Western Colorado is a beautiful place to own a vacation home. It features incredible views and recreational opportunities, a growing economy, fewer people than the Front Range, and better prices on real estate. When you own a vacation home, you get to enjoy all the region's benefits, plus additional income from renting your property to others who want to enjoy the same. According to Beyond Pricing data, short-term rental prices in Colorado have increased by 25% since March 2020.
If you’re looking to enjoy everything Western Colorado offers while putting money in your pocket every month, these three places should be on your radar.
Cimarron, Colorado Real Estate
Cimarron, Colorado is a small, rural community in Montrose County, located just south of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. At 6,896 feet, Cimarron has gorgeous mountains and caters to year-round recreational activities, like fishing in Cimarron Creek and boating on the Crystal Reservoir. Historically a railroad town, the quaint downtown area still features original cattle chutes, water towers, and railcars.
Ridgway, Colorado Real Estate
Along the Uncompahgre River in the northern San Juan Mountains is the town of Ridgway, Colorado. The San Juan Mountain Range is home to 14 of Colorado's 53 peaks over 14,000 feet, with Ridgway itself at 6,985 feet. The Uncompahgre River runs through the town, flowing into the Ridgway State Park and Reservoir. Its natural beauty, mountains, and rivers paint Ridgway as a picturesque western town, and it has even been used as the setting of several prominent western movies, like John Wayne’s True Grit, How the West Was Won, and Tribute to a Bad Man.
Ouray, Colorado Real Estate
With an alpine environment, plenty of winter activities, and an elevation of 7,792 feet, Ouray, Colorado is widely referred to as the “Switzerland of America”. Bordered by the San Juan Mountains, Ouray is a popular destination for ice climbing, mountain biking, hiking, trail running, and off-roading expeditions. Ouray is also home to five developed natural hot springs.
Perks of Vacation Homes Colorado
Colorado vacation homes allow you to make money and build equity while you enjoy the lifestyle and recreation that speak to you. By owning a vacation home in gorgeous destinations like Cimarron, Ridgway, and Ouray, you can escape to the mountains whenever you like without worrying about the cost of accommodation. When you’re not using your vacation home, you can turn it into a short-term rental and get paid by others who want to escape to the mountains too.
If owning a short-term rental isn’t up your alley, there are several other types of Colorado investment properties you can find instead. For more details, check out my other blog post titled, “10 Reasons Why You Should Own an Investment Property”.
As you embark on your hunt for Colorado vacation homes, I would love to help you find the perfect destination and property. Contact me, Jennifer Thomas, at 970-209-2378 or jenthomas1515@gmail.com.