Highlands Ranch CO Real Estate Blog

Highlands Ranch, CO, May 09, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- New data from Metrolist(R), the largest real estate multiple listing service (MLS) serving Colorado real estate agents, show another uptick in Denver Metro area home prices as inventories hit their lowest level in three years.

According to Metrolist, the provider of REcolorado.com, the average sales price for the Denver residential market jumped another 6% in April to $275,241. Metrolist's April data show notable increases in every important component, including sales pending contracts, sales under contract, and sales for single family homes, while days on market (DOM) continue to shrink.

According to Kirby Slunaker, Metrolist...

This is a really cool new iphone app called homesnap.  You can take a picture of any home whether it's for sale or not and it will give you an estimate of value.  If it's for sale, then it will bring up the mls listing information with pictures.

Take a look at the youtube video http://youtu.be/VKa-b8J7fFU.

According to the National Association of Realtors, a whopping 33% of all contracts were cancelled in January, 2012.  This is up from just 9% in January 2011. NAR says one of the primary reasons for these elevated levels of cancellations is due to low appraisals.

Looking to sell your home or do a refi? Then you may need to boost your appraisal.

Here’s how:

Check Comps

While it’s technically the appraiser’s job is to derive a base for your home’s value based on the recent sales prices of homes that are comparable to yours — comparable in terms of location, size, condition, and age (in this order) — you need to do your due diligence as well. Get about 6 comps ahead of time. Start your r...

Mike Valdez fits the profile of a savvy first-time homebuyer perfectly. A 34-year-old financial analyst from New Rochelle, N.Y., he and his family had grown sick of living the renter's life. So two years ago he decided to test the market and find a townhouse for his growing family. But despite his financial aptitude, he quickly ran into a setback.

"We found a place we liked and ran the numbers," he says, but the young couple soon discovered that they had underestimated the burden of their college debt. They were forced to back out.

Mike's lesson goes to the heart of what every first-time homebuyer needs to know -- buying a home means so much more than paying a mortgage.


Fix Your Credit

The fi...

Has the U.S. housing market hit a bottom? Do we have further to go? When will a recovery start? These are the questions every homeowner and real estate investor are currently asking themselves — or should be.

Everyone wants to buy a home that looks like a builder’s model.  Professional staging is often confused with interior design and actually, the two couldn’t be more different.  The goal of interior design for a residence is to personalize the space according to the tastes and preferences of the homeowner.  Staging is the opposite.  The professional stager’s job is to depersonalize the space and allow potential buyers to imagine themselves living there.

Light, bright, and airy still seems to be the best rule of thumb when preparing to sell a home.  Also, clean, uncluttered rooms provide the most appeal.

Did you know that most buyers make their buying decision within the first fifteen seco...

The Highlands Ranch Activity Guide is published three times a year.  Check out events, happenings, and classes for all ages.  Click here for the schedule: 

http://www.hrcaonline.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=ZZBKZMkARN8%3d&tabid=437

Highlands Ranch currently has 196 single family homes for sale ranging in price from $180,000 for a home in the Northridge area to $1,595,000 for a new home listed in Backcountry.

There are 55 condo/townhomes for sale ranging in price from $69,500 for a small condo in Sugarmill to more luxurious living in an attached home in Tresana for $626,690.

We have 14 foreclosure listings in the area, and for the patient buyer, there are 23 short sale homes for sale.

With mortgage rates today at 4.000% for a 30 year fixed rate and 3.750% for a 30 year fixed FHA, there has never been a better time to own a home or an investment property.

We are fortunate to have a restaurant in Highlands Ranch of such high caliber.  The Old Blinking Light in Town Center delivers with its’ fresh southwestern cuisine, hip modern décor, and great service.

On a recent visit, I ordered the New Mexico Red Chile Crusted Wild Salmon.  It came with cilantro green rice, calabacitas, pico de gallo and grilled lime.  If I was at home, I would be licking my plate!  Incredibly delicious and fresh.  My friends tried the Achiote Marinated Pork Loin and the Baja Style Fish Tacos and they raved about their food as well.  The next time I want to try their ribs...I hear they are the best.

They have a nice bar area and a warm glowing firepit on their outsid...

The word is out...you can now purchase one of Connie Love's famous cheesecakes online!  Connie Love is known by her family, friends, and school community for her delicious desserts.  Connie has created a website for her infamous cheesecakes.  I had the opportunity to try her pumpkin cheesecake and it was indeed the BEST cheesecake that I have ever tasted...and my family agreed.

Her location is Highlands Ranch and her website is http://www.lovescheesecakes.com.  She has over a dozen flavors available. 

Every time I was in Aurora, I found myself stopping by one of the two China Chef's for take out to bring home to my family for dinner.  I've been a fan of theirs since what...the 80's or early 90's?  Since I moved to Highlands Ranch in 2003, I always said to them that they should open a store down this way.

My wish was granted with the new Sunflower Asian Cafe opening earlier this year.  Located off of Broadway and Mineral in the Safeway shopping center (next to Baskin Robbins), this pearl of asian fare is not only delicious but really reasonable.  Their menu is the same as China Chef but with a new name.

We always order the egg rolls, pork dumplings, and my favorite...their wonton mixe...

4795 Waldenwood Drive  Highlands Ranch, CO. 80130  * Offered at $229,900 *

     A lifetime concrete tile roof comes with this darling 2-story Oakwood home.  Nice open floor plan with laminate hardwood flooring through out the living room and dining area. The living room has a cozy gas fireplace and an entertainment niche for your tv and stereo.  There are slab granite counters in the spacious kitchen along with tile floors and a new stainless steel refrigerator.  A full size washer and dryer are included in the convenient main floor laundry room.  The master bedroom has a walk-in closet and the master bath has a large oval soaking tub and dual sink counters. The south facing exposure and...

Doctors and Dentists Loan Program

This is an incredible new program.  It's a 90% loan to value with NO MORTGAGE INSURANCE up to $1,000,000!

Program Highlights:

*  Loan amounts up to ONE MILLION DOLLARS

*  90% Loan to Value *** With NO Mortgage Insurance

*  Credit Scores down to 680

*  Debt to Income ratios as high as 50%

*  Applicant must be out of their residency NO MORE THAN 7 YEARS

*  Purchase or Refinance

If you would like more information about this program, please call Robin at 303-593-1004 or email me at robin@robinhack.com

Sign up for a FREE MARKETWatch subscription and you will receive a weekly email update of all new homes that come on the market that week.  I also give you my "top 3 picks" each week.

Please send an email to me with "MARKETWatch subscription" in the subject line.  LivingInHighlandsRanch@gmail.com

We are excited to have a new free tuition charter school opening in the fall of 2011 in Highlands Ranch.  Stem Academy will start out with grades 6-9 and add another grade each year through grade 12. 

The mission of STEM School is to provide an integrated educational system of high standards to engage all students in an academically rigorous core curriculum, promoting a strong foundation in the sciences, technologies, engineering and math, relevant to real-world contexts, and building on respect and community assets to prepare students for successful post-secondary endeavors.  "Our goal is to encourage young men and women to study the Stem disciplines of science, technology, engineering,...

The Backcountry Wilderness Area of Highlands Ranch, what is it?

 The Backcountry is 1/3 of Highlands Ranch, making it one of the largest conservation

areas in Douglas County

 There are over 20 miles of natural surface trails within the Backcountry

 Much of the Backcountry is only accessible through guided tours

 The Backcountry is 13 square miles of wildlife habitat; bigger than Cherry Creek and

Chatfield State Parks combined.

 Roughly 250 elk live in the Backcountry of Highlands Ranch

 Eagles, Hawks, mountain lions, bears, bobcats, mule deer, owls, and wild turkey are also

residents in the Backcountry.

The Backcountry Wilderness Area of Highl...