Top 10 Reasons to List Your Highlands Ranch Home During the Holidays

Top 10 Reasons to List Your Home During the Holidays

1. People who look for a home during the Holidays tend to be more serious buyers.

2. Serious buyers have fewer houses to choose from during the Holidays and less competition means more money for you.

3. Since the supply of listings could increase in January, there may be less demand for your particular home. Less demand means less money for you.

4. Houses show better when decorated for the Holidays.

5. Buyers are more emotional during the Holidays, so they are more likely to pay your price.

6. Buyers have more time to look for a home during the Holidays during the weekday.

7. Some people must buy before the end of the year for tax reasons.

8. January is traditionally the month for employees to begin new jobs. Since transferees cannot typically wait until spring to buy, you must be on the market now to capture that market.

9. You can sell now for more money and we will provide for a delayed closing or extended occupancy until early next year.

10. You can still be on the market, but you have the option to restrict showings during the 6 or 7 days during the Holidays.


Contact me today to see what your home is worth!

Why live in Douglas County - Colorado?!??!

Top 10 reasons to live in Douglas County - Highlands Ranch

1. Highly rated schools
2. 23 parks
3. More than 70 miles of trails (contact me for maps of trails)
4. 2200 acres of open space
5. 4 off-leash dog parks
6. Approximately 25 acres of park land per 1,000 residents
7. Conveniently located near amenities
8. A large variety of housing options.
9. Close to DTC and 12 miles to Denver
10. Recognized by Forbes.com as the 20th best place to live, work and raise a family!

Come and be my neighbor in Douglas County!

Home Sale Could Enter 'Virtuous Cycle'

Home Sales Could Enter 'Virtuous Cycle' - Consumer confidence and business spending are key to whether the U.S. housing market will move into a virtuous or a vicious cycle in 2011, NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun told a packed audience at the Residential Economic Outlook Forum Friday in New Orleans. The housing market has clawed its way back to a point of near stability, Yun said, with the pace of new foreclosures easing, sales moving toward historically normal levels and prices on a national basis gaining modestly. The broader economy is also showing positive signs, with businesses enjoying strong profits, sitting on huge cash reserves, and even adding jobs. Read full article:
http://www.realtor.org/rmodaily.nsf/pages/News2010110801

New Program for Home Buyers - NACA

Just heard about this new program on the news. I think can really help some folks who may not be able to purchase.

The Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America ("NACA") is a non-profit, community advocacy and homeownership organization. NACA’s primary goal is to build strong, healthy neighborhoods in urban and rural areas nationwide through affordable homeownership. NACA has made the dream of homeownership a reality for thousands of working people by counseling them honestly and effectively, enabling even those with poor credit to purchase a home or refinance a predatory loan with far better terms than those provided even in the prime market.

Check out their website at
https://www.naca.com/about_naca/nacaOverview.jsp?language=null

Highlands Ranch Homes under $300k - Sweet Spot for Sales

Great article that shows what type of inventory is moving these days! Again sellers, if you can price things aggressively, you'll get the results of what you want.

Sub-$300,000 sweet spot for home sales - The “sweet spot” for Denver-area home sales continues to be for houses priced below $300,000. An analysis of home sales data by independent broker Gary Bauer found that more than 70% of the home sales were priced at $300,000 or below in the first 9 months of the year. Still, home sales in the price range account for a slightly smaller percentage of the total sales than they did during the first 9 months of 2009, as more expensive home sales have picked up this year. See the bottom of this article for a chart of home sales by county and price bracket:
http://insiderealestatenews.com/2010/10/sub-300000-sweet-spot-for-home-sales/

SPACES by Shea homes releases first 18 lots in Highlands Ranch

Introducing Hip, Modern, Green Design.... Welcome to Highlands Ranch!!

I had the pleasure of visiting with the sales team of Shea Spaces on Saturday while waiting in line for my priority number. I'm super excited to have the opportunity to live in the community. If you are interested in walking through the model homes - feel free to visit the Shea SPACES community in Reunion.

For photos and floorplans - be sure to check out http://www.sheaspaces.com/theranch.cfm.

SPACES draws campers - “As I am talking to you, we have two tents pitched and a number of other people standing in line. I don’t think we have seen that happen in the marketplace for the last four years,” said Chetter Latcham, president of Shea Homes Colorado this weekend. A total of 59 people ended up standing line and more than 40 of them received priority numbers to choose a new SPACES home by Shea Homes in Highlands Ranch. SPACES is a new series of homes by Shea that are affordable, energy efficient and with an urban-style design in a suburban setting. The homes are priced from $224,900 to $305,900. Read full article:
http://insiderealestatenews.com/2010/10/spaces-draws-campers

New builds in Highlands Ranch new neighborhood - SPACES

Looking for something fresh and hip in Highlands Ranch and just haven't found it!?? Well it is here at last!!!

SPACES at Highlands Ranch

A Modern Home. A Real Yard. In the heart of Highlands Ranch. Own a new SPACES home in one of Denver's most prized and established neighborboods starting from the $200s. Say "hello future" at The Ranch.

To get your priority number for your opportunity to be a homeowner at SPACES, you'll need to stop by the sales office on Saturday, October 23rd to drop off a check for $500. If you change your mind about SPACES, your money will be refunded.

Let me know if you have any questions about this new neighborhood!! You can reach me at (720) 988-5952 or bhengst1@gmail.com.

Great housing gains in Highlands Ranch, CO

Case-Shiller: Denver home values rise 6th consecutive month - Denver-area home prices rose an average of 4.4% in April from a year ago - marking the sixth consecutive month of year-over-year gains, shows the latest S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Index. The 4.4% gain was the largest since the trend began in November 2009. Each month, the percentage gain has grown. “I think the increases are sustainable,” said Gary Bauer, an independent broker who completes his own monthly report using Metrolist data. “I think we are going to see much lower increases going forward. I do think the Denver market should get a lot of credit for six continuous months of year-over-year increases." Read full article:
http://insiderealestatenews.com/2010/06/case-shiller-denver-home-values-rise-6th-consecutive-month/

Lots of fun stuff to do in our state - check out homes in Highlands Ranch!

Tourism in Colorado up - Travel to Colorado rose for the 6th straight year to a record 51.7 million domestic visitors in 2009 - a 1.1% increase considered a victory as many other states saw double-digit declines from the recession. Read full article:
http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_15255473

Mortgage rates again sink to yearly low; 30-year at 4.78%

Mortgage rates have fallen to the lowest level of the year as European turmoil caused investors to pour money into the safe haven of U.S. government securities. The average rate on a 30-year fixed rate mortgage dipped to 4.78% this week from 4.84% a week earlier, according to a survey by Freddie Mac. Concerns over the European debt crisis have sent yields for 10-year and 30-year Treasury bonds to their lowest levels of 2010. Rates on 30-year home loans often rise and fall in line with the 10-year note. Read full article:
http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/housing/2010-05-27-mortgage-rates_N.htm

Upcoming Highlands Ranch Events

Being new to Colorado, I must say that I truly enjoy being a resident of Highlands Ranch. This really is one of the best places to raise a family and be involved in a community.

Here are some of the events coming up here in Highlands Ranch:


Home Improvement Expo
Type: Other - Retail
Where: Recreation Center at Eastridge
When: Saturday, April 24 at 9:00 am until
Sunday, April 25 at 5:00 pm
Sunday, April 25

Computer & Electronics Recycling
Where: Town Center North
When: Sunday, April 25 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm

Love in Action
Type: Causes - Rally
Where: Cherry Hills Community Church
When: Sunday, April 25 from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Saturday, May 1

Hooked On Fishing
Type: Education - Class
Where: Redstone Park Pond
When: Saturday, May 1 from 9:00 am to 11:30 am

Derby Day at the Mansion
Type: Party - Cocktail Party
Where: Highlands Ranch Mansion
When: Saturday, May 1 from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm


Taste of Highlands Ranch
Type: Party - Benefit
Where: Recreation Center at Eastridge
When: Friday, May 7 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Friday, May 21
Culture on the Green - A Midsummer Night's Dream
Type: Music/Arts - Concert
Where: Civic Green Park
When: Friday, May 21 from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm

ENJOY and let me know if you have any questions about Highlands Ranch real estate!

I can be reached anytime at (720) 988-5952.

Derby Day at the Highlands Ranch Mansion

5/1/2010 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Derby Day at the Mansion

Enjoy the "greatest two minutes in sports" in style at the Highlands Ranch Mansion with a live boradcast of the race, Derby themed games, a cash bar, and appetizers.

Don't forget your Derby hat!

Member $20; Program Guest $25

Wine and beer will be $4.00 per glass; Mint Juleps will be $5.00 per glass while soda and water are complimentary. Must be 21, ID checked.

Pending Home Sales Show Healthy Gain

Pending Home Sales Show Healthy Gain
Pending home sales rose in February, potentially signaling a second surge of home sales in response to the home buyer tax credit, according to the National Association of REALTORS®.

The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in February, rose 8.2 percent to 97.6 from a downwardly revised 90.2 in January, and remains 17.3 percent above February 2009 when it was 83.2. The data reflects contracts and not closings, which usually occur with a lag time of one or two months.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, says the improvement is another hopeful sign. “The rise in buyer contact activity may signal the early stages of a second surge of home sales this spring. The healthy gain hints home prices are continuing to flatten,” he says. “We need a second surge to meaningfully draw down inventory and definitively stabilize home values.”

Pending home sales by region:
Northeast: the index rose 9.0 percent to 77.7 in February and is 18.9 percent higher than February 2009.
Midwest: jumped 21.8 percent to 97.9 and is 18.7 percent above a year ago.
South: increased 9.2 percent to an index of 107.0, and the index is 17.5 percent higher than February 2009.
West: the index fell 4.8 percent to 98.0 but is 14.6 percent above a year ago.

Denver's Parade of Homes

Parade of Homes to return in August with multi-site format - Denver’s “Parade of Homes” will return Aug. 14 to Sept. 6, featuring a multiple-site format for a second year and a wider-than-usual range of home values, the Home Builders Association of Metro Denver said yesterday. “We’re bringing back the favorite elements of the Parade, but we’re adding more homes for visitors to see throughout the metro area and admission to the Parade will be free,” Clarence Hughes, chairman of the Parade of Homes and a Home Builders Association (HBA) board member, said in a statement.
http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2010/03/22/daily21.html?s=industry&i=resi_real_estate

Proposed Changes to the Residential Improvement Guidelines

Proposed Changes to the Residential Improvement Guidelines
http://www.hrcaonline.org/Community/CommunityNews/ArticleDetail/tabid/490/smid/1580/ArticleID/34/reftab/463/t/Proposed-Changes-to-the-Residential-Improvement-Guidelines/Default.aspx

The Final Countdown (insert 80's tune here)!

The countdown has begun! There are only 81 days left to execute a contract on your dream home before the $8,000 and $6,500 tax credits are gone.

Selling a home takes time. You'll need to:
Get your current home ready for sale (to get top dollar in this market your home has to shine brighter than the competition),
Receive an offer (average days on market for all MLS areas is 100 days),
Negotiate the offer (can take a day, a week, or more depending on the terms being discussed),
Survive the option period (typically 7 -10 days in which the buyers can back out of the contract for a minimal fee),
Get to the closing table (taking anywhere from 30 - 60+ days depending on the type of loan and a variety of other factors).

Buying a home takes even more time because you'll need to:
Get pre-qualified for a loan,
Determine the area/neighborhood in which you want to live,
Identify your dream home,
Make and negotiate an offer (can take a day, a week, or more depending on the terms being discussed),
Complete the recommended inspections during the option period (typically 7 - 10 days),
Negotiate any repair requests (if the seller is not willing to make the repairs you want or decrease the sales price, you may be back at step #3),
Get to the closing table (taking anywhere from 30 - 60+ days depending on the type of loan and a variety of other factors).
If you've considered buying or selling a home, call me, and let's get you started on your way to owning a new home.

Respectfully,

Brooke Hengst, REALTOR®, CDPE
Your Castle Real Estate
C: 720-988-5952
F: 720-920-9850
brookehengst@yourcastle.org
www.brookehengst.com

- I don't just list your home For Sale, I get it SOLD!

10 HOME FEATURES BUYERS WANT

Home designers and builders speaking at the recent International Builders Show in Las Vegas say that buyers are seeking cost-effective features and rejecting things that don’t have lasting value.

“It's all about family togetherness – casual living, entertaining and flexible spaces," says Carol Lavender, president of the Lavender Design Group in San Antonio.

Paul Cardis, CEO of Avid Ratings, which conducts an annual survey of buyer preferences, identified these must-haves in new homes:
Large kitchens with islands
Energy efficiency, including energy-efficient appliances, super insulation, and high-efficiency windows.
Home offices
Main-floor master suite
Outdoor living space
Ceiling fans
Soaking tub in the master suite and/or an oversize shower with a seating area
Stone and brick exteriors rather than stucco or vinyl
Community walking paths and playgrounds
Two-car garages, but three-car garages are even more desirable

http://www.realtor.org/rmodaily.nsf/pages/News2010020101