5 Things You Should Know About Relocating to Denver
November 29th, 2011 categories: Relocation Tips
If you’re moving into the Mile High City, there are a few things you may find helpful as you pull up stakes and head to the Rocky Mountains.
- Denver isn’t actually in the mountains. During college, one of my friends from home commented, “Wow! You must be in good shape to ride your bike in Denver!” It took a minute to realize she was under the impression I was riding over mountain passes. I explained that Denver is on the Plains, and suggested she come visit – maybe branch out from Santa Barbara.
- We do have traffic, but it’s not as bad as Chicago or LA. It will be worse during rush hour and definitely bad when the snow is heavy. Then the sun comes out and melts it all away (and creates our wicked pot holes.) If you want to keep your drive a certain time frame, use Map Quest or Google Maps. They’re both pretty accurate, but won’t account for rush hour or snow.
- We have great public schools, great private schools, and our population is among the most educated in the nation. For school information go to the Great Schools website as a start. Always visit the school and meet the Principal and staff. Don’t choose based on web sites. That’s just a good place to begin. Like looking for houses on the internet. You’ll still need to visit, see it, smell it and look around.
- We name a lot of places “Cherry.” There is “Cherry Creek” (meaning Cherry Creek North and the Cherry Creek Shopping Center,) Cherry Creek Schools (down south by the Cherry Creek Reservoir,) Cherry Hills and finally there’s actually a Cherry Creek, with the Cherry Creek bike path along it that connects Cherry Creek Reservoir and Cherry Creek North. Confused? Come out to Denver and I’ll show you around.
- Westword and 5280 Magazines will fill you in on local flavor. 5280 is known for publishing annual editions on the Best Doctors, Best Neighborhoods and Best Restaurants. Westword is irreverent and edgy and publishes interesting exposes on Denver misadventures. We used to wait expectantly every spring for the annual summer concert edition.
There is so much more to know about Denver, but this gives you a start. Don’t be afraid to explore, we have many terrific neighborhoods and there’s something for everyone, except for a beach. Well, maybe you could call the dirt at edge of Cherry Creek Reservoir a beach… never mind.
Gretchen Faber, LifeStyle Denver author, is a local Denver real estate broker. Contact Gretchen for information on Denver area real estate.
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Denver’s Economic Growth Strong by Some Measures
November 27th, 2011 categories: Market Trends
The Denver Post published a story this morning based upon research comparing Denver to 9 other U.S. cities.
According to their study, Denver continues to outpace most other regional cities for Economic Power, Earning Power, Brain Power and Innovation Attractiveness.
It’s been our hope, here in Denver, that the Innovation Attractiveness will help fuel employment, but apparently we’re lagging in jobs creation. We rank 6th out of the 10 for job creation and 5th for housing affordability.
I spent two days last week with a lovely family who are being moved to Denver from Houston with the oil and gas industry. They were a little glassy eyed with sticker shock in terms of housing affordability. However, one plus in Denver’s column is our relatively low property taxes.
A close friend also works in oil and gas, and she predicts that the Niobrara oil field could hasten job creation in the metro area. And Denver’s housing affordability rankings have actually improved during the recession. The housing decline and foreclosure crisis hit Denver earlier than most of the U.S., meaning we’ve come down to settle along the bottom.
One very interesting statistic in the Post’s article is the productivity of Denver’s workforce. Our GDP per-capita is $56,706 and ranks second behind only Seattle with a per-capita GDP of $60,859. This should attract businesses looking to relocate or expand. The average U.S. per-capita GDP is $11,149, meaning we have a highly productive workforce in metro Denver.
Jobs and employment are key, and they appear to be lagging based on the Post’s study. With such strong fundamentals in place, jobs should surely follow.
Gretchen Faber, LifeStyle Denver author, is a local Denver real estate broker. Contact Gretchen for information on Denver area real estate. She can’t find you a job, but she can definitely find you a house!
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Colorado Gives Day is Big in Denver
November 27th, 2011 categories: Life In Denver
On the 2010 Colorado Gives Day, $8.7 million was donated to local charities.
The 2011 Colorado Gives Day hopes to outpace that amount. Donate at their site by clicking the big green button “Donate Now.” You can designate from over 880 local non-profits. This event is sponsored by the Community First Foundation.
Give early, give often and extend a helping hand. The giving begins at 12:01 am on December 6th.
For that one day, let’s remember our friends in need.
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Downtown Denver Flipping the Switch, Lighting the City and County Building
November 25th, 2011 categories: Life In Denver
Denver has been lighting the The City and County Building during the holiday season since 1926. This year is no different, and Mayor Hancock will flip the switch to the lights tonight.
Driving past the building on winter nights puts a smile on the face of everyone but Oscar the Grouch or Scrooge. Head downtown during the next month, and check it out.
A few years ago, the city made a switch to LED lights for energy efficiency, and it looks just as beautiful as ever. With nearly 600 lights, the building glows in multicolored splendor.
Yahoo Travel named Denver the 4th best place to view holiday lights, behind only NY City’s Rockefeller Center, Disney World in Orlando and the famous Newport Boat Parade in Southern California. Come see the lights in Denver and prepare to ohh and ahh!
And don’t forget to shop local this weekend. Support Denver’s small businesses.
Gretchen Faber, LifeStyle Denver author, is a local Denver real estate broker. Contact Gretchen for information on Denver area real estate.
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Shop Denver Small Businesses on 11/26/2011
November 23rd, 2011 categories: Life In Denver, Relocation Tips
This is shop local weekend on Small Business Saturday. Time to support your favorite local Denver area businesses.
Here are a few Gretchen Faber favorites:
- Pine Creek Clothing Company in the Washington Park neighborhood.
- The Tattered Cover Bookstore at Colfax and Elizabeth.
- PJ’s Boutique and 5 Green Boxes on Old South Pearl Street.
- The Tended Thicket on Old South Gaylord Street.
- Bonnie Brae Wine & Liquor.
- Mariel’s and Cry Baby Ranch at Larimer Square.
- Antique Row on South Broadway.
Feel free to comment below and add your own favorite locally owned businesses! And have a great shopping day on Saturday. By shopping local, you’ll avoid the mall and parking headaches. There are always fun local bars, restaurants or coffee joints to explore near the great boutiques, so stick around the neighborhood.
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Adopt-A-Pet at Denver Animal Shelter
November 22nd, 2011 categories: Life In Denver
It was time to renew Duke’s license-to-exist in Denver today, and when I logged onto the Denver Animal Shelter’s license renewal site, there were photos of awfully cute cats and dogs looking for a new home.
Don’t let these pets be homeless for the holidays, consider adoption. Duke says it was the best thing that ever happened to him, and he’s definitely the best dog ever.
That’s Duke on the left, loping around Chatfield Reservoir (in the doggie area.)
Are you looking for a new home to go with the new pet? Search Denver Real Estate in all areas of the metro area, including near Chatfield.
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Denver Among Top 10 Healthiest Housing Markets
November 21st, 2011 categories: Real Estate News
Recently, Builder Magazine listed Denver as among the top 10 healthiest housing markets in their “Healthiest Housing Markets: Mid-2011 Update.”
We’ve been experiencing such low vacancy rates for rentals, that much of what’s driving home sales is investor interest. Investors are willing to take a risk on our market and are snapping up good rentals. With investors getting back in, more buyers will feel confident in the coming months.
Builder Magazine says permits for new construction look to double in 2012 and Denver has added 20,000 jobs this year. Our foreclosure crisis hit much earlier than much of the nation, and we’ve seen a large decline in foreclosure numbers.
Add to that, several large corporations have chosen to locate their headquarters in the Denver Metro area, including, DaVita, Arrow Electronics and Vestas. The announcement last week that the Niobrara Oil Field could contain 1.5 billion barrels of oil fueled speculation that growth will continue in our oil and gas industry (no pun intended).
The Denver real estate market is humming, and will continue to gain steam in 2012.
Gretchen Faber, LifeStyle Denver author, is a local Denver real estate broker. Contact Gretchen about listing your Denver area home for sale or looking for that perfect Denver home.
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Pine Needles Plauge Denver Area Gutters
November 20th, 2011 categories: Life In Denver, Selling Strategies
Have you cleaned your gutters lately?
I was showing a home in Park Hill recently, and we noticed piles of pine needles in the gutters. The buyers remarked that it looked like a fire hazard.
Denver area pine trees shed massive numbers of needles this time of year, which clog gutters and prevent proper drainage. Remember to check your gutters for needles and leaves, and clean them out before the rain and snow descend. This should be one of your regular home maintenance items. If you’ve already checked it off your list – good for you!
Don’t let pine needles or leaves plague your gutters, inspect all of your gutters this week while the weather is still gorgeous! It’s one of those things that home buyers may not overtly notice, but gives your home a well-maintained look.
Gretchen Faber, LifeStyle Denver author, is a local Denver real estate broker. Contact Gretchen about listing your Denver area home for sale.
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Denver Solidifies Art Culture with Opening of Clyfford Still Museum
November 19th, 2011 categories: Life In Denver
Denver’s standing among the arts and architecture community has steadily risen in recent years with the addition of the Denver Art Museum’s Hamilton Wing, the Museum of Contemporary Art and now the official opening of the new Clyfford Still Museum.
The Clyfford Still Museum was built to house Still’s collection of nearly every work he produced. He was a pioneer in the early 20th Century’s Abstract Expressionism movement, and held on to most of his works until his death.
Still bequeathed the entire collection to one US city that would agree to fund and build a free-standing museum to house the collection. His widow, Patricia, oversaw the selection process.
Denver, being the amazing city it is, rose to the challenge and secured the Clyfford Still collection in 2004. There are very few Still pieces held in private collections, so this is the one venue in the world where art aficionados will be able to view Still’s big, colorful canvases, his drawings and sculpture.
The museum itself is also drawing rave reviews. Designed by architect Brad Cloepfil, it is a light filled and interesting building built of textured and striated concrete sitting directly behind the Hamilton Wing of the Denver Art Museum.
Visit the Clyfford Still Museum at 1250 Bannock Street soon and often, and support the arts in Denver. This gives you one more reason, beside the new H & M store to visit downtown Denver.
Gretchen Faber, LifeStyle Denver author, is a local Denver real estate broker. Contact Gretchen for information on Denver area real estate.
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Research the History of Your Denver Home at the Library
November 17th, 2011 categories: Life In Denver
Do you like to do research? The Denver Public Library offers you the ability to learn about the history of your house.
If you’re interested in your home’s past, who lived there, if any businesses were there, or what it looked like then plan a day at the DPL main branch.
The helpful librarians can find copies of original building permits, some blueprints and ownership records. The library sometimes has early photographs of a building or the neighborhood and detailed information on previous owners.
Spend an afternoon and have fun learning about your house! A friend once said to me, “You never really own your home, you’re borrowing it from the next people to live there.” That sentiment becomes reality when you learn the history of your home’s past residents.
Find more information at the Denver Public Library’s web site.
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