Like many of her fellow classmates at New York University, Yanchu Zhao has a busy schedule. A college junior, she has a double major in economics and journalism, and juggles classes, an internship and life with roommates in a rental near Herald Square.

But unlike many of her fellow classmates, Ms. Zhao came to the United States on a student visa. “A lot of students talked about how hard it was to get a job in New York and in the United States,” she said. “My parents heard that if I can get a green card, it would be easier for me to succeed.”

So two years ago, Ms. Zhao’s parents invested $500,000 in a hotel project on Bryant Park, knowing that their investment could be parlayed into green cards for the family. Three months ago, their paperwork came through…

See Full Article Here: http://nyti.ms/1B0I4FE

Ketchum, Idaho ( KMVT-TV / KSVT-TV ) – Forbes has listed Ketchum and Sun Valley as one of the ten best American ski towns.
The list was recently revealed on forbes.com. Other towns on the list include Aspen, Breckenridge, and Park City. The article says the best ski towns offer an alternative atmosphere that complements the resorts they neighbor. That’s why Ketchum and Sun Valley were both included as one resort on the list. To make the list, proximity is key.

 The Forbes article says that if a ski town is forty miles from the nearest lifts, it hardly rates as one of America’s best ski towns. “It's really about the town, the history, the people, the pace of life, and the quality of life here, also factored into that decision. So it was a really nice compliment to everything we have here," said Greg Randolph, Director of PR and Social Media for Visit Sun Valley.
If you'd like to read the article or see the complete list, just go to forbes.com.

We are pleased to announce the 15th anniversary edition of Windermere Real Estate’s Market Review, which has earned its reputation as one of the most accurate sources for data on the Blaine County housing market, is now available for distribution. Please let us know if you would like the four-color glossy publication or the electronic version. Send your requests and addresses to shausner1@aol.com 

Overall, 2014 was an encouraging year in Blaine County real estate, with gains in the median selling price for most areas and price points.

In the resort market of Ketchum and Sun Valley, the median sales price of single family homes was up 28 percent from 2013 and the number of closed sales climbed by 9 percent. I look for the median prices of resort area properties to continue to rise in 2015 with the re-opening of the new Sun Valley Lodge; the ground-breaking on a new four-star hotel on Ketchum’s Main Street and greatly improved non-stop jet service into the Hailey airport.

In the resort condo market, 158 sales were recorded in 2014, compared to 183 a year earlier. While the volume of sales in the condo marketwas slightly down, the average sold price was $322 per square foot. That’s a 31 percent increase from when the condo market hit bottom is 2012 at $245 a square foot, but still well off the peak set in 2007 when the average selling price of resort area units was $523 a square foot. For newer and larger condos listed above $500,000, the annual gain in price per square foot was 11.3 percent, according to the Sun Valley MLS.

In the Hailey market, 91 homes sold in 2014, down from 131 homes a year earlier. However, the average sold price increased by more than 20 percent. Bellevue saw a similar pattern as fewer distressed properties where available in the marketplace. The average price per square foot in Hailey is now $172, which is still far below the peak of 2007 when it was $256 per square foot.

We expect 2015 to be a dynamic year in Sun Valley real estate, with interest rates low, inventory falling and median selling prices increasing proportionately. With those factors in mind, families and retiring baby boomers will continue to seek out healthy communities that offer amenities, such as recreational opportunities, excellent schools and quality health care.

If you or someone you know have questions or need professional real estate advice, please don’t hesitate to call me. In the meantime, I hope you find the “Windermere Report” informative and we look forward to working with you in 2015.

Windermere Real Estate/Sun Valley LLC is pleased to announce the upcoming opening of the new Windermere Loft, located at 491 Sun Valley Road in Ketchum.

Windermere becomes the third tenant in the building, which is owned by the Ketchum Urban Renewal Agency. The anchor tenant in the building is Starbucks Coffee. The brokerage will also share space with Visit Sun Valley, which provides visitor information to guests and promotes special events in the resort area.

The Windermere Loft is located on the second floor of the building. It will be staffed daily by a licensed Windermere agent with extensive knowledge regarding real estate in the resort community, as well as the towns of Hailey and Bellevue. Friends and clients are invited to stop by and enjoy a relaxed Living Room atmosphere.

“We are thrilled to be able to offer a higher level of service to our clients,” said Terry Vehrs, managing partner of Windermere Real Estate/Sun Valley, LLC. “The Loft will be a great benefit to our Buyers and Sellers, and offer a new level of opportunity to our team of agents.”

The remodel of the Windermere Loft is currently underway with the goal of opening by Mid-December.