I’ve been reading a lot lately about the “real estate meltdown” and I feel like I’m missing something. All of us at LIVE Urban Real Estate are working with buyers and sellers every day. And no one is talking to us about a meltdown. We set the price of a house just like we always have. We figure out how much a buyer can spend, just like we always have. The fundamentals are the same.

Maybe the disconnect is that we’re living in Denver, and our local real estate market, as well as the rest of the state of Colorado, is faring much better than the rest of the country, according to the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight. While 43 states showed declines in the first quarter of 2008, Colorado averaged 2.29 percent home-price appreciation compared to the first three months of 2007.

The headlines and indexes we all see are skewed by rapidly falling home prices in California, Florida, and Nevada, according to the Rocky Mountain News. “Most people don’t live in a Miami condo” said Michael Englund, chief economist with Action Economics in Boulder. There’s a news flash for you.

Are there some things about a local real estate transaction that are tougher? Yes. Using a local lender who knows we’re not in Miami is key. And doing your homework on the market where you live has never been more important. Now is not the time for buyers or sellers to be unrealistic. But that’s the same as it’s always been.

After thinking about it for awhile, now when I read about the “meltdown,” I’ll remember our buddy Chicken Little and his recurring “the sky is falling” cry, then get back to reality.

Also open in the same hip ‘hood is Red Trolley Ice Cream. Although I haven’t been yet, word on the street about this spot is great too. Not only do they have ice cream, but great goodies too, and nice indoor seating for those hot summer nights. Sunday - Thursday 11 am - 10pm, Friday & Saturday 11 am - 11pm. 2639 W. 32nd Ave., 303-433-7200.

I love northwest Denver. I’ve lived here for nearly 20 years now, and bought my house way before the Highlands and Berkeley were cool. Matter of fact, most of my friends and family thought I was crazy. “You’re going to live where?” they asked, “Why?

I moved here because of the same reasons most of us have… great historic homes, an interesting neighborhood vibe, a compelling multi-cultural mix, etc. We’re heard the list so many times, we all have it memorized. Its great. We know. And it really hasn’t changed. Maybe some, but for the better, don’t you think?

That’s why I get bummed when I read all those cranky letters in local newspapers from a few NW Denver residents about the rapid ‘decline and fall’ of the area because of the on-going scrape and builds. Is it really all bad?  These new homes, are by-in-large, creating  stronger, more valuable, and ‘greener’ neighborhoods. Now I’ll admit that some of the new homes aren’t well designed, and don’t quite fit in. But most of these homes are being built on large, under-utilized lots that used to have a small, crappy house on them. Frankly, they’re not worth saving. Rarely is a nice, bring bungalow or tudor torn down. (I hate that too!)

Cities evolve, grow and change. They get bigger and denser. Increasing density in city-close neighborhoods, like NW Denver, is smart. Its a fact that more and more people want to live in the city. They want to commute less, and as a result, walk and bike more. That creates more livable neighborhoods, more vibrant neighborhood business areas, and increases the value of our investments. And increasing density in these urban areas decreases urban sprawl. That’s really a good thing, isn’t it?

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Your walk score: An agent in my office told me about this website yesterday, and I think it’s really cute - type in your address, and a Google Map appears showing everything that is within walking distance of your place!

Check it out here.

What a great resource to learn about the initiatives that Denver is undertaking to go green - including the Mayor’s Bicycle Committee, FasTracks, and the Insulate and Seal Rebates that are now available, among many others!

Check it out!

The 63-5 vote reflected a keen interest by Democrats and Republicans to send election-year help to distressed homeowners with economic issues topping voters’ concerns.

The plan lets homeowners buckling under mortgage payments they can’t afford keep their homes and get more affordable mortgages backed by the Federal Housing Administration. Banks that agreed to take substantial losses on those distressed loans could avoid costly foreclosures and be assured of recovering at least some money.

The new program would let the FHA insure as much as $300 billion in new mortgages, helping an estimated 400,000 homeowners.

But it still faces major hurdles, including a promised veto from President Bush…read the rest here.

How will the bill change things for buyers and sellers in Denver?  I’m not sure if it will help the people that are honestly in trouble, who have already fallen behind on their payments, and who are going to have a really hard time catching up.  I do think that it will probably benefit the lenders more - which is actually bad news for those buyers who are shopping the great deals right now created by the surplus of foreclosed properties and the lenders’ need to get rid of them.

But I do appreciate the Senate actually doing something, anything to work towards solving the problem…

According to today’s Rocky Mountain News, there are a ton of homes in the million-plus range that are now listed as foreclosed properties, so if you are in a position to move up the property ladder, now might be as good a time as any to get a great deal on a ton of square feet in a really tony hood. 

When: July 19th, 3p.m.
Where: Highlands Square (32nd and Lowell)

100% of the proceeds from bidding will benefit Dress for Success - The mission of Dress for Success is to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.

But, you know what?  Those might be the buyers that BUY your house.  Then you can move on, move up, move over - whatever it is you are trying to do, and you won’t have to keep the place tidy and the personal photos packed away anymore! So, even though it might be a bit embarassing to admit that your house is not always Open House Perfect, let them in!   Gather up the kiddos, take breakfast to go, and smile as you open up the door on your way out, because those buyers are on their way in, and you want them to know that you LOVE living in your house, and they will, too!

The moral of this little rant?  Never, ever turn down a showing.  Those buyers won’t be back another day.  They are going to look at one of the million other houses just like yours that are for sale in your neighborhood that WOULD allow a showing, and they are going to buy one of those. 

P.S., it’s a great idea to rent one of those little temporary storage boxes that can sit outside your house with all of your clutter inside.  That way, you can keep your stuff close by for easy access, but potential buyers don’t have to step around the baby’s bouncer to see your gorgeous, newly remodeled kitchen - toast crumbs and all.