I am happy to repeat what most of you already know, it is expensive to live here in the High Country. I am not going to say what some people are afraid to say, be thankful for the high cost of real estate here in the High Country.

No, I have not had a reaction to a prescription drug, legal or otherwise.

The high cost of real estate is due to the simple fact that people do want to own real estate here. Primary homes, second homes, and investment property is expensive, so is real estate in Malibu, Central Park West, Beverly Hills and anywhere close to Disney World.

The High Country is an example of what economists call supply versus demand. The demand to own real estate here is high and the supply is rather limited. The great American dream of a better life and having a vacation property is what the High Country is all about.

Now for those of you who think that now that you live here all others should keep out need to have a reality check. We are fortunate to live in an area that is in high demand from people from all over the globe. We should feel fortunate that some of us have the ability to live in this beautiful place year round. It is also an unfortunate fact that not everyone who wants to live here can afford to live here. Such is the free enterprise system. I would love to be able to afford a house on the beach in Malibu but I realize that right now I cannot afford to be there.

As a comparison, a good friend of mine is moving to western Colorado. There they can buy a new or fairly new 2,500 to 3,000 square foot home on a couple of acres for the same price of a two bedroom condo in Breckenridge or Keystone. The prices in western Colorado are much more in line with what the real world has to offer, but I do not see thousands of vacationers heading off to western Colorado each Christmas or spring break season.

So now you are asking yourself what all of this has to do with a newspaper column having to do with finances? The answer is simple. You need to own your home today. With such a strong demand for real estate here in the high country today and I bet the same will be true tomorrow and the day after that, you need to buy today.

Overall costs for local real estate is not going down. I am seeing home double in value every few years and personal incomes are generally not doing the same. There are hundreds of mortgage programs available out in the market place today to fit almost everyone’s needs. There are programs for those with good credit histories, and ones for people with not so good credit histories. There are programs for the self-employed and ones for those making an hourly wage.

So before the market place passes you by forever you need to call a full time mortgage professional and determine if and what you can afford. Some may never ever be able to buy a home here or anywhere. Some just need the help of a professional to get the snowball rolling. Make the call today.

<i>For answers to your mortgage related questions call Bob Kieber at (970) 262-1199 or e-mail him at rkieber@comcast.net. Bob is a local mortgage lender and principal of Resort Lending. He has 30-plus years of professional experience in real estate, finance and investments, and is a longtime resident of the High Country. </i>