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Show ealtors express cautious optimism about prospects for sales in 1983 Park Cily News Thursday, January 27, 1983 Page A9 IJI by Jeff Howrey Things seem to be looking up lately in the local real estate market. The slump which plagued local realtors and developers a few months back seems to be alleviating. Based on recent upsurges in sales and the number of people out there looking for homes with serious intent to buy local realtors are cautiously optimistic that continuing good fortune will prevail over the next year. General manager Mike Troup of the Aerie project recently told the Park City News that he was encouraged en-couraged over the flow of potential clients through town. "A year or ci ago, they weren't even out there kicking the tires, so to speak. Now we've got lots of people out looking with serious intent in-tent to buy. They're kicking the tires again." Likewise, Bill Coleman of Coleman Land Company notes that activity in recent months has been quite encouraging. en-couraging. "We've done more business in the last Planning programs for older visitors With its economy so dependent de-pendent on skiing, Park City in winter belongs to the young. But Park City in summer is a different animal. Thanks largely to the efforts of the Park City Chamber of CommerceConvention Com-merceConvention and Visitors' Visi-tors' Bureau, the area is becoming a haven for refugees refu-gees from Arizona retirement retire-ment communities trying to beat the heat. Last summer, an estimated esti-mated 1,000 visitors came to Park City from the Sun City area alone. This summer, the goal is 3,000. But if that's going to happen, Harold Buckner says, Park City's got to get its act together. A major complaint from Sun City visitors last year was the lack of organized activities, according to Buckner. And he should know. His job, working with ParkWest last summer, was to help coordinate those activities. Buckner, a senior Y.M. C.A. program director, is expanding his sights this year. He is working closely with the Park City Chamber Bureau and the Recreation Department so that, when the visitors arrive, there will be plenty for them to do. But that's only part of his job. He also plans to travel to Sun City in the spring to help sell the programs he's developing. devel-oping. "We've got a whole lot of beds up here, and we can't fill them up," he says. "And they've got a market down there that's just begging for something." Buckner's program is code-named Very Important Senior In Town (V.I.S.I.T.). For a minimum fee, each senior citizen will be able to buy a card which will entitle him or her to participate in a wide range of activities. The activities? Well, Buckner Buck-ner lists golf, swimming, tennis, bowling, hiking, fishing, fish-ing, horseshoes, fly fishing, and aerobics. He also points to the classes available through the Kimball Art Center, to a range of social activities, and to trips covering cover-ing everything from the Mormon geneology center to Robert Redford's Sundance Theatre. Buckner said a complete schedule of activities, times and costs should be available by April 15. And he emphasized that the program isn't just for the visitors. He is hoping to involve as many of the local senior citizens as possible, and also to interest the visitors in the activities at Park City's Senior Citizens' Center. Buckner is anxious to get in touch with individuals who would like to teach a skill or volunteer their services this summer. You can contact Buckner at Box 1480, Park City 84060, or by phone at 649-2900. month and a half than we have in the past year. Things are looking a whole lot better and I'm optimistic that the same will hold true for the rest of 1983." Coleman cites diverse reasons for the improved conditions. "A good deal of the credit can be pinpointed in the drop in interest rates," he notes. "But other factors include the fact that we were lucky to get a good early ski season this year, while places like Colorado and resorts on the East Coast are hurting. We've consequently had more traffic through town. Which is also partially a result of the fact that Park City's national reputation is growing. Ever since Deer Valley opened up, national word of mouth about the area has increased. Park City has also gotten increased in-creased credibility in terms of national media," says Coleman, citing recent spreads in "Town and Country" Coun-try" and various ski publications. "Additionally, to some extent we can thank Western Airlines for bringing more potential buyers to' Park City. Western recently added a lot more direct flights into Salt Lake from major centers, which makes it more convenient con-venient for people to get here. They've really helDed open up the Texas and East Coast markets." Jess Reid of Gump and Ayers echoes the optimistic reports. "Business is exceptionally good right now," he says. "We're just hoping that it will stay that way. "We had a bad slump in 1982, particularly in the spring and summer. In August of last year, as with the national economy, the upswing started. "We saw things start to take off in December," Reid notes. "Not necessarily in terms of actual sales, but in terms of the numbers of people out there looking. All that's paid off this month-January month-January has been gang-busters gang-busters in terms of actual sales. Very encouraging." Reid says that it's not only his firm which is experiencing experien-cing a boom, it's across the board. "I polled most of the brokers in town recently," says Reid. "I found that December De-cember was a real high activity ac-tivity month. Earnest money always follows that kind of activity. Not surprisingly, January has been a great month. In terms of the sort of doldrums we were going through a while back, January has been a fantastic month." Reid also notes that traditionally February and March have been the best months to sell real estate, so optimism for the foreseeable future seems merited. "February and March have traditionally found the most number of people in town looking at property, so we hope things are going to get even better in the next few weeks." As for a long term recovery, Reid is more cautious but still optimistic. "The only thing for certain is that no one really knows what will happen. It seems fairly certain that 1983 will be a better year than 1982 which was a rough year but by how much is anybody's guess. We expect at least a modest recovery to continue until the end of the year. Beyond that, I'm not sure. I'm a diehard optimist, but I don't want to get people too pumped up." As for the underlying factors fac-tors behind the recovery, Reid notes several. "The problem behind the '82 slump was basically that Park City is not immune to national economic problems, they just sometimes take a while to show up here," he says. "We've been in a national recession for a long time. In the spring of 1982 it finally caught up with the real estate business in Park City. High interest rates definitely &t. uke Episcopal CJfurdf 525 Park Avenue Sunday Worship 9:00 a.m. Come and loin Us &leplf cri) ot Uie fUtountatna iutljeran (Eljurrii Sunday Worship 10: JO a.m. at St. Luke Episcopal Church, 525 Park Avenue Christian education program at the Community Church, Sunday morning 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. All are welcome. David Krueger, Pastor 649-2233 aMjolic (Elfurcif 1 21 Park Avenue Park City Mass 5:30 p.m. Saturday 9:00 a.m. Sunday Confession by appl. FATHER PAT CARLEY 649-9676 Park (Hitfl (Eommuntta dljurrii 402 Park Avenue Christian Idmalion All Alt. UlU m Sihi(.i VrviiiA Hi Ma m I'ark ( ify ' 0(M l'nU",t.ml ( htinh. irnv HUH-Aliiliiutl HUH-Aliiliiutl Unilitt KU'iIukIisI linda Harnes, f'.isfor i, I i X ! 1 1 QHiurtif BttuxttB SaptiBt firaort fflintatrtea Suite 2008 Mt. Air Mall Sunday worship 9:30 a.m. Minister Benny Clark Office 649-8084 Home 254-2885 QltirtBttan Science Sunday Church and Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Wednesday Evening Services 7:30-8:30 p.m. 833 Quaking Aspen Court Everyone warmly welcome 649-7812649-3213 (Eljurcli of 3cbuh (HljrtBt of Eatter-Satf &atnta Snyderville Ward on Frontage Road Priesthood Meeting - 1:U0p.m. Sunday School - 2:00 p.m. Sacrament Service - 2:50 p.m. 649-8027 See you on Sunday THE MORMONS (Crjapd If clIouiBlitp Sunday Worship - 9:30 a.m. Meeting at Prospector Square Convention Center Bible Studies and Prayer Meeting Weekly (throunh the bible tape lending library) Non-denominational, Christ Centered Church PASTOR LENNY PERATA 649-8301 hurt us," says Reid, while noting that local realtors did their best to get around the obstacle through creative financing tactics. "By last summer, things were complicated even further fur-ther by the psychological aspects of a prolonged recession. People just start worrying whether or not we're ever going to beat these economic problems and it makes them much more hesitant to make a major investment." Reid notes that interest rates have come down somewhat, a big plus. "Real estate is moving right now. It's healthy for the whole town and has a beneficial feed-off effect on related industries like architectural ar-chitectural and construction firms. "It looks real good righ nov. We're being cautiousl) optimistic about the future." Even the smallest ads are read! Daly TLenue Duplex New Separate Garages Sauna Decks Stained (jlass (2) 2 Bedroom, 1 Bath Units Financing: $140,000 or $75,000 per side; $20,000 down, 12.5 percent interest over 30 years, owner contract with no balloon. CONTACT: DUSTY ORRELL, 649-7220 o Huntsman-Christensen Corp. W PROFESSIONAL R V I c If vou wish to be listed in our Professional Services, please call 649-9014. I " "! New Linda Roberts release, 'Snow Shadows' B jf The selection of Linda Roberts works now B fe include 21 prints & 8 art posters. WmM F, 7j Located at Park City Ski Area 649-8102 JH Dentists The Dental Clinic Dr. Richard Barnes North Park Avenue across from Golf Course. Call for appointment. We're open daily, evenings & Saturdays. 649-6332 For emergency call 649-6786 Richard E. Randle, D.D.S., M.S. Practice limited to orthodontics. Hill Professional Building. Call collect 1-278-4681. Attorneys J. Bruce Savage Attorney at Law 1160 Park Avenue Park City, Utah 84060 649-5039 Medical Doctors Park City Health Center Holiday Village Shopping Mall Robert J. Evers, M.D. Family Practice Thomas L. Schwenk, M.D. Family Practice Robert T.Winn, M.D. Pediatrics Robert W. Barnett, M.D. Family Practice Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturdavs 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Office appointments and 24 hour emergency care. Call 649-7640. Park City Medical Clinic Acute orthopedic and emergency clinic located next to the Gondola in the Lower Ski Patrol Park City Ski Area 1284 Empire Ave., 649-7914. Hours 10 a.m. -6 p.m. 7 days a week. Family Counselors Optometrists j Marion P. Ayers, D.S.W. Nancy B. Cowher, M.S.W. Consultation Evaluation Education Therapy for families, couples, adults, adolescents, children. Park City Family Counseling Institute Park Meadows Plaza Hours Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m. Evenings by appointment (801) 649-2426. Moyne Oviatt, A.C.S.W. Park City Health Center Holiday Village Shopping Mall Consultation Therapy for individuals, couples, adults, adolescents. Call for appointment 649-7640. John T. Gleave, O.D. 160 S. 100 W. Heber City, Utah. Eye examination by appointment. Contact lenses and r ime selection available. 654-1863 Robert S. Briggs, O.D. Open daily 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. The Hill Professional Building 750 East Highway 248. 649-5200. Physical Therapy Chiropractic Charles S. Graybill, R.P.T. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Prospector Athletic Club, Prospector Square 649-6670 Massage Hherapy Cofer Chiropractic Clinic Dr. Donald A. Cofer North Park Avenue across from the golf course. Available Monday - Saturday by appointment Call for appointment 649-1017. M & M Massage Clinic Milton S. Bywater R.M.T. (Registered Massage Therapist) Mon. through Sat. 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. or by special appointment. 1700 Park Ave.. Mt. Air Mall Si ite 2005 (above Jans) 649-1219. |