Ouray County Real Estate News

Kuijvenhoven Drops Lawsuit Against County
by Christopher Pike1 day 3 hrs ago | 30 views | 0 | 0 | OURAY – On Friday, March 7 JV Real Estate, owned by local real-estate developer John Kuijvenhoven, put an end to a lawsuit against the Ouray County Board of Commissioners by filing a “stipulation of dismissal with prejudice.”

The lawsuit sought revisions to an amended plat for the Cornerstone Subdivision that was approved by the county commissioners in October 2007.

Kuijvenhoven said the commissioners ignored a provision in a 2004 development agreement inked by the county and JV Real Estate that required all streets, roads and driveways within the development to be privately owned and maintained. He contended that an October 2007 amendment to the Cornerstone final plat would increase traffic on Dave Wood Road and, subsequently, through his property that borders the road.

In rebuttal, County Attorney Mary Deganhart maintained that the development agreement contained adequate traffic restrictions.

Deganhart said at the March 10 meeting of the county commissioners that there were no settlement negotiations, and that the dismissal followed an answer filed by the county in late January.

County Clerk Encourages Mail Voting

With the primary and general elections approaching, Ouray County Clerk and Recorder Michelle Nauer recommended that voters consider their options – including voting by mail.

“This office is committed to making your voting experience trouble free,” she said at the commissioners’ March 10 meeting. “All voters will receive a letter from this office notifying everyone of their opportunity to receive their ballot by mail. This is optional. You may still go to the polls on Election Day, same as always, unless the legislature allows further changes.”

New to Colorado residents is the permanent vote-by-mail option.

“[Vote by mail] is the easiest way to receive your ballot,” said Nauer. “Your only responsibility is to keep this office apprised of any changes, whether it be your name, street or mailing address.”

Nauer also advised citizens to check their voter registration for accuracy by verifying that their name, address and party affiliation are correct. That can be done online at www.sos.state.co.us by providing name, birth date and the zip code of one’s current physical address.

Denison Appointed to Gunnison Basin Roundtable

The county commissioners appointed Ridgway resident Cary Denison to the Gunnison Basin Roundtable at their March 10 meeting. Nine basin roundtables represent each of the state’s major river basins and facilitate discussion on and develop solutions to water management issues locally and throughout the state.

Denison’s term will expire in May 2012.

Denison is owner and president of Colorado Land and Water Specialists, a consulting firm focusing on water rights management, augmentation plans, water court filings, mapping, hydrologic measurements, wetlands delineations, and water diversion project management.

The next meeting of the Gunnison Basin Roundtable is Monday, April 7, from 4-7 p.m. at the Hampton Inn, 1980 N. Townsend in Montrose.

Super Day in Ridgway

The sun is shining brightly in Ouray County today. The mountain snowpack is deep and the locals are out in force traveling to the backcountry to get some spring skiing in. There is a steady stream of cars snaking through Ridgway on the way to Telluride. Main street Ouray is busy with tourists walking about shopping and looking for real estate.

With investors quite nervous in the stock market, we recently have seen increased interest in Ouray, Ridgway and Ouray County property.

In 2007, the overall number of real estate transactions was down in Ouray County. Dollar values however increased. Single family sales numbers were down as well with the dollar values up. Vacant land numbers were down with the dollar values starting to increase over a drop off in 2007. The growth rate in Ouray County incresed by 10.7% over 2006 percentages. Single family median sales prices increased in Ouray County in 2007. This increase was attributable to several large dollar value sales in Ouray County last year. It seems that smart investors with cash reserves are taking advantage of the cooling real estate market nationally. Total numbers of vacant land sales declined in Ouray County in 2007. Vacant land total dollar sales increased from 2006 to 2007.

The total number of real estate sales in the City of Ouray increased 40% over 2006. Dollar sales volume in Ouray increased as well. Ouray saw a 8.75% decrease in the median sales price for the year.

The Town of Ridgway has seen a steady decline in the single-family dollar sales growth rate since 2004. Median sales prices however increased in the town of Ridgway.

Ridgway Real Estate trends 2007

Spring has almost sprung here in the Uncompahgre River Valley. The sun was shining brightly today and the snow covered San Juan Mountains looked spectacularly white. Temps hovered in the upper 50's on main street and locals were out in shorts wandering about. It was good to open up the door here in the Real Estate Office. Hopefully the sun will melt off more of the winters snow so that we can start showing property again soon!!

The Town of Ridgway Colorado saw declining real estate dollar sales in 2007 as well as declining single family home sales. The median sales price of a home however increased from $354,000 to $395,000. This was a trend that was experienced in the City of Ouray in 2006. The trend in the City of Ouray was completely different. In Ouray the average single family home price dropped 20% while the number of single family home sales almost tripled.

In either case, both Ridgway and Ouray provide outstanding real estate values for the investor looking for refuge from the Stock Market. With average single family home prices hovering in the $1000 to $1500 per square foot in Telluride, the $250 per square foot price in Ridgway/Ouray seems like a bargain.

EERE