Denver Luxury Homes and Real Estate

Kenna Real Estate OPEN HOUSES in Highlands Ranch - Dec 19th

Denver Real Estate ~ Kenna Real Estate ~ Rita & Brian Burke — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 23:57:55 -0600

Kenna Real Estate OPEN HOUSES in Highlands Ranch

Sat Dec. 19th, 2009

10am to 1:30pm - 11095 Shadowbrook Circle, The Retreat in The Hearth
NEW PRICE ~ $689,000

2pm to 4pm - 10167 Woodrose Lane - Total Remodel!
NEW Listing ~ $298,900

For more information about either home visit KennaRealEstate.com

Follow These Signs to the Open Houses

Highlands Ranch Real Estate

Listing Agent:
Brian Burke, Broker
Kenna Real Estate
303.710.2609 Direct
303.955.4220 Office
KennaRealEstate.com

Disclaimer: The information contained herein is provided without the intention that any buyer rely upon it. The information was gathered from preliminary inspections of the property and the current actual knowledge of the owner. It is subject to change without notice and must be verified independently by buyer/s. Listing Broker takes no responsibility for its accuracy. Kenna Real Estate Blog does not guarantee nor is in any way responsible for the accuracy of the information provided herein, and provides said information without warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied.

Homes for Sale in Parker CO - 12798 E. Espera Way

Denver Real Estate ~ Kenna Real Estate ~ Rita & Brian Burke — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:56:28 -0600

Home for Sale in Parker Colorado

Open and bright home for sale in Parker CO. 4 bedrooms upstairs. Full, open walk-out basement. Kitchen with island, stainless steel appliances and a breakfast nook. Entertain friends or family in large back yard with views of Parker. Lease or Lease Option may be available - call for details.

Offered at $399,000

Quick Facts:
4 bedrooms, 3 baths
Built 2003
4605 total sq. feet
3034 finished sq. feet
3-car attached garage
fireplace in family room

Builder: Richmond
Model: David
Lot size: 0.23 acres

Taxes: 2746
HOA fees: $167/quarterly

Schools
Elementary - Legacy Point
Middle - Sagewood
High School - Ponderosa

12798 E. Espera Way, Parker, CO 80134

Waiting for you to call it home!

For more information about this home for sale in Parker CO

More information about Parker CO Real Estate

Listing agent:
Brian Burke, Broker
Kenna Real Estate
303.710.2609 Direct
303.955.4220 Office
KennaRealEstate.com

Disclaimer: The information contained herein is provided without the intention that any buyer rely upon it. The information was gathered from preliminary inspections of the property and the current actual knowledge of the owner. It is subject to change without notice and must be verified independently by buyer/s. Listing Broker takes no responsibility for its accuracy. Kenna Real Estate Blog does not guarantee nor is in any way responsible for the accuracy of the information provided herein, and provides said information without warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied.

Homes for Sale in Highlands Ranch - 10167 Woodrose Ln

Denver Real Estate ~ Kenna Real Estate ~ Rita & Brian Burke — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:41:38 -0600

Complete Remodel! Home for Sale in Highlands Ranch

Beautifully remodeled home for sale in Highlands Ranch. New carpet. New paint. New wood floors. New stainless steel appliances. New custom fireplace. New custom light fixtures. Ready for you to move in and start living! Located on a larger corner lot.

Offered at $298,900

OPEN HOUSE SATURDAY 19th DEC! 2pm - 4pm ~ COME ON BY!

Quick Facts:
4 bedrooms, 3 baths
Built 1996
2204 finished sq ft
2-car attached garage
fireplace in family room

Taxes: 2087
HOA fees: $114/quarterly

Schools
Elementary - Coyote Creek
Middle - Ranch View
High School - Thunder ridge

10167 Woodrose Lane, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129

Waiting for you to call it home!

For more information about this home for sale in Highlands Ranch

More information about Highlands Ranch Real Estate

For any additional information or to see this home
contact:
Brian Burke, Broker
Kenna Real Estate
303.710.2609 Direct
303.955.4220 Office
KennaRealEstate.com

Disclaimer: The information contained herein is provided without the intention that any buyer rely upon it. The information was gathered from preliminary inspections of the property and the current actual knowledge of the owner. It is subject to change without notice and must be verified independently by buyer/s. Listing Broker takes no responsibility for its accuracy. Kenna Real Estate Blog does not guarantee nor is in any way responsible for the accuracy of the information provided herein, and provides said information without warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied.

Lone Tree Real Estate - Carriage Club Home Sales Nov 09

Denver Real Estate ~ Kenna Real Estate ~ Rita & Brian Burke — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 23:26:32 -0600

Lone Tree Real Estate - Carriage Club Home Sales Nov 09

Three houses sold in Carriage Club in November. All of them sold quickly putting the average days on market only at 14 days! One of the sold houses was a ranch style home that sold for more per square foot than typically a two story home would. This increased the average price per square foot for November to $160.

We have now surpassed home sales from a year ago in Carriage Club. This is due to two last months of higher sales than same time period in 2008. 32% of this year's sale were bank owned homes in Carriage Club Lone Tree Real Estate.

	Oct 2009	Nov 2009	Year-to-date 2009	Year 2008
Closed Sales	4	3	25	24
Average Sales Price	$470,088	$525,333	$497,046	$523,404
List vs. Sold Price (%)	82%	97.1%	87.5%	93.6%
Average Days on Market	198	14	169	89
Average Price/square foot	143/sf	160/sf	151/sf	165/sf

Days on Market = total days on market.

As of Dec 14th, 2009 there are eight homes for sale in Carriage Club in Lone Tree. One of the homes is listed as short sale and one as bank owned (foreclosure).

Carriage Club Homes for Sale/on the market

Houses currently on the market (as of Apr 1st)	8
Lowest Listing Price	$362,500
Highest Listing Price	$700,000
Lowest Price per Square Feet	$129
Highest Price per Square Feet	$199

If you have any questions or would like a custom Market Report for a specific area feel free to contact us at Kenna Real Estate

Homes for Sale in Lone Tree

This Carriage Club Lone Tree Market Report is brought to you by Rita Burke, Kenna Real Estate. The report is for detached residential single family homes only and may not include all sales activity in the area. Figures for sold prices used are NET sold price, price after seller concessions or down payment assistance, if they were offered. This report or any part of it may not be used without permission from Rita Burke.

*Disclaimer: Data based on information from Metrolist, Inc. Metrolist Inc. does not guarantee nor is any way responsible for its accuracy. Content maintained by Metrolist Inc. may not reflect all real estate activity in the market. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Reported sales were not necessarily listed or sold by Kenna real estate and are intended only to show trends in the area. Disclaimer: Kenna Real Estate Blog does not guarantee nor is in any way responsible for the accuracy of the information provided herein, and provides said information without warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied.

Exploring at the Wildlife Experience in Parker CO

Denver Real Estate ~ Kenna Real Estate ~ Rita & Brian Burke — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 23:59:24 -0600

Our little explorer had so much fun at the Wildlife Experience in Parker Colorado that he asked to go back there again and again...

He loves looking at the animals including any bugs and butterflies.

Lone Tree Real Estate Home Sales Nov 09

Denver Real Estate ~ Kenna Real Estate ~ Rita & Brian Burke — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 23:50:13 -0600

Home Sales in Lone Tree Real Estate
Nov 2009 Home Sales in Lone Tree

Home Sales in Lone Tree in November slowed down a bit from October. This is a typical seasonal trend. More homes were sold this November (7) than in Nov. 2008 (5). All but one of the homes sold for under $650,000. One of the sold houses was bank owned and one was sold by a builder. Find a full market report for Lone Tree here.

Lone Tree Real Estate Homes sales

2009	Sept	Oct	Nov
Closed Sales	13	13	7
Average Sales Price	$515,231	$489,729	$589,714
Median Sales Price	$440,000	$429,900	$429,900
% of Original List Price	92.2%	91.1%	93.7%
Average Days on Market	93	135	134
Average Price /sq ft	$187	$161	$177
Pending	17	13	12
Number of Active Listings	98	97	79
New Listings	17	13	7

Days on Market = total days on market.

Search homes for sale in Lone Tree

If you have any questions or would like a custom Market Report for a specific area feel free to contact us at Kenna Real Estate

Related Lone Tree information:
Lone Tree Foreclosures for sale
Today's New Listings in Lone Tree

This Lone Tree Market Report is brought to you by Rita Burke, Kenna Real Estate. The report is for residential single family homes only and may not include all sales activity in the area. Figures for sold prices used are NET sold price, price after seller concessions or down payment assistance, if they were offered. This report or any part of it may not be used without permission from Rita Burke.

*Disclaimer: Data based on information from Metrolist, Inc. Metrolist Inc. does not guarantee nor is any way responsible for its accuracy. Content maintained by Metrolist Inc. may not reflect all real estate activity in the market. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Reported sales were not necessarily listed or sold by Kenna real estate and are intended only to show trends in the area.
Disclaimer: Kenna Real Estate Blog does not guarantee nor is in any way responsible for the accuracy of the information provided herein, and provides said information without warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied.

Denver Luxury Condos - Sales and Values

Denver Real Estate ~ Kenna Real Estate ~ Rita & Brian Burke — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 21:50:08 -0600

Denver Luxury Condos - Sales and Values
Luxury Condominiums, Town homes and Hi-Rises for sale in Denver ~ Dec 2009

Denver luxury condo sales look very much like luxury residential sales - slow. The number of luxury condos sold has dropped over 50% from 2008. So far this year 20 luxury condos or town houses have sold in Denver, two are pending sale and if they close by the end of the year that would bring the total of sold luxury condos this year to 22. In 2008 that number was 47.

Over half of the Denver luxury condos sold this year were sold by builders, new construction or old buildings converted to new condo units. The other major change this year has been seller concessions. In 2007 and 2008 seller concessions were minimal. This year 40% of sales included seller concessions, from $7,500 up to $89,000.

The percentage of original listing price received at sale has also been declining for Denver luxury condos. The lowest percent this year was 63.4%. This sold price amounts to almost $700,000 less than the original listing price.

There are approximately 120 luxury condos for sale in Denver. Only three sold in the last three months. Many of the condos have been on the market for quite a long time: 73% for over 100 days.

	2009	2008	2007
Number of condos sold	19	47	36
Average Sold Price	$1,398,790	$1,565,021	$1,476,323
Highest Sold Price	$2,450,000	$4,780,662	$2,695,000
Average Price per Sq. Ft	$465	$552	$488
Average Days on Market	268	214	157
Average List Price vs. Sold Price	89.3%	94%	95.2%

Search Denver Luxury Condos for Sale

Search Denver Luxury Homes for sale (residential)

More about Denver Luxury Homes

*Disclaimer: Data based on information from Metrolist, Inc. Metrolist Inc. does not guarantee nor is any way responsible for its accuracy. Content maintained by Metrolist Inc. may not reflect all real estate activity in the market. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Disclaimer: Kenna Real Estate does not guarantee nor is in any way responsible for the accuracy of the information provided herein, and provides said information without warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied.

Selling a Home - Part 1 - Between a Rock and a Hard Place - The Price Warp Zone

Denver Real Estate ~ Kenna Real Estate ~ Rita & Brian Burke — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 23:48:33 -0600

The Price Warp Zone - Selling a Home
Part 1 ~ Between a rock and a hard place.

Price, Price, Price! Priced too high. Priced too low. Priced in the middle - but it feels too low... Can't price any lower? Have to get this price or that...

At the end of the day, the sale of a house comes down to price - a price a willing and able buyer is willing to pay for your house.

This is a series of posts about pricing a home to sell (or priced to sit - see post about that here) through a few real life examples of how PRICE rules, whether it be great or not so great. Even if you are a buyer you may find this interesting read. Lets get started...

Part 1 - Between a Rock and a Hard Place

HOUSE FOR SALE - $569,000
House has been on the market 3+ months. Priced at $569,000. This is the original price, i.e. there has been no price reductions. The price per square foot is $185. Very similar to other homes in the neighborhood. Older home: some updating has been done and it could use some more. Seller is requesting any reasonable offer and MUST SELL!

Buyers Agent
The Buyers agent knows that similar homes in this neighborhood sell for about $160 per square foot (lower if they were bank owned or short sales). So the price seems high.

Seller is asking any reasonable offer, yet their price is high and has not been reduced at all. Why?

The first thought is that the seller may be going as low as they can on the price without having to bring money to the table at closing. Meaning, sellers may owe close to asking price.

After checking the public records - yep - that is the case. After adding other fees seller will pay along with the mortgage, they are pushing the limit to cut it even - if the house was to sell close to asking price.

A few thoughts the buyer's agent has
1. What is a reasonable offer in the sellers mind
$475,000 | $500,000 | $525,000 | $550,000 | ???

2. Even if the offer was reasonable would that be enough to put it in line with the comps?
If the home was selling for $160 per sq. foot that price would be $492,000

3. Would the home appraise for the $492,000 or $569,000 or something in between?
Yes | No | Maybe

4. Does that seller have money to bring to the table if need to?
Maybe, maybe not. If they did, don't you think they would have lowered the asking price so the house would sell?

5. Will this sale turn into a short sale?
Possibly, which can be worrisome for many buyers. Buyers may have already been fed up with waiting for a different short sale or have a shorter time-line for moving.

Will this house sell for $569,000?
Will the buyers move along to the next house that is priced more in-line with the neighborhood market?

~ What do you think?

Sellers
What to do?
This can be a difficult situation for a seller and something that is quite common in today's market.

The home was bought just a few years ago and now the market is where it is. Lower than the price 2-3 years ago. The listing agent would say - consult a lawyer and/or tax accountant. (had to throw that in there).

The seller may be thinking their options are to
Stay put?
Sell for less than is owed? Bring money to the table or Short Sale?
Rent?
Loan modification?
Refinance?
Foreclosure?
Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure?
...

~ If you were the seller, what would you do?

The listing agent can't decide what the seller should or should not do. Should the seller decide to sell, the listing agent will do everything they can to market and help the seller sell their house.

Thanks for reading The Price Warp Zone!

Stay tuned for Part 2.

Disclaimer: This is not an actual active or sold listing. If there is a listing out with the same numbers that is purely a coincidence. If faced with a situation with selling your home that may have any legal and/or tax ramifications, please consult an attorney and/or a professional tax accountant as we are not licensed to practice in either of those areas. If you need help selling your house - give us a call.

Copyright 2009.© Rita Burke. Kenna Real Estate. All Rights Reserved. "Price Warp Zone - Selling a home - Part 1 - Between a Rock and a Hard Place"

Winter Wonderlights at The Wildlife Experience in Parker CO

Denver Real Estate ~ Kenna Real Estate ~ Rita & Brian Burke — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 23:20:25 -0600

Today was the first day (or evening) of Winter Wonderlights at the Wildlife Experience in Parker CO. You can view the displayed light sculptures and lighted paths outdoors and visit with Santa and Santa's village inside. Oh, and you should get a glimpse of real live reindeer too!

The Winter Wonderlights runs from Dec. 11th through 24th every evening from 5:30pm to 8:30pm.

Tickets are $9 /adults, $8 / seniors, $6 / kids 3-12, 2 and under are Free. Tickets can be purchased online also and discount tickets are available.

Read more about Winter Wonderlights at the Wildlife Experience in Parker CO.

Stay warm :) and enjoy the activities!

That would be our local Channel 7 weatherman Mike Nelson doing his job outside the Wildlife Experience.

Hmmm, these guys look like the ones we have in northern Finland roaming around freely in the woods.

Santa said he would bring trucks and diggers... (now I'm out of here...)

Have a Wonderful Holiday time!

Rita

Homes for Sale in The Hearth - 4404 Cedarpoint Pl, Highlands Ranch, CO

Denver Real Estate ~ Kenna Real Estate ~ Rita & Brian Burke — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:07:23 -0600

Gorgeous Home for Sale in the Hearth in Highlands Ranch

This Shea Home is immaculate with beautiful finished basement and large deck on the back yard. The gourmet kitchen has cherry cabinets, stainless steel appliances, kitchen island and sparkling hardwood floors. Master bedroom has a loft! 4 bedrooms are located upstairs and one is in the basement. This home is like a model!

Offered at $575,000

Quick Facts:
5 bedrooms, 5 baths
Built 2008
4500 finished sq ft
3 car attached garage (tandem)
fireplace in family room

Taxes: 3792
HOA fees: $62/month

Schools
Elementary - Wildcat Mountain
Middle - Rocky Heights
High School - Rock Canyon

4404 Cedarpoint Place, Highlands Ranch, CO 80130

Waiting for you to call it home!

For more information about this home for sale in the Hearth Highlands Ranch

For any additional information or to see this home
contact:
Brian Burke, Broker
Kenna Real Estate
303.710.2609 Direct
303.955.4220 Office
KennaRealEstate.com

Disclaimer: The information contained herein is provided without the intention that any buyer rely upon it. The information was gathered from preliminary inspections of the property and the current actual knowledge of the owner. It is subject to change without notice and must be verified independently by buyer/s. Listing Broker takes no responsibility for its accuracy. Kenna Real Estate Blog does not guarantee nor is in any way responsible for the accuracy of the information provided herein, and provides said information without warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied.

What The Client Should Expect From A Home Inspection

Denver Real Estate ~ Kenna Real Estate ~ Rita & Brian Burke — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 23:39:50 -0600

Great post from Steven - King of the House Inc.

Via Steven L. Smith, Bellingham, Wa. Home Inspector (King of the House Home Inspection, Inc):

The longer I am in this field of home inspection, the more apparent it becomes to me that most buyers, or sellers contracting for a pre-listing inspection, have no clue as to what it is that a home inspector is looking for or what that inspector will be reporting on.

Home inspections and standards of practice vary from association to association and from state to state. My description of the process is general but it should be helpful for those who are unfamiliar with the field of home inspection. In this synopsis, I am not attempting to list every system or component that might, possibly, be viewed during the course of a home inspection but this should provide a good overview of the process.

A home inspection is a non-technically exhaustive, primarily visual, inspection of a home and it's systems and components.

An inspector will not be spending much time looking at minor cosmetic details, or checking phones, cable, outdoor garden lighting or built-in vacuum or speaker systems. Those items will almost certainly be excluded.

Some people think the inspector will be overwrought about housekeeping and cosmetic details -- interior paint, whether or not the pictures on the wall are straight. I have seen the seller tidy up like crazy and then the deal hit a snag because of a totally unexpected, and serious, structural or electrical issue.

The inspection flow:

The site and the exterior, including the foundation, siding or other cladding, exterior doors, decks, stairways and rails, driveways and grading of the lot will be inspected. An inspector should report defects, such as slope or grade that routes runoff water against the home, foundation cracks or damage, rot or problematic conditions of cladding, unsafe decks and stairs, defective doors.

While the routine may vary, from inspector to inspector, the roof might be the next stop. On the roof the inspector will get a second look at some of the components he or she probably got a cursory view of from down below -- gutters and downspouts, chimneys, plumbing stacks, vents and roofing materials. It is not always possible to traverse every roof. But, when it is possible to do so safely and without damage to the roof, the inspector should go up on the roof. There are defects that can only be seen from up above. If the inspector cannot go on the roof, it will be viewed, as best as can be, from the eaves or from the ground.

The inspector will inspect attached garages (not usually detached garages unless additional fees apply), verifying that there is a firewall that protects the home and making sure that any powered vehicle doors have proper safety features such as sensor eyes and auto-reverse.

Often the furnace and water heater will be located in an attached garage so they may be inspected when the inspector is in the garage. The inspector will, with some limitations, check the safety and function of water heaters and furnaces/heating devices. He or she should make sure that garage appliances are protected so they cannot be hit by a forward moving automobile. This protection is often provided by a bollard. The inspector should measure the water temperature and report temperatures that are unsafe -- such as a temperature over 120 degrees F, which is conducive to scalding burns.

Often the attached garage will be the site of the attic hatch. A home inspector should try to find the various attic hatches. If it can be done safely and without risking damage to the property or insulation, the attic should be traversed.

The attic can hide many secrets that should be exposed. There might be leaks from the roof above, exhaust fans could be blowing moist air into the attic. There could be ventilation issues, old or unsafe wiring, or even rodent activity in the attic. The inspector should note whether or not the attic is insulated.

Somewhere, in this general sequence of events, the inspector will inspect the electric system. Standard procedures include looking at the service entrance and removing the cover from the electric panel and viewing the wiring inside of it.

The inspector should report visual defects in the panel, report if there is a grounding electrode in place and report the placement and function of GFCI receptacles -- the kind of receptacle that gives extra protection in wet environments. In newer homes, there should be AFCI breakers that protect against electrical fires at bedroom receptacles and lights. The inspector should check most receptacles and many light switches, ceiling fans, etc.  It is not always possible to check every switch or receptacle, but an inspector should get to many of them.

About now, we are ready to move inside the home. Inside the house, the inspector -- along with looking at floors, walls, ceilings, doors, windows and stairs -- should check the plumbing, including under sinks and at tubs and showers. A primary emphasis is on drains, traps and whether or not there are signs of leaks.

Toilets will be flushed and checked to make sure that they are tight to the floor and that they are not leaking -- often leaks are visible as a result of stains on or under flooring.  Regarding plumbing, when the inspector was outside, he or she should have checked the water pressure at a hose bibb to make sure it was in the normal range of 40 to 80 PSI.

Many inspectors will operate and inspect the dishwasher, the refrigerator, the range, the microwave and some will even operate laundry appliances. Certainly, an inspector will try to view connections and operate gas fireplaces or look inside wood stoves and fireplaces. If the wood burning devices look to be full of soot or creosote, then an inspector will call for service or further evaluation by a qualified chimney sweep. Since we are talking fire safety, the inspector will, when inside the home, verify the presence of smoke detectors.

Last, but not least, the inspector will inspect the sub-structure of the home. This can be merely a slab, which often leaves little for an inspector to view. Or it might be a basement or a crawl space that has ample access.

If it is a finished basement, there might be little to report on. However, at an unfinished basement or crawl space, the inspector will be looking at the structure -- posts or columns, beams and joists and many other components -- plumbing pipes, heat ducts, under floor insulation. Especially in a crawl space, the inspector will be alert to signs of damage from wood destroying organisms or rodent activity.  Often, in a sub-structure area, the inspector will locate a main water shutoff valve for the home. For sure, when it can be found, the inspector should report the location of the main water shutoff valve and, also, the location of the main gas or fuel shutoffs.

Again, the methods of inspection vary from inspector to inspector and this article is not intended to describe how every inspector does the job. When the inspection is complete, the inspector should, in a reasonable time-frame, provide the client with a concise and accurate written report that has photos and describes the conditions that were found at the home at the time of the inspection.

Thanks for stopping by,

Steven L. Smith

Denver Luxury Condos for Sale Dec 09

Denver Real Estate ~ Kenna Real Estate ~ Rita & Brian Burke — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:12:03 -0600

Denver Luxury Condos for sale
Luxury Condominiums, Town homes and Hi-Rises for sale in Denver ~ Dec. 8st, 2009

There are 121 luxury condos for sale in Denver (as of Dec. 8th)
The listing prices start from one million dollars
The highest listing price is $13,900,000 - Penthouse
The lowest price per square foot $296
The highest price per square foot $1411 - Penthouse
34 condos are located in hi-rise buildings
40 condos have been on the market for more than 500 days, that's 33%
73% of the condos have been on the market for more than 100 days
the longest a luxury condo has been on the market is 2231 days - new construction, not yet built
2 luxury condos are currently under contract
there are only a handful of condos listed at Short Sales (5)

Number of Luxury Condos on the market in Denver per price range

Price Range	Number of Condos
$1,000,000 to $2,000,000	98
$2,000,000 to $3,000,000	14
Over $3,000,000	9

Search Denver Luxury Condos for Sale

Denver Luxury Condo Sales
Eleven Denver luxury condos sold in the last six months. All of the sold for between $1,000,000 to $2,000,000. Seven of the sold luxury condos were new construction. Only two luxury condos have sold in the last three months. Two are currently pending sale.
Stay tuned for a more in depth report on the sold luxury condos in Denver.

Search Denver Luxury Homes for sale (residential)

More about Denver Luxury Homes

Condos for sale include only condos for sale in the city of Denver in Denver County.

*Disclaimer: Data based on information from Metrolist, Inc. Metrolist Inc. does not guarantee nor is any way responsible for its accuracy. Content maintained by Metrolist Inc. may not reflect all real estate activity in the market. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Disclaimer: Kenna Real Estate does not guarantee nor is in any way responsible for the accuracy of the information provided herein, and provides said information without warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied.

Shopping for a home on the internet? We are humans.

Denver Real Estate ~ Kenna Real Estate ~ Rita & Brian Burke — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 01:03:42 -0600

Are you shopping for a home on the Internet? Maybe you have looked at hundreds of sites - it seems that way anyway. Viewed thousands of photos - yet it still didn't seem like there were enough photos of the houses you really wanted to see. Found information that was overwhelming, confusing, outdated, not enough or too much.

Internet is and can be a wonderful thing, but it can lack that human touch. Isn't this why we like to ask our friends for recommendations on where to go, who to use etc. It's the personal contact.

We, the agents, can seem like robots here - you find generic, automated information, reports, data and statistics. Some may have flashier sites than others, but most of it at the end of the day are much of the same.

The good news is, you stumbled upon this blog post. You have found humans here :)

Underneath the sites, the information, the photos and the data, we are humans too. We may have pets, kids, family, or a house or a boat. We may even live in a neighborhood like yours. We may be born and raised in the area or we may be transplants. Our experiences and what life has thrown our way vary greatly.

Feel free to look around.

Oh and you can find the other 'good' stuff like listings with photos and statistics - with our human touch - on our Kenna Real Estate website.

And if you happened to be in the Denver area, feel free to contact us or stop at one of our Open Houses to Say Hi and for a cup of fresh brewed coffee or tea!

Pick up the phone! I know you are there!

Denver Real Estate ~ Kenna Real Estate ~ Rita & Brian Burke — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 19:08:57 -0600

ring ring. ring ring. OK, who still has that kind of ring-tone?
Pick up the phone, I know you are there!

We all know how important it is to be available to answer the phone when it rings. But at times it is just not possible to answer the phone.

I answer the phone when I can. That's as honest as I can be. I answer the phone when I can, which is most of the time. However, there are occasions when I cannot answer the phone, like:

1. when I am with our 2-yr-old - it always happens - if I do answer the phone, his decibel level goes through the roof...

2. when I'm on the other line: a business call - the person I am conversing with gets my undivided attention

3. when I'm in the middle of a meeting or an appointment

4. when I'm at the dentist or the doctor's - meaning in the dentist chair, or at the examination table... you get the picture :)

5. when I'm sleeping at night - if I do answer you might not get anything coherent out of me

6. when I'm in the bathroom - LOL - I just won't answer

7. when I'm in the shower - I don't want to get my phone wet - LOL

8. when I'm sick - lost my voice, constantly coughing, sneezing, drooling (OK, you wouldn't be able to hear that I guess...)

I now we all would like to get that live person on the line on the first time around, I know I do.

But, if I don't answer, please don't just hang up - leave me a message (or I will think it was a telemarketing call) or even better send me a text or shoot me an e-mail and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

Copyright 2009.© Rita Burke. Kenna Real Estate. All Rights Reserved. "Pick up the phone! I know you are there!"

Expired! No Way! - humor

Denver Real Estate ~ Kenna Real Estate ~ Rita & Brian Burke — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 01:14:25 -0600

Expired!!! That can't be!

What? Why? How did this happen?
There can be 1001 reasons excuses why your house didn't sell and yes, the listing Expired. Well, not really, but for fun here are 10 reasons as to why your house might have Expired.

1. The buyers didn't see that value in our house

2. The buyers for our house bought the neighbors house

3. There just weren't any buyers out there

4. Nobody liked the location :(

5. My agent never called me, nor did they take me to lunch!

6. My agent didn't - wait who was my agent?

7. Well, we never really wanted to move anyway...

8. It was a bad time of the year/season/month/week... to try to sell

9. The neighbor stole the yard sign and flyers - repeatedly - because the didn't want us to move

10. Our car broke down, mother-in-law moved in, the dog dragged in mud, the kids were sick... all while the house was listed.

Ok, on a somewhat more serious note.
It is my job to look at expired listings, along with a lot of other things that I do. What is the number one thing, NUMERO UNO, that I see why a house expired i.e. didn't sell.

Yep!

The Price.

Copyright 2009.© Rita Burke. Kenna Real Estate. All Rights Reserved. "Expired! No Way!"

Homes for sale in the Hearth in Highlands Ranch

Denver Real Estate ~ Kenna Real Estate ~ Rita & Brian Burke — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 23:57:26 -0600

Homes for sale in The Hearth Highlands Ranch

40 Residential detached Homes are for sale in The Hearth subdivision in Highlands Ranch as of Dec 1st, 2009. Seven new listings came on the market in November in the Hearth.

Only two of the homes for sale in The Hearth are listed for under $140 per square foot and they are both short sales. The highest listed price per square foot goes to a ranch style house with $250 per square foot. The average sold price per sq. foot in the Hearth is about $160/sq ft.

14 homes are pending sale i.e. under contract.

Homes for sale in The Hearth in Highlands Ranch Colorado.

	NOV 09
Active Listings	40
New Listings	7
All Pending sales	14
Lowest List Price	$250,000
Highest List Price	$699,000
Lowest Price/sq ft	$135
Highest Price/sq ft	$250

View homes for sale or read more about The Hearth in Highlands Ranch.

Homes for sale in the rest of Highlands Ranch

If you have any questions feel free to contact us via e-mail or call 303.710.2609 (Brian Direct) at any time.

*Disclaimer: Data based on information from Metrolist, Inc. Metrolist Inc. does not guarantee nor is any way responsible for its accuracy. Content maintained by Metrolist Inc. may not reflect all real estate activity in the market. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Reported sales were not necessarily listed or sold by Kenna real estate and are intended only to show trends in the area. Kenna Real Estate does not guarantee nor is in any way responsible for the accuracy of the information provided herein, and provides said information without warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied.

Highlands Ranch Real Estate - Home Sales and Seller Concessions

Denver Real Estate ~ Kenna Real Estate ~ Rita & Brian Burke — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 23:50:07 -0600

Seller concessions in Highlands Ranch Home Sales

101 residential homes sold in Highlands Ranch in October 09. Sold prices ranged from $195,000 to $900,000. In 50% of the home sales there were seller concessions ranging from $500 to $10,000. Most of the concessions were between $3000 and $5000. 5000 dollars as the most common amount for seller concessions.

Seller Concessions	Percentage
$500 to $1000	4%
$1001 to $2000	6%
$2001 to $3000	12%
$3001 to $4000	14%
$4001 to $5000	28%
$5001 to $6000	8%
$6001 to $7000	12%
$7001 to $8000	6%
$8001 to $9000	6%
$9001 to $10,000	4%

About 65% of homes sold for under $300,000 in Highlands Ranch in October had seller concessions where as sold prices of above $500,000 seller concessions were included in about 22% of the sales.

27% of all sales were purchased using FHA financing. In all but five FHA financed homes seller concessions were received.

What is interesting is that 12 homes that sellers agreed to concessions sold for FULL price, minus the concession. So for example a house was listed at $250,000, buyer pays $250,000 for the house. Seller concessions amount to $4000 therefore making the Seller Net Price $246,000. Each of the 12 houses sold in less than 12 days!

View Homes for sale in Highlands Ranch

*Disclaimer: Data based on information from Metrolist, Inc. for period of 10/1/2009 through 10/31/2009. Metrolist Inc. does not guarantee nor is any way responsible for its accuracy. Content maintained by Metrolist Inc. may not reflect all real estate activity in the market. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Disclaimer: Kenna Real Estate does not guarantee nor is in any way responsible for the accuracy of the information provided herein, and provides said information without warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied.

Denver Luxury Homes for Sale Dec 09

Denver Real Estate ~ Kenna Real Estate ~ Rita & Brian Burke — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 21:59:28 -0600

Denver Luxury Homes for sale
Residential Luxury Homes for sale in Denver ~ Dec 1st, 2009

There are 217 Denver luxury homes for sale (as of Dec 1st) - 20 less than a month ago
The listing prices start at one million dollars
The highest listing price is $6,999,750
The lowest price per square foot $204 - bank owned property
The highest price per square foot $1242 for a house in Cherry Creek North
25 houses are listed for under $300 per square foot
The longest a house as been listed (days on market) 997 days
15 luxury homes are currently under contract
Denver neighborhoods with a few luxury homes for sale: Belcaro, Bonnie Brae, Country Club, Hilltop, Cherry Creek, and Wash Park

Search Denver Luxury Homes for sale

More about Denver Luxury Homes

Denver Luxury Homes for Sale by price range

*Disclaimer: Data based on information from Metrolist, Inc. for period of 1/1/2009 through 11/01/2009. Metrolist Inc. does not guarantee nor is any way responsible for its accuracy. Content maintained by Metrolist Inc. may not reflect all real estate activity in the market. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Disclaimer: Kenna Real Estate does not guarantee nor is in any way responsible for the accuracy of the information provided herein, and provides said information without warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied.

Independence Day of Finland 6th of December

Denver Real Estate ~ Kenna Real Estate ~ Rita & Brian Burke — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 15:53:49 -0600

Today is the Independence Day of Finland. My aunt just sent me a note on Facebook about it, not that I had forgotten. I was born and grew up in Finland before moving to the states when I was 21, anyway...

Finland declared independence from Russia on Dec. 6th in 1917. or as we in Finland write it - 6.12.1917. Our current flag of blue cross on a white background has been in use since May of 1918. The independence day is on official holiday in Finland and it has been celebrated since 1919.

Our Independence Day traditions have remained very much the same for many, many years. Since 1957 at 9 am in the morning there has been an official flag raising ceremony in Helsinki which includes speeches and choirs. This is followed by a televised event of the Independence Day church activities that the President of Finland and other dignitaries attend.

Many visit the grave sites or monuments of fallen soldiers leaving flowers, candles and/or wreaths. A national Armed Forces parade is also on the schedule. On this day the President can recognize members of the Armed Forces with medals.

Candles
This is something I always remember doing when growing up in Finland. Candles. In the evening between 6 pm and 8 pm the tradition is to light up two white and blue candles and place them on your windowsills.

There is some speculations as to where this traditions exactly comes from. Some say it is to recognize your home and your country. Another theory is that this was a tradition that Finland picked up from times before our Independence when Finland was ruled by Sweden and the Royal Family visits were marked by burning candles on the windows.

I remember going for a walk with my mom in the dark December night of the Independence day - this was our tradition - to look at all the candles on the windows. The candles shone bright and warmed our hearts.

The Presidential Ball (or Reception)

The evening highlight is the Presidential Ball that is held at the President's Palace. The glamorous event is televised and the ones who were not invited - are glued to the TV to see who is there and what they are wearing :).

As I write this the day is almost done.

Happy Independence Day Finland.

Hyvää Itsenäisyyspäivää Suomi!

Did you get outbid on a HUD home in Denver area?

Denver Real Estate ~ Kenna Real Estate ~ Rita & Brian Burke — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 18:07:41 -0600

If you, via a HUD designated broker, bid on a HUD home in Denver area and did not get your bid accepted and really wanted the house - Keep an eye on the house. A new trend is merging. Recently there are more HUD homes that come back on the market, after already being under contract. Sometimes this happens more than once.

What happens is that HUD accepts a bid and places the house on under contract status on the MLS system. For some reason, a few weeks or a month later the house pops back up on the market in Active status.

What happened? One of the bigger obstacles is financing. Many of these HUD homes are purchased with an FHA loan and the typical hiccups come in underwriting. It seems as if every day there are new hoops to jump through. Recently we were told that an FHA inspector had to re-inspect the property, even though it was just inspected.

Typical closing time set after the bid is accepted by HUD is 45 days in the Denver area. There are also more extensions being requested due to various delays to get the deal closed in those 45 days.

We have just helped another buyer close and purchase a HUD home in Denver, and have another buyer waiting to close in the next two weeks.

If you have any questions about HUD owned homes and how the process works feel free to contact us at any time or read more about HUD Homes in Denver found on the links below.

Information about HUD owned Homes in Denver

ALL HUD Homes for sale in Denver area

Homes for Sale in Lone Tree

Denver Real Estate ~ Kenna Real Estate ~ Rita & Brian Burke — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:18:57 -0600

Homes for sale in Lone Tree Dec 1st 2009

79 Residential detached Homes are for sale in Lone Tree, as of Dec 1st, 2009. 28 of the homes for sale are listed for over one million dollars. Seven new listings came on the market in November in Lone Tree Colorado. 14 homes are pending sale i.e. under contract. Two of the 14 homes are priced above $1,000,000.

Homes for sale in Lone Tree CO.

	NOV 09
Active Listings	79
New Listings	7
All Pending sales	14
Lowest List Price	$319,950
Highest List Price	$3,400,000
Lowest Price/sq ft	$125
Highest Price/sq ft	$537

View homes for sale or read more about Lone Tree.

Condos for sale in Lone Tree

Homes for sale in Heritage Hills Lone Tree

If you have any questions feel free to contact us via e-mail or call 303.710.2609 (Brian Direct) at any time.

*Disclaimer: Data based on information from Metrolist, Inc. Metrolist Inc. does not guarantee nor is any way responsible for its accuracy. Content maintained by Metrolist Inc. may not reflect all real estate activity in the market. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Reported sales were not necessarily listed or sold by Kenna real estate and are intended only to show trends in the area. Kenna Real Estate does not guarantee nor is in any way responsible for the accuracy of the information provided herein, and provides said information without warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied.

Homes for Sale in Greenwood Village

Denver Real Estate ~ Kenna Real Estate ~ Rita & Brian Burke — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:00:07 -0600

Homes for sale in Greenwood Village

117 Residential detached Homes are for sale in Greenwood Village, as of Dec 1st, 2009. Two of thes homes listed for over $1,000,000 are bank owned properties. Six new listings came on the market in November in Greenwood Village. 12 houses are for sale for under $200 per square foot and 15 for over $500 per square foot. Two of the 16 homes pending sale are priced above $1,000,000.

Homes for sale in Greenwood Village.

	NOV 09
Active Listings	117
New Listings	6
All Pending sales	16
Lowest List Price	$319,000
Highest List Price	$8,900,000
Lowest Price/sq ft	$107
Highest Price/sq ft	$979

View homes for sale or read more about Greenwood Village.

If you have any questions feel free to contact us via e-mail or call 303.710.2609 (Brian Direct) at any time.

*Disclaimer: Data based on information from Metrolist, Inc. Metrolist Inc. does not guarantee nor is any way responsible for its accuracy. Content maintained by Metrolist Inc. may not reflect all real estate activity in the market. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Reported sales were not necessarily listed or sold by Kenna real estate and are intended only to show trends in the area. Kenna Real Estate does not guarantee nor is in any way responsible for the accuracy of the information provided herein, and provides said information without warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied.

Homes for sale in Cherry Hills Village Luxury Real Estate

Denver Real Estate ~ Kenna Real Estate ~ Rita & Brian Burke — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:26:45 -0600

Homes for sale in Cherry Hills Village Luxury Real Estate

101 Residential Homes are for sale in Cherry Hills Village, as of Dec 1st, 2009. Nine of the homes for sale are listed for under one million dollars. There are three short sales and no bank owned properties for sale. No new listings have come on the market since mid-October in Cherry Hills Village. The longest a home has been on the market is 1657 days. 13 houses are for sale for under $300 per square foot.
The lot sizes of the homes for sale vary from 1/3 acre to 8.6 acres.

Homes for sale in Cherry Hills Village. Comparison between July and November 09.

	JUL 09	NOV 09
Active Listings	147	101
New Listings	20	-
All Pending sales	8	10
Lowest List Price	$625,000	$699,000
Highest List Price	$22,900,000	$22,900,000
Lowest Price/sq ft	$188	$190
Highest Price/sq ft	$1623	$1623

View homes for sale or read more about Cherry Hills Village.
Cherry Hills Village is located South of Denver in Arapahoe County, Colorado. Zip codes are 80111 and 80113.

If you have any questions feel free to contact us via e-mail or call 303.710.2609 (Brian Direct) at any time.

*Disclaimer: Data based on information from Metrolist, Inc. Metrolist Inc. does not guarantee nor is any way responsible for its accuracy. Content maintained by Metrolist Inc. may not reflect all real estate activity in the market. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Reported sales were not necessarily listed or sold by Kenna real estate and are intended only to show trends in the area. Kenna Real Estate does not guarantee nor is in any way responsible for the accuracy of the information provided herein, and provides said information without warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied.

Highlands Ranch Real Estate Home Sales Oct 09

Denver Real Estate ~ Kenna Real Estate ~ Rita & Brian Burke — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 21:39:09 -0600

Highlands Ranch Real Estate October 09 Home Sales

The number of homes sold this year in Highlands Ranch is lower than in any the last three years. However, homes are still selling, the price per square foot is holding fairly steady and the difference from original list price to sold price is approximately 94% (on average).

Highlands Ranch October 09 Home Sales

Number of houses sold ~ 99
Average Sold Price ~ $338,663
Total Days on market ~ 113 (average)
Average price/square foot ~ $158
% of List vs. Sold Price ~ 94.1%

September Home Sales

Number of houses sold ~ 127
Average Sold Price ~ $346,705
Total Days on market ~ 86 (average)
Average price/square foot ~ $156
% of List vs. Sold Price ~ 94.5%

Highlands Ranch Home Sales 2006-2009 | Number of Homes Sold per Month

Average Total Days on Market in Highlands Ranch

Search Homes for Sale in Highlands Ranch

*Disclaimer: Data based on information from Metrolist, Inc. Metrolist Inc. does not guarantee nor is any way responsible for its accuracy. Content maintained by Metrolist Inc. may not reflect all real estate activity in the market. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Reported sales were not necessarily listed or sold by Kenna real estate and are intended only to show trends in the area. Kenna Real Estate does not guarantee nor is in any way responsible for the accuracy of the information provided herein, and provides said information without warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied.

Holiday Concert with a visit from Santa in Lone Tree CO

Denver Real Estate ~ Kenna Real Estate ~ Rita & Brian Burke — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 23:46:07 -0600

Lone Tree Symphony Orchestra is bringing us a Holiday Concert on Dec. 4th, 2009 in Lone Tree Colorado. This free concert is filled with holiday music. A special visit is also in store from a certain someone...

The Holiday Concert starts at 7:30pm and is held at Cornerstone Church, 6641 Lone Tree Parkway in Lone Tree.

FRI Dec. 4th.

7:30pm

A $5 donation is suggested.