Snowbasin Summer Activities – Ogden Valley Utah (Eden, Huntsville, Liberty)
Most people think of Snowbasin Resort for winter of course. After all, Snowbasin enjoys the benefits of The Greatest Snow on Earth along with Nordic Valley (fka Wolf Mountain) and Powder Mountain. But what about summers? From hiking, biking, disc golf, free concerts, food and many other activities, you’ll never got board here.
The vistas from the top and bottom of the resort are breathtaking year-round. Spending time up here is a great way to beat the summer heat too.
This shot was taken in mid-June after a wet spring, so everything is still super green and beautiful as you can see.
Causey Reservoir is one of the most peaceful bodies of water I’ve ever experienced. Photos were take from about 100 feet up during early Spring (most of the snow was gone and it hadn’t started to green up yet). Click on each photo for full size image.
All 142 acres of water are located 11 miles northeast of Huntsville Utah. Cause is a mecca or recreational opportunities, both on and off the water, including:
Hiking
Horseback riding
Mountain biking
Fishing – mostly trout like Cutthroat, Rainbow and Brown
Water sports – no wake & no motorized vessels
Swimming and cliff jumping are also popular on the lake
If you like to camp or picnic, there are sites close by in Memorial Park on the Ogden River.
Causey Reservoir is considered part of the beautiful Ogden Valley, which is also known for it’s other recreational opportunities at Snowbasin Ski Resort, Powder Mountain Ski Resort, Nordic Valley Ski Resort (formally known as Wolf Mountain), Pineview Reservoir – and much more.
People ask me why we chose Ogden Valley Utah to live. I got to the point where I realized that unless you’ve spent time here, there’s just no way to understand the beauty of the Ogden Valley. Besides being home to three amazing ski resorts: Snowbasin (host of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games), Powder Mountain (know affectionally as PowMow) and Nordic Valley (formally Wolf Mountain), there’s dozens of reasons to live here.
The year-round beauty is tops on the list, and these aerial panorama photos (taken between Eden and Liberty) will give you a little bit of a taste. Click to see full size (really large) images.
Aerial Photos from Ogden Valley Balloon Festival, 2014
Here’s one more reason to love the Ogden Valley – the annual Balloon and Artist Festival. This year, launches were at Snowcrest Jr. High School. There was an evening launch at Nordic Valley (formally Wolf Mountain) along with the night Balloon Glow, concerts (all day and night), food, artists, vendors, kids play area, and so much more.
We couldn’t pass up the opportunity to put the camera in the air to get these amazing photos (below) and video so we are posting here to share with you.
Click on any of the images to view the full image.
We use this same equipment to create the aerial photos and videos that are part of our Ultimate 57-Point Marketing Plan to help sell homes for sale in Ogden Valley Utah. Here’s a sample.
This week’s video gives you an overview of what’s in our Home Buyer’s Guide. Call, text or email for the full guide with great tips to help you get find the right home for the best price possible.
Want to know what your house is worth in today's market, find out now! Yes, it's free!
Video Transcript
Hi everyone! This is Ann Zieve with the Northern Utah Home Team and Keller Williams Success Realty here to give you my weekly market update, and today I have a real treat for you because we’re going to talk about smart tips for buying homes. If you’re thinking about buying a home, you might be asking, “Am I ready to buy? Where can I find help to find the right home? And how’s the market?”
Well, we’re going to answer all these and more questions today. We have bought over 170 homes since 2002. In that time, we’ve learned how to successfully navigate the home buying process. Today we’ll hit some of the highlights of our experience, and at the end we’ll tell you how you can get the whole, informative home buying guide that we referred to in this blog. Owning your own home is still one of the top American dreams. It’s a statement of personal freedom and financial strength. In fact for many, buying a home is the most significant investment of their lifetime.
So why buy now? Well, mortgage rates remain low. However they won’t stay that way forever. This is the only thing outside your control. You can increase your income by working more. You can even affect your debt levels by what you choose to pay off and what you buy, and the price of the home based on where you buy and the condition of the home you buy, but interest rates is the one thing you cannot control, and every one percent change in the interest rate is a 10% change in your home price.
Now we all understand that inflation has caused the cost of things to go up. However, the principle and interest payment on a mortgage still remains close to what it was back in 1989, making a home a very affordable thing for most people. So where do you start? You start by figuring out how much you can afford. The best way is to talk to a lender and get pre-approved. This is smart and easy because it’s often just a quick phone call to a lender to get the process rolling. It costs you no money and helps you to learn up front the issues that may need to be addressed before you can finance a home.
Being pre-approved also allows you to move quicker when you find the home that you love, and also makes the seller take your offer more serious when you make one. We can send you a list of recommended lenders. Many of these also offer credit repair services if you need help with that. Now that you know what you can afford to buy, it’s time to figure out what you want and what you need. There’s lots of factors to consider, and we’re happy to sit down with you and figure out what is going to be right for you based on your goals. We know everybody’s goals are different and then the house that’s going to meet those goals is also different. So that’s why sit down and individually come up with a plan for you.
You see you don’t have to buy a home alone. We can help. Your job is to see how the home stacks up to your wants and needs, and our job is to help you find the home and let you know how it compares to the competition. I can provide information on the market and answer questions so you get the right home at the right price. Our job is also to get you the best deal possible. Our buyer average 5% savings compared to working with the average agent. Buying a home is about more than looking at homes on the Internet or even walking through them. I can help you make the offer at the right price. I can advise you to make an offer they can’t refuse. I can advise you on what to ask in the offer such as a home warranty and what to do if you end up in a multiple offer situation.
Did you know that most transactions take one to two months to close? Wouldn’t you like to have someone to help you through those days and with all the many steps that are involved?
I can help with appraisals and inspections and all the other steps in the home buying process, and in case you didn’t know, our help costs you nothing because the seller pays us. So you get our negotiating skills for your benefit for free. If you work with the agent who has the home listed, that agent’s job is to get the highest price for the seller. Wouldn’t you rather have someone working for you? Working with us also minimizes the chance that you would buy the wrong home. We take the risk out of the home buying process by our love it or leave it program that allows you to sell your house within the first three months with us for free. You see our main job is to protect you and educate you, not just sell you a home. This overview is a start. Contact us for the complete report and to get started on buying your next home. You can call, email, or text us and we’re here to help you. Until next time, keep living smart.
This week’s video gives you an overview of what’s in our House Seller’s Guide. Call, text or email for the full guide with great tips to help you get the most money for your property, as fast as possible.
Want to know what your house is worth in today's market, find out now! Yes, it's free!
Video Transcript
Hello everyone! This is Ann Zieve with the Northern Utah Home Team and Keller Williams Success Realty here to give you my weekly market update, and today I am going to give you a real treat because I am going to share with you my smart tips on selling your house. So let’s get started.
If you’re looking to sell your house, you’re probably asking yourself the following questions. What can I expect? How can I attract the most buyers? And, is now the right time to sell? Well, we’re going to talk about these and other questions today. We’ve personally sold over 170 homes since 2002, so we think like sellers, not realtors. We know that selling your house is one of the biggest and most important financial transactions you’ll make. We can help you make the process smooth and quick, and we strive to get you the most money possible from the sale.
Today we’ll go through a few tips, and at the end, I will tell you how to get a copy of our Smart Seller Guide. So why sell now? Well, it is a seller market in many areas in Utah. The demand for well-priced houses in good condition is high, and there are lots of buyers taking advantage of low interest rates and affordable prices. In fact, we’re seeing multiple offers in many situations. The smart seller knows about his competition and his local market. So why would you want to hire a professional like us to sell your house?
Well, our job is to sell your house and negotiate on your behalf. Our number one job is to protect you, and we can do that because we know real estate and we have the experience of over 170 transactions under our belt. One of the biggest parts of our job is to market to buyers and to agents who have buyers. We know what buyers are looking for, and we know how to get your message about your house to them. We have developed a 57 point marketing plan that is second to none. For example, our marketing plan includes aerial photos and videos. Now how many realtors can say that? Your job is to make your house attractive to the buyer, and we could give you pointers that fit your budget, your skills, and your time availability. Price does matter, and we have studied to understand what houses are selling for. We also take into account the influence of other factors like the condition of your house and the competition.
We do all of this to strive to get you the most money for your house. The price we recommend is designed to bring you offers, and when they come, we’re by your side to provide guidance and our experience and knowledge to help you get as much as you can from your house. It takes the average real estate transaction one to two months to close. Now wouldn’t you like someone by your side watching that things are moving smoothly and addressing issues as they come up so you can keep your attention on your family and the other things that need your attention? I think you’re starting to see the advantage of having a professional work for you. We would encourage you to interview multiple realtors. Few will bring the following benefits to you like we will. We have an easy exit listing program that allows you to cancel at any time for any reason.
Our guaranteed sold program says that we’ll sell your house in 59 days or we’ll sell it for free, and our communication guarantee says we’ll touch base with you at least once a week, or you can cancel the listing immediately. We also have a smart seller program that allows you to market the house for sale by owner, while we’re also marketing it, and if you bring the buyer first, you don’t have to pay us a commission. Need more proof that we’re different and better than most realtors? Learn what our clients have said then give us a call, a text or an email, and set up an interview with us to come talk to you about getting your house sold. Now that is smart. Get in touch with us also if you want a copy of this Smart Sellers Guide that I just went through, and remember, we’re here to help you sell your house, buy a house, or invest in real estate. Until next time, keep living smart.
Tennis Courts in Ogden Valley Utah (Eden, Huntsville, Liberty) near Snowcrest Junior High School
These beautiful, state of the art, brand new public courts were completed with a generous RAMP grant and the support of hundreds in Ogden Valley. They sit on the north side of Snowcrest Junior High School in Eden Utah. Can you imagine playing either in a tournament or just a pickup game in this gorgeous Ogden Valley setting? Check out the OVTA’s web page to learn more about their offerings, goals, plans and much more. The OVTA asked me to get this picture for them to commemorate their recent affiliation with the United States Tennis Association (USTA).
This shot was taken in mid-November, prior to the first big snow storm which covers the mountains and gets our valley ready for a great winter of skiing and riding (Snowbasin, Powder Mountain, Wolf Mountain) on the Best Snow on Earth.
How To Buy Buildable Land in Utah; Plus November 2013 Real Estate Market Stats
This Week I Cover…
Almost a dozen factors to consider when buying land to build a home on in Utah
Utah Real Estate Market Stats for November 2013
Much more…
Want to know what your house is worth in today's market, find out now! Yes, it's free!
Video Transcript
Hello everyone! This is Ann Zieve from the Keller Williams Success Realty and the Northern Utah Home Team here to give you my weekly market update, and today we’re going to take a look at some market statistics and we’re also going to talk about land because we definitely noticed a trend of people buying land to build a home after not finding the perfect home that they’re looking for because of the competitive market we’ve had all summer.
So first let’s take a look at the market statistics, and as we’re entering the middle of November we are quite to the holiday slowdown, but we definitely are heading that way when you look at our market statistics. Everything is down from where it was at the summer height. We have new listings are down, prices are even down and new home solds are also down. About the only thing going up is inventory of homes and days on market. This is all to be expected this time of year, but what a great summer we had. Just take a look at those statistics.
All right, well let’s take a little look at land. So a lot of buyers when they can’t find the perfect home that they are looking for with existing homes, they turn to buying land and building their home, and what are some considerations if you’re buying land? One thing you want to look at is where are the utilities? If there is other homes in the area, there’s a good chance the utilities are right there at the road, and you’re not going to have the expense of bringing utilities down the road, but if there are other homes in the area, you might have to get a good idea of what it’s going to cost to bring the utilities down the road. You’re also going to want to know whether water and sewer are available in the area, or if you’re going to be looking at the expense of putting in a well and septic, and especially with the septic you have to do soil tests to make sure that the soil can accommodate it.
The other thing you’re going to want to look at is the terrain, is it going to be flat and easily built upon or is it more hilly and going to require maybe some excavation or clearing before you can put your home where you want it on the land. You’re also are going to want to think about what is your intended use of the land. Are you looking for some great views, and if so, how will you need to orient your house to take advantage of those views and are there other obstructions in the way? Are you looking for horse property or other livestock property? In that case you’re going to want to be sure you understand the city and county zoning requirements for that land.
You’re also going to want to make sure you have a good idea where the boundaries are. They might be obvious because of other properties around, or they might not be so obvious and you might want to consider doing a survey before purchasing that property. You’re also are going to want to make sure you understand HOA and CCR requirements in the area. If there is an HOA or CCR requirements, you might have limitations on the size of the home you can build and other architectural considerations, so you’re definitely going to want to take those into account before building, and you’re also going to want to know is the property even buildable. We hear so many stories about people buying a property, and then they find out later that they can’t build because of some problem. So you’re going to want to check with the county and maybe talk to a builder up front to see if this property really is going to be buildable.
So let’s take a look at some specific land. Well, here’s a piece of property listed at $100,000 in Pleasant View. It’s in a desirable location. You can see there is already established homes around it, and it is at the end of a cul-de-sac. There are no CCRs or HOAs to consider here for building, and you can see that the terrain is very flat, so the cost of building is going to be less expensive than if it was hilly. You do have some great mountain views and valley views though, so this would be a great place for a home and utilities are right at the street. So this is definitely something to check out if you were thinking of buying land. And that takes care of this week’s market update. If you have any questions or need any additional information, feel free to give us a call, a text, or an email, and we’re happy to answer your questions and help you buy a home, sell a house or invest in real estate. Until next week, keep living smart.
Pizza, Ski Shop and More in Ogden Valley Utah (Eden, Huntsville, Liberty)
Diamond Peak Plaza in Ogden Valley has it all. Well, *I* could just about live there ;-). Featuring Diamond Peak (ski and bike rental and sales), Alpine Pizza (the BBQ Chicken is my favorite), Mad Moose Cafe (sandwiches and ice cream) and finally Club Rec (snowmobile and ATV rentals).
The plaza is located in the heart of the Ogden Valley, in Eden Utah, just south of the one and only 4-way stop sign in the valley. It’s just 10 minutes to Power Mountain, 20 minutes to Snowbasin and 5 minutes to Wolf Mountain.
This shot was taken in early November, prior to the first big snow storm which covers the mountains and gets our valley ready for a great winter of skiing and riding (Snowbasin, Powder Mountain, Wolf Mountain) on the Best Snow on Earth.
How Much Earnest Money When Buying a Utah Home on REPC; Plus October Real Estate Market Stats
This Week I Cover…
How Much Money To put as earnest money on a Utah home for sale
Utah Real Estate Market Stats for October 2013
New Harrisville Utah Homes For Sale
Much more…
Want to know what your house is worth in today's market, find out now! Yes, it's free!
Video Transcript
Hello everyone! This is Ann Zieve with Keller Williams Success Realty and the Northern Utah Home Team here to give you my weekly market update, and today we’re going to take a look at some new homes on the market. We’re also going to continue our talk about the real estate purchase contract and why the earnest money is so important but first let’s take a look at those market statistics.
All right! Well, here’s our graph of our rolling market statistics and if we look at where we are in the middle of October here and compare it to where we were a month ago in September, you can see that everything is pretty much falling off as a sign that the market is slowing, number of listings is down, number of solds is down, price is also falling a little bit, and the only thing that is increasing is the number of days on market, and this is to be expected this time of year, so it’s really not an alarm. If you still have a home to sell or to buy, it’s still a great time to be doing so with interest rates low and some great people willing to work with you.
So let’s take a look at that real estate contract and talk about the earnest money. So here’s the standard Utah Real Estate Purchase Contract, and at the very top there’s a section about what’s called “earnest money.” Earnest money is the money that a buyer puts down to show their serious intent to buy a property, and the choice is either to deliver it with the contract or to deliver it within four days to your realtor, and then they put it into a trust account to hold it until closing. We like to recommend that the earnest money be 1% of the purchase price because that shows the seller that you’re really serious, and the important thing about earnest money is that if anything goes wrong in this contract and in the deal, the earnest money is the main remedy that the seller and buyer have to fix any problems.
For example, if the buyer defaults in the section 16 it talks about if the buyer defaults, they can, the seller can keep the earnest money or they can return it and pursue damages or they can sue to enforce the ruptcy and if the seller defaults, the buyer has the same option. They can get their earnest money back plus the equal amount from the seller as damages or they can have it be held and they can sue for damages. So all this is spelled out in section 16 of the contract, and how does a buyer or seller default? Well, they don’t do what they are supposed to. So that’s why it’s really important to understand this real estate purchase contract and work with a realtor who knows it inside and out so that they can protect you because that’s our main job, and we are happy to go over this with you, so get a hold of us.
Well, let’s take a look at some new homes on the market. All right, this first home is in Harrisville. It’s listed at $165,000. It’s a five-bedroom, two-bath tri-level, and it’s been redone inside with new carpet, new paint, new appliance, some new light fixtures. It has gorgeous views of the mountains out the back, and it also has a patio and a deck so you can sit out there and enjoy those gorgeous views. I do believe this is a bank-owned property so those of you who like that, you want to check this one out, and let’s take a look at one more. This is a custom rambler in West Haven listed at $299,000. It’s three-bedrooms, three-baths, and it has a three-car garage, and look at that gorgeous open floor plan. You’re going to love this. It’s almost 3,900 square feet, and it’s ready for you to move right in.
Well, that wraps up this week’s edition of the market update report. Feel free to give us a call, a text, or an email if you have any questions about any of the homes that we’ve looked at or anything that we talked about today, and we’re here to help you in any way we can to buy a home, sell a house , or invest in real estate. Until next week, keep living smart!
