7.28.10

The mid-year Hole Report is out and available. I’ll be emailing it to my Newsletter list by tomorrow. Please sign up online or email me and I’ll add your email address to the confidential list of recipients.

Here are a few quick facts from the most recent Hole Report:

Single family homes sales are up 79% from 2009.

58% of the 2010 transactions have been cash (no financing)

Single family home inventory is down 4% compared to 2009

7.20.10

Wyoming Taxes

Teton County residents live in one of the most tax-friendly states in the U.S. Wyoming residents do not pay state income taxes, and the state Legislature has created a 1,000-year trust that helps residents protect assets. Wyoming residents enjoy low taxes because mineral and oil and gas companies extracting coal and natural gas throughout the state pay considerable severance. This makes Jackson Hole a tax haven for  individuals.
Along with no state income tax, the state does not tax real estate transactions, gifts, tangible assets or out-of-state retirement income. The state repealed its estate tax in 2005, and Wyoming law allows the formation of dynasty trusts that let people shield their assets for up to 1,000 years.

7.19.10

I was just reading an article on  Nantucket foreclosures and thinking just how similar that market is to Jackson Hole and Teton County, WY. JH is truly an island, surrounded by national forest, wilderness and a 25,000-acre National Elk Refuge. Nantucket’s Land Bank owns about 50% of the island, but Jackson Hole is about 97.5% protected. Not only does JH have all of the federally-owned lands, but much of the privately held properties are under some degree of conservation easement (JH Land Trust, JH Conversation Alliance) which further enhances the long-term appeal. Like an island, Jackson Hole provides memories, safety, family fun, adventure, and clean living.