R
eporter Nancy Keates covers real estate, architecture, and design for the Journal. Her recent story highlights the ripple effects of rising costs in Park City living. Homebuyers are increasingly deterred by overcrowding and high prices, leading them to explore alternative towns like Heber, Midway, and Kamas.

    Keates notes that large-scale luxury developments, such as gated golf communities, are also contributing to the area's transformation. The opening of Deer Valley East Village has made buyers feel they don't need to be in Park City proper to access skiing, driving up interest in surrounding areas like Heber Valley. Single-family homes there now sell for a median price of around $980,000, more than double pre-pandemic levels.

    Keates expects the Wasatch Back housing market to remain highly sought after and notes that the acceleration of wealth in the US is not slowing down. Many individuals own multiple homes as part of their investment portfolios, seeking beautiful outdoor locations like Park City or Heber Valley. However, Keates suggests that the rapid development is pushing people away, citing a recent trip to Idaho mountain towns where she met Park City expats complaining about the area's growth.