TODAY'S SALT LAKE CITY, UT PHOTO

The historic First United Methodist Church at 200 South, 200 East in Salt Lake City was founded in 1870. It is just one of many historic churches built by people of different faiths in the local historic Utah district. Photo by Donna Brown, Your Content Queen 

Remarkable Highland 2 Story | Highland, UT | Spotlight Home's Virtual Tour

Remarkable Highland 2 Story | Highland, UT | Spotlight Home's Virtual Tour

Property listed by All Utah Real Estate.

This Highland, Utah 6,200-square-foot home combines a majestic traditional design with futuristic technology for the ultimate living experience. With lavishly-decorated rooms, a turret room just off the master bedroom and a secret room upstairs there is a favorite spot for everyone. With six bedrooms and five bathrooms, you will enjoy the luxury of space galore and unbelievable convenience. This home is fully-automated to control climate, lighting, security, entertainment and more from anywhere in the world! Light a fire and set a cozy mood with the touch of a button. The view is fantastic with a backdrop of towering Wasatch Mountains. The location is secluded with easy access to hiking and biking trails in Hog's Hollow and Corner Canyon but also convenient to main transportation corridors. You have got to see this opened design of superior quality including Malaysian walnut floors, stained glass, tile and cornices. Experience a high level of interior design with custom, high-end light fixtures and tasteful touches that reflect the care taken in this exquisite family home

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MSN: Basically, Salt Lake City Rocks

by Joel Carson President & Principle Broker Utah Real Estate

Had they asked me, I would have told them: “Salt Lake is THE most exciting mid-size city in the country.” MSN Real Estate struck out on its own to make that determination and Salt Lake City was named the tenth most exciting city in America. Call me next time you’re in town guys, I’ll show you around.

This particular study used 117 cities for comparison. Populations ranged from 120,000 to 210,000 residents according to the most recent United States Census.

Still, being named among the Top 10 is a great honor for our Utah home and I would imagine more than just a few people flashed a look of surprise when they heard the news. It’s true, there’s a lot going on here and Utah’s capital city measures up.

Randy Nelson of Movoto wrote the article recently published on realestate.msn.com.  “It all starts with figuring out which criteria we can use to determine what we're looking to measure. In the case of excitement, we've already come up with a trusty list of six factors,” he wrote.

Here they are:

1. Nightlife per capita (bars, clubs, comedy, etc.) (Yes, really.)
2. Live-music venues per capita
3. Active life options per capita (parks, outdoor activities, etc.)
4. Fast-food restaurants per capita (the fewer the better)
5. Percentage of restaurants that aren't fast food (the higher the better)
6. Percentage of young residents ages 20 to 34 (the higher the better)

The logical question for you to ask here is, “What city could possibly be more exciting that Salt Lake?” My answer: It depends on who you ask. MSN ranked the Top 10 like this:

1. Providence, RI
2. Charleston, SC
3. Fort Collins, CO
4. Eugene, OR
5. Syracuse, NY
6. New Haven, CT
7. Fort Lauderdale, FL
8. Pasadena, CA
9. Grand Rapids, MI
10. Salt Lake City, UT

Now, there’s some pretty tough competition. (Wait, Michigan?)

Salt Lake City has worked long and hard to build a thriving, vibrant network of culturally diverse entertainment from live theater to professional sports, and from family-friendly conventions to a throbbing night-life in and around the historic Main Street district.

I’m proud of my Salt Lake City home and hope it will continue to foster an exciting environment with a rich quality of life fit for families from all walks of life.

Salt Lake City is a great place to live. If you’re ready to find your new home in Salt Lake, or anywhere in Utah, please visit us online at www.allutahhomes.com. There you will find thousands of listings published by the Wasatch Front Regional Multiple Listing Service. Listings include great pictures, maps, details, comparisons and more. Need assistance? Call or text me, Joel Carson, at 801-673-3333 today.

SALT LAKE CITY IN PICTURES: Kingsbury Hall

Welcome to the amazing and historic Kingsbury Hall on the University of Utah (UofU) campus. Experience intellectual discussions, performing arts, and so much more at Kingsbury Hall in Salt Lake City, UT. Photo by Donna M. Brown,Your Content Queen

Learn more about living in Utah and view Utah homes for sale. Visit www.allutahhomes.com.

Public Fast-Charger Goes Live in Salt Lake County

Editor's note: The following is a press release originally published by Salt Lake County News Service.

SALT LAKE COUNTY —Partners from Salt Lake County, the Utah Clean Air Partnership (UCAIR), the state of Utah and others recently unveiled the first ever electric fast-charging station for public use along the Wasatch Front. It is located at 2001 S. State Street. The installation is part of a coordinated effort to improve air quality—in this case, by supporting the alternative fuel vehicle market.

Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams, UCAIR Director Ted Wilson, and Utah State Energy Advisor Cody Stewart said today’s “first” is the result of local and state government coming together on steps to eliminate the bad air days that occur during winter inversions. McAdams said Salt Lake County received grants totaling $39,600 from UCAIR and the state for installation of ABB, Inc.’s DC charging station, which has a 480v rate that is able to charge in 10-40 minutes.

“Owners of electric vehicles—which produce zero tailpipe emissions—need infrastructure so that they can conveniently drive longer trips. We’re stepping up to support that individual choice, which helps everyone breathe cleaner air,” said Mayor McAdams.

The Salt Lake County Council’s five Republicans and four Democrats supported the effort.

Councilman Richard Snelgrove said, “One person can make a difference in improving air quality. This is a good example. I appreciate Mayor McAdams’ leadership on this issue.”

UCAIR is a nonprofit, statewide clean air partnership. Ted Wilson, UCAIR Director, said the organization’s goal is to make it easier for individuals, businesses and communities to make small changes to improve Utah’s air.

"My congratulations to Mayor Ben McAdams and the County Council for recognizing that electric vehicles are now practical and friendly to our delicate air. I am sure the county parking lots will soon be filled with electric vehicles,” said Wilson.

Cody Stewart, Utah Governor Gary Herbert’s energy advisor said, “Diversifying our transportation options here on the Wasatch Front and throughout Utah will be essential as we strive to advance our clean air goals, and electric vehicles will play an important role. I’m pleased that our Governor’s Office of Energy Development has been able to partner with the County and UCAIR to make this exciting project happen.”

McAdams noted that since electric vehicles (EVs) emit no tailpipe pollutants, they cut down on the small particulate emissions that elevate health risks when trapped in valley air during winter inversions. The Utah Department of Environmental Quality says that vehicles contribute 57 percent of PM2.5 pollution. Besides the air quality benefit, McAdams said that driving an EV is likely to save over $1,000 annually in typical energy costs.

The partners say that additional electric-charging stations will be installed by Salt Lake City in the coming weeks, adding more re-charging options for EV drivers.

McAdams says the cost of using the county’s charging station will be a $2.00 flat fee and 20 cents per kilowatt (kw) plus tax. Experts say that’s about $5 to charge the battery to about 65 percent.

Park City, Deer Valley Year-End Stats Look Great

by Joel Carson
President/Principal Broker
Utah Real Estate
SLBR 2012 'Salesperson of the Year'

Home sales in the Park City and Deer Valley areas increased 18.44 percent in 2013 compared to the number of homes sold in 2012. We’re seeing these kinds of numbers all over the state and it’s great to see just how much things are looking up.

A report from the Wasatch Front Regional Multiple Listing Service (WF-MLS) notes a total of 282 homes were sold in 2012. That’s when we saw a mind-blowing 35.58 percent increase in home sales over 2011 when only 208 Park City homes and Deer Valley homes sold. The growth slowed somewhat from 2012 to 2013 when 334 homes sold throughout the year. Slow, steady growth is more desirable than false housing bubbles that confuse the market, so I’m encouraged by what I see.

Those of us in the real estate industry often look at “current days on market” (CDOM) for housing market health indications. Granted, no single statistic will tell us how the local housing market is fairing; but, when you look at the big picture including how fast homes are selling, how many homes sell, the price at which they sell, and new inventory, it’s easy to get a good feel for the current situation.

Park City, Deer Valley Homes Sold Faster in 2013

We saw the market begin its recovery in 2011 when the median CDOM was 127 days. That’s a long time to wait for a home to sell and it has a tendency to make people nervous. In 2012 that number decreased by 14.17 percent to 109 days. In 2013 the median CDOM was just 87 – that’s 20.18 percent faster than in 2012.

Buyer Beware, Prices Rising

In 2011 the median home price in the Park City/Deer Valley area was $462,500. Now, that’s obviously higher than the state median home price; remember, we’re talking about world-class resorts here where high-dollar homes are in good supply. Believe it or not, that price was disconcerting to some homeowners (because it was low for the area). In 2012 the median home sold price increased 8.7 percent to $502,750. We all said, “That’s better.” In 2013 the median home sold price climbed to $590,000 (a 17.35 percent increase). For the time being, it’s nowhere but up from here. Prices in the area can still be considered bargains; and, interest rates are still very appealing. The bottom line? It’s time to buy. Please note in the stats chart that the median asking price for homes was $725,000.

Inventory Holding Steady

Park City’s home inventory, and Deer Valley’s inventory is holding steady. New listings were up slightly in 2013 compared to 2012 (.74 percent higher). In 2013 a total of 544 new listings came on the market at a median asking price of $725,000.  Of the new listings added in 2013, 61.40 percent sold.

In 2012, homeowners listed 540 homes on the WF-MLS. The median asking price was $675,000 and 52.22 percent of those sold.

In 2011, WF-MLS added 626 new listings at a median asking price of $685,000. Yes, the asking price was higher than what we saw the following year; but then, only 33.23 percent of those listings sold.

The inventory in these areas of Summit County is looking good and we’re seeing the market come back into balance.

If you are in the market for a Park City home for sale or a Deer Valley home for sale, please visit www.allparkcityhomes.com today. If I can help you find that vacation home, an executive home for sale or the perfect family home, call me at 801-673-3333. I’m here to make sure you find the right Utah real estate for you.

2014 Sundance Film Festival to Host Special Preview

30th Anniversary of the Sundance Film Festival

130919 • A Portrait of Marina Abramović, directed by Matthu Placek, will compete with other short films in the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. Photo by Michael Berlucci is courtesy of the Sundance Film Festival.

(EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is an excerpt from a press release courtesy of the Sundance Institute originally published online on Jan. 13, 2014.)

Park City, UT — Sundance Institute today announced that the 2014 Sundance Film Festival will host special preview screenings of Boyhood by Richard Linklater, premiering Sunday, Jan. 19, 9:45 p.m. at the Eccles Theatre, 1750 Kearns Blvd, Park City, UT 84060. The 2014 Festival takes place January 16-26 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah.

With the addition of Boyhood, the 2014 Festival will present 121 feature-length films, representing 37 countries and 54 first-time filmmakers, including 35 in competition. These films were selected from 12,218 submissions (72 more than for 2013), including 4,057 feature-length films and 8,161 short films. Of the feature film submissions, 2,014 were from the U.S. and 2,043 were international. One hundred feature films at the Festival will be world premieres.

Boyhood / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Richard Linklater) — Filmed over short periods from 2002 to 2013, Boyhood is a groundbreaking cinematic experience covering 12 years in the life of a family. At the center is Mason, who with his sister Samantha, are taken on an emotional and transcendent journey through the years, from childhood to adulthood. Cast: Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke, Ellar Coltrane, Lorelei Linklater.

Sundance Institute 

Founded by Robert Redford in 1981, Sundance Institute is a global, nonprofit cultural organization dedicated to nurturing artistic expression in film and theater, and to supporting intercultural dialogue between artists and audiences. The Institute promotes independent storytelling to unite, inform and inspire, regardless of geo-political, social, religious or cultural differences. Internationally recognized for its annual Sundance Film Festival and its artistic development programs for directors, screenwriters, producers, film composers, playwrights and theatre artists, Sundance Institute has nurtured such projects as Beasts of the Southern Wild, Fruitvale Station, Sin Nombre, An Inconvenient Truth, Spring Awakening, Born into Brothels, Trouble the Water, Light in the Piazza and Angels in America.

While you're visiting Utah for the Sundance Film Festival, why not tour some of the amazing homes for sale in the area. Please browse our listings at www.allparkcityhomes.com. Need assistance purchasing the perfect Park City resort property? Call or text Joel Carson at 801-673-3333 today.