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Denver Real Estate Blogspot

January 2007

Denver Market Conditions December 2006

Jan. 16, 2007

Categorized in: Denver Market Info

Tagged with: december 2006 sales and prices, denver real estate market

2006 was a slow year for real estate sales in the Denver metro area. Colorado’s high rate of foreclosures prevented home values from rising more than 2.7%, not enough to keep up with inflation (3.8% for the first six months of 2006). The likely scenario is that large number of foreclosures will continue to hinder any rise in appreciation for the next year to 18 months until the market absorbs the foreclosure inventory, maybe longer if the rate of foreclosure worsens (as local economist Tucker Hart Adams predicts) rather than stabilizes. The 2.7% appreciation rate for 2006 resulted in an average price for all homes of $288,916. If not for the 19,425 foreclosures, prices likely would have risen higher.

Inventory is still high, giving buyers almost too many homes to view. For some, it’s hard to make a decision when there are more than three or four good options. Several recent clients have taken well over three months to decide. Two have made market price offers that were rejected by sellers. These particular buyers didn’t let that discourage them, and made good offers on other homes where the sellers were a little more realistic in their expectations. It’s a much slower process than it was in Denver in the ‘90’s when offers were coming in at the rate of three or four at a time.

Single family homes sold in December for an average price of $321,524 for a rise of 3.5% over November. The median price in December was $247,500, or 3.1% higher than November. Condos sold for an average price of $180,084, down from November’s $195,747 by 8%. Median price was $150,000, also down from November by 3.8%. Median price is a better indicator of value than averages, which include extremely high and extremely low prices.

Single family residential homes took an average of 111 days on market before selling, while condos languished longer at 122 days on market.

Let’s face it, the Denver market is flat, maybe declining, which makes it a very good time to buy.

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Open Enrollment Denver Metro Schools

Jan. 16, 2007

Categorized in: Local Denver Information

Tagged with: denver schools, open enrollment denver

Denver Metro K-12 Open Enrollment Info

January 2007

It’s time for Open Enrollment again. As long as you can provide transportation to your preferred school and there’s room for your child, students can go to any school of their choice. Here’s where to find information about initiating the process

Adams County School District 12

720-972-4055

Applications can be picked up at Adams 12 Five Star Schools, the district’s choice office at the Education Support Center, 1500 E. 128^th Ave., Thornton. You can also download an application. Deadline is March 15^th.

Adams-Arapahoe 28 (Aurora Public Schools)

303-344-8060

If your child lives in the district and simply wants to change schools, check out the school’s policy on open enrollment within the district. If you live outside the district check out the school’s policy for non-resident students wanting to enroll in the district. Deadline is May 1^st.

Boulder Valley School District

303-245-5900

(Open-enrollment office)

Parents/Guardians are encouraged to hand deliver their open enrollment applications to the Open Enrollment Office at the Education Center, 6500 Arapahoe, if not mailed by Friday, January 12, 2007. Deadlines are strictly adhered to and applications must be received by the Open Enrollment Office no later than 4:00 pm, January 19, 2007 and mailing difficulties cannot be considered.

If you have questions, please contact the Open Enrollment Office at 303-245-5900.

Boulder’s deadline for mailing the enrollment applications has passed, and you must go to the office as noted above. Check out the Boulder Open Enrollment instructions page.

Cherry Creek School District

720-554-4555

Applications are not available online. You must pick them up at one of the district’s schools. Deadline for district residents is February 1, for non-residents is April 1.

Choice
The Cherry Creek School District allows its resident students to apply for enrollment in Cherry Creek schools/programs of their choice. In other words, you may request that your children attend a Cherry Creek school outside your assigned attendance area. Requests are approved based on available space in the receiving school. Transportation arrangements are the responsibility of the family choosing this option. Applications* are available at the schools in December for the following school year. The deadline for choice applications is February 1st . Call the District Admissions Office at 720-554-4550 for more information.

* Unfortunately, this form is a 4-part document and therefore cannot be available over the internet.

Denver Public Schools

720-423-3493

School of Choice Office (brochures, applications, deadlines) First round open enrollment deadline February 28; second round open enrollment deadline March 1-August 31

Douglas County RE-1

303-387-0100

Online open enrollment applications, including lists of schools limited or closed to outside applicants. Deadline January 16^th.

Jefferson County Public Schools

303-982-6500

Parents’ page, including enrollment forms Deadline February 16^th to August 30^th.

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MoveOutMoveUp Site

Jan. 2, 2007

Categorized in: Buying a home...

Tagged with: bank, first time home buyers, mortgages, savings

First time home buyers now have a site to help them make that scary decision to leave apartment living to buy their first house. The site is MoveOutMoveUp.com, an ING marketing effort to attract young buyers. But you don't have to be young to have fun on this website!

Babies need room

Just in the last few days two of my former clients have had babies, one on December 29th and the other on the 30th. Both were prepared, having bought homes to accommodate their growing need for space. Here's a pic of one of the happy families.

ING Direct is that fun orange banking site where you can stash your extra money and get a great interest rate. It's an online financial institution, meaning they're able to avoid the overhead of a bricks and mortar bank and offer their customers better rates on a variety of financial products. I use an ING Direct account for my short-term saving needs (not a paid ad, just giving you a little advice!).

The MoveOutMoveUp site features games to help you avoid your bad neighbors, what to do when moving in together, and a lot more. Take a look and have some fun.

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