Snow
depth is only one of the deference's attributed to
mountain property. Breckenridge, circa 1984
A Different World
Heather came to the Rocky Mountains and got a great buy
from a California builder that was in a hurry to get back
home before winter. She found a dreamy log home and she
really liked buying it at a price below market value.
After living there for a time, Heather realized the reason
she was cold all the time was not because of the –30
degrees F temperatures, rather it was due to the attic not
being insulated and the heater not being properly sized
for the high altitude. The law protects new homebuyers
like Heather, but the builder was from out of state and
left when the snow started falling.
In
another Rocky Mountain antidote, Mike and Shirley had
found their dream building site along a picturesque stream
not far from a rural community that they fell in love
with. Joyfully they sold their home back in the city and
moved out ready to build…only to find out the Army Corps
of Engineers wouldn’t allow them to build their home.
Buyers
need to be careful. Those looking for mountain or snow
country real estate need to educate themselves before
signing any purchase agreement. Mountain-home builders and
owners have become aware of their environmental problems
"the old fashioned way": they have learned from
trial and error. The basics of mountain land and housing
are universal. The Mountain Real Estate Buyer's Guide
(buy
it now) offers guidance for purchasing mountain homes
and condominiums, and evaluating vacant land with the
intent to build.
A
variety of housing elements, home design, and dwelling
location on the lot create an infinite number of choices
for both those buying a home and those wanting to build
one. This book identifies pitfalls and advantages of
differing mountain properties. Awareness of the
construction process serves as a tool from which to
evaluate value, durability, and price. Dwelling design
affects house suitability, convenience and comfort. This
book will help the buyer evaluate these factors.
Whether
browsed through or read from start to finish, tables,
charts and information in this book provide an invaluable
reference for those purchasing mountain property. Don’t
be a babe in the woods! Arm yourself with knowledge and
make the right choice. This topic is broken into three
divisions:
The Right Land,
Housing Design,
Proper Construction
To
supplement the text, I've collected a number of
resources for those looking at buying or building in the
mountains.
Building
Product Information
I
'm always looking for more good resources, so if you find
one that you feel would of benefit, please pass them along
to webmaster@mountainmagazine.com
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