Wondering which Arvada neighborhoods boast the best elementary schools?  Many home buyers choose their neighborhood after choosing which school they want their kids to attend.  Once you've chosen the school, I'd love to help you find a home that fits your budget in that school's boundaries. Below, you will see the results of some research that I recently did.  If you came to me wanting to buy a house within a certain school's boundaries, this is the kind of research I would do for you.  Then, I would set up an automatic search in the MLS and in my website (DreamHouseHunting.com), so we would both be notified every day of new listings. The following list is far from all-inclusive, Arvada has more than 20 elementary schools, and listings come and go all the time (in fact, they are GOING f... 03/08/2013

This is a monthly market report for Arvada home sales. Arvada is a small town between Denver and Boulder. Arvada's real estate market is not the same as Denver or Boulder, but is very similar to Westminster, Broomfield, Lakewood, and Wheat Ridge. See current market reports for Arvada, Westminster, and Broomfield CO (click the link) I hope that issuing these reports every month will help give you an idea of the real estate market, in case you want to buy a home or sell a home in one of the best places Denver to Boulder! Click the underlined text to read the report for Arvada homes January 2013. See all of 2012 Market Reports for Arvada Homes, plus a graph of foreclosure/short sale activity. I've categorized my Arvada homes market reports by price range. You can see the categories below. ... 03/06/2013

See current market reports for Arvada, Westminster, and Broomfield CO (click the link) Click to see Arvada Homes for Sale  at $500,000 and up. Read on for a report on Arvada Home Sales: Two of the three Arvada homes sold for over $500,000 last month were new construction, and there is a 19-month inventory.  Folks wanting to sell their home in this market need to be able to stand out somehow, or price accordingly. Click this link to see Arvada Home Sales in the other price categories. This report includes only detached single family Arvada homes listed or sold for more than $500,000.  I’m using the term ‘distressed sales’ to refer to short sales and foreclosures. Currently, there are 57 Arvada homes for sale in this price range (click the link to see all Arvada homes for sale in this pri... 03/05/2013

See current market reports for Arvada, Westminster, and Broomfield CO (click the link) See Arvada Homes for Sale between $400,000 and $500,000 Read on for a report on Arvada Home Sales: If there's one thing I can say for sure about this price range for Arvada homes, it's that their sales statistics are consistent!  The line graph shows only the tiniest variance from year to year. The bad news for folks selling in this price range:  over 10 months' worth of inventory, and growing competition from new construction. Whereas homes in lower price ranges are closing above list price in greater numbers, only one of the Arvada homes sold last month between $400,000 and $500,000 closed at list price, the other three sold $18,000, $19,000, and $30,000 below list price.  None of these sales were n... 03/04/2013

See current market reports for Arvada, Westminster, and Broomfield CO (click the link) See Arvada Homes for Sale between $300,000 and $400,000 Read on for a report on Arvada Home Sales: Nearly half of the Arvada homes sold last month in this price range closed at asking price or above. That's not surprising when you see 17 homes on the market and 13 sold last month, and check out the line graph for days on market! Four of the homes sold in this price range were new construction, which will continue to affect existing home sales. If you plan to sell an Arvada home in this price range, ask yourself why someone would buy your house over a brand-new one.  If you don't know the answer, give me a call! Click this link to see Arvada Home Sales in the other price categories. This report include... 03/03/2013

See current market reports for Arvada, Westminster, and Broomfield CO (click the link) See Arvada Homes for Sale between $200,000 and $300,000 Read on for a report on Arvada Home Sales: Year-over-year sales for Arvada homes in the $200-300,000 price range are up again, and the absorption rate has been SLASHED to 2 weeks.  I will be surprised if that remains so short but if it does, home buyers in this, the price category where most Arvada homes sell, will have to bring their 'A+ game' if they want to buy a house. 60% of the Arvada homes sold in this price range closed at or above list price (exclusive of seller concessions). I know a lot of people put their house on the market in the spring, but I say - if you don't have any real reason to wait, do it now! Based on the percentage of dis... 03/02/2013

See current market reports for Arvada, Westminster, and Broomfield CO (click the link) See Arvada Homes for Sale under $200,000 Read on for a report on Arvada home sales: The percentage of Arvada homes selling for $200,000 or less as short sales or foreclosures is right back up into the 60s. So distressed sales continue to be a drag on prices in this category. However, with 21 homes on the market right now, and 19 sold last month, they won't last long.  Buyers in this price range have got to make their best offer, and quickly.  Out of last month's 19 sales, 7 either sold at asking price or within $3,000, and 4 homes actually sold above asking price. I'm surprised the days on market is so high (51), but that's partly due to the fact that it takes so long to get foreclosures under contrac... 03/01/2013

Gardening Classes Announced at Echter's and O'Tooles' Nurseries Echters Upcoming Events & Classes The info below was available on Echters' website on February 26, 2013.  Click this link for any updated info:  Echter's Nursery & Garden Center Meet the Experts - Saturdays in March Free Admission – No Registration Required Unless Noted Saturday, March 9 - Jump Start Your Garden Starting Plants from SeedGrow plants from seed with success.  You’ll save money and have fun.  Discover tips and techniques you can use for years to come. Instructor:  Ryan Schmitt, Botanical Interests9:30-10:30am Summer Bulbs for Your Garden.Bulbs add the excitement of color to the summer garden.  Plant some exotic magic this year.  Instructor: Todd McNulty, Van Bloem1:00-2:00pm  Saturday, March 16 - Lovin' the La... 02/26/2013

The Festival Playhouse in Olde Town Arvada - offering community theater since the mid-1970s.  Four decades and still going, what a charming way to spend an evening. A 160-seat venue is just the place if you want some 'community' in your theater. It's true that Arvada also boasts the well-known Arvada Center, and that's a wonderful venue too.  But visiting Olde Town Arvada, and relaxing in the comfort of The Festival Playhouse is special in a way that you really shouldn't miss. Olde Town Arvada has so much to offer, it's easy to blow right past the Festival Playhouse on your way to enjoy a hand-crafted beer, local wine, a great meal, local bands, or to buy a special gift.  You may have spotted the Festival Playhouse and thought to yourself, "We should take in a play there some time." I'm... 02/26/2013

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day in Olde Town Arvada on March 16, 2013.  From noon until 6 pm Grandview Ave. between Webster and Olde Wadsworth will be flush with music, food, arts & crafts booths, family entertainment, Irish Spirit contest, beer & wine. Come join the fun!  Parking is still free in Olde Town Arvada. I do wish we could get more info on these events, like what music will be playing, and when?  What food will be available (will we be able to find anything the toddler-aged grandsons will eat)?  What is the Irish Spirit contest?  But, like most 'street fair' type events, it's just a matter of showing up and seeing what's going on. I'm writing this on February 26, and it's snowing and 29 degrees out.  I don't know what the weather will be like 2-1/2 weeks from now, but I feel pret... 02/26/2013

The old adage says “A Happy Wife is a Happy Home” and with the new Silverleaf model nobody understands that better than Lennar Homes! This 2 story, 4 bedroom, 3 bath with a loft and 3 car garage home is just a gem!! Besides all of the touches that make “Wifey” happy- this place is gilt with fun extras for the man of the house! It boasts as part of the Grand Collection which is an “Everything’s Included” model complete with Moen and Mohawk products, complete energy system using blow in in cellulose insulation, energy star appliances, HERS rating, and even a 50 gallon high efficiency water heater. Last week while touring the Lennar new home collection at Leyden Rock we walked in to a brightly colored expansive formal dining room, rich & dark hardwood floors, and windows with natural light... 02/22/2013

In this beautiful new Lennar Graham model, located at Leyden Rock in Arvada, CO, you’ll always feel warm and sunny. The Graham is a wonderful 3 bedroom 2 bath, 2 car garage, ranch home in the Monarch Collection! This is an everything’s included home that features surround sound pre-wiring in great room, a gas fireplace, top of the line energy systems, and even front yard landscaping.                This home has a wonderful open yet cozy feel and is bathed in natural light from the array of windows. With the cutest bedrooms and no detail left out, the model of this home was staged perfectly for a small close knit family.     Leyden Rock is a community that promotes a happy active lifestyle with a clubhouse and pool, 17 miles of trails that connect to a regional trail system where you ca... 02/22/2013

This is the story of my boomerang countertop surprise, when visiting an Arvada home recently. The owners of a mid-century modest home in Arvada called on me to give my opinion on how much their home would sell for.  They told me on the phone about many updates, including a remodeled kitchen.   I assumed the kitchen would be the typical dark-stained wood/granite counters/stainless steel appliances, so I was taken by surprise when I walked in and spotted aqua countertops.    My first thought was, "Oh-oh - the kitchen is not remodeled, and my market analysis will be way off."     But when I got closer I realized the counters were brand-new, retro style 'boomerang' countertops. Exactly the kind of thing afficionados of mid-century style love! (Myself included, in case you haven't been keepi... 02/21/2013

     Need info about Denver's northwestern suburbs?  This post provides links to several neighborhoods in Arvada, a historic town between Denver and Boulder.        On this map you can see where Arvada is located relative to Denver, Denver International Airport, the Rocky Mountains, and the Interstate freeway system.       The interactive map below shows the location of the Club Crest neighborhood in north Arvada. Click the link to read my Club Crest Neighborhood Report.  View Arvada's Club Crest Neighborhood in a larger map      The interactive map below shows the location of the Village of Five Parks neighborhood in north Arvada. Click the link to read my Five Parks Neighborhood Report. View Arvada's Five Parks Neighborhood in a larger map       The interactive map below shows the loc... 02/18/2013

Joetta’s Neighborhood Newsletter February 2013 To All My Friends & Neighbors –   I Hope You’re Having a Wonderful 2013 So Far!                            It's February already, and a lot of folks are glad January is over, with its flu epidemics and lack of snow.  If you're one of the unfortunate victims of this year's flu (or maybe even multiple flu outbreaks), I hope you're well past it and good health will be yours from here on out. My New, User-Friendly Web Site          Yes, I changed my web site again. I know people visit real estate web sites mostly to look at houses for sale, and I've been looking for something very user-friendly.  So please, visit DreamHouseHunting.com, and let your friends and family know about it.             If you're thinking you might buy a house one of the... 02/14/2013

We specialize in Arvada VA Loans and can help you save money when you buy a home through the Colorado Home Buyer Tax Credit! What is the Colorado Home Buyer Tax Credit?  It is a program that most VA home buyers can qualify for, that will give you a direct tax credit every year for the life of your loan!  It's like getting an average of $150/month off your mortgage payment. First, you need to make sure you qualify for Arvada VA Loans.  The first step is to obtain your Certificate of Eligibility, or COE.  We can help you get this, all you need is your DD214, and we can obtain it fast, usually the same day.  The COE will confirm your VA loan benefits. From there, you must apply for the VA loan.  This involves filling out a loan application and going through a credit check (don't worry, VA ... 02/13/2013

Here's the scoop on mid-century modest homes for sale right now in Arvada, CO! If you're reading this post, you're probably aware of the architectural and decorative style known as Mid-Century Modern.  Denver has a gorgeous and exclusive Mid-Century Modern neighborhood (Arapahoe Acres in Englewood), but Denver's northwestern suburbs don't have many of the iconic 'atomic ranch' style homes. Still, we do have plenty of *Mid-Century Modest homes here in Denver's northwestern suburbs, including Arvada.  In fact, Arvada has produced two idea books for remodeling mid-century homes. The book mostly has to do with exteriors, but you can get a lot of help on the interior from the good folks at Mod Mood. Or, check out the website, RetroRenovation.com Arvada's mid-century modest homes are going to... 02/07/2013

If you're looking for pink bathroom fixtures - don't forget to look in the backyard! While showing mid-century homes near Olde Town Arvada yesterday I discovered my client's hidden wish for a retro bathroom in an unusual way.  First, we saw an old pink bathtub (probably original to the home) that had been turned into a flower bed.  We commented on how charming that was, and my client said she had always wanted a pink bathroom. Shortly after that, she spotted the homes' original pink toilet off in a corner, buried under some remodeling debris.  She called across the yard to her husband, 'I found my pink bathroom - it's in the backyard!" It was a funny moment but brings up an interesting subject.  When remodeling an older home, when do you leave the original charm? (At least SOME of it?) ... 02/04/2013

This is a monthly market report for Arvada home saless. Arvada is a small town between Denver and Boulder. Arvada's real estate market is not the same as Denver or Boulder, but is very similar to Westminster, Broomfield, Lakewood, and Wheat Ridge. See current market reports for Arvada, Westminster, and Broomfield CO (click the link) I hope that issuing these reports every month will help give you an idea of the real estate market, in case you want to buy a home or sell a home in one of the best places Denver to Boulder! Click the underlined text to read the report for Arvada homes December 2012. I've categorized my Arvada homes market reports by price range. You can see the categories below. Clicking on a category will take you to the respective report once it's complete (these will be ... 02/02/2013

See current market reports for Arvada, Westminster, and Broomfield CO (click the link) Click to see Arvada Homes for Sale  at $500,000 and up. Read on for a report on Arvada Home Sales: Arvada home sales in the market above $500,000 are still sluggish and experiencing high inventory. Add to that the fact that nearly half of the Arvada homes for sale above $500,000 are new construction, and folks wanting to sell their home in this market need to be able to stand out somehow, or price accordingly. Click this link to see Arvada Home Sales in the other price categories. This report includes only detached single family Arvada homes listed or sold for more than $500,000.  I’m using the term ‘distressed sales’ to refer to short sales and foreclosures. Currently, there are 47 Arvada homes for s... 02/02/2013