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Improve Your Curb Appeal

By Ramon Gomez, Jr.
Apr 05, 2021

Homeowners focus so much on the interior of their homes that they may often neglect the outside—or at the very least do the bare minimum like keeping the lawn mowed. However, if you're thinking about selling your home or want to one-up the neighbors, here are a few ideas that'll put other yards to shame:

Update Your Walkway

When folks come to your house, you want to roll out the proverbial red carpet. A beautifully done walkway can give off the impression that you're welcoming guests to your house.

If you have a plain concrete walkway, you can tear it up and install pavers, brick or slate. However, if you don't want to do all of that, you can powerwash the walkway and stain it with a special concrete stain. Again, you can go as bold or as subtle as you'd like with the stain color, but be sure to choose a complimentary color!

Add or Update Lighting

Yes, houses often have a generic porch light, but they don't really add any pizzaz to the exterior of the home. Upgraded light fixtures add a bit of class and appeal to your home without a lot of fuss. Dark fixtures with clean lines on lighter houses just look a little more modern if that's your desired aesthetic. If you want a farmhouse look, white or gray lantern fixtures are great options.

Other than porch lights, you can add walkway lights or light posts to the front of your driveway too. With that said, flood lights that stay on aren't necessarily great for curb appeal. We recommend motion sensor lights so that you'll be alerted of anyone (or anything) coming onto your property, but the overall look of your home won't be overshadowed by the bright lights.

Create Flower Beds Suitable for Your Climate

You'd be surprised by how well-maintained flower beds can improve the look of your house. The bright colors, deep rich mulch and even trimming around the flower beds go a long way to helping your house look put together.

When you're choosing flowers, you want to be mindful of what type of flowers grow best in your particular neck of the woods. Flowers like pansies and hostas are great for colder climates, but hibiscus or peonies do better during the summer or warmer climates.

If you're unsure about what flowers or plants to use, or need more information about gardening in general, the Farmer's Almanac is an excellent source.

Use Color to Make Your House Pop

Naturally, flowers are a great way to add some color to your house, but there are other ways you can add color! You can give your house a new coat of paint, which will freshen up the look of your house. Some popular exterior colors include shades of gray and blue, off white, and light neutrals like taupe and brown.

Another great way to add color is by having a bold door and/or shutters. Red doors are typical, but have you ever considered robins egg or even a bright color like orange, fuchsia or green? Just remember to choose a color that compliments the rest of the house, rather than clashes!

As with the interior of your home, you should strive to have lovely curb appeal! Of course, meticulous landscaping improves curb appeal, but it also helps make your house feel like home.

For the past year, Evette Champion has been writing informative articles for HomeLight.com and enjoys educating new homebuyers about the world of real estate. She's an avid fan of the home improvement shows on HGTV and the DIY network and is always looking for affordable ways to improve her home—especially when it comes to boosting curb appeal without breaking the bank!

 

 

Best Ski Resorts

By Ramon Gomez, Jr.
Feb 10, 2021

Conde Naste Traveler has released The Best Ski Resorts in the U.S. and Canada: 2020 Readers' Choice Awards. For the 33rd annual Readers’ Choice Awards survey registered voters weighed in on their favorite places around the globe. They were hot to share their thoughts on the best hotels in the world and best cities in the world, and on the best skiing. While the landscape for the ski season looks a bit different this year—with resorts hard at work to ensure instructors, skiers, snowboarders, and everyone else can stay safe—our readers' love for the slopes still came through. From Montana to Massachusetts, Alberta to Aspen, these ski resorts were picked by our readers as the best in the world for their trails, lifts, and après-ski spots. Whether you’re a moguls expert, a terrain park shredder, or a novice still mastering blue runs, these ski resorts ticked all your boxes. Park City graces the list twice with Deer Valley coming in 1st and Park City Mountain Resort comes in 8th.

Park City Mountain Resort, Utah comes in 8th - Park City is part of the largest ski area in the country. In addition to size, there's location, location, location: Its 7,300 acres, eight terrain parks, and 64 acres of night skiing are only half an hour from newly reimagined Salt Lake City International Airport. Park City continues to be rated one of our readers' favorites, thanks to its varied terrain and a buzzy downtown that has top-notch après-ski. Serious overnight grooming efforts ensure over 120 trails are pure corduroy every morning. On especially cold days, visitors can warm up in the Orange Bubble Express, a bubbled and heated chairlift at Canyons.

Where to stay: Hands down, the Waldorf Astoria Park City is the place to be, although there are numerous other options in nearby Deer Valley. For something more intimate, the stylish 12-room Washington School House is less than a five-minute walk from the Town Lift and serves a heavenly breakfast. 

Stats: 41 lifts for 348 trails. One-day lift tickets from $104; on the Epic Pass.

Deer Valley, Utah comes in 1st - Deer Valley is made for families who love to ski together (it's one of only three resorts in the country that still bans snowboarding) and are willing to spend top dollar for the experience. The resort’s “your wish is our command” customer service is worth the splurge. It's also conveniently located: under 40 miles from the Salt Lake City International Airport, and adjacent to Park City along the Wasatch Range.

Where to stay: Montage Deer ValleyThe Lodges at Deer Valley, and the St. Regis Deer Valley.

Stats: 21 lifts for 103 trails. One-day lift tickets average $159–$209; on the Ikon Pass.

To read Conde Nast Traveler's whole article CLICK HERE.

According to the designers, here are the 7 Kitchen Trends That Will Takeover of 2021 by Apartment Therapy. From bold backsplashes to colored concrete countertops and more, here’s what interior designers say will set the bar in stylish cook spaces this year.

Colored stone countertops -Swap out that classic marble for a colored stone that speaks to you. You don’t have to go super bold either if you don’t want to. A creamy beige travertine or other type of stone can add extra warmth to a design scheme than, say, something that’s classic white and gray. Pink is another color that’s going to be popping in countertops, too. It’s up to you how colorful—or neutral—you want to go with your hue selections.

Timeless all-white kitchens - Traditional all-white kitchens will still remain popular.

Statement backsplashes  - The walls of your kitchen are brimming with design potential; it just takes the right backsplash to set off your cookspace. There are a slew of artful backsplash ideas you can pick from to design a unique statement feature. If you don’t have the budget to go all out on a bold new backsplash, consider removable peel-and-stick tiles to score a similar effect without breaking your bank account.

Intimate kitchen with pops of personality - The belief that a home should double as a sanctuary was more important than ever in 2020, creating a welcoming kitchen that you truly enjoy spending time in will be key in 2021.

Mixed materials - get creative with colors, textures, and finishes in kitchens. To create an eclectic, layered kitchen without having to hire a contractor, look for sleek, space-savvy ways to show off your mixed metal kitchenwares in plain sight, such as hanging your pots from overhead hooks or installing a brass-plated wall sconce above your stove. 

Black kitchens - Think Art Deco vibes, such as black-finished cabinets and floors, brass and gold accent hardware, and striking quartzite slab countertops.

Integrated appliances - 2020 taught many of us that space itself is a luxury. To create a uniform look in your kitchen sans the pricey integrated appliances, try painting all of your cabinets (and your island if you have one) the same color to create visual continuity and the illusion of more space.

The Park Record has released the Park City 2021 event calendar and shows the return of arts fest, Tour of Utah and others. The spread of the novel coronavirus and the subsequent health restrictions nearly erased Park City’s slate of special events in 2020.

The municipal government has crafted a tentative calendar running through the end of 2021 that details the return of special events. Although the Sundance Film Festival, which is Park City’s largest special event, will not be held as a live event in 2021, the calendar indicates many others plan to be staged in the city as of now.

The calendar will depend on the status of the sickness as the events approach, and City Hall acknowledges officials will closely monitor the state of the coronavirus as it readies for the events. The Summit County Health Department is also heavily involved in discussions about events. There is hope at City Hall of improvements in the coronavirus numbers as more people are vaccinated in the months leading into the summer.

A string of important events has secured dates in 2021, the calendar shows. They include the Independence Day celebration, the Triple Crown Sports Baseball World Series, the Tour of Utah bicycling race, the Park City Kimball Arts Festival and the Miners Day celebration. Each of the events was canceled in 2020.

Some of the other key dates on the tentative calendar for 2021, which begins in earnest in June, include:

• the weekly Park City Farmer’s Market starting June 2.

• a lacrosse tournament known as the Ski Town Shoot Out on June 4 and June 5.

• a Beethoven festival in July and early August

• Autumn Aloft from Sept. 17 until Sept. 19

Utah Exploration

By Ramon Gomez, Jr.
Jan 25, 2021

Judy and I love to travel the state of Utah with our dog Zorro and this week we wanted to share Travel Awaits article 9 Utah State Parks That Should Be On Your Bucket List. Utah’s stunning landscape is far from a secret. The state’s “Mighty 5” pack of Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, and Arches national parks has long been a staple of family road trips and bucket-list adventures. Utah’s splendors do not end at the national parks, they extend into a system of 43 amazing state parks, here are nine Utah state parks that should be on your bucket list.

1. Dead Horse Point State Park - Just a half-hour drive from the world-famous rock formations of Arches National Park is another not-to-be-missed Utah experience: the overlook at Dead Horse Point State Park, which provides a big-picture view of the Colorado River meandering through the area’s canyons and mesas.

2. Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park- If sand dunes are as fascinating to you as they are to me, Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park is definitely one for the bucket list. Located in the midst of the Navajo sandstone formations of southwestern Utah, the state park features an otherworldly sea of shifting, rose-tinted sand. With few permanently designated trails, the dunes are generally open to hikers and ATVs. The shifting nature of the sand can make hiking a bit difficult, but gorgeous views await at the top of the dunes.

3. Kodachrome Basin State Park - For a wonderful stop on the drive to or from Capitol Reef National Park, consider making a short detour to Kodachrome Basin State Park, a veritable wonderland of rock pinnacles and colorful cliffs. Boasting 67 monolithic stone spires, the basin is a part of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and is among the best experiences in the massive parkland. Owing to the basin’s photogenic qualities, a National Geographic Society expedition in 1948 is said to have named the area Kodachrome after the popular color film of the time.

4. Wasatch Mountain State Park - Located at nearly 6,000 feet elevation, Wasatch Mountain State Park offers year-round recreation in a mountain setting. A 45-minute drive southeast of Salt Lake City, Wasatch Mountain State Park’s Soldier Hollow was the host of the 2002 Winter Olympics. The park’s website notes that the venue remains open to the public and offers cross-country skiing, tubing, summer and winter biathlon, and inline skating.

5. Goblin Valley State Park - The name alone is enough to entice travelers in search of an extraordinary experience. Often compared to Mars, Goblin Valley State Park features thousands of mushroom-shaped hoodoos, also known as goblins. The state park, located about an hour and a half west of Moab in southeastern Utah, is a showcase of geologic history, featuring cliffs that reveal parallel layers of rock that have been exposed by erosion.

6. Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail State Park - Billed as one of Utah’s most unique state parks, the 28-mile-long Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail follows an old route starting near Park City and on to the towns of Wanship and Coalville, then the Echo Reservoir.

7. Utah Lake State Park - For a lake setting with urban amenities nearby, it’s hard to beat Utah Lake State Park in the Provo area. Sitting at the mouth of the Provo River, Utah Lake is one of the largest freshwater lakes in the west. The state park offers boating, fishing, hiking, and camping. It also has a day-use area for swimming in the outer marina, picnicking under one of the beach cabanas, and disc golf.

8. Sand Hollow State Park - Among Utah’s newest and most popular state parks is Sand Hollow State Park, a 20,000-acre park in southwestern Utah, about a 25-minute drive northeast of St. George and about 45 minutes southwest of Zion National Park.

9. Goosenecks State Park - Sweeping views are the name of the game at Goosenecks State Park located in the far southeastern corner of Utah. The park sits at the edge of a deep canyon above the curve in the San Juan River known as a gooseneck. The river twists and turns for six miles on its way west to Lake Powell. To read the whole article, CLICK HERE.

Looking to stay in Park City, Travel+Leisure shares the 7 Best Winter Lodges in the U.S. With Private Hot Tubs, Upscale Spas, Sleigh Rides, and More. Savor the season at one of these beautiful winter lodges in the U.S., from Utah to New York. It doesn’t get more luxurious than the Stein Eriksen Lodge — you can spend an entire day in the upscale spa or make use of the property’s extensive wine collection over dinner. Those interested in skiing will enjoy easy access to Deer Valley Resort, a ski area known for its customer service and family-friendly terrain. True to form, this ski lodge has all the cozy touches that make a winter lodge so appealing — beds heaped with pillows, in-room fireplaces, and suites with private hot tubs. To read about the other great locations CLICK HERE.

We will wrap up this week's blog with It's a Shake-Up! These 10 Drastically Different Design Trends Will Be Everywhere in 2021—and Beyond by Realtor.com . Realtor.com asked real estate and design experts to weigh in on what they anticipate will be the biggest home trends of 2021. It turns out, with all the stress that 2020 brought to our lives, it also influenced some defining changes in the way we decorate, design, and live in our homes.

1. Dedicated home office - Working from the kitchen table was kind of cute when you thought you would be doing it for only a few weeks. But now? Not so much. That's why, in 2021 (and beyond) home offices will be more important than ever. If you don’t have a spare room for an office, there are plenty of ways to get creative and set up a space with some personality. In fact, one of the biggest trends on Pinterest this year is the rise of the "cloffice," a portmanteau of "closet" and "office.

2. Clearly delineated spaces - They’re not completely passé (yet), but people are increasingly interested in closing off those wide-open spaces we so used to covet. The trend will be to create different living spaces within the open floor plan so people will have pockets or nooks in the home for e-learning, Zoom calls, a conversation, lounging, exercising, etc.

3. Houseplants and indoor gardens - During the pandemic when it was difficult for some to get their daily dose of nature, people started bringing the outdoors in with natural materials in their home.

4. Rattan accents - In line with the houseplant trend, natural materials are having a huge moment. In particular, rattan is the material du jour, appearing everywhere from drink holders to bed frames.

5. Wood-grain kitchen cabinets and counters - For the kitchen, our designer members are seeing more minimalist styles with touches of organic and natural materials such as wood grain—perhaps as part of a desire to connect with nature. Instead of painted kitchen cabinets or the ubiquitous all-white kitchen, expect to see homeowners embracing a more natural look with wood-grain cabinets and wood countertops on islands.

6. Next-level playgrounds - Experts say enhanced outdoor spaces will continue to trend in the new year—including elaborate custom playgrounds.

7. Outdoor kitchens - Multiseason spaces that feature fireplaces or fire pits, patio/deck areas, or screened-in porches that can be used year-round, that includes outdoor kitchens, which have become more popular than ever during the pandemic.

8. Smart bathroom innovations - Never embraced the bidet in your home bathroom? That's just the start of things—you can expect to see a slew of new bathroom innovations in 2021 as homeowners continue to focus more than ever on hygiene.

9. Retro furniture and color palettes - Expect to see funky color palettes (think mauve, forest green, and burnt orange) and furniture throwbacks like '80s curves and '90s traditionalism. An easy way to try the trend for yourself is with a quick coat of paint.

10. Cozy, layered vibes - Instead of stark white minimalism, expect to see more color and personality in 2021's home decor—less uber-modern and more boho chic. So go ahead and pile on those mismatched blankets and throw pillows, and don't be afraid to embrace a design that reflects your personality.

Have a great week, Ramon & Judy

Snow On The Horizon

By Ramon Gomez, Jr.
Dec 09, 2020

Snow is on the horizon and with a winter storm promising to bring snow starting Friday, Park City is ready to get back on the mountain. This winter — despite a spike in COVID-19 cases and the pile of restrictions ski resorts have put in place to prevent outbreaks — ski areas throughout Utah are bracing for an avalanche of interest. The Salt Lake Tribune shares that Utah ski areas expect surge in popularity due to COVID-19 this winter. After COVID-19 caused a near-industry-wide closure March 14 — in the middle of the spring-break blitz — resorts have sunk money and people power into reconfiguring lift lines, installing Plexiglass barriers in rental shops and creating outdoor order windows in restaurants. Even with such protocols in place, they run the risk of having local governments shut them down again if coronavirus case numbers climb too high whether at the resort or in the adjacent municipalities.

But people are growing weary of being cooped up. And as anyone looking for some solitude on a hike this summer can attest, they’re turning to The Great Outdoors for an escape. One in every three people expects to take a road trip of 500 or more miles this holiday season, according to a Bridgestone Americas survey. That follows a strong push for road trips this summer, when AAA estimated 97% of all Americans would drive to their vacation spots. And even in a non-COVID year, Utah’s resorts have visitors regularly make the haul from California, Texas, Nevada, Arizona and Idaho, among other states.

This winter, Park City again finds itself being compared to New York and L.A., but for an entirely different reason. This time, it’s where people most want to be. Park City has replaced New York as the No. 1 destination for Christmas travelers, according to analysis by TripIt. The company looked at both vacation rental and flight reservations with check-in dates between Nov. 27 and Dec. 25. Last winter, Park City ranked 20th among destinations. This year, it moved up 19 spots to unseat New York City, which plummeted to No. 11. Park City moved up to No. 1 as a winter holiday vacation destination from 20th in 2019. Click here to read the entire article.

Travel Curator calls Park City a skiers paradise. Significantly because it happens to be home to Utah Olympic Park where thrill-seekers can enjoy the rush of speeding down the same track of the 2002 Olympic bobsled, skeleton, and luge events. This charming city surrounded by staggering mountains also has incredible spas, restaurants, and a nightlife scene to elevate your apres ski experience. You’ll find most of the action along historic Main Street lined with local gems, mountain-inspired fashion retailers, and gallery spaces.

A stay in Park City gives you access to two of the Rocky Mountains headliner resorts, Deer Valley Resort and Park City Mountain Resort. Deer Valley is a luxury ski only resort known for its 103 runs, 2,000 acres of skiable terrain first-class facilities, exceptional on the slopes dining, and five-star ski-in/ski-out accommodations. Spanning 7,300 acres Park City Mountain Resort has a whopping 341 runs and 8 terrain parks makes it the largest and one of the most coveted ski resorts in the US.

Travel Curator calls Main Street the culinary hub of Park City, luring guests from each of the surrounding resorts for elevated dining and plenty of great cocktail bar action. The Riverhorse on Mai is a culinary gem that features a seasonal menu along with tried and true favorites like the Macadamia Nut Crusted Halibut. A casual alternative to this fine dining establishment is Riverhorse Provisions known for its exceptional smoked meats – we’re particularly fond of their breakfast. When it comes to spirits, Alpine Distilling is it. With the distillery is Silver Creek and their Alpine Pie Bar on Main Street you can make your own gin and take it home seeing real distillation at work.

Skiing & Real Estate

By Ramon Gomez, Jr.
Nov 18, 2020

Park City Resorts Are Ready For A Season Unlike Any Other and with opening day of the Park City ski season just a week away, the executives at both Park City Mountain and Deer Valley Resorts talked about what will be a ski season unlike any other. KPCW shares that in their annual update to members of the Park City Board of Realtors, Chief Operating Officers at Deer Valley Todd Shallan and at Park City Mountain Mike Goar reviewed their plans for a ski season in the midst of a pandemic with the goals remain the same – Get open and stay open.

“The bottom line is we are planning on opening on December 5th and our goal is to stay open and keep people as safe as we possibly can,” said Shallan. Mike Goar added, “ yeah it’s certainly a different year, to say the least. I would say kind of our operating motto if you will is, open to stay open.” The good news from both resorts is that despite not having any J1 visa workers – their staffing levels look better now than it did a year ago. While their pandemic operating plans have been released to the public more than a month ago, something new that was mentioned is that Park City Mountain – in addition to making a reservation to get on a chairlift, reservations will also be required at all of their on-mountain lodges and restaurants. The main goal is all about keeping guests and employees safe.

Park City is scheduled to open both its Park City and Canyons Village bases on Friday, November 20th and Deer Valley will open on Saturday Dec. 5th.

Urban development experts say Utah could be a hot destination for people who, even before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, were already migrating out of the biggest U.S. cities. Deseret News shares - Is COVID-19 the ‘great accelerator’? Utah set to win big as big cities continue to lose residents. Even before the onset of COVID-19, big U.S. metro areas were losing the domestic migration war to smaller, midsize cities and suburbs in a trend reversal that dates back almost a decade. Now, restrictions brought on by the global pandemic have only highlighted the downsides of big cities and the relative upsides of locales with assets like low cost of living, growing economies and easy access to outdoor recreation opportunities.

Utah could be perfectly positioned to become one of the top destinations for those fleeing urban residential settings that have become, for some, considerably less desirable amid the current public health crisis. Data shows residents, on a net basis, have been moving out of U.S. metro areas with populations of 1 million or more and finding new homes in smaller cities going back to 2012. And in the past several months, restrictions in place across the country aiming to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 have functioned as a “great accelerator” of that migration.

The Utah model is something that is worth studying. The state’s “welcoming atmosphere” and “greater family friendliness” as factors that make it an increasingly attractive destination for people looking to move. To read the entire article CLICK HERE.

With the market in Utah booming, the Park City real estate market continues to boom amid the pandemic according to The Park Record as the Park City real estate market continues to surge, with sales in the third quarter more than doubling the activity in the same period in 2019. In the spring, the coronavirus pandemic shook the Park City business community, forcing the closure of non-essential businesses and thrusting the economy into a sudden downturn. Amid the upheaval of that period and the months that have followed, however, one industry crucial to Park City’s economy has experienced a dramatic run of success. And third-quarter data from the Park City Board of Realtors indicates that the real estate market continues to boom.

“You’ve got an environment here where you’ve got hiking, biking trails, you’ve got a couple of lakes nearby that you can boat in — golf courses, fishing,” Winstead said. “I don’t think the world really realized there were so many opportunities in such a small area.”

The question now is whether the people who’ve bought homes here during the COVID crisis plan to live in Park City permanently or retreat back to urban areas when the pandemic is over. Winstead, for one, has heard from many Realtors whose clients say they want to make the Park City area their permanent home. “It’s hard to leave Park City once you’ve been here,” he said. “Every time I think about going on a vacation, I’m like, ‘Well, where’s a better place to go than Park City?’

Home Upgrades

By Ramon Gomez, Jr.
Nov 11, 2020

This week we are sharing easy home upgrades as we start getting ready for the snowy days and more time inside. Read on to see what colors to paint your kitchen cabinets, how to turn your living room into a mulit-functional space and tips to turn your bathroom into a relaxing escape.

While spending more time at home, changing up the color of your kitchen cabinets can be a great way to mix things up and refresh a space that feels all too familiar these days. This Is the Color You Should Paint Your Kitchen Cabinets, according to the experts at Apartment Therapy. Gibbons spoke with Semihandmade, who shared a total of six options, ranging from warm whites to hues of blue, the all-time favorite color. In addition to classic beige, five other colors that are worth considering for your kitchen cabinet paint job.

Warm Whites: Classic white cabinetry is an enduring classic, and for 2021, Gibbons predicts a trend towards more delicate whites.

Moody Greens: Moody greens and deep blues lend a dramatic, editorial feel to a kitchen.

Shades of Blue: Gibbons says that blue hues look great in every room, no matter the decor style.

Sage and Seafoam: Green kitchens took over our Insta feeds in 2020, and Gibbons sees that trend continuing into 2021.

Punchy Pinks: Make a statement by painting your kitchen cabinets a soft, pale pink this really makes a statement in small doses too, like on a kitchen island, window frames, or even trim.

The living room is the every-room, so how do you design such a multifaceted space? Here are 5 Golden Rules for Designing a Great Living Room.

Don’t skimp on rug size - In a large room, like a living room, you can unify the space with a rug. And to do that, all of your furniture’s legs should sit on the rug. If your sofa is against the wall, the front legs of the furniture should sit on the rug.

Layer lighting - Overhead lighting is great, but it can be harsh. A soft glow creates a more intimate and sophisticated vibe. To achieve this look, add a variety of light sources—table lamps, floor lamps, wall sconces, bookshelf accent lights, and candles—to the room. 

Follow the rule of threes - Though three is considered the magic number, groupings of five, seven, or even nine also work well. An odd number of items not only looks more natural, it also forces your eyes to move around, creating more visual interest. For an even more attractive vignette, vary the size, height, and finish of the objects as well.

Choose the right accent tables - Coffee tables should be the same height as your sofa’s seat cushions, or very close to it. And end tables should be within a few inches of your sofa or chair’s arm height.

Float your furniture - It’s hard to create a conversation area when all of your furniture is pushed up against your walls. By floating sofas and chairs away from your walls—even by just a few inches—you instantly create a more intimate conversation space. If you have a very large living room, you can break up and group the furniture to create natural conversation spaces throughout the room. CLICK HERE to read the full article from Apartment Therapy.

If you thought the bathroom was your escape before, it’s even more important to make it your oasis now. Whether you’re flooded with Zoom meetings, homeschooling, or burnout from the work-from-home life, a daily bath or shower may sometimes be your only moment for precious alone time. Here are 7 Things To Create a “Perfect” Bathroom:

Stylish rugs - Small rugs are the quintessential bathroom staple. Not only do they provide functionality when placed right next to the shower, but they’re also great accent pieces if the room has neutral tones. Runners are great—or, smaller size antique rugs give the bathroom a modern, fresh feel.

Good lighting - Dimmable overhead lighting is an attractive option for a bathroom, as you can set the mood based on the task, be it a bath or a shower. Simply changing the wattage around your sink’s mirror can reinvigorate the space.

Framed artwork- Statement artwork brings your personality into the bathroom. Go for glass-framed artwork or vintage textiles and hang a series of similarly themed photos.

Storage pieces - Whether you’re refurbishing a master bathroom or a powder room, there’s a ton you can do to maximize storage. Add shelves inside your vanity mirror and use other space-saving pieces to declutter. Try turning a bar cart into a bathroom cart; then add candles and rolled up towels to up your design.

Soothing paint colors with accent wallpaper - To give your bathroom a tranquil feel, use neutral colors. If you’re not one for quiet colors, add wallpaper behind the vanity makes an accent wall that’s not overbearing.

New fixtures - Updating the hardware in your bathroom goes a long way. You can change the whole look of your bathroom and utilize the same plumbing. Consider replacing your old faucet with rose gold or matte fixtures. Refresh your shower experience with a new shower head, keeping in mind finish, size, and function.

Scent diffusers - A good scent is the hallmark of a luxurious bathroom. A diffuser on the vanity or by the bathtub elevates your style, while also giving the room an oasis-like vibe.

Outdoor Living

By Ramon Gomez, Jr.
Oct 13, 2020

The weather is getting cooler and Park City has even had its first dusting of snow in the mountains. This week we are looking at ways to cozy up your outdoor living spaces, how to increase your fall curb appeal, and the housing market in Park City.

Here are 5 Ways to Stage a Cozy Outdoor Space for Cooler Weather from our friends at realtor.com®.

Add a fire pit - Outdoor fireplaces or fire pits are a big win once the sun goes down and the weather cools off and a great place for s’mores.

Add plush cushions and blankets - Wrought-iron or plastic deck chairs come off as cold. Add seat cushions, outdoor pillows, and a basket of warm throws.

Add a heat lamp - Patio heaters have become one of the hottest accessories this fall as the temperature drops. Standing propane or electric heat lamps, or an infrared heating device installed on a porch ceiling, can warm up a space.

Add an all-weather rug - An extra layer on your outdoor space can cozy it up. Outdoor rugs can add something underfoot as you walk on a back deck, plus provide a pop of color to liven up the space.

Add extra lighting - Outdoor lamps aren’t going to bring in any extra warmth, but they can help with ambiance. Try glowing lanterns or Mason jars with tea lights on side tables; or tiki torches placed strategically in the yard.

Now that you have made your patio cozy, here are 5 Ways to Increase Your Curb Appeal During the Fall. Whether you are looking to list your home or just want to spruce things up it’s worth it to put a little TLC into your curb appeal.

Hire a tree service - that tree that looked lush with green leaves is going to start turning soon. And after those leaves put out their fall burst of color, you’ll be left with bare branches. A tree service can help you stay on top of those fallen leaves—and trim back any unsightly or damaged branches that may now be visible.

Try not to go overboard for Halloween - it’s better to limit your decorations so that your home appeals to more potential buyers and doesn't overwhelm your neighbors.

Take advantage of viral marketing - If you are looking to sell your home, gaining viral media is never off the table - embrace the spooky season and setting your home home apart from the rest by hiring a flash mob to do a shot-for-shot remake of “Thriller” in front of your house.

Update your plants to hardy cold-weather varieties - try plants like ornamental cabbages and kale that will give your yard instant color, while coral bells can add some texture and dimension. And as for those mums you see all over stores as soon as fall begins - the showy fall mums are great to add as quick fillers and look presentable when paired with the leafy plants.

Don’t put away your patio furniture - consider leaving it out and updating it for cooler weather activities. Tabletop heaters, fire pits, and chunky throw blankets can all be added to an outdoor space reminding potential buyers that they can get plenty of use out of your home’s yard all year round.

The Salt Lake Tribune shares that COVID-19 has wealthy buyers heading to Park City. Park City, Deer Valley and surrounding Summit and Wasatch counties are now seeing money pour into luxury homes, estates and open land with big sticker prices as the effects of the pandemic bring in new wealthy buyers. Since June, a rush to sanctuary has real estate markets booming over pre-pandemic levels for multimillion-dollar homes and properties that offer secluded access to nature and a sense of security and safety.

Droves of families who’d been waiting out the pandemic in short-term rentals or second homes in the Wasatch Mountains are now buying into more exclusive enclaves and even shifting their primary residences.Homes sales in Park City rose by 62% in July and August compared to the same time last year. Deals amounted to $446 million for those two months compared to $206 million in 2019, and September sales ran at a similar elevated pace, according to the latest data from the Park City Board of Realtors.

It’s too early to know how big or lasting these effects may be, but the phenomenon is already spurring new construction and sucking up hundreds of upscale vacation properties that often sit empty or rent on Airbnb, particularly in Summit County. Well-heeled buyers relocating to Utah are also part of a global shift toward telecommuting, one that could carry some large dollars and social implications with it. In Park City’s case, real estate agents and residents say newcomers are lured by access to a near-ubiquitous 600-trail network for hiking and biking and thousands of acres of adjacent open space. To read Tony Semerad's entire article click here.

Even the Wall Street Journal share that Home sales surge in resort towns even as Covid looms large over ski season. People are fleeing big cities amid the pandemic and are swarming mountain towns in search of more space and the great outdoors. The impetus to buy in Park City is the town’s quality of life, and for those coming from California where the pandemic and recent wildfires have made it unpleasant to go outside buyers look forward to ski season.

For years, ski resorts have worked on diversifying their attractions to bring in more people by adding all kinds of non-ski amenities. The test is this coming season, when some might not even be able to open their skiing operations. The early results are looking good, as home sales and prices have soared despite the uncertainty.

Remodeling Your Home

By Ramon Gomez, Jr.
Oct 06, 2020

This week we are looking at remodels to help sell your home as well as local art news and fun. When you place your home on the market the hope is that it will sell quickly as the longer a home is on the market the greater chance the price will go down. This week we are sharing 3 Renovations That Can Help You Sell Your Home Faster to help make sure your remodeling budget has the biggest payoff.

Kitchen - A dated kitchen is one of the biggest turnoffs for potential homebuyers. A kitchen that's been renovated using quality materials often draws people in and causes them to overlook other potential flaws. Quality finishes in the kitchen are crucial, as many buyers at all price points are looking for granite countertops (or something similar) and tile backsplashes. The cabinets should also be of decent quality and a neutral color that appeals to a wide range of people.

Roof- Since a roof is rarely seen except when you're coming and going, it might not seem like the best place to spend your renovation dollars; however, if you can state on your home's listing that the roof was recently replaced, you may gain more interest, potentially helping you to sell your home more quickly. Also, make sure that the color of the shingles matches the character of the home so buyers aren't turned off the moment they approach your house.

Bathroom - Moving back inside, a bathroom renovation is a great way to maximize the effectiveness of your remodeling budget. Adding unique features such as a tile tub surround or a designer light fixture that'll help your home stand out from others in your area. Again, quality installation is important here, as you don't want to put the future homeowners at risk of a major water leak.

Local Art - Now through October 11th the public can vote for Park City in the World Wildlife Fund’s We Love Cities challenge to celebrate Park City's Leadership in sustainability and climate action.

Residents and visitors can visit Recycle Utah, Park City Library and the PC MARC to take photos of interactive art backdrops created by local artists Adrianna Allegretti, Anna Leigh Moore, Elaine Lee and Emily Quinn Loughlin and post them on Instagram and Twitter with the hashtag #WeLoveParkCity. People can also log votes by visiting welovecities.org/park-city, she said. To find out more, check out the Park Record article here.


Local Fun - This time of year is usually known as shoulder season, but even in an unprecedented 2020 their is fun to be had in Park City at a distance. Check out Park City Magazine's full article here.

Bike Longer & Ski Sooner - Woodward is the relative newcomer in town, but the resort is already making its mark on Park City shoulder season opening new terrain and planning to keep the lifts spinning October 18. Just this week they unveiled a brand-new bike trail, EZPZ, which features a host of creative line choices and unique wood features suitable for a wide range of rider types from beginners to experts. Woodward is shooting for a start date of November 13 for skiing and snowboarding.

Eat More & Spend Less - The Park City Dine About is back for the eighth year running. The annual event, hosted by the Park City Area Restaurant Association (PCARA), is taking place between October 1-18 with dining deals at some of Park City’s best restaurants. Two-course lunches can be had for $10-$15 per person, while three-course dinners are $20-$40. Those who aren’t Park City locals can take advantage of lodging specials through PCARA lodging partner Stay Park City. Click here to book your stay, and visit the PCARA website here to learn more about participating restaurants.

Read more of our community coverage here.

Fall Curb Appeal

By Ramon Gomez, Jr.
Sep 30, 2020

A good-looking front door is everything. And one of the easiest ways to punch up your curb appeal is by adding in some fresh new greenery to your plant containers when the seasons change. What flowers fare best in the cooler weather and are also eye-catching enough to be front-door worthy? Here are seven fall plants for your front door - 7 Front Door Plants to Give Your Home Fall Curb Appeal.

Chrysanthemums - These fall bloomers are the perfect addition to your fall arrangements. Chrysanthemums love a good sunny spot and therefore require a pretty regular watering routine (every other day or whenever the soil is dry). Keep in mind - Chrysanthemums are toxic to dogs and cats.

Heucheras - (also known as Coral Bells) are perfect for adding a pop of color to your fall arrangements. They are also more shade-tolerant, so they would do nicely under a covered porch.

Ornamental grasses  - grasses are a great way to break up the texture in your containers since they come in such a variety of colors (bronze, blue, green) and forms (stiff and upright or whimsical and arching).

Pansies and violas - they will not only look beautiful in fall, but they’ll also last throughout the winter and re-bloom in the spring. And they come in such a broad spectrum of colors, you’ll be able to style your arrangement to match (or purposefully contrast) your front door. Pansies and violas like full to part sun and regular watering.

Snapdragons - like pansies and violas, snapdragons will also last through the winter and re-bloom in the spring when the temperatures start to warm up. Snapdragons are non-toxic to animals. They are happy in a good sunny spot as well as a shadier one. They prefer to have their soil kept moist (but not too moist).

Ornamental kale and cabbage - There are many varieties that run in the white to green to purple range, but it’s the rigid-yet-fringy texture that really stands out and they also come in a range of shapes and sizes, so getting creative with these is very easy. Your ornamental kale and cabbage will appreciate full sun and moist soil.

Herbs - the earthy textures and smells really bring an arrangement to life. Different types of herbs have different light and watering needs, although most will do well in full to partial sun with regular watering.

Some things to consider when it comes to front door plants: how much light your front door area gets, as well as your access to water. Will your plants be protected from strong, damaging winds? Do you have sturdy planters for your fall flower arrangements? Check out Apartment Therapy for the full article.

Looking to the interior of your home here are - 7 Finishes and Materials That’ll Impact Your Resale Value, According to Experts by Apartment Therapy. If you’re gearing up to renovate your house, you might be pondering which materials and finishes will pay off the most in the long run. Investing in high-quality and timeless materials will eventually help the resale value of your home when it’s time to move out. Choosing those materials can be difficult, especially since those renovating their homes probably aren’t considering that they might want to renovate again in 10 years if their design choices didn’t age well. 

Engineered hardwood floors - believe it or not, real hardwood isn’t always the best way to go. In fact, real hardwood floors might even hinder your ability to find a buyer.

Quartz countertops - stain resistant, durable, and don’t harbor bacteria or viruses. Quartz countertops impact value in a major way, adding elegance and a timeless look, while providing long-lasting value and durability.

Marble floors - certainly a more expensive material than its other natural stone or ceramic tile counterparts, but the price that’s paid up front will pay off in the long run. Plus, when selected and installed correctly, marble flooring will last decades.

Carpeting - Sellers will replace old carpet with new carpet thinking that will help them sell a home, but buyers prefer hardwood. For this reason, it might be best to consider if it’s worth the money to re-carpet a room as you’re getting your house ready to sell. It might make more sense to spend a little extra money on a different material for your floors.

Plastic fixtures - It’s best to put a little more money into your plumbing sooner rather than later in order to avoid flushing more money down the drain later on.

Oak millwork - a nice contrast to the white modern look and adds warmth to the space is high-end wallpaper is a more economical solution that can create a similar warmth and environment.

Wallpaper - homeowners often want to feel as though their personality is visible in their design. Avoid busy wallpaper. Less is more during a renovation.

Have a great week - stay well. Ramon and Judy

Fall Updates

By Ramon Gomez, Jr.
Sep 23, 2020

Fall is here and Park City is full of amazing color. This week we look at the new SLC airport terminal, Utah's economy, and the end of walk up ticket sales at some of the local ski resorts.

Utah's economy is ranked the best in the nation during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to 24/7 Wall Street, a website that analyzes and reports on economic data according to Fox13 - Salt Lake City.

Fox13 reports that Utah's low unemployment rate when compared to the rest of the country as one of the reasons the state is in the first position. While the rest of the country has seen unemployment rates reach double digits, Utah had the lowest unemployment rate in the country for the month of July, and currently, 4.5 percent of workers filed for unemployment.The site also stated that Utah's economic growth is one of the strongest in any state in the country, even before the pandemic hit. Utah also has a low poverty rate, being one of only seven states with less than 10-percent of the population below the poverty line.

Salt Lake City International Airport is undergoing a $4.1 billion renovation project, according to USA Today. Concourse A is part of the first phase of the renovation project, while the second concourse is set to open in October, and the rest of the rest of the new airport is scheduled to be completed by 2024, added the report. The US carrier says the airport’s new Salt Lake City Airport includes convenient amenities designed to enhance the overall travel experience. Last week, Delta flew its first flight out of the new Salt Lake City International Airport, which underwent a billion-dollar renovation recently, on Tuesday. The debut flight departed for Atlanta from the airport’s new 900,000-square-foot Concourse A.“This day has been years in the making,” said Bill Wyatt, executive director of Salt Lake City Department of Airports. “To say we are excited to be here today is an understatement. After six years of construction and many more years of planning, we are proud to open the first new US hub airport in the 21st century.” Read more about the new Salt Lake City airport on Business Traveler's site.

The Salt Lake Tribune reports that Solitude Mountain Resort and Deer Valley Resort have become the latest Utah ski areas to take walk-up tickets off their menus. Both resorts are owned by the Alterra Mountain Co., which on Monday revealed some of the COVID-19 precautions it would implement across its 15 destinations throughout the United States and Canada. In addition to ending walk-up tickets, Alterra will put caps on daily lift tickets — sold online — and prioritize season-pass holders. Resorts are also creating more grab-and-go food options and more outdoor seating to encourage social distancing and will be limiting interactions on lifts and gondolas.

Deer Valley has long capped the number of skiers it allows daily. Solitude, on the other hand, has been seeing a noticeable influx of visitors since joining the Alterra family prior to the 2018-19 season. Solitude will not turn away season-pass holders but will limit sales of online, single-day lift tickets if large crowds are anticipated. The protocols apply only to resorts owned by Alterra and not those on its Ikon Pass, one of the two major multi-resort season passes on the market. Brighton, Snowbird and Alta — all of which allow limited days to Ikon Pass holders — are in the process of creating their own COVID-19 regulations.

Vail Resorts announced similar changes two weeks ago, including at Utah’s Park City Mountain Resort. In addition to ending walk-up lift tickets and prioritizing season pass holders, Vail will limit chairlifts to riders who are within the same ski party or to small groups of individuals. Perhaps most ground shaking is its plan to limit capacity by requiring all visitors, even season pass holders, to use an online reservation system to hold their spot on the mountain.

Solitude is slated to open the season Nov. 20, Alta plans to follow Nov. 21 and Deer Valley is scheduled for Dec. 5. Snowbird and Brighton have not announced their opening days.

Featured Properties

By Ramon Gomez, Jr.
Sep 16, 2020

This week we are showcasing a few of our featured properties, please let us know if you have any questions or would like more information. Have a wonderful week.

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This lot is located on an EYE-BROW of Glenwild Drive to provide privacy and safety, with golf, mountain and ski views right next to common land. The Glenwild Golf Course has been rated number one by Golf Digest since 2002 for Private Clubs in Utah and you may join the private club as a golfer or as a social member, or not at all. Glenwild is a gated community ideally located 9 Miles from Park City Old Town, and 33 minutes to SLC International Airport, and of course only a few minutes to the Park City's highly ranked ski resorts.

Vacant Land in Glenwild 18 - 0.89 acres Park City, UT 84098 - CLICK HERE to see more.

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Homeowners and architectural enthusiasts will appreciate the use of light, flow, vistas and even acoustics in every space of this efficient and thoughtfully designed home. Floor to ceiling windows overlook 780+ acres of Toll Canyon green space, invite the outdoors inside with automated moving glass walls opening to a private shaded patio/deck with water-feature and breathtaking views. Automated screens ensure uninvited guests won't crash your party. Maintaining a light footprint, a NERVE exclusive DC lighting system runs cooler with long-life LED's, indirect LEDs highlighting elegant architectural features. Nature provides 4 seasons of comfort with integrated passive solar warming on sunny winter days; and automated solar shades reduce heat in the summer. Lower-level walkout invites you on journey through the Route 66 themed Arcade. Next enter virtual reality in the NERVE golf / sport / racing simulator. (available to purchase) From playground to world-class cinema; experience the 25 seat private theater boasting a 20ft 4K HDR image, a 27 speaker Dolby Atmos system & D-Box Motion. Drawing on decades of experience, the REPOSE team enhances your lifestyle through fully automated smart homes that are timeless in design, style, and always trendsetting. Greater than the sum of its parts, a REPOSE lifestyle build emanates energy efficiency, serenity, relaxation and comfort.Call Ramon for your very own private tour of this extraordinary new home and be prepared to be WOWED!

Single Family Home in Pinebrook Park City, UT 84098: 7 bedrooms, 8.00 bathrooms - 8549 square feet on 0.80 acres. CLICK HERE for more information and pictures.

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This beautiful home with views of all three ski-resorts, the Uinta's and the valley. Owners will enjoy top-of-the-line appliances, dramatic floor to-ceiling stone fireplaces, radiant heat, Space Pac air conditioning, wine cellar and cigar room- reclaimed barn wood floors, floor to ceiling custom library, 2 outdoor fountains, even an espresso machine installed just for guests on the lower level and this is just to name a few of the incredible features this home affords. Conveniently positioned off the master suite is a study-office, which could be also used as a nursery. This is the perfect retreat to unwind with some of the most amazing scenery, Creston music system, vantage lighting system, new restained exterior, alarm and lots of storage.

Single Family Home in Glenwild 18 Park City, UT 84098: 5 bedrooms, 8.00 bathrooms, 7909 square feet on 11.05 acres. CLICK HERE to see the 3D tour.

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Review the plans for this gorgeous Mountain Contemporary Home Designed by Otto Walker Architects, which captures the beauty of Glenwild Golf Course and Park City Ski Mountain all in one exceptionally planned home. This custom home to be built specifically for you, construction to start after you meet with the builder once the owner is under contract. The home offers main floor living with floor to ceiling windows, large game/family room. This home was Meticulously planned out in every detail, from how the rooms capture the views, to how the home flows from room to room...the great room and kitchen area are simply great for families and guest entertaining. The family room is just magnificent in every detail from the bar to the overhead glass catwalk and gorgeous fireplace and of course floor to ceiling windows.

Single Family Home in Glenwild 18 Park City, UT 84098: 5 bedrooms, 7.00 bathrooms, 7807 square feet on 1.09 acres. CLICK HERE for more information and photos.

Home Updates

By Ramon Gomez, Jr.
Sep 02, 2020

This week we are looking at mudroom updates and things to check when you are buying a home - whether it is your first home or fifth home. Before we get into our weekly blog we wanted to share that Visit Park City is a great site to see what is happening in and around Park City. Summit County and Park City continue to be in a low-risk phase and our town asks that all residents and visitors follow social distancing protocols including the mandating the use of face coverings/masks in a variety of public locations. Park City restaurants, bars, hotels, and recreational areas are still open and following safe business practices to protect the health and welfare of our guests and staff.

Having a place like a mudroom to sanitize before heading inside is also high on buyers’ wish lists thanks to the coronavirus pandemic.) Here are 6 Mudroom Mistakes That Might Be Costing You a Sale, According to Experts by Wendy Helfenbaum.

Things that don’t belong there have piled up - don't make your mudroom a catch-all.

Fast fix: Mudrooms are transitions between outside and inside the home, so think about what you need to accomplish here, and then clear out the room. Common functions include storage for shoes, jackets, school backpacks, hats, purses, towels (if you have a pool) and bags.

The room is serving multiple purposes, but nothing’s clearly defined - Few homeowners can devote an entire room to jackets and boots, it’s important to establish functional zones.

Fast fix: Install cabinets for pantry items and a tall tower or wall hooks for brooms to help keep organized and add a deep work sink. Remember that you’re showing buyers how they can use the space to add organization to their day-to-day living.

You have too much open storage - Sure, hooks are awesome, but must we see every. single. thing.

Fast fix: Hide as much clutter as possible, get lockers or cubbies for each family member with doors that close or get built-ins made. If they get untidy inside, no one can see it.

There’s nowhere to sit down - getting out is simpler when you’re not balancing on one foot.

Fast fix: Benches are a beautiful thing that also add hidden storage.

You’ve forgotten about furry family members - ideally their belongings should be stored in the mudroom so buyers who aren’t pet lovers won’t be turned off by messy dog or cat dishes on your kitchen floor.

Fast fix: Keep their food, water, treats and even their bed in the mudroom, if space allows add a low bath or shower for dogs, too.

It doesn’t match the rest of your house - Your mudroom shouldn’t be an afterthought.

Fast fix: Give the mudroom a fresh coat of paint that coordinates with the rest of your home. And don’t forget good lighting.

Looking to buy your first home or know someone who is - here are 7 Things I Regret Not Checking on Before I Bought My First House by Jennifer Billock. Here are a few things to watch for when making a first home purchase.

From the windows… Make sure all the windows open and close properly and are in good condition. This is especially important in the wintertime in colder climates. When people tend to keep windows closed all the time, it’s easier to forget to check if they’re functional.

To the walls - Beware of wallpapered homes. If you don’t want wallpaper, you’ll have to spend a ton of time removing it. Also, be mindful of how high the ceilings are. You may love cathedral-height walls, but it’s going to cost a lot to air condition and heat the space.

And also to the floors - Especially if the home you’re buying is old, check the floors. You want them to be stable without any softness or bounce to them that could indicate a larger problem. The floor might be damaged underneath rugs and furniture as well, so don’t feel bad about asking someone to check or lifting up the edge of a rug yourself.

Water issues - Water damage is sneaky and can show up places you don’t expect - look up at the corners and edges where the wall and ceilings meet, and do that in closets as well. Also look for water damage under sinks, around radiators, among the plumbing, on wood beams, around gutters, or anywhere else water might cause damage. And then check the water pressure in the sinks, tubs, showers, and hoses to ensure it’s all in working order.

Electrical work - It’s always important to check the electrical panel to make sure the electric has been recently updated.

Structural problems - this includes the roof, the walls, supporting beams, and the basement. Check for cracks, sagging spots, missing shingles, and water leakage around the foundation of the home.

The neighborhood - It’s not in the house, but make sure to check out the surrounding neighborhood, potential loud neighbors, rush hour traffice and how far it is to a grocery store.

Staying Safe On The Trail

By Ramon Gomez, Jr.
Aug 25, 2020

Park City’s 400 miles of trails are a tremendous recreational outlet, they also crisscross wildlife habitats and migration corridors. Jane Gendron shares Tips for staying safe and protecting Summit County’s resident animal friends in the Summer/Fall 2020 issue of Park City Magazine. Just around the next switchback could be a moose, deer, elk, or fox—maybe even a black bear, bobcat, or cougar - what do you do when you encounter wildlife on the trail? Here are tips on what to do if you’re lucky enough to meet a wild animal in its native habitat.

Most animals don’t want to engage with humans, so make them aware of your presence. Always make noise when hiking or biking, and slow your roll around blind turns in the trail. As Scott Root of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources says, “Never approach or try to touch wildlife.... And don’t ever feed wildlife.” For more information, visit wildawareutah.org.

When you meet a moose: Give moose ample space (at least 25 yards) and leash dogs immediately, as a curious canine can anger an otherwise unperturbed animal. The most aggressive moose tend to be a cow moose with a calf. Don’t try to outrun a charging moose - they can run up to 35 mph; look around and see what you can get behind to separate you and the moose, such as a tree or boulder.

When you meet a mountain lion or cougar: Stop, pick up small children and pets, make yourself look big, and slowly back away. No matter how scared you may be, do not run (you don’t want to trigger that prey-chasing instinct). In the rare case that the cougar won’t back down, throw rocks or other objects to scare it off.

When you meet a black bear: Stand your ground (don’t run or scale a tree), keep calm, and give the bear the opportunity to skedaddle on its own. If a bear attacks, fight back.

When you meet a coyote: Keep your pets close, make noise, and do not run. While making yourself look as big as possible, back away slowly. If necessary, throw rocks or other objects to frighten it away.

When you meet an elk: Give elk, and deer of any species (mule deer are most common locally), at least 25 yards of breathing room. Though elk are unlikely to charge, during the fall “rut” (mating season), males can become aggressive. If one charges, get behind a tree, boulder, or something else solid.

UPDATES FOR THE HOME: After months of quarantine, living spaces are becoming multifunctional - Apartment Therapy shares 6 Up-and-Coming Bedroom Trends Real Estate Agents Love Seeing.

Bedrooms doubling as office spaces - with more people working from home during the pandemic—and likely to continue to going forward—the bedroom can serve as a nice and quiet place to work, Blacker says. “Buyers like to envision how they are going to live in a home, so when you have a work-from-home spot already built in, they can much easily picture themselves living there and working from home.”

Bedrooms doubling as wellness spaces - Don’t want to sleep where you work - try a wellness space with a yoga mat and plants. Some are carving out a fitness space in their rooms with free weights, resistance bands and balance balls. ”

Integrated headboards - show homes for new construction developments often showcase integrated headboards with lighting, often with small task lighting or ambient lights, and are usually connected to the smart home system.

Live, not artificial, plants in the bedroom - adding live, air-purifying plants to the bedroom makes sense as people are spending more time at home and want their bedrooms to feel like a peaceful, clean oasis.

Mixed textures - like wood, fabric, metals, and glass—with a neutral color palette is a trend with matching furniture pieces that look like a set. The trend has staying power because it’s flexible allows and transitions if they move to a home with a different architectural style.

Balconies - after spending months in quarantine, apartment renters and homeowners alike are prioritizing bedroom balconies. This extra space is very appealing to buyers and can add value to a home.

We are on an upgrade roll - here are 7 Timeless Bathroom Upgrades You Won’t Regret in Five Years, According to Pros by Maria C. Hunt with Apartment Therapy. To help decide if your upgrade investments will stand the test of time, top interior designers across the country have shared their tips on the wisest ways to invest when it comes to renovating your bathroom.

Go frameless for the shower - A clunky feature of older shower enclosures is the metal strip that runs around the edges. If you’re updating your shower, leave off the metal frame.

Install an LED mirror - vanity mirrors with LED lights built into the frame add a great clean look for a more modern bath, and it has a feel of sophisticated luxury like you would find in an upscale hotel.

Do a riff on classic subway tile - subway tile is a timeless and traditional choice for the bath and instead of being laid in the horizontal brick pattern, try them stacked or turned on their side vertically.

Add a freestanding tub - the original style of tub since the invention of bathing and you can't go wrong with this statement piece.

Choose a warmer white - off white is more interesting than bright white and it’s not as stark, it feels more forgiving.

Put your tub inside your shower - add a spa-like element to your bathroom by placing the tub inside an extra-large shower enclosure.

Upgrade your shower tile enclosure - little changes to your shower tile can be life-changing: add a little 3 x 3 outcropping or a tiny niche at ankle height so you have a place to rest your foot while shaving in the shower, make the niche to hold your soap and shampoo or add a shelf.

Sprucing Up Your Home

By Ramon Gomez, Jr.
Aug 12, 2020

This week we are looking at how to spruce up your bedrooms and living room for potential buyers. Even if you are not looking to sell at this moment, these tips can brighten and lighten your mood. Do you have an empty wall in need of some love, check out What’s New on Park City’s Gallery Scene with Park City Magazine. Park City’s art scene is gaining global momentum, especially with a few new galleries on the proverbial block. Before summer ends, take time out to stroll around and enjoy all this colorful town has to offer. The Park City Gallery Association continues to host the monthly stroll from 6-9 pm on the last Friday of each month—with social distancing protocols in place; currently, masks are required indoors in Summit County. Visit pop-up gallery, CREATE PC (825 Main St), rotating work from local artists and doubling as a cooperative artist studio and retail gallery.

Are the bedrooms in your home putting potential buyers to sleep—and not in a good way? Here are 4 Bedroom Mistakes to Avoid When Selling Your House, according to Wendy and the Team at Apartment Therapy. From nurseries to kids’ rooms, guest bedrooms and main suites, it’s important to showcase sleeping areas as relaxing refuges from everyday life. Here’s how to transform these spaces so buyers can picture themselves having sweet dreams in your house.

Your bedroom is the designated dumping ground - Put a hand up if your bedroom features things like: abandoned exercise equipment, a “home office” corner that’s really a folding table strewn with papers and an outdated desktop computer, piles of clean laundry you haven’t had time to fold, or tired bedding from when you first moved in. Ditch the clutter and attract buyers with a commanding focal point, like an awesome headboard or accent wall. Low-profile bed frames can help make a room feel bigger. You also shouldn’t shower or use the ensuite restroom within a few hours before an open house so they can be show-ready.

Your nursery doesn’t deliver - Just because a baby sleeps here doesn’t mean this bedroom should look cramped and boring. Stick to gender-neutral paint colors and steer clear of decals on the walls, which can feel cumbersome and permanent. Buyers who don’t have children might want an office or TV room instead of a nursery, so appeal to the space’s potential by tricking the eye into thinking it’s bigger.

Your kids’ bedrooms look like a kaleidoscope - If your child’s room contains several toppling towers of toys, buyers will assume your house doesn’t have adequate storage. That means stashing games, stuffed animals and toys in baskets that can be stacked in the closet. Limit furniture, and avoid bright colors like hot pink and lime green too.

Your guest room has no glam factor - It’s natural to want your in-laws to have plenty of space if they’re restless sleepers, but cramming in a bed that’s too large for the room is a big no-no. Less is more, so organize and purge any unnecessary household items, and use all-white bedding, which is easy to clean and looks inviting. In all bedrooms, avoid staging the bed against a window; have room to walk on either side.

Your bedrooms are not the only thing buyers are looking at, here Antonia DeBianchi shares 6 Tricks Home Stagers Use to Make Your Living Room Feel Way Bigger. If you love entertaining, a cramped living room can put a damper on your hosting plans.Even though it can feel impossible, there are ways to maximize space in a small living room. While you’re spending extra time at home these days, take a minute to employ these home stager-approved tricks to make your living room look bigger.

Spring for a large area rug - A small rug in the middle of the room makes a tight space feel smaller. Keep it with a five-inch border around the room and keep the pattern simple with a seagrass or stripe pattern. Anything too busy will cause mental clutter.

Trick your windows into looking taller - Curtains will heighten the room and make the whole room look bigger. Depending on ceiling height, always mount your curtains above the casing or molding—never on them. Take your window game one notch further by mounting a mirror across from it. Its reflection will open up the room as if there’s another window.

Ditch lighter paint swatches  - If you thought lighter colors made rooms look bigger, think again. Darker colors like navy blue add depth to a living room and make it come alive. Balance the dark walls with neutral-light upholstery. If you’re not ready to take the leap, experiment with an accent wall.

Think vertically with wall shelving - Using hanging wall shelves or bookshelves reduces floor clutter. But be wary of overcrowding. If you’re filling [the shelf] up with books, make sure you’re breaking it up and putting in some accessories and matching baskets can hide all your storage while still looking neat.

Reduce furniture—and buy proportional pieces - Minimizing furniture is key. Hiding an ottoman under a coffee table or bringing in chairs from your office when you need extra seating helps make way for necessary furniture. To make a less obstructive walkway try investing in coffee tables with softened curves. And as for patterns, the more simple the upholstery, the bigger the room will feel.

Invest in lots of lighting - Make sure that you have ambient lighting, put a lamp in the corner to compliment overhead lighting.

Stay well and have a great week.

Mortgage Rates & Economic Updates

By Ramon Gomez, Jr.
Jul 15, 2020

This week we will start our blog with the current conforming and jumbo mortgage rates for Utah as shared by Josh Mettle followed by the golfing options in Park City and few ideas for freshening up your home's curb appeal.

The Conforming rates are based on a $300 loan amount and 65% loan to value and the Jumbo rates are based on a $1,000,000 loan amount with a $1,250,000 purchase price.

Loan Type Interest Rate APR    
30-yr fixed Conforming 3.25% 3.378%
15-yr fixed Conforming 2.75% 2.981%
 
Loan Type Interest Rate APR    
7/1 ARM Jumbo 3.00% 3.096%
30-yr fixed Jumbo 3.125% 3.219%
15-yr fixed Jumbo 2.875% 3.045%
In more home news - CoreLogic released home appreciation figures for May, showing that prices rose 0.7% from April to May and 4.8% when compared to May of last year and inflation continues to remain tame. At the wholesale level, the Producer Price Index was down 0.2% in June after rebounding in May, coming in much lower than expectations.

CoreLogic also noted that a lot of the demand was pent up from spring to summer with elevated unemployment, and that purchase activity and home prices could fall off once summer ends. It remains to be seen if this latest forecast will prove true, or if the surge in sales and appreciation levels off less steeply, which could still allow for home price gains over the next year.

Now for golf - there is no shortage of golf courses in the Park City area to enjoy. The Park Record has put together a list of all the local golf courses - from public and municipal courses to private clubs there is something for everyone.

Park City Golf Club (public) 1541 Thaynes Canyon Drive, Park City 435-615-5800 18 holes, par 72 $24-$70 This scenic municipal course offers lessons, leagues and a pro shop. Reservations can be made seven days in advance.

Canyons Golf Course (public) 3636 Willow Draw, Park City 435-615-4728 18 holes, par 70 $30-$150 This course features more than 550 feet of elevation change, including 270 feet on Hole 10 from tee to green. Group and individual lessons available.

The Outlaw Golf Club (public) 990 Longview Drive, Hideout 435-901-4227 9 holes, par 30 Located in the eastern foothills of the Jordanelle Reservoir, at the Outlaw, players can enjoy views of the glistening waters of the Jordanelle and the towering mountain peaks.

Soldier Hollow Golf Course (public) 1370 Soldier Hollow Drive, Midway 435-654-7442 Silver Course: 18 holes, par 72 Gold Course: 18 holes, par 72 $40- $50 Silver is the tamer of the two courses, slightly shorter with wider fairways, while the Gold has narrower, more undulating fairways, tee shots requiring longer carry and trickier greens.

Wasatch Mountain Golf Course (public) 975 West Golf Course Drive, Midway 435-654-0532 Lake Course: 18 holes, par 72 Mountain Course: 18 holes, par 71 $45-$50 Wasatch Mountain’s two courses offer serious variety, from the Lake’s gentle terrain to the Mountain’s dramatic elevation changes and potential wildlife sightings.

Mountain Dell Golf Course (public) Interstate 80, Exit 134 in Parleys Canyon 801-582-3812 Lake Course: 18 holes, par 71 Canyon Course: 18 holes, par 72 $13- $58 This Salt Lake City-run municipal course offers a variety of affordable amenities, from lessons to play-until-sunset twilight rates.

Jeremy Ranch Golf & Country Club (private) 8770 Jeremy Ranch Road, Park City 801-531-9000 18 holes, par 72 Membership required Nestled in Upper East Canyon of the Wasatch Mountains, Jeremy Ranch is the only Arnold Palmer Signature Course in Utah.

Park Meadows Country Club (private) 2000 Meadows Drive, Park City 435-649-2460 18 holes, par 72 Membership required This Jack Nicklaus Signature course has been called one of the best courses in Utah and Park Record readers have selected its Hole 15 as the best in Park City multiple times.

Glenwild Golf Club (private) 7600 Glenwild Dr., Park City 435-615-9966 18 holes, par 71 Membership required This course features a meandering creek with a series of lakes and shot values that enhance its playability and scenic appeal.

Promontory (limited public availability) 8758 N Promontory Ranch Road, Park City 888-458-6600 Pete Dye Canyon Course: 18 holes, par 72 Nicholas Painted Valley Golf Course: 18 holes, par 72 Limited open play at Pete Dye Canyon Course, $100-$250 Membership required at Nicholas Painted Valley Golf Course Dye Canyon rewards accuracy and takes dramatic advantage of the rugged terrain, while the links-style Painted Valley rewards the ability to hit the ball an incredible distance.

Talisker Club, Talisker Tuhaye Course (private) 9875 N. Tuhaye Park Drive, Kamas 866-253-8538 18 holes, par 72 Membership required Tuhaye is set against spectacular long-range views of Mount Timpanogos, Deer Valley’s ski runs and the shimmering waters of the Jordanelle Reservoir.

Victory Ranch (private) 7474 Victory Club Drive, Kamas 435-785-5030 18 holes, par 72 Membership required The course features 400 feet of elevation change but of all the vistas on the course, the 360-degree panoramic view from the championship tee box on the 17th hole is the real jewel.

Red Ledges Golf Course (private) 205 Red Ledges Blvd., Heber City 877-733-5334 18 holes, par 72 Membership required In addition to the 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Course, Red Ledges boasts a family-friendly 12-hole Golf Park, with optional oversized cups and a layout that encourages bounces toward the hole.

We will wrap up this week's blog with 3 Tips to Glam Up Your Curb Appeal from Realtor Magazine. Curb appeal is even more important as more home buyers shop for homes from a distance and narrow the lists of which homes they want to view in-person. Here are some of their ideas to boost your curb appeal:

Pay attention to the driveway and walkways. You can take steps to make even concrete look good. After all, the driveway and walkways are what lead the eye toward a home’s front door. Any cracks or weeds popping up can present an eyesore. Patch the concrete with caulk and finish a concrete driveway and walkway with a clear, glossy sealer.

Fix up the garage. The garage is often an after-thought but it takes up a big portion of a home’s curb appeal, try painting the garage doors the same color as the home’s trim. Garage doors with a row of windows filter in more light and make it feel part of a home. Garage window kits are available for many models. You can swap out existing panels and add glass inserts.

Paint the front door. Peeling paint or rusty hardware on the front door isn’t very welcoming to a potential home buyer. If you’re going to spend money on one thing to add curb appeal, make it a new door. Front doors with glass inserts can help create a more welcoming space. But for homeowners looking to save, a fresh coat of paint may suffice.

Summer Highlights

By Ramon Gomez, Jr.
Jul 08, 2020

This week we are reviewing the top questions of home Buyers and Sellers during these changing times, outside activities that give space and some great alternatives to the top national parks.

Navigating the real estate market was already intimidating, but in this uncertain time, we all have even more questions about how to do it. Vince Malta who is president of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) has channeled his 43 years of experience to offer advice about buying and selling in this strange new environment. We are sharing the top four questions of the article, click here to read all twenty-five.

1. Is now a good time to buy? Every person who dreams of owning a home has to answer that question individually based on a variety of factors — ranging from their personal financial picture to what’s available in their market to how long they plan to stay in one place.

While searching for and buying a home during the COVID-19 pandemic presents some challenges, with mortgage interest rates at an all-time low, for some it may be an ideal time to buy. Thankfully, the real estate industry has quickly adapted to the current circumstances and is leveraging technology that allows buyers to continue their home search virtually and close transactions using safety precautions or remote online notarization.

One of the biggest challenges buyers have faced in the last several years is a shortage of inventory. With the health crisis and stay-at-home orders, some sellers have pulled out of the market or delayed listing their properties, which only exacerbates the inventory challenge.

2. Is now a good time to refinance? Historical data, going back 50 years, shows that mortgage interest rates have never been lower. So, it sure sounds like a good time to consider refinancing, but this is a question to discuss with a lender or qualified financial planner.

If you do decide to refinance, be prepared: Lenders I’ve talked to are managing a high volume of applications, so you’ll need patience — along with outstanding credit. More than 2 million borrowers have sought forbearance on their mortgage payments as a result of the current situation. Some lenders have responded by tightening credit standards, including raising minimum credit scores. So make sure your financial house is in order, you’re continuing to pay bills on time, and you’re keeping debt manageable.

3. What is the best place to find information about how COVID-19 is affecting the home-buying process in my area? Realtors® can provide insights into how your local market is affected by COVID-19 and can help you understand how stay-at home orders, and other local, state and federal government actions and recommendations, are impacting the home-buying process.

4. Is it currently more of a buyer’s or seller’s market? Is COVID-19 shifting these? Every market is different, so it’s a good idea to speak with a Realtor to learn what’s going on in your area. That said, in the past few years, many areas have been experiencing inventory shortages, in part due to insufficient home building and increased tenure in home. On a national basis, a thriving economy combined with low interest rates and limited inventory have led to 97 straight months of home price increases. Generally, low inventory and increasing prices indicate a seller’s market, but historic low interest rates have helped keep homes affordable for buyers in most markets.

NAR data shows Realtors® are experiencing significant slowdowns in their business as a result of COVID-19, but that hasn’t necessarily shifted the market to a buyer’s market. In fact, the national median existing-home price for all housing types in March was $280,600, up 8% from March 2019.

To read the entire article "Everything You Need To Know About Buying and Selling a Home in This Pandemic" - click here.

The Middle Provo River is one of Utah’s finest blue-ribbon fisheries, stretching from Jordanelle to Deer Creek Reservoirs. Great public access is only a 15-minute drive from Park City. Take UT-224 out of Park City to US Hwy 40 East, travel nine miles, and turn right at the light at River Road. Two fisherman’s access areas are right there (one on the right, one on the left) with parking, portable restrooms, and lots of other fishers to swap tales with. You’ll catch brown, cutthroat, and rainbow trout on this beautiful, braided section of river, with lots of easy spots to fish from shore or by shallow wading (depending on water flow). Flies and lures only. Best bets: PMDs, caddis in the evenings, and grasshoppers in late summer.

Then visit Back 40 Ranch House Grill and take in the beautiful, pastoral views of the Heber/Midway Valley while sipping nothing but the water from their own artesian aquifer, but … with so many farm-to-table, locally sourced ingredients, you’d be remiss if you didn’t order, say, the smoked jalapeño cheddar burger made with beef from the Circle Bar Ranch two pastures away and artisan cheddar from nearby Heber Valley Cheese.

Each summer, Jans Mountain Outfitters hosts, beginner fly-casting lessons at the ponds at lower Deer Valley (next to the gazebo). You don’t need a reservation, but call ahead to confirm and let them know you’re coming so they can bring enough rods (bring your own if you have one). Typically, you’ll end up with a group of 8 to 10 new anglers perfecting their “10 o’clock, 2 o’clock” casting technique. Then, book a guided trip with the fine folks at Jans or Trout Bum 2 for a true fly-fishing experience on a local river.

Then visit Deer Valley Grocery Café. Sit on the outside deck and check out the duckies and stand-up paddleboarders floating by. DVGC also carries gourmet to-go items if you want to pack a picnic. 2250 Deer Valley Dr, 435.615.2400, deervalley.com

Known as an “urban fishery” since the Weber River runs parallel to I-84 and I-80, a lot of the Weber is private access only, but anglers can enjoy several nice stretches of tailwater with lots of brown trout and mountain whitefish. Try the Creamery Lane access in Coalville (20 minutes from Park City). From I-80 east, take exit 162. Travel west on Icy Springs Road (SR-280) for 0.2 miles. Turn left and travel south on the frontage road that parallels I-80 for approximately 1.3 miles. Cross over Hobson Lane and continue traveling south on the frontage road for an additional 1.4 miles to reach this access point. Flies and lures only.

Follow with the family-friendly Taggart’s Grill is located in a log house nestled in a beautiful canyon between Morgan and Henefer. Taggart’s doesn’t take reservations, so expect a bit of a well-worth-it wait.

Before You Go you need a License to Fish. Anyone older than 12 must purchase a license to fish in Utah. Purchase one at any of our local fly-fishing shops, Walmart, by downloading the Utah Hunting and Fishing NICUSA app, or online at wildlife.utah.gov. Nonresident three-day license, $24; Utah residents, $16.

Find Fishing Buddies- Join High Country Fly Fishers (highcountryflyfishers.com), the local chapter of the national Trout Unlimited organization, and be privy to monthly activities including fly-tying classes, guest speakers, women’s-only events, group fishing outings, social hours, conservation activities, and more.
Support a Cause - The 5,000-member-strong Utah Stream Access Coalition works to “promote and assist in all aspects of securing and maintaining public access to Utah’s public waters and streambeds per Utah law.” (utahstreamaccess.org)

We wrap up this week's blog with a snippet of the The Salt Lake Tribune's article, 11 great alternatives to the top national parksThe glories of the national park system draw hundreds of millions of visitors each year, even in normal times. But in this upside-down year, with the pandemic still limiting much travel in and outside the United States, it’s likely that the National Park Service’s 419 sites, 62 with a “national park” designation, will attract even more people looking to get away.

For potential park-goers who wish to avoid these crowds (and this season, who doesn’t?), one strategy is to skip the Grand Canyon, the Great Smoky Mountains and the other top 10 parks that typically receive the majority of visitors. There are alternatives that are still awe-inspiring for your summer and fall fresh-air retreats, ones that offer many of the Top Ten’s sights, sounds, wildlife and activities.

South Carolina Congaree, instead of Great Smoky Mountains - Congaree, a park named after the original Native American inhabitants, was created in central South Carolina to preserve 15 different species of trees that are the tallest such specimens anywhere. These includes the most statuesque loblolly pine in the world, towering 167 feet above the surrounding tupelo forest. Tree lovers know Congaree, with only 159,445 visitors last year, as the Redwoods of the East — this year it’s worth forgetting about nearby Great Smoky Mountains and its 12 million-plus visitors.

Arizona Petrified Forest, instead of the Grand Canyon - In east-central Arizona, 110 miles from Flagstaff, the Petrified Forest adjoins the Painted Desert, 7,500 square miles of badlands and hills tinted lavender and red by Triassic Age strata. The annual visitation of this park is one-tenth that of the nearby Grand Canyon. The Petrified Forest, a drive-through park, holds the greatest and most spectacular concentration of fossilized, coniferous tree logs in the world. Once a lush and subtropical climate, the forest of 200-foot-tall trees was buried by volcanic ash and preserved 225 million years ago.

Utah Canyonlands, instead of Arches - Instead of ogling the sandstone formations in traffic-jammed Arches, opt for a wilderness desert experience amid the reddened Wingate sandstone in Canyonlands. Canyonlands is southwest of the tourist mecca of Moab, Utah. Most visitors take the Island in the Sky scenic drive out to spectacular overlooks, but otherwise the 527-square-mile park has few roads.

Minnesota Voyageurs National Park, instead of Glacier Bay - If you haven’t seen the Northern Lights, never mind Alaska. Instead, grab a camera and a paddle and head to Voyageurs National Park, named after the French Canadian canoeists who plied these waters three centuries ago. This park of lakes is 40% water and adjoins another 10,000 square miles of aquatic wilderness. Its remoteness, flanking the Canadian border in northern Minnesota, enables incredible stargazing opportunities all year long and an estimated 200 nights of Northern Lights (even in summer).

Colorado Great Sand Dunes or Black Canyon, instead of Rocky Mountain - Colorado’s Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve features the highest dunes on the continent, towering 755 feet above the surrounding trails. These are set in an otherworldly catchment basin, below the 14,000-foot high Sangre de Cristo Mountains, some 200 miles south of Denver. All trails and most of the campgrounds are now open, along with overnight backcountry access, but the visitor center remains closed.

Texas Big Bend or the Guadalupe Mountains, instead of a trip to Mexico - This park in West Texas, which opened for day use June 1, lies along the namesake curl of the Rio Grande, marking the Mexican border. At this renowned dark-sky park, you can count more than 2,000 stars — 10 times the number typically seen above most cities — surrounding the canvas of the Milky Way. During the days, especially when temperatures cool in the fall and early winter, enjoy 150 miles of trails throughout the park. You might be joined by a bird watcher or two, who roam Big Bend’s 1,200 square miles to spot more than 400 avian species, more than in any national park.

Nevada Great Basin, instead of the Grand Circle - The “Grand Circle” marketing campaign pushed Utah’s national parks to record-setting visitations in recent years, but Great Basin — a few miles over the border in eastern Nevada — got left out of the loop. The 121-square-mile park is named after the enormous basin it sits in (spanning nearly all of Nevada, it is 20 times larger than the park), which pulls all water underground so that it can’t reach the ocean and other waterways.

California Lassen Volcanic, instead of Yellowstone or Yosemite - In place of the crowded Yellowstone geysers or Yosemite mountains, a panorama of wildflowers, volcanic peaks and steaming fumaroles can be seen at Lassen Volcanic, 180 miles north of Sacramento. The 30-mile park highway reopened in late May, along with most of the trails and overnight backcountry camping. The still-smoking, glacier-clad Lassen Peak is one of only two volcanoes in the contiguous 48 states that erupted in the 20th century (Mount St. Helens erupted 40 years ago last month). Today, more than 100 years after magma first flowed from the Lassen Peak, amateur volcanologists can delight in finding the remains of the four types of volcanoes: shield, cinder cone, strato and plug.

Washington state North Cascades, instead of Mount Rainier - Although still emerging from snow banks and currently open for only day use, North Cascades is typically one of the less-visited parks of the entire parks system, seeing less than 3% of Mount Rainier’s yearly traffic. Adjoining the Canadian border, 120 miles northeast of Seattle, this wilderness has only 6 miles of internal roads — all unpaved — and stretches over 1,000 square miles. It boasts 312 glaciers (12 times Mount Rainier’s), as well as more than 500 lakes and a lush carpet of old-growth evergreens. From its dry ponderosa pines in the east to the temperate rain forest in the west, this is landscape of tremendous biodiversity.

To read the entire article, Click Here.

Outdoor Adventures

By Ramon Gomez, Jr.
Jul 01, 2020

The 2020-2021 ski season at Deer Valley Resort is starting to warm up in the heat of the summer. The Park Record has shared that Deer Valley sees ‘pent-up demand’ as it readies for a socially distanced ski season

The leader of the resort in a recent appearance during a City Hall-hosted online event said Deer Valley is taking lodging reservations for the next ski season from people in various parts of the U.S. Todd Shallan, who is the president and chief operating officer of Deer Valley, said the top five states for reservations are California, New York, Texas, Colorado and Utah. Shallan added that a business plan relying on regional crowds is not sustainable in the long term.

He predicted there will be crowds at Deer Valley for the ski season made up of local people and skiers from out of town. He also acknowledged there will be limitations based on capacity and ensuring social distancing.

“We will certainly prioritize season-pass holders and will certainly prioritize, you know, local guests as much as we possibly can. But we still have a bunch of lodging in this community that needs to be filled,” Shallan said. “And there’s a lot of people that depend on out-of-town visitors in our community, and our business community. So, there’s got to be a mix of both in order for all of us to be successful.”

Shallan said season-pass sales for the upcoming ski season are strong, which he described as a “great indicator” of the winter. He said lodging reservations for the ski season are also strong and another indicator for the winter. “We know there’s a lot of pent-up demand. We just want to make sure that we accommodate that demand as safely as we can,” he said. Shallan described that Deer Valley has not crafted the detailed plans for the ski season yet even though there are many questions about the season, such as the possibility of limiting capacity and social distancing. “We need to learn from the Australian resorts and how they’re managing crowds,” he said. Click here for the full article.

Jenni’s Trail - Distance: 5 miles. Beginning at the base of Park City Mountain Resort, Lower Jenni’s Trail is popular among runners who love tough steep climbs and exhilarating descents. Pass through scrubby shrubs and aspen stands while winding underneath ski lifts and up to the Jenni’s Trail sign at a fork in the trail. From here, continue up or speed downhill back to the base, winding through the forest as you hear the screams of Alpine Coaster riders racing down the mountain. Starting at 6,900 feet and topping out at 8,200 feet, this trail can be run uphill or down, but be aware that the path is shared with uphill mountain bikers.

Armstrong Trail - Distance: 6 miles. Find fantastic views of town and moderate climbs on this dirt trail above Silver Star Café. It’s also an uphill-only mountain bike trail, so you won’t have to worry about speeding cyclists crashing into you during your ascent. Park at Silver Star and follow the signs leading to Armstrong for a three-mile run. Continue to HAM and Spiro Trails for a roughly six-mile loop, ending back in the parking lot. Or, if you’re running out of daylight and just need a short 3-miler, turn off of Armstrong after 1.5 miles (before you reach HAM) and loop down Dawn’s Trail.

Round Valley - Distance: 30 miles of trails. The rolling hills and valleys of this preserved open space northeast of Old Town make it a go-to for locals. With over 30 miles of trails spread over 700 acres, there are soft dirt doubletrack and flowing singletrack paths for every skill level. For easy access, start and end at Quinn’s Trailhead--near bustling Kearns Boulevard. Thanks to its lower 6,500’ elevation, Round Valley is the best place for early spring and late fall trail runs if you’re looking to avoid muddy, snowy slogs. Of note: the area is popular with mountain bikers and off-leash pups are welcome and abundant.

Historic Rail Trail - Distance: 28 miles. During Park City’s silver mining boom, a Union Pacific railroad line connecting Coalville to Park City was used to transport coal and ore. But when the boom went bust, the railroad was abandoned and fell into disuse. In the 1990s, an ambitious project was proposed to turn it into Utah’s first non-motorized rail trail. Today, this unpaved, historic path welcomes runners, cyclists, and hikers on its 28 miles as it passes through Park City, along the river, and to active farmlands and tiny towns before ending at Echo Reservoir—an idyllic place for a post-run swim. 

Mid-Mountain Trail - Distance: 26 miles. The iconic Mid Mountain Trail bisects Deer Valley and both sides of Park City Mountain at an elevation of 8,000 feet, and it isn’t just for the mountain biking crowd. Head out on foot, running through fir forest and aspen stands with views of mountains and town below. The best starting point for an out-and-back run is Deer Valley’s Silver Lake Lodge. Head down the mountain just right of the Sterling Express Lift to catch the trail and run until you’re ready to turn back.

For more off-road options, check out the Mountain Trails Foundation map, available at local retailers and online. 

Looking to get away - Outside Online has shared 8 of Their Favorite Adventuremobile Rental Companies. Vanlife has become the new norm, but if you don't have enough to buy your own, these companies have you covered.Tent camping isn’t always relaxing and Outside has found that an interest in vanlife among campers grew from 8 percent to 14 percent in 2018. Here are there top picks:

Red Rocks Base Camps - Located in Moab, Utah, this delivery service will tow a cozy teardrop to the campsite of your choice.

North Shore Vans - Owner Chris Detchon retrofits his fleet with beds and kitschy Hawaiian style, then sends you off with beta on how and where to camp respectfully on Maui.

VanGo Durango - VanGo ­offers Volkswagen EuroVans to ex­plore the San Juan Mountains of Colorado or the deserts of the Four Corners.

Outdoorsy, RVshare, and Campanda - Like Airbnb for RVs, vans, and trailers, these sites let you rent privately owned camp­ing vehicles, though quality can be a bit of a gamble.

Explore Rentals - This Bozeman, Montana, outfit rents AWD and 4WD setups like the Tacamper, a Toyota Tacoma with a superlight pop-up over the bed.

Escape Campervans - These artist-painted vans are available from 13 locations in the U.S. and Canada.

AlaskaVans - Take one of these spacious, built-out utility vans oceanfront camping on the Kenai Peninsula or into the mountains of Denali National Park.

Home Buying

By Ramon Gomez, Jr.
Jun 23, 2020

Homebuyers will ‘gobble up’ houses for sale this summer, according to Barbara Corcoran, host of ABC’s Shark Tank and founder of the Corcoran Group, an New York City-based residential brokerage firm as interviewed by Yahoo! Finance.

Before the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. did not have enough homes for sale to meet demand. But with sellers slow to re-enter the market because of the nationwide lockdowns and demand higher than ever, the U.S. has become an even more competitive market, said Corcoran.

For the week ending June 13, inventory was down 27% compared to last year, according to Realtor.com. Inventory hit a 25-year low in December 2019, with moderate improvement at the beginning of 2020. But it plunged when the pandemic hit the U.S. in mid-March and sellers pulled their homes off the market, according to an analysis by Odeta Kushi, deputy chief economist for First American Financial Corporation, a a Santa Ana, California-based provider of title insurance, settlement services and risk solutions for real estate transactions.

The coronavirus forced Americans to work from home and redefined how Americans see their home. Some Americans are now looking for new homes with bigger yards, home offices and more square footage, after spending months in lockdown. Studies also show that more buyers are now looking to the suburbs for their next home, according to Redfin. Plus, mortgage rates hit an all-time low this week, incentivizing even more buyers into the market.

When more people want a product than the market can supply, the price goes up. Home prices already rose to an all-time high before the pandemic, as homes in the U.S. sold for an average $384,900 in the first quarter of 2020 — well above highs before the Great Recession, which reached an average of $322,100 in its peak, according to the Federal Reserve of St. Louis.  With heightened demand, homes in the U.S. could get even more expensive this summer, according to economists.

Looking to shop outside - the Park City Farmers Market has opened at Park City Mountain Resort’s Silver King Lot. The market will follow COVID-19 guidelines to ensure the safety of the patrons as well as vendors according to the Park Record's Scott Iwasaki. The Farmer's Market will be open Wednesdays, 11 a.m.-noon for senior citizens; noon - 5 p.m. for general public at the Silver King parking lot at Park City Mountain Resort. The market will start with 20 vendor tents that will be 10 feet apart and will have at least two workers each. Handwshing stations will be setup and all vendors will be wearing gloves. parkcityfarmersmarket.com

The Salt Lake Tribune has shared that Ski resorts are gearing up for summer season with new features — and new rules to deal with COVID-19. It’s been a quiet three months in the mountains since COVID-19 caused Utah’s ski resorts to shut down their lifts and cordon off their restaurants in mid-March. Now those wilderness areas are beginning to show signs of life. Woodward Park City, which opened for some indoor sports on May 22, now is also allowing indoor trampolines and parkour and will open its rental shop. Sundance broke out its zip lines, stable, spa and lodging. Utah Olympic Park, though technically not a resort, opened June 4 with tubing and an alpine slide.

Summer has become an increasingly important season for resorts across the country, even before COVID-19 hit. According to the publication Ski Resort Management, revenue for resorts in the summer of 2016 was nearly twice what it was in 2007. During that time, the number of summer visitors rose nearly 45% , even as the cost of a summer visit went up nearly 30%.

This year, however, a successful summer could be critical to a resort’s survival. Consider that most ski areas this year closed prior to spring break, one of their three most lucrative times in the winter season. Those concerns have kept some resorts from jumping into the pool this summer. Solitude Mountain Resort, for example, has made some lodging available but otherwise has announced no plans to reopen.

SUMMER IS IN SESSION

A rundown of what area ski resorts are offering — or not offering — this summer:

Alta • Access to more than 13 miles of hiking trails will open on June 27; lodging expected to open July 1; Albion Basin campground opens July 17.

Beaver Mountain • Hiking and OHV trails open; camping for RVs only.

Brian Head Resort • Activities (disc golf, the zip line, archery, bungee trampoline, climbing wall, avalanche tubing and mountain biking) open Friday through Sunday starting June 26.

Brighton • Hiking trails to open after snowpack melts; Brighton Store is open.

Cherry Peak • All summer operations and concerts postponed.

Deer Valley • Lift-served biking, hiking, scenic rides and some restaurants open daily starting June 26.

Eagle Point • Self-accessed hiking and biking trails open; Canyonside Lodge opened Friday; Mountain Archery Festival scheduled for June 26-28.

Nordic Valley • Summer operations postponed.

Park City Mountain Resort • Alpine slide, mountain coaster, scenic lift rides, hiking and bike haul, and some restaurants scheduled to open Thursday-Sunday starting July 2.

Powder Mountain • Wolf Barn Short Track trail is open; other trails will open as snowpack melts.

Snowbasin Resort • Lift-served mountain biking, hiking and scenic rides via Needles Gondola, mini golf (limited to groups of six or fewer), and dining and mountaintop yoga at the Needles Lodge scheduled to open Saturdays and Sundays starting June 27.

Snowbird • Open daily for summer activities (aerial tram, alpine slide, mountain coaster and Chickadee chairlift), with some restaurants and lodging. Mountain biking off the tram on the Big Mountain Trail remains closed.

Solitude • Summer operations postponed.

Sundance • Open daily for summer activities (chairlift rides, hiking, mountain biking, zip line and stables), with some restaurants, lodging and the spa also open. Reservations required Friday through Sunday.

Utah Olympic Park • Open daily for alpine slide, extreme tubing, zip lining and ropes course in two-hour increments. Alf Engen Ski Museum and Eccles Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games Museum open and free, but masks are required.

Woodward Park City • Indoor and outdoor parks for wheeled sports, including scooter, skateboarding and BMX, and lift-served mountain biking open daily for a limited number of guests. Trampolines, parkour, gym floor and indoor airbags along with rental shop and food service also available.

Source: Ski Utah

Utah Strong

By Ramon Gomez, Jr.
Jun 17, 2020

The Park Record has shared that Deer Valley announced their plans to open for summer June on 26th, offering lift-served mountain biking, hiking and scenic chairlift rides, albeit with significant protocols in place to guard against the spread of COVID-19. The resort indicated in a press release it will take “extensive measures to comply with COVID-19 cleaning, operating procedures and guidelines” and will adhere to the safety mandates imposed by Summit County. It will also limit the number of guests allowed on the mountain at any one time, with day lift tickets being sold on a first-come, first-served basis. The resort will allow outdoor dining at three restaurants this summer — Deer Valley Grocery-Cafe, Royal Street Cafe and Silver Lake Snack Shack.

Judy and I truly enjoy living in Utah and were excited when we read Why you should bet on Utah right now, a story by Peter Reichard. As the nation struggles to recovery from the COVID-19 economic decline, Utah is poised to make a strong comeback. Any major economic crisis has a tabula rasa effect, with businesses, investors and individuals pausing to consider big changes. Some will roll out a map of the United States to seek greener pastures. Some of them will decide to place their chips on Utah. Many current Utah residents will just double down. This makes sense, because this state is among the safest of bets. Here are 10 reasons why.

1. Utah has strong social capital.

2. This remains the land of opportunity. Research from Harvard economists put the Salt Lake metro as No. 1 in the nation in terms of intergenerational upward mobility.

3. Utah is a safe port in stormy waters. Utah offers predictability, stability and a business-friendly policy environment and transparency.

4. We have a smart, young population. Not only is Utah the nation’s youngest state, it is also one of the most highly educated, per capita — providing a highly skilled workforce for businesses looking to relocate or expand. A recent Forbes analysis put Utah at No. 1 in the nation for entrepreneurs.

5. We’ve taken hits and are standing tall. Utah had the lowest proportion of unemployed as a percentage of its workforce by mid-May.

6. We’re planning smart and thinking big. At the dawn of the crisis, the state launched the Utah Leads Together effort. There was no infighting or chaos, and planners immediately recognized the need to form a baseline plan, then adjust to a rapidly changing situation.

7. We have a diversified economy. The latest analysis using the Hachman Index of economic diversity put Utah at No. 1 in the nation.

8. Small businesses (and lenders) are taking care of business. Survey data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau reveals Utah small businesses have been the least affected in the nation. As of May 16, Utah ranked No. 1 in federal Payroll Protection Program loans as a percentage of payroll.

9. We aren’t shooting ourselves in the foot. Other state governments have become engulfed in paralyzing political division and crippling financial mismanagement. Utah has managed its finances and public pensions fairly well, and has managed to get important things done.

10. The quality of life is excellent. Utah is situated in a Goldilocks location — not too cold and not too hot with low humidity. It’s one of the sunniest places in the U.S., with endless opportunities for exploration across four seasons — from National Parks to ski resorts. And there is still a comparably reasonable cost of living. Article - peter@utahfoundation.org.

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Judy and I are happy to represent home buyers and sellers in Utah. We are happy to announce our recent closings: 9528N Red Hawk Trail (lot) Preserve - listing, 11572 N White Tail Court (lot) Soaring Hawk - buyer, 429 Piney Drive (single family home) Oakley - listing, and 2752 High Mountain Road #407 (condo) Apex - buyer. Reach out today if you are looking to sell your current home or to find your new home.

rgomez@bhhsutah.com - www.realtorramoninparkcity.com

Weekend Adventures

By Ramon Gomez, Jr.
Jun 12, 2020

Looking to get out this weekend, KPCW has shared that E-Bikes Are Back For The Season. In perhaps another sign of “reopening” in the Park City area, the county’s bike share program has returned for another season. The 2020 program comes with improvements and measures for sanitation. There are 200 bikes and 19 stations available.

In response to the glitches and problems last year, the county hired a local project manager, who has worked with the vendors over the winter to make improvements. The operators are sanitizing the bikes on a regular basis. But they’re asking the public to take precautions also as they will not be cleaning the bikes between every single use.

You can register for the program at “summitbikeshare.com”  An annual pass for local residents and employees, will cost $90. They’re also offering a free one-month pass to local workers who were on the ground during the coronavirus outbreak. There’s a single-ride pass, and that’s $3 for 30 minutes. Every minute over 30 minutes is 15 cents a minute. When you have an annual pass, your rides are 45 minutes long before you need to dock.

Want to travel a little further and see as many national parks as possible in one giant road trip? The Discover Blog share the best road trips in each state, click here for the whole article. The trip from Moab in the east to Kanab in the south will make sure you don't miss out on those spectacular landscapes you've yet to explore. Red-rock formations galore and riveting red sunsets make this road trip one to remember for the rest of your life. Along the way, make plans to stop in Arches National Park, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument, and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

We wrap up this week's blog with an article from RISMedia in the Top 10 Markets for Millennials During the Pandemic and Salt Lake City makes the list. The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) recently ranked the top metros for millennials amidst the pandemic, taking into consideration the following: housing affordability, local job market conditions, the millennial population in the area, and available inventory across the largest 100 U.S. metros.

These are the top 10 markets with favorable conditions for millennial homebuyers during the pandemic:

1. Austin-Round Rock, Texas

2. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas

3. Des Moines-West Des Moines, Iowa

4. Durham-Chapel Hill-Raleigh, N.C.

5. Houston-The Woodlands, Texas

6. Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, Ind.

7. Omaha, Nebraska/Council Bluffs, Iowa

8. Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Ariz.

9. Portland, Oregon/Vancouver, Wash.

10. Salt Lake City, Utah

“Nationally, millennials make up the largest share of homebuyers and these metropolitan areas, in particular, offer great opportunities to realize the dream of homeownership,” said NAR President Vince Malta, broker at Malta & Co., Inc., in San Francisco, Calif. “As states and cities begin to reopen, millennials will play a significant role in the housing market’s recovery.”

 
 
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