Latham Jenkins, Jackson Hole realtor quoted in the Wall Street Journal Mansion section.
It’s not every day a Pulitzer-Prize winning, national newspaper like the Wall Street Journal turns to an established local agent for insight on the real estate scene. Being selected is often an article in itself. Jackson Hole Realtor Latham Jenkins was so honored as part of a feature article on how the affluent on both coasts are turning to resort destinations that offer unscripted adventure as retirement locations. As Latham put it:
“Most are looking for the experiential opportunities of living among the wildlife, skiing powder before the 11:00am conference call or biking the 65 miles of paved pathways in the region.”
The article focuses on three popular areas: Riviera Nayarit, Mexico; the Cascade Mountains; and Jackson Hole. It also pointed out part of the local appeal is we have no income tax and limited private land to purchase.
For Latham, the opportunity to be part of the article was two-fold. First, he represents one of the lucky few who have lived here for more than 25 years. Secondly, as a local real estate agent, being a source for a Wall Street Journal article puts him on the map.
“I’ve been getting calls from newspaper and travel magazine writers, as well for blogs and podcasts. Being quoted in a national newspaper temporarily gives you status as an expert and social influencer,” he said. “However if you don’t consistently offer relevant, engaging quotes, that go-to status quickly vanishes.”
Latham knows all about offering interesting insights. Besides being a local real estate broker, he also publishes the leading Visitors Guide for Jackson Hole, the Jackson Hole Traveler and Homestead Magazine, the valley’s preferred home design brand. He feels they collectively give him unique insider knowledge on all things Jackson Hole. It’s how he came to the attention of the Wall Street Journal in the first place.
As published in the Wall Street Journal:
Resort Living Focuses on Experiences as Much as Real Estate
Friday, October 12, 2018 /By Tonie Auer
JACKSON HOLE, WYOMING
Luxury homebuyers looking for a vacation home or a place to retire aren’t looking for a scripted adventure or a cookie-cutter product. They’re looking for authenticity and getting off the beaten path.
Many of the buyers in Jackson Hole – in a state that has no income tax – are coming from high-taxation locales like Manhattan and San Francisco, where the tax savings offset much of the cost of moving. And most are looking for the “experiential living opportunities of living among the wildlife, skiing powder before the 11 a.m. conference call or biking the 65 miles of paved pathways in the region,” says Live Water Jackson Hole realtor Latham Jenkins.
For investors, there is a finite amount of real estate available in Jackson Hole: about 77,000 acres with only about 27,000 acres undeveloped. Of that available land, building is highly constrained because of the environmental, scenic and sensitive wildlife areas within it, he adds. “One of the most valued parts of living here is the wildlife,” Jenkins says.
“We are experiencing a movement of people buying in advance of retirement,” he says. “We’re seeing many buyers seeking a vacation home, which will ultimately become their retirement home.”
For owners seeking a townhome at the base of the mountain, they can expect a $1.5 million starting budget. The single-family homes on a few acres further out average about $5 million, he says.
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