I thought I was pretty good at giving tips and suggestions for making your rooms as appealing as possible. I can almost always find easy, inexpensive changes and fixes to help a house shine.  But today I found out that a professional is even better.I was holding an open house in one of Arvada, Colorado's premier neighborhoods - Wyndham Park - and a lovely young lady came by, a home stager who said she looks at houses for fun.  Now, this house is just lovely.  I’ve had a busy day, and every visitor loved the floor plan, paint colors, multitude of windows with their streaming sunlight, location and even the furnishings.A couple people mentioned that they loved the ‘staging’, yet I knew no professional stager had been involved. When the seller left for the day, he said, “I know you’ll see ... 04/06/2009

I hear that question a lot. After all, everyone's interested in real estate. But when someone says, "What's that house selling for?", I know what they mean to ask is, "How much are they asking for that house?"  That's an easy question to answer.But what the house will sell for is often a very different thing.Just this morning, I studied the 'Active' houses and the 'Sold' houses in a neighborhood here in Arvada. While the price range for those for the comparative sales was $279,900 to $290,000, the price range for properties sold in the past six months told a different story. $230,000 to $262,000.So if someone asked me the list price on a house in that neighborhood, it might be $280,000.  But what the house will sell for may actually be  $10,000 less.(Arvada is about midway between Denve... 03/23/2009

I’ve been telling you for awhile now that the real estate market has picked up in the area between Denver and Boulder Colorado, especially in the under $200,000 range.  Unfortunately, it’s a different story for the luxury market.  Someone told me that the over-$500,000 home market is dead.  So I thought I’d see if that’s true for Arvada. Home sellers in this price point - take note.    Homes sold at $500,000 and up -    2006:  104         2007:  90         2008:  50        Homes between $400,000 and $500,000 -     2006:  137         2007:  133         2008:  111     For a year-over-year comparison:    Homes at $500,000 and above sold by March 21    2006:  11         2007:   11        2008:   9        2009:   5    Homes between $400,000 and $500,000 sold by March 21    2006:  25        2... 03/23/2009

It's really sweet when all the members of the transaction team work together, and get their jobs done even above and beyond the call of duty.  Choosing the wrong lender can especially turn a transaction that shouldn't be all that difficult into a nightmare. Many can't handle it at all when there's any wrench thrown into the machinery. Today, I was cc'd on an email the listing agent sent to the closer on a property scheduled to close March 5.  She said the seller can't make it on March 5, and wants to sign docs on February 27  at 8 am.  She basically told the closer to 'make it so', without apparently any thought as to what that meant for the rest of us. (Our local practice is for everyone to sit down at the table and sign documents on the date and time of closing as stipulated in the co... 02/17/2009

 How much have prices fallen? When will we hit bottom? It's amazing how many people, including some real estate agents, spit out whatever numbers they heard most recently on the national news - followed by a statement that we are a year or two from recovery. They forget one of the most basic principles of real estate: All Real Estate is Local Other agents rely on their 'years of experience' and tell you that their 'gut feeling' is ... well, just so happens to also be the most recent numbers that were announced on the national news! I prefer to answer these questions differently - do the research first, then answer the question! I've been tracking Arvada's Pomona Lakes neighborhood for a few years now, and printing my findings in my Neighborhood Newsletter. I've expanded the Newsletter t... 02/17/2009

This was a great event in Old Towne Arvada last weekend.  I believe it was the 8th annual.  As you can see from the picture the event was well attended.   The proceeds went to charity and it was $5.  This got you ten tickets which you would trade in for chocolate items at the various booths.  It was a lot of fun.  There are three communities in the Metro Denver area where you can feel like you are not in metro Denver.  These small Colorado towns are Littleton, Golden, and Arvada.  They have a community feel to them.  If you want a Realtor to help you buy or sell in these communities give me a call. 02/14/2009

If you're looking for something sweet to do for Valentine's Day, come to Arvada, Colorado (a cool little town between Denver and Boulder). You're invited to the 8th Annual Chocolate Affair on February 7, 2009 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  The Chocolate Therapist, Julie Pech, will be at the DNote at 11:30 and 2:15.  Julie says the only difference between guilt-ridden and guilt-free enjoyment of chocolate is education.  (The DNote is at 7519 Grandview Ave.) Taste of Chocolate - presented at the DNote from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Sample chocolate-based food and drink presented by bakers, chocolatiers, and restaurants. Ten tickets for only $5.00.  Proceeds benefit the Arvada Ralston House, which provides a safe place for children and their families to tell their story of abuse and to begin to heal. Jo... 01/26/2009

'Amazing Arvada' is the name of the souvenir map I picked up while strolling the historic Olde Town Arvada. It's a lot of fun to look at, even for people who've lived here as long as I have.  If you're new or considering moving here, you'd probably enjoy having one too. It gives you a real feel for what our small town has to offer. Situated between Denver and Boulder, Colorado, is our friendly community, packed full of entertainment, restaurants, recreation, and history. People who live here, tend to love it here.  Lots of parks, trails, community events, lakes, and history. I'd be surprised if you can't find something new to do right in town. If you'd like a copy of the souvenir map, pick one up at almost any merchant in Olde Town Arvada. If you're not a local (yet!), just shoot me an ... 01/09/2009

Loan Considerations for Buy and Hold InvestorsAs far as investment loans, little or no money down loans are impossible.  However, lenders do permit the use of Home Equity Lines of Credit or second mortgages from other properties owned by the borrower as a source of down payment.  Or, self-employed borrowers are using funds from business lines of credit to fund down payments or renovations (please note: there are asset seasoning guidelines for doing so and the debt incurred by accessing other credit lines must be accounted for against the borrower’s debt-to-income ratio). Thus, we have clients leveraging themselves with other homes they own in order to get in with little or nothing down.  There are exceptions, but practically every lender requires Full Income Documentation on any investm... 12/16/2008

What is a FICO score?FICO stands for Fair Isaac Corporation, a company that created the most used credit scoring model in the United States.  An individual’s credit score is calculated through a statistical algorithm and is used as a factor in determining the likelihood of a borrower defaulting on a loan.  FICO scores are generally used for obtaining mortgages, car loans or consumer credit.  The scores are provided from the three major credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian and Transunion.  Typically, there is a variance amongst the scores since each agency has a slightly different scoring formula.  FICO scores range from 300 – 850, with higher scores being considered less risky.  For mortgage lending purposes, any score over a 680 is considered good and above a 750 is considered ... 12/16/2008

A LOT of agents don't advise their clients to get sewer scopes when they purchase a property. This is a major mistake.  A broken sewer can cost between $3,000 - $10,000 dollars to repair and it only costs $99 ($99Rooter - others are more expensive) to have a tech put a camera down the sewer pipe and videotape the sewer all the way to the mainline. This will tell you  and the-buyer what the condition of the sewer is.      So let's see, we pay to have the furnace inspected but a new furnace will only be about $2,000. We pay to have the roof inspected but that's probably a $4,000 job. So why don't we always inspect the sewer?  One reason is because, let's face it,  Realtors want closings. Many figure if they keep their mouth shut and don't go out of their way to recommend a sewer scope th... 10/28/2008

My agency, Your Castle Real Estate, was just featured in the Denver Post Newspaper with the information below. I have added my comments in parenthesis. The Denver metro area has been hard-hit by foreclosures, but the reality of the situation is vastly different depending on which neighborhood you live in. (This is true - each neighbhorhood can be very different!) While numerous reports tell a bleak story of rising foreclosures and flat house prices, an analysis of data from the Multiple Listing Service by Your Castle Real Estate shows some neighborhoods are struggling while others are untouched. The analysis drills down to the neighborhood level, giving a detailed look at foreclosures and home values. While the data are available in some form or another to many Realtors, Your Castle's a... 10/23/2008

Investor often ask me what types of real estate investments are available on the market.  Here's what we tell them. Please offer comments - positive or negative! Assignments.  If you don't have much equity to work with, and/or if your credit power is limited, assignments can be a way to get started in real estate investing.  You will need to have a strong "sales" personality to succeed at it, though.   Rental Condo or Rental Home.  Purchase of a residential property to be rented out to tenants, usually on a 6-12 month lease term.  This is how most new landlords get started.  You can hire out all of the property management functions, but in many cases you will do many of them on your own.  There are smaller down payment requirements than for larger rental buildings.  The purchase process... 10/23/2008

  One thing about Arvada, Colorado (an historic town between Denver and Boulder) - it’s criss-crossed by train tracks.  Arvada’s history is intertwined with that of this nation’s rail system.  And whether you love ‘em or hate ‘em, the sound of train horns are a part of life in Arvada.   People who live very close to the tracks tell me they get used to the sound, but not everyone feels the same at midnight or two a.m.!     The City of Arvada has been working hard to come to the aid of the sleepless - new measures have been approved by the Federal Railroad Administration to create ‘Quiet Zones’, where the routine blowing of the train horn will no longer be required.   The City focused on the Union Pacific tracks that carry an average of 25 trains per day and determined that they’d get the... 10/19/2008

The story of Arvada begins with the discovery of gold in 1850, and the rail lines that followed soon after.  Trains of the Colorado Central Railroad passed through the Arvada village twice a day. Passengers could travel east to Denver or west into the mountains as far as Black Hawk and Railroad Street became a thriving business area.   That street is now known as Grandview, and what a view it is.  The quaint shops along Grandview sit at the top of a hill and as you stroll along her sidewalks you can see all the way to Pike’s Peak on a clear day.   Arvada’s Olde Town is one of the things we like so much about her.  None of the other cities between Denver and Boulder have a city center at all.  Olde Town affords Arvada a unique opportunity for community fun and frolic.  Arvada’s annual Ch... 09/26/2008

Arvada's annual Harvest Festival is September 6 - and if you're looking for old-time fun, one of the longest parades that you have ever seen, and some yummy treats, head on down to Olde Town Arvada! The committee has definitely stepped it up this year - check out their new website! There is a Spelling Bee, a Kids Parade, a Teddy Bear Picnic, and tons more to do at this all-day event. 08/30/2008

An article from the Rocky Mountain News, reports that a developer unveiled the 250-unit Geos Neighborhood in Arvada.  The neighborhood is being touted as the nation’s largest net-zero-energy, master-planned community with construction scheduled to begin this fall.  Project developer Norbert Klebl said in a statement, “Geos significantly raises the bar for sustainable residential development.  We’re tapping a market of people who want beautiful, affordable homes that support their commitment to a truly sustainable lifestyle.  People want more than a solar panel here or an energy-efficient appliance there — they want their homes to play a key role in minimizing their carbon footprints — and Geos Neighborhood does just that.”  Priced from the $200,000s, homes in the Geos Neighborhood will... 07/17/2008

Rock & Soil Stabilization Stabilization is a very important issue for many home and property owners.  In many areas of the country, this issue can haunt even the most wary owners.  Shifting foundations, unstable soil embankments.  There are many reasons for needing stabilization work. Yenter Companies has all the capabilities to design and build effective and efficient stabilization systems. We employ professional civil engineers, who design rock and soil stabilization systems in-house and exclusively for our customers. Our team of engineers specializes in earth retention, rock-fall barrier and mitigation, and mechanically stabilized earth walls (MSE).ide Many or our stabilization services include rock-bolting, soil-nailing, shotcrete application, mesh-barriers and more. Yenter Compani... 06/12/2008

Rock Fall Protection Rockfall is a very common problem in many areas of the country, especially in mountainous areas.  In Colorado especially, it can be a huge problem for many home owners and property owners that live in these types of areas, and we work hard to protect this type of property. Rockfall Protection comes in many forms. Yenter Companies works directly with state DOTs, homeowners, developers and commercial property owners and other entities threatened by the hazard of a potential rock-fall. We remove, barricade or immobilize dangerous boulders and rock overhangs. Yenter Companies has designed numerous rock-fall barriers along the I-70 W corridor and many other mountain highways throughout the Western U.S. highway system. These barriers catch and stop falling rock matter be... 06/12/2008

Last weekend I got together with some friends and headed west from Arvada to Boulder to get some beautiful, sweet-scented additions for our gardens.  The iris farm was our destination, it was about a 25 minute drive, and we had a great time. You get to wander the fields, poking your nose into all your favorites, as long as you want to. Then, you grab a digging fork and a bag and go to it. They'll help you dig if you need it. They have some fields with named varieties and some where you just get whatever happens to be there. They also have catalogs you can order from. Personally, the only thing I found difficult about the whole experience was choosing. My friends were way ahead of me in their digging before I even got started! I thought it would be fun next time to choose a couple and ha... 06/05/2008