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Fischer: Resort town living becoming exponentially pricier

By Jen Fischer - Special to the Standard-Examiner | Jun 17, 2022

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Jen Fischer

Last week, I took a little day trip down to Moab, the little town in southeast Utah best known for the beautiful red rock scenery, and the gateway to Arches National Park and Canyonlands. Although hiking and climbing the red rocks of southern Utah is on my top 10 list of things to do in my leisure time, my short trip did not include leisure time. I was on a mission to find a client the perfect second home — a feat which I knew from the get-go would be no easy task. However, armed with a budget of $850,000 or under, I scheduled showings for all four available listed homes down there in that price range.

Lest you missed that, go back and read it again. Yes, that was the number four. Not 40, not 400 … four. That was the culmination of active homes in that ample price range. All the other active listed homes were above that. Mind you, these are not large homes. In fact, most are single-level homes on less than quarter-acre lots and under 3,000 square feet.

Ironically, on the drive down (three hours and 57 minutes for those of you wanting to know), I tuned in to a podcast called “Park Predators” for some light, enjoyable listening on my way to a national park. One of the particular episodes that happened to come up in the queue detailed the story of two missing girls from Moab. Seriously, the frequent weavings of irony throughout my life cannot be made up. Either way, these two girls both worked in the city of Moab in various service industry vocations. As a result, they could not afford housing and had taken to camping in a tent on the outskirts of town.

This is not uncommon. Second home purchases in resort and vacation spots throughout the nation saw a vast increase during the pandemic and has given continual rise to increasing prices at an even faster rate than housing in nonresort cities and towns. Three years ago, for example, I pulled comparisons for a client on a property he owned in Moab for a divorce situation. Since the matter is still unresolved, I pulled new comparisons this week. The home has doubled in value in three years. This prices the locals, who are providing all these tourist services, right out of the market. A local cannot compete with buyers who come in with cash or large down payments and waive contingencies and appraisals. Instead, they just buy a used van or a small used truck with a shell and call it home.

Unfortunately, a permanent address, even for a tent or van, is difficult to come by. The Department of Forestry Services, as well as the Bureau of Land Management and the National Park Service, do not allow a stay of longer than 14 days at any one location. This necessitates frequent relocation. This would be difficult if there were an accumulation of furniture, accessories and other basic household items; however, there are not. This usually includes packing up the toothbrush, hairbrush, travel shampoo and the minimal clothes, packing them in the car and driving several yards to the next spot.

Tiny homes, yurts, glamping tents, house boats and even RVs are great housing options; however, they all require a spot in which to park. It is easier to live in a car. In fact, I did for three months in college. But that’s a story for another time.

Unfortunately, as the planet becomes more crime ridden, it’s not as safe as it used to be to sleep under the stars. There was really no end to the podcast. The girls went missing and they are still missing. In fact, there is still a billboard posted in the outskirts of town soliciting information about these two girls. Meantime, the locals keep camping, and the tourists keep coming and there is not a lot to be done about it. Perhaps, however, we can just keep a closer eye on one another and be more aware of the people providing the services for others in a resort town. It is a high-risk and valuable occupation.

Jen Fischer is an associate broker and Realtor. She can be reached at 801-645-2134 or jen@jen-fischer.com.

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