One of the most important things to families relocating to an area are the schools. Data released last Friday shows fairly strong academic performance in both Durango and Bayfield while Ignacio lagged behind. The Colorado Student Assessment Program, a series of tests given to children in grades three through 10 each fall, form the backbone of how the state measures public schools performance. In both the Durango School District and the Bayfield School District 97 percent of 10th graders kept up with reading standards. The statewide average was 93 percent. Our schools measure up.While important, school statistics are not the only measurement of the suitability of a community for raising a family. In small towns it seems that youth programs are a larger part of the overall lifestyle. Youn... 08/12/2009

DURANGO - Statistics for the 2nd quarter have been released by the Durango Area Association of Realtors and, as expected, they indicate our real estate market continues to suffer from the nationwide housing slowdown.The median sale price of Durango homes dropped 12 percent from $405,000 to 355,000. The number of sales fell by half, from 70 to 35. Homes in the La Plata county also saw declines. The median price of sold properties dropped 16 percent, from $344,975 to $288,300. The number of sales fell from 127 to 102.With prices declining and favorable interest rates it appears some buyers are coming back into the market. We have been busy. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 expanded the first-time homebuyer credit to $8,000, providing some incentive to stimulate real esta... 07/15/2009

Who can imagine that, trade a paperclip for a house? Yet it's been done. All you need is to believe and anything is possible. Ever wondered how trade and exchanging really works? Here's an inspiring example about how one young man traded his way up. Starting with one red paperclip he eventually got a house. Here's to show you, anything is possible with the right attitude.  Watch the videoclip here Or go to this website to read about it. www.oneredpaperclip.com. Call me to discuss exchange options for your house. I am a member of the National Council of Exchangors and a trained Equity Marketing Specialist. --Claudia WilliamsOwner/Ecobroker/ExchangorBlue Ribbon Properties835 Main Ave #214Durango, CO 81301 970 247 8388 (office)970 749 3555 (cell)970 247 8360 (fax)www.blueribbondurango.com ... 07/14/2009

Tuesday, July 07, 2009 4TH OF JULY in a small town - there's nothing like it. An outdoor breakfast in Rotary Park, arts and crafts in Buckley Park, patriotic readings on Main Avenue, and a KCBS sanctioned BBQ Cookoff; downtown was packed.The BBQ cookoff, sponsored by the Kiwanis as a fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Clubs, drew 29 cooking teams from as far away as Florida. These were some of the guys you see on the Food Network specials. We spent 2 days preparing and serving chicken, ribs, pork shoulder and brisket to the public and judges. Our team raised over $3,200 for the area clubs. The celebration was completed by a terrific parade lead by the Westwind Piper Band. Uncle Sam, Clydedales, Freemasons, Harleys and the Ladies and Gents of the Historical Society rounded out the spectacl... 07/07/2009

Last year, I profiled Durango, Colorado's premier winter celebration, known as SNOWDOWN.  Its that time again, and this year the theme couldn't be more appropriate - SNOWDOWN IN DA NILE! Yep, the whole town has great  reasons to forget the economic crisis, the housing crisis, the job crisis- at least for 5 days of fun, wacky events, and overall good times.  As co-coordinator for SNOWDOWN, I do a lot of work with our Team and Board all year long. But, most of the "heavy lifting" is done, and its time to celebrate the winter fest that puts us on the map of Colorado events, and brings us all together, SNOWDOWN. Wednesday kicks off with the totally wacky Dos n Don'ts Fashion show- this year entitled "Queens of Da Nile". What you'll see is anyone's guess!   Good weather is forecast for the e... 01/27/2009

AFFORDABLE HOUSING??? The Durango City Council has adopted our first official affordable housing policy by passing the Fair Share Housing inclusionary-zoning regulation. The policy will be added to the Land Use and Development Code, and requires builders to provide a percentage of affordable units or pay a fee in lieu for each new development of more than 2 units. Under the amendment 16 percent of homes in new developments would have to be priced as affordable or attainable under a four-tiered income and pricing structure formulated by the Regional Housing Alliance of La Plata County.No one disagrees that the Durango area is in need of more housing that is affordable for our citizens. But who is going to pick up the tab for the price reduction on the units or the fees in lieu. Simply pu... 12/03/2008

THE DRYSIDE??? The arid western portion of La Plata County, where residents draw drinking water from wells or truck it home in tanks, appears ready to shed the "Dryside" label hung by old-timers.Next week, ground will be broken on a $6 million intake at Lake Nighthorse southwest of Durango. Treated reservoir water then would be available for residents in a 250 square mile area on Fort Lewis Mesa. The reservoir, part of the Animas-La Plata Project, which is nearly complete, is to start filling in early 2009.Critical funding for the intake project came from the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe.It's estimated that the 700 acre feet of water in Lake Nighthorse that is available to the project is enough to serve 3,600 homes on the Dryside.http://www.homesindurango.com... 10/28/2008

THIRD QUARTER STATS: The median sale price for homes in Durango slipped 14 percent during the July 1 to September 30 period, while the number sold dropped 20 percent, and dollar volume fell 23 percent, compared with the same period in 2007.The median price is the midpoint of all homes sold - where half of the homes cost more and half cost less. As sales of higher priced homes have slowed, the resulting "median price" has come down. Overall the value of real estate in our area has remained remarkably stable when compared to other markets throughout the nation.We are hearing reports from Arizona, southern California and Las Vegas that these markets have bottomed out and are beginning to mend. If true, it bodes well for our Durango markets. Hopefully by the spring we'll see a return to nor... 10/23/2008

Its NOT TOO LATE! Fall is still brilliantly displayed here in Southerwest Colorado, in the high country and in the valleys, leaves are glowing golden, orange and even red. Yes, red, the color thought to belong to New England, is here, too. Last week we hiked the Purgatory Creek trail from Purgatory (Durango Mountain Resort) to the Cascade Wye, where the DSNGRR trains stop for lunch breaks on their shorter runs. It was stunning- absolutely breathtaking to walk among that special golden light that the shimmering, translucent aspen leaves give off.  Especially now with the markets in turmoil, our souls can use some R&R, and reconnection with the joys and beauty of natural surroundings. I think our ability to walk out the door and escape into nature is one reason people in Durango seem less... 10/10/2008

MORE FROM THE BLOTTER:Monday:11:05 p.m. A caller from the 5800 block of Main Avenue said her boyfriend was drunk andbelligerent. He was to spend the night in another room.11:54 p.m. A caller from the 5800 block of Main Avenue said here boyfriend was passed out infront of her room.Tuesday:11:49 a.m. A man sitting in a red van in the parking lot of Pueblo Community College, 701Camino Del Rio, had been there since 9 a.m. watching people come and go.Saturday:2:00 a.m. A man was in the street screaming and hitting cars in the 2900 block of RichardDrive. He had been kicked out of his house.3:45 a.m. A neighbor reported a woman screaming in the 3600 block of 502. A deputy reportedfinding a lot of cat hair in the road.To Be Continued.....http://homesindurango.com/http://durangorealestate.biz/ p... 09/21/2008

CNNMoney.com: In a recent article CNN featured "6 terrific town on the water." Many baby boomers dream of retiring somewhere by the water. CNN recommended a half-dozen places that are on a lake, a river or an ocean that won't sink your retirement budget.Guess what? Durango was number one on the list.Durango's name originates from the Basque word for "water town," thanks to the mighty Animas River, which flows almost parallel to our Main Avenue. CNN pointed out vacationers flock here to kayak, fly-fish or enjoy the water views from our many hiking, biking trails or from the network of shady parks along the river.The Durango lifestyle with our arts community, quality restaurants, farmer's market and the surrounding San Juan National Forest together with our stable real estate economy is a... 09/12/2008

MORE FROM THE POLICE BLOTTER:Monday 7:38 p.m.A woman accidentally called 911 while programming the emergency number into her telephone.Tuesday 12.15 p.m.A woman's neighbor was standing at a window making derogatory statements in the 300 block of 23rd Street.Friday 3:00 p.m.A brand inspector needed assistance with a large number of goats on a road near U.S. Highway 160B and County Road 509.Friday 5:35 p.m.No one was inside an open store in the 1100 block of South Camino del Rio for 20 minutes. An employee forgot to lock up at closing.Saturday 12.59 p.m.Several mules and horses were in the road in the 8000 block of County Road 501, north of Bayfield.To be continued.....http://HomesInDurango.comhttp://DurangoRealEstate.biz posted by Durango Real Estate Blog at 9: 09/11/2008

Visitors to Durango often find a world quite different from the place they call "home." Its not just the beauty of the mountain or the blueness of the sky, the real difference is the people and the laid back lifestyle of Durango. One comment we hear most is how fun it is to read the excerpts from the Durango Police Blotter published daily in the Durango Herald. As special ones appear, we'll share them with you. For instance:Friday - 11 a.m.A man wearing army fatigues on the bike path near the 300 block of West College Drive was carrying what appeared to be a gun in his pants, but it turned out to be a black electronic device.http://HomesInDurango.comhttp://DurangoRealEstate.biz 08/25/2008

RAILFEST: The 10th annual Durango Railfest that started last Thursday attacted large crowd of railroad buffs including visitiors from Germany, Italy and England.Two historic engines were here for the celebration. The restored Durango & Rio Grande Western engine No. 315 and the Galloping Goose No. 5, a GMC gasoline powered engine put in service during the Great Depression by the Rio Grande Southern Railroad when operating steam engines became too expensive. Engine No. 315 could be seen hauling passengers to Cascade. The restored engine appeared brand new.In addition to Railfest, Saturday brought the Brewfest to Buckley Park in downtown Durango. Eleven breweries from all over Colorado were on hand dispersing their hand crafted products. What a weekend!What's next? Can you feel the distant... 08/24/2008

WATER: The rural water system that would serve the southern portion of La Plata County and the southwestern area of Archuleta County that has been discussed for 20 years took a step closer to realization this week when voters, by a slim margin, approved the creation of the La Plata Archuleta Water District. The district aims to establish a rural water system where residents currently depend on water wells or have water trucked in.In addition to creating the district voters selected five members to serve as the district's board of directors. District officials will have to go back to voters to fund the system. The date for that election has not been set.While this is a long term project it is badly needed and will open up a huge part of the county for residential use.http://HomesInDurang... 08/18/2008

LIFE IN DURANGO: If anyone wonders what its like to live in Durango they should visit on the 4th of July. Festivities began on July 3rd with the Kiwanis BBQ Cookoff. We set up the smokers at 7:00 a.m. along Main Street at Buckley Park, cooked all day and served the public brisket, sausage & pork shoulder at 4:00 p.m.July 4th was competition day and we began serving BBQ at 11:00. When all was said and done, our team sold over $4,000 of BBQ for the Kiwanis fundraiser. At the same time, an Arts & Crafts Show was happening in Buckley Park. The crowds were fabulous.Celebrating July 4, the Declaration of Independence was read for the public, a fantastic patriotic parade proceeded down Main (we have a parade for nearly every occasion) and the day ended with a spectacular fireworks display.Dura... 07/11/2008

LAKE DURANGO: La Plata County Commissioners have lifted the five year old moratorium on new subdivision development that would rely on water from Lake Durango. The ban was based on concerns about both the quantity and quality of the water.Commissioners determined that circumstances have changed since then with improvements made to the Pine River ditch to decrease seepage, the addition of circulators to the lake and upgrades to the treatment plant. Additionally, new wells in Durango West have helped decrease the demand on the lake, which serves Durango West I and II, as well as Shenandoah, Trappers Crossing and Rafter J.The request to lift the ban came from Trappers Crossing developer Ron Spence and Cole Eden, who has proposed a seven lot development called Ridgewood Estates. Spence is s... 06/06/2008

LIVING IN DURANGO: If you think a cold 20 mph north wind coupled with a steady drizzle/rain would keep a football stadium full of Durangotangs from throwing a beach party - you would be wrong! Last night IT WAS THE BEACH BOYS!With only a handfull of timid no-shows the party went off with a bang and, according to the Beach Boys, folks in Durango "are flipin' crazy." Rockin' and rollin', dancing in the isles and, in general, having a great time Durango turned out for the "Boys." Beach balls were flying (it's amazing how far a beach ball will fly in a 20 mph wind.)An hour and a half program ended with Surfin' Safari and, of course, Surfin' USA while the entire stadium danced on its feet in the rain. Thanks to the Beach Boys for sticking in there and turning a miserable evening into a remar... 06/05/2008

TRAPPERS CROSSING: 5 years ago La Plata County Commissioners placed a moratorium on new water taps in the Lake Durango Water System due to the severe drought in the southwest part of the state. Tuesday Ron Spence, the developer of Trappers Crossing, requested that the ban be lifted. He cited the drought is over, the lake is full and feels he's entitled to use the taps paid for.The request comes as the private company that delivers Lake Durango water is about to be sold to the Lake Durango Water Authority, a governmental authority created in 2007 to settle years of controversy over water quality and quantity. The arrangement still must be approved by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission. Nevertheless we feel the commissioners should approve Mr. Spence's request and lift the ban. They... 05/14/2008

LET'S COOPERATE: The Durango City Council is pushing a measure that would require developers help pay for required infrastructure. La Plata County Commissioners have expressed concern about the pace of the plan.The City Council has made enacting an adequate public facilities ordinance a top priority but many feel that, without the county's cooperation, the ordinance will increase sprawl by pushing growth out into unincorporated areas. Anyone who has attempted to get county approval on new development knows this is highly unlikely.What we have here is a case of the City of Durango planning for the future and steering growth where it is most suitable while La Plata County sits on its behind saying "future?"http://HomesInDurango.comhttp://DurangoRealEstate.biz 05/14/2008