Participating Resort Areas
About WMRA
The Western Mountain Resort Alliance is composed of boards of REALTORS® of destination ski resorts in the Mountain West. The alliance was formed in January of 1996 at a meeting in Vail, CO with the presidents of the various boards or REALTORS® attending. At this meeting, the various presidents discussed and came to the realization that geographic boundaries were no longer as important as the common bond that we share as resort REALTORS®. We understood that the marketing and selling of resort real estate is very different from the traditional models of residential real estate sales. Our buyers and sellers have different expectations and goals and are looking for a REALTOR® with knowledge of the resort markets. Frequently, buyers for a vacation home in one resort are comparing similar properties in neighboring resorts. From this realization came the idea of sharing sales information from the various resorts as well as pressing issues the resorts are facing. We know that because of the mountains, we have very limited space for development and housing the work force are issues facing each resort. As the demand for resort real estate grows, and prices increase, there is more pressure on finding suitable housing for the very important work force.
The Western Mountain Resort Alliance began with six boards of REALTORS® in four states. Since that beginning, we have expanded to thirteen boards in six states and British Columbia, Canada. The member boards are, Park City, Utah; Sun Valley and McCall in Idaho; Jackson Hole, Wyoming; Crested Butte, Steamboat Springs, Summit County and Vail, in Colorado; Tahoe/Truckee, California; Big Sky, Montana; and Whistler/Blackombe in British Columbia, Canada. The alliance meets three times a year in the various resorts where we put on resort specific education for our members, share sales and resort information with each other and gain an understanding of our neighboring resorts.
As a result of our efforts, the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) has become aware of the unique and important role that resort REALTORS play in the US housing market. NAR has started their own resort committee where they help resort REALTORS® gain resort specific education and work with the US Government housing departments to protect the benefits of second home ownership. The Western Mountain Resort Alliance works closely with NAR to achieve these goals and many of our members serve on the national resort committee. We are committed to the marketing and selling of resort real estate and protecting the benefits our owners of vacation real estate enjoy.
Brett Williams
President
Western Mountain Resort Alliance
