Drought Declared For Denver Metro

HI all you Highland Ranchers out there if you have heard the news we are now in a stage one in a drought all over the Denver Metro Area. What does this mean for us home owners and future home owners?

This means that voluntary water restrictions shall go in effect immediately! Don't fret because your nice KentuckY Bluegrass lawn won't go brown if you follow these rules.

THESE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS OFFICIALS ARE ASKING YOU TO DO:

• Please water only two days a week and don't water if we get rain
• Try and only water areas that need it the most. if there is grass in a shady are that won't need as much water as the one in direct sunlight
• Water in the early mornings or early evenings to avoid evaporation, watering too late at night may cause mold so be careful
  
• Don't forget your sprinkler system is adjustable it has settings for different parts of the season. If you don't know how to adjust these refer to your owner manual.  Don't just set it and forget it that'll waste tons of water!!!!!
• Water less than two minutes

MANDATORY WATER RESTRICTIONS GO IN AFFECT MAY 1ST: HERE ARE SOME OF THOSE RESTRICTIONS

• No watering your lawn between 10 A.M.-6 P.M.Don't water more than three days a week (you can pick and choose the days you want)
  
• Don't waste water by letting it pool in gutters, alleys, and streets
• Don't waste water by letting it hit concrete or asphault
• Repair all leaky or faulty sprinklers within 10 days
• Do not water during days it will rain or high winds

At agent reboot eating chocolate covered crickets

p169.mov Watch on Posterous

Yummy chocolate covered cricket (for a free shirt) wasn't bad at all

An agent reboot and you get a free shirt if you eat a cricket

Yummy!!!

Scary picture taken in a house I was showing

I was showing some houses to some clients when we climbed down some satire to the basement to find this :0

12 Things You Can Sacrifice When Buying A Home: Tips 10-12

Many homebuyers begin house hunting with a list of must-haves. This is particularly true for first-time buyers who have heard that theirs is a buyers market. I've notice that my younger buyers really expect a lot, then they're disappointed with what they find because they had read that the market's terrible. In many markets, the best homes for sale are now getting multiple offers and selling quickly. But even in a market where a buyer can definitely get more for his money, why should he pay for things he doesn't need? Just because you can afford to buy a 10-bedroom, 12-bathroom home with separate butler's quarters doesn't mean it's a good idea. Wouldn't you rather spend that extra money on something else? It's good to know what your deal-breakers are when you're looking for a home, but you should also be realistic about which things you don't need. Consider these 12 possible sacrifices, and then decide which you can give up to find a less expensive house that won't make you regret your purchase. In today's blog I will examine sacrifices 1-3

10. Single-family home

The old-school American dream involved a white picket fence and a home to call your own, but not every buyer needs that. Many buyers won't consider looking at homes called twins, or duplexes, which are attached in the middle but are two separate homes. The same goes for townhouses. With a townhouse, you can often get everything you want at your price range. Buyers can be reluctant because they have lived in apartments where you can hear your neighbors, but those apartment complexes have paper-thin walls. Thinking outside the single-family home can often mean a more updated home — even more space — for less. So don't automatically skip over townhouses, duplexes and condos.

11. A fixer-upper or project home

Lots of buyers just want to find a deal, they insist that they are willing to take on a project to get a deal. But when it comes to writing an offer, they don't want a deal. They want a home that requires absolutely nothing. Sure, a fixer-upper can be a bargain if you know what you're getting into. But generously estimate what it will cost to get that home ready to live in — and don't forget to include the cost of your time. Buyers should not to get too excited about foreclosures and short sales. Those homes are sold "as is," and the owners or others may have stripped the home of a lot of valuable things: appliances, plumbing and even kitchen cabinets.

12. Building amenities

Buyers think they need a lot of amenities in their high-rise condo building, but it's not always worth it to pay extra for those things. For example a luxury high rise may add money to the purchase price because of their high profile gym, but down the street might be a gm as well where membership is only $40/month.. Ammenities aren't always worth it

TIPS 1-3
TIPS 4-6
TIPS 7-9

12 Things You Can Sacrifice To Save On A Home: Tips 7-9

Many home buyers begin house hunting with a list of must-haves. This is particularly true for first-time buyers who have heard that theirs is a buyers market. I've notice that my younger buyers really expect a lot, then they're disappointed with what they find because they had read that the market's terrible. In many markets, the best homes for sale are now getting multiple offers and selling quickly. But even in a market where a buyer can definitely get more for his money, why should he pay for things he doesn't need? Just because you can afford to buy a 10-bedroom, 12-bathroom home with separate butler's quarters doesn't mean it's a good idea. Wouldn't you rather spend that extra money on something else? It's good to know what your deal-breakers are when you're looking for a home, but you should also be realistic about which things you don't need. Consider these 12 possible sacrifices, and then decide which you can give up to find a less expensive house that won't make you regret your purchase. In today's blog I will examine sacrifices 1-3

7. Location

Most cities have an inner ring that's more desired for housing – and more expensive. Most buyers think that's where they 'need' to live, but after they look at some houses there, then they look at houses only one or two miles away, they realize they can buy a house with more of what they want for less money and still live in nice neighborhoods and convenient locations. Maybe you love the idea of a walkable neighborhood, but you really drive everywhere. Why pay a premium for something you never use? The same goes for homes near public transportation. All that said, location is likely the most important factor in your home purchase. Make sure you won't hate your commute after a couple of weeks, that you're comfortable in the neighborhood and that you feel safe. Safety is not a good thing to sacrifice.

8. School district

If you're a parent, a quality education for your children is a big priority and something you should not give up. People will sacrifice a lot of things to ensure their children attend a good school. Some who can't afford to buy in a good school district will rent a home just so the kids can go to a certain school. But homes in good school districts do generally cost more, so buyers without children, buyers with grown children and those who expect they'll move again before their children reach school age needn't worry about the quality of nearby schools.

9. Updated kitchen

One of the biggest misconceptions is buyers think they need granite counter-tops and stainless-steel appliances. Buyers could pick the color of their granite and get top-notch appliances, all for $9,000. They would save money by not having the current seller install those items, and the renovation would take only a couple of days. Buyers see the homebuying and home-makeover shows on TV and think everybody should have granite, but that's something you can add later. It's like when you read fashion magazines and suddenly it feels like everyone else in the world is skinny with a designer dress. Buyers feel that way. Everyone else is getting this, why can't I have it?

tips 1-3
tips 4-6

Coming soon tips 10-12