Colorado Real Estate Blog

Denver's Commercial Market at the Top

2008-10-12T18:58:00Z

Metro Denver's commercial real estate market continues to be a bright star among large U.S. cities. National and international investors have Denver on their radar screen for investment. Commercial transaction volume is down from the prior year but Denver continues to be a strong market. Absorption continues to be positive, lease rates steady to up, and vacancy rates for industrial, retail and office remain low. The subprime meltdown of residential real estate has spilled over into commercial...(read more)

Income Property 101: Revisiting the Benefits of Investing in Income Property

2008-10-11T23:22:00Z

In this financial climate, investors need to re-think their allocation of assets between cash, stock, bonds and real estate. We recommend revisiting the 6 advantages of investing in income properties: Leverage. Investors receive two benefits from using leverage (OPM-Other People's Money). First, the investors have a high percentage rate of return on the invested capital. Second, the investors can grow their real estate investments and wealth to much higher levels with the use of leverage. Cash...(read more)

Where Does Real Estate Go From Here?

2008-10-11T13:23:00Z

Buyers, sellers and investors of real estate are asking us and themselves this week, “What should I do during the financial turmoil we are hearing this week? Here are a few of our thoughts. Study the markets, interest rates, financing, economic forecasts, inflation, recession and more. Read, listen and ask real estate professionals for their opinions about the local market so that you are prepared to make the right decisions. Surround yourself with reliable experts. Now is NOT the time to be...(read more)

Financial Crisis Has Impact on Interest Rates and Real Estate Purchases

2008-10-11T03:06:00Z

This week saw the U.S. financial crisis spread internationally. With all the volatility and uncertainty in the worlds markets, what has been the effect on interest rates and home purchases? This week we have seen mortgage rates falling. Good news for consumers and businesses if they are able to get the loans. We continue to suffer a liquidity crisis around the world which has constrained lending. Bankrate.com says of this week's interest rate activity: "The benchmark 30-year fixed-rate mortgage...(read more)

Denver Real Estate Market Starting to Recover

2008-10-09T13:29:00Z

The Denver Post, in a October 8, 2008, article points to data indicating an improvement in the Denver residential resale market. Recently released data, The Post says, reveals a 14.1 percent increase in homes sold in September 2008 compared to September 2007, with an inventory decline of unsold homes of 21.1 percent from the prior year. Read more here... Most Denver area real estate brokers who we have interviewed say that their business is seeing the same increase that coincides with the data. Home...(read more)

What is the Impact on Real Estate Post-Bailout?

2008-10-06T12:14:00Z

Fannie Mae (FNMA) and Freddie Mac (FHLMC) are no longer with us as the federal government has taken them over under the Economic Stability Act. Lawerence Yun, Chief Economist for the National Assoication of REALTORS (NAR) has made some predictions. He says, "First of all, it is likely that mortgage rates will trend down over the short run. But how much of a decline will depend on how actively the government...loosens the mortgage liquidity spigot." Replacing Fannie and Freddie is the newly...(read more)

Denver's Bungalow Architectural Style

2008-10-05T12:05:00Z

Built in 1921 this one-story bungalow represents the style of homes built in Denver in the first 30 years of the 20 th century. The style is representative of the Craftsman-Style (1890’s-1920’s) and the Bungalow-Style (1905-1930). The Craftsman-Style in California was inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement led in England in reaction to the mass-production of the Industrial Revolution. This movement advocated a return to the handcrafted arts and the use of natural materials such as wood,...(read more)

Denver's Historic Arlington Park and Alamo Placita Neighborhood

2008-10-05T03:33:00Z

Denver's Arlington Park subdivision in Capitol Hill is part of the larger Alamo Placita historical neighborhood, both being named for the nearby parks. Arlington Park and Alamo Placita Park illustrate the early plan to develop parks facing each other on opposite sides of Speer Boulevard and Cherry Creek. The formal Italian gardens of the Alamo Placita Park section were designed to be viewed from the hillside of Arlington Park (now named Hungarian Freedom Park) which, in turn, was to be viewed...(read more)

Senate Passes Rescue Plan

2008-10-02T05:00:00Z

The Senate stepped up to the plate Wednesday night and passed the rescue plan by a 74 to 25 vote. This vote now challenges members of the House who previously voted against a plan and now expected to vote again this Friday on the bailout. Key features of the plan passed by the Senate are: · $700 billion to buy up mostly mortgage-related distressed assets from financial institutions, with $250 billion immediately available · Raise FDIC insurance for banks from $100,000 to $250,000 ·...(read more)

Colorado Governor's Third Quarter Economic and Revenue Forecast

2008-10-02T04:00:00Z

Colorado's Governor has just released his Third Quarter Economic and Revenue Forecast. Here are highlights from the Economic Forecast: "Although certain parts of the State remain distressed by foreclosures, the current state of the residential real estate market is substantially stronger in Colorado than the rest of the country. According to the Standard & Poors / Case-Shiller index, Denver's real estate market is one of the strongest of any major metropolitan area of the country....(read more)

NAR Statement on Defeat of Economic Stability Act

2008-10-01T05:43:00Z

WASHINGTON, September 29, 2008 The following is a statement by National Association of Realtors® President Richard F. Gaylord: “The National Association of Realtors® is extremely disappointed in the actions of the U.S. House of Representatives today in failing to pass the Emergency Economic Stability Act of 2008. This legislation is critical to stopping the economic turmoil that millions of Americans are facing. Completing a recovery plan that will end the current economic crisis crippling...(read more)

$700 Billion “Bailout” or is it a “Financial Rescue Plan?" Impact on Main Street

2008-09-30T03:30:00Z

Excuse me. I keep referring to the $700 Billion as a “bailout.” The new politically correct term is “financial rescue plan.” Call it whatever you wish, but the reality is the Washington politicians have killed the chance, at least for today, of passing a bill to address the turmoil on Wall Street. And what about Main Street as this bloody fiasco unfolds. We have the largest liquidity crisis in modern times. Banks are not lending money this last week. The jumbo loans are going...(read more)

Congress Agrees on $700 Billion Bailout Deal

2008-09-28T14:58:00Z

Members of the U.S. Congress announced early Monday morning, September 28 th , that they reached an agreement to the $700 billion bailout of the financial markets. The House of Representatives is voting on the bill on Monday morning and the Senate is expected to vote on Wednesday. President Bush has expressed support for the bill. After two weeks of turmoil in the worldwide financial markets, coupled with a strong resistance from main street Americans, Congress and the President have agreed to a...(read more)

Report on 2008 CABI Conference

2008-09-28T14:00:00Z

The Colorado Association of Business Intermediaries ( CABI ) held its 2008 Annual Conference in Denver this week. The association is composed of members who are Business Brokers, Intermediaries and Commercial Real Estate Brokers who broker transactions for the sale of businesses and related real estate sales or leasing. The keynote speaker was Steve Mulhauser from the Small Business Administration (SBA) Colorado District office. He presented a number of significant changes in SBA Lending regarding...(read more)

Congress Announces Breakthrough on Bailout

2008-09-28T06:31:00Z

Leaders in the Senate and House announced a breakthrough in the negotiations for the White House $700 billion bailout at 12:30 a.m. EST on Sunday, September 27th. The announcement makes it clear the legislators have agreed in principal and will commit the agreement to paper overnight and expect to sign it during the day on Sunday. Asian markets open on Sunday afternoon and Congress is rushing to meet that deadline. The problem began with bad real estate loans and the record number of foreclosures...(read more)