International buyers interested in investing in a luxury home within the most prime real estate markets in the world are giving Aspen a second look this week. “The Wealth Report 2012” released its 2012 findings concerning the prime real-estate markets of the world. Not surprisingly to Aspenites, Aspen was ranked the 39^th most expensive market in the world, and the number one most expensive city for its size in the U.S.

The Wealth Report is an annual examination of prime real estate, both commercial and residential, produced in collaboration by Citi Private Bank and real-estate firm, Knight Frank. Through this report trends among the world’s most wealthy investors are identified and studied.

The Aspen Business Journal announced the news to the Aspen and Snowmass Village area last week in a detailed piece, which looked closely at The Wealth Report, its significance and the determining factors in the rankings it offers.

The Wealth Report found only one other city in United States that ranked higher than Aspen on its list of the 63 most expensive cities in the world. Only Manhattan ranked higher, coming in at #17 on the list with the average square foot of residential property costing $2,200. Aspen’s current price hovers around $1,000 per square foot. The most expensive city in the world is Monaco, with the average square foot costing roughly $5,400.

Other mountain resort cities throughout the world made the list including, Courchevel, St. Moritz, Gstaad and Chamonix. Perhaps hinting at a trend toward luxury ski towns for investment home purchases among the wealthy. Only two other American cities made the report, Telluride and Miami coming in at #46 and #53 respectively.

The Wealth Report noted that growth in one corner of the world prompted growth in other parts, likewise all real estate, even in the luxury markets, suffered due to the worldwide economic downturn. This interconnectivity is evidence that all markets in this day and age are global. The technology allowing us to buy and sell property internationally quickly and effectively is inevitably tying the housing markets worldwide to each other.

The Aspen Business Journal also noted that a contributing factor to Aspen’s allure among the world’s most wealthy investors was an increasing trend within this demographic to “invest in ‘life’s luxuries and pleasures.” Aspen is veritable Mecca of luxurious shopping, dining balanced with fantastic art, culture and intellectual exchange.  But perhaps most appealing about Aspen, beyond the skiing, scenery and culture, is the relaxed and laid-back atmosphere where one could sip coffee in a pair of jeans or unwind on the mountain skiing or hiking.

While Aspen may rank as the 39^th most expensive place on earth, it is neither ostentatious, nor is it elitist. In Aspen, one can experience all of the luxuries of life in a prime real estate market while simultaneously enjoying the quiet, serenity of a mountain town. Aspen is truly an investment in lifestyle.

Click here to see just a few homes, condos and investment properties currently on the market in the Aspen and Snowmass Village and invest in your lifestyle today!

Six hundred people this May will have the opportunity to ride Colorado Highway 82 before anyone else in 2012. Traditionally, every winter Hwy 82 shuts down to vehicle traffic until the warm summer months. However, it opens up to cyclists for just one day during that period to support the Independence Pass Foundation in the Ride for the Pass Race. This year that day falls on May 19^th.

The Independence Pass Foundation is a private, nonprofit 501©(3), established to preserve and enhance the natural beauty of Independence Pass.  The Pass serves as the historic connection between the Western Slope communities and the Front Range. During the summer months, thousands of people cross over the pass to witness its unique beauty and to experience its incredible recreation opportunities. Since 1989, the people within the Aspen community have supported and sustained the efforts of the Foundation to protect the Pass through donations of their time, money and volunteer work.

The Ride for the Pass Race is just one example of community-supported fundraisers that have helped in the objective to conserve Independence Pass for over twenty years. In this 10-mile recreational and competitive bike race, participants will head out the Winter Gate 4 and ride 10 miles west to Independence Ghost Town. Throughout this ten-mile ride, racers will climb 2,500 feet to go from 8,500 feet to 11,100 feet. Families and first time racers are welcome and encouraged to experience Hwy 82 before the summer traffic takes over.

This same weekend, The Aspen Cycling Criterium will also take place. This race is all about speed! In the heart of downtown Aspen, cyclists will hit speeds of 28mph around a track less than one mile around. As part of the Rocky Mountain Cup, hosted by PreRace.com, the winner in this competition will win big with a $2,500 prize. This is an exciting race to witness and a fan favorite to watch.

As the first real race of the USA Cycling Races season in the Rockies, all racers must have their USAC license. One-day licenses are available for those interesting in participating in this single event. USAC youth racers race for free, while adults race for a mere $20.

Many in the cycling community see these two races as the commencement of cycling season in Aspen and Snowmass Village and refer to this weekend as the “Aspen Cycling Festival.” Last year LIVESTRONG hosted a pre-party the night before The Ride for the Pass at Belly Up with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and a chance to win Lance Armstrong memorabilia.

The Aspen Cycling Festival will wind down with a party at the Sky Hotel in Aspen, with free beer and drawing prizes from businesses within the Roaring Fork Valley. As with any Aspen event, the parties and celebration will go on all week throughout town in various restaurants and bars. There will be plenty of fun to be had on the racecourse and off.

The Aspen and Snowmass communities embrace high intensity sports in every season. As the ski season draws to a close in the last weeks of April, Roaring Forks residents don’t waste any time kicking off the cycling season. Come on down and join the fun! When you aren’t racing or enjoying the beautiful spring season in the Rockies, you can take a moment to check out homes, condos and residences in the Aspen and Snowmass Village area. Click here to get started today! www.GregRulon.com

On April 1^st and 2^nd landmarks throughout the entire world, from the Empire State Building to the Sydney Opera House to Aspen Mountain, will light up blue to bring attention to autism and individuals on the autism spectrum. In Aspen, the Light It Up Blue Aspen is more than just the lighting of Aspen Mountain; it is three days of educational events and fun for families with members on the autism spectrum, educators and community members.

Author Rupert Issacson’s movie, The Horse Boy, detailing his family’s use of horse therapy, and their subsequent journey to Mongolia as part of his son’s treatment for autism, has brought him critical and professional acclaim. He and his business partner, Iliane Lorenz from the Horse Boy Foundation will offer an equine therapy demonstration on Sunday, April 1^st at 1:00p.m at the WindWalker’s Ranch. Together they will demonstrate the techniques and healing effects of horses on the autism spectrum individual as well as those suffering from other neuro-psychiatric conditions through the Horse Boy’s Methods.

As the sun sets Sunday evening, Aspen Mountain will light up bright blue for all in the community to experience. Acclaimed lighting designer and local, Robert Singer designed the display for Aspen Mountain. His other work includes the famous nightclub, Dusk, in Caesar’s Las Vegas as well as the Buddha Bar, as well as many remarkable homes throughout Aspen and the world.  Talent of his caliber will certainly ensure a remarkable and unforgettable display.

Just moments later the Gala fundraiser will kick off at the Little Nell where Rob Mullins, a Grammy nominated musician, will entertain guests with his diverse collection of music. Composer and songwriter for over 400 songs, Mullins will keep the party hopping until the very end. Along with great music, a live auction and celebrity hosts, Holly Robinson Peete and Rodney Peete, along with local chairs, Sallie and Tom Bernard, cocktails by Patron’s mixologist and dinner; it is sure to be a night to remember. Proceeds from this event will directly benefit autistic families within the Pitkin County community.

April 2^nd, World Autism Awareness Day, Isaacson and Peete, former NFL player, will talk at two regional high schools. Later that day, the Wheeler Opera House will host a community evening, allowing locals the opportunity to meet and talk with Mr. Isaacson about his techniques and experiences during the 6p.m. cocktail reception. Followed by an exclusive viewing of The Horse Boy and a Q & A with Isaacson.

On April 3^rd the Roaring Fork High School Library will wrap up the Light It Up Blue Aspen events with an evening discussion on providing a great home and school experience for children and adults living with autism. The RE-1 School District will also make available for teachers a workshop on autism behavior which promises to be helpful.

Believe in the power of hope this April and embrace the Light It Up Blue Aspen. It promises to be an unforgettable weekend! When the lights have died down, take a moment to invest in your own dreams by looking at homes, residences and properties in the Aspen and Snowmass Village area. Click here to get started today www.GregRulon.com

Just this week tulips, daffodils and lilies have started pushing up through the earth like little green swords stabbing the remnants of winter. Tiny leaves are uncurling on the branches of trees, while fragrant blossoms have started to release their perfume. The signs of spring are everywhere, which can only mean one thing – Easter is just around the corner.

Aspen holds a few Easter traditions close to its heart, like the sunrise Easter service. This non-denominational ceremony has traditionally been held at 8:30a.m. on top of Aspen Mountain early Easter morning. Last year’s late Easter date caused it to be moved to the Aspen Chapel as the mountain and lifts had closed for the season. However, things this year look to be on schedule for a mountaintop Easter celebration. For those early risers on Easter morning, the gondola will be up and running by 7 a.m. The service will be followed with breakfast items, coffee and tea available for purchase. There is nothing more beautiful than a sunrise in the Rocky Mountains, and the opportunity to experience it on Easter morning is even more remarkable.

Easter baskets throughout Aspen and Snowmass Village will be filled with gourmet chocolate and handmade fudge from the Aspen Candy Company.  Not even the Easter Bunny himself can hatch chocolate eggs to rival the Aspen Candy Company treats! For those sour candy lovers, an entire section of bulk gummies and sour candies line the wall of the Aspen Candy Company as well, ensuring every basket with every candy lover will be satisfied.

For the young and the young at heart, Aspen generally hosts a variety of Easter Egg Hunts throughout town. Traditionally the Aspen Historical Society hosts a hunt on the grounds of the Wheeler/Stallard Museum. However in a new tradition last year, both Aspen Recreational Center, and The Inn at Aspen hosted hunts. The Inn threw in cookie decorating and an Easter basket decoration contest as well.

After a candy-filled morning, Buttermilk Mountain invites residents and visitors alike to take one last spin down the mountain before they close the lifts for the season. Who knows, maybe the Easter Bunny will leave lift tickets in your Easter Basket this year? Tickets purchased more than seven days in advance are a great deal and a great way to celebrate an unconventional Easter Sunday.

Of course such a busy Easter will inevitably work up a big appetite. Meaning the traditional Easter Brunch at the Regis is a must!  From noon until 4p.m. the Regis will hold nothing back, serving a delicious and diverse buffet of food, along with an Easter egg hunt and live music. Reservations for this event are recommended.

Those looking for a more traditional Easter Dinner, consider begin preparations now with a class offered through The Kitchen Hotline. An Easter Celebration class will be offered this weekend, March 24^th from 10a.m.-12a.m. teaching the home cook the tricks of putting on a flawless Easter Dinner. Chef Sarah will introduce the first fruits and vegetables of the spring season in new and appetizing ways. Sign up now as classes through The Kitchen Hotline often sell out.

One of the great beauties of Aspen and Snowmass Village is this community’s ability to carry on old traditions for while simultaneously creating new traditions along the way. Whether you love a traditional Easter celebration with sunrise service and an Easter Ham, or an Easter spent on the slopes of Aspen and Snowmass Village’s fantastic mountains, followed by brunch at the Regis, there is the perfect Easter waiting for you here this year!

Between Easter egg hunts, runs down the mountain and delicious food, take a moment to see homes, condos and investment properties in the Aspen and Snowmass Village area. Begin your new Easter tradition this year!

The last day to get out and enjoy Aspen and Snowmass Mountain this ski season will be April 15^th. To ensure that every one in Aspen and Snowmass Village has one last chance to feel the childlike joy of winter, the 5^th annual Schneetag will take place that same day just in front of Bonnie’s on Aspen Mountain.

Schneetag is the German word for ‘snow day.’ In Aspen it has a slightly different meaning. Here, Schneetag means grab your three closest, craziest friends, a sled and head out into the glorious spring air to create your own skit and zany sled to jump over a pond, or sometimes into the pond and float across. To up the ante just a little bit, there will be prizes such as a trip to L.A. to see the Summer X Games, tickets to a Rockies game in Denver, or the ever-enviable Helly Hansen jackets or Smith goggles.

Teams will be judged on the performance of their 400 lb. sled, but equally important will be their costumes, skit and overall performance. Per the official rules of Schneetag, the sled may have only one pilot, and it must be manpowered with no external energy sources.

Last year everything from Angry Birds, a group of bananas, people in their pajamas and a gorilla made their way down the mountain. While the objective is to jump across or float through the 75×20 ft. pond, most teams land somewhere in the middle of the pond with a resounding splash and flounder across. This may be due in part to the fact that the sleds making the jump are couches, giant shot glasses and buckets on skis.

In Olympic style judging, three judges hold up cards with each team’s score and an average of these scores determine the winner of the Schneetag competition. Not to be outdone by more serious winter competitions, the Schneetag awards ceremony is complete with podiums and an official ceremony. The winners and losers of the Schneetag competition tend to be slightly less serious about podium conduct, and have been known to push, pull and generally misbehave while receiving their awards.

The Schneetag competition captures the light-hearted spirit of Aspen and Snowmass Village. In a community where winter sports and snow itself are the lifeblood of the community, Aspen and Snowmass Village do not take themselves too seriously. The fun of Schneetag is contagious, making it one of the best events of the year on the mountain.

While Schneetag is the last hurrah for Aspen Mountain and Snowmass Mountain in the 2012 season, Aspen Highlands will stay open an additional week.  Buttermilk’s closing day is slightly earlier in April, on the 8^th.

Aspen/Snowmass is offering specials throughout the month of April in which kids ski, stay and eat for free. This great deal makes it possible for families to get up to the mountains before closing day for an annual ski trip, or to return to the mountains for one last go.

Seize this great deal and head up to the mountains this April to catch the Schneetag competition and bid the winter farewell. Between watching crazy teams jump into a pond, skiing and playing in the snow, take a few moments to see homes, properties and condos in the Snowmass Village and Aspen area. Despite being one of the most beautiful and cultured places on earth, it is also one of the most fun! Join the party today! Click here to see properties available in Aspen and Snowmass Village.

They make it look so easy, zipping down the mountain in perfect synchronization, with matching ski suits and hats, in time to music selected specifically for their immaculately choreographed trek down the mountain. While it isn’t often one gets to see synchronized skiers in action, when the Aspen Divas host The World Synchro Championships in Aspen once a year, it’s a real treat.

This year’s event will take place on April 11^th-13^th and will feature teams of all ages and skill level, including, Skiing/ Snowboarding/ Telemark/ Adaptive/ Kids, Women’s, Men’s and Mixed teams. Last year the World Synchro Championships began including team of both 6 and 8 members, widening the eligibility for teams and increasing competition.  So far fifteen teams have already committed to this year’s competition – including two teams from Germany. Organizers hope to separate 6 member teams and 8 member teams into separate categories. Time is running out as registration wraps up this week; interested teams must register soon!

In years past the World Synchro Championship was also known as the Battle of the Ski schools due to the high number ski instructors in the competition. The Aspen Divas and the Aspen Demo Team all consist of professional ski instructors from every corner of the world who have found both a home and a ski team high up in the ski schools of the Rocky Mountains. These teams have year after year done remarkably well in the competition. Last year, Aspen Divas took the first in the women’s division and third overall. While the Aspen Demo Team took the overall first place award.  This year at least 4 teams from Aspen will compete and one team from Snowmass will join the competition as well.

Synchronized skiing has been described as a precise sport, requiring tight turns, perfect timing and technically difficult skiing performed in perfect synchronization. Judges at the WSC will look at each team’s speed, timing and skill levels within the course itself and as a synchronized team.

Teams will have two days to practice on the Ajax Mountain, beginning on April 11^th. Beyond the opportunity to whisk down the mountain and finalize the last details of their routine, teams will also have the opportunity both nights to enjoy Après Ski Aspen style at 39 Degrees, the Sky Bar and Sky Hotel.

During competition on the 13^th, Aspen will pull out all of the stops, with lunch at Bonnie’s at the base Ajax between the Third pass and the Fourth pass, Pass one and the required School figure pass will take place first thing in the morning. Challenge Aspen’s Adaptive team will do a show pass immediately following lunch. Awards and Après ski kick off at 4p.m. at the base of the mountain, the party will continue on through the evening throughout all of Aspen’s hottest clubs.

Take a break from ho-hum solo skiing and come see what all the excitement is about on Aspen Mountain this April.. Between passes in which skiers demonstrate just how beautiful synchrony can be, take a look at homes, residences and properties in Aspen and Snowmass Village where you just might find the home of your dreams in a community that makes harmony and synchrony look as simple as a quick trip down the mountain. Click here to see just a few homes on the market and get to know Greg Rulon today!

As one glances around modern day Aspen, it’s hard to imagine the days when it was a remote, mining town tucked away high in the mountains with the only news of the world having to travel the 40-mile trek through the Elk Mountains from Crested Butte, Colorado – the nearest post office.  Today Aspen is on the cutting edge of the social scene, setting trends in fashion and sports and home to a great intellectual, musical and artistic community.

In order to pay tribute to the trek of Aspen founders and the men and women who crossed those forty miles for a word from home, a catalogue or a snippet of news, in 1998 one hundred people followed in their footsteps in a race that has been named, The Elk Mountain Grand Traverse. Every year since up to 200 elite athletes gather to experience this endurance exercise, both to prove they can, and to remember those who have done it before them, not because they could, but because they had to.

This year’s Elk Mountain Grand Traverse will start at midnight on March 31^st in Crested Butte. Teams of two will have undergone months of strenuous training, and weeks of ensuring they have everything on the mandatory supply list issued by race organizers. After carefully checking in their teams, and their gear, teams will embark on an adventure of a lifetime crossing the Elk Mountains.

The Elk Mountain Grand Traverse has a unique starting time of midnight, however this time has been carefully selected, and is subject to change. Avalanche danger in the high elevations of the Rocky Mountains cannot be under estimated, particularly in the spring months of wet and heavy snowfall. This year’s avalanche concerns are particularly high as the season has been slightly warmer than usual and snowpack has been unstable in the backcountry. The late night starting time is set to ensure racers get through the 12,303 ft. Star pass before the warm morning air increases avalanche risk.

The Elk Mountain Grand Traverse is truly an elite athletic event. Due to the strenuous nature of this course, the course itself and cut-off times in the race are subject to change depending upon conditions and weather. Since 1998 racers have experienced snow, cold temperatures, wind and other conditions on the course. In order to ensure racer safety, cut-off points have been assigned to ensure racers are on course to finish the race in a reasonable and safe period of time. The challenges facing these athletes are extreme; extended periods of time at high elevation and in extreme cold can affect decision-making abilities and judgment. Racers should be in excellent physical condition with backcountry and high elevation experience.

The physical stress of this race is balanced by the excitement and enthusiasm with which racers will be received in Aspen at the Sun Deck of Aspen Mountain.  Cocktails and a party worth travelling forty miles by foot will be awaiting racers and their families. There will be no rest for the weary, later that evening the Aspen Elks Lodge will host more festivities, including dinner and the awards ceremony.

While race planners and racers prepare for this intense physical challenge, one remembers that those that walked this path out of necessity did it without avalanche beacons, Gore-tex materials and top of the line equipment. A glass will surely be raised at the celebratory dinner in memory of those who made life in Aspen and Snowmass Village a reality by taking on the Elk Mountain Traverse.

No matter the reason, no matter the season or sport – Aspenites are rising to the challenge! Join us in remembering the pioneers of the Aspen and Snowmass Village area and in making a new history in speed and endurance records in the Elk Mountains. After the race, and a good night’s sleep, click here to see homes, condos and investment properties in and around Aspen and Snowmass Village today!

It’s almost March again, and in Aspen and Snowmass Village the month of March means a few things: Spring Break, great powder and the Annual Aspen Fashion Week. For the fourth year in a row Aspen has put up the runway, and invited the best fashion designers from the world to show off their winter collections for 2013.

On March 11^th-14^th next year’s trends will walk the runway to help Aspenites and tourists prepare to look their best next season. Design predictions have declared 2012 to be a year of bold contrasts both in color, texture and materials. The color orange promises to be a big hit next year, followed by watermelon pink and lime green. Of course mixed and matched, as uniform colors on the slopes will be a trend of the past. Fur has held its own amid the texture wars as a classic look – either real or faux. Designers this year have played with traditional textures and materials such as leather and offset them with nylons and wools. These combinations promise to be interesting both for the wearer, and the observer.

Designers like David Peck of CrOp by David Peck, will be featured in the show at The Chateau at The St. Regis Aspen. According to Aspenfashionweek.com Mr. Peck was quoted describing Aspen style as “the perfect balance of sport and chic. You may be sweating, but you’re doing it in style!” Other featured designers include, Kjus, Helly Hansen, Sport Obermeyer, Klover and many others. Throughout town designer stores will host their own private fashion events in coordination with runway shows. Check in with favorite stores or designers for a complete listing of their events.

Official sponsor FEED will return to the AFW this year. FEED Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to providing healthy food to hungry children throughout the world.  In addition to focusing on the school lunch programs in the U.S., FEED has also created a campaign to feed those hungry children in Kenya as well. The Sunday Riley Modern Skincare line will join them as sponsors. Sold at Barney’s New York, Sunday Riley Modern Skincare embraces the healing aspect of Nature alongside excellent biotechnology to fight aging and increase the natural beauty of women worldwide. Inspired by Sunday’s Native America culture and the reliance of the Earth and Nature to heal and regenerate the body, Sunday Riley Modern Skincare incorporates detoxification, anti-aging ingredients and botanicals to deliver beautifully glowing skin.

After the shows are over and the skiing squeezed in, the evenings in Aspen during Fashion Week will be fashionably out of this world. Après events hosted by AFW are accessibly only through The Snowstage daily passes for sale now. These not to be missed events will host models, designers and celebrities strutting their fashionable attire. Throughout town other nightclubs and venues will also host cocktail parties and private collection viewings and even film-screenings. Tickets to the runway events are sold in a four-person package or individually. Theses include access to the runway shows, after parties, private showings and full hospitality and tableside service along with four limited edition FEED gift bags. Ticket holders must still RSVP to individual events and are asked to take their seats 15 minutes before any given show is set to start.

While the looks on the runway promise to be exciting and are sure to make those in and around Aspen look amazing, the most fashionable thing in Aspen and Snowmass Village at any given time is still Aspen and Snowmass Village themselves. Come see how good Aspen/Snowmass looks on you! Click here to see the homes, condos and properties in the area today!

It has been called the greatest winter mountaineering challenge in America; it starts right at the base of Snowmass Mountain and crisscrosses all four of the mountains in Snowmass Village and Aspen. It is The Power of Four Ski Mountaineering Race and one glimpse of the course reminds one of the indomitable nature of the Rocky Mountains.

The race will kick off March 3^rd, 2012 at 6 a.m. at the Base Village in Snowmass Village. From here racers will skin up Snowmass Mountain, skin or ski across Snowmass and across the ridge to Buttermilk Mountain, where they will ski down toward the Tiehack parking lot toward Aspen Highlands. Once over the ARC bridge racers will head up Thunderbowl Lane, into Thunder Bowl to the top of Highlands Bowl. From here, racers will follow three trails leading to the Midnight Mine Road on up to the Sundeck on Aspen Mountain. Finally, skiers will head down the mountain with the course behind them and only the finish line before them.

Much easier said than done – only mind-over matter and extensive skiing, skinning and mountaineering experience will get these racers to the bottom of Aspen Mountain with the complete course behind them. Last year’s winners, Brian Smith and Bryan Wickenhauser completed the course in 6 hours, 13 minutes and 7 seconds. However, the Aspen Times reported Smith saying, “This is one of the biggest challenges on skis. I can’t imagine anything tougher than this.”

Even members of the U.S. Mountaineering Team found the Power of Four Ski Mountaineering Race to be a challenge last year. Coming in third place, Max Taam and Chris Kroger were just minutes behind the first and second place teams, but just as glad to reach the bottom. By the end of last year’s competition thirty-seven teams failed to finish the race at all.

While competitors are advised to train, and required to have a partner as well as carry their own beacon, shovel, probe, helmet and weather gear, inevitably the mountain sometimes proves to be too much. The Website for the Power of Four Ski Mountaineering Race reminds participants that the course is a self-sustained race, with only one aid-station. It does offer racers the option to do half of the course if they are unsure of their abilities.  All racers who plan to go the full course must have reached mid-mountain by 9 a.m.

For those concerned about accidents on the course or on the mountains in general, the Aspen Historical Society will host a talk on mountain rescue on February 25^th.  The discussion will focus on the history of the Aspen Mountain Rescue team, its practices and policies and how it is has transformed throughout its long history. Racers preparing for the Power of Four Ski Mountaineering Race may find this discussion helpful in their preparations and informative in their approach to the mountain on race day.

Here in Aspen and Snowmass Village the four mountains call out to challenge the outdoorsman and women throughout the state, the nation and the world. Heed the call; embrace the Power of Four. Find your home today in the shadows of these mountains; click here today to see homes, residences and condos in the Snowmass Village and Aspen area.

A glance around the city of Aspen reminds one of all the reasons for the enduring popularity of Aspen. In this quaint mountain town, posh and exclusive shopping meets intellectual and artistic stimulation, offset by incredible athletic opportunity year-round, all in one of the most beautiful places on earth. Beyond the fantastic culture and beauty of Aspen, another phenomenon has occurred as well. In Aspen, Colorado, the home of your dreams is truly a reality.

In Aspen, you name it – it’s here, from leather walls, theatres, indoor gyms, saunas and spas, outdoor heated pools, full tennis and basketball courts, guest-houses and horse stalls ~ anything the heart could desire can be and is found in the homes here.

These incredible homes have resulted from careful planning on the part of city planners since Aspen’s inception. Zoning laws and Mother Nature limit land development to 13% of available land. As a result Aspen is insured against over development.

Last spring The Wall Street Journal reported that Aspen emerged from the economic downturn as the most expensive city in the country to call home. In its piece, The Wall Street Journal cited a study from the San Francisco-based Altos Research in which the median price for a single-family home in Aspen exceeded homes in the Hamptons, Beverly Hills and Palm Beach.

The Wall Street Journal also commented on the role of the continuing influx of wealth flowing into Aspen, remarking that this wealth ensures the relevance of Aspen in the world of fashion, culture and influence and home design. Longtime residents like Goldie Hawn and Lance Armstrong, in combination with new residents like hedge-fund millionaires, Russian billionaires, and other foreigners support homes of this caliber over the long-term. Unlike other real estate markets in the U.S., this sustained interest from celebrities, international visitors, and even royalty, in visiting, partying and living in Aspen helps to maintain home values.

Despite the economic hiccup of 2008, homes and properties in the area continue to sell for millions of dollars, and not at all uncommonly for tens, twenties and forty millions of dollars. While nationwide the average home value was down 31% in 2011, Aspen grew 17% in 2010 from its rock bottom home price.

It is universally understood that Aspen is a Mecca for the rich and famous, however the young and aspiring have found their own niche in this city. The abundance of wealth creates job opportunities in retail, investment, design and even charitable organizations.  These young professionals have also benefited from the culture, art and experiences Aspen offers them. Young professionals may be initially drawn to Aspen for its ‘hipness,’ but end up becoming drawn into deeper and more meaningful relationship with Aspen.

Due to the incredible nature of the homes and properties in Aspen, an excellent real estate agent is a must. Greg Rulon and his team have served the Snowmass Village and Aspen area for over thirty years. Let him introduce you to the home of your dreams! Click here to learn more about Greg and his team and check out the remarkable homes, residences and condos in the Aspen and Snowmass Village area today.