Cherry Creek North Parking – Quarters Not Required
January 31st, 2010 categories: Life In Denver
The Cherry Creek North neighborhood – Denver’s “Gold Coast” – added a call-in parking alternative in November.
This seems like a great alternative to saving quarters, or trying to keep the parking machines from tearing up your credit card. So far, though, the buzz is that people aren’t taking to the phone-in alternative.
Setting up an account is easy, but thinking about it ahead of time is probably part of the problem. Shoppers don’t usually plan in advance. Diners in the neighborhood rarely make a reservation, and more often just troll the restaurants looking for an available table.
This is a great solution for Cherry Creek regulars or workers.
If you’d like to try the phone-in option for Cherry Creek parking you can call 888-480-7275 or go to www.paybyphone.com.
Once you sign up for the service, you’ll call the toll-free number and enter your location number. Your credit card will be charged and you’ll get the added bonus of a text message reminder before your parking time expires. Another convenience is that you can add to your time (up to the 3 hour limit) without having to walk back to your car to do it.
The Denver Public Works Department is trying this new system for a 6 month trial. If it doesn’t catch on, they may eliminate it. If it does, they’ll look at expanding the program to other areas of the city.
I have plenty of quarters, but when I run out, I may try this system. If you want to look for houses in the Cherry Creek area, let me know – I’ll cover the parking!
| Discussion: 5 Comments »
Bad Score, Bad Score – What You Gonna Do?
January 18th, 2010 categories: Market Trends, Relocation Tips
What you gonna do when they deny you?
I got my 
credit score the other day. We’re about to refinance our house and this was the beginning of the process. My score was always stellar – high 700’s at one time over 780.
This time my score was just below 720. By some people’s standards, not bad. Well, in this lending climate it’s not great.
When I began selling real estate over 14 years ago, a score of 620 or higher was considered pretty good. At the end of the last decade, 680 was the minimum needed to get favorable rates. Last Spring, the minimum score needed for the good rates was 720, and now lenders say borrowers need a score of 730 to 740.
What drove down my score and what should borrowers pay attention to?
1. My former husband had two credit card accounts that were closed, but for some odd reason were being reported with balances. I never had this particular brand of credit card, but I was listed as an “authorized user.” This was bad news for two reasons: first was the reported balances, and second was that these two cards, on top of my actual credit cards, skewed my ratios to look like I had way too much unsecured credit.
2. I got in a fight a few years ago with a certain Visa issuer (Chase.) One day, I decided to check my account on their site. This somehow changed my bills to paperless, but I didn’t realize the change had happened. Subsequently, I read that this happened to scores of people.
I waited weeks for my bill, called Chase and told the rep I hadn’t received it, and his response was, “huh, we mailed it.” A week later, still no bill. I again called and authorized a draft over the phone. What did Chase do? They reported me as “seriously delinquent.” More than 30 days late.
I called Chase again and begged. Pleaded. Explained that I’d had their stupid card for years and had never missed a payment. Their response? “Well, you missed this one.”
What did I do then? Totally peeved, I closed the account. Take that Chase!
Guess what that did to my credit report?
Again, this was bad news for two reasons: first was that I had a “serious delinquency” and the other was that the account stated, “delinquent, closed.” That does not look good to the credit agencies. Plus, a seasoned or older card is much more valuable on your score.
3. Finally, two of my credit cards were nearly up to the credit limits. Credit reporting agencies want to see your revolving credit be only about 30% of the limit. So if you have more than one card, spread the love, but not more than 30% of it. And of course, pay by cash as much as possible. That’s our new mantra – cash. Forget the miles. Use the cards a little to keep the credit agencies interested and your score high.
The good news is that these items can be relatively easily fixed for many people.
- Pay off as much revolving debt as you can, spread your debt over the cards you have.
- Don’t cancel cards you’ve had for a long time, just stop using them. Seasoned cards bear a lot of weight on your report.
- Don’t apply for too many credit cards.
- Make sure that your credit report is correct and dispute cards or other debt that appear and don’t belong to you.
After 30 days, your score will begin to come up and it should happen pretty quickly. MSN Money has written about fixing your credit score and you can check your credit report at Experian. Keep in mind that you do not need to pay for your credit report, you can access a free one every year. However, these reports typically do not include the FICO score that lenders use to evaluate you.
According to my lender, the basic fixes I did should positively impact my score in about a month. If you’re thinking about buying or refinancing a house this year, begin to get your score straight now. You may need more than 30 days or you may already be Platinum!
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Top 5 Things to Do at Denver’s Stock Show
January 11th, 2010 categories: Life In Denver
Having grown up in Southern California, I was more a beach bum than a horsey person when I relocated to Denver nearly 28 years ago.
In fact, one thing I completely rejected about my new hometown was anything to do with western wear, western culture or cows.
My boots were ski boots, and my jeans were definitely not boot cut. I attended the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo a couple of times, and while it was somewhat fun to watch the little kids chase pigs and the high school girls proudly carry flags on their horses, I couldn’t stand the smell. The odor of cows, pigs, horses and fried food definitely got me down.
About three years ago, I got a new attitude. I went to the stock show twice that year and once the next year and had a blast. I embraced my “new” hometown’s culture and even bought cowboy (or girl) boots. I love them! It’s true what they say, those boots are comfortable!
So from a novice’s perspective, here are the top 5 things you should see or do at this year’s Stock Show. It runs two more weeks, until Sunday, January 24th at the Denver Coliseum. Just follow your nose and you’ll find it.
1. The Rodeo: Bareback riding is an awesome feat. Watching those guys ride their bucking broncos gives new meaning to buns of steel. The barrel racing is an exacting sport of speed and finesse. The rodeo is an inspiring ode to Americana and regardless of the smell, something everyone should see.
2. The Horse Show: The horse shows feature many styles of riding and breeds of horses – hunters and jumpers, Arabians, American Saddlebreds, Appaloosas, Morgans and equitation classes. A fun show for anyone who’s ever ridden a horse or would like to. This is what we would aspire to.
3. The Shopping: This should probably be number 1 coming from me. In the concourse of the Expo Hall there are hundreds of fun and unique booths. This is where I got my boots. You’ll also find hats, leather goods, beautiful artisan pieces, fun clothes and crazy things like cedar furniture, bobcats (for driving around your farm) and beer bottle nightlights.
4. The Exhibit Halls: Bring your children and wander through the exhibit halls. You’ll find many beautiful and interesting animals. Calves, sheep, chickens, lambs and more varieties of cow than I knew existed. Remember your hand sanitizer, last year a few children got sick after visiting the petting zoo.
5. The Junk Food: I’m not a junk food junkie. We stay away from all that and lean more toward brown rice and salad. However, you can’t visit the stock show without eating something fried. Fried anything. Grab a snack or a meal, find a table in the concourse and get back out to the show!
Have a great time at Denver’s Stock Show 2010!
And if 2010 includes the prospect of a new “ranch” for you, contact me for help in buying the new one or selling the old!
| Discussion: 5 Comments »
Denver Colorado Real Estate | December 2009 Market Statistics
January 7th, 2010 categories: Market Trends, Selling Strategies
December. The end of the year. The end of the line?
Not really. December was another interesting month in Denver Real Estate. Inventory was naturally down, as it typically is this time of year. We’re down to 16,456 active listings. That’s the lowest number of homes on the market since before 2006 when the available MLS records stop. Meaning buyers have less to choose from than in the past 5 years.
The highest number of listings was in July of 2006 with 31,989 homes on the market. We’re almost 50% off that number.
I remember one day back in 2006 pulling up listings in Highlands Ranch to show to buyers I was working with. I had a match of over 500 homes for their criteria. It was a chore to eliminate properties to get a rational number to view. First everything with an unfinished basement was tossed. Then the small yards, then homes that were near busy streets.
Only the creme de la creme made it to a showing.
This month, we’re struggling to find properties to show to buyers. There are some great homes still on the market, but many are stale for a variety of reasons. Some have location issues, many are still over priced, some aren’t finished as nicely as their competition.
Sellers have an opportunity. Right now! They need to get their house in top showing condition and get it on the market.
Average sold price is up: 7.13% since November and 13.59% since this time last year. This number has been driven up by the sales in the lower price points. High end homes are still lagging.
Sellers – now is your time. Buyers want to take advantage of the home buyer tax credits. They have pent up demand. They don’t want to miss out on low rates. Get your house ready and get it on the market.
Buyers who were worried that the tax creidt was expiring in November hurried up their closings, and November sales were way up. December closings were down, but with the tax credit extended, the holidays over and rates still low – sales will undoubtedly begin to increase this month. The contracts written in January will close in February and March, so watch for closed properties to increase in those months.
The state of the economy is still in debate, but what is the average Joe doing? Joe the Plumber? Joe the Snowboarder? They’re starting to think this might be a good time to move.
Check out all the Denver area listings on my website; www.GretchensDenver.com and let me know when you want to buy a new house!
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