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Another Reason To Rethink Plastic
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It's been called the Garbage Patch or the plastic vortex. And if you are as clueless as I was when I heard the term for the first time, here's what Wikipedia says:
"The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a gyre of marine litter in the central North Pacific Ocean estimated to be twice the size of Texas. The patch is characterized by exceptionally high concentrations of suspended plastic and other debris that have been trapped by the currents of the North Pacific Gyre. Despite its size and density, the patch is not visible from satellite photography because it consists of very small pieces, almost invisible to the naked eye and most of its contents are suspended beneath the surface of the ocean."
Plastics are not only littering our rivers oceans and beaches, but it filters down to the entire ecosystem, from leaching of plastics in our water, to the wildlife that digests it. It's been estimated over a million sea-birds and one-hundred thousand marine mammals and turtles are killed each year by ingestion of plastics or entanglement. The issue of plastic debris is one that needs to be urgently addressed. At the personal level we can all contribute by avoiding plastics in the things we buy and by disposing of our waste responsibly.
Rachel Gallegos, GREEN, EcoBroker, is a LIVE Broker and is hoping you'll do the right thing.
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Urban Denver Market Sales Statistics
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A glance at select urban Denver neighborhood sales data. Want to know about your 'hood? Call me today.
EAST WASHINGTON PARK
Alameda Ave. - Louisiana Ave.
and S. Marion St. - S. University Blvd.
Active Listings: 38
Pending Sales: 8
YTD Sales: 4
09 Avg. Sold Price: $711,312
09 Avg. Price/Fin SQFT: $360
09 Avg. Fin SQFT: 1917
09 Sold Price Range:
$286,825 - $1.670M
2009 Total # of Sales: 106
SHACKLETON PLACE/COUNTRY CLUB SOUTH
E. Bayaud Ave. - Alameda Ave. and S. Marion St. - S. Williams St.
Active Listings: 6
Pending Sales: 2
YTD Sales: 1
09 Avg. Sold Price: $780,712
09 Avg. Price/Fin SQFT: $369
09 Avg. Fin SQFT: 2116
09 Sold Price Range:
$235K - $1.4M
2009 Total # of Sales: 9
COUNTRY CLUB NORTH/DRIVING PARK
1st Ave. - 6th Ave.
and S. Marion St. - S. Josephine St.
Active Listings: 23
Pending Sales: 3
YTD Sales: 2
09 Avg. Sold Price: $1.374M
09 Avg. Price/Fin SQFT: $435
09 Avg. Fin SQFT: 3157
09 Sold Price Range:
$258,200 - $4.1M
2009 Total # of Sales: 26
Sales data from Metrolist & may not reflect all sales. SF figures do not include basement footage. Should only be used for comparison. Compiled by Lisa Hoskins, a LIVE Broker who loves to crunch the numbers.
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Featured Properties
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384 South Pennsylvania St
West Wash Park
2 Bed/1 Bath, 979 SF
$300,000
384SPenn.com
Check out all our current listing here.
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Your Neighborhood
Your Denver Real Estate Newsletter March 2010
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Greetings!
This newsletter is just one of many handy guides available from LIVE Urban Real Estate. We're making the process of buying and selling real estate just a little bit easier. Want more good advice? Call me today or visit me online for more helpful real estate tips.
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Welcome to 2010.
A whole new real estate market.
Many of us were ready for 2009 to be over, for a lot of reasons, not the least of which was the craziness that was the Real Estate market! Well, here we are in 2010 and things are looking a little different.
I sat at a lunch this week with Mark Snead, the economist for the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, who's responsibility it is to brief the Kansas City Fed's president -- a member of the Fed's Open Market Committee -- on economic and business activity in the Denver region's states.
A lot of the statistics that Mark was throwing around were over my head, but one thing he said stuck out... "It's clear that the much-talked-about recession is in the past". Does this mean the turbulence is over? No, but it does mean things are changing.We're certainly seeing a change in the local real estate markets where we work! In the last month, we've seen buyers in competition, multiple offers, and properties selling within hours of being put on the market. If you're a buyer looking to take advantage of available tax credits before the April 30th deadline, you'd better make smart offers and you'd better get started! There are houses on the market, but not a lot of well priced, well-maintained properties in great neighborhoods.
The message for sellers: Price it right... don't push, make sure it shows great, and you should be able to take advantage of the changes that are taking place. Guess what? 2009 is done. Over! Put it in the rear view mirror. Look forward. Things are changing and 2010 looks like a whole new market.
Mark White is one of the Broker/Owners of LIVE Urban Real Estate, and feeling bullish about the market.
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Spring Haircuts.
Do Your Bushes & Shrubs Need A Trim?
Early spring is a great time to give your ornamental trees, evergreen and deciduous shrubs a spring cut. Pruning maintains the health of the plant as well as improves its appearance.
Depending when the plant leafs out, thinning small trees and shrubs should be done mid- March through April. Remember not to prune spring blooms like forsythia, lilac or rose. Toots that assist you are a hand pruner (we recommend Felco), a hand saw and loppers.
The larger the plant the more you can trim away. Be conservative. Too much cutting ruins the integrity of the plant and will stimulate the growth of thin limbs that are weak - just more to prune later in the summer. Start at the bottom of the plant and work to the top, then inside, and ending with the outside branches. Work gradually and step away to see where to cut next. Remove the limbs in priority order: - Dead or diseased wood - maybe easier once the plant has shown its leaves.
- Broken and crossing branches
- Branches that touch the ground, fences, wires or walls
- Overlapping branches
- Prune for aesthetics and grace
And remember, this is the perfect time to cut ornamental grasses to 8" above the ground. Finally, shorten branches to either compost or toss into dumpster.
Urban Roots, located in the Golden Triangle at 10th & Acoma, provides horticultural design solutions for small spaces. Serving Denver's downtown neighborhoods & city gardeners who have limited space but unlimited desire. Winter Hours are Mon - Sat 10 am - 5 pm until Dec 31 and then by appointment Jan 1 - Feb 28. Contact Diane@UrbanRootsDenver.com for information. |
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Homebuyer tax credits will end soon!
Last fall, congress extended the deadline for the homebuyer tax credit, and broadened the credits for move-up buyers as well. Qualifying home purchases must be under contract by April 30th, and close by June 30th.
The maximum credit amount remains at $8,000 for a first-time buyer, and provides a credit up to $6,500 for move-up buyers. To qualify, a buyer must have owned and used the same home as a primary residence for at least five consecutive years of the eight-year period ending on the date of purchase of a new home as a primary residence.
The new law also raises the income limits for people who purchase. The full credit will be available to taxpayers with incomes to $125,000, or $225,000 for joint filers. Those with incomes between $125,000 and $145,000, or $225,000 and $245,000 for joint filers, are eligible for a reduced credit. Those with higher incomes do not qualify.
Members of the Armed Forces and certain federal employees serving outside the U.S. have an extra year to buy a principal residence in the U.S. and still qualify for the credit.
T.J. Rubley is President of Access Equity Corp. Contact T.J. at tjr@accessequitycorp.com or call him at 303.716.7676. For informational purposes only. Consult your tax advisor for specifics on the tax credit and other benefits of home ownership. Restrictions apply. Rates subject to change.
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Flip It!
Now that the FHA has placed a one-year moratorium on its anti-flipping rule, and with the extra tax credit incentives extended until Summer, both experienced and rookie flippers are combing the MLS, looking for great investment properties with profitable re-sell potential, especially in popular neighborhoods like NW Denver's Highland area, Central Denver's Wash Park, Park Hill and City Park, and even up into the nearby suburbs including Edgewater, Arvada, and Wheatridge.
There are various levels of projects that can be categorized as a flip. Under the anti-flipping rule, a property had to be held by the Buyer for 90 days before it could be re-sold to a Buyer using an FHA loan. This encouraged investors to make improvements to the property before re-selling it. This can involve relatively simple cosmetic changes, such as flooring, paint, and appliances - or it could mean gutting the property and replacing everything, sometimes with an updated floor plan, structural changes, square footage or garage additions, etc.
If you are thinking that flipping a property might be a great way to make some money and fulfill your Donald Trump Real Estate Entrepreneur fantasies - the first thing to do is figure out your ROI. Here is a simple calculation:
Purchase Price: $170,000
Fix Up Costs: $30,000
Title Insurance,
Closing Costs:
Estimated at 1.5%
of Purchase Price: $2,550
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Total Investment: $202,550
Sell For: $273,000
Potential Profit: $70,450
% ROI: 34.78%
You also need to keep in mind that surprises might arise that you hadn't budgeted for, which will quickly reduce your profit margin - sewer issues, structural surprises, mold, asbestos, and insect damage are just a few. Location is of course an important factor - and as you are making improvements stick with eco-friendly, neutral materials as well as finishes and colors that will appeal to the majority of buyers and are appropriate for the neighborhood and style of home. One mistake that rookies often make is over-improving, which results in a beautiful home but not a great ROI.
If you think that you might want to give flipping a try, now might be the perfect time - there are still foreclosures and short sales on the market that can be purchased way below market value, buyers are out looking, and inventory and interest rates are both low. Make sure to consult your favorite LIVE agent for advice both when you buy, and when you are ready to re-sell, they can help you make sure that you get the most for your time and money!
Stacie Staub is a LIVE Broker and loves a good flip!
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Best of Denver: Get Well This Year
In the never-ending quest for Denver's hot haunts, new spots and best-kept secrets, I'm always up for a new surprise. So, tell me how tickled I was to find out about Cherry Creek's new spa & wellness experience at Vital at Pura Vida.
Open since April 15, 2008, I was under the impression that the in-house spa at Pura Vida was a member's only admission. Silly me. Just not so.
In addition, I come to find out that its' brilliant and conscious creators have decided on a different spin to the typical spa offering, making a shift from luxury to lifestyle; from a fluff-and-buff sort of pampering to a true rejuvenating experience. Yes, deep tissue massage. Yes, essential oils, hot stones, seaweed mud. And custom packages. But what Vital has above all others, is four floors of the ultimate fitness experience! Which means your day could include a flow yoga class & a deep tissue massage; a Zumba class & a mani/pedi; or a spin class with just about anything! (and then, how 'bout a bite of lunch 'round the corner at Second Home?) What could be better?
Make a day of it. Reset, realign and completely rejuvenate body, mind and spirit! puravidaclub.com or call Noel or Kate to create your own day at 303.999.2900.
Penny Vesel is a LIVE Broker and is very relaxed.
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 Dianne Cole Broker Associate, Realtor® 303.455.LIVE |
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