Mixed signals for the Park City and Deer Valley real estate markets.

By Todd Anderson

Jul 07, 2009

The Park Record, Park City Utah's local twice weekly news source, ran an article over the weekend titled "Optimism for Park City economy might be justified - Statewide economy expected to get worse this year". The title of the article seems to be in conflict with itself as much as most of the rest of the article. Within the article, there are quotes from the Park City Board of Realtors President stating that national indicators often drive the Park City real estate market and that the current trends in GDP and stock market have had positive effects on consumer confidence ‘which will prompt many buyers to make the home purchase they've been contemplating for months.' This is a great positive spin for Park City and Deer Valley real estate. The article writer then reverses direction with the following statement: ‘But the frozen credit markets are still hurting Park City's real estate market, he said. And the employment situation is still a concern because if someone has lost their job, or fears losing it, they're less likely to come to Park City for a vacation and/or think about purchasing a home here.' The Park Record then quotes another prominent local Park City real estate agent whose predictions are cautiously positive noting an incremental recovery locally and predictions for a national recovery in 2010. The newspaper and local real estate agent then go on to note that local tourism reports predict summer travel to mountain destinations to be down 15% from last year. And a six month forecast expecting occupancy to be down by 20% with room rates down by 10%. It seems that for every negative indicator there is a positive real estate note to go along with it and vice-versa. A look back at last winter can show that during the tough economic and political climate people still came out to ski and enjoy Park City. While they may not have bought local real estate, they did still come (albeit spending a bit less while they were here). I'm sure that soon local real estate agents will point to "pent up demand" from those people that didn't buy last year as the reason for optimism. Summer is here and this past weekend with its many markets, festivals, and celebrations showed Park City and Deer Valley in their best light. There's no doubt that many visitors had a thought that they should move to or buy a vacation home in Park City.

Tags: Deer Valley, demand, market, optimism, Park City, Real Estate, realtor, recovery, Ski, summer, tourism
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Golf at The Canyons Resort in Park City

By Todd Anderson

Jun 17, 2009

Golf courses and spas are a major component of resort real estate in the Park City and Deer Valley area. Many of the real estate communities in The Canyons area of Park City have some reliance on golf in the area. A meeting will be held today to discuss why the proposed golf course adjacent to The Canyons Resort in Park City, Utah has not come to fruition.

In the late 1990's as part of The Canyons Resort specially planned area (SPA), a golf course was required as part of the plan. The plan required a course to be in place by 2002.

The Spa allows for increased density at the base of The Canyons Resort and has many conditions which allow for the density increase such as a golf course (golf is often developed as "open space" in large development and SPA areas in and around Park City, Utah), roads, trails public right-of-ways, etc. Many of the problems with the proposed golf course and overall development of the base area at The Canyons Resort stem from the fact that there are over 25 different land owners involved dealing with complicated trades, leases and other transactions to get the original SPA approved.

With the Talisker Corp. as the new owner of The Canyons Resort, it was widely anticipated that due to its golf background, the course would move forward quickly. This has yet to happen and the lawsuits surrounding the area can only make matters worse.

Many of the real estate developments within and around The Canyons and Park City have made mention of the future course and no doubt many Buyers have made real estate purchases based on the proposed course.

The proposed golf course at The Canyons could play an important role in making the resort and surrounding tourism driven developments more profitable year-round. Most of the newer real estate developments in The Canyons area (The Grand Summit, The Sundial Lodge, Escala, Vintage on the Strand, The Westgate, Dakota Mountain Lodge, Fairway Springs and more) have made some claim to proximity to and added benefit to owners and guests that the proposed golf course at The Canyons will bring.

Unfortunately, golf courses are not cure-all prescriptions for real estate and tourism. Local private and semi-private Park City area golf courses are experiencing difficulties. These can be seen by the recent bankruptcy and subsequent emergence from bankruptcy at Promontory, as well as the exodus of over 100 members at the Jeremy Ranch golf club and heavily discounted memberships becoming available at Park Meadows Country Club.

The completion of the proposed course at The Canyons Resort in Park City will be a welcome addition by area golfers and tourists alike, but how well the Park City area which boasts more than 14 golf courses (and at least 3 more on the way) within a 20 mile drive can absorb enough tee times to make them all work is yet to be seen. The effect on the real estate surrounding the Park City and Deer Valley area golf courses is a great discussion.

For more information about golf related real estate opportunities in the Park City and Deer Valley areas, contact a YouInParkCity.com real estate agent.

Tags: canyons, Dakota, Deer Valley, Escala, Golf, golf course, Grand Summit, Jeremy, Park City, Park Meadows, Promontory, Real Estate, resort, Talisker, The Canyons, tourism, Utah
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