Wyoming Lifestyle

Over the years as a REALTOR® working with mostly out-of-state buyers, I have found that I am selling a lifestyle as much as I am a property.

There are many reasons people come here. For some the main reason for wanting to live in Wyoming is that it is not crowded. The 2006 estimate was 515,000! Compare that to the city of Los Angeles with a 2003 estimate of 3,819,951 people or California with 35,484,453 people.

Other reasons for choosing Wyoming are the scenery, the mountains, the people, tax friendliness and the numerous opportunities for outdoor activities.Wyoming is not for everyone! It gets cold here in Star Valley during the winter months! Thirty to sixty degrees below for a day or two is not that unusual. Also, if Big City life is your style … well, there is also not a lot to do in Wyoming, if city life is your thing.

Wyoming is a lifestyle. We are known as the “Cowboy State” and the cowboy lifestyle is what you will find here. If you don’t like spending time outdoors, in all kinds of weather; if you don’t horses, snow machines, 4-wheelers, hiking, skiing, camping, picnic, barbeque's, rodeos, county fairs and parades … you will not like Wyoming.

The “Old Timers” in Wyoming are not interested in changing things around them. They are content with the way things are. For the most part, they don't care how you did it where you came from. This is Wyoming … we do it our way is the prevailing attitude.

So why is it that no one lives here (population 515,000)? First, I don’t think most people realize that Wyoming is more than Jackson Hole and Yellowstone Park.

While we are a large state with a very low population of friendly people, there are large stretches of "nothing!" You can drive for hundreds of miles without seeing a town. And, at night or in the winter time, you may never see another car on some roads and only an occasional light from a distance farm house!

People tell me that they want to get away from it all, but traveling 125-miles to Idaho Falls or 200-miles to Salt Lake City for “Big City Amenities” may be too much for some.

Depending on your profession, employment can be hard to find and the pay is lower than prevailing wages in the larger cities in other states.

BUT … if you like clean air, open skies and a GREAT place to live, work, play and raise a family … Call Me! Let me introduce you to our Wyoming way of life!

The Price is Right!

According to most real estate experts, a property is 80-percent sold when it is priced properly. Personally, I think establishing the right price is one of the hardest tasks a REALTOR faces ... especially here in Star Valley.

Why? There are several reasons.

First, a very high number of agents do not even attempt to do a CMA (Comparable Market Analysis). When they look at the home, somewhere in the conversation they will ask the Owner, "What price are you thinking?" The agent then lists the property at that price!

Appraisers use three different methods to estimate the value of real estate. They are the income approach, the sales comparison approach and the cost approach. The sales comparison approach is considered the best method for appraising single-family homes.

The cost approach is used to appraise special purpose buildings such as churches, schools and public buildings. The income approach is used to estimate the market value of income producing properties such as office buildings, warehouses, apartment buildings and shopping centers. When adequate financial data for recent sales of similar income producing properties is unavailable, appraisers may utilize all three approaches.

REALTORS are not appraisers and we do not pretend to be. However a good REALTOR will use the same methodology an appraiser uses. One thing to keep in mind is that there is a big difference between an Appraiser's Value and Market Value. The real value of a property depends on the current market conditions where the property is located!

When it comes to pricing, an agent has to know the area and the little things that can make a big difference. Even in a slow market, a clean, well-maintained property, priced properly can make a significant difference in the price a Seller receives at closing.