Star Power: Carrie Wells

 

 

 

 

Aspen was the place to be in 2020. The real estate sales figures have been nothing short of astounding for the modern mountain town. The Roaring Fork Valley, which includes Aspen, closed the year with $3.3 billion in sales volume with an average sales price of $4.8 million for only 675 transactions according to the local area MLS. No one has been closer to this staggering real estate boom than longtime Aspenite and Coldwell Banker Global Luxury® Property Specialist, Carrie Wells. She had the best year of her career in 2020, earning her a top spot among all agents in the Coldwell Banker network for the first time.

 

“It’s wonderful to see Carrie’s hard work and success be recognized at this level after an unprecedented year and two decades of leading the Aspen real estate market,” says Craig Hogan, vice president of luxury for Coldwell Banker Real Estate, LLC. “She’s ranked within the top 1% of real estate sales internationally for Coldwell Banker for the past 23 years and has consistently been ranked in the top nationally by REAL Trends as seen in The Wall Street Journal. She’s a star in every sense.”

 

By the Numbers: Wells closed over $478 million in sales volume in 2020, earning her the No. 1 ranking among over 96,000 independent Coldwell Banker sales associates worldwide. “To be in the top 10 in the Coldwell Banker network, you have to be one of the best in the world,” adds Hogan.

 

How She Did It: Her success was the product of a few sizable 2020 sales after record numbers of affluent city dwellers began flocking to the Aspen area for space, cultural amenities and the outdoor lifestyle following the pandemic. The veteran agent closed nearly $75 million in sales for three luxury Aspen properties in one week in December 2020 — an astounding figure. Her highest sale was a contemporary seven-bedroom, ten-bathroom new construction home designed by Ro Rockett Design perched on Red Mountain with views from Independence Pass to Mt. Sopris, which sold for $31.85 million in late summer. The sale price was a record for 2020 in the Aspen real estate market, and achieved a price per sq. ft. of $3,180.55. She represented both the seller and buyer in the transaction.

 

Super Power: Flexibility, adaptability and a singular focus on delivering the best possible service to her clients during the pandemic. “We saw a change in how people were buying properties last year,” she says. “They were making decisions via FaceTime, Matterport or other virtual platforms, and we did whatever we could to help people understand the properties from afar.” After initial shutdowns in the first quarter that grinded business to a halt, May bloomed to a full-blown buying frenzy that continued until the very end of 2020. The demand was so insatiable that Wells had to hire another assistant “to keep the high level of customer service that I expect to give every client,” she says.

 

Claim to Fame: Wells doesn’t just sell the most sought-after homes in her community; she also gives back. A 32-year resident of Aspen, she currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Aspen Music Festival and School, as well as the Aspen Community Foundation. She previously served on the Board of Aspen Country Day School, leading as Board president for four years. “It’s an honor and a privilege to be asked to serve on these boards,” she says. Her philanthropy work has even garnered praise and recognition in Aspen Magazine. In addition, she serves as the University of Southern California Athletic Board of Counselors and the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business Board of Leaders.