Most Millennials aren’t thinking about buying a house, let alone one in the Vail Valley. Kyndal Senn and Roy Emerick have proven that with the right intention, anything is possible.
Having lived close to Vail and its more transient lifestyle for the past few years and with a dog and a tiny apartment, Kyndal and Roy started looking at their options as potential first time home buyers. Pooling resources and crunching numbers, which included what they were already paying for rent, they realized that if they could come up with the down payment and the right price point for a home, they could make it work.
Knowing they wanted more space for their money, including a garage, as well a more cohesive community setting, they shifted their focus down valley. With a limited first time home buyer’s budget, they also wanted something newer to avoid additional costs and expenses that might come with buying an older home.
Having never been through the buying process before, Kyndal started asking colleagues about best practices when buying a home and real estate brokers who might be able to assist them. The Messmer Group, comprised of Rick Messmer and Jennie Longville May, came highly recommended and had particular down valley market expertise.
Upon meeting with the Messmer Group, Kyndal and Roy were introduced to the new Stratton Flats project in Gypsum, offering 15 single family homes and 40 townhomes. All new construction, which included garages, open air, contemporary designs and adjacent to open space, the options seemed ideally suited for them. As an added bonus, the developer was also offering a $5,000 discount to any full-time employee of Eagle County School District or member of Eagle County Police/Fire/Ambulance services.
“It was such a help for us to get that additional price reduction,” said Kyndal. “It really instilled in us that strong sense of community that we were hoping to find. Roy had lived in Vail for over three years and I lived with him for one year. We also liked the idea of a slower pace and the quietness Gypsum offers,” she added. All combined, the design features and incentives sealed the deal for Kyndal and Roy.
And much to their delight, the Messmer Group also informed them that since their home was still in the construction phase, they were able to pick out their own finishes. “It was really exciting for us to customize our home and pick our carpet, cabinets, flooring, appliances and countertop colors. That added a little extra fun to the whole process,” said Roy.
The area’s more temperate climate, which can extend the summer season by at least one month, also had particular appeal. “I love riding horses in my spare time, something I have done all my life, and Roy has recently taken up golf, both of which are much more accessible for us down valley,” said Kyndal. “We also love camping, hiking with our dog Cyrus and just recently got into mountain biking. Our proximity to Western Colorado and Utah also offers a lot more options closer to home. Mostly, we both love to garden and grow our own vegetables and since we’re in Gypsum now, we are really looking forward to the longer summer.”
“Kyndal and Roy were great to work with throughout the whole process,” said Rick. “They were super responsive and able to roll with the challenges of a new development and various delays that can happen due to things like COVID and weather. It was icing on the cake for us to be part of their first-time buying experience and the novelty of it for them. We really applaud their tenacity to get into their first home, something we find most Millennials are missing out on as a great investment opportunity,” Messmer added.
Which part of your home do you enjoy the most?
The space we love the most is our living room and kitchen. The open concept is something we never had before. From going to a tiny one-way kitchen where Roy and I could barely fit together, we absolutely are in love with the space to move fluidly from our kitchen to our living room. Not to mention our gas range! We both love to cook and so that aspect is just amazing.
As avid cooks, do you have a favorite meal you share together?
I am a vegetarian and so when Roy isn’t on a fire station shift for the Eagle River Fire Protection District, he eats vegetarian meals with me. Our favorite meal we cook is Sweet Potato & Cauliflower Coconut Curry. It’s also Vegan, which is a huge plus for me!
What did you enjoy/value most about working with the Messmer Group?
We truly valued the quick responses and all the guidance from Rick and Jennie. This was our first time doing this and it is so overwhelming. But they made it easy and guided us every step of the way. They were both amazing.
If you had one tip for young or first time buyers looking to purchase a home in the Vail Valley, what would you recommend?
Have patience. Take deep breaths and truly enjoy the process as first time home buyers, even if it might feel crazy. It is a huge decision. Be sure you trust and have a knowledgeable and experienced real estate broker or team who understand your particular needs and interests. These become the very people who have your back and will hold your hand from start to finish. You can take comfort in this, knowing it will work out in the long run.
