Aspen CO Homes & Properties For Sale or Rent By Neighborhood

DOWNTOWN ASPEN

 

(River Park Townhome, central town location, 132 N. Spring St,  5 Bdrms/6 Ba, 5,389 sq ft, 2-car garage plus  furnished. Please contact Tim Estin at 970-309.6163 or email for info. (Photo courtesy of Aspen Snowmass Sothebys International Realty.)

DOWNTOWN ASPEN Bordered by Roaring Fork River to the the north and east, Aspen Mountain to the south, Paepke Park to the west, this is central downtown “Core” living. This area has become arguably Aspen’s most desired location for obvious prime walkability and proximity-to-everything reasons. The trade-off for in-town living is that there’s simply not much single family, townhome or duplex inventory and it’s unlikely there ever will be because of the stringent zoning limitations. Almost all of Aspen’s condo inventory is located here in the Core. This location is characterized by high demand, low supply, Gondola and walk to skiing proximity but very few actual ski in/ski-out properties. Close to 90% of the condo projects in Aspen were built in the 60’s, 70’s and early 80’s. They look ‘old’ and ‘tired’ even though these projects are revitalized every 10-15 years with exterior make-overs. Most owners extensively update their interiors, and, consequently, these remodeled “like-new” Aspen condo units are in the greatest demand and command the highest price per sq. ft.  and sell the quickest. If considering a resale of your downtown Aspen condo, the best bang for your buck – the highest price premium you’ll be able to achieve – is to remodel and make your unit drop-dead gorgeous…and then sell.

 

• Downtown Aspen Homes and Properties for Sale or Rent

RED MOUNTAIN

Red Mountain Aspen Contemporary Home: 720 Willoughby Way. 2016 built, 7 Bdrm/9 Ba, 8,737 sq ft, 3-car garage. Contact Tim Estin for information  970.309.6163 or email. (Photos courtesy of Aspen Snowmass Sothebys International Realty.)

RED MOUNTAIN is one of Aspen’s pre-eminent locations due to its proximity to town and stunning all mountain 180 views overlooking the town of Aspen and surrounding high-mountain ranges. It is the area ‘behind’, or north of, the Hotel Jerome. The homes are some of the largest sized in all of Aspen and are perched on the hillside looking down upon the town. It’s extraordinarily beautiful. Vacant land typically starts at $7.5M and up. Homes generally are priced $8M to $30M+. There are some Red Mtn properties priced at $6.95-8.95M.

• Current Red Mountain properties for sale

HISTORIC WEST END ASPEN

West End Aspen Homes for Sale: 333 W Bleeker. 1909 Built/2016 Remodeled, 3 Bdrm/3 Ba, 2,074 sq ft, 1-car garage on 6,000 sq ft corner lot. Contact Tim at 970.309.6163 or email for additional info and showing. (Photos courtesy of Whitman Properties.)

HISTORIC WEST END ASPEN Avoid traffic in and out of town and walk pretty much everywhere.  Similar to the Core, but without the ‘urban in-the-city type’ feeling,  this is in-town living in a beautiful and safe historic Aspen neighborhood within easy walking/biking distance to downtown, Aspen Music Festival, Aspen Institute, This has long been considered one of Aspen’s most prestigious areas. Dotted with historic, Victorian mining homes and landmarks, it is ‘old’ Aspen preserved, dressed-up and convenient to everywhere. Prices start at $4.0 – 5M’s for a vacant lot if available. House sizes max out at the Pitkin County limit of 5,750 sq. ft. but look much smaller as much of their sq. footage has been built sub-grade, a mandate from the Aspen P&Z to preserve the both the historic look of homes above grade and the small town quality of the neighborhood while allowing home-owners to go big underground.  Most of the homes one sees from the street on the West End are actually double the size with their below grade “hidden” component.

• Current Historic West End Aspen properties for sale

SMUGGLER AREA

Smuggler Area/Fox Crossing Subdivision, 559 Race Alley. Large single family homes built 2006 walkable into town. Example: 5 Bdrm/7 Ba, 6,285 sq ft home with 2-car garage on a 6,515 sq ft lot. For more information call Tim Estin at 970.309.6163 or email. (Photos courtesy of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services.)

SMUGGLER AREA   As the Aspen Core area and the West End are so desirable, there’s also limited inventory.  “Smuggler” is the closest area to downtown Aspen outside of the Core and West End. Its appeal lies in fantastic dead-on views of Aspen Mountain, walking proximity to downtown, hiking trails, the Rio Grande Trail along the Roaring Fork River.  The area is known for its mixed use of dwelling units – ‘affordable’ single family homes – as in Smuggler Mobile Park, duplexes, condos, apartment buildings – as well as brand new $6M-9M home properties. A recent sale in Dec 2017 of a re-development lot split project with a new contemporary home sold at $6.3M/$1,996 sq ft.  A new price threshold for the area. It’s a mix of funkiness and high quality that may represent great value and opportunity or not. If you want to live among the ‘commoners’, full-time highly educated locals, this is it.  Two or three home sites in this general area (Miner’s Trail) belonged to Ken Lay of Enron fame. There is a new development called Fox Crossing of approximately (20) new home sites and townhomes completed in 2009- 2014. These single family homes offer proximity to town, new construction and drop dead Aspen Mountain views.

• Current Smuggler area single family homes, duplexes, condos and other properties for sale

MOUNTAIN VALLEY/KNOLLWOOD/EASTWOOD AND ASPEN CLUB AREAS

Knollwood Subdivision, 205 Roaring Fork Dr. Example: 2009 Remodeled home with 6 Bdrms/6Ba, 4,794 sq ft, 2-car garage on a 15,500 sq ft lot. Call Tim Estin at 970.309.6163 or by email. (Photos courtesy of Douglas Elliman Real Estate.) 

MOUNTAIN VALLEY/KNOLLWOOD/EASTWOOD AND ASPEN CLUB AREAS  This area is in transition from old 60’s and 70’s ski homes to new 5,000+ sq ft second homes much like the Cemetery/Snowbunny Lane area. Many home sites here have Aspen Mountain views (and Town of Aspen), along with a 3-minute drive into town. The area is nicknamed “the poor man’s Red Mountain”, but it’s much nicer than that name belies. In the past decade, tear down homes have been  bought up by builders/developers who have been transforming the Knollwood/Mtn Valley area with newer homes. The tear down lot price range is $5-8M.  As a qualifier, the western portion of this area, closer to town, with Aspen Mountain and town views has been the area of much redevelopment focus – specifically McSkimming, Knollwood and Eastwood; the eastern portion of Mountain Valley with North  Star Preserve and East Independence views are less active at present.  Many of Aspen’s professional ‘locals’ used to live in this once more affordable area, similar to the Cemetery Ln area. This used to be middle-class Aspen, professional full-time residents.

• Current Mountain Valley, Knollwood, Eastwood properties for sale

EAST ASPEN/HWY 82 - INDEPENDENCE AREA

East Aspen/Riverside Subdivision. Example: 1195 Riverside Dr. This is a 2017 built, 6 Bdrm/7Ba, 4,256 sq ft home with 2-car garage on 14,187 sq ft lot. Call Tim for more info at 970.309.6163 or email. (Photos courtesy of Coldwell Banker Mason Morse Real Estate.)

EAST ASPEN/HWY 82 – INDEPENDENCE AREA  This area is east of Mountain Valley heading towards Independence Pass. It’s characterized by a beautiful Roaring Fork River valley floor running along the Roaring Fork drainage. The area’s focal point is North Star Preserve, called “one of Colorado’s last great places” by The Nature Conservancy, a 310 acre tract of open space located about 1.5 miles east of Aspen on either side of the river. It is a quiet, peaceful cherished area very close to town. Capitalizing on the lack of density, congestion, traffic and lots of open space, the area has been undergoing a renewal as older homes are replaced with newer projects. Typically, big mountain views are somewhat more limited but different on this side of town. The area is more relaxed and has a feeling of being ‘away from the ‘hustle and bustle’ while still only 2-5 minutes to downtown.The section alongside the Preserve itself is regarded by some as Aspen’s new “Gold Coast” with a few rarefied multi-million dollar homes bordering one of Aspen’s most beautiful natural wetlands preserve open space. See the North Star Preserve map.

• Current East Hwy 82/Independence Area properties for sale

ASPEN HIGHLANDS, FIVE TREES & MEADOWOOD

WEST ASPEN/ASPEN HIGHLANDS SUB. – THE “GLENS”. Example: 372 Glen Eagles Dr. This a beautiful Craftsman Style ski-in/ski-out home remodeled in 2011. It’s 5 Ensuite-Corner-Bdrms/8 Ba, 7,324 sq ft with media, exercise, play rooms on a huge 35,283 sq ft lot bordering the Five Trees Open Space and a ski tail accessing the Five Trees Chairlift to Aspen Highlands Ski Area. The neighborhood is walkable to Aspen District Schools and just down the street is the Aspen Recreation center. This is an ideal Aspen family home! Call Tim Estin for information at 970.309.6163 or email. (Photos courtesy of Aspen Snowmass International Realty.) 

Highlands: Along the slopes of the Aspen Highlands Ski Area are two distinct newer (1999/2000) neighborhoods flanking the ski slopes that overlook Aspen Highlands Village which was designed by renowned Robert A.M. Stern Architects. Thunder Bowl and Exhibition Areas: Together these neighborhoods offer a limited number of home sites, 31 in total. Looking up the ski mountain on the the left side (north) is the Thunder Bowl area: 12 of these lots are located adjacent to the Thunderbowl ski run and have broad views that sweep through Maroon Creek, the red cliffs of Tiehack, Red Mountain and the Roaring Fork valley. On the right side of the mountain (south) is the Exhibition area: the other 19 lots are folded into the more secluded Maroon neighborhood, located  at the base of Lower Stein ski trail. Much of this terrain is heavily forested and, as a result, these homes and home sites enjoy wooded privacy and views that reach deep into the valley toward the Maroon Bells, as well as the grounds of Maroon Creek below.

Other residential areas within the Highlands sphere are: Five Trees and “the Glens” with streets called Glen Dee, Glen Gary, Glen Eagles.

The Highlands Area amenities include: walk/bike proximity to the Aspen Recreation Center (called the ARC – a gorgeous facility where every indoor sport activity imaginable is offered to residents and visitors); 24 hour on-call free taxi/limo service door-to-door for Highlands Village & Five Tree residents; ski-in/ski-out homes, ski-to-school proximity to Aspen District Schools.

Free taxi and Bus Service: The newer subdivisions – Aspen Highlands/Thunder Bowl and Exhibition areas and Five Trees offer free taxi service, called Dial a Ride, to property owners as a condition of the developer’s City of Aspen development approval and annexation.  The area is characterized by newer homes at excellent value within reasonable close proximity to Aspen. Importantly, the area is on the “correct” side of the roundabout meaning that traffic merges here heading into Aspen, rather than stopping at the roundabout … a significant traffic consideration. Free bus shuttle service is also offered from the Aspen Highlands Village to Aspen, Snowmass Village and Down valley.

• Current Aspen Highlands Area properties for sale

FIVE TREES

Located just outside the Aspen City limits west of town heading towards Aspen Highlands and the Aspen School District, this 40-site single-family development (formerly known as the Moore Family PUD) was developed by Hines Resorts in the late 1990’s, the group that developed the new Aspen Highlands Village. The Five Trees and Maroon Creek areas are Aspen’s newest subdivisions. Wonderfully located between Meadowood Subdivision and Aspen Highlands Ski Area, Five Trees is convenient to Aspen, the Aspen Recreation Center (ARC), Aspen schools and skiing at Aspen Highlands. A neighborhood chairlift connects Five Trees with the Thunderbowl side of the Aspen Highlands Ski Area. Five Trees area amenities include: private Five Trees access chairlift to Aspen Highlands Ski Area; walk/biking proximity to ARC (every sports imaginable is offered here to town residents); bike paths to Aspen, open spaces and hiking trails; 24 hr on-call free taxi service door-to-door for Five Tree residents; ski-in/ski-out, ski-to-school proximity to Aspen District Schools, incredible western sunset views.

• Current Five Trees properties for sale

MEADOWOOD

This is a residential area above the Aspen School District that has many older homes with some properties offering ski-in (to the Five Trees chairlift), possibly ski-out. The area had been in rapid and significant transition with older 60’s-80’s ski homes being replaced with substantial newer second homes due to close proximity to Aspen Highlands Ski Area, Five Trees and the Aspen Rec Center. The area has a beautiful open space meadow with a small but very visible pond and tennis courts for residents. There are walking/biking trails, public transportation directly into downtown Aspen and to the nearby ARC.

• Current Meadowood properties for sale

WEST ASPEN - SNOWBUNNY LN, CEMETERY LN, CASTLE CRK DR, RED BUTTE

Snowbunny, Cemetery Lane and Red Butte area: Close to town, golf course views, bike paths, on the public bus route. Lot values here are likely to be higher priced than the Mountain Valley area on the other east side of town … especially those properties that border the Aspen Golf course and offer beautiful views south directly up the Maroon Bells and Pyramid Peak. Again, this has been an area in transition. There’s a lot of older 60’s – 80’s housing inventory here that is being replaced with new multi-million dollar homes. A number of the single family homes are on duplex lots (especially those bordering the Aspen Golf Course and Red Butte Cemetery) attracting builder/developers for spec homes. Similar to the Mountain Valley area, many of Aspens professional locals used to live in this once “more affordable” area. Over the years, they have been slowly squeezed out by the rising values.

• Current West Aspen Area properties for sale

WEST BUTTERMILK

This area shares the same mountainside as Buttermilk Ski Area. Some of its exposures face northvwest looking across Buttermilk towards Starwood and McLain Flats Rd. Other more spectacular views face south west looking over Owl Creek with stunning Mt. Daly and Snowmass Peak views and sunsets.

• Current West Buttermilk properties for sale

OWL CREEK

Owl Creek is a stunning small Colorado ‘park’, a vast stretch of open space between Aspen and Snowmass south of the Aspen Airport. Commonly referred to as the “back way” to Snowmass. It’s one of the most beautiful areas in Aspen with views of sprawling Colorado ranch type vistas surrounded by major peaks. Estates in Owl Creek have big acreage (10+ acres), big square footage and provide elegant ranch style living in an unmatched setting. One of the most expensive Aspen real estate transactions has taken place here with the sale of Mandalay Ranch, 600 acres+, for $49M in the summer of 2004. The seller was Hollywood producer Peter Guber. 

• Current Owl Creek properties for sale

MAROON CREEK AREA

Maroon Creek Sub-Neighborhoods:

Maroon Creek Single Family Homes and Townhomes

This is Aspen’s newest and most elegant golf course neighborhood. Situated between the Buttermilk Tiehack ski lift and the Maroon Creek Club’s Tom Fazio 18-hole championship golf course, and between downtown Aspen and the airport, this area borders 370 acres of open meadow, aspen groves and pine forests. Maroon Creek is a secluded and private neighborhood of 43 home sites, ranging in size from ¼ acre to 3 acres.  Homes are large, majestic and newer. There is a pedestrian bridge crossing Maroon Creek providing easy and nearby access to the ARC, Aspen Recreation Center, the Aspen School District and a bike/walkway to Meadowood, Aspen Highlands and further into town. A number of properties are on the ski slopes of Tiehack – the “backside” of Buttermilk Ski Area – for ski in / out, excellent winter (uphill on Tiehack) and summer hiking, and golf course living.  Generally, the area is sunnier than Aspen Highlands, with better views and less density amongst homes and properties, and unlike the Highlands, it is not a special taxing district so property taxes are lower.

Maroon Creek Townhomes

Located next to the chairlift on Tiehack, this 16-unit complex offers views of Tiehack, Highlands and the Maroon Creek/Roaring Fork corridor, ski-in access from Tiehack lift, underground parking, and beautiful landscaping. Walk to the chairlift and the 12th tee of the award-winning Maroon Creek golf course. The 4,50- 5,500 sq. ft.Townhomes were designed by Bill Poss with the high quality stone and frame construction, high ceilings and wonderful architectural detailing.

Club Side Townhomes at Maroon Creek

The Clubside townhomes at Maroon Creek, located adjacent to The Maroon Creek Club, one of the world’s most prestigious private country clubs, were designed by Bill Poss and Associates and offer “truly livable” floor plans. Created in a duplex configuration with only 10 feet of common party wall between, each unit offers a very private 6,500 square feet of living space, decks, and generous 2-car garages and golf cart storage. Every Clubside unit faces south and each has sweeping views of the neighboring mountain peaks from Independence Pass to Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Tiehack Mountain and Buttermilk. The interiors by Robert Trown and Associates provide large, gracious spaces, vaulted ceilings and expansive windows, all carefully designed to represent the feeling of a single family home. Finished with old world European style with stone and wood, these homes offer a new standard in mountain living.

Maroon Greens Townhomes

The Maroon Greens Townhomes are eleven of the finest deluxe townhomes in Aspen. Located between the base of the Buttermilk/Tiehack ski area and the 12th fairway of the Maroon Creek Club Golf course, these units offer golf course frontage and ski-in access. Each unit has private underground 2-car garages as well as golf cart storage and guest parking.

• Current Maroon Creek Area properties for sale

Starwood

This is Aspen’s only gated community made famous by former Aspen resident John Denver in his song, “Starwood in Aspen”. Prince Bandar’s 55,000 sq. ft former home, later hedge fund billionaire John Paulsen’s,  is in Starwood.  Some of the best property values in the entire Aspen area are located here and on McLain Flats. .Situated above McLain Flats Road on a well-irrigated mountain plateau with abundant groves of Aspen trees and panoramic mountain vistas, it is God’s country. Just 12-15 minutes to downtown Aspen, the area offers unsurpassed 180 degree views of all four of Aspen’s Ski mountains, Mount Daly, Capitol Peak and Mt Sopris. Built in 1980’s thru mid ‘90’s, the homes are generally ‘older’ and the area is experiencing somewhat of a rebirth. While newer Aspen development attention in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s focused on the Maroon Creek, Five Trees and the Highlands areas, Starwood’s ‘star’ waned, or was forgotten. And as more buyers have sought closer in-town living, Starwood has also been burdened by a perception that it’s too far from the action. But it’s an area clearly on the rebound as buyers perceive value and opportunity here on a relative cost basis in an extraordinarily beautiful and absolutely unique setting. Starwood offers the ultimate Rocky Mountain High and its panoramic mountain views with glorious mature Aspen tree groves, abundant irrigated and open fields are unrivaled. Hallelujah. Amen Aspen !

• Current Starwood properties for sale

MCLAIN FLATS

McLain Flats Rd. is the “back road” to Woody Creek, paralleling Highway 82, but on a high agricultural plateau once home to Aspen’s most pastoral high mountain ranches. The road is known to locals for its breathtaking panoramic views of all of Aspen’s major mountains and peaks iwith a more farm/ranch type setting. This is one of Aspen’s most beautiful places because of the views and agricultural feeling. Lot sizes tend to be 3-10 acres, horses are allowed, house sizes tend to be larger with abundant water rights running off Salvation Ditch (Aspen’s primary irrigation source) and amazing mountain views.  Cher had a wonderful adobe style ranch here and downtown retail impresario, Boogie Weinglass has his amazing Merry-Go-Round Ranch here as well and billionaire hedge funder John Paulsen sold his beautiful Aspen Lakes Ranch property in this area.

• Current McLain Flats properties for sale

WOODY CREEK

Woody Creek: Approximately 5-6 miles from downtown Aspen, this area had been made famous as the home of the legendary writer Hunter S. Thompson, in particular, and other well-known celebrities – actor Don Johnson lived here, Felicity Huffman’s family has a long-time Aspen homestead, Eagles musician Glenn Fry to name just a few. The reasons for its popularity are varied: remote but close to Aspen, the ‘renegade’ spirit of the place, it’s charming, funky Woody Creek Tavern as the community’s nerve center, a fair amount of riverfront properties, verdant small valley floors such as Little Woody Creek and the Lenado Mining Road. A funky and elegant mix of artists, cowboys, and entrepreneurs live here, and its rebel and outsider aura carries on. R.I.P Raoul Duke.

• Current Woody Creek area properties for sale

OLD SNOWMASS (SNOWMASS, CO)

Old Snowmass or Snowmass, CO (not to be confused with the ski resort which is called Snowmass Village) is a more rural area located approximately 20-25 minutes from Aspen known for its more rural, “Old” Colorado ranch/farm and country road type of setting. It’s a beautiful relaxed area with homes priced $1M – $13MM. The simplest way to put it is…”As Sagaponack is to Southampton, LI, Old Snowmass is to Aspen; as Nantucket is to Martha’s Vineyard, MA, Old Snowmass is to Aspen”.

• Current Old Snowmass properties for sale

BRUSH CREEK VILLAGE

Brush Creek Village is the subdivision located precisely halfway between Aspen and Snowmass Village at the intersection of Highway 82/Brush Creek Road which is the main road leading up to Snowmass Village and resort. The area is typically known for its big views, larger size lots – typically 2-3 acres, and more affordable, good value single family homes within the Aspen School District.

• Current Brush Creek Village properties for sale