wyoming: Laramie, Wyoming Real Estate: Tuesday Tour - November 13, 2012 - 11/13/12 03:48 AM
Tuesday morning's MLS (Multiple Listing Service) Tour is the place to be if you are a REALTOR member of the Laramie MLS.  Tuesday's are the day we all meet, then head out and view the newest listings on the MLS.
If you are not familiar with the concept of MLS, it is a members only organization whose members agree to share information on their listings with one another to better facilitate finding a buyer for the properties more quickly than they could on their own.  In other words, working together to get properties sold.  If a property is listed on the … (2 comments)

wyoming: Laramie, WY, Real Estate: Market Monday- Listing vs Selling Prices - 11/12/12 01:31 AM
There is almost always a bit of disparity between what Sellers list a house for and the actual price the house finally sells for.  Though, there will always be a few lucky sellers who get their full asking price.  This isn't really just luck but a result of good pricing, the homes appeal and a willing and able buyer who recognizes a good value when they see it.
This chart shows an average of how close listing prices were to the actual selling price in all categories of properties sold through the Laramie MLS from January 2010- October of 2012.  It … (6 comments)

wyoming: Laramie, Wyoming Real Estate: Seriously, NOT all babies are pretty! - 11/10/12 08:55 PM

Lucky us ...when a science teacher retired at the end of May last year we volunteered to take ONE Madagascar Hissing Cockroach home, temporarily - we thought.... 
Boy were we surprised when we found out that our androgenous, six-legged curiosity turned out to be a she.... a she who gave birth to about 30 babies!  Yes, birth.  Apparently this species' eggs hatch while still inside the mother and develop into miniature versions of the adults while still inside... then when the time is right, out they come...

After the shock wore off we researched this critter on the internet … (11 comments)

wyoming: Laramie, Wyoming Real Estate: What would you name this building? - 11/10/12 02:03 AM
What would you name this building?
A sight we are all used to here is often likened to a modern rendition of a tipi.  I imagine, given our regional heritage, that this was done on purpose by the designer/architect, but I don't know for sure.
Below the picture is what the real name of this is and what it is used for.
      
This building houses the American Heritage Center and is located on the University of Wyoming Campus.
Their website is located at: http://www.uwyo.edu/ahc/
Here is what the AHC homepage says:
 "The American Heritage Center (AHC) is the University … (3 comments)

wyoming: Laramie, Wyoming Real Estate: Is NOW a good time to buy? - 11/09/12 10:08 AM
Is now a good time to buy?
With interest rates lower than ever and home prices leveling out, now is an excellent time to buy - but frankly there is more than market conditions to consider when buying a home or moving up to a bigger home.  First and formost your own financial health should be the main thing that guides your decision.  Questions you may ask yourself:
-Are you in a stable job that you expect to keep for the next few years?
-Would buying be better for your life situation than continuing to rent or staying in your … (2 comments)

wyoming: Laramie, Wyoming Real Estate: Local Artist Exhibit Coming Soon! - 11/08/12 04:39 AM
Coming soon to Laramie - a chance to come out and view the work of local artistis!
 
Who:   Laramie Artists Project                                         
What:  Art Exhibition and Sale
Where:  Marriott Fairfield Inn on Centennial Drive
When:  November 17 from 10:00 AM through 5:00 PM              November 18 from 1:00 PM through 5:00 PM
Why:  To highlight the diversity and talent of local artists
 
Go to:   http://www.laramieartistsproject.com/   for more information about the Laramie Artist Project and its history.  You can also view some amazing and beautiful examples of their artwork by clicking on the "Artists" link.
 
… (1 comments)

wyoming: Laramie, Wyoming Real Estate: Sellers, Be Not Afraid! - 11/07/12 08:21 AM
As with any seasonal market, winter can be a nerve racking time for sellers. It feels like there are no buyers out there anywhere and the home will never sell.  Interestingly, local statistics show that winter isn't as dismal as it may seem when it comes to home sales.  There may be less people buying than in the summer months but there is also less competition on the market - increasing your home's chances of getting noticed!
So consider the winter months to be the time to optimize your homes appeal.  Make sure your price is on target, your home is … (4 comments)

wyoming: Laramie, Wyoming Real Estate: Oh, the waiting and waiting... - 11/06/12 09:46 AM
Here I sit with the TV on, working on the computer while awaiting all the election results to come in..... This is not the post I anticipated today but it's hard to focus on little else.  At this time it is all about exit polls as few states have yet closed their polls, or if they have closed they don't have actual results tabulated yet.  Frankly, I don't take much stock in exit polls - I want to see the actual results!   Aside from wanting my candidate (who shall remain unnamed) to win, there were also some local issues on … (3 comments)

wyoming: Laramie, Wyoming Real Estate: Absorption Rates May Be Heading Down... - 11/04/12 09:25 PM
A search of today's active residential listings showed 207 properties available.  This is a good number for Laramie this time of year.  Even better for sellers, a graph of absorption rates since the beginning of 2012 shows that we could be heading back towards a balanced market.
If you don't know what an absorption rate is, it is a number that tells how long it would take to sell all the existing properties on the market or how long it would take the market to absorb the current inventory.
Today's absorption rate is about 18 months compared to a whopping 86 … (2 comments)

wyoming: Laramie, Wyoming Real Estate: Monuments....Wyoming Style! - 11/04/12 06:52 AM
While there are many grand things in Wyoming that we celebrate, we're not ones to neglect the marginally noteworthy as well. 
After all, we have a much shorter recorded history than many other areas in the United States so we have to find history where we can. 
Thus you'll find curious highway pull-outs all over the state that are devoted to remembering random moments in history - grand or not. 
On I-70 between Laramie and Cheyenne people can stop, stretch their legs and take a gander at this tree in a rock. 
The accompanying signs explain what … (8 comments)

wyoming: Laramie, Wyoming Real Estate: A Busy Day in Laramie Today - 11/03/12 12:29 PM
What a busy day in Laramie today!  The weather was fantastic (in the 50's) and people were everywhere. Here are just a few of the activites that were taking place:
   -Big Laramie Valley Country Fair/Bazaar at Harmony School
  
  - 33rd Annual Beta Sigma-Phi Holiday Bazaar at the
    Albany County Fairgrounds
 
  -Friends of the Library Book Give Away at 310 S 8th in the
   Library basement.
 
  - University of Wyoming Cowboy Open Wrestling Tournament
     lasting all day at the Multi-purpose gym
    
And last but not least:
   - The University … (1 comments)

wyoming: Laramie, Wyoming Real Estate: Annual Toys for Tots Kick Off... - 11/02/12 04:34 AM
The Annual Toys for Tots Drive will kick off with a flourish tomorrow at the Wyoming Cowboys Football Game. 
The Wyoming Cowboys will be playing against the Colorado State Rams on Saturday, November 3 at War Memorial Statium at 2:30 PM.  I have always known about Toys for Tots but was surprised to learn that the Marine Corps Reserves are the ones responsible for coordinating and carrying out this wonderful event. 
Volunteers will be on hand to collect donations at the game.  For those unable to attend the game or donate at this time, there will be over 40 … (6 comments)

wyoming: Laramie, Wyoming Real Estate: Rentals - The Grove - 11/01/12 03:55 AM
Laramie's newest large, apartment complex, The Grove:

I have to admit I was a bit of a sceptic as I saw construction begin on "The Grove".  It didn't seem that the concept - "fully loaded college living" would appeal to notoriously budget conscience Laramie renters. It seems, though, that they have found their niche and it is reported they are rented to capacity. 
Their concept, though pricey, is simple.  Tenants rent rooms that come with their own private bathrooms.  Rooms are in 3 to 4 bedroom apartments and tenants who want to room together may be able to rent … (2 comments)

wyoming: Laramie, Wyoming Real Estate: Happy Halloween! - 10/31/12 02:39 AM
       
Second only to Christmas, Halloween is more popular than ever.  Here are a few thoughts for all the little and not so little trick-or-treaters in Laramie this year:
An adult should accompany ALL children who trick or treat from door to door.
Older trick-or-treaters should go as a group, have a planned route, carry cell phones and be alert of the people around.
Keep track of your children even if they are attending sponsored indoor events.
Even though we live in Laramie, we still need to excersize common sense and caution. So, here's.....
Wishing you a safe and Happy … (11 comments)

wyoming: Laramie, Wyoming Real Estate: Those Crazy Nebraska Fans... - 10/30/12 03:25 AM
       
Last year our University of Wyoming Cowboy  football team got to go up against the Nebraska Cornhuskers.  Yes, we were a bit outmatched but the Cowboys played a respectable game even though we lost in the end .
But the most astounding thing was those CRAZY Nebraska fans!  What a fun, devoted bunch of people!  They came out in droves - filling up the parking lots around the stadium the night before the game.  And not with just cars.... they came fully loaded with campers, RVs and the like. Full size barbeques, gazebo style tents, flags and banners popped … (3 comments)

wyoming: A Seasonal Market, Indeed! - 10/29/12 05:38 AM
 
           
Like many markets around the country, the Laramie market most certainly has a seasonal component - with most sales taking place from May to August in any given year. 
If you are a home seller, don't despair! While not as many homes sell in the winter months, home sales ARE stilll occuring.  Talk to your real esate professional to improve your home's odds of being one of the ones that does.
If you are a home buyer, take advantage of the reduced inventory and working with sellers who are motivated to sell.
Either way, it can be a … (5 comments)

wyoming: Laramie, Wyoming Real Estate: What is this? - 03/07/12 12:26 PM
      
Last summer, while trekking around Ames Monument and Vedauwoo, my curiosity was aroused by these pipes sticking out of the ground.  They emerged periodically across the prairie and though I'm sure they've always been there, it was only this time that I really noticed - and wondered - what they were.  At certain intervals the pipes were accompanied by a sign like this - even then, I really didn't believe there could be a water pipeline clear out there.  After all, where would it be going? Imagine my surprise when I googled  "B.O.P.U." and  found not only … (9 comments)

wyoming: Laramie, Wyoming Real Estate: Tuesday Tour - March 6, 2012 - 03/06/12 08:46 AM
                                                                                                                 
Tuesday morning's MLS (Multiple Listing Service) Tour is the place to be if you are a REALTOR member of the Laramie MLS.  Tuesday's are the day we all meet then head out and view the newest listings from all the cooperating real estate agencies.
If you are not familiar with the concept of MLS, it is a members only organization whose members agree to share information on their listings with one another to better facilitate finding a buyer for the properties more quickly than they could on their own.  In other words, working together to get properties sold.  If … (6 comments)

wyoming: Laramie, Wyoming Real Estate: "Deer Road," more than just a name! - 03/05/12 04:12 AM
The names of most streets, avenues, roads, etc. are as varied as the reasons behind the names themselves.  We have numbered streets, lettered streets, streets named after people and streets named after regional landmarks. Most towns are sure to have a street or two named after a president.  Laramie's president streets are Washington, Madison, Van Buren, Fillmore, Harrison, Taylor, Hayes, Polk, Jefferson, Johnson, Grant, Cleveland, Monroe, Truman, Franklin, Garfield,  Kennedy and Lincoln.  Eighteen in all! Then there are names based on regional history.  I wonder how many western towns have a Lewis Street and a Clark Street, as well as a … (7 comments)

wyoming: Laramie, Wyoming Real Estate: Tuesday Tour - January 17, 2012 - 01/17/12 09:47 AM
Tuesday's are the day we have our weekly MLS (Multiple Listing Service) Tour - which is when we head out and view the newest listings that have been added to the Laramie MLS. 
The MLS is a members only organization whose members agree to share information on their listings with one another to better facilitate finding a buyer for the properties more quickly than they could on their own.  In other words, working together to get properties sold faster.  If a property is listed on theMLS, no matter who the agency is that is selling the home, any active member of … (2 comments)