My friend is about to purchase a new home in Pagosa. Does anyone live there or visited there that could offer any advice as respects whether to back out of the deal? We keep getting "conflicting" reports.

I'll bite. Where is Pagosa?

Colorado

It's probably a good idea to go on with the plans since no one can close on houses yet, anyway. Closings are postponed because insurance companies are refusing to change existing policies or grant new ones until the fires are contained. Therefore, your friend will know how things will turn out before he buys the property.

Pagosa Springs is a lovely mountain community between 2 fires in southwestern Colorado.

Is your friend thinking of backing out because of the fires? If so, he should already know that this is the worse drought in more than 50 years, so the odds are that it will remain that on the record books. How often does lightening stike twice in the same place? Last week, I was in Glenwood Springs (near that fire). The owner of the motel had recently built an addition to the motel. He had at that time install water sprinkling system along the roof of each of his building. He was a very happy man. The fire stopped one ridge short of his motel. I think there is plenty of information out there on how to reduce the risk to your home, as keeping trees away from house, clearing brush, planting fire resistent plants, adding emergency sprinkling systems, buying innovative foam protection. Of course, if you are in the path of a determined fire, nothing will save your property. But, that is true of the coastal areas and hurricanes, of California and earthquakes, and heck, the city of Denver built it's airport in tornado alley. Pagosa Springs is gorgeous, and if I could make a living down there, I'd do it in a minute.

I just moved to Pagosa Springs at the end of February (and my husband is a mortgage lender...so fyi..they are still closing on houses even though there are fires) Pagosa is really growing. It has been hazy and yes, it is dry and hot, but all in all, it is still a beautiful place, lots of new people it seems, and so far we are really enjoying it! We hope to stay!! Feel free to contact me if you have any other questions.