“While the majority of the nation’s housing markets are still working toward a bottom, some cities are boasting fundamentals that make them good places to buy a home now,” Forbes reported.

At the top of the good places to buy is Denver!

The Top 5 Markets on the list are:

Denver
Phoenix
Boston
San Diego
Los Angeles

 
During the years I’ve been a stager, I have noticed something about sellers.  They generally fall into two categories: those who are ready to sell and those who aren’t.  I can usually tell within minutes of meeting a seller, which one they fall into.  The sad thing is, buyers can usually tell, too.  If you are planning on selling your home, it’s a good idea to figure out which one you are.
Signing a listing agreement or sticking a sign in your yard does not necessarily mean you are ready to …

Every other year, Colorado counties re-assess real estate values. This valuation is then used in conjunction with the mill levy each county sets to determine the amount of your property tax.
These valuations can at times be very inaccurate and as a property owner, you have the right to appeal the assessment by the county. Without fail, every time the assessments come out, I get flooded with calls from clients wondering if they should appeal their valuation.
Well, in anticipation of this years assessment, I have partnered with an online …

If you ask buyers what they are looking for in a home, it’s almost guaranteed they will mention “good flow.” But, what exactly does that mean? If you have visited a model home lately, you probably noticed how floor plans have changed in the last decade or so. You’ll find large entries, living rooms and dining rooms separated with nothing more than an open arch, kitchens sharing a space with family rooms, and very few hallways. If the home you are selling already has these features, you are way …

When getting our homes ready to sell, we sometimes get hung up on paint colors, furniture
placement, and décor. But, buyers can repaint if they want to, and the furniture and décor generally leave with the seller. So, what are we really selling, and what is it that buyers really want? The answer is space.
Have you ever picked up a book and decided not to read it because the text was very condensed, and each chapter was a hundred pages long? Negative space is more important than we think. Our eyes …

One of the largest safety concerns for homeowners (and renters) is Carbon Monoxide (CO)  Recently there have been a couple of high profile deaths in the Denver area, caused by the accidental exposure to CO, sadly these deaths should have been easily prevented.
 Carbon Monoxide is colorless, odorless, and in concentrated levels, deadly.

CO is produced whenever any fuel such as gas, oil, kerosene, wood, or charcoal is burned.
CO can be introduced into living spaces by malfunctioning or improperly used appliances.
Hundreds of people die accidentally every year from CO poisoning.
Estimates are that only …

Xcel Energy provides electricity and natural gas to the majority of the Denver metropolitan area.  The utility company recently announced four rebate programs for residential customers in an effort to decrease energy demand, thereby reducing their costs for production and transmission of electricity and natural gas.  The energy efficient program rebates include:

Gas furnaces and boilers up to $120;
Gas water heaters up to $100;
Evaporative coolers (aka swamp coolers) up to $500;
Addition insulation to your home up to $300.

The size of the rebates varies and there are important dates and conditions to …

Will home staging follow the way of the mullet, acid wash jeans, and pet rocks? Here today, gone tomorrow?
I believe staging is here to stay for the same reason you would get your car washed before selling it, or take a shower before going out on a date. It just makes sense to present you, your car, or your home, in the best possible condition. Think of staging as property enhancement. When would it ever go out of style to enhance a property to its best potential, …

Tax season will be here before we know it. Rather than wait until I hear from my CPA, Joe Lutz, I decided to call him.  Besides discussing my personal situation, Joe shared some great information that every homeowner and future homeowner will find helpful.  Here’s what he had to say.
The exclusion of gain on the sale of a primary residence is currently $500,000 for a married couple and $250,000 for a single person. The home must owned by taxpayer and be the primary residence of the taxpayers for 24 months (2 years) out …

Thinking of selling your Denver area home? Then, this is for you!