Valley’s Voice: What home means 

I know I am not the only mom who feels fortunate to have my college-aged son home for the summer. He brings a different energy to the house (along with a lot of stuff that resided in the dorm rooms). Having our ‘4-pack’ back together again feels so good but at the same time I love watching him as he gains autonomy and works to navigate life more independently. I am so enjoying the lively discussions around the dinner table, on the raft and even, when I can breathe, on the mountain bike. 

In the few weeks since he’s been home, we’ve talked a lot about what home means and where home is. We have always called Intermountain home.  We benefited from good timing when we purchased our home over 20 years ago. I’m one of the lucky Gen Xers who came to Vail when it was still possible to purchase a home on wages earned here. We acknowledge that if we arrived in Vail today, purchasing a home would not be possible. And that’s the case for much of this younger generation — wages have increased but are not keeping pace with home prices. Locals are forced to compete with prospective buyers who earn income from all over the world and/or have significant assets.  

Since COVID, more out-of-state buyers are purchasing homes in Eagle County. More out-of-state buyers with more purchasing power means we must work harder to create homeownership opportunities for a wider range of incomes and people — many of whom are starting their careers.  

We need to keep a pulse on workers my age who were able to buy a starter home and then climb the housing ladder. Most of my peers are still working but retirement is within sight of a decade or so. Our homes, if we can afford to ‘downsize,’ won’t be purchased by the next generation of our local workforce. If people my age will be able to sell their family home without leaving this community is another point of discussion.  

This moment in time is fleeting – when our kids still want to come home and we can have daily discussions. It won’t be long before our home won’t be his home — but where can this younger generation live? It’s on us to figure it out for our kids, and for our community. We must get the housing continuum right for the next generation of workers and homeowners. Many of our critical workforce who love living here, just like you and me, are struggling to make it work here. The young professionals face continually rising rents, more frequent moves, more roommates and fewer rental options.  

Through my work with Habitat for Humanity Vail Valley, I know this is true but it resonates even stronger when my son voices the same concerns. He is excited to start his adult life but feels daunted over the prospect of being able to own a home. Whether it’s in this community or somewhere else, it feels out of reach. It’s not only him — he and his friends all feel the unease of an unattainable housing market. 

Elyse Howard is the vice president of philanthropy and community development. She is always up for a conversation on housing and helping people thrive here at home