5 Low-Cost Kitchen Upgrades to Attract Buyers
February 1st, 2012 | 
Author: The kitchen, the heart of your home. This article points to a few great tips on how you can get your kitchen ready to sell.
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November & December Wash Park Market Reports
Click below to access the current report and chart.
Sales are up from the same month (Dec) the previous year, inventory is down from last month and last year and the days a house is on the market it also dropping. These are all indicators that we are starting to see an improvement in the Washington Park market. These statistics are reflecting a Metro area trend which saw December 2011 sales up by 6% over last year. Our Washington Park numbers would be similar if we had more inventory! We have many buyers waiting with nothing to look at.
We have not seen inventory this low since 2000. That is amazing! Some recent sales that occurred at the end of the year are giving me the feeling that prices are beginning to rise. However, it is purely subjective at this time and I cannot back it up with facts. My year end statistics for 2011 show that the market prices finished the year either flat or slightly down. I think we will see a change in prices shortly but will need more time for that to be reflected in the numbers.
Denver is starting to develop a buzz. Could it be the Tebow effect? Who knows. Click the link below to see what Fox News thinks about our market. Let’s hope they are right!
Denver is the place to LIVE and INVEST
A great FOX Business report raves about Denver’s housing market!
October 2011 Wash Park Market Report
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WOW! LOOK AT THAT DROP IN DAYS ON MARKET!
Inventory continues to shrink and the result is that homes are selling much more quickly than they have for quite some time. This should result in a reversal of the downward price trend. We should see appreciation soon. Homes that sell quickly usually get asking or very close to it. In the last month I have listed and sold very quickly 1982 S Sherman, 762 S Washington, 1011 E. Exposition and 1455 S. Emerson. All had multiple offers. We haven’t seen that in awhile.
The high end remains challenged. There are currently 11 homes listed for over $1,000,000 and only one sold this month. Even this market is better, however, as we now have less than a year’s supply of inventory in that range and a couple of years ago we had over a three year supply. We are seeing improvement but have not shifted over to a seller’s market in that range yet. In the $300,000-$400,000 range there are 12 homes under contract and there are only 27 in inventory. That is less than a two month supply. That is a seller’s market.
If you have a lower end home that you have been putting off selling, now would be the time. As always, feel free to call me about how this market impacts your own unique situation.
August & September Wash Park Market Report
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TIME FLIES
Due to our extreme busyness which resulted in the flying of time, we have lumped the last two months reports into one. Yes, the market does seem to be improving. The number of homes sold and under contract have increased over the same months last year. This has, no doubt, been fueled by the very low interest rates. Last week they reported to be the lowest since 1951.
We all know that low rates are good but we don’t always realize what they mean to us. For example, the principal and interest payment on a $400,000 mortgage at 4 % would be $1910. That is probably lower than rent on this priced house in some parts of town. The most meaningful figure to me is that only $1333 of that first payment goes toward interest. That means that $577 of the very first payment goes to principal. After only 3 years, there will already be over $21,000 in equity. That should relieve the fears of many that they will be upside down in their houses. Even if prices never go up, they will have equity. Yippee!
As always, let us know how we can help you are someone you know with their real estate needs.
Nepali Jazz Fusion
Nepali Jazz Fusion:
Guitarist Anil Shahi
accompanied by Gaurav Basnyat on tabla
Montview Church Miller Center
1980 Dahlia St
Saturday, September 17 from 7:00 – 8:15 p.m.
Montview’s Nepal worktrippers were treated to an inspiring private performance by Anil Shahi, Nepal’s finest contemporary guitar virtuoso, in Kathmandu last fall. The concert was arranged because of Montview’s work with the Princess Jayanti Heart Trust. Montview member, Dr. Fred Grover, has led teams of cardiac care volunteers to Nepal several times. Through this connection we have arranged to bring this talented young musician to Denver to perform for our community. All are welcome at this free concert.
July Wash Park Market
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Think Positive!
The news this month remains positive. Sales are up slightly from last year and the number of homes under contract is up significantly. Inventory has increased only slightly from last month and is down 32% from this time last year. That is a significant drop.
The other piece of good news this month is that interest rates have continued to decline. They are now in the low 4% range. FHA has a 5/1 ARM available at only 3.25% and it only requires a 580 credit score. It has a 1% annual adjustment cap
that kicks in in the 6th year and a 5% lifetime cap. That means the rate can’t go above 8.25% and it wouldn’t get there for 10 years. Not bad. Of course, the borrower still needs a job which remains a problem for some.
As always, let me know how The Bridge Team can help you from here.
June Wash Park Market Report
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Got to love those Rates!
This is the last month of statistics that we will be comparing to a tax credit month of the previous year. You will recall that last year, in order to get the credit, you had to close by June 30th. I believe they did extend that at the last minute but most did close prior to June 30th. I think it is good news that we exceeded last year’s closing number without any artificial stimulus.
The biggest stimulus right now is the interest rates. I just wrote an offer for an FHA buyer who will be putting 3.5% down and getting a 3.25% rate that is fixed for 5 years and then it can only go up 1% per year and never can be higher than 8.25% and it would take 10 years of high rates to get there. I am amazed to see the amortization table on a loan at that rate. Principle really gets reduced quickly. The first payment is over $300 toward principle. That is exciting!
As always, if you know of anyone who needs or wants to buy or sell, I would love to talk with them. The low interest rate and low inventory situation will not last forever.
May Wash Park Market Report
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IT FEELS ABOUT THE SAME…
While the number of homes sold May of 2011 has dropped by 33% from the same month last year, so has the inventory. Thus, in spite of lower inventory, we are not seeing it push up prices. They seem to be staying about the same. This could be it. This could be the flat bottom of the market. Of course, we won’t know that for awhile. In fact, with the tax credit boosting sales this time last year and pushing most of the sales for the year into the first two quarters, it is very hard to compare this year to last. We won’t really know how it all turns out until the end of the year.
One heartening part of the market is the over one million segment. One home sold this month and 3 more are under contract in that range. The number of homes listed in that segment has shrunk to only eleven.
Low interest rates tend to stimulate high end buyers. When you are borrowing that kind of money, a small change in rate can make a big difference in payments. We are finally seeing a willingness from lenders to lend in that jumbo market also.
Rates have recently dropped. Last week, the conforming rate for loans under $417,000 was 4.375%.
