Real Estate in the Rockies

About Real Estate in the Rockies

REAL ESTATE IN THE ROCKIES Real Deals. Real Expertise. Real Colorado. The go-to podcast for Colorado mountain real estate, rural property buying and selling, and land use in the Rockies. Whether you're buying a home in the Colorado mountains, investing in rural Colorado real estate, or trying to understand the forces shaping mountain town housing markets, Real Estate in the Rockies delivers the expert conversations you need to make smarter decisions. Hosted by Ashley Kappel -managing attorney and mediator at Collegiate Peaks Law & Mediation LLC, and Jessica Chariton, team lead and realtor at Heart of the Rockies Homes, this podcast blends real estate law, local market expertise, and on-the-ground experience to help buyers, sellers, investors, and community members navigate one of the most complex real estate landscapes in the country. Each bi-weekly episode features Colorado real estate professionals, developers, lenders, planners, and local experts discussing what's actually happening in Chaffee County real estate, the Arkansas River Valley, Salida, Buena Vista, and surrounding mountain communities, from the Front Range to the high country. Together, they make Real Estate in the Rockies the most practical, locally grounded Colorado mountain real estate podcast available, rooted in real stories, real expertise, and real Colorado.

Publisher

Ashley Kappel & Jessica Chariton

Category

business · business · business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

8 Apr 2026

Latest episode

15 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

17 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   15 Oct 2026

   Water, Wells and Growth in Colorado Mountain Towns with Greg Felt | Ep16

   Water touches everything in a mountain community, from housing and development to agriculture, recreation, wildfire resilience, and long-term sustainability. In this episode, Ashley and Jessica sit down with Greg Felt, General Manager of the Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District, to talk about what people in Colorado mountain towns need to understand about water. Greg explains how augmentation works, why groundwater and surface water are connected, what people get wrong about drought, an...

2. 

   1 Oct 2026

   Estate Planning for Colorado Homeowners: Wills, Trusts and Probate Explained | Ep 15

   Owning property is one thing. Making sure it goes where you intend, without leaving a legal mess for your family, is another. In this episode of Real Estate in the Rockies, Ashley Kappel and Jessica Chariton sit down with Salida estate planning attorney Charlotte Selix to unpack what Colorado property owners should understand about wills, trusts, probate, beneficiary deeds, and how real estate fits into an estate plan. Charlotte explains why having a will does not automatically mean your est...

3. 

   17 Sept 2026

   Who Gets to Live in Salida? Housing, Growth and the Future of a Mountain Town

   Who gets to build a life in a Colorado mountain town when housing costs keep rising? In this episode, Ashley Kappel and Jessica Chariton sit down with Wayles Martin, Mayor Pro Tem of the City of Salida, general manager of a local restaurant and a Chaffee Housing Trust homeowner. Wayles shares how the community land trust helped her move from unstable renting into homeownership, then brings that lived experience into a wider conversation about workforce housing, area median income, devel...

4. 

   3 Sept 2026

   How Cost Segregation Can Unlock Tax Savings for Real Estate Investors | Ep 13

   Cost segregation can sound like an advanced accounting concept, but the basic idea is straightforward: certain parts of an investment property may depreciate faster than the building as a whole. When those components are properly identified through a detailed engineering study, real estate investors may be able to accelerate depreciation and reduce taxable income sooner. In this episode of Real Estate in the Rockies, Ashley Kappel and Jessica Chariton speak with Chris Pierce, Account Executiv...

5. 

   20 Aug 2026

   What Colorado Mountain Towns Can Learn From Vail’s Growth | Ep 12

   What can today’s Colorado mountain towns learn from a resort community that has already spent decades navigating tourism, second-home ownership, housing pressure, and reinvention? In this episode of Real Estate in the Rockies, Ashley Kappel and Jessica Chariton sit down with Mark Gordon, Broker/Owner of Christiania Realty in Vail and a longtime leader in local, state, and national real estate organizations. Mark shares what Vail learned about treating housing as infrastructure, using inclusio...

6. 

   6 Aug 2026

   Can Colorado Mountain Towns Keep Growing Without Losing What Makes Them Special? | Ep 11

   What does sustainable growth really look like in Colorado's mountain communities? In this episode of Real Estate in the Rockies, Ashley Kappel and Jessica Chariton sit down with Joe Smith, Mountain Regional President of Collegiate Peaks Bank and Vice Chair of the Chaffee County Economic Development Corporation. Joe shares a unique perspective shaped by nearly two decades in community banking, commercial lending, economic development, and public service. Together, they explore how rising inter...

7. 

   23 Jul 2026

   Can You Still Insure a Home in Colorado's Mountain Towns? | Ep 10

   Buying a home in Colorado's mountain communities is about more than finding the perfect property. Increasingly, it's also about whether you can insure it. In this episode of Real Estate in the Rockies, Ashley Kappel and Jessica Chariton sit down with local State Farm agent Kate Woolman to discuss why homeowners insurance has changed so dramatically across Colorado. From wildfire risk and rising rebuilding costs to second homes, vacant properties, replacement cost coverage, and new underwritin...

8. 

   9 Jul 2026

   What's Really in Your Water? Wells, Mining, and Colorado Mountain Living | Ep 9

   If you own property in a Colorado mountain community, there's a good chance your water comes from a private well. But how much do you really know about what's in that water, where it comes from, or how future development could impact it? In this episode of Real Estate in the Rockies, Ashley Kappel and Jessica Chariton sit down with geochemist Dr. Devin Castendyk to explore groundwater, private wells, water quality, mining history, and what property owners should know about protecting one of C...

9. 

   25 Jun 2026

   Big Changes Coming: 2026 Legislation & Mountain Communities Explained | Ep 8

   What really happens at the Colorado Capitol, and how do legislative decisions impact homeowners, renters, Realtors, and Colorado mountain communities? In this episode of Real Estate in the Rockies, Ashley Kappel and Jessica Chariton sit down with Brian Tanner, Vice President of Public Policy for the Colorado Association of Realtors, to pull back the curtain on Colorado's legislative process and explore the policies shaping housing across the state. Brian oversees government affairs, lobbying ...

10. 

    11 Jun 2026

    Can Short-Term Rentals and Affordability in Mountain Towns Coexist? | Ep 7

    Short-term rentals have become one of the most emotional and controversial conversations happening across Colorado mountain towns. But what happens when the conversation moves beyond politics and focuses on people, community, balance, and long-term planning? In this episode of Real Estate in the Rockies, Ashley Kappel and Jessica Chariton sit down with Lisa and Summer, the founders of Rainbow Rentals, a Salida-based short-term rental management company focused on thoughtful hospitality, commu...

11. 

    28 May 2026

    The Truth About Growth in Colorado Mountain Towns | Ep6

    Colorado mountain towns are changing rapidly, and the conversations around growth, housing, affordability, and community identity are becoming more complicated than ever. In this episode of Real Estate in the Rockies, Ashley Kappel and Jessica Chariton sit down with top Colorado Realtor and business leader Treasure Davis for a thoughtful and candid conversation about what’s happening across Colorado mountain communities and why so many residents feel tension around growth and change. Treasure...

12. 

    14 May 2026

    Disaster Preparedness in Colorado Mountain Towns: What Every Resident Needs to Know | Ep 5

    Wildfire season in Colorado mountain towns is no longer a distant possibility, it is something communities must actively prepare for. In this episode of Real Estate in the Rockies, Ashley Kappel and Jessica Chariton sit down with Chaffee County Public Health Director Andrea Carlstrom to discuss wildfire preparedness, evacuation planning, emergency communication systems, air quality concerns, and what residents can do right now to protect their homes, families, pets, and communities. Andrea sh...

13. 

    30 Apr 2026

    Why Assisted Living and Memory Care Matter in Mountain Communities | Ep 3

    What happens when a community does not have enough senior housing, assisted living, or memory care options? In this episode of Real Estate in the Rockies, Ashley Kappel and Jessica Chariton sit down with local leaders Marilyn Bouldin and Andi Bruno to discuss the growing need for senior housing in Salida and across Colorado mountain towns. As populations age and housing options remain limited, communities are facing difficult questions about how to support residents who want to stay but may n...

14. 

    30 Apr 2026

    What It Takes to Develop Property in Colorado Mountain Communities | Ep 4

    What does it really take to develop property in a Colorado mountain town, and why do some projects succeed while others never get off the ground? In this episode of Real Estate in the Rockies, Ashley Kappel and Jessica Chariton sit down with longtime Salida resident, realtor, and developer Walt Harder to unpack the realities of real estate development in mountain communities. With over 20 years of experience in both real estate and development, Walt shares what most people do not see behind t...

15. 

    30 Apr 2026

    The Real Cost of Affordable Housing in the Rockies | Ep 2

    Can affordable housing actually work in a Colorado mountain town, or is it financially impossible without major tradeoffs? In this episode of Real Estate in the Rockies, Ashley Kappel and Jessica Chariton sit down with Paul Andrews, developer of The Crossing in Buena Vista, a community designed to be 50% affordable housing. Paul brings decades of high-level real estate and financial experience to this conversation and shares what it really took to bring this project to life. From infrastructu...

16. 

    30 Apr 2026

    Colorado Mountain Real Estate Explained, What Locals Need to Know | Ep 1

    What is really happening in Colorado mountain town real estate, and why does it matter even if you are not buying or selling? Welcome to Real Estate in the Rockies, a podcast focused on Colorado mountain communities like Salida, where real estate is not just about transactions, it is about how towns grow, who can afford to live there, and what the future looks like. In this first episode, Ashley Kappel, an attorney, and Jessica Chariton, a local real estate expert, introduce the show and expl...

17. 

    8 Apr 2026

    Colorado Mountain Real Estate Explained: Land, Law, and Community | Podcast Trailer

    What does it really take to buy, build, or own property in a Colorado mountain town? Welcome to Real Estate in the Rockies, a Colorado real estate podcast that explores the unique challenges and opportunities shaping mountain communities today. From water rights and wildfire risk to zoning regulations, housing shortages, and land use decisions, real estate in the Rockies is anything but simple. Hosted by real estate attorney Ashley Kappel and local realtor Jessica Charitan, this podcast bring...

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

12 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.