House Pricing is Still about Supply and Demand

A recent blog from Keeping Current Matters outlines the national pricing effects based on inventory.  Their research from the National Association of Realtors, the National Housing Trend Report, states:

The recovery is entering a new phase where inventory shortfalls are no longer the driving force behind changes in housing prices in many markets. Larger inventories, especially in the hotter markets that experienced rapid price increases in the spring, are expanding buyers’ choices and helping to moderate price increases.

Read the complete blog at KCM or contact me for information on pricing in the Boulder area market.

Broomfield Job Growth tops in Money Magazine

Money Magazine's recent poll of job growth ranked Broomfield 15th due to it's 9.7 percent job growth between 2010 and 2012.  The poll touted Broomfield-based businesses ranging from start-up organic kitchen cooperatives to frozen yogurt companies.  Craft brewing makes another part of Broomfield's job growth sector as well as The National Archives, who moved their headquarters to the area from Lakewood in 2012.  The CNN Money poll indicated that Broomfield also is an ideal workplace for relocation or new job growth because of its location near the University of Colorado and 16 federal science, research and engineering centers, such as Ball Aerospace.  Read more about Broomfield's growing businesses at CNN Money.

  

Kudos to Lucky's Market

Lucky's Market, now with two locations, has pledged to buy at least 10% of the products from local farms.  We love the commitment to the Boulder community, their customers and providing locally sourced food.  Check out one of their locations, Boulder and now Longmont.

Lucky's Market owners Trish and Bo Sharon pose for a portrait on Tuesday in their new Longmont store at 700 Ken Pratt Blvd. (Matthew Jonas/Times-Call)

New Listing! 725 S. 44th Street

Enter this recently renovated ranch style home and be amazed by its bright open floor plan complete with skylights, a redesigned kitchen with granite counters and stainless steel appliances. You'll find new carpet, vinyl clad windows and custom lighting.  The basement sound room is perfect for musicians. Huge backyard! Hurry as this home will go fast!

725 S. 44th St.

Gorgeous Remodeled Gold Run Condo For Rent

For Rent!  2992 Shadow Creek Drive in the Gold Run Condominiums has been beautifully remodeled with granite countertops, stainless appliances, pergo floor and trim and a jetted tub.  The complex has a  fitness center, pool, tennis courts, sand volleyball court and is conveniently located near Scott Carpenter Park and the 29th Street Mall.  Available early September, call for a showing today!

How To Make Gorgeous Landscape Work For You!

Attractive landscaping is of course wonderful to enjoy as you drive up to your house or from your patio, but did you know that all that work can increase value to your home considerably?  According to landscape economist John Harris, good landscaping can increase your overall property value by up to 28% and can cut time on the market 10% to 15%.  Landscape for your enjoyment, knowing it will add to your homes investment down the road. The essential elements - trees, native plans and outdoor lighting can be improved upon by adding fencing, attractive walkways, retaining walls and terracing.  Read about these great landscaping ideas at House Logic.  

Additional ideas for flowering plants in the shade and walkways that lead to curb appeal should have your yard looking gorgeous.   If this is more than you want to do on your own, let me know and I can recommend a landscape architect for you.

Economic Outlook? All good.

The news lately in Colorado economy has been all positive.  CNBC ranked Colorado a top state for business, placing 7th (up from 8th last year), showing the greatest improvement in the strength of its economy.  The rankings are determined by 51 metrics including business friendliness, cost of doing business and access to capital.  Colorado improved slightly in education and was consistent in technology and innovation, as well as infrastructure and transportation.  Additionally, the Boulder County Business Report recently indicated the Colorado economy continues to grow at magnitude that exceeds previous forecasts.  Sectors seeing the largest growth include construction, professional and business services and leisure and hospitality, according to economist Richard Wobbekind, University of Colorado-Boulder's Leeds School of Business.

As job growth and economy optimism continues in our area, confidence remains in the real estate market.  It is still a good time to buy or sell, please contact me if you'd like information on the Boulder area market.

Economic Confidence Spikes

The Boulder County Business Report indicated a strong survey response on both economic confidence and capital expenditures.  Confidence in the state economy, which spiked from 62.1 to 64.6, is the highest it's been in more than a year and outpaces that of the national economy for the 33rd straight quarter.

Employment and consumer spending continue to rise which adds to the strong real estate market we've been experiencing in the Boulder market.  Although interest rates rose last week, they have paused at the current levels and indications are conflicting as to their direction moving forward.  It's a great time to buy a home or investment property.  Let me know if you'd like to see what's currently on the market.

Shred Event a Success

Thank you to everyone who showed up for our Shred-A-Thon event on Friday.  We look forward to our next event, check on our website under events for Boulder and Chamberlin Investment Group events.  If you have an idea for us, please contact me!

Porch Ideas

Colorado is blessed with sunny days and we love to enjoy our outdoor living spaces.  House Logic provides 5 budget-friendly ideas to remodel your front porch to add value and get more enjoyment from the great outdoors.  From adding architectural elements to creative ideas like painting the floor, you'll be inspired to make a few updates for your enjoyment, or to create curb appeal to sell your home.  Read Five Porch Ideas Under $500, and please let me know if you have some ideas to share!

Renovate or Relocate?

A popular question at one time or another for homeowners, do you fix up your current home, or move into a new one.  As your life changes, your needs from your home can change too.  CNN Money suggest five key questions to ask before making this decision.  The real estate market is hot, as is the remodeling market.  Is selling a realistic option?  You can answer this question by assessing the prospects in the market.  I can help you with this one.  Consider what you need from a new home and how your neighborhood compares to others in the area.  Then determine if renovating is an option and if you could get the home you want from remodeling your current home.  Read the article Renovate or Relocate at CNN Money and contact me if you'd like any advice on your home.

Foothills Mall Redevelopment Passes

Northern Colorado seems to be creating a trend with redevelopment of shopping centers.  First, the 29th Street Mall, plans were recently approved for Longmont's Twin Peaks Mall and now Fort Collins has stepped in passing developer's plans for a $312 million redevelopment of the Foothills Mall.  Approval includes many environmental considerations and guidelines.  From the Coloradoan:  "Their plan to tear down most of the building to add green space and new entertainment options creates a new way to reuse that central land instead of sprawling out over greener pastures.  A new Youth Activity Center will replaces the old facility. Apartments and townhomes placed around the edges of the property will help make for a more walkable community. And, of course, there’s the fact that shopping options will undoubtedly improve." 

We look forward to seeing the redevelopment and growth in our neighbor Northern Colorado town.  

iPad Seminar and Shred-A-Thon

Join us!  Friends and family are free, call for details!

Property Flipping Is Still Profitable

Denver is still a profitable market for property flippers (buying, rehabbing and reselling homes for a profit, usually within 90 days), ranking 25th in the country according to RealtyTrac.  Typical investors gained about a 10% gross profit in the sale of their property.  Flipping homes will continue to be favorable for investors in 2013 as home prices continue to rise.  While buying rental properties still offer a solid rate of return, even buy-and-hold investors typically flip properties periodically to fund their ongoing rental purchases.   The Boulder market is a unique real estate market, but there are still opportunities for rental investment properties and flipping, but like any area, you need to do your homework.

Chamberlin Investment Group specializes in these investment strategies.  If you'd like to learn more about investing, rental market or rehabbing homes for selling, or properties that we currently have, please contact me.  I love working with new and experienced real estate investors.

Apartment Rental Rates - It's All Supply and Demand

Apartment rates in the Denver metropolitan area have reached an all-time high in the first quarter of 2013, proving the supply and demand lessons we learned in our Economics 101 class.  The apartment vacancy rate has declined, falling to 4.6 percent (first quarter of 2013), the second lowest vacancy rate in any quarter since 2001.  Vacancy rates continue to decline in Boulder County as well.  Although there has been new apartment construction, it is not keeping up with the demand.  Boulder is known for its low vacancy and higher rental rates, and strong real estate market, based on many factors including the student population from the University of Colorado.

Specific figures can be found at the Denver Post, or contact me for information on the rental market and investment property opportunities in the Boulder area.

Regional Transportation Study

Alternative transportation is a common way of life for many Boulder residents.  Using public transportation provides improvement to our air quality, reduced costs to you, reduces gasoline consumption and reduces our carbon footprint.  According to the American Public Transportation Association, public transportation ridership increased nationally by 34% from 1995 to 2012—a growth rate higher than the 17% increase in U.S. population and higher than the 22% growth in the use of the nation’s highways over the same period.  

A $175,000 transit study commissioned in 2011 has recommended increased bus service in Northern Colorado along the Interstate 25, U.S. 34 and U.S. 287.  It determined that some aspects of the transit systems in Larimer County, City of Loveland and Berthoud should be combined to efficiently grow with the 60% population growth predicted by 2035.  Officials will discuss future plans at a series of public meetings.

Boulder RTD currently connects to a variety of these areas, as well as local routes and connections to Denver.  Check out rates, schedules and a transit map to see if public transportation is a solution for you.

Another resource for finding transportation options is Boulder Transportation Connections.  They provide assistance in incorporating alternative transportation for you or your business.  

Smart Strategies for Buyers, Sellers and Owners

The housing market has definitely rebounded and if you have plans to sell, you have the upper hand.  But you still need to do some homework -- competitive pricing, marketing and preparing your home to sell are key to get the price you want.

Pricing strategies are determined by market values, neighborhood comparisons, your motivation and needs for selling as well as your homes readiness for listing.  An experienced real estate professional is truly the best resource and objective authority on helping you balance these factors to determine the best price for your home.

Marketing strategies start with taking professional photographs of your home, writing compelling descriptions, using appropriate social media, and advertising your property to potential buyers.

Preparing your home to sell can be as simple as cleaning, decluttering, staging or painting to more involved projects such as fixing leaky roofs, electrical problems or renovating an aging kitchen or bath.

Make sure your experience of selling or buying a home is a successful and smooth one.  "Selling your home? The cards are in your favor" by CNN Money has relevant information, or contact me for details on how Chamberlin Investment Group can help you navigate the current real estate market.

7217 Paint Brush Trail

Boulder's Conference on World Affairs

The University of Colorado's 65th Annual Conference on World Affairs began Monday morning with a slate of panels, a student brunch and the ceremonial and colorful procession of international flags along Norlin Quad.    The week-long CWA is packed with more than 200 free events and roughly 100 panelists, who come from all over the world.

Several tribute events are planned to honor Roger Ebert, who attended nearly every CWA between 1970 and 2010 except 1995, when there was no conference, and in years when he was recovering from surgeries related to illness.  "He had the ability to be addressing 1,000 people and make it seem like he was speaking to each one of them individually," recalled CWA Director Jim Palmer.

Ebert attended every CWA between 1970 and 2010 except 1995, when there was no conference, and in years when he was recovering from surgeries related to illness. 

Events include talks on subjects ranging from social media, immigration, and economic growth in America to climate change and arts and education.  For a complete schedule, see the University of Colorado's Conference of World Affairs.

Tulip Fairy & Elf Festival

It's April and officially springtime in Boulder.  The Boulder County Farmer's Market opens on Saturday, April 6th and the Tulip Fairy and Elf Festival on Pearl Street Mall is Saturday, April 27th from 3pm - 6pm.  Enjoy the 15,000 plus tulips that adorn the pedestrian mall brought to life by the Tulip Fairy and her many junior elves and fairies.  There are performances and activities for the kids including foam sword dueling, crafts and more.

The Real Estate Market is Hot

Local news and realtors have been reporting how fast houses are selling and the lack of inventory.  It's definitely a great time to sell.  If you'd like more information on listing your home, the local real estate market or a market analysis for your neighborhood, please contact me.  The Denver Post recently reported the market is hot and they are witnessing 24-hour sales.  Maybe it's time for you to make a change!