Unemployment at 4% in Colorado

Posted at 2:06 PM, Jan. 24, 2007

The jobs outlook in Colorado is getting better - Yeah!  I hope that will reduce the number of bankruptcies and foreclosures that Colorado has been seeing.

In December of 2006, 19,500 nonfarm jobs were added in Colorado.  This pushed the unemployment rate down to 4% (seasonally adjusted) which is the best level recorded since August 2001.  The national unemployment rate is 4.5%.  If the unemployment rate is not adjusted for seasonality, the unemployment rate is only 3.9%.

The sector that saw the largest growth in jobs during December is in the leisure and hospitality industry with 12,000 jobs.  The construction and government industries saw declines in their job numbers during December.

For 2006, Professional/Business Services saw the biggest growth in the job market.  The information industry saw job growth stay stagnet or drop just a little.

Additional information can be found online in the Denver Post Wednesday, January 24, 2007 Business section.

Leasing Companies

Posted at 1:01 PM, Jan. 22, 2007

People like to say that Real Estate is local.  That not only includes aspects of buying and selling property but it also includes leasing residential properties.

In some areas of the country, residential properties for lease are listed in the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS).  This allows any agent / real estate licensee with access to the MLS to pull up that information to share with clients and customers.  For someone moving into an area where properties for lease are listed this way, it makes looking for a home easier.

In the Denver Metro area, the MLS system that is used allows for the listing of residential properties for lease.  The problem - very few homes are listed in that section.  Why?  The Property Manager is unable to input them via the computer but must fax in a form to be inputted by the Metrolist staff.  Also, pictures are not an option.  Lastly, these properties are not uploaded like the properties listed for sale are to REALTOR.com and other sites.  This means that homes listed in the Denver Metro's MLS system are only accessed by those that pay for that ability, which is not every Property Manager as they choose not to list and sell real estate as well so do not choose to incur the extra cost.

What we find in the Denver Metro area, those that are looking for a home to lease must talk to many different property managers, visit many different web sites, and / or search the newspaper to locate a home to lease.  This can be time consuming for the person that is moving but is a great opportunity to decide if they want to lease from a private owner or a property management company.  If they lease from a property management company, do they want one that makes it easy to make a decision - one that provides a virtual tour and pictures of the entire home, room dimensions, accepts payments online, an online application, and likes working via e-mail and fax? 

Another item that someone needs to decide moving into the Denver Metro Area, do you want to lease long distance or do you need to come to the Denver Metro Area prior to the move?  There are some property managers that provide all the tools needed to lease a new home from the comfort of your own home. 

If looking through all of the different sites listing homes for lease makes you feel a little confused, don't worry.  There are some companies within the Denver Metro Area that will do the search for you at a charge.  I've had one REALTOR tell me that one company he talked to for his clients charged $600 to search for a home to lease through all of the different sources and then take them around and show them those that met their needs.  I'm sure that there are a few rental search companies out there and depending on your needs and wants may have different prices available.

Just remember, real estate is local.  The search can be the fun part of the move - just decide which way to search for a new home to lease is the best for you!

Parker Grocery Shopping

Posted at 2:43 PM, Jan. 21, 2007

Those residents in Parker Colorado will have one less place to shop for groceries in the coming month or two.  The Albertsons grocery store located at 9751 South Parker Road in Parker will be closing its doors in February or March.

Shoppers in Parker will still have King Soopers, Safeway, Vitamin Cottage, Super Walmart and Super Target for their grocery needs.

Xcel Energy Gas Costs

Posted at 2:31 PM, Jan. 21, 2007

In February, Xcel customers will see an increase in their natural gas costs of $0.07 per therm.  For the areas that A Vantage Properties works within, it will effect Highlands Ranch, Parker, and Aurora as well as other Denver Metro areas not served by A Vantage Properties.  Castle Rock in Douglas County and Kiowa as well as other areas within Elbert County will not be effected by this rate change as their gas service is provided by Aquila.

Xcel believes that most people won't feel the impact of the increase in natural gas costs as heating bills will go down if temperatures are normal or close to normal when February rolls around.  With the cold and snow that we've been having so far this winter, I hope that temperature do return to normal soon.  On a happier note, even if the temperatures don't normalize, those with natural gas service through Xcel can take heart in knowing that natural gas prices are down by 20% compared to February 2006.

Stay warm and safe.