Well, we didn't make the podium in either of these rankings, but we did bag the equivalent of Miss Congeniality, and that's plenty to crow about. Bloomberg just released a study showing the top destinations for really smart people. The Bloomberg Brain Concentration Index tracks business formation and education and employment in the sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics, and Fort Collins ranked 4th nationally, behind Boulder at #1 and ahead of Denver in #10. Among the factors contributing to this excellent showing was a very strong #2 ranking in net business formation, just behind Denver at #1 in this category. And we're happy, too! National Geographic and Gallup teamed up to design an index that measures where Americans are "living their best lives" and once again, Fort Coll... 10/25/2017

This is the October 2017 Real Estate Market Report for The Harvest Fort Collins CO Homes for Sale The Harvest is one of Fort Collins' most sought-after neighborhoods, featuring unique home designs with distinctive architecture elements, extensive open space, alley-loading garages, comfortable floor plans, neighborhood recreational amenities and a desirable southeast Fort Collins location. The attractiveness of the neighborhood, however, has resulted few home owners interested in selling, and as a consequence, real estate sales activity in the neighborhood has traditionally been very slow. And when homes do come on  the market, they sell very quickly, often with multiple offers and over asking price. So far this year, there have only been 7 sales in The Harvest, ranging in price from a l... 10/23/2017

This is the October 2017 Real Estate Market Report for Fossil Lake Fort Collins CO Homes for Sale Five local builders began construction in Fossil Lake in 1998, and the neighborhood has developed into one of Fort Collins' most desirable places to live. It offers a nice range of housing choices from attractive town homes to custom luxury homes, extensive open space and a clubhouse and swimming pool. Its southeast Fort Collins location places it in close proximity to shopping, schools, entertainment and recreation facilities. Home sales in Fossil Lake have been strong so far in 2017 - 30 homes have sold, ranging in price from a low of $509,000 to a high of $1,500,000, with a median price of $658,500 and an average price of $749,023. Market performance has been good, with an average days t... 10/21/2017

This is the October 2017 Real Estate Market Report for Eagle Lake Fort Collins CO Homes for Sale Eagle Lake is a north Fort Collins gated luxury home community of only 88 homes, all custom designs and all located on large lots of 2 acres or more, with its own private lake and access to miles of walking trails and additional lakes. Because of the small number of homes, real estate activity has always been limited, but the neighborhood is highly desirable to luxury home buyers. There have been 3 sales so far in 2017, priced from a low of $760,000 to a high of $950,000, with a median price of $937,000 and an average price of $882,333. Market performance has been good, with an average days to get an offer at 76 and an average days on the market at 101. The sale price/list price ratio for th... 10/20/2017

This is the October 2017 Real Estate Market Report for Brown Farm Fort Collins CO Homes for Sale Brown Farm has traditionally been a popular neighborhood for buyers searching for affordable homes. However, for the past several years, inventory has been extremely limited, as it has for most similar Fort Collins neighborhoods. As a consequence, prices have been increasing, and this year, in response, significantly more inventory became available as more homeowners opted to cash in on current market opportunities. But the attractiveness of the neighborhood as a source of affordable housing has been diminished considerably by those same price increases. Home sales have been good in Brown Farm so far in 2017- there have been 39 sales, ranging in price from a low of $250,000 to a high of $389... 10/18/2017

This is the October 2017 Real Estate Market Report for New Homes for Sale in Fort Collins CO For the last five years or so, new home builders have been extremely active in the Fort Collins area, offering a broad inventory of homes for sale along with the option to build from scratch from the builders' range of models and lots. In fact, new homes have successfully provided one of the few options available to buyers faced with low inventory conditions in the home resale market. And buyers have responded positively, attracted by the concept of a brand new home incorporating the latest ideas in home design and energy efficiency, and the ability to select finishes, fixtures and upgrades. If you would like to browse the available inventory, take a look at New Homes for Sale in Fort Collins CO... 10/17/2017

This is the October 2017 Real Estate Market Report for Luxury Homes for Sale in Fort Collins CO Homes at the top end of the market offer a variety of unique features. They are often larger, built to a custom design, incorporate high quality finishes, provide top-of-the-line appliances and fixtures, and are sited on bigger lots with nice views. These homes are always popular, and for the last several years, the market has slightly favored buyers, resulting in a substantial inventory and generally competitive pricing. If you'd like to check out what's currently on the market, take a look at Luxury Homes for Sale in Fort Collins CO. Please note that in response to increasing prices across the board for Fort Collins homes, we have recently raised the starting point for this category to $700... 10/16/2017

This is the October 2017 Real Estate Market Report for Condos and Town Homes for Sale in Fort Collins CO Condos and town homes have great appeal for their ability to provide an affordable option for those who find the single family home market a bit too pricey, for those who are interested in downsizing to a more manageable property and like the concept of low-maintenance living, and those who want access to on-site amenities such as swimming pools, exercise facilities and tennis courts. If you'd like to check out the possibilities, take a look at the available inventory of Condos and Townhomes for Sale in Fort Collins CO.  There are 107 condos and town homes available for sale in Fort Collins CO, with prices ranging from a low of $149,000 to a high of $1,595,000, offering a good select... 10/14/2017

This is the October 2017 Real Estate Market Report for Affordable Homes for sale in Fort Collins CO The affordable home market segment in Fort Collins has been a popular and active one, with particular interest from first time home buyers just entering the market, buyers with budget limitations, renters who are interested in the financial and lifestyle benefits of home ownership, and those looking for a good investment opportunity. If you would like to take a look at what's currently available, check out Affordable Homes for sale in Fort Collins CO. Please note that there is an on-going scarcity of affordable homes for sale in the Fort Collins area. Strong competition from other interested buyers and multiple offer scenarios are common with these homes, so a successful search will depen... 10/13/2017

This is the October 2017 Market Report for Acreage Homes for Sale in Fort Collins CO The continuing popularity of homes on acreage is a result of the unique features these homes can offer over typical suburban-sized lots - expansive views, some distance from neighbors, peace and quiet, room for outbuildings and on-lot storage, and the opportunity to raise some animals and do a 4-H project with the kids are just some of the possibilities. If you'd like to browse what is currently available, check out Homes on Acreage in Fort Collins CO - the inventory is substantial and includes a wide variety of locations, sizes, styles, features and prices.  There are 116 homes on one or more acres for sale at the present time in the Fort Collins area, priced from a low of $149,000 to a high of $11,700... 10/12/2017

This is the October 2017 Real Estate Market Update for Five Bedroom Homes for Sale in Fort Collins CO Larger homes of 5 or more bedrooms do an excellent job of meeting some very specific needs. They often offer sufficient space to accommodate multi-generational or large families, provide room for frequent house guests or a home office or craft space, and also serve those who just prefer an expansive lifestyle and more elbow room. They are common in most neighborhoods, including older ones where finished basements provide additional space, and are found in a wide range of styles, sizes and prices. You can browse the available inventory by taking a look at Five Bedroom Homes for Sale in Fort Collins CO.  There are 96 5-bedroom or larger homes currently on the market in Fort Collins, rangi... 10/11/2017

This is the October 2017 Real Estate Market Report for Four Bedroom Homes for Sale in Fort Collins CO Four bedroom homes are appreciated for their versatility - they fit a wide variety of needs, accommodating large and growing families, frequent house guests, and space for a home office or hobby room. They are present in most neighborhoods in a broad selection of sizes, styles and price ranges. If these popular homes might meet your needs, check out the current inventory at Four Bedroom Homes for Sale in Fort Collins CO.  There are currently 177 four bedroom homes for sale in Fort Collins, priced from a low of $265,000 to a high of $2,300,000. 57 of these homes, almost a third of them - are 1-story ranches, and might offer finished basements. There are another 125 four bedroom homes und... 10/10/2017

This is the October 2017 Real Estate Market Report for Three Bedroom Homes for Sale in Fort Collins CO. Three bedroom homes are the most common size of home on the market in Fort Collins CO - they currently make up about 38% of the total. Their versatility allows them to serve a wide variety of housing needs, including providing more financially beneficial alternatives for renters, more practical housing for those with limited space needs wanting to downsize, and affordable options for first-time home buyers. If you fit in any of those categories, or are just interested in checking out what's for sale for these popular homes, the current inventory is available for browsing at Three Bedroom Homes for Sale in Fort Collins CO.  There are currently 217 three bedroom homes offered for sale, ... 10/09/2017

This is the October 2017 Real Estate Market Report for Two Bedroom Homes for sale in Fort Collins COYears ago, two bedroom homes were thought to be impractical and hard to sell. But times have changed and they are now considered a great option for first-time home buyers, tenants tired of paying monthly rent, or the many empty-nesters wanting to downsize to a more easily managed property. They also serve well as an alternative to town homes and condos. And they perform in the market as well as most other home sizes, as you can see from the data below. If you have limited space needs, it should be worth your while to browse the current inventory of Two Bedroom Homes for Sale in Fort Collins CO. Two bedroom homes do make up only a small percentage of all homes on the market - they currentl... 10/07/2017

This is the October 2017 Real Estate Market Report for Fort Collins CO Homes for Sale Sales:Home sales declined in Fort Collins in September 2017 to 268 sold, down 16.4% from 312 sold in August 2017, but were up 1.5% from 264 sold in September 2016. This is most likely due to the start of the traditional seasonal slowdown. We anticipate gradually declining sales through the next several months.  Prices:Home prices also fell in September 2017, with the median price dropping to $358K, a drop of 3.3% from the $370K reported in August 2017, and the average price fell to $401K, a drop of 1.7% from the $408K in August 2017. As we always point out, these monthly results reflect only those specific homes sold during the month and are subject to regular fluctuations. We look to the long-term tre... 10/04/2017

This is the September 2017 Real Estate Market Report for Fort Collins CO Home Sales:Home sales rose slightly in Fort Collins in August 2017 to 312 sold, up 1.6% from 307 sold in July 2017, and up 11.4% from 280 in August 2016. Buyer demand remains fairly high, but in spite of this month’s increase, seems to be cooling slightly, with perhaps a bit less competition for available homes.  Home Prices:Home prices declined slightly in August 2017, with the median price dropping to $370K, a decrease of 1.9% from the $377K reported in July 2017, and the average price fell to $408K, a drop of 5.1%. It’s unlikely that these results have much significance, as they reflect only those homes sold during the month, and are probably just typical variations. We look to the long-term trend line for a fee... 09/05/2017

The timing for Belinda's Summer Bloom contest couldn't be worse for us, having moved into our newly-built home just 6 weeks ago. We're just getting started with our landscaping, but we have managed to install a sprinkler system, sod and mulch.  The rest is on the agenda for this fall and next spring, and we're really excited about it. It took us 10 of our 12 years at the old place to get it right, learning from our many mistakes, but we have all of that experience working for us now. We're much wiser about gardening and it shouldn't take more than 7-8 years of mistakes this time around. All of the garden centers will be having huge sales in trees and shrubs in a couple of weeks, so we're currently arguing about what kind of trees we want and where they should go. But at least we're in a... 08/20/2017

You'd think that after 19 years in the business, Mary and I would have our act together, knowing what we're doing and why we're doing it. But shortly after placing the sign in the yard of a new listing, we received a call from the seller with a question that really stopped us in our tracks. "Why doesn't your sign say 'Home for Sale'"?  What really had us scratching our heads wasn't the question itself, but the fact that we hadn't asked it ourselves in 19 years of using that same basic sign design. And even worse, we weren't sure if anyone else's sign said 'Home for Sale' either. We're we the only ones? Had we been doing something so basic so wrong for all these years? We didn't think so, but we were far from sure.  It was a really weird moment, and had us driving around looking at signs... 08/06/2017

This is the August 2017 real estate market report for Fort Collins CO Sales:Home sales declined in Fort Collins in July 2017 to 307 sold, down 9.7% from 339 sold in June 2017, and unchanged from 307 in July 2016. So far, sales performance in 2017 is looking remarkably similar in both pattern and number to that of 2016. Prices:Home prices provided a mixed result in July 2017, with the median price falling to $377K, down 5.0% from the $396K reported in June 2017, and the average price remaining unchanged at $429K. Please note that the monthly price data we report here reflect only those homes that sold during the month, and are subject to regular fluctuation. Our best sense of what’s happening to home values is the long-term trend line, and that continues to indicate a continuing increase... 08/04/2017

 Our granddaughter Izzie has been visiting us this week from Chicago - it's her very first trip on her own! Here's Mary, our daughter Stacie and Izzie presiding over the remains of a pizza party on the patio. The ladies have been having a great time, and, every once in a while, I get included too. Later today, Izzie and I are going to the movies - she's really excited because it will be her first 3-D movie experience. Grandkids are fun! 08/02/2017