A tribute to the mythical Norse God of Snow, the legendary Main Street Parade is part of the weeklong Ullr events being held January 4-10 near homes in Breckenridge.  Son of Sif and stepson of Thor, the God of Thunder, Ullr is the winter god.  He loves the cold and could be seen traveling over the country on his skis and skates.  It is said that he covered the earth with snow each winter to protect it from harm.

As he skied through the Northern Forests, Ullr was so skilled with the bow that he could beat anyone out for a hunt.  Ullr also glided throughout the land on his great skis for pleasure.  One of his travels brought him to Breckenridge, high in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, where he decided to settle down.  Taken by the beautiful mountain village, Ullr blessed his new home with some of the finest snow in the world.

And so it is that the people of Breckenridge began in 1963 to hold a Festival every year to repay and honor Ullr, the God of Winter, for his gift of snow.  When Ullr came to town that year, locals went to the Town Council and lobbied to hold “Ullr Dag”, which can be interpreted as Ullr Day.  During the first few years, locals honored Ullr with gold coins, parties, skiing, and more parties. 

As the years passed, they embellished the festivities with the Ullr Ball, the Ullr Bonfire, Snow Sculpting, a Ullr King and Queen, the Ullympics, dating games, and the Ullr Parade.  At times old skis are burned in the bonfire while the parties emblazon the town.  Plan to make it to Comedy Night and/or the Mountain Rotary Club Chilly Chili Cook Off, too.

Jonna Beardsley of Breckenridge Associates is a long-time resident in Breck.  She offers a wealth of information and affordable local options.  Call Jonna at (970) 453-2200 for friendly, professional real-estate assistance in the Rocky Mountain area.

Many rural communities easily access the slopes at Keystone, Arapahoe Basin, and Copper Mountain and come with lower price tags.  The authentic Town of Breckenridge real estate, however, continues to be a popular place to belong.  The former mining town, although less expensive than Vail, Beaver Creek, and Aspen, retains its charming traditional feel and friendly community.  As one of the highest resorts in the world, buyers are enticed to the overall experience of living around Breckenridge.

Secluded mountain real estate near the resorts may better fit the needs of second homeowners.  It is still possible to land a studio one and two bedroom condo for $200,000 –$300,000 not too far away from the ski slope scene in Keystone, Breckenridge or Copper Mountain.  The two-or three-bedroom cabin is still available for $200,000 – $300,000 range in Fairplay, South Park area, which is right over Hoosier Pass, a 20 – 30 minute drive to the Breckenridge ski slopes.  Luxury real estate beginning in the mid $300’s for the smaller ski in ski out condo’s. Remember cash flow is everything.  The closer to the slopes (more rental income in your pocket to help pay for the investment). So it’s important to average out the cost to income approach for investment purposes. The other thing to keep in mind is the QUARTER SHARE approach.  We really have some nice opportunities throughout Summit County.

According to a European source article, the same is true in France and Italy.  In Chamonix, France, more than 435 miles of snow-packed, high-altitude ski runs make the town sought after, causing property prices to soar.  Vallorcine, a little-known village about ten miles away, offers a better buy.  But, alas, the local council recently installed a lift linking the pretty village to the expansive pistes of the Mont Blanc and invited exclusive residential projects that are sure to elevate the prices.

Close to Cervinia, Italy at the foot of the Matterhorn, the quaint village and resort of Valtournenche is considered much nicer than the bigger Cervinia.  With a bit of help, buyers can find small-scale new and renovation projects at lower prices.  About 20 minutes from Cervinia, the lovely town of Aosta features cable-car access to a small ski area at Pila which offers 40 miles of ski trails.  Nice condos can be found at good price points in the comfortable town with nice shops and European culture.

Jonna Beardsley of Breckenridge Associates is a long-time resident in Breck.  She offers a wealth of information and affordable local options.  Call Jonna at (970) 453-2200 for friendly, professional real-estate assistance in the Rocky Mountain area.