296 Gray Head Lane, Telluride, CO 81435
Steve Catsman arrived in Telluride fresh out of school by way of Aspen. Although it was the love of skiing that brought him here, his passion for nature, outdoors and mountain living has made the historic town of Telluride the home of his family for over 46 years and three generations. He was a Founding Broker in Telluride Real Estate Corp. in association with the Telluride Ski and Golf Company and has been a top broker since 1981. Catsman sat down with Haute Residence to discuss the market of Telluride and what buyers are looking for:
What are the current real estate market trends and conditions in Telluride, CO?
Telluride enjoys a niche market in one of the most beautiful luxury resorts in Colorado. With a free gondola that connects a 1/4 wide mile box canyon, Historic Town of Telluride, to the Mountain Village, a high end ski in / out community with a commercial core and luxury estate homes, the Telluride area has a variety of real estate options from extremely high end to affordable housing for local residents. By definition, due to it's smaller population, the region is blessed with limited inventory, however, coupled with the incredible beauty and amazing wilderness, the long term trend promises to continue upward.
What are the top 3 things luxury homebuyers look for?
I would say that there are actually four plus main criteria that home buyers are looking for. Because of the unmatched beauty, views are most sought after. Due to the high-end nature of the buyers and their families, privacy is often a request and coupled with the option for convenience to downtown or the Mountain Village. Finally, of course, proximity to the ski area, ski in / out is often desired for area vacation homes in the Telluride region.
Where do you foresee the luxury real estate market is heading in the new year?
The Telluride region is the Festival Leader of Colorado ski towns. With events such as the Telluride Film Festival and the Bluegrass Festival, our summers are actually busier than our winters, and with two new carriers into Telluride's airport, new this summer (Denver Direct) and Boutique air, both affiliated with United Airlines. Telluride also offers a wide variety of connections from East coast to West coast into Tex / Montrose Regional. As a result, we are anticipating a year-round robust market to continue.
Is there a push for vertical living in Telluride or is it still horizontal based?
With amazing natural beauty and our iconic mountains in all directions, Telluride maintains strong architectural controls in order to maintain views and privacy for its residents, and subsequent quality of life, so I do not see the market going vertical anytime soon.
What do you recommend to homebuyers looking to invest in Telluride as we head into 2019? Why Telluride as opposed to other resort areas of Colorado and the west coast?
The Telluride story has never changed. Its natural beauty surpasses all the rest. That coupled with the limited supply of real estate, bodes well for keeping the quality of life above the crowds that frequent other resorts.
To see a sample of this go to www.catsman.com or call Steve Catsman at 970-729-0100
Image courtesy of Steve Catsman
