Vent Racing Four Seat RZR S cage

We recently picked up a 2009 Polaris RZR S after looking at side by sides for over a year.  I was pretty well set on a Kawasaki Teryx, but then our camping/riding friend sent me a pic and some message board threads about the RZR S four seat conversion cage from Vent Racing.  Since we have a light hauler toyhauler, weight is a concern, I always like the Polaris RZR S from a weight, size, and sport perspective, but didn't think it could be converted to a four seater safely.  Our kids are 8 and 12 respectively, but are light weight for their age, and my wife and I are not huge people either, so after looking at the pics we thought it might be possible for us to fit in safely as a family.

The Ultimate Customer Service company

After calling Vent Racing and talking with Mike about our needs for RZR S Four Seat, describing our riding style, where we wanted to use the side by side, our sizes, weights, etc. we were even more excited, but couldn't make a decision until we could actually sit in the machine with the the actual four seat cage and seat installed.  Since we are in Denver, CO and Vent Racing is located in Utah, I thought we were at an impasse.  However, it turns out that Jake from Vent Racing was at that moment on his way from UT to Denver with a converted four seater RZR.  After Jake made the entire trip, with dealer stops along the way, he called me from the road and met us in a rainstorm in a parking lot with an offer to test ride the four seat RZR!  At this time is was about 9:30pm, cold, raining, and I knew he had to be tired and just wanting to find a place to crash for the night. 

Totally Satified with the Four Seat RZR S cage

After meeting with Jake, and sitting in the RZR with the Four Seat Cage, we went out the next day and bought a 2009 RZR S and ordered the RZR S four seat conversion from Vent.  The install was a bit tricky, the key being to getting the top passeger side bracket lined up first.  Once we figured that out, the rest of the install went ok.  The kids fit in perfectly, the machine still feels balanced on the trails, and all our neighbors are jealous, lol!

First ride with the Four Seater impressions

After our first trip to the mountains with our new RZR S this last weekend, I can say that the whole family is thrilled with the performance.  The four seat conversion looks great, and power sliding, climbing and just trail riding are smooth, controllable and fun for everyone.  The next thing were adding are some lights, side view mirrors, and a soft top to go with the windshield and winch that are already installed.

Again, we would not have bought the RZR S if it wasn't for the exceptional service from Mike and Jake at Vent Racing.  But now that some of our friends and neighbors have seen and ridden in the four seat version, they are planning on getting the conversion for their RZR's too.

Thornton Colorado Aquatic Center finally approved. 

The long awaited joint venture between the Adams 12 school district and the City of Thornton to build the district's new aquatic facility at the Holly Sports complex in Thornton finally received Thornton City Council approval this week.  The Holly Sports Complex is located on the Southwest corner of 136th Avenue and Holly Street and will be known as the Thornton Trailwinds Park and Open space.  The joint agreement betweent the city and the school district is a first according to city staff members.

The Aquatic Center is scheduled to open in the fall of 2010 and will eventually be attached to the new recreation center the city is also planning for the area.  According to the city's agreement with the school district, the pool will be available to city residents up to 40 percent of the time, when not in use by the district.  Also, the city is planning a new dog park in the area, which is great news to those of us who love our four legged friends.  The overall cost of the new Aquatic Center is projected at $18.8 million dollars.

Finally, the achieve better access to the area, the city recently approved a 2.8 million dollar plan to fund a street widening along 136th Avenue between Cherry and Holly in front of Horizon High School.  The current two lane road is slated to become a five lane with a continuous center turn lane.  Naturally, in the interests of safety, new traffic signals are planned in front of the high school and for the Aquatic Center entrance.

Stuart Dobson

Infinity Real Estate Services LLC
Thornton, Colorado
Denver Metro Colorado Homes for Sale
303.919.0309
Stuart@StuartDobson.com

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Colorado Real Estate and Homes

The Best Deal I've Ever Made...

Is the one I didn't do!  Allow me to explain a bit. 

As real estate brokers we are often confronted with listing a property that is overpriced if we would list it at what the owner 'feels' it's worth.  As most of us have learned the best thing to do is to walk away from the deal so as not to spend money, time and effort in what will undoubtedly become the fruitless pursuit of a sale.

This same rule also applies to investments that sound 'too good to be true' (aka Bernie Madoff funds).  We are less likely the make 'the big mistake' with taking on a client that we shouldn't have or investing in something we should not have if we don't get too greedy, take a step back, and forecast a bit down the road to where this is most likely to take us.

Searching for Colorado foreclosures or bank owned properties

If you want to search the Colorado MLS listings for Foreclosures or Bank Owned Properties, this simple interactive MLS IDX search will help.  It allows an investor or potential home buyer to search in a number of ways including by the foreclosures in the pre-foreclosure process or once the home or property is already bank owned.

Searching with a map

A 'map' search feature is also built into this Denver MLS search which allows you to select a tab at the top of the search map and even select a terrain map that allows visual detail all the way down to sidewalks and swimming pools!

If you know the city or neighborhood you are searching for a house or land in, you can select the specific page for the neighborhood and the map will automatically show you which homes are available for sale in that neighborhood.  At this point you can sign up to receive email updates as new listings become available and they will be automatically sent to your email account.

Of course there is the option to search by school district, and even by 5% or greater price drops!  As the technology improves, we continue to try to provide you with the latest tools to help you find the land or homes you are looking for on your schedule and in the way you want to view the information.

Westminster Fire Station to host Open House and Barbecue

The City of Westminster's neighborhood outreach program will have their 14th annual Fire Station #5 open house and barbecue from noon to 3pm on May 2 at the fire station at 10100 Garland Street.  This event is free and open to the public.  This is a great opportunity to meet, eat and drink (soda), with some Westminster firefighters, members of the Westminster City Council and others in your Westminster Community. 

Kids can ride in a vintage fire truck and see trucks, police cars, ambulances and other public work equipment.  This is a great chance for eveyone to learn more about city services and get to know your neighbors.

Not to burst anyone's bubble, but I think the Real Estate market is going to get worse.

I'm not trying to be pessimistic, and yes I've had my morning coffee.  But the current environment with retail residential resales is likely to get worse in the next few years for the following three reasons:

1. Rising interest rates - We have had so much money creation, that higher rates (remember 1982?), are more than likely.
2. The Federal Tax credit incentive will expire - The $8,000 Federal Homebuyers Tax Credit for first time homebuyers will expire, that is a BIG incentive right now motivating a lot of buyers for the lower end of the market.
3. The economy will not improve that much, if at all - The economic forecast according to the FED is not expected to improve that much by next year at this time, in fact many experts expect it to get worse.

There are of course a couple ways to plan for this. 

Change careers now - Although what many agents will do I don't know, it's not like there are a plethora of available high paying jobs available right now.

 OR

Impress upon potential buyers and sellers that this year is probably the best time they are going to see in a VERY LONG time to buy of sell real estate.

Renegotiating your Commercial Lease - Tips and Tricks

This current recession has hit many commercial property managers particularly hard.  Most, if not all shopping mall owners are doing everything they can to retain retail tenants.  Businesses that utilize office space are in much the same situation.  Most office space landlords are also in survival mode these days.  There is a role for the savvy business owner to utilize a commercial real estate broker to renegotiate their lease with their landlord.

Negotiating Tips

Most business owners negotiate every day of their lives.  They negotiate with their vendors, employees, customers, and probably every day at home as well with their family.  However negotiating when you have a great deal at stake, are under stress, or do not fully understand the landscape (such as a real estate transaction) can leave you at a disadvantage.  Imagine trying to negotiate in a foreign language that you do not speak!  That is the situation for most business owners trying to renegotiate their leases.

There are some definate 'DO's' for negotiation:

• Solicit the other person's perspective - What do you need from me on this?
• State your needs - not just what you want, but WHY you want it.
• Prepare options beforehand - have alternative resolutions in mind.
• Do NOT argue - Do not try to prove the other person wrong, it's a waste of time.
• Consider timing - right before lunch may not be the best time, consider re-scheduling in need be.
• Do not give a point without receiving something in return - For every thing you concede, you should get something in exchange.

And, there are some definate 'DON'T's' for negotiation:

• Viewing negotiation as confrontational - You are not trying to win, you are trying to work together to find a solution.
• Trying to 'win' at all costs - This is likely to cause problems in the future.
• Becoming emotional - It is important to maintain control at all times.
• Focusing on personalities - focus on the issues, not the people.
• Blaming the other side - take responsibility, their is NO benefit to arguing.

Negotiation is a tough but worthwhile skill to develop.  If you follow the tips above, you will be much more likley to have a successful negotiation that achieves your goals.

Best Way to dispose of Commercial Real Estate Assets

Most bank asset managers have way too many challenges disposing of real estate assets these days. From houses and homes, including condos and townhomes, to commercial properties and developer projects that went 'south'. They are being inundated with new 'bad' non performing loans, are not able to lend, the FDIC is increasing their insurance requirements, bank examiners are more stringent, public perception is poor, and their capital requirements are as strict as ever. Bankers are being told to lend money on one hand, and to shore up their capital on the other. It's an impossible situation that has been exacerbated by non-performing loans. Even performing projects are running into problems because the borrowers are unable to refinance their loans when they mature.

We have a solution to the bad real estate asset problems facing bankers

There seem to be three major concerns that bank asset managers have when selling properties:

• Who will dispose of the property for the lowest cost?
• Who will sell the real estate the quickest?
• Who will get the bank the most money possible?

Selling for the lowest cost - This is fairly straightforward, how much cheaper than 0% commission can you get? Whether it is 0% commission to 6% or even 10%; what other marketing costs or fees do the real estate brokers want to charge you? For example: We'll be happy to sell a property for actual hard costs (and we'll provide the receipts), plus 0% commission if we are getting the 'buy' side of the deal. Why? Because we can be more efficient with our marketing and selling processes. (see below).

Selling the real estate in the quickest period of time- This is a function of advertising dispersion (signage, online, mailouts, word of mouth, affinity marketing, etc.), and price point. Every Real Estate Broker says that they are the best, they have the best resources to market the property, etc. The price argument is oftentimes the only excuse that most real estate agents use and the easy cop out as to why something isn't selling. The advertising, specifically online advertising (where we know that over 80% of home searches begin), is the dominant factor determining how many eyeballs see the property for sale. Additionally, how a property is described is as important. We're not talking about floral print kitchen window coverings or mountain views here. What were talking about is a 'Persuasion Architecture' methodology that appeals to the most likely buyer of a real estate property. A full description of this is beyond the scope of a single blog post, but we would be happy to explain it to you in depth in person. As for the superior online advertising example, rather than just saying we're pretty adept at it,

We would like to show you:

Do a Google search for:

'Colorado Commercial Real Estate Broker' - #3 out of 2,150,000 million results
'Commercial Colorado Real Estate Broker' - #3 and #4 out of 1,930,000 million results
'International Colorado Real Estate Broker' - #1 and #4 out of 2,110,000 million results
'Colorado Home Sellers' - #2 out of 7,160,000 million results
'Best Colorado Real Estate Broker' - #6 out of 29,700,000 million results

These results were obtained on April 16, 2009.

You get the idea. We have the proven ability to put your property in front of more people under almost any term you choose to market it under. More traffic means more potential buyers, more buyers equals a higher likely sale price and a property that sells quicker.

Selling for the Most Money Possible - This is closely related to the discussion above for primarily the same reasons. We are able to market the property better, to more people, which is more likely to lead to a higher price or multiple bids.

To Summarize, this isn't just about selling real estate for the lowest cost, selling it with a marketing 'trick' or 'gimmick', or just having knowledge and/or ability that doesn't have a practical application. This is about education, experience, hard work, and intelligence being applied in a manner which can maximize the returns for Bank Asset managers looking to reduce their real estate exposure of bank owned properties, or conceivably for those commercial or residential real estate property owners who just want to sell their building or house.

Unfortunately, it is not infinite. We cannot market all properties in an area, we can only help those sellers that list with us until our capacity is exhausted. Contact us now for more information.

Colorado First Time home buyer assistance program

The Colorado Housing and Finance Authority just announced a new program where First Time Colorado Homebuyers can get up to $6,000 or 3.5% of a homes purchase price, whichever is less, to cover closing costs and down payment costs.  The full details of the plan are available here and is called the CHFA Jumpstart Program.

How it works

This program is essentially designed to work in conjunction with the $8000 Federal Home buyers tax credit by offering to 'loan' via a second mortgage on the property the $6,000 or 3.5%.  That second mortgage comes with no interest and no payments due until June 30, 2010.  The idea is that first time home buyers will use their Federal tax credit to repay the second mortage to the CHFA.  Buyers must contribute $1,000 of their own money and take a homebuyer education course.

Colorado lawmakers say the program is for a limited time and are not guaranteeing that the program will be renewed next year.  It will apparently depend on the state of the housing market.

The Safest place to be is Self-Employed

With all the talks of layoffs and large and small companies recently, it occurred to me again that IMHO the safest place to be is self employed:

10 Best reasons to be self employed

1. I go to work when I want to.
2. I can work as hard as I want.
3. I don't have negative or ignorant co-workers holding me back.
4. I can work as much as I want.
5. I can take the dogs for a walk in the middle of the day.
6. I'm the president AND chief janitor.
7. I'll be the last person laid off or RIF'd (Reduction In Force).
8. I smile as I'm sipping coffee in my house on snowy commute mornings.
9. The Gym isn't crowded in the middle of the day.
10. And finally, when I need a day off, I can take it.

Of course we all know how difficult it is to be self-disciplined, make efficient use of our time, and make a living in real estate, but to me the benefits are worth it and I still truly love getting up in the morning and getting to work.