While death and taxes remain two certainties of life, there’s no reason to take an increase in your property tax bill lying down.
Many residents owning real estate in Summit and Wasatch counties were hit with significant sticker shock this summer when their tax notices arrived in the mail. As reported by The Park Record in its Aug. 2, 2023, edition, all property types throughout Summit County increased by 68%, or 47% when six “outliers” were removed, with primary home values increasing by 29%, second home values increasing by 38% and commercial properties increasing by 67%. In Wasatch County, property values have increased by 37% overall, according to an Aug. 14, 2023, KPCW report.
To help residents in Summit County better understand their valuation, the Assessor’s Office rolled out an interactive web platform that provides taxpayers with a resource to examine the equity of their tax assessment by providing items such as market values, taxable values, year built and square footage for single family, condominium and commercial properties. It also shows the percentage change from last year’s property valuation and contact information for appraisers in each area. Wasatch County also released an online map tool to help property owners determine if their assessment is equitable.
Property owners who believe their assessed value is inaccurate can file an appeal with the Assessor’s Office by Sept. 15, and we can provide a referral to a local appraiser to help determine whether the assessed value is fair. Please reach out to us directly for this contact info, as we have found it to be the best way to go about getting a successful appeal outcome. If you’ve recently purchased your property and have a current appraisal that falls well below the county’s version, the professional appraisal provided at the time of your transaction could be considered valid.
There are a few things to consider when it comes to deciding whether to appeal:
Primary Residence Exemption
Make sure a property utilized as a primary residence is categorized as such, and this information is stated on the property tax notice. Primary residences are taxed at 55% of their assessed value, and even rental properties can be categorized as such as long as someone is living in there year-round. While applications are due on May 1 for the primary residence exemption, the county’s board of equalization will consider exemption status appeals from Aug. 1 – Sept. 15. Information and forms for the primary residence exemption for Summit County are located here and for Wasatch County here. Depending on the value of the property, changing from a secondary to a primary residence could shave thousands of dollars off a tax bill.
Property Description:
Check to make sure the number of rooms, bathrooms, and square footage and accurate. These types of errors can be corrected by a reappraisal of the property, or you could submit architectural drawings to the assessor’s office. If you don’t personally provide the most accurate information possible, the office won’t have the data necessary to make a fully informed assessment.
Remember to include a copy of your property tax notice, along with any evidence, such as an appraisal, sales comparable to your property or MLS – Multiple Listing Services – data to support your appeal.
Decisions depend on the availability and workload of Board of Equalization Appeal Officers and could take several weeks. Once a decision is reached, you can expect to receive a “Notice of Determination.” If your appeal is denied, you cannot appeal your final property tax bill when it is received in November.
To contact the Summit County Assessor’s Office, call 435-336-3253, or visit them at the county courthouse in Coalville, at 60 North Main Street. The Assessor can be emailed at [email protected]. For Wasatch County, call 435-654-3221, or email [email protected].
Again, reach out to us if you have any questions or would like a referral to a qualified local appraiser, but keep the Sept. 15 deadline in mind! While we are all responsible for supporting the amazing services we receive as residents of our county, it’s also important to ensure the amount of that support is equitable.
To learn more about the many reasons people Choose Park City as their primary or vacation location, connect with Christine Grenney at 435-640-4238 or Brendan Trieb at 585-410-5536, or visit their website by clicking here.
While winter is wonderful here in the mountains, summer is the time to relax and recharge, and there’s no better way than with outdoor live music! We’ve compiled our annual summer concert primer with shows listed by venue, and hope you’ll find it useful as you navigate the expansive live music opportunities that abound throughout the Wasatch Back and throughout the Salt Lake Valley this season. We’ve also created this version to print off for future reference.
The OG of outdoor music, the Deer Valley® Music Festival has presented its stunning lineup of headliners and themed performances accompanied by the venerable Utah Symphony for 20 years at the resort’s Snow Park Amphitheatre. Tickets are either reserved or general admission on the lawn, with GA patrons invited to bring their own chairs (9” or lower). The series offers youth pricing for ages 4-18, VIP packages and the flexible Design-A-Series package offering up to 20% off.
Deer Valley Music Festival Calendar of Dates: June 30 – Patriotic Pops July 1 – Spanish Nights with Pablo Sáinz-Villegas July 7 – Disney Princess: The Concert July 8 – Broadway & Soul: Joshua Henry July 12 – Beethoven’s Symphony No. 2 July 14 & 15 – The Beach Boys July 21 – She’s Got Soul: Capathia Jenkins July 22 – LeAnn Rimes July 28 – The Music of John Williams July 29 – A Night of Funk: Lettuce August 3 – The Music of Queen August 4 – Ben Folds
July 13 – Old Crow Medicine Show with Willie Watson July 16 – CAAMP August 5 & 6 – Greensky Bluegrass August 11 – Michael Franti & Spearhead September 2 – Kenny Loggins
For all events at Deer Valley Resort, save yourself the parking hassle and take public transit from Park City Mountain, where there is plenty of free parking and a convenient transit stop. The Red and Lime buses will take you directly to the concert venue.
For a thoroughly eclectic and entertaining offering of music and theatre, visit Park City’s historic Egyptian Theatre on Main Street. The small venue holds just under 300 patrons for an intimate experience and high-caliber performances, many of which run for multiple dates. Consider joining The Pharaoh Club for special invitation-only receptions and premium seating.
May 11 – Leo Nocentelli of The Meters May 12–14 – Once Upon a Mattress May 19–28 – A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder June 8-11 – The Monkees Celebrated by Micky Dolenz June 15-17 – The Gatlin Brothers June 21-23 – Pure Prarie League July 7-23 – Kinky Boots July 27-29 – Xanadu – presented by Egyptian YouTheatre August 4-5 – Stand-Up Comedy featuring Rocky LaPorte & Robert Mac August 10-20 – Into the Woods August 24-27 – The Ozark Mountain Daredevils September 1-10 – Nine the Musical! September 14-16 – An Evening with Leo Kottke September 21-24 – The Steeldrivers September 29-October 8 – The Hunchback of Notre Dame October 12-15 – The Guess Who October 18-21 – An Evening with Pat Metheny November 3-19 – Young Frankenstein November 24-26 – Colin Mochrie’s HYPROV: Improv under Hypnosis Nov. 30-Dec. 3 – The Squirrel Nut Zipper – Holiday Caravan!
Concerts at Salt Lake’s beloved summer music venue, Red Butte Garden, take place on the campus of the University of Utah in the garden’s bucolic setting and feature classic and current headliners. Shows frequently sell out early, but check back at their site throughout the summer as tickets frequently become available close to the show date.
May 23 – Les Claypool’s Fearless Flying Frog Brigade June 11 – Grace Potter June 13 – Gov’t Mule June 14 – Barenaked Ladies with Semisonic and Del Amitri June 25 – Cake June 26 – Melissa Etheridge and Elle King July 3 – Indigo Girls with Full Band July 8 – Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit July 9 – Los Lobos and Ozomatli July 11 – Blues Traveler and Big Head Todd & the Monsters July 12 – Nickel Creek with Monica Martin July 19 – Gary Clark Jr. July 20 – The Dead South with Corb Lund July 23 – Little Feat and Leftover Salmon July 25 – Diana Krall July 27 – The Wood Brothers and the Lil Smokies July 31 – Train with Thunderstorm Artis August 1 – Los Lonely Boys with Thee Sinseers and The Altons August 3 – Andy Grammer August 7 – Amos Lee August 8 – Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue and Ziggy Marley, Mavis Staples August 9 – Watchhouse and The Tallest Man on Earth August 15 – Boz Scaggs August 21 – Markéta Irglová & Glen Hansard August 28 – Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo September 7 – The Revivalists and Band of Horses September 10 – Fitz and the Tantrums with Joshy Soul September 11 – Buddy Guy and Christone “Kingfish” Ingram September 13 – Herbie Hancock September 20 – Goose
USANA Amphitheatre, located on the western edge of Salt Lake County, is one of the state’s largest concert venues, and is notorious for providing a rocking good time. The venue offers both reserved and lawn seating. Tickets for all shows can be purchased by clicking here.
May 24 – Shania Twain June 3 – Matchbox Twenty June 13 – Garbage & Noel Gallagher June 28 – Charlie Pluth July 6 – Nickelback July 7 – Fall Out Boy July 9 – Slightly Stoopid & Sublime July 11 – Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa, Too $hort & More July 13 – Disturbed July 20 – 3 Doors Down August 1 – The Smashing Pumpkins August 3 – The Offspring with Sum 41 & Simple Plan August 4 – Luke Bryan August 6 – Yellowcard August 7 – Ghost Re-Imeratour U.S.A. August 8 – Foo Fighters August 11 – Dierks Bentley August 16 – Godsmack and Staind August 18 – Foreigner August 25 – Mudvayne August 29 – Panter September 1 – Mastodon & Gojira September 2 – Jelly Roll September 3 – The Lumineers September 22 – Counting Crows September 23 – Sting September 30 – Avenged Sevenfold with Falling in Reverse October 14 – Zac Brown Band October 17 – Shinedown
Located at the south end of the Salt Lake Valley, the Sandy Amphitheater is a 2,750-seat venue with both lawn and reserved seating. The series has grown significantly over the years to include major headliners, longtime favorites and independent musicians interspersed with tribute bands.
May 19, 20 & 22 – Mountain West Ballet: The Sleeping Beauty May 24 – Love and Rockets May 29 – The Music of ABBA June 1 – Melanie Martinez June 10 – Rodrigo y Gabriela June 12 – Dwight Yoakam & Emmylou Harris June 29 – Kelsea Ballerini July 1 – Lyle Lovett and His Large Band July 6 – American West Symphony & Chorus Pops Concert July 12 – Air Supply July 18 – Charley Crockett August 1 – Ween August 2 – Andrew Bird August 3 – The String Cheese Incident August 9 – The Australian Pink Floyd Show August 11 – Lost 80s Live August 19 – Peter Frampton August 21 – Rebelution August 31 – Goo Goo Dolls with O.A.R. September 1 – Tash Sultana September 8 – Peter Breinholt September 9 – Zeppelin USA September 22 – Justin Moore September 23 – The Lower Lights October 13 – Midland
After a few decades going by other names, the Delta Center is back in SLC (most recently Vivint Arena). Located in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City, is the state’s largest indoor venue and hosts headlining tours.
Calendar of Dates:
May 17 – Andrea Bocelli June 3 – Duran Duran June 4 – The Cure June 23-24 – Tony Hawk’s Vert Alert July 13 – Bert Kreischer’s Fully Loaded Comedy Festival July 20 – Dude Perfect July 28 – Paramore August 2 – Greta Van Fleet August 11 – NF August 12 – Banda MS August 14 – Lil Baby with The Kid LAROI and GloRilla August 18 – Carin León August 19 – Sam Smith August 25-27 – Jurassic World Live Tour September 20 – Arctic Monkeys September 29-30 – Nate Bargatze October 5 – Frozen Fury October 13 – Christian Nodal October 19 – SZA November 4 – Old Dominion with Kip Moore November 5 – John Mayer November 9-12 – Disney on Ice presents Into the Magic November 18 – Depeche Mode November 22 – Aerosmith with The Black Crowes November 24 – Ryan Hamilton
Also downtown, the Eccles Theatre hosts a wide array of big-name entertainment, including touring Broadway productions, comedians, and musical acts.
May 19 – Johnny Mathis May 20 – Chris D’Elia June 9 – Colin & Brad June 10 – John Crist June 13 – Ringo Star July 26-27 – Rain – A Tribute to the Beatles July 30 – Nurse Blake August 2 – Jinkx Monsoon August 5 – Joe Bonamassa August 26 – Kansas August 29-30 Gregory Alan Isakov September 21-23 – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in Concert September 29 – Lewis Black October 6 – Encanto: The Sing-Along Film Concert October 7 – Taylor Tomlinson October 11 – Derek Hough October 29 – God is a Scottish Drag Queen November 2 – Straight No Chaser November 8 – David Sedaris November 17 – Paul & the Broken Bones
Located in West Valley on the west of Salt Lake City, the Maverik Center brings in some of the largest nationwide tours, is easy to get to off the highway and provides plenty of parking.
June 3 – Subtronics June 11 – The Doobie Brothers July 7 – Bryan Adams with Joan Jett and the Blackhearts July 19 – The Avett Brothers July 21 – 50 Cent July 28 – Alicia Keys August 18 – Eslabon Armado October 10 – Billy Strings October 14 – Ryan Adams & The Cardinals October 20 – Hozier
The outdoor amphitheater at Sundance Resort is a magical place to experience a show:
July 7 & 8 – Bluebird Cafe Concert Series July 14 & 15 – Bluebird Cafe Concert Series July 20-August 12 – The Sound of Music August 18 & 19 – Bluebird Cafe Concert Series September 1 & 2 – Bluebird Cafe Concert Series September 23 – Stephen Kellogg Band
Located in nearby Kamas, the DeJoria Center offers an indoor venue and year-round programming, with a free Thursday Night summer concert series sponsored by Mountain Town Music throughout June and July. Each concert starts at 6:30, and be sure to order and pick up your dinner onsite at the State Road Restaurant to enjoy during the show.
Calendar of Dates:
May 27 – Mel Soul June 22 – Tracy Byrd July 14 – Lit
Mountain Town Music will also present shows at Park Silly Sunday Market, at Miner’s Park on Main Street and at Woodenshoe Park in Peoa. Please visit their site here for more information.
Access to a dynamic assortment of summer music options is one of the many reasons so many clients Choose Park City. Connect with Christine Grenney at 435-640-4238 or Brendan Trieb at 585-410-5536, or visit their website by clicking here.
Running with Ed 2022: Accepting the first place trophy for fundraising! (Photo credit: Park City Education Foundation)
When it comes to supporting local nonprofits, few towns can compare to the way ours financially boosts the many charities that help make this one of the most desired places to live in the country.
While I support a number of nonprofits throughout the year and during the annual Live PC Give PC event in November, there is one cause and fundraiser that is most near and dear to my heart: The annual Running with Ed (RWE) relay-race fundraiser to benefit the Park City Education Foundation (PCEF) – held this year on Saturday, May 20th.
In its 14th year, RWE puts the “fun” in fundraiser, with a party-vibe from start to finish, plus silly costumes encouraged for the individuals and teams who complete the 26.4-mile course. And it’s the fun – along with more than $2-million dollars raised for local schools – that helped RWE earn the distinction of “Park City’s Best Fundraising & Sporting Event” for the past nine years.
Rock star runners climb the stairs at Utah Olympic Park (Photo credit: Park City Education Foundation)
Part of the fun is checking out the parties put on by parents and volunteers at each of the school stops along the way. This year’s route hits six of PCSD’s school sites, and you can expect to find food and games at each location to help break up the course into manageable legs, including:
Leg 1 – 4.2 Miles – Basin Recreation Field house to Jeremy Ranch Elementary
Leg 2 – 1.6 Miles – Jeremy Ranch Elementary to Ecker Hill Middle School
Leg 3 – 3.5 Miles – Ecker Hill Middle School to the Base of the Utah Olympic Park Ski Jumps (view the Strava map of the Singletrack Trail portion of Leg 3 HERE)
Leg 4 – 5.7 Miles – Base of the UOP Ski Jumps to Parley’s Park Elementary School (view the Strava map of the Singletrack Trail portion of Leg 4 HERE)
Leg 5 – 4.5 Miles – Parley’s Park Elementary School to McPolin Elementary School
Leg 6 – 1.3 Miles – McPolin Elementary School to Treasure Mountain Jr High School
Leg 7 – 4.4 Miles – Treasure Mountain Jr High School to Trailside Elementary School (view Strava map of the Trail portion of Leg 7 HERE)
Leg 8 – 2.4 Miles – Trailside Elementary School to Basin Recreation Fieldhouse
Check out an interactive course map by clicking here, while detailed information to help you decide which team member should run which leg is found here. Based upon weather and our record snowfall, the course is subject to change.
The RWE course takes running all around Park City. (Photo credit: Park City Education Foundation)
I will be returning to chair the event again this year and am excited to announce that all Park City School District (PCSD) teachers and school employees can run free of charge for the first time, thanks to the Excellent Educator Program, sponsored by the extraordinarily generous Doilney and Louis families, which will cover their $50 entry fee. PCSD employees who want to take advantage of this offer should email [email protected] for the coupon code to use when registering.
Speaking of registration, Early Bird registration of $100 opened on March 1, with the price increasing to $125 after March 31 at 11:59 p.m. Student registration is $50, and RWE uniquely manages to get students involved in the fundraising that directly benefits their own school, since the top fundraising school communities are rewarded with cash grants for their participation, with the No. 1 school winning $5,000, second place earning $3,000 and third winning $2,000. The grants are sponsored by Park City Mountain/EpicPromise, and every school with 50% or greater participation receives a $1,000 grant.
One of the best things about RWE is the PARTY at the end! (Photo credit: Park City Education Foundation)
And while it’s fun to see grown men running in tutus, there is a serious side to RWE, which is the fact that Utah’s schools are sorely underfunded, and PCSD loses 96% of local state-collected education tax dollars to other school districts. Monies raised by RWE fund critical needs like STEM project materials, teacher grants, college prep materials for at-risk students, afterschool programs, art supplies and reading materials. PCEF has worked tirelessly since 1986 to help local children have access to programs similar to those in which their peers in better-funded states are able to participate.
Volunteers make RWE a reality! (Photo credit: Park City Education Foundation)
If you’re not up for running (or walking, skipping or dancing your way through the course) you can volunteer by clicking here. And if you’d like to sponsor a team, may I be so bold as to request you choose to support my fundraiser by clicking here and searching for “Christine Grenney?” Click here if you’d prefer to donate directly to a Classroom Grant ($2,500); Express Grant ($1,000); Preschool, Elementary Art & Afterschool ($500); PCCAPS, Bright Futures or STEM ($250); or to Support our Students, Teachers & Schools ($50).
Looking to learn more about giving back in Park City and the surrounding communities? Reach out to the Choose Park City team! Connect with Christine Grenney at 435-640-4238 or Brendan Trieb at 585-410-5536, or visit their website by clicking here.
Despite the deep snow blanketing our local neighborhoods and playgrounds, it’s time to plan out summer activities for the kiddos, so we’re rolling out our annual Summer Camp primer a little earlier than usual! Camp spaces are typically in high demand, so we recommend digging in and deciding on the best option for your kids as soon as you’re able!
Park City Recreation takes over City Park each summer with their long-running day camp, providing a full-day, full-summer option for kids ages 6-12 years. Since it’s a Park City Municipal Corporation program, priority registration is given to residents and workers within the 84060 zip code. Parents have until 5 p.m. onMarch 1 to provide proof of residency or employment by emailing [email protected], or dropping documentation off at the PC MARC (1200 Little Kate Road). The camp will allow 5-year-olds, on a trial basis, who have attended a full-day preschool or kindergarten program, have a sibling in camp and are registering a full-summer camper. Registration for families who were full-summer campers in 2022, or who have completed the 84060 employment or residency requirement, opens online and in person starting March 15 at 6 a.m. Registration for full-summer, daily and add-on activities open to the public on April 1. Camp is held daily from 8 a.m. – 5:45 p.m., from June 5 – August 11, and includes arts and crafts, sports, and games. Add-on activities include four-day golf lessons, swimming lessons, and skateboarding. Park City Recreation also offers a Counselor in Training (CIT) program for teens ages 13-15. The program focuses on leadership and job skills while working side-by-side with Summer Day Camp staff and campers. Applications for CIT are due on Monday, May 1st, and can be found here. For additional info, call 435-615-5401, visit their Facebook page here, or visit them online by clicking here.
While registration for Deer Valley Resort’s beloved Summer Adventure Camp has not yet been posted, the resort has confirmed it will run from mid-June through mid-August, Mondays-Fridays, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Headquartered out of Snow Park Lodge, the camp traditionally features outdoorsy pursuits that take advantage of its location at the base of DVR, including hiking, mountain biking and SUP balanced out by indoor activities like games, puzzles, arts & crafts, and field trips. As a state-licensed daycare facility, infants as young as two months are typically welcome, with options available for kids up to 12 years of age. Campers are divided into categories by age: Mountaineers (ages 7-12), Explorers (ages 5-6), Trekkers (ages 3-4), Grasshoppers/Little Ramblers/Ramblers (ages 12 months-2 years), and Sunflowers (ages 2-11 months). Stay up-to-speed by bookmarking their website here, or checking out their Facebook page regularly.
Offering a camp focused on character development, trying new things, and – most importantly – fun, YMCA’s Park City Summer Day Camp is offering a redesigned program based on age groups that still incorporates weekly themes, but allows campers to participate in activities like arts and crafts, games, sports, character development time, and opening/closing assemblies. They also offer weekly field trips, which have included weekly swimming and trips to the organization’s Camp Roger in the Uinta Mountains above Kamas. Headquartered out of Park City Day School in lower Pinebrook, the YMCA day camp is open to ages 5-12, and runs Monday-Friday from 7:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Themes for this year include, “Wild Discoveries,” “Time Travel Week,” “Mad Scientists,” “Superhero Week,” and “Wild Wild West.” Registration opened on February 1, so click here to learn more or call 801-839-3379.
As soon as registration is open (typically by mid-April), Basin Recreation will likely offer a full-summer option with their Summer Blast Day Camp, beginning the first full week of June (June 5th, this year). Each year, the Summer Blast Camp separates groups into ages 6-7, 8-9 and 10-12, and features themed weeks filled with games, arts and crafts, weekly visits from the Kimball Art Center and EATS, plus sports and swimming. Look for information to come out soon on the Basin Recreation website by clicking here, check out their Facebook page here, or call the Field House at 435-655-0999.
Sporty and Outdoorsy
(Photo Credit: Young Riders Mountain Bike Program)
Offering once-a-week and weeklong camps, Young Riders Youth Cycling provides opportunities for riders ages 5 – 14 throughout the summer for every level of rider, including Pee Wee (ages 5 – 7), Beginner Youth (ages 7 – 9), Beginner Junior (ages 10 – 13), Intermediate (ages 9 – 13) and Advanced (ages 10 – 14). Their Once-a-Week programs are available on Tuesday or Wednesday, with participants signing up for a specific class depending on their age and ability level (they will ride and progress with the same kids and the same coaches over a ten-week period, with rides programmed to gradually challenge participants as summer progresses). Registration opens on Wednesday, March 22 at 7 a.m., and camps are limited to 10 riders, so they fill up quickly. Be sure to bookmark the registration page to get your kids ready to roll!
Summit Community Gardens’ camps feature an immersive gardening theme each week, with hands-on activities involving partner organizations like EATS and Recycle Utah. Past themes have included “Art in the Garden,” “Build your own Garden,” “Chopped w/EATS,” “Week in the life of a farmer,” and “Cycle the Cycles w/Recycle Utah.” Early registration for full-day summer camps for grades 1-6, and half-day Pre-K camps, open for members and gift certificate holders on March 6, while all others can sign up starting March 20. To learn more, and receive an alert when camp registration opens, click here.
In past years, Summit Land Conservancy Outdoor Explorers Summer Camps have featured six week-long camps for kids who love to be outside! Camps are for kids ages 7 – 12 years old, run from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. daily, and run from June through August. Each week features “Mountain Bike Monday,” “Trail Trekking Tuesday,” “Water Adventure Wednesday,” “Treasure Hunt Thursday” and “Farmer Friday.” Pre-registration has been available in the past for volunteers and donors of the nonprofit, with general registration opening at the end of March. For more information, contact Caitlin at 435-640-9884 or [email protected].
Swaner Preserve & EcoCenter offers popular weeklong camps beginning June 12 and includes both half-day and full-day options. Because camps sell out quickly, they offer early registration to Sandhill Society or Family members, but you must purchase your membership by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, February 28th to be able to register on March 17 at 9 a.m. (Sandhill Society members) and March 20 (Swaner Family-level members) General registration opens on March 22. Camps are offered based on the grade level a child will be entering in Fall 2023, with half-day options for kids in grades kindergarten through 6th, full-day options for kids in 1st through 6th grade, plus a Counselors in Training program for kids in grades 7 & 8. Some of the weekly themes include, “Nature’s Tales,” “Down to a Science,” “Planet Protectors,” “Creature Feature,” and “Sustainable Adventure.” Click here to check them out in advance of the registration date. They’re also hiring camp counselors right now, so click here to learn more about how kids entering grades 9-12 next fall can apply.
Woodward’s camps are one-of-a-kind, featuring special guests, visiting pros, VIPS, and Olympians, giving campers the opportunity to both meet AND train with their heroes! This year’s camps will run Monday-Friday, June 5-August 11, and include Mountain Bike, Skateboard, Scooter, BMX, Parkour, and Multisport. Camps include access to Woodward’s facilities, lunch, recreational games, arts and crafts, and instruction from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. (drop-off begins at 9 a.m., and pick up ends at 4:30 p.m.). Click here for more details and to register.
Educational and Artsy
(Photo Credit: Mojang Synergies AB)
PC Codes Shepherd of the Mountains Lutheran Church (base of Canyons Resort, though unaffiliated with the church) 4051 UT-224 Park City, UT 84098 [email protected]
Preventing the summer “brain drain,” PC Codes offers technology summer to kids ages 8-14 with engaging, hands-on, creative, and fun learning opportunities for students. Each summer camp involves students learning about a concept in computer science, practicing that concept, and then working with other campers to create and display and an end-of-week capstone project. Every coding ability from beginner to expert is accommodated, with the goal of allowing all campers to feel challenged while having fun. Morning and afternoon half-day camps are available, with the option to have students stay for lunch to create an all-day experience. Camps run for five days each and begin on June 12, with themes that include, “Battle Bots,” “Coding with Minecraft,” “Video Game Design,” “Minecraft Cities of the Future,” “Fabulous Fabricators,” and “Architecture with Minecraft.” Register by clicking here, or reach out at [email protected] for more info.
(Photo Credit: Kimball Art Center)
Kimball Art Center 1401 Kearns Boulevard Park City, UT 84060 435-649-8882
This year, Kimball Art Center will go live with this summer’s offerings on March 1, at which time, members will be invited to register. Registration will open to the general public on March 15. Camps are taught by professional, practicing artists with teaching experience, featuring a curriculum vetted to inspire, educate and foster an appreciation for art in all of its forms!
Each summer, Park City’s Historic Mary G. Steiner Egyptian Theatre hosts summer camps for students have included themes in the past like “Improv Puppetry,” “Bilingual Film Camp,” and “Podcast Radio Drama Camp.” The daylong camps offer students of varying ages the chance to stretch their creative skills in a peer-supportive environment, taking advantage of the Egyptian’s studios on upper Main Street. Camp information for 2023 has not yet been posted, keep an eye on their website or Instagram page for announcements.
Park City School District offers a full summer of courses through their Leisure Learning department, with opportunities ranging from arts and crafts to coding and babysitter training. The full catalog and class details usually go online at the end of March, and can be found by clicking here, or by emailing Jane Toly at [email protected].
Natural History Museum of Utah’s (NHMU) weekly camps are for students in grades kindergarten through 6th, and open for registration to Copper Club Members on Feb. 27, while Museum Members at the Family level and above can register on March 2, and all others on March 7. Held at the impressive NHMU facility on the University of Utah campus in Salt Lake City, camps run every week between June 6 and August 8 (except for the week of July 4 & 25 due to holidays), and include days at nearby locations (past partners include Red Butte Garden, This is the Place, Utah’s Hogle Zoo and Tracy Aviary). To get a sneak peek of this year’s camps as soon as they’re published, register for NHMU emails by clicking here.
Utah’s Hogle Zoo 2600 Sunnyside Avenue (840 South) Salt Lake City, UT. 84108 801-584-1700
Utah’s Hogle Zoo presents weekly onsite and virtual summer camp options for kids entering grades 1st through 8th, with past themes including “Ecosystems of the Globe,” “Animals on the Move,” and “Curious Creatures and Fearsome Features.” Registration info will be available soon, but you can check out the dates and camps by clicking here.
Overnight Adventures
For many local kids, their first overnight camp experience happens close to home through the YMCA’s Camp Roger (on Mirror Lake Highway just past Kamas) and the Girl Scouts’ Camp Cloud Rim (above the Montage in upper Deer Valley). Camp Roger offers week-long camps throughout the summer for ages 6-15, featuring mountain biking, hiking, archery, arts and crafts, and horseback riding beginning June 5. This year’s themes include, “Disney,” “Mission Impossible,” “Under the Sea,” and “Neon Lights.” Camp Cloud Rim offers an idyllic, lakeside setting at 9,200 feet, where girls entering grades 1-12 can experience week-long, themed camps, such as “Flashlights and Fairy Tales,” “Teddy Bear Tag-a-long,” “Moonlight Mania,” and “Boats and Brunches.” Cloud Rim offers 3-day “mini” versions of camps for younger girls to get them used to being away from home in a camp setting. Registration is now open for both camps, and can be found here for Camp Roger, or here for Camp Cloud Rim.
Helping clients understand the myriad summertime offerings is another reason to reach out to the Choose Park City team! Connect with Christine Grenney at 435-640-4238 or Brendan Trieb at 585-410-5536, or visit their website by clicking here.
The Mayflower Mountain Resort will feature two new unique year-round communities – Marcella Club and Velvære. (Photo credit: Marcella Club)
With many options available for prospective homebuyers in the Greater Park City area, it’s important for a property to differentiate itself from the competition.
That’s why I’m highlighting two new luxury properties coming online that offer exclusive benefits unlike any others available in communities in our area. Both are situated at Mayflower Mountain Resort, North America’s newest alpine ski resort, located adjacent to Deer Valley Resort and across from the picturesque Jordanelle Reservoir.
Mayflower Mountain Resort is currently under construction and will feature a world-class alpine village with new ski lifts servicing extensive terrain in both summer and winter. When complete, the resort village will include luxury hotels and residences, workforce housing, a conference center, shopping, dining and more than 100 miles of hiking and biking trails.
Currently in the headlines for featuring Tiger Woods’ first mountain golf course, Marcella Club will feature both greenside and slopeside homesites, making it the only private ski community in the Wasatch Back with access to a golf membership and within walking distance of a resort village offering shopping, dining and entertainment options.
Located just 10 minutes from Park City’s Historic Main Street, Marcella Mountain’s ski-in/ski-out homesites will be highlighted by access to ski terrain accommodating all ski levels, in addition to direct, high-speed lift access to Deer Valley Resort. The Olson Kundig-designed on-mountain members-only Marcella Mountain Clubhouse will offer ski valet, lockers, a fitness and yoga studio, an indoor/outdoor pool, an arcade, and a golf simulator.
“The canvas for my course is one of the most dramatic I’ve ever seen,” Woods said via press release. “It has ridgelines with some of the most stunning views in the world, valleys with amazing contours and topography, and groves of trees that allow me to use creativity to bring to life a golf experience that’s something special.”
Marcella at Jordanelle Ridge will also include a clubhouse, practice facilities, and world-class comfort stations.
The Olson Kundig-deigned Marcella Mountain Clubhouse will include ski-in ski-out concierge services, an indoor/outdoor pool and hot tub, a fitness and yoga studio, and a multipurpose area with an arcade and golf simulator. (Photo credit: Marcella Club)
Another unique benefit to members will be Marcella on Main, concierge-level services and custom facilities steps from Park City’s Town Lift offering fine dining overseen by James Beard Award-winning Chef Galen Zamarra, alongside luxury amenities like the Marcella Sky Lounge rooftop club and bar, a French brasserie, coffee shop and skier’s lounge with casual dining, a bar, day lockers, and ski valet.
For more information on Marcella, please click here.
A thoughtfully-envisioned wellness-centric community, Velvære is named after the Danish word for “well-being,” which is the basis for the holistic lifestyle offered by this 60-acre community and its 115 planned ski-in/ski-out residences. The four-season lifestyle offered by Velvære takes into consideration how its homes and spaces are intrinsically linked to the surrounding nature.
Dedicated to offering a balanced, adventure-centric way of life, the community will include two best-in-class amenity facilities – a Wellness Center and a family-forward Adventure Center – where transformative experiences will be curated to provide proven health benefits to residents and members. The community is also pursuing the International Well Building Institute’s WELL Certification, which provides a “roadmap for improving the quality of our air, water, and light with inspired design decisions that not only keep us connected but facilitate a good night’s sleep, support our mental health and help us do our best work every day.”
Velvære’s residences will include a mix of 12 cabins, 68 residences, and 35 estates, offering access to an onsite ski lift, 50 miles of hiking and biking trails, and outdoor play spaces. The homes have been designed with features that align with the mission of the community, taking into consideration mental health, natural rhythms, nutrition, life in harmony, healing sleep, humor and movement, and emotional regulation.
With immersive, wellness-focused programming, Velvære’s Wellness Center will provide an awakening of the senses while elevating the mind, body, and soul. (Photo credit: Velvære’s)
The design elements, along with the Wellness and Adventure centers, are what distinguish Velvære from other area communities. The Adventure Center will include a restaurant and rooftop bar, gear storage, a market, and an outdoor pool and hot tub, while the Wellness Center will offer services like cryotherapy, a hyperbaric chamber/pod, a flotation pool, nutrition programs, IV therapy, fitness training for integrated hyper wellness modalities.
Introducing clients to new communities that match their priorities is one of the many reasons to reach out to the Choose Park City team! Connect with Christine Grenney at 435-640-4238 or Brendan Trieb at 585-410-5536, or visit their website by clicking here.
By all accounts, we’ve already been blessed by a banner snow year, as evidenced by both Park City Mountain and Deer Valley Resort opening early for the first time in decades! And with a winter wonderland presenting itself throughout the Wasatch Back, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite holiday happenings from now through the New Year.
2022 Snow Globe Stroll
Historic Main Street, Park City November 25, 2022 – January 9, 2023 All ages
Add to the festive splendor of Historic Main Street by finding the seven life-sized snow globes, each featuring a scene depicting a Christmas carol. Save a link to the map of the seven snow globes found here before you head out on your globe-seeking mission! While you’re on Main Street, be sure to bring those letters to Santa to send by Dec. 22 via the special North Pole mailbox at the top of the street.
Photo Credit: Ice Castles
Ice Castles
Soldier Hollow Nordic Center 2002 Olympic Drive, Midway December 21, 2022 – February 4, 2023 All ages
Thanks to the super cold temps and early snow, the awe-inspiring Ice Castles in Midway is opening early for the first time this year on December 21. This frozen spectacle sells out quickly, so be sure to visit their bookings page and grab your tickets ASAP. Click here for more info.
Photo Credit: DeJoria Center
Clydesdale Wagon Rides
DeJoria Center/State Road Restaurant 970 North State Road 32, Kamas (approx. 20 minutes from Park City) Thursday – Saturday, Dec. 8, 2022 – Jan. 6, 2023 from 5 – 7:15 p.m. All ages
Take in the winter landscape from a Clydesdale-drawn wagon at High Star Ranch in the nearby Kamas Valley, featuring a stunning mix of ranches and Rocky Mountains. Hot cocoa and food is available before or after in the onsite Country Store & Café. Santa and Mrs. Claus will join be there on Tuesday, Dec. 20. Reservations are required, with kids ages 4-12 are $10 and adults $30. Click here to buy tickets.
Photo Credit: Park City Mountain
Silver Sky Nights
Park City Mountain, Canyons Village Friday, Dec. 23, 4 p.m. All ages Park City Mountain kicks off Christmas weekend with live music, ice carving, treats, and a spectacular firework display! For more info, click here.
Photo Credit: Egyptian Theatre
Kurt Bestor
Egyptian Theatre 328 Main Street, Park City Thursday & Friday, Dec. 22 & 23 at 8 p.m. Saturday & Sunday, Dec. 24 & 25 at 6 p.m. All ages
As Christmas as eggnog, Utah’s Emmy Award-winning favorite, Kurt Bestor, continues his holiday residency at the Egyptian Theatre for four nights featuring holiday favorites and original music in the beautiful, intimate confines of this historic landmark. Tickets are $30 for House Seating, $40 for Preferred Front of House seating, and $50 for Cabaret Table Seating in front of the stage. To purchase tickets, click here.
Santa Claus Visits Deer Valley Resort
Deer Valley Resort Snow Park Lodge (2250 Deer Valley Drive South, Lower Deer Valley) Silver Lake Lodge (7600 Royal Street, Upper Deer Valley) Saturday, Dec. 24, 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. All ages
Christmas Eve in PC means Santa’s hitting the slopes at Deer Valley Resort to take photos with all of the good boys and girls. His typical schedule is the Snow Park Lodge area from 9 – 11 a.m., and then at the Silver Lake Lodge from 12 – 1:30 p.m. For more information, click here, or call 435-649-1000.
Photo Credit: Deer Valley Resort
Deer Valley Resort Torchlight Parade
Deer Valley Resort 2250 Deer Valley Drive South, Park City Friday, Dec. 30, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. All ages
Another quintessential ski town tradition is a torchlight parade, where skiers travel in formation down a ski run at dusk holding torches to create an otherworldly glow. Deer Valley Resort’s Torchlight Parade is held on Big Stick ski run (behind Snow Park Lodge) at around 6 p.m., with complimentary hot chocolate, cider and cookies served on the plaza from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Click here for more information.
New Year’s Eve at Cast & Cut
Deer Valley Resort 268 Main Street, Park City Saturday, Dec. 31 – 6 p.m. – 1 a.m. 21 and over
Ring in the New Year at Cast & Cut in Deer Valley during this exclusive evening of drinks, dinner and dancing The Spazmatics. The event includes a full bar, party favors and champagne toast. Dinner and dancing is $495 per person, the DAOU Lounge and dancing is $425 per person, or just get your dance on for $350 per person. For full details, click here.
Photo Credit: Heber Valley Railroad
North Pole Express
Heber Valley Railroad 450 South 600 West, Heber City Mondays – Saturdays through Dec. 23 All ages
I’ve highlighted this delightful excursion in years past, but this year’s dates are all mostly sold out, so be sure to schedule a reminder for next year’s onsale date of June 1, 2023, to ensure you do not miss out on future opportunities. The annual attraction features a train ride to the North Pole while enjoying Mrs. Claus’ famous chocolate chip cookies and hot cocoa on the Heber Valley Railroad’s North Pole Express, plus a visit and gift from Santa himself! Available tickets and dates are listed here.
Nothing beats the holidays in Historic Park City and surrounding towns, and when you Choose Park City, you’ll learn all local faves from the Choose Park City team! Connect with Christine Grenney at 435-640-4238 or Brendan Trieb at 585-410-5536, or visit their website by clicking here.
Winter has made its arrival known in Park City, with 8-10″ received in town yesterday, and the Deer Valley Snow Stake topping out around 15″ on the day! For anyone who was clinging to the last remnants of fall, there is now no denying that bike season is behind us and we’re moving full steam towards skiing as the blazing snow guns at the resorts would indicate. With more snow in the forecast, the excitement and hope for a deep winter are palpable among us locals.
Deer Valley Resort Snow Stake Webcam on 11/2/22
But alas, you’re reading this for a real estate market update, not for my anecdotal snow reporting which is what we have Evan at OpenSnow and The Powder Buoy for!
Many of the talking points of the last six month remain the same:
Rising rates affecting financed buyers and their purchasing power
Inflation and equity markets affecting the portfolios and purchasing power of cash buyers
A lack of good quality inventory remains, and overall inventory remains below historical averages
Premium properties in sought after locations are still selling quickly
Investors are continuing to purchase real estate to diversify their holdings, and many still believe in the long term market outlook for Park City and surrounding areas
What We Are Seeing in the Marketplace
Inventory
Compared to historical averages, residential inventory on the Park City MLS is still 30-35% below where it is “normally” for September and October
Since a seasonal high on July 30th, residential inventory has been dropping every week except for two when the market gained six and three listings respectively – hardly an increase and one that was negated by decreasing inventory in the follow weeks
From the peak at the end of July, residential inventory has since dropped by 14%, and it appears that trend will continue at least until Q1 of 2023
Inventory for raw land hit its yearly peak almost two months later, topping out at 593 parcels for sale the week of September 24th
Despite land sales having seen the largest slow-down in sales pace, the active inventory is still down, dropping 7% over the last five weeks since its peak
The lack of inventory, especially of quality properties that are priced appropriately, remains an issue that isn’t going away anytime soon. When rates invariably drop as the Fed corrects course – whether that’s in 6, 12, or 24+ months, the inventory issue is likely to once again rear its ugly head, potentially further driving prices up as buyers who’ve been sitting on the sidelines rush back in.
Weekly Residential Inventory for the Park City MLS
Pricing
The overly frothy list and sales prices have all but left the marketplace, though some sellers are still fixated on records set 12 months ago and remain steadfast in hoping to garner a premium price that just simply may not be achieved as buyers realize that time and demand is now on their side
Last months sales to list price ratio of 99% for residential properties shows that most homes and condos continue to sell very close asking price – no signs of deep discounts at this time
Land sales have seen more of an impact with October garnering a 94% sales to list price ratio, down from 95.1% in September – this will be something to keep an eye on and see if this is a continued trend, or just an outlier during shoulder season
The median residential sales price for all areas is down 4% from September, but still up 3.6% year over year, again demonstrating that while we’ve come off of the all time high prices from April of 2022, broader values remain stable – we’ll keep tabs on the trend line through Q4 and into Q1 and Q2 of 2023
Don’t believe the news headlines that may reference other markets, there are still zero distressed sales in the Park City market, down from an average of 0.9% – 0.3% of sales from 2015 through 2021 – so no, it’s not time to go pre-foreclosure shopping (I’m looking at you metro market multifamily investors)
It’s important to note that our market remains segmented by price and location, as it always has. The broader averages speak of a market that is stabilizing and gaining its footing after a wild couple of years, but within that there are outliers in terms of sales pace and pricing. As always, it’s important to gather data for the property type, price, and location that specifically applies to your situation
Monthly Residential Sales Price for the Park City MLS
Days On Market
From September to October the average residential days on market remained flat at 40 days
While this feels like a massive increase from the single digit days on market earlier this year, 40 DOM is still well within the margins of a sellers market, though much healthier and more sustainable for both buyers and sellers from the previous record lows
These numbers also coincide much closer with the more balanced market we witnessed between 2013-2019, if anything running slightly below the days on market of those years
It will be interesting to see if the days on market continues to remain relatively flat over the coming months – if so it will be another indicator demonstrating stability in the broader market and sales pace
Advice and Observations for Buyers
Put Pen to Paper
For most property types, buyers can afford to be patient and find the right place. That said, if a property checks 80+% of a buyers boxes, it should be in serious consideration. There is no such thing as a perfect house, and that will always be the case regardless of market conditions, so right the offer and start the conversation.
Get the Price You Want Now
If you find a great property and your only objection is price, don’t wait and write the offer at the price that makes sense to you. Given the choice between securing a great property that you can use today, versus waiting for a discount that may or may not come in the future, our preference is asking for the discount now to secure your place in Park City and start building equity.
Substantiate Your Offer With Data
Making large life and financial decisions based on emotion and economic turmoil of the last few months is not a wise course of action. Stepping back, looking at your goals for 5, 10, and 20 years down the line, and leaning into the data provided by your trusted team of a top performing realtor, financial advisor, and/or lender is how you make good choices for the long term. If you choose to “ask for the discount” in todays market, sellers will want justification for your position. “I don’t like the market” and “I’m scared of what the future hold” are emotional responses, whereas understanding recent sales data, quantifying remodel costs with local, reputable contractors, and providing background on purchasing power relative to mortgage rates is how you may be able to justify your position to a seller and get a deal done.
Advice and Observations for Sellers
If It Seems Too Good to Be True, It Probably Is
If you’re interviewing agents to list your home and the broad opinion are like-minded on value, be wary of the overly enthusiastic outlier with the price that is too good to be true. Just as with buyers above, getting overly emotional may cause sellers to act aspirationally on their list price only to then have to reduce their price one or multiple times before selling. One record setting comp does not a market average make.
Be Patient
With a residential average of 40 days on market, sellers should be prepared for their property to take a few months to sell, even if it is a good home priced accurately. Being aware of these timelines and setting these expectations up front will help keep nerves calm when there have only been a handful of showings and no offers in the first 10 days on market.
Work With Agents Who Know Your Market
With 1,500 agents in Park City, there are a lot of choices of who to work with, and many exceptional realtors. That said, you want to work with an agent who has sold numerous properties in your area and price range, and has a thorough grasp on the nuances of your property type, development, and buyer pool. And of course, it’s not just what you sell, but how you sell it. Working with agents who have a proven track record and systems will set you up for success.
Choose Park City Real Estate Sales for September and October 2022
We put 2 properties under contract for our buyer clients for a total of just over $1,915,000 in pending contract volume
7 transactions closed for just under $6,000,000 in sales volume
One buyer secured a dream building lot off market due to our agent and peer network
We brought two listings to market at prices of $1,150,000 and $3,400,000
Thanks for reading this month’s market update, and as always, reach out to us if you have questions on how these numbers will affect you and your situation. Whether you are a possible Park Meadows home buyer, potential Deer Valley home seller, or an interested property investor, we can put the stats and our Park City housing market knowledge to work for you no matter what your needs and budget are. Everyone’s situations are different, so knowing how to apply the data is integral to making wise real estate decisions.
This year, Live PC Give PC – our local 24-hour day of giving – is turning 12 on Friday, Nov. 4, and my team is excited to share as much info about the event as possible to help it continue to raise even MORE funds than in previous years.
Launched in 2011 by the Park City Community Foundation (PCCF), Live PC Give PC has raised an astounding $21-million for local nonprofits. Donations of all sizes are welcomed, as it’s the cumulative nature of 1,000s of donors that make the event such a huge success. Donors can give to one nonprofit, or select multiple recipients, from this year’s list of more than 100 worthy local organizations.
The Live PC Give PC online platform makes it easy to give, with many nonprofits benefitting from “match” pledges, wherein a donor has made a pledge in advance to match every gift to that nonprofit during the event, maximizing the overall gift to that organization.
New this year, the event’s evening party is morphing from an adult affair into an all-ages “Party Under the Stars” celebration on Town Lift Plaza from 4 – 9 p.m., still sponsored, as in years past, by the generous folks at High West Distillery. Revelers are asked to donate a minimum of $5 to any nonprofit of their choosing, don something orange, dress warmly and enjoy drinks and dancing with fellow community members.
1. Donate to your favorite nonprofits on Nov. 4 at Live PC Give PC, where early donations of $5 or more are accepted
2. Share the fun by reaching out to friends and family to spread the word via phone, text, social and email
3.Plan to attend the Party Under the Stars
4. Volunteer to be an ambassador to your neighborhood, business or school at LivePCGivePC.org
5. Cheer on volunteers at donation stations and street corners on the day of the event by honking, waving and giving
6. Get the kids involved, and introduce them to philanthropy at an early age
7. Party in your neighborhood by hosting a happy hour on Nov. 4th and invite guests to go online to donate
8. See a film at the Jim Santy Auditorium in the Park City Library, where “The Good House” will be presented by the Park City Film Series on Nov. 4 at 7 p.m.
9. Listen to KPCW at 91.7 FM, or stream online, for updates about the event’s progress
10. Wear Orange to show your Live PC Give PC spirit
As in years past, we will be making donations in the name of clients we’ve worked with over the past 12 months, selecting nonprofits we feel best fit their personal charitable priorities or those they have directed us to support, and have also earmarked the following nonprofits as ones I’d like to highlight for 2022:
New this year, Maker Union is a nonprofit dedicated to creating a safe and engaging workspace for adults with disabilities. Anne Peters, a longtime friend of mine and current member of the Park City School District Board of Education, created Maker Union in part to support her daughter’s journey from school to employment. The organization strives to provide opportunities for equitable employment tailored to individual skill sets within this very special workforce.
The mission of CONNECT Summit County is to destigmatize mental illness by creating a well-informed community with access to mental health services for everyone. They work to achieve this goal by providing free educational programming, assistance in navigating the mental healthcare system, financial assistance for therapy and access to providers and support groups. CONNECT is comprised of family members, loved ones, friends and colleagues of people struggling with mental illness, along with mental health service providers and others not directly affected by mental illness, but who recognize this as a serious challenge facing the Summit County community.
An organization that serves literally 1,000s youth in Summit and Wasatch Counties, Youth Sports Alliance (YSA) offers afterschool programming to students in elementary and middle school, keeping kids active and introducing them to sports and healthy lifestyle activities. Founded in 2002 following the Salt Lake Olympic Games with a goal of increasing participation in winter sports, the nonprofit has expanded to include not only its cornerstone Get Out and Play program, but also the ACTiV8 programs for middle and junior high students, and funding for developmental sports teams like Figure Skating Club of Park City, Ice Miners Hockey, Park City Speed Skating Club and Park City Ski & Snowboard. Scholarships are available for students who would otherwise be unable to participate, ensuring every kid is able to connect with an activity that gets them excited and active in new ways.
Park City Education Foundation (PCEF) is a nonprofit that supports all students and staff throughout the Park City School District (PCSD) through nearly 100 programs as part of eight key initiatives: Preschool, Elementary Visual Arts, Afterschool, Real World Learning, Educator and Student Wellness, Bright Futures, Classroom and Express Grants and the Innovation Lab. PCEF helps fill in funding gaps to ensure all students have an opportunity to reach their academic potential, and their existence in our community is one of the reasons PCSD has such amazing outcomes for students of all backgrounds. As a PCEF Board Member, the Chair of Running with Ed(ucation), and with two kiddos in Park City School District, this one is a passion for me.
The vision of EATS Park City is to create a healthier generation through food security, education, gardens & sustainability and advocacy. Founded in 2013 when community members raised concerns about the health and wellness of local youth, in the past year alone, EATS Park City has:
Provided more than 13,000 supplemental Backpack meals
Educated and empowered students at 10 local schools
Diverted 28,160 lbs of food waste which equals 6 metric tons
Purchased more than 500 lbs of local food
Taught more than 328 classes of empowering education
Partnered with 22 like-minded businesses, organizations, and school districts to make this happen
PC READS advocates for literacy in our community with a focus on ensuring that all students successfully learn to read. They promote early identification of struggling readers, effective reading interventions and appropriate classroom accommodations. Their team of parents, educators, students and volunteers also provide resources and support to families with struggling readers, particularly those identified as dyslexic.
While these six nonprofits are a few near and dear to my own heart, I’m confident anyone willing to participate in giving through Live PC Give PC will find at least one deserving nonprofit that resonates with them, and that’s just one more reason why so many people Choose Park City.
Connect with Christine Grenney at 435-640-4238 or Brendan Trieb at 585-410-5536, or visit their website by clicking here to learn about the many ways to connect with the local community through nonprofits and the events they hold throughout the year.
As summer comes to a close and hot sunny days give way to moody clouds and rain indicating fall has arrived in Park City, chatter surrounding the local real estate market remains steady. It’s never a dull moment in the housing and mortgage industries of late, with seemingly all eyes on pricing, inventory, and rates, and what it all means now and in the future.
As we like to say, if we could predict the future we’d already be retired, but that doesn’t mean we can’t look at historical data and trends, and how it relates to the current market activity. Just as in the springtime, the phrase we are using for the state of the Park City housing market, and that of the greater Wasatch Back area, is back to normal. Instead of homes selling over asking in 24-48 hours, they may be selling for 97-98% of the list price, in 24-48 days. By all accounts this is still a sellers market, but the days of slapping a price on a property for 10% above the previous record and then watching the offers roll in is behind us.
All in all, we feel that this is good news across the board. Values largely have remained strong with owners retaining their equity and forecasts touting single digit annual appreciation going forward instead of the incredible 20% and 30% jumps we’ve seen over the last few years. Buyers have more choices, and usually a bit more time to view property and make a decision, helping ensure that their purchase is a good decision and the right fit, and not just the latest case of FOMO. Trend lines continue to point towards a market that resembles what we experienced between 2013-2019, a more stable, gradually appreciating market with opportunity for all.
What We Are Seeing in the Marketplace
Inventory
After residential inventory in the Park City MLS hit its all time low (since the Park City Board of Realtors started tracking this data in 2007) of 290 units in the week ending February 5th 2022, it has been rising steadily before likely hitting its peak for 2022 at 924 units for the week ending July 30th.
Since July 30th, inventory has been steadily decreasing each week, down to 841 residential units in the week ending September 10th, a 3.1% decline from the previous week.
Historically between 2013-2019, residential inventory on the PCMLS peaks in the summer months, and averages 1,414 units at its annual peak, which means even at our inventory peak of 924 units in July 2022 we were still 35% belowwhere inventory would “normally” be.
While a bit anecdotal and not derived from a particular statistic, it is worth noting that we have had discussions with a wide array of fellow, high performing agents who have remarked that while inventory numbers are largely up from their record lows earlier in the year, the quality of inventory – meaning good, well finished, well located, and accurately priced homes – is still lacking as many buyers continue to search for their perfect place.
Pricing
As stated in the opening paragraph, the overly ambitious, frothy list prices and offers well over asking have largely left the marketplace. Regardless of how you look at the numbers, most areas in the greater Park City market appear to have hit their all time high median sales prices sometime between March and July of 2022, and have come slightly off those prices since.
With that said, many areas including neighborhoods within Park City limits and those around the Jordanelle have seen large double digit price increases both on a monthly and year-over-year basis.
The sales to list price ratio for residential units on the PC MLS hit its all-time high in March of 2022, with listings selling, on average, for 2.1% over the asking price. That metric has been on the decline since then, yet homes are still selling at nearly full price with a current sales to list price ratio of 99.4%, which is still up from the average historical sales to list price ratio for 2013-2019 which was 97.0%.
When looking at the data, it’s apparent that areas with more moderate prices and a larger percentage of financed buyers have seen more downward pressure on pricing due to mortgage rates, while those at higher average prices and with a larger percentage of cash buyers have seen less of a drop, and in some cases even continued appreciation.
One added note, it’s important to look at pricing data with a sense of nuance, and realize that every property is different. We are speaking in averages using large data sets, and in our observations a large portion of downward movement in pricing has resulted from prices being reduced on properties that were priced too ambitiously in the first place.
Days On Market
After hovering in the single digits for the entire first half of 2022, the average days on market for residential properties (doesn’t include land) on the PC MLS saw a jump up to 31 days in July, and dropped slightly to 29 days in August.
Year-to-date, these numbers average out to an incredibly low 9 days on market for 2022, though we expect that number to rise for the year as we receive data for the 3rd and 4th quarters.
To put these numbers in perspective, the average days on market for residential properties between 2013-2019 was 40 days, which still represents a solid sellers market, and at this point we are still about 25% below that number for 2022.
Advice and Observations for Buyers
Make an Offer
We said the exact same thing earlier this year, but it bears repeating. Most properties aren’t flying off the shelves anymore. If a property checks 80% of a buyers criteria, but they feel the price is too high and there aren’t competing offers, we would encourage them to make an offer even if it’s not at asking price, and then negotiate from there. To modify a famous Wayne Gretzky quote, “You don’t buy 100% of the properties that you don’t write offers on.”
Don’t Expect a Big Discount
Based on the inventory and days on market data above, this is still a sellers market at this time, and we would not advise any buyers to go in expecting a substantial discount. That said, the advice in the bullet point above still applies, so writing an offer at 5% off asking may be a good starting point.
How Long Do You Plan to Hold Your Property?
Whether you’re an investor, a second home owner, or looking to purchase your first home, knowing the length of time you intend to hold the property is very important. While we don’t see a large price correction in the forecast, even if there were to be substantial downward pressure on values, most historical downward market cycles – in housing, the economy, or the stock market – have lasted less than 5 years. Purchasing now enables you to lock in an interest rate at a time when we expect rates to continue upwards, further depleting purchasing power due to increased monthly payments. Marry the house and date the rate, then refinance when rates decline.
Advice and Observations for Sellers
Be Realistic
Pricing a property today means knowing which comparables and data points to use, and which ones are statistical outliers. Gone are the days of pricing your home at or above the previous record just because you can. Pricing today needs match up with the functionality, features, finish level, and location of your property (much as it always has, except for mid 2020 through early 2022) and present it as a competitive value when compared to other listings in your price range and section of the market.
Be Patient
Good properties are still selling, some in less than a week, but others may require a few months and that is okay! Prior to the last few years, a $4,000,000 that took 75 days to sell was deemed perfectly acceptable and a realistic timeline. Even when presented and priced well, some patience is still required to find the right buyer who is a good match with the home, especially with many buyers sitting on the sidelines due in large part to watching too much news and reading fear inducing headlines.
Who You Work With Matters
Real estate is a largely a relationship based business, and the best agents will market your property publicly online, and also through their brokerage and peer networks. While the pandemonium of 2020-2021 may have allowed some to get away with poor ethical decisions or sub par negotiating tactics, now more than ever it matters that you work with an agent that other agents want to work with. When agents on both sides of the deal can vouch for the legitimacy and professionalism of their fellow broker on the other side of the table, it does a lot to build confidence in the deal and keep buyers and sellers focused on the closing table.
Choose Park City Real Estate Sales for June – August 2022
We put 8 properties under contract for our clients for a total of just over $15,000,000 in pending contract volume
11 transactions closed for just over $22,500,000 in sales volume
Of our buyers competing against multiple offers, 100% of them had their offers accepted
2 of our listings went under contract before coming to market due to networking efforts with our agent peers
Thanks for reading this months market update, and as always, reach out to us if you have questions on how these numbers will affect you and your situation. Whether you are a possible Park Meadows home buyer, potential Deer Valley home seller, or an interested property investor, we can put the stats and our Park City housing market knowledge to work for you no matter what your needs and budget are. Everyone’s situations are different, so knowing how to apply the data is integral to making wise real estate decisions.
With the recent cold snap giving the tops of nearby peaks a dusting of white, thoughts naturally turn to the upcoming ski season and the hope that the Farmer’s Almanac is spot on in its prediction that this will be a banner snow year beginning with a heavy snowfall the third week of October! You can access the entire season’s predictions for about $10/year, giving you a leg-up on planning the days to visit PC or, if you’re local, when the “Powder Flu” might hit your household.
Getting Geared Up
One of the best parts of preparing for the upcoming season actually starts this month, with an impressive slate of ski swaps scheduled throughout the Wasatch Back and in the Salt Lake Valley. The locals’ favorite Park City Ski & Snowboard Swap is traditionally held in November, and though they haven’t posted their dates yet, you can stay in-the-know for all the swaps by bookmarking the following Ski Utah page: https://www.skiutah.com/resources/utah-ski-swap
Season: Dec. 3, 2022 – April 16, 2023 (conditions permitting)
My family’s wintertime home base, Deer Valley Resort, continues to be one of the highest-rated resorts in the U.S. We enjoy the “Deer Valley Difference,” which extends to all corners of the resort in terms of customer service, dining, caliber of runs and lodging.
With it’s “Deer Locals” passes, Deer Valley Resort provides opportunity for qualifying Utah residents to still be able to hit the famous corduroy slopes at significant savings:
PASS NAME
PRICE BEFORE THE OCTOBER PRICE DEADLINE**
PER DAY PRICING
PURCHASE
Adult 5 Pass (Valid 7 days per week, subject to holiday blackouts)
Full Season Passes are outlined in the table below:
PASS NAME
Before October 2022 Price Increase Deadline
Deer Valley Season Pass + IKON Pass
Deer Valley Season Pass + IKON Base Pass
Adult (23-64 years)
$2,675
$2,975
$2,924
Senior (65+ years)
$1,995
$2,295
$2,244
Young Adult (13-22 years)
$1,655
$1,955
$1,904
Child (5-12 years)
$750
$1,050
$999
College Student
$1,875
$2,175
$2,124
Military Season Pass
$1,875
$2,175
$2,124
Tot Season Pass (4 and under)
$185
$485
$434
For the second year, Deer Valley is offering “First Tracks” on specific Wednesdays, allowing season pass holders to access the mountain 30 minutes early on Jan. 25, Feb. 15, and March 22, 2023. Three additional First Tracks days are scheduled for both Deer Valley and IKON season pass holders on Jan. 11, Feb. 8, and March 1, 2023.
Season Pass holders also receive discounts on Friends & Family passes that can be redeemed online, a Monday-Friday complimentary day ticket at Alta, Brighton, and Snowbird, discounts at Deer Valley-owned restaurants and retail outlets, and a complimentary 2023 Summer Season Pass if a 22/23 Full Season Pass is purchased before October deadline.
Another option is the Mid-Week Season Pass, with access Monday through Friday (excluding 12/26/2022 – 1/2/2023) for just $1,465 before the October deadline.
The Ikon Pass also offers days of skiing at Deer Valley, along with other local resorts like Snowbasin, Snowbird, and Alta, with more info available at ikonpass.com.
New for the upcoming ski season, Park City will limit daily lift ticket sales to prioritize the mountain experience for guests – a practice Deer Valley Resort has long implemented at their resort. Season Passholders will not be affected by this limit, nor will their benefit tickets, including Ski with a Friend and Buddy tickets. New amenities are also being rolled out for the season, including a new ski beach stretching from the Red Pine Gondola to the Orange Bubble Express featuring heated sidewalks, fire pits and seating areas.
With a Season Pass discount available until October 7, 2022, now is the time to lock in Epic Pass prices online by clicking here. Pass options include the full Epic Pass, with no holiday blackout dates and access to all Vail Resorts-owned properties for $879 for ages 13 and older, and $448 for children ages 5-12 (there is no teen option, unlike the Epic Local Pass). The Epic Local Pass, which excludes holidays (though half-price day passes are available for blacked-out dates), is $655 for ages 19 and older, $530 for teens ages 13-18, and $311 for children. The Park City Youth Pass – with no blackout dates, but good only at Park City Mountain and not at other Vail Resorts – is $352 for kids ages 5-12. Kids four and younger are eligible for a free Epic pass – just go to any ticket window and they’ll hook you up.
One of the best values, especially for visitors who book in advance, is the multi-day Epic Passes, ranging from one to seven days, which is good at most Vail resorts in the U.S. and at Whistler/Blackcomb, and start at $99 for one day for skiers ages 13 and older, and $50 for one day for children ages 5-13. For every day added, the price per day decreases, with the daily price for the seven-day pass just $83 ($579 total), but do note that holidays are excluded.
Benefitting active duty and retired military who served at least 20 years, the Epic Military Pass is just $155, and includes all dependents.
All passes offer 20% discounts on food, retail, lessons and rentals, plus seven days of unrestricted skiing or snowboarding at both Snowbasin and Sun Valley for full Epic Pass holders (Epic Local Pass holders receive two days with restricted dates).
Now a part of the Park City winter sport fabric, Woodward is located along I-80 between Kimball Junction and Summit Park, and offers a small-mountain experience for skiers and snowboarders, with half-pipe and park access, plus lessons that typically cost less than at the larger resorts. While they haven’t yet included their 2022-23 winter operations info online, keep an eye on their site for info coming out soon!
Snowbird Opening Date: to be announcedAlta Opening Date: Nov. 18, 2022
With terrain that challenges both newbies and expert skiers and boarders, Snowbird is a favorite among many dyed-in-the-wool powderhounds but can be accessed from Park City in less than an hour’s drive time.
This year, Snowbird is promising to plant a tree for every pass sold. In conjunction with One Tree Planted, they’ve engaged in tree-planting efforts in national parks throughout the U.S.
There’s a pass for everyone at Snowbird, including the all-in Summit Pass with no blackout dates (see prices below), the Ten-2-Share Pass with 10 days of unlimited access to the Tram and chairlifts for $699 (can be shared with family and friends), the Flex-4 Tix for four days of unlimited skiing/riding for $449 (perfect for trying out the mountain), or the Mountain Collective Pass for two days at each of 24 destinations for $579 for adults.
Pricing is tax exclusive – tax rate of 7.25% not including Ikon Bass Pass add-on benefit.
Prices and benefits are valid through September 28, 2022.
The Alta-Bird pass is also a great way for skiers (no snowboarders allowed at Alta) to experience the best of both iconic resorts, with prices as follows:
You read that right! Ski Utah has decided to outdo themselves and their amazing youth passport by expanding it to include 4th grade, and providing every grade with three days at each of Utah’s 15 resorts for just $49! In previous years, 5th graders received three days, and 6th graders received just one day at each resort (still an amazing value), but to extend it means so many more young skiers and riders will get the chance to experience more terrain than ever before. They’ve also added an online pass usage/availability tracker, and definitely keep in mind that there are holiday restrictions at all resorts for the week between Christmas and New Year’s, MLK weekend, and President’s weekend. If you have kids in grades 4-6 like I do, I recommend you make this year one for the books by also getting the Ski Utah Yeti Pass for $669 for yourself, which provides one ticket at each of Utah’s 15 resorts to help you introduce your kiddo to the breadth of resort offerings across Utah.
Utah’s fabled “Greatest Snow on Earth” is one of the many reasons so many people Choose Park City. Connect with Christine Grenney at 435-640-4238, or visit her website by clicking here to learn about the many mountain properties providing easy access to each of the state’s resort communities.
