The University of Denver (locally called DU) was founded in March of 1864 and is the oldest University in the Rocky Mountain area.

The 125 acre main campus is located on the west side of the University Park/Observatory Park neighborhood Denver at 2199 So University Blvd. The University of Denver was founded by John Evans who was appointed the Governor of the Colorado Territory by president Abraham Lincoln. 

Initially founded as the "Colorado Seminary", the school was renamed the University of Denver in 1880. First established in downtown Denver, the school was relocated to it's present location after a donation of the land by a man named Rufus Clark.

Prior to World War II, the student body mostly consisted of local and regional applicants. With the advent of the GI bill after World War II, enrollment at the University of Denver grew to over 13,000 students.
                                                                                                                  
I first came to Denver specifically to study at the University of Denver and one of my favorite buildings on the campus has always been University Hall.

University Hall is primarily used for administrative purposes and is one of the oldest and most architecturally striking buildings on the University of Denver campus.

In terms of pure beauty, my favorite is Evans Memorial Chapel in the center of the University of Denver campus.

Built in 1878 by John Evans, the chapel was in honor of his daughter Josephine who died in 1868.  Originally constructed in downtown Denver, the Evans Memorial Chapel was purchased by the University of Denver, disassembled and reassembled in is present location in 1960.  The chapel is gorgeous and I fondly remember attending a friends wedding there in the 80's.

Featured Neighborhood: University Park Home & Real Estate For Sale

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When you are ready to look at homes (or have one to sell) in University Park of Denver CO home give me a call. I would love the opportunity to earn your business! Mark at 720.733.1548.

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Copyright 2011 All Rights Reserved, "Denver CO Home Update - Featured Neighborhood: University Park Home & Real Estate For Sale"
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Here is a complete list of all the homes for sale in University Park in Denver, Colorado. There is a wide range in prices from $300,000 to over $1 Million. Please call us if you have questions about the neighborhood or need more detailed stats for this or another area.

Investing in Real Estate 9 - Scrapes, Pops and New Construction

This blog will discuss a type of real estate investment, scrapes, pops and new construction, in the University Park area in Denver.

What this investment is:  Purchasing a small home in an expensive neighborhood that may or may not need work.  The home is bulldozed and a new home or duplex is put on the lot.  Alternatively, the existing home is renovated and more square footage is added on.  A pop-top is adding a second story to an existing home to add more square footage (commonly, a master bedroom suite).

Equity needed:  Being able to document your income and your assets will be critical.  For a commercial loan, your net worth should generally be at least as much as the loan you are seeking.  The good news is that the commercial loan usually does not show up on your credit report, so it doesn't count towards the "four investment home limitation" from Fannie / Freddie.

Importance of credit:  Essential.  A 720 FICO is a must.  A 740 would be better.

Importance of experience with contractors:  Critical.  If you have never done it before, start with an easier "paint and carpet" project to build your skills.  The more sophisticated the project, the better your contractor management skills must be to make money.  Not surprisingly, the simpler projects have lower profit margins than the complicated projects.  Make sure you can take the time to really focus on the project.  We run classes on how to do this from time to time.  Go to http://www.yourcastle.org/events.cfm to see when the next session is.

Important of experience with property managers:  Generally not important for this type of investment.

Investing in Real Estate 8 - Condo Conversions

This blog will discuss a type of real estate investment, fix and flips, in the University Park area in Denver.

What this investment is:  A synthesis of the fix and flip and rental operations - purchasing an apartment building in a neighborhood dominated by owner occupants, then converting the building from apartment building to condominium.  Often requires renovation of the units to meet the expectations of owner-occupant buyers in that area.  Complex and time consuming, but has wonderful tax advantages compares to fix and flips and often has superior returns to all other asset classes.  Ideally suited for the sophisticated investor with extensive experience. 

Equity needed:  Being able to document your income and your assets will be critical.  For a commercial loan, your net worth should generally be at least as much as the loan you are seeking.  The good news is that the commercial loan usually does not show up on your credit report, so it doesn't count towards the "four investment home limitation" from Fannie / Freddie.

Importance of credit:  Essential.  A 720 FICO is a must.  A 740 would be better.

Importance of experience with contractors:  Critical.  If you have never done it before, start with an easier "paint and carpet" project to build your skills.  The more sophisticated the project, the better your contractor management skills must be to make money.  Not surprisingly, the simpler projects have lower profit margins than the complicated projects.  Make sure you can take the time to really focus on the project.  We run classes on how to do this from time to time.  Go to http://www.yourcastle.org/events.cfm to see when the next session is.

Important of experience with property managers:  Not important; the majority of our clients manage their own rentals when they get started.  Ideally you will have started with some smaller investment rentals and built property management experience.  Now, when you have to finally manage a property manager, it will be easy since you have done the job yourself in the past.

Investing in Real Estate 7 - Fix and Flips

This blog will discuss a type of real estate investment, fix and flips, in the University Park area in Denver.

What this investment is:  Purchasing a home that needs work.  The scope can range from the basic "paint and carpet" to extensive overhauls to scraping a decrepit property and completely starting over.  Usually does not involve tenants, and the objective is to get in and out of the property as quickly as possible.  Great for beginners with the right skill sets or the willingness to learn.

Equity needed:  With hard money loans (defined in next paragraph), potentially 0% and they'll finance the construction costs, too.  Expect a LOT of strings to be attached.  A small local lender might give you 75% of the purchase price and the renovation budget, and the terms will be a lot more pleasant than the hard money option.  Or you can do 20% down and get a convention, non-owner occupied loan and pay for the renovation with cash or your Home Depot credit card.

Importance of credit:  If you get a hard money loan, your credit will not matter as much.  These are harder to find than they were last year.  If you get a traditional loan, it'll be a non-owner occupant loan, credit score will be very important.  A 720 FICO score would help a lot.  Being able to document your income and your assets will be critical.  A hard money lender will lend you money based on the value of the property you are purchasing.  If the property is worth $200,000 and you are able to purchase it for $150,000, a Hard Money Lender will probably give you a loan regardless of your down payment or credit score.  However, the fees and the interest rate will be much less desirable than more conventional forms of financing.  Hard Money Lenders can usually close very quickly, and from the Sellers' point of view, you are purchasing with Cash.

Importance of experience with contractors:  Critical.  If you have never done it before, start with an easier "paint and carpet" project to build your skills.  The more sophisticated the project, the better your contractor management skills must be to make money.  Not surprisingly, the simpler projects have lower profit margins than the complicated projects.  Make sure you can take the time to really focus on the project.  We run classes on how to do this from time to time.  Go to http://www.yourcastle.org/events.cfm to see when the next session is.

Important of experience with property managers:  Not important. 

Investing in Real Estate 6 - Lease Options

This blog will discuss a type of real estate investment, lease options, in the University Park area in Denver.

What this investment is:  A lease option (L/O) is Acquiring control of a property (though not necessarily ownership), then leasing the property to a tenant.  The lease is bundled with an option, so the tenant can (but does not have to) purchase the property for a given price within a given time frame.  Again you are seeking a tenant for a property, but usually for a slightly longer term (12-18 months) and frequently (though not always) with the goal that the tenant purchase the property from you at the end of the lease.  If you purchase the property, then it's an easier process; if you find a highly motivated seller to let you re-lease the property to another tenant, it can be a lot of work to set up.  However, the re-lease method doesn't require any cash out of pocket and does not rely on your credit score, so it is appealing to many investors.  Great for beginners with the right skills and attitude.

Equity needed:  If you get seller financing, potentially just a few thousand dollars for your operating account.  If you purchase the property, 10% down (best case); more likely 20% down.

Importance of credit:  If you leverage seller carry, not important at all.  If you purchase the property, credit is important.  A 720 FICO score would help a lot.  Being able to document your income and your assets will be critical.

Importance of experience with contractors:  Some exposure would be helpful, but you are not likely to encounter construction projects any more difficult than you have maintaining your own personal residence.

Important of experience with property managers:  Not important; the majority of our clients manage their own rentals when they get started.  We run classes on how to do this from time to time.  Go to http://www.yourcastle.org/events.cfm to see when the next session is.