County Profiles

La Plata County

Nestled in the San Juan Mountains on the New Mexico border, La Plata County is 1,700 square miles of the state of Colorado.

BAYFIELD population: 2,550 elevation: 6,900 feet average precipitation: 21 inches average snowfall: 82 inches average temperatures: High 41 degrees, Low 13 degrees in January. High 83 degrees, Low 53 degrees in July. median home price: $331,500

DURANGO population: 19,413 elevation: 6,512 feet average precipitation: 19.1 inches average snowfall: 79 inches average temperatures: High 41 degrees, Low 13 degrees in January. High 89 degrees, Low 51 degrees in July. median home price: $575,000

Ignacio

population: 1,411 elevation: 6,453 feet average precipitation: 18 inches average snowfall: 51 inches average temperatures: High 39 degrees, Low 9 degrees in January. High 87 degrees, Low 49 degrees in July. median home price: $247,000

Archuleta County

Wilderness engulfs over half of the 1,356 square miles in Archuleta County.

Pagosa Springs

population: 1,751 elevation: 7,126 feet average precipitation: 23 inches average snowfall: 93 inches average temperatures: High 38 degrees, Low 4 degrees in January. High 83 degrees, Low 45 degrees in July. median home price: $360,900

Montezuma County

Montezuma County is 2,040 square miles of rural, rugged landscape west of the La Plata Mountains.

MANCOS population: 1,415 elevation: 7,028 feet average precipitation: 17 inches average snowfall: 57 inches average temperatures: High 41 degrees, Low 12 degrees in January. High 82 degrees, Low 50 degrees in July. median home price: $352,700

Cortez

population: 8,709 elevation: 6,191 feet average precipitation: 13 inches average snowfall: 34 inches average temperatures: High 42 degrees, Low 16 degrees in January. High 89 degrees, Low 56 degrees in July. median home price: $219,500

Dolores

population: 959 elevation: 6,936 feet average precipitation: 18 inches average snowfall: 66 inches average temperatures: High 39 degrees, Low 11 degrees in January. High 86 degrees, Low 53 degrees in July. median home price: $319,000

San Juan County

The heart of the San Juan Mountains and National Forest, San Juan County is just 388 square miles.

Silverton

population: 612 elevation: 9,318 feet average precipitation: 26 inches average snowfall: 173 inches average temperatures: High 34 degrees, Low -4 degrees in January. High 73 degrees, Low 39 degrees. median home price: $324,500

WHERE DID YOU GROW UP? HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN DURANGO?

My early years were spent in a little surf and beach town in California, just north of Camp Pendleton, known as San Clemente. We traveled to Durango every summer and my parents dreamed of making it their home. In 1984, at the age of 8, they packed up us kids, our dog Boogie (yes, Boogie Board reference), and we moved to Durango, Colorado.

TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOUR LIFE LOOKS LIKE WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

The Ammerman’s lead a very busy daily life. Frankly we’re all over the place. My oldest child, Paige, is now in college in North Dakota, playing volleyball and plans to become a nurse. My son,

Garrett, is a senior at Durango High School. He’s trying to determine his next steps and choosing a college (to pursue an engineering degree). My husband Matt is an engineer working for the Southern Ute Indian tribe, but has a huge honey-do project list on the weekends. We live two minutes away from my parents, my big brother and my nephew, whom we spend every Sunday night for family dinner and lots of family outings in between. Come summer, you’ll see me camping and boating at Navajo Lake or jeeping in the mountains.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU WORKED IN THE INDUSTRY?

I’ve been in the business for over 17 years, and a full-time broker with the Wells Group for 13 years now, and still enjoy meeting new people every day and helping make their home ownership dreams a reality.

Zodiac sign: Scorpio

Hobbies: Boating, painting, thrift store junking

Most-used social platform: Facebook

Currently reading or watching: Unfortunately, I don’t do much of either! I’m big on Pinterest, always looking for my next creative project.

Favorite sports team(s): I guess I’d say anything Durango Demons and my daughter's Minot State Volleyball

Favorite local restaurant(s): Tacos Nayarit – their fajitas, mahi tacos, and mocajete are fabulous!

DO YOU REPRESENT BUYERS, SELLERS OR BOTH? WHAT IS YOUR APPROACH TO HELPING EACH? HOW CAN YOU HELP POTENTIAL BUYERS OR SELLERS

COMPETE IN THIS MARKET?

What Education Or Special Certifications

HAVE YOU COMPLETED?

I’ve dedicated thousands of hours to my career through continuing education classes in both New Mexico and Colorado. As realtors, we’re required a certain number of credit hours every year, but you’ll find most of the Durango area realtors go above and beyond and take way more than required. Whether it be in negotiation techniques, water law, septic systems or contractual understanding, we’re all well-versed. With over 400 homes sales, I’ve learned immensely along the way. Last year, I was honored with the 2022 Best of Durango award, voted on by my clients, peers and our awesome locals. To me, that’s better than any certification that I earned through an 8-hour online class. But, with that said, I think my best ones yet are Mom, Engineer and Realtor.

If you are in real estate, the first thing to learn is you better work with both! 2020-2022 were the years every realtor wanted to represent sellers; it was a slam dunk due to the COVID boom. Each home you listed was bombarded with 50 showings, often multiple cash buyers, over asking price offers and representing a seller guaranteed you’d support your family with a sale. Time will tell, but this may be the year to represent a buyer. We’re hoping to see an increased inventory, more flexibility to negotiate and maybe time to really make sure you are buying the right home without the stress and pressures of someone coming in behind you fighting for the same one. My hope is that I can help both buyers and sellers this year, but most importantly, I’d love to see some locals that have sat the buying bench due to the frenzied market, be able to enter or make a change so they can continue to live where they thrive in Southwest Colorado. A new program I have joined is Homes for Heroes. Every hero, whether it be first responder, police, fire, nurse, doctor, teacher and military, I will give back a portion of my commission. These heroes often struggle to stay afloat in our expensive living environment, but they are the most critical part of our children’s and our family’s success, so I want to help them be homeowners in our community.

“One of the best parts of the job is you meet interesting, intelligent, funny and overall fantastic people each and every day. The clients that have become friends over the years make up the good. The challenges exist like any other career but are long forgotten once someone sells their investment or purchases their dream.”

10 PERINS VISTA DRIVE

5 BD - 6 BA - 8921 SF MLS# 796616 - $2,990,000

Spectacular Rockridge home, recently remodeled, very energy efficient, and complete with second living quarters. Enjoy a private in-town oasis with gorgeous finishes throughout.

910 Wind Walker Place

910 WIND WALKER PLACE

4 BD - 4 BA - 3235 SF - 38 AC MLS# 796704 - $2,250,000

This amazing property includes San Juan river frontage, a large home, attached 3 car garage, barn, large pond, and ample fenced pasture land. Four miles north of Pagosa Springs.

DESIGNING AND DEVELOPING REAL ESTATE PROJECTS IN PREMIER MARKETS IN ARIZONA, COLORADO, NEW MEXICO, AND UTAH.

At Shaw Ltd., our project portfolio re ects deep and broad real estate development experience across Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. From hospitals to military projects, from single family homes to apartment complexes and entire neighborhoods, a consistent track record for high ethical standards and meeting or exceeding nancial objectives has fueled our growth.

Our approach starts with selection of highly desirable parcels in low risk markets through detailed analysis. Stunning, environmentally-friendly design is the next step. We take a hands-on role in the build phase, serving as development manager on each project. We protect capital this way, and by bringing key services in-house and utilizing our network of partners in optimal combinations. is allows us to deliver high quality nished products at fair prices for consumers, enhanced spaces for communities, and maximum returns for investors.