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 | Durango CO Area Real Estate Blog |
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Wednesday, 17 December 2008
The December issue of Ski Magazine has spotlighted Durango as the less visited resort in the state's southwest corner offering inspiring views amid plenty of powder. It offers those skiing families the alternative to the busy I-70 corridor for a more relaxed atmosphere.
Wednesday, 17 December 2008
The Wells Group continues to lead La Plata County in its share of the real estate market. 2008 YTD numbers show The Wells Group Real Estate Brokerage standing strong with 28.1% share of the market. We are proud to be the leader of real estate in this lovely area of Colorado.
Wednesday, 17 December 2008
This is a great time to buy with mortgage rates hitting a record low of 4 7/8 per cent for a 30 year fixed and 4 1/2 with one point. Rates have not been this low in almost three decades. With a great inventory of properties and outstanding interest rates--NOW is the time to buy.
Wells Fargo Mortgage Department is also offering their "lock and shop" option for mortgage loans. It's not a hard lock but you can lock the lower rate and then shop for your property of choice. The rates can go up during your "shop" but only 1/8 of a point which still makes it a great opportunity to take advantage of these low rates.
Monday, 15 December 2008
5 Holiday Weight Gain Myths
Susan L. Burke
eDiets Contributor
Every year about this time, I hear the same holiday songs. I hear people "sing" the old refrain of overindulgence -- "I have to have it." Whether it's for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or other seasonal celebrations, people have a hard time with holidays and overeating. Some throw up their hands and give in to temptation; others rationalize the holidays as a time in which they are destined to put on pounds.
Myth 1. Everyone gains at least 5 pounds over the holidays, so I may as well accept it.
Well, the good news is the average American gains from 1/2 pound to 1 pound between Thanksgiving and New Year's. The bad news is they don't ever lose it. It's not as dramatic as 7 to 10 pounds that was formerly thought to be the norm, but even if you gain just 1 pound over the holidays, you may also gain another pound over the winter, and maybe one more during the summer holidays. Pretty soon you're on the next pant size and a new wardrobe.
Myth 2. I can take a "vacation" from my diet, because come January, I'll go right back on it.
Don't do it, because you may never come back! I went to a Thanksgiving dinner this year, and saw someone I'd not seen in a year. I congratulated her on her significant weight loss over the previous year, and when she told me she was "taking a vacation" from her diet for the holidays, I cringed. I told her that you can't vacation from your healthy diet and expect to stay at your goal weight. Extra calories are just what your fat cells are looking for. Unless you've built up a good amount of lean muscle mass by exercising with resistance bands or light weights, you're going to regain the weight as quick as you can say "I'll have seconds of pumpkin pie."
Myth 3. I'm going to fast all day, so I can eat all I want at the holiday party this year.
Wrong. Don't do it. Don't put your body in starvation mode. Starving yourself usually backfires, and you wind up overeating at the party. The best strategy for weight control is to eat lower calorie, higher fiber foods such as crunchy vegetables like broccoli, carrots and cauliflower. Eat smaller meals more frequently, and when you get to the party, continue to think small. Have a small portion of everything so you're satisfied, but not stuffed.
Myth 4. I can't diet when I go to someone's house for dinner.
Give yourself the power to say no tactfully. Say "no" in creative ways. You can say to your host, "Oh, I'm sorry, my plan doesn't include (name the food), but I surely thank you!" Or "Oh, thank you so much, I'm sure it's wonderful! I'm too full right now, but thanks for asking."
Myth 5. My family would miss it if I didn't make the traditional favorites.
Make this a healthy holiday season and change your traditional fatty favorites into delicious, healthy meals. Santa is roly-poly for a reason. "Living large" is not my New Year's resolution. Living lean is. Don't be a Scrooge with taste, but be frugal with calories -- that's how you eat delicious foods without guilt.
Top Tips for making your holiday recipes healthy ones:
--Low-fat cooking techniques should be used. Bake, broil, grill, poach and saute foods in a very little bit of fat in a non-stick pan.
Use nonstick pans for grilling, baking breads and cookies, for sauteing and even for soup. Nonstick is one of life's little pleasures -- you need to just lightly spray with cooking oil.
--Reduce the fat in the recipes. One of the simplest methods of making all your recipes healthier is reducing the amount of fat in a recipe. If the recipe calls for 1/2 cup of oil, use 1/4 cup, plus 1/4-cup fruit puree or unsweetened applesauce. This is good for any quick bread, cookie or cake. Yeast breads and piecrusts need a precise balance of ingredients, but experiment to see if you get acceptable results.
--Don't add fat to your food, especially unhealthy, saturated fats. Instead of basting the turkey with butter, try flavorful vegetable broth, white wine or orange juice (my personal favorite).
--Buy low-fat and nonfat varieties of milk, sour cream, yogurt and cheese. You'll lower the fat and calories effortlessly.
--Substitute 3 tablespoons of cocoa plus 1 tablespoon of canola oil for 1 ounce of baking chocolate, and lower the saturated fat.
--Two egg whites can substitute one whole egg, depending on the size. All the fat, cholesterol and most of the calories from eggs are in the yolk.
--Substitute crunchy cereal for bread crumbs. I like to use crushed corn flakes or nuggets like Grape Nuts.
--Cut servings smaller! Make that cake serve 12 instead of eight.
--Buy the leanest cuts of meat, and substitute 1/3 ground turkey breast. Don't buy ground turkey because it also contains skin and dark meat, making it just as caloric as ground meat or more.
Nutritionist Susan L. Burke is a registered and licensed dietitian and a certified diabetes educator who specializes in both general and diabetes-related weight management.
Monday, 15 December 2008
New legislation on the requirement of notice of a change of owner of a well permit.
As you may be aware, new legislation was recently enacted which affects residential water wells. First, while owners of well permits are currently required by law (§37-90-143 C.R.S.) to file an update with the State Engineer regarding any change of owner name and/or mailing address, HB08-1014 now gives specificity to that requirement. Second, HB08-1014 also requires that an application to register a well be submitted to the State Engineer’s Office prior to or within 60 days of the closing of the sale of residential real property, to register a residential well “not of record” with the State Engineer. The legislation affects residential wells only and does not apply to other wells such as wells used for fire fighting purposes, commercial/industrial use, crop irrigation, and agricultural livestock watering, among others.
Changes made by the legislation:
- On or after January 1, 2009, the BUYER in a residential real estate transaction that includes the transfer of a registered/permitted residential well, must, prior to or at closing, complete a Change in Owner Name/Address form (GWS-11).
- If the subject well is not of record (that is, does not have a well permit) with the Division of Water Resources, an application to register an existing well must be completed by the BUYER in lieu of a Change in Owner Name/Address form (GWS-11).
- Within 60 days of closing, all applicable form(s) and supporting documentation necessary for evaluation must be submitted to the Division of Water Resources.
- Note: As required by this legislation, if a closing service is provided, the person providing such service must submit the applicable material. If no such service is provided, the BUYER must submit the appropriate paperwork.
The notice from the Division of Water Resources explains this change in greater detail. The notice also provides information to guide well owners in determining the status of their well permit.
Monday, 15 December 2008
Rules for Tasteful Holiday Décor
Sellers don't have to forgo all holiday trimmings just because their home is on the market. But they should decorate in a way that won't turn off buyers.
There's no doubt the holidays are near: Malls filled with poinsettias, festive music filling elevators, catalogs flooding mailboxes, and home design magazines packed with ways to make the season bright.
Many sellers want to pull out the stops and decorate according to family traditions, but houses that are on the market shouldn’t be overly personalized or cluttered at any time. Your job as a real-estate practitioner is to help sellers strike a balance between enjoying their traditions yet showing restraint. Explain that too much “stuff” camouflages what’s most important when decorations come down: a home’s architectural details, its condition, location, and price.
“Your goal is to help sellers show off their houses, but not their holiday decorations,” says Julie Dana, a home staging professional and co-author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Staging Your Home to Sell (Alpha, 2007). If you succeed, you’ll get them to convince buyers, “I wish this were my home for the holidays,” says Bruce Johnson, president of Lee Kimball, a design/build firm in Winchester, Mass.
Amid all of the challenges of listing a home during the holidays, there is one big plus: Most buyers who are actively looking at this time of year are serious. The following tips will help sellers achieve the right decorating balance:
Add tasteful, generic decorations. “Tasteful decorations can be an asset to a sale,” says David Iannuccilli, CRS, GRI, and co-broker/owner of RE/MAX Professionals in East Greenwich, R.I. But since taste is subjective, we asked Iannuccilli and other pros to define what good holiday taste looks like—and doesn’t. Most define it as “elegant,” “simple,” and “quiet.” Iannuccilli specifies a minimalist approach--one wreath, one tree, one dining table centerpiece. Dana recommends a tall narrow tree to emphasize a room’s height and conserve floor space. In the don’t-do list, Dana cites no “cute” wreaths with gingerbread men or oversized inflatable snowmen on front yards. She also suggests steering clear of personalized objects such as monogrammed stockings. “When decorations get too personal, people have a hard time picturing themselves in the home,” she says. Pat Heydlauff, a feng shui expert in Palm Beach County, Fla., recommends no or few religious symbols, whether crèches or menorahs.
Trade nonseasonal for seasonal decorations. To avoid clutter, remove a nonholiday accessory for each seasonal accessory added, says Dana.
Don’t imitate Scrooge. Even if decorating seems a Herculean task, tell sellers not to avoid all decorations. “People expect some, and they add warmth,” says Dana.
Think green…and metallic, and white. Too much red and green can backfire. Practitioners suggest a neutral palette of fresh greens, elegant silvers and golds, and classic whites. Karen Fornash, a real estate guru in New York, favors vases of white roses, lilies, and freesia, complemented by evergreens. Christi Page, owner of Top Drawer Hardware in Santa Monica, Ca., suggests replacing a few knobs in a bathroom or kitchen with ones that add a touch of seasonal color.
Remember the joy of entertaining. Because home entertaining connotes happy homeownership, builder David Cohen of Hampden Design & Construction in Newton, Mass., suggests staging a kitchen as if the owners were going to throw a cozy holiday party. “People don’t want things to look stark at the holidays,” he says.
Be mindful of valuable gifts. Keep most holiday presents and family heirlooms out of sight to avoid distracting buyers, says Gregg Goldsholl, a practitioner with Weichert Realtors in Larchmont, N.Y. Doing so also is a smart precaution for open houses. “Not all people who tour a home are trustworthy,” Dana says.
Keep up decorations for a limited time. While most homeowners love prolonging the holiday spirit, experts suggest curtailing it when the house is on the market. Dave Sears, co-founder of OptHome, a homeownership resource Web site in Winchester, Mass., advises a maximum of two weeks before and two after Christmas.
Add warmth and energy. Nothing says holidays more than twinkling lights and crackling fires, but make smart choices. Lights, which also help illuminate a home’s exterior in the dark—particularly important in winter when many showings take place—shouldn’t be left on all the time. Advise sellers to select efficient LED bulbs and use them with motion detectors or timers, says Rozanne Weissman, senior director of consumer campaigns with the nonprofit Alliance to Save Energy in Washington, D.C. To get a fire going quickly and make clean-up easier, consider manufactured logs, says Mendy Aul, with Pine Mountain in Daleville, Ind.
Minimize smells. Holiday aromas—baked goods and live greens—enhance seasonal decor, but overly strong odors from air fresheners and candles may send buyers running, says Deanne Kory, senior vice president with The Corcoran Group in New York. Heydlauff tells sellers to leave out a plate of cookies, which buyers will associate with the spirit of giving.
Play soothing music. Most people get their fill of jingles and carols, so suggest nonseasonal favorites that appeal year-round, says Sears.
Use timely marketing materials. Everyone wants to lower expenses, but it’s critical not to cut corners when you're taking photos for listing materials. The wrong images—a living room with a tree in summer—signal that a house has been on the market too long, says Dana.
Remember winter’s threat. If sellers live in a cold climate, remind them to shovel walks rather than have snow and ice become part of the décor.
And when sellers seem in doubt, remind them that less is always best. Happy Holidays!
Thursday, 11 December 2008
If you send out Christmas cards this year, please include the following:
A Recovering American Soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20307-5001
This simple gesture could bring a smile to someone who may need just that during the holiday season.
Wednesday, 10 December 2008
The Colorado Division of Real Estate issued a position statement with respect to the role of Realtors in a short sale. The important element is that in a short sale the real estate broker is working with the seller to help that seller exit the home, not modify the loan so that the seller can stay in the home. Also, in a successful short sale, the original loan is usually extinguished and there is not a modification to the mortgage.
Realtors are reminded that the real estate broker short sale exclusion from mortgage brokerage licensing does not appy if a homeowner engages a real estate broker to seek a loan modification, as opposed to a sale of the home. Also, a Realtor not licensed as a mortgage broker should never seek or receive compensation from an owner for obtaining a loan modification. In a short sale the Realtor's compensation should be the real estate commission earned and paid at closing.
Friday, 05 December 2008
A recent article in the Wall Street Journal (12/2/08) by James R. Hagerty summarizes that Americans still see real estate as their best shot at wealth. Economists and other pros generally say home prices won't bottom out before the second half of 2009, and some don't see a bottom until 2011 or 2012. Even when they stop falling, prices may scape along the bottom of the run for years.
Over the next 10 to 20 years, housing economists expect prices will rise again--but on average probably not nearly as much as they've averaged over the past decade. You should generally expect house prices to rise just a bit more than inflation and roughly in line with household income.
In the long term, house prices are driven by fundamentals that are hard to predict; immigration, birth rates, the size and nature of households, and incomes. The trick is to figure out where job and income growth will be strongest and where immigrants and others will want to live.
Friday, 05 December 2008
Durango's premier ski resort, Durango Mountain Resort, is set to open for Benefit Day this Saturday, December 6th. Tickets are just $15 each and benefit our local American Red Cross chapter.
In addition, Durango Mountain Resort has partnered with Frontier Airlines to offer some incredible ski packages this season. Frontier Airlines offers three flights per day into Durango from over 50 cities throughtout the US with convenient and speedy connections through Denver International Airport. 3 Day/3 Night Air-Inclusive packages including lift ticket, lodging and airfare start at just $425 per person. These new packages are the best air-inclusive values ever offered by Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort. These prices will not last long so book your seats today. Contact the resort's reservation center at 800-525-0892.
Friday, 05 December 2008
Durango showcased in "Top 10 Christmas Towns" on HGTV
Durango, Colorado will be one of 10 towns featured on HGTV's one-hour
special, "Top Christmas Towns," to air at 8 p.m. (ET,MT) Sunday, December 7.
The cable network looked for unique holiday celebrations across the country
and singled out 10. Durango was chosen for its vintage Christmas feel,
authentic Main Avenue celebrations and holiday traditions of the area
including the Polar Express ride on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge
Railroad.
Ranking No. 1 is New Orleans, home to a French Quarter Christmas;
Kennebunkport, Maine claimed the No. 2 spot on the list for its Christmas by
the sea. Other cities to be featured in the special are Woodstock, Vt.;
Mountain View, Ark.; North Pole, Alaska; Alexandria, Va.; Leavenworth,
Wash.; Durango, Colo., and San Antonio.
Durango charms the media once again! The national exposure surely enhances
real estate values in the longer term. Over the last 2 years Durango has been recommended for vacation and/or real estate investment by The Robb Report, Ski Magazine, Oprah, CNN Money as well as others.
For great travel deals flying into Durango: http://www.flydurango.com/
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Robin Williams, CRS, GRI
The Wells Group
901 Main Ave
Durango, CO 81301
Toll Free: 800-955-0259
Office: 970-375-7031
Fax: 970-259-5007
Email: Info@DurangoHomeSpecialist.com
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