Real Estate in the Rockies

If you own property in a Colorado mountain community, there's a good chance your water comes from a private well. But how much do you really know about what's in that water, where it comes from, or how future development could impact it? In this episode of Real Estate in the Rockies, Ashley Kappel and Jessica Chariton sit down with geochemist Dr. Devin Castendyk to explore groundwater, p...

What really happens at the Colorado Capitol, and how do legislative decisions impact homeowners, renters, Realtors, and Colorado mountain communities? In this episode of Real Estate in the Rockies, Ashley Kappel and Jessica Chariton sit down with Brian Tanner, Vice President of Public Policy for the Colorado Association of Realtors, to pull back the curtain on Colorado's legislative process a...

Short-term rentals have become one of the most emotional and controversial conversations happening across Colorado mountain towns. But what happens when the conversation moves beyond politics and focuses on people, community, balance, and long-term planning? In this episode of Real Estate in the Rockies, Ashley Kappel and Jessica Chariton sit down with Lisa and Summer, the founders of Rainbow Rent...

Colorado mountain towns are changing rapidly, and the conversations around growth, housing, affordability, and community identity are becoming more complicated than ever. In this episode of Real Estate in the Rockies, Ashley Kappel and Jessica Chariton sit down with top Colorado Realtor and business leader Treasure Davis for a thoughtful and candid conversation about what’s happening across Colora...

Wildfire season in Colorado mountain towns is no longer a distant possibility, it is something communities must actively prepare for. In this episode of Real Estate in the Rockies, Ashley Kappel and Jessica Chariton sit down with Chaffee County Public Health Director Andrea Carlstrom to discuss wildfire preparedness, evacuation planning, emergency communication systems, air quality concerns, and w...

What happens when a community does not have enough senior housing, assisted living, or memory care options? In this episode of Real Estate in the Rockies , Ashley Kappel and Jessica Chariton sit down with local leaders Marilyn Bouldin and Andi Bruno to discuss the growing need for senior housing in Salida and across Colorado mountain towns. As populations age and housing options remain limited, co...

What does it really take to develop property in a Colorado mountain town, and why do some projects succeed while others never get off the ground? In this episode of Real Estate in the Rockies , Ashley Kappel and Jessica Chariton sit down with longtime Salida resident, realtor, and developer Walt Harder to unpack the realities of real estate development in mountain communities. With over 20 years o...

What is really happening in Colorado mountain town real estate, and why does it matter even if you are not buying or selling? Welcome to Real Estate in the Rockies , a podcast focused on Colorado mountain communities like Salida, where real estate is not just about transactions, it is about how towns grow, who can afford to live there, and what the future looks like. In this first episode, Ashley...

Can affordable housing actually work in a Colorado mountain town, or is it financially impossible without major tradeoffs? In this episode of Real Estate in the Rockies , Ashley Kappel and Jessica Chariton sit down with Paul Andrews, developer of The Crossing in Buena Vista, a community designed to be 50% affordable housing. Paul brings decades of high-level real estate and financial experience to...

What does it really take to buy, build, or own property in a Colorado mountain town? Welcome to Real Estate in the Rockies , a Colorado real estate podcast that explores the unique challenges and opportunities shaping mountain communities today. From water rights and wildfire risk to zoning regulations, housing shortages, and land use decisions, real estate in the Rockies is anything but simple. H...