撸先生

Editor鈥檚 note: This story is the fifth and final part in a five-day series focused on housing issues in the Vail Valley. To view the entire series as it unfolds, visit vaildaily.com/news/home-economics.

Buying a home is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make in your life. In a tight housing market, like Eagle County, actually finding a house is perhaps even harder than hammering out all the financial details of what you can afford.

鈥淚nventory is at a 10-year low. That is a really key component to the amount of listings that are available to people under [$500,000],鈥� said John Pfeiffer, president and employing broker at Slifer, Smith & Frampton.

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He added that the Vail Valley鈥檚 seen a stable, healthy economy since the recession in 2008.

鈥淭he good news is, a lot of the inventory we had a few years ago has been purchased. A lot of buyers stepped into the market and a lot of those listings are now gone,鈥� he said.

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Despite the relatively slim pickings, Pfeiffer stated that now is a great time to buy a house, for those considering, because interest rates are low and home values are increasing at healthy rates.

鈥淧rices have not gone crazy in running up, so they鈥檙e not paying a peak price, and interest rates are at record lows. That鈥檚 a dream scenario for newer buyers,鈥� he said.

The Vail Daily decided to see what $500,000 could buy in the Eagle County real estate market.

Each listing chosen was sourced from Zillow, an online real estate search website used by many home buyers, and reflects the highest-priced listing in the area without breaking that $500,000 cap at the time of writing. 鈥淣umber of Zillow results鈥� refers to how many listings Zillow fetched in the search. Search settings on Zillow have been set to a maximum of $500,000, and the additional settings are set to allow the maximum number of home listings to come through.

Here鈥檚 a list of home prices under $500,000 in Eagle County鈥檚 main residential areas along I-70, including Minturn.

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Gypsum

36 Steamboat Dr., $500,000

Specifications: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 1,932 square feet

Year built: 2017

Number of Zillow results: 44

Located in the Aspen Ridge condo complex, this has decks, a two-car garage and views of Castle Peak. This is the largest of the three floor plans offered in Aspen Ridge, located between Eagle and Gypusm.

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Eagle

51 MacDonald St., $479,950

Specifications: 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 1,811 square feet

Year built: 2001

Number of Zillow results: 13

A fully-finished basement adds square footage and open space, while stainless steel appliances and granite countertops check off items on buyers鈥� wishlists. There鈥檚 also a deck and a one-car garage, and the unit is located within walking distance of the Eagle Elementary School and the businesses on Capitol Street.

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Edwards

22 Murray Rd., $489,000

Specifications: 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 1,350 square feet

Year built: 2019

Number of Zillow results: 9

, built this year, have three-level floor plans and one-car garages. It鈥檚 finished with a modern, chic and very bright white appliances and finishings. There are also large windows for daylight to further amplify the brightness.

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Avon/EagleVail

137 Benchmark Rd., $499,000

Specifications: 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 984 square feet

Year built: 1985

Number of Zillow results: 29

Because it鈥檚 built in 1981, not all the finishings in the house are modern. has views of Beaver Creek and is within walking distance of the Westin Riverfront鈥檚 gondola, meaning easy access to the slopes. There鈥檚 also an option in the onsite rental program to lease the home out.

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Minturn

382 Taylor St., $430,000

Specifications: 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 670 square feet

Year built: 1951

Number of Zillow search results: 2

This house is for sure a for the creative homebuyer. The roof has rusted, the finishings are dated and surely some elbow grease will be required to make it a home. It is right off of downtown Minturn, and gets some views of fields and Meadow Mountain.

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Vail

555 East Lionshead Circle, $455,000

Specifications: 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 437 square feet

Year built: 1973

Number of Zillow search results: 9

Located in Lodge鈥檚 condo hotel, this home is located right in LIonshead Village, meaning the Born Free Express is right outside the door. The finishings in aren鈥檛 modern, but they also don鈥檛 look dated or ugly, and comfort and location come at the price of space. There鈥檚 an option to buy into the rental pool agreement when signing, and all units are managed and maintained by the Lift House.