Andie Ohde & Vail - Like Nothing On Earth
From white sandy beaches to crisp mountain air, every resort destination has its own alluring essence that captivates people from around the globe. Coined “like nothing on earth”, Vail is no exception. For decades, visitors have flocked to this slice of paradise to escape the busyness of life and experience the relaxed vibe of this mountain town. Ask any longtime local and they will tell you, “I came for the winters, but I stayed for the summers”. It’s still breath-taking to me after 36 years” Andie Ohde exclaims.
It seems only natural that Andie’s path would carry her to the real estate industry as she has a rich family history in the business. Her father, a renowned real estate speaker and author, would often bring his little protégé along with him when touring homes, assisting in remodels, and entrusted her to sell his best-selling books and cassette tapes at CAR and NAR conferences across the country. “It empowered me to have him believe in the natural salesperson inside of me. He knew that I loved to sell his products especially since I saw how enthusiastic and engaged the audience was with him. This was back in the 70’s where most of the realtors were women, and they loved that my dad had his 15-year-old daughter working with him side by side. My dad taught me early on that women have great value and power to go out and do anything that they set their mind to”. Today, Andie brings that same passion, in-depth knowledge and marketing expertise to every detail of her career.
Andie’s background is rooted firmly in the real estate realm, having started in Real Estate Sales she then, after eight years, transitioned into the Title Insurance industry. “I was recruited at an opportune time to expand my knowledge and experience. I still kept my real estate license active to keep up with the market and continuing education so I could relate closely to my broker clients.” Andie also partnered up with a short sale facilitation company prior to the Recession as she felt there was going to be a shift in the market. She coordinated several conferences for the brokerage community with a panel of experts to help prepare and navigate through, what she felt would be a soon changing selling and buying environment. She was correct, the Vail Valley, like most areas of the US, felt the brunt of a Recession. The brokers that were once her colleagues were now her clients, and the trust that she built with them in the Title industry and short sale facilitation company has proven to be very fruitful for her current and past clients. With over 36 years in the Vail Valley, she has garnered a sphere of trusted resources including bankers, lenders, brokers, stagers and world-class photographers to deliver a seamless, full-service experience with maximum return and minimum bother. “I consistently have friends and clients alike that call me asking questions about my resources and opinions. I am not only their real estate advisor, but their life advisor, it really makes me feel good to help others”.
Vail may be best known for skiing its legendary back bowls and picturesque European inspired village, but the summer activities are the town’s equivalent to a secret menu. The summers come and go quickly in this “playground of the Rockies”, but there is something for everyone here…Hiking, mountain biking, fly fishing, whitewater rafting, kayaking, zip lining, horseback riding, camping, rock climbing, golfing, outdoor symphonies and concerts, drive-in movies, and world-renowned food and wine festivals. But the heartbeat behind this amazing place is the community that serves it. One of Andie’s passions is to bring that lifestyle and community to life through social media and her YouTube channel. Over the years, she has interviewed local businesses, change-makers, and local museums to spotlight the true warmth of the community. Her out-of-town clients tell her they love getting to know the local community before ever looking at a potential new home.
Right now, the world is experiencing a disruption to normal life. This disruption has caused us all to slow down and consider our priorities in a different way. Normally during this time of year, our town would be buzzing with Spring Break tourists and the locals would be reveling in warmer temps and Spring skiing before the mountain closes. This year is a bit different. “The town is calm and quiet; reminiscent of when I first moved here over 30 years ago”. Local residents are uniting in every neighborhood to help in whatever way they can. Our community is rallying together in an amazing way by coming up with creative ideas to not only support our small business owners, but to give back to those on the front lines at the same time. When this is all over and we adjust back to “normal life”, the community will still be the bedrock of this special mountain town.
Real estate in resort towns is a particularly unique segment of the marketplace. Those who choose to purchase a home in a destination town do so for one reason – to have a place to escape to. A place to leave behind their day-to-day and experience a soulful respite. I don’t see this changing anytime soon.
In the last few weeks, two of my clients have continued their initial plan to put their properties on the market resulting in interest. “We’ve experienced a low inventory trend in the Vail Valley for the past six months, so buyers who were already in the market and ready to make a move are still active in our market right now”. As a broker, “I am adapting to the current environment by emphasizing the technology in the palm of our hands. Whether it’s hosting virtual open houses on Facebook and Instagram Live, doing Facetime showings or utilizing 3D Matterport technology, I will do everything I can to safely meet the needs of my clients during this time. For my own personal development, our industry has been fantastic at hosting virtual mastermind meetings, sales meetings and business groups to offer support and to share what is happening in other parts of the country and world.”
At the end of the day, Andie lives and breathes the lifestyle and community that is the Vail Valley, and she loves sharing it with others. During this unprecedented time, we may need to keep our social distance from one another, but we should never turn our backs. “For my clients who continue to have real estate needs right now, I am firmly grounded in my commitment to you and will do everything I can to meet your needs while placing safety and health first.” Remember, it may be stormy now, but it never rains forever.
Visit VailAreaRealEstate.com for community and lifestyle videos, blog, market updates and advanced property map search tools or call me at (970) 471-5223.