Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest United States, Erik Berg began his career as a tennis professional. Working at top resorts nationwide, his work eventually brought him to Aspen, where he first became involved in real estate.

Today, his real estate career spans nearly two decades, first working with a local firm and then growing Engel & Völkers Aspen to five locations as a broker and license partner.

He lives in Snowmass in the Aspen resort area with his wife (his business partner) and their children.

1.

Paul & Vince: What are the best things about living and working in your market?

Erik: Aspen is an old mining town nestled in the Rocky Mountains…a 30-minute flight from Denver or 3.5-hour drive. You pass a lot of other resorts to get here. And due to development constraints, we’re getting very close to being landlocked, meaning: there’s a limit to how much more development is left, and what you see is what you get. As a result, Aspen is much like San Francisco or New York, the South of France, in that it’s a solid, highly-desirable place to invest.

Of course, I’m always Aspen’s biggest cheerleader, but if you look at the world rankings of top ski resort towns on the data alone — from home sales to quality of life, schools, safety, and culture — Aspen always gets ranked the highest.

2.

Paul & Vince: What did you do before coming into real estate?

Erik: I played tennis in college and became a tennis pro from there — I was the Tennis Director at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. I came out here on a trip and fell in love with the town and the focus on a healthy lifestyle. I ended up working here and giving tennis lessons all over. I loved the architecture and design here — so many custom homes here. So I decided to try real estate.

Then, I was independent for three years but just wasn’t hitting my potential. I realized the power of being with a top brand, and when we joined Engel & Völkers, we skyrocketed from 5 agents to now over 75 in over five locations.

3.

Paul & Vince: So, what’s going on in your real estate market right now?

Erik: Of course, the pandemic greatly impacted us, but we just had tons of people doing everything they could to be outdoors. I felt very lucky — I was skiing and biking and always went hiking. But because of mobile work and many other factors, many people who used only to spend three or four weeks a year here are now staying longer, three or four months here.

Look, we’re always going to be a second home market — or eighth, ninth, or tenth home market!  [Laughs] What makes us unique is our historic architecture, great schools, and year-round community, whereas other mountain areas get a little “resort-y.” We might see a reset in the market, but the wealthier people will not be forced to sell. So, for now, the inventory remains low.

4.

Paul & Vince: What do you like most about your career in real estate?

Erik: For me, there’s nothing more fun than when you meet one client, and next thing you know, after your fifth deal with them, that client refers you to someone else because of the trust you’ve built…you are truly an expert.

Let’s face it; the Internet will not tell you why that property sold for a certain number or know an entire network of people and all the factors at play. So, when your market knowledge is so deep that you’ve got an encyclopedia in your head of everything going on, you can really add your value and expertise. That’s when the business is really fun and interesting.

…and one more, Just For Fun

Paul & Vince: Ok, now it’s time for our Just For Fun question. Erik, what would it be if you could take an entire year off from real estate and try something else?

Erik: Great question. So, maybe I would run a wellness retreat. I really think wellness and staying physically fit go hand in hand with good mental health. I would have meditation, yoga… some lectures on personal growth.

Paul & Vince: It sounds like you’ve got this planned already. Would this place have a name? And anything, in particular, you think you’d offer?

Erik: Yes! I would call it “Hygge,” the Danish word which means “warm atmosphere.” And yes, there would be so many great things to learn, but I’m just finishing the New York Times Bestseller Breath, by James Nestor. It’s fascinating how a simple thing like breathing correctly can impact your health. Breathing is the cornerstone of all wellness. So, that would be part of it. [laughs]

Original artwork by Jolisa Robinson, Gavriani-Falcone Team Marketing