There are lots of location choices in Vail and it’s important for you to consider different criteria to find out what will work best for you. If I’m working with buyers who haven’t spent too much time in Vail yet we take a look at different areas and subdivisions and what each of these options has to offer. Your budget may also greatly affect the areas you are looking in. This is very much an individual decision and important to think and talk about what you want, and how you will use your home with family, friends and guests. Here are some of the things that I have found most buyers take into consideration when choosing a location for their Vail Valley dream home!
Proximity and Your Dream Home
What exactly do you want to be close to and how close do you really want to be? People come to Vail for a variety of reasons, although skiing and snowboarding is definitely high on that list! Think about whether you will be coming to Vail mostly in the winter or the summer. What do you want to do during those seasons? Maybe you’re considering Vail Valley because you want to be close to restaurants, stores and other people. How about a place in town so you can walk to get a coffee or breakfast? Does it make sense to find a place for your group so everyone can walk home at the end of a late night?
Or are you trying to get away from all the hustle and bustle of your normal life and want to find a really quiet place. Cordillera is a great subdivision if you’re looking for something like this. It has no highway impact and an abundance of wildlife for you to enjoy. However, if you’re looking for somewhere a little further away, consider the ease of getting there in the winter when roads may be bad. Think about how easy it will be for you to do everyday things like going to the grocery store or grabbing a bite at a restaurant. Will your remote mountain dream home have cell service? How about high-speed Internet service?
Or do you want something in between? Maybe close to town, but not right in town where it may be noisy and there may be lots of dogs barking. Discuss with your family and friends (if you plan on having them over often) what you want to be close to!
Buying in Vail Because You Want to Get on the Slopes
If the reason you are looking at buying a home in the Vail area is because you want to get out on the slopes to ski or snowboard you might want to consider being close to the mountain. Choosing a location for your Vail Dream Home may be focused on where you can find the best ski-in ski-out homes. Ski-in ski-out homes are generally more expensive so see if that works with the budget you had in mind. You might be considering buying further away but still want easy access to the mountain. How would you get everyone to the slopes and back? What if someone wanted to sleep in, or come back from the slopes early? Do you think you (& your family and friends) will tire of the lack of challenging ski runs, or be dissatisfied with long lift lines? Will they want to do something else other than ski?
If you aren’t looking at a ski-in/ski-out home but still want to go skiing or snowboarding easily, there are other options. You should look into a locker or club membership at the base area where you can keep your skis and all your gear. This can be a great option for ease of skier access, and with shuttles and bus service, this may overcome most of the logistical challenges of getting you and your guests from your home to the chairlifts and back
Access to Other Amenities
The skiing isn’t the only reason people come to Vail throughout the year. Maybe you want to enjoy the outdoors in a different way! If you love to golf maybe you want to be on, or close to the golf course? The Vail Golf Course is a fantastic course with beautiful homes surrounding it. Vail also offers access to hundreds of miles of backcountry hiking and biking in the summer and recreational access in the winter. The option to “hike right out your back door” appeals to many people, and getting onto a trail quickly and easily is a nice amenity, especially with guests. This eliminates the need to pile everyone into a vehicle (or two) and drive to the trailhead. You will probably still do this because there are so many trails to explore, but like ski-in/out, it reduces the number of moving parts. Many trails or dirt roads that you hike or bike on in the summer may offer great options for Nordic skiing in the winter. If the trail is groomed, then both classic Nordic (cross country) skiing as well as skate skiing will be options. There are lots of options for snowshoeing as well!
Views, Views, Views
Compared to a home in suburban USA where views are not typically even an item on the checklist, this can be the deciding factor between two homes in Vail. Some homes are tucked in an aspen grove, and while this can be a beautiful setting, others offer panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. It is hard to find a home that doesn’t have some sort of nice view, but again, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. There may be a western facing view and you will be blessed with magnificent mountain sunsets. A home that has great exposure and views facing to the east is nice as well because there is something special about having coffee on the deck on a crisp morning with the sun warming you up.
Be very keen on looking at the views of a home and asking, “Are these views protected? Who owns that land in our ‘viewshed’? What can be built there?” It can be deceiving in a new development when there are very few homes built to visualize the changes to the views once other homes are built. It is not uncommon for homeowners to buy adjacent lots to guarantee open space and protect their views. Great, unobstructed views will positively impact the value of a home or property, and homes on a National Forest fence line are also very desirable.
Final Thoughts and How Can I Help You?
There are many things that go into choosing a location for your Vail Valley dream home and if you’re having trouble deciding, I can absolutely help! I’m confident that we can find you a home that fits your needs perfectly. I hope this article has shown you that I am a knowledgeable and very honest real estate agent who wants to help buyers and sellers. I want to provide my clients with interesting and up-to-date information so they can make informed decisions. If you think that my expertise and positive attitude might be of service to you don’t hesitate to reach out and contact me.
Robert Schilling
Coldwell Banker Global Luxury Specialist
Coldwell Banker Distinctive Properties
(970) 390-0705
[email protected]