Denver classic homes
Driving around the neighborhoods of Denver, its hard not to admire the lovely classic homes. Denver has many landmarked districts where the neighborhood relishes restoration instead of replacement.
Today on a chilly, winter morning we leisurely drove up and down Denver city streets enjoying a "bus man’s holiday." Yes, all week we deal with Denver real estate, and even on a day off we find ourselves drawn to exploring.
The good thing about doing a self tour is that you can start in any of the many fine neighborhoods; Seventh Ave. Parkway, Cheesman, Congress Park, Country Club, Cherry Creek are the areas we toured today. (Visit the Denver Classic Home Photo Gallery)
If you have a hankering for some International Colorado History, visit the Molly Brown House Museum at 1340 Pennsylvania Street. Molly was a Denver Socialite who survived the Titanic. Her lovely Victorian home is a delight to visit and a perfect ending to a Denver classic home tour.
Dancers in the Snow
The words for blogging just aren’t coming to me these days. Instead of forcing it, I’m enjoying some extra time behind the lens.
The Dancers are a familiar sight on Speer Ave. in front of the Denver Center for Performing Arts. The graceful white dancers against the deep blue sky tempted me. I’d like to share them with you…
Scams of Foreclosure
As Colorado continues to be one of the States hit hard with home foreclosures the public needs to be aware of the scammers and their tricks. Freddie Mac the governmental organization that purchases mortgages from the banks has produced an informational video to get the word out.
If you or someone you know is facing foreclosure, pass this on.
Stapleton Delivers Diverse Homes and Fun
Many people remember Stapleton as the site of Denver’s airport. Today the area has been transformed into a vibrant community of a diverse selection of homes. Built as a "green" community, Stapleton has homes in most every price range.
The area was carefully planned with parks, a town center, brand new award winning schools and all the conveniences homeowners have grown to expect in a classy neighborhood.
Lately I’ve been showing homes to a nice family who are staying with relatives who live in Stapleton. I didn’t have to "sell" them on the neighborhood, they came to me and asked specifically to see homes "only in Stapleton!"
Having specific boundaries makes my job much easier!
I’m enjoying viewing the different styles of homes. Today we saw two homes with a third story, normally what one would think of as an attic. We don’t do many attics in Colorado, so seeing these homes was interesting even for me, who sees homes of all kinds all the time.
We decided the attic area was a very wise use of the space. It made for a large and private room, a great place for the teenager who craves both privacy and space! I could also see a great home office location up there, far enough away from the temptation of the refrigerator yet close enough for the pajama executive.
Discovering "old" designs, made new is not unusual in Stapleton. We are finding the homes have had a great deal of thoughtful design built into them. For instance alley entrances to the garage instead of ugly garage doors facing the streets.
There was a sign in a yard promoting Denver’s water conservation campaign, "Use only what you need." This could also apply to Stapleton homes. They are big, but only big enough for what a homeowner needs.
And that, is a good thing.
I’ve been warming up to Stapleton more lately as I’ve seen it grow into a unique community. I must say what really cinched the appeal was watching how the residents embraced the recent snow.
As we toured the homes for sale in Stapleton, I noticed kids and parents with sleds in tow heading for the nearby hill. Central Park has a couple of slopes, perfect for an afternoon of fun.
It reminded me of my old hometown. A sweet ping at the heart string and a memory from long ago, crystallized the reality for me. Set aside all the builder/developer marketing hype, Stapleton is a real neighborhood.
First time home buyer assistance
First Time Home Buyers in Colorado have many benefits to assist them in purchasing a home. Counties in Colorado offer a wide assortment of programs to assist not just first time buyers, but all home buyers in learning more about the process of purchasing and maintaining a home.
Understanding the process helps future home buyers make better decisions. Once they understand the consequences of making a wrong decision they can avoid doing so. Local governments have prepared educational classes so successful that discounts are given to participants, because they have proven to be more responsible in homeownership.
Rewards for taking the education course comes in a variety of forms:
- lower interest rate
- grants for closing costs
- down payment assistance in the form of a “silent” loan
- discounts on PMI are a few incentives.
If you are looking to purchase a home, I suggest you investigate your eligibility for one of these programs. Each county and some city programs are offered throughout the State of Colorado. Check into the program in the county/city where you are interested in purchasing a home.
City Programs:
- Arvada - House to Home Ownership Down Payment Assistance Loan Program (970)-494-2021
- Aurora - Homeownership Assistance Program or (303) 739-7900
- Boulder - Homeownership Programs (303) 441-3157
- Colorado Springs - Homeownership Programs - Affordable homeownership opportunities (719) 385-5985
- Commerce City - Commerce City Housing Authority or call (303) 289-3698
- Delta - West Central Housing Development - Down payment assistance (970) 874-8204, ext. 24
- Denver - Del Norte’s Homeownership Program or (303) 477-4774, ext. 18
- Denver - Colorado Housing Assistance Corp at (303) 572-9445
- Denver - New West Side Economic Development (NEWSED) or (303) 534-8342 ext. 124
- Denver - Southwest Improvement Council (SWIC) - First Time Homeownership Program (303) 934-2268
- Carbondale - Mountain Regional Housing Corporation - Down payment assistance program (970) 963-9606
- Fort Collins - Home Buyer Assistance Program or (970) 221-6758
- Greeley - High Plains Housing Development Corp. (970) 346-7660, ext. 6540
- Longmont - Down Payment Assistance Program or (303) 651-8530
- Loveland - Larimer Home Ownership Program or (970) 667-3232, ext. 39
- Pueblo - Housing Department (719) 553-2850
- Pueblo - Colorado Bluesky Enterprises - Down payment assistance for individuals with developmental disabilities (719) 546-0572
- Pueblo - Neighbor Works of Pueblo - Affordable Housing Program (719) 544-8078
- Westminster - Home ownership Assistance (303) 227-2075
- Wheat Ridge - WRHA Home Ownership Program (303) 422-8600
Statewide Programs:
- Colorado Housing Enterprise (303) 428-1448
- Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) - or (303) 297-7376 or (800) 877-2432, ext. 376
- Colorado Housing Assistance Corporation (303) 572-9445
- Colorado Division of Supportive Housing and Homeless Programs - Section 8 Homeownership Program or (303) 866-7350
County Programs:
- Adams County Housing Authority - Homeownership or Program HOTLINE (303) 227-2089
- Arapahoe County - HomeBuyer Program or (303) 738-8060
- Boulder County - Outside city limits of Boulder - Down Payment Assistance Program or (303) 651-8530
- Eagle County - Colorado Housing Assistance Corp or (303) 572-9445
- El Paso County - Single Family Mortgage Bond Program or (719) 520-6481
- Fremont, Chaffee, Custer and Lake counties - Upper Arkansas Area Council of Governments - Mutual Self-Help Housing or call (719) 269-7687 ext. 107
- Jefferson County - Colorado Housing Assistance Corp or (303) 572-9445
- Larimer County - Larimer Home Ownership Program - Outside city limits of Ft. Collins - (970) 667-3232, ext. 39
- Weld County - High Plains Housing Development Corp. (970) 346-7660, ext. 6540
- Bent, Crowley and Otero counties - Tri-County Housing - Downpayment and closing cost assistance, 2nd mortgages for repairs to a home being purchased, and Home Ownership Counseling (719) 263-5168
- Cheyenne, Elbert, Kit Carson and Lincoln counties - Prairie Development Corp. Down payment assistance program or (719) 348-5562 or (800) 825-0208
- Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgewick, Yuma and Washington counties - Northeast Colorado Housing, Inc. in Fort Morgan - Down payment assistance program call (970) 542-0955
- All counties - Colorado Housing Assistance Corp or (303) 572-9445
Curb Appeal ~ making it look easy
One of the benefits of being in the real estate business for as long as I have is the valuable life lessons I have experienced. Some of my lessons are fun and easy others I prefer not to repeat.
A favorite memory has to do with listing a home with curb appeal. I was called by the
homeowner to sell a charming little cottage on the hillside in the town of Manitou Springs (I used to work in Colorado Springs.) Manitou is at the foot of Pikes Peak. It is a charming historic town filled with character and unique homes.
This home was a cabin, built by the homeowner’s deceased husband. You could tell the home had been loved and cherished for many years. Every inch of the interior and exterior was artfully manicured and maintained. The front yard was terraced and landscaped with shrubs. The window boxes were filled with cascading flowers in their prime.
The home could have been a Bavarian postcard, it was perfect.
The day we put it on the market was a difficult one for the homeowner. She had planned this day for a long time and had a place to go somewhere in sunny Arizona. Even so, I could tell it was very difficult for her to put this part of her life behind her. Looking around the home I could understand.
Resolutely she proceeded to sign the documents. She was determined to sell and move on. When we finished the paperwork, I went to my car to get the For Sale sign out of the trunk. We surveyed the front yard and together determined the best location for visability and concern for the landscaping.
She stood on the deck as I held the sign up high in order to drop it sufficiently deep enough into the turf. As the sign penetrated the earth, the air was filled with the screeching of brakes.
A little red sports car came to a sliding stop in front of the house. No, it wasn’t an accident. The driver shouted to me, “How much for the house?”
I told him. He said, “I’ll take it.”
He continued to tell us he was very late for work, but if I gave him my card, he’d call me to work out the details.
Flabbergasted I turned to the homeowner. Hands on her hips she looked at me and said, “I could have done that!”
Actually she was the one who did make this “sale” go quickly. It was her years of toiling in the soil that paid off in spades. The value of curb appeal is priceless.
P.S. As it turned out the young attorney could not afford her house. We ended up selling it to another buyer a couple weeks later. Still the story is a good one. It is a true story from Kristal Kraft’s war chest of real estate drama.
Urban Wildlife in Denver
While driving around in Belcaro this afternoon, I noticed a lovely fox just sitting in someone’s front yard. As I scrambled to grab my camera, she was frightened away by an oncoming pick up truck. I was able to shoot her, but as she ran away. Darn!
One doesn’t think about wildlife in the city. Typically one would think a fox would live only in the foothills or the mountains, certainly not in a well developed area like Belcaro. But then why not. Foxes have high standards so why not pick a very good neighborhood!
[where: 80209]
The Value of Curb Appeal
The term “curb appeal” has been around a long time. As it relates to residential real estate the term describes how prospects feel about the appearance of a home from the street.
As Realtors we are taught to instruct home owners to “view their homes as others see them.” We take the homeowner outside, across the street to evaluate the home. Some homeowners “get it” and this process is not necessary. Others fail to understand or care so the process is lost or pointless.
The importance of having good curb appeal can mean the difference between a quick sale or one that drags on for ages. Potential buyers, particularly the virtual shoppers are making snap decisions on whether or not to view a house. If the home is “ugly” from the prospect’s standpoint, the home never gets a chance to compete.
Remolding Magazine’s annual “Cost vs. Value Report” shows exterior and replacement projects bring the biggest return. Exterior being enhancements to the home’s curb appeal.
This report validates what we have known for a long time; when preparing your home to sell, be sure it appeals to the widest market. By investing in a “home face lift” you will be putting your money where it is most likely going to get you the most traffic.
These days of virtual home shopping the importance of curb appeal and great photos of the interior are the foundation for success. Pay attention to the details that attract the buyer to actually make an appointment to visit your home in person.
[where: 80210]
Tribute to Jeanne Assam ~ Not your ordinary hero
Yesterday yet another wacked out gunman went on a rampage. This time the scene of the crime was a church in Colorado Springs. The guy walked into the New Life Church and started shooting.
The hero came in a female form. She was a security guard, a volunteer security guard, no less. Her name is Jeanne Assam. She took responsibility beyond the norm, approaching the gunman when he was firing off rounds. Forty rounds they claim.
Jeanne took the guy out. In doing so she saved countless lives. I am amazed at your presence of mind and laser-like focus. You conquered fear and won.
Sometimes ordinary people do extraordinary things. Jeanne you rock!
Thank you.
UPDATE: As it turns out the wacked out gunman took his own life, the corner confirmed this yesterday. Of course if it weren’t for Jeanne confronting him, who knows how many more innocents would have been killed or injured.
[where: 80918}
Christmas Tubas
Yesterday we braved the Bronco traffic like a salmon swimming upstream to get downtown in time for the Holiday Tuba Celebration. No we aren’t necessarily Tuba music lovers, I’m just a blogger looking for new and interesting topics to write or photograph.
When I heard the announcement on the radio of how 300-plus Tuba players from a tri-state area were going to play for the 33rd year, well I couldn’t resist! A holiday tradition for many Denver families this event was certainly enjoyable.
The youngest was 11 years old and the most senior tuba player was 87! Guess you can say tuba playing spans generations.
Next time you think about doing something different, don’t hesitate. Enjoying the festivities around the Denver metro region is just another part of why living here is fun. I’m glad we braved the cold temperatures yesterday to make yet another fond memory.
[where: 80202]
This site brought to you by Kristal Kraft, a licensed Colorado Real Estate Broker