Real Estate Broker / Developer

 Kraig genuinely loves Colorado’s alpine environment.  His family has a long history in the Central Rockies beginning with his great- grandfather’s arrival in Leadville in the early 1880’s.  Liam represents the fifth generation of the Forbes clan to call the central Rockies home.

In 1980 Vail Associates hired Kraig to represent the then fledging resort of Beaver Creek.  He was present as Governor Dick Lamm spoke to a small gathering at the base to celebrate the opening of “The Last Resort” in "Sports Illustrated" as published  December 15, 1980.

He enjoyed an exceptional career specializing in Beaver Creek.  While employed with Vail Associates Real Estate, Kraig was a consistent top producer, attaining honors as the preeminent associate broker twice.  

In addition to his brokerage activities Kraig founded Beaver Creek's first watering hole in 1983.  His brother Jeff took the reins in 1988.  Under Jeff's leadership Coyote Cafe has been recognized as the world’s second most popular après ski bar by World Cup coaches and racers. 

Along the way, he served as an emissary for The Vail Valley Foundation, once hosting Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, transporting him from Denver to President Gerald Ford’s home in Beaver Creek.  Again tapped to entertain a celebrity, Kraig skied with Kenny Loggins in the mid 80’s. 

In 1989 Kraig successfully negotiated the purchase of a four acre land parcel within Beaver Creek.  He envisioned developing an alpine European cottage neighborhood which he named Wayne Creek Commons.  The Collaborative Group architectural firm was hired and together they composed highly detailed design guidelines.  Kraig then built 4 speculative residences resulting in the highest square foot home values in 90’s era Beaver Creek.

Kraig’s experience with Wayne Creek Commons infrastructure construction qualified him to serve on Beaver Creek Metropolitan District Board of Directors, a position he was elected to in the 1990’s.  Concurrently he was appointed by Eagle County commissioners to serve on the Eagle County Affordable Housing Task Force.  In addition, he supports Habitat for Humanity.

Kraig formed Forbes Real Estate Group in 1995.  Sotheby’s International Realty came calling in 2007, recruiting his boutique brokerage.  Ultimately a franchise agreement was signed creating Vail Valley's new power brokerage, Forbes Sotheby’s International Realty.  Expanding the business to four offices with 40 brokers, he sold his business to another Sotheby’s affiliate owner in 2013, now operating as LIV Sotheby’s International Realty.  

After closing on the business, Kraig and his family moved to Mougins, France for a year, where Liam attended school and experienced another world, as did he and his wife Jillian.  

In 2017 Kraig invested with local design and development company Resort Concepts, (resortconceptsco.com), which was preparing to undertake a nine custom home redevelopment project in Cordillera Valley Club.  Shortly thereafter the principals asked Kraig for join their firm as the in house real estate broker, a position he holds at the present time.