JenEngel

United Airlines will offer nonstop flights between Aspen, Colorado and Houston starting in January 2011. Direct service has not been available to Aspen from a major Texas market since 1998, when Lone Star Airlines ended its service.

“This is very exciting news,” said Bill Tomcich, president of Stay Aspen Snowmass, a central reservations firm. “It will facilitate brilliant connections from Texas, Florida and all across South America. “The Brazilians are going to love this.” (more…)

West End Sale - Aspen

Address:  315 West Smuggler Street, West End
Listed Price: $8,650,000 Furnished
Sold Price: $8,200,000
Closing Date: August 30, 2010

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Aspen’s High End Market is heating up and general consensus among the brokers is that the bottom has been reached.  According to Land Title Guarantee Company, which tracks all recorded sales in Pitkin County, dollar volume from real estate transactions is up nearly 22 percent from the first half of 2009 – $573.8 milllion compared to $471.5 million.   Read more about what local brokers have to say by clicking on the Aspen Daily News article from Monday August 2nd, entitled “Aspen’s high end is the hot trend”.

Address:  1490 Ute Avenue, Aspen
Listed Price:  $15,000,000
Sold Price:  $10,500,000
Closing Date: July 29, 2010 (more…)

 The 90-room Sky Hotel at the base of Aspen Mountain is up for sale.  According to Sky executives, the hotel is not having financial troubles nor is the sale a result of tough economic times.  (more…)

Property: 674 Johnson Drive, Starwood Subdivision, Aspen
Listing Price: $12.5 Million
Sales Price: $10 Million
Sold Date: July 23, 2010

This newly constructed estate in the exclusive gated community of Starwood includes 7,440 square feet, 5 bedrooms, 5 baths, exercise room, wine room, home theater, waterfall and lovely outdoor living/dining space with fireplace. Located on five private acres offering all day sun and views of Aspen, Snowmass, Buttermilk and Highlands ski areas.

These sales were recorded in Pitkin County from May 25th to May 26th, 2010. For a full market analysis or more details, contact Jen at Jen@JenEngel.com or 970/618.7319.

Property: 44 Johnson Drive, Starwood (Aspen).  Photographed Here.
Sold Price: $8,250,000

Property:  1355 Medicine Bow Road (Brush Creek Village)
Sold Price: $1,026,000

According to a report issued by Land Title Guarantee Co., the month of April saw real estate transactions in Pitkin County improve by 128 percent over April 2009.  71 real estate transactions were recorded in total, up 54 percent from 2009. 

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It’s going to be even easier for visitors to get from Aspen to Chicago this summer. For the first time, United will offer a nonstop direct flight from Chicago to Aspen on Saturdays during the summer months.  The return flight will require a brief stop in Denver for refueling.

Until the Aspen airport runway is extended (plans are in the works), weight restrictions on takeoff during the warmer summer months prohibit a direct flight back to Chicago.  According to Bill Tomcich, President pf Stay Aspen Snowmass and also the resort’s liason to the airline industry,  the number of seats serving Aspen this summer will be up five to seven percent on United and Frontier.  In addition, the number of people who got on a commercial flight increased by 15 percent last winter, between December and April.

Average airfares for Aspen travelers were down 17 percent last year.  The average fare was $232 in 2009, down from $278 in 2008.  Tomcich added that United and Frontier remain pleased with the performance of the Aspen market.

A new restaurant will open in Aspen on May 20th, very apropo since the restaurant is named 520 Grill.  Wheaton Augur and Troy Selby have teamed up to bring Aspen a “healthy” burger joint located one block from the Silver Queen Gondola. (more…)