Meet JJ

Long Time Telluride Local & Travel Enthusiast

Jim "JJ" Jennings

Jim Jennings, aka “JJ,” has listed and sold real estate in Telluride and Mountain Village, as well as ranch and mesa properties in the surrounding region, for over 35 years. His long-term commitment to the Telluride community gives him a knowledgeable and informed perspective, and his greatest satisfaction as a real estate professional and a member of the Coldwell Banker Distinctive Properties team is helping people change their lives — whether it’s acquiring a new listing, closing a deal, building a house and renting it, or developing a new property.

JJ’s dad was a pilot in the U.S. Navy, and the family moved several times, living in Hawaii, California, Texas, and the greater NYC area. At the age of 18, JJ set off to explore the world and took a job working on the Trans Alaska Pipeline, which led to a job with Bechtel Engineering and work on various construction projects in the United States, Iraq, and Lybia. Already a licensed Colorado real estate broker, he arrived in Telluride in 1987 and went to work for his longtime friend Erik Fallenius at Nevasca Realty, now Coldwell Banker Distinctive Properties. In addition to providing broker services, JJ has worked on several Telluride and Mountain Village subdivisions, constructed three duplex and triplex units, managed homeowner associations and several rental properties, and for a time, served as vice-chair of the Telluride Planning and Zoning Commission.

JJ and his wife Anabel have one son, who is enrolled in the Telluride R-1 School District.

Marketing Strategies

There is no magic to the marketing and selling of real estate. It’s a matter of applying available tools in a sincere and meaningful way, enhanced by personal knowledge gained over years of experience with strategic support from the team of train marketing specialists at Coldwell Banker Distinctive Properties. Learn more about Coldwell Banker and our services.

JJ’s Marketing Basics Include:
Custom Designed Websites | High-Quality Professional Photography | Multiple Listing Service | Direct Mailings | Web Presence & Enhanced Social Media | Print Media & Advertising | Open Houses

Client Testimonials

"I’ve worked with Jim Jennings twice on real estate transactions in Telluride including 413 Depot Avenue and I would happily work with Jim again. He’s incredibly dedicated and hard working, and has a fantastic pulse on the local market. Jim also has a great attention to detail, and will ensure that every aspect of your transaction is covered. It was a pleasure working with Jim, and I am pleased to offer my highest recommendation."

– Ira C.

413 Depot Avenue was the most expensive home sold in the Town of Telluride in many years at $13,150,000. Closed 12/31/2025.

"I have been working with Jim Jennings for about 20 years buying and selling properties in Telluride. You will never have a broker that is more responsive, attentive and detailed as JJ. He practically answers your questions before you have asked them. I know that everyone thinks their broker is the best. JJ truly is."

– Karen B.

"I’ve worked with Jim Jennings twice on real estate transactions in Telluride, and I would happily work with Jim again. He’s incredibly dedicated and hard working, and has a fantastic pulse on the local market. Jim also has a great attention to detail, and will ensure that every aspect of your transaction is covered. It was a pleasure working with Jim, and I am pleased to offer my highest recommendation."

– Ira C.

"JJ was the third broker I interviewed and met, when I first visited Telluride, and the only broker that I will use. Being a broker myself, I can say that JJ is one of the hardest working, responsive, and knowledgeable brokers I have met. His contacts, and expertise are second to none, in the SW Colorado region. Looking forward to my next transaction with him."

– Chris G.

"We had the pleasure of working JJ to find the perfect home for our family in Telluride. He was thoughtful, patient, understood our desires, and always, quickly followed up. We were lucky since JJ is so connected and knowledgeable about both Mountain Village and Telluride, he know what would be available. There were on a couple occasions, when we were the first to see homes. Jim Jennings is connected and knows the owners of most properties that were not on the market. He was simply fantastic to work with."

– Bill J.

"My husband and I worked with Jim Jennings for a period of months before we found the perfect home. He was thorough and responsive to provide options that aligned with our needs. He is knowledgeable in all things Telluride so it made the process easy to close. We remain friends as he continues to keep us up to date on the market. Thank you JJ for helping me realize the dream of a home in Telluride."

– David & Jill V.

The on-season/off-season nature of Telluride’s real estate market has given JJ opportunities to continue to pursue his personal passions: climbing and surfing. He made an ascent to the summit cornice of Shishapangma North (26,246 feet) in the Himalayas, achieved the first ascent of Bridal Falls in Valdez, Alaska, and made multiple ascents of El Capitan in Yosemite. He has surfed on the North Shore of Oahu and has worked, traveled, surfed, and/or climbed in 69 countries.

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Alpine Expeditions

Climbing Ascents:

  • Gasherbrum 26,001′ IV, Pakistan, Asia (Attempt 2nd Ascent)
  • First Traverse Mount Hayes 13,832′, Hayes Range, Alaska
  • Mount Kilimanjaro 19,342′, Tanzania, Heim Glacier Route, Africa
  • Pumori 23,474′, Nepal, Asia
  • Shispangma North 26,289′, China (4 Days Alpine Style)
  • First Traverse Mount McGinnis 11,400′, Alaska
  • Fitzroy 11,020′, Patagonia (Attempt 3rd American Ascent)
  • First Ascent Aguja Guillaument East Face 8,465′, Argentina
  • Cho Oyo 26,864′, Nepal (Standard Route Attempt)

Rock Climbing

Ascents:

  • Moonlight Buttress, Grade V, Zion NP, Utah with Chris Blatter.
  • Washington Column, Grade V, Yosemite NP, California with Willie Benegas.
  • Diamond, Grade V, Long’s Peak (14er), Colorado with Tom Hilbert.
  • Zodiac El Capitan, Grade V, Yosemite NP with Willie Benegas.
  • The Nose El Capitan, Grade VI, Yosemite NP with Charlie Fowler.
  • Zenyatta Mondata, Grade VI, Yosemite NP with Travis Spitzer.
  • Pacific Ocean Wall, Grade VI, Yosemite NP with Jared Ogden.
  • Lurking Fear, Grade VI, Yosemite NP with Charlie Fowler.
  • Half Dome, Grade VI, Yosemite NP with John Borraco.

Sailing

Map of JJ’s sailing expedition:

  • Los Angeles to Honolulu to Maui to San Francisco and back to Los Angeles

Ice Climbing

Ascents:

  • Bridal Falls, Valdez, Alaska with Carl Tobin (first ascent)
  • Bridal Veil Falls & Ames Ice Hose, Telluride with Carl Tobin. First in a day.
  • North Face, Mount Geist, Hayes Range, Alaska (first ascent)
  • Ingram Falls, Telluride with Mark Wilford, 2nd Ascent.

Surfing

JJ has surfed at:

  • Bali, Indonesia
  • Brazil
  • Fiji
  • Gold Coast of Australia
  • North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii
  • Maldives
  • South Africa
  • Sri Lanka
  • Tahiti
  • North Shore of Kauai, Hawaii

Industrial & Construction

Projects as an Instrumentation Technician:

  • Cerro Matoso, Molybdenum Mine, Columbia, South America
  • Chino Mines, Silver City, New Mexico, U.S.
  • Bengazi Liquified Natural Gas, Bengazi, Libya, Africa
  • Basrah Petrochemical Project, Basrah, Iraq
  • Freeport McMoRan, Elko Gold Mine, Nevada, U.S.
  • Western Geophysical Oil Exploration, Wrangle Mountains, Alaska
  • Epic Instruments, Engineering Staffing, Manila, Phillipines
  • Palo Verde Nuclear Generation, Arizona, U.S.
  • Hughes Gomar Jack-Up Drill Rig II – Blow Out Prevention, Gulf of Mexico, U.S.
  • Yukon Equipment, Trans-Alaska Pipeline Project, Alaska, U.S.
  • Rowan Drill Rig #49, Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, U.S.
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JJ is always available to climb or ski with prospective clients!