Life Style Denver by Gretchen Faber

Realistic Sellers Sell Their Houses

A few days ago, I showed a house to a motivated couple who want to find their next Denver home before Valentine's Day. They liked it, and decided they might make an offer.  Being savvy buyers, they asked me to give them an analysis of other properties that had recently sold around the listing they were considering. I also pulled the history of the listing, and we found that the house had been on the market for 10 months, with two different...Continue Reading!

Denver is THE Top Real Estate City for 2012

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9frmEv-vPA[/youtube] 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...Continue Reading!

Denver Among Top 10 Healthiest Housing Markets

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...Continue Reading!

Denver Real Estate Statistics | September 2011

Real estate in Denver has picked up steam during September and October.  The summer was hot and dry, the fall has been brisk.  Under contracts are up over last year. Inventory is still extremely low, and buyers are finding it difficult to get into the house of their dreams without making some concessions.  But sellers with any sort of perceived flaw in their home are nonetheless finding themselves waiting for an elusive offer.  The perceived flaws that hold today's buyers back...Continue Reading!

Denver Colorado Real Estate Statistics | July 2011

A recent trip to India for a real estate conference slowed down my blogging for the past month.  It's great to be back in Denver, where we've had a hot and dry summer, after a rainy and cold spring. Real estate ownership and sales are very different in India, but in some respects there are many similarities.  Limited supply and high demand create high prices in areas like Mumbai, and the headlines while I was visiting were all about the high...Continue Reading!

Denver Colorado Real Estate Statistics | May 2011

We're finally comparing Denver real estate sales this year with the time after the tax credit ended last year (for under contract properties.) The number of homes under contract jumped 23% from May of 2010.  This is the first month in 2011 where we're not comparing under contract data to the tax credit time of 2010. The average sale price for both single family and condo are up over 3%, reflecting stability in the market.  While the recent Case Shiller numbers for...Continue Reading!

Denver Real Estate – Double Dip, Single Dip?

Today's S & P Case Shiller Report proved interesting to more than just real estate junkies.  The highly-watched, monthly index of housing prices showed a double dip housing recession in many U.S. housing markets. Denver bucked the trend. Barely.  We're not in a double dip - this month.  At least not with this most recent report (showing data from March 2011.)  Denver prices were down 3.8% over March of 2010.  In February 2009, our low point, prices had fallen 5.7% over...Continue Reading!

Denver Colorado Real Estate Statistics | April 2011

Denver real estate is always interesting.  With April statistics out a little later in the month than usual, and a recent business trip, the April report is finally here! And... what do we see? Inventory is unusually low for the Spring.  This could impact prices in future months, if Buyer demand improves and inventory stays low, prices will improve. Prices are flat and down from last year.  Not a surprise since we're still recovering and last year's tax credit generated high demand. Under contract...Continue Reading!

Denver Colorado Real Estate Statistics | March 2011

Real Estate is like a box of chocolates.  Sometimes you get nuts. The nuts have been our foreclosures, our short sales, our underwriting issues and our tough appraisals. Real Estate is like a roller coaster.  Sometimes you go up, and then you fall fast.  It takes longer to go up than come down. Interestingly, last year's tax credit made our first half of the year incredibly busy. Then third quarter we fell off a cliff.  It was so quiet!  We all went to...Continue Reading!

Are the real estate doldrums behind Denver?

Denver real estate is like Denver weather, changeable, unpredictable, and not like anywhere else in the country. Today's forecast was for sunshine, temperatures in the high-50's and slush everywhere.  The bitter cold and snow of last Sunday and Monday are past, the famed Denver sunshine is back.  Denver's forecast is for more sunshine tomorrow.  Get out to one of Denver's famed parks this week.  Cheesman Park has a great view of Downtown, Washington Park has two lakes and City Park is...Continue Reading!