Support for Buyers and Sellers

The Housing Staff is here to support the brokerage community as you work with your buyers and sellers to maneuver through the Town of Vail Housing opportunities, current deed restrictions and future use of Vail InDEED. With everyone's best interested in mind, please see below and contact us with any questions in advance of marketing the residence for sale so you have all of the information you need to find the right buyer. 

• Preferred Local Lenders A complied list of local lenders who are familiar with the variety of deed restriction programs if you are bringing a new buyer to the table.
• Often times brokers will call on behalf of a client to better understand the Town of Vail Community Housing Lotteries. We are happy to provide additional information to you but a transaction broker works with the Town of Vail housing staff for each of these transactions. While a buyer will not use a broker of their choice, often brokers like to be aware of what is out there. Please feel free to reach out. 

Tools Upon Listing a Deed Restricted Home

• Request for Right of First Refusal Waiver - Some deed restrictions provide a first right of refusal to Town of Vail for purchase. Please email the Housing Department in request of a swift decision or waiver and be sure to list the property address and seller name.

• Town of Vail GIS Mapping- you will be surprised by how much information is available here for you, including the deed restriction document.  Choose General Property & Zoning, You will enter the site and simply input the numbers of the property address for the search. You'll see a layer list on the far right on screen, be sure to check the box for Employee Housing Units which is always growing. 

• Documents for the Residential Property Sale of a deed restricted property - required for the transfer of each of the deed restricted EHUs unless stated otherwise in the deed restriction. Please provide the completed forms to the Town of Vail three - four weeks prior to closing. The town staff will, including the town attorney, will review and approve these forms in order to provide them to the Title Company or Closing Coordinator. Please email housing@vail.gov with questions as you begin the process. 

Transfer of Deed Restriction Affidavit - brokers will assist their client with completing this with accurate property address, legal property address, contact information and more. This form is required to be signed by the buyer in front of a notary. 

RETT Exemption Application - Additional information about the Real Estate Transfer Tax exemption form is relevant for properties that are fully deed-restricted. Additional Town of Vail Information can be found here.

Vail InDEED 

The Town of Vail program offers a monetary incentive to homeowners and purchasers in exchange for adding a deed restriction to their property. Eligible properties are within the Town of Vail and cannot have a Right of First Refusal clause and applications are reviewed by the Vail Local Housing Authority (VLHA) on a first come, first serve basis as funds are available and as approved by the VLHA.  Homes located on the far West of Town of Vail in unincorporated Town of Vail is outside of the jurisdiction for Vail InDEED.  www.vailindeed.com 

Resident Qualifications for a Vail InDEED Property

Prospective residents must work a minimum of 30 hours per week on an annualized basis at a business operating within Eagle County boundaries that holds a valid and current business license, or pays sales taxes, or is otherwise generally recognized as a legitimate business, and at least 75% of your income comes from this job.  For each home, one person must qualify per residence.

If an individual worked 60 hours per week for one half of the year in Eagle County and worked elsewhere for the other half of the year, such person would be a Qualified Occupant.  

A Qualified Occupant also includes an individual who was a Qualified Occupant when the individual purchased the Property, but then retired while owning the Property; was 60 years of age or older at the time of retirement; for the 5 years immediately prior to retirement, worked an average of 30 hours or more per week at a business in Eagle County, Colorado that held a valid and current business license, or paid sales taxes, or was otherwise generally recognized as a legitimate business; earned at least 75% of their income from such business during such 5-year period; and does not work for a business outside of Eagle County, Colorado.

TOV Buy-down Program

"Buy-down" units are free-market homes purchased by the Town of Vail, deed restricted, then sold or rented to qualified individuals at a subsidized price.  These homes are either offered through Town of Vail Community Housing Lotteries, town of Vail Employee Lotteries or rented individuals who work directly for the Town of Vail. Contact the Housing Department with inquiries.