Douglas County Colorado now offers fenced in areas to take your dog so they can play off-leash. Each of the three locations provide pet waste removal bags.

One area is a 16 acre park adjacent to Greenland Open Space. The second area, Bayou Gulch Regional Park, is a 2+ acre park near Fox Arrow Road. Last is the Fairgrounds Regional Park which is located in downtown Castle Rock.

Visit Douglas County's official website for more detailed information.

Marianne Bandy
Local Denver Resources

From a landmark attraction to a restaurant, let me help you uncover Denver's top experiences. This will only help your decision to become a Denver home buyer easier.

Invesco Field at Mile High

Home of the Denver Broncos, this 76,000-seat stadium features giant pieces of football equipment cast in marble and aluminum and a Sports Mall Legacy Walk, which celebrates the achievements of Colorado sports heroes. Seats are close to the real-grass field, and steel risers create a deafening roar that rivals the noise of old Mile High Stadium.

Denver Zoo

Whether you live in Parker, Aurora, or Denver, you will want to visit the Denver Zoo. The zoo sprawls across 80-plus acres and has thousands of animals. Open 365 days a year, this mile-high animal kingdom improves nearly every year with increased funding and improved facilities.

Denver Botanic Gardens

Denver families, couples and teens flock to the gardens on weekends to experience the landscapes and 32,000 flowers. Exhibits include beautiful orchids and a Japanese garden offering peace among the pines.

Buckhorn Exchange

This restaurant features a museum of taxidermy, antique weapons displays and photos of visiting celebrities. The menu features oddities such as fried alligator tail with cocktail sauce and rattlesnake marinated in red chili and lime. For dinner, the tender and succulent buffalo prime rib rivals any beef version, and the broiled quail, served in a prickly pear and apricot glaze, is rich with subtle sweetness.

If you would like to know more about any of these Denver attractions, or would like recommendations for different areas to visit, contact me!

Marianne Bandy
Parker Colorado Homes for Sale

On September 11, the House of Representatives passed the Veterans Construction and Extension Act of 2008, which helps Veterans achieve their dreams of home ownership. The legislation provides assistance for veterans who need to refinance their Sub prime or adjustable rate loans into a safer, more affordable loan backed by the US Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill has been passed on to the Senate for finalization. If you're in the market for a home in Denver, contact us for information on FHA, VA, and other mortgage programs that might be right for you.

Bob Bandy
Relocate to Denver

The Federal Housing Administration has announced FHASecure, a temporary initiative to permit lenders to refinance delinquent adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) and/or to offer new subordinate financing where the combined loan-to-value ratio exceeds the FHA loan-to-value ratio and geographical maximum mortgage amount.   This is great news for Denver home owners who are having trouble making their house payments.

There is criteria that has to be met prior to borrowing. Potential borrowers must be current on their mortgage.  The mortgage being refinanced must be a non-FHA fixed rate or adjustable rate mortgage. Cash-out refinances are not acceptable.

Also, if there is insufficient equity in the home, FHA will insure first mortgages where there is a write down. The existing note holder writes off the amount of indebtedness that cannot be refinanced into the FHA insured mortgage. 

FHA will also insure mortgages if there is new subordinate financing. The FHA-approved lender making the new mortgage, the existing note holder, or other interested party may take back a second lien by the amount which the payoff is short, including closing costs,  amounts in arrears,  and other reasonable and customary costs that are standard loan servicing practices,  and are included in all payoff statements or previous secondary financing, if the indebtedness exceeds FHA prescribed LTV and maximum mortgage amount limits. Last, the note holder(s) of existing subordinate financing must re-subordinate or modify the existing subordinate lien(s) and re-execute at closing if the lien is to remain in effect after closing. 

FHA can still help if borrowers are delinquent on their loans. The borrower's payment history cannot show more than one 60-day late payment or two 30-day late payments.   

Some of this may be confusing, so if you have questions about whether you can qualify please give me a call at 303-746-7799.

Until next time,

Marianne Bandy
Parker Colorado Homes for Sale

Fabulous News!  Homes Under Contract jumped 22% from September 2007 to September 2008.  This September was the best for sales in three years!  And the number of homes for sale continues to drop.  We're moving in the right direction with momentum, but the average price has dropped dramatically.  The average price of residential single family homes dropped  $21,679 Denver Metro wide from $261,107 in August to $239,428. 

On first glance that looks HORRIBLE.  But, I am seeing, and I have verified this with other Realtors as well, that there are actually two separate markets in Denver.  So, I'm saying that this doesn't mean that your home lost $21,679 in value last month.  It's the mix of homes that is driving that price drop.  There is the depressed foreclosure, short-sale market and then there is the "normal" sale.  I am still seeing my "normal" sale listings going for well above the average.  There are still buyers out there who don't want to deal with mold, missing appliances, missing carpets, missing walls, or what I see as really tortured homes.  They just want a nice home to move into and call "home" right away.  I'm also glad that there are individuals who are rescuing those tortured homes and returning them to "better than new".  Now, they may be money driven, but the professional investors are rehabbing these homes in ways that make them an asset to their neighborhood.  Thank you, thank you professional investor buyers.

Then there's the armchair investor that is caught up in the frenzy of the "get rich quick" seminar mentality.  They typically underestimate the time and money that will need to be invested to rehab a tortured home.  I'm not saying don't get into the game.  I'm just saying make sure you know what you are doing!  Talk to people that are actually doing this business SUCCESSFULLY! 

If you'd like to know what your home is worth in this crazy market, just give me a call or email me.  I'd be happy to do a professional CMA for your home as a way to serve you. 

Bob Bandy
Homes for Sale in Denver Colorado

According to the Denver Multiple Listing Service (MLS), there were 24,648 Denver Colorado homes for sale in September.  At the same time, there were 4,542 homes that sold.  Months of inventory continue to decrease and is now at 5.43 months.  Historically, 6 months is considered to be a good balance of buyers and sellers.  Potential home buyers in Denver shouldn't wait.  With a strong buyers market, combined with historically low mortgage rates, now is the time to get a great deal on your dream home.  From the National Association of Realtors ® - 

"Since record keeping began in 1968, the national median existing-home price rose every year through 2006, even during recessions and periods of sales decline. Typically, in a balanced market, home values rise at the general rate of inflation plus 1.7 percentage points." 

Year after year, your home continues to be one of your most solid investments.  But what people are starting to lose sight of is that your HOME is where you create your LIFE, not just an investment.  I'm not sure when that transformation took place, but I think it's rather sad.  It needs to make sound financial sense to purchase a home, however, having your own space, creating your "cocoon", is something you can't put a dollar amount on.

Bob Bandy
Denver Home Search

The free tax lien seminar will be held on October 23rd to prepare residents for the tax lien sale on November 13th, 2008.

Purchasing delinquent tax liens is a popular form of investment. For those interested in learning more about this investment option can attend this free seminar at the Douglas County Philip S. Miller Building, 100 Third St., in Castle Rock.

The seminar will provide tips on the tax lien sale process, what to be aware of and what makes a more risky investment.  Because as with any investment, there are risks.

All properties available for bidding at the Tax Lien Sale are those properties that have 2007 or prior year property taxes owed to Douglas County. 

A person or company can bid on the delinquent taxes at the November 13th sale where the highest bidder will be awarded and becomes the lien holder.  This seminar on October 23rd will explain what the lien holder will be responsible for paying to Douglas County.

On Oct. 16, the local Denver newspapers will have an advertisement listing the delinquent properties in preparation for the sale.  Property owners have until Nov. 12, the day before the Sale to pay their taxes.

Bob Bandy
Denver Real Estate Home Search

Rates on 30-year mortgages are on the rise.

Freddie Mac reported that 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages averaged 6.10 percent this week.  The recent commotion in credit markets has pushed those rates up from a seven-month low of 5.78 percent on Sept. 18, to above 6 percent for the past two weeks.

Rates on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, rose to 5.78 percent, compared to 5.77 percent last week. Freddie Mac noted that the rise in mortgage rates from lows hit two weeks ago had dampened a spurt in homeowners wanting to refinance. The Mortgage Bankers Association reported that loan applications fell 23 percent last week.

A year ago, the nationwide average rate on 30-year mortgages stood at 6.37 percent and 15-year mortgage rates averaged 6.03 percent.

If you are thinking of relocating to the Denver, Parker or Aurora area, now is the time to buy!

Bob Bandy
Relocate to Denver Colorado

The Regional Transportation District  will be holding two FasTracks public meetings in Douglas County on Wednesday, Oct. 22 at 6 p.m. at the City of Lone Tree City Council Chambers, 8527 Lone Tree Pkwy. and on Thursday, Oct. 23 at 6 p.m. at the Metro District of Highlands Ranch, 62 W. Plaza Dr.

Bob Bandy
Information on Relocation to Denver

The recently passed Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 has created a tax credit helping first time homebuyers in the Denver area. The tax credit is applied to a qualified purchase of a primary residence from April 9, 2008 through June 30, 2009. The amount of the credit is 10 percent of the home's purchase price, and is not to exceed a maximum of $7500. The tax credit is to be paid back within 15 years, effectively making this an interest-free loan from the US government. Be sure to contact us for more details on this helpful tax credit program!

Bob Bandy

View Denver Real Estate

Parker Colorado supports the ENERGY STAR New Homes program which encourages homebuilders to construct homes with increased durability and market value, while reducing operating costs for homeowners.

ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.

Results are already adding up. Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved enough energy in 2007 alone to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 27 million cars ? all while saving $16 billion on their utility bills. Energy efficient choices can save families about a third on their energy bill with similar savings of greenhouse gas emissions, without sacrificing features, style or comfort. ENERGY STAR helps you make the energy efficient choice.

In February 2008, Parker was awarded a matching grant from the Governor's Energy Office for the regional implementation of the ENERGY STAR New Homes program.

Douglas County is partnering with the Governer's office to offer rebates to qualifying homeowners for the installation of insulation and air sealing measures through the Insulate Colorado program.

Qualified homeowners can apply for a rebate of 20 percent off the cost of installation of either attic or exterior wall insulation and basic recommended air sealing measures, or $300 maximum per home, whichever is less through the Insulate Colorado program.

Bob Bandy

Parker Colorado Real Estate