Any Way You Want It – That’s Not Going to Get It
July 27th, 2009 categories: Relocation Tips
My friends recently went to Red Rocks to see Journey. Red Rocks is an experience in itself, but seeing the 80’s hair band at a mile high with a short, Asian Steve Perry impersonator must have been a trip. The same friends are looking to buy a new house and we’ve found a couple that might work.
For the specific type of property they’re identifying, we’ve been aggressive in making offers. They’re astute buyers and understand the complexities of the market niche they’re looking in.
Most buyers aren’t buying the same type of property, and most buyers think that “any way they want it, that’s they way they’ll get it.” Well, they may not necessarily be right.
Buyers – get an education, learn about the price point and neighborhood you’re looking in. You may find that you can’t go in with a 25% off list offer. You may actually find that you need to pay closer to full price than not.
A broker I’ve worked with in past transactions met me for coffee recently. I wanted to find out his perspective of our current market. Ron told me that he’s been saying this to his buyer clients,“Find the home you love first. Then let me negotiate the best deal. Don’t put the deal first thinking you should get an automatic 30% off.Those houses that have been sitting for months and months may be the very same houses that take a long time to sell in 3 years. Find the house you’re excited to drive up to every evening. That’s where you should live. Then we’ll go and get you the best deal possible for that house.”
I like Ron’s advice to buyers. It’s not only practical, it’s tactical. Buy smart. Think about the street appeal, the location, the floor plan, the comparable sales in the neighborhood. Analyze whether you think the house will appraise.You need a great real estate broker to help you through all of this. And ultimately, you need to be excited to come home every night. I’m not talking about your choice of spouse, but your choice of house.
To search for your next great house (spouse not included) use the search function at GretchensDenver.com.
And yes, I did buy esc4p3 on vinyl…
| Discussion: 7 Comments »
Chopper’s Sports Grill – A Sports Bar With Great Food!
July 12th, 2009 categories: Restaurant Reviews
A co-worker and I went to lunch the other day at Chopper’s in the Cherry Creek East neighborhood. It was a gorgeous day and we debated whether we should stroll over through the huge construction zone, or drive around two extra blocks to avoid the stares and catcalls.
We drove. Parading through the cone zone in heels and skirts didn’t seem like a great idea.
I love Chopper’s for many reasons. One being that while I was in graduate school, I waited tables there.
Of course, way back then, it was still Rick’s Cafe. Rick’s was the notorious “older” singles hang out in Denver in the 1980’s – Denver’s original Fern Bar. Before Cherry Creek was a big deal, before we’d heard of “Cougars” and while big hair was still very much in.
“Rick’s Girls” got special treatment. We got free shots on Saturday nights. The restaurant and bar were so crowded that we’d have to heave the giant trays above our heads and then start kicking the customers in the backs of their legs to get them to shift enough to open up a path for us.
In 1996 the restaurant changed hands and Chopper Traviglini opened up the new restaurant as a local sports bar. Chopper was the legendary trainer for the Denver Nuggets for many years, and he was well known around town. The bar and restaurant got a slight remodel from the Rick’s days, and then reopened with TV’s everywhere and better than standard bar food.
Chopper’s made the list for Top Sports Bar in this year’s edition of 5280 Magazine’s Top of the Town section. 5280 says you’ll come for the TV’s but, “you stay for the killer nachos and juicy hamburgers – or the 18 beers on tap.”
I particularly like their Castlewood Canyon salad with grilled chicken. One of the better salads in Cherry Creek, in my humble opinion, and I’ve tried them all.
So dribble on over to Chopper’s, but avoid the construction.
Contact me any time you want more information on Denver Real Estate. Or search for a new home at GretchensDenver.com.
| Discussion: 7 Comments »
June 2009 Denver Real Estate Market Statistics
July 6th, 2009 categories: Market Trends, Real Estate News
In a real estate market the size of Denver’s, you might be surprised to learn that we only added 119 new listings to our inventory since last month’s real estate statistics were released. We added 121 new single family listings and we sold 2 more condominium listings than were added.
Our average days on the market has been reduced by 5 and our average sale price rose by $15,412. The single family residence average price rose $21,246, but the condominium average price fell by a whopping $10,515. That’s curious to me. With the number of condo listings dropping, you would assume that the resulting demand would drive prices up. It’s probably just a reflection of the basket of properties that happened to sell last month.
Our local real estate market is strengthening day by day. Why?
Denver’s employment is relatively stable, and in some sectors is growing. While we’re certainly having budget struggles at the local and state level, we’re not bankrupt. Many people from other states (California) are moving here to benefit from our fabulous lifestyle, great schools and more stable economy. California (my home state) has more out-migration than in-migration right now. Colorado is the opposite.
When you compare our market statistics year over year, we’re certainly down quite a bit from last year. And our average sale price is down by nearly $45,000 from the high set in 2006. But given the circumstance of the world, the events that have shaped our economy since last fall, we’ll take it!
Searching for a Denver home? Contact me for the latest update on specific Denver neighborhoods.
| Discussion: 10 Comments »
2009 Denver Fireworks On 3rd & 4th!
July 3rd, 2009 categories: Life In Denver
If you’re planning on watching fireworks for this year’s Independence Day, take note – many municipal fireworks shows are tonight, July 3rd.
Here’s a list of fireworks around Central Denver. We particularly love the Glendale fireworks, and plan on checking the show out tonight after a neighbor’s bar-be-que.
Glendale
- Infinity Park – 950 S. Birch St. – Glendale; July 3 : 9 p.m.
Coors Field
- Coors Field – 2001 Blake St – Lodo; July 3 : 6:10 p.m.
Edgewater
- Citizens Park – 2431 Chase St. – Edgewater; July 3 : 4 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Invesco Field
- Invesco Field at Mile High – 1701 Bryant St. – Denver; July 4 : 7 p.m.
(Fireworks begin after the Outlaws game.)
Four Mile Historic Park
- Four Mile Historic Park – 715 S. Forest St.; July 4 : 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Have a fun and safe 4th of July.
If you’re hanging around wanting to look at pictures of homes for sale, check out GretchensDenver.com for the most up-to-date available listings in the Denver Metro area.
| Discussion: 2 Comments »
Denver Real Estate Prices Rise 1.5% Since May
July 1st, 2009 categories: Real Estate News
Denver real estate is in recovery. We’re the baby sapling, taking root and growing strong.
The thing is, we never totally crashed and burned like other cities did. Prices went down for sure and according to yesterday’s S & P – Case Shiller Report, we’ve seen depreciation of 4.9% since this time last year. Compare that with Phoenix, down 35.3% year over year.
Since last month, Case Shiller reports that Denver’s prices have appreciated 1.5%. That’s an awesome bounce. Some analysts think this may be a seasonal adjustment, and may not signal a recovery.
I disagree.
Our available inventory hasn’t risen significantly this year. We didn’t experience the typical big bounce in available listings in the Spring. For that reason, we’ve been able to stabilize the market. The ratio of properties available for sale and days on the market is stable. We still have a stratified market, and we need to see high end properties shake out some inventory.
High end sales are increasing slightly too.
I looked up Park Hill and Hilltop sales since April yesterday, several million-plus sales have been recorded. Jumbo rates have become more competitive in recent weeks and there are cash buyers out there looking for a deal on their dream home.
Appreciation follows a reduction in time on the market.
As the days on the market have fallen, as we’ve begun to have multiple offers, as rates have remained competitive we’ve had appreciation re-enter the Denver market. We won’t get back to double digit appreciation very soon. But buyers beware – if you don’t get off that fence soon, you may be looking back over your shoulder in regret.
Margaret Jackson, the Denver Post’s Real Estate Correspondent wrote more about the S & P – Case Shiller Report in this morning’s paper. Read to the end!
| Discussion: 3 Comments »
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