Denver Loft - 1140 Columbine Street, #102

And in this building filled with exceptional condominiums, unit 102 stands out as unique. This one of a kind two-story unit, has all the convenience of a townhome with its private ground-level entrance into the main living and dining areas, yet cradles its owner with the security and privacy of the sweeping second-floor master suite. Sleep with your windows wide-open—you’re 25 feet up. Both floors of this elegant unit feature incredible light streaming through near full-wall windows, soaring 18’ ceilings and graceful finishings throughout.

Besides the great living space, in real estate, location is everything. Even though it’s positioned on a quiet residential block, you’ll be one block from great Chinese, a neighborhood market, dry cleaners, a unique Greek breakfast spot, a True Value neighborhood hardware and what 5280 Magazine says is one of the best Italian spots in town. It’s a mere three blocks away from the best DazBog Coffee in the city, four blocks away from the cultural experiences of the famous Tattered Cover Bookstore in one direction, Denver’s nationally ranked Botanic Gardens in the other. You are just five blocks from three of Denver’s best parks: Cheesman, Congress and City Park. A quick 7-block walk and you are strolling the high-end streets of the Cherry Creek Shopping District.

As with anything, class and style prevail. Just like Steven’s School has done since 1899. Here is the virtual tour for you to get a feel for the property: http://www.Obeo.com/620903 To schedule your own private tour of this outstanding property, please call John Stegner or Brian Lehnerz, Broker/Owners, New Era Realty at 303.991.9878 or 800.392.1950 , or shoot them a note at agents@mynewera.com

But beware; potential buyers don’t want to tunnel through the clutter clogging your hallways, closets and garage just to view your home. Homes that are organized and clutter-free sell much faster, according to Sally Allen, a professional organizer and move manager who is CEO of A Place For Everything LLC in Golden, Colo.

If you’re planning to pull up roots, these tips will make the process easier. Keep in mind that being organized is the most important element for a stress-free move. Regardless of the size or distance of a residential relocation, careful planning, communication and organization is essential for a successful move.

It’s best to let a professional moving company do your packing. Their packers are trained to do the job efficiently – and your household items will be insured by the company. Did you know that items labeled “packed by owner” (meaning anyone other than the mover) are not insured during the move?

When it’s time to unpack, plan to roll up your sleeves and do it yourself because when you pay movers to unpack, they don’t put anything away! They simply remove myriad items from the boxes – so everything you own ends up on all surfaces, including the floor.

In the process of moving her own family 19 times and overseeing numerous clients’ relocations, Allen developed these helpful relocation tips:

1. Create a moving notebook or folder so that all of the paperwork related to your move is in one place. Make notes, create a checklist, and keep receipts and documents.

2. Create a moving calendar to track all aspects and tasks of the move.

3. Do your research, or ask a professional organizer, about resources such as housekeepers who clean empty homes, carpet cleaners, reputable van lines and technology specialists.

4. It’s time for The Great Give-Away. Why move things you no longer need or use? Find another home for them: favorite charities, recycling centers, family members, and garage or estate sales. A professional organizer has available resources to assist with the process. Someone out there needs what you want to give away!

5. Don’t forget that all-important “survival box” packed with your bed linens, coffee pot and other must-have items. This box should be last-on and first-off the moving van.

6. Cash for tipping the packers, loaders and driver. You want them to take good care of your belongings.

7. After you and your stuff arrive at your new digs, the last thing you need is a backache. Use furniture moving pads to slide heavy furniture around – it’s a cinch and doesn’t scratch the flooring.

8. Find friends, family, or a professional organizer to help unpack and put away. You don’t want to live surrounded by boxes for weeks (and sometime months). Get help and get your house in order quickly so you can carry on in your new home and with your new life. Putting the puzzle back together can be fun.

These tried-and-true tips should make the relocation process a lot easier. Enjoy your new home!

First of all, the government wants you to improve your home. There is now a $1500 tax credit for home improvements such as energy efficient windows, doors, mechanical systems and insulation.

PLUS! Homeowners can now take a 30% tax credit for every dollar they spend on green updates like solar heaters, heat pumps and fuel cells.

And if that wasn’t enough, the cost of materials has actually decreased in the last 6 months and the availability of qualified tradesmen has increased significantly.

And the cherry on top! If you plan to finance your project, interest rates are as low as we’ve seen them in years.

Happy Remodeling! And here is a tip, start with the kitchen, it is the soul of your house and will give you the biggest return on your investment.

Luana Clay – Broker
720-341-6588
New Era Realty

My father in law, a very savvy man with a master’s degree in finance, was
talking to me recently about his first home purchase. It was 1978, Jimmy
Carter was president, interest rates were nearing 20%, inflation was around
16% and unemployment hovered at 10%. The DOW was at 800! He purchased a home
in Park Hill in a what is considered a very desirable location today,
however a location which at the time was “less than ideal”. His house has
appreciated roughly 500% since then! It has been his best investment. He
believes the worst thing about the economy today is the media.

I think that some of you are now realizing that this is an amazing time of
opportunity. Existing home sales were up 6.8% last month, the biggest
monthly jump in seven years! More significantly, inventory of single-family
homes dropped to 8.7 months – the lowest in over two years! Anything under 6
months of inventory is considered a normal market, so we’re getting there.
GET IN BEFORE WE GET THERE and take advantage of today’s amazing interest
rates and all of the available inventory.

To make things even more appealing to home buyers, now the SENATE HAS PASSED
A $15,000 BONUS FOR HOMEOWNERS! Unlike the previous $7500 tax credit, if
this bill is enacted, it will provide a direct tax credit to ANY homebuyer
for the purchase of ANY home. The tax credit would not have to be repaid.
The amendment would allow taxpayers to claim the credit on their 2008 income
tax returns.

Call me for the details of how you can take advantage of this bill; maybe on
one of these incredible deals:

Housing Alerts
Address — Opp. Value — List Price — Opportunity — Opp. %
1 Arabian PL, Littleton — $894223 — $799900 — $94323 — 11.79
2020 E 8th Ave, Denver — $551164 — $159900 — $391264 — 244.69

Luana Clay
Buyer and Investor Specialist
1601 South Pearl Street Denver, CO 80210
720-341-6588 – cell
720-294-1363 – fax

So we’ve made it into 2009. Everywhere I go these days I run into at least one person who asks me, “How’s the market? What’s in store for 2009?�? We are seeing some positive signs of a turnaround for 2009. Here in the office, amongst my colleagues, even with clients, there is a renewed sense of optimism.

• Mortgage applications are off the charts, especially for affordable homes
• Mortgage rates are hovering at 50-year lows
• Inventory in homes has tapered off by approximately 19% in Denver compared to this time last year
• Plus, we are not paying near as much at the gas pumps, or for retail goods, or autos!

Judging by the increased volume of calls into our office, I’m guessing that most of you are realizing that this might just be the perfect time to invest into real estate. The media is beginning to reflect this realization as well. Two new national indexes that measure real estate risk — and buying opportunities — came out last week, and they offer some geographical pointers for investors.

Denver is among the LEAST RISKY – Read the Full Story At:

http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20090123_investorreport.htm

For those of you who are ready to jump on some great opportunities, here are 3 fresh deals on the market:

Address — Apprx. Value – List Price — Opp. – Opp % — Owner Paid
6160 E 61ST AVE Commerce City — $78,100 — $46,900 –$31,200 — 66.52 — $134,545
1022 S CANOSA CT Denver — $75,046 – $39,900 – $35,146 — 88.09 — $75,000
1116 EMPORIA ST Aurora — $98,358 — $49,900 – $48,458 — 97.11 — $129,000

Cheers to a wonderful 2009!

Luana Clay
Buyer and Investor Specialist
720-341-6588
luana@mynewera.com

Loralie Cole didn’t realize her last name matched the name of her Denver neighborhood when she bought her house seven years ago.

She could be forgiven. Cole often slips the minds of locals. The neighborhood may be one of the city’s most historic regions, dating back to 1874, but area realty agents say it keeps a low profile.

That might change as Cole’s transformation from a hardened part of the city into a safe, affordable neighborhood continues.

Cole, surrounded by the Whittier, Clayton, Five Points and Ely ria/Swansea neighborhoods, is bouncing back after high crime rates during the 1990s.

Now, its choice location and affordability make it attractive to first-time homebuyers.

Most houses in Cole date back to the early 1900s, if not earlier. Much of Cole is small Victorian homes with small, manicured lawns.

Like nearby parts of Denver, Cole attracts a melting pot of demographics.

“We have Hispanics, African-Americans, new white residents, gay and lesbian residents — it’s very diverse,” said Cole, a 36-year-old teacher and member of the Cole Neighborhood Association. “I think people want to come to a neighborhood like ours if they’re seeking out that diversity.”

In Cole, residents walk everywhere and are eager to engage their neighbors, she said.

Merlin Parker, a broker associate with Distinctive Properties Ltd. in Cherry Creek, says the affordable housing prices may last for a while.

“From a real estate point of view, it’s not really thriving,” Parker said.

Still, buyers are eager to see their money go further in Cole than elsewhere. Parker recently sold a home in Cole to a young couple who chose the neighborhood for its proximity to City Park and the chance to buy a larger home than they might have elsewhere.

“There wasn’t much in central Denver for what they wanted,” he said.

Other Denver residents could follow their lead.

“It’s only a matter of time before Cole is recognized for its value as a neighborhood in the city,” he said.

City Councilwoman Carla Madison says the biggest change to Cole could happen in the next few years. Talks are ongoing about extending the current light-rail system either through or near enough to Cole to leave a big imprint on the small neighborhood.

“It may not be in Cole, but just over the border (into a nearby neighborhood). It’ll still have a huge impact,” Madison said.

The councilwoman went door to door in Cole during her 2007 campaign for the District 8 seat and found residents to be both friendly and down to earth.

Dan Sullivan, a Realtor with Re/Max Alliance in Denver, sees home prices on the rise and smaller homes growing in demand.

Sullivan says the average price per square foot for single-family home sales last year in Cole was $146, a 6 percent gain from 2006 — a solid jump given the jittery overall real estate market.

Sullivan also sees Cole as a wise investment.

“It’s got all the fundamentals,” he said. “It’s heading in the right direction.”

That didn’t seem possible for Cole during the higher crime periods of the early 1990s. Sullivan points to a sea change between that neighborhood and Cole circa 2008.

Crime remains a concern in the area. A realtor.com report on crime in Cole revealed an average rating on violent crimes but higher-than-average figures for personal property theft. According to Denver Police Department data, crime levels either stayed roughly the same or dropped in most categories from 2006 to 2007, but the number of burglaries jumped 66 percent during that period.

Longtime Cole resident Samuel Herrera, 65, has witnessed his neighborhood’s rebirth firsthand.

A dozen years ago, people didn’t feel safe walking around at night, Herrera said. Today, that’s no longer true, he said.

And while neighborhood commerce has been focused on corner liquor stores, now a variety of shops are popping up.

“All in all,” Herrera said, “life is getting better in Cole.”

All about Cole

Who lives here: A diverse blend of ages and ethnicities.

Housing prices: Average single- family sale price of $146 per square foot in 2007. Highest priced sale was $445,000. Second highest was $297,500. A total of 90 properties sold last year at an average price of $162,193.

Main attractions: Proximity to Interstate 25, I-70 and downtown. A short walk from City Park and the City Park Golf Course.

Common complaints: Some graffiti concerns.

Schools: Community College of Denver, Cole Middle School, Mitchell Elementary School, Annunciation Elementary School and Wyatt Edison Elementary School (a charter school).

Shopping: Limited. A few small grocery stores and modest Mexican restaurants.

The only thing that is holding back the Denver-area housing market is “irrational pessimism” from prospective buyers.

That insight comes from Lawrence Yun, chief economist and senior vice president of real estate for the National Association of Realtors.

Yun, who presented his 2008 real estate forecast to the Jefferson County Association of Realtors in Lakewood on Wednesday, noted afterward that “all markets are local” and that the bleak national market conditions do not represent what is happening in the Denver area.

Yun said unemployment is lower in the Denver market than nationally, while job creation is stronger.

The Denver-area housing market also didn’t experience the huge run-up in prices that other markets did. It takes far less of the typical income in the Denver area to buy a house than in such areas as San Diego and Miami, he noted during his presentation.

“And interest rates are basically at their 45-year low,” Yun said. “I would say the Denver market is past its bottom and is now in the early stages of recovery.

“The one thing that may be holding back your market is buyer pessimism,” Yun said. “I think for your housing market it is irrational pessimism. You have very strong affordability.”

He said buyers’ gloomy attitude springs from all the attention on the collapse of the subprime market.

“Wall Street made a very bad mistake by being overly exuberant on the profits gained from subprime lending,” he said. “But those are mistakes made in the past. It’s not related to home buying today or in the future.”

He did say, however, that the number of foreclosures, which set a record in the metro area in 2007, will continue to rise this year.

But he still expects overall housing appreciation in the Denver area this year to be 4 percent to 5 percent, while the nation as a whole will be flat.

Previously hot markets, such as California and Florida, will likely see home prices continue to fall this year, he said.

Yun predicts that home prices in the metro area will rise another 5 percent to 7 percent, on average, in 2009.

Yun said that if there is a recession this year, Denver should weather it better than the country as a whole.

“That would really be bad news for a city like Detroit, where they have had seven years of rising unemployment,” he said.

“But Denver will be able to escape most of the job losses of a recession because of the highly educated work force and because you’ve already wrung out the excesses of the dot-com boom,” with a huge loss of tech jobs starting in 2001, he said.

Also, a recession would mean further cuts in mortgage rates, which would make Denver housing even more attractive, he said.

Jim Smith, owner of Golden Real Estate, called Yun’s talk “fascinating.”

The facts speak for themselves,” he said.

Metro Denver’s housing market, including condominiums, continued to be relatively soft in November 2007, with decreases in sales and selling prices, according to data from Metrolist Inc. of Greenwood Village.

The Denver area reported 3,482 closed home sales — including single-family homes and condos — last month, down 2.3 percent from 3,565 from November 2006. Last month’s sales were down 9.5 percent from October of this year’s 3,848 closed sales.

Through November of this year, closed home sales dipped 1.2 percent to 46,570 from 47,140 for the same period of 2006, according to Metrolist data provided by independent real estate broker Gary Bauer of Denver.

Sales of Denver-area condominiums dropped 2.18 percent in November to 736 from the same month last year, according to Metrolist data from Re/Max International Inc. Condo inventory decreased 8.6 percent year over year to 6,524 units.

The median selling price of single-family homes in the metro area fell to $229,500 in November, from $240,000 for the same month last year. That price was $234,200 in October 2007.

Median condo price also decreased, to $139,000 in November from $155,750 for the same month of 2006. That price was $140,000 in October of this year.

Median selling price is the middle price between the highest and lowest price. In the real estate industry, it’s considered important because it’s not skewed by extreme selling prices, as the average selling price is. Median price also indicates the most active price range.

The average selling price of both single-family houses and condos for November was $268,826, according to Metrolist. That’s down from $285,441 for November of last year, and from $265,236 in October of this year.

The number of unsold homes still on the market was down 1.5 percent year over year in November, 27,127 from 27,530. There were 28,928 homes on the market in October of this year.

The tiny, historic San Rafael neighborhood in northeast Denver is locked in a zoning dispute with a nonprofit group that builds affordable housing.

Hope Communities wants the neighorhood to temporarily back down on plans to rezone the neighborhood as an OD-9, or overlay district.

The OD-9 zoning calls for a height limit of 35 feet and sets numerous other restrictions. It does not prevent the demolition of historic buildings, as a landmark designation would.

The Denver Planning Board is scheduled to consider the request at a hearing from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday on the second floor of the Webb building at 201 W. Colfax Ave.

The planning department staff supports the rezoning, noting that the majority of the neighborhood supports it, with the exception of Hope and two other property owners.

The zoning change, which has been in the works for months, is needed to preserve the historic character of the neighborhood that’s filled with Victorian homes, said Paul Benington, president of the Old San Rafael Neighborhood Association. Benington and others say they don’t want to see buildings constructed that would be much taller than existing buildings in the neighborhood.

However, affordable housing could be in danger if the new zoning is in place, said Bradford Bates, executive director of Hope Communities. Hope owns the Carolton Arms, which has 21 units in three buildings at East 23rd Avenue, Emerson and Clarkson streets.

Hope has indicated it eventually plans to develop the site with 50 to 75 units but hasn’t made public the height of new buildings.

“Affordable-housing developers need a certain density to make development feasible,” Bates said. “By tying our hands with this zoning overlay, the city will force affordable properties to return to market (rates)in the near future. This decision is literally slapping the working poor in the face.”

Bates said he doesn’t necessarily oppose the OD-9 zoning, but says he would like the association to table it for 30 to 60 days to give Hope more time to study it and see if a compromise can be reached with the neighborhood.

“We believe his request for a delay is unreasonable and is just calculated to buy time for Hope to either put more political pressure on city officials or to start relocating the Carolton Arms residents, demolish historic buildings and start construction in the hope that they can beat the limits of the new overlay district,” Benington said.

Because neighborhood residents have asked him about the income levels of the people in affordable housing, Bates said he suspects there’s a certain amount of NIMBYism, or Not In My Back Yard, involved.

Nothing could be further from the truth, Benington said, noting that San Rafael has one of the highest concentrations of affordable housing of any Denver neighorhood.

“What we don’t want in our backyard is the type of inappropriate height and bulk that we have seen in City Park West and other parts of Capitol Hill,” Benington said in an e-mail, after voicing the same concerns in a phone interview.

“Brad (Bates) does not appear to appreciate that preserving the historic character of San Rafael is more important than his proposed redevelopment.

“When you look at the entire neighborhood, there is not such a need for additional affordable-housing units to justify inappropriate height and bulk that threatens the historic character of the neighborhood.

“Hope can increase its service to its population at the Carolton Arms property within the limits of the overlay district. Brad just wants more.”