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Marie Jones Takes to the City

Filed Under: Vacation Rentals by Admin — Comments Off
October 24, 2011

Lynn and I collected our luggage and headed for a cab. After waiting about fifteen minutes we were able to hale a cab that was not already taken. The cabby loaded our luggage into the trunk and off we went to our hotel.

Lynn and I were impressed with all the greenery. When we left Texas there was no living greenery to see. The sizzling Texas sun had dried everything. Here, there was green everywhere. Green soft grass, and trees. We had never seen trees like these. The trees were tall, not midget sized. And the grass looked very soft. We decided to walk on the grass with bare feet before we returned home.

We arrived at our hotel. The hotel was almost intimidating. It was very plush, more than what we had expected. Lynn looked at the hotel eagerly. I could see a hope for adventure on her face while I was wondering how the lighting would be for crocheting. We were whisked to our rooms and our clothes were unpacked for us and laid out on the beds. We were glad there were two queen-sized beds in our room. We hung up the clothes quickly and left to eat, stomachs growling.

We were tired of riding in cabs, so we called a car rental to pick us up from our vacation rental in Denver. The rental car was delivered within a half-hour. The rental car was a very nice Chevrolet Malibu. This was a car that one could use to travel a long distance. Now we had to find our way around town!

We had heard about the Strings Restaurant, we set our sites on Strings, and found it. We parked and went in the restaurant. There were all kinds of people there, jeans and tuxedos. We fit right in. The décor was very beautiful and relaxing. The food was excellent, we ordered the House-Ground Burger. The burger was very flavorful, excellently delicious. We ate until we thought we would bust.

We finished eating and left the restaurant, climbed back into the Malibu and drove back to the hotel. Lynn and I gratefully changed into comfortable pajamas and fell into our beds. I looked over at Lynn; she was asleep as soon as she lay down. I drifted off to sleep as I reviewed the events of the day. This was a very good day.

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Denver Housing Update

Filed Under: Real Estate News by Admin — Comments Off
October 19, 2011

A video I found for you guys, thought it may be handy for some of our potential home buyers out there.

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Mortgage Mania 19 – The Jumbo Strikes Back

Filed Under: Money by Admin — Comments Off
October 11, 2011

Amid all the celebration and hullabaloo associated with the recent drop in conforming interest rates as a result of the Treasury Department taking over management of GSE’s Fannie May and Freddie Mac, there has been scant analysis of the elephant in the room, namely Jumbo (aka non-conforming) loans that are part and parcel of home purchasing here in Silicon Valley.

The GSEs hold or have securitized nearly half — roughly $5 trillion — of all mortgages in the U.S., and in the current environment with private lender constraints, they account for the vast majority of all new mortgages in California.

This bailout (oops, did I say bailout?) removes much of the risk to lenders of writing mortgages for under $729,000 locally, decreasing to $649,000 next year, because they can resell these loans to the government backed and now managed GSE’s.

But what about loans over $729,000? Well, Wall Street and the secondary market will still be willing to buy those that are considered low risk (excellent credit score, low loan-to-value ratio, verifiable income), but they will demand a risk premium for those loans, meaning that rates are likely to go up, taking us back to the bifurcated market for rates that we have seen in previous years.

On his way to the SILVAR Golf Tournament yesterday, co-contributor and local mortgage banking hotshot Eric Trailer of Absolute Mortgage Bank in Palo Alto gave this quick analysis of where he sees rates going (paraphrased here):

If you know you can sell off a loan to a government backed agency, you have very low risk, so you demand a low interest rate. However, as risk increases you will demand a greater “risk premium” to hedge against not being able to sell that loan, or the buyer defaulting on that loan. Right now we are seeing investors who are willing to lend the 20% to take a buyer from a 20% down, 80% loan to a 100% loan, but at 15% with 5 or 6 points. That’s expensive money, which is why it is dubbed “hard money”, but it offsets the risk to the lender.

Eric thinks we could see Jumbo rates heading to the 8 – 9% region, which is still lower than in the 80’s, but the difference between a 6% loan and a 9% loan on $1,000,000 is $2500 a month just in interest.

Let’s do some math. If you have an 80% mortgage on a median priced home in Palo Alto ($1,921,214, source Altos Research). That is a mortgage of $1,536,971, and payments increasing from $7685 @ 6% to $11,527 @ 9%. That’s a lot of $4.25 a gallon gas!

So, if you are planning on buying a new home and you need to borrow more than $729,000 you may want to get out there looking sooner rather than later.

To learn more about the takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and what it means to your home purchase, check out a new video featuring California Association of Realtors Executive Vice President Joel Singer at http://www.car.org/newsstand/video-js-gse. In “Fannie and Freddie: Why They Matter to You,” Joel explains the often confusing but critical role Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac play in the housing market in clear and concise terms.

Thanks for reading . . .

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Summer 2007 Road Trip – Let’s Look at Rural Real Estate Offices

Filed Under: Real Estate News by Admin — Comments Off
August 31, 2011

This third post from the trip I thought I’d show everyone some different photos of rural Real Estate Offices from corporate housing denver through Santa Fe, New Mexico and to Pagosa Springs, Colorado. There were a handful of towns in far West Texas and Southern New Mexico where I tried to locate an office and couldn’t even find one. Maybe there is an opportunity there to start one for somebody?

I’ve always wondered how much the type of office makes a difference in a rural real estate business. I’ve seen every kind of office from downtown historic buildings and homes to humble cabins to brand new classy office spaces to trailer homes to primary homes to the back of pickup trucks. Along this trip the ones I was able to capture were on the beaten path cutting through rural towns. After all, what is the one thing that every Real Estate Professional says matters most – location, location, location.

There are two questions I wanted to get your input on as Buyers and Sellers of Rural Real Estate-

1.) Does location of a rural real estate office matter when buying and selling real estate?

2.) Does the quality of a rural real estate office matter when buying and selling real estate?

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Creating Custom Lanyards for Company Promotion

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August 14, 2011

When you want to get your brand and company logo out there, custom lanyards make a wonderful option. They are great if you are attending trade shows, since you can hand them out to prospective customers. You’ll also find that they are great as promotional giveaways, so you can give them to customers so they don’t forget about your company. Even your employers are sure to enjoy wearing lanyards, which can be done with your company logo and name as well. When you begin using custom printed lanyards for your employees, you’ll find that it can help to encourage team spirit from your employees, which is definitely important.

It is actually pretty easy to create an order for custom lanyards. In fact, you may even have some fun while you are doing this. Of course, there are a few simple steps that you need to follow when you are trying purchase custom options that you can use for company promotion.

The first step you need to take is figuring out your budget. You need to know how much money you can afford to spend on the lanyards you are purchasing. The good news is that there are options available that can fit almost any budget. Depending on your budget, you can choose cheaper materials, whether to go with one color or several colors, and you can choose the type of printing that is used for your lanyards.

When it comes to getting your logo on the lanyards, you have several options. Silk screening and dye sublimation are both options that can be used to imprint your logo and name on the lanyards. Silk screening is a good option if the lanyards are not going to be washed. Also, you won’t want to choose this option if the lanyards will be used every day. Dye sublimation is a better option for lanyards that will be used every day and washed. This type of imprinting uses a chemical process that makes the dye bond to the fabric, ensuring it will not rub off. Another option is to have the design and log actually woven into the fabric, although this is definitely going to cost you a bit more.

You’ll need to choose your printing color and the color of your material when you are creating your own custom lanyards. You have many different choices available to you. It’s definitely a great idea to go with the colors of your company, since you are creating lanyards that are going to be used for company promotion. Another consideration is the hardware that you want for the lanyards. Do you want to have a breakaway feature in case the wearer is grabbed by the lanyard at some point? Some other hardware options include badge reels, key rings, badge clips, and swivel hooks. Also, decide whether the lanyards will be printed on one side or on both sides. Keep in mind that more printing will end up costing you more money.

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Denver Solar Panel Systems

Filed Under: Denver Power by Admin — Comments Off
July 5, 2011

There are many different kinds of solar panel products available out on the market today. You have your rigid panels, ones that are rigid, come in a variety of different sizes, and can run your home, business, or RV. There are ones that are flexible, with the photovoltaic cells integrated over a flexible membrane, and these can be mounted on uneven surfaces, such as the top of a boat. There are also many different kinds of small solar panel systems, ones that are attached to clothing, backpacks, and even identification tags. Now days, with the leaps and bounds in solar technology, the sky can be the limits.

Now there are some things that you need to know about these systems. One of them is that the solar panel itself, while the power source, absorbing the sun’s energy and turning it into electricity, is only a part of the whole. One of the other major components is the voltage regulator. A voltage regulator keeps the panels output steady. When you have solar power going, there are constant variables that can change the output of the panel itself. At the middle of the day, the sun is putting out as much energy as possible, and your panel may be putting out a high charge. Without a voltage regulator, the panel can overcharge a battery, or overload the product it is powering.

The next thing about a solar panel power system is the storage device. Depending on the size of the panel, these can be marine batteries, down to some of the smallest lithium ion batteries you can imagine. These store the electricity, in direct current mode, to be used at a later time. For an example, solar power generators, which are becoming more and more popular, take the sun’s rays during the day, stored this energy in small batteries, and when the sun goes down, this energy is used to power the lights. How long the output lasts depends on the size of the panel, the capacity of the battery, and the kind of bulb being used in the light.

For those using solar panel systems for powering their homes, there is another major component as well. This is called the power inverter. The output of a solar panel is direct current, like that of a car battery. Most homes use alternating current, which is a higher voltage than DC current. What the power inverter does is convert low voltage electricity into high voltage electricity, which can then be used for your lights, powering your major appliances, etc.

Now while this seems a little complicated, unless you are hooking up a solar panel to your home or RV, you often don’t have to worry about all of these other factors. Small solar panels and systems have internal regulators, batteries and other electronics that are already integrated into the systems. For an example, if you are interested in buying small solar panels to charge or power your laptop or Iphone, the panels have their own electronics, all you have to do is plug them in and enjoy free energy from the sun. It isn’t until you get into residential and commercial solar applications that you have to start dealing with these other components, but it is still good to know what they are and what they do.

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Verona Walk

Filed Under: News, News, Real Estate News by Admin — Comments Off
June 2, 2011

VeronaWalk is a lakefront residential community in North Naples, Florida that has all the amenities one could ask for near the development. Single-family homes, patio homes,and town homes line this luxury community.

VeronaWalk is a gated development, with a guard posted 24 hours a day. Beyond the gates one finds an energetic community anchored by the town center, a fabulous building that serves as more than just a community meeting place. The VeronaWalk Homeowners’ Association provides all lawn and irrigation service to residents.

The amenities at Verona Walk are endless. For people looking for fitness, there is a lap pool, resort pool, bocce court, 8 lighted tennis courts, a playground, and a state-of-the-art fitness center that overlooks the housing development’s beautiful lake.

It also features miles of bicycling and hiking trails, which allow homeowners to view the wonderful landscape of the nature preserves and lakes, which are found throughout the development. Retail stores, restaurants and other services are also located throughout the development. Residents never have to go far for their shopping.

VeronaWalks is conveniently located in south Naples. Residents can enjoy a short drive to the Gulf of Mexico, where plenty of sunbathing, swimming, fishing and boating activities occur daily. Downtown Naples is within minutes, offering culture, shopping, dining and Floridian history.

Homes at VeronaWalks range in price from $165,000 to $475,500. This development is a popular one. Prices remain keen, even in a very competitive market. Not many other development have the combination that we have here, which always proves popular.

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The Vines

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May 31, 2011

Living at The Vines can enable you to improve your golf game, while ensuring a high standard of living. It is a golfing community that offers an international standard golf course combined with modern dwellings, in a tropical setting.

Its location in the center of Southwest Florida makes it ideal for getting out and about in the local area, or further afield. It is located in the heart of Estero with Fort Myers and Naples a short drive away. Major shopping and entertainment areas are also nearby.

Golfing remains the soul of the Vines, which has recently changed its name to Estero Country Club. The 18-hole golf course is designed by the world famous team of Gordon Lewis with enough attention being paid to environmental conservation.

A clubhouse offers sports and socializing opportunities for the residents. It has spacious dining rooms in casual and formal settings. Tennis courts with training facilities offer you a chance to improve your game. A temperature-controlled swimming pool is available along with men’s and women’s locker rooms, spa, and sauna. A fitness center and gym adds to the facilities on offer.

The gated community offers 440 residences, which are a mix of single family homes, coach homes, villas, and condos. A two-bedroom condo in the Vines can be purchased for $200,000. A three-bedroom condo is available at an average price of $250,000.

The Vines has low-rise condos with modern architecture that emphasizes on a sense of openness. A two-bedroom single family home can be had for $300,000. A three-bedroom home is available for purchase at an average price of $425,000. A three-bedroom attached villa is available for $325,000.

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Breaking a Lease Without Penalty In a Denver Short Term Rental

Filed Under: Denver Short Term Rental, Real Estate News by Admin — Comments Off
April 15, 2011

The Denver short term rentals market is picking up, properties are being sold again and we are slowly emerging from the broke stupor that we all lived in for four years. Our rental market has always been quite fluid. The Denver corporate rental market is one of those that kept real estate the right side of the red over the past years.

With increased rentals comes increased competition. Landlords want the absolute most rental income possible, and tenants want the best deal. With that comes complications. As a tenant, it’s your responsibility to maintain the period of the lease and pay on time. However, in the real world, things happen. There may come a time when you need to break a lease. So what happens?

A lease is a contract between you and your landlord. The landlord has to provide the property in good condition and keep it so for the term of the lease. You have to leave the property as you found it, look after it and pay the rent on time. As with any contract, there is a penalty for breaking it. Sometimes, there will be a penalty, othertimes there won’t.

For example: If you get called up for active duty. If you weren’t on duty at the time of signing the lease you’re protected by law from any penalties. The Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Act ensures you can break the lease without penalty. Many states also have further protections for servicemen.

If the property is rendered uninhabitable during your stay, you can break the lease without penalty.We don’t have many natural disasters in Denver. Rental properties don’t fall into holes in the ground, or get swept away. The wind from the mountains might shake them a bit occasionally, or lightning might strike in the summer, but that’s about it.

Uninhabitable means the situation seriously impacts the living quality you signed up for. That damage must be through no fault of your own.

It’s also possible to avoid penalties of breaking a lease if your health deteriorates so you can’t live there anymore. Different states have different rules, so it’s worth checking if you don’t live in Denver. Rented properties are often apartments. So for example, if you lost the use of your legs and there wasn’t an elevator, or your health deteriorated to the point that you needed assisted living you can break the lease without penalty.

There is also failings of the landlords to consider too. If they don’t live up to their obligations and it seriously impacts your quality of life, then it’s possible to break the lease without penalty. That also includes invasion of privacy or spoiling your right to quiet life.

We certainly wouldn’t suggest arbitrarily breaking the lease. A conversation or mediation with the landlord is certainly the preferred option. However, don’t feel trapped into a lease if things aren’t working out the way you had hoped.

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Devonwood Estates

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March 9, 2011

Devonwood Estates is a luxurious, private, gated community consisting of only 55 single-family houses. It is located on US-41 in South Fort Myers, south of 6-Mile Cypress Parkway.

Devonwood offers country-style living on house sites in a special close-to-town setting. The development is surrounded by natural landscape and all 55 homes are one or more than one acres in size to provide every family the space they require to enjoy life to the fullest. Devonwood Estates caters to the needs of equestrian families by offering arenas and facilities for riding and boarding horses.

Devonwood Estates features single family houses specifically designed for executive families. The available homes are spectacular in their appearance and offer first class details like imported Turkish marble, cherry wood flooring, Koi pond, crown molding, gourmet kitchens, saltwater pool, special outdoor cabinets with granite countertops, Travertine marble and much more.

The residences range from three to five beds and three to seven baths. Their sizes range from 2838 to 6967 square feet and price starts from $746,000 to more than $2 million. The development is often described as the premier executive neighborhood in the Fort Myers region of SouthWest Florida.

Amenities at Devonwood include a general boat launch at Hendry Creek that provides easy access to the gulf. Residents can also benefit from a five-acre lake, RV storage, boat storage, basketball courts and tennis courts. In short, for those looking for a charming community that offers all the modern facilities needed for high-end country living, then Devonwood Estates is one of the best.

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