Updates from Sally Shiekman

If you've been hearing a lot of buzz about interest rates lately, you're not alone. Every week seems to bring new speculation—will the Fed cut rates? Will inflation stall them? Are mortgage rates heading up, down, or just going sideways?

Here’s the truth: No one knows for sure. But I’ve been doing this long enough to know how to help you make smart decisions regardless of where the market lands.

Here’s what I tell my clients when things feel uncertain:

Timing the market is tricky. Yes, rates matter—but so does your lifestyle, your timeline, and your goals. If you’re waiting for the “perfect rate,” you might miss the perfect property.

Rates move in cycles. We’ve seen rates bounce within a range for months now. The highs and lows can be dramatic, but over time, these fluctuations often balance out—especially if you plan to stay in your home for a while.

You can always refinance. Many of my clients have bought when rates were higher than they’d like—then refinanced when the timing was right. If you find the right home, don’t let today's rate be tomorrow's regret.

This market rewards preparation and perspective. Whether you're buying, selling, or just watching, I'm here to help you make decisions grounded in experience—not headlines.

Let me put my Mountains of Experience to work for you.
Sally Shiekman

As of April 19, 2024, Colorado law has changed the rules around ending a lease—and if you're planning to sell a tenant-occupied property, these new regulations could significantly impact your timeline and strategy.

Under House Bill 24-1098, if a tenant has lived in the unit for 12 months or more, a landlord cannot end the lease early just because they plan to sell. Even if the lease contains an early termination clause for sale, this new law overrides it.

Here’s what is allowed:

If the landlord plans to withdraw the property from the rental market for the purpose of selling, that is now considered a valid “no-fault” reason for not renewing a lease—but it must still follow the new rule:

90 days’ written notice before the end of the lease term.

Other valid no-fault reasons include:

• Owner or family member intends to move in
• Demolition or substantial renovations
• Tenant has repeatedly failed to pay rent on time
• Tenant refuses to sign a new lease with similar terms

However, none of these reasons permit early termination during an active lease. The notice still applies to the nonrenewal of a lease at its natural end—not eviction mid-lease. If the lease has six months left, the tenant stays six more months, regardless of your plans—unless both parties agree otherwise.

What this means for sellers:

You can still sell a property with tenants in place—but timing matters.

If you want to deliver the property vacant, you’ll need to coordinate the sale with the lease expiration and deliver 90 days’ notice.

Early planning and professional legal advice are now essential.

As always, consult your attorney to understand how these rules apply to your situation—and if you’re thinking about buying or selling, while I am not an attorney, I’m here to help you navigate these evolving laws with confidence.

Let me put my Mountains of Experience to work for you.

—Sally
 

You may have seen the headlines—Zillow just dropped the hammer on Compass, banning certain “pocket listings” from its platform. While this battle is unfolding in major markets like San Francisco and Los Angeles, it’s raising eyebrows—and questions—across the country, including here in Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley.

First, what’s a pocket listing, or what we at Aspen Snowmass Sotheby’s International Realty call an “off-market listing”? It’s a property that’s for sale but not listed on the MLS or major public websites. Think of it as a VIP-only experience: invitation-only, with limited visibility by design. Compass has leaned into this strategy, offering sellers more control and buyers a sense of exclusivity.

Zillow is pushing back, claiming this undermines transparency. Compass argues it gives clients more flexibility. Now they’re locked in a public platform standoff—and it’s sparking broader conversations about how real estate should work in the digital age.

So, how does this affect you?

Here in the Aspen area, pocket listings are not only common—they’re sometimes preferred. Many of my clients have more elaborate properties or simply value discretion and privacy. In those cases, I sometimes make off-market listings available as a tailored option. It’s one more way I provide the level of service and strategy that fits each individual’s needs.

That said, visibility still matters. Sometimes a quiet word in the right ear is all it takes to sell a home. Other times, it’s about maximum exposure, competitive offers, and a big splash.

Knowing when to use which strategy is part of the value I bring—after 30+ years of living and working here, I’ve seen just about every kind of market and every kind of client need. Whether you want discretion or attention, I’ll make sure your home—or your search—is handled with the care, savvy, and precision it deserves.

While Zillow and Compass argue about listings, I’ll stay focused on you.

Let me put my Mountains of Experience to work for you.

 —Sally