This article about ground water has been posted by Summit Mountain Home, where we specialize in Breckenridge Real Estate (click to search MLS for free) and Breckenridge Foreclosures.  You can contact us at 970-406-1385 or click here.  Check out some of our Breckenridge Real Estate listings by clicking here.

Water in Breckenridge, Colorado, like most everywhere else in the US, is generally classified into two groups: Surface Water and Ground Water. Surface water is just what the name implies; it is water found in a river, lake or other surface impoundment.  This is also know as liparian if the water is standing, as in a lake or riparian, if water is moving as in a river or stream.  This water is usually not very high in mineral content, and many times is called “soft water” even though it usually is not. Surface water is exposed to many different contaminants, such as animal wastes, pesticides, insecticides, industrial wastes, algae and many other organic materials. Even surface water found in a pristine mountain stream possibly contains Giardia or Coliform Bacteria from the feces of wild animals, and should be boiled or disinfected by some means prior to drinking.

Ground Water is that which is trapped beneath the ground. Rain that soaks into the ground, rivers that disappear beneath the earth, melting snow are but a few of the sources that recharge the supply of underground water. Because of the many sources of recharge, ground water may contain any or all of the contaminants found in surface water as well as the dissolved minerals it picks up during it’s long stay underground. Waters that contains dissolved minerals, such as calcium and magnesium above certain levels are considered “hard water” Because water is considered a “solvent”, i.e., over time it can break down the ionic bonds that hold most substances together, it tends to dissolve and ‘gather up’ small amounts of whatever it comes in contact with. For instance, in areas of the world where rock such as limestone, gypsum, fluorspar, magnetite, pyrite and magnesite are common, well water is usually very high in calcium content, and therefore considered “hard”.

Due to the different characteristics of these two types of water, it is important that you know the source of your water — Surface or Ground. Of the 326 million cubic miles of water on earth, only about 3% of it is fresh water; and 3/4 of that is frozen. Only 1/2 of 1% of all water is underground; about 1/50th of 1% of all water is found in lakes and streams. The average human is about 70% water. You can only survive 5 days or less without water.  To learn more about specific potential water problems, click here for our article on Water Quality Problems and Symptoms.

If you have any of these problems, it may be worth your while to contact the Summit County Environmental Health Departmecnt, P.O. Box 5660, Frisco, CO 80443, 970-668-4070.

Just in time for the Thanksgiving Holiday, Keystone Resort has opened more terrain,  That brings  the resort’s total offerings to 186 skiable acres, 11 lifts and 12 trails. Additionally, night ski operations and the Adventure Point Tubing Hill kicked off Wednesday.

Because of recent cold temperatures over the past week, Keystone Resort’s snowmaking team has been able to make snow on the Mozart Trail, giving skiers the opportunity to ski the back of Dercum Mountain to the Ruby Lift starting Saturday. Additionally, Keystone opened Lower Schoolmarm and Discovery trails as well as the Peru Lift to the Mountain House Base Area Wednesday. The Mountain House Base Area will be open through Thanksgiving Weekend and then on weekends until Dec. 18, when it will be open daily.

In addition to the new terrain, Keystone Resort is offering night skiing until 8 p.m. through Saturday and to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Night ski will continue to be offered Friday and Saturdays in December until 8 p.m. Beginning December 18th it will be offered nightly for the holiday season through January 3rd.

For more information on mountain conditions or mountain real estate contact Summit Mountain Home.

So, you have been watching “Flipping Out” or Armando and his wife on one of the other flipping shows and you want to get into the fixer-up and flip market?  Well, join the thousands of other Colorado Real Estate Investors.  Not all investors are successful.  There is some degree of risk involved and the key to entire process if buying for the right price.  In order to do that, you have to be very informed on the local market.  How do I get well informed you ask?  One way is to engage the expertise of a realtor that specializes in the Breckenridge Real Estate Investment Market.  We at Summit Mountain Home feel we the leaders in providing timely information on distressed properties and Breckenridge Foreclosures.

Some suggest that you follow a basic formula that has allowed some to make money in the flip housing market in Colorado. The key is to buy only properties that are listed at 70 percent or less of there retail market value ($70,000 for each $100,000 of home cost), and do not hold them for longer than 120 days.

I have my own basic formula that I want you to use as a starting point when investing a flipper in Breckenridge Colorado Real Estate.

Click here to see my formula to a start in flipping Breckenridge Real Estate properties.

To see a complete list of the Best of Summit County Outdoors for 2009, click here. ]]> http://www.summitmountainhome.com/realestateblog/2009/11/15/best-cross-country-skiing-in-summit-county-colorado/feed/ 0 http://www.summitmountainhome.com/realestateblog/2009/11/02/best-snowboarding-mountains-in-summit-county-colorado/ http://www.summitmountainhome.com/realestateblog/2009/11/02/best-snowboarding-mountains-in-summit-county-colorado/#comments Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:11:58 +0000 Editor http://www.summitmountainhome.com/realestateblog/?p=556

To see a complete list of the Best of Summit County Outdoors for 2009, click here. ]]> http://www.summitmountainhome.com/realestateblog/2009/11/02/best-snowboarding-mountains-in-summit-county-colorado/feed/ 0 http://www.summitmountainhome.com/realestateblog/2009/10/28/best-skiing-mountains-in-summit-county-colorado/ http://www.summitmountainhome.com/realestateblog/2009/10/28/best-skiing-mountains-in-summit-county-colorado/#comments Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:16:19 +0000 Editor http://www.summitmountainhome.com/realestateblog/?p=554

To see a complete list of the Best of Summit County Outdoors for 2009, click here. ]]> http://www.summitmountainhome.com/realestateblog/2009/10/28/best-skiing-mountains-in-summit-county-colorado/feed/ 0 http://www.summitmountainhome.com/realestateblog/2009/10/21/own-or-rent-in-breckenridgeit-is-time-to-buy/ http://www.summitmountainhome.com/realestateblog/2009/10/21/own-or-rent-in-breckenridgeit-is-time-to-buy/#comments Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:22:59 +0000 Editor http://www.summitmountainhome.com/realestateblog/?p=581

This information on the own versus buy decision on real estate is brought to you by Summit Mountain Home, where we specialize in Breckenridge Real Estate (click to search MLS for free) and Breckenridge Foreclosures.  You can contact us at 970-406-1385 or click here.  Check out some of our Breckenridge Real Estate listings by clicking here.

With interest rates falling to historical lows, now is a great time to buy.  In addition, home prices have fallen pretty far.  Not too long ago, the difference between owning and renting a mid-range home averaged almost $800.00 in a survey of 45 metro areas.  That difference in 2009 has fallen to less than $225.00.  Those numbers were using first quarter 2009 sales prices, so the gap may have closed even more.

So, for what amounts to almost the same amount of money, you can own your home instead of renting it.  The beauty of owning though is that in addition to long term appreciation, you get a tax write-off for interest and taxes.  With that additional information loaded into the equation, it may actually cost you less money to own than to rent.

Now is a great time to buy!  Interest rates will not stay this low forever, so let us find your Summit Mountain Home. ]]> http://www.summitmountainhome.com/realestateblog/2009/10/21/own-or-rent-in-breckenridgeit-is-time-to-buy/feed/ 0 http://www.summitmountainhome.com/realestateblog/2009/10/19/third-quarter-statistics-for-breckenridge-real-estate-sales/ http://www.summitmountainhome.com/realestateblog/2009/10/19/third-quarter-statistics-for-breckenridge-real-estate-sales/#comments Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:06:48 +0000 Editor http://www.summitmountainhome.com/realestateblog/?p=707 Third quarter statistics are in for 2009 for Breckenridge Real Estate sales.  This new update regarding the sale of Breckenridge Real Estate has been posted by Summit Mountain Home, where we specialize in Breckenridge Real Estate (click to search MLS for free) and Breckenridge Foreclosures.  With third quarter statistics in the books, things are not as bad as one might think.  It looks like the worst may be behind us and the rate of sales slowdown is finally changing direction.

In 2005, record setting, double digit price appreciation was taking place on an annual basis.  We were also at the peak of sales of existing homes and condominiums in Breckenridge.  Since 2005, the level of those sales has slipped each and every year.  In 2005, 981 such sales took place.  In 2008, 405 sales of existing homes and condos took place.  That is a drop of over 50%.  2009 will most likely end with about 300 sales of this nature.

During that same time period, the price per square foot increased by 62 percent for homes and 37 percent for condos.  In addition, the new construction on Peak 7 and 8 were very expensive and skewed the numbers by piling up the volume dollars with few transactions.  This distracted the public from noticing that the number of units being sold was  dropping drastically and issues with the availability of inventory of existing homes and condo units.

As the prices climbed, there became fewer potential buyers.  But recently, the price per square foot has dropped off by close to 20% on the median Breckenridge Home.  Additionally, the price per square foot on a condo unit in Breckenridge has decreased by 25%.  This trend has increased the number of potential qualified buyers.  The lower prices will translate into increased sales numbers.  We are already beginning to see an upswing in theBreckenridge Real Estate Market.

For Condos in the Breckenridge Real Estate market, the second quarter of 2008 was the worst in history.  Condo sales fell by close to 70 percent.  Since then, the amount of drop-off has declined each quarter.  This last quarter, condo sales only fell 13% compared to sales a year ago.  You can contact your team at Summit Mountain Home at 970-406-1385.

For Homes in the Breckenridge Real Estate market, the worst quarter was the last one of 2008, where prices dropped by 27%.  The second quarter of 2009 was almost as bad, with a drop of 20% compared to a year ago.  However, for the current quarter just ended, the price of a home increased 13 percent over the same period one year ago.

We are seeing that bottom of the demand swing has close to bottomed out.  Lower prices and an improving economy are starting to build a larger pool of potential buyers.  Your team here at Summit Mountain Home have their finger on the pulse of this market and can help you negotiate you way through the potential pitfalls.  Whether you are investing for potential profits and tax write-offs or investing in the future of your family, we want to help you find your Summit Mountain Home.