The Pros and Cons Of Living In Vail, Colorado
Have you thought about moving or relocating to the mountains of Colorado and want to know where to settle? In this video, I'm going to give you the pros and cons of living in Vail, Colorado, a great option for enjoying the Colorado mountains. We'll explore everything from job opportunities to the great outdoors so you can decide if this community fits you best.
Verify your mortgage eligibility (Nov 2nd, 2024)We get calls, texts, and emails from people just like you that are looking to relocate to the beautiful Colorado state. If a mountain town is what you're looking for, you'll definitely want to consider Vail.
Growth Opportunities
First and foremost, our growth opportunities are great. If you're looking for a job, healthcare, food, restaurant service, education, and retail are top of the job market categories at this time. Being able to work from home allows you to get out and enjoy the slopes during the week. If you have a lot of early morning meetings with some free time in the afternoon, you'll have easy access to plenty of outdoor activities.
The cool thing about living in Vail is that, in the wintertime and summertime, you can grab your mountain bike or skis and jet up the mountain. So if you're able to work remotely and have some free time, vail is an ideal spot to settle.
Verify your mortgage eligibility (Nov 2nd, 2024)Of course, one con to this is that our area has a very tight job market. For example, Vail Resort is having a hard time filling several jobs. So far this winter, we're seeing longer than normal ski lines and a bit longer wait times at restaurants. This is because people are apparently afraid to get back into the workforce.
Tourism
Another pro and con is tourism. Vail has a world-class ski resort, making it a great opportunity to meet people from different cultures, ethnicities, and similar lifestyle interests. Keep in mind that tourism is seasonal, providing locals with plenty of opportunities to enjoy their hometown without the hubbub of so many people. It also provides us with plenty of real estate opportunities.
There are some slow times during the year, from the end of summertime when the kiddos start school through the ski season startup. The two-month waiting period - where the leaves start to change colors - is when you’re going to have way less foot traffic, fewer campers, and fewer people coming up in the mountains for the weekend. After ski season - from about mid-April to the start of June - we have what's called "muddy season." All the snow melts, the tourists are gone, and nobody wants to be around when the mountains aren’t open.
Verify your mortgage eligibility (Nov 2nd, 2024)The biggest con of tourism is overcrowding. Vail is a popular place, and everybody seems to want to come here. That’s a huge negative. One of the things that we say is, 'Tourism equals massive.' You can take that as a positive or a negative. The positive is that, if you’re living up here, those tourists are paying a fairly sizable sales tax which decreases our property taxes. In my opinion, that’s a positive I can put up with for all those people skiing in jeans.
High Elevation
Another thing you'll want to consider is that Vail is very dry. This is amazing for a variety of people with some common skin ailments like rheumatoid arthritis, respiratory issues, Crohn’s, and other autoimmune diseases. However, it can be difficult if you’re not staying hydrated.
Our mountains sit above 6,000 feet, and one of the biggest difficulties is drinking enough water daily. Additionally, many people also forget to put on enough sunscreen. Because the atmosphere up here is a little thinner, you'll definitely need a hat.
Verify your mortgage eligibility (Nov 2nd, 2024)One of the key things that I found that helps me stay hydrated is to try and drink 60 ounces of water as soon as I wake up. While it might take a couple of weeks to get used to that, once you get in the groove of staying super hydrated, your body, your muscles, and your mind are definitely going to help you and benefit from it.
Sharing The Trails
Something you'll want to be aware of is trail overcrowding. There are many seasonal times when we have to share the road, slopes, and trails with our visitors. Honestly, if you’re a townie, it’s going to be annoying when those newbies don’t know where they are. They stop and stall out on the slopes and the trails and seem to have no idea what they’re doing.
With the overcrowding, the not knowing where they are, and the visitors going on the slopes first, you're going to want to check your speed a bit. Just be mindful and keep your head on a swivel. If you are local here, just try not to get super annoyed - even though it’s going to test your patience for sure. If you spend enough time out doing the things that you love, you'll know which trails to avoid and which ski days to avoid during peak ski season.
Verify your mortgage eligibility (Nov 2nd, 2024)Weather And Wildlife
The next pro and con is our unpredictable weather. Obviously, the cons are wildfires, floods, and blizzards - just a few of the insane, unpredictable weather that Vail has to offer. One of the pros, of course, is the vast array of wildlife, topography, and activities. You can do a ton of different things inside and outside here in Colorado.
Another thing to remember is that wild animals are not your friends. Here in Vail, we have a ton of elk herds and deer - but sometimes people get a little too close. They might see a baby deer in their backyard and think that the mom's not around and they need to help it. Clearly, that is not the case. This is mother nature, and animals are just living amongst humans.
The wildlife also means you need to be careful when your dogs are off-leash. If you’re traveling on some of the trails in the area, you can have your dog off-leash if they’re trained or have an electric collar as we use with our dogs. You may need to call it back, especially if you see a moose. So if you get too close and you have dogs, you definitely want to make sure that you have them under control.
Verify your mortgage eligibility (Nov 2nd, 2024)The cool, awesome thing is that you can see deer pretty much every day. It's the same with elk in the wintertime; as the snow starts to come down, the elk start to travel down with it. Most people living in a city never get to see those wildlife sightings. Here’s a pro tip: the aerial views across the Vail Valley might shock you, as there’s a big mountain lion scene. If you spend enough time enjoying the outdoors here, there is a very, very solid chance that a mountain lion has seen you, and they're closer than you might think.
Make Vail, Colorado Your Home
I hope this gave you a good idea of everything that Vail, Colorado has to offer. While there are pros and cons, like any area, this is definitely a great place to live. When you’re ready to get your mortgage financing squared away and want to move right here to the beautiful Denver, Colorado area, we’ve got your back. Make sure to reach out and we'll be happy to connect.
Don't forget to subscribe to my channel so you never miss an episode of my show all about living in the Denver, Colorado area. Stay tuned to see what I feature in the next video!
Show me today's rates (Nov 2nd, 2024)