Santa Cops

Because of being a Coldwell Banker Real Estate broker, I have the privilege every year of being involved in the toy drive for Santa Cops of Larimer County.  On the first Saturday of December in conjunction with our CB Santa Photos Day, clients, friends, neighbors, and folks just passing by bring toys to donate to needy families in our community.  It’s a BIG event – complete with a fire truck, hot dog lunch and radio station!  This year it was my responsibility to help with the gift donations.  I was deeply touched this year by the truckloads of bicycles, armfuls of toys, and especially by the many that reached into the bottom of their pocketbooks in order to donate even a small item.

 

For the last 10 or more years, Coldwell Banker in Loveland has been a donation center for Santa Cops of Larimer CountyOut of the 20-some drop-off points for Santa Cops, our location has the longest history and brings in the largest contribution by far.  This year, in addition to the room full of toys featured in the photos below, over $1300 cash was donated through our office.

Jennifer, the liaison for Santa Cops, states, “This year we had 1,120 families and 2,703 kids (total of 3,823) sign up to receive gifts and assistance from Santa Cops.  This is about the same as both 2009 and 2010... and since we try to give each child 2-3 gifts, you can see the number of toys we need each year is enormous!  With the generous support of people and businesses like you, we are able to help all of these families have a brighter and happier Christmas.”

Last chance to donate is Saturday, December 17!  To find a location near you, go to http://www.santacopslarimercounty.org.

Thinking About Becoming a Landlord?

There seems to be quite a bit of interest in real estate rental purchases recently.  People are saying that their money might be safer in land with a rentable building on it than wherever they have their funds invested now.  It's tough to know.

The downside is that you do have to manage rentals -- or pay someone else to.

This article in a recent Wall Street Journal,  "Are You Ready to Be a Landlord?", paints a pretty realistic picture of things to think about before you invest.  I hope you find it interesting.

You know the old saying, "Buy land!  They ain't makin' anymore."

Veterans Day

This sculpture is located at Dwayne Webster Veteran's Park here in Loveland.  It is a very appropriate reminder of the sacrifices made for the freedom and safety we enjoy every day in this country of ours. Recently, those sacrifices hit very close to home.

Last Monday, a dear friend and coworker called to tell me that her nephew, Zac, stationed in Afghanistan, had stepped on an IED. Memories and feelings came pouring back, as my own brother had lost his life in Vietnam.

The extent of Zac’s injuries was unknown, but as the day passed, snippets of information came in … none of which brought much relief. Initial reports were that he lost his left foot and that his left leg was shattered.

The next day, conflicting reports were coming in; but these raised more questions than answers. By Wednesday, the young man had been transported to a hospital in Germany. The family was able to speak with him and with medical personnel and found that his leg and foot were intact. He was being stabilized for transfer to a hospital in San Diego. Good news!

However, through all the different communications regarding this young Marine, we learned that fighting in that area has picked up and they are experiencing a much higher volume of wounded and casualties. When the loss of life or limb touches you personally, the troops and their families are no longer “today’s headlines”, to be merely glanced at and tossed aside. Breathe a prayer for their safety and be intensely grateful for their sacrifice.

Tomorrow is Veteran's Day.  There are many local events to honor our veterans, including bell ringing and a big parade.  In fact, Loveland has a reputation of having the best Veteran's Day celebration in the state!  Show your appreciation by participating in the events of the day or by simply making a phone call to say "thanks."

Rialto Bridge in Loveland, Colorado

Having grown up in Loveland, I am always particularly excited about changes that I consider improvements in our old, downtown area.  We surely have had our ups and downs; right now, however, we are definitely having  an "up."  We are adding a three story building right next to our old, renovated Rialto Theater.

The renovated theater gets extensive use and has become a very popular spot for musical events, plays, reruns of old movies, and the like.  With the new facility next door, the performers will have plenty of green room space and even space for social events connected to the theater.

The building is up and out of the ground.  We watch for each week's progress, so you can see why we are so pleased.  This project has been fully funded by three groups:  private investor, City of Loveland, and our Community Foundation.  I think we should be rightly proud of ourselves.

Till next time --

4th of July

Independence Day!

I think that this next Monday is one of my very favorite holidays.  I am so glad that they have not made it into an automatic 3-day weekend.  Even when the 4th falls on a Wednesday, I think it is great.  I hope we never get too busy to celebrate our wonderful country.  We are so fortunate to live here and we all should remember to be grateful for that at every opportunity.

Enjoy the day and don't eat too much watermelon.

Betsy

ACE Project

I know that I have commented before about the ACE/NASA project choosing Loveland and our Agilent site for their new home, but yesterday's confirmation is just so exciting that I must mention it again.

Maybe it is my imagination, but I truly believe that I can 'feel' a change in the mood of the folks who come to me to discuss real estate.  So much of our real estate market is determined by the mood of the community and we are quite chipper these days.  If I had a magic  wand, I would order up about 5 new listings because I think the demand for homes is increasing.  Folks won't be able to add 10% to their market analysis price but properly priced homes are moving well.  Just be sensible.

THANK YOU ACE!

Trimming Trees

In years gone by I have written a little column at this time of the year encouraging folks to trim their trees because it so enhances their property.  I live in the old part of Loveland and we have absolutely beautiful street trees.  They have been trimmed professionally over the years and now stand proudly spreading their branches over the streets and their lawn. 

In the last few years, the trimming hasn't been done.  The trees began to look more like a bush than the tree they were meant to be.  I didn't like to see that happening.  Loveland Colorado has always shown a lot of pride of ownership and that is key to home values.

The GOOD NEWS is that during this past week that big orange tree trimming truck with the extending bucket has been in my neighborhood at no less than 5 different homes.  They are shaping and trimming to beat the band.  Could it be that for the last few years folks have thought of this task as non-essential and just put it on hold.  Maybe families are feeling a little more financially confident. 

What a pleasing thought!

If your Broker is good, listen to him

I am really on my soapbox today because I have just finished a real estate negotiation with a very intelligent Buyer who WOULD NOT LISTEN. 

If you are working with an honest, veteran Broker, for gosh sakes, listen to their opinion.  You don't have to follow their advice but at least listen.  You may be the guru of your own industry or profession and have an IQ of 500 but you probably haven't shown, negotiated and closed 1500 - 1800 homes.  We have experienced almost every situation imaginable and will share some of our insight if you will listen.

This delightful family did not get the home they really, really wanted and the headstrong member of the family feels worse about it than anyone else.  He would do anything to go back and start from scratch on his negotiation.  He still might not get the home, but he would know he had done everything possible to secure it.

My perennial beds are growing about an inch every day.  I love it!

Some Great Neighborhoods

If you like roomy lots, mature trees and a quiet street, watch for homes on the west end of W. 6^th street in Loveland. From the 1200 block and west, this street includes a cul-de-sac at the end. Homes were built in the 50’s and 60’s by a well respected builder. Quite a bit of brick and most have basements. I’m kind of nostalgic about the street because I used to babysit there when I was in high school. It was considered very “exclusive.” I haven’t seen any “For Sale Signs” recently but you never know when something will come up.

Wonderful Week in Wyoming

I was privileged to spend a quiet 5 days at my little place in Wyoming -- up in the northwest corner near Cody.   It is a little primitive but it does have a flush toilet so it is a definite step above camping.   Just got back and feel kind of caught up here at the office.  It is amazing what that hide-a-way does to recharge me.   I enjoy it very much and am actually able to keep up with my real estate files quite nicely with the help of Mikaila, my very able assistant.

Next week I am going to start a series of blog posts describing some neighborhoods in Loveland.  I don't quite have it all figured out but I'm thinking that I will chose some areas that people tend to forget about and yet I have found them to be good spots to live and have good resale value.  I'll tell you where they are and give you some  "sold" data to review.  Let me know what you think.

Enjoy your week and this nice weather.  My Johnny-jump-ups are emerging!!

 

Housing - Is It Time To Buy

The Sunday Denver Post has a business section taken from the WSJ.  I read it carefully each week.  Yesterday there was a fairly positive article on our housing market.  It was believable - not pie in the sky positive.  Well worth the reading if you have access.  Points I took from it are:

     *Home prices have become affordable

     *Folks with lots of cash are buying real estate

     *Expect to buy and hold - prices won't come back quickly

February 2011 in Loveland

February in Loveland has always been a fun month.  Ever since I was a kid, I have enjoyed the big deal we make about our Valentine remailing program.  This year February has had  new and exciting happenings to add to the normal festivities.

First and foremost is the excitement created by the very real possibility that Loveland could be chosen for the home of the business park being coordinated and driven by the Colorado Association for Manufacturing and Technology (CAMT).  If Loveland is chosen, this endeavor would be located on the old HP campus and now lovingly referred to as the ACE Park (Aerospace Clean Energy).  What a shot in the arm it would be for all of us to see this happen.  To tell you the truth, I think it is a shot in the arm even if another site is chosen because  the project has been the catalyst  for out community to get serious about economic development. 

Secondly, I am a supporter of the Rialto Bridge project and it also received it's approval to move forward.  Our old theater is beautiful and it deserves the improvements planned next door.  I think the town will really use the new space and I like the partnership idea - Community Foundation, City of Loveland, Individual Owner. 

As a real estate broker in northern Colorado for many years, my opinions on economic development are considered suspect.  Truth be known, I mostly deal with the same families year after year and generation after generation.  I love our sleepy little town but I am realistic enough to know that if we want jobs for our kids and grand kids we must work to provide jobs and an interesting place to live.  What fun to see what happens.

My story is long today so I will close.  Springtime in the Rockies is right around the corner and I am ready.

'CASH BUYERS LIFT HOUSING'

This morning's Wall Street Journal carried a front page headline of 'Cash Buyers Lift Housing.'  I really listen up when monied people start taking action -- on anything.  Of course, folks with solid bank accounts make mistakes; but, in general, they make more smart moves than the rest of us.  Making smart moves helped get them into the financial situation they enjoy today.

The jist of the article was that these folks are betting that home prices are at or near bottom.  Who knows?  The piece refers to states that have experienced much greater high and low extremes than Colorado - especially Northern Colorado. Our real estate market has suffered, but at a different level.

Reading this piece caused me to think back over the last 6 months, and I think more than a typical number of my closings have been cash transactions.  I hadn't really zeroed in on that before.

What do you think?

Busier Last Week

MY GOODNESS, someone must have opened the floodgates a week or two ago.  For no explainable  reason, many families got in gear and seemed to get serious about the real estate changes they have been "talking" about for quite awhile.  I am only one broker, but all office listing showings really picked up so I believe the uptick was widespread.

For me personally, there are three groups that really weren't in any great hurry to make their decision about a change in housing.  Last week they all decided it was time to take action.  There is such a snowball effect to real estate sales-one contract typically leads to at least one other and sometimes two or three others.  Who knows, I just take it as it comes.  It is so much more fun to be busy.

ENJOY YOUR WEEK AND WATCH THIS ICE!

January

It has come to my attention in the last week or so that we don't REALLY have a lot of homes to chose from when, as a broker, I begin a search for a family.  All of the families that I work with have a 'list' of features that they want to have in their home.  All of the lists are different, but they might include some of these features:  face west, face south, big yard, small yard, finished basement, unfinished basement, new construction, old town, a fixer-upper, perfect condition.  GET MY GIST?

So many of the listed homes have been on the market for a long time because their list price is above market.  They may be lovely homes in great neighborhoods but buyers are just too cautious to knowingly pay more than our market can support.  Then there are homes with problems - just little problems that buyers will ignore when the market is tight.  Right now, buyers aren't in the mood to accept problems - little things like the neighbor's barking dog or a car up on blocks next door. 

So folks -- the many 'for sale' signs you see around town are a little deceiving. If you are wanting to sell, get the price right and tidy-up.  If you want to buy, get your list ready and check out what is available.  Buying and/or selling is a big deal - from either side of the transaction.  Pick a broker you like and can trust...then listen to him.

Good Day