The Snow is Falling!

Brush off those skis friends, the snow is finally falling. If this keeps up maybe Brundage Mountain will be able soon; they need about 12 more inches.

The lack of snow has not stopped the winter fun around here, for those that have been braving the cold weather, the ice skating on Cascade Lake and Little Payette Lake has been fantastic. Bear Basin has been grooming for cross country skiing for the past couple weeks and providing fairly good early season skiing. And for those that like to snowshoe, the blue skies have helped with some beautiful back drops.



And for those that haven't been to McCall in awhile, you will notice that there are several new restaurants open or on their way to opening. The new one in downtown with lake views is Northwest Passage for evening dining and the Little Gem for your lunch time fares. I would highly recommend the Goddess Chicken sandwich at the Little Gem, the combination of the dressing, pears, chicken breast and cheese is delicious.



Wraptor, offering wraps, rice bowls and other healthy combinations opening in Alpine Village should be serving food as early as December 20th. I toured the restaurant the other day and the owners have done a fantastic job with the design, mixing in vibrant colors with industrial-type features and a small amount of timbers. The restaurant is two stories but with the second floor just a small mezzanine area, this allows most of the space to be open to below and with the tall ceiling and big windows, the space is inviting and bright. Wraptor will serve beer and wine and open in the evenings for open mic night. It is refreshing to see the new menu items and experience a brand new restaurant and space.

Also, soon to open is Hometown's Pizzas in their new location near the airport and across from Si Buenos and McCall Sushi located in the old First American Title building off Railroad Ave. Blue Moose is also a new restaurant slated to open this spring.

The economy hasn't slowed this town down. For those that haven't been here I encourage you to come give it a try but I warn you, you might not want to leave.

Happy Holidays!

Outdoor Movie Nights At Alpine Village

It has been several years that going to watch a movie with the family has been an option in our household on a Friday evening. It has been almost ten years since a movie theatre here was open.

July 15, 2009 was a milestone in McCall, it was the first of a series of five outdoor movies filmed in the plaza at Alpine Village. The screen was an incredible 25' X 16' inflated screen that projected down the plaza. Everyone brought lawn chairs, snacks and blankets. And under the stars, the crowds enjoyed five fantastic outdoor movies from Iron Man to Bolt. It was a wonderful community event and free and with the support from future sponsors and businesses around town, this series can start back up next summer.

Thanks to Alpine Village, Salmon River Brewery for being a local vendor and Community Real Estate for being the first sponsor.

Alpine Village Opens

Alpine Village's grand opening took place over the July 4th weekend and with over 1,000 people through the homes and village, the event was a huge success. Kicking off the opening with the first of many events that are planned for the plaza was The McCall Aviation and Backcountry Expo. Three different type of planes were brought in, life flight landed in the plaza during the show and many aviation related businesses set up tables and displays.

With the village now open, furnished models and homes are ready to be moved into or rented for a short stay visit to the area. A pontoon boat is parked at the marina for homeowners and guests to enjoy the beautiful scenery around Payette Lake.

There has never been a better time to visit or own in McCall. The summer weather is upon us with gorgeous warm days and cool evenings. Legacy park has finished their remodel with more beach space and seating and with the newly constructed Alpine Village, this small town of McCall is really looking good.

Bring your lawn chair and picnic basket for the first outdoor movie night series hosted by Alpine Village on July 24th. Showing is free and refreshments will be available from local vendors on site. Movie starts at dusk.

Morel Mushroom Season is here in McCall

Morel Season is Here!



For those who enjoy a good hunt, get on your hiking shoes and grab a bag because the morel mushrooms are out in McCall.



These interesting mushrooms are not only fun to find but extremely tasty. The shape of the mushroom is very unique however they are not easy to spot right away. Often they blend in so well with its surrounding it takes a bit of a trained eye to see it. They are such treasured finds that often an avid morel mushroom hunter will not reveal the location of their finds.



Often they are found in disturbed areas such as previous logging sites. The soil should be moist but not too moist and generally it is in areas that have trees. A sign that I always look for in regards to finding the right time in spring is when the purple trilliums are in bloom.

Cleaning is important when finding the morels, many feel that a soak in salt water is necessary while others cut the mushroom in half and clean well with cold water.

Although the hunt is my favorite part, they are incredibly good sauteed with butter and fresh garlic. Enjoy!

Ownership at Alpine Village soon to be Reality

Alpine Village in downtown McCall is really starting to take shape both inside and out. Mark your calendars:

Model completed end of March, 2009.

Liquor store moving in May 1, 2009

Owner Occupancy in June 2009 and

Grand Opening of Plaza and Phase One, July 4th, 2009.

Call today to schedule your personal tour. http://www.alpinevillagemccall.com/

Lots Happening in McCall, Idaho

The first weekend of Winter Carnival in McCall, Idaho kicked off with beautiful weather and huge crowds. The local businesses really put on a nice display of snow sculptures with over 30 amazing projects throughout the downtown area. Live music, speciality foods, fireworks and lots of fun events were a great start to the first weekend. One more weekend is planned that includes the popular music extravaganza at the Pancake House, with local artists and performers both Saturday and Sunday. Other events can be found at the McCall Area Chamber of Commerce web site. www.mccallchamber.org

On February 7, the Special Olympic Snowshoe events starts at Ponderosa State Park. With over 385 athletes and representing 50 Special Olympic Programs world wide, this will be a fun event to watch and offer our support to these amazing athletes!

Although we haven't had new snow for a couple weeks, the snow conditions remain good for both skiing and snowmobiling. For those cross country ski enthusiasts, the early snow created a great base and all the venues are keeping their trails in fantastic condition. Local nordic grooming report can be found at www.mccallnordic.com I recently skied at Jug Mountain Ranch and the conditions couldn't have been better for a skate ski. For powder hounds, you may have to get up high in the mountains; there is still a lot of snow in the higher elevations.

For more information about events this winter, please visit the activities and events tab at Corbetproperty.com.

McCall Idaho Nordic Skiing

It was the miles of groomed cross country ski trails that brought me to this area almost eleven years ago and I have not been disappointed once. In fact, the cross country ski trails keep getting better and better around here. It is becoming such a popular sport in our area, that a Nordic Club has been started as well as new web site www.mccallnordic.com for the latest in grooming conditions. This crazy blend of snow, rain and freezing that we have experienced this winter, has actually created a very good base for the ski venues. The skate skiing is ideal and the classic tracks are firmly set. See you out there!

Alpine Village Adds Sidewalk and Lamps

Alpine Village Development here in downtown McCall, just three blocks from Payette Lake has added another block of sidewalks and lamps to McCall's downtown. Alpine Village is a new mountain village in the heart of downtown McCall. Alpine Village offers a variety of retail and residential ownership all centered around a pedestrian friendly plaza creating a perfect extension to downtown McCall's shopping and dining. The plaza will host a variety of events open to the community throughout the year upon its completion in June 2009. Also available are luxury condos with Payette Lake or Mountain Plaza views. To learn more about Alpine Village visit our web site for more information and to view the live web cam. http://www.alpinevillagemccall.com/

Shore Lodge is Back!

Whitetail resort and development has recently been purchase by a group of Idaho Natives who are excited to bring back not only the Shore Lodge name but to turn the lodge back into a community friendly place to gather with friends and family for events, dining and lodging.

Join them for an Open House
Saturday, October 11th, 2008 - 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Complimentary lakeside BBQ, beer and wine
Live music on the patio from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Meet the new chef Eric Gruber
Happy hour all night long!

Understanding Foreclosures and Resort Towns

Over 2.3 million foreclosures were reported for 2007 according to Realty Trac which puts that on a national average of 1% of every household to go into foreclosure. National lending institutes are now waiting almost 180 days prior to filing for foreclosure when a homeowner stops making payments, which is up from the previous 60 day grace period of years past. It is staggering to see the amount of public notices for trustee sales in the local papers even in small resort towns like McCall, Idaho.

In McCall, we see many of our foreclosures from builders or developers that are hanging onto too much inventory. For those that have been looking to buy property in McCall wonder if these are the times to be searching for some good deals and in some cases they are, particularly if the home is currently on the market.

The process on non-judical foreclosures can take up to 120 days which can give the Seller time to sell the property or recind the process. If the Seller is motivated to get it sold and the note on the property exceeds current market values, there is a strong chance that the lending institute may be willing to short sale the property.

Short Sales have been the latest buzz words around the real estate community and it is not referring to the time frame but that someone is getting "shorted" and generally it is means the lender. It is often during the foreclosure process that sellers and lenders agree to a short sale so that many of these properties can be sold prior to going to auction.

To lose your home in a foreclosure is not a process I would wish upon anyone, and I full heartedly support the Government for their continuing efforts to keep as many people in their homes as possible, however it is an opportunity for those that can afford it to find a good deal on a property.

There are also many aspects of a short sale or foreclosure that buyers need to be aware of, such as the property may have been sitting vacant for a long time and other items may be lingering on the title. If you would like to discuss short sale or foreclosures in more details and what is currently being offered in the McCall area, please don't hesitate to call or email.

Tis the Season for winter steelhead fishing

Only a short 45 minute drive from McCall, one can head down to Riggins Idaho for some fantastic winter steelhead fishing. On weekends, the banks of the Little Salmon River can be elbow to elbow with people trying to catch the big one. Winter steelhead fishing can be a hit or miss experience depending on the day. The fish are typically found in the slower currents and deeper areas of the Salmon River and depending on the day the water can be cloudy or clear with an average temperature around 40 degrees. It is a thrilling experience to pull up a 30-34" steelhead and a good reason why it draws quite the crowd during the winter months.

World Masters Coming to McCall, Idaho

The town of McCall is abuzz with the upcoming World Master's Cross Country Ski Race. Close to 1,300 skiers from all over the world will be coming to this small ski town resort to cross country ski on some of the best nordic trails in the west. And with the amount of snow we have received so far this winter, we will not lack for good ski conditions. Ponderosa State Park will be the host for this event and offers spectacular scenery along Payette Lake and tucked in some of the largest Ponderosa trees around. It also should be a fantastic race to watch, the amount of skiers alone will amaze you, let alone some of the dynamic sprint finishes and the nations duking it out at the relay. Go USA!