Sunday Travels

Sundays when I am not out with clients are days I try to spend with my husband. We both work selling Denver real estate and enjoy taking time to explore the area when we can.

Yesterday was a bright sunny spring day, so I begged to go take a few pictures to replace some sadly done old shots on my website.  Among the places we visited was the Littleton train station for the RTD Light Rail.  

This lovely station actually was a real rail station, or should I say is and still is!  Only these days the trains that stop are the commuter trains taking people to and from Denver.  The heavy rail trains go through, mostly carrying coal, but they don't stop.

We poked around, waiting a few trains come and go. The traffic was light on Sunday morning, but still the train service was being used.

When we left I noticed the Arapahoe Community College building was directly across the street from the Littleton Station.  It was then the realization hit us, the Light Rail is very convenient for students to take to school.  It services the University of Denver, Arapahoe Communtiy College and the schools at the Downtown Denver Auraria campus!

The realization of this grew a blog post.  Visit it if you wish, at Denver Dwellings.

I love the thought that old things are new again. Trains are coming back. So is the desire to live downtown. Maybe soon we will see values return along with common sense, budgeting and enjoying what you have.

Dream on... 

Spacious Home in Popular City Park

Give Me Room! Location: City Park West Over 3000 square feet of living space in this Story and 1/2 vintage home. Three bedrooms on one level, formal living room with fireplace, dining room, updated kitchen, sunny breakfast nook. Family room addition with wood stove, 2 car detached garage, carport, fenced in RV parking, recreation & hobby room in basement. All this plus a terrific location only one block from the main entrance to City Park Golf Course, ten minutes to downtown Denver or Cherry Creek. Enjoy the convenience of living near Denver's favorite playground: City Park, Denver Zoo, Museum of Natural History and the IMAX Theater. Information Contact Information Kristal Kraft 303-589-2022 Pricing Asking Price: $420,000.00 Property Location 2622 Gaylord Street Denver, CO 80205 Features Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 2 Parking: 2 car detached and carport, RV Year Built: 1915 Subdivision: City Park West Lot Size: 6690 Garage Size: 2 car School District: Denver Square Footage: 3108 Agent Name: Kristal Kraft Broker: The Berkshire Group MLS #: 633848 Yard: fenced Taxes: 1570 annually Available: TBD Attributes Appliances Range/Oven Full Refrigerator Dishwasher Sink Disposal Interior Amenities Fireplace Hardwood Floors Security System Vaulted Ceilings Basement Exterior Amenities Patio Fenced Yard Grass Lawn Powered by vFlyer.com EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY VFLYER ID: 1585082 Photo Gallery Old fashioned front porch with swing Living room w/French Doors to Breezeway Living room with fireplace view of dining room Dining room w/built-in buffet Backyard Deck Updated Kitchen Family room w/woodstove Sunny Breakfast Nook Master Bedroom 2nd Bedroom Upstairs Hallway Front Bedroom w/balcony View from balcony Updated bathroom Office nook in Basement Large Rec Room in Basement RV Parking on fenced in pavement View of southside Powered by vFlyer.com EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY VFLYER ID: 1585082

Calling all Colorado RE.NET folks!

March 19th is approaching and I hope you all are planning to attend the Annual Realtor Rally in Denver!  We have an amazing line up of outstanding speakers, plus a technology cafe where you will be able to ask questions one on one.

The best part of the whole show is that I have bribed the one and only favorite son of the entire internet to be there!  He is a popular blogger on Active Rain who dispenses worthy tech info in a format even I can understand.

Who is that?  Can anyone tell me?

Can you name this person?

In addition to the line up, we have other Active Rainers.  Can you identify this person?

The keynote speaker, Terry Watson will be speaking on "Why Be Normal?" A perfect topic for Active Rain Bloggers, or bloggers in general. 

Larry Kendall founder of The Group in Ft. Collins and the originator of NINJA SELLING will be packing the lecture hall too.

America's Favorite Attorney and Boulder, Colorado Hometown boy, Oliver Frascona will present on Short Payoffs, Foreclosures and Dealing with lenders (oh my!).

 Mollie Wasserman, Realtor, Author and speaker on "Emergency Surgery for Realtors - How to STOP Commission-ectomies"

There are many more sessions with out standing speakers, plus an exhibit hall featuring today's most popular vendors.  Yes, there will be lots of SWAG and a drawing of many prizes including a huge cash prize at the end of the show.

Sign up for the Rally today

Interested in a little party after the Rally?  We can get together with Jeff for some networking, Active Rain style. Leave a comment here if you are interested!

NYC is a GAS!

Just freshly back from the Inman Connect Conference in New York City. The whole experience was interesting and enjoyable.  The best part of all is getting to meet in person the terrific personalities that I've known on the 'net for so long. Being able to hang around and talk about the matters of real estate, blogging and life in general was exciting.  

NYC is a very distracting place to meet.  Not only is there is much to do and see, it's nearly impossible to get everything done. 24 hours in the day just isn't enough.

My biggest problem was navigational issues.  Every time I set foot on the street, I headed in the wrong direction.  It didn't matter if I was alone or with a group, the result was the same.  Of course with so much to see and do, I didn't really mind. The whole experience was fun, it didn't really matter where I was.  

One afternoon Mitchell Hall, a NY native invited me and Patricia Kennedy to join him touring Broker Open houses.  I jumped at the chance to experience a taste of N.Y. real estate.  

Mitchell was a gentleman and picked us up at the hotel (on foot).  We took the subway to Soho, where the apartment for sale was located.  Yes, apartments in N.Y. are for sale, unlike Denver Real Estate apartments are for renters!  

The subway offers even more opportunities for navigational mistakes!  Lucky for me, I just followed Mitchell.  He gave Patricia and I a handy little siding-scale brochure.  It was a helpful tool for deciphering the appropriate subway route vs. streets serviced.  I'm sure after a proper education, BA, MBA and perhaps a PHD one could figure out how to operate it efficiently.  :)  Perhaps being born in the city helps.  But for me, well I'll need further assistance, like maybe a GPS!

We found the apartments with Mitchell's expert assistance.  I never would have managed to locate them.  They were both enormous and priced totally out of this world!  I loved the artwork and the location for both. The neighborhoods were so colorful and chock full of conveniences.

On the return subway ride home, I plied Mitchell for tips on determining direction.  Now please understand, I come from a simple place.  When I look to the west I see mountains. It's so easy to figure out which way to go.  When the mountains are on the left, I'm facing north.  Behind me, I'm facing east and so on.

In NYC there just didn't seem to be any clues.  The sun didn't even offer much assistance since the buildings typically obscured it.  Well, Mitchell said for me to look for the tall buildings and that would mean I was seeing Downtown Manhattan.  OK.  Then the opposite would be the river. OK. That's nice, but that also assumed I knew where the heck each of those places were relative to where I was!

LOL!  Ignorance is bliss.  Instead of taking the time to learn, I decided to enjoy where I was and not worry about where I should be.  I kept track of the hotel addy on my iPhone so not matter where I ended up I would at least know where I had to go to get "home."

Of course having a Plan B was helpful.  Plan B was to hail a cab.  

No, I never hailed a cab.  I was having too much fun just being and doing where ever I was. 

Thank you Mitchell for introducing me to New York City Real Estate! It was a great experience. 

 Read more about my NYC experience at Denver Real Estate and Relocation Blog

2007 The Year In Review ~ Active Rain A Mother Lode of Learning

Active Rain’s genesis continued in 2007 growing into a community with multiple layers; old timers, newbies and newerbies.  Each struggling to learn, get noticed and survive on the network. The viral effect of the growth was nothing short of remarkable. Groups of two or more pitched in to help others learn the ropes. Like an old fashioned fire bucket brigade the knowledge was passed from one to another, each adding value to the next in line.

The technology trail was blazed by a many.  The pursuit of techno-ed is defined in real estate terms as “the next learning challenge.”  Technology has different meanings to every individual.  Some members were coding websites and others figuring out how to make the smart phone work.  Many noobs were actually trying to figure out how to use the Active Rain system, understandably since like a newborn, Active Rain didn’t come with a set of instructions! 

Active Rain became a depository of lessons, offering others the opportunity to stop by and learn on their own time.  The value of the network became stronger as not just a place to make friends and goof around, but to learn and reinvent oneself...for free.

Most memorable has also been the most valuable. Friends made through the network have enriched lives.  Today members speak of feeling closer and more connected ever.   AR brought together extraneous people from across the country who otherwise would not have met. Relationships were formed and strong bonds were created. Being able to pick up a phone and call a virtual stranger and be welcomed as a precious family member is priceless!

Active Rain Opened Minds and Doors

In the search for blog fodder, bloggers report learning more about the world around them. Funny how that works!  As we become sensitive to the wants and needs of our consumers, we learn how to communicate better. Taking the time to understand needs and how to fill them raises consciousness.  A bonus for sure!

Active Rain Technology Posts

Jeff Turner ~ Jeff has been around serving up a wide range of tech help from improving your blog to upcoming resources on the outside of Active Rain.  Visit Jeff’s blog and scrow through the wealth of learning…

Video Tutorial List Bookmark it NOW!

Jott: http://activerain.com/blogsview/61143/Show-Me-What-You

Utterz: http://activerain.com/blogsview/268000/Going-To-NAR-With

Cheryl Johnson ~ CJ is another prized teacher on Active Rain.  She has taken to showing us how to work Photo Shop Elements to it’s best advantage.  http://activerain.com/blogs/cheryljns

Photoshop Elements on a Lovely Bed of Peas

Photography 101: The Basics in a Nutshell

Brad Andersohn ~ in amazing form as usual, Brad took the time to prepare 100 Links you must see. This page is worthy of BOOKMARKING in itself. Go explore and search out something new. 

http://activerain.com/blogsview/113700/Paying-It-Forward-Active

http://activerain.com/blogsview/193839/2-Google-Tools-for

http://activerain.com/blogsview/298109/Do-You-Want-Visitors

Ryan Hukill ~ posted a blog about a problem we all face; Finding a Way to Balance Technology and Real Life. 

Linda Davis ~ shares in her blog: These are a few of my favorite things 

Laurie Manny ~ gave us clues to having good keywords in the blog.  Getting noticed by the Search Engines is a good thing.

Teresa Boardman created a Squidoo lens  of Active Rain Members. Squidoo Rocks!

Missy Caulk researched what "ALT TAGS" are and shared her findings with the group:

Carole Cohen wrote a testimony to her new cell Phone The LG Voyager VX1000 

Fred Light shared a resource on the latest craze, Podcasting. Get your feet wet with real estate video tours 

Ryan Martin showed us a lesson in photos we should all learn: How to Deal with Bright Light in Interior Photos

The list of outstanding technology posts could go on for miles.  Active Rain is a wonderful place to expand your brain, make friends and improve your real estate business.  Hopefully the founders of Active Rain will continue to enhance the network so we can all enjoy the benefits of this outstanding social network.

Happy New Year to all, may 2008 be the best ever! 

Turnberry, Commerce City, Colorado

Turnberry in Commerce City Location: Turnberry The secret of finding a great home, is finding one that is barely lived in! This home has been a second home for the current (and only owners). They seldom reside here, so you will find a slightly lived in, nearly perfect home. The home sits on a prime lot, backing and siding to open space. The landscaping is in. There are window coverings. You can enjoy the pleasure of owning an (almost) new home, without the stress and drama of actually building one! For more information or to see this home, please call your broker or call me, Kristal Kraft 303-589-2022. Information Contact Information Kristal Kraft 303-589-2022 Pricing Asking Price: $220,000.00 Master Bath: Yes Property Location 10558 Troy Street Commerce City, CO 80022 Links Virtual tour Never a Fee For Buyers Denver Real Estate Features Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 3 Parking: Driveway Year Built: 2005 Subdivision: Turnberry Lot Size: 5000 Garage Size: 2 car School District: Adams Square Footage: 1530 Agent Name: Kristal Kraft Broker: The Berkshire Group Realtors MLS #: 577036 Yard: Flat and landscaped Taxes: 1609 Available: Immediately Attributes Appliances Range/Oven Full Refrigerator Washer/Dryer Dishwasher Sink Disposal Microwave All Stainless Appliances Included Interior Amenities Fireplace Vaulted Ceilings Basement Separate laundry room Full unfinished basement Exterior Amenities Patio Grass Lawn Powered by vFlyer.com EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY VFLYER ID: 1408615 Photo Gallery Spacious Kitchen Corner Sink looks out window Dining area Great room w/vaulted ceilings Master suite w/double vanity Master Landscaped back yard All Stainless Appliances Vaulted Ceilings very bright Separate Laundry room Kitchen has great storage Another rear view A porch for your rocking chair Side view Turnberry Community Entrance to pool Wanna play? Xeroscaped neighborhood Powered by vFlyer.com EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY VFLYER ID: 1408615

Golden, Colorado Executive Home

A Reflection of Your Success Awaits you...

Location: Riva Chase

Behind the gates of prestigious Riva Chase, in Golden Colorado, sits an elegant home on 2.44 acres. Nestled in the foothills just above Denver, 20 minutes away and yet a world apart you will find peace and serenity.

This Grand home makes a statement from the street, two story, full brick, walk out basement, patio, deck, hot tub, side entry garage and a view.

An impressive two-story foyer with tile and wood inlay medallion will welcome your guests. The lovely floating stairway adds distinction and style to the sunny great room. Architectural details abound; raised wood paneling, tile, leaded glass accents, offset lighting, cove ceilings, arches and a domed breakfast nook blend together with panache.

Relax and savor life in the many spaces of this lovely residence. You deserve it! And yes, of course, it's on a cul-de-sac. Be sure to view our virtual tour, the link is below. Call your broker or Kristal Kraft for more information.

Information

Contact Information

Kristal Kraft

303-589-2022

Contact Reply Form

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Pricing

Asking Price: $1,350,000

Master Bath: 5 piece suite

Property Location

956 Castle Ridge Road
Golden, CO 80401
View Map

Links

Virtual Tour

More Info

Denver Real Estate & Relocation

Features

Bedrooms: 6

Bathrooms: 6

Parking: yes

Year Built: 1990

Subdivision: Riva Chase

Lot Size: 2.44 acres

Garage Size: 3 car oversized

School District: Jefferson County

Square Footage: 8479

Agent Name: Kristal Kraft

Broker: The Berkshire Group Realtors

MLS #: 581797

Yard: slightly sloping foothills w/view

Taxes: 16,008

Warranty: Yes - One Year Homeowner

Available: Mutual Agreement

Attributes

Appliances

Range/Oven

Full Refrigerator

Dishwasher

Sink Disposal

Microwave

Trash Compactor

Central Air Conditioner

Professional Viking Stove

Interior Amenities

Hardwood Floors

Wet Bar

Kitchen Island

Vaulted Ceilings

Basement

Wine Grotto

Steam Showers (2)

Saunna

Media/Theatre Room

Jack n Jill Bath

2 Laundry Rooms

5 Fireplaces

Mother-in-law suite

Exterior Amenities

Patio

Jacuzzi

Grass Lawn

Side Entry Garage

Deck

Photo Gallery

View as SlideshowView Photo Gallery (12 Photos)

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Equal Housing Opportunity

VFLYER ID: 1408593

Face Book has Zombie's and AR has continual Meme's

This afternoon Margaret Woda Meme'd me...  I've been meme'd before and as a slacker I am, I've managed to ignored it until I forgot about it.  Sorry Memer's that's no reflection on you, being tagged is actually an honor, I've just not been hanging out here in the rain!   Life has gotten in the way, but tonight I'm not sleeping and thanks to Margaret my brain is meme'ing. 

Here goes:

1. I am a Pisces.  I am named after a boat.  I was born in a place called Neptune.  I am a double certified scuba diver. Why I live in a land locked state is beyond me. Well not really I love the mountains too.
   
2. I hitchhiked in Swaziland. Yes, the one in  Africa. 
   
3. I'm very good at fixing flat tires.  In fact my husband just hands them to me.  I've fixed at least a hundred flat bicycle tires.  Once I did 9 in one day.
4. I used to have a passion for Rollerblading.  So passionate I was I skated in strange places, like the runway at DIA (Denver International Airport) of course that was BEFORE it was open.  I would find pavement on new freeways and skate.  My favorite story occurred at NAR one year in San Francisco.  There is a circular hotel with the parking garage in the middle.  I put my skates on at the top and skated all the way down.  The guard yelled to me saying, "You can't do that!"  I shouted back "But I just did!"  :)  I then spent the rest of the day skating the entire loop around San Francisco.
5. I celebrated my 50th birthday twice. Why? We were in Africa and not living by the calendar nor even a watch. The first celebration was in a tent with a hyena pacing back and forth all night opposite a very high fence.  The second was in a posh open air b & b where I had 2 glasses of 25 year old scotch.  It helped me forget the frogs on the floor in my room and the hippos over the hill just outside.

Ok now comes the hard part.  Since I haven't been hanging around here for months, (been busy selling Denver real estate) I don't know who has or hasn't been Meme'd.  (be back in a few...) 

Ok, I'm back after lurking around I feel like a Zombie looking for Meme blood...I found some great candidates, hope they will participate and keep up the meme spirit. 

 Marlene Scheffer

Colleen Fisher 

Raine Carraway 

Active Rain Appreciation Party...

Well one thing is for sure, the boys at AR really know how to throw a party! The Palms Hotel is the former Playboy hotel and quite a place.

Carnac, Moni and I shared a cab ride over and were among the first to arrive. The 25th floor suite was sweet. A bar, a pool table, couches, chair, a bed that did more things than I can remember, a showplace shower with a stripper pool planted within view of the peek-a-boo window overlooking the main gathering area was definately a FOCAL point. John Novak tells me all the homes in Vegas come with a 5-piece bath AND stripper pole! Geeze, how was I to know?

Best of all the bloggers showed up. Roberta Murphy, Jeff Corbit, Lucky Lang, Lane Bailey, Jay & Francie, Rolando The Realtor, Kevin Boer, Pat Kitano, John Novak, Marlene (a gal from Rich's neck of the woods) Matt Faioli, Laura Monroe and some goofy guy with a camera Jefffffff....somebody or other!

Everyone came in good spirits, bringing a camera. It was a night for blogging fodder that's for sure.

I did my camera battery in, but managed to snap a few nice shots. Please enjoy the party vicariously...

If you are in Vegas for the convention, stop by tomorrow (Thursday) to see me at noon. I will be at the Incredible Agent booth as a featured, Meet the BLoggers event. It's a modern day freak show...

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