Joetta’s Neighborhood Newsletter
September/October 2012
To All My Friends & Neighbors –
I’m writing this on the afternoon of our first snowfall. I was able to get out into my backyard yesterday and bring in sweet peppers, jalapenos, apples, and tomatoes before the frozen white stuff came down. Next time it warms up a little I’ll get those gardens tucked in for winter.
I’ve had the extreme pleasure the past few weeks of visiting several of you, my long-time readers in their homes. It seems that many people who have been waiting until the market improved to sell their home have decided now is the time, or maybe some time in the next year.
And I agree. But we agents always say that, right? Well, there’s a lot of statistics backing that up, some you can even read on my blog post, linked to on the last page of this newsletter.
Housing is turning around, and interest rates are still unbelievably low.
Real Estate News
It’s official now! Both the president and his opponent said it in the debate this week – the housing market is recovering. Prices are on the rise.
And I concur. It’s true in the Denver to Boulder market, at least. Average selling price of homes is on the rise. I even read a report that said the housing market has recovered 1/3 of the value it lost in the crisis.
I’m not so sure that claim of 1/3 recovery is accurate. And yet, research may make it appear to be true. How can that happen?
Folks who wanted to sell their home but have not been under any real pressure to sell, have been holding on to their homes waiting for the market to improve. Now, they’re hearing prices are recovering and foreclosures and short sales are fewer, so they realize it’s time to move on with their lives and sell that home that is too small, or has too many stairs, or too big a yard to take care of.
Many of these folks have homes of a higher value than the glut of short sales and foreclosures we’ve seen in the past, so more homes in higher price ranges are being sold. And that is skewing the research, which averages all home sales and results in a higher average sale price than the true market.
In addition, due to crazy-low interest rates, homebuyers are discovering they can buy a higher-priced home and get the same payment. And that’s causing a bit of a shortage in housing inventory, which is putting upward pressure on values.
A true picture only comes to light when a current sale of a specific house size, type, location, age, etc., is compared to one from the past. Not many pros have the time to do such detailed research just for fun. But that’s exactly what a knowledgeable local real estate agent will do for you, if you just ask.
Well, I know I will! And at no charge, of course. Even if you’re not planning to sell very soon, even if you’re not sure that you will sell at all. All I ask is that you be up front with me on what you’re thinking, and I’ll get you the facts.
Website Tip of the Month – A Local Food Share
I recently discovered Yardharvest.org – I love this idea! The goal is to collect and distribute unwanted produce from Denver-area trees and backyards. You can ‘Like’ their Facebook page to get updates, but what they’ve been saying is that they need more volunteer harvesters rather than more yards to harvest from.
I plan to volunteer next year, maybe you or someone you know can jump on board too! This is a big idea – as more volunteers come on board, more food can be shared with food banks, day care centers, and homeless shelters. Why not share rather than waste, after all?
Check out Yard Harvest at http://yardharvest.org
Your Opinion, Please
If you have a moment, would you click on these three links, or at least the first two, and tell me which post you like better? I always write a blog post for each listing and its neighborhood, and am thinking of changing the format.
Wonderful Ranch-Style Home for Sale in Arvada
Arvada Home for Sale – Bamboo, Granite, Remodeled
Some of my blog posts for the past month
Visit HomesDenvertoBoulder.com to see all my posts. I can only put a few links in this newsletter, or I get into trouble with the digital world.
To get this newsletter by email, send a quick note to joetta.fort@gmail.com.
US Real Estate is Bouncing Back. How’s Arvada Doing?
Here’s a Ton of Info for Home Buyers
See all my listings – in fact, every home listed via MLS IDX - at www.DreamHouseHunting.com
If you’d like daily updates of homes on the market, or monthly updates of sales in your neighborhood, let me know.
If you have input for, or a response to, this newsletter, I’d love to hear from you.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
How to buy a house Denver to Boulder.
I am a residential real estate agent, happily helping folks buy a house or sell a house in the beautiful and friendly suburbs northwest of Denver.
Read what past clients have said about me.
I write posts on the communities between Denver and Boulder, to give people an idea of the ‘flavor’ of our community, in case they’re new or moving to the Denver area.
Read more about life in Arvada, Colorado. And here’s a little intro to Olde Town Arvada.
Gardeners might enjoy my posts about gardening in Denver to Boulder’s front range.
Copyright © 2012 Joetta Fort, The DiGiorgio Group
Comments(3)