Gustav Vigeland 1869-1943

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This is an old snap of me standing in front of one of my favorite sculptures of all time. The dad with 4 kids sculpture by Gustav Vigeland in Oslo, Norway. There is giant park of Gustav's work, over 200 pieces. I spent hours there in the rain with my Norwegian buddy, Maggie. It is an amazing place, one of the most powerful art experiences I have ever had. Below a shot of Maggie.

Julian Acosta and Smart cars

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Spent the Weekend in Las Vegas with director Julian Acosta of Saint Cloud Films doing a mini doc for Smarts cars on the Hoover Dam. Photos: Top by Julian, Travis Cline hanging out the door getting stealth actions shots on the strip in Vegas, good thing I am holding his belt so he doesn't fall into the road. The old belt trick from my days as working as a grip on movies years ago. It was an "All hands on Deck" film shoot, I was one of 5 camera guys on this one. Thanks Julian and Jared H.

Rocking the Boat - documentary - watch it here

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Check out the documentary I directed and was director of photography on. It is a half hour documentary about Rocking the Boat, a great organizations that gets kids in The Bronx involved in boat building, rowing, conservation and other good things. I had so much fun on this project it was just great mix art, sport, community and one of my favorite things in the world, WATER. Enjoy. Below a few photos from a week shooting in NYC.

Documentary Interview

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I have been a documentary filmmaker for over 20 years, wow am I that old? I am still learning. I still love it. It challenges me everyday. Here is a still from an interview sitting on the sideway in Harlem. With my new Canon 5d I feel like you can get a beautiful interview anywhere, no bounce boards, lights, tripods or anything… just a person with passion and a story to tell and you have magic. The photo: Adam Green from Rocking the Boat, sitting on the sidewalk in Harlem during an interview for the documentary.

Good Advice from Cory "Nasty" Nastazio

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Good Advice Cory Nastazio from Ronin Media House on Vimeo.

I have worked a lot with Nasty over the years. He is wacky fun dude and one of my favorite pro athletes. Here is a great docu-style pseudo PSA with Nasty digging at his trails. I directed and shot this and I can't remember when I did it. ...but the two guys in this spot just showed up and we shot it this way, a happy accident for sure.

Vans partneres with PLUS Compound Technologies to create sandal made of 100% recyclable material

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[via transworld biz]Vans Inc. has partnered with PLUS Compound Technologies in creating a sandal made of 100% recyclable material. The collab comes in four colors, and is set to hit stores for Summer 2012, with the “Nexpa” sandal already available at certain retailers in the US.
“We couldn’t be more excited to partner with such a well-established and well respected brand like Vans,” said Brett Ritter, CEO and Co-Founder of PLUS. “It’s been great working with the team at Vans and we look forward to expanding the use of our materials into more sandal styles and other collections as well. We’re also really enthusiastic about the marketing opportunities this will create for both companies”.NEWPORT BEACH, CA (June 19, 2012) – By using PLUSfoam® to make the Nexpa sandal, Vans is virtually eliminating the post-manufacturing waste that is typically associated with footwear production.
“A project like this will typically yield approximately 30% scrap for each pair of sandals produced”, said Michael Carr, Associate General Manager at PLUS.
“For the Vans production order this translated into approximately 3.5 kilos. Because PLUSfoam® is 100% recyclable, we are able to regrind, reconstitute and reuse this scrap for other products”.
Using PLUSfoam® in just one product can make a huge difference at the manufacturing level. “Anyone that’s been to a manufacturing facility in China within the last 20 years has seen the piles of post-manufacturing scrap first-hand”, says Ritter.
“Our goal at PLUS is to eliminate these piles while producing the best possible performance-based products. With Vans getting on board, we’re making a difference”.
As consumers become more socially and environmentally aware, their buying habits are affecting the way brands approach new products. Many brands are searching for eco-friendly solutions to help minimize waste and decrease their carbon footprint without sacrificing performance.
“Working with PLUS was an easy decision,” says Ryan Quinn, Product Category Manager at Vans, “their material performed great and this is key for our consumers. The fact that we’re essentially eliminating waste and doing something good for the world is icing on the cake.”
PLUS Compound Technologies operates reclaim facilities in the US and Asia where any products made with PLUS Compounds can be returned and recycled.
“The reclaim service we offer is simply a value add that comes with our material”, says Carr, “while the biggest environmental impact will occur at the factory level, the fact that consumers can get involved and close the loop on these products is something we are extremely proud of”.

Protect Our Winters And Callan Chythlook-Sifsof Work To Save Bristol Bay

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Story by Tetongravity.com

Olympic snowboarder Callan Chythlook-Sifsof is taking on one of the toughest challenges she's ever faced. A lifetime resident of Bristol Bay, Alaska, Callan is fighting to prevent the construction of the Pebble Mine, a massive copper and gold strip mine threatening the headwaters that are home to one of the largest salmon runs in the world.Bristol Bay supports thousands of local jobs and generates over $100 million dollars in revenue for the Alaska economy. Callan's family members are commercial fisherman in Bristol Bay, so this issue hits very close to home.A new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency study has already confirmed that this will be an incredibly destructive project. This scientific assessment of Alaska's Bristol Bay watershed shows that without a doubt, large-scale mining would jeopardize the area's legendary salmon runs. The effects on the entire ecosystem, the local economy and Native communities would be catastrophic.Yet, despite that, the mining companies, with huge financial interests are mounting campaign after campaign to discredit it and move forward.Thankfully, under the Clean Water Act, the EPA has the authority to block destructive projects like the Pebble Mine. But the EPA needs to hear from us immediately.Tell EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to save Bristol Bay by banning the Pebble Mine.The EPA study is grounded in sound science. And it confirms what Callan and everyone in the area know: there's no way to dig a massive mine and generate billions of tons of contaminated waste and not have a dramatic impact on the environment.Please take a minute and send an email directly to Ms. Jackson at the EPA to help stop this mine. To make it easier, Protect Our Winters has provided a sample email and Lisa Jackson's email address below.To further inspire you to send this email, watch this Felt Soul video titled Red Gold about the Pebble Mine issue.SAMPLE EMAIL COPYMAIL TO: ORD.Docket@epa.govMUST PLACE IN THE SUBJECT LINE: Docket # EPA-HQ-ORD-2012-0276

Dear Ms. Jackson,
Thank you for your attention to the proposed Pebble Mine in Bristol Bay Alaska.I am writing today to urge you to use your authority under the Clean Water Act to consider how this proposed mine will impact our nation's biggest wild salmon fishery and untouched ecosystem, the commercial fishermen and Alaska Natives who depend on it, and the local businesses who make their living off of this wild landscape in Southwestern Alaska.The Bristol Bay ecosystem is the cornerstone on which Alaskan Native cultures have subsisted for thousands of years. Building a mine of this scale in this location would jeopardize one of the largest salmon runs in the world which provides over $100 million in revenue to the local economy and supports thousands of Alaskan jobs.There are no examples of successful, long-term collection and treatment systems for mines. However, if built, Pebble Mine will produce between 2 and 10 billion tons of toxic waste that would degrade water quality downstream with virtual certainty, and there is a 98 percent likelihood of pipeline failure per 25 years of operation. So, no matter how extensive the environmental review or how comprehensive the mitigation plans may be, any short term and unsustainable financial gain is not worth the environmental damage and economic loss that will certainly take place.I understand that you're under pressure from global mining companies to open up this extraordinary ecosystem to large-scale mining for the sake of corporate profits. But I urge you to use your authority under the Clean Water Act to proactively protect the Bristol Bay watershed and the communities that depend on it for survival.

Thank you,

Billabong Works With Chipotle To Cultivate A Better Future

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By Kailee Bradstreet Transworld Business

You are what you eat—everyone’s heard that, and most people understand what it means. But how many can honestly say that they make smart food choices on a daily basis?Let’s face it, our culture is based on convenience and instant gratification, and sometimes it’s just easier to grab a quick pre-made meal instead of going to the grocery store, and then utilizing even more brain power to sift through ingredients, read labels, and make sure to only buy the most natural, organic items.Taking the first step always starts with education and awareness, and while this is the mantra for many organizations trying to make a change in the world, Billabong is doing its part to make these critical lifestyle choices easier for everyone with its support for this year’s Design For Humanity beneficiary, Chipotle’s Cultivate Foundation. The organization, which was founded under the company’s heavily touted catch phrase “Food With Integrity,“ aims to support the establishment and growth of sustainable food systems, on both a large scale and a smaller, local level.“The internet has obviously brought communities together in a very powerful way, but it’s not the same as sitting down and breaking bread with somebody,” says Billabong Brand Director Candy Harris. “I think the one real driving factor—whether it’s planting a garden with your child or sitting down at a table with friends—is that idea that you are getting connected back to nature. It’s about caring where the food is coming from and creating healthier lifestyles—not just for our kids and our generation, but it’s also healthy for local economies and these family farmers who are working their hardest to produce food the way it’s meant to be. ”The Cultivate Foundation has tapped into the “Farm to Table” concept – one that is catching on and becoming increasingly popular at high-end restaurants, and now even at the “fast food” level. And while it’s easy for most of us to overlook smarter food sources in our busy day-to-day schedules, the Cultivate Foundation is zeroing in on sourcing all of their ingredients from sustainable food sources, such as local farms, and making educated decisions about which ingredients they are selecting.“We are the only national restaurant company with significant commitments to local and organically grown produce, and an increasing amount of the dairy we use is made with milk from pasture-raised dairy cattle, which includes all of our sour cream and about 65% of our cheese,” says Chipotle Cultivate Foundation’s Communications Director Chris Arnold. “This is an uphill battle in a world where industrial agriculture really dominates the food supply.”Because of its “fast food” exterior appearance, Chipotle’s mission seems like it could fly under the radar, somewhat unnoticed. The company has, however, done a great job of outlining exactly what it’s up to on its website, which is full of explanations about sustainable farming, the pros and cons of organic foods, and how the company makes it’s decisions when it comes to sourcing ingredients. Utilizing  partnerships it has with Farm Aid, an organization that assists family farms, and Veggie U, an Ohio-based group that is educating fourth graders on how to grow their own food, the Cultivate Foundation hopes to gain more awareness within the ever-broadening community, which translates succinctly to action sports’ key demographic.“We do a lot in the action sports arena and find that people who participate in these sports are also our customers; they’re young, vibrant, and active,” says Arnold. “This is the first year the Cultivate Foundation has been involved with this event, and that came about through the relationships we have with Billabong. Design for Humanity really attracts a young, active, and engaged audience. Those are the same people that care about food and where it comes from.”Evan Marks at The Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano is a prime example of how a little extra thought toward improving the eco-system we all share has a direct impact on not only the food we are consuming, but our overall lifestyle as well. Providing a plethora of programs for children and adults, that range from organic cooking classes to teaching elementary students how to plant and grow their own vegetables, the center has rallied the local community around sustainable food awareness and education. The Cultivate Foundation has also noticed Marks’ and the center’s achievements, and will be partnering with The Ecology Center in the fall for “Grow Your Own,” a program that works gardening into the curriculum of four local schools and gives youth a chance to learn how to plant sustainable food.For Marks, who holds an Agro-Ecology degree from UC Santa Cruz and headed up a four-year farming movement in Latin America, making the move to a more sustainable way of living is something he foresees as possible in the near future—as long as everyone starts taking a few baby steps in that direction right now.“Whether it’s riding your bike to work or going to the farmers markets, these are all impactful,” says Marks. ”If we want to create a healthy ecosystem it takes all of us doing a little. We don’t have to transform ourselves overnight but just coming together as a community helps and then we can tackle it from there. These simple things help pull everything together: healthy food, healthy oceans, and healthy people.”The Ecology Center also works with Hurley as its core partner on water conservation education, as well as teaming up with local nurseries, restaurants, and other businesses,  and hopes to continue forming key partnerships to get the word out about many key environmental issues, says Marks. The same rings true for the Cultivate Foundation and it’s newly formed alliance with Billabong.“Working with like-minded companies like Billabong is an amazing way to extend the reach of the foundation and to build awareness,” says Arnold. “Design for Humanity is such a great and highly visible event, that we hope people will leave having learned a little something about issues in food and why it is so important to support family farms, better animal husbandry and sustainable agriculture.”If you haven’t already, be sure to support the cause and buy your tickets for Design For Humanity right here.Click HERE to read the full interview with Arnold...

Forrest Shearer's op-ed in support of clean energy legislation in California

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Pro rider, Forrest Shearer wrote an op-ed in support of clean energy legislation in California. Here it is:
Opinion: California's vanishing snowpack is another victim of climate changeBy Forrest Shearer
As a professional snowboarder lucky enough to ride mountains around the world, I have seen the impacts of climate change first-hand. I've seen once-famous slopes now with zero snow, ski resorts that have shut down, and glaciers that are disappearing.
In my native state of California, boarders and skiers are bracing for the effects of a warmer world. Scientists are predicting the Sierra snowpack will decline by 25 percent by 2050. We caught a preview this past ski season, when Lake Tahoe and Squaw Valley had to make their own snow well into February. It's no wonder the California Ski Industry Association is a big supporter of AB 32, the state's landmark clean energy and climate law.
But whether or not you've ever strapped on a board or some skis, all Californians should get behind the state's groundbreaking efforts to save energy and tackle climate change. 
Because sooner or later, our changing climate will affect all Californians.Consider that declining mountain snowpack I mentioned. It's not just important for skiers and boarders and the businesses that rely on them. It also provides about one third of California's drinking water.
Or look at the record heat that's been roasting parts of California, along with much of the rest of the country. It's been epic; in fact, July was the hottest month on record for the continental United States, with drought covering almost two-thirds of the lower 48 and wildfires burning up two million acres.
Scientists tell us that extreme heat will become more and more common as the world warms. And we can expect more severe droughts, heavy rainfall events, and other extreme weather, as well as more wildfires.
Communities in vulnerable areas across the country are already feeling the burn of global warming. Through a program with the environmental nonprofit, Protect Our Winters, called "Hot Planet/Cool Athletes," I go to schools in mountain communities throughout the U.S. to talk about climate change.
Through these visits, I've seen that young people get it. Their future depends on a healthy environment, and they are committed to doing their part. At one school, a teacher talked about the school's recycling efforts, and said anyone who wanted to get involved should see a student who was in charge of the whole program. I was very impressed with that kid and it's my hope that today's young students become tomorrow's environmental leaders.But we shouldn't put the burden on kids to protect the environment.
Adults have to take responsibility for the mess we've made and not leave it for future generations to clean up.
So far, California is doing pretty well. The first step in tackling climate change is burning less fossil fuel, and California leads the nation in energy efficiency. Then you develop alternative energy sources that are cleaner or that don't pollute at all. California leads the country in solar power, wind power, and electric vehicle deployment. And now with AB 32, we will show the nation how to create a successful market-based system for reducing emissions.
What Californians do is especially important, because what happens here will be imitated elsewhere. Californians are trendsetters, especially when it comes to influencing younger people. Surfing, skateboarding, and snowboarding started here, movies and television shows are made here, and environmental trends get started here - the rest of the country, and much of the world, ends up following our lead. Through AB 32 and other smart energy policies, California is blazing a trail to a sustainable clean energy future.
For some people, it's too much. They want us to slow down. But we can't stop now.When you're tackling gnarly terrain on a snowboard, you can't hesitate. You have to know that you've trained, trust your instincts, and commit yourself fully. California has made a great start on a rad run. Let's stay committed.
Forrest Shearer grew up as a Southern California surfer and is now a professional snowboarder. His California-based sponsors include Patagonia, Clif Bar, and Jones Snowboards. He works with Protect our Winters, the Alliance for Climate Education, and the Action Sports Environmental Coalition.

GNU and B4BC partner for October Breast Cancer Prevention Month. Enter for your chance to win a B-Pro board!

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In an effort to raise awareness for October Breast Cancer Prevention Month, and the B4BC (Boarding for Breast Cancer) cause, Gnu is hosting a Facebook giveaway of a B-Pro snowboard.  Gnu and B4BC share a common goal of promoting a healthy active lifestyle through board sports and they want to remind everyone about the importance of early detection. If you would like to help in their efforts feel free to re-post the link to the contest/graphics on your sites. 
http://www.facebook.com/gnuSnowboards/app_143103275748075

Is your Realtor doing a good job with your listing?

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Touchy subject, I know.
How do you know if your Realtor is doing a good job with your property?

If it sells have they done a good job? If it doesn't sell are they doing a poor job?

Here are some guidelines to follow when evaluating whether your agent is worth holding on to, or when choosing an agent:


1. Do they answer their phone and email? Not just when you call, but for potential buyers and other agents. I cannot tell you how many times I call on a property to show it or ask questions for a potential buyer and never get any communication back. Test your agent. Have your friends and associates call just to see what happens. If your agent is not calling/emailing back within a reasonable time frame, this is a red flag. Many times buyers and agents will move on to the next property and not even bother to show it.



2. Is your property listed in the appropriate MLS? How unfortunate for the seller that wants to help out a friend with their real estate career and lists their property in the wrong area. In Park City, we have our own MLS that covers the Wasatch back - Park City, Midway, Heber ,Oakley and surrounding areas. Many times a home will be listed with a Salt Lake agent who is not a member of our MLS, so when the agents that work and sell up here pull properties to show, that one won't show up, and most likely won’t be shown.



3. Is your property being marketed in the most effective way for your area? Each area has a proven method for marketing that works. Some areas it is the newspaper, other areas it is a local magazine or radio program. For many resort areas the internet is the most effective tool available. Find out not just the circulation of the marketing tool, but the results of the marketing tool. When looking for a buyer in a resort market like Park City, they aren't usually reading our local paper or listening to KPCW, our local radio station. They begin their search on the internet, they ask their friends for a referral to a local Realtor. Then they start their search.



4. Has your agent helped you prepare your home for sale? Prior to listing, your agent should conduct a walkthrough with you and help with suggestions for decluttering, staging and a list of items to fix. Your agent should tell you how important these things are in the sales process. If a home appears dirty or unkempt, buyers will subconsciously look for deferred maintenance and wonder how the seller could possibly keep up with maintenance when they can’t even keep up with the daily clutter. I offer my sellers a no charge 1 hour consultation with a home staging expert to really give them the edge on the competition.



5. Pricing. Even if you and your agent do everything possible to stage and prepare your home for showing, price will determine whether you get activity and offers. In today’s market price is everything. Every agent should know the maximum activity will come in the first few weeks of listing the property. Having said that, is your agent sharing the feedback with you? Are you acting on it?





6. The key to helping the seller make the right choices is feedback. Feedback comes in two forms - agent feedback from showings, and market feedback in terms of how the homes with which you are competing are responding. Are other similar properties selling and yours is not? Examine why - most of the time it will come down to price.

We know that the majority of the time the buyer that purchases your home will be represented by a Realtor other than the listing agent. So if there are no showings by agents, then they are not all on vacation. They are showing other homes that their buyers think offer the most value. Overpriced properties will only be shown to demonstrate to buyers why another home is a good deal, and they will sit unsold.



So ask your Realtor for a market update. Use this information wisely. Your agent can send you a detailed report where you can look at each and every property that has sold. Were they really better than yours or just marketed better and priced right?



For all of your Park City, Utah Real Estate needs call me today.

Heather Feldman

435-731-0803

Park City condo under $100,000!

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Did you ever think it was possible? This featured property is small but stunning. The owners have done such a great job with the space and have made it gorgeous to boot!
You are looking at the brand new sleeper sofa with seating cubes that convert into ottomans or eating trays. Notice the beautiful colors on the walls along with the coordinated wall coverings and artwork. They have really made this a Zen-like retreat.
This condo is only a studio, but boasts beautiful wood floors, a flat screen Tv, convertible eating/working table and tons of smart storage.
Take a look out your window to see
Park City Mountain and check out how much snow
they have!

This fabulous condo is in Prospector Square which is a 10acre development with 9 condo buildings, a pool, convention center and Theatre. Prospector Square is an official Sundance Film Festival venue too!
Offered at $87,500.  Buy it for yourself or buy it for an investment. Great rental numbers at Prospector.

Call me today for a private showing!
Heather Feldman 435-731-0803

Park City Mountain $25 Benefit Lift tickets

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Park City Mountain Resort’s Legacy Fund is offering $25 Benefit Day(s) lift tickets again this year.  
The tickets are valid from November 19 – December 16 and all ticket proceeds go to the Park City Mountain Resort Legacy Fund and the Summit Land Conservancy. There are a limited number of tickets left. You can purchase in-person in the Resort Services Office at Park City Mountain Resort. Tickets must be purchased by 5 p.m. on Friday, November 18. These are a great gift for clients, friends, family, etc. Don’t miss out!The goal of the Park City Mountain Resort Legacy Fund is to support Summit County through grants to nonprofit organizations that provide our community with effective programs in the areas of Environmental Stewardship, Children and Athletics, Education, and/or provide social services and humanitarian aid to help people in need. Contact Park City Mountain Resort www.pcmr.com 

Park City Mountain Opening Day

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It was awesome! We got about 6-12 inches last night, so we knew it would be ok. We didn't expect to have so much fun. Yes, I should have been holding an open house or 2, but I couldn't resist. Only 2 runs open, but plenty of fun.

If you had a residence here in Park City, you could have been here today too! Contact me for some excellent property deals!

Heather Feldman
Equity Real Estate Luxury Group
435-731-0803
heather@parkcityhousehunters.com

Park City's Real Estate market today

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A question we are all asking constantly - what is the market like in Park City today? 

Should I sell now? Should I buy now? 

Well, as I have said before, my crystal ball isn't working! However, we can look at some really interesting indicators to make some educated choices.

Today we have the lowest inventory since 2007, approx 820 single family and condo listings in Park City including Park City Proper and Park City Extended. These areas include Deer Valley, Park City, Snyderville Basin ( Silver Springs, Canyons etc) Trailside, Jeremy Ranch, Pinebrook, Summit Park, Glenwild and Promontory and everything in between.

In 2010 there were approx 2600 properties on the market in those same areas.  This change has created a shift from a Buyer's market to a Balanced market.  We are not in a Seller's market where homes are flying off the market at highly increased prices, but we definitely have seen a shift.

Stats courtesy of Rick Klein, Wells Fargo Mortgage. For full stats package, email me at heather@parkcityhousehunters.com

Foreclosures have slowed, short sales are much fewer which is causing the regular inventory to sell. We are just not seeing the screaming deals like we have in the past few years. What does this all mean to you?

In my opinion if you are looking to buy, it doesn't pay to gamble. Rates are lower than we will probably ever see again, home prices have not jumped - it is a win-win.
Call me for more information about any home or condo in Park City.
Heather Feldman
435-731-0803
heather@parkcityhousehunters.com

Selling your Home? A few things NOT to do!

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So, you're thinking about putting your home on the market. Good Idea!

A few things you don't want to do:


Don’t allow Deferred Maintenance ruin your chances of selling.

Ever hear the term “Deferred Maintenance”? What exactly does that mean anyway?

Deferred Maintenance is a nice way of referring to household maintenance that has not been kept up on or done. As a buyer walks through your home, they are falling in love with the floorplan, with how their family will live in this home and starting to imagine their furniture in there, right? Maybe. They also are walking through noticing all the repairs needed to your home and getting a sour taste in their mouth wondering what needs attention that they can’t see.

What to do? Have a friend walk your home and look for cosmetic items with a buyer’s eye for items that look dirty or worn- paint, carpet, dirty vents, crumbling grout etc. They will see things you have walked past for years. If you really want to make sure deferred maintenance does not become an issue once your home is for sale, get an inspection and fix whatever comes up on the inspection. You won’t catch every single item, but you have a good chance of the sale not falling out because of the condition of your home.

The next big one:

Disclose everything!!! Even if you think it is inconsequential.

Your agent should impress upon you the importance of disclosing everything. If they try to tell you that basement flooding or the car sliding down the driveway into the dining room isn't worth disclosing, RUN!

Case in point – had a home under contract recently. It was my buyer’s dream home. The seller filled out the required seller’s disclosure form, which indicated no known problems with the home in a number of categories. During the inspection a sizable water intrusion was discovered. Water stains on the baseboards and eventually mold was found near the source of the intrusion.

My buyer ‘s first reaction was to wonder what else they were hiding. What else was wrong with this home that the seller was not telling us about? The seller suddenly remembered an occasion where water came in through the window during a heavy rain season. Amazing how that works! The water intrusion is discovered and miraculously they remember it. Cynical? Maybe, or maybe just a reasonable reaction to an unfortunate situation. Not an insurmountable situation, just one that leaves the buyer uneasy.

In this case, if the seller had not allowed this water intrusion become Deferred Maintenance ( they did not remedy the situation as they could have) and disclosed the water intrusion and what they did to remedy it, this sale may have been saved. Now, the buyer must start over in their search for a home and the seller starts over looking for a new buyer. Hopefully they will amend their seller’s disclosure to lawfully show the issues at hand and maybe even fix them prior to the next buyer discovering them.

As a seasoned Realtor, we see deferred maintenance all the time. It doesn’t necessarily kill every sale, but it can put a seed of doubt in a buyer’s mind. How refreshing  it is to list a home where it is evident the owner has taken care of it and in a timely manner. Sure makes our job easier, and the sale of the home a stronger possibility. In Park City we find buyers from out of the area will respond better to a home that needs less attention. It is usually too difficult to have repairs and remodeling done from a long distance.

The Moral of this story:Maintain your home, get all items fixed prior to listing and DISCLOSE!
Looking for a ski property or investment property?

Call me for more information about Park City, Utah.

Heather Feldman 435-731-0803

Wasatch 360 exciting new TV show on Fox 13 in Utah!

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If you weren't up at the crack of dawn on Saturday, December 3, 2011 you probably missed the debut of the brand new TV show on Fox 13 here in Utah. Wasatch 360 is a news magazine/lifestyle show showcasing the best and most exciting things in the Wasatch front and Wasatch back regions of Northern Utah.

This new, exciting show will feature guests like Stein Erickson, Olympians Ted Ligety and Shannon Bahrke. You will also watch an interviews with acclaimed director Morgan Spurlock and other Sundance Film Festival Celebrities. The show will also feature some of the most luxurious estates in Salt Lake City and Park City. You will get tips on the hottest ski gear and clothing along with watching some really cool adventures while riding the Olympic Bobsled,  hot air ballooning and pretty much anything you can think of that is fun to do in the  Wasatch Mountain Region. There will also be a segment called Utah Spotlight that will be 3 minute segments featuring some of Utah's most compelling and interesting companies in Utah. If you own a company that would like to be featured, go to the website below and contact Larry Feldman (yes, he is my husband) or John Goulet to become part if this exciting show.
Visit www.wasatch360tv.com  to view details and watch a demo of what the show will be. The first show will be available to view soon.

Canyons/Solitude Tram update

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Excerpts from the Park Record article:

Proponents of the proposed SkiLink went to Washington, D.C., this week to begin laying the groundwork for a gondola that would link Canyons ski resort with Solitude.


Meanwhile, on the Utah home front, opponents of the project have been mustering their own forces and are characterizing the project as a potential environmental catastrophe.

Representatives of the ski industry have long argued that connecting the area's resorts would be a boon to tourism and the state's economy. In this case, they also suggest the link could reduce traffic in Big Cottonwood Canyon and over Parley's Summit. Environmentalists, though, say it would open up the remaining backcountry to development and destroy a vital watershed.

But what if the two sides were able to negotiate a compromise, one that could actually reduce traffic and offer skiers

I believe this tram would only help Park City's economy by making our resorts even more desirable by linking with the other side of the Wasatch Mountains.

Movie Studio Likely in Park City!

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Wow, this has been a long time coming, but it appears Park City and Summit County have come to an agreement regarding Raleigh Studios coming to Park City. Quinn's Junction is at the corner of the US 40 fwy and the SR 248 ( Kearns Blvd). See article below:

TO BRING RALEIGH STUDIOS TO QUINNS JUNCTION
Developer to petition Park City to annex land into corporate limits.
Park City, Utah; January 18, 2012
Summit County and Park City officials have reached an agreement with developer Greg Ericksen to bring Raleigh Studios to Quinns Junction area. This announcement comes after more than a year of discussions with Mr. Ericksen on the development of a movie studio, entertainment center, hotel and digital medial complex by Raleigh Studios. General terms of the settlement agreement include project size, adherence to local design guidelines and safeguard the Sundance Film Festival.
One key term of the settlement agreement is an application by Mr. Ericksen to annex the property into Park City. The property is located just outside the Park City corporate limits, southeast of the intersection of State Route 248 and U.S. 40. “The City fought against this project for many years,” said City Manager Tom Bakaly. “Over that past year it became increasingly apparent that the high level of interest in this project by the Utah Legislature, coupled with the pending lawsuit between Mr. Ericksen and Summit County, made it highly likely that a movie studio would be built in the Quinns Junction area.” Given these circumstances it is in our best interest to work with Mr. Ericksen and Raleigh Studios in order to accomplish community goals that “support the lodging industry, protect the Sundance Film Festival from unfair competition, and make this project fit as best as possible with area design guidelines and the Park City brand.”
County Manager Bob Jasper further explained that “while the project will have greater density than our zoning allows on that site, we are pleased to have this lawsuit dismissed and to begin a new chapter with Mr. Ericksen and Raleigh Studios.” 
If the annexation into Park City is approved, the settlement agreement would allow a movie studio, entertainment center, hotel and digital medial complex of up to 374,000 gross square feet of density subject to the following limitations:
 
The hotel would be limited to 100 rooms and 100 total keys;
The entire project would be built to LEED standards;
Mr. Ericksen and Raleigh Studios cannot cause any harm to Sundance, and
Raleigh Studios will have to comply with design guidelines included in the agreement. The guidelines are such that the movie studio’s look and feel would be similar to the surrounding buildings, such as the hospital. Additionally, the City’s Planning Department would be heavily involved in the review of the design.
If the annexation is turned down by the Park City Council after a review by the Park City Planning Commission, the project would revert to Summit County for a movie studio, entertainment center, hotel and digital media complex of up to 355,000 gross square feet of density.
The Summit County Manager has approved the Settlement Agreement. The Park City Council will review and possibly approve the Park City Annexation Addendum to the Settlement Agreement and accept the annexation petition on January 26, 2012. Bakaly added that “staff will recommend that the Park City Council and Planning Commission consider the agreement and public annexation process as a way to accomplish our greater community goals.”
Quinns Junction is located at the intersection of State Route 248 and US 40. It is home to Intermountain Healthcare Hospital, the National Ability Center, the United States Ski and Snowboard Association, Physicians Healthcare, the Park City Ice Arena & Sports Complex, Summit County Health Department and People’s Health Clinic.

 

Park City's Real Estate market today

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A question we are all asking constantly - what is the market like in Park City today? 

Should I sell now? Should I buy now? 

Well, as I have said before, my crystal ball isn't working! However, we can look at some really interesting indicators to make some educated choices.

Today we have the lowest inventory since 2007, approx 820 single family and condo listings in Park City including Park City Proper and Park City Extended. These areas include Deer Valley, Park City, Snyderville Basin ( Silver Springs, Canyons etc) Trailside, Jeremy Ranch, Pinebrook, Summit Park, Glenwild and Promontory and everything in between.

In 2010 there were approx 2600 properties on the market in those same areas.  This change has created a shift from a Buyer's market to a Balanced market.  We are not in a Seller's market where homes are flying off the market at highly increased prices, but we definitely have seen a shift.

Stats courtesy of Rick Klein, Wells Fargo Mortgage. For full stats package, email me at heather@parkcityhousehunters.com

Foreclosures have slowed, short sales are much fewer which is causing the regular inventory to sell. We are just not seeing the screaming deals like we have in the past few years. What does this all mean to you?

In my opinion if you are looking to buy, it doesn't pay to gamble. Rates are lower than we will probably ever see again, home prices have not jumped - it is a win-win.
Call me for more information about any home or condo in Park City.
Heather Feldman
435-731-0803
heather@parkcityhousehunters.com

This is MY idea...

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From 1966 to 1968, Adam West and Burt Ward played Batman and Robin in the very campy, and very popular series 'Batman' for ABC. The series portrayed Batman and Robin as being very cartoonish, and often as inept as the villains they were chasing. DC Comics took its lead from the success of the ABC series, and began publishing stories in its Batman comics that were similar in stance and tone to the very funny and satirical shows being shown in the Batman television series.

About a year or so after the Batman series ended, a writer named Denny O'Neil and an artist named Neal Adams began collaborating on new Batman comics. At this point the Batman comics were still taking their lead from the campiness of the Batman series, and the writers and artists that worked on Batman comics were encouraged to do so as well. O'Neil and Adams not only didn't agree with this stance, they thought it was ridiculous. They wanted to see Batman return to his roots as a brooding force that fought evil from the darkness and shadows, not a campy superhero that fought in tights.

So bit by bit, Adams and O'Neil began to make subtle changes to way Batman was written and drawn. If a script called for Batman to appear in broad daylight, Adams would change it to a night scene. They made Batman more menacing to criminals, more violent, but at the same time, he became more cerebral, going from being bumbling in the TV series, to 'the world's greatest detective'.

Slowly, O'Neil and Adams took the idea of what and who the Batman was, and made it their own. Most fans consider the O'Neil and Adams work on Batman in the early 70s to be one of the greatest collaborations in comics history. In fact, much of the present image you see of Batman, in movies such as The Dark Knight, is heavily influenced by the work of Adams and O'Neil, four decades ago.

So what does this have to do with social media?

One of the complaints you hear often in this space is that there are no new ideas. We are all simply rehashing the same ideas over and over. We've become an echo chamber.

To a large degree, that's correct. But instead of simply looking for new ideas, sometimes it's just as effective to take an old idea, and make it your own.

Twitter launched in the summer of 2006, and from Day One, users of the site were suggesting to their friends who they should be following. We all did this, but Micah Baldwin was the first to take this idea and make it his own, with the creation of #followfriday early last year.

How often do you see someone promoting a post or work they have done in a blog comment? Many people do this, and many more people probably would LIKE to do this, but don't want to seem too self-promotional. Becky McCray created the Brag Basket on her blog, and solved this problem. She took an existing idea, and made it her own.

For as long as there have been blogs, there have been bloggers wanting other bloggers to link to them. We all want more links, and we all want to be found by more readers. This is why I started The Z-List in late 2006. The idea was simple, you highlight any blogs that you think others should be reading, and link to them. I took an existing idea (linking to other blogs, asking for blog links), and made it my own.

The point is, instead of chasing 'new ideas', how can you take an existing idea, or an existing activity, and add more value? How can you take that idea, and make it your own? Sometimes improving the wheel makes more sense than trying to re-invent it.


Pic via Cover Browser

OptSum: Getting out of the Social Media Bubble

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For the last three days I've been in Dallas attending and presenting at the Social Media Optimization Summit. The event was organized by Tami Siewruk and her team, and in many ways, I was an outsider. Which was a good thing.

The event was aimed primarily at the apartment industry and property managers. While Tami put together a very solid lineup of social media speakers, such as Jason Falls, Chris Penn, Geno Church, Charity Hisle, myself and others, many of us had little visibility in Tami's 'space'. This was great, because it meant that the audience, for the most part, had no pre-conceived notions about us, and our ideas and teachings had to stand on their own merits.

What I loved about the audience was that every thought we put forward was refocused through the lense of 'how does this work for my industry?' Normally when I speak at a marketing/social media event, the audience isn't this laser-focused on one particular sector or industry. But the people I met at #optsum were passionate about learning more about social media, and how it can work with and be incorporated into their current marketing efforts.

But I have to admit, as the event unfolded and I sat in on several workshops, I began to get a bit worried about my workshop. My Think Like a Rockstar workshop was focused on how rockstars create fans for their music, and how companies can replicate this via social media to create excitement for their own efforets. It was definitely the black sheep of the agenda, but somewhat to my surprise, there wasn't a chair left when the workshop started. I think that's because these people are passionate about their tenants and WANT to connect with them and were excited about the potential of using social media as a way to create and nurture relationships with their customers. It was very inspiring to see!

And speaking of inspiring, I loved how all the attendees were so passionate about Tami and her events. This is the first time when I have had attendees refer to a series of conferences as being 'life-changing events', but I heard that description more than once. Tami is planning on having a similar event (only bigger) back in Dallas in September, and if you are in the apartment industry (or even if you aren't), I highly recommend you attend!

BTW if you couldn't make it to Dallas, here's the slidedeck from my Think Like a Rockstar workshop:

Think Like A Rockstar: How to Build Fans and Community Around Your Social Media Efforts!View more presentations from Mack Collier.