Foreclosures in the state of Colorado are processed through a public trustee instead of the court system as in other states. Stephanie Riggi, manager of the Colorado Foreclosure Hotline was quoted in the Denver Post stating “We are the only state that operates through a public trustee. In other states, a lot of these (foreclosures) were handled through a court proceeding. It (the moratorium) may not impact our homeowners who have gone through foreclosures.”

Whether the halt of foreclosure proceedings is brief or extends for some time it can be concluded that it will have an impact on the local real estate market. In the Denver metro area, the Months Supply of Inventory (how long it will take to sell off the current inventory) for residential listings has been steady around eight months (from Metrolist). This figure peaked in December 2010 at 9.1 months and bottomed in April 2010 at 4.3 months, coincidently at the deadline of the recent first time home buyer tax credits.

As long as foreclosures are questioned and proceedings are delayed the standing inventory of homes in default will continue to rise. This glut of homes for sale will continue to hurt home values and impact the local real estate market.

All neighborhoods are different. For more specific details about how this might impact your home please contact a real estate professional. I am a Realtor helping clients buy and sell residential real estate in the Denver metro area.

Additional Resources

If you believe that you have been a victim of mortgage or foreclosure fraud you can file a complaint with the Attorney General’s office by visiting http://www.coloradoattorneygeneral.gov/complaint.

The State of Colorado Foreclosure Hotline can be reached at (877) 601-HOPE or online at http://www.coloradoforeclosurehotline.org.

Sources: The Denver Business Journal, The Denver Post, Metrolist

Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Now is also a good time to replace batteries in all smoke detectors in your home. If you do not have a carbon monoxide detector please purchase one for your home as well.

Lastly, if you or someone you know is planning to buy a home and you think you will qualify for the existing tax credits, the deadline to be under contract is April 30th. I work with both buyers and sellers of residential real estate throughout the Denver metro area. Contact me for professional, knowledgeable service for all your real estate needs.

The recreation center is located near the corner of Martin Luther King Blvd. and Elmira Street in Denver, Colorado.

While you are in the neighborhood, take a look at the following home currently listed for sale at 8511 E. 29th Avenue in Stapleton. This home is located two blocks from Central Park which connects directly to the new Recreation Center. Features of this home include an updated kitchen with granite countertops and maple cabinets, two master bedrooms including one on the main level, landscaped private patio, and South facing location with tons of natural light.

Click here for more information and a virtual tour.

About Me

I am a Realtor helping clients buy and sell residential real estate in the Denver Metro area. If you or someone you know plan to buy or sell real estate contact me to arrange a meeting.

Whether you are buying or selling, this information is extremely valuable when evaluating your local real estate market. Let me know if you have any questions or comments.



This information validates the market gap between lower and higher end homes in Denver, Colorado. Buyers for less expensive homes need to act quickly when the right home is found and sellers of more expensive homes are facing extra pressure to market and price their home correctly  - or they will be facing a tough selling market.

Source of data: This data is from residential listings in Metrolist (Denver area MLS) as of the end of January 2010.

It’s Time To Move, What Is The First Step?

All Realtors are not created equal. Besides the costs associated with hiring a Realtor (I’ll get to this later), many other factors differentiate the large number of available Realtors. Some of these include community knowledge, marketing expertise, network of Realtors, use of technology, and drive to get the job done. The first step I take to sell your home is to meet with you and fully understand your real estate needs and how I can help. This also provides you an opportunity to get to know me and discuss the process of selling your home. Throughout the entire process I am available by phone, email, text message, and in person (I utilize all to keep you appraised from start to finish). My marketing program starts with research to fully understand the real estate market in your neighborhood. The following is a summary of what I consider when researching a home:

• Recent sales of similar homes (past 6 months is ideal)
• Current inventory of homes for sale
• Absorption Rate (how long it is expected to sell the current inventory)
• Condition of your home in comparison to other available homes
• Location, location, location

What’s It Going To Cost Me?

In a typical real estate transaction the real estate commissions are paid by the seller. This can be a significant expense – to help understand what a home sale will cost you I always prepare an estimate of your sale proceeds. Additionally, if you are also contracting with me on your home purchase, I significantly reduce my costs to list your home for sale. Contact me for more information.

Ok, What Is Next?

Once a sales price has been determined and the research is well underway, the next step is to prepare your home for sale. In order to get the best possible price your home needs to be ready: complete necessary repairs, home staging, whole house cleaning (very important), and prepare all marketing materials. My marketing program delivers results and is a differentiating factor when consider a Realtor to list your home:

• High quality photographs for all marketing materials and virtual tours
• All flyers printed on high quality paper
• Extensive website coverage:
  • My Website, Remax.com, Homesincolorado.com, REColorado.com, Realtor.com
  • Syndicated to Google, Yahoo, Zillow, Trulia, Vast, Oodle, AOL, Hotpads, and more
• Virtual tour links from available websites
• Email marketing to network of clients and Realtors
• Present your listing at local Board of Realtor Marketing Meetings
• Easy showing process to generate quality leads (extended hours and online scheduling)
• Follow up on all showings
• Review all disclosures and contracts (area of expertise)
• And much more specifically related to your home

My Home Is For Sale, Will I See You Again?

Once your home is on the market expect a regular volume of showings. My marketing program has a proven track record to generate showings and quality sales leads. I follow up on all showings to evaluate interest and gather meaningful feedback. With your approval, I also host at least one open house each month. To keep you informed of marketing progress and comments, I provide  a written summary including showing information, feedback from potential buyers, details of upcoming marketing plans, and updated neighborhood sales information.

Yeah, We Have An Offer

Once we receive your first offer I personally review the details with you and provide advice on your next steps. My knowledge and expertise utilized to its fullest in this area:

• Should you accept, reject, or offer a counterproposal?
• What options do you have regarding the terms of the offer?
• If I accept the offer what happens next?

How you handle these decisions are critical to the successful sale of your home. Every offer received is a qualified lead that should be handled delicately. You want to sell you home for top dollar but you don’t want to lose a buyer over a small detail. I work extremely close with my clients in this stage of the sale.

You Have A Contract and Closing Date Is Approaching

With an accepted contract to sell your existing home, the buyer will be performing inspections, lender appraisals, title search, and more to determine the overall condition of your home. This can be a stressful time and I have found that regular communication is important. If you are moving locally we are actively looking for your next home as well. Once closing is scheduled you can expect a financial summary of your closing outlining the entire transaction (HUD-1 Settlement Document). When possible I review this document in its entirety prior to closing making necessary corrections and avoiding last minute surprises.

Congratulations, Your Home Is Sold

It would be great if all home sales were this simple. In every transaction my expertise and industry knowledge is utilized to overcome the inevitable surprise lurking behind every corner. I work hard to be an outstanding communicator delivering information and making decisions to avoid problems before they happen. But when they do, my clients appreciate my professional, business like demeanor and drive to get the job done.

Last But Not Least

For more information and specific answers to your questions, please contact me to arrange a meeting. I am flexible and meet with clients at your home, my office, or anywhere in between – whatever is best for you. Thank you for taking the time to read this report and I look forward to working with you on your next home sale!

Tax Credit Flyer

Contact me f you have any questions or know someone looking for a home. If you plan to sell and purchase a different home, time is of the essence! You need to be under contract on your new purchase by April 30, 2010 to qualify for the ‘move up’ tax credit.

I am a Realtor helping clients buy and sell residential real estate throughout the Denver metro area – let me know if I can help you!

2027 S. Nome St. in Aurora, CO
Located in desirable Village East, this tri-level home with a basement on a cul-de-sac sold for $202,000. I represented the buyers.

9400 E. Iliff Ave. #146 in Denver, CO

This updated townhome in Wind Stream sold for $155,000. A great home in a great community with convenient access to shopping, light rail, and trails. I represented the sellers.

November Sales:

4193 S. Lisbon Way in Aurora, CO
Located in Southeast Suburban Aurora, this spacious home located in the Cherry Creek School District sold for $220,000. I represented the buyers.