Jude's Real Estate Blog

How to Win a Bidding War and Win Your Home

Jude Sandvall, 720-255-1021 (Brokers Guild) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:34:45 -0800

How to Win a Bidding War and Win Your Home

So you’ve figured out your home buying budget, you’ve got your financing in order, and you know what’s most important to you when checking out homes for sale. And maybe, just maybe, you’ve met one. And fallen in love.

So it’s time to propose… or rather, make an offer! Even though the market is generally depressed, the shortage of quality listings can make for intense competition. So if you’re not in the market for a short sale or fixer-upper, you should expect competition. Just think: how excited were you when you found this ideal home with a great value for the square footage or a prime location? You can bet that someone else was excited, too.

At this point, you may feel anxious or discouraged. We can’t offer that much over the asking price, you might say. Your realtor’s® guidance will be critical now. Their job will be to help you navigate the offer process, keep you aligned with your budget, and provide a steady perspective.

Just like a Republican primary, money does talk, but it’s definitely not everything. In addition to offering the highest you can (and no more), there are some other strategies you can employ to win the home you have your heart set on.

1. Think Fast

Getting your offer in quickly has huge advantages. Your speediness reflects on your organization, and in turn, reflects to the seller that you will likely be an easy close. So before you even make an offer, you need to be ready. Get pre-approved for your home loan, if possible. If you know it’s the one, don’t hesitate and submit an offer.

The Wall Street Journal has a great story about a couple who lost a few bidding wars when looking for a home for sale in Nevada, but then succeeded due to their speediness: “Ms. Corriera called the seller's agent within minutes and found out where she lived. She hand-delivered the offer, with a condition: The seller had three hours to respond. The plan -- aimed at precluding a bidding war -- worked. The Kowalczyks got the house.”

2. Cut Conditions

When it comes to eliminating appraisals (if you’re buying with cash), inspections, or major home repairs, you should definitely consult your realtor® before deciding to forgo them. A lot of people would argue that an inspection should never be waived while others say that leaving the inspection out is how they won their home. It really depends on the specific listing, its general condition, and your willingness to take a big risk.

3. Get Personal

Writing a letter to accompany your offer may be the secret weapon you need to edge out other offers. This totally depends on the sellers. A seller who wants cash, wants it fast, and wants the most won’t likely be swayed by a heartfelt note. A family who is attached to the home, and for whom this sale is not just a financial transaction but a changing of the guard, could be persuaded by a letter. If you write one, explain 1) who you are, 2) why you love the home, and 3) why you would fit as the next owners of the home for sale.

Jesse and Elizabeth of Oakland, California won their current home in this way. “The approach I took was to emphasize enthusiasm, personality, and the fact that we appreciated how they took care of the house—and that we wanted to do the same,” says Elizabeth. “It was evident that the former owners loved the house and had spent a lot of time on it.”

Part of the reason they decided to write the letter (in addition to bidding over the asking price) is that their realtor® tipped them off to the existence of seven other offers! Although they placed a competitive offer, they won the house even after being outbid by someone else. “According to the selling agent, there was an offer higher than ours, but our letter made us stand out as good people to assume ownership of the house.” The dollar amount is not the be-all end-all of a home sale, but the combination of a competitive offer with other bidding strategies and a savvy real estate expert can seal the deal.

4. Give Extra

Assuming you’re offering your best, a little extra can mean money or time. Just like at any auction, sometimes it pays to round up a bit. Sellers can be stressed by the offers, especially if a bidding war begins, and often decide to take the highest offer for easiness as well as making the most of their investment.

Offering more up front in the form of the earnest money deposit speaks volumes. Another strategy is to “rough up” the offer amount like the Demneys: “After deciding that $475,000 was the highest they wanted to pay for the space, they tacked on another $1,000 and made their offer. They found out from their realtors their offer trumped the rival bid by exactly $1,000.”

Finally, offering a little extra time for the sellers to move can also help your offer appear more attractive. As with everything else we’ve discussed, it all depends on your situation as well as the situation of the seller. There’s no telling what they may need, though your local realtor® may be able to give you some insight. If you’re lucky, it will be a match made in heaven.

Sources: Wall Street Journal, personal interview

Aurora, CO Animal Shelter - Featured Pet

Jude Sandvall, 720-255-1021 (Brokers Guild) — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 16:45:01 -0800

Aurora, CO Animal Shelter - Featured Pet

Tulo (ID# A137165) is a 1-year old, male, Lynx Point Siamese available for adoption at the Aurora Animal Shelter (15750 E. 32nd Avenue)

Provided by: Cheryl Conway

Tulo (ID# A137165) is a one-year old, male, Lynx Point Siamese. This friendly and affectionate cat was brought to the Aurora Animal Shelter for safekeeping when he was found foraging for food as a stray. Barely past kittenhood, Tulo is playful but calms nicely when playtime is over. He gets along with other cats, making him an ideal adoption candidate. He'll fit well into a family as an only cat; or make an excellent companion for a family with other felines. Don't look past these gorgeous blue eyes: come in and spend some time with Tulo. We know you'll want to take him home! Call 303-326-8280 for additional adoption information or go online to www.auroragov.org/animal for pictures and information on other shelter pets. Remember to purchase a city pet license while online.

SHELTER TIP: A good trick for teaching cats to stay off areas you consider 'off-limits' (perhaps countertops, furniture, etc.) is to cover the surface with aluminum foil. Felines dislike the texture and quickly learn to avoid the areas you've covered, making this a short-term lesson with long-lasting results. Laying carpet running upside down (so the nubby side is up), also works well for both cats and dogs to keep them off an area.

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Lyric Opera of Aurora, CO presents it's first holiday concert.

Jude Sandvall, 720-255-1021 (Brokers Guild) — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 16:30:36 -0800

Lyric Opera of Aurora, CO presents it's first holiday concert.

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first < bac

Lyric Opera of Aurora's founder and General Director, Lucinda Roses ( third from right) with Lyric Opera of Aurora's singers.

Provided by: Lyric Opera of Aurora

Lyric Opera of Aurora will be presenting it's first holiday
concert on Tuesday December 14, 2010 at 8 pm. at
Bethany Lutheran Church located in Cherry Hills Village on
E. Hampden Ave.

The musical program will consist of a mix of old world
classical Christmas music together with more
contemporary favorites the whole family will enjoy. The
lushness of the music will be set against the backdrop of
the beautifully decorated sanctuary of Bethany Lutheran
Church. This is sure to be a very special evening for the
entire family.

Tickets are only $5 general admission and can be
purchased by logging onto www.brownpapertickets.com
or by calling 1-800-838-3006.

Read more: http://denver.yourhub.com/Aurora/Stories/Arts-Culture/Story~905721.aspx

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NAR: Record share of first-time buyers

Jude Sandvall, 720-255-1021 (Brokers Guild) — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 16:07:04 -0800

NAR: Record share of first-time buyers - First-time homebuyers accounted for half of all home sales from July 2009 through June 2010, according to a National Association of Realtors survey of buyers and sellers. That's the highest share of first-time-buyer purchases in the history of the survey, which dates back to 1981. First-time buyers responding to the survey made up 47% of sales in 2009. The vast majority of first-timers - 93% - participating in the survey, and almost three-quarters of all buyers - 71% - responding to the survey participated in a federal homebuyer tax credit program. Read full article:
http://www.inman.com/news/2010/11/8/nar-record-share-first-time-buyers

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Jude Sandvall comments on HUD’s First Look on 9News Denver, CO

Jude Sandvall, 720-255-1021 (Brokers Guild) — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 18:09:15 -0700

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Jude Sandvall's Aurora, CO Park Reviews - Wagon Trail Park (Pheasant Run)

Jude Sandvall, 720-255-1021 (Brokers Guild) — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 13:49:00 -0700

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Watch Jude Sandvall Sunday night on 9News – KUSA Denver

Jude Sandvall, 720-255-1021 (Brokers Guild) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:30:23 -0700

Watch Jude Sandvall Sunday night on 9News – KUSA Denver commenting on the governments latest meddling in the real estate market.

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Community College of Aurora observatory open to the public on September 10

Jude Sandvall, 720-255-1021 (Brokers Guild) — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 16:58:09 -0700

The community is invited to participate in a Public Observatory Night at the Community College of Aurora at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 10. The public is invited to come out and see various deep sky objects through the only public observatory in Aurora.

The event includes a talk in CCA’s Fine Arts Building Forum, as well as observing through the telescope (weather permitting).

Two other public observatory nights will be held at CCA this fall: at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 15, and at 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 12. Each event is free and open to the public.

Public observatory nights will take place at 16000 E. CentreTech Parkway, Aurora. For more information and for the times and dates of future observatory nights, see http://www.ccaurora.edu/observatory/index.shtml.

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Denver Metro Short Sales Soar

Jude Sandvall, 720-255-1021 (Brokers Guild) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:23:29 -0700

Short Sales Soar – In the first seven months of 2010, short sales in the Denver metro area rose by 48%, compared with the same period in 2009, according to an analysis of data by InsideRealEstateNews. During this time period there were 2,270 completed single-family home short sales, almost a 42% increase from the 1,610 a year ago, according to Metrolist. Most of the short sales were for single-family, detached homes. Condo short sales skyrocketed 88%, although the actual numbers were much smaller – 476 in January through July this year, compared with 253 a year ago. Read full article:

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Aurora Quest K-8 Hosts China Exchange Students

Jude Sandvall, 720-255-1021 (Brokers Guild) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:19:21 -0700

Aurora Quest K-8 recently hosted 25 exchange students and their two chaperones from Beijing, China over the summer. Many of the host families have children who currently attend Aurora Quest K-8.

“The experience was a tremendous one for all involved,” said Dusty Burton, Aurora Quest K-8 Social Studies Teacher. “Being able to bridge the cultural and language gap between our two powerful countries was not only a worthwhile venture, but also one that no one will soon forget. Lifelong friends were made. Cultural awareness was both brought to us and given to the students from China.”

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Outback Steakhouse, Aurora, Colorado hosting fund-raiser Sept. 12 for Aurora Symphony Orchestra

Jude Sandvall, 720-255-1021 (Brokers Guild) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:15:01 -0700

Outback Steakhouse, Aurora, Colorado hosting fund-raiser Sept. 12 for Aurora Symphony Orchestra

It may be a Broncos game day, but don’t let that stop you from coming out to Outback Steakhouse in southeast Aurora to support the Aurora Symphony Orchestra and enjoy a fabulous meal.

A special selection of grilled favorites and Outback originals will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 12 at Outback Steakhouse, 6040 S. Gun Club Road, #G8, located off of Smoky Hill Road and just west of E-470.

The cost is $15 per person, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting the Aurora Symphony. Tickets are available at the door, or in advance from an Aurora Symphony board member by calling 303-873-6622.

Televisions will be tuned to the Denver Broncos football game, and take out also will be available. To order take out, call 720-889-2965.

The Aurora Symphony Orchestra will celebrate its 33rd season in 2010-11. Founded in 1978, the orchestra began with 15 volunteer musicians. Its first public performance occurred in 1979 at Bicentennial Park for the AurorArts Festival. The Aurora Symphony Orchestra, which received nonprofit status in 1996, has grown to become the premier provider of community symphonic music in the eastern metro area. Read more:

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Aurora Public Schools Receive HLC Designation

Jude Sandvall, 720-255-1021 (Brokers Guild) — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:39:40 -0700

APS Schools Receive HLC Designation

Provided by: Eleanor Frisch

The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) recently designated three APS high schools as educational sites for the Community College of Aurora (CCA). Aurora Central, Rangeview and William Smith high schools offer concurrent enrollment options through a partnership with CCA. The designation means there are no limits on concurrent enrollment courses offered at the three schools.

“We will continue to grow with this wonderful program throughout APS,” said Superintendent John L. Barry. “As the HLC team said in departing, the partnership between Aurora Public Schools and CCA should be a model for the nation.”

The HLC is a Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Representatives visited the schools last spring to evaluate the concurrent enrollment programs offered at the sites.

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RTD breaks ground on new rail line to DIA

Jude Sandvall, 720-255-1021 (Brokers Guild) — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:32:19 -0700

Work on a $1 billion light rail line that will serve travelers and employees of Denver International Airport officially got underway last week.

Aurora mayor Ed Tauer helped break ground Aug. 26 for the East Corridor commuter rail line, a 23-mile corridor running from downtown Denver through Aurora to DIA. The line is the largest in the FasTracks rail expansion, which is being funded by a sales tax increase passed by metro area voters in 2004.

Due to budget constraints, RTD formed a partnership with a private contractor, Denver Transit Partners, to build the East Corridor Line. It’s expected to open in 2016, according to RTD officials.

“The start of work on this ambitious design-build project represents one giant step in fulfilling the RTD board’s unwavering commitment to completing the entire FasTracks network,” said RTD board chair Lee Kemp. “This is one major step forward in getting all of these corridors built.”

The East Corridor is part of the so-called FasTracks Eagle P3 project, which includes work on two other corridors in the light rail project. Once the entire Eagle P3 project is underway, it’s expected to create up to 5,000 jobs per year.

RTD officials also announced they’re creating a workforce development program to help train future workers to help build out the corridor.

The Regional Workforce Initiative Now, or WIN, is a program that will identify and train individuals to become skilled workers, utilize workers who are already trained but who are looking for work, help them find jobs, maintain jobs long-term and ultimately, create a more diverse workforce, said RTD general manager Phil Washington.

http://denver.yourhub.com/Aurora/Stories/YourHub-Staff-Stories/Story~861976.aspx

Joey Kirchmer: 303-954-2650 or kirchmerj@yourhub.com

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Vacancies hit lowest 2nd-quarter rate since ’04 – In metro Denver, CO

Jude Sandvall, 720-255-1021 (Brokers Guild) — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:24:35 -0700

Vacancies hit lowest 2nd-quarter rate since ’04 – In metro Denver, CO

Vacancies hit lowest 2nd-quarter rate since ’04 – In metro Denver, vacancies in for-rent condos, single-family homes and other small properties dropped to 3.8% during the second quarter, compared with 5.2% during the second quarter last year. Read full article:
http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_15956602

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LBA Realty Pays $7.8M for Industrial in Aurora CO

Jude Sandvall, 720-255-1021 (Brokers Guild) — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 18:21:34 -0700

LBA Realty Pays $7.8M for Industrial in Aurora – LBA Realty purchased an industrial building in Aurora for $7.8 million, or nearly $57 per square foot. The one-story, 136,828-square-foot industrial building is situated in the Southwest DIA/Pena Boulevard Industrial submarket. Read full article:
http://www.costar.com/News/Article.aspx?id=1634774B269770C6D2B4D5DDBB304556&ref=100&iid=194&cid=9001CBAF4DBD10ED080732AB2C10D7B8

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Colorado apartments cost more in second quarter

Jude Sandvall, 720-255-1021 (Brokers Guild) — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 18:16:06 -0700

Colorado apartments cost more in second quarter

Colorado apartments cost more in quarter – Apartment vacancies dropped and rents rose in Colorado during the second quarter, according to a Colorado Division of Housing report released yesterday. The state’s average apartment vacancy rate decreased to 6.2% from 9.1 in the second period of 2009. It was basically flat from 6.6% in this year’s first quarter. Statewide apartment rents averaged $862.24 per month last quarter, up from $837.32 for the prior-year period and $840.44 in the first quarter.
http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2010/08/16/daily46.html?s=industry&i=resi_real_estate

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Real Estate Outlook: Fannie Forecast

Jude Sandvall, 720-255-1021 (Brokers Guild) — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:56:51 -0700

Real Estate Outlook: Fannie Forecast - Check out the latest forecast from Fannie Mae chief economist Doug Duncan, if you want a good sense of where we are in housing and where we're headed. Never known as a Pollyanna or wild optimist, Duncan acknowledges that this summer has been a challenging time for just about anyone in real estate. The slump was widely predicted earlier this year by economists -- including Duncan -- who saw sales and building starts essentially sucked out of the summer months into the spring months by the tax credit. However, Duncan sees some positives taking shape: "Consumers are lowering their leverage" he says-cutting their debt burdens - and "positioning themselves to resume consumption" - including home purchases. Read full article:
http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20100823_realestateoutlook.htm

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Foreclosure filings dropping in Arapahoe County

Jude Sandvall, 720-255-1021 (Brokers Guild) — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 16:16:44 -0700

Foreclosure filings are slowly inching down in Arapahoe County, a development that appears to be mimicking a statewide trend, according to an Aug. 5 report from the Colorado Division of Housing.

There were 300 fewer foreclosure filings in the county during 2010's second quarter, an 18.7 percent drop over the same period last year. In all, there were 1,303 foreclosures filings in the second quarter of 2010; about 1,603 filings were reported in Arapahoe County through the second quarter of 2009.

Foreclosure sales - which indicate how many borrowers lost all their equity in the property as the result of it being sold at auction - were slightly up in Arapahoe County. The increase in sales, however, "does not necessarily signal a wave of new delinquencies," according to the report.

Arapahoe County's foreclosure numbers mirror statewide statistics. New foreclosure filings fell to 10,233 in Colorado during 2010's second quarter, a 15.7 percent decline from 2009's second-quarter total of 12,135.

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More homeowners get help outside of federal program

Jude Sandvall, 720-255-1021 (Brokers Guild) — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:33:54 -0700

More homeowners get help outside of federal program

More homeowners get help outside of federal program, as reported by USA Today, despite the attention given to the federal government’s $50 billion Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP), a program to lower monthly mortgage payments for five years, the majority of financially distressed homeowners are getting alternative modifications through their lenders without any government involvement. Since its start in spring 2009, HAMP has produced only 389,198 permanent modifications through June. Recent reports by the government and private analysts show the modifications that servicers make on their own are growing compared with a year ago, and according to Hope Now, a consortium of counseling agencies, servicers and investors, more than 800,000 alternative modifications have been made so far in 2010 with borrowers.
http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/housing/2010-07-23-mortgages23_CV_N.htm

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Real Estate Outlook: Federal Reserve Weighs In

Jude Sandvall, 720-255-1021 (Brokers Guild) — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:29:17 -0700

Real Estate Outlook: Federal Reserve Weighs In

Real Estate Outlook: Federal Reserve Weighs In, as reported by Realty Times, the U.S. Congress asked Federal Reserve Board chairman Ben Bernanke a key question last week: Where do you and your colleagues believe we’re headed in terms of the national economy? Bernanke’s reply: There are bumps and potholes on the road to recovery, but the Fed “expects continued moderate (economic) growth, a gradual decline in the unemployment rate (to about 7 percent) and subdued inflation” over the next couple of years.
http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20100726_realestateoutlook.htm

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Denver CO - Million-dollar home market shows some spark

Jude Sandvall, 720-255-1021 (Brokers Guild) — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 14:58:08 -0700

Million-dollar home market shows some spark - The million-dollar home market is not on fire, but the vast majority of seven-figure homes selling from Boulder to Douglas counties, are not being unloaded at fire-sale prices. Sellers appeared to have made a profit on the vast majority of the homes closed in May. Million-dollar homes across the metro area sold for an average of 92.3% of the asking price. The analysis found that the average sales price per square foot for all of the homes was $334.58. See the full article for more stats:
http://insiderealestatenews.com/2010/07/million-dollar-home-market-shows-some-spar/

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30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Drops Slightly to Create Another New Low

Jude Sandvall, 720-255-1021 (Brokers Guild) — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 14:43:23 -0700

30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Drops Slightly to Create Another New Low - The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.57% with an average 0.7 point for the week ending July 8, 2010, according to Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey. Last week, it averaged 4.58%, and a year ago it averaged 5.20%. "With mortgage rates falling to historic lows, refinance activity has been strong over the past three months," said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist. "The Bureau of Economic Analysis reported that the effective mortgage rate of all loans outstanding was just below six percent in the first quarter of 2010, the lowest since the series began in 1977." Read full article:
http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20100709_rates.htm

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Unbelievable Deal! 10 rounds at Racoon Creek Golf Course in Littleton CO and 10 lessons for $159!

Jude Sandvall, 720-255-1021 (Brokers Guild) — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 14:39:57 -0700

Raccoon Creek Golf Course

Golf Package: Ten 18-Hole Green Fees and Ten One-Hour Group Clinics with a PGA Pro

159

buy now

Today's deal is our equivalent of a hole-in-one on a par-5 with a 3-iron during a tornado. That is to say, it's practically impossible. But that term "impossible" didn't stop us, just as it didn't stop Tiger Woods... on the golf course in the past decade, that is. Conquer the dream and your swing in Littleton at the Raccoon Creek Golf Course, which is offering ten one-hour group clinics with a PGA pro, plus ten green fees for the 18-hole course, all for $159 -- down from its regular rate of $1,000. That saves you $841, which could be considered your first endorsement, leading to a career in golf, putting you in the Masters -- which you'll win, becoming athlete of the year! We can dream, right?

Find out more »

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City of Aurora, CO urges residents to host block parties

Jude Sandvall, 720-255-1021 (Brokers Guild) — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 23:30:53 -0700

City of Aurora, CO urges residents to host block parties

by: YourHub.com

Article Contributed on: 6/30/2010 2:28:54 PM

Neighborhood liaisons with the city are hoping to see more applications for block parties as summer kicks into gear.

About 25 block parties have been scheduled so far this year, many of which will be held over the Fourth of July weekend, said Margee Cannon, neighborhood liaison coordinator for the City of Aurora. Typically, about 50 of the community get-togethers are held each year at neighborhoods across the city, she said.

The parties, which require city approval, offer a "feeling of community and a quality of life," Cannon said.

"It provides a way for people to learn who their neighbors are," she said.

The city has streamlined the application process recently, allowing residents to apply online on the city's website at www.auroragov.org/e-services. City officials ask residents to apply about two weeks in advance of the party, Cannon said.

Neighborhood liaisons also provide informational kits for those who may be new to the process. A checklist is included in the packet, in addition to police and fire contacts.

"We've got tools to help them," she said. "Usually the first time is the most cumbersome, but as it becomes an annual event, people really start to look forward to them."

A local nonprofit organization, Neighborhood Resource Center of Colorado, provides $15 certificates to Safeway that help pay for the essentials of a block party, everything from plastic utensils and napkins to ice cream. The city also provides for blockades, though a $75 deposit is required, Cannon said.

Those interested in hosting a party are urged to go the city's website or call 303-739-7280.

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Aurora, CO KidSpree promises to be "A Mighty Kid Time" July 17 and 18

Jude Sandvall, 720-255-1021 (Brokers Guild) — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 22:43:40 -0700

KidSpree promises to be "A Mighty Kid Time" July 17 and 18

by: Julie Patterson
view profile ▪ view other postings from Julie Patterson

Article Contributed on: 7/2/2010 12:07:02 PM

It's sure to be "A Mighty Kid Time!" at this year's KidSpree festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 17 and 18 at Bicentennial Park, 13655 E. Alameda Ave., in Aurora, CO. Admission is free.

The 15th annual festival's 2010 theme means plenty of activities related to superheroes. Visit with Batman, Robin and other favorite superheroes. Watch and learn how to do parkour with demonstrations and workshops by some pretty "super" humans. Make your own superhero cape, mask and wristbands. Get a souvenir picture of yourself as a superhero at KidSpree.

Other KidSpree activities include life-size board games like Kandy Lane, Hi Ho! Cherry-O and Aurora Fox Human Chess; a giant maze; MomsLikeMe.com's Toes in the Sand giant sandbox; and tons of art activities.

Entertainment will be provided by the award-winning national children's entertainer Dana and her giant "dog" Rowdy, the FunKinetic, Aurora Dance Arts and the Colorado Disc Dogs. On the Radio Disney KidStage, see dance ensembles, magic shows, karate demonstrations, the Aurora Symphony brass quartet, animal demonstrations and more.

Food and beverages are sold on site.

Parking is free at the Town Center at Aurora's southwest parking lot, with a free shuttle to the park.

For more information, visit www.auroragov.org/kidspree or call 303-326-8FUN (8386).

KidSpree is presented by the city of Aurora's Cultural Services Division, and sponsored by the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District, The Children's Hospital, State Farm, Your Neighborhood Toyota, Old Chicago, Rural/Metro Ambulance, K12 Colorado Virtual Academy, Radio Disney AM 1690, Mix 100, 92.5 The Wolf, the Aurora Sentinel, ColoradoKids.com and MomsLikeMe.com.

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