Life Style Denver by Gretchen Faber

Gretchen Faber Garners Omega Tau Rho Medallion of Service Award

I just noticed that my company issued the following notice. I thought I'd share it with you, and take this opportunity to thank my colleagues who make real estate truly a cooperative business: Gretchen Faber, managing broker for The Kentwood Company at Cherry Creek, recently garnered the Omega Tau Rho Medallion of Service Award for leadership. The award is bestowed upon Realtors who meet specific leadership criteria on local, state, and national levels. Once a Medallion is awarded, the recipient is...Continue Reading!

3 Open House Requirements

It's time to hold an open house and your real estate broker has scheduled the date and time. You may not realize that there are a few essential preparations you need to be making prior to that day. 1) Clean as if your life depended on it. My sister and her husband called me recently as they left an open house. They'd admired this home for a few years, and when it was finally held open, they were excited to see...Continue Reading!

Market Headlines – Are You Worried?

Yesterday afternoon, I got a text alert from The New York Times about the federal government's plan to shore up Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Strange to get a NYT alert on a Sunday, just after their big edition hit the doorstep. Maybe Not so Strange The government worries about markets all over the world, not just in the U.S. They often time announcements around the opening bell at the Hong Kong market. After Hong Kong opens, markets begin opening in succession....Continue Reading!

Denver Real Estate Stats – June ‘08

Where is the Denver real estate market headed? We're asked this on a daily basis, and with the frenetic pace of the news reports, it's sometimes a moving target. What I can tell you is that in my office, we're processing more under contract files in the $300,000 to $800,000 range these days. Last year, it seemed like the high end properties were sustaining us. This year, the mid-range properties are selling best. Perhaps the jumbo loan rates has slowed...Continue Reading!

Harley Tells it Like it Is!

  I'm in Washington, DC this week at the NAR Mid-Year meetings.  This is the 100th year of the National Association of Realtors and the 105th anniversary of Harley Davidson. Yesterday, I opened the hotel's USA Today and this is the ad I saw on the back of the Business Section: We Don't Do Fear Over the last 105 years in the saddle, we've seen wars, conflicts, depression, recession, resistance, and revolutions.  We've watched a thousand hand-wringing pundits disappear in our rear-view mirror.  But...Continue Reading!

Ambulance Chasers Attack Realtors

I got this email today regarding an underhanded maneuver by the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association (aka Ambulance Chasers): Before you read about it in the paper, we wanted you to be aware of a new ballot initiative filed that would limit commissions for real estate brokers. It’s a sliding scale but still no good. Here’s the breakdown: 6% = up to $250k; 3% = $250-500k; 1% = above $500k. This initiative is brought by the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association. They filed #109...Continue Reading!

Who Cares About the Earth?

I just want my lifestyle... Actions speak louder than words. I drive an SUV and live in a leaky 1938 brick Tudor. Sometimes I even take a long shower and turn up the heat. I piss myself off when I think about this because I also diligently recycle, carry my canvas shopping bags into the store whenever I think about it, and buy energy efficient light bulbs. More and more often, clients are asking me about energy efficient homes, options for remodeling...Continue Reading!

How to Find Your Children’s Next School

This is a guest post written by Diane Sweeney of Spark Innovation.  Remember, it's not all about test scores. Choosing the Right School for your Child As an Educational Consultant and a mom with two small children, I have run into countless parents asking for advice on how to choose the right school for their child. Parents have an unprecedented array of choices when it comes to schooling today, and it is this array of choices that is stressing them out. They...Continue Reading!

Top 10 Reasons to Work with a REALTOR

A Fool For a Client 1. The old cliche about a Lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client is true in real estate too. This is one of your largest transactions and should be guided by a professional. If you had a $500,000 legal or tax issue would you handle that one by yourself? An experienced broker can handle your most valuable transaction. 2. Maintain future value by relying on your broker to help suggest repairs and cosmetic work...Continue Reading!