Angler Mountain Ranch Paired Home Owner, Jim & Angeline Harrington: I hold the team at Compass Homes and Angler Mountain Ranch in the highest regard because they are professional, thorough, maintain the highest standards and they have been fun to work with as well. In my prior experience I've never come across a developer who would make improvements to a floor plan before I could ask for them because it was the correct thing to do. Angler Mountain Ranch Paired Home Owner, Mark McClurg: I am writing this letter to address the quality of service that my wife and I have experienced during the purchase, construction and follow-up to our paired home in the Angler Mountain Ranch development. We initially visited the AMR development in November of 2007, substantially prior to the completion of our unit. We purchased shortly after our first visit. Upon completion in late March of 2008, we closed the transaction and took possession of the home. The service received by us from AMR and, in particular, John Williams has been exceptional in every phase of the project. I cannot recommend the company and John highly enough if you are thinking of buying in this area. There are always issues that develop during construction, particularly in an alpine environment during the heart of winter. John and AMR were always willing to go the "extra mile" to assure that we understood the issue and the possible solutions in a timely fashion. The home was completed right on schedule and has provided us with a great, well-built second home that we feel confident will be a great place to spend many happy times over many years. Slifer Smith & Frampton Real Estate Broker, Jeri Heminghous: Thank you for helping to ensure a smooth and successful transaction for my buyers' purchase at Angler Mountain Ranch. They are really enjoying the home and I believe the quality and craftsmanship has exceeded their expectations. I appreciated the ability to allow my buyers to speak directly with you and the developer without the worry of being cut out of the loop. With new development I feel it is far more efficient for the buyers to feel free to communicate without having to run everything by me first. I believe that it streamlined the process and yet I never felt out of touch with the current decisions and changes. Thank you for allowing that to happen while remaining cognizant of my role. Best of luck with the project - I'm sure it will continue to enjoy great success. A Conversation with Clark Johnson of Apex Mountain Homes. Land Acquisition and Building in Today’s Real Estate Market: Why did you choose Angler Mountain Ranch as the place to build your personal residence? There are a number of wonderful neighborhoods for a home in Summit County and Angler Mountain Ranch is simply the best match for our family and our company. It starts with the surroundings; the incredible views, the open space within the development, the location along the Blue River, the private lake and the pedestrian-friendly environment. Both personally and as a company, we wanted to build a home that incorporated the finest energy efficient components in design and utility. Our company, Apex Mountain Homes, focuses on sustainable building practices and renewable energy. The Angler Mountain Ranch Design Guidelines encourage that style of architecture, aligning our vision and goals. How long have you been building homes in Summit County? We’ve been building homes in Summit County for nearly fifteen years, and in that time have established ourselves as a trusted and respected homebuilder. It’s been a tremendous pleasure to work with hundreds of people and many families over the years, and help deliver their dream of having a home in the Rockies. While many buyers seem to be hesitant to buy land and build in this market, what advantages are you experiencing? There are a number of great reasons to build now. Construction costs are currently at a great value and interest rates are lower than they’ve been in 10 years, which means a variety of financing packages are very attainable. The fact that there isn’t a lot of new construction happening right now also means that a person can source and work with some of the finest architects, general contractors and tradesmen, and likely receive a great deal of their attention. I believe now is a very good time to buy land and to build. While we’re facing tumultuous times, Summit County real estate is probably one of the better choices when it comes to long-term investment options. New opportunities are becoming apparent throughout the local real estate market that don’t seem nearly as volatile or risky as the stock market. How do your Summit County real estate investments compare to other choices like the stock market? There is of course risk associated with any investment, but given the options that exist and our history, Summit County property is my preferred asset. Real estate here has been a solid value and will continue to be in my opinion. My investment in Summit County has been much more than a business interest, it’s personal. I think the biggest difference for me is the fact that there’s nothing I can do to control the stock market, but I’m personally and professionally involved in Summit County. I know that when I put in a hard day’s work, I’m making a difference in my investment. I can share it with my family, my friends and see the benefit in their lives too. It’s a great source of pride for me that has also been very fulfilling. What makes “today” such a great opportunity? Many people say that we’re already at or near the bottom of the real estate market, while others say we still have a ways to go. Regardless of who is correct, timing the bottom seems less important than finding a truly special property and taking advantage of all the other elements that are currently in a buyer’s favor. From what I have experienced, by the time the bottom has truly been reached, prices are already on the rise and choices start to diminish. Since it takes some time to design and get approvals, starting now takes advantage of the summer weather and slim competition for contractors and tradesmen.<br /> What do you see for Summit County over the next ten years? Summit County will continue to pride itself on smart growth, while presenting living and lifestyle options that aren’t available in other mountain resort areas. The fundamentals of our lifestyle will remain the same, continuing to attract families who want to enjoy Summit County’s outdoors and year-round recreation. I believe we will continue to be the most accessible resort market on many fronts, including relatively lower costs for ownership and a shorter drive time from the Front Range. Because of these factors, Summit County will continue to flourish for many years to come.