Sasha Galbraith is tired of waiting for her luxury home to sell. Her mountain escape in Breckenridge, Colorado is easily one of the top lots in all of Summit County, yet it has been sitting on the market for well over a year.
What is happening?
Days on market are toxic.
The second you list your home, the clock starts ticking. Agents are skilled at bringing qualified buyers to the property. However, if for some reason an offer doesn’t come quickly, the home begins to appear undesirable. Even the best agent needs a strategy in place to deal with a home that has been on the market too long.
“L’Aubaine” has been on the market for 15 months. After the first couple months of no offers, Galbraith lowered the price. Then after six more months of still no offers, she lowered the price again.
And again. And again. And again.
The price has been reduced five times now.
This is how the traditional real estate model works. You set a list price and if no one coughs up what you’re asking for, you lower the price until you get an offer. However, this method does not work well for most high-end properties, and Galbraith’s Breckenridge home is on the highest end of luxury.
Galbraith is fed up with having to keep her house spotlessly clean for showings where buyers may not be qualified or turn out to not be serious. That’s why she is taking control of the process.
Rather than continue to wait for an offer, which historical data shows could literally take years, Galbraith has enlisted us to auction L’Aubaine. “I have sold art at auction, and that worked out really well. When you think about luxury homes and high-end art, they are very similar,” Galbraith reasons.
Previously listed for $4.75 million, L’Aubaine will sell to the highest bidder via our Instant Gavel app on February 27, in cooperation with Scott Dodge of Sotheby’s International Realty.
Mountainous Luxury
L’Aubaine delivers a ski-in, ski-out lifestyle on 1.78 acres of serene beauty. “The house is designed to make you feel like you’re inside and outside at the same time,” Galbraith explains. “There is a very fluid boundary between interior and exterior. Open the doors, and hear the pond running while sitting in your living room, all with breathtaking views throughout.”
With four bedrooms and five and one half bathrooms, the home is perfect for a family that truly appreciates beauty and the outdoors. The fourth bedroom is a legal lock-off apartment, perfect for visiting guests or renting out. The kitchen features state-of-the-art appliances and is optimized for efficiency. Galbraith confesses, “The kitchen is the best kitchen I have ever cooked in.”
The home backs up to the National Forest and offers seamless indoor/outdoor living with light-filled interiors, panoramic views, and expansive balconies that showcase the Continental Divide, the town of Breckenridge, or a pristine view of fireworks on New Year’s Eve.
“Some people like camping. From this house, you don’t need to go camping,” Galbraith claims. “You can bring a cup of coffee out to the back deck and feel like you’re camping.”
“Come for the Winter; Stay for the Summer”
Galbraith believes that Breckenridge is more accessible than some of the other ski towns, such as Park City, Aspen, and Vail. “Breckenridge was a mining town before it was a ski resort,” she explains. “It has a lot of history and character, as well as locals who have lived there forever it seems.” The city is the largest historic district in Colorado.
Breckenridge offers year-round entertainment for thrill seekers and outdoor adventurers alike, featuring some of the world’s best skiing, lengthy hiking/biking trails, ziplining, and dog sledding from your own backyard. Between adventures, take a stroll downtown for shopping, or make dinner reservations at any of the city’s exquisite eateries. When you need to escape to the city, Denver is only a two-hour drive away.
The Only Condo for Sale at the Four Seasons Residences of Denver
And speaking of Denver, Galbraith has another property she is selling. Three months ago, she listed “Trésor,” her condo at the Four Seasons Residences of Denver. She quickly began to experience the same frustrations that she has been enduring with her Breckenridge home.
As the continued-patterns of uncertainty began to take form, Galbraith decided to take control of the situation. In addition to L’Aubaine, she has also enlisted us to sell her Denver high-rise, which is currently the only condo available for sale at the Four Seasons Residences of Denver.
Previously listed for $1.8 million, Trésor will sell at auction to the highest bidder via our Instant Gavel app on February 27, in cooperation with Patti Maurer Williams of Sotheby’s International Realty.
The Four Seasons residence spans 2,481 square feet, with two bedrooms and three bathrooms. The floor-to-ceiling windows overlook Cherry Creek and showcase uninterrupted views of the Rocky Mountains throughout. Exquisitely designed and extensively upgraded, this refined dwelling boasts wood and onyx barn doors, slab granite counters, custom lighting, motorized solar blackout shades, and state-of-the-art appliances.
Five-Star Amenities in Downtown Denver
You can indulge in the full suite of amenities that the Four Seasons offers, including a spa, swimming pool, fitness center, resident-only house car, and a no-tip valet service.
“The staff really go out of their way to help you make your life simpler,” Galbraith says.
And as if the comforts of the home and amenities of the Four Seasons aren’t enough, the residence is perfectly situated to deliver the ultimate Denver lifestyle. Take a stroll in any given direction, and find yourself either dining at an array of fine restaurants in Larimer Square, watching the Rockies at Coors Field, catching the Broncos at Mile High Stadium, attending the biggest artists touring at the Pepsi Center, or having an elegant night out at the Denver Performing Arts Center.
Why She’s Selling
Galbraith built L’Aubaine with her late husband. The two initially bought Trésor as an investment property. She will always cherish the memories they made at these two beautiful homes.
“In Denver, I’ll miss walking around the corner to Larimer Square for a killer margarita at Tamayo, followed by dinner at Rioja. I’ll also miss walking the one block home after an exhilarating night at the theater,” Galbraith reflects.
“In Breckenridge, I will most miss going out the back gate to go for long hikes up the mountain. I’ll miss sitting out on the ‘Bird Perch’ in the back yard with a glass of wine at the end of the day, watching the birds and listening to the sounds of Lehman Creek as it rushes to join the Blue River.”
She is selling both these properties because, as she puts it, it is time to move on. She is excited for the new owners and their future adventures.
This is your chance to claim your dream mountain lifestyle or dream downtown Denver high-rise lifestyle. Which will you choose?
L’Aubaine will sell to the highest bidder in cooperation with Scott Dodge of Sotheby’s International Realty via our Instant Gavel app on February 27. To learn more about this opportunity or to schedule an appointment to view the property, call Jack Hoyt at +1 212.259.0518.
Trésor will sell the highest bidder in cooperation with Patti Maurer Williams of Sotheby’s International Realty via our Instant Gavel app on February 27. To learn more about this opportunity or to schedule an appointment to view the property, call Ethan Shadden at +1 212.321.0401.