPCW broadcasts timely information on local emergencies, road conditions and weather. The station also offers critical support to local not-for-profit organizations, providing interviews and producing over 26,000 free public service announcements each year to promote their activities.

            Unique local programs created by KPCW include: The Morning Show and Local News Hour, Monday-Friday 6:00 – 9:00 AM with Leslie Thatcher presenting local news, traffic and interviews; Mountain Money, with Ann Johnson, a daily report on local businesses; PM Park City, each afternoon with Randy Barton featuring local news and  interviews; Cada Domingo, a weekly three-hour program offering national and international news, music and interviews of importance to the area’s Spanish speaking community; This Green Earth, a weekly program with local and national “green” news and experts who help listeners live a more environmentally informed life; and Miner Details, a one-hour weekly report on local activities and sports produced by students from Park City High School. The station also provides a Saturday morning Classifieds Show, on-line Ride Board and Lost and Found.

            World News Service from the BBC is broadcast overnight starting at 10 PM through 5:00 AM. Throughout the rest of the day, music is played by over 50 local volunteer DJ’s.

            Many of the local news stories heard on air are posted on the station’s website at http://www.kpcw.org/.  

            KPCW is one of the many things that while somewhat intangible definitely adds to the value of real estate in Park City and makes Park City a great place to live and call home.

            If there is a Park City community amenity that you have questions about, drop The YouInParkCity.com Group an email.

            More than just the skiing, it is the community and local amenities that make Park City Real Estate Valuable.

            Ask a local why they live in Park City, UT and many will answer that they came here for a winter and never left. In this ongoing blog chapter we will talk about some of the many things that make Park City, Utah a special place to live and own real estate.

            Today’s topic: The Park Record

            The Park Record is Park City’s local newspaper. The paper comes out bi-weekly on Wednesdays and Saturdays. You can receive the paper by mail, or purchase it at many local outlets and distribution boxes for $0.50. It is also available online at http://www.parkrecord.com/.

            The Park Record is a great avenue for learning about what is going on in Park City. When someone walks in the front door here at the Keller Williams office at 693 Main St in Park City asking about what is going on in town, I recommend the Park Record as one of the best resources. It isn’t your source for national or world news. The paper is full of articles about local residents, local businesses, local politics and happenings. The paper is a great source for retail and restaurant specials, job openings and long term rentals.

            Park City real estate advertising makes up a good portion of the advertising, but the internet is a much more complete and frequently used portal for searching real estate for sale (see http://YouInParkCity.com/search  ) .

            If there is a Park City community amenity that you have questions about, drop The YouInParkCity.com Group an email.

             The Park Record reported Saturday that a portion of the Black Rock Ridge Development outside Park City, Utah has been sold to the Talisker Company and is slated to become employee/affordable housing.  Talisker owns the Canyons, Tuhaye, Empire Canyon and other properties in Summit and Wasatch Counties. Black Rock Ridge was slated to be a community of approximately 250 condominiums and townhomes ranging form 800 to 2000 square feet. The development offered its first completed models for sale in early 2008.

            Black Rock Ridge was promoted as affordable mountain style townhomes and condominiums in Park City, Utah. The development offered new construction homes at prices just below $300 per square foot. The product appeared well received, but the timing was poor. Black Rock Ridge is technically in Wasatch County and not Park City. This may have had something to do with its poor sales too as Wasatch County is outside of the nationally ranked Park City School District.

            Five unit sales in Black Rock Ridge were recorded across the Park City MLS. The remaining project was foreclosed upon by the bank this past spring. What will happen with the uncompleted common area amenities and future phases of the development is unknown. The Talisker Corporation purchased 26 of the unfinished units and has an agreement with Park City which will allow Talisker to use them (along with other concessions) to satisfy some of their employee and affordable housing components of the Empire Pass development. A Talisker representative was quoted as saying the company would sell the 9 townhomes at market value and the 17 condominiums when complete for $200K – $240K. The current owners at Black Rock Ridge will welcome some completion to the project, but are unhappy (to say the least) that the development will become “affordable housing” as the impact on their investment is decidedly negative.

            The location of Black Rock Ridge is less than 5 miles from the center of Park City making the area easily accessible. There are 2 other residential developments currently under construction in the area – Park’s Edge and The Retreat at Jordanelle. There are also commercial development possibilities in the area which is home to Stock Building Supply. Presently the area is a bit of no-man’s land and given the current economic state, it may be a while before this changes. The YouInParkCity.com group advises to carefully examine these and other unfinished Park City real estate developments before purchasing.