This year I decided to do place an American Flag at each home in the Greenfield sub.  We started at about 6 am (that is me on the left, Richard and Chase my helpers)  and it took about 2 hours to do 700 homes.  I put a little card on each flag that had an excerpt from the Declaration of Independence and just my contact info, nothing saying how great I am and use me as your agent (I think that is cheesy anyways).  The neighborhood looked awesome.  And that morning the people that were out and about were thanking me and telling me how wonderful I was to do such a nice thing for the community.  I even had people call me and email me to thank me for the deed.  Even though I had originally planned to do this to promote myself throughout the neighborhood it became more than that when I realiz... 07/07/2008

My husband emailed this to me and I really enjoyed reading it.  I think it totally fits the 4th of July.  Hope you enjoy  rading this. Before you slice the watermelon and watch the fireworks, take just a minute to think about what "Independence Day" means today, in our current volatile economic climate. Please take just a minute of your time to read this...I promise there is something very important in it for all of us.Every day we see the bad news...gas prices are up, and so is the unemployment rate in our country. Everything seems to cost more, and we seem to get a lower quality product costing more of our money. More of the products we use every day come from overseas, places like Japan, China, even Mexico. Each time we send our hard earned dollars overseas, we add another drop to th... 07/03/2008

Aan article from The Denver Post, reports that in a new survey comparing salaries and living costs in 69 cities, Aurora ranks second only to Plano, Texas.  In the survey conducted by Salary.com, Denver landed No. 22 and Colorado Springs was No. 11.  According to Bill Coleman, chief compensation officer at Salary.com, it is better to live far away from the big-money people.  "They drive real estate prices up so the average person, which most of us are, see their costs of real estate go through the roof," he said.  Aurora is near the top of Coleman's list because it's affordable, and many people who live there earn an above-average wage.  Wendy Mitchell, Aurora's economic development director said, "This is validation that we are going in the right direction.  We're recruiting the right c... 07/01/2008

12 Tips for Hiring a Remodeling Contractor1. Get at least three written estimates. 2. Check references. If possible, view earlier jobs the contractor completed. 3. Check with the local Chamber of Commerce or Better Business Bureau for complaints. 4. Be sure the contract states exactly what is to be done and how change orders will be handled. 5. Make as small of a down payment as possible so you won't lose a lot if the contractor fails to complete the job. 6. Be sure that the contractor has the necessary permits, licenses, and insurance. 7. Check that the contract states when the work will be completed and what recourse you have if it isn't. Also, remember that in many instances you can cancel a contract within three business days of signing it. 8. Ask if the contractor's workers will do... 06/24/2008

I put this flyer together for my farm area, the Greenfield Subdivision in Aurora, Colorado, 80016.  It has some great information about FHA financing that today's home owner should know, especially since the Denver mortgage market is tightening up so much.  If you have any questions about FHA financing please call John Jeffery at Home Lending Solutions.  You will find his information at the bottom of this flyer.  Enjoy. 06/24/2008

 Bike Path/Aurora Reservoir I drove through the luxury waterfront community of Beacon Point in Aurora, Colorado today (near Smoky Hill and Arapahoe Parkway), in order to access one of the handful of gates granting access to Aurora Reservoir.  These gates provide easy access to the Reservoir, whether on bike or on foot; much quicker and easier than driving to the main entrance.  Have you been to Beacon Point?  If so, let me know your impressions.  I think it is an impressive community, with sweeping views of the lake, and in close proximity to Southland's Mall (popular new outdoor mall), Cherry Creek Schools, and a major highway (E-470).  Popular Park Meadows Mall and Denver International Airport are an approximate 20-30 minutes drive time from the neighborhood.  Below is some additional... 06/23/2008

An article from the Colorado Real Estate Journal, reports that in November, the biggest block of office space in metro Denver will come on line and head straight into a $1 million makeover.  According to Paul Luber of Ascent Capital Partners, which is redeveloping the property, Cherry Creek Place II is being vacated by longtime tenant Dex and will be turned into a Class A building in the Aurora submarket.  The six-story building totals 199,892 square feet.  Luber said, “What we have is the largest contiguous block of existing space in the suburban metro Denver.” http://www.crej.com/news_category.php?category_id=1 06/23/2008

The Greenfield neighborhood is located in Centennial, Colorado. The area is very close to the Southlands shopping district and E470. Children living in the neighborhood attend excellent Cherry Creek Schools, including Rolling Hills Elementary, Falcon Creek Middle School and Grandview High School. The most recent real estate statistics for this area are as follows: During the past 90 days (February 29 - April 29, 2008):   9 homes sold in Greenfield (4 more are currently Under Contract) Average net sold price was $340,887 (ranged from $231,500 to $489,900) Total Days on Market average was 67 (down from 85 in April) These nine homes sold for an average of 97.8% of their list price and 94.2% of their original asking price Average net price per square foot was $134 (up from $132 in April) NO... 06/17/2008

Aurora Homes For Sale - New Listings When searching for the latest Aurora homes for sale it is helpful to have a way to search the brand new listings. When buying an AUrora home, you will want to know where the latest listings are so that you are able to view them first if you desire. This tool will help you do just that. This interactive tool will help you stay on top of what is new at all times. The map below shows you the properties in Aurora that are new real estate listings in the last 3 days. It is constantly updating. Come back tomorrow and if there are additional new homes for sale, they will be added. And on a listing 4th day of being on the market, it will disappear from this map. If there are ever 0 homes displayed - than simply there were no new Aurora homes entered in the M... 06/17/2008

2008 All-America City Award Winners Announced! Denver, Colorado-The National Civic League announced the winners of the prestigious All-America City award during a June 6 celebration at the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel. The ten winners in 2008 (in alphabetical order by state) are: Goodyear, Arizona Cerritos, California Aurora, Colorado New Haven, Connecticut Kissimmee-Osceola County, Florida Gladstone, Missouri St. Louis Region (Missouri-Illinois) Lenoir, North Carolina Reidsville, North Carolina Akron, Ohio In its 59th year, the awards program recognizes neighborhoods, villages, towns, cities, counties and metro regions for outstanding civic accomplishments. To win, communities have to demonstrate their ability to address serious challenges with innovative, grassroots strategies that... 06/16/2008

I wanted to take a few minutes and speak about the importance of third party verification in two specific areas. Obtaining permits for work performed (basement finishing, roofing, furnace installation, etc.) - many of the inspections I have conducted throughout the last few years are riddled with homeowner repairs and installations.  I am well aware that I am paid to be the bearer of bad news, however an outstanding real estate agent will help prep their client and let them know how important it is that large scale projects are completed correctly and safely.  Homeowners might have the know-how and skill to finish their own basement, however without the independant verification from the county code enforcement there is no verification that plumbing joints were done correcly, plumbing ve... 06/13/2008

Do not pursue what is illusory - property and position: all that is gained at the expense of your nerves decade after decade and can be confiscated in one fell night. Live with a steady superiority over life - don't be afraid of misfortune, and do not yearn after happiness; it is after all, all the same: the bitter doesn't last forever, and the sweet never fills the cup to overflowing. - Aleksander Solzhenitsyn   Love all of God's creation, the whole of it and every grain of sand. Love every leaf, every ray of God's light! Love the animals, love the plants, love everything. If you love everything, you will soon perceive the divine mystery in things. Once you perceive it, you will begin to comprehend it better every day. And you will come at last to love the whole world with an all-embra... 06/13/2008

Some great ideas and tips on how to be a smart "eco-traveler" 1.  Pack lightly - even ten extra pounds per passenger requires a significant increase of fuel use for a plane. 2.  Plan your trip paperlessly - Travel guides, maps, and even boarding passes are now available for download.  Lonley Planet's "Pick & Mix Chapters" let readers buy only the information they need and Rough Guides offers "iToors" for iPods. 3.  Reuse linens - By telling hotel staff to skip changing your sheets and towels, you can help save up to 30 gallons of water per day! 4.  Don't waste toiletries - Many hotels throw away old soaps and shampoos, if even used only once (thankfully!) Preferably pack your own toiletries or take the left overs with you when you check out. 5.  Think like a native - Do your best to enj... 06/13/2008

An article from the Denver Business Journal, reports that Lend Lease Communities LLC announced it hopes to use solar power to support its planned community on the Lowry Range east of Aurora.  The company is working for the State Land Board, which owns the old bombing range, and plans a development of about 13,000 homes plus commercial properties.  Lend Lease is developing 3,870 acres within the 26,000-acre range.  The developer, agency and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden installed a devise to measure the amount of sun that shines on the range to see if the location will support a solar power generating plant.  The Lowry Range solar-measurement station is the first device installed at the request of a real estate developer intending to use the energy to support a commu... 06/10/2008

Pillar To Post: ePostNotes Email - March 2008 <!-- td font { font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; } p a { color: #408080; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; } font { font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; } --> MOTIVATION THE INTEGRITY SECRET When asked what the purpose of being in business is, what do you think most people would say? I would guess that almost everyone would answer that the purpose of being in business is to make money. CLICK HERE FOR MORE >> SAFETY SENSE A LUSH GREEN LAWN A lush green lawn is a must-have for most homeowners, but many believe that the use of pesticide and weed eater is the only way to achieve this goal. CLICK HERE FOR MORE >> HOUSE HINTS AN ATTRACTIVE YARD FOR LESS Beautifying your... 05/29/2008

This is the time of year when sinus problems hit their peak. What can you do about it without getting on some type of prescription medication with who knows what side effects? Take Cover! Save yourself from allergy season by encasing your mattress, box springs, and pillows in “allergen-proof covers.” Keep your house hydrated! The humidity level in your home should always stay under 50% - use a dehumidifier or air conditioner to lower and maintain the moisture level in your home for maximum benefit.  For many of us who call Colorado home this isn't a problem at all Suck it up! The benefits of vacuuming once a week are numerous. High efficiency particulate (HEPA) filters are best at “trapping particulate” and picking up dust, dust mites, and pet dander – all things that can seriously aggr... 05/29/2008

(This article was found in the May 2008 issue of "Indoor Environment Connections" and can be viewed at http://www.ieconnections.com) Douglas Kladder Director, Center for Environmental Research & Training Colorado Springs, Colorado “Fire in the hole” is not an expression commonly used by radon mitigation contractors, but was one shouted out by Ty Pennington of ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” moments before over a hundred sticks of dynamite blew a Cheyenne, Wyoming home sky high. Why was the home blown up? As indicated during the November 4, 2007 airing of the program, it was because the family was being poisoned by the presence of radon gas. For those who read this column and are not intimately involved with radon, let me point out that C-4, nitroglycerine or even wrecking balls a... 05/29/2008

Brighten Up Your Living Space in Winter <!-- #UNSUBSCRIBE { font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9px; margin: 20px; position: relative; color: #000000; } h1 { font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #FFFFFF; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; font-weight: bold; position: relative; float: none; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; font-size: 14px; } img { margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; visibility: visible; } table { border: 1px solid #000000; padding: 0px; background-color: #FFFFFF; width: 644px; } table.blank { border-top-style: none; border-... 05/27/2008

An article from The Denver Post, reports that later this year in Aurora, Lend Lease could start work on a new sustainable community that would include a mix of homes, shops, restaurants and offices.  Horizon Uptown will be located on 500 acres and include about 3,800 residences housing approximately 8,000 people and 1.3 million square feet of retail, comprising 400,000 square feet of neighborhood retail and 900,000 square feet of large-format and lifestyle centers.  Also planned is up to 4 million square feet of office space, targeting the health care, aerospace and defense industries.  All commercial buildings in the project must meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold standard.  Homes will be built to either Colorado Built Green standards or those established by t... 05/27/2008

Centennial Real Estate - Aurora Real Estate - Homes Sales Statistics - April 2008 Real Estate sales in this area have held pretty steady in April.  Inventory in single family homes is a bit down, yes closed sales are up and pending home sales are as well, just a bit. Overall, this is good.  As for condos and townhomes for sale - its much of the same.  For sale inventory is a bit down but closed sales are up and pendings are up a bit as well. Here are the AUS Aurora South numbers for April 2008 - Aurora South and parts of Centennial Aurora South - Residential Real Estate - Single Family Homes Total Active 1393Average Asking Price Price $241,945New Listings 661Listings Back on Market 211Sold 302Average Price Actually Sold $185,815% of List Price 99%Days on Market 98Under Contract 486Expir... 05/16/2008