Here's to Hope and $ in Your Pocket

This week's Wednesday Wake-Up for Denver Real Estate discusses the 2010 housing market outlook and the continuation of the tax credit for home buyers.



If you have a question you want answered on the Wednesday Wake-Up contact me at 303-766-7747 or greg@TheAndersonTeam.com

Wednesday Wake-Up: Preparing Your House to Sell

If you have a question you'd like answered on the Wednesday Wake-Up contact me at greg@TheAndersonTeam.com or 303-766-7747. Have a great day. Greg

Let There Be Light

Out showing houses today ... I bet you wish you had this beauty in your dining room! I swear, it was about as big as me. Not quite what you expect to see in the suburbs.

Wednesday Wake-Up: Short Sales

What in the heck is a short sale and how can it affect me?



If you have a question you'd like answered on the Wednesday Wake-Up contact me at greg@TheAndersonTeam.com or 303-766-7747. Have a great day. Greg

I am a Realtor. I am a Therapist.

They were moving to Denver from somewhere else. It doesn’t matter where - just someplace with bigger lots and lower prices. They were a good looking young couple. He was kinda serious and she was bubbly with enthusiasm. They had three kids, a dog ... and a problem.

He said: “We want a house in the country - lots of land for the kids and privacy for me.”

She said: “We want to be near the city - nice convenient commute and close to shopping.”

He said: “How about at least two acres in the metro area?

She said: “That sounds perfect!”

I said: “We better triple your price range!”

Well, the price range was not going anywhere. But we were. He prevailed and so we piled into my mobile office (that’s what I call my car - I like to think it helps my wife stomach my taste in fine autos if I remind her it’s my office - I don’t think it really works) and headed southeast.

If you want acreage on the south side of metro Denver and your price range is $200,000 max you head southeast ... go a little farther ... now a little farther still ... can you see Elizabeth? Do I have a Kiowa anyone? Elbert? Yes, that’s the ticket.

So we headed out. South on I-25 to Castle Rock. Then east on 86 toward Elizabeth. The clock was ticking. The odometer was spinning.

He said: “Wow, this is going to be a long commute to my Tech Center office.”

She didn’t say anything, just stared with a dropped jaw at the country, the horses, the tractors. Then she said: “Now, where did you say the mall is?”

A few barns and several county road intersections later he was still into it. She lost it three equestrian centers ago. He wanted to keep going - at least look at some properties out there. She told him no. Actually she told him: “NOOOOOOO!” Their conversation got a little heated. OK, they were yelling at each other. I let them go at it for a bit, then pulled the mobile office to the side of the road.

We discussed how finding a house that works for all the family members is conducive to a long, happy marriage. They agreed. We flipped an illegal U-turn and headed back. They canoodled in the back seat the whole way. We found a house in the suburbs with a larger-than-normal lot. The kids have room to run. It’s an easy commute for him. Oh yeah ... it’s close to the mall.

Wednesday Wake-Up: Interest Rates Up

Every Wednesday the blog will feature a video with answers to real estate questions. Here's the first. Hope you enjoy it.



If you have a question you'd like answered on the Wednesday Wake-Up contact me at greg@TheAndersonTeam.com or 303-766-7747. Have a great day. Greg

Victoria's (should stay) Secret

It was a beautiful, sunny Colorado day -- what day isn’t beautiful and sunny here? Well there is the occasional blizzard that shuts down the city for a few days, but sun always follows the snow. Case in point was the nearly two feet of snow we had dumped on us a month ago that melted after a few 70-degree beauties. Anyway, I digress.

It was a beautiful, sunny Colorado day when my clients and I entered a house that was for sale. It was a sweet little 1960s ranch in southwestern Denver. Some updating. Priced pretty well for the market. Nice size yard. Big kitchen. Huge picture of the lady of the house in a negligee. Two full baths.

Wait a second. Back it up. Yes, you read it correctly. We walked into the living room and there it was, in all its glory hanging over the sofa -- a 2’x3’ glamour shot of this woman in a teddy. Now, I’m all for personal expression, but please, not to the whole world. I mean, this was not Victoria’s Secret quality (not that I would know anything about that ... ). And even if it was ... the living room?!

So when I asked my clients if they could see themselves in this home, his response was, “Not with that picture on the wall!” And there lies the problem with so many listings: they aren’t presented in a way that will make them appeal to the largest possible group of buyers. Yes, your little girl’s pink and purple room is adorable ... now let’s get it painted a neutral color. Sure, that wood paneling was popular in the 70s ... please, please get it updated. Certainly, your husband/boyfriend/neighborhood stalker enjoys looking at that picture on your living room wall ... may I suggest this nice Monet print?

We are in a challenging housing market. But not an impossible one. Houses that are prepared to show in their best light and are priced appropriately will sell. I’ve been in about 15,000 homes over my years in real estate -- I think I’ve got it pretty well figured out as to what works and what doesn’t. So put the negligee shot in storage -- I’ll help you find the perfect new house with a wall that is just right ... .