I had a closing Friday (yay!) and I agreed with the mortgage broker who had referred the client to me, that we really needed to blog about this situation - which ended up being a win for everyone involved, because it was such a perfect example of why it’s really important to be fully prepared and pre-qulaified when you find the property you want.

My clients are first-time investors (both accountants) who are, luckily, extremely organized with great credit.  Although they weren’t completely sure what type of property they wanted at first, or in what neighborhood, they did know that they wanted a great deal (of course) in a popular Denver area, and they knew they wanted to keep it as a rental property.

We looked at over 50 properties, all over the Denver area, from flipped condos to foreclosed duplexes, and wrote 4 contracts that didn’t go through.

I was out previewing some new listings for them when the client called - a new listing on a great street in Lower Highlands had just come up in the MLS, and the price seemed ridiculously low for a 3 BR 1 BA on an 8000 SF lot - and there was no picture.  Assuming that it was too good to be true, I drove by to take a look. 

A cute little stuccoed bungalow on a great lot, the house was a bit run-down but had great curb appeal, and the location couldn’t have been better.  Right up the street from the new Pasquini’s and Duo Restaurants, as well as all of the little cafes, coffee shops, and charm of the shopping district, and within blocks of the Pedestrian Bridge, this house was a charmer - and a steal.  Listed at $129,900, there is nothing that would even try to comp in that area for less than $200,000.

I scheduled a showing and the clients raced over to meet me.  They wanted that house. (So did I!)

We wrote an offer after I spoke to the listing agent, who told me that they had a few offers in but that he hadn’t presented them yet.  We offered more than the list price, but here is what clinched the deal - we were able to close in two weeks.  Because my clients had all of their documentation in, and the mortgage broker had everything they needed for a quick close, the sellers went with our offer, which wasn’t the highest, because they wanted the closest closing date possible.

So, lesson learned - even if you are pre-qualifed, keep in close touch with your lender and make sure that your file is completely up to date as you look for that perfect property - a little organization and diligence might just win you the prize!

The Sunnyside Music Fest is back next weekend with great music, shopping and eating, as well as fun stuff for the kiddos and cute new merchandise.

Stop by the LIVE Urban booth and say hi - we will be there throughout the event, from 10 am to 8 pm at Chaffee Park, which is at 44th and Tejon.

Get your Sunnyside groove on!

GB3 Energy Solutions owners Bill Lucas and Grant Swanson tested my house for “air leaks” and other energy drains using a blower door and infrared technologies. The final conclusion was not very exciting, but it was very informative. Not too surprising, my “classic” 1956 ranch didn’t have enough insulation (a wimpy 2 inches - yikes!) and was leaking like a pasta strainer. The first recommendation was to insulate, insulate, and insulate a little more. The next recommendation was to fill in the many gaps (many quite airy) that were allowing hot or cold air to seep out of my house without even saying good bye. The main culprits were the 30 plus canned lights in my house. Runners up included door jams, gaps between the floor and wall, open and unused chimneys, air conditioning runs not connected properly, and abandoned ducting runs in the attic. The result was massive air loss in my home.

Bill Lucas and Grant Swanson, the owners of GB3 Energy Solutions, not only performed the audit, but also acted as general contractors. This was a dream come true for two parents who work, and cherish every moment of down time. Call it old age…call it laziness….I call it smart. I am at the age where I no longer want to be a do-it-yourselfer when it comes to home repair projects. I happily let Bill and Grant take care of everything.

Bill and Grant did a fabulous job. I give GB3 Energy Solutions an A+ (and don’t forget how picky realtors can be). I would recommend an energy audit to anyone with an older home. I can’t wait to see less of my money going to xcel energy every month. Also, it just feel great to know that my house isn’t an energy hog.

www.gb3energy.com / grant@gb3energy.com / bill@gb3energy.com.

Finally, through this energy audit Bill discovered that the hot water heater in my house was back drafting carbon monoxide into the house. More than an energy issues, this was a health issue. Today, Lakewood Plumbing LLC (303) 233-7007 installed a side arm water heater that uses the same heating element as the boiler in my house. A healthy and energy efficient solution, and I’ve been told it will be more energy efficient than a tankless. www.lakewoodplumbing.com.

Speaking of things to watch on the tube… I read in the newspaper the other day about Bravo TV’s show “Million Dollar Listing.” Its an embarrassing look at a couple of idiot real estate brokers working in Los Angeles. No wonder real estate brokers get a bad rap! The way they conduct business is reckless, unprofessional, and crude. But I feel a bit better now! According to the story, the “star” of the show, 25-year old Josh Flagg, was arrested for stealing original paintings by Picasso and Chagall from LA-area homes. His online bio says he started selling high-end real estate almost immediately after graduating BEVERLY HILLS HIGH SCHOOL! Who in their right mind would hire a real estate agent who just graduated high school? Josh was released on $100,000 bond. Read more here…

I love this show.  It’s so timely and pertinent for so many homeowners who are faced with the possibility of losing their home due to value depreciation and rising living and mortgage expenses.

From the show’s website…

Hope for Your Home is a new half-hour series that takes on the tough circumstances so many homeowners in this country are facing today.  Hosted by real estate expert Kirsten Kemp Becker (TLC’s Property Ladder), Hope for Your Home lends a hand to homeowners in financial need, by giving them critical resources to make improvements to their property.  The goal is to add enough value to their home so they can either refinance their mortgage or make the best possible sale.  Kirsten advises the homeowners on what improvements will actually increase a home’s value, while a contractor ensures that all projects are done properly and safely. Once the improvements are complete, a real estate agent and a mortgage broker tour the home, examine the upgrades, and determine a market value. In the end, the homeowners are empowered to decide if they should stay in their newly-renovated home, or sell their home and find something more affordable for their family.

I think there are so many families who could benefit from the examples set by the situations on this show.  Even if TLC doesn’t come in and hand them 10 grand to make improvements on their place, anyone can declutter, paint, and clean up their home in an effort to recapture its value - if they can then either refinance and lower their monthly mortgage payment or sell without a short, they can also salvage their future, their credit, and their lives.

The Highland United Neighbors, Inc. (H.U.N.I.) organization is sending summer out in style!  They have invited all their downtown neighbors to an end of summer soiree and street dance that is sure to be great fun for all.   With fabulous music from Emilio Emilio, fantastic “tastes” from Highland restaurants and a fun fashion show………this is definitely one celebration you won’t want to miss.  So, put on your dancing shoes and head down to Bliss Salon on Tuesday, April 19.  See you there!!

  END OF SUMMER SOIREE &

STREET DANCE!!

Who:      All Neighbors, Friends, Relatives, Co-workers, etc.

When:     Tuesday, August 19, 2008

            Time:      5:30 – 9:30 pm

            Where:   Bliss Salon Courtyard

                        2845 Wyandot Street

Why:      Come celebrate the end of Summer to the tunes of Emilio Emilio and enjoy the “tastes” of Highland from several of our local restaurants! 

Forest Room 5, Gelman’s, Gallop Café, Little Man Ice Cream, Tastes, Living the Sweet Life

Fashion show by Bliss Salon and Highland (Tango) House.

            Corporate Sponsor:  Mile High Employers Council

            Grand Prize:    Mountain Get Away!

**All drink proceeds will go to a local non-profit called the Tara Wellness Group which assists women with Breast Cancer.

Platinum Sponsors: Vita, Shapes Salon, Taqueria Patzcuaro, Tango House

Everyday is a learning experience in this career. And Saturday was no exception. For that was the day that I learned (courtesy of my clients) about straw bale houses.…and rumor has it, they are as good, and probably better than most of the construction methods we have today. I cannot believe that, — I — the self-proclaimed-hippy, had never heard of such a thing. Maybe I’m not as hippy as I think that I am. Wow, what an eye-opener, and why isn’t anyone building them in town. With all of the “green” in-fill developers we have in this city, why has no one built the straw bale house?  Apparently huffing and puffing will not blow these down, they save 75% on energy costs, and they are beautiful. Check out the slideshow here: http://www.strawbale.com/straw-bale-photos/

My daughters just finished two weeks of zoo camp at the Denver Zoo.  This is the first time my children went to this camp, and they loved every second of it.  The best part, it was just a few miles from my house.  I thought back to being a kid myself.  Our family went to the San Diego zoo every blue moon.  I think I remember going exactly twice during my entire childhood.  Yes, I grew up in an inland suburb in CA.  My hometown didn’t have a zoo.    The other day I flipped through the latest copy of GOOD magazine.  Page 38 has a fabulously fun graphic showing that only eight zoos in the United States house more animals than the Denver Zoo.  Just another great reason to Grow Up in metro Denver!  Will I ever forgive my parents for rearing me in that boring burb?

The Fisher Clark Urban Deli at 723 S. University has been getting lots of great press lately, and I am giving it some more.  What a dream!  This deli is helping Denver change its image from an overgrown cow-town to a true urban metropolis.  The Italian sandwich was excellent, but the lemon square was exceptional.  Paragraphs  could be written about the perfectly lip puckering combination of tartness and sweetness, and the crust was perfect.  Fresh bread, olives, and more!  If you can’t afford a trip to S.F. this fall, at least treat yourself to a similar urban experience by having lunch at Fisher Clark.  The best part is that it is located in my neighborhood…Bonnie Brae just got a little cooler.  (Best small deli to come to Denver since Parisi’s on Tennyson.)

723 S. University (University and Exposition) / www.fisherclarkdeli.com

We’re pretty proud of our little real estate company. We opened the door in January 2006 after doing lots of research about the urban Denver real estate market. We did searches of registered trademarks, existing domain names, registered companies with the Secretary of State’s office and more, because we wanted to create a new brand that stood out from the competition. We conducted focus groups of recent buyers and sellers to hear what they had to say too. And as a result, we created LIVE Urban Real Estate, and our distinctive logo and tagline “Where Do You Want To LIVE?”

Bottom line, we did our homework. And we’ve gone the extra length and expense to register our name and logo with a Federal Registration Trademark. That’s why its so disappointing when we see new real estate companies popping up with names and logos that are so similar to ours. Give me a break! Its maddening. We’ve seen Denver Urban Living, Urban Thrive Real Estate, Denver Urban Live, Live Here Real Estate and more. And we’ve seen lots of logos with our familiar leaves, the same lime green, similar typefaces and illustrations, and more. Aaaaauuugghh. Should we be flattered by all this imitation?