Colorado School Employee Homebuying Help, Ski Swap Weekend and a Red Sky Ranch Price Reduction

This week, I’m trading the cold mountain air for a little desert sunshine. My son and I headed to Fruita for fall break to get in some camping and mountain biking, and I brought The Ski Summit Show along.

That’s one of the things I love about living in Colorado. You can spend your winters skiing in the mountains and head west for a completely different kind of adventure when you want a change of scenery.

For Episode 179, we have three things worth knowing about back home: a homebuying program for Colorado public school employees, the Team Summit Ski and Snowboard Swap, and a $40,000 price reduction on our featured homesite at 303 Red Sky Road in Wolcott.

CHFA Schools To Home: A Homebuying Program for Public School Employees

One of my favorite lenders, Chris Magnotta with Elevate Home Loans, brought this program to my attention. It’s called CHFA Schools To Home, through the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority, and it helps eligible full-time Colorado public school employees purchase a primary residence.

Teachers are an obvious group to think of, but eligibility can extend to other full-time employees of qualifying public school employers. If you work in our schools, it’s worth having a lender check your eligibility rather than assuming your job title rules you out.

The program combines a fixed-rate first mortgage with down payment and closing cost assistance of up to 25% of that first mortgage amount. Using the example from this week’s show, a $400,000 first mortgage could mean up to $100,000 in assistance, subject to qualification and program requirements.

That distinction matters: the percentage is based on the first mortgage amount. The $100,000 example illustrates the calculation and is not a promise that every applicant will receive that amount.

Understand the Repayment and Shared Appreciation Terms

Saving enough cash to purchase can be a major hurdle, even for someone who can manage a monthly mortgage payment. Assistance of this size could make a meaningful difference, but understanding the long-term commitment is part of deciding whether it fits.

The assistance is a second mortgage that must be repaid, and it includes a shared appreciation obligation. There are no required monthly payments on that assistance loan. Repayment is deferred until the end of the loan term or an earlier triggering event, such as selling, refinancing, paying off the first mortgage, or no longer using the property as your primary residence.

At that point, the obligation includes repayment of the assistance plus the applicable share of the home’s appreciation. Before choosing the program, ask a participating lender to walk through several scenarios, including selling or refinancing in the future. You’ll want to understand the costs of getting into the home and the amount you could owe when your plans change.

Income, credit, education and other qualification requirements also apply. Chris can help review those details and compare the program with other financing options.

Here in our mountain communities, housing for school employees matters. These are the people supporting our kids every day, and having a path to live in the communities they serve can make a real difference. If this sounds relevant to you, reach out and I’d be happy to connect you with Chris.

Explore CHFA Schools To Home and its financial commitment.

Team Summit Ski and Snowboard Swap: October 23–25

If your kids have outgrown last winter’s equipment, you’re looking for gear for yourself, or your garage needs some breathing room, the Team Summit Ski and Snowboard Swap is happening October 23–25, 2026, at the Copper Conference Center at Copper Mountain.

The swap brings together new and used winter equipment while supporting Team Summit’s Scholarship Fund. It’s a chance to prepare for ski season and help keep local kids on snow.

Team Summit coaches will be available Saturday to help families with equipment selection. For parents trying to figure out what their growing skier or snowboarder needs next, that’s a useful opportunity to ask questions before buying.

The shopping hours listed on Team Summit’s event page are:

• Friday, October 23: 3–7 p.m.
• Saturday, October 24: 9 a.m.–7 p.m.
• Sunday, October 25: 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

Sellers retain 70% of the sale price, with 30% going to Team Summit. The Wednesday early drop-off has already passed, but the organizer lists additional consignment hours at Copper on Friday and Saturday. Check the current event information before bringing gear or heading over to shop.

Check the Team Summit Ski Swap schedule and consignment details.

Listing of the Week: 303 Red Sky Road, Now $595,000

This week’s featured property fits nicely with the mountain-to-desert theme of our fall break trip. 303 Red Sky Road in Wolcott is a 2.88-acre homesite in the gated Red Sky Ranch community, with panoramic views of the Eagle River Valley.

We’ve reduced the price by $40,000, bringing the asking price to $595,000.

For someone thinking about building, the appeal starts with the setting. You have room to plan a custom home around the views, with access to the activities that bring so many people to this part of Colorado.

Vail and Beaver Creek are a short drive away for winter skiing. Head west and you can reach desert camping and mountain biking in roughly two hours, depending on your destination and conditions. That mix of mountain access and lower-elevation adventures is something I appreciate even more while spending a few days in Fruita.

Golf is another part of the Red Sky Ranch lifestyle. Optional membership provides access to the Tom Fazio and Greg Norman courses. If golf is part of your plans, we can look into the current membership details as you evaluate the property.

A custom home was previously designed for this site, and those plans may be available through the architect. That could be a useful starting point for a conversation about what you’d like to build. We can explore their availability and the next steps for evaluating the homesite together.

If you’ve been looking for land with broad valley views and access to both mountain and desert recreation, let’s take a closer look at 303 Red Sky Road.

Contact Ski Summit Homes for details on 303 Red Sky Road.

Let’s Talk About Your Next Step

Whether you’d like an introduction to Chris to discuss Schools To Home or want to explore building at Red Sky Ranch, I’m happy to help you get the information you need.

You can reach me through Ski Summit Homes. Enjoy the ski swap, get ready for winter, and I’ll see you in the mountains soon.