Free Credit Score is Good Karma
January 22nd, 2012 categories: Real Estate News
If you’re interested in knowing your credit score, get your once-yearly credit score free from the three major credit-rating agencies.
Trans Union, Equifax and Experian will provide you a free credit score through the Annual Credit Report site. I’ve found the site to be a bit clunky, but if you have some time, you can work your way through it.
When you’re getting ready to buy your next house, a good credit score is vital. Not only a good score, but an excellent one. If you’ve already received your free reports from the ratings agencies, or if you’d like an easier way to access your score more frequently, then sign up for your free credit score at CreditKarma.com.
Credit Karma offers free credit reports and free credit monitoring. Most banks and other web sites charge a monthly fee for this service, but the cost of using Credit Karma is enduring a few ads on their page. Warning, some of those ads will be targeted to you based on your score and other information you provide.
Keep track of your credit and credit score. It’s a valuable commodity when you need to borrow money. Just remember that there is good borrowing (real estate) and bad borrowing (credit cards) and your score will definitely reflect what type of borrower you are.
Gretchen Faber is a Denver real estate broker with over 16 years of local real estate knowledge and experience. Contact Gretchen to discuss local real estate questions, or check out GretchensDenver.com to search for local homes for sale.
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Denver Colorado Real Estate Statistics | December 2011
January 15th, 2012 categories: Market Trends
The end of 2011 came with few surprises for those of us in real estate, and one big one.
The inventory of homes for sale in Metro Denver is nearly 40% below this time last year. It’s so low, that I can remember a time when it was almost triple what it is now.
What this will most likely do is accelerate the pace of home sales. With less on the market, it should take less time to sell your house.
Eventually, the quicker sales pace will result in increasing prices. This is always location and neighborhood specific. The snapshot is city-wide, but prices, days on market and appreciation will vary block by block.
With less than 11,000 properties on the market in the entire city, buyers are feeling a little like they don’t have much to choose from.
The number of sold properties has increased over November and from a year ago, while prices are up just a bit. Watch the first few months of the year to see inventory increase – it has to, and prices to increase as well.
Happy New Year 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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Denver is THE Top Real Estate City for 2012
January 15th, 2012 categories: Real Estate News
Have you seen this recent news report about Denver real estate?
Denver is cited as the number one city to invest in real estate by Greg Rand of Own America.
Watch the clip as Greg covers the metrics that influenced his decision:
- Lifestyle and livability
- Relatively low unemployment as compared with the national average
- In-migration of people relocating to Denver
- A foreclosure rate that is half the national average
- A young population
- Low cost of living
- Fresh air
- 9 Fortune 500 companies and growing
Denver isn’t a secret any longer. The city is no longer a “cow town,” although you can attend the National Western Stock Show once a year to see cows and wear your boots.
We have a world famous art scene, great restaurants, bike trails and parks. Oh, and the mountains out back.
Come visit, and plan to stay. You’ll want to make your home in Denver!
Are you relocating to Denver? Check out area homes for sale on my GretchensDenver real estate web site. Contact me if you’re visiting and want to look for your next home.
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October 2011 Case Shiller Shows Strength in Denver Home Values
December 28th, 2011 categories: Real Estate News
The S & P Case Shiller Home Price Indices were published yesterday for the period ending October 2011.
Seasonally adjusted home prices, from September to October were up .5%. Denver lagged only Phoenix in terms of non-seasonally adjusted figures at a drop of .2%. Phoenix was the single city in positive territory, non-seasonally adjusted September to October.
Overall, the national market was down 1.2% for the 20 City composite used by Case Shiller. Denver continues to outpace the country, and the gap is closing on price decreases.
The city-wide inventory continues to be at record lows, meaning there are currently buyers competing for properties. This will result in price increases, however slight the average may be, in the first half of 2012. Real estate is neighborhood specific, so some areas could increase quite a bit while others lag.
Denver is considered one of the healthier U.S. housing markets. We don’t have a history of trending up in rapid fashion, or crashing spectacularly. This newest Case Shiller report reflects the typical pacing of our Denver housing market.
Have a wonderful 2012! If it includes buying or selling a home in Denver, check out www.GretchensDenver.com. Gretchen Faber’s real estate web site for property searches and relocation information.
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Denver Colorado Real Estate Statistics | November 2011
December 13th, 2011 categories: Market Trends
Imagine you want to move from your city, small town, or suburb to a new location.
This new city isn’t as large as NYC or LA, but it’s big enough to offer you the company of over 2 million residents metro-wide, all the major professional sports, plenty of arts and culture and great restaurants for foodies. Added to that, a fun outdoorsy lifestyle.
Now imagine that you begin your home search in this city, only to learn that there are a little over 12,000 properties to choose from. That’s the entire inventory – from suburban ranches to downtown highrise condos. That’s it. 12,634 homes in every price point, neighborhood and housing style.
Here’s how this phenomenon is currently affecting people in Denver:
- Buyers feel like they’re circling around the same old inventory over and over. When something new comes on the market, if it’s in tip top showing condition and priced well, it’s gone in a matter of days.
- Sellers are feeling the tide turning and aren’t as willing to negotiate as they once were. This is understandable when the Seller has a new listing just on the market, Pottery Barn cute and priced aggressively. But Sellers who won’t look at offers when their house has been on the market for many months or who have had more than one offer and keep waiting for them to go up isn’t facing the reality of their particular piece of property. With inventory and prices this low, Sellers need to understand that Buyers will wait for new properties to come on the market rather that do what they perceive as anathema – overpay.
- Many buyers are deciding to push their price range up a little at their high end. They can’t find what they want and reason that with rates remaining incredibly low, they may as well push at the edges of their comfort level.
- This seems to signal a change in consumer confidence. If Buyers are willing to push a bit toward the top of their price range, they must have a sense that prices will not dramatically fall any further.
Denver’s residential real estate inventory is over 36% below where it was last year, and close to 11% below last month. some of this is seasonal, but that’s not all of it. The Sellers who don’t have to sell have decided to take themselves out of the market. For sure, there will be an increase in inventory after January 1st. But thinking back to the days when we had over 28,000 properties on the market in Metro Denver illustrates just how remarkable this is.
The sold prices have a floor under them now, and are even up about 3% since last month. The days on market are coming down, close to 10% below last year. So houses are selling faster than they have been the past three years.
This month has been a busy one. It will be interesting to see if more buyers come out of the woodwork when the new listings hit the market next month.
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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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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1115 Madison Street in Denver’s Congress Park
November 28th, 2011 categories: LifeStyle Listings
This lovely cottage will make the perfect starter home or rental.
Denver’s rental vacancy rate is unusually low, and as an investor this home would make an excellent rental property. The location is stellar.
Updated kitchen & bath, bright, sunny rooms and a lovely yard. Enjoy summer evenings on your front porch. Wood and travertine tile floors add elegance. The finished basement with recessed lighting adds amazing space for a family room or office. Just steps to restaurants, coffee & ice cream shops.
Priced at just $274,000. Click the contact button above to schedule a showing. The full property web site can be viewed at www.GretchensDenver.com.
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Mashed Potatoes Shouldn’t Need Gravy | Thanksgiving 2011
November 24th, 2011 categories: Life In Denver
It’s Thanksgiving 2011. The time of year we begin to eat ourselves into oblivion and hibernate.
The good news about living in Denver is the winter sunshine, snow on the slopes, and long pants.
Long pants cover up the pale, mashed potato looking legs.
But I digress. It’s time to talk a key Thanksgiving meal element. Mashed potatoes. If you love yours covered in gravy, well, I guess you have a right to your culinary opinion.
An occasional dab of gravy doesn’t do much harm, but potatoes swimming in the stuff is just yucky. Gravy is to moisten dry turkey, potatoes should already be moist and creamy. Here’s a tip: along with some butter add sour cream, cottage cheese and finely chopped chives to your mashers. They will carry the meal and create rave reviews.
We’re an outdoorsy bunch here in Denver, and the weather forecast is for sunshine and 65 degrees. Run or walk the Turkey trot, take a day hike in the foothills, play some touch football, and then eat potatoes to your heart’s delight!
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone.
Read the past LifeStyle Denver Thanksgiving Posts:
2008 - In Defense of the Turkey
2009 – Be Thankful – A Denver Thanksgiving
2010 – A Denver Thanksgiving Whine
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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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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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