My sister Wendy and I leave early this morning for a Colorado road trip. Our first stop? The Royal Gorge.

I was surprised that she had never been there since we are both Colorado natives, but we will remedy that today. I’m sure it is going to be a very busy place this Memorial Day weekend. Then we are off to visit friends who will be camping in Bueno Vista.

I’ll report in as we go. A Colorado road trip…I love it.

This weekend I was reminded how much I love living in Colorado.

Last night I was downtown spending time with some of my friends. We had dinner at The Tavern, listened to a bit of jazz at El Chapultepec and then had drinks at Fados Irish Pub. Downtown was hopping and it was beautiful sitting outdoors in a short sleeved shirt.

To top it off, today it was seventy-plus degrees. The spring flowers will be blooming in the next few weeks. It was a wonderful day to spend some time outside. The colder weather is just blowing in this evening and we can use the moisture. I’m looking forward to that too.

Aren’t we blessed?

Jennifer

After more than a trillion dollars of bailouts, an improvement in mortgage rates, a drop in home values and new home-buyer tax breaks, the buyers have finally come off the sidelines. If you have been waiting for the right time to put your house on the market, this may be it.

I’ve had several Realtors tell me that up to 40% of their clients are new home-buyers and we have seen an increase in all buyers who ready to sign a contract. One of my listings was under contract to a new homebuyer within a week of hitting the market earlier this year. So, if you are eager to get your house sold and have just been waiting, let’s get ‘er done.

Before the sign goes up, get your house in sale condition. Free from Broke, a financial blog, has several solid steps outlined in the post, Frugal Ideas to Help Your Home Sell. Here are a few of mine.

• It is always a great idea to repaint. Even quality paint is fairly inexpensive and spring sales should help lower the cost even further. Keep it neutral.
• You may have lived with leaky faucets or old light fixtures but a new buyer won’t be impressed. Replace them with nice, but inexpensive fixtures you can buy at your local home improvement store.
• Clean, clean, clean. Remove the clutter and clean your house from top to bottom. There are lots of cleaning services around that can provide a one time massive spring cleaning. Even a little dust can send a negative message to a buyer. Don’t forget the carpet and windows.
• Check out the competition.Let’s go out and look at other houses on the market in your neighborhood. That will help us establish a competitive price and show you what buyers will be seeing.

If you were unable to sell your home last year, but still want to move, make sure your house is in good condition and let’s get together and make a plan. Home prices have not increased yet, so if you are upside down and owe more than your home is worth, you may need to wait until later this year or early next. Otherwise, now may be your time.

Jennifer

Did we have a winter? I must have missed it while I was away on vacation.

The lack of moisture translated into a fire on Sunday that could have turned into a real disaster. Now I don’t mean to minimize the damage to the grasses and wildlife, but it could have easily spread to the AMLI Apartments.

By the time I walked up to the top of Westerly Creek Dam, the fire was out and only a few hot spots remained. When I looked down into the grassy area, I couldn’t help but gasp. The fire had burned so quickly in the grasses, that it had covered a lot of ground before the firefighters gained control. The flames came over the dam road and were extinguished only a couple hundred yards away from the first apartment building. I spoke with one of the Assistant Fire Chiefs yesterday. He told me the fire had burned so quickly, it missed the trees and some of the bushes.

While it looks bad now, today’s spring snowstorm will do wonders. Over the next month, I’m guessing we won’t see any remnants of the fire and the fierce battle the firefighters staged on a windy dry day.

Thank you, Denver and Aurora firefighters, for all your hard work keeping our community safe.

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It was just a month and a half ago that I was sitting in the snow on one of the islands off the Antarctica Peninsula watching penguins. It was a dream come true. After a year or two of planning and lots of motion sickness medication, the most amazing trip began. I’ll share more of it in the next few weeks, but in the meantime, here is a picture to whet your appetite.

The $700+ billion dollar financial bail out agreement was announced this morning. It sounds like our elected officials have finally come to agreement on a bill that will purchase what they are calling “toxic” loans. This includes many sub prime loans that probably should never have been made in the first place.

Who is to blame? If you listen to elected officials from both parties, it is the key executives of these companies who make millions or members of the other party. Now I’m not a market or economy expert, but it seems to me there is plenty of blame to go around.

Our own elected officials from both parties created regulations over the years during both Democratic and Republican administrations that penalized lending companies that were more conservative in their lending practices and rewarded those that gave loans to just about anyone. I haven’t heard any of them take responsibility for their votes and positions that helped create this mess.

A system in the market that allowed these “toxic” loans to be passed on to other companies and ultimately investors of all income levels. There was no accountability because the bad debt could be passed on to others without companies feeling the pain of their bad decision making. These companies included those whose executives were making millions. Both current presidential candidates appear to have some of these people advising the campaigns.

There are many borrowers who have had significant  difficulties including medical emergencies, job layoffs and other major unforeseen circumstances that have not allowed them to make payments. However, other borrowers clearly took out loans that they could not afford. Should they take responsibility for making bad decisions?

There is a time and place for Adjustable Rate Mortgages, but when we use them specifically to qualify people at low interest rates knowing that the payments are going to increase at a drastic level, that is irresponsible and not living up to an expected level of fiscal responsibility. Yes, there are unethical mortgage lenders. The vast majority, however, are honest and work to the benefit of their clients.

This situation makes me sick. I am tired of the finger pointing that is going on when there are plenty of people pointing their fingers at others while they should be admitting they played a key role in this disaster. Where are the leaders willing to stand up and take responsibility? Can we fix this problem when no one is willing to take responsibility? Who is looking at changing regulations that helped create this problem? Who is willing to take responsibility for borrowing more than they could pay?

A bail out is probably needed and should move forward, but if no one will admit their contribution to the mess, are they willing to fix the laws and the system that brought us to this place? I hope so, or this is bound to happen again. Where are the leaders? Anyone?

Just my opinion.

Today is September 11th. As I turned on the television this morning while I was getting ready to leave, the footage ran of the terrorist attacks. Just as that day, I found myself with tears in my eyes. I think of just a few of the ways that life has changed since then.

• Our country is at war
• Long lines at the airport
• Extra security for events like the DNC
• Families reminded to keep emergency supplies at work, at home and in our cars

While the political season goes on, I will never forget how we were a united nation for at least a little while after these attacks.

My thoughts are with all the families and friends of those who were lost around the world, across the country and even here in Colorado. My prayers are also with those in uniform who are today protecting our rights to freedom and a free election. God bless!

Number 10 in my 1001 Things to Do in Colorado is to attend a concert at the famous Red Rocks Amphitheatre.

Some of my favorite memories include concerts at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre. There is something about listening to great music under the stars. We used to arrive at dawn with our coolers and visit all day with the other crazy fans. Now things have reverted to a more traditional “seating begins an hour and a half before the show”. I miss the days of watching the entertainers do their sound checks and interact with the crowds. While those things have changed, the most important ones remain the same. It’s hard to describe what a concert is like at this amazing place. The sound is incredible and while I’ve seen great concerts elsewhere, they just don’t match the intensity.

Denver bought the property back in 1927 for $54,133 and developed it into the amazing outdoor concert space it is with the foundation laid by nature. The amphitheatre has a wonderful history and is a geological treasure in its own right. The Beatles, U2, Rolling Stones and Grateful Dead are just a few of the incredible bands that have played in this outdoor paradise and numerous songs and albums have actually been recorded here. After Pollstar magazine named Red Rocks the best small outdoor venue for the 11th time, they decided just to name it the Red Rocks Award. The ninth season of the Amazing Race actually started and ended at Red Rocks.

If you aren’t able to make it during one of the concerts, Red Rocks has other options. Just visiting and walking around the theatre is great. There are hiking trails and some nights feature “Film on the Rocks”. I have to admit, this is one of my all time favorite places in Colorado. Thanks radakat on You Tube for giving us a glimpse. Enjoy!

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been glued to the television since last Friday, except for the brief time the television was off due to the large storm. The Summer Olympics have arrived. I would be remiss if I didn’t include a visit to the U. S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs as one of my 1001 Things to do in Colorado.

The center opened in Colorado Springs thirty years ago and includes centers for Sports Medicine, Sports Science, Aquatics, Sports and Shooting along with an Olympic Hall of Fame. I’m sure Michael Phelps, Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin have spent plenty of time training here in our state.

Guided tours are available Monday-Saturday, but if you happen to hit on Sunday, you can still self direct your tour. The Visitor Center is open seven days a week. Click here for more tour information.

I really admire our athletes who’ve not only been representing us in Beijing, but have also been working hard over the last four years to get there. Watching Kerry Walsh and Misty May Treanor competing in volleyball in their bikinis inspires me to head to the gym. Thank goodness the gym has plenty of televisions so I can keep watching as I sweat myself towards my one piece swim suit. There is hope yet.

Go Team USA!

Number 8 in the 1001 Things to do in Colorado is to visit the Denver Zoo.

Visit Elliot, the new baby Grevy’s Zebra at the Denver zoo. Elliot was born on June 27th to Topaz and Punda. I’m not sure what he weighed at birth, but he is already a whopping 85 pounds.

I visit the zoo at least once every year. I head over with my niece and nephews for a fun-filled day eating ice cream and watching the polar bears play in their large pool. It’s amazing that an animal so terrifying on land is such a ham in the water.

If the polar bears don’t entice you and your family, maybe one of the other 700 species is the ticket. The zoo has almost 4,000 animals and is one of the most popular zoos in the country.

Located at Denver’s City Park, at about E. 23rd Avenue and Colorado Boulevard, it is a wonderful place to spend the day. Memberships are available for those of us who want to watch baby Elliot grow up. Plan your trip to the zoo. You won’t be disappointed. I think I can hear the peacocks already……

As we here in Denver are preparing for the Democratic National Convention, I got to thinking about poor Senator Barack Obama. This man is running for President of the United States. Why would I be feeling bad for him?

1. He has to live in Washington D. C. I know Washington D. C. is a beautiful city, as a matter of fact, I’ve visited a couple of times and would love to go back. But, it is not Denver. (Here is where the disclosure comes in. I’m a Colorado native so I may be a bit biased.)

2. If Mr. Obama ends up living in the White House, he has an amazing lawn and will host large picnics, but it still isn’t Washington Park. Denver has a number of premier parks, but Washington Park has always been one of my favorites with it’s diverse and fun-loving crowd of people. Up for a volleyball game? I’m not sure they host volleyball games on the White House Lawn. Just let us know Mr. Obama if you’d like us to hold you a spot in one of our games.

3. While we’ve been having a warmer summer than usual this year, our weather has still been fantastic. We have more than 300 days of sunshine that melt away the snow usually within 24 hours. I’m sure with the White House driveway, someone has to be ready with the shovel when the first snowflake hits. Here, we check the next day’s weather to decide whether to shovel or not. It gives us more time for skiing instead of shoveling. How many ski slopes are within driving distance of Washington D. C.? I’m betting we have lots more.

4. No 14ers. Colorado has 54 peaks that are more than 14,000 feet in elevation. Talk about places to clear your head. These are good spots to contemplate the energy crisis, health care, social security and other key issues impacting our country. I wonder if the key leaders of our country would benefit from having to debate issues while in hiking boots at the top of mountains? Since there isn’t quite as much oxygen, it might require using fewer and more focused words to get your point across. Regardless, I know there aren’t 14ers in the Washington D. C. area. Let us know if we can schedule a trip for you while you are in town, Senator Obama. It will change your perspective.

5. You can never be alone. It is too bad in this day and age that our highest leaders require constant security. Here in Colorado, we value our solitude. There is nothing like sitting on a rock in the middle of one of our Colorado streams just enjoying the scenery. The rush of water, the mountain wildflowers and the amazing wildlife keep us balanced when life gets crazy. We have some fabulous wildflower drives if your black vehicles are 4WD.  I will  insist, though, that you open the windows so you can enjoy the view during the drive. I’ll even bring the picnic and a wonderful bottle of Colorado wine.

I’m sorry Senator Obama that you can’t just pick up and move to Colorado. We’d love to have you visit more of our beautiful state beyond just the Pepsi Center and Invesco Field at Mile High. They are definitely both wonderful Colorado venues, but you’ll still be missing the bigger Colorado picture. Give me a call after things get settled in November. I’m sure we could arrange at least a taste of what Colorado has to offer and if you are looking for a “western” White House, I’m your gal. By the way, Senator McCain, ditto!

Don’t forget to vote.

Instead of swimming the murky real estate waters, some homeowners are choosing to renovate their current homes. If you are looking to do a major renovation, one of HGTV’s newest series, “My Amazing Renovation” is looking for you.

The series is produced by our local High Noon Entertainment and they are looking for homeowners who are transforming their current home into their dream home.

Your home may be considered if you are:

Just starting a major renovation (preferably already in demo)
Doubling the size of your home
Transforming the original space including the kitchen
Have unique design projects planned as part of the renovation
Are eager to share the experience with others
Updating the outside of your home

Homeowners who want to be considered should contact Cindy Baggish at 303–712–3093 or cbaggish@highnoonentertainment.com.

I can’t wait to see your masterpiece.

The Denver area real estate market is showing improvement during the second quarter of 2008. In the first quarter there were no areas that we would consider Seller’s Markets. That has drastically changed over the spring. Ten areas for Single Family Homes are now seller’s markets and five areas in the Condominium/Townhome market. Things should continue to be active as we move into the third quarter. These figures are based on the absorption rates.

Considering Absorption Rate is one way to measure the health of our real estate market. Absorption Rate designates the number of months of housing supply on hand. The larger the supply, the more competition there is for sellers and the higher likelihood that prices will drop or concessions will be offered. The market has definitely improved in the last quarter.

More Months of Supply = Buyer’s Market = Possible Reduced Pricing and/or Concessions

Fewer Months of Supply = Seller’s Market = Possible Price Increases and/or Bidding Wars

The commonly accepted separation between markets is:

Based on information from Metrolist, Inc. for the period of April 1, 2008 to June 30, 2008. Note: This representation is based in whole or in part in content supplied by Metrolist, Inc. does not guarantee nor is in any way responsible for its accuracy. Content maintained by Metrolist, Inc. may not reflect all real estate activity in the market.

 

I received an email last week from the High Point community advertising an opportunity to stop by and see the model homes.  These advertisements are not unusual. But I have to admit, this one grabbed my attention. Why? Because it invited not only me, but other important members of my family, my dogs.

High Point at Grove Park is located at 64th Avenue and Tower Road. On Saturday, July 26th, from 9 am– 3 pm, they are hosting “Dog Days”. Trainers will be providing free training for puppies and mature dogs along with a Doggie Water Park. I have to admit the water park sounds like the ticket, especially on a hot summer day.

The planning for High Point includes a three acre dog park along with trails, a recreation center and town center. I haven’t seen these models yet, but I’m looking forward to it. This is a fabulous idea.

Splish! Splash! I hope they have towels.

Number 7 in the 1001 Things to do in Colorado is to pull on your boots and start hiking on the Colorado Trail.

There are thousands of trails in Colorado including the 500 mile Colorado Trail that runs from Durango to Denver. Covering six wilderness areas and eight mountain ranges, the trail is one of our state’s most amazing accomplishments. Special thanks goes to all the visionaries and workers that made this trail a reality.

It may take years, but we can hike a segment at a time. We can also volunteer to help with maintenance by adopting a trail.

Happy hiking!