I think it goes without saying that Aspen Snowmass is one of the best places in the world. Condé Nast Traveler just named Snowmass the #1 ski resort for the second year in a row, and for good reason. Families have come here for generations, from all over, to teach their kids to ski, party at après, hike 14’ers, get married, attend world-class events, wine and dine, leaf peep at the Bells, ride in hot air balloons… the list goes on.
An address in this valley is more than just a piece of real estate. It’s not even just a place to ski. It’s a place to be year round, during all four seasons, to soak up all aspects of the mountain life. And of the four mountains that make up this destination, Snowmass happens to be the largest and most diverse in terms of terrain and seasonal activities. It also happens to be the one place whose Base Village, as of just a few years ago, was still yet to get built out. After many years of contemplation, the town gave East West Partners the green light in 2016 to proceed and complete the Base, adding more residential, retail, hotel, restaurants, and a general sense of place.
It’s hard not to notice the changes to Snowmass Village as of late, but I don’t think people fully appreciate what was done to arrive at this point. I also don’t think people realize that the town doesn’t just approve projects of this scale willy-nilly. It took years to get here, and it will likely be many, many more years until a similar opportunity arises. Very soon, Snowmass Base Village will showcase its final collection of residences - Stratos.
Let me just say, if I had a nickel for every time someone said “I’ll wait for the next building,” I would be able to buy the penthouse myself. My friends, this is the last one. A lot of people have hesitated in the past because they think the prices are just too high - but this is new construction in Aspen Snowmass! Inventory is low, demand is high, and these projects sell out.
Another relevant note about our real estate market - not only did Snowmass experience a wave of Covid-era demand, it’s naturally a growing market due to its position in the Aspen community. There was a time when Aspen and Snowmass new construction sat at the same price per square foot - this was prior to 2008, shortly after which construction in Snowmass halted as the town sought a new developer. Over roughly the following 10 years, Aspen recovered from the recession while the Snowmass market seemed to be frozen in time, because Base Village hadn’t commenced construction.
Once the Base Village development kicked back into gear with East West Partners at the helm, Snowmass began to close the gap with Aspen once again, even prior to Covid, starting in 2018. And Snowmass will continue to grow for years to come. It’s not just Base Village precipitating this growth - there are plans to update the Center and the original Snowmass Village pedestrian mall with various players involved.
In other words, it can’t be overstated that regardless of the ebb and flow of the wider real estate market, this is perhaps THE time to invest in Snowmass real estate. And Stratos may be your last opportunity - at least for new construction - for a very long time. The good news is that if you get in early, as in during this winter’s reservation and selection sales process, you might score an early purchaser discount, or at the very least you’ll be signing in today’s market, but not closing until the market of 2-to-3 years from now.
Not convinced yet? Need some numbers? Check the link in my bio for a list of Base Village resales over the past 5 years, specific to the newer buildings. These numbers are not made up - some buyers literally doubled the value of their investment in a few short years. But to be honest with you, many buyers are holding on to their homes in Base Village, because they purchased a mountain home to enjoy the mountain life. It’s been amazing to see these families year after year, exploring the mountain and enjoying the village.
What makes Stratos so cool is that the developer has already proven itself with the other projects in Base Village — Limelight, Lumin, One Snowmass, Havens, Electric Pass Lodge, Cirque, and Aura — so in many ways they’ve cracked the code and identified what works really well. And at Stratos, there will be something for everyone. Village-level townhomes, residences with various layouts to choose from, and of course these amazing penthouse “sky cabins” with private roof decks. Stratos owners will get an abundance of ski home amenities, and yes, the building is ski-in, ski-out.
The best part is, you can walk to everything. Did you over-indulge at Kenichi? Go a little nuts at the Tavern? Had one too many martinis at Apres? No problem, you’re already here, in Base Village. You don’t need to drive anywhere. Just walk home and, please, don’t forget to drink water.
We now have all the detailed floor plans, pricing, and renderings for Stratos. Contact me to schedule a call or tour at the sales gallery in Snowmass Base Village! And mark your calendars - reservations begin at noon on January 30th, 2025. Contracts are signed starting February 6th, 2025.
Monica Montany
(970) 452-1985
