Living In Denver

How I Snatched a Short Sale From Foreclosure Three Times- Once After The Public Trustee's Sale

2012-01-16T17:16:00.003-07:00

So another year has slipped by and despite all of my resolutions to be disciplined and do better than in previous years, I have only a handful of blog posts to show for a whole year of work. I feel bad about this. My husband and colleagues say to me- "Blog." Yet I procrastinate. I try to think of what to blog about and then typically I think of something while I am in the car. By the time I get to a computer I forget what it was that I thought I had to say. So here I sit, before my computer-resolute to start the New Year off by blogging, trying to think of all the real estate wisdom I could share, of all the lessons I have learned in 40 or so transactions this year.
Unfortunately the only thing that comes to mind is a true tale of my most challenging short sale.

It began like most transactions; a friend called me and said she had a friend and colleague who had been through a messy divorce and needed help selling her home, which her ex-husband currently occupied, could I talk to her? Naturally I agreed and called the friend- let's call her Hope- for reasons you will see as this tale unravels. The first time I spoke to Hope, she was about to be remarried, her ex-husband and her 2 grown children were living in the house and hadn't made a payment in over 6 months. The value of the home was substantially less than the first loan not to mention the second and of course the house was headed for foreclosure and Hope's credit was headed down the proverbial crapper.

Since Hope was still on title and the notes with both lenders I had her sign a third party authorization and made inquiries on her behalf, after which I was convinced the only way to get her out form under the house would be via short sale. Somehow we managed to get both Hope and her ex-husband to sign listing agreement, addenda and all doce required for a short sale, We quickly got offers and submitted the highest one to the first lien holder- the infamous OCWEN FEDERAL. I should probably mention that we submitted a complete packet, as we always do, offer, lender letter, HUD, copy of earnest money, listing agreement and all of the sellers doc, including tax returns, pay stubs hardship letter etc After a week or so we called Ocwen to confirm that they got the packet and were reviewing the offer (I am a bit of a dreamer). We were transferred to Ocwen India where our negotiator was named Geeta Punjabi. Now Geeta asked for duplicates of many docs and had us faxing to her daily- the largest fax I recall was 68 pages- who cares about those trees anyway? After 6 weeks or so of this Geeta continued to assure me that approval would happen "by Friday"(maybe I should have asked, " which Friday?")

Meanwhile the trustee's sale was looming precariously close and Hope was a nervous wreck as was I. Geeta assured me that the sale would be postponed because they were working an offer. Because this wasn't my first short sale and I am cursed with a non-trusting nature I called a friend of mine who is an attorney. He drafted a legal document for Hope to take to court, a Demand for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO in attorney speak). So we held on to the doc until the day before the foreclosure sale and when neither the promised short sale approval nor the postponement of the trustees sale had come through, Hope and I went to court to plead her case. To both of our surprises she was granted a temporoary restraining order forbidding Ocwen to foreclose for another 60 days. We filed the document in all of the right places to get the foreclosure stopped and notified Ocwen's local attorney. As you might imagine noone was very pleased with this. The attorney called and informed me that I had no right to stop the trustee sale, I politely informed him that it was my client who had pled for the restraining order and the Adams county Judge who had granted it, therefor much as I would have liked to take credit, I could not. He wasn't amused.

Well we went right to work badgering Ocwen to accept that offer. Then, to our dismay, the buyer pulled out of the transaction saying it had taken too long to get approval. So we put it back up on the market and got an offer within a few days for more than the last offer and it was from a well known local agent and the buyer was a family member. WOW! We could not believe our luck adn quickly got a HUD and submitted it to Geeta, along with a termination of the previous offer. We requested a substitution of buyers which was denied; so we had to resubmit every doc- again, who cares about those trees?For the next 2 months we pushed, we shoved, we begged, we pled and we threatened, all to no avail. Geeta continued to promise approval by Friday and we continued to have no idea as to what Friday she was actually referring. By now buyer was getting nervous and we were frustrated but our next big break came when Geeta went on vacation. After much whining and complaining we managed to get a manager in India who reviewed the file and discovered that Geeta had submitted the file inocmplete. He resubmitted the file to Fannie Mae.

In about a week we received approval for the short sale on a Thursday morning. Excellent news right? Not so much. The buyer decided she didn't want the house anymore and Ocwen foreclosed on the house the same day they approved the short sale. I had no idea what to do- so I called the attorney owner of my favorite title company- First Integrity Title (yep that's a plug for them). He counseled me to request that the foreclosure sale be rescinded. Well that did it- Ocwen India had no idea who or what rescinding a foreclosure sale was so we finally got the file transferred back to Ocwen US!! We requested that the sale be rescinded and meanwhile put it back on the market and started praying.The sale was rescinded and we got another offer, this time it was a cash offer which was darn lucky as the scheduled closing was in less then 2 weeks. I called Ocwen US and explained the situation and once again asked for a substittution of buyers, which I was once again summarily denied. I was also informed that the sale had been rescinded and the approval letter signed for the first buyer and that they, Ocwen,wouldn't sell to the second buyer, who was actually the 3rd or 4th buyer we had procured for the property. This was interesting as the net to the bank was exactly the same, as was the closing date and all other terms. The only things that were different: the buyer and the fact that he was paying cash, which we all know made him a safer bet from the get-go.

After a sleepless night I got up and compared the 2 offer contracts to see if I could ferret out what was causing Ocwen to push back. I couldn't see anything different except buyer number one was named something on the oreder of Suzy WASP Sweetheart and buyer number 2 was named something on the order of Jose Fernando Marquez. HHM, I thought and then I called the buyers agent- Lupe and said," I think your client is being discriminated against." She and I talked and decided that if Ocwen declined to sell the property to him he should probably file a Federal Fair Housing complaint against Ocwen and Fannie. Since I love being the bearer of good news I called the negotiator at Ocwen and the foreclosing attorney and informed them both that if they didn't sell to the current cash buyer they probably ought to brace for a federal Fair Housing Claim. Well that got everybody but the attorney's attention (he once again scolded me). However, by the end of the next day we had a new approval letter and I had talked to the regional manager at Fannie as well as numerous other suits. the closing went off without any further troubles after a mere 18 months adn numerous offers. My commission for this little exercise?

Less than $750, as I had conceded the rest to help my client get to the table. But it was worth every minute to get her to the table and to have the opportunity to beat the bank that was so intent on simply taking the proeprty back, without any regard for the people involved. My advice to anyone facing a short sale with Ocwen? RUN - Run and Hide. And if youare intent on pursuing it- cozy up to a nice attorney adn settle in for a really long but interesting ride.

Congrats Louisville

2011-08-16T13:00:00.000-06:00

For the second time Louisville in Colorado, tops Money Magazine's list of the 100 best small towns, followed by Milton, Massachusetts and Solon in Ohio. They all have populations of 50,000 or less and offer the optimal combination of jobs, schools, safety, health care, cultural activities and even weather.

Understanding Closing Cost

2011-04-07T11:13:00.002-06:00

As we spring forward into the active homebuying season, there are plenty of good deals to be found, thanks to continued low interest rates and slipping home prices. But do you have saved enough in your bank account to cover closing fees? We'll examine who pays for what at the closing table and how buyers can cover these costs. What's the average closing costs you can expect to pay?

Who pays for what?
You have picked the perfect place to live, you've saved up a nice down payment, you're pre-approved for a loan and you're inching ever closer to finding the right house.

But how much do you know about the closing process itself? There's more than just price to consider. There are a slew of associated expenses to pay, plus taxes, insurance, appraisals and inspections. Whether buying or selling, you will undoubtedly see a bunch of little charges that collectively start to equal a big, four-digit number.

In general, the seller normally pays for most of the closing costs. But it can vary alot depending on the market conditions, location and the seller's motivation. In today's buyers market, many transactions are subject to negotiation.

Here's a common outline of what buyers and sellers are expected to pay:

Typical Buyer Expenses

One half of escrow fees.
Home inspection and any other inspections such as sewer line, roofing or structural.
Survey to identify boundardies and easements.
Appraisal for the lender to determine value for a good loan.
Hazard insurance premium for the first year.
Recording fees and notary fees for documents.

Typical Seller Expenses

One half of escrow fees.
Title insurance, to assure the lender that the property has a free and clear title.
Repairs or remediation of any harzard or damage.
Real-estate commission for seller's and buyer's agent.
City and county transfer fees.
Homeowners association transfer fees and any unpaid balance.
One year home warranty to ease the buyer's doubts.
Payoff for any bonds, special assessments and existing liens.

The tab for closing expenses can vary widely, from about 1% of the purchase price to 3% for Federal Housing Administration loans that require a mortgage-insurance premium and additional lender fees.

Many buyers are now requesting sellers to help assist them with covering these steeper FHA fees, in essence lowering the purchase price of the home.

However, there isn't as much room for expense negotiation with short sale or bank-owned properties. In fact, most don't provide a home warranty, and many won't cover any repair work unless it's a hazard to the buyer. Of course, the tradeoff is that these homes are often priced at a significant discount compared to normal listings.

2011-03-14T15:42:00.000-06:00

Expand your living space into the outdoors

Choosing Between A Deck Or Patio

What's the greenest way to build a deck? Would it be okay to utilize pressure-treated lumber? What's the simplest way to add on to your house? What type of decking is regarded as being sustainable, and what is the best way for attaching boards to the framing? Should the surfaces be finished? What product should I select? These are a few of the questions I hear about when designing outdoor living spaces.

Generally, the greenest deck is often a patio. Sure, wooden decks or balconies will be the only options should they have to be significantly above ground level, although there are masonry- and petroleum-based options that can be used in place of true lumber.

Outdoor living is a great way to expand our living space without increasing the level of conditioned space: it gets us out into the open air, to the nature we’re looking to preserve using the green building movement. But asking any “green” material to face up to the environmental exposure a deck is meant to is asking a lot. When the outdoor living area is going to be at or near grade, a patio-the masonry equal to a deck-can be a greener choice.

When the word “patio” conjures images of dirty concrete with weeds sprouting up through cracks, there are better options. Harvesting “urbanite” for reuse by breaking apart that old concrete into manageable pieces is one example; overlaying a drainage layer and topping it with permeable surface material. An intricate recessed patio can be assembled using salvaged granite stones from an old foundation.

Commercially ready, cement-based, interlocking modular paving blocks is definitely an affordable choice, although I'm partial to square concrete pavers occur a bed of crushed stone for any more formal look, or flagstones (flat, natural “cleft” surface fieldstone) for a rustic feeling. A designer I know built an extremely interesting patio using a mix of broken stone countertops, tiles, and glass. Slate roofing could be recycled into patio paving, but, like tile, the little, thin pieces would not be stable underfoot unless set into a bed of mortar. Stacked closely together on edge, though, the thin edges would create a unique, usable surface.
Brick, an old time patio surface, is hard to beat because of its combination of warm color and texture. Bricks could be locally made in most parts of the country or recycled from fine old buildings. Durability is definitely an issue in areas that freeze, though; search for “hard” bricks, tempered to be used as paving, or perhaps be prepared for them to disintegrate with time to their original type of clay particles.

Drainage options will be different based on several factors. If the patio sits over a well-draining site, it will likely be best and easiest to use a permeable base layer for instance crushed stone and leave gaps within the paving material to allow stormwater to drain through. The gaps could be filled with exactly the same material, or planted with moss (if it’s shady) or thyme (if it’s sunny). Weeds can be simply killed having a 50% solution of vinegar, or scraped out having a brush created for the purpose. Personally, I would not make use of a chemical for example Round-Up or burn the weeds having a flame, but those are other options, probably forget about harmful than standard deck maintenance techniques. If the site doesn't drain well, start with a well-compacted base of gravel with graduated particle size so the particles lock together. On top of that, construct a drainage layer using crushed stone, with a drain tile (4-in. perforated pipe is effective) to direct water to another the main site if necessary.

Keep the size to roomlike dimensions, and when in doubt, make the length 1.6 times the width for any pleasing proportion. Patios require a sense of enclosure to feel inviting; masonry walls or shrubs and plantings produce a sense of containment. Whenever a tall wall looms over an abutting patio, bring the scale down with a trellis or pergola, or pull the patio from the house a little and plant a tall shrub or small tree between it and also the house. Full sun can make a patio (or deck) uncomfortably hot; a patio umbrella or perhaps a trellis engrossed in vines provides respite.

Consider low-level lighting and a source for cooking fuel-wood or gas-in the look stages. Outdoor cooking appliances keep heat out of the house (look for Energy Star models) and may be connected to gas or large propane tanks, if on site. Or, develop a fire pit or an outdoor barbecue. Your kitchen has had over the indoors as the heart of the house, the main gathering spot; duplicating kitchen functions outdoors will guarantee the patio is well-used.

What Is A Walk Score

2011-02-01T15:36:00.001-07:00

Walkable neighborhoods offer surprising benefits to the environment, our health, our finances, and our communities.

Environment: Cars are a leading cause of climate change. Your feet are zero-pollution transportation machines.
Health: The average resident of a walkable neighborhood weighs 7 pounds less than someone who lives in a sprawling neighborhood.
Finances: One point of Walk Score is worth up to $3,000 of value for your property.
Communities: Studies show that for every 10 minutes a person spends in a daily car commute, time spent in community activities falls by 10%.

Find A Walkable Place To Live

2011-01-20T14:03:00.005-07:00

Increase Your Energy Efficiency

Unless your home was specially constructed for energy efficiency, you can usually reduce your energy bills by adding more insulation. Many older homes have less insulation than homes built today, but adding insulation to a newer home may also pay for itself within a few years.

Heat flows naturally from a warmer to a cooler space. In the winter, this heat flow moves directly from all heated living spaces to adjacent unheated attics, garages, basements, and even to the outdoors. Heat flow can also move indirectly through interior ceilings, walls, and floors—wherever there is a difference in temperature. During the cooling season, heat flows from the outdoors to the interior of a house.

To maintain comfort, the heat lost in the winter must be replaced by your heating system and the heat gained in the summer must be removed by your cooling system. Properly insulating your home will decrease this heat flow by providing an effective resistance to the flow of heat.

To determine whether you should add insulation, you first need to find out how much insulation you already have in your home and where.

A qualified home energy auditor will include an insulation check as a routine part of a whole-house energy assessment. An energy assessment, also known as a home energy audit, will also help identify areas of your home that are in need of air sealing. (Before you insulate, you should make sure that your home is properly air sealed.)

When insulating your home, you can choose from many types of insulation. To choose the best type of insulation, you should first determine the following:

• Where you want or need to add insulation
• The recommended R-values for areas you want to insulate.

Understanding R-Value

The R-value is a measure of thermal resistance used in the building and construction industry. The higher the R-value, the greater the insulating effectiveness. Under uniform conditions it is the ratio of the temperature difference across an insulator and the heat flux (heat transfer per unit area). Heat transfer through an insulating layer is analogous to electrical resistance. R-value is the reciprocal of U-value. The U-value (or U-factor), more correctly called the overall heat transfer coefficient, describes how well a building element conducts heat.

The US Department of Energy has recommended R-values for given areas of the USA based on the general local energy costs for heating and cooling, as well as the climate of an area. There are four types of insulation: Rolls and batts, Loose-fill, Rigid foam, and Foam-in-place. Rolls and batts are typically flexible insulators that come in fibers, like fiberglass. Loose-fill insulation comes in loose fibers or pellets and should be blown into a space. Rigid foam is more expensive than fiber, but has a higher R-value. Foam-in-place can be blown into small areas to control air leaks, like those around windows. Increasing the thickness of an insulating layer increases the thermal resistance. For example, doubling the thickness of fibreglass batting will double its R-value,

The R-value is a measure of insulation's heat loss retardation under specified test conditions. The primary mode of heat transfer impeded by insulation is convection but unavoidably it also impedes heat loss by all three heat transfer modes: conduction, convection, and radiation. The primary means of heat loss across an uninsulated air-filled space is natural convection, which occurs because of changes in air density with temperature.

The amount of insulation or R-value you'll need depends on your climate, type of heating and cooling system, and the section of the house you plan to insulate.
Properly insulating your home will not only help reduce your heating and cooling costs but also make your home more comfortable.

Have A Safe Holiday

2010-12-16T13:10:00.000-07:00

Residential fires during the holiday season are more frequent, more costly, and more deadly than at any other time of the year.

Read more: http://www.houselogic.com/articles/holiday-fire-safety-tips/#ixzz18J4tTol4

2010-10-18T13:17:00.001-06:00

Thinking about remodeling in your home. Kitchen and baths give your home the biggest bang for your buck. Here are 11 kitchen and bath trends for 2010

Read on...

2010-09-24T13:49:00.001-06:00

Solar power meets consumer power: Group discounts help you buy home solar power. See how to save and be green.

2010-09-23T16:57:00.001-06:00

Its hot outside now but should be cooling off in the next month or so. Now is a good time to think about getting or building a fire pit. Its a very popular item to have now and you can add value to your home and landscape by building one. A built-in fire pit is a glorified campfire, with sturdy walls of stone that help contain the flames and heat. That's especially important in the parts of the country where there's a risk of brush fires. So the first task in building any fire pit is checking local codes on open flames. The pit must be located far from overhanging trees, the house, and any other flammable structure. Read More Here...

Short Sales...Not For The Feint Of Heart

2010-09-17T04:52:00.008-06:00

I have always had a fascination with the English Language and having studied linguistic anthropology I became even more interested and even a bit amused. Did you ever think about the way we say things like "how much does that run," when what we really are trying to ask is how much does the item cost? Why do we do that?

American idioms are a great source of entertainment- we use phrases and words in ways that native speakers typically understand without thought but are completely confusing to the non-native speaker. We say things like, "lipstick on a pig." I get the idea behind it - a quick fix to make something seem more attractive than it is... but really? Who had the chutzpah to put lipstick on the pig and did they really think it made the pig better looking? I wish I could have seen this little event- I can't even successfully give my cat a pill- I can't imagine getting the pig to hold still long enough to get a lovely shade of mauve applied to it's whiskery mouth. Perhaps my vision of applying the lipstick to the pig is too grounded in the literal or concrete ...but still what a fun visual.

In all fairness, I have to say that even though we have tortured the language with our slovenly grammatical habits and imprecise use of words, the language has never been all that clear. We have always had multiple meanings for words, and much of spoken language is contextual and non-verbal. We say the word "bear," which sounds just like "bare," and from the context of the sentence we determine which version of the word is being referenced and apply meaning to the sentence- all in the blink of an eye without even conscious thought. But what about when we get confused about the the meaning? Like the term "short sale," which is a source of great confusion for native speakers and non-native speakers alike.

The popular misconception is that a short sale will move through the transaction process and close more quickly( shortly in terms of time if you will), which it will not. A short sale is perhaps the longest transaction a buyer and seller can experience. The term "short" comes form the idea that the seller in this transaction is asking their lender to release their interest in the property. their lien, for less than the full amount that is owed- in effect allowing the seller to sell the property "short." There are a lot of component parts in these transactions: the seller must answer the question of why they stopped making payments or why they feel that they will no longer be able to make payments and they must demonstrate a true hardship. If they are able to do this then the next step is to establish the value of the property- or asset as it is known. The seller's lender will generally order a BPO (Broker Price Opinion) to get a guideline. After which, they may order an appraisal or another BPO. Once the lender is satisfied with the value they will respond to any offer that is on the table. There a lot of misconceptions about this portion of the transaction as most banks will not respond to a seller's request to short sale until they have an offer in hand- then they will evaluate the seller's docs and the buyer's offer. If the seller has a failed offer then they can honestly say their short sale has been approved, but it is important to remember that each offer is evaluated on its own merits. Just because a short sale was accepted at a certain price previously, there is no guarantee it will be again.

All of this verification of seller status and asset value can take a while so the informed, "would be short sale purchaser" should plan on 30-60 days to get a response to their short sale offer. Once agreement is reached on the offer price the bank will typically give a 30 day window in which to close with a per diem amount payable by the purchaser for any delays in closing. When contemplating purchasing a short sale properties there are additional considerations:

Short sales are never guaranteed, neither to the seller, the buyer nor even the agents
Contrary to popular belief banks do not have to accept a short sale- they can opt to foreclose, take ownership of the asset and do with it as they please.
If a bank participates in short sales it is as a courtesy to the borrower
If you decide to write an offer on a short sale property- do not get married to the idea- your odds of getting it are much narrower than on other types of transactions including REO properties, which are already owned by a bank.

When opting for a short sale, whether you are a would be buyer or a would be seller find yourself an agent who has experience with short sales and plan on a long and sometimes frustrating transaction. Short sales, although ubiquitous in the current market place, are not for beginners nor are they for the feint of heart. Contracting with a broker who has the certifications but lacks experience will do you little or no good as every short sale deal is different and good brokers learn from each transaction they successfully complete. A broker can never guarantee the outcome when they attempt a short sale but if they have a strong track record- your odds are better, so ask how many short sales they have attempted and how many they have successfully completed. If you are a seller this is especially important as you are relying on them for a great deal. As a seller you need a broker that is prepared to go the extra mile for you- to fight for you and creatively problem solve the obstacles that are guaranteed to pop up. Best of Luck to all in your real estate endeavours.

Home Safety

2010-07-08T16:48:00.002-06:00

An accident or injury can occur in any part of your home. Some safety hazards are obvious — such as a toy truck left lying at the top of the stairs. Others are not so easily identified — such as a stairway railing that has become loose. Check out this website for more information...

Reduce your carbon foot print and get a new mower at the same time.

2010-04-29T13:43:00.006-06:00

It's spring time in Colorado. That lovely time of year when all the rain and as the case is today, snow, we get starts to turn our lawns a lovely shade of green and marks the start of lawn mowing season. As we pull our lawnmowers out of their winter hibernation do you discover that you are in need of a new lawn mower? Maybe your lawn mower works just fine but you want to help reduce your carbon footprint? Well then you need to attend the Mow Down Pollution: Lawn Mower Exchange Event this weekend in Denver.

The Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC) is pleased to announce its annual Mow Down Pollution Event for 2010. At the event, Colorado residents are invited to bring in an old, gasoline-powered lawn mower to exchange for a discount on a new, earth-friendly alternative. Participants can expect to remain in their vehicle while event staff unloads old equipment and loads new mowers.

WHEN: Saturday, May 1, 2010 9 am to 4 pm.

WHERE: RidgeGate Development off Lincoln and I-25. Enter near the corner of Ridgegate Parkway and Belvedere Lane in Lone Tree, Colorado southeast of Target, northwest of the Lone Tree Recreation Center.

Click here for a map of the location. Look for event signage and markers.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE: Click HERE (http://www.neutonpower.com/content/admin/aqi/raqc_info/index.html ) to REGISTER NOW to reserve your mower starting April 19, 2010. You must register for the event to secure your lawn mower.

PRICING:

The CE 5 model (retail price $299) will be sold for $175 to those without a gasoline lawn mower to recycle, and $150 for those who do have a mower to exchange.
The CE 6 model (retail price $399) will be sold for $275 to those without a gasoline lawn mower to recycle, and $250 for those who do have a mower to exchange.
The Neuton Reel Mower (retail price $99) will be sold for $65 to those without a gasoline lawn mower to recycle, and $55 for those who do have a mower to exchange.
To learn more about these models, please visit www.neutonpower.com.

3 Small Steps to More Sustainable Living

2010-03-24T14:14:00.006-06:00

Making little lifestyle changes will do a lot to enhance sustainability for the planet--and make every day Earth Day.

It's a great feeling every Earth Day to bike to work and show your love of the planet. But sustainable practices-managing how you use resources to ensure that there will enough for future generations-doesn't have to be limited to once a year. With a few adjustments, sustainable practices can easily become a part of daily life and save you money while you help improve the planet.

WHAT IS SUSTAINABILITY?

Sustainable living is an umbrella term that covers many different ideas and programs. It can be as simple as recycling and using less water or as complex as changing state and federal policies to promote wind and solar power and high-speed rail transportation. Local planning commissions can promote sustainability by allowing higher density housing that uses less land. If you want to support some of these public sustainability programs, you can contact your government representative to express support. You could also support a nonprofit group like the Edible Schoolyard program, which teaches kids how to grow and eat locally.

OPPOSITION TO SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES

Not everyone is a fan of sustainable practices. Some people worry that conservation efforts produce more government regulation, increase living costs, and reduce corporate profits. Not sure where you stand on these major policies. Why not start small and see?

Eat locally. One of the biggest impacts a family has on the environment is what it eats. It takes around 10 calories of fossil fuel-in the form of fertilizers, processing, and transportation-to produce a single calorie of supermarket food, according to Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore's Dilemma. Cut down on your food's energy impact by eating food grown near your home.

A 2001 study conducted by the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Iowa State University, found that the cost of transporting food from the region or the local area was four and 17 times less, respectively, than buying from national distributors.

FINDING LOCAL FOOD ISN'T DIFFICULT

Local Harvest will help you find farmers markets as well as farms in your region that offer subscription programs. Signing up for a subscription means you pay up front, so there's a risk if the harvest fails. Costs vary depending on the size of the share and your part of the country. A good estimate from Local Harvest is that you'll spend about $600 to cover produce for a family of four during a four or five month growing season.

Keep food even closer to home by growing your own, either in your backyard or in a shared community space. Expect to spend several hours a week seeding, weeding, and harvesting. Gardening is also a great way to teach kids about healthy eating.

The downside of eating locally is that food from a farmer's market often costs more than the same from the supermarket. And in winter, you may eat a lot of cabbage and potatoes if you stick to local eating.

BUY GENTLY USED

Everyone likes something new once in a while-and fast-growing kids require it. Consumer spending is also a big contributor to a healthy economy. But producing and transporting new products from the factory to you also uses lots of resources. One way to get new stuff and still promote sustainability is to trade something you no longer want for what you need.

Freecycle is a 7 million-strong global network of people who share their possessions-for free. Once you join online, you'll receive regular email about used items that you can request and pick up. Eva Schmoock, a student nurse and mother of two in Carrboro, N.C., is an avid user. She's found new homes for everything, including paint and kids' bathing suits.

A low-tech option: Organize swap meets with neighbors to lessen your environmental footprint without opening your wallet. Get your kids to put flyers in mailboxes to promote the swap. Or try a consignment shop.

REDUCE TRASH BY COMPOSTING

It isn't just what you buy that has an impact on the world's resources, it's what you throw away. The average American is responsible for almost 5 pounds of garbage a day, 12.5% of which is food scraps, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. That trash clogs landfills and pollutes ground water.

Want to reduce waste? Consider composting. Just put those peels and pods (but no meat or dairy products) in a separate container instead of the garbage can. When the container is full, carry it to your compost pile.

A $10 plastic bucket with a lid will work; fancier models have charcoal filters that cut down on smells but cost two or three times as much. Let your kids scrape plates into the compost pail or empty the full container.

You'll find a compost bin for every budget. You can fence off a small (out-of-sight) section of your yard with less than $50 worth of mesh wire and poles. Plastic bins and barrels are neater, but can cost several times more. The best part of composting: In six months, nature will convert your waste into terrific fertilizer to sustain your vegetable or flower garden.

Article From Houselogic.com
By: Amanda Abrams
Published: August 28, 2009

Amanda Abrams is a Washington, D.C.-based writer who spent many years planning to be an organic farmer. Now she writes about how to make the world a better place for papers like The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times.

Reprinted from HouseLogic (houselogic.com) with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS (R). Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.

2010-03-08T17:15:00.002-07:00

Its almost St. Patrick's Day and time to eat cabbage and drink green beer. Did you ever wonder who St. Patrick was? Even though I love the day, why do we celebrate this silly holiday?

Saint Patrick was a Christian missionary, who is the most generally recognised patron saint of Ireland. Two authentic letters from him survive, from which come the only universally accepted details of his life. When he was about 14 he was captured from Britain by Irish raiders and taken as a slave to Ireland. Patrick worked as a herdsman, remaining a captive for six years. He writes that his faith grew in captivity, and that he prayed daily. After six years he heard a voice telling him that he would soon go home, and then that his ship was ready. Fleeing his master, he travelled to a port, two hundred miles away he says, where he found a ship and, after various adventures, returned home to his family, now in his early twenties.[

After entering the Church, he returned to Ireland as an ordained bishop in the north and west of the island, but little is known about the places where he worked and there is no contemporary evidence for any link between Patrick and any known church building. By the eighth century he had come to be revered as the patron saint of Ireland. The Irish monastery system evolved after the time of Patrick and the Irish church did not develop the diocesan model that Patrick and the other early missionaries had tried to establish.

Pious legend credits Patrick with banishing snakes from the island, though all evidence suggests that post-glacial Ireland never had snakes; one suggestion is that snakes referred to the serpent symbolism of the Druids of that time and place, as shown for instance on coins minted in Gaul, or that it could have referred to beliefs such as Pelagianism, symbolised as “serpents”. Legend also credits Patrick with teaching the Irish about the concept of the Trinity by showing people the shamrock, a 3-leaved clover, using it to highlight the Christian belief of 'three divine persons in the one God'

The dates of Patrick's life cannot be fixed with certainty, but on a widespread interpretation he was active as a missionary in Ireland during the second half of the fifth century. According to the latest reconstruction of the old Irish annals, Patrick died in AD 460 on March 17, a date accepted by some modern historians. Saint Patrick's Day (17 March) is celebrated both in and outside of Ireland, as both a liturgical and non-liturgical holiday. In the dioceses of Ireland it is a both a solemnity and a holy day of obligation and outside of Ireland, it can be a celebration of Ireland itself.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2010-02-16T15:36:00.001-07:00

2 Bed, 1 Bath, 726 Sq Ft Cottage Style Home For Sale. Zoned B3, suitable for commercial or residential use, listed at $114,900. Super easy walk to restaurants, shops and galleries. Just a block from Berkeley Park and Lake. Comes with 2 car garage, 1 additional off street parking space and backyard patio. Great fixer or development opp.

2010-02-10T14:07:00.001-07:00

5 bed, 5 bath home only $395000! Visit http://ping.fm/hOtVf for more info.

2010-01-12T15:46:00.001-07:00

Today In History: 1915 The Rocky Mountain National Park is formed by an act of U.S. Congress.

2010-01-11T12:48:00.001-07:00

Did you know... Valentine's Day originates from the ancient Roman fertility festival of Lupercalia, which was celebrated on 15 February in honour of the gods Lupercus and Faunus, as well as the legendary founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus. During the festival, young men would draw the names of women from a box, and each couple would be paired until next year's celebration. The fertility festival was celebrated until 496AD when Pope Gelasius replaced it with a similar celebration. For patron saint of the celebration, he chose the "lovers" saint, St Valentine. He also moved the date of the celebration from the 15 February to the date of St Valentine's death, 14 February. Through the centuries, Valentines Day became to be remembered more as the festival of love instead of a religious day. In 1969 it was dropped from the Roman Catholic calendar as a designated feast day.

2010-01-08T17:15:00.001-07:00

Open House: 456 Corona St. Sat Jan 8 1-4pm. 3BD 2BA 2219 SqFt w/ Carriage House.

2010-01-07T15:23:00.001-07:00

Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler. - Albert Einstein

2010-01-02T18:57:00.004-07:00

Aah eet's dat time again...de time when all of my human friends and colleagues are compelled to clean like crazy people. They clean their homes, they clean their cars, they organize their desks, they run around saying they are cleaning up their lives and their acts and so on, like a pack of crazy yapping female chihuahuas. All of dis' hoopla for what? If it is so important why they not do it all the time? Why just at the beginning of a new year- and den dey are back to their old slovenly habits.

I say it is good to be a dog right now- We are not bothered with such silly ideas. We know what is important- a spot in front of the fireplace to stretch out and soak up some heat after a long romp in the snow. We know it is better to chase squirrels and unsuspecting cats rather than chasing our own tales and we know that there is a limit to what we can clean up. We are okay with that. We know that we can depend on our pack to get us through whatever comes our way, whether our pack is composed just of other dogs or our human companions, even if there are dreaded cats in our pack- they will all be there for us. Humans would do well to follow our example: appreciate what you've got- never forget to say thank-you even if you have to do that by wagging your tail and licking someone's hand (or their face) and always ask if you need help. It's good to ask politely first- a quiet whine or a nudge, but if you don't get what you want it is also good to bark loudly.

In my real estate practice I see so many people struggling with their mortgage payments and their homes and they do so without asking for help. They don't whimper, they don't nudge anyone- sometimes they don't even confide in their own packs. I think this is a basic failing... People don't realize that if they are having a hard time making their mortgage payments there are places they can go to ask for help. THERE ARE FREE- COMPLETELY FREE- RESOURCES TO HELP PEOPLE OBTAIN A LOAN MODIFICATION. A loan modification can take many forms...it can defer morgtage payments for a number of months to allow a person to get back on their feet. It can reduce the interest rate- thus reducing the payment- it can even reduce the principal amount of the loan or any combination of these options. And if a person truly can't keep their home or doesn't want to keep their home any longer they should pursue a short sale.

Short sales are less damaging to credit. They allow a person to live in their home without making anymore payments until it sells and in most cases the bank will reward the homeowner with $1000-1500 for pursuing a short sale instead of sending the house to foreclosure. I think this makes infinite sense- stay in your home- save some money for the move and maybe even get a reward from the bank to help with the move. The property owner will have at least 90 day after the NED (Notice of Election and Demand for sale) is filed and served and most short sales are taking more like 120 days or more. That's 4 months to save for your move.

Max says, "the smartest thing a property owner who is behind on their mortgage can do is contact a my friends and Colleagues Carole & Greg Higgins." They are experienced real estate professionals (Realtors) who can quickly help you evaluate your situation, and your options. If you want to seek a loan modification they will refer you to one of the many non-profit organizations who specialize in helping homeowners modify their loans at no charge to the property owner and if you watn to pursue a short sale they will do that for you again at no cost to you.

2009-12-23T09:17:00.001-07:00

See 10 Things to Know About Real Estate in 2010 http://bit.ly/8K1aMU

2009-12-16T17:25:00.001-07:00

writing a letter of intent for client who is bring a brand new entertainment venue to downtown Denver.

Fall Is In The Air...almost

2009-09-28T01:27:00.008-06:00

I love the fall- it's my favorite season. I love the way the trees and plants display their fall foliage like so many peacocks' plummage and the cold crisp mornings that give way to mild sunny days. I like the smell of fireplaces burning in the evenings when I walk my dog. I like the idea that's it fleeting- soon all of the leaves will be gone, the mild afternoons replaced with cold snowflakes, my flip flops replaced by Keenes and I will once again don my hoodies. I will change from beer to red wine and an occasional coffee with Baileys or the like....so as I see it fall heralds huge change.

And with fall comes a change in the the federal government's first time home buyer incentives, actually the end of the program. The program that provides the tax credit is set to expire on December 1st 2009. This means that we are effectively nearing the end of the time during which a buyer can place a property under contract and reasonably expect to close on the property prior to November 3oth. Given new lending rules, most transactions will take 45 days to close and as the deadline gets closer, quicker closings will become less likley. With all of that said, I know there has been some confusion about how the credit works so here is what I know:

First time home buyers can receive a credit of up to $8000 on their federal income tax. The credit is equal to 10% of the purchase price of the home, (which can be a condo- it is not restricted to single family homes). The maximum amount is $8000. So you have to spend at least $80,000 to get the full credit.

Once the purchaser has closed on the property they will receive a certificate which they can use to amend their 2008 income taxes and the refund will typically be sent to them in around 2 weeks.

Once the check is received it can be used in any way the purchaser wishes.

For those people who are struggling with downpayment money, FHA only requires 3.5% of the purchase price as down payment and it is often possible to get a seller concession for additional closing costs that the buyer will incur.

There is talk of both extending the program into next year and expanding it to include all homebuyers not just first timers, but to my knowledge it has not yet been ratified. If you can, take advantage of this once in a lifetime deal, because the way I see it, even if you buy an $80000 property you can come out ahead , with a little planning. You put $2800 downpayment, you ask the seller to pay all of your closing costs, another $2800 or so, and you net $5200 with which to fix up your new pad or buy some cool new furniture or take a vacation. And all of that is not to mention the yearly income tax credits related to the interest on your loan, or the potential for equity gain. I see it this way: You can go on paying rent, paying down someone else's mortgage or you can buy a home, get the IRS to give you money for doing so, know that every time you make a payment you are paying down the principal amount of your mortgage, and you can take income tax credits every year so that your net income is higher. And with a little bit of luck perhaps you will start gaining equity after the markets begin to thaw. If you are thinking about buying or you have questions about the first time home buyers credit- don't hesitate to contact me or one of the other professinal realtors at Cygnus Real Estate.

Condos- To Buy or Not to Buy?

2009-07-14T19:27:00.007-06:00

As I was on my way to the townhomes at Upper Larimer to work my open house the other day I noticed an entire development project for sale- not just individual units for sale but the whole project-all of the units to be sold to one buyer. The construction seemed to be over and the units were just sitting like so many forgotten toy soldiers- still at attention... waiting...just waiting for their new owners- for the families, the people, who would move in and bring the project to life, much as children bring their toys to life.

So you wonder: why is it that some developer who had the knowledge (or know-how) and the moxy to purchase land and go through the entitlement process- the process of getting the city to agree to let you build whatever you intend to build on your land, as well as actually bringing a development out of the ground and getting to the point where he or she could "turn the lights on" would essentially give up. Why didn't this apparently savvy developer who built what appears to be a reasonably viable project turn his back on it instead of renegotiating his pricing and his loans? Unfortunately, mis amigos, I suspicion ze answer lies with the current mortgage market.

The mortgage industry has essentially turned its back on condominiums, both acquisition financing and refinance monies. As my grandfather would say, "it's scarcer than hens' teeth." Much if not most, of what happens in the mortgage world is predicated by the infamous Fannie Mae. And Fannie Mae currently says that she doesn't care if it's a townhome or a traditional condominium there will not be any conforming conventional financing until at least 70% of the units are sold. That means that the consumer, the buyer, can not get a fixed rate conventional loan to buy a condo until the majority have already sold...the buyer has to rely on so called portfolio loans which can have a higher interest rate and a shorter term. In a strange quirk most of the existing condos can qualify...if and only if they were built as condos adn not converted from apartments to condos. Sound confusing? It is but none of it is insurmountable. However, it makes it all the more important to have a qualified mortgage lender- be it banker or broker and an experienced Realtor to help you navigate the waters.

Sneakers....

2009-07-12T14:53:00.009-06:00

Ever wonder where all those unsightly tennis shoes suspended from various power and phone lines around the city come from? Or even more interestingly why are they there? I don't know why this bothers me so much but it does. I was driving west on 13th Avenue the other day and counted more than 6 pairs in one spot. It certainly doesn't improve a neighborhood to see old dirty sneakers dangling precariously over your head as you drive down the street. Now admittedly as a realtor I have a vested interest in seeing our neighborhoods and communities be the best they can be so perhaps I am overly sensitive; however, while listening to National Public Radio (NPR) earlier this spring I discovered that this is an advertising model for drug dealers.

Apparently all across the country it means, "you can buy drugs here." Now if this is common enough knowledge for NPR to pick it up and broadcast it I should think that law enforcement officials and perhaps even the power companies are aware of the significance of the "suspended sneakers." And likewise it would seem to me that a pretty basic way of slowing down the street drug trade and cleaning up neighborhoods might be to pull the shoes down and at least obscure the location of the local drug traders. In fact I might even suggest that whoever pulls them down could probably create an alliance with a laundromat and/or some other charity minded group, arrange for the errant shoes to get laundered and bleached and then perhaps donate them to a local hoemless shelter.

That's a concept- our tax dollars really at work. Our local law enforcement being proactive instead of reactive and giving back to the community as well. I think this could qualify as a "green project," too. Instead of filling a landfill with the offensive sneakers this would put them back in circulation.

And speaking of circulation, many neighborhoods are starting to see the appearance of bright green door hangers on their front doors. Yes that's us and before you dismiss the door hangers as just so much propaganda give them a good read because each one has an incentive coupon for you to try one of our favorite neighborhood establishments. Don't add them to the land fill use the coupon and then tell us what you think. And about the sneakers: until local law enforcement hears that this is important I am afraid we are on our own for removing the sneakers from the power lines. I recommend using a tree trimmer and cutting the laces and of course if you see them in your hood I recommend removing them. And if you are thinking of buying or selling real estate we hope you will call us. We want to be your city realtor (and we will need new sneakers soon).

Where's the doggy door?

2009-07-09T14:55:00.004-06:00

Over the last few weeks Dylan has developed a keen knack for finding beautiful streets in the neighborhood. (Okay, it's not that hard, but I like to make him feel like he has a job besides chasing his ball.) He likes to take us up to around Meade or Newton and 32nd and show me the gardens and gorgeous front doors. Yup, front doors. I have a thing for them. Growing up I never gave much thought to doors because I lived in a house that couldn't be seen from the street. For years I lived in apartments or condos so didn't have much choice. Now that I have my own front door I am obsessed with them. Red ones, black ones, stained wood, stained glass, giant doors, gnome doors, double doors, opened and you are welcomed, closed and you are safe inside.
Perhaps that's why I enjoy marching up and down the streets of our neighborhood putting bright green flyer's on everyone's door. Haven't got one yet? Don't worry, you will. We wouldn't want to miss an opportunity to introduce ourselves (Dylan is very photogenic) and offer a coupon for some of our favorite local businesses. This month we are featuring Seafood Landing owned by Bruce Johnson. This is a fish market, not a restaurant. Bruce is always there offering expert prepping advice and the freshest seafood at fantastic prices. Seriously, go meet Bruce and help support local businesses!
Speaking of local businesses, I have to catch you all up on three restaurants we just tried. All of them are on 32nd and almost right next to each other. First is Stella. It's Italian and bursting with flavor. The sauces are unusual (I'm not a huge fan of traditional) and the pastas are fresh! There is also a nice wine list. My favorite part though is dessert. They make the best bread pudding I have ever had, made with chocolate and a Kahlua sauce (I normally don't like Kahlua either). Sunday offers brunch including a brunch only cocktail menu.
Next is Bang! Enter in the rear of the building. Quiet outside patio serving up comfort food better than mama makes it. The Jalapeno corn bread was amazing. We had wine and I'm not sure that they have a full bar??? Anyway for dinner I had the chicken, Brandi had the pork. For dessert we split a slice of coconut cream pie. Very nice overall and are definitely coming back.
Finally we visited BOA and sat on the patio in the back. We were delighted with the menu. First, I'm not Miss Fusion so I didn't know what to expect. But the menu was laid out easily for me. On one side are the Asian choices, on the other are the Mexican choices, and in the middle are suggested fusions in case you feel inclined. I had an Asian chicken taco dish which I loved, Brandi had a Korean bowl that was fabulous. We drank Sapporo's and had the trio appetizer (three dips including guacamole) and chips. BOA was a delightful surprise!
All are worth a visit or re-visit and are pretty easy on the wallet.
Well that about wraps up this edition: If you see us out and about, don't be shy! Come say "Hello." We are very chit-chatty (yes, even Dylan) and will be very helpful in answering any of your real estate questions.

Relocating To Denver?

2009-06-18T12:04:00.002-06:00

Are you moving to Denver? Not sure which neighborhood is right for you? Need information about schools, employers, and financing? Whether you are relocation to the metro Denver area for a new job or to retire, let us help make your move successful and stress free. Denver Relocation. Set up automatic email notification and never miss a hot new listing again! If you need assistance, just ask we will set up the MLS IDX search for you. Search Denver Real Estate.

Colorado’s Summer Festivals

2009-05-08T14:15:00.003-06:00

Boulder Creek Festival

rocks downtown Boulder on May 23 through May 25, 2009. The festival features five stages of diverse live music ranging from world beat to Latin, jazz, blues and modern rock. Enjoy a wide variety of activities including a juried art show, arts and crafts vendors and fair-style foods plus a “beer garden.”

Downtown Denver Arts Festival

Denver's 11th Annual art festive, May 22 through May 25. This festival is “mile high” with talent. It showcases the work of Colorado’s most inspiring artists as chosen by a panel of seasoned judges. With over 100 artists’ displays and multiple mediums of visual art for sale.

Upper Larimer Beer Tasting

May 22, 2009 6-10pm. Taste and judge a variety of Colorado's local micro brews.

Colorado Medieval Festival

Experience life in the Middle Ages, June 6 and June 7 at Riverside Park in Evans. Eat with your hands as you sample old world-style fare from this intriguing period in history. Wares available for purchase include medieval costumes and clothing, chainmail, medieval inspired jewelry, pottery and more. It will be a time you won’t soon forget with thrilling entertainment including live stunts and sword duels, wandering minstrels, belly dancers, artisan demonstrations, tarot card readings, art and archery contests and more.

Glenwood Springs Strawberry Days Festival

It’s a big summer party in appreciation of one little red berry, being held June 19 through June 21 in Sayre Park, located at the corner of Hyde Park and Grand Avenue in Glenwood Springs. What began as a simple picnic over 100 years ago is now “the oldest civic celebration in Colorado.” Enjoy good times with fun activities for all including carnival rides, a live rodeo show, a Chinese celebration themed parade, the “Miss Strawberry Days” pageant, arts and crafts exhibits and activities for the kids.

PaddleFest 2009

This rafting festival, May 22, 2009 - May 24, 2009 starts off in Buena Vista, CO. The kick-off to the Arkansas River paddling season; this weekend is filled with boating, instruction and river education.

Mountain Film Festival

This film festival, May 22 -May 25, 2009 is in Telluride, Colorado. In its 31st year, Mountainfilm is a 4-day, 6-senses experience of art, adventure, culture, & environment.

Pagosa Folk 'N Bluegrass Festival

This music festival, June 05 -June 07, 2009 is in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. Outdoor, family friends music festival with 3 stages, workshops, on-site camping and kids programs.

Ballon-A-Vista

Annual June Balloon Festival, June 06, 2009 - June 07, 2009 at the Buena Vista Rodeo Grounds. Fun and colorful balloons fly 6am. Saturday and Sunday and "glow" on Saturday at dusk.

61st Annual Blue Paddle Whitewater Festival

This rafting festival, June 18 - June 21, 2009 is in Salida, CO. Free live bands noon to night, parade, world-renowned kayak/raft rodeo and races, kid zone, carnage-filled Hooligan homemade boat race and an insane Crazy River Dog Fetch!

16th Annual Colorado BBQ Challenge

This food fest, June 19 - June 20, 2009 is in Frisco, CO. Enjoy world-class barbecue, pig races and entertainment on Main Street Frisco.

Grand County Blues Festival

This music fest, June 27 - June 28, 2009 is in Winter Park, CO. Nationally known blues artists from around the country gather in Winter Park for the seventh year of this popular two-day music festival in Hideaway Park.

Crested Butte Wild Flower Festival

This nature festival, July 6 - July 12, 2009 is in downtown Crested Butte. Proclaimed the Wildflower Capital of Colorado in the early '90s and rightfully so! Experience workshops, photography classes, hikes and more, focusing on nature's beauty.

Dragon Boat Festival

The biggest Asian cultural festival in Colorado and one of the biggest nationally is still in its infancy. Six years after the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival opened, Denver wants to improve its dragon boat race, the festival's main draw, to include competitive teams, homegrown coxswain and expanded divisions. The celebration includes demonstrations of Asian culture, a food marketplace and the boat race.

Art in the Park

This art festival, July 11 -July 12, 2009 is in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. We Feature 150 artist vendors, 15 food vendors, Live entertainment and an interactive kids art area.

Crested Butte Music Festival

This music fest, July 4 - July 28, 2009 is in Crested Butte, CO. Music for all ages at free and ticketed events. Educational and fun world-renowned artists participate in performances of opera, orchestra, chamber, dance, jazz and bluegrass.

ASPEN MUSIC FESTIVAL AND SCHOOL

400 events over 9 weeks each summer draw classical music's biggest stars to this Rocky Mountain oasis of culture and natural beauty. June 25-August 23, 2009.

Riverside Fine Arts Festival

This art festival, Aug 15 -Aug 16, 2009 is in Salida, Colorado. A juried fine arts festival on the banks of the Arkansas River in the south central Rocky Mountains.

Labor Day Fall Color Festival

This art festival, Sept 04 -Sept 06, 2009 is in Cortez, Colorado. Arts and crafts, music, kids play area, food, car show and Chili cook off.

Is Your Realtor A Dog?

2009-05-03T11:08:00.007-06:00

Bad dog! Let us wrangle with details. Need a really good Realtor to buy or sell your home? Give us a call 303.422.SWAH.

Team Day at the Rockies game!

2009-05-03T10:54:00.003-06:00

Baseball, brews and fun for the Realtors of Cygnus Real Estate

Anticipation...Tales of the Giant Green Balloon

2009-05-02T18:57:00.010-06:00

I have recently realized that Carly Simon was not entirely correct in that well worn track that all of us from a certain era remember so well. (And those not from our era likley caught snippets of it on a catsup commercial, which is a bit of a travesty but probably fodder for a different blog). Anticipation does "keep us waiting;" however, I was given an epiphany on the topic...yes given not had. It may keep us waiting but sometimes the wait is vastly more exciting than the reality. We have a tendency to build things up in our minds, and the longer the wait the more glorious the imagined outcome until they become prodigous events. In my experience seldom does reality match that anticipation.

For those of you that don't really know me I am one of the myraid of dreaded real estate brokers in Denver. My team and I have been working frantically or perhaps even frenetically to market and sell a townhome project which we have listed in North LoDo at 34th and Larimer. Recently, Susan, who works for the developer on a Nevada rental project as well as in Denver, mentioned ordering a huge helium balloon for the Nevada project. Instantly I was enamoured with the idea...I went on line to take a peek and they looked even more amazing than I had imagined. Well, needless to say-I had to have one.

We scraped and budgeted and talked to our developer partner and made the arrangements to purchase a ginormous lime green helium balloon (10' in diameter) emblazoned with the words "FOR SALE" in giant purple letters, for the mere price of $900. Within about 10 days my prize arrived, on a snowy cold day. And for days and days after it arrived, Colorado gave us a dazzling display of its unpredictable weather with temperatures shifting from a sunny 70+ degrees to a miserable 30 degrees or less with bouts of spring snow, spring hail, spring rain and everything in between. Helium doesn't like cold and snow and harsh weather is not all that conducive to ballon flight so my balloon sat forlornly in its box. And like a kid at Christmas I behaved until I couldn't stand it any more and I ripped open the box only to see a mountain of green plastic or rubber; it was so big I couldn't even find the lettering so I had to content myself with knowing it was there.

Finally the day came that we could raise the ballon. My husband Greg, Susan, and I convened on the rooftop deck of one of our townhomes and after some debate about logistics we attached the tubing for the helium and opened the valve on the tank. Slowly we saw our very large beautiful balloon come to life. She lifted herself off the pavers like a sleepy green giant just waking up from a long hibernation. Once she was filled, we moved her about a bit until we were certain she was in the very best spot for maximum viewing. Satisfied with our labors we drove around the block afew times like proud parents and then went back to our office for what was left of the day. (Who knew it would take 3 hours to raise a helium balloon?) I planned to check on her on my way home; however, it wouldn't be even that long before we were summoned back up to the Upper Larimer Project.

Around 4pm that same day Greg received a phone call from one of the neighbors saying there was a problem with the balloon. So we raced up to the project only to discover that despite what we had estimated from the ground we had raised her too close to a power pole and she had wrapped her "leash" around the top of the pole. We called the power company and asked them to come and free my balloon. Of course they couldn't tell me when someone would get there, so I helpfully called them every 20 to 30 minutes to remind them I was still waiting. During those calls we were able to clarify things like- "the balloon is 10 feet in diameter and contains well over 200 cubic feet of helium." "No I didn't put her there on purpose," and so on.

After several hours Susan decided to call a friend, who referred us to a tree trimmer. The tree trimmer came out with the tools of his trade including some very nifty boots that allowed him to climb the power pole. He retrieved our beauty and inflicted minimal damage to her in the process. We placed her in one of the units to rest and await some minor surgery. Needless to say after all of this I realized that I maybe didn't even like my giant ballon that well. In all of those weeks of waiting to fly her I hadn't really considered the work of getting her in the air and keeping her there. And why would I since the directions for inflating her consisted of one typed page no pictures and no diagrams? I inflate small miniatures of her every week by the dozens right in the comfort of my own office...As I ponder my experience I suspicion that much of life is like this- just not nearly as dramatic or as much of a pain as my balloon.

My husband and I will make a reservation at a restaurant that we have been waiting to try and then get there and think- Hhhm we really like one of our old favorites just as well. But while anticipating going there we are some times certain that it will be the best ever. Likewise, buyers come to me wide eyed and innocent in their excitement to buy property. Those that have bought before know it's hard work for the buyer as well as the agent but nothing really prepares the first time home buyer for the amount of work that goes into buying a home...the media doesn't tell them that and certainly the American dream of owning your own home doesn't come with an addendum reminding them that this could be very hard work. Nope it's just anticipation- anticipation of buying the home, moving in and starting a family or having that first dinner party, or barbeque or inviting the guys over to watch a game on the old flat panel.

But nothing has really prepared any of us for the real estate market in which we now find ourselves. I often tell my agents that every deal is a new deal, the banks have turned their backs on condo projects so that in new projects only the lucky last 30% who buy get the benefit of conforming loans. (We were fortunate to get our Upper Larimer Project approved at Wells Fargo before they completely turned their backs on condos, so we are able to offer conforming products to all qualified buyers) And of course the guidelines for various loans seem to change daily if not more frequently. Lending programs come and go, as do mortgage brokers and realtors. But as I have said before if you have the energy and perhaps just the plain old gumption there are definitely bargains to be had, so don't toss in the towel at the first sign of a quagmire. Work with your broker to find a creative solution, there are some out there if you dig. And if you need a creative city broker don't hesitate to call us or email us- we are a great downtown resource.

I leave you with an invitaion to be a part of our second attempt at flying my prized balloon. Weather permitting we anticipate raising her for our beer tasting on May 22nd at the Upper Larimer project. Even if you don't want the beer it might be worth the adventure to see if we can actually keep her in the air this time. So join us under the giant green ballon.

We're on Twitter

2009-04-28T15:35:00.003-06:00

Cygnus Real Estate now has a presence on Twitter. Search and follow CygnusRE on Twitter to get our latest updates via your mobile phone.

We're on FaceBook

2009-04-28T15:30:00.006-06:00

Cygnus Real Estate now has a business page on FaceBook. Become a fan and get all the latest updates from us through your FaceBook page. Click on the FaceBook button on the left side of this page.

A dog's life

2009-04-23T08:29:00.005-06:00

Ahh... it is a lovely day here in sunny Denver Colorado. The grass is greening and my little friends the squirrels are out. As the weather gets warmer I enjoy getting out more and working the neighborhoods. Lately I have spent a lot of time in the Upper Larimer Arts District, which is a gritty urban neighborhood. You wouldn't think spring time would make much difference amongst all of those warehouse buildings- but there are unexpected little pleasures. I see the trees beginning to leaf out which should beckon my squirrel friends to join me and I see small patches of green with unexpected plots of flowers here and there. They are worth stopping for a quick sniff and sometimes I enjoy a quick roll in them, too. I don't know why my colleagues don't indulge in these fantastic rites of Spring time. I also note many of my breathern walking around the hood, making it a challenge to keep my own territory marked.

Actually, you wouldn't believe how many people are out in this neighborhood. They bike, they walk their dogs, they chase the "lucky ones" who have made their escape from the yard and they talk a great deal about art, and beer at the Walnut Room and eating at the Blake Street Tavern. Clearly eating and drinking is as important to humans as it is to dogs despite all the fuss they make over the dogs. My colleagues often engage the people in conversation about the lovely townhomes we have for sale, their stunning views, and of course those gourmet kitchens and rooftop grills where of course we dogs will want to spend a great deal of time offering our assistance. I myself have rarely been up to those rooftop decks as I am a little small to take chances; however, they held me up to see the dizzying view of downtown and the mountains. I don't mind saying that I am glad the walls around the deck are as high as they are.

Well I should invite all of you- dogs and humans alike to a beer tasting event at thees townhomes on May 22nd from 6pm to 10pm. My human colleagues are going to a great deal of trouble to provide some local beers and some tasty snax for their guests. I will provide some treats for any of my breathern that wish to attend and perhaps we can swipe a nibble from the humans as well. So join us at 3403 Larimer for some fun times. I smell some good deals happening there. OKay-
ADios amigos until the next time.
Max

Spring time In The Rockies

2009-04-19T16:22:00.004-06:00

Well here I am a native of Colorado and I can still be surprised by the whacky weather. From snow storms to sunshine to sunshine and snow it's still the best place to be. When I was a kid folks used to say, "Don't like the weather? Give it a few minutes and it will change..." I guess in this time of uncertainties it's good to know some things are consistent....even if those things are actually inconsistency. Real estate and the weather are the same in that way and you must constantly adapt.

For the Colorado climate one is well advised to wear layers- things that can be shed as the weather warms and slipped back on with the inevitable cooling off that will follow, particularly as the sun sets. In the case of real estate, it is wise for all of us realtors, buyers and sellers alike to pause and at the very least re-adjust our thinking if not being actually prepared to shed some of our preconceived notions formed from "how the market used to be." It is a whole different market than the one we knew just 3 or 4 years ago.

We are still laboring under a very clear and present lending crisis. It is difficult for even well qualified buyers with substantial down payments to get loans and it is virtually impossible to get loans for condominiums. The lending market appears to have turned its back on condominiums. If the condo that you or your buyer have your eye on is not in a project that is at least 70% sold there will be no fannie mae approval. And what you ask does that mean? Well it means that your lender cannot send a loan package through automated underwriting and will likely have a very difficult time selling the loan- hence they won't make the loan. However, there are still a few options if you look hard enough or work with a savvy city realtor. If the project is at least 51% owner occupied and the HOAs look good a buyer may be able to get an FHA loan, through a process known as spot approval for a purchase price of $417,000. or less. And if that isn't a possibility there are things called portfolio loans that allow a buyer to obtain a loan for a few years until such time as the market corrects itself. These loans are made by banks, typically smaller state chartered banks and they do not sell the loan, instead holding it in their portfolio. Knowing where and how to find some of these products will allow condo buyers to purchase property and take advantage of some really great opportunities that prevail in this market place.

Yes I did say opportunities. Many brand new condos have not been able to sell because of these very lending practices and so developers are a bit more motivated not only to sell but to help the buyer obtain their loan and get to the closing table. Now this is the part where I say be prepared to slip some of those old notions back on...there is a point beyond which a seller can not or will not go. If a deal seems unbelievable- it probably isn't real; there is probably something that you don't know or are missing so as always, "caveat emptor" (latin for buyer beware).

If you get to the point of making an offer and you have your financing figured out- at least in theory- there are some things you should consider. When dealing with a developer of a new project know that often times the developer is not the only one negotiating. It may be that the developer's lender is directly involved in the release prices- that is the number at which the bank is willing to make a partial release of the construction/acquisition loan enabling the developer to provide you with a clear title. The developer is still there to try to make money or at the very least to escape without losing money.

When making an offer on any property whether it be a private party seller or a developer remember that nothing counts unless it is in writing and signed by all parties. Don't ask your realtor to field verbal offers- they don't mean anything anyway. Your realtor is there to help you and if you have chosen wisely your realtor has likely been through many many closings, even in this market so trust them. If you don't value the realtor's opinion then get another realtor. And last but not least, when negotiating remember what our mamas always told us, "you get farther with honey than you do with vinegar." All negotiaitions are contentious- the mark of a good negotiaition is when both parties feel like they had to give a bit more than they wanted to, but that doesn't mean it has to be personal or ugly. Placating a seller who is accepting a lesser price costs the buyer nothing and can make a big difference throughout the transaction.
Contemplating a condo? Need city realtors? Call us or email

2009-04-17T16:54:00.002-06:00

My last post seems to have jinxed spring! So while we are getting 8" of snow right now I will only say this...We mowed the lawn and planted flowers in the front yard last weekend and are so pleased. I feel like I'm contributing to the neighborhood finally.

I have two new (new to me) restaurants to report on, both Mexican. One is Patzcuaro's on 32nd east of Federal. The other is La Cocinita on 29th just a few blocks east of Sheridan. Both are delicious and I recommend them for varying reasons. One thing in common is that they are very "locals" populated.

The best margarita I have had in Denver (and I don't say this lightly) is at Patzcuaro's. There is only one variety and I think only one size. It costs 4 or 5 bucks and is served in a jumbo goblet. It is made with a mix that DOES NOT give you heart burn!!! It tastes so good that I had to remind myself to slow down drinking it. I couldn't stop saying "Wow, this is so good. Possibly the best. In fact, the best." The chips are salty (which I love) and the salsa is awesome. I can best describe the food as simple and straight forward. I ordered carnitas taco's and the tampiquena which is a grilled thinly cut steak and includes a chicken enchilada (which was covered in a fantastic enchilada sauce). The taco's: tortilla & marinated meat, with guacamole and a lime wedge on the side. Simple and good. The place: lots of wood booths and the walls covered in Mexican Revolution posters. I didn't notice sombrero's or any other "typical" mexican restaurant decor. There was a large screen T.V. that was playing college basketball. It was comfortable and I will be back.

La Cocinita on the other hand is what I would call a family style place more interested in serving good food than in fancy decorations and furniture. Not a trendy place whatsoever and thank God for that. The margarita's are good and cheap... order a pitcher (again, I think only one kind). They are huge and more than enough for two diners. While the chips and salsa are standard, portions here are generous and the food is yummy. The menu is pretty extensive and could be overwhelming unless you are me who 9 times out of 10 order the same thing. There is outside seating in the front but I don't know if I can bring Dylan or not. My girlfriend and I each order entrees and share a pitcher of Margs, are absolutely stuffed and a bit tipsy, all for $34 bucks. You heard me. $34 bucks. OK, best deal in town.

Two weeks ago Dylan was diagnosed with some kind of bone disease that eventually goes away but causes excruciating pain for him. We took him in because he started to limp. We are giving him pain and anti-flamatory pills hidden in peanut butter and he is doing very well. He is very busy making friends but hasn't had a chance to go out to eat lately (the economy and all). He is currently in the backyard making snow angels. Once again I am so glad that we have hardwood floors.

OK, does Mondo Vino deliver? Perhaps I can get Dylan to pull me by sled for a beer run...

DBR Mixer

2009-04-14T17:01:00.002-06:00

The Denver Board of Realtor will be having a mixer event on May 28th, from 4 to 7pm. Cygnus Real Estate will be hosting the event at their exclusive listing, The Residences At Upper Larimer. Please join us to see this fabulous new development and experience the RiNo art district at it's best.

Beer Tasting Event

2009-04-13T08:42:00.005-06:00

Since our wine tasting event was so wildly popular, we have decided to have beer tasting event this May 22 to kick off Memorial weekend. We will be sending out invitations soon. The event is expected to be a big one and limited to the public. To be added to our guest list please request an invitation to Beer Invite

After the Denver Art Festival closes down Friday evening head on up to The Residences at Upper Larimer for a free beer tasting event. There will be food, beverages and local microbrews. The Residences at Upper Larimer is in the heart of the RiNo art district. We will have local artists on exhibit. Don't miss it!

Upper Larimer Party A Big Hit

2009-03-31T10:53:00.005-06:00

The Residences At Upper Larimer hosted a wine tasting event last Friday evening. The event was a huge success. People turned out to sample great wine from Sonoma, CA and tour the new development project in the Upper Larimer neighborhood. Upper Larimer is changing rapidly and becoming the place to be in downtown. Upper Larimer is located just north of LoDo and has a lot to offer. We can give you a special tour, just call 303.422.SWAN or stop by our showroom at 3403 Larimer St.

Dylan on a witch hunt

2009-03-22T09:27:00.005-06:00

Spring spring spring is finally here! I can't wait to see what kinds of plants and trees are in our back yard. We moved in January and our backyard was "under construction". Literally. Let me back up. Our house was built in 1904 and was set to be demolished last year. In order to be saved it had to be moved. The search was on for some land when an interesting property showed up. It was a double lot with a house already existing on it. So the property was purchased and divided in let's say two to make it easy. Our house was moved, and if you will, imagine the mess Dorothy's house made when it landed. We haven't found a wicked witch yet, but Dylan is furiosly digging around for one. The amount of work, trucks, machinery, and tools it took was incredible. And fortunately not as destructive as it could have been. What it did leave us are some trees, a few bushes, some iris's and a mystery red flower that has sprouted up in random areas of the yard. Did I mention grass? No, because instead we have lots and lots of dirt and debris, including half buried construction material and plenty of rocks. Sod is going in the first week of April hopefully (weather permitting). I sure won't miss the ever present and ever changing pattern of Dylan paw prints all over the hardwood floors.

It sure is tough designing landscaping. I feel a bit overwhelmed. Especially when we walk the neighborhood. Some of our favorite streets include Hooker between 24th and 20th, most of Julian from 20th to 28th, and Java. Well really, there are too many beautiful homes to designate. Not only am I excited about what our yard will turn up, I'm equally excited about everyone elses. There are tons of trees here, and the front yards are spilling over with everything from riverstone to bark, fountains to gargoyles and lions, flowers to grasses to herbs.

I haven't really had a yard since I was a wee one. When I was about twelve I dug out a section of our back yard and planted a vegetable and herb garden. It was expertly done and quite successful. Why is it that when you're a kid you know how to do it all?

Dylan and I agree that it's already time for a beer. We will be going to Meade St. to enjoy one of my favorite beers, O'Dells IPA on tap. (Now if you are a well behaved dog this is the place to see and be seen.) We usually order potato wedges (spicy is the best) with a ranch or chipotle sauce for dip. To die for. My next favorite dish: fish and chips. The fish is dipped in a Guiness batter which makes it stand out from the run of the mill pub standard. There's a good selection of sandwiches and salads, but I prefer the entres which include a few Mexican style items and a fabulous seared Ahi. Meade St. is a local favorite no matter what you're in the mood for and is usually pretty busy, giving it a fun bustle-y atmosphere. Yes, they do have live music some evenings...I don't know the schedule.

I just wanted to mention one more thing today. My girlfriend and I went out of town this weekend and left our boy in the trusting hands of Kim with Wag-on Wheels. When Dylan came home from his holiday he was calm, happy and unscathed. These folks know and LOVE animals. If you need a sitter for the day or an increment of the day, or perhaps a weekend, be sure to look them up to find out what all they offer and discover how affordable it is.

Until next time...

Wine Tasting Event

2009-03-12T13:06:00.003-06:00

Please Join Us For This Special Event

March 27th from 7pm to 11pm

Join The Fun

Wine Tasting with "Petra Loves Wine".

Share wine and food with your friends.

Bring your favorite bottle of red or white wine from Sonoma CA, some Hors d’oeuvres and your wine glass.

Art by “Bill Gian”.

Visit the Grand Opening of Dry Ice Factory Studio right across the street.

Tour The Residences At Upper Larimer.

Highland: tour the neighborhood, escorted by Dylan the Dog

2009-03-09T20:01:00.007-06:00

Thank you West Highlands/ Sloan's Lake for so graciously welcoming me and my family to the neighborhood. I was born and raised in San Diego, and lived as an adult in L.A. San Francisco, and western Washington State. I have also spent several months backpacking through Europe, India and Thailand, Singapore and Bali before finally returning home just so that I could turn around and move to Chicago where I lived for 7 long cold years. I relocated to Denver, specifically Westminster in August of 2007 when I yearned for mild weather, friendly people, and access to both the pleasures of big city living combined with all of the wonder that the great outdoors can offer.

But when the city girl in me began to weep, we set our sights on Denver City Neighborhoods. And so began the search which could have lasted a lifetime because we were going it alone without the help of an agent. We searched some great sites that helped us get familiar with neighborhoods and proximity's to the city, sites which included names of restaurants and bars, shops and parks. Frankly, we overlooked Highlands because we thought it was out of our price range. Everything that turned up on the real estate sites was discouraging. Finally a friend recommended Carole at Cygnus Real Estate and 2 months later we were in our house in Highlands.

Ode to Highland:

We favored W. Highland/Sloans Lake for many reasons. a) Proximity to downtown, b)character, c) access to highways, d) we had our own cute little neighborhood , and e) it reminded us of big city neighborhoods with such attributes as local flare, cultural and economic variety, friendly neighbors, walking distance to our cute little neighborhood which offers shopping, eating and drinking, and finally the most important factor... it's super dog friendly. Wow, that was a long sentence.

Going forward this blog will focus on our neighborhood, Denver, and Colorado in general as seen mostly through our experiences with our four and a half month old German Shepherd Dog puppy named Dylan. (If you're not a dog person, it's ok... all of the dogs we've met have been very well behaved and don't interfere with folks who aren't comfortable with such beings.)

Socializing and Happy Hour:

Dylan is privately trained and so far in his young life has had limited access to other dogs, to cars, to babies etc. Oh no...what are the girls to do? First, we love taking him for walks around the neighborhood. We get to look at all of the cool houses, meet the neighbors, meet other dogs, and practice our training techniques in a friendly environment. We look forward to our walks because it gives us a chance to really appreciate where we live.

Next, we can easily hop down to the city via car or bike and enjoy hikes, bike paths, food and drink, museums, shops and on and on to eternity. But mostly, we love to take Dylan up to 32nd and Lowell where we can do things as a family.

Well you probably didn't think this was a restaurant review blog either, but it is...

Tonight, March 8th, I took Dylan to happy hour at Mead Street. But as I was approaching it, I was saddened to see that the protective plastic covering was over the patio. I wasn't sure if they would be ok with Dylan in there, and besides, I wanted to sit in the sun. Mead Street is a great pub style place, dog friendly too, but I will review them next time.

Anyway, where was I? Ah yes...as I was pondering my next move a gal emerged from a shop to play with Dylan. Well, it wasn't a shop, it was the restaurant Venue. I didn't realize that they were open at 4 for happy hour, so was surprised to find myself being invited onto the patio where I would soon discover half off beers and wine. The entire staff at one point or another came out to meet Dylan and made us feel very welcomed.

Sooner or later you will find out that I am a beer snob of sorts and was delighted to find an extraordinary beer list sans Coors, Bud and Miller. The wine list was extensive and not typical. I ordered from the happy hour menu some of the best mussels I've ever had. While the mussels were great, the sauce yummy, it was the bread soaking up the sauce that thrilled me, and for only $5 to top it off. Dylan was hanging with me drinking water from a community dog bowl and saying hi to all passers-by... dogs, kids and adults alike. We really enjoyed being able to interact with the neighborhood folks who stopped to chit chat about dogs, food, wine, the weather. I was compelled to stay for dinner, and Dylan gave his paws up in approval. Next I ordered pork loin with cherries and bacon corn grits, and asked for a recommendation regarding wine. It was a french granache that complimented my tender delicious dish perfectly. I was about to polish off the bread and butter when I was offered the dessert menu which included a dessert drink menu. I went with what was recommended: the raspberry crepes with (my first experience with) a white port. Amazing.

Completely satisfied well beyond expectation, Dylan and I went home... eight blocks away. We couldn't have had a more enjoyable evening together.

Stay tuned for further adventures, including our first trip to the Platte river, dog friendly downtown, and dogscapades in Boulder and Estes Park. Also, find out who our famous dog trainer is, and who we use for doggy day care, as well as the best places to eat, drink, hike and generally carouse with (and sometimes without :( )your dog.

Investors Beware

2008-12-05T08:38:00.007-07:00

As our community, our global community, is assaulted daily with frightening financial news we start to think about exploring alternatives to traditional financial investment vehicles. And this is the time to beware, despite the tightening of credit guidelines, or perhaps because of the new lending practices,there are predators on the street. These wolves may look very innocent and seem as though they want nothing more than a "win-win." Instead of the traditional predatory practices that led up to our current economic situation, the new predator offers opportunities to invest with them and realize greater cash returns than through banks or other financial institutions.

Typically they will ask you to loan them money to acquire real estate promising that once the investment property is sold you will realize 10% 20% or even more annually on your money. They will claim that your investment is safe as it is secured by real property. It is important to remember that your investment is only secured by real estate if you are on the title- typically a warranty deed of some sort or you hold a lien on the property. If the entity offers you a personal note this does not guarantee that your money is directly tied to any particular property. So if approached by an individual or group offering this type of "opportunity," be smart, contact a lawyer and ask them to review any and all documents prior to signing anything or handing over any money. You should also contact a tax professional as even though you may actaullay realize the promised returns, there could be serious tax consequences.

I am not suggesting that real estate is a bad investment - in fact there are many financially distressed properties that could present significant equity gain in coming years but rarely is it a short term investment. The wise investor consults with his or her real estate professionals, broker and mortgage banker as well as their attorney and tax consultant, and sets specific goals for the investment. Historically, over the long term there have been very few vehicles with as strong of returns as real property. So if you decide to invest in real estate do your homework-we call it due diligence- learn everything you can and analyze, analyze, analyze and plan for any unforseen contingencies.

Buy Her That Timeless Gift For Christmas

2008-12-02T14:41:00.004-07:00

Like a home, love endures, so buy her the perfect gift, a new home for the holidays.

Nothing says love like a new home. Its timeless like a diamond but better.

Contact Cygnus Real Estate today to help you find the perfect gift for that special someone.

Toys For Tots

2008-12-02T13:59:00.007-07:00

help Us

Time:
10 December 2008
3:30 pm– 7:00pm

At the corner of 34th Ave and Larimer Street in
The Residences at Upper Larimer ...

3403 Larimer St.
Unit #101

Bring an unwrapped new toy for our donation box and we will give you treats– snacks and beverages adult beverages for those who choose to indulge. While you’re there sign an ornament and put it on our tree. And then settle in and enjoy the Christmas Carols and the stunning views. At the end of the donation drive The US Marine Corp will pick-up the toys & distribute

Learn More

Contact us for more details:
Cygnus Real Estate
303-422-SWAN (7926)

The Upper Larimer Arts District

Actually the ware house district which is called “Denver’s new urban renaissance” by the Denver Post. Don’t miss your chance to visit this edgy new neighborhood and help children in need, by donating to this worthy cause.

Don’t be a Grinch...bring a toy...hang an ornament...sing a song...eat, drink and be merry!

Celebrate Day Of The Dead

2008-10-30T08:15:00.004-06:00

The Event:

An annual celebration of the Central and South American ritual of El Dia De Los Muertos, which is based on the belief that those who have died return each year to celebrate with their living friends and relatives. This celebration is deeply rooted in the traditions of indigenous peoples and can be traced as far back as 3000 years ago. Despite the Spanish conquistador’s best attempts to eradicate the ritual around
500 years ago when they were colonizing Central America in general and Mexico in particular the tradition has survived. However, to make the holiday more conforming to Christian ideals the Spaniards moved it to coincide with the catholic holidays All Saints Day and All Souls Day. Today it is celebrated predominantly in Mexico and certain parts of the US and at Cygnus Real Estate.

Join Us

We will be hosting our annual El Dia De Los Muertos party at Upper Larimer. Food and Margaritas' will be provided by the Santa Fe Tequila Company. There will be music and door prizes. Be sure to tell your friends.

When: Saturday November 1st 4:30-8:30pm
Where: 3403 Larimer Street Unit #101 Denver CO 80205
Map:
View Larger Map

Meet The Developer

2008-10-20T19:30:00.005-06:00

Meet the developer of Upper Larimer, Michael Chesser, October 23rd between 4:30-7:30pm. We also have wine and hors d'oeuvres, so come and mingle with us. The Upper Larimer Residences are located at 34th and Larimer in downtown Denver. This town home project is located just between the Upper Larimer and RiNo neighborhoods with beautiful views of the Denver cityscape.

If you can't join us Thursday, you can always drop by our showroom, it's open everyday between noon and 5pm.

Awesome Views

2008-10-09T20:33:00.001-06:00

Check the new town homes at 34th and Larimer.

These 16 modern row homes feature sophistication and elegance. Choose from a collection of 3-4 bedroom / bathroom residences, all with high-end standard finishes and a long list of included features.

The home you choose at Upper Larimer will feature architectural details that hold enduring value. These include rooftop terraces and an option for an outdoor kitchen, fireplace pit or even a hot tub.

With only 16 units and 5 different floorplans, each unit will be uniquely your own.

Some folks think this area of downtown is sketchy, but if you are an artist that's a-okay. The Upper Larimer neighborhood is set for big things to come. It looks innocent and quiet now, but development is happening in pocket everywhere. The neighborhood is alive with culture and energy if you look closely. Read this article from the Denver Post.

To see more about the Upper Larimer project go to

Thursdays

2008-08-07T17:47:00.000-06:00

Thursday always strikes me as an odd day...not Wednesday...the middle of the week day...not Friday when here in our brokerage we knock off a little early and spend some "quality time" with each other and anybody else that happens in - drinking beers or wine and talking about other things. At this Friday Afternoon Club we ponder neither the state of the market and the large title company that was about to go under and got saved by a bigger title company that swooped in at the eleventh hour and I've heard on the street the 59th minute nor what well known real estate company here in town has a very nasty blog about it making its way around the internet. But Thursdays...Thursdays are another matter...Thursday is the day of the trustees sale, where every week they auction foreclosed properties and Thursday is also the day that the list of new foreclosures is emailed directly to my inbox by my title company buddies. Yes in the changing landscape of the realestate market I guess Thursdays have taken on a strange significance all their own...at least to the Real Estate community.

Glad to be with Cygnus!

2008-08-07T13:29:00.000-06:00

Cygnus Real Estate is absolutely the best firm to start my real estate career. With my newly acquired license, I have optimized my ability to buy and sell investment properties. Being situated in the Santa Fe Art District, I can better "eyeball" the freshest Denver listings prime for renovation/reselling. Call me on my cell (303) 263-3581 and/or email me at suzanna.vonhurst@cygnusrealestate.com so I can get started on finding the perfect investment property for you!

Business District On Santa Fe

2008-08-07T11:55:00.000-06:00

Cygnus Real Estate is creating an organization for businesses along Santa Fe Drive south of downtown Denver. Its purpose is to create an alliance of businesses and a counterpart to the Arts District Of Santa Fe. Cygnus feels ordinary business owners, which are not galleries, need an organization to promote economic growth and urban revitalization. Cygnus has obtained a domain is currently developing a website for the Business District. Interested parties can join the organization by contacting Cygnus at info@cygnusrealestate.com. You can also join us on LinkedIn.

New Cygnus Agents

2008-08-07T11:42:00.000-06:00

Cygnus welcomes two new agents to the company this month. Laura Gillen moved from Zahkem and Company to join Cygnus. Suzanna Von Hurst, has a real estate investment business and recently earned her real estate license. She brings her experience in fix and flip properties to Cygnus. Stop by to welcome our new brokers.

Eco-Gardening

2008-05-15T09:08:00.000-06:00

Its spring again, so you may be thinking about doing some gardening. There are a lot of things to consider these days when it comes to planting flowers, scrubs and trees. Here in Denver we always have to worry about water conservation. We always want to be kind to our environment be not using harmful chemical when it’s not needed. We also need to be careful about what we plant because certain plants can be harmful in a particular ecosystem. You should be aware of a several key concepts in modern gardening, especially when you visit your local garden center.

Standards and certification are two of the more controversial topics surrounding the sustainability movement in 2008. Sustainability is a characteristic of a process or state that can be maintained at a certain level indefinitely. The term, in its environmental usage, refers to the potential longevity of vital human ecological support systems, such as the planet's climatic system, systems of agriculture, industry, forestry, fisheries, and the systems on which they depend. In recent years, public discourse has led to a use of "sustainability" in reference to how long human ecological systems can be expected to be usefully productive. In the past, complex human societies have died out, sometimes as a result of their own growth-associated impacts on ecological support systems. The implication is that modern industrial society, which continues to grow in scale and complexity, will also collapse.

You may wonder, what is the difference between “organic” and “sustainable”? The relationship between “organic” and “sustainable” is an issue with several dimensions. At this point in time it is hard to say. Is “sustainability” going to be “organic lite” or “organic plus”? That is, will the standards allow practices that are not acceptable for organic production or will organic production be the goal? How far will the standards go to address issues that are not addressed by the National Organic Program, such as labor relations, food safety, packaging and energy use? Will a national standard for sustainable agriculture dilute the identity of the National Organic Program? Will consumers perceive a difference?

The most heated topic is genetic engineering. The draft standards prohibit the use of “Genetically Modified Organisms.” Many producers are unhappy with that stance, and the biotechnology industry predictably argued for technology-neutral standards. On the other hand, organic producers and environmental advocacy groups are strongly opposed and would likely have nothing to do with a standard that allowed genetically engineered crops.

Finally, potentially the biggest problem facing the committee will be drafting standards that will support measurable, verifiable, auditable assessments. At the same time, the standards have to be flexible enough to accommodate local needs and conditions. Will there be an opportunity for peer review of any certification program?

So, what should your local garden centers be doing to help promote sustainability and cater to the eco-friendly gardener?

The retailer should provide an eco-friendly option or a natural option first without an apology, For example, not making an apology on why they’re not selling English ivy or some common variety of honeysuckle that’s so invasive and so aggressive that it’s destroying our ecosystems and our biodiversity, and instead, they should provide a better solution.

Provide safer, natural compost, because compost is believed to be the single best soil amendment you can put in your garden.

Provide more awareness. When consumers go in and buy mulch and soil. They should be aware that there’s a certification seal now from the Mulch & Soil Council that lets the consumer know that bag is safe and free from potentially harmful chemicals, such as arsenic from pressure-treated wood.

Practice fair trade products – have more sponsorship of local things – products that are local from sustainable sources, and maybe not so many plastic pots. There are more and more options these days for recyclable pots or pots that break down in the compost. They should eliminate that problem at the source by encouraging their suppliers to do something about it.

Offer more classes – more education. Certainly independent garden centers do a great job of hiring people that naturally are eco-friendly gardeners or are very conversant on that topic.

A garden center is a great place to develop that community and that destination site where people can go not only for their product, but for the information from a reliable and trusted source. Garden center owners and managers are teaching employees the benefits of organic, natural and sustainable products so they can pass along the knowledge to customers.

Several terms get thrown about when talking about the green movement in horticulture. We asked several retailers what they thought the following three terms meant. Here are some of the answers:

Organic:
This one is more cut-and-dried than the rest. Several retailers said organic is a product that is certified either by a state or a body like OMRI. Also, another retailer said organic refers to a carbon-based product.

Natural:
This one is a bit trickier. In fact, one retailer said the word 'natural' gets abused because it doesn't have a true definition when applied to horticulture products. Several said it refers to ingredients that are naturally occurring in the environment with little or no human processing. Two of the retailers make their own products and label them natural, even though they could be certified organic. They both said the expense to have them certified would only translate to a higher price on the product, and wouldn't increase sales or make the product any better.

Sustainable:
This term relates to the product's ability to renew or carry on, says one retailer. Another says the sustainability movement is about creating a "softer" living or growing space. And finally, one retailer says sustainability means the practice can continue without exhausting the resources the Earth has to offer. He quoted Ghandi in his response: "The Earth has enough for man's need, but not enough for man's greed."

Hopefully you have found this information helpful and happy gardening.

For more information about how Denver is going Eco-Green go to http://www.greenprintdenver.org/green/index.php
http://www.milehigh.com/business/sustainable

For more information about Eco-Green housing in Denver go to:
http://www.highlandsgardenvillage.net/index.htm
http://www.livingearthconstruction.com/

What is LEED?

2008-04-17T08:56:00.000-06:00

The move towards LEED and green building practices has been driven greatly by the tremendous benefits which are a direct result of implementing a green approach. Green buildings use key resources more efficiently when compared to conventional buildings which are simply built to code. LEED creates healthier work and living environments, contributes to higher productivity and improved employee health and comfort. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), provides a suite of standards for environmentally sustainable construction. Since its inception in 1998, LEED has grown to encompass over 14,000 projects in 50 US States and 30 countries.
LEED has grown into a comprehensive system of six interrelated standards covering all aspects of the development and construction process. LEED was created to accomplish the following:

• Define "green building" by establishing a common standard of measurement
• Recognize environmental leadership in the building industry
• Raise consumer awareness of green building benefits
• Promote integrated, whole-building design practices
• Stimulate green competition
• Transform the building market

The LEED rating system addresses six major areas:

• Sustainable sites
• Indoor environmental quality
• Water efficiency
• Materials and resources
• Energy and atmosphere
• Innovation and design process

There are different LEED versions having varied scoring systems based on a set of required "prerequisites" and a variety of "credits" in the six major categories listed above. In LEED v2.2 for new construction and major renovations for commercial buildings there are 69 possible points and buildings can qualify for four levels of certification:

• Certified - 26-32 points
• Silver - 33-38 points
• Gold - 39-51 points
• Platinum - 52-69 points

LEED certification is obtained after submitting an application documenting compliance with the requirements of the rating system as well as paying registration and certification fees. Certification is granted solely by the Green Building Council responsible for issuing the LEED system used on the project.

Here are some interesting links to explore

http://www.worldchanging.com/local/denver/archives/007100.html

http://www.greenprintdenver.org/green/LEED.php

http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/channelView.do?pageTypeId=8169&channelId=-16863

http://www.learn.colostate.edu/certificates/noncredit/green-building.dot

http://www.data360.org/dsg.aspx?Data_Set_Group_Id=1302

Contact us to find or list LEED certified properties for you.

First Friday Art Walk

2008-03-27T11:09:00.000-06:00

Experience the work of international, national and local artists in Denver's only multi-block art district, where viewers can easily walk to all the galleries. Within a six-block section of Santa Fe Drive area, from 5th Ave. to 10th Ave., you can enjoy over 30 participating galleries and artist studios joining the First Friday Art Walk (6-9 pm) every first Friday of the month, all year round. Cygnus Real Estate is among the action and has featured artists. Visit our office to talk real estate or just enjoy the art.

santa fe

2008-03-17T17:57:00.000-06:00

the anticipated redevelopment of santa is now coming of age. office condos, live work spaces and residential units are now becoming available for pre construction purchase. moving out of LODO has turned out be the right move for me. talk to me if you want find out why and why it could be right for you. contact me at kirk.campbell@Cygnusrealestate.com or my cell 303-523-8730.

A Mid-Century Masterpiece in the heart of Hill Top

2008-03-11T09:01:00.000-06:00

The residence at 275 South Eudora was designed by renowned architect Aaron Green, protégé and partner of Frank Lloyd Wright. Aaron Green ran Frank Lloyd Wright’s west coast practice and is oft described as the only disciple ever chosen to run the master’s practice.

The 1960’s era Denver home features all of the details for which both Wright and Green were best known. The house is long and low to the ground, built of brick and natural wood with a broad brick chimney. The plan is open and features walls of glass, which seem to obfuscate the boundary between the indoors and the outdoors. The 3 bedrooms and 3 baths are tucked off the main floor and provide just enough privacy without compromising the integrity of the open floor plan. Renovations and updating were completed in 2002 and included a large addition, a new Balthaup kitchen with Gaggenau and Subzero appliances and the addition of some magnificent tile work, as well as a state of the art home theater system, a Brunswick pool table and a personal steam room. Closets were updated, many were cedar lined and new custom doors of bird’s eye maple were added. A reflecting pool and Zen garden added to the professionally landscaped yard naturally complement the mid-century style of the home.

This is a must see for anyone who appreciates modern architecture or mid-century style.


Front Exterior	The outside, looking in...	Kitchen

Media room	Library	Master bedroom

To see more, go to the detail page.

View a virtual tour.

Off-Site Construction

2008-02-29T16:03:00.000-07:00

We used to call it pre-fab construction but that's not PC and it confuses people; it causes them to think of trailers with there wheels removed so now we say "off site construction," and there is more of it popping up around th emetro area than you realize. Of course now the buzz is in LEED Certification in off site construction. (see link http://www.nrdc.org/buildinggreen/leed.asp). The most notable builder of LEED certified pre-fabs, Michelle Kaufman who is bringing a project to the Regis area. However, there is another leader in LEEDS certified off site construction, Eco Urban Homes (http://www.ecourbanhomes.com/) and Cygnus is working hard to bring them to Denver. Watch for more details...

Cygnus Featured Listings

2008-02-28T15:57:00.000-07:00

Visit our featured listings on Realtor.com

Homes for sale
275 S Eudora Street Denver 80246
Eudora is a classic mid-century modern home in the Hilltop neighborhood of Denver. It is a must see.
1112 Kalamath St Denver 80204
Kalamath is a late Victorian house in the heart of the Santa Fe Arts District. Its a beautiful house to work or play in.

New Projects available for presale
78 Logan Denver 80203

Condos for sale
1631 Emerson St 407 Denver 80218
1021 Carr Street 35 Lakewood 80215
1021 Carr Street 26 Lakewood 80215
1021 Carr Street 36 Lakewood 80215
2360 Iliff 204 Denver 80210
2360 Iliff 202 Denver 80210
665 Washington 6C Denver 80203
665 Washington 1A Denver 80203
5995 Iliff Ave Denver 80222

Infill Opportunities
1668 Harrison St Denver 80206
1662 Jackson St. Denver 80206
3775 Lowell Blvd Denver 80211

Prairie Mod article

2008-01-31T09:43:00.000-07:00

Hey check out the editoral by Carole Rich on the PrairieMod.com website. You can find it here at this link http://prairiemod.typepad.com/prairiemod/2008/01/this-was-a-post.html#more. It also has a great article about architech Aaron Green.