Colorado Named Among Country’s Happiest States
Colorado Named Among Country’s Happiest States
Colorado has been named among the happiest states in the country. The 2009 Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index conducted interviews with 350,000 American adults. The well-being score was calculated from the average of six sub-categories, including life evaluation, emotional health, work environment, physical health, healthy behavior, and basic access.
Other high-ranking “happy” states included Hawaii, Utah, Montana, Minnesota, Iowa and Vermont.
It’s easy to see why people are happy living in Colorful Colorado – our state offers endless recreational, professional, and cultural opportunities, along with some of the most beautiful scenery in the country.
For information on Denver real estate , please contact TeamCox Realtors at 303-400-6060.
TeamCox Realtors – Treating our clients’ real estate transactions as if they were our own.
An Endorsement for Todd Miller – Candidate for Mayor of Centennial, Colorado
An Endorsement for Todd Miller – Candidate for Mayor of Centennial, Colorado
Centennial, Colorado, needs a mayor that is experienced in the inner workings of the city and understands the needs of its citizens. I can think of no one more qualified to do this than candidate Todd Miller. During my acquaintance with Todd, as both a council member and Mayor ProTem, I have found Todd to be knowledgeable, open to ideas I have brought forth and sensitive to the budget. I believe Todd’s experience with Centennial makes him the most qualified candidate to lead our city during this time of economic uncertainty and budget cutbacks. He will do so with an eye on future growth and development as well as a long-term vision for our city. Voters, please help move the City of Centennial forward by helping to elect this fiscally responsible candidate.
For more information on Centennial, Colorado, please contact TeamCox Realtors – Denver real estate specialists – at 303-400-6060.
Aurora, Colorado, Recently Recognized as an “All-American City!”
Aurora was recently named a finalist for the National Civic League's prestigious '2008 All-America City Award”
Grab Some Apple Pie and a Baseball Glove and Check Out Aurora, Colorado ~ a Truly “American” City!
TeamCox Realtors would like to congratulate Aurora, Colorado, recently named as one of the 17 finalists for the National Civic 
League’s prestigious “2008 All-America City Award.” Aurora was chosen for this highly-coveted award based on its commitment to community betterment through civic engagement. The winner of the "2008 All-America City Award" will be named in June.
The Aurora real estate market offers homebuyers a diverse mix of properties at various price points. Whether you are searching for a home in one of the up and coming neighborhoods surrounding the new Anschutz Medical Campus, or near the thriving Southlands area, Aurora is bound to have a property that will fit all of your needs!
For more information on living in Aurora, Colorado, please contact TeamCox Realtors – your Denver real estate experts at 303-400-6060.
Related Links
Search the Denver MLS for Aurora Properties
Where are the Hot Spots in the Denver Real Estate Market?
Aurora's 80016 & 80010 Among Denver Zip codes with the Highest Appreciation in the Denver Real Estate Market!
Southlands Takes Suburban Development to a Whole New Level
Aurora's Southlands is one of the Denver Area's Best-Kept Secrets
Anschutz Medical Campus Breathing New Life into Surrounding Areas
Neighborhoods Surrounding New Medical Center Prime Target for Real Estate and Revitalization
A White Christmas for Denver, Colorado!
Denver Residents Wake up to Fresh Snow on Christmas Morning!
Denver, Colorado, was truly a picturesque site today as everyone woke up to a completely unexpected snowstorm. And, the snow just kept falling all day! Many Denver area neighborhoods saw up to 6-10 inches of beautiful fresh powder to compliment their Christmas festivities. Believe it or not, snow has only fallen in Denver on Christmas only 13 times in the last 106 years. Today did not disappoint those who were dreaming of a white Christmas.
While the snow created a glitch in holiday plans, it was truly a wonderful Christmas treat and just one more reminder of why we live in beautiful (and white!) Colorado.
Merry Christmas from TeamCox Realtors!
Related Links
Denver Area Community Spotlight – Lone Tree, Colorado
Lone Tree, Colorado, one of the most popular communities in the Denver metro area, continues to thrive in the wake of the struggling Denver real estate market.
Lone Tree’s motto of, "It is a great day to be in Lone Tree," is certainly ringing true these days. It is easy to understand why construction is still booming in Lone Tree. The Douglas County town’s attractiveness to homebuyers and developers alike stems from its top-notch location that offers convenient access to the new light rail system, the state of the art Sky Ridge Medical Center and the renowned Park Meadows Mall. Here are just a few more reasons why, "It’s a Great Day to be in Lone Tree!"
RidgeGate: RidgeGate, the sought-after Lone Tree development that is self-described as a New Urbanist community, is simply booming. According to a recent article in the Douglas County News Press, there are big plans for RidgeGate including 1,100 new housing units and more than half a million square feet of office and retail space.
RidgeGate Parkway Interchange: Construction has broken ground on the new I-25 interchange to be located approximately one mile south of the overcrowded Lincoln Avenue interchange. The new interchange, slated to be completed during the spring of 2009, will provide direct access to the Sky Ridge Medical Center and will offer much relief to a very congested area. Commonwealth Heights: Lone Tree’s new Commonwealth Heights, a $200 million development located just north of the Lone Tree Recreation Center, spans 25 acres and will offer four different types of housing. Park Meadows: Lone Tree officially annexed Park Meadows Mall (and all of those tax dollars!) in 2007. New Lone Tree Elementary: The brand new, Lone Tree Elementary, part of the Douglas County School District, opened in August of 2007. This innovative elementary school utilizes the Integrated Thematic Instruction (ITI) method in addition to the groundbreaking magnet programs. Magnet areas under consideration include Arts and Culture, Math and Science, Microsociety and Performing Arts.
It is certainly a great day to be in Lone Tree! For more information regarding Lone Tree real estate, please contact TeamCox Realtors.
Related Links
Search for Lone Tree Real Estate
Denver Area Community Spotlight - Stapleton (Denver, Colorado)
Denver Area Community Spotlight - Pradera (Parker, Colorado)
The Ten Best Reasons To Live in Colorful Colorado
A Few of My Favorite Things about Life in Colorado!
The Ten Best Reasons To Live in Colorful Colorado
These Are a Few of My Favorite Things about Life in Colorado!
10. The World’s Best Indian Summer
9. Aspen, CO.
8. Independence Pass
7. Golden Aspen
6. The Roaring Fork River
5. Crisp Mountain Air
4. Azure Blue Skies
3. My Favorite (not named) Fishing Lake
2. Winter’s First Snowfall (October 2, 2007)
1. The Colorado Rockies!!
Eco-Broker Course Completed
Ongoing Continuing Education in Colorado
Finally, I have completed the course work and passed the exam for the highly regarded Eco-Broker course. This has taken me much longer than I thought it would. It was my choice to take the course online rather than in the company’s facility in beautiful and picturesque Evergreen, Colorado. I felt that it would be more time-efficient to take the course by internet and to be able to "come and go" as time permitted.
What is Eco-Broker, you ask? Eco-Broker is the real estate certification designed to educate the real estate practioner in environmental issues. If you have read previous articles I have written, you know that this is a subject that I am especially fond of. My newly acquired knowledge will allow me and our team to better advise both buyers and sellers in both the purchase and maketing of their homes. If you have questions regarding energy-related or environmental issues, please give a TEAMCOX member a call. If we are not qualified to answer your question directly, we have qualified professonals that we can refer you to!
Colorado Weather Can Deliver a Beating to Your Entry Door
Denver, Colorado Weather Was Especially Brutal This Winter
When we drive up to your home, the buyers in the car are getting their first overall impression of your home. The central point of their first impression is your front door. From the curb, they see the style. It is part of the big picture. It door might be leaded glass, it could have sidelights, perhaps the door will have decorative details and glass panels. The central focus from 50 feet is the front door.
As we walk closer, the door becomes even more the focal point. It is customary for most Realtors to ring the doorbell, even on vacant home (perhaps force of habit) and stand back and wait 20 to 30 seconds for any type of a response. It is during this period of waiting that both real estate agent and client take a backward step. We look up. We look to both sides and we look downward. It is almost reflective. If you asked us what we were all looking for, we would almost certainly say, "Oh, nothing."
Actually, we are unconsciously "sizing up" the joint. As a very experienced agent, I can almost always tell, with an almost certain degree of accuracy, what the home will be like inside. It is always about attention to detail.
Denver’s weather was notoriously bad this past winter and it shows up quickly on the entry door. Just because Colorado ’s winter was especially brutal, does not mean you must live with the after effects. Knowledgeable, motivated sellers know to check carefully their entry way. A meticulous entryway sets the stage and builds on the expectation.
I had the opportunity yesterday to show a home that intuitively I knew from the doorway the home would be in extremely good condition. As we stood outside with the obligatory 20 – 30 second pause, I noted that this 20 year old home had recently had all of the hardware replaced. The brass kick plate on the lower portion of the door was also new. I glanced up at the sidelights and in the door corners. No tell tale wintry cobwebs to be seen. Glancing downward, no dead bugs. The glass sparkled. The doorbell was in good working order (some are not).
The homeowners had taken the message. The real estate agent did not need to hang one of those subjective sign riders "Immaculate" or "I am Beautiful". Our senses told us from the front door that this home would be especially nice.
Once inside, our hunches were confirmed. The music was playing softly, there was a gentle aroma of Potpourri, the lighting had been set and the furnishings were lovely. Yes, you can tell all of this almost from the curb!!
If you have questions about how to get your home ready for the market with low-cost ideas, feel free to give us a call. We will be happy to send you our report, "Getting You Home in Shape to Sell". There is no obligation, of course.
Denver Colorado New Construction Report
A New Home in Denver on Your Horizon
Buying a new home in Denver, Colorado might be a little more difficult in 2007 than 2006. If you were shopping new construction in 2006, many of the builders would have literally done handsprings to earn your business. Ammenities that had previously been upgrades were literally free for the taking. It is reported that 25% of the new home contracts fell out. If you were in a position to take advantage of picking up the pieces from one of those "fallen contracts", you might have cashed in on all of their agreed to upgrades at no increase to you. Just take it off the builder’s hands – PLEASE!! Often in 2006, when TeamCox accompanied buyers into new construction, we were heroes to both the builder and the home buyer. We were able to negotiate in our client’s interest better than in many previous years. Well, that was then and this is now 2007. The builders have cleaned almost all of that inventory and have few if any spec homes sitting around. New builds are done by contract only and delivery is six to nine months down the road. Building permits are down a whalloping 30%. This from a recent Rocky Mountain News article:
There were 11,183 permits issued for single-family homes in the Denver area in 2006, compared with 15,988 permits issued in 2005, according to the Home Builders Association of Metro Denver.
In 1992, 11,032 permits were issued. While there was a 35.5 percent drop in permits in 1987, that also included condos because the HBA didn’t break out homes and condos at that time, said Mike Rinner, vice president of the Genesis Group, which tracks Front Range housing.
The report also showed that apartment construction activity rose by more than 275 percent but started from a low base, with developers pulling permits for 1,727 units in 2006, compared with 460 in 2005.
Condo, townhome and duplex activity rose by 14 percent to 5,311. A total of 18,221 permits were pulled for homes, condos and apartments in 2006, a 13.6 percent drop from the 21,090 permits pulled in 2005.
Separately, Genesis reported 8,286 new-home sales in 2006, a 27 percent drop from the 11,412 in 2005. Townhome and condo sales fell 9 percent to 5,647 in 2006 from 6,187 in 2005.
Those numbers include the 25 percent of the homes that builders put under contract but didn’t close, in many cases because prospective buyers were unable to sell their existing homes, Rinner said.
Both Rinner and Roger Reinhardt, head of the Denver HBA, said the permit activity is good for the market. Reinhardt said the decline was "anticipated and even healthy."
Housing activity in 2005, 2006
Year No. of permits
2006 11,183 single-fam.
2005 15,988 single-fam.
• Down 30 percent
While this news may be disappointing to some home buyers who cannot wait for a new build, this will certainly clear the way for many homeowners to sell their homes without the pressure brought on them by the unabated new construction.
Related Links
Denver Colorado Real Estate Market Update
Metro Denver Real Estate Market Awakens
Metro Denver Real Estate Market Report – January 2007
We have been watching some interesting developments in the Denver market that we think you might want to be aware of.
During the last quarter, new listings are sharply down. In the past year, there have been plenty of sellers that put properties on the market with the thought that “if we can get a good price, we’ll move up”. Those Realtors that took these over-priced listings and the unrealistic sellers were not successful. In 2007 there have been an unprecedented numbers of homes that expired, were withdrawn or worse yet, still remain stale on the market. In most neighborhoods, all you have to do is look around to see first-hand examples. Adding to the “clutter” is a spate of foreclosed properties.
In recent months, less than serious sellers seem to have understood that the market has been more difficult than they had anticipated. If those sellers are serious, they have usually spiffed up their home and gotten it priced right. It’s always about price and once a home is priced correctly—it will sell. I have never seen a piece of unsaleable real estate. I have seen plenty of unrealistic sellers!
Its been said that real estate is never as good a deal as it is today and it appears, despite the national news about our economy and the regional newspaper coverage of the foreclosure glut, that right now is the time to invest in metro Denver. TeamCox sincerely believes that given the unabated hiring binge that Denver has been on, the increased wages reflected in those pay checks, the huge sales and leasing of commercial real estate both in Denver and in all four metro quadrants, the Lockheed Boeing relocation all combined with our wonderful lifestyle and weather (well normal winters) have the housing market poised for a dramatic turn around.
Here is some really interesting information on the Denver metro market:
• Denver-based Qwest was ranked “Best Internet Services Provider and “Best
Web Hosting Business” by business customers in a recent issue of Spokane
Business Catalyst magazine.
• Seven Colorado cities were named in the Top 10 Most Technologically Advanced Cities in the US by the Center for Digital Government. Aurora, Colorado Springs, Lakewood, Westminster, Arvada, Pueblo and Boulder all made Top 10 lists based on population size.
• Boulder topped a list of “America’s Smartest Cities,” based on the percentage of
the population with at least a bachelor’s degree, according to a survey posted at Forbes.com. The Fort Collins/Loveland metro area finished seventh on the list.
• Colorado restaurant sales are forecast to top $8 billion in 2007 – a 6.4% gain that ranks 6th in the nation. The national average is 5%.
• Denver International Airport was the 6th-busiest airport in the US based on the
number of 2006 flights, according to the FAA. By number of passengers, DIA
ranks fifth through September. With 3.95 million travelers, October was the 18th
straight month setting a passenger record.
• South Suburban Parks and Recreation’s tennis program has been awarded the
2006 USTA Member of the Year based on customer service, facilities,
programming and tournament growth.
• Denver was the 6th-most popular travel destination in 2006 according to the
Orbitz Insider Index. The top five were Chicago, Las Vegas, New York, Orlando
and Los Angeles.
On a less-than-scientific gage, we are suddenly busier with buyer activity than we have been in a very long time. Other Realtors that I have spoken with echo the same phenomena. We’ll have to see how 2007 plays out. Right now, early indicators say that the Denver metro real estate market may have made the turn. We may be on the way up from the flat market we have been in for the past five years.
If a new home is in your plans, there may be no matter time. Rates are still historically low, prices have not gone up and sellers seem to have become more realistic. What ARE you waiting for? We are here to answer any questions you have concerning the Denver real estate market. Give a TeamCox member a call at 303-400-6060, we love to share our knowledge – there is and never will be any obligation.